Fall 2016 Vol. 10 Issue 1
A HAMILTON DISTRICT CHRISTIAN HIGH PUBLICATION
#HDLetsTalk p 18 Fearlessness, Faith & Future p4 MegaBloc creators win prestigious John Rozema Award p6 Students use art to preserve Cootes EcoPark p14
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hdch.org | Fall 2016 HDCH:info whyHDCH 1
contents
#whyHDCH
By: Karli Vanderlaan ‘16 and Ben VanderWindt ‘16
MegaBloc creators win prestigious teaching award
A global perspective from Spanish exchange participants
New team earns OFSAA glory on the slopes
Students use art to help preserve the Cootes EcoPark.
Michelle Lucas is one of many students who enjoyed visiting with therapy dogs from St. John’s ambulance. Photo by: Hank Rintjema
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Music Excellence Across Borders
Music Tour performs throughout the Windy City.
Editorial Team Charlene Hone, Adrianne Sprogis, Cheryl Webb
Connections is a semi-annual publication of Hamilton District Christian High.
Send all address changes to: info@hdch.org
All contents © copyright 2016. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without express permission.
Advertising is invited. Please contact: chone@hdch.org Letters to the Editors Questions, comments and story ideas are welcome. Please email the editorial team at info@hdch.org.
Circulation 4000
PRI N CI PAL’S M E SS AGE When I became principal in 2011, HDCH was celebrating its 55-year milestone and its rich history in Canadian Christian education. The brick buildings were filled with fascinating people, students and staff doing incredible work. At that time, we set a path to be more invested as a Christian school into the geographical communities that surround us. This vision to connect “further out” is really rolling, and you can see some of the results in this Connections Magazine. Our team has done a phenomenal job of piecing together the stories that reveal our identity. This year, we opened the doors of HDCH for the 60th time. Sixty years of high school means that there are many, many alumni who have been shaped by the learning at HDCH, alumni who are making their mark in their communities all around the world. Photos and stories from your memories at HDCH can be sent to memories@hdch.org. Also in celebration of our 60th anniversary, we have enclosed a short alumni survey. Please take some time to complete the questions online or send them back to us using the postage paid-envelope provided. We looking forward to sharing the results with you in our next edition of Connections. As we begin this school year, we have an opportunity to once again engage in the mission of HDCH: a mission that has been honed, shaped and shifted over 60 years. This year, I look forward to the journey as we continue to cultivate character through learning for a life of service to God. Enjoy! Nathan Siebenga, Principal
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We have enjoyed meeting new people, being supported by a strongly knit community, and learning from some very influential and educated teachers. We have grown more deeply in the knowledge of Christ and what serving Him looks like in our day-to-day lives. We cannot stress enough how valuable HDCH has been in shaping us into the people that we are today. We have both had ample opportunity to discover our gifts and talents in a variety of ways while attending HDCH. We have been richly encouraged by the amount of support that has been given and time that has been poured out as we have tried new things. Risks are often associated with stepping out of a comfort zone; however, we both want to encourage future and current students to involve themselves in new endeavors— it is so valuable for growing and developing. Being at HDCH has allowed us to participate in many activities such as Badminton, Choir, school play performances,
Outdoors Club, Newcomers Committee, and Student Council. As Student Council Co-Presidents for this past year, we have enjoyed planning activities and events for the student body, trusting that our community is being built within them. We realized that we had been given a unique position of leadership within the school community and have worked to embrace the opportunity for growth. We have also helped host formals, square dances, free barbeques and ice cream events, and have planned Wonderland and Ski trips.
Student Council and other activities—we are constantly amazed by the vast variety of gifts God has given His children. HDCH does an incredible job of nurturing and cultivating students in order to equip them for future roles in the Kingdom. We are both deeply thankful for our HDCH experience and are looking forward to what God has in store for us. PHOTOS : HANK RINTJEMA
9 20 8 Fall 2016 | Vol. 10 Issue 1 Features 6 John Rozema Award for Teacher Excellence 10 Language, History and Culture 12 Snowboarding comes to HDCH 14 EcoArt Project ON THE COVER 18 #HDCHLetsTalk
It’s hard to believe that the high school chapter in our ‘book of life’ has come to a close. These past four years at HDCH have been incredible character shaping years and we are truly grateful for the time that we have spent within these walls.
It has been a blessing to get to know the people that we have worked alongside within
@ hdch.org
“I don’t remember a word you taught. I do remember a man who loved the unlovable and showed us what it meant to live out a Christian, compassionate life. You’re one of the good ones, Mr Meester. Happy retirement!”
What a great way to kick-off summer in#HamOnt! It was an honour to host the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce June Business after Business event.
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As we celebrate our 60th year of operation, I believe these three words continue to ring true for us today.
fearlessness ... The 1956 decision to start a Christian high school in Hamilton had a fearlessness about it, a fearlessness that was deeply rooted in a conviction that our God would provide. In many ways, Christian Education doesn’t make a lot of sense.
share your memories
The people who began our school were primarily Dutch Christians, recently immigrated to Canada, with a strong penchant to live out of a Reformed worldview. They didn’t have generations of resources to draw on as they started this initiative of Christian high school education. They were, however, deeply faithful and very industrious.
In celebration of our 60th anniversary, we look forward to collecting some of your favourite memories of Hamilton District Christian High. Please take some time to offer your stories and photos of your years at HD. We’re excited to collect and share these anecdotes from the last 60 years of HDCH students and teachers. Watch for the results online at hdch.org and in the next edition of Connections Magazine. Please submit your anecdote and photos to:
memories@hdch.org
fearlessness, faith, and the future 60 years & going strong By Nathan Siebenga, Principal
It was three years ago at one of our Seniors Days that I ate lunch with a group of grandparents from Jarvis. I only knew a few of them so I just listened to them talk. I was privileged to hear them tell stories about the early days of Hamilton District Christian High (HDCH).
