7880 Walkers DriveStrathroy, ON N7G 3H4

Providing quality, Christ-centred

education

DECEMBER 2014

519-245-1934office@sccs.ca

www.Facebook.com/StrathroyCommunityChristianSchoolwww.sccs.ca

Are you a Transformer?Maybe when the word ‘transformer’ is used it brings up images in your mind of Optimus Prime or Megatron. However, if you didn’t grow up in the 80s or watch the more recent movie versions of Transformers then you may have no idea what I am talking about☺. When I think of the word ‘transformer’ our school’s vision statement immediately comes to mind. Strathroy Community Christians School’s (SCCS) vision is to provide outstanding, transformative education of mind, body and spirit so that God may be glorified in the Strathroy community. Jesus entering the world via the incarnation was transformative in nature and it serves as a model for us too. Are we God and can we choose to represent ourselves in a different human form? No, not exactly. Yet, there are many instances in our lives where we can choose to walk alongside another person and experience their pains and joys with them.

As students, we can take our friend’s failed math test as personally as they do. We can be upset by the social injustice on the playground they have experienced as if it happened to us. We can be as joy-filled as our friend is for making the basketball team. We can praise God in the unity of believers as one school body. As parents, we can take on the struggles of our friend’s family as if they were our own. We can walk alongside the person who just received a cancer diagnosis. We can praise God for our friend’s job, health and family as if they were our personal blessings too. This life is meaningful and requires a spiritual transformation for us to be able to walk beside other people and truly be able to share in their celebrations and struggles.

When Jesus entered the world He gave us the ultimate model to follow for how we can serve those around us. His birth, life, death and resurrection forever transformed our reality. At SCCS we strive to make it known that we are being transformed by the finished work of Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. What exactly are we being transformed into? God calls us to see the people around us as He sees them so that we will “be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2b). We pray that you are experiencing God’s transformative work in your life and those around you are blessed because of this transformation.

Blessings and Merry Christmas from SCCS!Ken VanMinnenPrincipal

The Community Connection

This life is meaningful and requires a spiritual transformation for us to be able to walk beside other people and truly be able to share in their celebrations and struggles.

This Christmas season, we are again invited to pause and reflect on God’s blessings and love for us. Isn’t His love magnificent, beyond understanding, beyond measure? Isn’t His grace expansive, challenging our comprehension and imagination? What a good God! What a gracious and ever-loving God we serve! At SCCS, we have many reasons to celebrate: students engaged in academic learning, a positive culture of Jesus’ love and light extending into Strathroy and area, students deepening their relationships with Jesus, and a strong support community bringing glory to His name. As a Christian community, we are called to celebration; not just the temporary pleasure of celebration, but a deeper consideration about what God has done and is doing. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” When we pause and fix our eyes on Jesus, as the apostle Paul says, we are more aware of God’s power and His sovereignty in our lives. When we take the time to reflect on the blessings given to us, we are overwhelmed by the glory of Jesus. And in celebratory response, we worship. As Christians, this time of pause, reflection and celebration is an important discipline to cultivate at SCCS and in our personal lives as well. Over the next six months, we’ll have the opportunity to celebrate God’s faithfulness as a community as we gather for the 60th anniversary in the spring of 2015. Sixty years of Christ-centred education and instruction in the Strathroy area – throughout the 60 years, we see God’s hand at work both at the school and in the Strathroy community. Generations of families have received their elementary education here – what a legacy this is! In addition to this gift to generations of students, SCCS continues to be a light in our community and is well-known for quality Christ-centred education as well as being a supportive part of our community. While we’re reflecting on the history of SCCS and what God has done here, we’ll also have the opportunity to plan for the future in a new strategic planning process. Throughout this

process, the Board will take stock of where SCCS has been, where we are now, and where God is leading us in the future.At various points in this process, the Board will be engaging the SCCS community for your thoughts and feedback – we encourage your participation and ask for your prayers in this process. Our prayer is that SCCS is a place of outstanding, transformative education of mind, body and spirit so that God is glorified in the Strathroy community. We have much to celebrate! Most of all, we celebrate the best gift of all, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Praying that your Christmas celebration rests and is expanded in His glory and love. In Christ’s love, Gabriella HoogstraSCCS Board ChairpersonOn behalf of the SCCS Board

Update from the Board

Board HighlightsThe board is working on:1. Ensuring compliance and understanding of legislation,

SCCS Constitution & Bylaws, Board policies, and budget to effectively and diligently manage risk for the SCCS Society.

