Each Day is a Gift

Psalm 118:24 reads “This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

I sang this with my class recently.

It was the end of a busy day and we were getting ready to pray and dismiss. The kids echoed my song, and as we rejoiced together, the music cheered my soul.

Feeling joyful, I began singing, “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands…” The kids smiled, sang, and clapped along! I thought to myself, “I bet they can handle stomping their feet,” so I began verse 2. That’s when I noticed a scuffle in the back of the class. The singing and stomping continued, while two boys began tugging on a piece of paper, back and forth. “If you’re happy and you know it…”  give it to me!... “then your face will surely show it…” rip!...look what you did!...the song screeched to a halt and two boys were in tears. I headed over to the scene to investigate.

It turns out one of the boys received an invitation, and the other boy did not. He acted out in his hurt, tried to grab the invitation to look at it, and ripped it. As I taped it up, I realized that these little ones are learning life lessons, and it’s hard sometimes. Should I really be that surprised that he reacted impulsively, like a 6-year-old boy?  God placed me here in this classroom to come alongside him, and 21 other 6- and 7-years olds, who are learning life lessons too. I am here to lead and guide them to see their value in the eyes of Christ and to help them make wise choices. I am reminded every day that I am called to more than teaching math and science. I am called to love, to offer grace, to model forgiveness, to nurture kindness and peace. I am called to spread God’s love.

This is a big undertaking, a huge responsibility, and a wonderful privilege! It’s a gift! Each day is an opportunity to meet the children where they are to love them, love & logic them, teach them, and encourage them. 

This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Even if my song gets interrupted.

-BCCS Teacher

Helping Young Learners

Recently, the Center for the Advancement of Christian Education (CACE) released an article called “Nurturing the Caterpillar: Ten Characteristics of Young Learners" that described and explained the way young children learn incredibly well. It was written by education consultant Steven Levy.

Listed below are the ten ways from the article, but it is worth reading in its entirety!

1. Young children find security in rhythm, ritual, and repetition.

2. Young children learn through play.

3. Young children want to belong to a community that is safe, beautiful, and good.

4. Young children explore the world with wonder.

5. Young children discover the world first through their bodies.

6. Young children seek independence and mastery.

7. Young children thrive in the natural world.

8. Young children use stories to construct meaning.

9. Young children seek patterns in the world around them.

10. Young children learn by imitation.

When we think about helping the whole child succeed, it is so important to understand how they learn and who they are! At BCCS, we know our young learners are uniquely created by God and we have to meet them where they are to ensure each individual child can learn and grow!

NWEA Map Testing: The New Standardized Test

2nd through 8th-grade students at Byron Center Christian School (BCCS) started their NWEA MAP testing this week. These are an important tool for our school to track student progress and to improve our instruction. However, these assessments are not like the standardized assessments of the past. Check out the video below for a short overview!

The assessments are adaptive, meaning they change based on the answers students are giving. They also allow us to focus on each individual student to make sure their learning needs are being met. Follow the test, teachers are also able to analyze their classroom data to recognize trends and assess areas of their teaching that need alteration or improvement. We use the MAP test to make sure our students and teachers are growing!!

2020 Apparel Sale

Welcome to the 2020 Apparel Sale! You can order online, your items are sent to school, and we will distribute it to families (or anyone else who makes a purchase).  Make sure all orders are in by September 30, as the store will close after that date! All orders will arrive in October and these items will make great gifts.

You can choose your colors, sizes, and some items can have a custom print (the last name is common) on the back. Check out the pictures below for a preview of the many great items!

Share this site with friends, family members, or anyone else you think might want to purchase BCCS apparel!

Click this link to place your order now!

2020 Virtual Auction

This year, our annual school auction has gone virtual! The Virtual Auction has already begun, but there's still plenty of time to get involved. Visit the Virtual Auction website to check out the great items available and place your bids. Bidding ends at 9 p.m. this Friday, September 25 – be sure to set a reminder, so you don’t get outbid! Winning bidders can check out and pay their invoices online as soon as the auction ends. Pickup will take place at the BCCS East Campus (gym doors) on Saturday, September 26, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Delivery is available for an additional $25 donation at checkout. If you have any questions, please contact Olivia Huisman at auctionbccs@gmail.com.

