Our theme this year is “Praise the LORD” based on Psalm 147:1. God commands us in the Bible to praise Him, and we see many examples of praise. David plays the harp and wrote many psalms of praise. We’re also told that creation praises God, just by being creation. Moreover, Jesus gives us examples of praising God with His words, actions, and through prayer. Clearly, there are many ways to praise God.

In education, we know well that all students are different. They all have unique academic needs and strengths, as well as unique interests. Students also love different things: some love math, while others love music, while still others love reading and writing. These are good things because God made us this way. Can these gifts be used to praise God? Yes!

One of our hopes for students this year is to help them recognize that they can use their unique gifts in acts of praise. We sometimes think that worship is only for church, or only for chapel, but the Bible tells us that all of life can be an act of worship, so long as the desire of our heart is to do our work to the glory of God. Colossians 3:23-24 says “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” This means that we can praise God all day with the learning we do at Woodstock Christian School. What a joy this is!

                                                                     Mike Vander Kooi, Principal

If your house is anything like mine, the question “What did you learn today?” did not end up leading to engaging conversations. There were pauses followed by ”nothing.” As parents, we knew that was not the case and began asking more pointed questions: “What was something hard that you did today? Something that was easy? What was funny? What would you have changed?”. In later years, we changed our conversations to what were your highs and lows of the day.

I treasured these conversations that helped me get insight into my children’s learning. We wanted to celebrate their learning. I also treasured their “work”. Any piece of school work that required creativity was saved. Larger pieces of artwork were place under our bed and under various mattresses. Spring cleaning at my house was full of welcomed surprises. I have also come to realize that all my children’s work and pieces were just a small part of their learning journeys.

At WCS we have discovered that celebrating learning has a positive impact on learners’ memory and other cognitive functions. It instills a love of learning and can propel further learning. Research shows that when actively engaged in their learning, your children are more likely to succeed in their studies. We begin with teaching students that each of them has gifts. As educators we take pride in nourishing this potential to bring glory to God.

On April 26, the school will be opened in the evening (6:30 -7:30pm) to see a sample of what your children have been working on. The effort, hard work and process of your child’s project will be celebrated. These projects will demonstrate that success is possible and that a process has been followed. Presentation skills are being rehearsed and we are waiting for an authentic audience…. YOU!

                                                     Linda Westerveld JK/SK teacher

It is officially Spring. I must admit that even though there is still snow on the ground,  I am excited for the next season. Warmer weather, birds chirping and flowers appearing. Seasons may change, but God is always our constant. 

March break provides a wonderful opportunity for our students, staff and teachers to rest and grow with God. It can also be a time to knock out some home projects that you have wanted to complete, make time to see friends and family, travel to a warmer destination or watch your favourite March Madness team in action (even if they lose in the second round). 

Years ago, during this time, I took a trip to Tegucigalpa in Honduras to serve God’s people. One of the many things that I remember were the houses. So many houses were incomplete. During our Sunday service in church, our Pastor reminded me that even though these houses may never be finished, God will continue to keep building up our hearts stronger and stronger. He is always listening, and He never takes breaks. Maybe there were some things that you didn’t get to complete this week, but He will never leave us unfinished. 

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5.

Jessica Van Leeuwen, SK Teacher

Community - a feeling of fellowship with others as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals. 

In our classrooms here at WCS we strive to create a sense of community among our students. Recently, grade one has been working on memorizing and presenting a poem. Each student was to stand in front of the class to recite their poem. After each student presented their poem they were met with cheers, claps, “good jobs” and just pure and genuine encouragement from their classmates. It did not matter whether the student was highly successful or not, they cheered and celebrated each student equally.  It warmed my heart to hear the students honor and encourage one another. 

This year our theme verse reminds us to “ Be devoted to one another in love and to Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10). I pray that at WCS we will continue to find ways to build eachother up, cheer each other on and create a genuine sense of community where we celebrate each person that God has made. 
 
                                                  Marcia Horinga, Grade 1 Teacher

Poinsettias are the flower of Christmas. Many families have one in their homes and there are special displays in churches and other public places. How did this plant become a traditional part of Christmas decorations? This is what I found out.

The Christmas tradition of poinsettias is inspired by Mexican folktale about a poor little girl called Pepita who had no present for the baby Jesus at a Christmas Eve service. Her cousin Pedro tried to cheer her up by suggesting that even the smallest gift would be enough, so Pepita picked up some weeds growing near the church. When she stepped up to the altar and placed the arrangement they suddenly transformed into the bright red flowers we know today. 

Symbolically, we have Jesus’ life story in one plant. The leaves symbolize the star that led the Wise Men to the newborn Jesus, the red leaves are a reminder of the blood of Christ shed during His crucifixion and the white leaves represent Christ’s purity.

I heard a story about a family who used to take poinsettias after the service on Christmas morning and try to kill them each year. The mother would nurture them all summer long, then throw them in a closet in October. Early December, she would pull them back out and they would be this beautiful red plant. You can regrow the plants every year, but it requires putting them away in a dark place. It's a great reminder of the Resurrection story. Jesus was born to save us from our sins. This Christmas, as you look at the lovely poinsettias may it be a visible reminder of Christ's birth and death.

