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2016 Highlights

2016 Highlights

2015-2016 Top Ten Moments at Hamilton District Christian High
There are still a lot of things to finish this semester. But I want to take this time to do what has become an annual tradition: celebrate these 2016 highlights with the Top Ten Moments at Hamilton District Christian High. I will list them out in typical David Letterman fashion from 10 – 1. Drum roll please!!!

This year’s Top Ten Moments are:

10. Devotions – While this might seem like a very broad category, and it is, this year I have been very struck by the meaningful devotions of our students and staff. When grade 11 student Chelsea Borg lead our membership meeting in devotions, I was very impressed by the maturity and perspective by which she chose Scripture and context for our devotional time before the meeting. And this was just a taste of the many, many, many grounding and meaningful devotions that were shared throughout the school all year.

9. Experts volunteering their time – One part of doing projects at Hamilton District Christian High is having experts in the field come and speak, give insight, and at times even assess projects. These experts are trained professionals and craftsman who volunteer their time to come and inspire our students and help them develop beautiful work. Our quick calculations tell us that over 200 experts have participated in the learning of our students this year. This is over 300 hours of service. Our students’ learning is better because of this investment. Thank you!

8. New Vice Principal, Mrs. Bloemendal – This past year Mrs. Christy Bloemendal joined the leadership team at Hamilton District Christian High as a Vice Principal. Her enthusiasm for exceptional learning has been contagious and it has been a real blessing to students and staff to have her assisting in the incredible things that happen at HDCH. Mrs. Bloemendal, you have made us better and you are a reason this year has been so good. Thank you!

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7. Projects, Projects, Projects – While the word right now might conjure up some stress or even anxiety for our kids and our staff, learning by designing, developing and delivering projects at Hamilton District Christian High has come a long way. The intention of these projects are to give our students differentiated ways to explore, expand and be authentically exposed to the curriculum at HDCH. And based on the products that our students are producing, we can see clearly our school’s learning mission.

6. Disc Golf Course Opens – One of said projects was the Venture class’ Disc Golf Course. The opening of this course, and the high level of use it has had already, is an indication that this project has been successful. It was designed from the outset to serve the people of Hamilton and surrounding areas, to make Hamilton District Christian High a place for our wider community to come and find joy. Congratulations to our Venture students for pulling it off.

disc golf

5. Design Block – This year, our grade 9 students were given an amazing new learning experience. After many meetings and discussions we transformed our Info Technology course into a new, innovative Design Block learning experience. In many ways, this course is a base camp for developing the community we want at Hamilton District Christian High, as well as some of the soft and hard technical skills we want our students to learn.

4. Celebrations of Learning – HDCH is blessed with a tremendously engaged support community. This community is by far the best thing about Hamilton District Christian High and we shouldn’t take it for granted. But nothing beats the way our community comes out for our Celebrations of Learning! I get overwhelmed by seeing the parking lot jammed so full that we spill onto the grounds and also have to park across the road at the church. These evenings, to me, are an indication of the engagement we have in our students learning and success.

3. Assemblies – Our assemblies are awesome community times. They are times to be silly and to be serious, but one particular assembly I won’t soon forget: at the end of the assembly, our Drama class came up to do a Pirates of the Caribbean fight scene. What broke out was a ‘Flash Mob Fight Scene,’ totally scripted, planned and well-executed, much to the surprise to those of us in the audience who suspected nothing. It was so cool and well done.

2. Interviews with our grade 12 students – At the end of the year, the Leadership  Team gave the opportunity to all of the grade 12’s to sit down with us, break bread (or pizza) and talk about their high school experience at Hamilton District Christian High. We all left those meetings full: full of the wisdom of our grade 12’s and full with joy at the growth of these fantastic individuals over four years. To those who joined us, thank you for blessing us with your candor and insight. To the parents of our grade 12’s, you would have been very proud of your child; their ability to articulate the joys and sorrows of high school was astounding.

1. Food and Hospitality – We eat well here, and often; we feed our community really well, too. I think of events like the Celebration of Learning, the March fundraiser, or staff meals on PD days; our International Homestay dinner; new families & leaving families dinners, Social Committee events, etc. At Hamilton District Christian High, we like to celebrate and we like to share hospitality and fellowship. We see breaking bread as something to build our community. It goes as far as the candy in the office that is shared with students or the coffee for guests who are waiting to meet with someone. And maybe it’s less about food, candy or coffee and more about a means of generous hospitality.

If you have made it this far, I am sure you can stand with me and say, Thank you Lord for a wonderful school year! We are a blessed community, and I look forward to keeping it going.
NSiebenga
Nathan Siebenga
Principal

Jun 15adminComments Disabled