Remember to follow the Auction Facebook page (Byron Center Christian School Annual Auction) and mark "Going" on the Facebook Event (link below) to get updates throughout the virtual auction. Invite your family and friends to check out the Virtual Auction website, join the event, and help support Byron Center Christian School!

We are so thankful for the continued support of our community!

Online Learning Look-back: Together, we are BCCS!

Last spring, our community, and the world were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It affected not only schools but also businesses, churches, family life and so much more. In March of 2020, we were required to transition to online learning and finished our school year that way. 

There were many emotions, reactions, and opinions to the pandemic response, stay-at-home orders, and health issues. However, at BCCS we were able to make decisions based on what was best for our students. The situation also revealed why Christian education is so crucial. In the worst of times, parents and teachers continued to work together to ensure students were loved, were able to learn, and were able to continue to grow into the children God created them to be. We all have the same goal in mind, and that is to ensure each child receives an excellent education that is rooted in God’s Word and prepares each individual for lifelong service in God’s Kingdom. 

During online learning, students may not have done projects perfectly, learned every math lesson, or memorized as many spelling words, but the most important learning continued. Our students learned to find the positives in difficult situations. Our students learned to persevere more than ever before. Our students learned that they should always show the love of Christ to others, even when life is not going the way they want. They learned that sometimes life is hard and we must rely on Christ for strength. They learned all this and more from their parents and teachers working together. 

In-person instruction cannot be fully replaced and we are so happy to now be back to school in-person, but we were blessed by dedicated staff and parents. 

Now more than ever, together, we are BCCS.

Congratulations Class of 2020

The Class of 2020 had a school year and graduation like none before them. This group of students had 8th grade altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, but they still were still able to conclude their school year together online. 

On the evening of June 4, we celebrated the graduating class, the work they have done at BCCS, and most importantly, the work God has done in their lives. Each of the 8th-grade teachers spoke to the students at graduation and left them with this challenge: “As you move into high school, you will be faced with joys and successes, as well as sorrows and failures. But through it all, remember God’s faithfulness and your place as a witness for His glory in His story. Know that you will always find encouragement and love from your teachers at BCCS. You will always be OUR students.”

This school year was filled with great joy, but also great sorrow. However, we were able to rely on God’s faithfulness through it all. It is our deep hope and prayer that our students will continue to find their place in God’s story and live in a way that glorifies God!

Welcome Home

The video was created by a BCCS alumni currently attending Calvin University. He wanted to help share our story with others and did an amazing job!

As we worked to develop a new logo, one of the best parts was listening to parents and teachers talk about our Christ-centered community. At BCCS, we want each child to realize how much God loves them, how God has gifted them, and that God calls them to use their gifts to serve others.

Your child is important.

New Visual Representation

Byron Center Christian School is excited to share the new visual representation of our school. We have always been a Christ-centered community, focusing on the growth and success of the whole child, but our hope is that our new logo will better represent our school to this community. 

The “B” with a cross through the center represents Christ as our center. The portion of the cross extending below the “B” indicates that faith is the foundation of everything we do at BCCS. Since 1917, we have been providing a high quality, Christ-centered education and we look forward to continuing to do that for many years to come!

The video below was created by a BCCS alumni who is now attend school at Calvin University! It shares a little more about our school!

Good Samaritan Project

Each year, our 8th grade students conclude their time at Byron Center Christian School by completing the Good Samaritan project. The project is part of their geography class and has a variety of components that requires them to use skills acquired while in school. While the project itself is large, in short, each student is given the freedom to identify and research a need (either in our immediate community or outside it) and then find a way they can help meet it. The unique aspect this year is that students worked on this project during COVID-19. Even not being in school could stop work from being done!

The reason this project is so important is that we want students that leave BCCS to not only be able to identify needs or problems in their community, but also be willing to be a part of the solution. The results range depending on the student. Some mow lawns for elderly neighbors, some babysit, some pray for community members, some sell products and donate proceeds to a church or local food bank, others collect needed materials for charitable organizations in other countries or provide Bibles to those that do not have access to them. 

It is amazing to see how God works through these projects. Our prayer is that He would be glorified through the work of each 8th grade class!

Take a look at the slides below to see some of the ways God is working. These are just a few of a wide variety of projects, but it is awesome to see the unique ways 8th graders decided to serve!