Echoes August 2020 : simplebooklet.com

IN THIS ISSUEAUG 2020VOLUME XL, ISSUE IV6488 SMITHVILLE RD.P.O. BOX 40,SMITHVILLE, ONL0R 2A0PH. 905.957.3255FAX 905.957.3431smithvillechristian.caCONTACT:MARLENE BERGSMAmbergsma@smithvillechristian.caPAGE 1 GARBAGE FAIRYPAGE 2 TURNING FEAR INTO FRONTLINE SUPPORTPAGE 3 STEM AWARDPAGE 4 CLASS OF 2020PAGE 6 PORTFOLIO DAYPAGE 7 AWARDSPAGE 8 GRADUATION DRIVE-BYPAGE 10 CELEBRATING ATHLETIC EXCELLENCEPAGE 12 STUDENT INVOLVEMENTPAGE 14 A COMMUNITY OF BELONGINGThe Garbage Fairy – Measuring the value of a Christian educationB y M a r l e n e B e r g s M a , D i r e c t o r o f c o M M u n i c a t i o n s a n D aDvanceMentHow do you measure the success of a Christian school? One way is in the quality of our graduates – the awards and scholarships they achieve, the prestigious schools to which they are accepted, the lucrative or rewarding careers they follow. The Cardus Education Survey offers a different measurement tool – indicating that Christian school graduates go on to give more to charity, contribute more to their communities, and build more stable relationships than comparable public school graduates.But another way to measure the success of the quality of a Christian education is the stories people tell about our students. A recent issue of The Pin Oak, the newsletter of the St. Catharines-based Friends of Malcolmson Eco-Park, tells such a story. It is reprinted here with permission.THE GARBAGE FAIRYBy veronica clarke-Hanik“It was a perfect fall afternoon for a leisurely stroll through the park. I picked up a couple of pieces of garbage and wished that I’d had a bag with me.continued on page 2...

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2ECHOES AUGUST 2020“Just past the park’s prairie area and into the woods, I came across a young woman, halfway down a gully, adding to a huge pile of garbage she’d been collecting. I was aghast at the quantity of dirty, wet shopping bags, as well as food and drink packaging, but pleasantly shocked to ﬁnd this dedicated high school student cleaning it all up.“My walk became a mission to help. The student ran home to get garbage bags and returned on her bike. Together, we managed to gather up and drag the bags to the containers provided for garbage and recycling.“The park now has a new volunteer who will be joining various events throughout the coming year before going off to university next fall.“We are fortunate to have her as another steward of the park. Thank you for your care and concern.” The unnamed “dedicated high school student” is Smithville Christian High School’s Brin Schat, Class of 2020, who said she saw the garbage that had washed into the gulley and decided to clean it up “because it’s what we are taught to do.” Congratulations, Brin, on being the kind of graduate Smithville Christian is proud to call our own. Brin is also the 2020 winner of the Smithville Christian Governor-General’s Award, a bronze medallion awarded to the student who achieves the highest average upon graduating from secondary school, and the winner of the StanPac Science Award, and the Michael VandenDool Servant Leadership Award....continued from page 1Turning fear into frontline supportB y M a r l e n e B e r g s M a , D i r e c t o r o f c o M M u n i c a t i o n s a n D aDvanceMentWhen COVID-19 shut down most of the world in March 2020, it was easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless.But Smithville Christian High School student Logan Vander Wier, Class of 2020, turned those feelings into something positive.Logan used his technical capabilities (he’s also the 2020 winner of the Niagara Peninsula Energy Student Award for being an exemplary student embarking on post-secondary study in an energy-related eld) to experiment with 3D printing.Smithville Christian had been approached by alumna and school supporter, Donna Feddema, who was working with other local people to provide masks for frontline workers. When those workers began asking for a way to protect their ears from the friction and pressure of the masks’ elastic straps, Feddema knew about the plastic ear saver design and asked if the 3D printers at school could be of any help.Teacher, Stuart Bender, ofce administrative assistant, Lorraine VanderHeide, and custodian, Anne Rutherford, kept the school’s 3D printer loaded with lament and churning out the ear savers during March and April.Logan did the same at home – using his own printer, and his own supply of lament, to print dozens more.“In the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak reaching Canada, it was very scary,” Logan said. “To help stop feeling helpless, I made some ear savers for nurses. I feel that me and other people who helped, however they could, helped to slow the spread of the disease and showed patriotism.”Logan also experimented with printing the components for plastic face shields, but found the size of his printer was better suited to the ear-savers. When surface disinfection was a priority, Logan experimented with heat sanitizing, and learned some colours of plastic fared better than others. Logan’s Sciencepalooza science projects have also been award-winners, earning him the CEO Niagara Chapter Consulting Engineers of Ontario Award, and an honourable mention from the Niagara Region Science and Engineering Fair.Logan has been accepted to the Ontario Technology University for electrical engineering. He says when he looks back over his high school career, he performs best when making something, or trying to argue a point. “I don’t know exactly what career that would translate to, but I look forward to nding out.”Congratulations, Logan!

