URCS Midnight Madness

Friday, Nov. 28th is Upper Room Christian School's annual Midnight Madness Varsity vs Alumni games! They action starts at 9:30 pm in our beautiful gym and ends at 12 midnight. This is a time where many of our alumni return for a fun night of basketball and fellowship.

The snack bar will be open and serving hot dogs, hamburgers, snacks and drinks and there will be contests and door prizes given out. The cost for the event is $3 for students and $5 for guests. We are looking forward to seeing many of our former students and also looking forward to the games which are always highly competitive.

Change for Change

We are so excited to be back to school! Part of the excitement is the opportunity the school gives each student for community service. In the picture above URCS graduate Lauren Barnes (a senior at the time) is shown with sister Cathy Smith, a few of her children and a News 12 reporter at the Children of Hope mission in Wyandanch. Lauren was spearheading a mentoring program between the school and the mission.

For one of our projects this year we are partnering with Cablevision's Charity Champions program to raise money to help feed those in need. We call it "Change for Change". Each student brings in loose change or an item of non-perishable food to be distributed to over 1,000 needy people from all over the Long Island area.

Surely the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts and hallways and we have a great desire to reach out to our community with love and support. We are always looking for creative ways to help those in our communities that have a need.

URCS Middle School!

The 6th grade curriculum offers a Christian cooperative, constructive learning environment. With a “team teaching” approach, the teachers integrate all subject areas into the numerous curriculums. The main task with the reading curriculum is quite simple-to keep the class reading. I do this by integrating numerous genres and books into the curriculum.

Currently for the month of February our reading theme is: Around the World Literature. We are studying numerous short stories in all the genres from around the world. Students learn about: different countries, cultures, time zones, and character traits. The theme of the month incorporates: Reading, Bible, Science, Math, Writing, and Social Studies. Through Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop differentiated teaching is also incorporated; we know that all students learn in different manners.

As far as our Bible theme for the month of February students created the theme: Allow the Spirit to Guide the Way. The students worked collaboratively to create the theme and work “hands on” with the teacher towards creating all the Bible lessons for the month. We have just completed an effective and fun week of Biblical poetry.

Science is taught through a Christian lens. We have a extraordinary Christian Earth Science textbook. Our Science theme for this month is: Text to Self Connections. Students are learning about the importance of an organic way of living by connecting the Science concepts to their real life experiences. Through numerous “hands on” activities and parent involvement students are “dissecting” their way of living under their own scientific microscope.

The junior achievement representatives will be coming into the building on Wednesdays (starting next week) for the next 6 weeks. They will be here between the periods of 4-7 working with grades 6-8!

The 6th grade won the David Scarpa contest. He is writer who wrote the film: The Day the Earth Stood Still....He sent us an editor's DVD which the class each received a copy and we will be conducting a phone conference with him where the students will come up with questions to ask him...His movie tied into the Earth Science theme we were working on...We are ecstatic to have won!

Lastly, in Computer class this month the students are learning how to use Microsoft Word features: highlight, cut/paste, word count, inserting tables, etc. They are also learning how to evaluate good research vs. unreliable research on the Internet for the upcoming unit in writing: research paper.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Rotziokos

To learn more about our school go to www.URCS.org !

What do Parents Say About Upper Room Christian School #1

Aisha and Joseph Frank said, " We send our child to Upper Room Christian School because of the safe environment that it provides. The one on one attention she receives. The Christian experience that the school gives my child. The Family atmosphere the school also provides."

"My child participates more in school. She is more confident, more attentive and is very happy in school."

"There is no comparison between Upper Room Christian School and our local public school. The classes are smaller so my child gets more personal attention from the teacher. It is more of a family feeling at URCS and most important safer and no gang activity."

The Frank's child is in Mrs. Claudio's third grade class.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urcwc.org/

Chinese Auction

Thursday night we had an awesome time at our annual Chinese Auction Fundraiser. Over 300 people came to support the school by buying chances to win specially prepared baskets. Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Donofrio and many others donated their time in getting donations from local business' and generous friends and making beautiful baskets to display.

We started by previewing the 150 baskets and the Marriot Windwatch was a buzz with folks choosing where to put their tickets. At 7:30 the salad was being served and we began picking out the winners. Basket by basket there were shouts of "that's me" and "I won" as eager benefactors got up to receive their prizes.

We had a lovely dinner and dessert and announced the winners throughout the night. The prizes ended with the winners of the 50" Flat Screen TV and the $1,000 money board. The night ended at 10:30 with winners from every table carrying out their prizes. My daughter won a Pannini maker for me and a Food Processor for her sisters. People won door prizes as well as prizes for answering the 30 different trivia questions asked by Mrs. Caldeira throughout the night.

All in all it was a great night of fun and fellowship with thousands of dollars raised for the school! We are all looking forward to next year's Chinese Auction!

Grace and Peace,

Ed

Is There a Christian Approach to Teaching Science?

Some Christian parents believe that science is science – that it doesn’t matter whether it comes from a Christian or a naturalism perspective. Let’s see…

In Naturalism - everything comes from matter, time, and chance. God is not involved – no order, just chance occurrences in a coincidental way that brings order out of chaos.

The proposition that order come from chaos takes more faith than the Christian view of science - it declares that God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things; science involves knowing God through knowing His world.

When we learn science with the beginning that God brought forth, we see both order and purpose while being amazed at the majesty and intricacy of our wonderful created order.

Find a school like Upper Room that is awed by our Lord’s handiwork!

Grace and Peace,
Ed