Messenger Issue 2 Sept-Oct.pdf - Abbotsford Christian School

SEPT/OCT 2011 ISSUEABBOTSFORD CHRISTIAN SCHOOLExploring Newcastle Island... Island...see see page 7Elementary...see page 5,6Secondary...see page 8,9,10INSIDETHIS ISSUE:General Information ............ pg. 2,3,4Elementary School Info ...... pg. 5,6Middle School Info .............. pg. 6,7,8Secondary School Info........ pg. 8,9,10Support Our Sponsors ... .... pg. 11,12And much more!Middle General...see page 6,7,8...see pages 2,3, 430th Annual ACSAuction & GarageSale- Oct. 15 - pg 3Oct. 6/7- CTABC Convention- NO SCHOOLOct.10 - Thanksgiving- NO SCHOOLOct. 15 - ACS AuctionOct. 17 - Picture retakesOct.21 - Prov. Curriculum Day- NO SCHOOLNov. 11 - Remembrance Day- NO SCHOOLNov. 16/17 - Par/Teacher ConferenceEveningNov. 18 - NO SCHOOLNov. 24 - Society Mtg-7:30pmDec.1 - Honorary MembersBanquetDec. 6 - All School ChristmasConcertDec.17 - School closes forChristmas breakACS MISSION STATEMENT: Abbotsford Christian School, operated by Abbotsford Christian School Society members, seeks to serve Christian familiesby providing a secure learning environment in which God’s children can continue to explore, experience and evaluate all of life under God. We aim tonurture students in the discovery and development of their abilities and unique gifts so that they are enabled to be faithful, discerning, obedient andcreative servants of God and of neighbour, and stewards of His creation.ACS Elementary (P-5)Roy van Eerden, Principal604 755 8101ACS Middle (6-8)Tym Berger, Principal604 755 8102ACS Secondary (9-12)Gerry Goertzen, Principal604 755 8104Administration OfficeJulius Siebenga, ExecutiveDirector 604 755 8103Administration OfficeNilah Lewis, Admin Assistant604 755 1891 ext 4001w w w . a b b o t s f o r d c h r i s t i a n . c o m

ACS MESSENGERGENERAL ACS NEWSFrom the Executive Directoryour class?One body – many partsConsider the following two examples of ateachers response to the followingquestion during a parent/teacherconference:Parent Question: Hi Mrs. _________Please tell me how my child is doing inScenario A:Teacher Response: “Hello Mrs. ____________, let metake a look at how your child has done academically …well based on his marks in my grade book here, it looksas though he handed in all but one assignment, and didvery well in his most recent test – wow your child isprogressing nicely – you should be proud of him. Lethim know that he should keep up the good work.”Scenario B:Teacher Response: “Hello Mrs. ____________ , I justwant to tell you that just yesterday I noticed your sonstop what he was doing, get out of his desk and pursueanother student who is struggling both to understand thework that was assigned, and the courage to askquestions about it. This struggling student has somelearning challenges and generally has little confidence inaccomplishing assignments correctly. Not only is yourson progressing nicely with his individual work, I usedthat act of kindness as an ultimate example of how Iwould like to see our classroom exist this year.”What teacher appeals to you most as a parent?This past spring our Special Education department wentthrough a difficult time (more so than usual) sorting outtheir budget, and it was extremely difficult to addresshow best to meet the needs of our special needschildren, given the budgetary constraints that they foundthemselves under. It is true that we go through thisevery year, and it is true that we agonize/compromisethrough it knowing that we just can’t provide everythingthat we want across the board because there just isn’tenough funding available to do what we want.Last year, in this process we were re-exposed to somebeautiful things about our Special Ed. program, ourschool, and our school community. Of course it’s a littlesad that it sometimes requires economic struggles for usto get to this point – but God knows how we work – andgenerally our attention is especially gained when itaffects our pocket book. Nonetheless, what wascrystalized was the following:• Our Special Education Program continues tobe sought after in the Abbotsford community.• Although the program in and of itself isexcellent, what sets us apart is our philosophyof inclusion and how we see the SpecialEducation program as fundamental to ourentire educational experience – not just forstudents who qualify for funding, but just asimportant in the building and shaping of all ofour students.• Our inclusion philosophy in no way hinders ourmarch towards academic excellence andrelevant learning, in fact it enhances it.• This model of inclusion is financially taxing onthe system – our school community shells outan additional 35 percent of the total cost forthis program (approx. $200,000), through itstuition and donation dollars.• Our community continues to believewholeheartedly in this philosophy of inclusionand the costs associated with it.Perhaps you didn’t know one or any these facts.Perhaps you’d like to engage in a discussionabout them – we’d love to have them with you –stop by.In the meantime – click on this video (link below)that you can find on our website. It is a newpromotional video specific to Special Educationand our inclusion model. We’re excited about itand will be using it from time to time in varioussettings. Thanks Special Education Coordinatorsand Tym Berger (MS Principal) for piecing ittogether.We are one body with many parts. Thanks forbeing a part of this body, for committing to usbeing more than just a ‘pay for serviceorganization’, for staying engaged in the life of theschool, and for continuing to support us here andthroughout the community. ACS is a greatcommunity and is committed to accomplishingwhat we say as Christians about community – weare one body with many parts.http://www.abbotsfordchristian.com/admissions/Pages/SpecialEducation.aspx….To continue the dialog – go to:http://jsiebenga.blogspot.com/ and comment.Julius Siebenga - Executive DirectorPage 2

