Outside of my grade 4 classroom are two beautiful trees. We get so used to them being there that we often take them for granted. But they are something to marvel at. They promise us spring as they wake up from winter’s sleep. They shelter us from the heat of the sun when it threatens [...]
From July 20-29, I had the privilege and the opportunity to visit the region off BC's Northern Coast known as Haida Gwaii (Islands of the Haida and for a while known as the Queen Charlotte Islands). With two fabulous hosts and seven other educators, including my sister, Evangeline, and Koenraad Beugelink, Faith Formation Director, [...]
I really enjoy driving. Which is a good thing considering we bought a farm in Chilliwack while keeping everything else in Abbotsford. I don’t love driving all the time. Late nights to pick up kids from youth, driving to Abbotsford for the fifth time in one day, early morning hours when the highway is jammed…these [...]
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….” Those famous opening lines of Charles Dickens’ novel, A Tale of Two Cities. The novel begins with, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was [...]
“Leanne,” I wrote to my editor, “I think I just wrote a book.” Those words catapulted me into a world I had never dreamt I would be in. I mean, I teach math and science, what business do I have writing a book? I have plenty of excuses to NOT write a book: busyness, fear, [...]
My mom was the reason I got into teaching. I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up so when people asked me that question, it caused me concern that I didn’t have a clear plan or direction for my life. I only decided to take education courses because I had [...]
My interactions with John Atsma, site superintendent for Fricia Construction, are usually two-fold: sometimes he stops by my office, or I give him a call. However, our conversations are rarely dull. Here are a few examples: “John, did you guys turn the water off? None of the taps work in the school.” “Mike, we need [...]
In English 11 in October, Mrs. Dani DeJong shared a collection of essays from National Public Radio’s program, “This I Believe.” She then challenged her students to write their own personal credo about a core principle that defines their life. The array of topics, concerns, and passions were as diverse as the students themselves. The [...]
If you’re looking for a great employer, ACS offers the best benefits. I'm reaping a few of those "fringe" benefits myself this year. You see, until the summer of 2020, my office was located at the secondary campus in the administration office. But as of September 1, it has been temporarily relocated to the elementary [...]
Like many of you, I am extremely grateful for the ability to flip the calendar over and dream/hope for a better tomorrow. As we have all said and reflected on many times, 2020 has been quite the year. And…as all of us are keenly aware, what was with us in 2020 is still with us [...]
