PACIFIC CHRISTIAN SCHOOL christ-like living, critical thinking and joyful service
PACER
PRESS
MywhyNumber One Reason I became involved Fall 2016
With one son off to University and a second son in grade 11, my wife Betty and I were looking forward to becoming empty-nesters. But God had other plans. In 2011, God blessed us with a healthy, beautiful baby girl, Sara, now aged 5 in Kindergarten. Sara is my number one reason why I became involved with the PCS elementary school gymnasium project. As an architect with the Provincial Government, I could provide valuable professional advice to the owner, on procurement of professional consultants (Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Construction Managers), architecture, design and construction. My second motivator is to give something back to PCS. Our two sons were ‘life-ers’ from Pre-School all the way to grade 12. Both received multi-year post-secondary academic scholarships, both are Christians, with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; they are athletic, musical, and just all-round great young men. We owe a majority of their personal development and achievements to the outstanding life experience known as Pacific Christian School, and the dedicated, excellent and inspiring teaching staff. When our boys were little, Betty and I met the Principal, and we learned about the ‘three-legged stool’ concept of: home, school and church. Betty and I can testify that this concept works - after 15 years at PCS, our two sons are evidence of this. Betty and I look forward to improving the physical built environment, contributing where we can in our small way, with our time, abilities and professional qualifications, to continue the legacy of PCS for future generations of students, including our beautiful little daughter Sara. May God continue to bless Pacific Christian School. Thanks, Lorne Mack, Architect and PCS Dad
Pacific Christian School “...nurturing students in Christ-like living, critical thinking, and joyful service to become faithful citizens in God’s world.”
ELEMENTARY CAMPUS 671 Agnes St. Victoria, BC V8Z 2E7 elementary@pacificchristian.ca SECONDARY CAMPUS 654 Agnes St. Victoria, BC V8Z 2E6 secondary@pacificchristian.ca Phone 250-479-4532 www.pacificchristian.ca
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PCS...Faithful Citizens in God’s World The Rights of the Child
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ow do you develop thankfulness within your child? Hopefully, Grade 6 students are beginning to understand that they have a great deal to be thankful for. Over the last month, Grade 6 has been learning about United Nation’s “rights of the child.” This, along with a study of the novel “Iqbal”, has demonstrated how absolutely terrible some children’s lives are. Our students have made posters, created chapel skits and spent a hot afternoon creating paper boxes to earn money to buy food. Many groups worked a whole hour and earned enough for one grape. They began to see how hopeless life is for too many children in our world. But, they have also studied organizations that bring about change in our world. One of the main ways that we at PCS can help fight child labour is by continuing our donations to World Vision. Hopefully, your child will remind you to bring in $0.25 each week. We are confident that these Grade 6 students will be agents of change in our world. PCS Grade 6 Teachers – Sean Rathburn, Mindy Rathburn, Ruth Rocklin, Laura Langley
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Orange Shirt Day
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n Friday, September 30th, the PCS community joined together to recognize Orange Shirt Day, a provincially recognized day to not only acknowledge the great harm that was done in Residential Schools across Canada, but also to take steps towards reconciliation and healing. Originally recognized in Williams Lake BC, the idea of an orange shirt came from Phyllis’ story of having her prized new orange shirt taken from her when she was sent to the St. Joseph Mission Residential School. From Kindergarten to Grade 12, students participated in activities and discussions focusing on the theme, “Every Child Matters.” They considered ways that they can play a role in ensuring that every child feels safe, happy and protected. The elementary school chapel featured Dennis Scott and his puppet friend Charlie, who shared the message that God’s love is for every person, regardless of where they come from or what they look like. It was a day focused on hope for a better future for Canadian kids and the role that our students, whether they’re on the soccer field, playground, study hall, classroom or community, have in showing God’s unfailing love and hope for all people. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” Luke 18:16 Calea Lampard, Laura Langley & Kristen Durand-Hutchinson – PCS Indigenous Support Team
“Cheesy Potato Soup” for Street Hope
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od is at work in our world. Sometimes it is hard to remember this when we look around and see the injustice, the brokenness, the poverty and the suffering in the world. We wonder where God is. How can he allow such suffering? Where is justice? Yet, God is not absent. He is constantly drawing people to himself. God hates injustice and He steps into the broken world of injustice by calling on His people to address injustice. A right relationship with God means seeking justice and love for all people. In our class, “ the Bottom Billion”, we focus on what justice and love means in a practical sense. We discuss how working towards food security, access to clean water, sanitation, education, health care and equality are all ways that we “act justly and love mercy” (Micah 6:8). One practical way the class showed care for our neighbors was to make “Cheesy Potato Soup” for the clients of Street Hope - a local ministry that serves soup and sandwiches out of a converted RV to residents of the streets of downtown Victoria. Rob Hosie, a volunteer with the organization, came by the class, talked about the ministry of Street Hope and accepted the students’ donation. Becky Tuffin, Secondary Instructor
