Christmas Break

vol 2 – Issue 13 December 15, 2011

Library Books

A number of students have checked out books over the first semester (a good thing), but have neglected to bring them back (not so good) so that others could also enjoy them. Please take a look around to see if you might have school library books at your home. They have the school’s name and’ or a barcode label on the outside front or back. If you find such, please bring them back to the school so that we can complete an inventory over the Christmas break.

Hot Lunch Update

We want to thank parents for purchasing meal plans in advance or as meals are ordered. We are trying to keep the cost of the program relatively low, at the same time, offering meals that are of good quality and good quantity. This is a task more simply managed when accounts are not in arrears.

9/10 Party

The 9^th and 10^th grade students have been invited to a party at the Laubach’s home this coming Monday evening. There will be the usual “this is a party” food and games. Mr. and Mrs. Laubach always do a dandy job of ringing in the Christmas vacation so if you are in the high school class, you won’t want to miss that activity.

Wanting to be Busy?

If, as this vacation looms large, you find yourself looking for something to keep you busy, we do have a few small tasks that will be going on at the school. We would like to install mini-computer labs in three of the classrooms. We have a gymnasium floor to line and finish, basketball standards to set up, and leaves – more leaves than you can think of – to rake and toss. If you would like to give some time to any of these or other projects that we need to get busy on, please give us a call so that we can use your service.

Basketball Coaches Found for Boys

We have coaches who have stepped up to the plate to coach our basketball, and will start scheduling games for those teams very soon. To date we have coaches for both boys’ teams. The grades 6 (5 can some out if they can keep up) to 8 team practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5. The grades 8 (7 can play if they can make the cut) to 10 team will practice on the same days from 5:30 to 7. We will try to schedule all games for those days, as well. We are still seeking applicant to coach our girls’ teams.

December

15 TCJA Christmas Program 6:30pm

19 9/10 Party at the Laubach’s

19-J2 Christmas Break

January

3 School Resumes

16 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – no school

20 Last day of 2^nd Quarter

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Mr. O’s Pick…

Sasha – I want to thank you for being extremely helpful, polite, and respectful. Teachers and students alike appreciate you. I appreciate how much you seem to enjoy school, and how you take pride in your schoolwork and in all of your activities. Because of your excellent school spirit, you can have the first freebie muffin of 2012 on Tuesday, the 3^rd.

Hot Lunch This Coming Week…

Lunches run at $3.00 a meal. A student favorite is the lunch where we offer big franks, grillers, or black bean burgers with a side of fries or chips – different days, different offers. Because this is served at least once a week and sometimes twice a week, we will call this the TCJA lunch… For a catchy way to remember it, we’ll call it McTCJA.

On all days, fresh veggies and deserts are on the side for children to choose. Below is the menu for tomorrow through January 6:

Friday, D-16^th…McTCJA

Tuesday, J-3^rd … pasta & veggieballs

Wednesday, 4^th … soup and biscuit

Thursday, 5^th … hoagies

Friday, 6^th … McTCJA

If you would like to make a request for a preferred menu item, please put your ideas in at the office. We are toying with making one day a week, “foods from around the world” with the first of those being a Ukrainian lunch, featuring peroghies. What do you think about that idea?

Principal’s Corner…

I talked to two little boys on the playground. Both were unhappy. One claimed the other had hit him, and I asked if it was so. “Yes,” said the little accused, “I hit him. But he was laughing at me, so I got mad…” Such reasoning is amusing when it comes from children on a playground when they are only 6 year-olds. It falls apart as they age, though, doesn’t it? And yet I hear adolescents and adults who claim that their misbehavior is justified because of their having been provoked. Provocation doesn’t hold as an excuse in our courts and it won’t hold in God’s either. I know he says “become as a little child” but I seriously doubt that this is one of the areas he wants us to be like them.

……..………Remember indoor Shoes in the new year………………..

Almost Break...

vol 2 – Issue 12 December 8, 2011

ASB Host Movie Night

This Saturday night TCJA’s ASB is hosting a Christmas-themed Movie Night. We will be showing two movies: How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Polar Express. Snacks and drinks will be provided, and there is going to be a raffle, so a few lucky students will walk away with some fun prizes! We hope to see you there!

Christmas Concert

Remember that this year’s Christmas program, held December 15, will primarily feature the students in the elementary grades. The program begins at 6:30 and should last a little longer than an hour. The Home & School Association is also inviting parents to bring out some favorite refreshments to share following the program.