2. Developing a responsive membership engagement plan. 3. Ensuring SCCS has sustainable bussing services —

recently the Board approved the purchase of a new school bus to ensure continued quality services.

4. Evaluating the implementation of the fundraising strategy which began in fall 2014.

5. Ensuring that both the current and future SCCS educational programme is responsive to students’ needs and meets core curriculum competencies.

6. Staying apprised and informed of the landscape of Christian education in Ontario.

7. Learning about educational trends and themes relevant to today’s learners and learning environment.

The final tally for this historic event is an astounding $84,085 (gross)! Thank you once again to all of those who contributed to the success of this annual fundraiser for Christian education. This would be not be possible without you — we are so blessed!

Goods & Services Auction: What a Celebration!

www.Facebook.com/StrathroyCommunityChristianSchool

Stay Connected to the Community!Join the SCCS community online, stay up to date with happenings and show your support! ‘Like’ us on Facebook today!

December 8 - Board dessert social 7:00 p.m.December 10 - Christmas program 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Everyone’s invited!December 15 - Fall Membership Meeting (rescheduled)December 19 - Last day before Christmas breakJanuary 5 - First day back after Christmas breakJanuary 5 - VIP orders dueJanuary 7 - Chapel by Grade 6January 20, 27 and February 3, 10 - Ready, Set, School!

Important Dates!

Christmas ProgramJoin us on Wednesday, December 10 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. for our annual Christmas program. There will be heartwarming readings and joyful choir singing to help us celebrate our Saviour’s birth.

Enjoy a Free Skate this Holiday with M.P. Bev ShipleyBev Shipley, M.P. for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, invites everyone to attend his annual Christmas Open House to enjoy a free skate and refreshments. Come out for some fun at the Gemini Sportsplex in Strathroy on Monday, December 22 from 4–6 p.m. with a free skate from 4–5 p.m.

Board DessertSocialHave you ever wondered what the SCCS board actually does? Are you excited about being a part of the SCCS community and want to know more? Is volunteering for the board something God wants you to do?

If you have interest in these areas then feel free to come to a dessert social aimed at informing people about the operations of the school. This event will take place December 8 from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the school. This is a no-commitment event and our aim is to briefly share what is currently happening and to encourage support for our future vision. If you are interested in attending please RSVP to Cathy at office@sccs.ca.

Sponsor this Newsletter

Contact our Director of Marketing,

Darren Hakker, at dhakker@sccs.caor 1-519-491-0404.

A new school bus will help to ensure continued quality services. It is already loved by students and bus drivers alike!

www.Facebook.com/SecondChanceConstructionStore

To all of our current and past volunteers: thank you for giving your time for the growth of our students.

For everyone else, take a minute to consider volunteering!You could take a morning or afternoon each week to help a student learn his/her alphabet, practice math equations or just listen to a child read. You could paint. Or clean. Or organize! If you have talents, they are needed at the school. Please call the office and let us know how you can help, or we can offer a wide range of tasks.

Especially in need of your help is the Second Chance Construction Store, which relies on the donation of time from our school community to do valuable pickups, move goods, fix broken items and help with drop-offs.

Just a handful of hours every month at the Store could help to significantly offset the cost of tuition. Did you know that the Store alone contributes approximately $100,000 in profit every year to our school? That’s a per-family savings of $1,000! Call the store at 519-246-6000.

Volunteering: The Fun and Easy Way to Make Everything at SCCS Possible

The Kroesbergen FamilyWe are Tom and Alida Kroesbergen. Our daughters are Victoria (JK) and Emily (10 months). We live and farm just outside of Ailsa Craig. We are happy to now be a part of the the SCCS community, making Victoria the third generation from our family to attend Strathroy Community Christian School. God is good!

Welcome to More New Families!

