Pieces of the Puzzle

During middle school small groups and elementary family groups, students spend time together deepening their faith and building community. Last week, all first through eight grade learners gathered to create puzzle pieces, with each piece listing both talents and challenges. It was powerful to observe learners hear from peers about their gifts, and also personally reflect on their own growth opportunities. The finished puzzle pieces are displayed in our hallway as a symbol of a Christ-centered community.

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27

Water!

As our place-based preschool class went through their water study, students engaged in a wide range of fun and meaningful learning activities, from playing in water to building a rain barrel. They also explored why clean water is so important.

To extend learning and share God’s love, teachers challenged students to earn coins for Filters of Hope by completing acts of service outside their normal routines. Children got busy emptying the dishwasher, bringing in wood for a fire, organizing shoes and coats, washing windows, helping grandparents, and more! At school, students eagerly shared how they helped at home and used their earned coins to purchase four water filters for people in need! Our preschoolers reflected that helping others made them feel good.

This experience is a great example of how teachers design learning that is engaging, meaningful, and connected to real needs so that students see AND live God’s story. Great work, preschoolers!

Beauty Creators

Congratulations to our talented 1st–8th grade students and to our creative art teachers, Mrs. Bergsma and Mrs. Bruinsma! Their mixed-media artwork, Love Your Neighbor, received the highest number of votes from attendees at the Christian art exhibit, Colors of Praise. The students voted to use their cash prize to purchase food items for our Buist giving project. This piece will be hung in our East Campus conference room!