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IN THIS ISSUEMAR 2024VOLUME XLIV, ISSUE II6488 TOWNLINE RD.P.O. BOX 40,SMITHVILLE, ONL0R 2A0PH. 905.957.3255FAX 905.957.3431smithvillechristian.caCONTACT:MARLENE BERGSMAmbergsma@smithvillechristian.caPAGE 1 SO MANY CHOICES, SO LITTLE TIMEPAGE 3 ENJOY THE WINDING ROADPAGE 4 CELEBRATING EXEMPLARY LEARNINGPAGE 6 CHAPELS PUT FAITH INTO ACTIONPAGE 8 SENIOR GIRLS VOLLEYBALLPAGE 9 JUNIOR BOYS BASKETBALL PAGE 10 WHEN TEACHERS GO TO SCHOOLPAGE 12 SEEING THE GLORY OF GODPAGE 13 NEW STAFFPAGE 14 BOARD OF DIRECTORScontinued on page 2 . . .So many choices, so little timeBY MARLENE BERGSMA, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVANCEMENTSmithville Christian High School wants students to succeed while they are enrolled here, of course, but perhaps even more importantly, we want them to succeed once they leave. So how does a high school prepare students for post-secondary success?For decades, one of the ways we’ve been doing that is with bi-annual Career Days, organized
2ECHOES MARCH 2024and hosted by Linda Booy-Korvemaker in the guidance department. She starts by acknowledging that human agency is a response to God’s call in each of our lives.“God gives us choices,” said Booy-Korvemaker. “He always has given his children choices. We have so many choices today and Christian schools help prepare students and support their choices by connecting their learning to the world of work and to the kingdom of God. Our calling is to be a Christ-follower in whatever career pathway we choose.”Offering students a Career Day experience helps them consider various pathways, she said.Career Day 2023, the rst in-person one since 2018, was a huge success, thanks to the support and contributions of a community that showed up in force to share wisdom and perspective with students. New this year was a panel format, which grouped presenters into areas of career focus. There were more than 12 Career Planning workshops in the morning, and 14 Career Panels in the afternoon.Career Day Workshops (students could pick two)1. Skilled trades and apprenticeship training2. The value of volunteering3. Transitioning to college and university4. How to pay for post-secondary education5. How to nd God at post-secondary education6. University expectations7. College expectations8. Taking care of your mental health9. Gap year opportunities10. Overseas opportunities11. Interest and aptitude tests12. Career PlanningCareer Day Panels (students could pick two)1. Science and Technology2. Medicine and Health3. Environment and Sustainability4. Media and Entertainment5. Business and Finance6. Business and Entrepreneurship7. Arts and Culture8. Social Services and Education9. Law and Law Enforcement10. Government and International Affairs11. Trades construction12. Trades mechanical13. Animals and Agriculture14. Hospitality and TourismHere, and on page 1, students, career panelists and workshop leaders at Career Day 2023.
3www.smithvillechristian.caEnjoy the winding roadCareer Day began with a chapel, featuring Ann Andree Wiebe, Class of 2002, who now serves as a Counsellor in Mohawk College’s student wellness department. Andree Wiebe spoke about the ways in which our lives and careers rarely follow straight and orderly paths.Andree Weibe said students often ask: “What if I don’t know what path to take?” or “What if I do have everything planned out, but I don’t make it?”Andree Wiebe showed students two maps, one with a straight road and another with multiple routes, all with twists and turns. Andree Wiebe said life is almost always more like map two than map one, and the key to success is making the most of the situations you nd yourself in, and trusting that God has the destination in mind.“Pay attention to the things that you like to do,” Andree Wiebe told students. “Chances are, you will get a chance to do them.”Andree Wiebe also interviewed three Smithville Christian teachers, Robert Gerryts, Beth Henderson, and Tim Selles, who each talked about the twists and turns that led them to their current vocations. Andree Wiebe asked them ve questions.1. When you were in high school, what did you think you were going to be?2. What jobs have you had along the way?3. When have you failed, or been red?4. What is an unexpected experience that shaped you?5. How was God evident – either at the time or in retrospect?Each teacher’s story was different, but each one had experienced adversity and setback, and each one could see God’s hand leading them here. Andree Wiebe said the Bible is also full of stories of people whose lives were shaped by the unexpected: King David was a shepherd who expected to spend his life herding sheep, many of Jesus’ disciples were shermen who would have expected to spend their lives with their nets, and Jesus himself grew up as a carpenter’s son. “Each of these people followed God’s call,” Andree Wiebe said. Andree Wiebe said there are ve character traits that equip us to successfully navigate the twists and turns.1. Curiosity2. Persistence (surround yourself with supportive people)3. Flexibility4. Optimism (view your experiences as valuable)5. Risk-taking (expand your comfort zone)“Take advantage of the unexpected turns to let God lead you to where you want to go.”Ann Andree WiebeCareer Day Chapel speaker Ann Andree Wiebe, second from left, interviews teachers Tim Selles, Robert Gerryts and Beth Henderson about their career journeys.
