Connecting Classroom, Constituency, & Christ

Communication #21

ALBERTA ADVENTIST EDUCATION

COMMUNICATION

Serving & Smiling 1

Around the Province 2, 3

The Back Page 4

Inside this issue:

Serving & Smiling… Higher Ground Christian School is firmly committed to engaging in demonstrat-ing Christ’s love in the community. Two important opportunities were part of October’s blessings. On October 9, students, staff, and various guests volun-teered at Prairie Gleaners—an organization that uses local produce to make dried soup mixes. The dried vegetable soup mix provides a nutritional boost for people around the world.

Prairie Gleaners is a non-profit organization and depends upon volunteer labor to produce the dried soup mixes. The students arrived and were placed into work stations. They prepared peppers and tomatoes for chopping and drying. The students worked hard but came away inspired and blessed to help others.

On October 20, students and staff collected 43 bags of leaves at a local park. It was a beautiful, sunny fall day. Some parents were able to join the activities. Spirits soared, waning only slightly when one student realized that this all after-noon activity was in fact part of his PE class. There was no grumbling or com-plaining, just joyful labor on a gorgeous day.

Thank you to each participant and organizer. Fun and fresh air was enjoyed by all!

Higher Ground Christian School

P A G E 2

A round the Province ...

Peace Hills Adventist School

Students at Peace Hills Adventist School visited their local fire station during Fire Pre-

vention Week. Our Kindergarten student loved wearing her fire uniform. The stu-dents climbed in the fire truck and police cruiser. A great “Being There” experience! As part of Waste and Our World Science, PHAS students recycled!!

College Heights Christian School “I don’t know what I would do if not for the little ‘bundles’ that cheer me each day!” says Mrs. Lee-Ann Leming, Grade 2 teacher.

October was filled with blessings! A huge blessing is being able to work with children who appreciate coming to our school. We had celebrated Friendship Week recently, with Tarja Lee and Jai Dubyna doing a great job of leading out. One student has already asked me when we are doing the next Friendship week (which will be in Febru-ary). The same boy had taken notice of how happy he has been. His eyes got big as he realized how peaceful he felt. He blurted out, “I have never been this good for this long!” It made me smile.

During Friendship week, It was heartwarming to watch children of different grades working, reading, and playing together. One activity was for each child to paint a tree trunk. Then three friends in each group dipped their fingertips into their chosen colours of paint to put leaves on all three trees. Students were so proud of their creations.

More Fire Fighters! And how we need them!

Mamawi Atosketan Native School

P A G E 3

Sylvan Meadows Adventist School

A visit to Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin provided

many opportunities for students to experience the

‘Good Old Days’.

Coralwood Adventist School

During Spirit Week, October 20—23, Students were permitted to wear pajamas,

jerseys or their best “tacky” outfit on special theme days.

South Side Christian School

Art or Math?...Math with

Base 10 Blocks

Assembly with Pastor Moises

Hmmm? Is this what the

colors are supposed to do?

Alberta Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Education Communications Email: lindaedu@xplornet.com Phone: 780-387-4961

www.albertasdaedu.orgwww.albertasdaedu.org

In Touch With You...

Cultivating the Gift of Encouragement Scripture is clear that we are to encourage one another. I like how Eugene Peterson (The Message) says, “Think in harmony.” 2 Corinthians 13:11

Sometimes encouragement can come from surprising sources. I recently read a story about a lady who was feeling shipwrecked and abandon by God. She left a meeting and went outside to be alone. A little girl wandered by (un-coincidentally imo!). Spontaneously she gave the woman a huge hug around the legs declaring, “Isn’t it great to know that Jesus loves us?” The woman immediately set aside her thoughts of despair and began to focus on her blessings, and appreciate that Jesus did indeed love her, regardless of her immediate circumstances. In a matter of minutes, her problem was re-solved and her spirits soared heavenward. She pledged to seek out others who needed a “hug”. That’s how encouragement works! It ripples and blos-soms, building a reservoir of hope from which to draw.

Here are a couple of ideas to foster and develop an entourage of encourag-ers: *assign two cheerleaders (encouragers) in your classroom each day. Their job is to verbally affirm and encourage their peers. Short notes and a ‘thumbs up’ are also appropriate. Talk to the class about being genuine and respectful. *create and send get well wishes or “happy day” wishes to shut-ins or those who are sick. Seek out the seniors in your community or those on your street. They are often lonely and love to receive acknowledgement from children and youth. *create positive ‘pick-me-up’ cards. The internet has a wealth of “sunny” ideas to use. Deliver them to your neighbors, a senior’s lodge or long-term care facility, or other idea of your choice. Ideally this is best done by the students. Perhaps a volunteer could accompany two students each month to deliver “sunshine” to someone else.

Here’s a line that can be used by parents to encourage their children to keep pressing onward. “I see how much you put your heart into what you are doing.”

In a matter of time we will all be educators who encourage and enable oth-ers to live in harmony and peace. “Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace.” 2 Corinthians 13:11

P A G E 4

Congratulations!

Coralwood’s principal is now

Mrs. Teresa Ferreira. She

married Brian in Terra Cotta,

Ontario on October 9, 2014.

Thank you to each one for your

submissions! Without you there is

no news! Sometimes I hear about

events and make an inquiry, but

often I do not know about the cool

things happening in your schools

unless you take a moment to share

with all of us. Please don’t be shy!

Writing Contest:

If you’ve not heard about the

details, please ask your teacher.

We’d love to hear from students

K-12. Students may submit more

that one item for each category.