GENERAL ACS NEWS CONT’DACS MESSENGERGarage Sale Etiquette♦♦♦♦Don’t donate anything youwould not buy at a garagesaleDon’t donate ripped, soiled,stained or broken itemsDon’t donate mattresses,electronic items that “sort of”workDon’t donate large itemssuch as organs/pianosTo volunteer forthis event, pleasecontactCyndi Broersmaat604.859.4954DONATIONS call:Denise de Jonge604.855.8875ORDeliver toExhibition ParkFriday, Oct. 14thBetween 12-7pmPage 3

ACS MESSENGERGENERAL ACS NEWS CONTINUEDEnsuring Christian Educationfor Generations to ComeThe Abbotsford Christian School Endowment Fundexists to help provide Christian education for childrenand young people for generations to come. Gifts to theEndowment Fund are perpetual, and will never stop supportingthe cause of Christian education. The principalor capital of the Endowment Fund remains invested,while the earnings are used to aid parents in the cost ofChristian education. Abbotsford Christian’s EndowmentFund promotes, accepts, and manages gifts of money,property, securities, bequests, life insurance and otherforms of contributions for the support of the AbbotsfordChristian Schools.By wise estate planning, all of us can help leave aChristian education legacy for future generations.For more information about how to give to the EndowmentFund, you may contact ACS Development Director,Al Scholing at (604) 755-8108, or one of the EndowmentCommittee members listed below:Harry Dejong (604) 853-0234Sid Kingma (604) 859-3899John Ouwerkerk (604) 746-6675John Pool (604) 853-3625Honorary MembersOur annual Honorary Members Banquet will beheld on December 1 st this year. Invitations will bemailed in mid November.Honorary Members are people who have made significantcontributions to ACS. While we strive tokeep our Honorary Members list up to date andcomplete, it is possible that we have not yet identifiedeveryone who should be on the list. Briefly, thecriteria for Honorary Membership is people whohave supported the school with 2 of the following 3gifts.♦♦♦The gift of time: Ten or more tuition payingyears.The gift of talent: Significant service to theschool. (i.e. board, staff, committee or volunteering)The gift of treasures: Financial support.If you or someone you know is not an HonoraryMember and should be, please call the administrationoffice and let us know. Our number is 604 755-1891 ext. 4001.Moms who pray!ACS has been blessed to have many faithfulmoms throughout the years who have spenttime each week praying for board, staff andstudents of all three campuses.Moms who pray welcome parents (dadstoo) and grandparents to attend on Thursdaymornings, 9 a.m. at the Secondarycampus.For more information please call WendyVanHuizen at 604-853-9327.New Bus RouteWe are currently working on the new in-townbus route that would be coming from the westend of Abbotsford and picking up families intown as well. If you are interested in havingyour family on this route, please email ourtransportation coordinator at:kthiessen@abbotsfordchristian.com orcheck out our website atwww.abbotsfordchristian.com andclick under the transportation section.Page 4