Cheaper by the Dozen,1973.
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During this lunch, they reminisced about the “men’s society meetings” and the “women’s society meetings” where it was discussed whether or not to establish a Christian high school in Hamilton. Then I heard about the decision to go ahead with the idea and the first Hamilton District Christian School Society meeting. What struck me the while listening to this history was three things: Fearlessness, Faith, and the Future.
They believed in a future for their children that included learning a Christian worldview--even while the idea of spending a significant amount of money to educate their children in a country where free public education was offered may have seemed somewhat counterintuitive. And I have to admit there are times I wonder if I would have had that kind of courage. While I’d like to think that I do, I am very, very thankful for the group that acted on their conviction to start our Christian High School 60 years ago. I believe that Christian schools, Hamilton included, exist today because of this fearlessness to start and the faithful response of the communities.
faith ... As the principal at HDCH, I have heard countless faith stories of God’s provision and blessing for Christian education. Some of you have said to me, “I don’t know how we did it, but the Lord provided” -- even through the sometimes overwhelming twoschool-tuition years!
And then there have been times when we as the administration were wondering how we would make the budget work, only to have an anonymous donation show up at the office the next day which more than covered it. And personally, I have been blessed to have my own parents and grandparents share such stories with me from their communities. 60 years of Christian high school education in Hamilton is a big deal: it reaches many generations. But it isn’t just finances that make Christian education a big deal. At HDCH, we dare to be radical, we dare to be a different type of school; one that leads, one that works at our craft, and one that is distinctive from top to bottom. From governance to learning, we believe we can be and are called to be different, different in a way that is excellent and worthy of our deep faith in God. Like every community of Christian faith, we believe we are called to do our best with the resources that we have. In all we do, we start with a commitment to be obedient to our God, even when obedience doesn’t make sense on a spreadsheet, a whiteboard or a tablet. We commit all we have to Him and then step out in faith. Sometimes the step of faith is enrolling our children, sometimes it is providing tuition assistance to a family in our church, and sometimes it is being a father or mother figure to a struggling teen who isn’t our child. Even now, in the days of business plans, savings accounts, RESP’s, RRSP’s and everything else, Christian education continues to “not make sense”; it continues to be a test of our faith and our fearlessness. And as we act on our faith, like the founders of this school did 60 years ago, we see God bless and bring to fruition. As a community, 60 years has allowed us to see God’s blessing.
future ... Today, because of fearlessness and faith, HDCH opens its doors for the 60th time. Sixty years of Christian Education really is quite something worth celebrating. While we look back with appreciation for the sacrifice and commitment of the community that has made this school possible, we also look ahead to the future. Launching into the next 60 years of HDCH will require the same kind of fearless faith. The future is now; it is the work we do today, and the decisions we make as parents, board members and staff members that impact the future of our families, communities, and city. And this is why we will continue at HDCH to produce exceptional Christian education for the Hamilton District region. HDCH has grown beyond the small group of immigrants that founded this school 60 years ago, so we are known less for our ethnic roots than for our Christian worldview, exceptional learning, and acts of service. The ripples of blessing have spread and continue to spread far beyond the small community that birthed the vision. Learning has changed and grown, and God has continued to provide the resources to enable this growth. We know that the future will be different than it is today, and we know that in order to bring flourishing in the Kingdom of God we will need to keep working at it. We are excited to see how God will continue to use HDCH in the city of Hamilton and beyond to carry out the mission and vision for the next 60 years of Christian education.
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Winner 2016 Group Excellence: Interdisciplinary Learning Practices
By Laura Konyndyk, Cardus
John Rozema Award for Teacher Excellence “From the beginning it was clear that we were going to need exceptional teachers willing to stretch themselves beyond what many would consider a ‘normal’ classroom.” Nathan Siebenga, Principal MegaBloc is a new Grade 9 Design Block Course at Hamilton District Christian High School, that combines Communication Technology, Manufacturing Technology, and Technological Design.
PHOTOS : HANK RINTJEMA
The course was born out of a desire to emphasize hands-on learning, draw out beautiful work from students, and foster a stronger sense of community among grade 9 learners. Five teachers from vastly different areas of expertise needed to work together to plan, develop, and implement MegaBloc. The team consisted of Kasia Konstanty, a trained musician, Eric Brink, a technology and humanities expert, Richard VanderWier, a skilled shop teacher, Jonathan Devries, an art teacher with a technical flare for design, and MegaBloc leader, Harry Blyleven, an educator with expertise in Math, Business, IT, and Project Based Learning.
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Under the guidance of this diverse group of passionate educators, grade 9 students flourished in unexpected ways:
Graduate rubric: competence, reflection, compassion, resilience, and creativity.
“The Capstone Project was by far my favorite thing in the program,” reflected one student. “I liked it because we could choose the things that we really enjoyed and wanted to get better at. I decided to show off God’s wonderful creation through pictures.”
They built pumpkin launching trebuchets, produced their own creations using 3D printers, designed their dream homes with the help of a program called Sketch-up and collaborated online using Google Docs. Although students were invited to learn a variety of skills throughout the process, they also had the chance to go deeper into a particular area of interest, during a nineday phase of the course called Elective Blocks, and later, through their Capstone projects. For some, that meant becoming immersed in the world of technical drawings or photography. For others, it was a time to delve into video editing or environmental design. Final projects were assessed using a rubric that emphasized HDCH’s Habits of a
During MegaBloc, students were frequently invited to engage in rigorous planning. As they moved through the various phases of the trebuchet project, students learned how to refine their work from each stage in order to improve on the next. The gears of MegaBloc were oiled by teamwork, and dependent on healthy interpersonal relationships. This dimension of the course was meant to “cultivate character through learning”—a key part of the HDCH mission statement. MegaBloc gave students the chance to build character by supporting each other through the giving and receiving of constructive feedback during each project. Meeting regularly for shared devotions each week was also a part of ongoing character formation—the kind that can only happen in community.
