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!!!

Who needs sleep?

We do, we do!!  Did you know that the latest research indicates that elementary students need 10-12 hours of sleep each night?  This can even increase in the teen years.  Given the increased availability of programming outside of school in churches, sports, clubs and other valuable activities, our children are getting less and less sleep.  Wherever possible, making sure your children get enough sleep each night, and 'catch up' when they haven't been able to (Sunday night!!) will set them ready to learn, and increase their health.  Want to learn more?  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/sleep_matters/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmQmXazqe6I

Settling in and leadership

As the school year breaches into October, we now have a clear sense of routine and direction for the year.  It's easy at this point to 'settle in' and loose some of the excitement of a new, fresh year.  It becomes important to remind ourselves of and encourage one another in the story we are taking hold of and want to write for this year.  

A key group of people who have been doing this are our Student Executive. Senior students in leadership roles have been busy recruiting younger students to help out with tasks such as changing the sign, milk delivery, recycling, bus patrols, decorating, intramurals, spirit days, praise team and A/V.  Their enthusiasm for the school and the ways in which they are building one another up is inspiring.  While leadership can be daunting, messy, and challenging, it is also teaching our senior students two valuable lessons: 1) They are responsible for the culture in this place, and 2) they have valuable God-given gifts that can be used NOW... not just in the future.  1 Timothy 4:12:  "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."

Leaders convene in Victoria, BC

I have just returned from a few days in Victoria, BC where Christian Schools Canada assembled over 200 Christian school leaders from  across Canada, the US, and as far away as South Africa, South Korea, and Australia.  It was an incredibly rich experience in so many ways.  We were stimulated intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and encouraged in our task of leading in the project of Christian education.  Specifically, there were opportunities to dialogue with fellow leaders on the topics of teaching and learning, our present context of a secular society and what that means, and how we can continue to develop and walk a Christian story, inviting the world into a deep tradition and faith developed over the ages.  We are a part of an amazing venture across this nation.  May God be glorified as we continue here in our corner of Ontario to live, learn, and serve!  John 15:5:""I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

I Love to Tell the Story

Our staff devotions began this week with the singing of "I love to tell the story", an iconic 'story' song in the Christian faith.  We discussed how important it is to continue to tell the biblical stories that were and are such a cornerstone for God's chosen people in Old Testament days and Christians today.  

The climax of the biblical story thus far is the coming of Christ and the fulfillment of a promise made already to Adam and Eve and continuing through Noah, Abraham, Moses, and throughout the developing story of God and his faithfulness to his people.

Without a knowledge of the stories preceding him, Christ's life and ministry, death and resurrection become a great story in and of themselves, but lack the cosmic impact that comes from the context.  It's why it is so vital to continue to tell 'the old, old stories'.  Christ's death and resurrection affect all of creation, back through time and forward into the future.  As I wandered the halls and listened in on each class this morning, it was a delight to hear that oral tradition and study alive and well in our classrooms as teachers began their day with devotions and Bible classes... telling the old stories and setting the stage for the coming of Christ.

Our students will be able to go forward themselves and 'love to tell the story'.