ELEMENTARY HIGHLIGHTSACS MESSENGERCross Country is off to an amazing start! We have 42 faithful runnersthat come out for practices Tuesdays and Thursdays at lunch. The kids are dedicatedand excited to participate – enjoying the fun running activities and treats!They are learning about pacing (how to run at a good pace for the entire 1.7K)and how far their bodies can actually run! They are also learning how to set arealistic goal for themselves. For some, it might be to place in the top 10 of therace. For others, it is to run the entire race without walking. For others, it is tofinish the race. But our goal for everyone is to learn to enjoy running, to cheereach other on, and to have fun!This year’s runners have already shown some great skill. In the LaFargeGrand Prix race series hosted by the Valley Royals, 11 runners have placed inthe top 10, and half of our 42 runners have placed in the top 20. Most races consistof between 60-90 runners from 7 schools around the city. The series consistsof 4 races, with prizes awarded cumulatively. Later in October, CESS will host across country meet at Bear Creek Park in Surrey.We are so proud of our students! It is so great to pass on the love of runningto the next group of kids! Wendy Enns - Special Education CoordinatorCommunity ServantsThis past Tuesday, the studentsfrom our grade two classesclimbed on the bus and headed outinto the community to visit three placesin Abbotsford that provide opportunitiesfor people of all ages, to be a“servant to their neighbor”.Our grade two classes startedoff the year learning about livingin community. As a result, an enduringunderstanding that students developin grade two is that everyone ina community has a specific role,right, and responsibility. That’s notjust for grown-ups. On the field trip,students found out there are manyways that children can be servants,right here in Abbotsford.Our first stop was the SalvationArmy, where the students got offthe bus and donated one of their owntoys. Then they continued on to theAbbotsford Food Bank, where theydropped off a great big pile of foodthat had been donated by many ofour school families. After a tour andlearning about the services of theAbbotsford Food Bank we headedsouth to the Fraser Valley Gleaners.Although it was “onion day” at thegleaners, and there were many wateryeyes, the students enjoyed theirvisit and were amazed at the amountof dried soup the gleaners make forhumanitarian aid around the world.It was a great experience togo out into our community of Abbotsfordand see how small sacrificesthat we make, as kids and as grownups,can make a huge difference inthe lives of others. Ms. Kaethler, Mrs. Korevaar,Mrs. Rae, & Mrs. RiemerAt the Fraser ValleyGleanersWith the food collected forthe food bankThe ACES Annual BBQ was a great success.Families spent time visiting classrooms,talking with teachers and enjoyingthe food.Continued on page 6Page 5