Indoor Shoes Reminder

As noted in our handbook, everyone from grades 1 through 10 is expected to have proper footwear for PE activities. When we come back from Christmas Break, we are asking all students to be in compliance. If this creates an undue hardship, please contact the office. Thank you.

Dress for the Outdoors

The Kennewick Spanish church is hosting a food sale at their church building Sunday, December 11^th from 10:00am 2:00pm. They will be serving up platefuls of enchiladas, rice, beans, salad, and dessert. A family of four can pick up trays for $25.00, while individual meals are $7.00. For those who eat there (as opposed to taking the meal home), drinks are included. The proceeds are going to help the church raise their worthy student funds, so come on out to support this worthwhile venture. If you have any questions please feel free to call 509-551-7527.

Principal’s Corner…

Perhaps the most exciting thing I see in my own home is when my children enjoy being with each other. My daughter got her first paycheck from her career job, nursing, and she took her brother to lunch to celebrate. Even though I was working, not invited, and not in attendance, I was so pleased that she did that. I think that God feels like I did at that time – he is ecstatic when he sees his children doing extra to get along nicely. I want to thank our students for being intentionally nice to each other. God smiles when he sees you strive to include everyone.

December

10 ASB Movie Night… 6:00pm start

15 TCJA Christmas Program 6:30pm

19-J2 Christmas Break

January

3 School Resumes

16 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – no school

20 Last day of 2^nd Quarter

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Mr. O’s Pick…

When we hosted our music assembly, I was telling Noni Mosher that I would like her to do a mini-violin recital one day for assembly. “I have my violin here today.” she said. “Would you like me to play?” Just like that, without accompaniment, she played in the program. I asked her if she was nervous and she said that she was a bit – but she played through it. Thank you so much Noni for wanting to get involved with life – even on short notice. Your Muffin is on us this coming Monday.

Hot Lunch This Coming Week…

Every lunch features fresh veggies along with a balanced meal and a small desert. We list for you the main attraction, which varies from day to day… Below are the meals that will be served up for the next six days:

Friday, 2^nd … pizza…

Monday, 5^th … cheesy potato casserole & nuggets

Tuesday, 6^th … stacks o’hay

Wednesday, 7^th … mashed taters & veggieballs

Thursday, 8^th … stroganoff & string beans

Friday, 9^th … grillers, blck bean brgrs or franks

Thank you for remembering to either buy a hot lunch card or for paying in advance. If you need to check your hot lunch balance, just call us at the office. Thank you.

Mr. O’s Puzzler

Last Week’s Answer – No one turned in the correct answer – it was Pilates (the exercise) and with an apostrophe, Pilate’s (the woman warning her husband about a crime he is about to commit).

This Week’s Puzzle (I’ll take one K-4^th grade winner and one 5^th through 10^th winner)– After writing nonsense about felines who wear headgear, or different ways to serve eggs, and various other silliness this self-proclaimed Doctor was asked to help the nation’s Department of Education develop a better reading program

...and it's December

vol 2 – Issue 11 December 1, 2011

School Doing Church Service at Kennewick Spanish

This Sabbath our students and staff will be putting on the church service at the Kennewick Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Service begins at 11:45, a little later than many of us are used to, and we are asking those students who will be participating to be there by 11:30. Following the worship service we have been invited to participate in a potluck lunch hosted by the church members. We are also asked to bring some of our own favorite dishes to contribute to the meal. The church is on Washington Street (301 South Washington).

Christmas Concert

This year’s Christmas program, held December 15, will primarily feature the students in the elementary grades. The program begins at 6:30 and should last a little longer than an hour. Followed by refreshments, you could be done by about 8:00, so come on out for a fun evening.

Indoor Shoes Needed

As our Physical Education classes have moved indoors, it has become apparent very quickly that there is more work to taking care of a wood floor than there is to taking care of a cement floor. One of the problems we encounter is when things such as rocks or mud from outside are slid across the wood. For this reason, we are asking that students bring indoor PE shoes to be stored in their lockers for just this use. The shoes do not need to be new – just clean. We also ask that the soles be non-marking. We would like to have this in place by this coming Monday. Thank you.

Dress for the Outdoors

Even though we will have much of our Physical Education activity indoors for the next few months, we still like to head out of doors whenever the weather cooperates a bit (or in the case of snow, even when it doesn’t cooperate) to play. Parents, remember to dress your children with jackets and gloves (mitts) to play outdoors. Most recesses will happen there all year long.