4ECHOES DECEMBER 2023Celebrating exemplary learningSMITHVILLE CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL’S OPEN HOUSE AND CELEBRATION OF LEARNINGBY FRED BREUKELMAN, INTERIM ADMINISTRATORFor the past 12 years Smithville Christian High School has hosted an annual Open House and Celebration of Learning to showcase both the accomplishments of our students and the vibrant community where the learning happens. This event serves as a testament to the dedication of both our students and their teachers.Our rst version of the event was in 2012, when we hosted an Open House, and teachers put their curriculum on display. A year later, we said “Hey, why don’t we invite the actual students who do the learning to come to the event and talk about their work?” This re-named event was called “Presentations of Learning.” In 2014, we graduated to an event that resembles the same title as we use today, however what we do and how we do it continues to evolve. What doesn’t change is that the elementary students and new families who navigate their way to this evening, whether they are in Grade 8 or younger, are invited into seeing and experiencing some of what we do each day with our teens. This year’s event, on January 18, exuded the same vibrant energy. The atmosphere was palpable with excitement, and there was visible enthusiasm both on the faces of our guests and on the faces of the presenting students who were excited to share their learning. What sorts of learning experiences were displayed? Students in tech classes displayed longboards, cornhole boards, and Muskoka chairs, and a custom kitchen from a cabinet-making course. There were beautiful cake designs, 3-D printed objects, photography displays, French cuisine, science experiments, literary presentations, historical displays, math displays. visual art, and dozens and dozens of delightful conversations. Posters at each display indicated the driving question that the students’ work answered, and identied the threads that connect the learning to our lives as citizens of God’s kingdom (see threads on page 5). What was evident was that the
5www.smithvillechristian.calearning that happens at Smithville Christian High School reects our Core Values of Belong. Believe. Succeed! Students experience a sense of BELONGING when they navigate the creative process with their peers and share their nished products with their classmates. As they receive constructive and positive feedback, they are prepared for SUCCESS in their future endeavours. As parents and guests come to school and see rsthand the quality of the learning journey experienced by students here, they are invited to have their children join the story – in a space that honours and celebrates truly Christian education – BELIEVE! For more than 10 years, the Open House and Celebration of Learning has given potential families a taste-test of what Smithville Christian has to offer. Seeing the vibrant and interactive atmosphere of learning is really the best way to see what Smithville Christian offers. So whether you are a prospective parent, a grandparent, a prospective student, a passionate supporter of Christian Education or simply just curious – come on out next year, January 16, 2025 to experience the Open House and Celebration of Learning like the thousands of others in years past!Scan to see the catalogue of student work on display.THREADSThese seven threads are woven into the Ontario high school curriculum to connect what and how students learn to the big idea of God’s redemptive story for the world he created and loves.Building communityWorshipping GodDiscovering orderSeeking wisdomCaring for creationReecting creativityShaping Culture
6ECHOES MARCH 2024Chapels put faith into action BY MARLENE BERGSMADIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVANCEMENTWhat difference do weekly chapels make in the life of a Christian learning community? Chapels build community, give students leadership opportunities, offer corporate worship experiences, and give teachers and staff a chance to pour wisdom, inspiration, and fun into the lives of students. Spiritual Life Director Stu Bender plans chapels with the help of a chapel committee and a student chapel team, and balances in-house speakers with guest speakers. Teachers and musicians Will Lammers and Tim Selles work with the student praise teams to plan and prepare repertoire, and they support the students’ roles as worship leaders. “It’s a lot of fun working with students and teachers who are passionate about the spiritual life of the school,” Bender said. The whole experience is bathed in prayer – by students and staff – and the presence of the Holy Spirit is palpable. A particular highlight for Bender is when students take Students leading in worship at a recent chapel.
www.smithvillechristian.ca7leadership: as chapel hosts, as prayer leaders, as speakers. Students are also welcome to recommend chapel speakers.One recent recommendation came from Grade 10 student Selah Huinink, who connected what she was learning in her Grade 10 Civics class to an opportunity to inspire the rest of the school into care and action.“It was our nal summative project, on volunteerism or activism,” Huinink explained. “We had to nd a way to contribute to our community.”Because Huinink was concerned about homelessness, her parents recommended that she volunteer at The Bridge in Niagara Falls, a ministry of the Christian Reformed Church that serves the homeless and vulnerable in that border city. It also runs a breakfast program and a social enterprise café on Queen Street.Huinink decided that she could do more to help, and invited Rev. Steve DeBoer, pastor at The Bridge, to speak at a recent chapel, and then challenged students to help her raise money to donate supplies to the café. Huinink gained the help of teachers Scott Antonides, Stu Bender, Mark Fluit, Will Lammers and Tim Selles, who agreed to dye their hair if certain fundraising targets were reached. Huinink was able to make a $1,400 gift on behalf of Smithville Christian students. Now the Grade 11 Shop Class is building temporary shelters for The Bridge, with the help of fundraising being done by the Grade 11 Stewardship Class.“This is about helping students nd out how to use their gifts to build community and the spiritual culture of the school,” Bender said. “It’s great to see how students step up to own their spiritual development – their own and the school’s.”Student Selah HuininkRev. Steve DeBoer of The Bridge in NIagara FallsSelah Huinink and the teachers and student who volunteered to dye or cut their hair in support of a fundraiser for Third Space Café in Niagara Falls.