ACS MESSENGERELEMENTARY HIGHLIGHTS CONT’D MIDDLE HIGHLIGHTS“See, I have engraved you on the palm of my hands”– Isaiah 49:16This verse was the focus for the opening chapel at the elementarycampus. Developing an understanding of that verse is difficulteven for adults, let alone 5 – 11 year olds. An important part, I believe,and what I spoke to the students about, is the word “us”. When Godspoke these words, he was speaking to the entire people of Israel. Weneed to read these words in the context of being part of a community.As we sang at the assembly, “He’s got Abbotsford Christian in hishands”. As a community we care for each other, celebrate togetherand go through difficulties together.It may be difficult to see in the picture (#1 below), but the bulletinboard in our foyer has the names of every person in the school. Ithink the way they have been arranged nicely shows that we are allindividuals, but we make up a large community. The bulletin boardoutside Mrs. Ekkert’s 5A class (#2 below) illustrates the same Biblicalprincipal in an interesting way, based on 1 Corinthians 12. The way itis shown there also helps us understand that it is not just our names,but all of who we are that God has in his hands.Part of being a community means that we want to make sureeveryone in the community feels safe. This was the reason for “FillingBuckets”, our theme for last year. We do that because that is how weare God’s hand to those around us.So, we will continue talking about filling buckets this year. I ammeeting with each class and begin discussions around what it meansto feel safe here at school, what makes us feel unsafe, and what weas a community need to do about that. This is all part of unpacking theline in our Mission Statement about “providing a secure learning environment.”I invited the elementary parents to become part of the discussion.Let me extend that invitation to the broader community. Wewelcome your insights and conversations with us. Roy van EerdenChinatown FieldtripOn Monday, Sept. 26, the Grade 6 students,parent volunteers and teachers braved therainy weather while exploring the sites in Chinatown.Our theme unit for the first term is“One World, Many Cultures” so this was agreat opportunity to experience and learnabout another culture. Some of the highlightswere the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Park, the TaoistChurch, the Ten Ren tea shop, and the manyshops with unique items. Rita Bot - Gr 6 Teacher“It was really fun and exciting there, learningabout Chinese culture, even though itwas raining.” Miku D.“It was cool to discover all the differentthings like dried octopus, squid and fishbodies.” Kaitlyn Naayer“Now I know how much Chinese like thecolour red.” Jake P.“It seemed to me that I was actually inChina.” Taylor A.#1“It was fun to see what they eat, how theyshop, and how they worship.” Denielle K.#2Page 6

MIDDLE HIGHLIGHTS CONT’DACS MESSENGERYou can turn your old shoes into clean water!Be part of the Grade 8 Service Learning project this fall by giving us your old shoes! We’re supportingEDGE OUTREACH, a Christian organization which makes simple, innovative clean watertechnologies for the developing world and disaster response, and provides training and health educationto the communities that it serves.Here’s how it works:FAQ’s:♦♦1. YOU clean out your closet and bring us your old shoes.2. WE collect 20 000 pairs of shoes – enough to fill a shipping container!3. EDGE OUTREACH works with an exporter that pays them for the donated shoes. EDGEuses the money to fund its projects.4. YOUR SHOES are sold again in the developing world to provide jobs and prevent diseasesand foot injuries by making footwear affordable.All old shoes will be accepted, as long as the sole of the shoe is still attached to the top – sandals, boots, flip flops,shoes, high heeled shoes – just about anything goes! Shoes that cannot be re-sold will be recycled into rubberizedtrack surfaces.Shoe donations can be brought to the Middle School campus anytime from now until Christmas. We’ll be set up tocollect shoes at many school events this fall as well – including the Auction!For more information about EDGE OUTREACH, go to http://www.edgeoutreach.com/about-edge/about-edge-outreach.For more information about the Grade 8 Shoe Drive, contact any Grade 8 student at ACMS or either Sophie Van Dorp(svandorp@abbotsfordchristian.com) or Kristin Schut (kschut@abbotsfordchristian.com)Newcastle Island was full of exploration, experienceand evaluation! Students experienced some very wet tents,damp socks, sleeping in a pavilion with 70 other students andteachers (because their tents were flooded), some very aggressiveand hungry raccoons, watery hot chocolate, a time of communityand bonding with their friends and peers, the beauty ofthe island, and a very large rainbow at the end of their trip tosignify God's promise to us. They explored Newcastle Islandby walking through the Garry Oak Ecosystem, climbing the pulpstone quarry, sifting through tide pools, cooking and cleaningup after 70 of their peers, and setting up and taking downtents. Students’ evaluation of Newcastle happened throughthe lens of a simulation that had them explore the ecologicalimpact that certain development (building a resort, building awaterfront condominium, building a seawall, or banning humanvisitation) would have on the island, and to assess how and ifthis development would be something that glorified God andwas in keeping with God's calling to subdue the earth in a stewardmanner. Despite a very wet first 24 hours, the temperatureswere warm, a pavilion for sleeping was made available forthe second night, and a great time was had by all! Sandra BarthelNEWCASTLE ISLAND MEMORIESPage 7

