A Prayer to Share

A Prayer to Share

Happy December!

I've got a prayer to share with you today, a reminder that we're working with God, that we're co-creators with Him.  

This prayer comes out of the strategic planning process that we've been working hard through as a faculty.  We have intentionally discussed what it means to be a Christian school, how we are serving our students, and where God is leading us both now and in the future.

A group of faculty members has also been learning and working through the Teaching for Transformation process, something that we will be eventually implementing school wide (click the link to learn more - it's exciting!).

During both of these events, we've been reminded that we are God's workers, not messiahs.  We are His servants and work with Him, not working outside of Him.  

During this Advent season, may you be blessed by this concise yet powerful prayer.

Archbishop Oscar Romero’s Prayer

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.

Nothing we do is complete,
which is a way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.

No program accomplishes the Church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything,
and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.

This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results,
but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.

Amen.

During all of our efforts, may we take the time to rest, let go, and reflect on what that "something" is that we do very well, that brings further wholeness to God's Kingdom.  

May we use our gifts to help others use theirs.

Mr. Bowar

Communication in a Digital Age

We've been working hard to help students understand the importance of communication and ways that we can communicate (both face-to-face and digitally) in a God-honoring manner.

In a recent Home Bulletin, our principal Mr. De Vries shared a great reminder for all of us:

Communication is key to a successful educational program. We do our best to keep you informed, and we would ask that you do the same. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact one of our staff.We are here for the sole purpose of working with you and your family.

Communication takes on so many forms today that it is difficult to stay abreast of all the change that comes our way.

In addition to email, we now have access to numerous forms of social media. There is daily podcasting, Twitter, Facebook, weekly blog posts, YouTube, Google Hangout, Instagram, backchannels, and more that is available to us.

I would encourage all of us, in whatever form of communication we choose to utilize, to keep the message positive and uplifting. It is too easy to slip into a negative "tone" or actually use the technology available to spread gossip that may be hurtful to others.

Even as adults, we need to remind ourselves of the proper use of technology and practice good stewardship of our time and resources. In essence, we need to talk through issues and inspire rather than text our random thoughts or shoot an ill-intended message.

Thank you for choosing to partner with SCCS!

Training Up

WE RECENTLY ASKED A GROUP OF SCCS TEACHERS HOW THEY WOULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION:  “WHY IS CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IMPORTANT?" 

We'll be featuring an entry from teachers over the next several weeks with their answer.

Our next teacher is Megan Haan, part of the kindergarten team.

Training Up

Painted around the top of our old school office were the words of Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

The teachers, administrators, staff, and parents of Sioux Center Christian School want that future for our students. Those who leave our doors are able to carry Christ with them in all that they do.

In the daily happenings of our school, teachers are providing a quality education. They have dedicated themselves to not only teaching students things like how to read, what 2 plus 2 is, and what different types of rocks are, but they have also deeply dedicated themselves to teaching students how to be creation-lovers, justice-seekers, and Christ-imitators. The education students receive when they come to SCCS reaches much deeper than the basics.

We take what we learn about our world and each other and use it to better God’s Kingdom. Our students dive into God’s Word and commit it to memory, so when they leave our walls, they are able to use it and spread it to others.

In kindergarten, we focus a lot of our time on how to have a loving heart. How we treat other people can be a good indication of what is living inside of us. If we are kind, respectful, and gentle, others will know that there is something special guiding our lives, and we want our kindergarten students to know how to show others that God is that special thing.

So why choose Christian education? We are not just in the business of training children how to act and what to say, but we are instilling in our students the source of true love and joy. We are providing them with tools for spreading God’s Word. We are helping them to form a deep faith in the one true God because only in Him can we do anything. 

And when our students become scientists, business people, doctors, stay-at-home moms or dads or even teachers, they will not depart from Him.

That is what Christian education is all about.

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Megan Haan has been teaching kindergarten at SCCS for 6 years.  Her hope is that every child that comes into her classroom will see God’s love through every aspect of her teaching and can share that love with those around them.  She lives in Sioux Center with her husband Rob and her two children, Rowan and Emma.  To learn more about Mrs. Haan, click here.

We Are Equipping

We recently asked a group of SCCS teachers how they would answer this question:  “Why is Christian education important?" 