A sense of unity among grade 9 classes grew with each passing day, since students knew they were all taking part in Megabloc at the same time, experiencing similar interdisciplinary challenges. Opportunities for MegaBloc students to serve others within and beyond school walls were plentiful too. Whether they were developing presentations about how to use technology in a responsible way, helping out at food banks downtown, or contributing to a culture of academic excellence at their school through artfully designed projects, students were invited to maximize their potential for the public good. As the teachers behind Megabloc coached students through the process—each one pulling from a different area of expertise— they were creating a community of innovators and culture makers. “What started as a dream to have all students engage in the design process, to develop the Habits of a Graduate and to learn technical skills, has turned into a community building, exceptional learning experience,” reflected HDCH Principal, Nathan Siebenga. “And all of this is possible because of the incredible group of teachers who delivered this experience.”
#whyHDCH
whyhdch Congratulations to the cast and crew of ‘Our Town.’ Your performances were stunning!
Some of the cast of HD’s production of Our Town in 1964
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ART & SCIENCE PARTNERSHIP The Grade 12 Chemistry and Sculpture classes got together for a collaborative project to make pottery using the Raku technique.
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The Sculpture class shared their knowledge on types of clay, types of glazes, and techniques for making Pinch Pots. The Chemistry class brought their knowledge of oxidation and reduction to demonstrate a different way of finishing pottery.
Alumni Survey
We think the results are amazing! Emily DeGelder and friends at her CoOp placement at Deerview Retirement Residence.
CO-OP SUCCESS @ DEERVIEW By Emily DeGelder
Some of the things that I loved most about my Co-Op placement at Chartwell Deerview Crossing Retirement Village was meeting lots of people, getting to run my own programs and spending quality time one-on-one with the residents. The first week was challenging as I tried to get into the groove of things and learn all the resident’s names. I wasn’t expecting all the responsibility that I received but was happy to learn the staff trusted me. From this experience, I learned more about how to plan my own programs, talk to all kinds of people and how to work as a team. The amount of support I received at Deerview was surprising. So many people wanted to help me with my educational path and all the people were excited to get to know my story. This Co-Op experience helped to prepare me for my future career, and confirmed my plan to attend Mohawk College.
Help us to connect. To better connect with our community, we are looking to discover more about your experience with HDCH. We want to learn about your time here as a student, and what you have been involved with since graduation. This survey will only take about 5-6 minutes to complete.
GO ONLINE TODAY!
watch for the results
Membership Meeting & the voice Join in the conversation as we share what’s happening at HDCH.
http://hdch.org/AlumniSurvey
nov
7th
Christmas Concert
dec
8th
I would definitely recommend the Co-Op program to other students.
rejoice with us!
Our talented Praise Team, Concert Band, Choir, Chamber Ensemble, and music classes will present a beautiful evening full of Christmas spirit. Admission is free! Bring your family and friends!
CONNECTING AUTHENTIC CHALLENGES This spring, students in Mr. Vanderwier’s Grade 11 Construction Technology class put their skills to the test to build a bunkie for the Stronks family.
and frame small structures,” said Kenton Bill, Grade 11 student. “We were also taught how to construct rafters, joists, studs and roofs.”
The project was a practical way for students to demonstrate what they had learned throughout the semester and connect it to authentic challenges and problems.
The hands-on experience is a crucial learning component of our coursework at HDCH. We want students to learn with their whole self--head, heart, and hands. Projects are great opportunities to teach students about teamwork, creativity, and competence.
“We learned how to measure accurately, use power tools,
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They are an occasion to build relationships, serve others, and create beautiful work. “It was really neat to see the project through from start to finish,” said Kenton. “We planned for it, we learned all of the necessary skills, and then we executed. It’s a project that I was proud to be a part of.”
We are grateful for our exceptional educators, Dave Koiter and Aline Koiter who are celebrating 25 years of service and Shaun Vos who is celebrating 30 years of service at Hamilton District Christian High.
hdch.org | Fall 2016
Celebration of Learning
jan12th
See first hand what exceptional work the students of HDCH are doing. There will be presentations, performances, food, displays and discussions all around the school. It will be a true celebration! Take this opportunity to stroll around the school and engage with the students.
connect with us:
@HDCH_info
Anniversary
celebration
may27th Watch for news about special events reflecting on our past, present and future. Mark you calendar and plan to join us on May 27th for a day of great memories with HDCH alumni while we celebrate our 60th anniversary.
HDCH.info
whyHDCH
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The intent is that the relationship will be reciprocal; the students we hosted in May will share their homes and hospitality with us in October.
Language, History, and Culture ...
The beauty of the exchange is that students have opportunities to explore cultures within the security of well-established relationships, within the structure of coordinated group activities, and under the supervision of qualified HDCH chaperones.
a global perspective
Located minutes from the Mediterranean on the Spanish Riviera, Hamelin Laie is an established private school offering programs for students from preschool through senior high school.
untry wit h co ul if ut a be a ch su “Canada is ing t he day d en sp d ve lo I . es p a amazing landsc ploring t he forest ex nd a o nt ro To in as a group n’t wait t o show ca I . y or rm be To in s and lake Barcelona.” in s ht g si he t ts en HDCH stud ent de 11 stud Natalia, Gra Laie. @ Hamelin
We cannot wait to share about our adventures in Spain!
Stay tuned for updates in October Follow HDCH on Twitter (@HDCH_Info), Facebook (HDCH.info), and Instagram (@whyhdch) for daily photos and blog posts.
1 , Grade 1 Alejandro Laie n @ Hameli
“The short-term exchange is a once-in-alifetime opportunity,” said Ethan Miller, Grade 9 at HDCH. “It’s going to be an awesome adventure!”
For the last two years, HDCH has partnered with Hamelin in full-semester student exchanges. Now, we are excited to be partnering with them for an amazing short-term exchange opportunity. This exchange will allow HDCH students to be ambassadors for Canada and for our school, to gain global perspectives, to build relationships with students from around the world, and to explore language, history, and culture.
