PWA Spring 2024 : simplebooklet.com

2024 ISSUE PWA 3Passion4 // Celebrating Year One of Our OSSC and Life Skills Program 5 // Logos @ TDChristian 7 // Baking Away8 // Being Anne9 // Our Experience at Living Rock10 // Lighting the Way11 // Ascension’s Album “Voice to Heaven”Wonder12 // Art Going Viral14 // Airwaves in Room 914 // The Learning Commons According to Students 15 // What’s Under the Spiral Staircase?16 // Stories in the SedimentAwe17 // Evidence for the Existence of God18 // 3-2-1 Improv!18 // Learning Takes Time19 // The Most Beautiful Identity20 // I Appreciate You21 // Playing and Learning22 // Upcoming Events23 // School SnippetsREADY FOR WHAT? ANYTHING.LEARN MORE AT REDEEMER.CAA DEGREE YOU CAN BELIEVE INEDITOR / PRINCIPAL William GrootPRODUCTION / ADVANCEMENT Leanne FernhoutCOMMUNICATIONS Victoria VeenstraDESIGNER Devon J Andrew Design Inc.COPY EDITOR Debbie SawczakIN THIS ISSUEIT’S ABOUT LEARNINGTDChristian is about “learning for service in the light of God’s Word”; in this issue, we share ways students learn. Jacob de Kleer (front cover) built his table as his main STEM project. His teacher, Kevin Godber, describes Jacob’s learning journey as “unique”: Jacob dragged a log out of the forest, cut a slab, and watched it expand before planing it ﬂat, epoxying it, and ﬁnishing it at school. For legs, Jacob found and adapted plans from the internet, and constructed and painted them himself, as a self-taught welder, at home and at a friend’s. He assembled the pieces at school. Notice the legs are adjustable! It’s one example of how, through intentional relationship-building (including student choice and voice), our teachers endeavour to provide each student with a path to authentic learning. Appropriate learning spaces, useful resources, and personal connections and interactions supplement eﬀective instruction, support, and feedback. EDITOR / PRINCIPAL William GrootPWACOVER PHOTO CREDIT: Joel Sjaarda, Photography Teacher Taken in our STEM SpaceCONTACTTDChristian High School377 Woodbridge AvenueWoodbridge, ON L4L 2V7 info@tdchristian.caLetter from the EditorWorking in the Learning Commons

Page 4

4 PWA 2024 ISSUEPassionTDChristian’s Ontario Secondary School Certiﬁcate (OSSC) and Life Skills Program is almost through its ﬁrst year. This exciting initiative provides a high school education to students who require an alternative program. The beneﬁt for our OSSC students is that they gain a four-year Christian high school experience. For the rest of TDChristian, these students add a new element of character and joy!Janice de Boer, who has nearly two decades of experience working with students across elementary and high school levels, oversees and runs the program. Like all our teachers, she works with our OSSC students (currently three) to help them discover their passions, share their talents, learn important life skills, grow in faith, and reach their academic goals.“At TDChristian, we believe every student is made in God’s image and has gifts and talents to share with the world. All students deserve the opportunity to explore what that means alongside their peers in a high school setting, while being supported according to their individual learning style,” commented Ms. de Boer. “Our goal is for students to learn and apply both academic and practical skills that will help them achieve their goals and passions now and in the future.”The personalized attention the program provides has garnered praise from parents. One expressed admiration for Ms. de Boer’s ability to build relationships with students and discern their individual learning needs: “Ms. de Boer displayed a special gift of connecting with her class and understanding their unique learning styles.”The OSSC and Life Skills Program is open to three to ﬁve new students each year. It represents a commitment to inclusive education, ensuring that more students can attend TDChristian to prepare for their futures. It is a program to celebrate and promote!Families interested in learning more about the OSSC program or enrolling their children in it can email admissions@tdchristian.ca.Hard at work in room 27CelebratingYear One of Our OSSC and Life Skills Program

Page 5

2024 ISSUE PWA 5LOGO EVOLUTIONfeaturing TDChristian’s main colours: green and yellow. Goodhoofd remembers it being launched in conjunction with the “Seeds of Hope” ﬁnancial campaign. The logo was used for school communications beginning with the 1996-97 school year with the supporting tagline, “Educating teens for service in the light of God’s Word.” In December 1999, the colourful and dramatic swooping letter C was introduced for the launch of Project 2000, the school’s fourth expansion campaign. In 2002-03 the “tdChristian” logo was introduced, according to Goodhoofd, to visually reinforce change and symbolize a new initiative or course correction in TDChristian’s vision and leadership. The thinking behind the italicized-C logo, Goodhoofd notes, was to reinforce the Christian nature and core focus of TDChristian. The ﬁrst version of the logo was multi-coloured and began with two lowercase letters. The next signiﬁcant change occurred in Spring 2014, when TDChristian’s focus statement became “Learning for Service in the Light of God’s Word” to reﬂect the importance of learning for everyone at TDChristian, as opposed to the unilateral focus suggested by “educating teens”. In June 2017, the logo was updated: tdChristian became TDChristian. The “TD” was green and the rest was green, grey, or black. For the 60th Year, Rhiannon (Knibbe ’11) Straatsma designed a special one-year logo featuring a 60 at the centre of a circle.While TDChristian’s logos have changed and evolved over the years, the desire to see all in the light of Christ and God’s Word has not!The original TDCH crest was created by Willem “Bill” Hart in 1965 in preparation for the school’s move to its Woodbridge location. During the late 1960s, Bill led a biweekly art club for TDChristian students. The crest, which evokes an earlier era in commercial art (now known as graphic design), included the Latin inscription Omnia in luce Christi videamus, meaning “Let us see everything in the light of Christ.” TDCH used the crest until 1996 with the focus statement, “Learning and Serving in the Light of Christ.” As part of a strategic-direction initiative generated under then-new principal Ren Siebenga, Goodhoofd designed a simpliﬁed logo Logos  TDChristianGraphic designer Anthony Goodhoofd (‘69)—a graduate of the Ontario College of Art (now known as OCAD University), father of three TDChristian graduates, and long-time supporter of the school—has seen TDChristian’s logo change throughout the decades. And he has been a key contributor!

