BY: KARL FRIESEN, MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANT A large part of being an Educational Assistant (EA) is working towards small every day successes. For the past three years, I have worked with a student through grade 6, 7, and now in grade 8. Seeing students mature in the classroom is such a privilege. I just [...]
I spent the last four days of Christmas break visiting my mom. She is 91 years old and still lives in her own house on the farm where I grew up. There are some things she won’t do anymore, but I am impressed and very thankful for her health and strength. For example: Last summer, [...]
When I was a young girl, my sister and I spent hours doing the stereotypical little girl thing – playing house with our dolls. We were unconcerned with stereotypes, feminism, and equal opportunity for women. We simply loved our dolls, dressing them, feeding them and playing the role of mom. We attempted to include our [...]
BY: ESTHER DE JONG, ACS PARENT Christmas Spirit As I slowly began the process of pulling out my Christmas decorations, after hearing the first Christmas song playing on the radio, I pulled out the old Christmas sweaters from my ”tickle trunk” at the top of my closet. I successfully pulled out two brightly coloured knit [...]
I really do not like being wrong. Actually, I think this is a common attribute of all sinful humanity. However, in all honesty, I really do not like to make mistakes. Please note: when I am proven wrong, I think I am pretty good at admitting that I made a mistake, but it is my [...]
I was finally about to sink my teeth into some delicious leftovers right at the end of lunch recess when the intercom blared, “Mr. Bakker, please call the office!” So much for sinking teeth into food, as a sinking feeling fell on me. I knew what was coming. Mr. Van Eerden was away at a [...]
I still remember his name – Ivan – and every time he looked at me, he seemed to look straight into my soul. He was maybe 5 years old, loved playing soccer, quiet and reserved. He wanted to hang out with me and be my friend. Even though he was dirty, his clothes hadn’t been [...]
A few weeks ago, three important guests visited our school whose sole purpose was to evaluate our school for the BC Ministry of Education. Every six years, a team shows up at every independent school in BC to check everything. And, I mean everything. The water quality and swing set bolts Among other things, they [...]
Every year for the past five, I have set myself a goal on my birthday; I try to run as many laps around the track at Robert Bateman Secondary School as I am years old. (I have to give credit to Vince Van Dyk for this idea.) Since passing the “half-century” mark, this is becoming [...]
About an hour drive outside of Guatemala City, we arrived at Bethel school in Patzicia. As usual, we were welcomed warmly into the school by the administrators, but also by the children as they were having their break. We exchanged many handshakes, high fives and fist bumps. During my trip to Guatemala at the end [...]
