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Christian 'dream' 'school opens with 52 students TI It's not often you can fit an entire statt ot a school in one photograph. But it's easy at Scugog Christian School, where the staff is smaller than the number of children in each classroom. At top, from left is teacher in charge Ruth Van Eyk, Wayne Newton-Long, and \ wv ¥ CH? Teacher Ruth Van Eyk sings a song with her kindergarten class, following their morning prayers. A a] arb ik: ging rd secretary Bev Mulder. The bottom row features bus driver Hilda Piersma (with her daughter Carolyn), Wilma Guetter, Caroline Bos, french teacher Barbara Rance, and plant supervisor Marg Hiemstra. For details on this innovative new school, see story. V.'s desl he Ginger bye ald ~ an ' old woman gard S Jul BUS CKLY 910 Covering Central Ontario | IF THERE'S A DELAY FOR WHATEVER REASON, YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT IT ON A Public Service of the Port Perry Star, CKLY Radio, Scugog. Simcoe, Stockway, Lee Wilfred Vine and Freeman Bus Lines Teachers and board members of Scugog Christian School are confident their graduates will be every bit scholastically prepared as their On September 11, a dream came true for a small but dedicated group of Christians who wanted more than anything to create a learning en- vironment for their children that stresses the word of God. It was on this day that the doors to Scugog Christian School opened up to 52 children, bringing an end to eight months of hectic, intensive work and planning. Last January, the work had begun in earnest, but local parents had been attempting to bring an in- terdenominational school to Port Perry for years. The support for such a school was already in place within the com- munity, as well as guidelines from the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools, and the Ministry of Education. All that was needed was a loca- tion, and this proved to be the ma- jor stumbling block of the entire project. A Scugog Christian School Socie- ty, led by an elected board, spent many months searching for a suitable location, starting out with facilities at the Port Perry Baptist Church. The church, however, turn- ed down the board's offer. The board then decided to look for property to buy and build on, but was unable to find land that was reasonably priced. Finally, it turned to the Hope Reformed Christian Church, where many of its members were part of the Prince Albert church's congregation. The church approved the venture, and in January, the school society launched into a campaign to have a school opened by September 1987. Five teachers were hired, most from various parts of the province. The only local teacher is Ruth Van Eyk, who has also been given a principal-type job as teacher-in- charge. "Mrs. Van Eyk teaches kindergarten, alongside Caroline Bos who teaches grades one and two; Wayne Newton-Long who teaches grades three, four and five; Wilma Guetter, who teaches grades six, seven and eight; and Barbara Rance, who teaches french half days. All of the teachers except Mrs. Rance are fully qualified with teaching certificates and universi- 8 class. ty degrees. According to Mrs. Van Eyk French teachers are in short supp- ly all over the province, and are ex. tremely difficult to find. And while some private schools don't necessarily hire university graduates, Mrs. Van Eyk says the school board insists on it. The school is completely control] ed and paid for by tuition and dona- tions, and because parents are footing the bill, they want to make sure their children are getting the best possible education, Christian and otherwise. "Obyiously if parents are willing to spénd tuition as well as tax dollars, they make sure their children get their homework done." Mrs. Van Eyk says. Unfortunately, Mrs. Van Eyk says, she has received several com- ments from people in the communi- ty who believe their taxes are pay- ing for the Scugog Christian School. - "It's just not true," she em- phasizes. "We are a totally private school. We get no money from anyone except from tuitions and donations." With those funds, the school board has been able to purchase three por- tables, joined by a mid-section that contains an office, a workroom and washrooms. "I have to say, they've done a beautiful job on the inside," Mrs. Van Eyk says. There's still some work to be done on the outside -- monkey bars and swing sets are ready to install, and some landscaping still has to be "completed, but other than that, the school is practically finished. With a shortage of portables across the province, finding the buildings was a difficult task, and Mrs. Van Eyk says the board would still like to add one more, probably next year, when they also hire on one more teacher. At the moment, the capacity of the school is 60 students, but board . members are counting for an even bigger enrollment next year. For now, however, Mrs. Van Eyk is thrilled with the present enroll- ment ("It's more than we ex- pected,"), and with the school itself. "It's fantastic! I think it's because all the parents are so committed. so enthusiastic. It's a real family, com- munity feeling here." or fi | § b b3 3 counterparts from public school systems. Above. teacher Wilma Guetter in her Grades 6, 7 and