"So, what are you doing next year?" I have had that question come at me about once a week since I announced that this would be my last year as principal at the elementary campus. Up until about three weeks ago, the only answer I could give was, “We are still figuring that out.” What’s [...]
I quickly noticed an unusual amount of kids hanging out by the shed when I came outside during recess one day. They were looking in the windows, listening at the walls, and pushing at the screen on the electronic dead-bolt. It didn't take long for me to find out what the fuss was about. I [...]
I have about a two-minute commute to work – walking. For the most part, that is a good thing and most people are jealous when they find out where I live. Every time I get on the Trans Canada and realize that people drive that highway everyday, I am deeply grateful for my commute. Every [...]
“Mr. van Eerden is quitting. He won't be there on Monday!” That was the message that went home to one family, even though I specifically said at chapel that morning that I would be principal until they finished the grade they were in right now. Mom was very happy to receive an email from me. Or [...]
That's what Collins, our driver in Zambia, kept telling us when taking our pictures. Not Canadian smiles but Zambian smiles. What’s the difference? According to Collins, Zambian smiles are fuller, broader, a lot of teeth or, as one of my favourite quotes from a book, “ones that reach the eyes.” A Conduit of Hope [...]
“Do you want to go to Zambia?” This was not a message I expected to receive from my wife, Jane, while I was away visiting my mom on the Family Day weekend. We had been tossing around some ideas for summer, but mostly they were local and more budget-wise, as last summer, we took a [...]
NOTE: Roy wrote this blog prior to the decision to postpone student-led conferences. “Student-led Conferences are on Valentine’s Day!” I knew the objections would come. I hoped with enough notice, people would adjust and accept it. It’s just that it really is the best timing. I actually didn’t see it as such a big deal [...]
Large crowds of protesters, police barricades and masked men with guns roaming streets. A house burned down killing those inside including a five-month old baby, arrests and disappearances and police road checks examining phones for any evidence of anti-government postings. Over 500 dead and 350,000 people out of work. Unfortunately, these kinds of reports are [...]
12 000 kms in 30 days. Seeing pandas and penguins at the Calgary Zoo (the penguins were much more interesting), stopping at the geographical center of North America (unplanned) and the longitudinal center of Canada (planned), kayaking and tubing down lazy rivers in North Michigan, getting much closer to the foot of Niagara Falls than [...]
I still remember the first time I heard the story of why my brother became a teacher. He was in his first year of college, not sure what he really wanted to do. He had to take a science course as one of the core subjects. One of the required labs was to document the [...]
