Christian Brady, like many of the students who participated in the first annual AVC Serve-A-Thon, probably wasn’t expecting to feel the way he did after it was all said and done. He was probably thinking he'd go out, serve a little, and feel better afterwards like he had accomplished something meaningful. It seems, however,that God had much more in store for him and the rest of the student body than he could even imagine.
Christian, as well as a few other students, traveled to Apple Valley Christian Care Center as one of the many teams serving that day. It is a retirement home for people who have Alzheimer’s or some other condition that does not allow them to take care of themselves. These people can sometimes be shocking. It is almost difficult to look at them in the eye. Many people are timid at first in meeting with them. Christian too battled with this at first, but then he really got into interacting with them and discovered that these people were much more than meets the eye.
After learning a little bit about the Care Center, Christian was immediately introduced to an elderly gentleman by the name of Peter. He immediately began to “talk” with Peter on a whiteboard. Peter was deaf, so the only way he could communicate was to write on the board. Christian and he went back and forth in conversation discussing life and all kinds of other topics. He was reluctant at first about talking about his life, but after a while he warmed up to Christian and revealed that he had been a Navy gun captain in World War II. Christian was immediately interested. He was not speaking to just anybody; he was speaking to an American hero.
Unfortunately, time was against them, and Christian could only speak to the man for so long. After he left, he discovered he did not feel anything like he expected he would. Sure, he felt warm and accomplished, but it was much more than that. He had not just served, but developed a relationship with someone who many wouldn’t even care to talk to. He had learned that day that serving is not only a sacrifice, but a sacrifice with endless rewards. Finally, he discovered that giving even a small portion of your day to people in need can make a huge difference in someone’s life. At the end of the day, Peter may not remember Christian Brady, but Christian Brady will remember Peter forever.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
November Elementary Corner 2011
It has been a whirlwind of activity, and we are just at the beginning of the holiday season!
Our 1st quarter parent conferences are behind us now. It was wonderful for the teachers to meet many of you and discuss how we can partner together. If you missed this opportunity, please call your child's teacher and schedule a meeting as soon as possible.
Our first Serve-a-Thon was Wednesday, October 19th. The entire school set out on a variety of service projects both on campus and off campus. What a blessing it was to hear about the student's experiences as they ministered all day and met the needs of others. We plan to do it again next year because of the valuable impact it had on everyone who participated. Thank you to those who supported this project.
A huge thank you also to all who worked tirelessly to make the Harvest Festival a success. The mood was festive and the place transformed into a huge playground for superheroes, princesses, and the like! Candy was abundant and so were the smiles.
The Holiday Luncheon is the next family event at AVC. Please plan to join your child for a traditional Thanksgiving meal on Novembmer 8th. Tickets can be purchased in the office in advance or at the door. You will not be disappointed!
School will be closed on Friday, November 11th to celebrate Veteran's Day. We have one full week of school after that and then break for Thanksgiving. During the first two days of our Thanksgiving vacation, hundreds of Christian educators and administrators gather at the Association of Christian Schools International Convention in Anahem. It is a wonderful time for refreshment, inspiration and information gathering. Thank you to all of you who sponsored one of the elementary teachers.
Finally, on behalf of all the elementary staff, we wish you a safe and blessed holiday season.
Our 1st quarter parent conferences are behind us now. It was wonderful for the teachers to meet many of you and discuss how we can partner together. If you missed this opportunity, please call your child's teacher and schedule a meeting as soon as possible.
Our first Serve-a-Thon was Wednesday, October 19th. The entire school set out on a variety of service projects both on campus and off campus. What a blessing it was to hear about the student's experiences as they ministered all day and met the needs of others. We plan to do it again next year because of the valuable impact it had on everyone who participated. Thank you to those who supported this project.
A huge thank you also to all who worked tirelessly to make the Harvest Festival a success. The mood was festive and the place transformed into a huge playground for superheroes, princesses, and the like! Candy was abundant and so were the smiles.
