Tiger Tracks San Jose Christian School | January 20, 2015 This Week at SJCS See Sports Section for Practice & Game Schedule
Tuesday
1/20
Word of Mouth Training 2:30pm SJCS Auditorium Chess Wizards - 3:15pm | Rm 19 Boys Basketball Playoffs - see sports section for details
Wednesday
1/21
No Events
Thursday ORANGE CRUSH DAY!
1/22
Girls Basketball Playoffs - see sports section for details 8th Grade Graduation Photos
Friday
1/23
Attendance Line (408) 371-4815
Tiger Stripes Reflections on Who We Are by: Bart Den Boer Strategic Initiatives Part 6 This is the last article in a series reporting on some strategic objectives identified by Board, staff, and community members at our fall strategic planning sessions. I welcome your comments at bdenboer@sjchristian.org. Strategic Objective #4: Move Toward Competitive Teacher Compensation Teachers at SJCS are certified professionals, just like their colleagues at the public school down the street. Teachers at SJCS earn between 70% and 80% of public school teachers with similar experience and certification. Without a working spouse, the high cost of living in Silicon Valley makes it very difficult for SJCS teachers to take a long-term teaching position here. Our Board has committed to make teacher compensation at SJCS more competitive. Over the next few years, the Board intends to raise SJCS teacher salaries into the “80%-90% of public school� range. But why is this a strategic issue? Hiring and keeping good teachers long-term are necessary ingredients for building an excellent faculty. What is good, right and just for SJCS teachers is also the best for SJCS students and parents.
Calendar Corrections Be sure to take a look at the advanced dates section of the Tiger Tracks for the corrections to upcoming events at SJCS.
January Open House - This Saturday!
Lego Robotics - 3:15pm | Rm 20
This Saturday, January 24, we are hosting our second Open House event of the year. Please support the growth at SJCS by inviting friends and family. Attached to the Tiger Tracks you will find an invitation card to pass along. As you share your SJCS story remind your friends to ask about our New Family discounts!
Saturday
Community News
Frozen Friday - 12noon
1/23
Showdown - 5:30pm
As members of our community we want to share some news with you. Jack and Laura Veenstra have been SJCS supporters for many years. Earlier this month Jack passed away after a six-month battle with leukemia. Anyone interested in supporting the Veenstra family monetarily may write a check to: "Palo Alto CRC Benevolence," and send the check to: Palo Alto CRC Benevolence 687 Arastradero Road Palo Alto, CA 94306 please write "Benevolence - Veenstra" on the note portion of the check.
February 4
Annual Drive Update
Prospective Family Open House 10am - 1pm
Advanced Dates January 30 Tigers vs. Faculty - Basketball
Minimum Day - Early Dismissal at 11:45am
February 11 All School Open House (for new and current families) 6:30pm
We began the drive on December 1. In the past six weeks friends of SJCS have contributed more than $134,000 to support the mission of our school. Bless God; with a goal of $200,000 for the drive, we are more than two-thirds of the way! If you have already contributed, thank you! If you still need to get on board and help us the rest of the way, please consider how you might join in soon!
Tiger Tracks Correction Re-Enrollment Paperwork is being mailed home this week. We apologize for any confusion. The re-enrollment materials will be mailed home this week.
8th Grade Graduation Photos Still Light Studios will be taking 8th Grade Graduation photos on Thursday, January 22. Please remember to have boys dress in a button down shirt and tie. Both a formal and "street clothes" photo will be taken along with a class photo. Be sure to submit your completed order form including payment on the 22nd. Contact Mrs. Singh in the front office should you have any additional questions.
Spread the word… The SJCS Board is offering a 10% discount to new students enrolling in classes that, according to SJCS guidelines, currently have space for more students. This begins immediately and continues throughout the 2015-2016 school year.