Page 6

Page 7

2024 ISSUE PWA 7Baking AwayJulia Cariati (’20) is an aspiring pastry chef. After graduating from TDChristian, Julia applied to and completed the Baking and Pastry Arts program at George Brown College. Recently, she participated in the Greatest Baker online competition presented by Buddy Valastro, along with thousands of other aspiring bakers and pastry chefs who entered for a chance to win the title. To qualify for the competition, Cariati sent in a portfolio highlighting her baking. Votes were cast by people across North America, and in the process Julia gained many followers on Instagram (@juliasweettreats). Although she did not win, Julia made it to the semiﬁnals!From her early days at TDChristian to graduating with honours from George Brown BAKING AWAYCollege, Julia’s passion for baking was undeniable. It was nurtured by countless hours spent in the kitchen with her Nonna, baking birthday cakes for loved ones and experimenting with new ﬂavours and techniques.“I have been baking for as long as I can remember. When I was little, I would always make desserts for family birthdays and functions. I knew baking was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Julia shared.This passion grew into working for bakeries and running her own baking business, Julia’s Sweet Treats. Through Instagram, markets, and pop-ups, Julia has built up a customer base. The Greatest Baker contest was an opportunity to showcase her skills on a larger stage. This summer, Julia will be heading to Europe to further her education at Ecole Nationale Supérieure de la Pâtisserie for a two-month joint pastry program in France and Italy. She wants to say thank you to everyone who voted for her in the contest and to all who have been supporting and following her baking journey!

Page 8

8 PWA 2024 ISSUEBY SHEKHINAH SOLSKIBeing AnnePassionThis year, TDChristian’s ShowPro Drama class is putting on the play The Diary of Anne Frank, involving cooperation and collaboration among many people. I am one of two actors who will play Anne. Anne Frank was a 13-year-old Jewish girl when she went into hiding during World War II. For two years, she kept a diary; our class has been given the opportunity to act out Anne’s experiences and her perspective of the world as she documented them. To begin, we discussed the people who were in hiding with Anne, and her perception of each one. This helped us form an idea of what the play is about. In class we also work on theatre skills, such as projecting our voices, saying lines as we follow our stage directions, and helping with backstage roles that suit our interests. These include costumes, hair and makeup, props, and set design. There is something for everyone. One thing I ﬁnd special about The Diary of Anne Frank is the intentional focus on who Anne was, as well as her view of the people and the world around her. Learning that six million Jews were murdered doesn’t feel real until I realize that each of those people had lives, families that they loved, and daily struggles to overcome, just like Anne. In her diary, Anne wrote, “I want to go on living even after my death! And therefore, I am grateful to God for this gift, this possibility of developing myself and of writing, of expressing all that is in me.” She certainly did go on living, and not just as a documentation of war: Anne’s hopefulness impacts and inspires anyone who chooses to read her story. Her complex thoughts and feelings sometimes seem impossible for me to wrap my mind around. But I can try! Anne also says, “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” Trying to see the good in people who have hurt me is a struggle. Yet Anne, in the middle of a mass murder, still found ways to have faith in each person. I hope that you will enjoy the play, which runs from May 23 to 25, as much as we will enjoy putting it on for you.SHEKHINAH SOLSKI is a thoughtful and talented Grade 10 student who will play Anne in one of two casts for this year’s main stage play.I want to go on living even after my death!“

