Gerry Huinink's bus is having problems and will not start (too cold!). Parents on this route are asked to bring their children to school this morning.

We ARE running our buses and the school is open today! Please be patient as the buses may be a little bit behind schedule. 

NEW YEAR 2014
The clock strikes 12:00 and 2014 begins. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! A new beginning, a new time lies ahead. I begin the new year with questions…. What will this year bring? What will God have me do this year? What will happen in the lives of my husband, my children and my grandchildren?
How will WCS live this year? What kinds of joys and challenges (and perhaps sorrows) will we as school community experience in 2014?
ROOTED IN LOVE - that's Christ's love for us that we are rooted in. And He has promised us this: The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (Deut. 31:8) As we live into every day of 2014, we move ahead with God before us. Wherever we go, we know God was there first and is waiting for us. We are never out of God's reach! He goes before us leading, guiding, preparing the path for us to walk and summoning us to follow Him. With this assurance we step forward with confidence knowing that all will be well!
Bernice Huinink-Buiter

Due to the severe weather and road conditions, the buses will not be running and the school will be closed again today!  Another SNOW DAY!!!!

Due to the severe winter storm conditions, buses will not be picking up students today and the school will not be open. Enjoy the SNOW DAY! 

WCS has been filled with the wonderful smells of cookies and goodies being baked for the neighbours of our school. Each class has been given the task of spreading Christmas cheer to area businesses; this may be in the form of a special card created, a Christmas carol sung, or some goodies to share. Gr. 7 even created office decor! Junior Kindergarten crossed the road today and visited Steve's Automotive to deliver cookies, a card and a carol. Both the class and the receiving business were delighted with the visit as we wished them a merry Christmas!

Good News!! We have been able to reschedule skating for Friday, January 10 from 12:15-2:05! The JK-3 and 8's will skate from 12:15-1:10 and Grade 4-8 students will skate from 1:10-2:05.

Due to the freezing rain warnings for this area, buses will not be picking up students today and the school will not be open. Enjoy your Christmas vacation!

Christmas is a wonderful time of year where we remember the birth of the baby Jesus and celebrate by giving and receiving gifts. This year, grades 1–3 will, once again, have the opportunity to see how different countries around the world celebrate Christmas. As we look at three different countries (Brazil, Australia, and Greece), we will be given the opportunity to see how different cultures are impacted and affected by the birth of our Saviour. Last year, for example, we learned that in Thailand, only about ten percent of the population is Christian and because of this, Christmas is barely remembered. We are excited as we get ready to gear up to "travel” around the world and experience the glory of Christ in different ways. 
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!
E. Schuster

With a barrage of information flooding our students daily (sometimes hourly), the teaching of critical literacy has become crucial. When do we start teaching critical literacy?  How do we teach this skill?  Between the ages 3-7, children develop the onset of meta-linguistic awareness, meaning they realize that people don't always mean exactly what they say.  (i.e." I am too busy to do that" really means that I don't want to do that at this time.) So, this is a great age to begin the navigation through literacy and to teach some guiding questions. In our Christian school, this is even more important.  We strive to teach our children to be aware of what is going on around them and to be discerning leaders.

It is Advent and our hearts are longing…

•longing for peace in places of strife and hurt, 
•longing for restoration of brokenness in relationships, of brokenness in spirit, 
•longing for of healing in a world full of pain, sickness, destruction, 
•longing for everything to be made new again. 

Our HOPE as we wait in expectation is found in God's promise to come and live with us. 

Waiting
Recently I was reminded how much of my life I spend waiting. Waiting for…
• for the light to turn green
• in line to pay for my groceries
• on hold when I call the doctor's office
• for my prescription to be filled
• for our kids to get in the van
Waiting. Waiting can be hard, but it can also be exciting to wait for a special event or person to arrive. I often hear from my students about how many days until an upcoming birthday. Now I am starting to hear about their anticipation for Christmas. Only 23 more sleeps!
In grade 2, we learned this fall about how difficult it was for God's people as they waited hundreds of years for the promised Messiah. Many prophets had foretold that the Christ child was coming and would bring about wonderful events. "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)
We are now entering the season of Advent, another time of waiting. We are also waiting for the "advent" or coming of the Christ child. As much as I generally do not like waiting, I love this time of year. For the next few weeks I will intentionally quiet my heart in the midst of the Christmas chaos to anticipate the birth of my Lord and Saviour. With my family and students, we will remember how God's people waited eagerly for the Messiah to come. We will prepare our hearts for Christ to come again. We will thank God for a Saviour who saves us from our sins. Praise God for Christmas!
May you also enjoy this season of waiting.
Mrs. T. Bulthuis