Fifth grade students show the treasures they found at the Rock and Mineral Show in Holland this month.
Dear Calvary Families,
This past Saturday, I had the privilege of attending a baby shower for Mr. and Mrs. Sytsma. (If you didn’t know it, our community will be welcoming baby Sytsma in December!) At this party, there was a large portion of people in the medical field, from family practice to psychiatry.
As we chatted around the table, we were asked to describe what we do. I have given a fair amount of thought to this question before. While my title is Executive Director and Head of School, the act of running a school is not precisely why I am here.
I came to my career through years of wondering what is wrong with education. I came to the conclusion that many of the structures that build a thriving school community were absent from educational institutions, both public and private.
Thus, I became a school reformer, so to speak. I am not interested in running just “any” school. I am interested in Calvary Schools, which is a very specific type of school. It’s one that is based on healthy functional structures from a strong Christocentric worldview, within a well thought out philosophical base – and a clear eyed view of what it means to be human.
In our current age, this seems difficult to find.
I talk a lot about our school being a process-driven school, rather than a program-driven school. What does that mean?
Most modern schools are program-driven. It’s nice to have programs! However, a program is only as functional as the community from which it is born. Dysfunctional schools build dysfunctional programs. This is why our school is built on processes – the oft-invisible lines that connect people, curriculum, work habits, atmosphere – all aspects that are necessary for a thriving school environment and broader relationships between parents, students, teachers, and administrators. Our programs are an organic outpouring of those healthy processes.
Thus far, Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of education is the most functional – as well as Biblical – approach to education that I have found.
So my final response to the group was something like this, “Well, I guess I help build theoretical systems where humans can thrive. Our school is trying to address the profound brokenness that we see around us and to create a space where we can learn, grow, and speak into society from a healthy functional space.”
The family health practitioners and psychiatrists around the table applauded our school’s endeavors. Several said that they might be interested in pursuing enrollment in the future.
What is wonderful about our school is that WE are building it together. Our school is distinctively different. Most of us came here because we were looking for something different.
Perhaps we wanted a place where children freely read and speak about God. Perhaps we wanted small class sizes, or a better learning environment, or a more peaceful atmosphere, or more time outdoors, or a stronger focus on discipleship, or a pedagogy that embraces active learning – all of these things are important aspects of a Calvary, and Charlotte Mason, education.
For this school year, I have one word: Build! We are investing in a school culture that is very different from what is out there. We do so because we believe in it. I attended Mr. Sytsma’s parent internship last Thursday and I shared with the group that as I listened to parent discussions, I felt so proud of us! What amazing resilience, strength, and joy we have and continue to display.
I’m looking forward to a great year!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Cheryl Ward
Head of School
Calvary Schools of Holland