December Calendar

Jan. 11: Grades go home

Jan.16: Return parent signature pages for grades

Jan. 17: New Family Orientation Meeting

Jan. 18: Parent Meeting

Welcome Back!

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas break and we are excited to welcome several new families this semester to OCS!

Grades

Grades will be sent home tomorrow, Wednesday, January 11^th. Parents, please sign and return one copy of the grades in the envelope we provide by Monday, January 16^th. Please remember that all money owed to the office must be paid before grades can be sent home with students. Thank you!

Library News

Mrs. Graber is reminding students that all books checked out during Christmas break need to be returned or renewed right away, so you can avoid paying late fines. Also, all fines must be paid before students can receive their grades tomorrow. Thank you!

New Family Orientation

We are having an orientation for all new families (including those who came later last semester) on Tuesday, January 17^th, at 1:30. We need to have at least one parent from each family present please, and if you have secondary students, they could attend, if desired. Please try to come, but if you cannot, please contact the office. Thank you!

Parent Meeting

We are having a parent meeting next Wednesday, January 18^th at 1:30. We really need to have at least one parent for each family present, if at all possible, please. Please contact the office if you are unable to come.

Kleenex

We are asking that all Secondary students please bring in one box of Kleenex for this semester. You can drop them off in the office. Thank you!

Kindergarten

If you have children or know of someone who does have a child of kindergarten age and is interested in joining the OCS kindergarten program for the 2012-13 school-year, please contact the office and let us know. We are beginning to make preparations for next year. The age requirements for preschool and kindergarten are: Preschool: 4 by Sept 1st and kinder: 5 by Sept 1st.  There are no exceptions for the age requirements. If preschool, they need to be here at least two years before promoting to first grade. 

Camera Battery Needed

We have a Cannon Power Shot Camera SD700IS. Unfortunately, we don't have the charger for it's battery. If anyone has the same or a similar camera we would like to borrow the charger to charge our battery. Please contact the Grabers.

November Calendar
Nov 28:  Progress Reports
Dec. 15:  Christmas program
Dec. 16:  Last day of school for the year
 
Progress Reports
Secondary Progress Reports went home yesterday.  You will no longer be required to sign and return them to the office.  The copy you receive, you get to keep.  All money owed to the office and library must be paid before they can receive them.
 
Terranova Standardized Testing
OCS will be offering Terranova Standardized Testing in the spring of 2012.  We need to order the tests soon, so if any 1st-10th grade homeschool students would like to join in the testing, please contact the office by this Friday, December 2nd.  There will be a fee for this test for non-OCS students, but we will inform you later as to how much.
 
Kindergarten
If you have children or know of someone who does have a child of kindergarten age and is interested in joining the OCS kindergarten program for the 2012-13 school-year, please contact the office and let us know.  We are beginning to make preparations for next year.   The age requirements for preschool and kindergarten are: Preschool: 4 by Sept 1st and kinder: 5 by Sept 1st.  There are no exceptions for the age requirements. If preschool, they need to be here at least two years before promoting to first grade.

Christmas Concert
The OCS Christmas concert will be held on Thursday, December 15th at 6:00pm.   Mrs. Swank is still in need of 2 parent helpers.  They will need to help with decorations, set-up and clean-up, coordinating refreshments and possibly helping put together a paper program for the event.
 
Christmas trees and lights
Mrs. Swank would like to borrow Christmas trees and lights to decorate for the Christmas program.  If you have an extra one or would be willing to bring yours in for the program on December 15th, please let the office know.  Thank you!
 
Calendars for Sale
The Junior/Senior classes are selling calendars to raise money for their end of the year trip.  The calendars are beautifully made with pictures of different Indigenous arts that are made all over Mexico. No matter where you hang one up, you will have something interesting to look at every month of the year!
If you would like to order some calendars, please send them an email at: anders.carrizo@gmail.com with the number of calendars you would like. Each calendar costs 100 pesos and can be paid to the Junior and Senior class.
 
They are also offering a "Santa Clause" service. If you would like any calendars sent to friends or family in the States they would be happy to mail them--if you provide the address--but the cost would then be raised to 130 pesos each calendar to pay for shipping. They will do the handling.  Thank you for your support!
Poinsettias for Sale

The Junior/Senior class will be selling poinsettias after the Christmas program on December 15th.  More details to follow, but we are thinking about 60 pesos per plant.  Please let us know if you would like one or more by writing to xmexrocks@gmail.com.  Thank you!

September/October Calendar
Sept. 29th- Progress Reports
Oct. 16th- PSAT (10th-11th grade)
Oct. 29th – 1st Qtr ends
Oct. 31st – Return to Std. Time
 
IPOD/MP3 Player:
The school would like to purchase a used IPOD or MP3 Player, etc.  We want to plug it into our sound system with a headphone jack, so that we can use it for ringing the bells between classes.  If you have an old model that has a program for setting schedules, that you would be willing to sell, please contact the school office.  Thank you!
 
DVDs Needed:
Anne Thiessen needs to know if anyone has the movies, Chariots of Fire or Gandhi.  She would like to borrow them.  Please call her at:  951-145-8945.
 
Library News:
Two additional Novels of Redwall by Brian Jacques have been added to the Sharon Meier Library.
          -Loamhedge
          -High Rhulain
Also available is a 2 DVD set on the new SAT.
 
Friday Lunch
The Jr./Sr.  Classes will be serving a German noodle and cheese casserole tomorrow for lunch.  Cost= 25 Pesos.
 
Van for Rent?
Does anyone have one or two 12-15 passenger vans that they would be willing to rent from November 8 to November 14. I'd rather pay you than a rental company. Please contact Jeffrey Simons, freesimons@gmail.com, 951-126-2399.
 
US Mail:  Wendy Nellis can take mail out Oct. 3rd. Please have all stamped US mail to the OCS office by Friday Oct. 1st.
 
Appliances Needed: The Trent family is looking for major appliances such as a stove and refrigerator.
 
Need help cleaning and/or cooking in your home? Rosa (the Shaver's maid) has some 1/2 days available.  Rosa is an excellent cook.  Contact her at 515-7345.  For references contact Lorri Scholten or Nancy Manoly.

Core values. Core values are what makes you what you really are. What’s important to you? What will you fight for? What will you die for?

As Christians, our core values come from the Bible, God’s holy and powerful Word. At OCS, the four core values we embrace are Respect, Integrity, Value and Unity. This spells R-I-V-U. Respect those older than you, your peers and those younger than you. Have integrity. Be consistent and dependable. Keep your word. Do what is right. Value means you do things, claim things, and buy things that last, not because they are cheapest or quickest or easiest. Strive for unity with your friends and family. Stay together, keep short accounts, give and receive forgiveness and grace. Like the Bible says, be one.

As missionaries and MKs, we are always encountering change. This can be really hard at times. Friends leave. We move and constantly have to adjust our lives. The school moves. Sometimes teachers come and go. If your foundation is in God’s Word, if you have the right core values, then it is easier to deal with change.

If you think about it, the only thing that doesn’t change in our lives is God. “For I, the Lord, do not change…” (Malachi 3:6). With God there are no earthquakes or mudslides or protests. Our foundation in life is solid and will never change.

So claim your core values and base them on God and His Word. Then go forward with confidence because God will guide you. No regrets.

Former OCS Principal, David Shaver