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3www.smithvillechristian.caSmithville Christian graduate wins prestigious STEM awardB y M a r l e n e B e r g s M a , D i r e c t o r o f coMMunications anD aDvanceMentMatthew Toohey, Class of 2020, is the rst student from Smithville Christian to win a prestigious – and lucrative – university entrance award for studies in STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math.Matthew, who has been accepted to the computer science program at the University of Toronto (St. George Campus), is one of 100 winners of a 2020 Schulich Leader Scholarship. His scholarship is worth $80,000.Each Ontario high school can nominate one student, and Matthew was this year’s Smithville Christian nominee. Once nominated, it’s up to the student to complete the application process, said guidance counsellor Linda Booy-Korvemaker. Matthew is known for his careful work and attention to detail, and it’s not surprising that his entry stood out, Booy-Korvemaker said. Matthew is also known for his dedicated involvement in extra-curricular activities at school, and those interests featured prominently in his 600-word application essay.“I had the opportunity to participate in Praise Team, Audiovisual Club, Gaming Club, Play Crew, South Africa Mission Trip, and much more,” Matthew said. “These extracurriculars were not only fun, but allowed me to build friendships and skills. They also helped me to become more well rounded, and played a role in determining my area of study in university.”In addition to his involvement at school, Matthew has also earned his black belt in karate and he has participated in – and won – the Mohawk popsicle stick bridge-building contest. He sources old computers and refurbishes them to sell as a fundraiser for two mission trips he’s been on. “It’s great to help those in need while also reducing waste,” he said.Matthew is the Schulich award-winner, but he is grateful for the help he’s had along the way.“My sincere thanks to all the teachers at Smithville Christian High and the school community for all they’ve done to contribute to my learning,” Matthew said. “The opportunity to be awarded this scholarship is largely thanks to my parents, teachers, and instructors, and their support, interest, and time spent facilitating extracurricular activities.”Matthew is also the winner of several Smithville Christian High School graduate awards: the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 393: Poppy Bursary Fund (for strong self-discipline and clear leadership qualities), the Stranges & Associates Excellence in Mathematics Award (for excellence in mathematics), and the ISSERVICE Computer Award (for demonstrating and sharing excellence in computer programming and/or computer design).Congratulations, Matthew!

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5www.smithvillechristian.caChristopher MushegeraBrin SchatMatthew TooheyMorgan Vander WierSamuel WoodlandDaniel NyakabasaElana SmitSkyler van der WierEmily Van StaalduinenHarry YouKinja NyakabasaKevin SongJustin Van GeestPaul VeldmanKurtis ZantinghSeth PacquinJerry SunCharlie Van RysKendall VoortmanAaron ZhuJoshua PaysonJayden TalsmaTony Van RysCasey WagterSpencer ZondagAlayna RiddellLeah TeeuwsenConnor VanderKuipNikole WassenaarRyan RoelfsemaJulia ThiesLogan Vander WierMeagan Weaver“CONSIDER IT PURE JOY, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHENEVER YOU FACE TRIALS OF MANY KINDS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE. LET PERSEVERANCE FINISH ITS WORK SO THAT YOU MAY BE MATURE AND COMPLETE, NOT LACKING ANYTHING.” — JAMES 1:2-4THEME VERSE CHOSEN BY THE C LASS OF 2020

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6ECHOES AUGUST 2020“I couldn’t have asked for a better four years of high school”Although they usually don’t realize it until it’s over, one of the highlights of being a graduating student at Smithville Christian High School is Portfolio Day. This annual event, which draws dozens of school supporters into our building, gives graduating students an opportunity to look back over four years of high school and reect on what was important, how much they’ve changed, and how much they’ve learned.This year’s pandemic-affected Portfolio Day still featured students who highlighted their accomplishments and wrote stirring speeches, and it still featured school supporters who showed up to witness the students’ testimonies. But what was different was everything happened on Zoom and, sadly, there weren’t any tables loaded with delicious lunches or yummy snacks!But students still marvelled at how far they’d come, expressed appreciation for chapels and Spiritual Emphasis Week, and thanked their teachers and friends for caring for them so much. Here’s an excerpt from just one portfolio speech, written by Michelle Ludwig.“I have learned so much from my past four years at Smithville Christian High School. I have felt beyond blessed by being able to have a Christian education experience here. I learned so much more about myself and about the world. Not only did I grow more in my studies and in my faith, but I also developed new relationships with both the students and teachers at Smithville. “I am so thankful for the teachers at this school. Throughout all of high school, I felt welcomed and accepted by them. The teachers here have greatly blessed me and I am so thankful for each and every one of them. Their hard work is noticed by all. “Overall, Smithville Christian has taught me how to reach out to others, to dig deeper into my relationship with Christ, and how to be a better person. It has taught me how to use my money, live my life for Christ, and the job I want to do in the future. I couldn’t have asked for a better four years of high school.”Zion Hoekstra, Class of 2020, bottom right, with his Portfolio Day panellists in a Zoom meeting, clockwise from top left: teacher Mark Fluit, and panelists Anna Lensink Bailey and Sylvan Gerritsma.

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7www.smithvillechristian.caCelebrating theachievements ofthe Class of 2020Brandon Dong – Smithville Christian High School International Student Award (for good relationships, good marks, and contributions to the school community)Patrick Ghaly – Top Marks Scholarship Award (for signiﬁcant contributions to the quality of student life)Brin Schat – Michael VandenDool Award (for displaying the qualities of servant leadership and a caring heart)Elana Smit – West Lincoln and Lieutenant Governor’s Community Volunteer Award (for exemplary community contribution through volunteer activity) Madeleine DeBoer – Canadian Citizenship Award (for community and volunteer service)Matthew Toohey – Royal Canadian Legion Branch 393: Poppy Bursary Fund (for strong self-discipline and clear leadership qualities)Matthew Toohey – Stranges & Associates Excellence in Mathematics Award (for excellence in mathematics)Matthew Toohey – ISSERVICE Computer Award (for demonstrating and sharing excellence in computer programmingand/or computer design) Morgan Vander Wier – Stranges & Associates Excellence in Business Management Award (for excellence in business management)Logan Vander Wier – Niagara Peninsula Energy Student Award (for being an exemplary student embarking on post-secondary study in an energy-related ﬁeld)Brin Schat – Stanpac Science Award (for excellence in science)Alayna Riddell – Smithville Animal Hospital Biology Award (for excellence in biological science) Spencer Zondag – Niagara Pallet Construction Excellence Award (for excellence in construction technology andfor initiative, motivation, and work ethic)Justin Van Geest – Woodshed Award (for excellence in construction craft)Lucy Liu -- Floyd Elzinga Visual Arts Award (for excellence in visual art)Kendall Voortman – Dramatic Arts Award (for excellence in dramatic art)Kurtis Zantingh – Christian Reformed Churches of NiagaraWorship Leadership Award (for excellence in and sharing of musicleadership)These students and their accomplishmentswould normally be celebrated at theannual June graduation ceremonies.Members of the Class of 2020 votedto wait to hold their ceremonies untillarge gatherings are permitted. In themeantime, the award-winners were alsocelebrated in a video on the school’sYouTube channel at https://youtu.be/OWvhVsLuuw0?t=545Smithville Christian High School isgrateful for the companies, individuals,and organizations who recognizethe importance of identifying andcelebrating the character, leadership,and achievements of young people.These students enriched the experienceof their classmates and their school, andtheir accomplishments and contributionsare worth celebrating.Congratulations to the following students whosecontributions and achievements are recognizedby these graduation awards.Spencer ZondagAlayna RiddellPatrick GhalyKendall VoortmanKurtis Zantingh
https://youtu.be/OWvhVsLuuw0

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10ECHOES AUGUST 2020Celebrating athletic excellenceB y f r e D B r e u k e l M a n , vP anD atHletic DirectorFor the second year in a row, the Smithville Christian Senior Girls Volleyball team was representing SOSSA at the provincial high school championships – OFSAA. Our girls were pumped and had built up a respectable resume with the SOSSA championship, plus multiple top three nishes at tournaments, including winning the Earl Haig tournament in Toronto for the second year in a row! This year, OFSAA was in Walkerton/Kincardine. An entourage of support followed us to the Lake Huron coast where we were seeded third overall. In Pool Play, The Storm was catapulted to the top of our pool by winning all four matches and giving us a bye to the quarter nals. In the quarternals we had the privilege of playing the host school, Walkerton, in their home gym! The game was thrilling for us, as our girls left no doubt about who was the superior talent in the gym – winning in condent fashion, three straight! Finally, it was off to the Final Four, for the second year in a row. Our girls were outstanding but unfortunately dropped a heartbreaker in ve games, losing the fth game 15-12. It was difcult to regroup for the Bronze medal match where we lost in four games to Toronto District Christian High, a team we had previously defeated in Pool Play. That said, an Antique Bronze medal, fourth in Ontario, is an amazing accomplishment! One of the many beautiful stories to follow this team and which was integral to our success this year was our love for each other and cohesiveness as a team! Congratulations STORM!

