Jan 2013 Pacer Press by Pacific Christian School

PACIFIC CHRISTIAN SCHOOL CHRIST-LIKE LIVING, CRITICAL THINKING, AND JOYFUL SERVICE

PACER PRESS

January 2013 - Elementary Edition

HOPES & DREAMS FOR 2013

y son, Ryan, returned recently from a week-long trip to Florida. I’m sure some of the attraction was escaping our Canadian winter and enjoying some southern sunshine, along with a couple of days at Disneyworld. However, the main purpose of his trip was to answer “Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge”, something he had for the past several months been dreaming about and hoping to do. Some participants in Disney’s 20th anniversary “goofy” race did a half-marathon one morning, others ran a full marathon the next day, and the really crazy ones did both! Ryan was one of those “goofy participants”. He will tell you it was all about the medals…..the Donald Duck medal for the half-marathon, the Mickey Mouse medal for the full marathon, plus the Goofy medal for completing both back to back! How about you? What are some of your hopes and dreams for this new year of 2013? Maybe you’re graduating from university, high school, elementary school, or even kindergarten (if so, and you’re reading this, good for you!). Maybe you’re planning a big trip, designing a renovation to your house, or scheming to buy a new boat or RV. Perhaps you’re thinking about applying for another job or considering expanding or starting a new business. Some might be thinking about starting a new relationship, while others might be contemplating getting engaged or even preparing for marriage. Perhaps your church is considering new ministry opportunities or an organization that you are part of is investigating new options or direction. Here at PCS, we’ve just distributed “Intention Forms” to all of our staff members to ask them to let us know about their plans and intentions for next school year. The PCS School Board has commissioned a Building Committee to proceed with plans to build a new gymnasium to serve us for at least the next fifty years. Plans, dreams, hopes and aspirations are an integral part of all of our lives, personally and corporately. Proverbs 19:21 states that “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” In The Message, Eugene Peterson puts it this way: “We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails.” Proverbs 16:1 & 9 reminds us that “To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue … In his heart a man plans his course but the Lord determines his steps.” Eugene Peterson puts it this way: “Mortals make Pacific Christian School elaborate plans, but God has the last word… .We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it.” Clearly, God wants us to remember to place our dreams, hopes and plans before Him so that our purpose and direction match His will for our lives. He also reminds us to seek the godly counsel of others, as He often speaks to us through others that we respect. Proverbs 15:22 says that “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Or, as The Message version states: “Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed.” continued on page 2

Pacific Christian School www.pacificchristian.ca

“...nurturing students in Christ-like living, critical thinking, and joyful service, to become effective members of the Christian community in God’s world.”

OPEN HOUSE

Thursday, February 7, 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Ready-Set-Learning Open House Thursday, February 7, 3:30-5:30 p.m. For details and information see page 2 www.pacificchristian.ca/openhouse 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

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Pacer Press

Hopes & Dreams continued

So as we embark on a new journey into this uncharted territory called 2013, whether in our personal lives or in church, school or other groups and organizations, let us all remember to seek godly counsel from others as we consider opportunities and plans, but most of all remember to seek God’s counsel as we pursue our hopes and dreams. Then we can all move boldly and courageously into this new year, knowing that we are ultimately safe as we place our hopes , our dreams and ourselves into His arms. Let us proceed with confidence into the rest of 2013; we may not know what the future holds, but we do know who holds our future! Bill Helmus, Elementary Principal

P.c.s. Open House

Thursday, February 7, 9:00 – 11:00 A.m. We are hosting our annual Open House for all parents who are considering sending their children to PCS next year, at any grade level from Pre-School through Grade 12. Take advantage of this opportunity to invite your friends, neighbours and relatives who are interested in Christian education. • Our Ambassadors (students in Grade 6 & 7 who are part of this school service & leadership program) will conduct tours of the elementary campus (Pre-School, Kindergarten, and Grades 1 – 7). • Staff and students will be available to provide tours of the secondary campus (Grades 8 – 12). • Administrative staff will be available to answer your questions and to receive your registration materials.

