November is such a wonderful time of year. But it's also a busy time of year for everyone! School, work, life in general can take a toll on us. Hopefully we make time for community. This means creating time for our friends and our family. Maybe even some extra quiet time with God. Our hearts might need it. It can be hard for us to carve out those times from our busy lives. But it's so important.
    Woodstock Christian School is part of your "community." Hopefully it feels like part of your family. But does it ever feel like it's hard to make time to get to get involved and to get to know people? Like really get to know people? The casual passings in the hallway are nice, but having community means spending time.
    As a member of a school committee, and having been around for many years, I encourage you to get involved with the school. It means time and efforts, but the benefits are great! You will get to know more people and you will feel like you have some insight into the "behind the scene" parts of this school. It's amazing how many hands and hearts it takes to make this school function. 
    And it's amazing what happens when you get involved. You will find out more about why you love this school. It's made up of so many different people from so many different backgrounds. We all bring our own communities to the table and create one big one here at WCS. This is certainly something to celebrate!
    It's a pretty neat thing. Taking all our differences, our different backgrounds and our different personalities...and coming together for the cause of Christian Education! Try to look at how you can get involved. Ask! It will be so worth your time and only good can come of it. You'll feel so much more a part of this wonderful community and you will benefit in many ways. So will all the students. And that's what it's all about!! Think about your "communities" today. All of them. Pray for them and look at how you can grow them.

                            Jenessa VanRooyen

Monday the grade 2 class planted tulip and crocus bulbs in the front gardens of our school. We have been looking at how we can see the glory of God's paintbrush through the beautiful flowers that He has placed in our world. It was an exciting time as we worked together to plant almost 80 bulbs. Be sure to watch the gardens in the spring to see God's paintbrush popping through the ground. 

Please join us in celebrating "Christmas Around the World!"

You (all local Pastors, Christian Education supporters and friends of Woodstock Christian School) are invited to join us on December 10th at 1:30pm for Coffee, Tea and Apple Crisp!  

Hooray for Buses!!

    This week, we at WCS want to focus on Safety on the School Buses. Six Woodstock Christian School buses travel each school day to pick up/drop off our precious cargo- the students! An estimated 16,850 kms/year are driven by 6 dedicated, caring bus drivers (and spare bus drivers), and they all feel God’s hands over theirs as they drive. They tell me often of how God’s presence surrounds their bus every minute on their routes and they depend on Him to keep them safe.
    Sometimes buses are late, sometimes we ask you to bring your child(ren) in, sometimes your child(ren) get missed, …..we acknowledge that we make mistakes and I apologize for these times. Some of your families get VERY early pick-up times or VERY late drop-off times, while some of you have to drive your child(ren) to bus stops. I realize that there are frustrations for many of our families. Please know that as transportation committee, as bus drivers, as school principal, we CARE so much about your family and we want to do the best we can to ensure a safe, happy, comfortable ride for your child(ren). We spend a lot of time reviewing stops and new possibilities for our routes. I appreciate hearing from you about your concerns and hope that you feel listened to.
    So this week, will you please talk with your child(ren) about safety on the bus? The school day begins as soon as your child(ren) get on the bus and ends when they get off the bus. It is essential that each student takes responsibility and does his/her part to make the ride a safe one. Check your Family and Student Handbook for safe bus guidelines and review them  with your children. Students, take time this week to thank your School Bus Safety Patrollers - they are a bus driver’s (and your)best friends!
Pray for the bus drivers often as they drive their routes. They are carrying your most precious ‘possessions’.
         Trusting God always and serving His children, 

                        Mrs. Bernice Huinink-Buiter (principal)

A parent sent this in last week.  This is the song Junior Kindergarten ends their day with.

