San Jose Christian School | October 12, 2015

Jenn’s Penby: Mrs. Jennifer Thompson

One of the best things about SJCS is how we are building TRUE partnerships with you, our fantastic parents. I have heard over and over this comment, “SJCS feels like a family to me, and I love our community!” How true! Of course, I think back on my own experience as a parent at a Christian school, and that is what I remember most-teachers, administrators, and even other parents all wanted the best for my children, and they were willing to invest in every aspect of their lives. It makes a big difference.

Click here to read a quick thought on some of my memories as a Christian school parent.

Mad Science Starts Today We are very excited that our Mad Science Club will start today, October 12th. The class will be in room 7 (Mrs. DenOuden's room) and will run from 3:15-4:15. Students who will attend the club should go with their class to pickup, then a teacher will escort them to room 7 at 3:15. Please do not go to room 7 early, because the instructor needs time to set up.

SJCS Showcase? As a community we will be hosting a variety of events to “showcase” the students, teachers, programs and campus at SJCS. These events are opportunities for you to invite friends and family who might be interested in SJCS for their children. We will have student performances, presentations and campus tours to help familiarize families with SJCS. Please invite people to these events. We have attached an invitation for you to pass on!

Tiger TracksThis Week at SJCS

Mon 10/12 Fall Sports Practice | 3:15pm - 4:45pm

Mad Science | 3:15pm Rm 7

Tues 10/13 Walk-A-Thon wrap up meeting | 8:30am Auditorium

Chess Wizards | 3:15pm Rm 20

Flag Football | 3:30pm @ CCS

Softball & Cross Country Practice 3:15

Wed 10/14 Fall Sports Practice | 3:15pm - 4:45pm

Thurs 10/15 Mom’s In Prayer | 8:30 Rm 16

The Great Shakeout! |10:15am

Flag Football 3:30 vs. ACS @ SJCS

Softball & Cross Country Practice | 3:15

Fri 10/16 CPTA Meeting | 8:30am

Advanced Dates

10/22 Minimum Day

10/23 No Classes Teacher In-service

10/26 Fall Town Hall

Attendance Line (408) 371-4815

Tiger Tracks

Sportsweekthis

Mon

Tues

Wed

Thurs

Softball

Practice3:15pm - 4:45pm

Practice3:15pm - 4:45pm

Practice3:15pm - 4:45pm

Game Day @ ACS 3:30pm

Flag Football

Practice3:15pm - 4:45pm

Game Day @ Campbell Christian - 3:30pm

Practice3:15pm - 4:45pm

Game Day vs. ACS3:30 at SJCS

Cross Country

Practice 3:15pm - 4:45pm

Practice 3:15pm - 4:45pm

Practice 3:15pm - 4:45pm

Practice 3:15pm - 4:45pm

Fall Town Hall - Save the DateDon’t miss out on the Fall Town Hall on Monday, October 26, from 6:30pm - 8pm. in the SJCS Auditorium. The goal of town hall meetings at SJCS is to provide a communication tool for our community. The Fall Town Hall Meeting provides the administration, faculty, and CPTA an opportunity to share important topics with school families, and it also gives attendees a chance to ask questions and have them answered. Topics covered are relevant to the timing of the school year. An additional intention of the meeting is to give insight to campus life. Topics of interest may be submitted to the administrative team in advance of the meeting. Contact: Community Development at 408-371-7741 ext. 231 for additional information.

October Box TopsBring in your Box Tops during the month of October as part of a classroom competition. Trim the Box Top labels from the packaging of a wide range of household products, and SJCS will receive money from these companies. Funds raised through Box Tops for Education are used for campus beautification.

Order Scrip. Save Money.Order Scrip! This simple program allows families to raise funds for SJCS and their own tuition while making everyday purchases. Scrip order forms are on our website, and the next order is due by Thursday, October 15. Check out the revenue sharing policy for more information, and start buying Scrip today! If you have questions please contact the school office at (408) 371-7741.

