Every Square Centimetre

In episode 13, Loretta Anderson at Immanuel Christian School in Charlottetown, PEI, invites us into her grade 1 classroom where students are invited to create beautiful work in learning about their neighbours, the farm, and more. Join the ESC “Troop” as we learn:

- biking can be good for relationships… whether that be completing an over 300km trek with your husband (as in Loretta’s case) or just going out on your own to blow off some steam after being cooped up too long during Covid (as Jeremy’s case);

- that according to our extensive research and backed by our experience with Loretta, the most patient teachers are Grade 1 teachers… second is grade 12;

- to be called a true “Islander” you need to not only live on PEI, but you had to be born there as well; how grade 1 students can be empowered to create beautiful work and nurtured to provide feedback for each other;

- that students do their best work when their work matters and has a purpose beyond the classroom walls like at Island Hill Farm;

- and there‘s nothing like the gifts grade 1 students give - Loretta received a gift that was 13 feet tall! Read the CBC article about it here - shorturl.at/iHZ47

Connect with Loretta at [email protected]

In episode 12, Darren hosts the second Every Square Centimetre “campfire” conversation. Inspired by our chat with Matt Klassen from Calvin Christian Collegiate (episode 10), Darren asks how we can double down on prioritizing experience in educational design, and the conversation quickly led to evaluating the impact of grading and post-secondary school admissions on learning. Once again, we included quite a feisty “crossfire” segment, responding to listener messages/questions like:

Who has inspired us in our current roles?

What is a favourite Christmas gift from a student?

What’s a song you listened to on repeat in middle school?

What is a story of regret from your past?

In episode 11, our first “Big Boss” episode, the Executive Director of the Prairie Centre for Christian Education, Gayle Monsma, leads us through the Canadian Prairies and schools us in some women’s leadership truths. Join the ESC “Glittering” as we learn: we need a geography teacher to teach us a few things about continents; how staff can have some good, clean fun when administration is out of the building (or not so clean when it involves laying sod); how the Alberta alternative program is peculiar in the Canadian Christian school landscape; about the humble beginnings of a little thing we like to call “Teaching for Transformation;” some of the specific barriers that women face in leadership; about Gayle’s involvement in some exciting initiatives that are happening to support women leaders.

Connect with Gayle at [email protected] or check out one of Gayle’s posts on the Women Leaders for Christian Education blog (wlce.org)

In episode 10, Matt Klassen at Calvin Christian Collegiate in Winnipeg, Manitoba, takes us out of the classroom to find God in outdoor education.

Join the ESC “Drove” as we learn: road rage Darren may be scarier than lawn removal Darren; Neil Young may be cool enough to be called a Pegger, while most people from the city at the centre of North America are called Winnipeggers; the Forks in downtown Winnipeg is the bullseye of North America; that Winnipeg as a city has committed to Truth and Reconciliation through Winnipeg’s Indigenous Accord; the only thing better than a home cooked meal, is a home harvested meal; the importance of getting out of the classroom and connecting with the land around us; that university requirements should not always dictate the learning experiences we invite students into in high school; and ice-fishing holes and bee hives are part of God’s every square centimetre too.

Connect with Matt at [email protected]

In episode 9 our virtual tour of Canada takes the ferry to the “Warm Land” of Duncan Christian School in Duncan, British Columbia with grade six teacher Sandy Veenstra. Join our ESC “gang” hosted by Sandy and her 40 year teaching journey into deeper truth and reconciliation with the Cowichan Tribes as we learn: how thankful Darren, Justin and I are for our elementary school teachers - one of them even gave one of us a friend...; why Darren is so smart… (hint: it was Sandy.); conventions provide wonderful stories, of which some are embarrassing; that Duncan is called the City of Totems; how Duncan Christian has walked faithfully through some major demographic shifts… namely embracing their indigenous neighbours of the Cowichan Tribes; how a Christian school teacher’s journey can transform their life outside of school; and how navigating difference with love and humility can lead to holiness and wisdom.

Connect with Sandy at [email protected].

In episode 8, Perpetual Boafo at King’s Christian Collegiate in Oakville, Ontario, invites us into her grade 10 Career’s classroom which embodies “diversity + inclusion = belonging.” Join the ESC “Corps” as we learn: some interesting tidbits about our names (spoiler alert: Darren could have been Darlene), even grade 8’s can start a day off sharing their gratitude, Oakville is as pleasant as it’s name sounds - right down to having Canada’s best weather, King’s Christian Collegiate’s community is as wonderful as Oakville is pleasant, a supply or sub teacher can have a lasting impact on their students, a recommended resource on diversity - Simon Sinek’s podcast episode “Enchantment with Chloe Valdary," and that Christian schools need to be leading the diversity conversation in a peculiar way.

Connect with Perpetual at [email protected].

In episode 7, Darren hosts the first ever Every Square Centimetre “campfire” conversation. Inspired by our chat with Shannon Gillespie from Nanaimo Christian School (episode 3), Darren asks if grade levels are really just arbitrary groups based on birthdate, or are they something else.

The campfire also proves to be an ideal atmosphere to engage in a “crossfire” segment, responding to listener messages/questions like: Why put your kids in Christian education? What's the best solution to dress codes in Christian schools? What hashtag would you like to get trending?

In episode 6, Liz Rachul at Edmonton Christian School--Northeast Campus in Edmonton, Alberta, invites us into her grade 4/5 classroom which uses Teaching for Transformation to invite kids to meet real needs for real people in their learning. Join the ESC “Surfeit” as we learn: some cats don’t have owners, they have staff; that cups and goblets are not the same; that there’s 17 hours of daylight in Edmonton for summer solstice (and only 7.5 hours during winter solstice); the Edmonton Mall has a lake in it; the profound impact that prayer has had on Liz’s career path; how Liz got to re-write the story of her relationship to her own teachers; how to use a math lesson as an opportunity to serve sandwiches at the Mustard Seed Church; that buses are for doing field work not field trips; and that community partners provide amazing expertise and authenticity for student learning.

Connect with Liz at [email protected].

In episode 5, Jacquie De Raaf at Trinity Christian School in Burlington, Ontario, invites us into her grade 2 classroom with sound walls and timelines where students meet Jesus. Join the ESC “Cast” as we learn: chair take-down can be seriously risky business; that colour matters in a teacher’s wardrobe; what a Bruce Trail “end to ender” is; that 26 letters equals 42 phonemes, especially on Jacquie’s Sound Wall; the significance of the Hebrew phrase Tohu vavohu; that it’s time to start planning class trips to Israel; that twins actually share the same birthday; and what it might look like to embody a school’s mission statement.

Connect with Jacquie at [email protected].

In episode 4, Bonnie Burton at Richmond Christian School invites us into RCS’s unique story of the purpose for learning. Join the ESC “Convocation” as we learn: the connection between Odie and having a growth mindset; sometimes punishment requires a good ice cream sandwich; faking a fight is one way to see who your real friends are; when it comes to city-building you’d rather not have to worry about liquefaction; how a city’s unique demographics shapes the story and culture of a school; that a Learning Commons vision can ignite student passion and creativity; that rhythms of quiet and prayer prepare us for the work we do; that Bonnie’s meeting with Haida artist Jordan Seward (and the drum skin she received from him) continue to impact her and others; that crafting a good staff memo matters.

You can reach Bonnie at [email protected].