December 16, 2013 Winter Wonderland

A teacher shared that a student came into the school and exclaimed, “I wish it was only one second until recess.”  Why the excitement for recess?  It is the snow.  The sun is ablaze and the ground alight from the freshly fallen snow. The world outside is whiter and brighter than it has been all year.  Students dig, tunnel, laugh and play in this new world.  It would be safe to say, for the most part, that there is great joy from such a transformation.  Just as the snow reflects the light of the Sun, we too are tasked to reflect the light of God’s Son as image bearers.  As we look outside on a morning like this it is easy to make connections to the Christmas story.  We see before us things anew.  The generous cover of snow reminds us that through Christ we can be washed clean, whiter than snow.  As we are made new we have new life in Christ and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be transformed.  Glimpsing out the window once more I am again humbled by the beauty of it all and how God, over and over, meets us where we are.  God is good; all the time.  I am so very thankful that God chose to meet us here, through the person of Jesus Christ and for what that means at Providence.  We have the opportunity, through education, to know Christ’s love, to grow in and through His grace, and to demonstrate that love to others. 

December 9, 2013 Focus

Focus. We use the word in many different contexts. “Focus on your work.”  “The focus of this lesson will be mapping terms.” “The picture is out of focus.”  “I would like to focus on this particular part.” Or “My focus is all crocus.”  Even though the context varies, there are normative truths revealed in the mechanics of focussing. 

So what are the key elements of focus.  Well, in regards to taking photographs, it is dependent on the convergence of a number of different elements to bring the objects into proper focus.  The more I got to thinking about this the more I believe this falls in line with what we are trying to do as a school.  If we focus on the wrong things then we lose the ability to see what is important.  Further to that, if our focal point shifts we, literally, lose sight of what should be driving our aims and objectives.  The focus at the school is dependent on a number of different pieces that must converge to bring everything into focus.    There are a number of different spokes to the wheel of Christian education but the hub, the center, is the mission of the school.  It should all work together to focus on the fulfillment of what we believe we are called to do at Providence Christian School.

I was intrigued by this idea of centrality as the staff contemplates our focus in regards to our professional practice and learning. Using our school mission as the tool we use to focus our efforts we can see the central element needs to focus on a quality, Christ-centered education so that we may develop the gifts of God’s children and prepare them for a life of Christian service.  Adjusting the focal length to bring objects into focus in a photograph can be likened to adjusting the length or our educational gaze to take the long view of what it takes to live out the mission of the school.  It does help put things into the proper perspective and focus.  We may take time to examine the different spokes of the wheel but our focus will always be the mission and vision that is borne out of the constitution of our school.

December 2, 2013 Under Construction: Kingdom Building

The Kingdom of God.  My mind has been swirling with what this means.  The Kingdom of God.  I pray for it.  I long for it. I pray for it to come for the kingdom that is here now and yet to be.  I am humbled by the opportunities to work and serve, as I have said on more than one occasion, in this small corner of God’s Big Kingdom.  It provides purpose and context to what we do each and every school day. What better reason is there to get out of bed and do what we do than to say we are faithful servants in God’s kingdom? 

We see other kingdoms around us. In the time of Jesus it was the Empire, the Kingdom of Rome:  Strong and powerful, full of pride and honour, with its defences and an all-encompassing way of life.  It was in this setting that Jesus introduced a very controversial and contrary way of kingdom building.  Today there are other empires with just as much bluster.  In the west we have the countries of NATO.  More specifically to us, we have Canada and the United States.  The pervasive, ladder climbing notion of kingdom building remains but Jesus has shown us a different path.   

But then we don’t think of that each and every day.  We cling to our own devices.  We are kingdom builders who constantly engage in advancing one kingdom over another and we don’t always get it right.  We contribute,  probably all too often,  to our own kingdoms with selfish kingdom efforts.  We place ourselves on the throne and subjugate the things that are around us.  We employ defences to ensure we keep our kingdoms the way they are. 

Our priorities can get out of whack.  I have done some recent readings that focus on the following theme.  The path of descent is the path of transformation.  The parables, when read back to back to back explicitly state “The kingdom of heaven is like….”  These illustrations often flip our idea of kingdom completely upside down.  We need to pay attention to these images for they do show that we must decrease and He must increase. It starts with a humble and contrite heart and progresses (down) from there.  Let us then be intentional about our kingdom efforts and  direct our efforts towards building a community of grace where we celebrate and live out the Good Gift of God’s grace in community.  “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