Page 9

2024 ISSUE PWA 9Can you believe how diﬀerent those teens looked?” I reﬂected with my friend Elin. The 2006 video we were watching was a series of interviews with homeless teenagers who had come to Living Rock for help. As a superﬁcial reaction, I secretly admired their grunge attire. But deeper than that, it was their well-spoken messages that kept me thinking. They answered questions such as “What was your family life like?” and “When’s the ﬁrst time you tried drugs?” It was crazy to think that they weren’t much older than us and had already lived through so much pain. I was really struck by one girl who talked about her loving and nurturing mom. Unfortunately, her mom passed away while the girl was in high school, sending her into a self-destructive spiral. She talked about how she could have had a degree and a job if not for the bad crowds she got into. It reminded me that homelessness can happen to anyone; it isn’t necessarily something you’re born into. The switch could be something sudden and unexpected. Being left alone to deal with traumatic events at a young age can have profound impacts on one’s life. The real shock hit me later. Friends who also visited Living Rock casually added in conversation, “I can’t believe almost all of them died shortly after that, too. That’s crazy.”Elin and I were totally taken aback. I had naively assumed that those teens were now in a better space, having attended BY SOPHIA LORIMERLiving Rock. Talking with Elin about them on multiple occasions thereafter, neither of us could believe it. It really sobered me—not only how fast teens could end up homeless, but how quickly they lose any control of what becomes of them. By dropping out of high school, or failing to pursue higher education or obtain a job, they lost much of their future. I can only imagine the despair and potential recklessness of a teen left alone on the streets. Those youth in the video hadn’t even gone on to live a life of homelessness; they had died young and unprotected.SOPHIA LORIMER is an insightful thinker, a creative writer, and an engaging public speaker.Grade 11 students were asked to write about some aspect or experience from their Hamilton Service Trip. Below is a shortened version of Sophia Lorimer’s reflection.Living Rock Our Experience at “Joel, Daniel L., Hannah, Rachel, Kyler, Hailee, Daniel S., and Jihwan in front of 541 in Hamilton

Page 10

10 PWA 2024 ISSUEyan Little (’23) began Grade 9 at TDChristian after attending Westminster Classical Christian Academy. A restless learner, Ryan managed school by constantly asking questions and challenging the status quo. A child of parents who worked in the ﬁlm industry, Ryan was aware of the hard work and initiative needed to be successful in its various aspects—including lighting, his dad’s area of expertise. Ryan’s ﬁrst major undertaking was overseeing the lighting for the school’s travelling play, Charlotte’s Web, in November 2019. Ryan shares that the biggest challenge was just getting the lights ready: “With over 12 diﬀerent lights, the setup took more than an hour. It taught me the importance of knowing the equipment, not only the programming.”After the pandemic, Ryan, now in Grade 12, was tasked with learning to operate and harness the power of the professional-grade lighting console in the Presentation Centre. Thankfully, as part of the ShowPro class that mounted Shrek: The Musical, Ryan had daily class time for this task. He needed much more. After initial support from Alex Mungal (’11), Ryan learned the rest independently. Hours were spent on YouTube seeking tutorials and tips on how to program the GrandMA2 lighting console eﬀectively. Ultimately, through trial and error and many iterations, Ryan learned a variety of ways to utilize the software and produced incredible lighting and eﬀects for TDChristian’s 60th Year Celebration showMost importantly, Ryan reached a place where his learning began multiplying. Through connections with people in the lighting ﬁeld, he discovered that his level of proﬁciency on the GrandMA2 would allow him, upon graduation, to move directly into the ﬁeld of lighting design for ﬁlm, TV, and live entertainment. Since June, Ryan’s main work has been lighting setups for nightclubs. However, he has also done the lighting for a Walmart Canada product reveal, a celebration of life for the beloved father of the owner of Hagerty Garage, and the player introductions for Team Canada’s 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship team. View his work on Instagram at @ryan.c.little. What’s exciting for ﬁve students at TDChristian is that Ryan is helping light their way in turn. In February and March, he came in twice a week to teach them the basics of the GrandMA2. His aim is to inspire them to use their technical and creative skills to light future shows at TDChristian and, possibly, beyond.Lighting the WayPassionRyan introducing the group to GrandMA2

Page 11

2024 ISSUE PWA 11Ascension is requesting funds from the Project Fund for Deserving TDChristian Initiatives for a recording project that will:a) develop the musical skills and talents of its musicians and singers.b) provide TDChristian with an excellent marketing tool for recruitment and admissions.c) give the TDChristian community an opportunity to enjoy its favourite Christian hymns and songs and to link this positive association with the school.The idea came about when we considered all the work that went into recording a studio album, and the beneﬁt that this would have for students. When one records a studio album for sale (on Spotify, other streaming platforms, or physical CDs), one must be technically precise, practised, and proﬁcient enough to lay down proper mixes onto a track. We then thought about areas for improvement for the members of Ascension, and how this speciﬁc type of “permeable-walls” activity would help to develop these aspects of their individual and collective musicianship.ASCENSION’S ALBUM PROJECT“VOICE TO HEAVEN”Some student responses to “What’s exciting about the Album project?”“It allows us to try something really fun and new. Singing at the recording studio and hearing how instrumental and singing recordings are put together is such a fulﬁlling, In November 2023, teachers Mark Chan and David Kim wrote the proposal below to access monies from the Project Fund for Deserving TDChristian Initiatives set up by Alice Vanderkooy before her death from cancer in March 2022.We are excited to share it with you as TDChristian’s praise band, Ascension, embarks on recording an album to be released Wednesday, May 1 at our annual Grandparents Day. If you wish to contribute to the Project Fund established by Alice Vanderkooy use the QR code above.unique experience. This project also allows us to spend time with friends and do what we love—singing!” — TRINITY CAI, GRADE 10“The recording experience is great. It is diﬀerent than live playing, and totally new!” — BEN CAMPBELL, GRADE 9“Voice to Heaven” has grown to include students learning to use sound and recording equipment, graphic design software for the album cover and artists’ information, and video cameras for a music video and short documentary of the project. Over 25 students are involved. “Voice to Heaven” Launches May 1

