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The Citizen, 1994-02-09, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9,1994. Parents discuss organizing Christian school By Tim Cumming Expositor Editor Christian education provides an alternative option to the secular views in publicly-funded schools, a crowd of about 30 was told at Bethel Bible Church in Egmondville on Feb. 3. The crowd of interested parents and individuals heard proposals for a Christian school to be located in the Seaforth or Walton areas. A further meeting for more discussion about the Christian school proposal is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 24 at Bethel Bible Church. Pastor Rick Lucas acknowledged that privately-funded Christian education is a monetary expense. He urged listeners, however, to look not at their bank statements for their assets but to their homes. "My greatest assets are at home right now," said the Pastor of Bethel Bible Church in Egmondville. He said his role was not to twist arms in favour of sending children to the Christian School but rather to present an option to Christian parents. "I would never say a Christian school is the only option for you," he said. The treasurer of the Christian Academy in London is Tony Vanderlaan, of the Seaforth area. He said he sends his children to the facility but that it's a long drive. There are currently about 19 children from the Huron area who attend the school in London. The school, which accepts children from kindergarten to senior high school grades, has an enrollment of 226 pupils. There are 13 full-time and four part-time staff at the school. The school is overseen by a board of seven people, and has a budget of about $650,000. The money comes from bursaries by grandparents and RCSSB plans public meeting The Huron-Perth County Roman Catholic Secondary School Board has decided to hold a public meet­ ing on April 6 to discuss the future of St. Joseph's School in Stratford. Recommendations will be pre­ sented to the board, by the Board Accommodation Review Commit­ Heart and Stroke month launched Huron County Warden Allan J. Gibson raises the Heart and Stroke Society flag outside the Huron County Court House in Goderich Thursday as Heart and Stroke month was marked by the county. Taking part in the ceremony with the warden are (left to right) Greg Williams, campaign chairperson; Steven Smith, area co-ordinator for Huron and Perth Counties, Dr. Maarten Bokhout, MOH for Huron and Vickie Harkness, area secretary for the Huron-Perth chapter. friends and tuition covers about 60 per cent of the costs. Tuition of one student is $3,500 but if a parent is enrolling two children the total tuition is $4,700. Parents pay a maximum tuition of $5,900 if they have more than two children. Children learn their values at a very young age, said Phil Conley, principal of the Christian Academy in London. He said in his 14 years at the school he has seen miracles. 'T've seen students who have seen the Lord for the first time," he said. Born-again Christian talks of values By Tim Cumming Expositor Editor The values of modern-day people are being shaped by their peers, teachers and the media, said a Winthrop-area man who spoke at Bethel Bible Church on Thursday. Rick Packer, of RR 1, Londesboro, told a crowd of about 30 at Bethel Bible Church in Egmondville that before becoming a'^^agam Christian his values were shaped by the world. Packer, at least one parent of a "I believed that everything was pupil must profess faith in Jesus relative," he said. According to Christ. The teachers regard their that view each person decided for occupations as a ’ministry,' he said, themselves what was right or and the quality of education is wrong. ’’incredible." ' In 1990, however, a minister After first picking up the bible, asked him if he was reading the Packer read a book entitled bible. The former University of "Satan's Alive and Well" which Guelph student, who had ignored told that the devil fell from heaven the Christian holy book, found in it because of pride, a view which was "contrary to "I was always taught that pride everything I read before." was a good thing and humility was The bible had relevance in crazy," recalled Packer, contemporary times, he said. "I Evolution is one of the secular couldn’t believe how relevant this views which are promoted by was, I couldn’t believe how real it secular society, suggested Packer, is today." "God created this world, I The local man gave a testimony believe he created it 6,000 years on Feb. 3 as part of a meeting held ago," he said in his testimony. tee, at the regular meeting on March 28. No debate or vote will take place at that time. The special meeting will be held at St. Michael's Catholic Secondary School at 7:30 p.m. The board approved the payment of a special levy from the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Asso­ Mr. Conley said the school provides a high standard of academic education as well as Christian values. "If we're not doing better than most public schools (in academics) then we're not