8ECHOES MARCH 2024SENIOR GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
www.smithvillechristian.ca9JUNIOR BOYS BASKETBALL
10ECHOES MARCH 2024When teachers go to school: helping our students succeedBY WILL LAMMERS, VICE-PRINCIPAL During any given semester at Smithville Christian High School, teachers work hard to make learning possible. The work of teachers is always grounded in the belief that each student is an image-bearer of God, and it is guided by core purpose of Smithville Christian, which is to train students to live as responsible disciples of Jesus. At regular times during the school year, teachers identify areas where they agree further learning would help. This year, we identified a particular focus question: When we welcome students to our school, some of whom are gifted learners, and others of whom have learning needs, how can we ensure that all students will thrive when they are learning in the same classroom?In the past, the answer to this question was to group students by ability level. This led some students to be enrolled in “academic” courses, while others were designated “applied.” But research has clearly shown the negative impacts of this approach. Now that the Ontario Ministry of Education has removed streaming from Grade 9 courses, how can we do better in providing support to students who need it, while challenging other students in meaningful ways? The new reality is that we now see students in both of these situations in the same classroom. We decided that we would take time in professional development at school on Dec. 1 to address this issue.To help us with our question, we sought and received the offer of help from Dr. Monique Somma, who is a professor in the faculty of education at Brock University who specializes in
11www.smithvillechristian.cainclusive education. She was a most gracious and knowledgeable leader who helped teachers to see that many of us are already using strategies in the classroom to engage students of all ability levels, a model of teaching and learning called differentiated instruction. We then began the process of sharing a lesson sequence we had brought to the session to determine how we could adjust it to make it more inclusive of various learning preferences and ability levels.As you can imagine, accomplishing a task such as this one takes time. We made such a good start in December that Dr. Somma came back in March to continue our journey. Teachers are already sharing stories of strategies they have implemented, and we look forward to continuing to develop our learning and our practice.Pages 10 and 11, Dr. Monique Somma of Brock University’s faculty of education leads Smithville Christian teachers during a series of Professional Development days on Differentiated Instruction and designing learning opportunities that offer physical, academic and social access to all.
12ECHOES MARCH 2024Seeing the glory of GodBY MARLENE BERGSMA, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVANCEMENTWhat do you do when God delivers a majestic display of Creation’s vastness and God’s glory? You look up – with ISO certied safety glasses – of course.On April 8, Smithville Christian High School will be in the path of totality of a solar eclipse – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the moon obscure the sun. For approximately three minutes just after 3 p.m., the Hamilton and Niagara areas will be one of the few locations in Canada where the sun will be completely obscured. It will briey seem like night during the day. People who have experienced totality have called it a “spiritual experience,” said one eclipse expert.“It’s a humbling experience, in my opinion. It gives you a sense of [our] place in the universe,” said Fred Espenak, a retired NASA astronomer and eclipse expert, quoted by the CBC. “And you realize just how small and inconspicuous we really are, and insignicant.”The average for any one spot on Earth to see a total eclipse is about once every 375 years, and the next total eclipse in this part of Canada won’t be until 2144.That’s why Kevin Huinink, executive director of Cairn Christian School, made the decision to delay the afternoon bus run that day, to allow students at both Cairn and Smithville Christian to be able to experience the drama of the eclipse – in community. “We’re preparing for an inspiring, memorable, and safe event,” Huinink said. It is also a tremendous learning opportunity, and the teachers will be using it as a way for students to see and experience the grandeur and order of God’s creation. ISO certied glasses have been ordered for all students and staff at both schools – with a few extras for guests. If you are in the area and want to join our watch party, you know where to nd us!Image credit: Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
www.smithvillechristian.ca13Introducing new staffSHERI NYWENING, OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTTell us about your journey to Smithville ChristianSince graduating from Redeemer University, I have worked a wide variety of jobs, most of which have been in the ofce administration and book-keeping eld. More recently, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some amazing students as a para-educator at Cairn Christian School (Stoney Creek) in addition to working at Cairn as an administrative assistant.Tell us about your familyAlong with my husband Mike, we have three children, Matthew, Kaitlyn, and Emily. We have lived in Beamsville for 23 years. Mike works at Westbrook Systems and volunteers with the Lincoln Fire Department. Together we enjoy camping, hiking, bike riding, or playing a lively round of Mario Kart.Describe your role at Smithville Christian, and