Faith...Learning...Community

 

Experiencing healthy relationships are a vital component of our spiritual, emotional and cognitive growth. From the beginning of God’s story in Genesis, He placed us in relationship with Him and one another. Throughout the Old and New Testaments we are sought by God to live a life obedient to Him and in servanthood to one another. As believers, our greatest commandment is found in Matthew 22:37-40, “ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Responsive Classroom is an educational approach that offers a framework for students to flourish in their school environment. Engaging academics, positive community, effective management and developmental awareness are the foci of a responsive classroom. To build positive community, students are led by the teacher to know one another as individuals in regards to talents, interests and beliefs. During adolescence, relationships are of great importance. Relationships influence an individual’s  choices, attitude and participation in community. Colossians 3:12-13 states, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” To ‘bear with each other’ implies relationship.

At WCS, community is a vital component of our spiritual, emotional and cognitive growth. Students experience positive growth and development in an environment that offers opportunity for safe, respectful and honouring relationships. In grade 7, we have made a deliberate attempt through our words, actions and choices to build a community that allows this type of relationship to form. We begin our day greeting each other. Each day I am amazed at the smile that is formed on a student’s face because their name was used and eye contact was made. We listen, we share, we help, we participate, we admonish, we forgive, we try and try again and together we grow.

 

L. Racicot