Page 12

12 PWA 2024 ISSUEDANIEL: I used some coloured Sharpies to make a river of colour circling the yellowish part of a banana. MR. BROWN: Thinking about the colour of the banana and responding to that.DANIEL: Yep.ABBY: I chose a cantaloupe, but it was too textured to draw on, so I decided to paint it instead. I ended up painting the cover of an album that I really like, Blond by Frank Ocean. I worked on it for an hour and a half, and I made it look pretty realistic. Then I shot a little video of it and posted it on TikTok.I’VE HEARD ABOUT A PARTICULAR ART PROJECT THAT ACHIEVED SOME UNEXPECTED FAME. WHAT WAS THIS PROJECT?MR. BROWN: Well, it was a project to do a drawing on a piece of fruit—not to draw a piece of fruit, but to draw on a piece of fruit. And that was it; it was left open to the students how they were going to do that.WHAT DID EACH OF YOU TO DO FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT?MACKENZIE: I drew an eyeball on an orange and gave it hair and teeth.MR. BROWN: So you gave the orange its own character.MACKENZIE: Exactly.WonderArt Going ViralDaniel Stewart Mackenzie Markle BY JOEL WESTERHOF

Page 13

2024 ISSUE PWA 13Art Going WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOU LEARNED FROM THIS ASSIGNMENT? DID IT PUSH YOU TO GROW OR DEVELOP IN ANY INTERESTING DIRECTIONS? MACKENZIE: It was very diﬀerent doing a drawing on an orange. I used Sharpies for mine, but I was restricted by the number of colours available, so I kind of had to get more inventive with what I was doing. Once I started drawing, I ﬁgured, well, I’m into it now; I can’t exactly erase it—it’s Sharpie! And drawing an eyeball on an orange isn’t a common thing I do. I WOULD IMAGINE NOT. WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE ASSIGNMENT, DANIEL?DANIEL: It was a really big change. I’m used to pencil and paper, or painting on canvas. Never in my life did I think I’d be doing Sharpie on a banana. It was cool not to be limited by what I usually think and do.ABBY: At ﬁrst I thought, What is this assignment?! And then when I actually did it, I realized this is kind of fun. I learned that I’m better at painting than I thought I was. That I’m very good at blending colours and creating lighter and darker points. So this assignment’s deﬁnitely something to continue. It’s exciting. It’s not something you do in an ordinary school day.SO, ABBY, YOU POSTED THIS ON TIKTOK, AND NOW IT’S GOING VIRAL. HOW MANY VIEWS HAVE YOU HAD SO FAR? ABBY: In March, my melon TikTok went over a million views.WOW! HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY GOOD FEEDBACK OR MEMORABLE RESPONSES IN THE COMMENTS?ABBY: Most of my friends just commented things like, “Wow this is crazy!” “This is insane!” “You’re really talented!” There’s also been a lot of people saving the video and sending it to others.AND WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO BE A “VIRAL SENSATION”?ABBY: I wasn’t expecting it, but it’s kind of exciting because I feel talented and I feel noticed. It’s also inspired me—like, maybe I am good at art! People seem to like my art, so maybe I should post more of it. When it ﬁrst started going viral, I had loads of inspiration; I thought, I should just keep painting and painting and painting—it’s just exciting.SO WHERE IS THIS FAMOUS CANTALOUPE NOW? DO YOU STILL HAVE IT?ABBY: It got mouldy! I did try and cut oﬀ the outer layer and keep it, but even that moulded, so my mom said, “You know what? We have to throw this out.” But I have a bunch of pictures.THAT’S AWESOME. BUT HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE FACT THAT TIKTOK DOESN’T PAY CANADIAN CONTENT PROVIDERS?ABBY: I could’ve bought a Happy Meal!JOEL WESTERHOF is a talented teacher and writer who enjoys creative projects and fruit.Abby De HaanIn March, my melon TikTok went over a million views.“

Page 14

14 PWA 2024 ISSUEWonderAirwaves in Room 9During the summer of 2022, TDChristian built a podcast studio in the northwest corner of Room 9, an initiative of teacher Jerry Klompmaker and principal William Groot. It oﬀers students a new platform for creativity and expression. Podcasting cultivates important skills, including public speaking and digital literacy. Collaborative projects engage students in teamwork, fostering a sense of community through thoughtful, intelligent, and researched conversations. Embracing this medium empowers students to navigate the evolving educational landscape with increased conﬁdence. Creativity of expression is paired with an innovative way to tell others what has been learned and discerned. It’s a way for students to reﬁne their communication abilities and discover their unique voices while preparing for academic and professional pursuits. Who knows what exciting doors might be opened by practising podcasting?The Learning Commons According to StudentsThe addition of the Learning Commons, an integral component of Project 20/20, has given students a plethora of ways to focus their educational time, with carrels, comfy chairs, stools, chairs, and tables that seat one to ﬁve people. The almost 100-foot-long room is nestled between the top of the Presentation Centre and our large, multi-purpose, lecture-type Room 41 on the east, and rooms 23, 25, and 27 on the west. New doors to these three rooms were cut through the outside walls of the original building to allow students easy access to support from our two Special Education Resource teachers, Ms. Michelle Jaworski and Ms. Bethany Van Pelt, and teacher and Educational Assistant Ms. Jenn Krishnan.QUOTES FROM STUDENTS WHO USE IT.• The Learning Commons means a lot to me and my learning. I am grateful for the teachers’ dedication and love for what they do, and to TDChristian for creating this space for us. —Evelyn, Grade 11• The Learning Commons has meant so much for me. It is about learning and understanding at your own pace. As someone with a learning disability, I found it helped so much with work I couldn’t understand or get done as fast as others. With teachers who are willing to stay and ﬁnd my unique style of learning, I was able to keep up with my classmates. —Warrick, Grade 12• I feel like the Learning Commons makes TDChristian a safe learning environment. When I write a test, I like how quiet it is here. I also feel comfortable with the people around me, knowing they also struggle, and the teachers are really nice and helpful. In my math class, I answer a lot more questions and am not afraid to speak or get the answer wrong. —Lizzie, Grade 10

Page 15

2024 ISSUE PWA 15Being in a building with varied and unique spaces provides TDChristian students with abundant choices for gathering, especially during their 40-minute lunch. One such place is under the spiral staircase. The students who gather there like it because it’s cozy and protected while oﬀering a prime view of the atrium, a stair to sit on, and nearby shelves to put things on or under. Grade 11 student Juliana Filice has spent considerable time with friends under the stairs. In ﬁrst semester, she had a brainwave: why not design and build a low table for her friends to sit and eat at as her senior STEM project? Better yet, make it strong and collapsible so that it can be stored on a nearby wall, taken oﬀ and set up quickly for use, and then easily put back in its place afterwards.The prototyping began in earnest with cardboard and stick models, followed by a scale model. She and Mr. Groot, from whom she needed to get approval and money, discussed diﬀerent options for the project. Once the design was approved by Mr. Groot and STEM teacher Mr. Godber, the materials were purchased, and Juliana put the table together. All she has left to do is to coat the wood with a protective and professional ﬁnish. A second-semester STEM student will build the wall support to store the table on. If all goes well, the table will be enjoyed by students under the stairs for years to come.Reﬂecting on Juliana’s process, Mr. Godber shared, “Juliana took a good problem and followed the design process What’s Under theto research, prototype, reﬁne, and ﬁnally build a good solution. Her dedication, skill, and commitment to excellence (along with a good sense of fun) are all evident in the ﬁnal product!”When asked what she learned, Juliana answered, “I guess if I had to pick one thing I learned, it’d be that mistakes are good. If I hadn’t made all the mistakes on the prototypes, the ﬁnal product wouldn’t have turned out as well as it did.”Eric (top), Anthony, Chantal, Chris, Jessy, Juliana, Sarah, Edwin, MadisonIf I hadn’t made all the mistakes on the prototypes, the ﬁnal product wouldn’t have turned out as well as it did.“Spiral Staircase?

Page 16

16 PWA 2024 ISSUEReﬂecting on her day at Crawford Lake, Grade 9 student Jamie McDonald wrote, “Enjoying nature, being with our friends, and getting away from the traditional classroom was one of the best learning experiences I’ve ever had.” And as Joshua Galotti thought back on the experience of hiking around the tranquil lake that holds so much history in its sediment, he wrote, “I could really feel God’s presence in this place.”ANNEKE GRETTON, VP Learning, loves teaching, the outdoors, and combining them for the benefit of students.of water do not mix. Plutonium from nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s and 1960s can be found and precisely dated by examining the layers of sediment 75 feet below the surface of Crawford Lake.Deeper in the layers of sediment at the bottom of Crawford Lake, scientists have found corn pollen dating from 500 to 700 years ago. This pollen was the ﬁrst clue leading archeologists to discover the human geography of Crawford Lake: hundreds of years ago, there was a Wendat village there.Students visited three reconstructed Wendat longhouses built on their original archeological footprints. We experienced how the Wendat people made ﬁre, boiled sap into syrup, and ground corn. Mr. Hayward loved “seeing the students’ learning led by their natural curiosity, asking questions freely, and being captivated by their surroundings,” and Mr. Chan described Crawford Lake as “a place where geography came to life for students…It was like stepping out of a time machine and into a living lesson.” BY ANNEKE GRETTON WonderScientists have proposed a new epoch, called the Anthropocene, to deﬁne our current age in which humans have widespread and signiﬁcant impact on the world’s physical environment. TDChristian is just a 45-minute bus ride away from the proposed global marker site for this epoch: Crawford Lake.The Grade 9 Geography classes, taught by Mr. Chan and Mr. Hayward, spent October 16, 2023 at this site uncovering what makes Crawford Lake an integral site for global geography.On the surface, Crawford Lake looks like any small lake. But diving deeper reveals that it is a rare meromictic lake, which preserves sediments in pristine condition because the layers STORIES IN THESe di me nt

