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

    "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

Spring!

    Last Monday was the first day of spring! Did you celebrate? Does this mean the end of snow days? Students are enjoying being unencumbered by boots, snow pants and bulky winter coats as they climb, run, chase, and skip outdoors. Spring at WCS means, among other events, Springfest (aka the Bazaar). If you have not attended, pack up the family on Saturday morning, come have breakfast served by the teachers (the purple shirt crew), play in the games area, purchase baked goods, plants, and other tasty or lovely items. For lunch, enjoy your choice of ethnic foods from the menu provided. And then there's the auction and the drama and banter of that portion of the day. 
    Springfest has a long history for Woodstock Christian School. I attended as a child. Yes, I did. And yes, I was once a child. What do I remember most? The treats. The candy. The crowds. Probably most astounding was the fact that my father would give each of the siblings a twenty dollar bill and tell us to spend it all. (Remember this was several decades ago and twenty was a really big deal!) I remember the fancy cakes in the decorating contest and who could forget the famous 'grab barrel'?  Come to Springfest. It's not just about raising funds. It's about connecting with people. It's about conversation, making memories, and having fun. It's about community. See you there!

                            C. Verbeek, Principal

God’s Greatness revealed through Speech and Poetry

    If I were to ask a student how God’s greatness is revealed to them through speech and/or poetry, I would receive a wide eyed look of fear and witness a physical body slumping.  That student would immediately be thinking “No way!  It can’t be that time of year.”  The dreaded speech writing and poetry memorization of second term!
    The gift of language and communication is a tool we use as believers to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.   Mark 16:15  “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation’.”  The gift of language and communication is a tool we use to create and sustain community and fellowship with believers.  Phil 1:5,6  “because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.  I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.”  The gift of language and communication allows us to praise and worship God.  Rom 15:6  “so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
    Writing and memorizing a speech is a long and arduous task!  Students are asked to think of an interesting subject and write about it. Students take God’s gifts of experiences, reflection and knowledge to develop a story that is worthy of sharing.  Students employ God’s gifts of memorization and courage to present their speeches to familiar and unfamiliar audiences.  What may begin as a laborious task, ends with an experience of acquiring a deeper experience of what is in, and of, God’s vast creation.  As believers, we learn more about different aspects of God’s character, imagination and creativity.  In this knowledge, we are blessed with a deeper understanding of God’s greatness.
                            Mrs. Racicot

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for man. For the Lord will reward you. Christ is the real Master you serve.” My name is Marisa de Vries. I’m a grade eight student at Woodstock Christian School, and have been attending WCS since Senior Kindergarten. I really like this bible verse from Colossians because I know that I am doing my best to serve God.

This school holds countless memories for me. I have formed relationships with teachers who care, amazing friends and classmates, and I enjoy the privilege of a Christian community and education every day. I am taught by Christian teachers who teach me about God and share their journey with Christ. I’m surrounded by a community that serves God. I have classmates that are on a journey with Christ just like me. I have peers who support me and peers who I can support.

I like to learn about God through all of the subjects I learn at school, and use the talents God has given me to honor Him through sports events, choirs, and electives. Every day, as classmates, we are challenged by our teachers to encourage, build others up, be kind, and set a good example to our community. Most importantly we are all called to serve and live for God to the best of our abilities.

At our school we have leadership teams, these are ways that the students can serve God by helping our teachers and community. Students have the opportunity to deliver lunches to classrooms on pizza and sub days, or help the primary teachers get their students ready to go outside, we can also help Mrs. Koopman in the office and so much more.

Our school also reaches out to the surrounding community. The grade eight class takes a monthly visit to Caressant Care to play games with the seniors there, and visit them. We also plant trees with an environment program. This gives us an opportunity to be stewards of God’s creation.

Woodstock Christian School is a great school. I have loved the opportunity to attend to a Christian School. This school has been a stepping stone in my journey with Christ. Every teacher and every classmate has helped me take the next step of faith.

-Marisa deVries, Grade 8, WCS

The skiing elective for Wednesday, March 1 has been cancelled as the ski hill will be closed.  Students are to bring whatever items they need for their alternate activity.

