THE LIGHTHOUSE - January 20, 2010
2009-2010 Theme Verse
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."John 13:34-35
A Note from our Head of School
Today the situation in Haiti is increasingly desperate and sadly, it is very likely to continue to worsen.
We have at least 24 students who have family or friends who live in Haiti.
Some of these family members and friends are known to be safe. Some relatives continue to be unaccounted for...a few are known to have died. All are dealing with severe dislocation and disruption in their lives.
We at South Shore Christian Academy feel deeply about the suffering emanating from the earthquake, especially the terrible loss of life and the harsh deprivation that those who survive will have to endure going forward.
This week our teachers will take the time to have prayer for Haiti during class. We will pray for God's mercy, comfort, protection and provision for those in Haiti. We will also pray for all those here who are affected by the tragedy.
Wednesday our chapel programs will devote some of our worship to prayer for Haiti. We will also take an offering next week during each chapel and send the offerings to World Vision.
Our goal is to make our students aware of the need for Christians to do all that we can to bring comfort and hope to the Haitian people who are in crisis.
We want our students to realize that by caring, praying and giving we can provide comfort to the hurting, give hope to the hopeless, and to move the survivors from relief to development with care and compassion. We do this because it is what the Lord would have us do.
Mrs. Trice's 5th grade class will have a bake sale to raise money for Haiti this Wednesday and Thursday.
I had the privilege to take 30 college students on a mission trip to Haiti almost twenty years ago. The trip was transformational. We worked hard for two weeks putting a roof on a Christian school there. Ministering to the school children was a wonderfully enriching spiritual experience for me as well as for the college students. My heart truly aches for what the people of that deprived country are enduring today.
Blessings,
Ted Chamberlain
Head of School
NEW AND UPTDATES
Lockdown
The staff and faculty of SSCA are committed to ensuring the safety of your children at all times. Your child/ren will be taking part in a safety measure called a lockdown. A lockdown would be used in the school in case of an external threat to the safety of our children, such as severe weather or a dangerous situation around or within the school. The faculty of the school has reviewed the lockdown safety plan with your child/ren already and on Friday, January 22 we will practice this safety plan on a whole school level.
School Play Auditions for Grades 9-12
Auditions for the play Robin Hood will take place at 2:45 Wednesday and Thursday in Mrs. Atwater's room. If you cannot come to either audition, please see Mrs. Atwater and set up a time during the school day.
Open House @ South Shore Christian Academy
Saturday, January 23, 2010 - 10:00am-1:00pm
South Shore Christian Academy invites interested parents and students to visit us during our Open House and learn more about our School, tour the Academy, visit classrooms, and meet our students, parents, faculty and staff.
SSCA is a Pre-K through 12th grade college preparatory school that encourages spiritual growth and stimulates high academic achievement. Latin is taught from Kindergarten through Grade 8.
For directions to South Shore Christian Academy please go to the SSCA homepage and click on 'map and directions.'
R.S.V.P. at 781.331.4340 x3312 or email: narchambault@southshorechristian.org.
Welcome to the Newest Member of our Board of Trustees
I am very pleased to announce that Ruthanne Smith-Mann has joined the Board of Trustees of South Shore Christian Academy. Ruthanne brings many gifts to the Board including her deep commitment to education. She earned a masters degree in education from Eastern Nazarene College ("ENC") and has taught in a variety of settings including at ENC. Currently she serves as ENC's Instructional Technologies Manager.
Ruthanne is an active member of the SSCA community. She and her husband Dave are the parents of Isaac and SSCA seventh grader Margaret. Ruthanne is currently serving on the Search Advisory Committee and she is a regular member of the prayer team that meets weekly to pray for SSCA. Ruthanne's connections with SSCA go back even further. In fact, she attended the Hunt School as a third grader in what is now Mrs. Stiles' science lab. Now, there is commitment!
Please join me in welcoming Ruthanne to her newest role at SSCA.
Lower School Reading Incentive
WANTED: Guest Readers
Do you like to read? Would you like to support our literacy efforts at SSCA? Can you volunteer a half-hour of your time sometime over the next 4 weeks?
If you answered yes to all of these questions, you are in luck! We have just the job for you. We are looking for readers from all walks of life to share in the excitement! If you are willing to read for our "READING ROUND-UP," we would love to have you read with us.
Simply call 781-331-4340 ext. 3320 to schedule your reading time with Cathy Whalen.
Choose the grade you'd like to visit and the time you have available. Bring your favorite book, or borrow one of ours, and spend some time sharing the love of reading with the Lower School children at South Shore Christian Academy.
Thanks for supporting our efforts in fostering a love of reading! We look forward to hearing from you!