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The Mustard Seed Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive
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anadians have just celebrated Thanksgiving—a time when we enjoy the harvest and the abundance of blessings in our lives. However, some of our neighbours experience scarcity rather than abundance. Many people in our city struggle to provide for their family and even to meet their own basic daily needs. For many years, the elementary and the secondary campuses have worked together to help provide for those in need, encouraging students to bring in non-perishable goods for donation to The Mustard Seed. Again this year, the support and generosity by the PCS community was overwhelming—tables were filled to overflowing! On behalf of PCS, thank you for your donations and your reflection of God’s generous love for those who are experiencing hardship.
Cops for Cancer
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chool was not in session on the final days of the Tour de Rock this year, so we missed our usual parking-lot circuit by the Cops for Cancer team. However, some PCS community members participated in other ways:
“The Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser that features a two-week bicycle down Vancouver Island finished Friday at Centennial Square in Victoria. The 17-member team stopped at Keating elementary, Peninsula Co-op on Keating X Road, Bayside middle school, Triangle RV, Parkland secondary, Sidney’s Beacon Park and Western 66 in Central Saanich. Below: North Saanich teen Sarah Morris [PCS grade 10 student, Grad 2019] before and after shaving her head to support her father. Alyssa Cartwright gets a trim to support her niece Marley Leahy who has cancer. Both girls donated their locks to make wigs for cancer patients.” Saanich Peninsula posted Oct 11, 2016 at 5:00 PM
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Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Collection We are excited to start our annual campaign to put together shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse. This is a great opportunity for kids to be actively involved in serving others. Our kick off was on Friday October 14 and we will see an assortment of short videos over several chapels. Last year, worldwide over 11 million shoeboxes with the gospel message and gifts of joy were collected, with 6,000 from Victoria alone, and we got to be a part of that. This is a fun family activity that helps us all experience the joy of considering what may bring comfort and happiness to another person. While we would love to see every child in our school fill a box, one per family would be terrific. Note the date to have completed boxes back at school is Tuesday November 15.
Run for the Cure On a cool, rainy October morning, four students and three staff members made their way down to UVic, laced up their shoes and participated in the Run for the Cure. This 5-km run begins with a Survivor’s Parade. The participants in this parade are all individuals who have been diagnosed and are breast cancer survivors. The current statistics report that one in every nine women will be faced with this illness at some point in their lifetime. With stats like this, it would be difficult to find anyone who has not had family or friends touched by this form of cancer. Lyn Suderman, Student Services, Pacific Christian Secondary
University of Victoria Entrance Scholarships received by PCS Graduating Students 2015-2016 • Fourteen - University of Victoria Entrance Scholarships @ $2000 each • Two - Professional Employees Association Scholarship @ $1225 each • Eight - University of Victoria Entrance Scholarships @$1500 each • One - XV Commonwealth Games Scholarship @$500 • One - Herbert and Eva Schaefer String Scholarship @$750 • One - Victoria Foundation-Chinese Canadian Community Scholarship $1000 • One - Peninsula Co-op Pat Farard Entrance Award $1000 • One - UVic Excellence Scholarship $5000 Total University of Victoria Entrance Scholarships = $50,700
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Elementary Gymnasium Project
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e are getting into some exciting times with our Elementary Gymnasium Project. We had our municipal Committee of the Whole meeting on September 12th and Saanich Council was very supportive of our Development Permit application. The next step is a public hearing, which is scheduled for October 25th at 7pm. Based on the comments at the Committee of the Whole meeting we are optimistic about the outcome at the Public hearing. We are having on-going conversations with the stake holders of the gym as we work on the final details of the design and the requirements for each area. We also sent out an expression of interest for our project to the builders in the Victoria area. As each day passes, there is more to do - but that means we are getting closer to putting a shovel in the dirt this spring! Our sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to the process so far; we are excited to see what God has in store for us as these ideas and plans become a reality. Yours in Christ, Phil Di Battista and Pat Hoogendoorn – PCS Board of Directors
Pacific Christian School to build new gymnasium By Saanich News Published: September 16, 2016 07:00 AM Updated: September 15, 2016 02:412 PM Saanich councillors are praising a revised plan for a new gymnasium Pacific Christian School plans to build. Council first heard plans for the new facility in April 2014 after the school had purchased two properties on Hess Crescent on which the school was planning to construct the new building. Concerns about the physical appearance, environmental sustainability, and impacts on the immediate neighbourhood eventually led to revisions. The newest proposal puts the proposed facility on the site of the smaller existing gymnasium to be torn down, adjacent to the Pat Bay Highways. In turn, PCS’s two Hess Crescent properties will become an outdoor playing space that would include two playgrounds.
