We partnered with our Niagara area Christian schools to promote Christian Education in our region. We are excited to share with you the interview that Dunnville Christian School had with the Voices of Niagara broadcast. To get a taste of what DCS is about and hear from members of our community, have a listen to this mp3 recording beginning at 14:55.
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LEADERSHIP TEAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Leadership teams give students the opportunity to practice building these skills in a safe and encouraging environment. Here is a list of the various opportunities for students:
Environmental Kindergarten Assistants Hospitality Loose Parts Newspaper PALS Praise Team Reading Coaches Refreshment School and Grounds Sweeping and Shoveling Table & Chairs Set-Up Technology
Leadership teams give students the opportunity to practice building these skills in a safe and encouraging environment. Here is a list of the various opportunities for students:
Environmental Kindergarten Assistants Hospitality Loose Parts Newspaper PALS Praise Team Reading Coaches Refreshment School and Grounds Sweeping and Shoveling Table & Chairs Set-Up Technology
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STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Students have the opportunity to learn leadership skills at DCS through daily activities at school. We teach Healthy Habits, within a biblical context, which enable students to develop skills that will help them in every aspect of life, from study habits, to playing on sports teams, to serving others. Taking risks, learning from failure and celebrating every student's individual leadership abilities is what our student leadership teams are all about.
7 HEALTHY HABITS
Habit 1: Be Proactive!
This year we have been working on the 7 Habits. At the beginning of the year every teacher went over these with the students before they decided on which jobs they wanted to apply for to be a helpful and important member at DCS. It has been wonderful to see the students get involved and take responsibility. Our first habit is to be proactive. Being proactive means taking responsibility for our own actions, attitude and moods. It is NOT blaming others, but doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Being proactive means making and building good relationships and a wonderful and caring community at DCS.
Habit 2: Begin with The End in Mind
Our second habit teaches us to have a plan. To begin with the end in mind means that we should have a goal and make a plan on how to reach that goal. Each child is an important part of the classroom and a unique child of God. We want each person to feel special and wanted making good decisions in the classroom and ultimately becoming a good citizen of our community.
Habit 3: Put First Things First
Our third habit teaches us to spend our time on the things that are most important. This means saying “no” to things at times until our homework or chores are finished. Habit 3 encourages us to set priorities, make a schedule and then follow that plan. Let’s get organized!
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
Our fourth habit teaches us that we should be happy to see everyone succeed. Everyone is created in God’s image and we don’t have to put others down to get what we want. We should be happy to see others happy and love to do nice things for people. If problems arise we shoulddo our best to help find a solution so everyone can be successful.
Hebrews 10: 24-25a “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.”
Habit 5: Then to Be Understood-Listen Before You Speak
Everyone is a child of God and we are to love one another! We learn to live this out in our fifth habit. It teaches us to listen to other people’s ideas and feelings. We should try to work together and see things from someone else’s viewpoint. We need to listen to each other without interrupting and in this way show respect for one another. When speaking, we need to be confident so that we can express ourselves clearly and resolve matters in a way that is pleasing to God.
Habit 6: Synergize
Synergize is our sixth habit. We know that God created us to be social beings. We try hard to get along with others and try to work well in groups. We know that working together is better and listening to other people’s ideas and being respectful towards one another is pleasing to God.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Habit 7 reminds us that our bodies are gifts from God and that we need to take care of them. Eating right, getting enough sleep and exercising are all ways that we can sharpen the saw to make sure we are ready to do our best in all things.
Students have the opportunity to learn leadership skills at DCS through daily activities at school. We teach Healthy Habits, within a biblical context, which enable students to develop skills that will help them in every aspect of life, from study habits, to playing on sports teams, to serving others. Taking risks, learning from failure and celebrating every student's individual leadership abilities is what our student leadership teams are all about.
7 HEALTHY HABITS
Habit 1: Be Proactive!
This year we have been working on the 7 Habits. At the beginning of the year every teacher went over these with the students before they decided on which jobs they wanted to apply for to be a helpful and important member at DCS. It has been wonderful to see the students get involved and take responsibility. Our first habit is to be proactive. Being proactive means taking responsibility for our own actions, attitude and moods. It is NOT blaming others, but doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Being proactive means making and building good relationships and a wonderful and caring community at DCS.
Habit 2: Begin with The End in Mind
Our second habit teaches us to have a plan. To begin with the end in mind means that we should have a goal and make a plan on how to reach that goal. Each child is an important part of the classroom and a unique child of God. We want each person to feel special and wanted making good decisions in the classroom and ultimately becoming a good citizen of our community.
Habit 3: Put First Things First
Our third habit teaches us to spend our time on the things that are most important. This means saying “no” to things at times until our homework or chores are finished. Habit 3 encourages us to set priorities, make a schedule and then follow that plan. Let’s get organized!
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
Our fourth habit teaches us that we should be happy to see everyone succeed. Everyone is created in God’s image and we don’t have to put others down to get what we want. We should be happy to see others happy and love to do nice things for people. If problems arise we shoulddo our best to help find a solution so everyone can be successful.
Hebrews 10: 24-25a “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.”
Habit 5: Then to Be Understood-Listen Before You Speak
Everyone is a child of God and we are to love one another! We learn to live this out in our fifth habit. It teaches us to listen to other people’s ideas and feelings. We should try to work together and see things from someone else’s viewpoint. We need to listen to each other without interrupting and in this way show respect for one another. When speaking, we need to be confident so that we can express ourselves clearly and resolve matters in a way that is pleasing to God.
Habit 6: Synergize
Synergize is our sixth habit. We know that God created us to be social beings. We try hard to get along with others and try to work well in groups. We know that working together is better and listening to other people’s ideas and being respectful towards one another is pleasing to God.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Habit 7 reminds us that our bodies are gifts from God and that we need to take care of them. Eating right, getting enough sleep and exercising are all ways that we can sharpen the saw to make sure we are ready to do our best in all things.
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Our History
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The Dunnville Christian School Society began in 1958 with the dream of someday offering Christian education locally. Although the actual school doors did not open until September of 1971, the Society conducted meetings with the hope that one day, their school would be organized. Mr. Klaas Mulder was the president of the Society at the time. He and his wife did not even have children. He passed away just weeks before the school opened.
Funds were collected and set aside for future purchases in regards to property, building, etc. In September of 1971, the doors of Dunnville Parental Christian School opened and welcomed students for the first time, forty-seven students in all. |
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Principals since 1971:
Circa 1976/77
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In 1976, a new building was erected on property purchased from Mr. Richard & Mrs. Ann Hoekstra. A total of 95 students were enrolled at that time. Talk of the school becoming incorporated began in the early 1980's, and Dunnville Christian School was incorporated in 1984. The 1983-1984 school year had the first ever Kindergarten class, taught by Mrs. Bettie Vreugdenhil.
On March 3, 1986, the membership voted to proceed with an addition to the school of two new classrooms, a kitchen, a gymnasium with two adjoining change rooms, office space, and a caretaker's room. There were 57 families and 118 students that school year. To date, approximately 660 students have graduated from DCS, 376 former students attended DCS, with a total of about 1,036 students who have graced its halls. |
Since 1971, we have had:
- 70 dedicated staff members involved in the education of the students of DCS
- 4 Bookkeepers keeping things balanced
- 8 Administrative/Office Assistants taking care of the day-to-day business of the school
- 6 Development Directors working to keep one and all connected
- 9 caretakers/caretaking teams keeping our school clean
- 25 bus drivers tasked with providing daily transportation to and from school
- 8 Librarians sharing books with students and staff alike