Page 17

2024 ISSUE PWA 17Awe BY KYLE FLOWERS There is no way to prove God exists through science, but there is also no perfect example of how the entire world is where it is today using a secular view. First, I think understanding the three arguments that point to God is vastly important in apologetics. We learned about many religions that believe in a God. Explaining the existence of God is important when addressing an atheist, because once we agree that God exists, we can look at the divinity of Jesus.The Cosmological Argument is very important to learn because it is simple to explain and points directly to a God. It describes a situation where science can’t be used to explain any thing fully.I believe the Teleological Argument (intelligent design) is the most powerful. However, it requires a bunch of knowledge beforehand to give solid evidence. I can’t just say the EVIDENCE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GODworld is complicated and hope that others believe me. Lastly, I think the Moral Argument may be weaker on its own, because there are many secular rebuttals. Yet, when used alongside other arguments, it helps give solid evidence for God.I am not sure if I convinced you. What I am sure of is that there is a lot of evidence that points to the existence of God—more than I can share in a six-minute presentation. I urge you to look into it.If you are convinced and believe in God, strive to learn some of these arguments, because knowing one of these could point someone towards Christ—something he commanded us to do. Plant a mustard seed and let God make it grow in them.KYLE FLOWERS is a Grade 11 student who enjoys deep thought, sports, and hanging out with friends.STORIES IN THEStudents in Grade 11 English and Perspectives Block were assigned a five- to six-minute Presentation of Learning through which they would lead their peers through the basics of their topic all the way through some evaluative comments. To take the assignment to the next level, Mr. Terpstra offered students the opportunity to present at the Winter Open House and Celebration of Learning. Kyle Flowers presented for the first time to over 100 people gathered in the Presentation Centre. After outlining and explaining three arguments scholars use for the existence of God, Kyle ended his presentation with the following personal response.

Page 18

18 PWA 2024 ISSUEAweLearning Takes TimeStudents in the Grade 10 to 12 Art class took on a challenging project during ﬁrst semester. Mr. Brown, after taking the group to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in nearby Kleinburg, gave each of them a chunk of soapstone to cut, carve, shape, and polish into something special. During the gallery day, students researched Inuit sculpture as an inspiration for their project. First, they had to ﬁnd three pieces they liked. Next, they took photos of each item they chose, photographing it from multiple angles and sides using the rules they were given to capture three-dimensional art eﬀectively. Some chose to sketch the pieces. Then, they wrote down the author’s name, medium, and date. A key focus was to examine what made each item a uniquely beautiful or signiﬁcant piece of art.Back at school, students learned about reductive sculpture and additive sculpture through video and teacher instruction and conversation. Armed with this learning, students began the time-consuming task of creating their own reductive sculptures from soapstone. Much was learned: cutting, carving, and shaping take time—many hours, in fact. Once something is removed, it cannot be put back. Iteration and practice lead to increased mastery. In short, the project took a long time. Even the polishing phase is labour-intensive. Working with soapstone taught students the importance of perseverance and introduced many of them to the concept of delayed gratiﬁcation.There were two main takeaways: many of the sculptures turned out wonderfully; and students were able to understand and appreciate the level of craftsmanship needed to create the stunning sculptures at the McMichael Collection.3-2-1 IMPROV! In February, TDChristian’s three improv teams competed in the Canadian Improv Games Regionals. The ﬁnals took place at our school on February 17. The TDChristian Trio won silver, the Senior team won bronze, and the Juniors earned fourth. What’s signiﬁcant about these results is that they ﬂow naturally out of our Grade 9 Improv classes, where students learn to listen, commit, and support each other on- and oﬀstage.TDChristian’s Junior Improv TeamPractising in the Black Box

Page 19

2024 ISSUE PWA 19In Grade 12 Advanced Functions, students present on a mathematical topic or item of their choice. Some of these mini-presentations were shared at the Winter Open House and Celebration of Learning on January 18, 2024. Here is an overview of one that many people found fascinating.Did you ever think that math could be beautiful? Well, I bet most of you haven’t. Math is seen as a fundamental “science”, but is rarely described as beautiful. Math is how we understand how God created the universe. In my presentation, I will share shockingly beautiful mathematics and confusing concepts in order for you to see how connected mathematics is and why Euler’s equation is unique and beautiful.NILS CLEMENTS is TDChristian’s Schulich Leader Nominee for 2023-24. He plans to pursue studies in Mechanical or Mining Engineering in British Columbia.Identi ty BY NILS CLEMENTSEuler’s Identity, e + 1 = 0 is known as the most beautiful equation in mathematics.Leonhard Euler was born on April 15, 1707 in Basel, Switzerland. He was very smart from a young age and coached by Johann Bernoulli, a famous mathematician who made contributions to the calculus. Euler came up with the formula, e ix = cos(x) + i sin(x) which is true for any real or complex value of x. When x = , the result is e + 1 = 0, Euler’s Identity, an equation that relates ﬁve of the most important numbers we know. • e, Euler’s number, is the number that results from compounding $1 at a rate of 1/n for n periods. The higher n gets, the closer the answer is to e, which is approximately 2.71.• is the ratio between the circumference and the diameter of a circle. is approximately 3.14.• i, known as the imaginary number, is the radical of -1. Some people think of it as the answer to the question “What is the positive square root of -1?”• 1 is the number which, when multiplied by any number x, results in x. i.e., 1 x x = x.• 0 is the number which, when added to any number x, results in x. i.e., 0 + x = x.1234MY PRESENTATION CONSISTS OF:1. What is Euler’s Identity?2. The history of Leonhard Euler 3. How was Euler’s Identity found?4. Breakdown of each constant THE MOST BEAUTIFUL