Teacher's Convention

    This Thursday and Friday the staff of WCS will attend the Edifide Teachers Convention held at Redeemer University College in Ancaster. The Edifide convention is organized each year so that Christian educators will be nurtured spiritually, will grow professionally, and will have the opportunity to share with and encourage their colleagues. Over 800 Christian teachers from all over Ontario gather together at an event that is looked forward to by many. The theme for this year's convention is "Power, Purpose, Potential." It is based on 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Andy Crouch and Karen Swallow Prior, are the two keynote speakers. They are outstanding examples of the kind of Christian service education can bring to Canadian society. Teachers will participate in workshops from strands such as Leadership, Culture & Character, Masters of Knowledge and Skills, Beautiful Work, Healthy Living, Workplace and Development. It is the teacher's desire that they will take back to WCS and their classrooms the knowledge, enthusiasm, creativity, challenges and skills acquired during the convention.
                            Mrs. Jannette Hickey

This past Sunday (Oct 19, 2015), Ingersoll Christian Reformed Church celebrated Christian Education during the morning worship service.

Students from London Christian Elementary School (LCES), Immanuel Christian School (ICS), London District Christian Seconday School (LDCSS), and Woodstock Christian School (WCS) read scripture, played music and participated in the service.

Luke H., a member at Ingersoll CRC, alumni of WCS and current grade 12 student at LDCSS spoke of his experience attending Christian Schools.

Here is what Luke had to say:

"Going to Christian school makes you perfect!!! Ahhh…Now I’ve got your attention. No, of course it doesn’t. I wish! Wouldn’t that be nice? Imagine a school with no bullying, no failing, no cheating, no fighting, and no teasing. No, we have all those things at Christian school, but we also have something that other schools don’t and that’s a real foundation in the fact that regardless of all the things I just mentioned, students are taught and experience throughout their entire day for 14 years that God is present, God is in control, God is the reason to learn anything in the first place, and that God is the reason NOT to bully, cheat, fight, or tease.

And, yes, I’ve learned leadership skills, responsibility, and good study habits, and all sorts of academic things that you can learn at any school, but what’s different is that students are taught to really appreciate WHERE everything comes from and their spiritual growth is nurtured, not just their head knowledge. When we go on retreats together, we learn to love and respect each other because of who we are in Christ, not just because it’s the law or some post on facebook says to do so. When we visit bogs and study biology, we learn that it’s God’s design and that we should respect it and take care of it because of that reason, not just because it’s the “in” thing to do or a fad to recycle. The idea that everything belongs to God is evident whether we are playing sports, studying math, traveling to Europe, painting, playing an instrument, and, yes, of course, praying.

The Bible is quite clear when it commands us to tell or teach our children about God. God promises us that He will be faithful to us if we follow His commandments. He doesn’t say it will be easy or perfect, but He does promise to always be with us and provide for us. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of the Lord is mentioned 144 times in the Bible…I’d say it’s pretty important. In order to develop fear or respect for the Lord, we must understand who He is, so you have to build your learning on a foundation of who God is. All other knowledge is vain and useless.

Proverbs 1:7 states The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

And Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Joel 1:3 commands, “Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.”

And Psalm 78:1-8 is very clear:

1My people, hear my teaching;

listen to the words of my mouth.

2I will open my mouth with a parable;

I will utter hidden things, things from of old—

3things we have heard and known,

things our ancestors have told us.

4We will not hide them from their descendants;

we will tell the next generation

the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,

his power, and the wonders he has done.

5He decreed statutes for Jacob

and established the law in Israel,

which he commanded our ancestors

to teach their children,

6so the next generation would know them,

even the children yet to be born,

and they in turn would tell their children.

7Then they would put their trust in God

and would not forget his deeds

but would keep his commands.

8They would not be like their ancestors—

a stubborn and rebellious generation,

whose hearts were not loyal to God,

whose spirits were not faithful to him.