Praying to our God: Who is Over all, Through all and in all

    Over the past month or so, the Grade 8 class has been focussing on the concept of prayer. We have studied prayer in Bible class, we are also examining more closely how to pray during our devotional times. In fact, we have also been meeting together with the Grade 7 class to learn about how to pray. We are using the Five-Finger Prayer model to help guide our learning and understanding of prayer.
Each week as the Grades 7 and 8 classes meet for devotions, usually on Friday mornings, we focus on each important area. As I have been preparing to lead the areas in which I am responsible for, I have again been reminded through the Five-Finger Prayer model that God is over all, through all and in all. As we go through each day, immersing ourselves in prayer it is clear to me that God is in control of everything. He is worthy of all of our praise.  God is at work in our lives for which we need to give Him thanks. As we pray for others, we can pray with hope that God will work in their lives as well. We need to constantly bring our sinfulness to God in confession to Him. God hears our prayers for our own needs as well, we need to ask Him for peace with what He gives to us.
    It is a busy time of year for us here at Woodstock Christian School. Science Fair projects need completing, speeches and poems need fine-tuning, many assignments are due and tests are approaching, all so we as teachers can give an accurate assessment of student learning in the coming days. Please continue to pray for each student, staff member and parent as we finish term two. May we all experience our God who is Greater than all things during this stressful time.

                            Mr. T. Schaafsma

Science & Creation Studies Learning: Means by Which We Know God
    On Friday, February 17th, the teaching staff met to discuss science learning at Woodstock Christian School. We enjoyed time spent in devotions, reading relevant articles, discussing current curriculum and Ministry guidelines. In the afternoon, one of the science teachers from London District Christian School led us through an interactive workshop of science learning, providing more ideas to make science come alive in our classrooms.
    God makes himself known to humanity through his general revelation - creation. General revelation does not reveal Jesus Christ or His work of redemption for sinners. Thus there is a need for what is called "special revelation." Article 2 of an old but 'rich' document written in 1561, the Belgic Confession (on the means by which we know God), states the distinction in the following words:
We know Him by two means: First, by the creation, preservation, and government of the universe; which is before our eyes as a most elegant book, wherein all creatures, great and small, are as so many characters leading us to see clearly the invisible things of God, even his everlasting power and divinity, as the apostle Paul says in Romans 1:20. All which things are sufficient to convince men and leave them without excuse. Second, He makes Himself more clearly and fully known to us by His holy and divine Word, that is to say, as far as is necessary for us to know in this life, to His glory and our salvation.
    As educators, we are grateful for the many means by which we can share the wonders of God's creation with our students. Brian Doerksen's song "Creation Calls" speaks into the beauty and majesty of what God has created. 
Lying down beneath the stars, I feel your presence there 
I love to stand at ocean shore and feel the thundering breakers roar 
How could I say there is no God when all around creation calls…

                            C. Verbeek, Principal

Libraries - one of my favourite topics to discuss!

Libraries were once somber quiet places where books were warehoused and librarians kept them in order.  Have you ever thought of how a library is different today than when you were a child?  Have you ever wondered what the “modern” library of the future may look like?  At the recent Ontario Library Association conference, attendees were shown what a futuristic library might look like and the role it has for its community.   I could hardly imagine some scenarios that were presented of what you could do at your local library in fifty years!  Some existing libraries already bring more accessible use of technology to the next level with their “Maker Spaces” and the use of 3-D printers.  Here the library’s role is not only to have the information about something but also equipment to produce it and share it!   But the one common thread which runs through the past library, the present library and the future library is the availability of knowledge and understanding and also the need for space for community. There is a lot of “community” being shared at the WCS Library as well.  I have said this before but I am always so grateful that the WCS board has always prioritized budgeting to develop the best possible library for its students with the funds available.  And I am privileged to work in it!  

                Marian Dieleman-Librarian

WINTER ELECTIVES
    This week we will begin our winter electives program for students in grades four through eight. The electives experience runs for five consecutive Wednesdays and gives students opportunity to work and play with other students from different grade levels in a place or activity beyond the classroom. 
    It also allows parents and friends of Woodstock Christian School to be a part of student learning and show students a new and deeper way to use their abilities to bless others. It is good to share our role as educators, giving others the opportunity to bring lessons and learning to life for students and to model to the students how their learning can also influence their future. 
    Stay tuned for photos and updates about the learning and community being experienced through this mid-winter program.
                            C. Verbeek