Revisions also call for a more visually interesting building, whose design would be more energy efficient, and has amenities such as lighting that will help prevent crime. Council voted unanimously to move the latest proposal to a public hearing for additional input. “We think it’s a much better proposal than what we got to you two years ago,” said Jim Mann of CEI Architecture. Coun. Judy Brownoff, reflecting council’s general attitude towards the revised proposal, agrees. “I still remember the original proposal and this is far superior,” she says. PSC principal David O’Dell said the new gymnasium will improve physical education and athletics, noting that volleyball rallies frequently end with the ball hitting the current gymnasium’s low ceiling. The revised proposal also promises to improve the neighbourhood through additional green space and playgrounds, he adds. “The actual property will be hugely improved and so is the facility,” he says. editor@saanichnews.com Find this article at: www.saanichnews.com/news/393617781.html
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A Royal Occasion
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his past July, I received an email message from a dear friend of mine, Shelley Morris. Shelley is the CEO of The Cridge Centre for Family. Her message had few details but included an invitation to our 2015-16 vocal ensemble, The Other Group, to perform at a special event. A telephone conversation revealed some tentative and highly confidential plans that included the possibility for The Other Group to prepare an arrangement of the song “Overcomer” made popular by Christian artist, Mandisa. The song would be presented as part of a special event honoring Overcomers at The Cridge Centre in the early fall. I could tell that Shelley was extremely excited about this project and that she had more to share. “If The Cridge is selected, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will attend the event as part of their Royal Visit to BC.” How could we possibly say no? The Other Group gathered for a meeting and, under a federal gag order, discussed the possibility of putting something together. All but one of the ensemble graduated last year, but we were fortunate that all but one member have remained in town. As there was no sheet music or vocal arrangement available for the song, we scheduled four rehearsals in September to create an acapella arrangement unique to The Other Group. We found what we felt was a good representation of the original song and we were excited to present our arrangement for the Royal Couple and for the friends and patrons of The Cridge Centre on October 1st. We were fortunate to sing directly to William and Kate from a short distance, allowing for a special connection through the song and its message. Applause from royalty is something that The Other Group will never forget! While it was thrilling to sing for The Royal Couple, it was equally thrilling to be part of a celebration of The Cridge Centre. The programs and ministries of The Cridge reach a vast number of our community with life-changing support and a true demonstration of God’s love for all. Shelley Morris began as a receptionist at The Cridge many years ago. Today, she manages the operation of a vital ministry in our city that was recognized by the Duke and Duchess as one that comes alongside people to support them becoming “overcomers”. Thank you Shelley, for including The Other Group as part of this very special celebration! Matthew Howe, PCS Performing Arts Director
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Symphony Splash – Tovin Allers – Grade 12
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ymphony Splash is the largest outdoor symphonic event in North America. Held downtown with the Legislature as its backdrop, the Victoria Symphony performs on a barge in the harbour, endeavouring to foster community through a celebration of music. And community is certainly what we noticed throughout the event as our son, Tovin Allers (PCS 2017), debuted as Young Soloist with the Victoria Symphony on July 31, 2016.