Bring A Friend To School Day: Friday, February 15

If you know of a Christian family who may be interested in registering their son or daughter at PCS, you are encouraged to invite them to come on Friday, February 15 to see what Grade 1 is like at PCS. Please note that this is only for children who are currently in Grade 1. Our young guests will start their day in one of our Grade 1 classrooms, go to chapel along with everyone else, and then spend the rest of the morning in Mrs. Bomhof’s or Mrs. Lampard’s class. Interested parents will be invited to stay to attend chapel. So that we can plan appropriately, please contact Mrs. Nelson at the elementary office (by Feb. 8), and give her the names of anyone who may be coming for a visit that morning.

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Registration For 2013-2014 New Parent Information We are now accepting registrations for next school year (September 2013) for Pre-School, Kindergarten and Grades 1-12. We also have a few current openings in Kindergarten and Pre-School, certain elementary grades, and some secondary (Gr.8-12) openings for second semester (February 2013). Pre-School: children must be 3 or 4 years old as of Dec.31, 2013. The basic options are as follows, although special requests may be considered: • 5 half-days per week: $295/month • 3 half-days per week: $170/month • 2 half-days per week: $125/month Kindergarten: children must be 5 years old as of Dec.31, 2013. Currently, we plan to offer a full-time program, but we will consider requests for part-time enrolment (i.e. 3 or 4 days/week), although these children would likely be part of classes where most will be full-time students. Our school day is 8:30 – 2:55 daily. Families with children currently at Pacific Christian School are reminded to submit registration forms for younger children in the family for Pre-School and Kindergarten as soon as possible.

Donation Receipts

Seminar

PCS offers these evening seminars three times a year, mandatory for all parents registering their children (Pre-School through Grade 12) at Pacific Christian School. Our next seminar, hosted by the PCS Membership and Enrolment Committee, will be held in the secondary school library on Thursday, February 27 from 7:00 – 9:30 pm. For anyone who cannot attend on this date, the next session is on Wednesday, May 15. Families who have already registered for next year are required to attend this seminar before the final interview is conducted to complete the process of admission to the school. It is also recommended for all new and inquiring families who are considering PCS as an option for their children. This full evening seminar will include interviews with PCS graduates and current PCS parents; as well, a teacher will make a brief presentation on “Teaching Christianly.” The school principals will explain some of the history, philosophy and programs of the school. The evening will include the opportunity to ask questions, learn more about Christian education at PCS, and meet other new families joining our school community.

Receipts for all donations to PCS will be available before the end of February 2013. An email will be sent to all PCS families when the receipts are ready for pick-up.

PM Route - PCS Peninsula Bus v16-Jan-2013

Go Green…With Yellow…and Save! • Car travel allowances today average about $0.52/km. According to SOMEBODY, that’s what it costs to run your car. From the Mary Winspear Centre (Sidney) that would be $23.08. From the Westshore Town Centre, that would be $13.62. Per day. • What’s your time worth? $20.00/hour? More? Less? • How much more could you be getting done if you didn’t have to drive your kids to school? PM Route - PCS Westshore Bus v16-Jan-2013 • Been in the parking lot lately? I mean, c’mon. How many more reasons do you need to have your kids go yellow to school? Keyano is looking for riders in the Peninsula, Cordova Bay, Broadmead, Saanich, View Royal, Colwood and Langford areas. Follow the links to the route maps. If you’re close, consider hopping on. If you’re not so close we might be flexible; let’s talk. Check us out at: www.keyanowestshore.ca or www.keyanopeninsula.ca Contact John Slofstra: 250-857-0752

