SPR 2024 Connections

A HAMILTON DISTRICT CHRISTIAN HIGH PUBLICATION

What does teaching Christianly look like?

James Harskamp, HDCH Science teacher

What does it mean when we say we are Christian teachers? Is Christian merely an adjective, or is Christian teaching cohesively a verb in itself? Teaching Christianly is not primarily equipping churched children to have the right knowledge and skills, but is teaching from the viewpoint that these students are image bearers of God; eternal souls loved by God. Just as it would be considered negligence for a parent to feed a child candy and pizza as their whole diet, so too, it would be negligent to offer a curriculum that does not feed the whole person–mind, body, and soul. This task relies on the personal faith of the teacher to serve as the guide, the aligning of curriculum to show Christ as the author and sustainer of life, and the community of believers upholding the students.

Agricultural metaphors pertaining to the Christian life are plentiful in the Scriptures. The image of the tree planted by streams of water in Psalm 1 illustrates the need for a constant sustaining source, which the psalmist attributes to “delighting and meditating on God’s law day and night” (Psalm 1:2). If a Christian teacher is to be genuine in their goal of encouraging the growth of Christ-followers, our roots must go down to the living water, to Christ and His word, taking time to abide in Him and His love (John 15). As we pursue the beauty and holiness of God, we find who we truly are as children of God, as beloved by the Father.

As renowned educator Parker Palmer puts in his book

The Courage to Teach, “Good teaching cannot be reduced to technique; good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher.” A genuine desire to know and follow Christ personally that spills into our teaching organically will be what our students will remember, likely more than any project or assignment.

C.S. Lewis, in his “Meditation in a Tool Shed,” paints a picture of an old shed where a beam of light shines through the crack in the wall. His observation of the motes of dust floating in the air allows him to see the beam – he is looking at the beam. But when he moves into the beam of light and looks along it, the tool shed disappears in the brilliance of the light, and he partially sees the trees sunbathed in the breeze outside, and even further away, the sun itself.

Much of the curriculum teachers have been given to teach is like looking at the beam – it is a world of facts, of proofs, of details, and observations – important things to learn. However, another perspective that leads to understanding is experiencing the beam itself – what are the implications to our lives as Christ followers. One can look at cell division and mitosis, learn the steps of prophase and metaphase, and even carcinogenic causes of mitosis gone awry – cancer. These are good and important things to learn. But we can also look along the topic, diving into the reality of suffering, disease, and death. We can explore the tough topics of God’s sovereignty, the confusion, frustration, and even anger at God for the loss of a loved one to disease.

This is the responsibility of Christian teaching, to see that everything we do, every topic, every person, is intertwined into the divine and eternal story. And while oftentimes this is an ideal we strive for and can get left behind, it is in this that the teacher serves as both guide and witness to the larger redemption story of a God who has loved so deeply and has promised to wipe away every tear and to make everything sad come untrue.

Finally, Christian teaching is a practice relying on the whole community. In Wendell Berry’s book “Hannah Coulter,” the protagonist reflects on her small rural community of Port William and what she affectionately called “the membership.” These were the farmers, the community, that came out when there was need, that stayed until dark during the harvest, knowing that the following week the rest of the membership would be helping with their own harvest. There were no time cards filled out, no money exchanged – so much so that if these topics were brought up, a confused look was given. I am convinced that this should be the ethos of our Christian schools.

What we are doing, both in home

life

is of the utmost importance for

and school

life,

our students.

We are cultivating hearts.

Chapel Challenge

“Paul in 2 Timothy commends his friend and fellow worker, Timothy, to live out his Christian life like a soldier, athlete, and a farmer - all roles that require discipline and effort.

Do we see that same challenge in our Christian walk? Are we putting in the “spiritual sweat” in following Christ, “straining towards the goal that we’ve been called to?”

Philippians 3:13-14

Are our affections and passions satisfied by simple things, like C.S. Lewis compares to playing in the mud, or do we have greater, more full and beautiful goals in front of us?”

James Harskamp, Spring 2024 Chapel

HD is not a place of trading commodities, of tuition dollars for an exchange of goods. Although this is my profession and I am on payroll at HDCH, the role of Christian teaching is not the role of the teacher at HD alone, but rather, it is a partnership between families and school. It requires the home to be deeply involved in the Christian formation, with the school supporting the good work that is already being done in the other spheres of the student’s life.

The apostle Paul boldly proclaims that “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor 2:9). There is a greater reality, starting in this life, and fulfilled completely at Christ’s second coming, that is available to us. So much so that all the things of this life are rubbish compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ (Phil 3:8-9). My hope is that in our literature classes, our calculus assignments, our chemistry labs, we can look along the greater story of Christ the King, to hear our good shepherd calling us to follow Him in everything we do. And it is my deepest privilege that I get to do that for my own children, but also in some smaller way for your children as well.