Page 20

20 PWA 2024 ISSUEBY DAVID HAGENAweBefore our wedding, Kate asked me to read a book about the ﬁve love languages: words of aﬃrmation, quality time, gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. I learned that my main way of showing love is through acts of service, and her main way of feeling love is through words of aﬃrmation.Words of aﬃrmation have always been hard for me. I ﬁnd it much easier to send a quick text with aﬃrming words. While that is appreciated, it isn’t as good as saying them in person.Fast forward to now. Our society uses a lot of negative words; social media is rife with them. They tear people down and create serious mental health concerns.From where are we and our students getting our aﬃrmation?Christ tells us to love our neighbour as ourselves. But what if you don’t love yourself? What if you are depressed, anxious, unable to interact, feeling out of place, or feeling underappreciated?Continuing the theme from last week, we have an incredible community in this room; I Appreciate Youwe can be shining examples of how to love our neighbour. When was the last time you spoke words of aﬃrmation to someone here? How about to a student? Usually, our words point out something they did; while that has a place, there is another way.TV character Ted Lasso provides us with the easy solution. At the end of a conversation, he says, “I appreciate you!”Saying “I appreciate you” reﬂects a personal acknowledgment of and gratitude for the individual. It’s a way of expressing deeper gratitude and respect for the person, rather than what they did.This week and next are big ones. Students are anxious about presentations, exams, and other end-of-semester items. As we ﬁnish our courses, call families, or prepare to write comments, take time to tell students, colleagues, friends, family, or anyone in your proverbial “neighbourhood” that you appreciate them. It might be just what they need to hear to make it through the semester.DAVID HAGEN, a behind-the-scenes guy, has taught students math and computer science since 2006!Christ tells us to love our neighbour as ourselves.“Staff members take turns leading in devotions and prayer on the first school day of each week. Below is a shortened version of what teacher David Hagen shared with colleagues in early January.

Page 21

2024 ISSUE PWA 21Pl aying a nd Le arni ngWhat connects students from the TDChristian classes of ’19, ’20, and ’21? The answer is Straats, a band that began in 2017. The group has come a long way since it began playing at TDChristian assemblies and talent shows. It now has almost 4 million stream counts on Spotify, including over 3.3 million for the single “In Your Mind”. With nearly 40 thousand monthly listeners on Spotify, Straats continues to build its base of listeners. You can ﬁnd the group’s music videos on the YouTube channel “Straats”. Some of them use the cinematographic talents of Jacob Lea (’20), who graduates this spring from Sheridan College with a Bachelor of Film and Television. By the time this PWA issue is published, Straats will have released its newest single, “Drift Away”, along with the band’s ﬁrst oﬃcial music video shot by Jacob. Straats’ original focus was to write and record songs featuring a unique blend of music genres: pop, alternative, folk, and plunderphonics. Lately, however, the band has started playing more live shows. After sharing its music at TDChristian’s 60th Year concert in April 2023 (see YouTube TDCHWoodbridge), Straats has performed at Onyx and The Bullring in Guelph, as well as at the historic Cameron House on Queen Street in Toronto. The band played in St. Catharines at the Warehouse Concert Hall on March 2. But who makes up Straats? What do they do besides play and record music?Joel Porter (’19) is halfway through his Master of Theological Studies at Heritage College and Seminary after earning his BA in history at Brock University. He sings, plays guitar, and writes songs.Besides handling production, management, songwriting, and additional instrumentation, Adrian Straatsma (’20) is completing his degree in sociology with a minor in marketing at the University of Guelph. The youngest, Annie Martin (’21), who contributes her talents as a vocalist, is ﬁnishing third year at the University of Guelph in human kinetics.It’s been quite a ride for the trio, playing while learning and learning while playing. Where will it lead? Follow the band on Instagram: @straats_.Joel, Adrian, and Annie at the 60th Year Concert (April 2023)Playing and Learning