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Pacer Press

Evaluation Report Released

n the November issue of PACER PRESS, we explained how every six years PCS (along with all independent schools in BC) undergoes a rigorous inspection from the Office of the Inspector of Independent Schools (OIIS). Recently we received the full 32-page report from the External Evaluation Committee (EEC), the group of six evaluators who spent most of the week of October 9-12 at PCS. The bottom line is that the EEC recommended that the annual per student educational grant (50% of local school district grants for Category 1 independent schools like PCS) be extended to PCS for another six years, the maximum time frame for independent schools in BC. Contained within this extensive report were five significant summary commendations, the maximum number permitted in this type of report! • Modeling unity of purpose, allowing education to take place in a caring, respectful environment. Thankfulness and school pride were evident among parents, alumni, students and staff. • Cultivating an atmosphere of warm, mutual respect between staff and students, as well as an environment accepting of all types of learners. • Celebrating a rich learning environment administered by a skilled and caring staff who seek to develop personal relationships with each student. • Ensuring that students’ unique gifts are recognized and celebrated through the many opportunities they have to participate in athletic, visual arts, music, band and drama programs. • Employing an Educational Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, a Teacher of the Visually Impaired, a Behaviour Support Worker, and a Teacher for the Hearing Impaired and supporting special needs students in a very transparent, inclusive, compassionate and comprehensive manner, allowing for a one-of-a-kind program. While the fifth commendation was high praise indeed for our outstanding Special Education Program at PCS, and the fourth one commended PCS for our diversity of curricular and extra-curricular programming, we were gratified to see that the first three commendations speak to the very essence of why we believe PCS exists as a school: to nurture students in Christ-like living, critical thinking and joyful service to become effective members of the Christian community in God’s world. So you can be proud of your school and the fact that even external visiting evaluators clearly notice some of the significant ingredients that we believe are essential for a Christian school like PCS. We praise God for the blessings He has poured out upon our Christian school community for over 50 years. To Him be all the glory and praise! Bill Helmus, Elementary Principal

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Back to Africa!

ext month, I have the opportunity to go back to Zambia, Africa! I can’t wait to see Siabalumbi Christian Community School, to see the progress that school and community has made, and to meet and get re-acquainted with some of the people that I met there for the first time several years ago. Over the past eight years, the PCS elementary campus has worked hard to support the Siabalumbi Christian Community School. The initial $2000 was raised through the shaving of my new beard and Will Wild’s! Since that time, my wife, Anne and I traveled to Zamibia and among other educational activities we officially opened the school. Shortly after our return from Zambia, in early September, 2006, Anne was diagnosed with cancer. Anne passed away in June, 2011.

Siabalumbi Pre-School

Major PCS fundraisers (10% of the funds raised in walkathons and read-athons) have supported the Siabalumbi pre-school. Through many various events, the “Anne Helmus Memorial Pre-School” is now a reality. We have also started a student sponsorship program through the “Anne Helmus Legacy Fund” to allow promising but poor students who graduate from Grade 9 at the Siabalumbi School to carry on with their education into secondary school (Grades 10-12) and hopefully beyond into college or university. For more information, including several stories and many photos, about Anne’s Legacy Fund, and details about participating in supporting our sponsor students, check my blog site: anneslegacy.tumblr.com

Lucky and Actor with their mothers

In December, the first two sponsor students—Actor and Lucky—successfully completed Grade 10, and will now be starting Grade 11 at Namwianga Christian Secondary School. So, on February 12, I will leave for a 2-week trip to Zambia, accompanied by my daughter, Diana, and my youngest son, Ryan. We will have the privilege of officially opening the new pre-school built in Anne’s memory, and meeting our sponsor students, Lucky and Actor; as well we hope to participate in selecting our next two sponsor students, since they will be receiving their government exam results in February. While we’re there, we may even get a chance to see Victoria Falls and some real African animals, too! I’d like to publicly thank the PCS School Board for giving me the opportunity to make this incredible trip, representing some very significant and special memories for me and for my family. Stay tuned for photos and stories of our trip in a future edition of the Pacer Press. In the meantime, we covet your prayers for safety and simply God’s blessing on this entire, amazing experience. Bill Helmus, Elementary Principal

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Dear Partners/Sponsors,

On behalf of the staff and the school administration, I would like to thank you for your tireless assistance to our School. Indeed, your assistance has helps our school to develop at a fast rate. Your assistance………..Many are words that can be used to thank you but God has the best way to help us thank you endlessly in our heats. Thanks, and may God continue blessing you.

