THE OCS Mind & Soul

OCS—A Blessing in All of Our Lives We are Gerry and Janet Schoon along with our four kids Tina (15), Josh (13), Kurtis (11), and Megan (8). We moved from the Guelph area to Severn Bridge, north of Orillia, in 2010, for a temporary work placement. At the completion of that job, we decided to stay. Gerry took a new job as a construction supervisor for Monteith Building Group, currently building the new Thor Motors showroom. He is in his 3rd year as an OCS board member. Janet has a housekeeping business and is a member of the OCS golf tournament committee. As a family we have a small hobby farm consisting of horses, alpacas, chickens, ducks, and a pig. Orillia Christian school has been a blessing in all of our lives for the past three years. We immediately felt wel-comed into the school community. The quality of education is outstanding, and the dedication of the teachers to their students and to

ORILLIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Educating the mind. Nurturing the soul.

For over 30 years now.

MAY 2013

Parent Testimonial

Wacky Hair Day Photos

Golf Tournament Sponsors

Retirement Celebration

Alumni Connections

Upcoming Events

Musical/Grandparents’ Day

Prayer Spot

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this issue Christian education is obvious. We love knowing that our children are being nurtured and taught in a caring Christian environment. Here is what our kids want to say about their time at Orillia Christian School. Megan: I like Orillia Christian School because I know I have Christian friends. I like Orillia Christian School because I can grow firmly in Christ. I love going to a school that teaches about Christ in more subjects than Bible. I also know that I can trust everyone there. Kurtis: In my old school, we had about 400 students and I didn't even know the names of the kids in the grade above me. At OCS, I know everybody. Josh: At Orillia Christian School I am making amazing friends, I am learning lots, and I am definitely having a great time as well! The teachers here are really great to be around and to learn from. They are patient with everyone and know how to have fun! I am very blessed to go to a Christian school such as this!

The Schoon Family

Tina: Everyone knows each other. All of your friends are Christian. You are in an environment with Christian teachers, teaching according to what we believe.

 

Janel D. Isaac K. Alayna S. Mallory W.

   

Building Solid Community Relationships

to all our golf tournament sponsors!

Family ATV Package ATV PACKAGE Valued at $30,000

OR 

$200 Hole Sponsorship Signage at the tee block

Muskoka Wrench Thor Motors R. & M. Donaldson First Medical Group Old Tymer Welding

Deardon & Stanton Mid Ontario Disposal Kempenfelt Imaging Systems

Corporate Sponsorship Signage at the tee blocks Corporate branding at each banquet table Recognition at the banquet

CT Strongman Surveying Ltd. Steenhof Building John Nyhof Automotive Cambridge Mack ($1000)

$400 

Watersport Package SPEED BOAT WITH SKIS Valued at $30,000

for fabulous hole in one prizes!

Prize/Cash Donation Business card attachment to prize donation Tax receipt issued for cash donations

Highwayman Inn Avon (C. Belanger) Regal (C. Belanger) Kelsey’s Rio Can / Orillia Square Mall Sunshine Superwash / AMCO Cambridge Mack Pampered Chef (M. Kamphuis)

Apple Annie’s Brewery Bay Pennzoil OCS-Ontario Crank Service and OCS Marine Services Pool Spa Sauna Showroom Orillia Trim & Door

A team of eight students, coached by Mrs. Brown, headed to the Orillia Public Library on May 8 to participate in the Battle of the Books. Overall, it was a positive experience for OCS’s first-time appearance in the competition. The team members (L-R): Tim W., Katelyn T., Maria B., Alayna S., Justin S., and Nathan D. Absent from the picture: Eric S. and Meaghan W.

On April 19, the school community marked the retirement of long-time OCS teacher Miss McPhedran with a “down East” themed evening. Miss McPhedran taught in the primary grades from 1989 until 2011 followed by a year and a half in the Resource classroom. Many former OCS students fondly recall Miss McPhedran’s secrets as they walked out the door at the end of the school day, “cheep-overs” (chick sleepovers), and guitar-led worship times. Miss McPhedran plans to stay connected by volunteering at OCS.

Battle of the Books Team Megan S. sings her tribute

Board chair presents Miss McPhedran with a gift

8th Annual OCS Golf Tournament

Saturday, June 15 Call 705.326.0532 to register or to add

your sponsorship commitment!

God bless you in retirement,

Miss McPhedran!

