The purpose of John Calvin
School is to assist and support parents in the education of their covenant
children to the glory of God. In accomplishing this
mission, the vision of John Calvin
School is to provide excellent Christ-centered education in service to God and
our neighbour.
This week, I would like to share with you a
message that was shared with the Cornerstone congregation in Hamilton by Pastor
Darren Feenstra. I took the liberty of
adapting it to our school community.
As we go through another lockdown, there is a
danger that we increasingly become distant from one another. Yet we are a family, a school family, brought
together by nothing less than the blood of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,
and knit together by no one less than the Holy Spirit, God of very God, who
lives in us. As the redeemed family, we
simply must focus on one another. Pastor
Darren has been leading the young people in our church in a series of devotions
on the “one another” texts found in Scripture.
There are many of them (59 in total) but here is a sampling:
- “Be at peace with one
another.” (Mark 9:50)
- “Love one another” (John 13:34; 15:12,17; Romans 13:8; I Thess.
4:9; 1 John 3:11,23; 4:7,11,12
- “Honour one another above
yourselves” (Romans 12:10)
- “Live in harmony with one another”
(Romans 12:16)
- “Accept one another, then, just as
Christ accepted you” (Romans 15:7)
- “Carry one another’s burdens”
(Galatians 6:2)
- “Forgive one another” (Ephesians
4:32)
- “Be kind and compassionate to one
another” (Ephesians 4:32)
- “Bear with one another”
(Colossians 3:13)
- “Build one another up” (1
Thessalonians 5:11)
- “Encourage one another” (Hebrews
10:25)
- “Do not slander one another”
(James 4:11)
- “Confess your sins to one another”
(James 5:16)
- “Pray for one another” (James
5:16)
- “Live in harmony with one another”
(1 Peter 3:8)
- “Show hospitality to one another
without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:9)
It’s amazing how the Scriptures teach us time
and again that our perspective is to be outward-focussed. We can easily get caught up in our own world,
in our own lives, and spend very little time thinking about others (praying for
them, encouraging them, loving them, serving them, caring for them). But living for “one another” is not something
optional but is a repeated command in Scripture. Take some time this week to read through and
reflect on the one-another texts quoted
above. Our school family needs one another!
Greetings John Calvin School community on this
cool, wet Friday morning as we wrap-up week three of remote learning, and bring
to a close the first week of instruction in May. It is our hope and prayer that, the Lord
willing, we will be able to resume in-school teaching and learning later this
month, perhaps after the Victoria Day long weekend. May our good and gracious God continue to
provide parents, students, and staff with energy, strength, determination and
motivation to carry out their respective tasks as we prepare to enter into week
four of remote learning.
May the one another texts mentioned above be a source of encouragement
and support as we continue to make our way through the challenges brought about
by the virus and the province-wide restrictions.
In the United States, the first week
of May is designated National Teachers’
Appreciation Week (Canada’s is in October).
I wrote something in last year’s Chronicle about this and thought it
would be good to do a repeat in showing our appreciation for the
school-teachers and the parent-teachers.
Please continue with the great job you are doing withremote
learning all teachers, and thank you for all your hard work in teaching the
students/children. What a blessing it
is when parents and teachers work together and support one another in teaching His
covenant children more about His Word and His world.
Our thoughts and
prayers continue to be with those who need the comfort, encouragement and
guidance of our Heavenly Father in a special way;be it those who are sick or in hospital perhaps because of the
virus, who are dealing with difficult family situations, or those who are
grieving the death of a loved one. In this regard, we think of the D. Boersema
family (Mrs. S. Boersema and Mrs. B. Vanderee) as they grieve thesudden passing of Mr. Case Lindhout, an uncle with whom they were very
close. May our God of all comfort
surround them with his love and care.
A few matters for your attention:
*This week, the Learning Resource students joined
the Kindergarten and Grade 1 students who have already been attending school on
alternate mornings. Just a reminder
that, if any of the students have been exposed to individuals with COVID-19,
they will not be able to participate in the in-school instruction until their
isolation period is over. Also, while in
school, the students need to continue to follow the same protocols that were in
place prior to the break and the subsequent switch to remote learning.
*Due to the uncertainty of when we will be
returning to in-school learning, the Kindergarten Day planned for May 26 has
been postponed to either the second or third week of June, D.V. Stay tuned for the posting of the chosen
date. Earlier this week, information for
prospective Kindergarten families was sent to them, including the registration
form and kindergarten readiness form.
*Hike for Hospice: We are still planning to participate in this annual
event; however, we have changed the date to Friday, May 28, and it will be a
virtual event. What this means is that
families will be able to hike as a family in their neighbourhood or on a local
hiking trail for a minimum of one hour.
As for the fundraising, it will be done online. Steps for the online fundraising page are
outlined on one of the forms that is included with today’s pick-up
package. Each child should have his/her
own fundraising page, just like in previous years when each child had his/her
own pledge form. The pledge forms that
you are picking up from school are for use in the event that people who would
like to donate aren’t comfortable with donating online. In the pick-up package, there are also
several flyers that children can drop-off at their neighbours informing them of
the fundraiser. If you think you will
need more flyers please go ahead and make your own copies. Parents who are unable to make it to school on
Friday can pick up the forms from the office next week. Thank you for your attention in this matter
and have fun hiking on the 28th.
We pray for nice weather.
*It’s that time of year again, so
when you are outside please continue to be wary of ticks and mosquitoes.
Have
a wonderful weekend, an enjoyable Mother’s Day, and a blessed day of worship. We’ll be in touch again in a week’s time, the
Lord willing.
G.
Hofsink