The Holiday Luncheon is the next family event at AVC. Please plan to join your child for a traditional Thanksgiving meal on Novembmer 8th. Tickets can be purchased in the office in advance or at the door. You will not be disappointed!
School will be closed on Friday, November 11th to celebrate Veteran's Day. We have one full week of school after that and then break for Thanksgiving. During the first two days of our Thanksgiving vacation, hundreds of Christian educators and administrators gather at the Association of Christian Schools International Convention in Anahem. It is a wonderful time for refreshment, inspiration and information gathering. Thank you to all of you who sponsored one of the elementary teachers.
Finally, on behalf of all the elementary staff, we wish you a safe and blessed holiday season.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Secondary News November 2011
Dates and events to remember:
• November 1-November 30th is the deadline for UC applications for all seniors interested in attending a UC in the fall. This is also the ‘Preferred’ application time for the Cal State colleges, as well with budget cuts, many Cal States are having Nov. 30th as their only application deadline!
• To apply online to any UC go to www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply
and for the Cal State Universities go to CSU Mentor at www.csumentor.edu
• The PSAT results will be here in December for all 9th through 11th graders who took the test in October.
• Parents of Seniors will want to plan to have their taxes done early this year if at all possible for the filing of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) which will have to be completed by March 2nd, 2012. On this form you can estimate your tax information if need be, but is a smoother process if you have them done. Watch for more information as the time approaches – I will be sending out a web worksheet to make applying online easier!
• Senior parents please be sure to check with your seniors! We have a lot of things happening that your student needs to stay up to date with. For any questions please contact Mrs. Dani Patag
• November 1-November 30th is the deadline for UC applications for all seniors interested in attending a UC in the fall. This is also the ‘Preferred’ application time for the Cal State colleges, as well with budget cuts, many Cal States are having Nov. 30th as their only application deadline!
• To apply online to any UC go to www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply
and for the Cal State Universities go to CSU Mentor at www.csumentor.edu
• The PSAT results will be here in December for all 9th through 11th graders who took the test in October.
• Parents of Seniors will want to plan to have their taxes done early this year if at all possible for the filing of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) which will have to be completed by March 2nd, 2012. On this form you can estimate your tax information if need be, but is a smoother process if you have them done. Watch for more information as the time approaches – I will be sending out a web worksheet to make applying online easier!
• Senior parents please be sure to check with your seniors! We have a lot of things happening that your student needs to stay up to date with. For any questions please contact Mrs. Dani Patag
Friday, October 7, 2011
Kids Say the Darnedest Things
Kid’s Say the Darnedest Things
Kid’s have a way of lightening up any room they find themselves in. There wide, toothless grins and contagious laughter have a way of brightening up anyones’ day. For instance, to answer some of life’s most important questions we give deep over complicated answers. Kids, on the other hand, reply with much more spontaneous and unedited replies. Instead of giving deep thought, they spit out the first answer that comes to their minds. These answers are often sweet, random, and just simply silly. We decided to ask some Kindergarteners and 1st Graders some questions we thought would spark some imaginative replies. To our great satisfaction, they did not disappoint.
Kindergarten
Ayden:
Q: What do you think about girls?
A: That they be pretty.
Caiden:
Q: Why are puppies cute?
A: Because they are different colors.
Q: How do you get to heaven?
A: Close your eyes and God lifts you up there.
Della:
Q: What is your best joke?
A: What’s a shark’s favorite game? Swallow the leader.
1st Grade
Jake:
Q: What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you?
A: I was with my brother Carter, and he made me fall off of the bead because he jacked my spot.
Q: What is Beauty?
A: I don’t know that question.
Q: Who is the smartest person on earth?
A: My dad because he knows math a lot.
Q: How do you get to heaven?
A: Asking Jesus in your heart, then he takes you there.
Mark:
Q: Why do zebras have stripes?
A: To keep them warm.