“Doing the exchange was one of the best decisions I’ve made,” reflected Amy Sluys, Grade 10 student at HDCH. “You become so close with your student, and it is super inter-
This past May, HDCH hosted a number of students from Hamelin Laie. While here, these students made connections with our school community, attended classes, and participated in group activities including excursions to the McMichael Gallery, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Crawford Lake Conservation Area, and Tobermory and Cypress Lake.
esting to hear all about her and her country. I am hoping to see a lot of the Spanish countryside, watch some of her basketball matches, and swim in the Mediterranean Sea. I would highly recommend this experience!”
This October Hamelin Laie will host HDCH students in their country. Our students will similarly attend classes, build relationships, and explore the culture and history of Barcelona and the Catalonia region.
PHOTO : HANK RINTJEMA
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if ferent here. d o s is re u t l u c l “The schoo edom t o study re f e or m h c u m Students have han we do in Spain, and tt t opics of interes ngaged in student learning. ye teachers are ver he opportunity t o meet or t I am t hankful f rience new ways of doing expe new people and t hings.”
Celebrating Excellence and Passion for Sport
By Brad Heidbuurt, Athletic Director
The Athlete of the Year Awards are presented annually to a senior male and female student that has made a significant impact on HDCH Athletics while demonstrating the traits of leadership, sportsmanship, excellence and work ethic. They show healthy competition and a passion for their sport.
OFSAA Glory on the Slopes I attended King’s Christian Collegiate in grade 9 and was a member of their Ski & Snowboard team. I loved every moment of the experience and was thrilled when I made it to OFSAA--it was definitely the highlight of my year. In grade 10, I switched to HDCH and discovered there wasn’t a Ski & Snowboard team. The following year I spoke to Mr. Heidbuurt, Athletic Director, about starting a new team. He quickly found two coaches, Mrs. Bloemendal and Mrs. Smith, who were eager to help us train. I was ecstatic to learn that I would have another opportunity to compete at the high school level.
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Mr. Grills helped the team get started with dryland training workouts. At the Student Council Ski Trip, the resort set up a mini course for us so we could practice going around gates. Professional coaches from Mount St. Louis Moonstone helped us on our approach lines and showed us how to complete courses in the fastest time. To help the team prepare for SOSSA, we had another on-hill training day at Blue Mountain. Besides myself, SOSSA was the first time the others on our team had raced competitively. The team raced the Giant Slalom and represented HDCH very well. Our results in the Giant Slalom allowed us to qualify for the OFSAA Championships.
At OFSAA, we competed in the Giant Slalom course and the Boardercross event and finished very well. Qualifying for OFSAA this year as an individual was the best experience. I remember not being able to stop grinning! I am so thankful for the staff coaches that put so much time and effort into preparing all the events, organizing transportation, and going the extra mile to learn about the sport so that they could instruct us. It could not have happened without their hard work. I cannot wait until the new school year when I get another opportunity to develop my snowboarding skills and make new friends.
cassie heid buurt
Noah loves to play and compete, and he loves to nail the 3-point shot. He thrives in pressure situations, and he shows a genuine love for each of the games he plays. Noah shows great athleticism in all sports, and he is willing to put in hours of practice on his own, and with the team, to work toward mastery of his skills and plays.
She has excellent skills, encourages her teammates, and never gives up. Cassie’s effective leadership as captain for both teams is evident in games and during practices. She is positive, encouraging, always gives her best, and has fun playing.
Noah Huisman has been an integral part of sport at HDCH ever since he entered the gym doors in grade 9. He has contributed to many teams including Soccer, Volleyball, Hockey and, his most loved sport, Basketball.
Noah leads his teammates with intensity, his joy of the game, and his incredible stamina. He stays positive, never gives up and is always encouraging his teammates to do better. Noah also shows great sportsmanship and respect for all those involved in the game.
PHOTOS : HANK RINTJEMA
By Frake Eisses, Grade 11 Student
noah huisman
Cassie Heidbuurt has been a very important part of the HDCH Soccer and Volleyball programs throughout her entire high school career. No matter what she is doing, Cassie consistently shows an incredible work ethic and desire to succeed.
This year, Cassie played a major role in both the volleyball and soccer team advancements to OFSAA, including a bronze medal at OFSAA Soccer! What an amazing opportunity. Cassie has truly dedicated herself to our sports teams, and we are very grateful for her contribution.
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By Jonathan DeVries, Art Educator
Using art to help preserve the EcoPark System The youth feel strongly that it is the role of the artist to preserve the beauty of nature around us, through artwork, in order to show the Hamilton public some of the areas that need to be protected.
In the past, many artists have used their art to promote conservation of the environment or to create awareness of ecological concerns by documenting environmental destruction. Creating art is an opportunity to capture images of beauty in an effort to reconnect people to their local environment. This is an opportunity that we can be part of, as Christian stewards of creation. In the Hamilton area, we have an enormous conservation project called the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark. When representatives from the EcoPark heard about an ambitious HDCH eco-art project in the Dundas Valley, they were eager to work with students too. This was an amazing opportunity for the grade eleven drawing and painting class. The first step was to get the students connected to the EcoPark in a meaningful way.
On a Friday in September, we went for a guided hike with an ecologist to understand why the EcoPark is so important. We spent the day learning about species of fish and plants, removing invasive plants, and taking reference pictures for our project. As the project started to gain momentum, we invited youth from RE-create Outreach Art Studio to participate with us to create a city-wide art competition to promote awareness of the EcoPark. Youth from HDCH and RE-create have collaborated on projects for a number of years now, and the subject of the environment is not new to them. This is the first time, however, that we are working with an environmental organization to share the beauty of nature in the Hamilton area through art. The youth involved with this project were presented with the driving question, “How can we use art to help preserve the EcoPark System?� We have come to understand that Hamilton exists in a unique location from an ecological standpoint, and there are many vulnerable plant and animal species that need to be studied and protected.
