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IN THIS ISSUEJUN 2023VOLUME XLIII, ISSUE IV6488 TOWNLINE RD.P.O. BOX 40,SMITHVILLE, ONL0R 2A0PH. 905.957.3255FAX 905.957.3431smithvillechristian.caCONTACT:MARLENE BERGSMAmbergsma@smithvillechristian.caPAGE 1 CELEBRATING GROWTH AND THE GOODNESS OF GODPAGE 4 SCHOOL PLAYPAGE 6 CELEBRATING ARTISTS, ATHLETESPAGE 8 THE JESUS WAY OF FRIENDSHIPPAGE 10 GR. 1O OTTAWA TRIPPAGE 12 STUDENT LEADERSHIP AND RENEWALPAGE 14 BOARD PROFILEScontinued on page 2 . . .Celebrating growth and the goodness of GodBY TED HARRIS, ADMINISTRATORLike everyone, I love springtime. I get particularly excited when I see the early buds on the trees. It seems only hours later that these buds explode and within days become fully grown foliage eating up carbon dioxide, giving oxygen and providing shade and beauty.

2. . . continued from page 1ECHOES JUNE 2023It’s a similar story with students. I don’t see adolescence as barren winter – that’s not where my comparison will go here – but growth seems to take us by surprise as maturity shows itself.I am writing with the memory of Grade 12 Portfolio Day fresh in my memory. As I have noted many times, this is one of the best days of the year – this year no different. Hearing the accounts shared by our students of their high school journey – their joys, their struggles, their experience with a pandemic, the community they have formed, and their plans going forward – is always a great encouragement for me. This is the leaf suddenly at full size which seemed like it was just folding out of the bud days ago. God does so much with his people, and we get to see this happen at Smithville Christian as a matter of routine.I have jumped right to the nish, but there are many other indicators of springtime life at school that come much earlier than the end. One of the major themes of our chapel/spiritual life year was “Everything is Worship.” We have had a chance to hear several students and staff members share their Jesus stories and their faith journeys with the school. As we challenge one another to think about how everything we do can be and is shaped by our faith in Christ and our gratitude for his goodness, it has been beautiful to hear of how this plays out in the lives of many who have shared their stories. Buds bursting forth while we watch.The spring production of “The Internet is Distract … Oh Look, A Kitten” was a very well-produced piece of comic satire which entertained us and jolted our thinking. The students on the stage and behind it did a terric job. Leaves taking shape.Our spring athletics, including badminton, track,

www.smithvillechristian.ca3soccer, and softball teams, have given students a chance to compete and to excel. We have seen our students represent our school well. Leaves stretching out toward fullness.Students going about their learning and moving toward nal assessments, class discussions, tests, quizzes, projects on display in hallways, an Ottawa trip, a grade 12 bike trip, a choir concert, a trip to Canada’s Wonderland – all indications of a ourishing learning community. Leaves full-grown, giving fresh air and beauty.Our staff devotions in springtime never fail to voice our praise for the beauty of spring, but our next breath always seems to be our expression of praise for all the growth we see in our students. Granted, some students resemble buds more than full grown leaves, and some even seem to be bare trees whose life is yet to show, but we see so much growth and beauty that our only possible response is gratitude for a God whose faithfulness carries on from generation to generation.Read on to see more of the beauty and growth in our students, and especially see pages 8 and 9 for more evidence of God’s faithfulness from generation to generation.

4ECHOES JUNE 2023

5www.smithvillechristian.ca

6ECHOES JUNE 2023Celebrating artists, athletes, and so much moreBY MARLENE BERGSMA, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVANCEMENTAt Smithville Christian, it’s a joy to celebrate artists and athletes, but not just because of the pictures painted, the songs sung, or the medals won. For us, the real joy is in the community that is created when teenagers who are passionate about developing and using their gifts, share their passion with others. At our annual awards assembly we take a trip back through the year and celebrate how doing things together is good for all of us – the athletes, artists, spectators, audience, and fans. As Vice-Principal of Program and science teacher Will Lammers told the students, research shows that being part of a community is good for your body, mind, and soul. Lammers cited a study that showed that people who had bad health habits but strong social ties lived signicantly longer than people who had great health habits but were isolated. “In other words, it is better to eat Twinkies with good friends than to eat broccoli alone,” Lammers said. Whether you’re a student, alumnus, parent, or friend: join that club or team. It’s better than broccoli!

7www.smithvillechristian.caSmithville Christian High School athletes of the year; from left, Junior Athletes of the Year, Cole Wiersma and Alexa Teeuwsen, and Senior Athletes of the Year, Matthew Mafa and Mikayla May.

8ECHOES JUNE 2023The Jesus way of friendshipBY MARLENE BERGSMA, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVANCEMENTThe friendships he made during his childhood and teenage years shaped him, said spiritual life director Stu Bender at Smithville Christian High School’s at the opening chapel of Grandparents and Friends Day.Before a gym packed with close to 500 high school students and their guests, Bender told stories about the friend who protected him, the friend who welcomed him, and the friend who showed him how to be true to himself. Bender said many of the things he valued in his friendships were characteristics that were Jesus-like.For example, “Troy was so true to who he was as a person, he didn’t care what people thought about him.” Mike, a buddy at university, “was someone who just listened to me, and taught me how to be a friend who listened.” Aaron, a high school friend, “was a community builder and someone who invited anybody out.”You become like the people you hang out with. It’s that simple, Bender said, quoting Proverbs 12:20.Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.“So, choose your friends carefully,” he said, encouraging the students and their guests to be good friends to each other. “Invite your grandparents over on a Friday night to play cards,” he suggested.