Letter from Siabalumbi

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Pacer Press

Pacer Athletics PCS Elementary Running Club What great enthusiasm and commitment we have had from students, staff and parents who have been consistently running with us in our PCS Running Club. Three days a week – Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 3:00 to 3:30 – we meet at the elementary backfield for a warmup and run to either Glanford Park or towards Rogers Elementary School and even regularly up to the top of Christmas Hill on Fridays. Anyone is welcome to join us. If you are planning to run the Times Colonist 10K, this is a great way to get started.

Grade 7 Boys & Girls Basketball Congratulations to both the Grade 7 Boys and Girls Basketball teams for yet another very successful season of play at PCS. It is amazing to be a part of athletics (here at PCS) and the community that the Lord is building through Sport. The girls team finished their season strong, making it into the playoffs where they came fourth in the city. The boys team ran the season, finishing 10 – 0, beating SMUS in the finals to finish first in the city. Congratulations to both teams. Adam Price, PCS Middle School Athletics

Elementary Swim Club 20122013 Practices have been going well this year with 40 to 50 swimmers practicing their diving and swim strokes each week. The first meet will be on Saturday, February 2, a more informal ‘learn how it is done’ meet. The second meet will be on February 20 and the students who place in the top twelve in their events will proceed to the championship meet on February 24. Stay tuned for a summary of the students’ accomplishments during these meets! Find all this info on the PCS website: www.pacificchristian.ca/elementary/pacer-athletics

Grade 6/7 Boys & Girls Volleyball The volleyball season begins next week with games for both the Grade 7 Boys and Girls teams. The Grade 7 Girls are building on a successful team from last year, while the Boys are gunning for their fourth straight championship season, having come first in the city for the last three years in a row. Regular practices are ongoing. Schedules will be sent home and available on the PCS website for practices and games once the schedule is finalized.

Help The Grade 7 Students Raise Money For Their Salts Trip And Save Money For Your Family Never again do your students need to lose clothing, shoes, lunch kits and water bottles at school. Follow the link below to order labels for everything your child brings to school. A portion of the cost of the labels will go towards the Grade 7 SALTS trips and, as one parent put it, “We have not lost a single article of clothing since we started using the labels.” www.pcs.mableslabels.com

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Science Fair

Elementary Bits & Bytes

The annual PCS Grade 5 Science Fair is on Thursday, February 28th. It runs all day long, and from 6:30 – 7:30 in the evening. Please come out and support our 75 grade five students and see their amazing projects!

BC Family Day: This is a new holiday in BC, so there is NO SCHOOL for all students on Monday, February 11. With the PD Day the next day, students and families can enjoy a 4-day weekend!

We are also in need of many judges for the event. If you have any background in Science, are simply interested in the subject, have time during the day on February 28th, and it’s something you feel comfortable doing, please talk to one of the Grade 5 teachers soon. Thanks!

Professional Development Days: Parents are reminded there is no school for all elementary and secondary students on Tuesday, February 12: Vancouver Island PD Day in Nanaimo (for all Christian schools on the island). Lost & Found—Do You Know Where Your Children’s Clothes Are? We have managed to amass another incredibly large collection of “lost & found” clothing since the Christmas break. Parents, please come and look for your children’s lost clothing items as soon as possible. Clearly, many students do not claim or even recognize their own clothing! At spring break, we will again donate all unclaimed items to a worthy charity. Advance Reminders: • Pastors’ Day: Friday, March 8 from 8:30 – 11:00 a.m. All elementary students will send personal invitations in February to their own pastor.