the philosophy or attitude that you bring to this positionMy daily/weekly/monthly tasks range from attendance to ensuring everyone is set up for success in their varying capacities. My hope is all students, staff, parents, and community members will feel welcomed, and will be greeted with a cheerful smile and a helpful attitude. Please stop in at the ofce; I’d love to meet you!What’s something you have noticed about Smithville Christian?We have a vibrant school community! The camaraderie among staff members is evident and the energy within the student body is palpable. It is a community full of life that pursues academic excellence while fostering a culture of caring and loving attitude.What do you like to do for fun?I enjoy hiking and exploring new places, being creative (pottery, painting, scrapbooking, playing piano), spending time with or hosting friends and family. In the summer, I really enjoy my gardens and arranging owers.What’s a fun fact about you?I love spending time at the ocean and playing word games such as “Wordle” and “Connections.” YVONNE WEAVER, FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATORTell us about your journey to Smithville ChristianI have a long history with Christian education. I am a graduate of Beacon Christian Schools in St. Catharines, where I also served on the board of directors for a few years and was employed as their Financial Administrator for eight years. For the last 10 years, I have supported nance personnel in Ontario Christian schools in my roles as Director of Finance at Edvance Christian Schools Association and as Financial Administrator for the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools. I have a Bachelor of Arts in accounting from the University of Waterloo and I have a CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant) designation.Tell us about your familyMy family includes my husband Kirk, three daughters (Kirsten, Sara & Meagan – all graduates of Smithville Christian) and our dog, Ginger.Describe your role at Smithville Christian, and the philosophy or attitude that you bring to this positionWorking as the nancial administrator combines two of my favourite things – numbers and Christian education. My hope is that I will be able to provide the leaders of Smithville Christian with the nancial information and guidance they need to make decisions that will serve the students and community well.What’s something you have noticed about Smithville Christian?The new bell system is fun, playing music in the morning. That’s a change from when I was in high school.What do you like to do for fun?Take Ginger for a walk, go camping & canoeing,What’s a fun fact about you?I hate writing about myself, but I love chocolate: anything chocolate.
14News from the board of directorsAt the Annual General Meeting of the members of Smithville Christian High School, held February 26, 2024, outgoing board member Denise Glasbergen was thanked for her service, and the membership voted to afrm two new board members: Suzanne Haynes and Jeanette Scholtens. SUZANNE HAYNESMy name is Suzanne Haynes. I attended Wellandport Christian School as well as a few years at John Knox Christian School (now Cairn) in Stoney Creek. I went to E.L. Crossley Secondary School, then Brock University, where I studied accounting. Our children rst attended Dunnville Christian School, then, when we moved to Grimsby, they went to Cairn Christian School in Smithville. My husband Adam and I have four children: Nathaniel, 21 is studying at Redeemer, Josiah 19 at Mohawk, Ethan is in Grade 11 and Libby is in Grade 9 at Smithville Christian. When my children were young, to afford Christian school, I began doing bookkeeping on the side. Fifteen years later we are now a team of bookkeepers servicing small business and churches. I am hoping that experience might be of use to the Smithville Christian Board. Currently we are attending Kingsview Pentecostal Church in Stoney Creek. Prior to that, we attended the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Church in Dunnville, where I served as a treasurer and a board member. JEANETTE SCHOLTENSI am a wife and mother of three children, the oldest of whom is in his rst year at Smithville Christian, while my younger two attend Dunnville Christian School. Mike and I feel very blessed to be able to send our children to schools that teach them to look at life through the lens of the Bible and the way of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. I greatly value the work, the time and the effort that it takes for the teachers and the Board of Directors to put into running the school and training our children. I would be honoured to be a part of this by standing with the Board of Directors to ensure continued quality and Christ-centered education for our children. After high school, I graduated from Niagara College with a diploma in ECE and I also earned a diploma in Teaching Studies from the Canadian Reformed Teachers College in Hamilton.I am currently spending my time focusing on raising my children and taking care of the home front while my husband works on building our business in pet food distribution. Prior to making the change to stay at home, I worked in the Early Childhood Education sector, and spent time assisting in Senior Kindergarten. My family and I worship at the Be In Christ Church in Waineet, and have called it our home church for the last four years. We are part of a life group there and I also volunteer with Vacation Bible School and our kid’s ministry. In our spare time our family loves to spend time skiing during the winter, and camping in the summer. ECHOES MARCH 2024
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