The Lower School Staff
1-2-3 Magic for Christian Parents: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12 by Dr. Thomas W. Phelan
Seminar offered in the fall was a huge success!
Do you, or someone you know want to attend a 1-2-3 Magic Seminar? Mrs. Todd, SSCA Preschool Teacher, is happy to offer another session. If you would like to attend, please contact: ptodd@southshorechristian.org and indicate what day of the week would work best for you.
Here are a few comments:
"Thank you so much for conducting the 1-2-3 workshop. I for one am most relieved about not having to shout or threaten... and cannot get over the incredulous looks in our children's eyes because I stay calm, count to 3 and give them a time-out. They look almost relieved as they go to sit on the stool... relieved that there were no histrionics preceding their time-outs :) Thank you once again! I'll certainly keep you posted."
- SSCA Parent comment
..."a wonderful tool for parents who want to set firm, loving boundaries for their kids. I love how this plan is based on biblical principles - and best of all, it works!"
- Dr. Gary Smalley, author of I Promise
"This book is practical and helpful, and the humorous and memorable stories included make it a truly enjoyable read. 1-2-3 Magic for Christian Parents is written in simple language that is easily understood by most parents and that allows them to immediately apply the principles outlined in each chapter. As a licensed counselor, I liked the way problems with enforcing 1-2-3 method are anticipated and addressed. Answers to these problems are provided ahead of time so that parents will be prepared to handle them."
-Barbara Martin, LPC, LMFT, Clinic Coordinator/Supervisor, Reformed Theological Seminary
"1-2-3 Magic for Christian Parents is the user manual that should come with children. I wish I'd had it years ago!"
- Terri Blackstock, author of Last Night and Cape Refuge
www.parentmagic.com
Please contact ptodd@southshorechristian.org if you would like to be included in a future workshop.
SPORTS NEWS
The Varsity Girls' team is unbeaten this year, 10 - 0. The latest victory was over Provincetown, 61 -21. Last week they defeated Avon, 51 - 22. Leading in points are Juju Atwater with 15 and Katie Warren with 17.
The Varsity Boys record is currently 6 -6. Last week they won their games over Provincetown and Bristol. Andrew Guenard is leading the team with 13 points per game, Zach Shaughnessy with 12. Eighth grader, TJ Vazquez, had 24 and 17 points in the last two games.
Please check the SSCA website for game schedules.
REMINDERS:
Computer Keyboarding Classes for Grades 4 - 8
This class will run each Monday after school from 2:45 - 3:45pm for seven weeks, beginning on January 25th.
Elementary Spanish Classes
The second semester Spanish classes began on January 12 and go until the week of May 4 for experienced students (Tuesday/Thursday) and May 12 for the beginner students (Wednesday/Friday). Classes will not be held the during the weeks of February 15 and April 19 due to school vacations, and there are no classes on March 12, March 24, and April 2.
Lower School Dance Program
This program will begin on Monday, January 25, and is open to any student in grades 4-7. Classes are 2:45pm until 3:45pm. Students will be dismissed out the front door; please pick up promptly at the conclusion of dance class as any students in grades 4-5 will be sent to after care.
National Honor Society Baby Bottle Drive
The National Honor Society is holding a baby bottle drive for A Woman's Concern. This clinic provides help to pregnant women through counseling, support services, and education. Please fill up your baby bottles with any spare change or bills and return to the Main Office by January 26. Thank you.
South Shore Christian Academy SAT Prep Class
Date: January 23, 30/February 6, 20, 27/March 6
Time: 10 am-1 pm
The SAT prep class will start on Saturday, January 23. Students should come prepared with course materials specified by the instructors. Please enter through the front door.
Lunchroom Requests
Our Lunchroom coordinator has noticed some students have already eaten food meant for lunch during recess and come to lunch hungry. Although Mrs. Davy has a supply of food for emergencies, she wants to make sure each student has enough to eat. Please make sure your child has sufficient food each day for lunch.
Thank you.
Update on Watching for School Cancellations
Channels 4 & 7 will list South Shore Christian Academy on the TV listings as well as on their websites. Channel 5 will only list SSCA on their website.
Inclement Weather Policy
In the event of inclement weather or an emergency, please check the school web site as the first means of notification. In addition, South Shore Christian Academy's name will be announced on major television stations for no school/delay of school announcements. The third means of notification will be the Honeywell "Instant Alert" system. Please be sure your Honeywell information is up-to-date.
The decision to cancel, delay, or release school is not taken lightly, and is decided primarily for the safety of the students. If, as a parent, you feel that the driving conditions are unsafe due to inclement weather and school has not been canceled, please call and notify the Main Office. This will be considered an excused absence.