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14ECHOES AUGUST 2020A community of belongingB y M a r l e n e B e r g s M a , D i r e c t o r o f c o M M u n i c a t i o n s anD aDvanceMentSmithville Christian High School strives to be a place where every student belongs. Belonging is one of our core values. The Christian School Foundation recognizes that nancial assistance is one way to help member schools be authentic communities of belonging, and it provides funding, generously provided by donors, to eligible member schools. In addition to a Belonging Bursary, the Christian School Foundation also provides expertise and support. Smithville Christian has beneted and will continue to benet from this funding, and it commits to working with staff, families, and students to living out this value.Here are some further thoughts from the Christian School Foundation:“One of the key characteristics of young people who are happy and engaged is that they can see that they belong. God made human beings to be social creatures, and part of our identity comes from the groups in which we have our place. A family is the rst group in which most of us belong, and for many, a faith community is close behind. Young people who feel safe and who feel like they have something to contribute at their school feel like they belong. Those who don’t feel safe often feel alienated or isolated – which is really the opposite of belonging. When our school says it is a Community of Belonging, we are saying that we want all God’s children to feel like there is a safe place for them here; they are valued, they are loved: they belong. This is true no matter what level of ability or disability any one of us may possess.”We want Smithville Christian High School to be this kind of Community of Belonging school.Christian schools are strongest when they are authentic, complete representations of the Kingdom of God: places where all students feel welcome and where all have a sense of belonging. The Christian School Foundation, of which Smithville Christian High School is a member, calls this a Community of Belonging. Such a community “includes those with disabilities in such a way that their presence is recognized as the blessing that it is, while acknowledging that living in true community is not without its struggles and difculties.”

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We draw Christian schools and donors together toexpand the inﬂuence of Christ in our culture.www.christianschoolfoundation.caThe Echoes is a periodical published ve times a year by Smithville Christian High School. Editor: M. BergsmaC`]\ËjYi`^_k\ile[\ik_\jle!DlklXc]le[j[`jki`Ylk\[YpJleC`]\=`eXeZ`Xc@em\jkd\ekJ\im`Z\j:XeX[X @eZ%JleC`]\8jjliXeZ\:fdgXepf]:XeX[X`jXd\dY\if]k_\JleC`]\=`eXeZ`Xc^iflgf]ZfdgXe`\j%JleC`]\8jjliXeZ\:fdgXepf]:XeX[X#)'(0%DXkk;Xd!?FE%9%8%9LJ%DXkk;Xd=`eXeZ`XcJ\im`Z\j@eZ%0',$/0)$,00*Kfcc]i\\1($///$//0$+.+)dXkk%[Xd7jlec`]\%Zfdnnn%jlec`]\%ZX&dXkk[Xd]`eXeZ`Xc(-,?np)'N\jk#Jl`k\*=fek_`cc#FEC'J(<,Toll Free 1-800-461-7374-AIN3T%'RIMSBYs(IGHWAY3TONEY#REEKsCome visit our Garden Centre in Grimsby!Flowers, plants and unique gift giving ideas for every occasion!345 Argyle St. S. 214 Broad St.Caledonia, On N3W 1L8 Dunnville, On N1A 1G2(905) 765-5788 (905) 774-7576fax: (905) 765-1811 fax: (905) 774-9479cell: (905) 929-6783 email: peter_dieleman@cooperators.caPeterDieleman, CFPAgent11 Livingston AveGrimsby, ON L3M 1K6William & Christina Bezemer905.945.8008SHUTTERS U BLINDSDRAPERIES U SHADESvillageinteriors@cogeco.cavillageinteriorsonline.comCLARENCE’S SERVICE CENTRECLARENCESSERVICECENTRE@COGECO.NETBRIAN PRINSOWNER801 CANBORO RD.P.O. BOX 129FENWICK, ON L0S 1C0PH. 905-892-3652FAX 905-892-4828CELL 905-351-4333Joseph ZantinghC: (905) 746-2644E: 16metalworks@gmail.comwww.16metalworks.comSmithville, ONVan Hoorn’sinspired by you...created by usVHinspired by you...created by usQuality Cabinetry & Custom Woodworkingsteve@vanhoorns.ca • www.vanhoorns.ca • P.905.562.8886STEVE & ELAINE@vanhoornscustom