November 25, 2013 Bazaar Community

It is a busy time of year on the school calendar with things like report cards, parent teacher conferences, volleyball tournaments, Membership meetings and the Bazaar.  The frenetic pace is somewhat infectious as the community buzz becomes as constant as the sound emanating from the florescent lights above.  I had the distinct pleasure of seeing wave after wave of volunteers streaming through the doors and into the school.  Our community pours life into these events and, in turn, pours life into our students.  Thursday night three alumni families came in to volunteer.  It is a tremendous blessing to see some of our “graduated” families in these life giving roles.  On to Friday where parents and a number of students were eagerly volunteering as they helped set up chairs and tables.  There were at least three generations involved in setting up for this community event.  What a testament to the strength and commitment to Christian education in the Flamborough area. I heard someone remark that it must take a small army to get ready for the bazaar.  It may not be an army but it does take our whole community, and what a community that is.  Thank you to all of the organizers of the Bazaar, the volunteers, the cooks, the patrons, and any other group that I somehow missed.  It was a wonderful event and I am already looking forward to next year.  ~Mr. Bouwers

 

November 18th, 2013 Membership Meeting - God's Good Gift of Christian Education

We have the Fall Membership meeting tonight at the school and there are so many things that we could share with you.  I will be taking a look at how the mission and vision of the school is living in the hallways and the classrooms of Providence Christian School.  The theme of the principal’s report will be  “Walking the Hallways.”  During the last report we had a chance to look into the windows of the classrooms and this time we will be walking the hallways to see what is going on.  We can give thanks for this learning community.  We are thankful for the support of the community, the dedicated professionals in the building and the volunteer Board to direct us.  We are especially thankful for the students who grace our classrooms, halls, busses and playground as it is a joy to be called to educate them  in Jesus’ name.   Come tonight and share the joy of Christian Education. 

We Remember - November 11, 2013

Eruptions of mud and deafening explosions riddle the pictures used to commemorate Remembrance Day.  These stark images are reminders of the tragedies of war and the brokenness of this world.  These obvious reminders can elicit visceral reactions to what is adroitly perceived as our humanness at its worst.  War crimes and profiteering darken an already dismal image.  It brings to mind the call from the Word to hate what is evil and cling to what is good.  It stirs in us the God given desire for justice. 

 

We see, as well, through the videos, pictures and print articles an expression of hope and self-sacrifice.  As we wade through the ocean of details and media, the stories of hope reveal themselves to us. It is often in the darkest of time that even the smallest of lights can be seen clearly.  We have that visceral desire for light and hope and justice when we are faced with the uneasiness of obvious darkness.  Our souls are disquieted and long for the one who brings restoration and reconciliation.   On this day we not only remember the stories of hope but the narrative of sacrifice.  As Christians we are familiar with the narrative of sacrifice as embodied in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  We experience a great peace that came at a great cost.  This is true not only for the state our souls but also for the generally peaceful existence we enjoy today. 

 

The grade 6 class did a wonderful job this morning of representing the sacrifice of our veterans and current military service personnel.  We spent our moment in silence for in honour of those who have given their lives in service to our country.  We thank God for the good gift of peace this day as we remember. 

November 4th, 2013 God's Good Gifts and Magnifying Glasses

Recently I heard a sermon that discussed the difference between faith and the tools we use to examine God’s creation.  These gifts of God have their proper place. We use tools such as technology, science, mathematics, relationships with others, and God’s word to enrich our relationship with God.  As with all gifts there can be a tendency to focus more on the gift rather than the giver.  We are reminded in James 1:17 that God is the giver of all good and perfect gifts and it is by His grace, from above, that we can experience all of this.  The problem we can encounter is that when we delve too deeply in one of the tools or gifts that God has given we can get a distorted view of the Big Picture.  If we start to use these tools to answer the lager worldview questions we run the risk of creating idols out of the tools we’ve been given.  Think about how it would be to walk around with magnifying glasses on.  It would skew our view of what we were looking at.  We may be seeing things big but missing the big picture.  There are times to take a magnifying glass out and take a closer and deeper look but we need to keep the kingdom perspective in mind.  We need to continually acknowledge the giver of those gifts and tools giving God all the glory, and honour and praise.  As we walk through the curriculum with our students we talk with them and walk with them regarding that big picture.  We frame the learning that happens with a Christian worldview that will not forget our Creator, will depend on the Spirit for discernment and reflect the image of His son Jesus. 

May you delve deep in the gifts and tools that God graciously gives us while keeping in perspective His sovereign will and gracious love for us. ~Mr. Bouwers

Fixed mindset and master mindset

This was a great chart to explain, compare and contrast the two mindsets as outlined by Phil Teeuwsen at our PD day in October. 