Annual Bake Sale…

This Friday the Grade 1 & 2 class is selling baked goods for ADRA Relief. Every dollar raised by the class has $6 added to it by other donors so the benefits add up quickly. Bring spare change to buy sweet things.

December

2 Grades 1 & 2 ADRA Benefit Bakesale

3 TCJA Church Program @ Kennewick Spanish

15 TCJA Christmas Program 6:30pm

19-J2 Christmas Break

January

3 School Resumes

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Mr. O’s Pick…

I asked Mrs. Canaday if she has a student who is just all around the most helpful, and without any hesitation, she said that Mackenzie Wright helps everyone, everywhere. We want to thank you for being so quick to make the lives of others meaningful, Mackenzie. Your Monday Muffin is on us.

Hot Lunch This Coming Week…

With the lunches coming back over to TCJA, we have a new menu… Below are the meals that will be served up for the next six days:

Friday, 2^nd … Grillers or Franks & Fries…

Monday, 5^th … Pasta & Garlic Bread

Tuesday, 6^th … Hoagies

Wednesday, 7^th … Burritos & Rice

Thursday, 8^th … Grillers, Blck Bean Brgrs or Franks

Friday, 9^th … Pizza

Remember that you are expected to carry a hot lunch card, pay in advance, or bring cash to order hot lunches. Also, if you have a meal suggestion that you would like to see us serve, please bring those ideas in to the office. Thank you.

Muffins…

Students like them and they’ve been a big hit, but they need to be picked up at the start of lunch or after the school day. Students are staggering in at all times during the lunch period, even when they should be headed to class, so we will only serve them for the first ten minutes of each lunch period. Thank you for adjusting.

Mr. O’s Puzzler

Last Week’s Answer – Lane brought it in.

This Week’s Puzzle – Place an apostrophe somewhere in this word, which is typically an exercise, and you have a woman warning her husband about a crime he is about to commit.

Ready 4 Break

vol 2 – Issue 10 November 17, 2011

Inclement Weather Policy

While we do not get the Montana Snows, the Dakota Winds or the Alaska Temperatures, we do occasionally encounter freezing rain conditions or thaws and freezes which could make the hours we come to school especially hazardous. On days where the weather is deemed rotten, listen early in the morning to KONA 610AM radio, 105.3FM radio, or KNDU 25 television for updates as to whether or not the school is running on time, delaying, or shutting down for the day. You can also check the schools website – we will post on the scrolling bar. Finally, you can call the school – if we delay or close, it will be announced on our phone answering system.

Generally, as a matter of liability control, we will do whatever the Pasco Public School System is doing. Please note that when a 2-hour delay is posted, we really mean to say that we will begin at 10:00am.

ASB Student-led Week of Prayer

We have been experiencing our student led week of prayer this past week. The ASB has coordinated the entire week’s worship activities for us. The speakers have been Lexi Scotson, Connor Smith, Derick Menendez, and Madison Waldo. Tomorrow, Catherine Harwood will close out the week. It has been neat hearing the students sharing their own experiences.

Music Concert This Evening

This evening our various music groups will be performing in a concert at TCJA, starting at 7:00. Come out to hear our bands, choirs and bell choruses.

ASB Ice Skating

We will be participating during public skate time, which is from 3:00pm until 5:00pm. Admission to the event is $6 and skate rentals are $2. Transportation will be available for those who would like, with the bus leaving TCJA at 2:30pm and returning to the school by 5:45pm.

Please pick up an information/permission slip from Mr. Saxby if you are interested in attending.

Missing Library Books…

Many library books have ben checked out this year but not checked back in. If you can look through books that you may have taken home, please

Also, we do have a limited number of unsold boxes of fruit. If you are interested in purchasing one of these, please contact the office.

November

17 Music Department Fall Concert 7:00pm

21-25 Thanksgiving Break

December

2 Grades 1 & 2 ADRA Benefit Bakesale

3 TCJA Church Program @ Kennewick Spanish

15 TCJA Christmas Program 6:30pm

19-J2 Christmas Break

January

3 School Resumes

Short Month

vol 2 – Issue 9 November 10, 2011

ASB Coordinates Ice Skating Party

On the Sunday before Thanksgiving Break officially begins (November 20), the ASB is coordinating a skating event at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. We will be participating during public skate time, which is from 3:00pm until 5:00pm. Admission to the event is $6 and skate rentals are $2. Transportation will be available for those who would like, with the bus leaving TCJA at 2:30pm and returning to the school by 5:45pm.