We'll be featuring an entry from teachers over the next several weeks with their answer to this question.

Our first teacher is Amanda Woudstra, part of the 2nd grade team.

We Are Equipping….

Have you ever asked your child why he or she attends a Christian school? 

Have you listened to your child’s perspective on Christian education? 

In a recent conversation with my second grade students, I challenged them with the question, “Why do your parents send you to a Christian school?”  The assorted responses included, “In our school, we can learn from the Bible and keep it on our hearts. It means we remember it.”   

This is what God has called each one of us to do in His Word. 

As it says in Proverbs 22:6, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”  The purpose of Christian education is to help children grow in love for the Lord while learning all about the world around them. 

In school, children learn a lot of new information.  Christian educators take the new information, look at what the Bible teaches about it, and apply it to the children’s lives.  In lessons, children are encouraged to think about what they can do for others and to care for the world around them. 

A Christian education is important because it will equip students to develop a Christian framework to make a difference in the world. 

As children learn, students need to understand that their knowledge and skills should be used to fulfill their calling as a servant of Christ. 

Miss Woudstra

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Miss Woudstra is in her 2nd year of teaching at SCCS.  She believes that each child is a unique person, created by God, with their own talents and gifts.  It's her goal goal to help each child discover his or her gifts while helping them grow in love for the Lord and His creation.  To learn more about her, click here.

Dedication: Part of HIStory

This coming Wednesday, September 30, will be a historic day at Sioux Center Christian School.   It’s the day that we’ll officially dedicate our building and welcome school supporters to join us in the celebration!

As we think about dedication, it’s important to focus on the reason for this dedication.  Yes, we have a beautiful new building.  We have spacious classrooms, hallways, and other workspaces that we can use as faculty, staff, and students.  We have spaces that better meet our needs with today’s students.  We're so thankful for what has been provided for SCCS.

But what I encourage all of us to remember is that the building itself is not the reason for the dedication.  

We dedicate our building to God:  His work, His plans, His school.

We dedicate to Him…

• the classrooms where students learn and grow
• the accessible hallways, elevator, and ramp where students move freely
• the music rooms where students sing praises
• the offices where we strive to serve faithfully
• the guidance, resource, and sensory rooms where students discover who they were created to be
• the inclusive education rooms where needs are met
• the cafeteria where we fellowship with others

Every time you walk by the cross on the front of the building and the mission statement in the front entry, may you be reminded of God’s story.

We dedicate the building to remind us that we are part of HIStory.  Our story is our testimony of what God has done, and we will continue His work through Sioux Center Christian School.

The Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Thanks be to God!

Mr. Bowar

Using Our Gifts

This week's blog post comes to us from our Discovery teacher, Mrs. Rebecca De Smith.  To learn more about the SCCS Discovery Program, click here.

Teachers at Sioux Center Christian School take our mission statement very seriously “to disciple God’s children by equipping them with a knowledge and understanding of Christ and His creation so that they can obediently serve God and others as they work and play.”  What does this look like for high-ability students in our classrooms at SCCS?

We know that God created all people with unique gifts and talents, and the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 reminds us of the responsibility we have for using those gifts.  In the school setting, one of the tasks Christian teachers have is to help our students “unwrap” their gifts and learn to develop them in order to serve God and others as we work and play.

In order to do this, teachers must offer opportunities for our students’ abilities to be noticed, developed, and used in meaningful ways.  We must provide a classroom atmosphere where all of our students’ gifts are valued and accepted.  We must model acceptance of their gifts and encourage humility in using those gifts to enrich others.

In the school setting, one of the tasks Christian teachers have is to help our students “unwrap” their gifts and learn to develop them in order to serve God and others as we work and play.

At Sioux Center Christian School, the Discovery Program supports the classroom teacher in enriching and challenging high-ability students.  Some enrichment activities happen in the classroom while others happen in small groups in the Discovery room.  Here is what this looks like:

• When 4^th graders are studying the Southeast region of the United States, a small group of high-ability readers meet in the Discovery room to read and discuss actual letters from a soldier written during the Civil War.  Then students choose key ideas they learned about the Civil War to share with their classmates, creating dioramas displaying the information they learned through reading the actual letters of a Civil War soldier.