Love seeing @whyhdch student art show hanging in @541barton #deeperinfurtherout #whyhdch The youth feel strongly that it is the role of the artist to preserve the beauty of nature around us, through artwork, in order to show the Hamilton public some of the areas that need to be protected. The task of raising environmental awareness through art is not one that we want to keep to ourselves. It is for this reason that we invited other youth artists to submit a 2D artwork based on scenery from the EcoPark to our very first Eco-Art Competition. Finalists had their work exhibited at 541 Eatery and Exchange this past February, and the winners of the competition had their work exhibited in the Royal Botanical Gardens building this past June. This has been an amazing partnership between HDCH art students and community organizations for a common cause .
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#whyHDCH
Students see a rare sight this morning @HDCH_Info as #Mercury wanders in front of the sun #whyHDCH #HamOnt
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@GRSM_ca Nathan Campbell, Certified Athletic Therapist, lead a seminar on injury taping for our Kinesiology students
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Activities of mind, hand & heart By Adrianne Sprogis, HDCH Communications
“I have thought every thought about how I would rather be somewhere else, anywhere else. I have thought that there is no place on earth that I would rather be. I have asked myself, Why do I persist?”
It was at HDCH that he discovered writing poetry as his path through the ‘wilderness’. John speaks highly of Mr. Huizinga, his English teacher, who nurtured his questioning spirit, and who introduced the class to TS Eliot. But it was another student who introduced John to his writing guru.
When Mr. Nienhuis, our Grade 10 English
“Joyce Los, who was a grade ahead of me,
Woodworking is something John just walked into, learning on the job, without planning or schooling. As a well-known woodworker in this community, his skills range from house-building to fine furnituremaking. To help create a balance, John usually spends the mornings writing and afternoons woodworking. He notes:
handed me a copy of John Steinbeck’s The Red Pony in the school library, and said, “You should read this.” I did read it, and many other books by the same author, who became
John Terpstra ‘71 Excerpt from Skin Boat: Acts of faith and other navigations
my first official, ‘I want to do what he does’ writing guru.”
John Terpstra, Class of ‘71, has a name that is well-known to Hamilton readers. He is a celebrated author in our community, having won three recent Hamilton Arts Awards: the 2014 Literary award in the non-fiction category for The House with the Parapet Wall, the 2015 award in the poetry category for Brilliant Falls, and in 2016 for Writing.
For alumni who were students at Hamilton District Christian High during the years 1967-1971, these awards should come as no surprise. John won multiple prizes for poetry in the school Fine Arts Festivals in Grades 10-12. “Poetically, I peaked early,” John notes.
for class, those short lines which traveled down the page surprised me by transforming themselves into one of those: a poem. It came as quite a surprise. A revelation, really.”
When asked about what advice he could offer to our current HDCH students who have a passion for writing, John comments:
“My advice? If you already know that writing will be a lifelong thing, then the word is, persist. If writing is your art, rather than a livelihood, then you have entered a different
Typing class may seem like an unlikely place to write poetry, but John reflects on how he started writing something that on the page looked a little like poetry during Miss Buesink’s class in Grade Nine.
“Typing was something I was good at - an
“Woodworking is also an activity of mind and hand, though with a different balance
typing soon became the tool by which I made short lines which traveled down the page. I miss the sound of the typewriter bell still.
economy from the capitalism we all share regardless. You have entered God’s economy.
between the two, and is connected to a living
In my experience, you can trust it to help
part of the earth: trees. For some reason,
you get your work done and to pay the bills,
this connection is important to me. I love it, I
and these two often opposing things will be
think, because, words or wood, I love to make
accomplished in ways that are completely
things.”
individual to you, that you will have to learn as you go, so there is no pattern for you to follow
activity of mind and hand - and after having completed our daily, in-class assignment early,
As an athlete on the basketball team, track & field team (100 yds, 220 yds, long jump, triple jump, high jump), and Editor of the school newspaper, John was an active member of the HD school community. In his senior year, John put together the yearbook --along with Dave Krosschell -- and had a small role in the theatre production, Cry, the Beloved Country. In addition, there was a high school band. John remembers an escapade:
teacher, assigned us the writing of a poem
In spring 2017, a new book of poetry, tentatively called, Poetry Burns will be coming out. In addition, John is expanding on an essay he wrote for the Hamilton Arts & Letters online journal, for a book that will appear in 2018 under the title, Daylighting Chedoke.
or to provide comfort.” At present, John is working on a collection of prayers that he wrote for Sunday mornings at his church. This will be published in November under the title, Connect with John at an upcoming reading at Redeemer College on In the Company of All.
November 24th .
Visit John’s website. Advertisement:
“My ‘Minstrel Boy‘ friend, Peter Tigchelaar and I once hid out in the school overnight. We rehearsed our two-man band, Springfield Episode, from the gym stage (it was actually a three-man band but Syd Hielema wasn’t there that night) and played on the gym equipment, then high-tailed it to Tim Horton’s when the janitor came in the morning. We returned to school at 9:00, very groggy.”
