Something Special

At the end of this week I was reflecting that there is something special about this place where I get to work. Every day this week some different activity reminded me of this. By the time I was heading for home on Friday, I remarked to myself that I am truly blessed. 

To start with, it is a good feeling to work where people want to be. This was made clear on Tuesday morning when one of last year’s grads showed up before classes. He was there to say hello, and to sign teachers up to support him in prayer, as he begins a Bible school program this fall. Four more of last year’s grads also showed up throughout the week: two, on Wednesday for a quick visit at lunch; one, on Thursday, to volunteer at the school on subsequent Thursdays; and the final one on Friday at lunch, because he missed everyone. One of the new high school students also confided to a supervising elementary teacher, before school started Thursday, that she felt welcomed here, and that she thought the teachers were good. It was not just the students that were excited, however. The teachers genuinely seemed to be attracted to the place. This was evident as I left the parking lot at 5:03 pm on Friday, the first of the high school teachers to leave for the weekend. I like being able to look forward to work on Monday.

The other main thing that struck me was how extraordinarily ordinary this first week seemed, in spite of what could have been derailing changes. This year, as you know, we have a new Principal. We have full-day kindergarten. We have new multi-grade homeroom groups in the high school. We have a different schedule with two separate lunch times for elementary and high school. The high school is planning for a camping trip in two weeks. The school is planning for a major fundraiser in four weeks. And the list could go on.  Yet, in spite of these changes, we feel like we have returned from a long weekend, not a summer vacation.  We are already in a routine.  I am comfortable with my work load, and the students are excited and learning. This has been the smoothest start to the year I have yet been through.  

        The final thing that I found amazing as I left the school on Friday was the humility of the place and people. All of the things that needed to happen this week simply did. Whoever was supposed to do them did them, without fuss, or ceremony.  Somehow by the end of this first week, the Student Council had held a fun free hot dog BBQ lunch on Friday, excitement had been generated and groups had been organized for an upcoming camping trip, and a student worship team led chapel on Thursday. All of these events had different groups of people happily hard at work, simply happy to be ministering to others. 

This was a good first week and I look forward to spending the year working at this special place. 

A high school teacher 

We Don't Want to Brag but .....

....Our students make it hard.

(Goldstream Gazette - June 08, 2010 1:00 PM)
By Amy Dove - Goldstream News Gazette

Young fundraisers help homeless

When the quartette of fundraisers pulled into the bottle depot, they thought one cart would be enough.

It wasn’t long before they had to grab another, and then another. They sorted their haul, organizing 2,314 bottles and cans for a refund. That left them with $181.40 — not bad for three days work.

“When I found out how much money it was, I was like ‘wow, that’s more that I will make in a year,” says Matthew Constantine, 10.

Constantine, together with classmates Mathew Kennedy. 11, Boaz Harris, 10, and Emily Hadley, 10, raised the money for Our Place, a homeless shelter and support service in Victoria.

The work stems from a class project at Lighthouse Christian Academy where Grade 5 students were tasked with raising money for the charity of their choice.

Picking Our Place was a good fit because Harris’ mom works at the facility and homelessness is a serious problem, the students say.

“It’s actually a really big problem because people don’t have food or shelter,” Kennedy says. “Around here you don’t really see people living on the streets, but if you go downtown ... you’ll see a lot of people.”

The money will be used to purchase socks and underwear for men, as well as a portion given as cash.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com

Top Ten Reasons for Sending Your Child to LCA

(Via the Elementary Staff)

10.  Class sizes are small which means lots of attention.

9.  Your child’s teacher was handpicked by God to teach your child.

8.  The elementary staff prays for your child every day.

7.  Your child has the freedom to pray at school about any problems, concerns and thanks they have.

6.  We have the best elementary staff ever that work well as a team and thoughtfully consider your child’s needs as they plan their day.

5.  We teach the B.C. curriculum from a Christian perspective.

4.  As a parent you have a voice.  If you want to share concerns or compliments to the staff, it is easy to do so.

3.  Where else can your kids fully celebrate Christmas for its true meaning in a school environment?

2.  What else would you do with the $10.07 a day it costs to send one child here?

1.  We have over 65 years of teaching experience and we  love watching kids learn.