April 2018

Life is full of changes.  Vehicles are replaced, parking lots wash out, washers and dryers are repaired, weather alters from one day to the next, winter turns to spring, computer technology advances, parents become grandparents, play rehearsals become live productions, and education changes. 

                         Last week this place was busy hosting an art walk,  parents-student lunches, drama productions, and the all exciting Grandfriends’ Day.  How many changes were noticeable? Hallway wall spaces were transformed with art pieces, volunteer hero posters were displayed in the front hall, finishing touches were completed for the set, “Truths to Treasure” was sung, and “Oliver Twist” was performed twice. 

In a few weeks time, Woodstock will have its annual Track and Field Day, a day when students display their talents for running, jumping and throwing.  Gym classes are currently busy with preparations for the day, and even some lunch recesses utilized for high jump practice. There will be a few changes happening on the upcoming Field Day as well. The details are still being worked out, but here are some changes that we anticipate: the schedule is revised so that everyone has a lunch period at the same time; the distance running (800m and 1500m) will no longer be a part of the day but will occur later; and our current system of handing out standard ribbons for each event for our primary and junior students will change to one standard ribbon given per child based on the results of the day once the data has been analyzed.  More information is forthcoming about those changes.

No matter what changes occur around us, we at WCS acknowledge that God is the same God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  He remains faithful despite the changes in our lives. We echo the words of James 1:17: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.    We can sing out the words of the old hymn:  Great is Thy Faithfulness:

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!

                                                                                                                          Greg Hiemstra, V.P. & Gr. 6

Why were our predecessors, almost 60 years ago, so determined to create Christian schools in this place? They did it for the children. They did it for the grandchildren. It was done out of obedience to “tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, the signs and wonders that He has done” (Psalm 78:4). They did it so that generations yet unborn will know what God has done and is doing! Our school buildings and our communities stand as living testimonies and witnesses to God as God of this place. In Christian schools we proclaim that every square inch of creation belongs to our God. The fall into sin has spoiled it and thrown the world into chaos. While Christ’s death has paid the price of sin and redeemed us, the process of restoring and reclaiming this broken world continues. We are his kingdom-advancing agents called to confront a world where people continue to put other gods in God’s place. This week is designated as Christian Education Week. It is an annual reminder to us to tell the story of what God has done. Our theme - Faith in Action: Heroes for God - has given us at WCS opportunity to share with our students how God has worked in the lives of ordinary people of the Bible and to study how they and learn how we can respond. We continue to tell God’s story. During Christian Education week, we have opportunity to tell stories of vision, commitment, and sacrifice. It is an opportunity to go beyond the explanation of what Christian education is and into the stories of why Christian education is vital for kingdom-minded disciples of Jesus. What has God done and what is God continuing to do in this place? Tell about it.

(Reference: Christian Schools International/Christian Education week resources)

Christian Education Week is all about celebrating heroes. It is a time that we can reflect on those dedicated to sustaining Woodstock Christian School. We look forward to a week-long celebration that is intended to honor those that have paved the way and the families that are involved today.  Join us next week, April 23-26. 

On Monday, April 23 at 9am, we will celebrate our volunteer heroes. Do you volunteer at the school - helping out directly with students in the classroom, as a room parent, coaching, library, electives, or some other way?  Please join us at our Volunteer Tea. The staff and students would like to show you how much they appreciate your help and want to thank you for being our volunteer hero!

Tuesday, April 24 is Bus Driver Appreciation Day. Take a moment to thank our bus drivers and show appreciation for transporting our children to and from school safely each day.

Wednesday, April 25 we host our Art Walk Open House and Picnic Lunch. Come for a walk down our hallways to see all the beautiful art work the students have created.  After that, join our students for a picnic lunch during our second lunch period (1:30pm).  Make sure you pack a lunch!  Wednesday is also the first evening performance of our Oliver Twist production at 7pm.  Come to the office to pick up your free tickets to this event.

Thursday, April 26 is Grand Friends Day!  Please invite your grandparents or special friends to come and enjoy our “Truths to Treasure” program led by Grades 1-4 students. Classroom visits will follow, along with lunch. Invitations are available at the office. You can also forward the email invite to your grand friends. On Thursday evening, we will finish off the week with our second Oliver Twist performance at 7pm.

These and many other exciting events are happening all week long and we would love to see you in our hallways.

Joleen Mulder 

Director of Advancement and Communications

MONDAY APRIL 16th: FOG DAY PROCEDURES TODAY Due to messy roads left over from the ice storm this weekend, WCS morning buses will not run. The school is open. Please bring children to school when it is safe to do so. PM buses will run as usual.

Several times this year, during our chapels and assemblies, students at WCS have been able to hear directly from people in our community about stepping out in faith. Though my guess is that any of our presenters would be reluctant to call themselves heroes of faith, they have provided concrete and real ways of demonstrating faith in action. Last Thursday, Isaiah and Danielle VanWyk shared their family’s story with students and staff. They experienced countless blessings and can speak boldly of ways in which they have grown and ways in which they saw God at work, both in their training and in their mission experiences in Africa last year. Earlier this year, Krista DuChene (Marathon Mom) spoke of her experiences as a Christian and a high level athlete. She too had many stories to share, especially about disappointments and life not turning out the way she’d planned. Krista emphasized her trust in God and her comfort that God’s ways are wiser and better than our ways. The deBueger family reminded us that God has a purpose and plan for each one of us. They explained that there are places all over the world where people do not yet know God and that we are all tasked with bringing the light of Jesus to dark places. I thank God for the people that He places in our paths who continue to share their stories, and who are living examples of faith in action. Psalm 78 verse 4 continues to inspire us at WCS. “We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders.”

Keep telling your children!

                                         Carol Verbeek, Principal