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hdch.org | Fall 2016
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By Charlene Hone, Communications Specialist
#HDLetsTalk
mental healt h awareness @ HD This past May, the grade 12 Girls’ Healthy Active Living Education class organized a Mental Health Awareness Week at HDCH. What started out as an idea was made possible by a generous grant they received from the Suicide Prevention Community Council of Hamilton (SPCCH). Many students in the class had personal connections to mental health, and it stirred a passion in their hearts to follow through with this project. Their goal was to use the money to make mental health an important conversation in our school. Many class periods were spent in the computer lab brainstorming ideas for activities that were attainable based on available resources, and that would be the most beneficial to our school community. Their vision was to create a spirit of togetherness while keeping the
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hdch.org | Fall 2016
Victoria Bick ‘06 greeted contestants on The Amazing Race Canada at Dundurn Castle while in #HamOnt #HDCHalumni #AmazingRaceCanada! #HamOnt
momentum going after the week was over. Using the hashtag #HDLetsTalk, students hoped that their initiative would engage a wider audience. “Too often, people think their mental illness is something to be ashamed of. We need to create conversations about these issues so that people aren’t suffering in silence. Our goal for this week was to open the doors of acceptance in our school and generate a safe and supportive place for people to be themselves.” Meghan VanDyk, grade 11 student At the start of the week, students led seminars about depression, anxiety, eating disorders, peer pressure, and body image for grade nine classrooms. The goal was to inform and educate students about various mental health issues. The grade 9 students were very responsive to the topics and actively engaged in discussion. The grade 12 class also distributed healthy snacks during lunch, handed out awareness bracelets and organized a dress-down day with money raised going back to the SPCCH.
PHOTOS : HANK RINTJEMA
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Their most successful event was during the Wednesday lunch hour of that week when volunteers from St. John Ambulance came to HDCH with Therapy Dogs. The purpose of inviting the Therapy Dogs was to help relieve stress, increase social engagement, and bring a little bit of joy to our campus.
T. (905) 632-6192 W. www.pvv-insurance.com Standing back and watching students connect with each other over their love of animals was a really incredible thing to witness!
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“We received an outpouring of support from parents and the community, who helped spread the word about our initiative at HDCH. It was amazing to see friends, family, and total strangers come together to raise awareness about this important cause.” Meghan VanDyk Let’s keep the conversation going!
#HDLetsTalk
whyhdch So great to have St. John’s Ambulance visit us at lunch with their Therapy Dogs #alittlebitofjoy #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #HDLetsTalk
hdch.org | Fall 2016
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Serving Our Community with the Gift of Hospitality By Pauline VanderVeld, FOODS Educator
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25
new experiences As Christians, hospitality is a key element of our faith. Food and nutrition is at the core of our lives for survival and growth--having the right nutrients are most beneficial for our daily living.
The FOODS program presents a huge learning curve for some students who have never cracked an egg, flipped an omelet or made a main entree. Other students have been preparing meals in their home on a regular basis and are ready to improve their culinary skills and cooking flair.
At Hamilton District Christian High, hospitality and outreach are key components of the FOODS program--students regularly prepare meals for members of our community, school cafeteria, special events, staff functions, and those in need who dine at the Olive Branch in downtown Hamilton. While learning the culinary basics, students are also instructed to demonstrate their skills for authentic audiences.
wholesome, healthy meal options
The amazing part of the program comes from the blend of these two extremes as we enhance our culinary skills together, try new recipes, and learn more about healthy choices and nutrition.
knight’s eatery & special events Also included in the Hamilton District Christian High FOODS Program is the Knight’s Eatery Cafeteria and our Special Events team. As such, the FOODS room, kitchen, and cafeteria are constantly in a whirl of action with crosscurricular culinary experiences, daily meal prep and weekly events. Evelyn Hielema, Director of Cafeteria Services, is constantly working with different menu ideas, plans, and student staff to make our lunch hour run smoothly. Marcia Hosmar is the new Special Events Coordinator and oversees fabulous functions and fundraising dinners.
We live in a fast-paced world, and the food industry has responded to our culture with a magnitude of processed food options to alleviate time spent in the kitchen. In the HDCH Food and Nutrition course, we step away from this mindset and focus on basic ingredients to create wholesome, healthy meal options. We focus on ways to prepare cost-effective recipes with as much locally grown ingredients as possible. Digging up fresh ingredients in the morning or clipping fresh herbs from our own classroom is the beginning of delicious results.
awaken your tastebuds This past March, HDCH held an ‘Awaken Your Tastebuds’ Dinner with the intentions of raising money to purchase much-needed culinary tools and equipment. With the support of our giving community, the evening generated just over $10,000. By incorporating the Biblical imperative of tithing, 5% of the proceeds were directed to Wesley Urban Ministries to support high-school aged refugees purchase the items needed to attend school in Hamilton, while the other 5% was donated to the Ancaster Community Food Drive to support the Neighbour to Neighbour (N2N) Centre food program. The original HDCH school building on Athens Street is the location where this N2N outreach program is located, which is another unique connection to this local mission.
There is nothing like homemade. Mrs. VanderVelde shares a recipe for homemade cranberry sauce from the former Guild’s recipe book. Find the recipe at:
hdch.org
new purchases
PHOTOS : HANK RINTJEMA
With the money that remained, HDCH was able to purchase a new Garland double oven and grill and a Blodgett convection oven for the kitchen.
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Alongside these two pieces of equipment, various culinary tools were purchased that included: several new cutting boards, four stand-up mixers, large cookie sheets, Pyrex pie plates, a cast iron skillet, spiral vegetable cutter and various sizes of good quality Henkel knives for food preparation. It was through the passion of our students preparing main entrees from the FOODS program, the generosity of our International Guardian, Alice Murakami, along with L & C Catering, Tim Horton’s and Epicure, that everyone in attendance could enjoy this wonderful marché-style gala event. I am so thankful for the generosity of our community with their support of the FOODS program as we use this new equipment on a daily basis.
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Share other interesting facts with us: memories@hdch.org
By James Apers, Lacrosse Coach
The Return of Women’s Lacrosse
Inaugural Basketball Camp was a big success! Jared Patus, Coach There were 14 campers, aged 10 - 14with a good mix of boys and girls. Each day consisted of stations focusing on improving specific skills, as well as fun group games and a controlled scrimmage to end the day. It was amazing to see campers, who began the week at very different points in their basketball development, leave on Friday feeling as if they had improved their skills and knowledge of the game. There were individual goals met, some still in progress and others just beginning to form. Coach Jenny and I were very impressed with the teamwork, positive attitude and hard work that each of these campers displayed throughout the week.