www.smithvillechristian.ca9Bender said his own grandmother modelled Jesus’ love to him, and, as he grew up, he was certain that he was her favourite grandchild. Bender said the apostle John expressed a similar sentiment in his gospel, when he described himself as the “disciple Jesus loved” (John 13:16-25). Bender said John was not being boastful by describing himself as being the disciple most worthy of Jesus’ love, but rather, John was describing the quality of Jesus’ love, and his sense of being loved by him.Bender said at his grandmother’s funeral, he and all his cousins were shocked and then delighted to learn they each thought they were the favourite grandchild. That’s the kind of love we get from Jesus and that’s the kind of love Jesus wants us to pass on to each other, and not only the people who are our close friends. Just as Jesus befriended and loved the people that others overlooked, and just as Jesus served others by washing their feet, we are called to do the same.“John knew without a doubt that he was loved,” Bender said. “How often do you share with your friends so that they feel like THEY are the one you love?”KEY TAKEAWAYS1. Form deep and meaningful friendships. Pray for your friendships. Pray for your friends.2. Make your friends and family feel like they are the ONE you love.3. Be open to other friendships; don’t close in your friendship groups.4. Treat everyone like a friend. It’s the Jesus way.

10ECHOES JUNE 2023

11www.smithvillechristian.caGRADE 10OTTAWA TRIP

12ECHOES JUNE 2023Student Leadership & RenewalBY ALEX AUGUSTINE This year’s Student Council has not had an easy go. This was our year of Renewal, and, being a student leader, or leader in general, is not simple work. As student leaders, we consider everyone’s feelings, abilities, and desires when making decisions on behalf of the school body. Sometimes we make sacrices and take on difcult tasks to ensure that everything is done properly and with diligence. A student leader takes on responsibilities that are not often noticed by the broader student body.Our mandate is “To serve the student body of Smithville Christian High School, to encourage community, to represent the student voice of the school, and to be stewards of student resources, in particular the funding of all extra-curricular activities and athletics at Smithville Christian High School.” And our theme for this year is Renewal based on 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!” The description of a student leader is a student in a position to inuence, guide, and motivate others towards the achievement of a goal. Having inuence on others is not the simplest thing to do. We must think about everyone else and try our best to understand others’ situations. We put our best foot forward to set a good example for other students and even other leaders. Student leaders also guide their peers in the right direction and show them what success looks like. As well as inuence and guidance, we must motivate students. To motivate others, we must ourselves be motivated. We have faced many challenges in the wake of Covid. After two years of being forced to avoid community; we had to rebuild community.I would encourage everyone to take time and assess their own life and strengths. We all have an impact on the culture that we are in, and inuence those around us. The Student Council at Smithville Christian works hard to demonstrate what good leadership looks like and to lead others through fun events designed to strengthen community. We believe in the importance of developing young leaders, for they are the future. So how will you impact our school and students for the better?

www.smithvillechristian.ca13Student Leadership & RenewalBY ALEX AUGUSTINE

14ECHOES JUNE 2023Board prolesDaryl HaanstraI have been serving on the Board of Smithville Christian High School since December 2022. My family and I are members of Smithville Christian Reformed Church, and I am a graduate of Covenant Christian School (now Cairn) and Smithville Christian. I attended Ridgetown College after high school and received a diploma in Agriculture. Currently, I am the founder and owner of an agricultural business that deals with seed sales, crop production, grain marketing and custom farm operations. My business management experience has provided a foundation in both nancial and human resource management. I am passionate about leadership development and participating in the success of both my customers and employees. My wife Leah and I have four children: the oldest is in grade 9 at Smithville Christian, and the younger three attend Cairn Christian School in Smithville. We are active members of Smithville Christian Reformed Church. I have previously served on church council, as deacon, elder and chairman. In my time as chair of council, God equipped me to lead through challenging and transitional times in our church. Our family has been greatly blessed through the education our children have received at Cairn, particularly in the way of student support for those with special needs, and look forward to that continuing as they move through their high school education here at Smithville Christian as well.When not farming, I enjoy cycling as well as camping with my family. We enjoy road trips and exploring new places! I am looking forward to getting to know the Smithville Christian community better! Ben NyweningI’m probably a stranger to many of you, though SCH feels like home to me. I am one of six siblings, so if the name Nywening sounds familiar, chances are you know one of them. I graduated from Smithville Christian in 1998, after completing my elementary years at John Knox (Cairn Stoney Creek). I attended Redeemer University, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology, followed by a master’s degree in Clinical-Developmental Psychology at York University. I work as a Psychoeducational Consultant in the Hamilton public school board where I have the opportunity to work with students who are struggling academically, socially and/or emotionally. Much of my work involves assessment of the learning, behavioural and mental health needs of students and helping teachers and parents develop and implement effective strategies for kids.I’m married to my “high school sweetheart” Danyse who teaches grade 3 at Cairn Stoney Creek. We have three children: Ephraim (Gr. 11) and Taya (Gr. 9) attend Smithville Christian and Ella (Gr. 7) attends Cairn Stoney Creek. As a family, we enjoy camping, reading, playing sports, and high-spirited board games.Our church home for many years was Fruitland CRC. Since its closing in 2022, we have attended a number of churches, predominantly Mountainview CRC, while determining our next church home. While at Fruitland, I served as an elder, Sunday school teacher and youth leader.The responsibility of being a Smithville Christian board member is a daunting task, especially given the current challenges the school is facing. I feel that God has prepared me for this task, and I am committed to faithfully serving this community.Through my work I have developed skills in being an empathetic listener. I have also developed strengths in analysing and problem-solving in complex interpersonal situations. I feel that these skills will be useful to the board and community of Smithville Christian in the current context and moving forward.30%is printed on 30%post-consumer recycled paper.30%

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