Friday was an awesome day at Woodstock Christian School! Track and Field Day was a huge success. Thanks to all the parents and grandparents who came out and support their children and grandchildren. It is so great to hear your encouraging cheers and love for the children. A big thanks to all the parents who worked in the kitchen, preparing and handing out the food. I was working at the ribbon table on Friday, and it was an awesome place to be. I saw so many smiles, heard many encouraging and congratulatory words, and felt a very positive energy from all the children and parents. Many personal bests were broken and even one record was broken. I would like to especially like to thank our faithful Father for the amazing bodies we have been given and for the encouraging and positive spirit that prevailed on Friday, and for the safety we all experienced.

                            Natalie Van Andel

Living By God's Spirit

    This coming Sunday, Christians throughout the world will celebrate Pentecost - the coming of the Holy Spirit to God's people. When Jesus ascended into heaven, He told his followers to "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20). God sent His Spirit to fill us, his followers, with power and passion to proclaim His infinite, awesome love to all we meet! At WCS, each day we are faced with the reality that Jesus loves us and that His love fills every corner of creation. Since we live by His Spirit, we are empowered to be in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). And then, our living for Jesus shows itself in the fruit of the Spirit- LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and SELF-CONTROL (Galatians 5:22,23). God promises to be with us always and challenges us daily to share His love! How awesome is God!

                            Mrs. Bernice Huinink-Buiter

Share the Music Day

June 2, 2015

Teachers and parents please join us at 2:00 in the gym to listen to our senior students share their gifts and talents.

Due to limited space, Buddy classes are welcome to send representatives to the music room to support their buddies in grades 1-4

12:15-12:45 – Grade 3 and 4 in music room

1:00-1:30 – Grade 1 and 2 in music room

2:00-2:20 – BEETHOVEN ROCKS

Grade 5 in gym

2:30 – 3:15 SPRING CONCERT

Concert Band and Senior Choir in gym

Ode to Dandelions

    I woke up Saturday morning and looked with dismay at the sea of yellow in our large backyard. Dandelion season has returned, and I have finally given up on trying to win the battle with these pesky weeds. I tried for years to pull, pluck, and spray these nasty plants, but each year they have returned even more abundantly.
    Our youngest daughter, Emma, woke up shortly after I did, and a huge smile emerged across her face as she gazed out at the backyard. Her eyes soaked in a beautiful expanse of bright yellow flowers. But not just any flowers, her favourite - dandelions!
    As I watched and listened to her excitedly talk about how many dandelions we already have in our yard, and how many more she hoped would be coming, I was reminded of how beauty can be found everywhere! I smiled as I remembered the many times in past years our children have given me handfuls of dandelions as expressions of their love. I have put countless yellow weeds in small cups and vases and set them prominently on the centre of our kitchen table.
    Yesterday, I am sure many mothers received bunches of dandelions, handprint cards, beaded necklaces, painted flowerpots, or other gifts of affection from their young children. Hopefully those mothers with older children also received cards, gifts, hugs, or acts of kindness. God has created us to be in loving families and communities, and giving gifts from the heart helps build relationships and demonstrates love. I am so thankful for my mother and for my children. I am thankful that God has created me to be a mother, and that I am blessed daily by the love my children shower on me.
    I have a small vase filled with wilted dandelions sitting on my kitchen table. Although I cannot say that I now love dandelions, my feelings about them in my backyard are beginning to soften. I can even say, "Thank you, God, for dandelions!"
    Praying you all had a blessed Mother's Day yesterday.

                            Tracy Bulthuis

God Speaks….

    It's May, it's spring and again we see God shining His glory through all of creation! The Canada goose is sitting on her eggs just on the other side of the fence at school, the maple trees outside the classroom windows are budding, the tulips in the front flowerbeds are blooming, the sun is shining its warm rays on teachers and students as we enjoy our outdoor recess times! Awesome!
    We see God's glory shine through His people - each child and adult that comes through the doors of WCS, so fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God, created to bring praise, to shine!
    God shows His glory also through His Word, which we read each day. In Deuteronomy 6, we read… GOD, our God! GOD the one and only!  Love GOD, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got!  Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates. (The Message).
    Such an incredible blessing we have at WCS to be brought face-to-face with God's glory through the World around us and through His Word!
    God speaks, do we hear Him?
                            Mrs. Bernice Huinink-Buiter

Thank you to all those involved in Christian Education week, a week that WCS focuses on the blessings of Christian education. And what a blessing it is!
A few weeks back when I was looking for a devotion to share with the staff, I came across the following words by Charles Swindoll in a devotion entitled "Chance":
With the help of a telescope or a microscope we are ushered into a world of incredible, infinite design. Take your choice: astronomy or biology… and sheer, unemotional intelligence will force you to mumble to yourself, "Behind all this was more than chance. This design is the result of a designer!" His name?  God, the Creator.
God has created us to be a part of this great design. God has created us to study, explore, ponder, and delight in his creation. He has created us to sing and tell about his wonderful deeds including his creation story. The primary students did just that when they shared a musical about the depths of God's glory last week during Christian Education week. Great job, primary students of WCS!
Whether we have an opportunity to study Canada as the primary students have recently completed, or study the Renaissance period as my own class has recently done, we cannot help but marvel at the design of this world. Like the psalmist we echo Psalm 19:1: "The heavens declare the glory of God;  the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Praise God that we can acknowledge at this school that the world is created by God, and have an opportunity to talk and sing about this Creator!
Thanks again to all those who helped us celebrate Christian Education week!

                                                                         G. Hiemstra

K2K productions has never disappointed. This is sure to be an amazing show!

Volunteers Rock!