The event really started back in April when Tovin, along with duet partner Nelly Tian, auditioned for a role as soloist. After winning the audition, the event became an imminent reality with the unveiling of the program and young performers at the media launch in early July. Performing for and mingling with a group of businesspeople who support the event, and being recorded and interviewed for a news release, were new experiences for Tovin. ‘Splash’ was splendid, start to finish. The parade to the barge afforded a last chance to chat with Maestro Miller, and a face to face glimpse of the thousands of people filling the downtown for the happy celebration of summer. As Tovin passed by us, waving from the buggy carrying the soloists and conductor, we waved, yelled his name, and silently prayed for solid memory and steady legs! The faces in the crowd blurred by the time Tovin was on stage; now they were merely a sea of 40,000 people. Having heard his ‘Navara,’ by Sarasate, countless times, I was caught again by the clear beautiful sound, and joyful, waltz-like melodies. This community of Victoria musicians, by mentoring young soloists, were together ensuring that the wonder of music as an art form can be carried forward generation after generation. I hung on every note, I prayed, and I revelled in the joy of sound. How many times have we said, before a performance, “your only job as a performer is to bring joy to the listener...delight in sound, because God gave it to us.” And it was a delight. The rest of the concert was, for me, an inner celebration of Tovin’s musical success, but also for the success of music as an art form that can bring 40 000 people together! The sense of community, large and small, was everywhere; friends running into friends, Tovin’s friends finding him and congratulating him, PCS staff offering their kudos, and of course, thousands of people mingling over a night of music. The night Tovin had spent innumerable hours working towards ended, as it does every year, with live canons punctuating the 1812 Overture, by Tchaikovsky, and profoundly meaningfully, with Amazing Grace. With chills running up and down and through me, my head pounding, I rejoiced that this famous Gospel Song has held its place in this now famous, 27-year-old, public event. I felt immensely blessed at the opportunities for community that we as a PCS family also involved in the music scene of Victoria, have been so fortunate to have intertwined in our lives. Joanne Allers, PCS Parent and Staff Member
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Space Camp at the US Space and Rocket Center
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n September 22, 2016, Jacob and I departed by ferry for Vancouver to begin our journey to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. The next morning, we met up with nine other students from around British Columbia and flew together to Houston, and then on to Huntsville. For one week a year, Space Camp at the US Space and Rocket Center welcomes students who are blind or visually impaired from all over the world. For this week, all the simulators and activities are accessible for students with visual impairments through special training of the staff and the use of braille, large print and screen magnification. This year, there were 215 students and 89 chaperones attending from all around the world. During our week at Space Camp, we had many wonderful opportunities to experience aspects of space travel. Simulators allowed us to experience weightlessness (the 1/6th chair), 4G (the Space Shot) and tumbling through space (the MAT-multi axis trainer). Students completed three different simulated space missions, taking on a different role for each - roles included: working in mission control, being aboard the shuttle or at the international space station. As part of the Advanced Academy, Jacob had the opportunity to scuba dive in a 24’ deep tank. At “Area 51,” there were many opportunities to set and meet personal challenges on the 42’ climbing wall, the 380’ zip-line and the 32’ leap of faith (where they climbed a telephone pole, attempted to stand on top of a swiveling 12” disk, and then leapt off). Students built and launched rockets. At the end of the week, Jacob graduated with his teammates and joined the more than 700,000 students who have completed Space Camp (including children of astronauts and presidents). Highlights of the trip for Jacob included: scuba diving, being Commander for Bravo Mission and EVA officer for the final three-hour mission, and going zip-lining. My highlights include: connecting with many teachers from around the world and seeing students taking on new challenges every day. Space Camp was a wonderful experience that we will always remember. A special thanks to all who supported us with your prayers and ice cream purchases. Submitted by Candis Gibbs (PCS Teacher) and Jacob VanRhyn (PCS Grade 11 Student)
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Danielle Leipoldt – Grade 9
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une 18 - Monroe, Washington
Danielle competed in an elite field which featured the top 100 triathletes of her age group in North America, crossing the finish line as the first Canadian and in 10th place overall. July 21-24 - BC Summer Games, Abbotsford Danielle raced four individual races, including a triathlon the same distance as the PCS TINMAN (500m swim - 10km bike - 3km run), two duathlons (run-bike-run), and an aquathon (swim-run). She stunned the field by finishing with three gold medals and a bronze. After the BC Summer Games, she competed in her final Provincial series race, which she won as well, establishing her as the Provincial Youth Champion. September 3-4 – Edmonton, Alberta Now a Provincial champ, Danielle headed off to the National Championships, the crown jewel of her summer. The weather dripped cold and wet, horrible for racing, but Danielle was undaunted. She put together a strong race to finish second in the nation—a silver lining to those clouds! An amazing athlete…a humble attitude…a warrior spirit…a tremendous summer… a fabulous future!