Fixed (Performance) Mindset	Growth (Mastery) Mindset
Pupils who value ‘getting it right’:	Pupils who value learning:
• believe that ability leads to success;	• believe that effort leads to success;
• are concerned about being viewed as able and proving themselves;	• believe in their ability to improve and learn;
• gain satisfaction from doing better than others;	• gain satisfaction from personal successes;
• evaluate themselves negatively, giving up/ displaying helplessness when the task is too difficult; and	• are more likely to have a go anyway and show great persistence with difficult tasks; and
• show concern for proving competence.	• show concern for improving competence.

October 28, 2013 Fixed/Performance vs Growth/Master mindset

Our staff recently had a professional development day regarding assessment, grading and evaluation. We discussed God’s good gift of assessment practices.  One of the most striking pieces that day was looking at assessment, grading, and evaluation as a way to bless and honour our students as learners.   When doing this we look at those practices with a growth mindset, wanting our students to master what is needed.  In a mastery mindset we want our student to value learning, not just getting it right or getting good marks. We desire for our students to believe that effort leads to success not just ability.  We desire for learners to believe that they have the ability to improve and learn as we believe that all of our students can learn and are born learners.  A performance or fixed mindset is concerned about being viewed as able and proving themselves and gains satisfaction from doing better than others whereas a growth mindset fosters the idea of success as personal success.  A fixed mindset that is performance driven shows more concern for proving competence than it does in improving competence.  We will continue to delve into the specifics of comparing and contrasting these two mindsets in assessment and refine our practices to shift towards growth and mastery.  Progressing in growth towards mastery is what we want for our students. 

October 21, 2013 Serving with Gladness– Community Building

Preparing our students for a life of Christian service requires 360 degree activities.  These activities should provide the student to be challenged intellectually and accept things of the mind, stir them emotionally to engage the heart, and provide opportunities to learn by doing, activating the hands.    These can come in the form of community building initiatives that stress the need for community in our lives and our need to share community with others.  The community builder theme suggests that students will be active pursuers, builders and promoters of communal shalom. We strive to have our classrooms be communities of grace where students will walk and work together.  Our students take part in this through their classrooms, in their neighbourhoods and in the global village they are part of.  In fact, they need to be. Reading through the teaching for transformation booklet, they give numerous examples of community and outline this theme well. Community is how God made us.  One of clearest and most well-known Biblical metaphors compares Christian community to a body which is made up of many parts. We need all the parts to work together in order to experience health and wholeness.  We all know that maintaining a healthy body isn’t something that just happens by itself. Attention must be paid to what we eat and drink, how active we are and how we manage other contributing factors. Students need to learn and experience that community doesn’t just happen, it does take work. We need to pursue it. We can’t just wait for community and peace to come to us – we must go out and make it happen. We need to build and promote shalom– to be active and eager examples of these types of communities.  Blessings on the journey.  ~Mr. Bouwers

October 15, 2013 Preparing for a life of Christian Service -

Since we hosted the Special Olympics at our school we have continued our learning related to this event.  One of the themes of our learning has supported and explored the notion of servant working.  If in our mission statement we desire to prepare our students for a life of Christian service then we need to provide opportunities for our students to become engaged in those activities through their learning.  Our grade 6, 7 and 8 students were heavily involved in servant working when the Special Olympics came to town.  This easily follows the path of shalom that we talked about last week.  If we do want our students to be salt and light then we want to afford them the opportunity to work to actively heal brokenness and bring joy to individuals and to culture.  These are biblical themes that we want to integrate into our curriculum so it becomes rooted in our students’ worldview.  We want our students to learn through those service tasks before them.  We are called as individuals and communities of grace to make a difference in our world, in our neighbourhoods and on our streets.  We do this not just through personal behavior but through intentional, biblical acts.  As Graham puts it in his book, Teaching Redemptively, “We are also called to the restoration task as communities of believers. As redeemed image bearers we should be making a difference in the culture.” Every good and perfect gift has been given to us by God.  As we see in the Teaching for Transformation publication from our sister organization the Prairie Center for Christian Education, God wants us to use the gifts of ideas, skills, materials, and awareness in order to make an impact for His kingdom. That’s what we need to cultivate in our students and ourselves: the desire and ability to offer hope, healing, and restoration to this world and its people. Blessings on the Journey.  ~Mr. Bouwers

October 7, 2013 - Connecting Vision to our Learning - Shalom Seeking

Connecting Vision to our Learning

 

Our vision statement at Providence is a short statement with a broad scope and a tall order.  Our vision is to see God’s children transforming His world.   Let’s take a closer look at how that may play out at the school.  We desire for our students, as God’s children, to be actively engaged and contributing to works of shalom.  We want to see this happening in the world and that includes our small corner of God’s big kingdom.   Looking at it closely we could say that, for the here and now, we want to see our students leading and contributing at our school and in the community to God’s glory and honour.  The service work they do enables them to be agents of reconciliation, peace and wholeness.  Nicholas Wolterstorff in his book “Until Justice and Peace Embrace” promotes this vision of shalom which he defines as peace and flourishing. 

