This year at WCS, our theme "the whole earth is filled with God's glory"  is based on the words written by David in Psalm 8. We can imagine David gazing at a beautiful starlit night sky and being inspired to write about God's glory reigning above and on the earth.

On a different starry night many years later,  a group of shepherds were tending to their sheep. Once again God's glory reigned above the earth (Luke 2:9). The angel revealed God's fulfilled promise from Genesis 3:15 and the long awaited child prophesied in Isaiah 9:6,7. Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14) was now dwelling with the Jews and Gentiles. Angels appeared and sang praises to God, worshipping Him. Truly, the earth was  filled with God's glory as He himself came to dwell among us. The news that God's plan of redemption had begun and God did not send 'someone' – He had come   Himself! Our heavenly Father came to make a way to bring you and I back to Him. Jesus Christ remains the greatest gift that we can receive. Speak the gift of Jesus with someone this Christmas season and say thank you to God for His amazing love!

"Glory to God in the highest' and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests." (Luke 2:14)

Mrs. Racicot

Advent Hope

It is a special week at Woodstock Christian School. Students and staff are so pleased to offer our community a gift of hope and light through three performances of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", a heroic tale of love, faith, courage and giving based on the first book of the classic Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. The Land of Narnia in which it is "...always winter but never Christmas" through the rule of the Wicked White Witch is transformed when a prophecy about two daughters of Eve and two sons of Adam appearing comes true and when the King, the Mighty Aslan returns. Spring, a warming up of the land, returns to Narnia.

Please come to hear and see this story which parallels the greatest story ever told - the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ! In this time of advent, in longing expectation we await the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, just as the nation of Narnia waited for the return of Aslan. I pray we will continually pray and long for that day when all brokenness and pain and suffering and darkness will be ended and "The Whole Earth will be Filled with the Glory of God" in a way that today we can only imagine!

Bernice Hunink-Buiter

Many things have been said about music. Music is the universal language. Music is what feelings sound like. Music soothes the soul. Music is powerful. Music makes you smarter. Plato said, "I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning." Paul and Silas's music moved the heart of God to open not just the prison doors, but the hearts of other prisoners in Acts 16. At WCS we believe all these things, but most importantly, we believe that music is a gift from God.

As we learn about music, we emphasize that music is a medium we can use to glorify God and lift others up. Ephesians 5:19 urges us to encourage one another with music and songs. Many biblical heroes used music to recount God's faithfulness, majesty, love and justice. One of my favourite Psalms about music is Psalm 92:1-5, "Lord, it is good to praise you. Most High God, it is good to make music to honour you. It is good to sing every morning about your love. It is good to sing every night about how faithful you are. I sing about it to the music of the lyre that has ten strings. I sing about it to the music of the harp. Lord, you make me glad by what you have done. I sing with joy about the works of your hands. Lord, how great are the things you do!"

Music is a discipline, an art-form, a communication device and most importantly a gift of God. This week as you go about your routines and survive your busy schedules, I hope that you will make music, and let your musical gift overflow into the lives of those around you.

Elizabeth Martin, Music Teacher

Sharing God's Word

This is the last week of our Nicaraguan fundraiser "Sponsor a Laptop" and we thank all the students and teachers for their overwhelming generosity! Next week we will let you know how much money we have raised. I had the opportunity to sit, talk and pray with the five Grade 8 students who will be going on the mission trip to Nicaragua at the end of January. I asked them a few questions and I would like to share some of their responses with you:

How do you try to share God's Word here at WCS?

•I share God's word by leading by example, by being a blessing, not a burden, by being a good role model, by showing respect for everyone. And by shining God's face on earth….

•I am sharing God's Word by being an example for my classmates and students in younger grades.  I also try my best at whatever I do.

•I am sharing God's Word by behaving in class, by being respectful, by building strong relationships.

•I share God's Word by being a role model within my class and within the whole school.

•I share God's Word by being an example for how to live a Christian life for younger students. I work at building a relationship with my fellow classmates and with the younger students at school.

How do you plan to share God's Word when you go to Nicaragua?

•I want to be a light in their dark lives. I want to teach them how to truly live a life for God, helping them build a foundation for the children's lives for God. I want to teach them that they are all worth something in God's eyes.

•I want to make the kids feel like we really care. I want to be part of the kids' camp telling the kids about God. I will show them love, be caring.