• While the 3^rd graders are learning about rocks and minerals in their science unit, some students meet in the Discovery room to investigate a special kind of rock—a geode.  After using their beginning research skills to gather facts, students collaborate to create a PowerPoint presentation on geodes which they share with their classmates so everyone can learn about them.

• During the study of the human body, some 5^th grade students meet in the Discovery room to explore optical illusions.  After looking at several examples and learning what happens between our eyes and our brain when we see them, students prepare an interactive presentation to share with their classmates so everyone understands what happens when we see optical illusions.

The common thread in all of these scenarios is that not only are high-ability students given opportunities to use their academic gifts, but they are also encouraged to serve their classmates by sharing the information they learned so everyone is enriched.

Through our acceptance, nurture, and support, teachers at SCCS can empower our high-ability students to use their academic gifts to enrich the body of Christ in order to “serve God and others as we work and play,” even while they are developing their skills and talents at school.

Mrs. De Smith

Mrs. De Smith has been a teacher for over 30 years, with experience in preschool-3rd grade.  For the past 24 years, she has been directing and teaching in the Discovery Program at SCCS.  She loves working with these students, learning alongside them about interesting and amazing parts of God's world and His work.  It is her joy to engage students in their learning, to encourage them to ask questions and find answers, and to challenge them to serve others with their gifts.

Nurturing a Growth Mindset

Nurturing a Growth Mindset 

Welcome to a new school year!  We’re excited to introduce the “Trailblazer Tribune”, a blog that we hope will be informative, inspiring, and helpful for you as a Sioux Center Christian School supporter.  We’ll include entries from our administrative team, our teachers, and other contributors from time to time.  We encourage you to follow us.  Here’s to a great school year!

We’re going to start the year with a message that I shared with teachers during this year’s opening professional development meetings.

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As you start to read this post, what’s your mindset?  What thoughts have gone through your head today?  What thoughts are going through your head right now?

Let’s think a little more about mindsets and what goes through our minds.  Start by taking the mindset quiz by clicking here.

What did you find out?  What you figured?  Surprised?  About right?

You may have heard about something called a “growth mindset”, which is largely based on the research by Carol Dweck. 

Dweck asserts that “It’s not about where you are now. It’s about where you’re committed to going.”

She shares that there are two mindsets that have a MAJOR impact on our ability to learn, grow, and achieve our goals.

• Having a growth mindset means you believe that your skills and intelligence are things that can be developed and improved.
• Having a fixed mindset means you believe that your skills and intelligence are set and can’t be changed.

Research shows that the growth mindset is what fosters grit, determination, and work ethic within students, athletes, and people of all ages.

Carol Dweck’s extensive research of the topic also shows that people with a growth mindset learn, grow, and achieve more than people that have fixed mindsets.  We all know people who have more of a growth mindset or a fixed mindset.  We have a pretty good idea of where we are ourselves. 

So, where do you fall?  How thirsty are you?  

Our kids can also have fixed and growth mindsets, and our teachers work every day to push toward the growth mindset.  How do we do that?  Click here to check out a short video focused on how we focus more on effort than praise.  

As a faculty, we focused on the parable of the sower and what it means to us related to growth.

⁴ While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: ⁵ “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. ⁶ Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

¹¹ “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. ¹² Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³ Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. ¹⁴ The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. ¹⁵ But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

We also meditated on verses related to growth from Colossians and Philippians.

Colossians 1:9-13

⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,^[e] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father.

Philippians 1:3-6

³ I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

We don’t expect anyone at SCCS to be fully formed.  What we do expect is that you’ve arrived here ready to learn and grow.  We expect you to stretch beyond your comfort zone and take reasonable risks.  Not to play it safe, do the same thing you’re good at over and over, and stay in your comfort zone.  Mix that with high expectations and a positive attitude, a love of Christ and growing in Him, and I think we’ve got a great 2015-2016 school year ahead of us.

Partnering with you,

Mr. Bowar


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Josh Bowar is the assistant principal at Sioux Center Christian School. He has experience teaching students in elementary, middle, and high school settings, as well as college and adult courses. This is his third year as the assistant principal, striving to meet his personal mission statement of “Faithfully using his gifts to help others use theirs, leading by serving, learning by listening.”