 

Last Thursday, our students had the opportunity to have their learning shaped, formed and impacted by our relationship with Special Olympics Ontario.  In the next few weeks I will write about some of the biblical throughlines and principles that guided our students’ learning in relation to the event.  Each of the themes discussed will be framed by the overarching notion and biblical principle of shalom.  Wolterstorff continues to give clarity to this by expressing that shalom incorporates right, harmonious relationships to God and delight in his service.  Secondly it incorporates right harmonious relationships to other human beings and delight in human community.  Thirdly, it incorporates right, harmonious relationships to nature and delight in our surroundings.  In Micah 6:8 God invites us to engage in works of shalom where we act justly, love mercy and kindness and walk humbly with him. 

 

Partnering with Special Olympics Ontario gave our students an opportunity to engage in works of shalom.  Shalom seeking, as a theme, incorporates our students as agents of change by identifying and responding to situations where we can bring flourishing and wholeness.  On Thursday our students did not just hear of an opportunity to seek shalom.  They did not just see an opportunity to be the agents of love, mercy and kindness. Our students actively partnered with God in doing His work in this world.  It was quite a responsibility and a privilege!  We ask for you to continue to pray for the staff and students as we nurture and disciple your children to take on this ongoing responsibility.  We also ask you to rejoice with us in the glimpses of the kingdom we see when God allows us to partner with him to bring about flourishing moments in His kingdom.   

 

September 30, 2013 God's Good Gifts

God’s Good Gifts –This year we are focusing on God’s good and perfect gifts as an expression of His providence. This filters into the devotions we have with the students and with the staff.  Sometimes it is easy to see and recognize the gifts and blessings the Lord bestows on us and other times it is hard to see or make sense of what lies before us.  We recognize that we live in the brokenness of a fallen world and the darkness threatens to overwhelm.  We trust in the Lord and his faithfulness to keep His promises.   This past weekend I had the privilege of attending a service to celebrate the life and mourn the loss of baby BB.  The parents gave a stirring testimony.  They spoke of the gift of Ben.  They intentionally phrased it that way and asked others to speak of this gift as well.  They recognized the good gift of their son came from their heavenly Father.  At devotions this morning we discussed gifts once again.  It was highlighted that the gifts we receive, the most memorable ones, point us to our relationship with the one who gave them.  I am thankful for their testimony to God’s goodness and His providence.  May we all take to their example and live the words of the songs we sing.

September 23, 2013 Marathon of Hope

Our students participated in the Terry Fox Marathon of hope today.  In the assembly led by the grade eight students we were reminded of some character traits of the young man who exemplified compassion in his Marathon of Hope.   The students and teacher spoke of Terry’s compassion, perseverance, empathy, and determination.   He used the gifts God gave him to the fullest.  These qualities are admirable and biblical.  We desire to see these characteristics in our students as well.  Next week we will host the Special Olympics Ontario 4 corners event at our school.  Many of these athletes will demonstrate perseverance and determination using their gifts to their fullest potential.  It is an opportunity for our students to join them in their perseverance while showing Christian charity and compassion.  It is a wonderful experience and opportunity for our students to share the love of Christ with others while being salt and light in our community.  Please pray for our school as we approach this event and we pray it will be a blessing for everyone involved. 

In His Image... September 16, 2013

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  Psalm 139:13-14.  The imagery embedded in this passage is quite striking.  It is a fascinating image; the very fabric of our existence is meticulously woven and knit together, with all of the intricacies involved by our Creator God.  We can then celebrate who God created us to be and His handiwork we see in the people we come in contact with.    In a couple of weeks, on October 3^rd, we will be hosting the Special Olympics Ontario 4-corners Bocce tournament at our school.  We are very excited for this opportunity to be a blessing in our community and to show the love of Christ in this way.  In preparation for this event the students will be learning a little bit about Bocce, the Special Olympics and how we can bless the athletes involved.  We hope to recognize this opportunity to explore God’s good gifts.  These visitors have been created, woven together, in the image of God; they are a gift to us on that day.  In that same sense we hope to be a gift and use our gifts to be a blessing to the athletes and people visiting that day.   I urge you again to come out and join us in welcoming everyone who is participating that day.  We would love to have everyone out in the morning for a big welcome to kick off the day together.   I found this quote/writing in a Youth Bocce magazine focusing and thought it was also worth sharing.    

 

God’s Choosing by Roy Lessin

Just think, you are here not by chance but by God’s choosing.  His hand formed you and made you the person you are.  He compares you to no one else.  You are one of a kind.  You lack nothing that His grace can’t give you.  He has allowed you to be here at this time in history, to fulfill His special purpose for this generation.  You are God’s servant in God’s place, at God’s perfect time. 

