May 2018

Please, go back in time to 5 weeks ago when the older students performed the play Oliver Twist.  What a blessing the play was to our school, our school community, the students, and myself.  As the co-director with Mrs. Martin, I had the enjoyable privilege of watching the students develop their acting skills.  It is so interesting and exciting to watch them come to an understanding of how their character moves, talks, reacts, and thinks in each situation their character find themselves in. What an awesome experience it is to observe children as they grapple and struggle with the not so nice things their characters do.  It is so fun to see them become the character and be free to act.  WCS is so blessed to be able to put on a major production every other year!  I am grateful for the learning opportunities these productions give our students.

         I want to thank each student who acted in Oliver Twist.  I am so proud of you!  You were always eager and dedicated in practices. Thank you to all the teachers who helped behind the scenes with props, costumes, and set. Without your assistance, the play would not have been successful.  Our stage crew was willing and eager to tackle every job given them.  Thanks guys!  A very huge thanks to the parents who encouraged, helped memorizing lines, found costumes, and picked up their children from practices (and more).  Without all your dedication and prayers the play would not have been a success.  Thank you, God, for all the talents and abilities you have given these children and how they overcame fears and gave an amazing performance.

                                                                                    N. Van Andel

Storybook Heroes

Our eighth grade students recently read the Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkein and are currently working through some final assignments about the novel. This novel fits well with our ‘heroes’ theme at WCS and follows a classic pattern - it is an archetype. Here is the pattern: A messenger comes, a problem is presented, someone is chosen or needs to decide whether to take up the quest, the journey begins and the familiar world is left behind, challenges and setbacks are encountered and overcome, helper characters enter the story, evil is defeated or the quest is accomplished, and finally the character returns to the familiar but is not quite the same as they were when they set out on the journey. I was inspired to read the Hobbit again as there are some wonderfully worded bits of wisdom about life and character and the journey. For example, Tolkein writes:

“There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.”

“There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

“It was at this point that Bilbo stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterward were as nothing compared to it. He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait.”

“Go back? No good at all. Go sideways? Impossible. Go forward? Only thing to do. On we go.”

Gotta love those quotes! Seeing a story character living out love for a neighbour, living in hope and humility, rising to the challenges and difficulties before them, and providing a model of what it means to be a hero - this too is inspiring. Keep reading and keep seeking to be an everyday hero, wherever God has placed you!

From our Public Health Nurse:                       

EVERYTHING YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT SUN SAFETY – BUT MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN!

Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR)

There are two types of UV Rays important in sun safety. Over exposure to these rays can harm the skin:

A Rays – Aging (wrinkles) and B Rays – SunBurns.

Protection is needed especially when the UV Index is 3 or higher – even on cloudy days

The UV Index is reported every day it is 3 or higher – on the radio weather reports, in the newspaper and on weather channels.

Sun Safety Sun Protection Tips:

1.     SUNGLASSES:

      -should have complete UV protection for both A and B UV rays. Cost does not guarantee protection.

            Sun glasses should be worn by everyone – children and adults

2.     SUNSCREEN – and LIP BALM

      ·Check the Expiration Date!!!

      ·Sun Protection Factor 30

      -Broad Spectrum – both UV A & B Rays

      ·Apply 20 minutes before going out, reapply every 2 hours, or more often if swimming, or sweating

3.     HAT with a broad brim

      -cover ears and back of neck

4.     SHADE

      ·Whenever possible – especially when the sun is at its highest and UV rays are the strongest

      ·Clothing – long sleeves, knee length shorts or longer

5.     DRINK WATER!!!   

      -Make sure children and adults drink plenty of water to keep well hydrated and prevent heat stroke

For more information please contact Oxford County Public Health www.oxfordcounty.ca/health and the Canadian Dermatology Association www.dermatology.ca.