Reflecting on my high school years at ACS reminds me how much I enjoy listening to people talk about what they are passionate about. I remember learning moments like Mr. Bill de Jager spouting lines from Hamlet, or Mr. Jack Boersma explaining how to fill out your track meet sticker (through the examples of Suzy [...]
Camping is a big part of our family’s yearly vacations. We’ve been camping consistently for years, and we always make at least one camping trip to Okanagan Lake every summer. Nothing beats the dry Okanagan heat and camping right on the lake! If you have any experience camping in the Okanagan during the summer, you [...]
“Are you our math teacher!?” Surprise! There were a few surprised faces on the first day of school in our math class. The past four years of my principalship have been marked with many highs and lows. The lows started to take their toll on me, and last spring I decided to re-enter the classroom [...]
When we were asked to give the parent blessing at the grad banquet in May, our first thought was “How do we come up with a blessing that encourages such a wonderful group of amazing young people?” They have been such a blessing to us and to the community around us in many ways. In [...]
Can you crash a wedding in an ancient cathedral, watch a unique performance of the Cirque du Soleil, and try a month of living in and experiencing francophone culture for (almost) no charge? Well, that’s exactly what I did last summer with my friend, Taylor Mulder! Pas D’anglais! Official Language Programs Canada offers a government-funded [...]
“What would you do during a two-and-a-half-hour block that combined both math and drama classes?” How would you answer this question? Honestly, I don’t remember how I answered, when it was asked during my ACS interview many moons ago. But I was offered the job, so I must have done okay and began my teaching [...]
It was the first day back to school; that day that looms in our heads weeks before it actually arrives. Now I don’t know about you, but I love September. A fresh start, new goals…it’s the fall version of New Year’s. After a restful and enjoyable summer, I was ready to take on the busyness [...]
Every Friday morning, a dedicated group of parents gathers to pray for our students, staff, and school community (8:15 - 9:15 am in room 228 at the secondary campus). I have had the privilege of praying alongside them a few times. Recently we talked a lot about the many challenges faced by students, families, and [...]
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, [...]
Jackie Stewart was called to ACS Secondary 25 years ago, bringing her energetic, can-do attitude, and abilities to the community. As always, Jackie took on this new challenge enthusiastically and poured herself into her calling and career wholeheartedly. She plunged into this new opportunity as if it were Jaffray lake on a hot summer’s day. [...]
