Pizza, Learning, and Colleagues At Our Christian School

Teachers like to eat too. Last month as part of our PD day, we dove into the task of preparing food together. It joined us together in a task - and a anticipation of good eating!

Next week we'll join together with a large group. On Thursday our teachers will be heading to Ancaster Ontario to attend an Educator’s Conference with more than 700 Christian educators. Based on Luke’s gospel, the chosen theme is “The Imperative of Love” with a focus on creating a place of belonging for all. Next Friday our teachers will be back at school working on more local professional development connected to ongoing local projects and topics. I’m thankful for these chances for our teachers to be reflective and grow.  

There was a time in the past when a Christian school was like a boat on its own in a vast sea. That is no longer the case! We are blessed at LCES to have a network of support from many other key players in Christian education in Ontario and beyond that help us greatly in these matters. 

 

Organization	Website	How they help us
Edvance	www.edvance.ca	Supports local school boards stay on top of provincial matters, school finance, instruction/curriculum, and government advocacy. They organize the annual convention our staff will be attending next week.
Edifide	www.edifide.net	Human resource type support for Christian teachers serving in schools.
Christian Schools International	www.csionline.org	Curriculum, human resources, pension and health plans for staff, administrative conferences.

We also have neighbors! The Prairie Association for Christian Schools, Society for Christian Schools in British Columbia, and Christian Schools Canada are very helpful in making our school a great place to be. These organizations are part of what allows us to offer Christian education at LCES.

SJ

Coloured Beans and Belonging

Our school theme for the year is from Psalm 24:1, with emphasis on the word “belong” that we read in that text. Connected to our theme, a recent SK math lesson blurred the lines in delightful ways between math, Bible, and growth in the life of faith.

Mrs. Stortz had the students taste test green and purple coloured beans with blindfolds on and indicate their preference for either “A” or “B“. They practiced counting votes with tally marks and making observations of what they discovered.

Most thought the beans tasted very similar. Once they cut open both colours of beans, they discovered the insides were the same. They talked about how both beans belong in Gods garden, just like all kinds of people belong to God because, as one student spontaneously declared, “God only looks at our heart!“  

Here is evidence of the blessed spot we live and work in every day at LCES, where we are able to declare “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:1) and that guides all learning, regardless of the subject. What joy there is to have our students learn in a place where all things can be presented as connected, whole, and having God-intended purpose! Praise God for such moments of joyful response to God’s amazing world.

SJ

Every Child Matters

Even though most students and staff were wearing a cheerful orange shirt, there was a quieter, more reflective atmosphere in chapel this morning. The focus was on a time period in Canada’s past where first nations children were treated in ways that crushed their culture, snuffed out future opportunities, and in some cases exposed them to abuse. One might mistakenly think that this happened in times long ago and in places faraway, but that simply isn’t the case. Residential schools still existed in the 1990’s. Mt. Elgin, just southwest of London, had a residential school. Water quality on first nations reserves is still a pressing, urgent concern as exampled by Autumn Peltier, age 15, addressing the United Nations last week.

Purposefully re-visiting these past and present situations of harm and injustice and lingering there helps our students to learn. It urges them to recognize that sin exists, that people on earth can treat each other very poorly, and that it is important to make it right. It helps them to recognize that as part of society, they participate in systems that affect others deeply. It invites our students to the sense of urgency with which Christ directs us to be reconciled not only to himself, but to each other.


Reconciliation is hard work, but the world has no shortage of need for people who are competent, committed reconcilers, motivated by Christ’s call. May our students be a blessing to present and future communities they will be working in.

September 30 chapel

A Noisy Safari at Our Christian School

The happy noises of learning and living in community are always around me, especially so at my desk in my office since both the JK and SK classrooms are immediately across the hall. I frequently hear the pulse of play, social trials and successes, joyful songs, and sometimes loud complaints and frustration. Once I overheard two students struggling with a learning task. One commented to the other “So many letters. Why couldn’t they just make five?” immediately answered by a classmate with  “then we would run out of things to learn too quick.”

Our school is abuzz with the noise of learning. In the middle of that buzz is the encouraging voices of our all teachers and support staff steering keep the safari of learning moving along to next stops. I’m thankful for their ability to create the atmosphere for learning and community that they do.

“Things that are hard are often where we learn the most.”

“The right choice is the one where everyone gets what they need.”

“Our best efforts is our best response to a God that loves us so much.”

“Helping hands are gentile hands.”

“When we notice God at work, we see things more clearly.” 

