In all the excitement of sending my oldest, Luke, off to his new part-time kindergarten class this fall, I failed to realize that I, too, am starting school in a whole new capacity this year. Granted, I also joined the ACS staff as a part-time graphic designer, but that’s not what I’m talking about. What [...]
I’m often accused of overusing the word “opportunity.” Every challenge, problem, or complication can just as easily be an “opportunity.” You can see the eyerolls from staff, students, and even my wife when I correct people when they use the word problem. It’s an “opportunity,” I say! It’s as much self-talk as it is a [...]
You walk through the middle school hallways and hear a “thump, thump, thump.” As you turn the corner towards the grade 5 wing, the sound starts to crescendo. You begin to follow this strange noise. Thump, clack, thumpity thump. “Where is this sound coming from?” you wonder. Is it a jack hammer? No, too rhythmic. Is [...]
In August, as I was cleaning up my office in anticipation of a new year, I came across a book called “Advice for a New Principal” that was given to me by my last class as a teacher at ACS. It was written by the students from 2A in 2020. Although it’s my third year as [...]
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, [...]
It happened. Our youngest child, Sofia, just began her first year of university in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Heidi went with her last week to settle in and go through the usual orientation for first year students and parents. It’s an emotional time for us. Obviously, there are mixed feelings: we are sad that she is [...]
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. [...]
It’s been a time of grieving and lament in our community as we mourn the loss of a beautiful person, Louise Riezebos. Louise worked as a middle school educational assistant for seven years and impacted every staff member, student, and parent she met. She passed into the arms of her loving Saviour, on Thursday June [...]
The very best part of working at an elementary school is always the kids! This year was no different. Even in a year with many challenges, we look back and see God’s goodness often reflected through our students experiences as they loved God and others. We asked our elementary staff what was their best moments [...]
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 [...]