Life is a surprising, unexpected adventure, taking you to places you had never imagined, near and far. It is a sto-ry full of unexpected twists and turns in the plot written by God, the Master Storyteller! I have learned that God is the most adventurous Father, taking His children on a wild ride, nothing like what we would have ever planned. I’m sure all of us can attest to this: our lives have not turned out as we had planned! But I’m sure we can also agree that, although life has turned out differently than planned, we have experienced more of the depths of the human heart and the heart of God than we ever thought possible! And isn’t that what life is about anyways? Going as far and deep into the heart of God as possible and experiencing His immense love for us, so we can then give out this love to a world that is so desperately in need of an experience of God’s loving embrace? As a young student at OCS back in the 90’s, I had many hopes and dreams but, really, the future was one big question mark for me. I had no idea how life would unfold for me – I just knew that I wanted my life to be good! I remember in class how I would look at world maps, study geography, history, the Bible and many other subjects. I was a curious learner, but it was hard for me to imagine how it would play a part in my life and my future. If someone had told me back when I was a 12-year old at OCS that I would be a world-traveling missionary and speaker and mentor to young people, I would have laughed at them! I didn’t really think I had a heart for the nations of the world and I always got so nervous speaking in public (though I seemed to do well when it came to school speeches)! I had put so many limitations on myself because of my personal fears and insecurities that I don’t think I ever expected I would do what I have ended up doing with my life! After a few difficult teenage years of trying to navigate my life on my own apart from God, I was dramatically brought back into God’s amazing arms when I turned 20. I came face to face with the heart of God and I fell in love with Him! He loved me deeply in the midst of all my pain and He wanted me to be set free from these controlling fears and sins that had locked my heart up throughout my younger years. Now He wanted me to be a minister of this freedom to others! My own journey of freedom opened the door to surrendering to God’s idea of a good life – laying my life down for the next generation, and living to see them walking confidently as

beloved sons and daughters of a good and loving Father. This call from God led me on an adventure that had me say goodbye to Canada 8 years ago, to join Youth With A Mission (YWAM), a thriving missions organization that has over 20,000 missionaries around the globe. I spent the rest of my 20’s mainly based in New Zealand, discipling young people and taking them on mission outreaches around the globe. This international life has enlarged my heart in ways I never thought possible. When I said “yes” to God to become a missionary, I didn’t know how deeply my heart would break when I saw the pain, poverty, injustice and corruption in so many nations. I also didn’t realize how much I would fall in love with the beautifully diverse people groups and cultures of the world. I didn’t realize how diverse and beautiful God was until I stepped out of my little world and encountered His big world. God is diverse and His image is spread across the globe. Each nation represents a different aspect of God’s personality and I am richer for having seen these different sides of His beautiful face. In a surprise twist in the plot, this past year God has led me back to Canada and I’m back in the region where I grew up. I never thought this would be part of the plan – an overseas missionary back in her home country! But when I said “yes” to God years ago, I surrendered to His heart and His story and His adventure. So, God wants me back in Canada. He has some dreams for me here and a new assignment, so here I am, entering a new chapter of my life back “home”. I am now ministering with a new young adults church plant that’s being pio-neered in the Muskoka region, and I’m excited to see what God has up His sneaky sleeve in the months and years to come. His plans and His ways are good and beyond what we can plan or imagine, and I’m in – all in! Bring it on, God! For more on my life adventures, ministry and stories from the heart, visit: http://alisonlam.com .

IN TOUCH Alumni News

alumninews@orilliachristianschool.com BIRTHS On April 10 (precisely on her due date), Ava Louise was born to Emilee (Smart, ‘98) and Chris Thiessen. Ava weighed 6 lbs.

Alumni Connections Life is an Unexpected Adventure Alison Lam (Class of ‘93)

505 Gill Street Box 862 Orillia, ON L3V 6K8

705.326.0532 info@orilliachristianschool.com

Editor: principal@orilliachristianschool.com

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The OCS Mind and Soul Issue #8 May 2013 A newsletter for parents, friends, and alumni of Orillia Christian School

Give thanks for the hiring of Mr. Curtis Dulmage to teach in the intermediate grades.

Pray for the success of year-end fund-raisers.

Pray for the process of finding new members to serve on the board.

Pray for the upcoming membership meeting of the OCS society.

Pray for new families to join OCS!

www.orilliachristianschool.com Find us on Facebook!

The Prayer

Sp t “When we work,

we work; when we pray, God works!”

GRANDPARENTS’ and FRIENDS’ DAY @ OCS

Badminton Team: Congratulations to Jessi for a second place result! Back: Dawson N., Mikayla S., Jessi D., Joy T. Front: Tim S., David W., Danielle B., Josh S.

Upcoming Events OCS Walkathon 06/01 Spring Membership Meeting 06/04 Praise and Worship Barbeque 06/10 OCS Golf Tournament 06/15 Graduation 06/21 OCS Fishing Derby (705.323.7740 for more information) 06/21—06/24

SCHOOL MUSICAL “Ultimate Superstar”