JK and SK bite into Field Trip Fun!The JK and SK classes spent a day exploring Twin Pines Orchards, learning about all different kinds of apples. They also went on a wagon tour of the orchards and each student was allowed to pick two apples right off the trees! They were truly excited and thrilled about their experience here and all they learned from the farmer!

The Hooyer FamilyMathew and Tanya’s daughter is Lily in JK.

Girls’ Soccer UpdateThe girls’ soccer team had a great season playing soccer together. We won a game at our school against Caradoc North Public School. On September 30, we had the Christian School tournament. We had a lot of fun and we placed third even though it was a cold and rainy day. We also did well at the Thames Valley tournament at SDCI and we finished in second place. Thanks to all the girls who participated. It was tons of fun. Special thanks to our coaches Mrs. Linker and Mrs. Schelhaas.

Written by Danielle Schelhaas, Kaylee Bos and Lana Haan

The school’s Junior Service Club loaded coats and boots into the myFM cruiser for the Salvation Army’s annual “Coats for Kids” campaign.

Cross Country UpdateWe had a lot of fun running this year! Everyone did a good job in Stratford and Longwoods. Thanks to everyone for participating. We had 10 people who moved into the Thames Valley Board finals which was held at Fanshawe Conservation Area. Thanks to our awesome coaches Miss Alexander and Mrs. Schelhaas who encouraged us to keep going and finish the race.

Written by Kaylee Bos, Danielle Schelhaas and Lana Haan

What is VIP?The Voucher Incentive Program (VIP) is an exciting opportunity for Strathroy Community Christian School (SCCS) parents to reduce the cost of their tuition while raising funds for SCCS.

Simply put, it is a fundraising program that works while you shop!

Here’s how it works: SCCS buys gift cards/certificates in bulk at a discounted rate and sells them at face value to VIP participants. Every participating family is given an account in which their purchases are recorded and 50% of the profit goes into this account to be used toward their tuition. SCCS keeps the remaining 50% which goes directly into the school’s budget. The gift cards/certificates are used by the

VIP participants just like cash at the participating retailers - without costing anything extra.

How does it help?• More than $15,000 was raised last year for the operating

budget. That’s about $150 per family.

• More than $15,000 was returned to families in the form of tuition rebates.

• It’s a tax-free way to decrease your tuition payments.• It’s a “don’t buy something you don’t need” way to

raise funds for SCCS…you pay FACE VALUE for certificates at stores YOU ALREADY SHOP AT.

• Using VIP to pay for gas for our fleet of buses raised more than $3,000 for SCCS.

• VIP helps all families afford Christian education.

Canadian Tire Esso Petro Canada Pioneer UltramarIGA/Sobeys/Foodland M&M Meats Metro/Food Basics RCSS/No Frills/Loblaws Boston PizzaDomino’s Pizza Casey’s East Side Mario’s Jack Astor’s Kelsey’sMontana’s Swiss Chalet Harvey’s Moxie’s Pizza PizzaRed Lobster Starbucks Sobeys The Keg

Tim HortonsWendy’s Aldo American Eagle Bath & Body Works Best BuyBest Western Body Shop Build-a-Bear Chapters ColesIndigo Cineplex Famous Players’ Silver City

FootlockerFairmont Hotels Giant Tiger Fruits & Passion Golf Town

Future Shop Gymboree HBC Home Outfitters The Bay HMVHome Depot Kernels Home Hardware LaSenza Laura SecordLa Vie en Rose Mark’s Work Warehouse Marriot Hotels Old Navy/GapPayless Shoes PetSmart Pier 1 Rainbow Cinema

RONA Roots Running Room Scholar’s Choice SearsShopper’s Drugmart SportChek

Staples Suzy Shier The SourceThe Children’s Place Shoe Company Toys R Us West 49 WalmartWinner’s Home Sense

What is VIP and How Does it Help?

Thank you to those families who already participate! If you don’t yet participate, we encourage youto start…it is as easy as emailing vip@sccs.ca to set your login and password.

You can order gift certificates for the following stores:

HighlightingHands-OnWednesdaysThese photos are all from our 10-week Hands-on Wednesdays program, which allows students in Grades 6-8 to explore fun,interactive workshops in Strathroy. It’s a great way for students to learn about new subjects and gain lifelong skills.