Page 22

22 PWA 2024 ISSUEUPCOMING EVENTS GRANDPARENTS DAY MAY 1, 2024ASCENSION ALBUM “VOICE TO HEAVEN” LAUNCH MAY 1, 2024SPRING MUSIC CONCERTMAY 16, 2024THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (MAINSTAGE PLAY)MAY 2325, 2024VISIT US ON PRESENTATIONS DAYMAY 29, 2024RELAY FOR LIFE  CANCER FUNDRAISERJUNE 5, 2024CLASS OF ‘24 GRADUATIONJUNE 26, 2024, 7 P.M.• Faith Gospel Tabernacle Ministries, 140 Salvation Road, BramptonValentine’s Day JoyTo boost school spirit, a group organized the posting of compliments and heart stickies with fun messages throughout the school. Another group organized Candy Grams for students to write messages to others. Happy vibes were everywhere.Always get the most up-to-date details at tdchristian.ca/eventsMetalworks on DisplayWhen Joseph DeCaro (’17) was a Grade 10 student at TDChristian, a classmate who knew Joseph’s talent as a welder suggested he use it to create an “Abraham” metalwork for Bible class. Later, Joseph fabricated a “Comm Tech” sign to mark Room 22. With the passage of time, the identity of the one who made these items was lost to history. Thankfully, DeCaro Fabricating Inc. takes in Internship Block students! Through that reconnection, we were able to ask Joseph to add his name to his works so that we know when they were made and who crafted them.Grade 9 SonnetA whistle sounds the game’s about to startA beat ﬂows 1,2,3 pass, set, returnIt is a battle, ﬁght with all your heartTo lose is something we refuse to learnLiberos quick, setters fast, hitters strongPerfect plays with little chance of mercyFans’ pressure, no consent of doing wrongAs we play and show oﬀ our jerseyBest two out of three sets to win the gameTo make sure victory is ours to claimPush ﬁrst to 25, our hearts stay true A whistle blows, the game’s about to startWe ﬁght to win, play with entire heartWe think hard and play extremely smartBY JULIANA DA SILVA

Page 23

2024 ISSUE PWA 23WEDDINGS: • Isaiah Raspa (‘20) married Jaidon Pehlke on June 4, 2023.• Kelsey Weening (‘09) married Brad Anderson on September 2, 2023.• Nathan Ellens (‘10) married Bonnie Salomons on September 12, 2023.BIRTHS:• Lisa VanDommelen (‘09) and Greg Buisman (‘01) welcomed Noah Scott and Everly Hope on July 17, 2023, siblings to Adelyn and Conor.• Kyara Geerlinks (‘09) and Taylor Thomson welcomed Noelle “Ellie” Sarah Belle on August 2, 2023, a sister to Lyla.• Marina Laswick (‘09) and Kevin Dukes welcomed Mila Loren on September 25, 2023.• Lindsay Vanderkooy (‘07) and Scott Simon welcomed Arthur Raymond on January 6, 2024, a brother to Mackenzie.ALUMNI UPDATES• a professional, supportive and safe community r seniors, based on traditional Christian values• a great choice in retirement livingr Christian seniors in Ontario• a sense of community and belongingHolland Christian Homes Brampton, Ontario 905 .459. 3333 Dra_vl_AD TD mag 22.03.14 1 • a professional, supportive and safe community r seniors, based on traditional Christian values• a great choice in retirement livingr Christian seniors in Ontario• a sense of community and belongingHolland Christian Homes Brampton, Ontario 905 .459. 3333 Dra_vl_AD TD mag 22.03.14 1 • a professional, supportive and safe community r seniors, based on traditional Christian values• a great choice in retirement livingr Christian seniors in Ontario• a sense of community and belongingHolland Christian Homes Brampton, Ontario 905 .459. 3333 Dra_vl_AD TD mag 22.03.14 1 Once a part of the TDChristian community, always a part of the TDChristian community! We would love to share your life updates in these publications. You can send notice of your life events to alumni@tdchristian.ca and check out other alumni stories and opportunities by visiting tdchristian.ca/alumni/Have updates you wish to share? Email alumnitdchristian.caSend Us Your UpdatesGraduates from the 1960s visiting TDChristianDonateIt’s the unwavering support of people like you that fuels our mission and breathes life into our vision. Your prayers, active participation, and generous contributions are central in enabling us to shape young hearts and minds in the light of God’s Word.Every prayer you utter, minute you spend, and dollar you invest impacts the lives of our students, igniting their passion for learning and service. Your support isn’t just a donation; it’s an investment in the future of our youth, in the growth of God’s Kingdom, and in the betterment of our communities.Check out the various projects you can give to at tdchristian.ca/support/

Page 24

Kristina Pazic, lover of the Arts and TDChristian, sadly died of cancer while in her Grade 9 year.Kristina’s Wish has been organized by her friends with the goal of filling the new presentation centre with seats to leave a legacy in Kristina’s beloved memory. Each seat costs $1,070. Would you consider joining with some friends to purchase a seat or providing a donation to Kristina’s Wish to purchase your very own seat? Donations to Kristina’s Wish will receive an official donation receipt for tax purposes. Help us to ensure that every student can explore and develop their abilities on and off the field for service in God’s Kingdom! Donate today!tdchristian.ca/support/donateTDChristian High School377 Woodbridge AvenueWoodbridge, ON L4L 2V7 info@tdchristian.caJ3074Return undeliverable addresses to:43885026

PWA Spring 2024

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3