Professional Development

Professional Development.  So what do all of those teachers do for two days, anyways?  Is it really worth it?  As past chair of Edifide (the Ontario Christian School Teacher's Association), I cannot answer that question more emphatically than "YES!!"  Imagine over 800 teachers from as far away as PEI and Thunder Bay all under one roof for two days.  Here's what I have come to experience at the end of October over the past 16 years:

1) Worship and reflection.  Loud praise as unified teaching voices, and rich inspiration from some of the best speakers in the nation.

2) Honing the craft of teaching.  Introduction to and deeper instruction in some of education's best practices.  Christian education is great education by any standards.

3) Developing the art of Christian teaching.  This is the largest group of Christian educators in the nation looking to do what our schools claim to do:  raise up children in the fear of the Lord.  The initial vision of Christian schools in Ontario ignited over 50 years ago is alive and well.... and being strengthened each year.

4) Connection.  Sometimes being a Christian school teacher can feel lonely in the midst of a majority of publically funded schools and professionals.  Re-connecting with colleagues in similar schools provides the needed face to face conversations that will continue throughout the year via phone, email, and online discussion forum.  Together, we make one another better Christian School teachers.

Please pray for the teachers on Thursday and Friday.  They are the heart and soul of our Christian schools.  May God be glorified in their development!! www.edifide.net

God's Fireworks

       Students returned today to school after various Thanksgiving routines. As I listened to their stories as they came off the bus, the common theme of food, family, and fall walks in the woods emerged.  I'm pretty thankful that I live in an area of the world that is blessed with such an amazing display with the changing of the seasons. Reds, oranges, yellows....  

I'm also a big fan of Calvin and Hobbes... the imagination and delight evident in the comic strip, the boy and his tiger mimic the experience of many of our kids.  One of my favourites is one where Hobbes is so overcome by the beauty of the fall colours, that he has to stop and declare "Kapow, Fwoosh, Zingg!!" as he watches the virtual fireworks display that he imagines in the leaves of the trees.  

May you be overwhelmed this season by God's fireworks as evident in His faithfulness in the changing of the seasons...  May you be blessed by the imagination and insight we see in our children who continue to delight in simple pleasures and demonstrate childlike faith.

Thanks giving

The temperature has dropped, our furnaces, stoves, and boilers are kicking in for the beginning of the winter. As we watch the local crops coming off of the fields(or harvest them ourselves!!), we are again reminded of God's provision for us, and that we have much to be thankful for.
This week Wednesday, we are having a Thanksgiving chapel at 8:50 (you are invited!!) where the grade 2/3 class is presenting a drama for us, and winding down our food drive for Community Care. It can be a humbling experience taking a tour of this fantastic community resource..... there is so much to be thankful for, and there is so much need at the same time, even in our region. Poverty and need are not only a big city issue. Please discuss this with your children, and I encourage you to share generously as we have been blessed. Thank you so much to those who have brought in food already!! We've had to assist some of our kindergarten kids off the bus due to the fact they were so loaded down with cans. What a beautiful picture of abundant blessing!!!