Now we are Providence Christian School... September 9th, 2013

Welcome to the first full week of the school year at Providence Christian School.   Our mission is to provide a quality, Christ-centered education so that we can develop the gifts of the students and in doing so prepare them for a life of Christian Service.  We long for our graduates to lead lives that are rooted in Christ so they may also lead lives of leadership and contribution in God’s Kingdom.  We have a new face on staff, Jane Elliott has started her role as the part time grade 6 teacher at PCS.  She comes to us after many years of teaching experience in various Christian schools.  Please extend a warm welcome to her as she joins our community.  We are excited to start another school year with you. 

This year, as we continue to serve the community through the mission of the school, we have also picked a theme verse that communicates to us concerning “God’s Good Gifts”.  It is based on James 1:17.  We picked this verse because it has a lot to do with Providence and the nature of God.  God extends his care, his gifts, to us by his grace, from above.  He is in control, creator and Father of the heavenly lights.  He sees before us and we put our confidence in Almighty God.  Why?  Because he does not change like shifting shadows.  He is the eternal sustainer and provider.  This year, as we open our doors as Providence Christian School, we acknowledge that this is the foundation we are called to build upon.  To God be the glory. 

Welcome Back!! September 3, 2013

The students arrived and the doors were opened as our first year as Providence Christian School.  Our theme verse this year speaks of God’s providence.  James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” This piece of scripture reminds me of the first verse of an old hymn.     As the author writes, “Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father.  There is no shadow of turning with thee.  Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not.  As thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.”  This stanza echoes the sentiments of the text.  It encourages us to put our trust and confidence in Almighty God for his care.  We can hold firm to His promises because he is faithful and remains our provider and the sustainer.  We have enjoyed the good gift of Christian education at this school for over 50 years and we celebrate the start of another year of learning about Him, His creation and His created order.  We are thankful for his gift of Christian education, of Christian teachers and a wonderful supporting community. 

Thanks Again! June 17th, 2013

As another year wraps up I want to take the opportunity to thank our school community.  Last year you had made my family feel welcomed into a new normal.   This past year the community has continued to welcome us and I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to serve at Dundas Calvin Christian School this year.  I thank you, the parents, for entrusting your children, our students, to us each day.  We work with the students in various capacities and this school is richly blessed by the students and their contribution.  Thank you for having your children continue to be a part of serving God and the community through our school.  I would also like to thank the students for all of their work and commitment throughout their learning.  I would like to thank them for using their gifts to make contributions to the school community and culture.     I also want to thank the teachers and staff for their hard work, dedication, and professionalism as they live out their passions of faith, education, and teaching children at our school. I also thank the larger, supporting community who shares the vision of Christian education and finds multiple ways to uphold our organization.  Finally, I would like to thank our Heavenly Father for his faithfulness and provision for our school for this year and the 50 years before this one, to Him be all the glory, and honour and praise, for ever.   God Bless you all and have a great summer. Lord willing, I hope to see you around next year.  ~Mr. Bouwers 

Clothes for Summer June 10, 2013

As this is the last full week of school it is a good time to pause and reflect on the year.  We have experienced the undulations we see each year; there were the ups and downs, highs and lows, and everything in between.  We have been living and learning this year and, at times, learning how to live.  Colossians 3 discusses living as those made alive in Christ.  Teaching from a Christ-centered perspective we care a great deal about the content our students learn.  We help our students discern the worldview that the content supports and equip them for the next steps in learning, from Kindergarten to Grade 8.  We know that preparing them academically for the next step is only part of our calling.  We want students to be prepared physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually for the next steps as well.   Colossians 3 has been home base for how we discuss the character we want to see in our students and the culture we hope to see forming throughout the interactions at school.  Our flesh is weak and unable to sustain us so we must put our trust elsewhere.  I will take some time to paraphrase this passage for our students and the graduating class of 2013.  This passage gives us a vision for living.

Sons and daughters of God, shed what needs to be shed.  Let die the things in our flesh that we dwell on and magnify.  Chisel out of your lives rage and anger, talking behind peoples back, language that is dirty and filthy, and lying to save your skin.  Be a new person in Christ, who is in all, and grow in maturity to reflect the image of Him. Let others see your identity in Christ in you as you put on the garments of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Support and sustain each other living a grace filled life, giving and receiving forgiveness.  And over all of these wonderful things put on love which holds it all together.

