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The Jellybean Gospel

April 01, 2021
By Dr. P. Ogborne

The Jellybean Gospel

By Dr. P. Ogborne

 
It was my joy today to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the Grade 2-8 classes. Romans 1:16 reminds us that the gospel - the good news of Jesus Christ - is the power of God. The most important information that I could ever share with the students is this truth.  Using scripture and colours of jellybeans, I went over the gospel poster that is in each room. In this confused and fearful time, I trust God used my heart and His words from Scripture to remind the students that our hope is in the Lord.
 
I also spent time with the JK - Grade 1 classes reading the Countdown to Easter. Somewhat like the twelve days to Christmas idea. However, this book is about the Easter story done as a countdown in numbers to tell the gospel story. The narrative is all Scripture.
 
At the end of the day, each teacher played the Superbook video on the Easter story, with each video of this series ending in the Salvation song. 
 
In this Easter season, I wish this good news to be a part of every home. I have given each student a pamphlet called The Gospel, God’s plan for me. I gave all PCS families a copy of this a few Christmases ago, but here is another copy that can be used during Easter.
 
Be blessed and be renewed in the God who saves!
 
Dr.Ogborne
 

PCS Board Update-Principal Search

March 26, 2021
By Mr. Kelvin Kauffeldt

PCS Board Update-Principal Search

By Mr. Kelvin Kaufeldt

 
Dear PCS Family,
 
As you are aware Dr. Ogborne approached the board almost two years ago letting us know of the need to start a plan of transition, as he felt his time at PCS was coming to a close. For all of us it was difficult to imagine PCS without Dr. Ogborne as the Principal, but we knew this day was eventually going to come.  So, along with Dr. Ogborne’s leadership, we partnered with an organization called Edvance Christian Schools Association. Edvance is an organization that comes alongside and equips leaders to foster excellence within Christian Elementary and Secondary schools.
 
With Edvance’s assistance and input from the teachers and staff of PCS, a Principal Profile was developed and a job posting was listed. There were seven individuals who applied for the position. Of those seven four were invited back to be interviewed by a committee from the board. Of those four, two candidates were then invited back to individually meet with the whole board.
 
After a thorough process and much prayer, we are pleased to announce that Mr. Dave Park was selected and has been offered a 2-year contract position as Interim Principal. We are grateful to have the consistency that comes from an internal candidate to lead PCS in this next exciting chapter of its history.
 
Please pray for Dr. Ogborne, Mr. Park, the leadership team, teachers and staff during this season of transition. We are thankful to Dr. Ogborne for his vision and establishment of the mission of PCS, and look forward to continuing to see the school flourish as a biblically based, religious organization that supports families who choose to give their children a Christian education based on the Christian worldview and moral convictions expressed in the school’s Statement of Faith and Statement of Core Family Values.
 
Finally, I would like to thank each of the board members for their incredible time and commitment to this significant process.
 
Sincerely, on behalf of the board,
Kelvin Kauffeldt
Chairman
 
Board members:
Nicole Aikman-Smith
Shan Buchana-Chacko
Sean Bowen
Ian Hales
Hany Philips
Matt Sylvester

Rethink - Don't Cancel

March 12, 2021
By Dr. P. Ogborne

Rethink - Don’t Cancel

By Dr. Paul Ogborne

 

As we close in on a year of COVID concerns, it is a worthwhile activity to reflect and plan on what was and what is and what can be. 

It has been a long journey of masks and separation and lock downs. Is the turning point just ahead as the vaccine is being rolled out to the public? Maybe. But until the official report is given, we continue in this season and work at living smart, not fearful.

At schools all over the province, many traditional activities have been outright canceled and students are left with a shell of what they formally had in school. Sports teams are gone, field trips are non-existent, and many classroom activities are suspended. 

At PCS we know some things are gone but can we reinvent them, change them or come up with new activity within the health guidelines? We think so. One such activity is basketball. Combined with other Christian schools, PCS will be competing in a Free-Throw event. It involves students setting a score through the program. Top winners of each section will move on to compete at a school in Lindsay. All of this fits under the guidelines of social distancing and safety. Basketball skill reinvented not canceled. 

Carnival has not been canceled but moved outdoors as soon as the weather is agreeable. Some activities will change, others will be added and sanitization protocols put in place. Reinvented not canceled.

The postponed March Break has created an extra long gap so the school has extended the February Fun Fridays into March Madness to lift the morale of all involved.  Reinvented not canceled.

There are other activities being assessed and thought through so as to provide an enjoyable, safe continuation of the culture at PCS. (online chess?)