Q: Tell me your funniest joke?
A: I’m out of here.
Hunter:
Q: Why did the monkey fall out of the tree?
A: Because there were no bananas.
Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: A cop because I want to use my gun.
Ethan:
Q: What do you think about girls?
A: That they look nice, and they’re pretty
Q: Why do your parents make you eat your vegetables?
A: If you eat vegetables they make you turn different colors.
Malachi:
Q: How do you cook a turkey?
A: I don’t cook turkeys.
Q: Who is your hero?
A: God and Jesus because they have powers to save us.
Nate:
Q: Who is the smartest person one earth?
A: God… and Mrs. Foster is the smartest teacher on the earth.
Kid’s have a way of lightening up any room they find themselves in. There wide, toothless grins and contagious laughter have a way of brightening up anyones’ day. For instance, to answer some of life’s most important questions we give deep over complicated answers. Kids, on the other hand, reply with much more spontaneous and unedited replies. Instead of giving deep thought, they spit out the first answer that comes to their minds. These answers are often sweet, random, and just simply silly. We decided to ask some Kindergarteners and 1st Graders some questions we thought would spark some imaginative replies. To our great satisfaction, they did not disappoint.
Kindergarten
Ayden:
Q: What do you think about girls?
A: That they be pretty.
Caiden:
Q: Why are puppies cute?
A: Because they are different colors.
Q: How do you get to heaven?
A: Close your eyes and God lifts you up there.
Della:
Q: What is your best joke?
A: What’s a shark’s favorite game? Swallow the leader.
1st Grade
Jake:
Q: What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you?
A: I was with my brother Carter, and he made me fall off of the bead because he jacked my spot.
Q: What is Beauty?
A: I don’t know that question.
Q: Who is the smartest person on earth?
A: My dad because he knows math a lot.
Q: How do you get to heaven?
A: Asking Jesus in your heart, then he takes you there.
Mark:
Q: Why do zebras have stripes?
A: To keep them warm.
Q: Tell me your funniest joke?
A: I’m out of here.
Hunter:
Q: Why did the monkey fall out of the tree?
A: Because there were no bananas.
Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: A cop because I want to use my gun.
Ethan:
Q: What do you think about girls?
A: That they look nice, and they’re pretty
Q: Why do your parents make you eat your vegetables?
A: If you eat vegetables they make you turn different colors.
Malachi:
Q: How do you cook a turkey?
A: I don’t cook turkeys.
Q: Who is your hero?
A: God and Jesus because they have powers to save us.
Nate:
Q: Who is the smartest person one earth?
A: God… and Mrs. Foster is the smartest teacher on the earth.
PTF Letter OCtober 2011
Greetings Brothers- and Sisters-in-Christ,
Let me introduce myself. My name is Elaine Vandenberg, and I am a proud parent of an Apple Valley Christian Student, just like you. Our daughter, Faith, is in the 2nd grade. We are very blessed to be starting our third year here at AVCS.
I also have the extreme blessing of serving as this year’s P.T.F. president. As such, I am looking forward to getting to know you as well as serving along side of you.
God has laid on my heart the importance of Godly fellowship between our parents and teachers, and working together as a complete “Body” in Him. Romans 12:5-8: “So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts according to the grace given us”…
Our teachers are using their gifts to serve in the mission field, which is Apple Valley Christian. Yet, they make up only part of the Body of Christ. We parents need to also follow God’s Word and come alongside and make up the missing, weak, or forgotten parts of the Body of Christ.
Working together with those who are already serving will unify and complete the Body of Christ. Together we can and will accomplish all God has already planned for us to do in reaching students and their families with the Gospel of Christ through spiritual instruction, academics, music and sports, to name a few.
Whether you are a parent of an elementary-aged student or a parent of a high school-aged student, P.T.F. would love to have you use your God-given gifts to help those teachers and staff who are being used by God in the lives of our children. So, join us in blessing our students and their teachers who are guiding, teaching, and loving our students in all the ways God provides.
