Retro Day

Update from the Grade 12 Retreat

The Class of 2012 had an opportunity to spend a few days together at Muskoka Woods Resort, playing together, praying together and growing together. Here’s a brief synopsis of their time away, provided by Mr. Harris.

There is a clearly a great sense of community being developed in the class. They have also showed themselves to be quite spunky in the face of very challenging weather. Today we went with ‘plan A’ despite drizzle and wet, muddy conditions. And I hate to say it, but this is the nicest weather we’ve seen. The activities included high ropes, low ropes, giant swing, archery, canoeing (Ruth and I were totally soaked after our battle with students this morning on the water – which we won), zip line, hiking, skate park, and hiking. This place is pretty amazing, I imagine more so in good weather.

Our speaker, Robin Bailey, challenged the class to take hold of what God has positioned them for this year. He spoke on the student council theme regarding imitating God, on the spiritual life theme regarding encouragement, and on the challenge Paul gave Timothy regarding not letting “anyone look down on you because you are young.” He was very good and the student break-out discussion groups seemed to go very well. There were times when we know that God was “totally” present and there were many aspects of our retreat that were definitely Holy Spirit driven.

Here are just a few photos taken during the retreat. For more photos, check out the school's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SmithvilleChristian.

Tuesday

Grade 9 Bible celebrates the Passover. . .

and choir goes to Agape Valley for a day-long retreat.

Tessellations

Math students making tessellations: designs that contain patterns that can be extended in the plane infinitely in every direction. Each design begins as a square or rectangle: then creativity takes over. Next time you visit the school, check the east hallway -- look up!

Real-life chemistry

This week in Grade 11 Chemistry, students detoxified soil samples that had been contaminated with copper. Part of the Chemistry curriculum so far this year has included an examination of the role of human sin in environmental degradation and the importance for Christians of speaking the truth (about pollution, for example) in love.

"This is real-life chemistry," said Mr. Lammers.

Day 2 at Muskoka Woods

“Becoming a leader by loving the way that Jesus loved”

Speaker Robin Bailey shared many personal stories about times he has encountered Christ in the love of others. He expressed the importance of showing love to others just like Christ did. We listened to a song by Mumford and Sons titled “Awake My Soul."

Awake My Soul: Mumford and Sons

How fickle my heart and how woozy my eyes
I struggle to find any truth in your lies
And now my heart stumbles on things I don't know
This weakness I feel I must finally show

Lend me your hand and we'll conquer them all
But lend me your heart and I'll just let you fall
Lend me your eyes I can change what you see
But your soul you must keep, totally free

Har har, har har, har har, har har

In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
Where you invest your love, you invest your life
In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
Where you invest your love, you invest your life

Awake my soul, awake my soul
Awake my soul
You were made to meet your maker
Awake my soul, awake my soul
Awake my soul

You were made to meet your maker
You were made to meet your maker

After listening we went into our small groups to discuss the song as well as discuss where we, as students, invest our love.

God is working here at this camp in developing leaders and showing us how to lead by loving others. A big push so far has been becoming leaders in our school as well as building up our school. Robin has challenged us to continue to make efforts to turn the ship (the school) to become an even more loving school. Together great things can happen!

Day 1 at Muskoka Woods

By Mariah

This morning we left for Muskoka Woods in Northern Ontario for our Grade 12 trip.
Despite the cold and rain, I think we all were still looking forward to arrival and the activities of the week.

We stopped in Bracebridge for a lunch break and shortly after we arrived at the resort at around 1:30. At first glance we saw the zip line course, rock climb wall, tennis courts, volley ball courts, and the high ropes course. I could already tell this was going to be a week full of new things for people to try out and enjoy.

After breaking up into 4 different groups, each group participated into a variety of the activities. My group started out with zip lining and it was a first for many. The climb up was very difficult as we had to climb approximately 60 feet of vertical rope net to get to the top of the zip line. What made it even more difficult was the cold and the wind, but that did not discourage us. Other groups enjoyed the giant swing, high ropes course, canoeing and hiking. Theses activities were followed by a delicious meal! At 7:00 we had our first worship and teaching session led by our speaker, Robin Bailey. Developing leadership was the topic of the session. We were challenged to become greater leaders in our school and community as well as finding someone who can mentor us to become the leaders we are called to be.

It has been an amazing start so far! I can hardly wait to see what tomorrow will bring!

Grade 12 at Muskoka Woods

Grade 12 students are off to Muskoka Woods for a three-day retreat!

Before they left on Wednesday morning, spiritual life director Mr. Park led them in opening devotions.

He based his talk on Colossians 13:

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Mr. Park, who is a also a teacher of drama and English literature, said Paul is using a clothing metaphor, similar to the clothing metaphor used by Shakespeare in the Tragedy of MacBeth, in which Macbeth is described as being “a dwarf in giant’s clothes.”

The ill-fitting clothing in MacBeth is used to depict a struggle with the consequences of one’s actions, but in contrast, Paul urges his readers to put on someone else’s clothing that will fit well. “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience,” he said. “We are allowed to put on Christ. It fits.”

Mr. Park said we have to get dressed every day and in the same way we need to put on Christ every day.

“We are going to be in close quarters for three days,” he said. “There’s going to be some rubbing of elbows, and it doesn’t take long for your true character to come out.”

That’s why, even with our best friends, we must “bear with each other and forgive one another,” he said.

“Please look at these three days as an amazing gift from God,” he said, “that God has rolled up to your life, right up to your front door. It’s going to be great, it’s going to be awesome.

“There is going to be something in it for you, so grab hold of it and recognize that God is in it.”

While they are on the retreat, students will be climbing, ziplining, cycling, golfing, canoeing, hiking and more!

God bless all the students and leaders. We are praying you're having a wonderful time.

Celebrating diversity and creativity

At this morning's chapel, Mr. Wunderink shared stories and photos from his three-month trip through Asia earlier this year.
The art teacher said he can live for three months out of what he can carry in a backpack, but he always travels with a cylinder into which he can roll up the artwork which he purchases during his travels.
His slide show was a celebration of the diversity of the cultures he encountered, and he provided many descriptions of the joy and beauty found all over the globe.
"It's beautiful, it's amazing," he said, of the art, architecture and culture he encountered.
He also shared his experiences of learning about Christians and Christianity wherever he travelled.
Coming later this week: more photos from Mr. Wunderink's globe-trotting adventures.

We were also blessed to be led in worship by another student praise team, who sand The Desert Song, I Will Rise and Came to My Rescue.

We've got to install microwave ovens

Students' Council purchased four new microwave ovens for the lounge so we can have hot and tasty snacks and lunches every day -- with shorter line-ups!

DIY Mini-Golf

Q. What do you do when you're in the middle of a golf unit and it's a rainy day?

A. Make your own mini-golf course, of course.

Mr. Bender's Grade 11 Phys Ed class got creative, emptied the equipment room and created crazy and complicated putting challenges.

Here's an example. See more photos in the Mini-Golf photo album on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SmithvilleChristian/

Cross-Country Congratulations

Congratulations to the Midget Boys' Cross-Country team, competing at the Vic Matthews Open at the University of Guelph today. The team finished in third place!
Props to individual runner Quintin who came in 5th!
Go Storm!

Food Bank Helpers

Teams of students have been heading over to West Lincoln Community Care with Spiritual Life Director Mr. Park this week, helping the food bank move to its new home.

Community Care program manager Garry Warden is grateful for the students' help -- especially with the heavy lifting -- saying they have been "awesome. We couldn't have done it without them."