Please pick up an information/permission slip from Mr. Saxby if you are interested in attending.

Citrus Fruit Available for Pickup

The Citrus Fruit is already wending its way here from Florida and should arrive for unloading and sorting this Saturday evening. On Sunday, from 1:00 until 3:00, you will be able to swing by and pick your fruit up. We anticipate getting it all out of the gym in the one afternoon.

Also, we do have a limited number of unsold boxes of fruit. If you are interested in purchasing one of these, please contact the office.

Church Services put on by TCJA

We were only seven students shy of 100% student participation at the Richland church this past Sabbath. We wish to express our gratitude to parents for making it possible for the children to come out and participate in these worship programs that we do each year in our constituent churches. The Richland Church was full to overflowing, and the student groups all did a wonderful job. Our next school-led church service will be held in the Kennewick Spanish SDA church on December 3, 2011.

Tribute Breakfast and Program

Remember that this Friday (tomorrow), November 11, we will be in school to commemorate a special day, honoring grandparents and Veterans. Breakfast will be served from 7:00 until 8:20am. At about 8:30, our students will put on a service which will last about an hour.

Teacher Moves On

When Quijuana Oucharek stepped up to teach Health & World Foods and to coach gymnastics & volleyball, we knew that we would only have her until she moved to a nursing post. Well, we got through the first quarter of school, but now we will have to revert to the original schedule with Mr. O picking up those classes. Good luck in your nursing career Ms. O.

November

11 Veterans & Grandparents Tribute Breakfast

13 Pick up Citrus (from gym) 1:30 – 3:00pm

14-18 ASB (student-led) Fall Week of Prayer

15 SWLC Thanksgiving Program 6:30pm

17 Music Department Fall Concert

21-25 Thanksgiving Break

December

2 Grades 1 & 2 ADRA Benefit Bakesale

3 TCJA Church Program @ Kennewick Spanish

15 TCJA Christmas Program 6:30pm

19-J2 Christmas Break

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Mr. O’s Pick…

Alyssa Bezzini is the pick of the week for bravely standing up and delivering the Children’s Story at Richland Church this past Sabbath. You can pick up your SotW Muffin at the Principal’s office on Monday.

Free Kittens…

The Shearer’s have had a litter of feral kittens living in their back yard & shed that they managed to catch and somewhat tame. They are still shy, but they are also very loving and playful. These two little boys need new homes! They are kind of a gray, tabby stripe color. If you are interested, email us or call Jennefier Shearer at 509/783-0360. Also, she is willing to send a phone pic (Jennefier@frontier.com).

Though they are not sure how old the kittens are, they do know that they have NOT been to see a vet.

Looking to Fill Some Holes…

I have up to 5 groups of basketball players for this season, but I have an extreme shortage of coaches. If you have some skill as a basketball coach, you have the time to commit to coaching, and you are interested in coaching basketball for us this year, please submit your application with Mr. O., who serves as our athletic director..

Mr. O’s Puzzler

Last Week’s Answer – water.

This Week’s Puzzle – When we are really young and when we are really old, this face means little to us. In between that, however, this face is often the most important one that we see each day. Though it never speaks to us, it tells us important stuff. Every year, it becomes increasingly important to us, until one day, we finally just don’t care.

Oct-over

vol 2 – Issue 8 October 27, 2011

Citrus Fundraiser

This year we are again planning to sell tree-ripened, fresh Florida citrus fruit. We will have oranges, tangerines, red grapefruit and a variety box. Orders need to be in to the office with payment by Monday, October 31. Call the office for pricing and to place orders.

Funds raised will be used to help defray the cost to students for all of the extracurricular offerings that we have at the school.

Parent Teacher Conferences

This coming Wednesday and Thursday dismissal will be at 1:00 so that parents can come in and meet with teachers about student grade reports and general student performance. Babysitting is not available at the school, however, after-school care is an option over at Small World Learning Center. Additionally, we will provide study hall care for no additional charge at our library for those 13 and older, however this is a study hall. Students who are not there to study will be removed to a different level of care. This care will be charged at the standard daycare rate.

School to put on Church Service at Richland SDA

All of the students from kindergarten through 10^th grade will participate in the worship service at Richland Seventh-day Adventist Church on Sabbath, November 5. It seems appropriate that the children do this worship service in this church on this day, as later in the day, there will be a memorial service for Dr. McNeil, a Richland school board member for many years, and a strong supporter of Adventist education. Please plan to bring your children out to this program and plan to stay and participate in the worship with us.