Please join other AVCS parents who are meeting Wednesdays at 8:15 a.m. on the front porch of the school to pray for our school. P.T.F. also meets the first Wednesday of each month at 8:15 a.m. in M-3 to plan how we can help with upcoming events, answer any questions, and pray for our school.
Prayerfully yours,
Elaine Vandenberg
P.T.F. President and Sister-in-Christ
Let me introduce myself. My name is Elaine Vandenberg, and I am a proud parent of an Apple Valley Christian Student, just like you. Our daughter, Faith, is in the 2nd grade. We are very blessed to be starting our third year here at AVCS.
I also have the extreme blessing of serving as this year’s P.T.F. president. As such, I am looking forward to getting to know you as well as serving along side of you.
God has laid on my heart the importance of Godly fellowship between our parents and teachers, and working together as a complete “Body” in Him. Romans 12:5-8: “So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts according to the grace given us”…
Our teachers are using their gifts to serve in the mission field, which is Apple Valley Christian. Yet, they make up only part of the Body of Christ. We parents need to also follow God’s Word and come alongside and make up the missing, weak, or forgotten parts of the Body of Christ.
Working together with those who are already serving will unify and complete the Body of Christ. Together we can and will accomplish all God has already planned for us to do in reaching students and their families with the Gospel of Christ through spiritual instruction, academics, music and sports, to name a few.
Whether you are a parent of an elementary-aged student or a parent of a high school-aged student, P.T.F. would love to have you use your God-given gifts to help those teachers and staff who are being used by God in the lives of our children. So, join us in blessing our students and their teachers who are guiding, teaching, and loving our students in all the ways God provides.
Please join other AVCS parents who are meeting Wednesdays at 8:15 a.m. on the front porch of the school to pray for our school. P.T.F. also meets the first Wednesday of each month at 8:15 a.m. in M-3 to plan how we can help with upcoming events, answer any questions, and pray for our school.
Prayerfully yours,
Elaine Vandenberg
P.T.F. President and Sister-in-Christ
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Secondary News October 2011
Dates and events to remember for all secondary students:
• Report cards will be sent home after the Fall Break, in the meantime please check edline.
ALL 9TH-11TH STUDENTS
• The PSAT tests will be on Wednesday, October 12th from 8:00 – 10:50 am. Please be sure that your student has had a good breakfast and a good night’s sleep. They will also need to have a calculator of their own with them for the test as well as two to three #2 pencils. The senior class will be not be at school that day.
• Attention Junior Parents: Our Josten’s representative will be returning on October 20th to take class ring orders, the catalogues should have come home with your student on October 5th.
SENIOR PARENTS
• The final College Entrance SAT dates that will satisfy college application requirements are November 5th and December 3rd. Please go to collegeboard.com to register.
• November 1-November 30th is the deadline for UC applications for all seniors interested in attending a UC in the fall. This is also the ‘Preferred’ application time for the Cal State colleges as well. Applications may be done online.
• Parents of seniors will want to plan to have their taxes done early this year if at all possible for the filing of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) which will have to be completed by March 2, 2012. On this form, you can estimate your tax information if need be, but is a smoother process if you have them done. Watch for more information as the time approaches!
• Senior parents please be sure to check with your seniors about due dates. The picture frames for graduation will be here soon and in the office ready to pick up. The $30.00 payment is also due for your student’s Walk of Faith brick, please send this in with your senior as soon as possible. The Josten’s representative will also be taking cap and gown as well as announcement orders on October 20th if you are interested in ordering preprinted announcements.
• Report cards will be sent home after the Fall Break, in the meantime please check edline.
ALL 9TH-11TH STUDENTS
• The PSAT tests will be on Wednesday, October 12th from 8:00 – 10:50 am. Please be sure that your student has had a good breakfast and a good night’s sleep. They will also need to have a calculator of their own with them for the test as well as two to three #2 pencils. The senior class will be not be at school that day.