What would we do without you?
    Last week Canada celebrated National Volunteer Week …and today at WCS at our morning assembly we also recognized and celebrated the volunteers directly involved with our students. Thank you to all who help out in classrooms, in the library, on the playground, on sports teams, with the electives' program,  with drama productions- your help is so appreciated!
Many other WCS supporters spend hours volunteering in other ways at WCS- board members, committee members, special events' volunteers, property and grounds' volunteers, and the list goes on and on. You are all such a blessing!
    The National Volunteer Week website says this… "A volunteer is like a stone thrown into a lake: its effect has a direct impact. At the same time, like ripples, volunteer efforts reach out far and wide top improve communities…volunteers rock"!
    On Saturday, the WCS community descended on the Oxford Auditorium for its annual SPRINGFEST- what a crowd! We had an amazing day of community building together - we laughed together, ate together, played together, visited together and worked together. This day was made possible by many, many, many volunteers who worked to make this day such a success - THANK YOU!!!
    We celebrate and thank all who volunteer at WCS! You are passionate about the Lord filling your lives and the school that your children/grandchildren attend and your commitment is awesome! The rippling effect of what you do reaches out far beyond what you and I can imagine. God has blessed and continues to bless the school through you!
                            Praising and thanking God for all volunteers,
                            Mrs. Bernice Huinink-Buiter

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

¹⁶ Rejoice evermore.

¹⁷ Pray without ceasing.

¹⁸ In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Rejoice. Pray. Give Thanks. Repeat

These three actions are easy to say, but not always to do.  Woodstock Christian School has depended on these actions long before the doors of the school opened and we still depend on them today!  Through the 55 years WCS has been in existence we have grown, changed, and developed.  We have made “imperfect progress” (a term I learned from Lysa Terkeurst), all by the grace of God.  We owe it all to Him.  This amazing facility, the huge playground, the classrooms full of students and the staff and board that give 110% in all they do!  Thanks be to God for this place.

The week of April 18-24 is set aside for us as a community to rejoice, pray and give thanks for this wonderful place.  Christian Education Week 2015 is full of events to help us celebrate what God has given to us.
Saturday, April 18^th-Spring Fest

                  Come to the Oxford Auditorium for a fun filled day!  Pancake breakfast, games, marketplace, silent and live auction as well as your choice of Korean, Canadian or Dutch food for lunch! 

Sunday, April 19^th-Church Services

                  Look for a way to connect WCS to your church this Sunday.  Sharing a prayer request for our school or handing out some of our flyers is a great way to communicate who we are.  Several churches are using Christian Education Week bulletin covers.  What a blessing!

Monday, April 20^th-Volunteer Appreciation Assembly

                  Join us at 8:30am for a morning of recognizing our volunteers.  Our Mayor, Trevor Birtch, is coming to visit with us and we will share some special Thank You notes with our volunteers!  Cake and refreshments to be served afterwards.

Tuesday, April 21^st-Bus Driver Appreciation & JK2 Picnic

                  Let’s take a day to appreciate our dedicated, friendly and courteous bus drivers!  Send along a note or small token of appreciation to let them know you are thankful for what they do.

Wednesday, April 22^nd-Art Walk Open House, Picnic Lunch & Under God’s Sea in 3D

                  A fun filled busy day at WCS!  Art Walk Open House is a great time for anyone to come walk the hallways and enjoy wonderful student made art work.  This is a excellent opportunity to invite neighbours, family and friends so they can also see what we are all about.

                  At 1:30 we will enjoy our annual picnic lunch.  Pack a lunch and join your children!  Weather permitting we will eat outside, so bring a blanket as well.

                  Under God’s Sea in 3D is a musical performed by our primary division. (Jk-Grade 4)  We are excited to see this musical come together on stage!  Please join us at 7pm in the school gymnasium.

Thursday, April 23^rd-Grand Friends Day

                  Invite your grandparents or senior friends to come for the day.  Refreshments will begin at 11:30, 12-1 classroom visits, and 1-2 lunch (sub buns, salad, fruit, and veggies). We will end the day with some students presentations and a viewing of Under God’s Sea in 3D!

We, at WCS, look forward to seeing you and your family at many of these events!

Rejoice. Pray. Give Thanks. Repeat

    "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)
    The verse above is one of the most important tasks given to us by God. It helps us answer the question "What is the meaning of life?" It is a theme that we've been exploring in Gr. 6, 7, and 8 throughout the school year and one that has re-surfaced for me this past Easter. Our pastor talked about the early church and reminded us of the courageous faith displayed by Jesus' disciples who were assigned the enormous task stated above: also known as The Great Commission. He explained the concept of "dying to self", and living completely for Jesus. He explained that because of what Jesus did and the actions of his disciples after he ascended into heaven, we are able to sit in church today - the same church - worshipping and believing in that same truth. 
    In both our Gr. 7/8 Bible unit on Early Church History, and our Gr. 6/7 unit on Faith, we have begun studying historical figures (such as Jesus' disciples) and how they have influenced Christianity. We have also been discussing what true Christian faith really is. Easter weekend has tied in well with our studies because it allows us to reflect on and remember what Jesus did for us and how his followers responded with courageous faith by carrying out The Great Commission - even if that meant death because of it. Our hope is that students will come to a better understanding of faith, and begin to long for a close relationship with Jesus so that we may "die to self" and carry out this immensely important mission given to us by Jesus Christ.

                            Axel Hiemstra

"For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything" Hebrews 3:4

Grade One, several parent volunteers, Mrs. Lesa Racicot (teacher) and Miss Norah from Home Depot worked together to build tool boxes!  The children were so excited to work at hammering, glueing and constructing their very own tool box!  Thank you to Home Depot for all the supplies and leadership and to all the parents that took time out of their day to come help!