doing our job." The students at the school take the Canadian test of basic skills. All credits are inspected by the Ministry of Education to see they are on an academic par with public school courses. The principal didn't foresee a time when public monies would fund Christian education. If to see whether there is enough support for a Christian school in the Seaforth or Walton area. If established, the institution would be a satellite school of the Christian Academy in London. "I would really love to seeja.' Christian Schoo! in Seaforth," he told the group. "It's the Lord's will, I don’t know if it’s the Lord’s . tuning. .,y|g At the Academy in London, said ciation (OSSTA) in the amount of $1,425.93. The resignation of teacher Jean­ nette Eybergen was accepted by the board, to be effective June 30. Congratulations will be sent to Michael White, a student at Holy Name of Mary School, for being a national poster contest winner. government did fund the schools there would have to be no strings attached, he said. Even if governments were prepared to fund Christian schools parents should still have to pay, said Mr. Conley. "Christian school education School would need 20 students per teacher If parents in the Seaforth area were to establish a Christian school there would have to be about 20 students for each teacher to make the project financially viable, said Phil Conley, Principal of the Christian Academy of Western Ontario at Hyde Park. Each teacher could teach up to three grades, he said. A crowd of about 30 at Thursday's meeting at Bethel Bible Church in Egmondville heard that a library could be gradually set up and that a gymnasium from a neighbouring church could be used for athletics facilities. A questionnaire was passed out at the Feb. 3 meeting to assess how much interest there is in a Christian THE HURON-PERTH COUNTY ROMAN CATHOLIC SEPARATE SCHOOL BOARD KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION will be held for Junior Kindergarten and Senior Kindergarten on Tuesday, February 15,1994,9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In order to register for Kindergarten, children must be four (4) years of age on or befgre December 31, 1994. Parents are required to bring the Baptismal Certificate, Birth Certificate and Immunization Record Card of the child you intend to register. Parents should contact the school In which you Intend to register your child for an appointment prior to the registration date to obtain registration Information/material that should be completed at home and brought to the registration meeting. The location for Kindergarten classes will be as follows: St Joseph’s School (KINGSBRIDGE) Jane Whaling, Principal R.R. 3 GODERICH 529-7646 St Columban School Don Farwell, Principal R.R. 2 DUBLIN 345-2086 Our Lady of Mount Carmel School Dave Sharpe, Principal R.R. 3 DASHWOOD 237-3337 St Joseph’s School Ed Cappelli, Principal 169 Beech Street CUNTON 482-7035 Precious Blood School Sandy McQuillan, Principal Sanders Street West, EXETER 235-1691 St Mary’s School Fran Craig, Principal 70 Bennett Street E., GODERICH 524-9901 St James School Jim McDade, Principal Chalk Street, SEAFORTH 527-0321 Jeanne Sauvd School Sam Alberico, Principal 8 Grange Street STATFORD 273-3396 should always cost something," he said. "If it costs something you're gong to have more of an investment, you're going to be involved. "The best schools are where your parents are involved." school for the area. "Our next step is really to look at the questionnaire...to see who really wants to see this happen and see if this is the time the Lord will have this," said Pastor Rick Lucas. If a satellite school were established it would likely rely on the Christian Academy for learning materials and curriculum development. "We're excited about the fact there's interest up here," said Conley. Two options include a satellite school or busing more children to the London facility, said Tony Vanderlaan, treasurer of the Academy. St. Boniface School Laurie Kraftcheck, Principal Mary Street ZURICH 236-4335 Sacred Heart School Jim Staff ler, Principal Cornyn Street WINGHAM 357-1090 St. Mary’s School (HESSON) Adrian Pontsloen, Principal R.R.4LISTOWEL 595-8929 St. Ambrose School Ray Contois, Principal 181 Louise Street STRATFORD 271-7544 St. Joseph’s School Gary Birmingham, Principal 363 St Vincent St, STRATFORD 271-3574 St. Aloysius School Mike Dewan, Principal 228 Avondale Ave STRATFORD 271-3636 Holy Name of Mary School Joe MacDonald, Principal 161 Peel Street ST. MARYS 284-2170 St. Patrick's School, Kinkora Paul Nickel, Principal R.R. 1 SEBRINGVILLE 393-5580 Parents who expect that their child will enrol In the optional French Immersion Program in Grade 1, in future years, have the option of enrolment for Junior/Senior Kindergarten at either their local Catholic School or the French Immersion Centre (St. Mary's School, Goderich or Jeanne Sauvd School, Stratford) at which they expect to enrol their child for a French Immersion program. L. Martin j.s. Brown, M.A., Ed. D., Chairperson of the Board Director of Education