Putting the lights down low March 26, 2012

The lights were down low and music was softly playing in the background.   There was a distinct ambiance.  Oh, and there was passion.  There was a lot of passion.  As one course of food followed another our taste buds were treated to an array of flavours and spices.  It was an intimate time, as intimate as you could get with over 150 guests and the passion that united us was for Christian education and celebrating 50 years of God’s grace to DCCS.  It was a wonderful event that allowed us to celebrate the mission and vision of this school.  It was an opportunity to break bread together across various generations and see what unites us:  our faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and our passion for educating our children in the way of the Lord.  As we continue to move forward with our 50th anniversary celebrations we look forward to the concert with Selah at Redeemer University College this coming weekend.  We praise God for His faithfulness exhibited in His love and His goodness. We will continue to sing His praises, now and forever.  God is good.  ~Mr. Bouwers

As you have been blessed… March 20, 2012

You may have noticed in the Connects a few announcements about a number of things going on at the school.  The grade 8 class is undertaking a food and clothing drive for the Good Shepherd Centre.  The students have been going to the Good Shepherd Centre for a number of years and the grade 8 class is taking on this extra initiative as a way to help bless others in our community.  It comes from a recognition that we are differently blessed than some of our neighbours and as we have been blessed we are also called to be a blessing.  It is a wonderful way for our students to show the Love of Christ to others.  Part of the school’s mission is to prepare our students’ for a life of Christian service and we try to provide a number of forums for our students to respond to this very intentional part of our mission statement.    At the end of the week, on Saturday, there is the Spring Gala Event.  It is another opportunity for the broader community to show their support for this school and its mission and vision.  So, as we have been blessed let us also continue to be a blessing.  Help us to shape the character and minds of young lives through a Christ-based education that will prepare them for a life of leadership and contribution in God’s Kingdom.  ~Mr. Bouwers

Labels and Learning Reports March 5, 2012

Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me!!  This was a common response to the slings and arrows of my wonderful siblings when I was growing up. There would be heated exchanges and angry words would be hurled at each other.   I think there were times that the phrase was more of a wish than it was a pronouncement of some profound truth.  The fact of the matter is that names and labels and how they are communicated do have the power to hurt and to tear down.  Our words do carry the ability to edify or destroy.  We still have the choice to how we respond but that does not remove our responsibility to encourage one another and build each other up.   Today the students will receive their Learning Reports to take home.  I just wanted to remind you that this is just a snapshot of a portion of the students’ lives.  They are so much more than a set of check marks or percentages.  Each and every student is made in the image of our God and deserves to be treated as such. Let us not lose sight of the bigger picture and reduce the students and their worth.  Each and every student is uniquely gifted and that diversity is something to be celebrated.  May you see the image of our Creator in the lives of the children entrusted to us at DCCS.  Sticks and stones may break our bones but let us lift high the name of the one who made us.   ~Mr. Bouwers