Learning in context June 3, 2013

I remember my class trip to Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, Ontario.  I distinctly remember walking through the dusty village and learning about washing clothes on the wash board and churning butter. It was a hot day and I was hoping we could go for a swim but that was not in the cards. I remember my trip in grade 2 to the Veterinary Clinic as well as my trip to the Hersey factory in Smith Falls, Ontario.  I think I can remember almost every field trip I have been on, even the ones as a teacher.   These are some of the things that stick with students for a lifetime, the experiences they have on a field trip seems to embed itself differently in a student.  Field trips provide the students with the opportunity to contextualize learning and students are able to quickly attach what they learn to the proper framework.   It exposes them to learning experiences that cannot be replicated in the classroom.  It creates a rich context for the different topics and provides them with learning that is visual, auditory and hands on.  Field trips can also provide students with service learning opportunities that help us show the love of Christ.  These trips can also provide community building opportunities to establish a relational foundation in the class or community.  This coming week there are numerous field trips that provide multiple opportunities to learn in various ways.  It is another avenue of learning that aids us in providing a quality, Christ-centered education, to develop the gifts of God’s children and prepare them for a life of leadership and contribution in service to the King.  Can you remember any of your field trips?

Wacky Weather and an Unchanging God

Well May seems to be providing quite the diverse weather for our area.  Normally we would be well into the swing of spring but it has been more of a roller coaster ride.  Flurries, hot snaps with high humidity, frost, beautiful spring days that are punctuated by other chilly days and nights fill out the almanac so far this year.  Weather can be unpredictable even with current forecasting technology.   Although the instability of the weather can remain in question, the surety of the seasons brings us some comfort.  Through the ups and downs of the weather we can take comfort in the steady pattern of the seasons that our Creator has firmly established in our area.  Spring follows winter, summer follows spring and fall comes before winter.  What is even more comforting is our unchanging and everlasting Father in heaven.  We can take comfort in the fact that God is good and his love endures forever.  Despite the roller coaster of events in our own experiences we can put our trust in Him and His provision for us.  We go through various seasons at school and in our own lives and it is buoyed by the constant and unfailing love of our Provider.  We want our students to know that God is good, all the time.   ~ Mr. Bouwers

Responding When Tragedy strikes May 21, 2013

Closing the doors to the office and I took a few moments to gather my thoughts and ask the Spirit to move in my heart, and to search His word for clarity.  There have been a number of tragedies recently, foremost on our minds is the case involving Tim Bosma.  Other recent events expose us to the brokenness in our world: the tornado in Oklahoma City, the warehouse collapse in Bangladesh, the Boston marathon incident and I am sure there are many, many more.   One thing that became crystal clear to me was there are no simple answers.  And it may be most prudent to show wisdom by remaining silent in these tough situations.  It seems to me that in times of tragedy it is more appropriate to ask questions than it is to provide answers.  Some questions that come to mind are: whom do we permit these tragedies to serve? Will we trust Him as a God who does only what is right?  Will we accept His plan for our lives? These are not easy questions but they do provide us with opportunity to discuss our faith, our doubts, and what that means for how we live today. 

 I read a devotional this morning talking about two worlds at work in our everyday lives: the worlds of power and love. It was an interesting to consider the author’s perspective of how these two contrasting worlds also intersect.  It stated: “Any exercise of power apart from love leads to brutality and evil; but any claim to love that does not lead to using that power for the good of others is mere sentimentality and emotion… I think the Reign of God includes both love and power in a lovely dance… It is a beautiful combination of both authority and vulnerability.”  (adapted from “Jesus’ Plan for a New World”)  We may have no answers to the tragedies that surround us but we can choose how we respond.  I pray that we respond in love, simply to comfort with the comfort we’ve received, and to continually set our hearts on God.  This is the hope we have for our students and their families; in Christ alone our hope is found. 

Another set of eyes.... May 13, 2013

I remember coming across a story some time ago and sharing it with a number of other people.   A missionary recounted a story of when he first went into the mission field.  Someone, out of the goodness of their heart, gave him a car to do all of his travelling.  There was only one small problem with the car, it would not start.  The only way he could get it to start was to “bump start” the car by get someone to push it or to get it moving.   Each and every day, the missionary would take great care to keep the car running after he got it started.   He would either have to park it on a hill or leave it running to ensure that it would be ready when needed.  The missionary continued to do this for just over two years until he had to step down due to health issues.  He was replaced in the mission field by another missionary and had the opportunity to show him the ropes.  On the day he was leaving, they were looking over the car and the retiring missionary was explaining how to start the car when the new guy popped the hood.  Looking in at the engine the new comer said, “Sir, I think I can see your problem."  And he reached down and connected a loose wire to the battery and the car started right up. 

Currently, the school is going through a school quality evaluation and we have taken the time to see how things are running and operating at the school.  A lot of work has been done and there are more steps to take.  On Monday and Tuesday of this week, we are going through an external review.  Auditors from other school will be coming in and seeing things with a different set of eyes.  The missionary benefited from the observations of the replacement and we too can benefit from the expertise and perspective of others.  This enables us to stay on the path of continual improvement and assess school quality.  We do this so we can continue to provide quality, Christ-centered education; to develop the gifts of God’s children and prepare them for a life of leadership and contribution in God’s kingdom. 

