Justice Seeking

This month, we are looking at the throughline Justice Seeking. 

This morning, we gathered at chapel in our GIFT (Growing In Faith Together) groups. 

These are multi grade groups and we 7

get together many times throughout the year for various activities. 

Each person was given the task to draw a picture of themselves with the supplies they were give and put it on the wall in the 10 minute time limit.

It didn't take us long to notice that each group had been given different supplies:

A few groups had only one crayon for the whole group.

 Some groups got to work at tables and had enough scissors from each person. Some groups even had stickers, glue and construction paper!

The results were varied!

Then we discussed what our reactions were with our GIFT group.

Then we discussed who in this activity would have more choices in life.

It was easy to see in this illustration that those with more resources would have more options and opportunity in life. 

This video then got us thinking about the differences of children around the world.

 We tried to identify which group we represented in our colouring activity in the video:

What is just? 

We read Psalm 82:3,4:

Defend the weak and the fatherless;

uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

Rescue the weak and the needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

The Bible tells us that we need to be aware of injustice and do what we can to 

seek justice in the world around us.

Students were then told that some students around the world don't have electricity which can affect learning. Lanterns in Bangladesh cost $5. 

Our students were provided the opportunity to rake leaves at recess. For each bag of leaves raked from our school yard, the student fund will give $2.50 towards purchasing new lanterns for students in Bangladesh. 

(Our student fund is funded primarily through the cheese sale that the students have just completed.)

At recess, many students got to work. 

The first recess alone, the students raked 16 bags!

They have four recesses to gather as many leaves as they can. 

Justice seeking in small and large ways!

Diabetes Awareness Month, Worship and an Announcement!

Our chapel this morning began with an announcement about our school musical. 

We're pretty excited!

We want to let our lights shine!

We also had a chance to learn more about diabetes and the work that the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation does. Ms. Leslie from the JDRF came and educated us on some things that we might not have know about diabetes. 

This topic is very important to us because we want to have knowledge and awareness. 

We want to a supportive and loving community for Maya and her family as they live with diabetes. 

She was a wonderful co-presenter today!

Tomorrow, our students have the opportunity to dress out of uniform (in blue, the colour of diabetes awareness) for a $2 donation. We encourage you to wear blue tomorrow as well and consider a donation to this worthy organization as well. 

Our Students Remember

 Tomorrow, our school, city, country and the world mark a day of remembrance. 

We will hold a chapel tomorrow at 10:45, and as always, parents are welcome. 

In our classrooms, we also discuss and respond to the peace we enjoy and the freedoms we have and the cost of these to many. 

Below, you will some a sampling of some of the responses of our students 

from JK through Grade 8. 

Years ago they went to war

Overseas to fight and die

Years ago they endured the gore

Many lost without "Goodbye"

They fought in trenches cold and small

Fought for those of us alive

They died by guns and bloody brawl

They dies so we could live and thrive

We lament and mourn for those who sleep

And cry and pray for the fallen with grief

For those who fell to fight in battles deep

And forever we must remember and weep.

"And so today, we remember those who died, fighting for our country."

Leah did all she could not to cry. It had been 2 years since her brother died in the war and now her whole life had fallen apart. "Why me?" she thought. "Why not someone else?" Leah's hands clenched and unclenched. "The brave and strong like David Vander, Simon Heart, Daniel Clark, Peter Grunwald..." Leah felt a cold wet tear roll down her cheek. "Why me?". She watched as drop after drop fell onto her dress. (continued below)

"It's going to be OK, Leah. We'll get through this."

"You might, but I'm never going to," Leah replied. "He was my best friend and no one can replace him"
"And all the others that fought in the war we remember them on this day. Thank You". 

Leah looked up and wiped her tears away.

"Leah, I've got to go and speak now. Do you want to come up with me?" her mom asked.

"No, it's ok Mom, go up without me," replied Leah. 

"OK, be right back".

After her mom left, Leah got lost in her own thoughts. I wonder what it would be like if Peter was still alive? As she went over what life would be like, she heard her mother's voice saying, "We miss our son dearly but life goes on and so do we."

At this point, Leah shut out all of the outside world and continued her thoughts of her beloved brother Peter, the way he made her laugh and smile even when she felt like the whole world had turned on her. He had always been there for her. "Oh, Peter, why you?" Leah thought. "Why did you have to go to that awful war?"

|Leah could still remember the day that he had left to go to war and how he had said, "I'll be home before you know I was gone." She thought, "Now how did that turn out, Peter?" Leah suddenly felt very angry with herself and Peter, but the anger slowly died down into deep sadness and regret. "If only he had stayed, if only."

The Bible Tells Me So: God is always with us

We began our chapel today with a Grade One sacrifice of praise:

Father, We Love You

This month, we are looking at the Bible theme: God is always with you, He protects you.

We understand this truth that God will be with us when we are afraid because the Bible tells us so.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuternomy 31:6 (NIV) 

Our grade four students brainstormed some stories from the Bible in which people, who although they might have felt afraid, trusted God and God was with them through their fear and difficult times. They wrote a summary of the story and how God was with them. They also drew pictures to illustrate the story. They shared their thoughts with us at chapel today: