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.