Who's in charge? May 6th, 2013

At staff devotions today we took a closer look at who is in charge.  Immediate our minds are drawn to the tasks that need to be carried out and who is responsible to get it done.  Teachers have a distinct leadership role in the classroom and throughout the school.  As well, the principal also carries leadership responsibility at school and in the broader school community.  Just because the responsibility is levied to the staff, it does not change the fact that ultimately the Lord is in charge.   He is there, and he is here.  He goes with us and before us working out his good and perfect will.  We may have responsibilities or tasks to carry out but we do so in the knowledge that before we even cross paths with students or parents each day that the Lord is there and has been active in our hearts, our minds and in His creation.  To quote Charles Swindoll, “But our invisible God …is continually, constantly, and confidently at work.”  We live in this assurance and try to faithfully carry out the work he has set out for us to do.  We respond to this at DCCS by living out our calling, working in the knowledge that the Lord is in charge and working in us and through us to accomplish is purpose and so our mission and vision can faithfully reflect His will for our lives.    

Reflecting on Christian Education Week April 29, 2013

Celebration of Christian Education can be a tricky business.  We are so thankful for recent events and we do want to share the joy with our community but we do not want to appear to boast or brag in anything except Christ.  So let’s start there.  In Christ all things are held together, including this community.  We celebrated the fact that Christian Education is a radical venture last week with the students and the visiting Grandparents and Grand-friends.  James Smith in an article titled “The Case for Christian Education” suggests what is radical about Christian education is the premise that any and every education is rooted in a worldview, in a grand story.  Our story has Christ firmly rooted in the center and is seen in all aspects of our curriculum.  We celebrate the ongoing Christian education movement and we boast about what God is doing in our lives and in Christian schools.

The students participated in Christian Education Week activities to raise funds for the Canadian Christian Education Foundation.  The students were able to raise support for the “Give a little, Get a lot” campaign that enables the organization to develop Christian educational materials for teachers and students, sponsor educational activities and raise awareness for Christian Education across Canada.  We praise the Lord for our children and their support for kingdom causes. 

We are so very thankful for our supportive community.  I had the great honour and privilege of hosting our grandparents and grand-friends last Wednesday.  During our time together we discussed the real needs in our community and the opportunity to partner with the school to assist some of our families in raising the next generation in the faith.  I believe it takes a community’s full support to ensure our schools are thriving and accessible to Christian families in our community.  We praise God for our Grandparents and friends who showed their support for Christian education.  They are committed to praying for the school and they also supported the Tuition Assistance fund with donations over $16 000.  We praise the Lord and make our boast in what he is doing through our supporting community.

God is good, all the time and all the time, God is good. 

A Call To Prayer April 22nd, 2013

At the recent membership meeting a school member stood up near the completion of the meeting and called our community to prayer.  He gave a stirring, spirit filled response to a call placed on his heart for us to bring our petitions to the Lord.   I think it important to commit, once again, to prayer for our school.  We should pray for our students, your children, that the Holy Spirit may work powerfully in their lives and that they may respond to the knocking on the door of their hearts.  We should continually pray for the teachers as well and for God to work in their hearts and lives as well.  As we continue on please pray for enrollment, for our future families and pray that our school may be an impact on our community.

I would like to earnestly ask you to pray deep, heart felt prayers for the school and the all-round health of our school and students.  This should continue to be priority at this school.  Each week the staff upholds a few families and their children in prayer as we start the week devoting time to the Lord. Our Lord is Lord of all things and he, out of his love and grace for us, wants to be in constant contact with us.   He wants to hear from us and the desires of our hearts.  He wants our desires to become more and more in line with the Kingdom.

 Please continue to pray for the Spirit’s leading in our school, on the Board, through the staff and students and our broader community.  

Power Outage April 15, 2013

With the recent power outage some families were left scrambling to make arrangements to deal with the lack of power they were experiencing.  It was a bit of a paradox, the power we rely on was temporarily severed due to the power and forces of nature.  Trees came crashing down, houses and vehicles were damaged, and power lines and poles were left mangled and tangled in the aftermath.  In these situations we have opportunities to show our love and care for neighbours in need.  Our children watch how we react to the needs of others nearby and far away.  This was one of those moments that we could put on the clothes of Christ and mix in a bundle of compassion, a heap of kindness, a measure of humility, gentleness and a generous amount of patience. 

