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12-- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tues. November 22, 1983 School based on God's teachings Not content with the Christian values being taught in neighbouring schools, a group of adventuresome Scugog parents with an un- shakeable faith in God started a school of their own. The Port Perry Christian School, now three months old, is } They're new and they're not very big, but what is that expres- sion about the little guy who always tries harder? At any rate, here they are, all the children and staff who make up Port Perry Chris- tian School. In front, from left is Kim Guenther, Rosemary Michel, Julie Mitchell, Nathan Michel and Johathan Fletcher; in back is Karyn Guenther, Janna Fletcher, Mrs. Joan Thompson, Jamie Flet- based in one room of the Port Perry Baptist Church on Highway 7A. With only 10 children under her supervision, teacher Joan Thompson is able to tutor four grades at once -- grades one, two, three and four. The kindergarten students remain at home and are taught by parents. Older children, because of necessity, are sent to other schools but parents are hoping to add higher grades to the school as time goes by, starting with grade five-next year. Darrell Mitchell and John Michel, both employees at Raglan Welding, were instru- mental in the school's - beginning but modestly give credit to God. "We felt it was some- i thing the Lord was putting in our hearts," Mr. Mitchell said. "'Obviously if the Lord is the source then you have to go to him for help." "The emphasis is not on what we have done because we are all common people," added Mr. Michel. "The Lord has led us through it." The school was in the " works for about a year "before opening this - September. Its hours are the same as other public schools as are holidays and the length of terms. Children are bussed to the school from the area, many from Blackstock, on the same buses which carry students to R.H. Cornish and other schools. The curriculum is also basically the same with math, reading, environ- mental studies (science, geography and history), and printing or writing. Mrs. Thompson points out the emphasis is on phonics in language, sounding the words out and she claims the children are learning to read at a faster rate than usual. But the real differ- ence between this and other schools is the prayer time and Bible stories and the religious overtones in the posters which hang on the walls. At lunchtime the children say grace before digging into their lunch pails. "We felt that schools should be an extension of the home and should have the same accomp- lishments, the same set of values and priorities as the home," Mr. Mitchell explained. '"As our homes are Christ centered, so is our school', comment- ed Mr. Michel. Putting the school together wasn't as diff- icult as some might imagine, either. Parents merely contact- ed the government, fill- ed out an application, checked with the health and fire departments, painted, hung a few blackboards, hired a teacher and they were all set. The teacher, Mrs. Thompson, is a recent graduate of Lakehead University. This is her first year teaching and the job is exactly what she'd hoped it would be. Throughout university she hoped for a chance to teach in a one room school, or something similiar, but was con- tinually told no such thing existed anymore. When she heard about the job through friends of her husband, she was very happy. The budget has been ACT NOW ... more than met through tuitions and donations and parents are plann- ing on teaching at least another seven children next year. With approx- imately 70 children attending the church, they are prepared to expand in the future into more classrooms (the church has several) with more teachers. But in the meantime, it's the smallest school in town. 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