April 2017

Christian Education Week

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.
They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty - and I will meditate on your wonderful works. 
They tell of the power of your awesome works - and I will proclaim your great deeds.    Psalm 145:3-6

Each year Christian Schools International designates a week in April to be Christian Education Week. Our schools are established to glorify God, to recognize the lordship of Christ over every square of creation, and to nurture and equip students to become the next generation of those who answer the call to advance the kingdom of God across the globe. We have reason to remember and to celebrate God's blessings. Christian Education Week is an opportunity to be reminded of what God is doing and to consider the difference that our school is making in the community, in families, and in the lives of God's children. Our students are learning to be God worshippers, justice seekers, servant workers, beauty creators, creation keepers and to be equipped for a life of praise and service in their communities. You are invited to join us this week at WCS in a celebration of God's gift of Christian schools.

                            C. Verbeek

    Next week marks an exciting week of celebration here at Woodstock Christian. We are joining together in a variety of activities to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday and Woodstock Christian School itself with Christian Education Week. We are grateful to live in a glorious and free country that embraces religious freedom.
    The events begin on Monday, April 24th at 9 am. We invite volunteers who worked directly with our students (classroom volunteers, coaches, etc.) to the Volunteer Tea. It will be wonderful for the staff and students to show their appreciation at that time. We are extremely grateful for the many ways countless volunteers help to run and assist at Woodstock Christian School. This event is hosted by the students so they can showcase their thanks to the volunteers they recognize from classroom interactions.
    Tuesday is Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Please remember to thank our bus drivers! Small tokens or notes of appreciation are a blessing to the work they do.
    Student artwork will flood the hallways to lead us on an Art Walk! Join Welcome Wednesday visitors or feel free to look at the walls in the afternoon when you attend the Picnic Lunch. It will take place during 2nd recess (1:30 pm, Wednesday). There will be no food for purchase this day, please pack what you want to eat!
    On Thursday, we end our celebrations with Grand Friends Day. The schedule has changed! The students will present in the morning this year BEFORE lunch. As a result, registration time is scheduled for 9 am! Please invite your Grand Friends to come to WCS that day! The morning will be filled with a variety of music led by Elizabeth Martin. Classroom visits and lunch will follow. Invitations are available from the office if you would like to hand one out.
    Looking forward to all the fun!
                            Blessings!

                            Dawn Streutker
                            Advancement & Communications

A Celebration of learning!

Share the music day

May 1, 2017

Woodstock Christian School Auditorium

8:45 - 9:15am

* grade 1 – Sound Stories

* grade 2 – Silly Songs with Some Puppets

* grade 3 – We've Got Rhythm

9:30 – 10:00

* grade 4 – Recorder Rocks!

* grade 5 – KWS visit showcase

* grade 6 – Instrument duets

10:15 – 10:45 grade 7 & 8

* Sr. Choir – From Latin to Sol-Fa-La

* Concert Band – concert repertoire

A Celebratory Cupcake will be enjoyed by all after the program!

Words from the Cross

    Jesus was God. God the Son died on the cross for our sins. But Jesus was also perfectly human. Because Jesus, as a human being, suffered hunger, thirst, solitude and many other hardships, he is able to understand and sustain us. (Hebrews 2:18 and 4:15,16). Just before giving up his spirit, Jesus cried out, "It is finished." (John 19:30) Three of the Gospels mention that Jesus cried out just before dying, but only John reports what Jesus said. His cry was not a cry of death but a cry of victory. He had just won the greatest victory ever. By his life of perfect obedience to God and his death on the cross, he had just opened the doors of Heaven to men. He broke down the wall that separated men from God and that deprived them of his good presence.
    At the moment of rendering his spirit, Jesus opened his mouth again and cried out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46) These last words of Jesus corresponded to the prayer that the Jewish mothers taught their children to say before going to sleep. This prayer is an expression of total trust in God. It comes from a psalm in which King David put his future into the hands of the Lord God (Psalm 31:16). By dying, Jesus threw himself into the arms of the Father, because he knew that God had prepared wonderful things for him. Actually, Jesus knew that after he suffered, the Father would raise him from the dead and would lift him up above all else. When Jesus mentioned his sufferings to come to his disciples, he always mentioned the glory that would follow them. (Matthew 16:21; 17:9; 17:22,23). (source: bible.org)
    As we remember and celebrate Jesus' journey to the cross, his death and resurrection, may we also put ourselves in the arms of our God and Father. He holds the victory. Give Him praise and glory.

                            C. Verbeek

    "Love is untidy." These were the words I heard in Church yesterday as that was yesterday's message during the Lenten sermon series entitled "You Are Loved". "God turns the world upside down" are the words I heard in staff devotions two week's ago, a message echoed with the following video that was watched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTQT99k8LUg. And a few weeks back, I read a devotion that God calls us to love others even if they irritate us, if they get on our nerves, if our personalities clash, even if our intentions get misunderstood. There is nothing easy about that. It can get rather messy sometimes.
    "There is no 'Christ' without the cross" are the words I heard today during the morning's staff devotions. God sent his Son into the world to be sacrificed because of His great love for us. Jesus was taunted, he was mocked, he was nailed to a cross, his blood was shed, and he died. There is nothing tidy about that, and yet that was God's plan. At WCS we serve the same God as the God who promised a Saviour during the time the world turned upside down in the Garden of Eden; we serve a God who sacrificed his Son on the cross so the messiness of sin would be paid.
    As we approach Good Friday and Easter let us remember the words of John 3:16-17 that God's Son is the answer to a world that is messy.
                                G. Hiemstra

God is Greater!
    This past Saturday, WCS hosted its annual Springfest. The bare concrete auditorium transformed into a busy, bustling building of activity! Breakfast, bouncy castles, bunnies, books, buyers, bidders, boerenkole, Bazaar bottles, BLESSINGS! Just a fun alliteration of words to describe the atmosphere!
    We find alliteration in our school theme  as well - GOD IS GREATER! This was a great reminder throughout the planning stages of Springfest. Yes, there were times of fear, worry, and doubt - would it all come together? But God was there - reminding us He held WCS in His hands and we can trust Him.
    Trust we did and the blessings were abundant! From donations of pies, Tim Horton's cookies, and animals to trampolines, plasma cars, pool parties, and handcrafted coffee tables (just to name a few!) As we shut the lights off Saturday afternoon, we said it again - God is Greater! He is greater than our fears and worries. The day was amazing - so many people came! We are so thankful to the small army of volunteers that served, supervised, swept, and smiled and made this day a success! Together, we were able to bring (an unofficial total of) $22,000 to the bank.
    Thank you to our WCS community for your help and donations. Join us as we thank and praise God for His blessings!
                                Sincerely,    Pauline Markus and Heather De Boer