We appreciate the Christ-centered education at HDCH and the clear love for the students that the staff exhibit. We also like the wide variety of programs and opportunities that are available to them at HDCH. We have been very happy with the experience our older child has had so far there as well.”

Marty

and

Rachel

Speelman, Board Chair, HDCH Alumna, HDCH Parents

We asked Alumni...

How has your experience at HDCH equipped you to discern and live a life of service to God since graduation

What sticks out to me most about my time at HDCH is the way that teachers invested in my formation rather than just my information intake. Teachers noticed what I was passionate about and helped point me towards the resources and supports that allowed me to confidently pursue my interests independently. This was an important, foundational time that allowed me to step into adulthood better equipped in my life of service.

David Schuurman, Alumni Class of 2015

I’m so grateful for the meeting we had at HDCH as we prepare to send our child there next year. We are so blessed and thankful for a school with staff who genuinely care for every one of their students!”

Paul & Anna Vos, Board Member, HDCH alumni & Parents of HDCH alumni

We value a curriculum taught by Christian teachers through the lens of a Reformed Christian worldview. Strong academics and opportunities for athletics are appealing. We appreciate the staff at HDCH and the community that they work hard to foster among the students.”

Dave & Cara DeHaan, HDCH Parents

During my time at HDCH, I was welcomed into a community of learning that was supportive and had a good balance of challenge and encouragement. Teachers and staff were committed to teaching good content and being invested in my life more holistically. I really valued devotional times and hearing teachers share real stories from living lives of faithfulness. Being at HDCH gave me a place to try a lot of different things and get good feedback that helped me to decide what direction to go after high school. Many of the teachers knew me pretty well by the end and were able to speak into my life.

The connections that HDCH has with local businesses, organizations, and churches were really valuable in forming the way I thought about how a life of service really works. I could explore my passion of serving others in a way that was tangible and practical.

After high school, I went on to study Social Development Studies at the University of Waterloo. Since then, I have been working with Act Five, a Christian gap year program in Hamilton. My experience at HDCH gave me a helpful foundation for thinking about how to serve young people who are figuring out their next steps. I’m thankful for the good role models I had at HDCH and other places, and I love being able to pass on the skills that I have learned to other young adults coming out of high school.

Abby Lobert, Alumni Class of 2015

Prayer

Informal prayer is a big part of everyday life at HDCH. Teachers bring prayer into the classroom as they are led, often using prayer to open and close their classroom time. There are many formal and informal prayer opportunities for students, staff and families.

Praying Parents: This group of faithful parents meets once monthly to pray for students, staff and Christian education. The group invites prayer requests from staff

and community.

Staff Devotions:

All staff meet every Monday morning for devotional time and prayer.

HDCHapel:

A weekly gathering of students and staff worshiping and praying together. Alternate weeks feature in-person worship and livestream or pre-recorded messages. Our HDCHapel team develops themes and both students and staff members are worship leaders.

Joint staff-student prayer group: This group focuses on prayer for the students and the school.

Girls Bible Study and Worship Group: meets Thursdays during lunch; student-led.

Faith Focus Week

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Matthew 5:44 ESV

God has revealed himself to humanity in his spoken word (creation), his written word (the Bible) and through His Spirit.

When students at HD study how the brain works, colours in art, joinery in woodshop, mathematical equations, with a sense of wonder, amazement and desire to understand, we are focusing on the revealed word of God (creation) and the Spirit (creating a sense of wonder/amazement).

To dwell on the word of God can and should include learning about the spoken word (creation and creativity).”

HDCH Staff Member

HD’s first “Faith Focus Week” was April 22-26. A Youth with a Mission (YWAM) team from Kona, Hawaii led two, one-hour chapel services. Every day at lunch, the YWAM team spent time connecting with students, studying the Bible, praying, playing sports or making music together.

We are grateful for the YWAM team sharing the message of God’s love with our school community.

Mark Your Calendar

June 20: Last Day of 23-24 School Year

June 24: Graduation at Redeemer University College

June 28: Report Cards on Edsby

July 15-Aug 5: Office Closure

Aug 22 & 27: Orientation Days

Sept 3: First Day of 24-25 & Opening Assembly

Sept 6: Gr. 9 Day

Sept 11-13: Gr. 12 Rafting Trip

Sept 21: Annual Golf Tournament (www.hdch.org/events/golf)

Connect With Us

Duncan Todd Principal principal@hdch.org

905.648.6655 x 105

Sara Whetstone Sandra Baker Vice Principal Advancement & Admissions

swhetstone@hdch.org sbaker@hdch.org

905.648.6655 x 103 905.648.6655 x 122

Nate VanKampen Tina VanDyk Dean of Students Engagement Coordinator nvankampen@hdch.org tvandyk@hdch.org