This year marked the return of Women’s Lacrosse to HDCH in a big way. Spurred on by the energy and enthusiasm of our captains Emily deGelder and Sarah Louwerse, and our manager, Jayssa Kerssies, the team went from concept to competitor in a very short time. “I wanted to join the team because I had watched the boys play, and I really loved seeing the energy on the field,” reflected Emily deGelder, Team Captain. “I wanted to see if the girls could replicate that team dynamic.” With the support of Student Council, HDCH re-equipped the team with new sticks and headed out to our first tournament. Truthfully, our first game was a learning experience; we basically watched the other team play. But, by the end of the day, we had significantly narrowed our goal differential.
Extreme dedication (practicing in - and sometimes covered by - mud and snow), the team began to develop skills and game sense. By the time the girls headed out to Keswick (riding in style thanks to Mrs. Webb!), they were ready for all comers. After losing a tight first game, the girl’s rebounded to take the next two games - and the bronze. “We really didn’t know what to expect for our first real game,” said Emily. “Mr. Apers said that the other teams would be the same as us, but they were all much better. It was an amazing learning experience and it provided an opportunity for us to grow together as a team.” “Being a part of the Women’s Lacrosse team was a top highlight of my grade 11 year at HDCH,” said Micayla Wikkerink.
“It felt so good to win our first game and realize that after a little under two months of practice we were actually playing lacrosse! The team spirit, determination, and leadership were amazing. Big thanks to Mr. Apers for sticking it out with us!” Shout out to the Nigh family for making us look good off the field, and thanks to the girls’ effort and perseverance for making us look great on the field. Although we’re sad to say goodbye to a number of seniors, we’re looking to pick up where we left off next year for another season of HDCH Women’s Lacrosse!
PHOTO : HANK RINTJEMA
We look forward to the future of basketball at HDCH and the opportunity to help these athletes grow during the early stages of their development.
Behind the scenes for the ‘Morning Knight Talkshow’ going live @HDCH_Info has the link. #whyHDCH
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hdch.org | Fall 2016
hdch.org | Fall 2016
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Geek of the Week
GEEK CONTINUED As teachers we have been challenged to think about how we can take our student’s learning ‘Deeper In & Further Out’ and we see value in exploring disciplines beyond our own.
By Nate Van Kampen, Professional Development Team In his landmark book, The Courage to Teach, Parker Palmer states that “Good teachers possess a capacity for connectedness. They are able to weave a complex world of connectedness among themselves, their subjects and their students so that students can learn to weave a world for themselves” (Palmer, 1998). Led by our ardent vice-principal, Christy Bloemendal, the Professional Development (PD) Team (a team of teachers who help provide vision and execution for PD activities at HDCH) considered how to spark this kind of connectedness in teachers at HDCH. As the spring came and we as teachers felt our energy leaving, we thought that we needed to use our weekly Thursday PD sessions to have fun and engage the faculty in a passion to connect to the things we all teach. Thus, the “Geek of Week” program was born.
Rarely does math, language, science, wood shop, or art happen in the world in isolation of any other discipline, so getting further out of our classes and learning about what is happening across the school helps us make connections with our students between subjects.
By making ourselves learners again, we become better teachers. We are reminded of the joy and hardships of learning. It creates the ability for teachers to put ourselves in the shoes of our students. In this way, we connect to ourselves, our subject and our students.
Making connections allows students to make meaning of their learning, and making meaning means learning that lasts. This getting further out, helps our learning to go deeper in.
This was an answer to Palmer’s challenge to be weavers of a complex world. The program was a huge hit. Teachers designed and 3D printed key chains, created cement clocks, learned to play disc golf, learned to play spike-ball and silk-screened t-shirts. It was a blast. More than that, many teachers found a boost of mental and emotional energy in the learning. We also saw some neat cross-departmental projects and project ideas emerge from this time. After this run of Geek of the Week sessions, we saw a fascinating chemistry-art pottery project, and math-woodshop construction projects popping up.
We look forward to continuing the program sometime this coming year as one part of our professional development regime.
PHOTOS : HANK RINTJEMA
The idea of these sessions was to have teachers “geek out” on the subject they teach by sharing their enthusiasm with their colleagues.
We wanted teachers to play and spark curiosity for themselves, and remind ourselves what we love about our own disciplines. We were also excited about having teachers sparking new ideas for cross-curricular connections.
Don’t be surprised if you show up to the school early on a Thursday and see a group of teachers enjoying a French cafe discussion, dissecting an animal in the science lab, or writing poetry. We’re getting further out in our thinking and being inspired by our colleagues. As teachers, we love being inspired by our colleagues’ passion and knowledge and believe in the importance of being lifelong learners to help us bring the best we can to our students and the teaching and learning happening in our classrooms.
Alumni Survey
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hdch.org | Fall 2016
Connect with us @ http://hdch.org/AlumniSurvey
The Skills to Succeed Every student learns differently. Some prefer to study independently, while others thrive in group settings. Some like to take notes and problem-solve, while others would prefer to learn by doing. HDCH offers unique learning opportunities for every student. Our goal is to carve out space for every learner to achieve success. Co-Op at HDCH is a fantastic opportunity for students looking for a change of pace from the traditional classroom setting. It allows for a practical, hands-on approach to learning and an opportunity to explore vocational interests. Last semester, David teBrake ‘16 was given the unique opportunity to partner with Conservation Halton, a conservation authority “whose primary focus is to sustain a healthy watershed with clean streams, vigorous forests, abundant green space and balanced growth that results in strong livable communities.” David did placements at both Mountsberg Park in Campbellville and Mount Nemo Park in Burlington. At Mountsberg, David played a major role in their Maple Syrup education program. David was tasked with syrup making, collecting sap from the Sugar Bush, moving firewood, and teaching guests about this process. “We were surprised at the initiative David exhibited on the first day,” said Jim Aikenhead, David’s supervisor at Mountsberg.