Mad Science Enrichment Program 2013 Students in Grade 3, 4 and 5 were privileged to be part of the Mad Science 45-minute presentation on January 10. They were able to witness several optical illusions and electricity/ energy related experiments. There was great energy and enthusiasm as the students all wanted to communicate with one another, as well as the ‘Mad Scientists’, about what was happening and why. Students in Grade 4 and 5 were then invited to sign up to participate in an after-school science program during the months of January and February. Six weeks of exciting handson-activities, fascinating demonstrations, inquiry-based discussions, group and individual activities, and interesting takehomes and home labs, are scheduled by the Mad Science instructors. The sessions will take place on Wednesdays from 3:00-4:00 and will run from January 23 to February 27.

• Term Two Reports Cards will go home on Friday, March 8. • Spring Break is from Saturday, March 9 through Sunday, March 24. • Grandparents’ and Grand-friends’ Day: Friday, April 26. All elementary students will write and mail personal invitations to their own grandparents (or designated “senior substitutes”) after spring break. There will be “visiting hours” from 8:45 – 10:45 a.m. followed by a music and drama program from 11:00 – 12:00, featuring most elementary students.

Published Writers and Artists at PCS Elementary! Since September, students have been submitting their stories and drawings to the children’s newspaper, Paper Maché, in order to be considered for possible publication. Students from Happy Valley, Braefoot, Ecole Campus View, Ruth King and Crystal View have also been submitting their work. PCS students have been featured quite often in this newspaper and, during Friday morning chapels, Mr. Helmus has highlighted the students who have been published. Hopefully, these newspaper issues have been making it home so that you, as parents, have had a chance to see the published PCS work. If you are interested in advertising your business in this children’s newspaper, you can go online to http://papermpublishing.com, email to papermache@telus.net or call 250-655-6221. As a school involved in the newspaper publication, our PCS parents can advertise at a reduced cost (10% off).

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Early Start Professional Development At The Elementary Campus

ince September, we have been meeting together every Wednesday morning (7:45 – 8:45) as a full staff or in groups of teachers, EAs, same-grade colleagues and departments. We have spent time developing units, discussing Biblical through-lines, reviewing IEP strategies, and learning how to use technology (e.g. iPad apps, SmartBoards, teacher webpages)—to name just a few of the areas of focus. We have also been privileged to participate in various presentations —technology by Doug Cook, library by Shawn Taal, ADHD by Renee White, the Irlen Syndrome by Nina Denison, and IEP implementation by Liz Ulrich and Candis Gibbs. Staff members were asked to complete a survey in which they were able to convey their appreciation for what has happened so far and offer their suggestions for future Early Start Professional Development. Staff found the following particularly helpful: • Teachers appreciated more time to spend with grade-level colleagues to debrief and share the task of teaching. • EAs appreciated more time to interact with the Special Ed coordinators and learn about the available resources and about the recognized strategies for fostering academic, social and emotional development. • Many staff members appreciated the fact that they were able to focus their attention on professional development and curriculum design when they were ‘fresh’ and weren’t exhausted after teaching all day. As one staff member wrote, “I love the morning; I’m more fresh and willing to learn.” • Several staff members highlighted Renee White’s ADHD presentation, Doug Cook’s technology-focused instruction, and the Special Education workshops as being very beneficial. Universally, staff members were thankful for having time to develop their skills, engage in educational dialogue, and debrief with colleagues about ways to maintain and improve learning at PCS Elementary! We would like to publically thank Paula Van Donkersgoed for volunteering her time, every Wednesday morning at 7:45, to supervise students who arrive earlier than our 9:10 start time. As has been mentioned, staff members value this ES professional development time so much that they would prefer not to miss it in order to supervise students. So, if there are any other parents out there who would be willing to help supervise, we have an 8:15 – 8:45 and an 8:30 – 8:45 time slot that needs to be filled each week. If you could help out weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, it would be a great help to us all! Karen Erler, Assistant Principal