                                                 Jannette Hickey-Gascho

“Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8

Over the past while in Grade 5 we have been doing a novel study of the book ‘A Single Shard’ by Linda Sue Park. The story takes place in 12th Century Korea and is about a young orphan who becomes a potter’s apprentice.  Over time the orphan who goes by the nickname ‘Tree-ear’ learns the craft of pottery. This week our class hopes to go to a pottery studio to experience how to make some pottery of our own. I have heard the students are looking forward to our trip. Yesterday in church our Pastor spoke on Isaiah 64, with the theme of waiting. In particular, verse 8 stood out to me because we have just studied A Single Shard, and I was again reminded about how we are constantly being shaped and formed by our Master Potter. Everything we go through… all of our experiences are happening for the purpose of God forming us into the people he created us to be. As we wait during this Advent season, may we all be open and receptive to God continuing His good work through us here on earth.

Mr. Schaafsma

Grade 5 Teacher

The last few weeks have brought a return of winter weather to Southern Ontario, and to WCS. The recent snowfall was my first experience with winter weather in many years, as Hong Kong does not get winter quite like we do! For our students, the fresh snow was like a toy that hasn’t been played with in awhile. They were so excited to play with  it again and they had a blast collaborating with their classmates rolling giant snowballs, making forts, and playing in the snow. It has melted since, but I’m sure we’ll get more snow soon.

Perhaps we don’t look forward to it quite as much, but the winter season is a reminder of God’s faithfulness. Genesis 8:22 says “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” 

We praise God for each changing season because it reminds us of His continual faithfulness, day after day, week after week, and season after season. We serve a God who fulfills His promises, and this is a great blessing, even on those chilly winter mornings. 

                                                                                           Mike Vander Kooi, Principal

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” - Matt 11:28

This verse reminds me that I can’t do everything in my own strength. When I try to, that's when I get overwhelmed and stressed. Jesus gives us His presence to guide and strengthen us. We can “rest” knowing that not only will he enable us to do the “work” we find before us, but most importantly that our entire future is secure in his hands. I pray that as you walk through this week, you will give Jesus the heavy burden of trying to “do it all” and focus on what matters the most, knowing and following him every step of every day.

                                                                         Ms. Martin, Grade 6 Teacher

It is a special time of year in our school. No, not the winter season; it’s report card season! Students have been busy completing term ending assessments and presentations, and teachers are busy grading those same assignments. It is a busy time of year for everyone in our school building. This week Friday teachers will spend the day finalizing their report cards.

Assessment is an important part of what we do as a school, and it happens throughout the year. But report cards are another way to help students and parents understand where they are in their learning, highlight areas of strength, and identify areas where students have room to improve. Report cards are also a chance for us to communicate what really makes your child special. 

My prayer is that students feel affirmed that they are children of God, uniquely made and set apart for the tasks that God has given them.

                                                                       Mike Vander Kooi, Principal

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, with much needed rest, and a chance to reflect on the blessings God has given us. Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The Thanksgiving holiday gives us an intentional time to be thankful. Onn Friday October 7th,  we were able to celebrate Thanksgiving as a school, as the Grade 1 class led us in a full school assembly. As part of the assembly, we collected donations, and then distributed them to Operation Sharing, a local charity. This was a great way for our school community to show thankfulness in a practical way. Thank you for giving generously to this cause, and blessing our Woodstock community.

                                                                   Mike Vander Kooi

Creating Beautiful Work  

One of the ideals that we strive for at WCS is for students to create beautiful work. Our theme verse this year shows us the character of God - his abundance, his power, his imagination and creativity. He is and provides more than we can ever imagine! Read these verses from The New International Reader’s version of Ephesians 3:20,21  “God is able to do far more than we could ever ask for or imagine. He does everything by his power that is working in us. Give him glory in the church and in Christ Jesus. Give him glory through all time and for ever and ever. Amen.”

As we teach and guide students in the area of visual art, dramatic arts, and music as art, we teach students to recognize the beauty of creation, the beauty of sound and things visual. God wants us to experience the power of observation and creation. Imagination is one of the most sacred things we have. It enables us to experience the joy and beauty of the creative process, in which God Himself delights as the Creator. The arts offer pathways for all students to deepen their understanding of God and to participate creatively in His beautiful, redemptive work in our world. (acsi.org)

Skill, craftsmanship, beauty, clarity, balance, and other timeless elements are to be studied and practiced to produce an almost endless variety of quality artistic works. Education in these active pursuits, like all faithful Christian education, should set our kids on a lifelong trajectory toward maturity and wisdom. As scripture instructs us, “...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8). 

                                                                                         Carol Verbeek, Principal

Community is so important to humanity. When we have family, friends, or any group of people in our lives showing us care and making us feel welcome, we are happier people and find more enjoyment. In fact, multiple research studies have proven the trend to be true: that people who are part of a strong and loving community, whether large or small, are happier than those who aren’t. 

As Covid restrictions have been lifted, I’m sure we’re all enjoying the “normal” way of doing things, such as in-person interaction and larger community events like our recent Springfest breakfast (this past Saturday). It was heart-warming to see 100+ people in the gym, eating and chatting with one another, reconnecting with old friends or acquaintances, and supporting our school; something we perhaps took for granted prior to the pandemic.

 I am thankful for the community I’m a part of; the larger and smaller communities. I pray that we, as Christians, would pour into our communities and into each relationship we have. Perhaps you have an opportunity to serve, welcome, or reach out to someone with a phone call or message; I encourage you to do so. 

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” 

(Romans 12:4-5)                                                                     Axel Hiemstra, Grade 5 Teacher