ACS MESSENGERATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS - MIDDLE & SECONDARYMIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICSGrade eight volleyball games have begun; theboys placed second and the girls fourth in atournament at Hatzic on Saturday. The girls are1-1 in Abby-Mission league play and the boysare just getting started. Grade 6 and 7 teamshave also started practicing; they are buildingtheir skills toward exhibition play and the ChristianSchools Tournaments in November. Weare hosting the Grade 7 Boys Christian SchoolsTournament on Nov. 16.Cross country is also well underway with lunchhour practices twice a week, and some grade 8runners are getting longer workouts in with thehigh school team in the mornings. The teamran well in its first Grand Prix meet and is lookingforward to the annual Christian Schoolsmeet @ Bear Creek Park on October 19.Above is a picture from our meet at the very wet Aldergrove Bowlon August. 27th. Caitlyn Payne led the way for our grade 8 team,covering the 3km course in 14:32. The junior and senior girls ran4.5 km and were led by Janelle Hay in 19:06, and gr. 9 EdenLuymes in 21:16. Andrew Doppenberg was near the top of thejunior boys division with a 21:28 over the 5.4km course; whileBrayden Kampman led our large senior boys team over the 6.4km course.SECONDARY SCHOOL ATHLETICSOur fall sports are in full swing as many student-athletes are dedicating themselves to training hard on the volleyball courtand in cross country. We thank our coaches for their hard work, enthusiasm and care. We would like to welcome Kit Williams,a community coach, who is guiding our junior boys’ team and alumnus Taylor Floris who is assisting the team.Our Senior Girls’ Volleyball team is playing in the Fraser Valley ‘AA’ league. It is a very competitive league of nine teams.The Knights are 3-1 in league play with wins over Hatzic, St. Jean Brebeuf, and Holy Cross. Next home match is October25.The Senior Boys’ team is also competing in the Fraser Valley ‘AA’ league. They will be battling with Langley Christian,Fraser Valley Christian, MEI and several other teams for the chance to go to Provincials in early December. Next homematch is October 24 and then we host the Sr. Boys Christian Schools’ Volleyball Championships on Nov. 4 & 5.Our junior teams compete in the Abbotsford-Mission league. League play is just starting this week. Upcoming homematches: Junior Girls – Oct. 5 and 19; Junior Boys – Oct. 25 and Nov. 1. The junior boys will also be hosting their KnightsInvitational on October 28 & 29. Come on out and watch!The cross country team has had strong results at two early season meets. We have 28 dedicated runners who have beenshowing up at 7 am. three days a week for training. The girls are returning everyone from a team that qualified for the Provincialslast year and there are several strong younger runners who are pushing the seniors for spots. Upcoming highlightswill be the Christian Schools Championships on Oct. 11 in Langley and the Fraser Valley Championships in Aldergroveon October 26.You can follow Abbotsford Christian Athletics by going to the school’s web site and follow the links to: programs, then athletics.Each team is featured as well there is a calendar posting all of our home game dates.Page 8

ACS MESSENGERSECONDARY HIGHLIGHTS CONT’DPage 10

ACS MESSENGERTHIS MESSENGER IS SPONSORED BY:OPEN 8:00am - 5:30pm Monday to Friday & Saturdays 8:00am - 4:30pmABBOTSFORD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL35011 Old Clayburn RoadAbbotsford, BC V2S 7L7Postage Paid Post PayéPage 12“Grow in the Grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ” ll Peter 3:18