January Series Lectures
What to Wear? We have two special days this week and we want you to support SJCS with what you wear. On Thursday, January 22 we want you to wear orange and support our girls basketball team heading into the playoffs in 1st place! Yes - this is an Orange Crush Day! On Saturday, January 24 we want you to wear your “Our Choice is SJCS” shirts. We will be hosting our Open House event and we want everyone, everywhere to to see our logo and ask folks about our school. You can then send them right over to the campus.
Tiger Cubs|Preschool News! Classroom Spotlight - Infant Care Amazing things are happening in our infant care room, and we’re thrilled with our outstanding teachers (and babies!). Entering the infant care, it’s easy to feel the joy and excitement that permeates everything in the classroom. At various times of day, a visitor could see students working on art projects, singing songs together at circle time, or even learning letters and numbers!
Every January, SJCS serves as a satellite location for a series of lectures from Calvin College. The talks are from renowned speakers and cover a wide range of topics. Hear from an amazing list of guest speakers. For a full list of speakers and topics, visit www.calvin.edu/january. January Series brochures are available in the office and on the credenza in the auditorium as well.
The infant care children (the “caterpillars”) get to learn and explore in an environment that is developmentally appropriate for their growing minds and bodies. They play outside, practice climbing, have story time, and learn Bible stories. It’s incredible to see how much fun learning can be, and all this happens with babies under two years old!
Spring Auction Planning Begins
We encourage you to tell your friends with infants about the wonderful things happening in infant care! We have a few spots open, and Betsy Phillips is available and excited to provide tours and information.
If you are interested in helping plan the upcoming Spring Auction please email bphillips@sjchristian.org. We are building the committee and need YOU!
Teacher Tales!
Check this section each week for exciting stories about teachers doing great things in the classrooms of SJCS.
Love Lives in Community
First graders from Mrs. Reeve’s class got to practice leadership and service as they led the Elementary School at chapel last week. First grade students opened and closed with prayer, introduced the guest speaker, helped with examples during the talk, led singing, and read scripture. It was a wonderful time of worship and community. Seeing students live out their faith and share that journey with their peers is one of the many things that makes our SJCS community unique and special. As they grow as believers, students are able to articulate what they believe and why. Examining each subject through a Biblical perspective helps students understand that faith is integrated into all that they do, and our first graders were an outstanding example of that last week.
Tiger Tracks Sports this week Girls Basketball: The Lady Tigers had a exceptional week going 3-0 defeating Baymonte, Achiever, and Campbell Christian to finish off an undefeated regular season! Led by a strong group of 8th graders, the Lady Tigers have conquered every challenge thrown their way thus far. Congratulations to all the girls on winning the BACSAL South Division title! Come out and support the Lady Tigers in their first playoff game this Thursday at Campbell Christian. This years Lady Tigers roster: Milan, Kathryn G., Katherine K., Elizabeth, Vasiliki, Carmelina, Izzy, Kelly, Sofia, Kate Girls Basketball This week: Tuesday: Practice 3:15-5:00 Wednesday: Practice 3:15-5:00 Thursday: Playoff game 3:30 @ Campbell Christian Friday: Practice 3:15-5:00
Boys Basketball: The Tigers beat Baymonte but lost to Achiever early last week. They had a great team win over Campbell Christian School last Thursday, 61-26. This was a must win for the Tigers to reach their goal of making it to the playoffs. The first unit played the first quarter pressuring the Eagles and forcing turnovers, which led to many fast break opportunities and gave the Tigers a 20-0 lead. The second unit played tough defense the next quarter and increased the lead. The third unit gained experience playing the third quarter. The 8th graders played the fourth quarter and enjoyed playing their last home game as a Tiger. Calvin ran the offense and led all scorers with 27 points.
The Tigers will try to extend their season by winning this afternoon against Tabernacle School in Clayton, CA. Please pray for the team as they focus on Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." This has been a rewarding season of growing in faith and love. Boys Basketball This week: Tuesday: Playoff game vs. Tabernacle School 4:00 Wednesday-Friday: TBA
Save the Date - January 30, 2015