Parents and staff pray for our seniors at graduation.
Dear Calvary Families,
Nothing of great value comes easily or without cost. To quote a baseball movie: “Hard? Of course it’s hard. It’s supposed to be hard. If it weren’t hard then everyone would do it. The ‘hard’ is what makes it great.”
This is true of Calvary Schools. We embrace hard work. It really is one of the things that makes us great. The hard work, in and of itself, is satisfying. When one’s efforts match up to the hard work, producing something beautiful, it brings joy.
What a year this has been for all of us!
As I look back on this year, I see great beauty born from hard work and joy…
Working With Our Hands
The fireplace mantel at Laketown was made by high school students during their woodworking Winterim in January. It was so beautifully made, it was worthy of being installed in a very prominent place. That’s two weeks of hard work from four students and a caring teacher. This past Wednesday, high school students were dismissed at noon. Students in the gardening practicum stayed afterwards to finish planting the new garden. After two years of mucky work involving amending soil with alpaca manure, students are invested and care about the fruits of their labor. Their work was satisfying.
Careful Execution
I see Handwork that is completed carefully and lovingly. It’s in the quality of Class Five’s mosaics, Class Two’s bunnies and piggies, and Class Seven’s butterfly sketches. I see class work that is completed carefully and lovingly. It’s in Class One’s math and phonics work, and Class Nine and Ten’s articulate discussion on characterization in Silas Marner. I see chores that are completed carefully and lovingly. It’s in Class Eight students who ensured that the school had equipment to clear out leaves from the landscaping and the students at Plasman who ensure that the yard is cleaned up from recess equipment and trash.
Critical Thinking and Deep Knowledge Applied to Real Life
Let me tell you a story. A parent told me recently that they got poison ivy. Without missing a beat, their middle school aged son gave specific instructions for how to treat it. He explained the process for breaking down the enzyme that causes the reaction, as well as naming the enzyme itself. When asked how he knew all that he shrugged and said, “We studied poison ivy in Nature Study, Mom.”
All of these things are aspects of the Calvary difference.
Relationship. Atmosphere. Discipline. Life.
Celebrate the growth from this year as we head into the summer. Well done, everyone! I can’t wait to see you in August.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Cheryl Ward
Head of School
Calvary Schools of Holland