What about your family? Are you rethinking Spring Break and what to do? Even further, what about the summer months? Destinations changed? Activities changed? We would love to hear from you and possibly share some of the inventive ideas that you send us. The next blog could centre around this sharing platform. Your ideas might spark other ideas and so on and so on.

 

New Updates on Covid Screening

February 26, 2021
By Dr. P. Ogborne

New Updates on Covid Screening

By Dr, P. Ogborne
 
Three weeks in and students are back to enjoying school (as much as possible) and teachers are back into the swing of presenting their in-class curriculum with a passion.
 
We recently have received some additional enhanced screening protocols that the Ministry of Health would like us to pass along to our families.
 
First of all, thank you for all your effort in screening and practicing COVID-19 protocols that have allowed PCS to remain healthy. Our health nurse noted that we were her only school that has not at some point had any staff or students test positive for COVID-19 during school hours. That is testament to you as parents and to the goodness of our God.  But now, the Government of Ontario is asking more of us to keep this trend going.
 
Screening Protocols
 
When reviewing the PCS daily screening form, please consider the symptom descriptions (that I have placed below) as your reference for answering yes or no on the form. We are back to the one symptom requirement but that does require parental judgement. There are two observational words used. “New and Worsening.” The important information to consider from the new screening document is the phrase “new or worsening symptom of COVID-19 that is not related to any other causes or conditions they already have”.
 
1. If you feel the symptoms are new, and unrelated to COVID-19, keep the child home, until they are better (as per our normal procedures).
 
2. If you feel the symptoms are new, worsening and may be related to COVID-19, the student must continue to stay home until:
  • They receive an alternative diagnosis by a health care professional, or
  • They receive a negative COVID-19 test result, or
  • It has been 10 days since their symptom onset, and they are feeling better.
There is also an enhanced protocol to consider when someone in your household has a case or suspected case of COVID-19 that families are asked to follow. 
 
Isolation Protocol
 
If anyone in the household has new or worsening symptoms related to COVID-19 and has been recommended for isolation and testing, they must stay home until the testing is complete. No matter who has been sent to be tested, ALL household members (parents and students) must stay home until a negative test or an alternative diagnosis has been received from a health care professional.
 
If the test is positive, or no test is done, then all members of the household must isolate for 14 days and the symptomatic individual must isolate for 10 days.
 
Simply put, if your child presents an unexplained illness then take them to the doctor as soon as possible.
 
Thank you for your continued diligence as we work together to keep our school environment COVID free.
 

Ontario COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening

Are you currently experiencing any of these symptoms?
 

Choose any/all that are new, worsening, and not related to other known causes or conditions you already have.

  • Fever and/or chills

    • Temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius/100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher

  • Cough or barking cough (croup)

    • Continuous, more than usual, making a whistling noise when breathing (not related to asthma, post-infectious reactive airways, or other known causes or conditions you already have)

  • Shortness of breath 

    • Out of breath, unable to breathe deeply (not related to asthma or other known causes or conditions you already have)

  • Decrease or loss of taste or smell

    • Not related to seasonal allergies, neurological disorders, or other known causes or conditions you already have

  • Sore throat or difficulty swallowing

    • Painful swallowing (not related to seasonal allergies, acid reflux, or other known causes or conditions you already have)

  • Runny or stuffy/congested nose

    • Not related to seasonal allergies, being outside in cold weather, or other known causes or conditions you already have

  • Headache

    • Unusual, long-lasting (not related to tension-type headaches, chronic migraines, or other known causes or conditions you already have

  • Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea

    • Not related to irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, menstrual cramps, or other known causes or conditions you already have

  • Extreme tiredness or muscle aches
    • Unusual, fatigue, lack of energy, poor feeding in infants (not related to depression, insomnia, thyroid dysfunction, sudden injury, or other causes or conditions you already have)
 

Recent Posts

The Jellybean Gospel
4/1/21 - By Dr. P. Ogborne
PCS Board Update-Principal Search
3/26/21 - By Mr. Kelvin Kauffeldt
Rethink - Don't Cancel
3/12/21 - By Dr. P. Ogborne
New Updates on Covid Screening
2/26/21 - By Dr. P. Ogborne
Together Again
2/12/21 - By Dr. P. Ogborne
The Cost of Christmas
12/18/20 - By Dr. P. Ogborne
A Season of Joy - PCS 12 Days of Christmas
11/27/20 - By Dr. P. Ogborne
A Message from the Board - Nov. 13th, 2020
11/13/20 - By Board
Checklists - A New Normal
10/30/20 - By Dr. P. Ogborne
Count Your Blessings
10/8/20 - By Dr. P. Ogborne

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