Announcing: March Break CD Rehearsal!

We said that majority would determine whether or not we have a CD choir practice during March Break and as you can see from the poll results - the majority has voted in favour.

Super Yay and Terrific! I am really looking forward to visiting with you here in my kitchen for a hot lunch at 12:00 noon sharp this Wednesday (that's March 17, 2010).

(Menu is something good like gourmet hotdogs AND pepperoni pizza; please come hungry).

We start rehearsing seriously at 1pm and work till 3pm (pickup at 3pm) with a twenty minute breather in between somewhere.

Think you can handle it?

I'm a believer in your abilities - let's put a few songs securely in the heart AND have fun at the same time!

I'd appreciate very much, if every family reading this blog post left a confirmation by way of comment box. This would save us all from having to phone (or worse) ME having to remember who called and who didn't (or even more worse) MY family having to force down leftover hotdogs/pizza for three days after :)

Two more sleeps,

Love from Mrs.Hordyk

p.s. I brought all the extra rhythm instruments home and would like Josh to come and drum for us if he's willing and able.

CD Choir practice

Afterschool Rehearsals Resume!

Dear families:

This Thursday, February 25th is our next after school rehearsal for the CD choir. Pick-up is at 4:30pm.

This note was sent by e-mail with a choir member list attached to assist you with car-pooling.

I have gone through the painful process of paring down this list (Ouch! truly) and trust that we will proceed now with the level of commitment and support necessary to bring about a beautiful CD product.

The rehearsals are manageable with the assistance of Miss Jelsma - Mrs. Vandersluis - Miss vanpopta but I would very much appreciate if you could reiterate at home, the importance of being serious and single-minded about 'working' through the repertoire. This includes constant encouragement of playing the listening CD and actually listening to it. This Thursday, each chorister will receive their personal songbook with lyrics and they will be instructed to memorize words on their own.

With parental mentoring in the home, the progress in the classroom atmosphere and attitude will be significant. I know this from experience with our first CD The Music Within.

Your support is vital and makes all the difference in the world to me!

From here on, I would refer you and your children to this choirblog for updates and news.

Let's get into the habit of checking it regularly to keep in touch. As administrators of the blog Miss Jelsma and myself pledge to make this a valuable & exciting point of connection and interest and encourage you to use it communally for that purpose.

The new CD will include a keepsake booklet filled with pictures and behind the scenes progress - designed by Josh Sieders of Semantic Design and we are still toying with the idea of making it a DVD/CD product while we're at it. Still researching the cost factor.

Your comments/suggestions are kindly solicited and always welcomed!

Finally - we request that your prayers for the Lord's blessing over this community project, be constant.

It's very ambitious and at times, even fearsome to me. And here's a candid confession:

I love music. I love the sound of kid's singing voices even more. I love these opportunities for 'blossoming' musically but every concert brings me through moments of terrifying euphoria.

So. I beseech your prayer support more than anything else.

Thank you for so much already,

Joanne Hordyk

CD Choir practices

There will be no practice at school on Thursday February 11th or on Thursday February 18th.
Practices will resume on the 25th of February.

Spring CD project

Dear Families of CCS

Introducing plans for the Spring CD project The Music Within Volume 2 Great Hymns of Faith and other Favourites!

We plan D.V. to perform a number of beautiful old hymns, some of which are intertwined with newer Praise and Worship songs along withfull orchestra and concert pianist to be recorded the final week of April and culminating with a grand finale concert on Saturday evening, May 1, 2010 (Ebenezer on Dynes Road) for which we will charge admission.

Please note the following:

· This opportunity is open to all students in grades 3 – 8 with preference given to senior students since it will be their final chance to enjoy a musical venture like this. But they will be submitted to an audition since I would like to limit this group to approximately 35 students or less.

· To streamline this process, your child cannot be auditioned without receipt of parental consent and commitment. Please do so by replying to this e-mail or phoning me so I can keep record of it.

· Grade 1 & 2 (and Little Treasures Kindergarten if they agree) will be featured in a separate, exclusive performance of a delightful hymn, Wonderful Words of Life.

· Rehearsals will be an hour or an hour and half in length on Thursday afternoons at school. They will begin with a snack and outdoor break and begin rehearsal at 3pm sharp. Pickup from school will be at 4:30 and a choir member list will be made available to assist with carpooling.

· In April, AFTER our Easter program (Thursday, April 1) we will arrange to have a number of rehearsals in mass with the orchestra and recording artists/community choir etc…

You may have noted the bulletin announcement wherein we have solicited the participation of an adult community choir. It is our sincere desire to make this a community effort including those willing and able from the alumni, staff, parents AND grandparents of this school. Please consider this carefully and recognize that while it is a wonderful opportunity to sychronize voice and musical talents, it will require a thoughtful commitment of your time and resources.

I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.

Joanne Hordyk

Thank You From Mrs. Hordyk

A Blessed New Year is wished upon you all.

My two week break from routine was positively Capitol in more ways than one.

I thank you with all my heart for starting them off so grandly with the surprise birthday 'party' at the closing assembly, December 18. It was a very extraordinary experience for me and since that morning, I confess to many moments of pleasure simply replaying it all in my memory!

I thought the Ode Composition set to the tune of songs from the past was an especially beautiful gift - a work of genius that I could never have anticipated. And the oversized card signed by everyone along with the Creative Memories Scrapbook of all things musical here at CCS? Well, I can hardly think about that without the threat of tears again. The fact that 100 delightful students could keep this such a well-guarded secret for so long? My cup overflows - big time.

May His Love continue to surround and protect us here at Covenant.

Christmas Assembly...and more! :)

Our Christmas Assembly was led by Mrs. DeVisser. She had us reflect on being meek and we all left with a pearl in our pockets to help us remember Matthew 5:5

Grade 7 & 8 impressed with their chimes. Too bad I was too busy enjoying their performance to remember to take a video of it.

Each class also sang a song to participate in the assembly. The K class ever so sweetly sang Joy to the World.

Grade Five and Six sang There is a Redeemer.

O Come All Ye Faithful as sung by the 7/8 class. It's one of my favourite Christmas carols.

And then there's the One and Two class belting out their memory work of Hymn 17.

Our very enthusiastic gong player. If you listen to the video following you'll know what I mean. :)

Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

Grade Three and Four with Angels We Have Heard on High.

And then we wrapped up the assembly by wishing a very happy 50th birthday to both Mrs. Hordyk and Mrs. Spanninga. And in the true CCS way, we sang the special birthday song complete with signing.

Flowers for Mrs. Spanninga

And birthday songs and a remembrance book for Mrs. Hordyk.

Birthday hugs for our choir teacher.

And yay! Cake for all!

We enjoyed it :)