A Forum for Responsive Discipleship February 27, 2012

I was noting the ebb and flow of the school calendar this past week.  As the weeks go by and I outline the week ahead I am often struck by the number of events at our school.  We offer a comprehensive curriculum that covers a variety of subjects and, completing this, are wonderful programs that are geared to help develop the gifts of our students and provide a forum for our students to faithfully respond to God.  Student Council does a wonderful job leading multiple events and it provides some of our students unique leadership opportunities.  We continue to have a strong, competitive sports program at the school as well.  Later this week some of our students well be competing in a public speaking contest.  The intramural program has just ran its course for the grades 4-6 and will kick off in the upper end soon.  I also think back to our Winter Enrichment program that provided a number of opportunities for our students as well.   I find all these activities provide a forum for our students to develop their gifts, respond to their Creator, and experience a sense of community at Dundas Calvin Christian School.  I am thankful for the many opportunities our students have through our co-curricular programs to develop the gifts God has given them.   To God be the glory.  ~ Mr. Bouwers 

Family Day February 22, 2012

We just celebrated Family Day and family is something to be celebrated.  Traditionally Christian schools were founded with the purpose of providing a Christ-centered education that supported what was being taught at home and at church.  In some circles it is referred to as the three legged stool.  I see families more as one of the pillars that provides a strong foundation for the children in our care.  At the heart of Christian schools you will find Christ, learning, and community.  One of the distinct advantages of our schooling system is the involvement of our parents.  Parents entrust us to aid them in raising and educating their children.  The students also benefit when their parents partner with the school and show a vested interest in what their children are learning and help reinforce the concepts taught at school.  We are so very thankful to have dedicated Christian, church going families as part of our school membership.  We thank God for Family Day as it is a day that we get to acknowledge once again how God’s faithfulness is evident through all generations.  May you be filled with His love and goodness this week. 

Love it! February 13, 2012

Love it!

Red hearts, boxes of chocolates and various other Valentine’s Day wares can be found pretty much anywhere this time of year.  This morning we had a chapel led by the grade 1 and 5 class featuring guest speaker Rev. Henry Huberts, a parent in our community.   Rev. Huberts relayed various stories to the students that focused on God’s love for us. It was an excellent reminder for the students of who is love.  One of the stories discussed the love a father has for his child and how our heavenly Father loves and cares for us.  Love is something our society has partially trivialized or peddled as an emotion.  Love was not meant to be minimized to that extent.  God’s love is much broader, deeper and more complete as seen in the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Some of the ways we experience God’s love is through His word, His world and through the lives of others.  At Calvin Christian School we try to make those connections to His word, His world and, we pray, through our interactions as a community that others will get a sense of God’s love through each one of us.  Thank you again for your love and support as we continue to provide a Christ-centric education for our students.  ~Mr. Bouwers

Embers and Endorsements

I love cooking on the hibachi.  The coals hold a nice, even heat and the smoke adds a distinct flavour to anything you cook.  I have not been cooking on coals for that long.  I do enjoy the barbeque still but I truly prefer to cook the choicest pieces of food over the smoldering embers of the hibachi.  I did not always grill that way.  It was not until my brother was singing the praises of the wonderful flavours he experienced from the food slow cooked over the coals that I began to take notice.  You see, a lot of the things we enjoy most are recommendations from others: a book, a movie, a hiking trail, a tool, a resource or a household product or item.  I am sure that you can recall at least one thing that someone told you, “You’ve got to try this! It is amazing!”  We can also remember trying something that was recommended and we were able to agree, that it was a great experience, that it was amazing.  Dundas Calvin Christian School is something that I think is worth recommending to others.  Suggestions and recommendations from friends and acquaintances carry significant weight, especially from numerous sources.  Please consider spreading the word about our school so we can have a healthy enrollment that will enable us to fulfill our mission of providing a quality, Christ-centered education that develops the gifts of God’s children and prepares them for a life of service to the King of Kings.  ~Mr. Bouwers