“Our goal at Conservation Halton is to deliver a quality, outdoor learning experience for visiting school classes, and David provided that every time he was involved with a group. Many teachers commented on how much they and their students enjoyed their sessions with David as their instructor.” “Placements such as this help students get direct, first-hand experience in a field that they may choose to explore later in their educational and career paths,” says Jim. “The community benefits by having more young people getting an early taste of the working world.” David’s second placement, at Mount Nemo, was filled with mountain guiding, trail hiking and exploring the unique biodiversity of the cliff-edge eco-systems and caves. “The most challenging part was to push me out of my comfort zone,” said David. “When I first started, I expected to gain some basic skills, get my credits and graduate. The more I pushed myself to do new things, things that I often thought I would have a hard time succeeding at, the more I learned and the more people around me helped me to learn. My experience has been nothing less than wonderful.”
hdch.org | Fall| Fall 20162016 hdch.org
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Music Excellence Across Borders
By Jacoba Buist ‘16
On Wednesday, May 25, seventy-nine students and seven chaperones boarded two tour buses en route to Chicago to take part in Hamilton District Christian High’s 2016 Music Tour. Music Tours take place every other year with the goal of providing a variety of venues in which the concert band, choir, instrumental, and vocal ensembles can minister to young and old, to people in institutions and people in public places. Students are expected to perform suitable music that honours God with excellence and praise in a fun, safe and spiritually-rich setting. The tour officially began on Wednesday afternoon as our bus was pulling into Chicago, and the travellers were finally waking up from the long drive. The excitement grew as we weaved our way through the sunny streets of Roseland, and once we arrived at our first venue, Roseland Christian Ministries, we were pumped! We rushed off the bus and began setting up for the concert. Several people went around the corner to the food pantry section of the organization to make spaghetti for our guests. After waiting what seemed like forever for the water to boil, the people to eat, and the church to fill up, we could finally perform our first concert of the tour. It wasn’t a large crowd –about 20 or so–but as somebody said afterwards, “That was the biggest audience we ever had!” The people who attended were just so full of joy and excitement that it poured into us, and we were filled to the brim with joy and excitement, too! Dancing, waving arms, and yelling “amen!” all just added to the awesome experience. By the end of the concert, we were sad to leave, but also excited to go on and have even more fun. The trip was only beginning! After Roseland, we met our billet families. We were split into small groups and went to sleep at the houses of some people from Calvin Christian School (CCS) in South Holland, IL. We all arrived bright eyed and bushy tailed at the school the next morning, ready to take on the day. The first place we visited on Thursday was Elim Christian School, a division of Elim Christian Services in Palos, Heights, IL. Elim is a residential school for disabled children, and also the location of a day program for disabled adults. We had the opportunity to perform for about fifty or sixty of their adult day program participants. This concert was just as much fun as the one at Roseland!
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It was amazing to see the different ways that music can affect people—some people were jumping up and down and screaming with excitement, while others just had a complete look of peace as the music was being played. After Elim, we had the opportunity to attend a gospel workshop at Trinity College, and we learned a lot about gospel music and how to perform in that particular genre. We spent the rest of the afternoon doing touristy things throughout Chicago. We ate lunch and took photos in the sunshine at Navy Pier, and then headed off to Millennium Park to snap selfies and perform at the famous Giant Bean, formally known as Cloud Gate. Finally, after an amazing second day, we went back to CCS to eat ice cream and meet up with our billet families. The third day was busy and hot, but incredible nonetheless. First thing in the morning, we performed for the students at CCS and some of our billet families, who had come to see what we could do. The students loved every part of the concert, from the barbershop quartet to the concert band to the interactive song that our choir sang with the audience. We quickly packed up after the concert and drove to Humboldt Christian School. Humboldt is located right in the heart of Chicago and was an especially fun place to perform, because the school is actually an old church. The high ceilings provided amazing acoustics, and the giant stained glass windows made us feel like we were performing in a cathedral. Despite the insanely warm weather and a few technical difficulties, our concert went really well, and was enjoyed thoroughly by all who attended.
From there, we drove off to the Briar Street Theatre where we saw the Blue Man Group in concert. The Blue Man Group is a performing arts group that is kind of a mix of comedy, music, and awesome tricks. The concert was really interactive, and it was awesome to be able to be part of the fun. The Blue Man Group was definitely a highlight for a lot of the music tour participants. After the concert, we got back on our buses and drove all the way to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where we spent the night at Calvin College. Later in the dorms, we enjoyed playing Scrubs, pool, and ping pong, while some attempted to straighten Kennan’s curly hair. The next morning we had our final concert at Fulton Manor, Holland Home, a nursing home in Michigan. This concert was a great way to end the tour. We performed well, and especially enjoyed having the seniors sing along with the worship team for the closing song, “I’ll Fly Away.” We graciously accepted their gift of ice cream and hopped back on the bus for the long drive home. Overall, Music Tour 2016 was an amazing experience. We learned a lot about music and how to use it to worship God. We also learned a lot about the people on the tour, some of whom we had never really spent much time with before. We got to visit a place that many of us had never been to before, and had the opportunity to experience new things as a group.
Check out our performance at the Giant Bean in Chicago.
The first school choir in 1963 Thank you to everyone that prayed for us, helped us with fundraising and drove students to and from rehearsals. Your contributions facilitated an awesome experience for everyone involved.
hdch.org | Fall 2016
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Come and See The best way to see if Hamilton District Christian High is right for you is to come and experience our community for yourself. Drop by the school to take a tour, attend a class, meet teachers and staff and enjoy a meal from our cafeteria. We look forward to meeting you!
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92 Glancaster Road, Ancaster, ON 905.648.6655 info@hdch.org
To learn more, or to submit a registration application, visit www.hdch.org
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HAMILTON DISTRICT CHRISTIAN HIGH 92 Glancaster Road Ancaster, ON Canada L9G 3K9 T 905.648.6655 | F 905.648.3139 | E info@hdch.org