•I want to show the Nicaraguans love and hope. I want to be in their community and tell them about God.

•I want the kids to feel wanted and worth a lot. I want to go out and just love them.

•I will care, help, and pray for the people down there. I want to be a good example for the kids there and be respectful to my teammates and people there.

What a wonderful testimony these young teens offer as they strive to live their lives for God, here at WCS and as they go to Nicaragua.

Brittany, Julia, Jonathan, Madelyn and Tiffany….. God will give you the strength to live out your commitments - Go with God!

Mrs. Huinink-Buiter

Sharing God's Word

This is the last week of our Nicaraguan fundraiser "Sponsor a Laptop" and we thank all the students and teachers for their overwhelming generosity! Next week we will let you know how much money we have raised. I had the opportunity to sit, talk and pray with the five Grade 8 students who will be going on the mission trip to Nicaragua at the end of January. I asked them a few questions and I would like to share some of their responses with you:

How do you try to share God's Word here at WCS?

•I share God's word by leading by example, by being a blessing, not a burden, by being a good role model, by showing respect for everyone. And by shining God's face on earth….

•I am sharing God's Word by being an example for my classmates and students in younger grades.  I also try my best at whatever I do.

•I am sharing God's Word by behaving in class, by being respectful, by building strong relationships.

•I share God's Word by being a role model within my class and within the whole school.

•I share God's Word by being an example for how to live a Christian life for younger students. I work at building a relationship with my fellow classmates and with the younger students at school.

How do you plan to share God's Word when you go to Nicaragua?

•I want to be a light in their dark lives. I want to teach them how to truly live a life for God, helping them build a foundation for the children's lives for God. I want to teach them that they are all worth something in God's eyes.

•I want to make the kids feel like we really care. I want to be part of the kids' camp telling the kids about God. I will show them love, be caring.

•I want to show the Nicaraguans love and hope. I want to be in their community and tell them about God.

•I want the kids to feel wanted and worth a lot. I want to go out and just love them.

•I will care, help, and pray for the people down there. I want to be a good example for the kids there and be respectful to my teammates and people there.

What a wonderful testimony these young teens offer as they strive to live their lives for God, here at WCS and as they go to Nicaragua.

Brittany, Julia, Jonathan, Madelyn and Tiffany….. God will give you the strength to live out your commitments - Go with God!

Mrs. Huinink-Buiter

Last year, our school library purchased Britannica School and Image Quest. As we head into the time of year where we are thinking about research reports and science fair projects, I wanted to quickly refresh your memory about this excellent resource that can be accessed both at school and at home. 

Through the library page on our school's website, you can link to both of these excellent sites. The username and password can be received from your child's teacher. Britannica School is broken into three age groups: primary, middle, and senior. The primary section, geared for grades 1-3, shows students information at their age level. With the opportunity to adjust the reading levels, so that they are reading at a good fit level for them, students can find and understand the information given. Middle, grades 4-6, and senior, grades 7-highschool, offer the same searches, along with ideas on how to write research papers, science reports, book reviews, and presentations. The great thing about Britannica school, is that not only does it tell you how to cite the articles that you are using, but it will also link you to some of the "Web's Best Sites" to help you further your research. 

Some interesting tips:

•Double clicking on any word will tell you the definition.

•Britannica School will read the article to you

•Every age level will allow you to adjust the reading level to ensure that your child is reading at their level

•In the primary level, you will find the "Learning Zone." Fun, educational, activities for children pre-K to gr.2

•Create your own "account" by entering a username and password (no other information necessary), allowing you to return and find your articles and images without searching for them again.

Image Quest is similar to Google Image Search, but without the worry of inappropriate images coming up. These are images that Britannica holds the rights to. These images can be used on virtually anything, and again, Image Quest will help you cite the image. 

Have fun exploring and discovering!

Erica Schuster

Last year, our school library purchased Britannica School and Image Quest. As we head into the time of year where we are thinking about research reports and science fair projects, I wanted to quickly refresh your memory about this excellent resource that can be accessed both at school and at home. 

Through the library page on our school's website, you can link to both of these excellent sites. The username and password can be received from your child's teacher. Britannica School is broken into three age groups: primary, middle, and senior. The primary section, geared for grades 1-3, shows students information at their age level. With the opportunity to adjust the reading levels, so that they are reading at a good fit level for them, students can find and understand the information given. Middle, grades 4-6, and senior, grades 7-highschool, offer the same searches, along with ideas on how to write research papers, science reports, book reviews, and presentations. The great thing about Britannica school, is that not only does it tell you how to cite the articles that you are using, but it will also link you to some of the "Web's Best Sites" to help you further your research. 