SoftballThe softball team started slow in their game against Achiever Christian last week. The girls were down by 5 after the first inning, then rallied back through each inning. They fell short by 1 run and took a loss 7-8 to the Hawks. The second half of the season is ahead of us and we look forward to some big games.

Flag FootballThe Tigers went 2-1 last week, picking up wins against Calvary Christian Academy and Milpitas Christian. The team played well, as the offense was clicking on all cylinders and the defense remained solid. The boys will continue their playoff push as they take on Campbell Christian and Achiever Christian this week.

Cross CountryThe cross country team is a dedicated group of athletes. Their training continues as they prepare for the upcoming Alum Rock meet and league finals later this month.

4 Steps to Reducing Anxiety in Your Child by: Suzie VanEwyk

You may have heard your child say, "I don't want to go to school. I hate it! My tummy hurts. Please don't make me go!" You cringe and think, Here we go again. What should be a simple morning routine explodes into a daunting challenge. You look at your child and see genuine terror. You feel bad, but also frustrated and even a little angry. This makes you feel terrible.

If any of this sounds familiar, know that you are not alone. Most parents would move mountains to ease their child's pain. Parents of kids with anxiety would move planets and stars as well. It hurts to watch your child worry over situations that, frankly, don't seem that scary. Here's the thing: To your child's mind, these situations are genuinely threatening.Here are 4 ideas   that parents of anxious children can try right away:1. Freeze   -- pause and take some deep breaths with your child. Deep breathing can help reverse the nervous system response. 2. Empathize -- anxiety is scary. Your child wants to know that you get it. 3. Evaluate -- once your child is calm, it's time to figure out possible solutions. 4. Let Go - Let go of your guilt; focus on giving your child the tools to manage the worry.

Tiger TracksSpecial Section of the Tiger Tracks for our Preschool “Tiger Cubs”

The Great ShakeOutThis Thursday, 10/15, SJCS will participate with millions of other people in The Great ShakeOut learning to drop, cover and hold on in the event of an earthquake. Please take a moment to let your students know this will be happening and the entire school will be "practicing" this drill so that we can be better prepared during an actual earthquake whether at home or at school.

Drop-off and Pick-up ReminderSchool is about academics, but it’s equally about learning skills/routines and building independence. Please make every effort to have your child to school on time every day, because the morning routine is essential for your child to have a successful day. Here are some reminders that will help your child and the teacher succeed:

Drop Off: Parents should not walk their child into a classroom, especially if they are late to school. This is a disruption to the class and can cause stress for the student. A good rule—the hippo bench outside of Mr. I’s office should be the “goodbye” area and the student should walk to class alone from that point. They can do it!

Pick Up: Parents should only pick up students from the pick-up area in the parking lot, not the classroom or hallway. Teachers have routines and set procedures for dismissing students, and the best way to ensure the safety of all students is for everyone to follow the rules.

CALENDAR OF EVENTSPlease mark these dates on your calendar. We will be publishing short descriptions of each item over the next few weeks to help you understand the details of each event. Please refer to the school calendar for all vacation dates and school holidays.

