Bits and Pieces of Info to Make Life on the Ranch Easier to Manage

Whats Happening Around Town In Ephesians 5:16, we are commanded to redeem the time. The word redeem has the idea of snatching from loss. As we finish the last two weeks of school, the students and I are working on making the most of our time. We have discussed the importance of being diligent workers and have attempted to be doers of Gods Word by focusing our eyes on Jesus and finishing the course of work He has given us to do to the best of our ability! We covet your prayers as we make the most of our last nine days together! As school winds down for the year, we are focusing on writing using our knowledge of special sounds and long and short vowel rules. During the summer, please provide opportunities for your child to write. You might want to consider allowing him or her to help write the shopping list and check off items as you shop or keep a journal of a fun family activity you do each day. The students love to read and write and are becoming proficient at using their brave spelling! As I close, I want to mention two other items of importance. Your child will be able to take home and keep his or her entire set of reading circle readers, and I encourage you to continue to proceed through any unfinished reader and review all the books we completed during the school year while you are at home this summer! I will also be sending home extra supplies and belongings in the coming weeks, so please watch for them! Savoring the last moments, Miss Hult

Answers to Questions on the Ranch

A: Our kindergarten graduation ceremony will begin at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, May 25 in the ACA auditorium. You may find your seats in the auditorium after you drop your child off at the usual time (8:00 a.m.). There will be rows of seats at the front of the auditorium which will be reserved for all of our kindergarten students, so please help yourselves to any of the seats further back in the auditorium. You will have several opportunities to get pictures of your child during the ceremony as well as immediately following the ceremony, before the reception. So, dont forget your camera!

A: Well, I do not know much, but I will be glad to share the tidbits I do know with you! Mrs. Ellis is retiring and will not be returning next year! We wish her the best! At this point, Mrs. Dressen plans to return, but we do not know the final number of students who have already enrolled to know what the class size will be next year. It is our hope that we will continue to have two kindergarten and first grade classes next year! If so, decisions will be made in August concerning class rosters. If you have input regarding the roster for next year, you are welcome to let me know. I try to make note of your thoughts and pass it along! I trust God will richly bless us as we all wait on Him to direct us as to the rosters for next year!

Upcoming Lessons and Skills

Gentleness; One anothers of Scripture - oo (book); wor (worm); igh (night) - Kenya - Subtracting one; counting by ones, tens, fives, and twos; identifying nickels, dimes, pennies, and quarters - Materials (What are glass and plastic like?)

A Bible Course Map for the Upcoming Week

- A Harsh King and a Gentle King (1 Kings 12:12-17; Zech. 9:9; Mt. 11:28-30) Rehoboam was a harsh and cruel king. The Israelites, also known as Jews, had become used to living under the authority of harsh kings or rulers. In fact, at the time that Zechariah lived, the Jewish people had just been released from living in slavery in Babylon and had been allowed to go back to Jerusalem. Zechariah encouraged the people by telling them that they could look forward to the coming of another king. He told them the coming king would bring salvation, and righteousness. He also said the new king would be gentle and come to them riding on a donkey. He was talking about Jesus. When Jesus did come, the Jews were still waiting for their Messiah or Saviour. They were expecting an earthly king, but God sent a heavenly king. Jesus told the people He was gentle and humble and that He would carry their burdens and give them a light yoke. He was reminding them that He would not be a harsh and cruel ruler, but a kind and gentle leader. Jesus came to save the Jewish people from their sins and He came to do that for us, too. - Warm Fuzzies and Cold Pricklies Scavenger Hunt Object Lesson (Psm. 19:14; Prov. 3:31-32; 1 Thess. 5:11) - Gentleness is Contagious (Eph. 4:2-3; Prov. 22:2425; Luke 6:31) We often begin to treat others the same way that they treat us. The Bible says we are not to make friends with a hot-tempered person or we will learn to act like them. It also says we are not to envy a violent man or choose to act like him because God is not happy when people are violent. God's basic instructions on how to treat people are found in the Bible. Jesus tells us we are to love others as we love ourselves and we are to treat others the way you would like to be treated (Matthew 22:39, Luke 6:31). It is much more pleasant to be with friends and family members who are gentle and gracious than those who are harsh and unforgiving. - Gentle Words are Gods Bandages (Prov. 15:1; 16:24; 12:18.) The Bible tells us that we accomplish more by responding to those who are cruel or angry with gentleness. When people lash out and say hurtful things, it is often because they have pain in their hearts. God wants us to be people who say kind things that will help heal the hurt in others. Kind words are like God s bandages for people who have bleeding hearts.

Spotlighting Students and Volunteers

I want to extend my deepest, most heartfelt thanks your way for all who made Teacher Appreciation Week so special for me! I felt so blessed that you were willing to serve in a variety of ways, and that was a tremendous encouragement to my heart! The extra time to complete tasks was a HUGE help! So, thank you for everything you have done this week and ALL throughout the year! I also wish to thank those who helped with Track and Field Day! It was great to have you join us, and we could not have done it without your help! Thank you so very much!

Sunday, May 13 - Happy Mothers Day! Thank you for being such a SPECIAL bunch of mothers to work with this year! You have been THE most tremendous blessing! Tuesday, May 15 - Annual ACA Meeting - all parents are invited to attend! Friday, May 25 - Kindergarten Graduation - 8:45 a.m.