Tribute Breakfast and Program

On November 11, the rest of the country is taking a day off from school to commemorate Veterans Day. Here at TCJA, we come to school and make the day a special one for our students, for grandparents and for Veterans. We start by serving breakfast from 7:00 until 8:20. Then, at about 8:30, our students will put on a service which will last about an hour. In the past the freshman/sophomore class has hosted the entire breakfast, but this year our Home and School is preparing the meal and our World Foods, serving.

Football Team Returns

Our football team had a wonderful time in Canada. Even though we played with only 6 players, we were able to win three of our games. We lost one.

October

17-21 Red Ribbon Week

25 End of First Quarter

27 Picture Retakes

November

2-3 Parent/Teacher Conferences - 1:00 DISMISSAL

11 Veterans & Grandparents Tribute Breakfast

17 Music Department Fall Concert

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Mr. O’s Pick…

Mike Denniston and Liz Thompson – thanks for hanging in there and laying sod with the adults, long after your peers headed home. Your muffins will be waiting for you at the Principal’s office on Monday.

Football Players Heading to Canada…

Remember that you will be leaving tomorrow (Friday) around 11:00am. You are responsible for getting all the assignments that you will miss.

Mr. O’s Puzzler

Last Week’s Answer – a 13^th floor. No one turned in the answer.

This Week’s Puzzle – this letter indicates that the website you are on probably meets stringent codes that make them less likely to be hacked.

This is just to remind you that the school will dismiss at 1:00 on November 2^nd and 3^rd for Parent teacher conferences

mid-october

vol 2 – Issue 7 October 20, 2011

Sod Goes In

A handful of volunteers showed up to help at the school yesterday, and together with our students who each had several class periods taken to help with the project, we laid in about 42,000 square feet of the projected 58,000 that we have to put down. Today we dropped in another 10,000 feet, but there is still a bit to do. If you have the time either this afternoon or Friday, we could use some help to complete this project. Our goal has been to get the sod in place in time to take advantage of the last of our irrigation season so that coupled with the expected winter rains we will have nice grass, come spring.

Biology Class Benefit Supper

The biology class would like to thank those who came out and supported the supper fundraiser that they held as an add-on to the ABC book sale. They were able to put away about $450 towards their year-end biology trip to Rosario and area. They are still looking for other ideas to help raise funds, so if you know of any winners, please contact Mr. Laubach.

HS PE Class Goes Golfing

The 9^th and 10^th grades PE class will be going to Pasco Golfland this coming Monday afternoon to take in a round of golf. We are looking for parents who might be available to golf the round with us. We plan to start around 1:00pm. Students should be ready for pickup after 3:15 at the golf course.

Sports Update

The volleyball and football games that were postponed from last weekend at TCJA (with Palisades) will take place this Sunday. Volleyball will be at noon, and football will follow right after (approximately 1:00). Meanwhile, half of our football team will be travelling up to Canada where they will be playing in the annual BC Junior Flag Football youth Rally and tournament. Sounds like a big weekend for everyone.

Red Ribbon Week

This coming week is Red Ribbon Week. We will have special presenters and activities going on all week long. Three days – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – we will have special presentations at 8:30 each morning, so you won’t want to be late for any of those activities.

Congrats Volleyball and Soccer

Our girls placed 9^th (out of 20 teams) and the boys placed 12^th (out of 15) at the Walla Walla University Friendship tournament. Much improved from last year’s last in each.

October

17-21 Red Ribbon Week

25 End of First Quarter

27 Picture Retakes

November

2-3 Parent/Teacher Conferences - 1:00 DISMISSAL

11 Veterans & Grandparents Tribute Breakfast

17 Music Department Fall Concert

………………………………………………….

Mr. O’s Pick…

Mike Denniston and Liz Thompson – thanks for hanging in there and laying sod with the adults, long after your peers headed home. Your muffins will be waiting for you at the Principal’s office on Monday.

Football Players Heading to Canada…

Remember that you will be leaving tomorrow (Friday) around 11:00am. You are responsible for getting all the assignments that you will miss.

Mr. O’s Puzzler

Last Week’s Answer – a 13^th floor. No one turned in the answer.

This Week’s Puzzle – this letter indicates that the website you are on probably meets stringent codes that make them less likely to be hacked.

This is just to remind you that the school will dismiss at 1:00 on November 2^nd and 3^rd for Parent teacher conferences