My grandpa has told me the story of how when his father immigrated to Canada, he and some other families started to worship in his living room in Ilderton. Even though they did not have a church building yet, or a house or a car or tons of food, one of the first collections they decided to take was to start a Christian school. My great-grandmother said, “We’d better take a collection for a Christian school.” That was in 1949. As a child, I thought that was a bit crazy, but now I can see why they thought that was so important, and I’m very grateful they did so. They didn’t have much to start with and I’m sure the task seemed impossible and even overwhelming, but that school in London has expanded into other Christian schools and 50 years later, as a great-grandson, I’ve had the privilege of graduating from Woodstock Christian in its 50th anniversary year a few years ago and this year I’ll be graduating from LDCSS in its 50th anniversary year. That’s pretty cool! Being part of these celebrations will stay with me as a reminder of God’s faithfulness to His people. The school started with nothing and is now top-notch. The high school’s theme this year is “God’s legacy, God’s promise.” Woodstock Christian’s theme this year is “Tell God’s Story” from Psalm 107: 1-2, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story!”

My parents, grandparents, and teachers have been faithful and have told me God’s story.

I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to not only learn about God’s promises, but to have actually experienced God’s faithfulness and legacy first-hand throughout my daily life for the past 14 years of education. That is the most valuable thing I’ve learned and is the thing that will remain with me forever. I hope, too, that I will be faithful not only to God but to my family before me and pass along this gift to my children as well."

God’s BIGGER Story!

    I want to share some ‘pictures’ of what I saw as I wandered into classrooms this morning:
    •    Grade 7/8 boys’ gym class: Playing Flag Football, learning how to work as a team, how to play hard respecting all teammates as well as players on the opposing team, building their skill level as they practice the rules and plays.
    •    Grade 1: Writing reflections on their class trip to the Woodstock Art Gallery last week. The Grade 1 students are just learning how to communicate by writing, building their writing and print skills. That is very hard work and involves taking risks! One girl, after reading her story to me, commented, “Writing is my favourite thing to do at school!”
    •    Grade 2: Students involved in their Daily 5 Language Arts’ activities- a quiet bustle of reading in pairs, reading alone, listening to a book, writing, working with words. One students asks to read a book to me- he is so proud of how the words on the page come to life for him and is eager to share his thoughts as he reads.
    •    SK: Fluffy, the class bunny,  is out of his cage playing with students who are building with straws and connectors. Students share how he is climbing up their leg and trying to eat only the orange (carrots??) connectors which they have put away. Fluffy is very much a part of this group hopping into and out of the towers that the students are building.
    Yesterday, I attended the Ingersoll Christian Reformed Church service focussing on Christian Education. Pastor Norman Visser reminded us that we are a part of God’s amazing story,and that God’s story is so much bigger than we can imagine. In the big picture of God’s story, these vignettes that I have just shared may seem small, but they are all a part of God’s bigger picture. He allows us to see and tell His story to one another, and we do so joyfully knowing He is the author and sustainer of all of creation!
                                    “Wonder-fully” serving In God’s BIG story, Bernice Huinink-Buiter

Woodstock Christian School competed in a Cross Country Meet at Brantford Christian School on Wednesday, October 15th.  Students from Grades 3-8 participated. 

When I spoke with Juile (Grade 3) she said "The course was hard because of the steps, and there was a tree in the middle of the path!".  

Eight of the Grade 3 girls ran together and brought home a first place for WCS!

Congratulations on a job well done!

This weekend, my family and I went camping at Pinery Provincial Park. It is so easy to see God's handiwork when spending time in his creation. I just sat and marveled at the squirrels and chipmunks in our campsite. Some were busy gathering nuts and others just chasing each other around. The brilliant red and orange leaves on the trees, show our loving Creator's imagination, creativity, and love of colour! While walking around the campground, we saw many families spending time together enjoying each other's company. We don't have to go camping to see God's handiwork. I just look around my classroom and the halls at school, and I see God's creativity and love. God has blessed us so richly with our amazing world! Don't forget to take the time to open your eyes and marvel at God's world around you! God has also blessed us with awesome families. Don't forget to thank God for the blessing of your family!!
                            N. VanAndel