The teaching staff of John Knox had a great day this past Monday. While the students were at home and experiencing a different type of a Monday, the teachers were at school discussing a variety of educational matters.

Our day began by discussing a vision for what we want our graduates to experience and a vision for what good teaching involves. The discussion and documentation continue and should be finalized well enough for publication by the end of this school year.

The day continued with presentations by Mrs. van der Boom about differentiated instruction, assessment, and pedagogy. Those presentations prompted us to discuss teaching concepts such as altering lesson plans to match the learner's needs, involving the students in the goal-setting and monitoring process, and presenting a variety of lessons to encourage each learner.

During the afternoon, we discussed our recently implemented Daily Physical Activity (DPA). We talked about some of the parameters around the program and shared various activities with each other in an effort to build our repertoire. In addition, we looked at a computer program that would help teachers identify internet sites that would help teachers and students consolidate ideas and concepts in unique and interesting ways.

This was a significant day for me. It represents the first internal Professional Development Day with the teachers since I arrived at John Knox eighteen months ago. My hope is that we can develop this even more. Research shows that when staffs develop together and are provided with the appropriate structures for support and encouragement, the organization grows stronger.

Thanks for the day! It was very helpful to us! I look forward to seeking the fruits of our labours as we proceed towards the best school we can be as we unravel the truth of God's creation and treat all learners with respect and encouragement.

In Christ,

Mr. George Petrusma

Principal

I have to tell you a story. It is one of those stories that reminds me that God is in control, and we are not.

This year we have established a clear fundraising strategy that includes three major fundraisers. The first one is called the Annual Fund Drive and includes our dinner, a mailing, and a collection at Christmas. The second one includes a student Bowl-a-thon in which the students ask for sponsorships. The third one is our resurrected Golf Tournament and Auction which surpassed our wildest dreams last year.

The Annual Fund Drive happens during the months of November and December and our fundraising strategy showed that we needed to raise $30,000. On the last regular school day of December, the drive amount stood at $20,000.

We here at the school involved in fundraising remind ourselves often that we must remain faithful to the Lord and bathe each effort in prayer. Even though our goal of $30,000 was short, we remained committed to the idea that the Lord was in charge.

We didn't ask the Lord to meet our goal. We didn't ask Him to send one donor to give $10,000 to our school. We only wanted to try our best, remain faithful to the mission and vision of the school, and ask the Lord to bless us.

By the end of December 22nd, one donor came forward and gave us a cheque in the amount of $10,000. I was left speechless and emotional. A couple was used by the Lord to accomplish our man-made goal of $30,000 on the last day of the school year.

Besides giving thanks to the couple, I find myself continuing to give thanks to the Lord. It is more than the goal that was reached. It is more than receiving a cheque with a huge amount on the last day. It is about giving thanks to the Lord for His faithfulness. It is about receiving the lesson (once again) that the Lord is in control and no matter how much we worry, God will work it out in His plan and His timing!

That lesson came to me recently. Has it ever come to you?

In Christ,

Mr. G. Petrusma

Principal

Welcome back! If you are anything like I am, you will appreciate getting back into a routine. Let me quickly say that I enjoyed my break. It gave me a chance to fight the virus that I battled during the month of December. It also gave me a chance to connect with my church community, my friends, and my family.

However, I do love routine. Even more than routine, I must tell you that I love your children. It was wonderful to stand in front of them at our weekly chapel on Monday morning and just look at them. It is so great to see them again.

I want to share with you a little bit of what I shared with them. We continue with our theme of loving one another because God loves us as it states in John 13:34. Each month we have been choosing a different aspect of that theme.

During the month of January, we will focus on serving. Philippians 2:4 instructs us to "...look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others." We want our students to look for ways that they can serve God's Kingdom. We want them to ask themselves if they have a servant heart.

Serving can come in a variety of ways. We aren't all called to go to a different country. We are, however, all called to have a servant heart and to look to the interests of others. Ideally, others should notice a difference when we are in step with the Lord's instructions for us. The manifestation of the servant heart can happen near and far because the heart goes where the person goes.

Feel free to support us in the theme. Encourage you children to have a servant heart. Talk to them about the experience that they have as they serve others in places away from our building. Bless them and pray for them as they minister to people inside and outside our school.

May the Lord's face shine upon us as we seek to be faithful to Him through our service.

In Christ,

Mr. George Petrusma

Principal

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the city of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2: 10b-12).

May the joy of the Christmas season and the promise of the Lord's faithfulness be your source of guidance and inspiration during your Christmas vacation time and in the new year. The Lord bless you and keep you!

With Christian Love,

The John Knox Christian School staff

How are you? That question is often given as an initial greeting. During the month of December, I find that this question takes on new meaning.

I have talked with people who find this time of year to be stressful due to the number of special events that happen. School programs, work parties, and shopping for gifts all contribute to the quick pace of life around this time of year.

Other people find this time of year energizing because it represents a commemoration of the gift of the baby Jesus. Events at church and school, devotions, and family times all contribute to a reflective mode that helps celebrate this event.

So how are you? How do you feel about the Christmas season? What does the month of December mean for you? Reflective, overjoyed, melancholy, and contemplative may be some of the emotions that come to your mind. If you haven't experienced those as yet, some of those emotions may come to you in the near future.

While planning for tonight's program, it made very good sense to place the Bible verse from Isaiah 9:6 on the outside cover. "For unto to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

As you join us for tonight's program, may I encourage you to reflect deeply about the child, about the son, about the government carrier, about the counselor, about the God, and about the prince of peace.

My hope is that you can feel a sense of peace as each presentation is delivered tonight. May the Lord touch your heart and mind as you experience it through the songs, movements, and words of our gifted students.

And last, but not least, may the program tonight be one which causes you to sing: "Joy to the world! The Lord is come. Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing" (Psalter Hymnal, #337).

In Christ,

Mr. G. Petrusma

Principal