Some interesting tips:

•Double clicking on any word will tell you the definition.

•Britannica School will read the article to you

•Every age level will allow you to adjust the reading level to ensure that your child is reading at their level

•In the primary level, you will find the "Learning Zone." Fun, educational, activities for children pre-K to gr.2

•Create your own "account" by entering a username and password (no other information necessary), allowing you to return and find your articles and images without searching for them again.

Image Quest is similar to Google Image Search, but without the worry of inappropriate images coming up. These are images that Britannica holds the rights to. These images can be used on virtually anything, and again, Image Quest will help you cite the image. 

Have fun exploring and discovering!

Erica Schuster

Let Us Not Forget

This week we observe Remembrance Day and together with Canadians all though the land, we will stand and remember all those who gave their lives for our freedom. It is a day to reach out to God in prayer for the families of soldiers who died and for those who returned and continue to suffer the agonies of the war in which they fought. We thank God for our freedom and pray for peace throughout the world, the peace only God can give. Every year on Remembrance Day, this song, written by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson Miller (1955) comes to mind, reminding me that God uses you and I to be agents of His peace:

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.

With God as our Father, brothers all are we.

Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.

With every step I take let this be my solemn vow.

To take each moment and live each moment, with peace eternally.

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

Bernice Huinink-Buiter

Let Us Not Forget

This week we observe Remembrance Day and together with Canadians all though the land, we will stand and remember all those who gave their lives for our freedom. It is a day to reach out to God in prayer for the families of soldiers who died and for those who returned and continue to suffer the agonies of the war in which they fought. We thank God for our freedom and pray for peace throughout the world, the peace only God can give. Every year on Remembrance Day, this song, written by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson Miller (1955) comes to mind, reminding me that God uses you and I to be agents of His peace:

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.

With God as our Father, brothers all are we.

Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.

With every step I take let this be my solemn vow.

To take each moment and live each moment, with peace eternally.

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

Bernice Huinink-Buiter

November

I can't believe we had to turn the calendar to November already. As I look ahead it becomes apparent that it will be a very busy month. - CTBS Testing, Report Cards, Parent/Teacher interviews, Winterfest, JKCSS membership meeting, Book Fair, Remembrance Day, PA Day, PD Day, Sponsor a Laptop, and ? This list doesn't even cover the busyness in the classroom or all the family/friend/church commitments that are scheduled this month. It all seems so overwhelming and I need to stop and think about what is most important. I need to commit all these things to the Lord. I need to pray to God to lead me this month and to ask Him to give me the strength to accomplish all that is before me. I need to remember that God has a plan and that I do not need to worry. He gives me what I stand in need of. God cares for me and loves me.

Today I will change the calendar in my classroom and we will look ahead at all the events scheduled for November and I will be able to share with them what I was feeling and thinking when I turned my calendar. I am so grateful that I am able to express my faith to my students and lead them in their walk with God.

J. Hickey

GO!!!!

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the 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)

As Christ-followers who live in God's story, all of us are called to share the good news of Christ's love to those around us. "Jesus loves me this I know…" is what God's hurting world needs so badly to know. So how do we as students and teachers at WCS do this?

We have opportunities to share God's story of LOVE with our families, our neighbours, our classmates through our words and actions. However, this year we, at WCS have been asked to do more! We will be able to support a number of our Grade 8 students when they go to Haiti, Nicaragua and Portugal to bring God's word there. This week, Derek  along with his father, are spending a week in Haiti working alongside Haitian people in construction projects and leading a Bible School for young children. They hope to meet Lousca, the foster child that we, at WCS, support weekly and bring her greetings from WCS. In January, Brittany, Jonathan, Julia, Madelyn and Tiffany hope bring God's love to Nicaragua as part of a team from Innerkip Presbyterian Church. In July, Marissa (alumni of WCS) hopes to travel to Portugal to bring God's love to people there and has requested that students and teachers from WCS support her through prayer. What amazing opportunities to be the feet and hands and voice of Jesus to the world! God's love fills the whole earth and He has chosen to use us - awesome!

Bernice Huinink-Buiter