January 2019

JANUARY 29 SNOW DAY:  Due to weather and poor road conditions, all buses to WCS are cancelled today and the school is closed

How often do we listen to the lies of the devil? How often does the devil try to distort the truth in our lives? How often do we feel defeated? How often do we remember whose we are? How often do we turn to the truth? How often do we put on the armor of God? 

In SONbeams we are learning about the armor of God. Each week we talk about and make a different piece of armor. We sing songs that talk about the armor and how we are to use it against the evil one. That they are to stand strong and don’t believe the lies of the devil. 

Paul tells us to put on the armor. That our war is not against flesh and blood but of the spiritual world. More than ever there is a battle for our children. There are more distractions, more gateways to temptations, and more disconnect with each other. It is so important in our world today that we learn and teach our children the truth of who they are (who we are). It is important to learn and teach of the tools/weapons God has given us to stand in truth and fight. 

It is exciting to impart such truth to young children. Praying that they will not forget to put on the armor and stand strong!

Ephesians 6:10-18

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. …

                                                                                                Victoria Body 

JAN 23: Due to weather warnings and poor road conditions, all buses to WCS are cancelled today and the school is closed. Enjoy your snow day.

The Daily 5

You have heard WCS teachers and your children refer to “the Daily 5”. In case you are wondering about features and purposes of this very effective literacy tool, here are some details.

According to their website (thedailycafe.com), the Daily 5 is a “literacy framework that instills behaviors of independence, creates a   classroom of highly engaged readers, writers, and learners, and provides teachers with the time and   structure to meet diverse student needs.”  Because it is a framework, teachers can insert curricular content   for their geographic / educational region (Ontario Ministry of Education & Ontario Christian Schools) and   make it work well.

 Often, when we read such claims, we are sceptical. When it comes to the Daily 5 at WCS, we love it and   support those claims! Read to Self, Work on Writing, Read to Someone, Word Work, and Listen to Reading   are the five tasks that make up the Daily 5 structure. God has gifted humans with words and language and it is wonderful to see students grow in communication skills. Teachers schedule several literacy blocks   throughout the week and students work through a rotation of tasks. These are routine periods during which   students read on their own, practicing old and new skills, but throughout there is focused instruction that   introduces new skills and guides student practice. And there is choice! Students have personal book bins   loaded with print material specifically geared to their reading level. When we host our WCS Education Week open house, or if you wish to make arrangements to come and observe, try to catch your child’s literacy block. Seeing students engaged in Daily 5 literacy work is seeing beautiful teaching and learning happen.