• Attention Junior Parents: Our Josten’s representative will be returning on October 20th to take class ring orders, the catalogues should have come home with your student on October 5th.
SENIOR PARENTS
• The final College Entrance SAT dates that will satisfy college application requirements are November 5th and December 3rd. Please go to collegeboard.com to register.
• November 1-November 30th is the deadline for UC applications for all seniors interested in attending a UC in the fall. This is also the ‘Preferred’ application time for the Cal State colleges as well. Applications may be done online.
• Parents of seniors will want to plan to have their taxes done early this year if at all possible for the filing of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) which will have to be completed by March 2, 2012. On this form, you can estimate your tax information if need be, but is a smoother process if you have them done. Watch for more information as the time approaches!
• Senior parents please be sure to check with your seniors about due dates. The picture frames for graduation will be here soon and in the office ready to pick up. The $30.00 payment is also due for your student’s Walk of Faith brick, please send this in with your senior as soon as possible. The Josten’s representative will also be taking cap and gown as well as announcement orders on October 20th if you are interested in ordering preprinted announcements.
Elementary Corner October 2011
Can you believe we are already at the end of the first quarter? We are in the full swing of things! Thank you to all the parents who have scheduled an elementary parent conference. It is so valuable to have a few minutes to honestly communicate with you about your child's strengths and areas where improvements can be made. It is our desire to partner with you in the training of "Christian Leaders Committed to Excellence."
If you have not made an appointment yet, please contact the school office. Conferences are held on Tuesday, October 18th between 8:00 am and 3:30pm. Remember: there is no school for Elementary only on that day. Middle School and High School have a regular day.
The very next day is our first Serve-a-Thon. The elementary students will be participating in a variety of activities on campus to serve others. We will be writing thank you letters to military, fire,and police personnel. We will be baking cookies for them as well. Delegates from each of these service agencies will also be on hand to meet the students and receive our gifts.
Additionally, students will be planting flowers to beautify our campus, and they will be performing some clean-up to spruce the place up! It should be a fun day to focus on serving others!
Finally, we are looking forward to the Harvest Festival on Friday, October 28th from 5:00pm to 9:00pm . This is a great event, organized by our students, to present a safe alternative to Halloween. There will be non-scary costumes, games, food, bounce houses, and much more. This event is open to the community so please invite your family, friends, and neighbors. You can purchase tickets soon before and after school on the front steps. As a reminder, please send candy into your child's classroom for their booth. We also are in need of parent volunteers to work in each classroom booth. Sign up sheets will be located in your child's classroom. Look for more specific information to be coming your way.
Thank you once again for all you do to support the elementary teachers!
If you have not made an appointment yet, please contact the school office. Conferences are held on Tuesday, October 18th between 8:00 am and 3:30pm. Remember: there is no school for Elementary only on that day. Middle School and High School have a regular day.
The very next day is our first Serve-a-Thon. The elementary students will be participating in a variety of activities on campus to serve others. We will be writing thank you letters to military, fire,and police personnel. We will be baking cookies for them as well. Delegates from each of these service agencies will also be on hand to meet the students and receive our gifts.
Additionally, students will be planting flowers to beautify our campus, and they will be performing some clean-up to spruce the place up! It should be a fun day to focus on serving others!
Finally, we are looking forward to the Harvest Festival on Friday, October 28th from 5:00pm to 9:00pm . This is a great event, organized by our students, to present a safe alternative to Halloween. There will be non-scary costumes, games, food, bounce houses, and much more. This event is open to the community so please invite your family, friends, and neighbors. You can purchase tickets soon before and after school on the front steps. As a reminder, please send candy into your child's classroom for their booth. We also are in need of parent volunteers to work in each classroom booth. Sign up sheets will be located in your child's classroom. Look for more specific information to be coming your way.
Thank you once again for all you do to support the elementary teachers!
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