Caleb Stewart – Grade 12
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or most students, a typical summer might entail picking up a job, going to camp, or heading out on a family vacation. For Caleb Stewart, the summer of 2016 was anything but typical. Caleb, a competitive swimmer on an indefinite hiatus from the sport, was three months out of the water when his coaches and fellow swimmers convinced him to return. Island Regional Championships, Nanaimo Apparently, rest is good. Caleb had only a couple of practices and meets behind him when he competed in the Open category at the Islands, yet he crushed the Open records in every event in which he competed. He snatched the BCSSA Regional Division 6 records as well, giving him a staggering 6 gold medals and 6 Regional records by the meet’s end. Provincial Championships, Coquitlam At Provincials, Caleb proved he made the right choice to return to swimming. Among the 1500 swimmers who reported from all over the province to compete in Divisions 1-8, Caleb was a standout, earning an incredible 6 gold medals and 2 provincial records. And now...Caleb Stewart (grade 12) will represent PCS as he swims in the school league and will most likely continue with competitive swimming after in the Seniors division. No matter what, Caleb wants everything he does to “give glory to God” (I Cor. 10:31).
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PCS Alumni Patrick & Anita Stel (nee Hordyk)
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hen our friend, Irene Fennema, invited us to contribute something to the Pacer Press - “a short article... what you have been living out - with adoption, your work with the methadone clinic, Equip (mission), etc” - we felt a mixed reaction. My wife, Anita, and I still feel a love for the school and community that were such a big part of our lives and I still pray for the students, teachers and leadership every week when I drive by; but we really did not feel like writing about ourselves. Still, I said I would pray about it and see if anything came together. Soon I found myself brimming over with thoughts and feelings and tears coming out of my eyes. But the deadline came and I emailed Irene to apologize that I had not managed to pull an article together on time. I told her that I had spent some very good prayer and journaling time as I tried to write one. She jokingly suggested I could send that in. So, I reorganized it a bit and decided to share it: “Father I thank you for PCS - for teachers who shared their faith with me and modelled walking with you in daily life. Thank you for teachers who loved your Word and who helped me to see its connection to all areas of study and life. This Word that continues to be such a treasure for me and my family and those around us - it helps us to know you and hear from you, it encourages and guides us through so many confusing and hard times. I have seen the freedom and healing your Word brings - to me (!), my wife, our children (some who have had such rough starts to life and have such big challenges to overcome), my patients (like that young woman who sees me as a patient - who worked the streets for years, but has found freedom and wholeness in Jesus - now she shares favourite scripture passages when she comes to the office!) and to remote villages where people literally rejoiced at how God’s Truth had freed them from generations of bondage - they experienced physical and spiritual healing and were reconciled to God. Thank you, Father, also for the friends and community that I gained at PCS. This was truly an exceptional and rare thing. Thank you for positive peer pressure that I experienced and treasured relationships that I gained there (my wife and several of my closest friends today were at PCS when I was there!) Thank you Father, for so many parents, grandparents and other church members who sacrificed and worked so hard (eg. people like my mom who volunteered a whole year of book-keeping to help build the school) to build a school where children and young adults could receive an education guided by the authority of God’s word. Thank you, Father, for many who continue to do this today. I pray for them and for the leadership, the teachers and students at PCS today bless them richly, Father! May they experience you in their classrooms and hallways today!” Patrick Stel, PCS Alumnus & Doctor at Victoria Methadone Clinic