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"You are going to start a Chris- - tian School and it is going to be suc- cessful. It's inevitable." Those words were spaken by Ray Hendriks, principal of a Peter- borough Christian school, during a * public meeting held last Tuesday night in Port Perry. The meeting, at Emmanuel Pentecostal Church on Rosa Street, housed approximately 25 people, all anxious to discuss the possibility of Tony Vanderlaan (left), and Christian school principal Ray Hen- driks were the hosts last Tuesday night for an open meeting to discuss the possibility of a Port Perry Christian learning institu- tion. See story for details. £4 bringing a Christian school to the Port Perry area. Tony Vanderlaan, a member of the Scugog Christian School -Association that has been operating for the past seven years, organized the meeting in hopes of instilling in- terest in a school that could open as - early as September 1987 « "We're going to make a decision before the end of January regarding whether or not we start in September," he said. According to Mr. Vanderlaan, six- teen families have already commit- ted themselves to the project, which would mean an immediate enroll- ment of 33 children if the school does open in 1987. And although the meeting was held in a Pentecostal Church, Mr. Vanderlaan says the new school will be interdenominational, for Chris- tian families of any church. To describe how the church would be run and what it could be like, guest speaker Ray Hendriks talked at some length about the school where he is employed, also an in- terdenominational Christian school. The Peterborough school opened its doors eight years ago in the base- ment of a local church. Twenty-two students were enrolled on opening day, despite a lack of funds. "It was a leap of faith," Mr. Hen- driks said. 'They didn't have the money. It just wasn't there." - In spite of the lack of funds, the school grew until it was no longer possible to operate in the basement of the church. A new building was purchased, and after that, enroll- ment increased dramatically. "This year we have 104 students. Next year we're predicting 120," he said. ~ His-Story, PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, January 20, 1987 -- 61 Local Christian school is possible Seventeen churches are involved with the Peterborough school, in cluding 12 different denominations Some people might think the mix wouldn't work but Mr. Hendriks says it does. "It's a remarkable setting. We've had this beautiful experience of in- termingling," he said. *'I'm coming quickly to the opinion that it's the only kind of Christian school to have." : He says the basis of his school, and. other Christian schools that belong to the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools (a service organization for Christian day schools in Eastern Canada made up of 74 individual schools) is faith. Everything in the school, from math to geography is taught so students can better understand God and Christianity. "Our children learn with a pur- pose,' he said. With regards to mathematics, he says. "One plus one equals two because God wanted it to be that way. God wanted order- -thus the numerical system.' History, he points out, is taught as "God's unfalding redemptive plan." Geography, he explains, is "All of these different cultures around the world, searching for God in one way or another." - And as for Science, particularly the controvérsial subject of evolu- tion, he says, "I teach evolution, folks, and boy do I have fun. I teach evolution, I don't believe it, but | teach it, The academics of the school, he claims, are higher than Ministry of Education . standards. academics aren't the only subjects But taught "The academics are there. That's easy Anyone can teach academics,' he said. "The hardest part is teaching children to be good Christians." As for public schools, he said. "they're not a denial of the society around us. We've been accused of that. The public school system isn't bad--it just doesn't fit our purposes. It's 'not good enough because it doesn't provide a perspective One of the stumbling blocks of opening a Port Perry Christian school, Mr. Vanderlaan says, is fin ding a suitable location. Negotia- tions are underway at the present time with the Port Perry Baptist Church. For several years a €hris- tian school was run in specially made facilities in the Church. Now that the school is defunct (since 1986), Mr. Vanderlaan is hoping to rent the facilities which include classrooms and a gymnasium not used by the church on a regular basis. If opened, Mr. Vanderlaan says the school will contain classes from Kindergarten to Grade Eight with double grades. An education com- Christian mittee will interview teachers with . university qualifications and make recommendations to a "school board." WEDDING INVITATIONS and Accessories PORT PERRY STAR 235 Queen Street Port Perry 985-7383 aman Color TV eo SCi923W contrast and color fidelity. e Electronic tuging. HRC, ICC. e Auto-Control Color System ® Electronic Power efficient energy usage. 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