OCTOBER 16 CPTA MEETING - 8:30AM - AUDITORIUM OCTOBER 17 CAMPUS SHOWCASE - 1PM - SJCS CAMPUS OCTOBER 26 FALL TOWN HALL MEETING - 6:30PM - AUDITORIUM NOVEMBER 6 SJCS FILM FEST - 6:30PM - AUDITORIUM NOVEMBER 19 PARENT EDUCATION NIGHT - 7PM - AUDITORIUM NOVEMBER 20 CPTA MEETING - 8:30AM - AUDITORIUM DECEMBER 4 CHRISTMAS CONCERT - TBA JANUARY 8 CPTA MEETING - 8:30AM - AUDITORIUM JANUARY 29-30 3rd, 4th, 5th MUSICAL - TBA FEBRUARY 10 ALL SCHOOL SHOWCASE - 6:30PM - SJCS CAMPUS FEBRUARY 19 CPTA MEETING - 8:30AM - AUDITORIUM FEBRUARY 22-26 VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK FEBRUARY 26 VOLUNTEER DINNER - 7PM - AUDITORIUM MARCH 4-5 MIDDLE SCHOOL DRAMA/MUSICAL - TBA MARCH 7 SPRING TOWN HALL MEETING - 6:30PM - AUDITORIUM MARCH 14-18 STANDARDIZED TESTING STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK APRIL 9 SPRING AUCTION - 6PM - CAMPBELL COMMUNITY CENTER - ORCHARD BALLROOM MAY 6 FINE ARTS FESTIVAL - TBA MAY 9 ASSOCIATION MEETING - 7PM - AUDITORIUM MAY 13 GRANDFRIENDS DAY / FIELD DAY - TBA MAY 20 SPRING CONCERT - TBA MAY 26 SPORTS AWARDS EVENT - TBA MAY 27 CPTA MEETING - 8:30AM - AUDITORIUM JUNE 3 JAZZ SHOW - TIME TBA - AUDITORIUM JUNE 7 2016 GRADUATION - SUNNYVALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Teacher TalesCheck this section each week for exciting stories about teachers doing great things in the classrooms of San Jose Christian School.

Teacher Tale—Spotlight on Extended Care

Great things are happening in our Extended Care program! We are thrilled to welcome new members on our team, and we’d like to take a minute to introduce them all now. Please be sure to welcome them to our school community when you see them!

Kimberly Basl is our Director of Extended Care and Summer Camp. She has worked with children for over 17 years, and she most recently worked for 9 years as a Director for the YMCA. Kimberly is completing a BS/MA program at William Jessup University. She brings a wealth of experience to our program, and you can expect great things this year!

Kimberly was born in Oregon but was raised in Silicon Valley for her whole life. She has one daughter, Heaven, and she enjoys the Giants, singing, worshiping with her church, and going to Disneyland. Her goal for working with students is to help each child find his/her God-given skills and talents. Kimberly values a partnership with parents and enjoys teaching through

crafts, projects, and activities.

Sabrina LaRosa also joins our staff this year. Sabrina is a student at San Jose State University, pursuing a degree in Child and Adolescent Development. She has been very active in leading Bible camps with her church, and frequently volunteers in programs for children with disabilities.

Sabrina is a San Jose native, and she loves animals (she has 7 pets!), watching I Love Lucy, and spending time with family and friends. She enjoys working in extended care because she likes teaching students in non-traditional classroom environments.

Jordan Trumbull is also a student at San Jose State University, pursuing a degree in Computer Science. Jordan has been a tutor for years and helped run a math enrichment camp over the summer. During that time, he has found that he has a calling to work with students, and he is very excited to join our extended care team.

Jordan is from San Jose and comes from a family of educators. He enjoys basketball, video games, and working with computers. He believes that the best way to educate is through doing, and he enjoys teaching students to understand the connections between subjects and the fundamental roots upon which everything is created.

Chevonne Miller also joins our team from San Jose State University, where she is seeking a degree in Communicative Disorders and Sciences. Her goal is to run a clinic for helping students and adults with speech disorders. She has been a long-time volunteer in her church, helping with Sunday School and child care. She has a passion for helping students grow intellectually and spiritually.

Chevonne was raised in Fullerton, and is the daughter of two teachers. She enjoys dancing, teaching, and going on adventures with friends. She believes the keys to

Christian education are kindness, service, and sharing God’s love with everyone.

Marji Mulder returns to our staff this year after a summer of chiropractic study. She has her degree from Northwestern College in Iowa, with a major in Athletic

Training. She has been studying at the Palmer College of Chiropractic since 2012, and anticipates graduation in 2017. I guess we’ll be calling her Dr. Mulder soon!

Marji grew up on a dairy farm in Orange City, Iowa, where she graduated from a Christian school much like SJCS. She enjoys playing soccer, cooking, knitting, and watching sports. She believes the most important roles she plays as an educator are to partner with parents and model Christ to her students.