These are some soundbites of wisdom from our staff. Watching and listening to our youngest learners starting of the year is exciting to me. With fresh eyes and in circumstances and surroundings very new to them, they are both experiencing the gift and challenge of living in a community of learning.

They are learning to look with their eyes in a more focused way at God’s world and recognize with their heart God’s claim and purpose for them. I really don’t mind the noise that process creates and it’s a sound I won’t grow tired of it anytime soon.

SJ

Teachers Pacing Alongside Students

A teacher’s spot is not always at the front of the classroom.

In an education class I took many years ago I was introduced to a metaphor for guiding students through the maze of academic and spiritual growth we call learning at a Christian school. Rather than a teacher solely pushing information and ideas at leaners, the author proposed a healthy balance of “pacing alongside our students, speaking truth into their lives.” There is beauty in this metaphor that I’m reminded of as I think of some learning snapshots I’ve  already noticed in the first week of learning at LCES.  

The above pictures show our teaching staff doing some of this pacing activity. We are wise to recognize that learning is an activity deeply rooted in relationships. Jesus taught us this in the way he instructed his disciples. We read of the sermon on the mount and parables where Jesus directly instructs, however we also recognize that Jesus walked dusty roads, ate bread and fish with these men, hauled nets, washed feet – all while taking hold of teachable moments about the truth of the coming kingdom. The beautiful story of the road to Emmaus in Luke 24 examples Jesus literally pacing alongside those who were struggling to understand.  There was best timing and best way of instructing in that moment and Jesus used it.

Our LCES staff are a treasure. I’m so thankful for the space they make and the time they take to pace alongside our students. They are a steady voice of challenge and encouragement as our children unpack God’s world one amazing detail at a time. Pray for them as they walk with our students, your children each day. They are doing work that has an impact today, and for eternity.

SJ

Gardens and Belonging

Many years ago a friend of mine experienced a concussion while travelling with a group. By doctor’s orders, he had to be woken up and asked questions throughout the night in order to be assured he was recovering well. On the third such occasion our alertness questions were starting to run out, so I asked “Why are we here?” The immediate response from the slumbering patient, barely awake, was a statement from his faith tradition:

In body and soul, in life and death, I am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ…

Words of identity that included belonging. That’s a significant bit of text to have memorized and “fall out” when under duress.

Our school theme of “Working in God’s garden” for 2019-20 comes from Psalm 24:1. There David boldly declares that the earth, all who live in it, and even the future potential of both belong the Lord. We pray that God will guide our community, parents, and staff as we work to make our classrooms a place of belonging that draws out the potential of your children, our students.

Our student service project this year will have us learn about and support Indwell, a Christian organization that looks to support people pursuing health, wellness, and belonging. They have a new project they are starting in London.

Welcome back to the 59^th start of a school year! May we grow in grace, and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.

SJ

Year-End Memories and Learning

Memories and Learning

During the last week of school I asked students what they remember most about this school year if they think of all they have done since September. Here are some of their answers:

“Recess when it was cold and snowy was really fun because we got to make a snowman with my friends.” (JK)

“Gym class was amazing. We got to play tag – INSIDE!”  (SK)

“I liked Track and Field Day because I got to see the big people jumping. Water Fun Day was really fun because I got soaking wet.” (Grade 1)

“Tundra Swans and Daily Five are things I will always remember.” (Grade 2)

“I liked taking the city bus for our trip because I always wondered what the inside looked like. I also really liked being able to sit in different places. [classroom with flexible seating] (Grade 3)

“I’ll remember that Ms. Appendino really, really likes art and that our classroom always get messy even after we cleaned it up.” (Grade 4)

“I didn’t know Shakespeare could be fun until we did the play. Seeing the eagles in the gym was amazing!” (Grade 5)

“The Fun Fair was noisy, but I liked the games. Our field trip to Uncle Tom’s cabin was my other favourite because it was something I hadn’t seen.” (Grade 6)

“Studying a novel study the way we did, and going to L’Arche with the LITs. It was neat to see how they did activities. (Grade 7)

“Well, Camp Medeba for sure, and all of the cooking and baking, especially making Cinnamon Buns..” (Grade 8)

It’s delightful to listen to our students summarize a year of God’s blessings. We’ve had an excellent year of growing and exploring as a community of learners.  May the Lord bless your family with safe times of exploration, connection, and relaxation as the summer holidays begin at the end of the week
.

Please continue to pray for the Lord’s leading as the board and school administration get a new school year organized for September.  

SJ