Here is one example from this past weekend.  Friday evening, after hydro workers had worked steadily at restoring power, a hydro truck became stuck in the soft ground. This worker had been out for more than 24 hours straight.  A few individuals saw what was going on and went over to see if they could be of any assistance.  The three worked at digging out tires, placing planks and even using a pickup truck and a rope to try to pull the rig loose but it was to no avail.  The call was about to be made to a towing company when in the distance, not too far off, was someone driving a tractor down the road dragging a chain that was dancing and clanging on the pavement.  This guy had seen the troubles when he had passed by the obviously immobile truck.  When he got home he immediately jumped in the tractor to come and help out.  This instance demonstrates how compassion and kindness can be played out in our everyday lives.  I am thankful for Christians who jump in tractors to help out others and expect nothing in return.  I pray that my children will hear and see these events and take opportunities to live them out as well.  We pray that our students will show these characteristics on the bus, on the playground, in the classrooms and in their communities.  May the Spirit continue to work in all of our lives to convict us to act on these moments and opportunities.

 

Longing and Anticipation April 8, 2013

We are all waiting for spring to announce it is here to stay. The cold months of winter stretch on and the chill in the air just does not seem to go away. Winter continues to come back well after most of us would like to have seen it gone. We long for sunshine, showers and the budding of flowers. We want to see that cycle of new life renewed. I have talked to numerous parents and students that express that they are just completely done with winter. I will admit that I am one of them. As I looked out the window to see the sunshine and the promise of rain to renew the dormant campus I could not help but recall what I wrote last week about patience. I want spring on my terms and my time when, clearly, that is not the plan. I long for and anticipate the arrival of “full time spring” and need to exercise patience in God’s timing. Even though I desire to see new life and the renewal that comes at spring time, and those are good things, I still need exercise patience. It is this time of year that also reminds me of how I long for and anticipate the healing of our broken world. As God’s people we long for the coming of God’s Kingdom. And I hear the echo again and again to have patience in God’s timing. We do not and cannot see into the future but we can put our trust in the one who can. He not only can see the future plans but they are also in His control. We continue to pray for spring and the coming of His kingdom as we live in His providence.     

Just a Little Patience Tuesday April 2, 2013

It seems some people are born with a more accommodating disposition while, for others of us, the amount of patience we have been blessed with is developed through our life experiences.   I am sure in our each of our lives we have all desired to have more patience as we encounter trials and shifting expectations.  We can get frustrated with the other’s timing or even God’s and through these times we develop different degrees of patience and accommodation.  The Bible also states that wisdom yields patience and I am not surprised that they are connected.  A deep and long view of situations can aid us in how we react as well as the amount of emotion we tie to particular circumstances.    

There are a number of examples of patience in the Bible, the most obvious one is Job.  In fact, a popular phrase has been coined to demonstrate this, “She must have the patience of Job.”  As wonderful of an example as Job is I think it pales in comparison to that of God’s long-suffering and patience with us and His people.    Numerous passages in the New Testament speak of His patience for us and it is demonstrated by Him through Christ.  The fact that it is one characteristics listed in Colossians 3:12 indicates that Christ is the ultimate example of living out the virtue of patience.  It is an attribute that we want to see lived out in the lives of our children in the hallway, on the bus, on the playground, and in our community.  We pray for the Spirit to move powerfully in the lives of the members of this community so we can clothe ourselves with Christ.  May you be impacted by the Spirit this week and throughout the remainder of this year. ~Mr. Bouwers

Living the Resurrection

As we look at the busy calendar it is easy to rush from one event to the other without taking time to really think on the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This coming weekend we remember and celebrate the resurrection. Recently I have been reminded by a colleague to also live the resurrection, not only during Holy week but every other day of the year as well. I had this brought to my attention once again as the busyness of the week was already creeping in. We may have heard sermons on this topic or we may have read an article or two about what this looks like in our lives but I would like to also see what that means for our students and our teachers in our community school. We live in the reality that Jesus’ death and resurrection are authentic and genuine. Living in this space allows us to say, even in very tough circumstances, that God is good. This is part of providing a Christ-centered education. We live in that reality and worldview and we are able to openly confess that each day.

Also, knowing all that was accomplished in Christ’s life, death and resurrection brings us to recognize that we do indeed need to respond with turning our lives over to what is good, holy, and just. We turn our lives over to God so He can use us to be a faithful presence. We follow the example of Christ and clothe ourselves with His characteristics so we are free to give of ourselves humbly and honestly. As students and teachers we respond to this by looking to serve God in all that we do.

Living in the resurrection, we come to see God in all things and we are able to walk and talk with God continually. As we live, learn and serve at DCCS we can spread the joy that comes from knowing and loving Him. When we develop the gifts of God’s children we desire for them to live the resurrection in a life of service to the King. We do not just work for a kingdom to come but we work in that kingdom already. ~ Mr. Bouwers