Principal's Perspective

by Paul Triemstra

Jesus said, in Matthew 19, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” As a parent what I want most for my children is that they become followers of Jesus. More than anything else I want them to know that Jesus is their Lord and their Savior and to live a life that brings glory to his name. I know that I can’t do this on my own. I need the help of my church community and the broader Christian community.

This is where Ottawa Christian School fits into the picture. It’s a gathering of Christians, parents and non-parents alike, who believe that it is critically important that families have the opportunity to send their children to a school where they are supported in their God-given task of raising disciples of Jesus Christ. We at OCS believe that it is necessary that the message our children receive at school is consistent with what they hear at home and at church.

Central to our job of supporting Christian parents is the curriculum at Ottawa Christian School. The Bible tells us that “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” (Psalm 24:1) This means that whenever we study any part of God’s creation or human action in creation there is a religious dimension to it. We do not believe that there are sacred and secular subjects. Whether we are studying patterns in God’s creation (math and science) or God’s gift of communication (language arts) we believe that we are called to respond to God faithfully by developing the gifts that he has given us in ways that honour him. This means that God requires teachers and parents to encourage and develop the gifts that our children have been given (academic excellence), but it also means that our students are coached to use those gifts in service to God and others. We need to follow the example of Christ who “Took the very nature of a servant.” (Philippians 2:7) Ultimately it is not our first concern that our graduates secure a comfortable economic future or make a big splash in the world. Our hope is that the next generation of Christians uses their well-developed gifts to serve the Lord wherever he calls them. This is what we mean when we say that at Ottawa Christian School students integrate faith and learning.

In order to do this we need well-trained and certified teachers who are practicing Christians. Our teachers could be making more money teaching in a public school, but they have chosen to offer their talents to teach your children what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. They pray for their students. They work hard to develop the gifts that their students have. They lead your children in prayer and worship. They are an example of mature Christian living. They are also surrounded by a community of parents and other community members who support their work by praying for and giving time and money to the school.

If you would like to find out more about Ottawa Christian School and may be interested in sending your children to a school like ours, or if you would like to support the work we are doing please give us a call. We can send you more information or we can set up an appointment to talk to you in person. Most of all we ask that you pray for schools like Ottawa Christian School, for parents and for our children that they may come to know the joy of living for Jesus.