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Building and Keeping: Looking Ahead with Edvance President, Deani Van Pelt

At Edvance, we’re beginning our fourth year as a service organization for independent Christian schools. Together with our board, we’re taking this moment to reflect on the building—and the maintenance—we’ve had the privilege to participate in since our founding. We’re also looking ahead to our next three years to imagine and discern what our constructing and safeguarding might include.

Lessons from the Redwoods

A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to walk among giants! I was in Muir Woods in California, the home of some of the world’s tallest trees.

A Parting Blessing of Hesed

The word Hesed appears 248 times in scriptures and speaks to the steadfast lovingkindness of a faithful covenant God.

Mind Your Own Conscience

My conscience has been challenged recently.

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program for Independent Schools

There has been much renewed interest in skilled trades options as career pathways for high schools. Many industries are eager to attract young people to consider these pathways and demographic trends suggest there will be available opportunities in many areas of the skill trades pathways in the future.

The Dichotomies of Courageous Leadership

Do you ever go down memory lane to recall moments of learning in your leadership life? Recently I recalled with humour my first attempt to treat two teachers exactly the same.

How to Love Our Neighbours

This year we have been discussing what it means to love your neighbour within the context of racial redemption and embracing diversity within our school communities.

Leading through Challenges: Leadership Team Health

Close to Morraine Lake, Alberta, just outside of Banff, is a network of trails to explore the area and its beauty. When you venture a few dozen metres from the parking areas, you will come upon a sign indicating the possible danger of meeting up with a bear.

Conditions for Meaningful Connection - Thoughts on Communication

"By what means can the staff of Hamilton District Christian High School (HDCH) nurture our community of practice?" is the research question I developed together with Duncan Todd, HDCH’s principal.

Hold Fast and Let Go

Do you ever find yourself getting tired of the sound of your own voice saying the same things over and over again? Have you run into obstacles this year that in any other year would have seemed so much easier to handle?

Resting Well

Some of you may have met Franklin, albeit virtually. Franklin is a 12-week-old golden retriever puppy.

Keeping the Conversation Going

The ongoing conversation about race and diversity may be making some within our network of Christian schools uncomfortable.

Working Together for the Kingdom

We are entering into a season when school leaders start to lose a bit of sleep as they anticipate retiring board members transitioning out and new board members starting.

Manna for Today – Fresh Daily

With this, sometimes oh so tedious pandemic that just seems to go and on, there’s a risk that overwhelming fatigue and despair can settle into my spirit. As you process the latest pivots to your school’s learning delivery, perhaps you’re feeling this same sense of fatigue and despair.

Leadership, Self-Knowledge & The Enneagram

Do you know your Enneagram type? Before you stop reading, hang in with me here.

Leading Through Challenges - Building Strong Cultures

Back in August when I offered to write some reflections for this month’s newsletter about leading through challenges, I was thinking about the significant challenges that leaders in schools faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teaching for Transformation Comes to Edvance!

Edvance is excited to announce its partnership with the Christian Teachers Academy and PCCE in bringing Teaching for Transformation (TfT) to Edvance affiliate schools.

Finding Meaning in Waiting

Advent is officially here! Many of us have experienced our first snow fall of the year, and the days don’t seem like they can get any shorter. We now eat our dinner in the dark and perhaps yearn for the lengthy days of summer.

Healthy Leaders: Resilience

Advent: hope, peace, love, and joy. The anticipation and celebration of Christmas is a highlight in our lives and in the lives of our school communities. And then there is Advent in 2020.

Continuing the Conversation...

How do we as school leaders continue to navigate the very tenuous space in which our schools exist as we deal with issues of diversity, inclusion, and hospitality? How do we welcome “the other” into our midst even while many in our communities are wondering if “the other” should be issued the invitation?

Leading Through Challenges: Trust

As leaders during a global pandemic, we are in the middle of one of the most poignant litmus tests of trust.

Maintaining Connections with Families who Withdraw

In these uncertain times, some families may have made a choice to withdraw their children from your school. As a school leader, it is easy to take these departures personally and even to feel a sense of failure as these families leave.

Multiplying Our Strength

In Developing the Leaders Around You, John Maxwell shares that “A company cannot grow without until its leaders grow within.” Everything rises and falls on leadership.

Stand Firm... and Move On

This year, the first day of school is unlike anything most of us have ever experienced.

Build Your Houses

If you’re like me, you’ve spent a lot of time over the last three months reading articles online, searching for some message that will put into words the anxiety and unsettledness you may have been feeling—something to help make sense of the swirling uncertainty that has overtaken our world during this pandemic

Lamenting vs Complaining

Christian psychiatrist Curt Thompson recently spoke to Edvance school leaders and educators in a special virtual session. As a follow up, we asked Curt if he would expand on the difference between lamenting and complaining.

Ending Well

Let’s turn our attention to ending (and leading) well this spring, for both our students and our staffs, in spite of an unpredictable future.

What To Do About Tuition?

How should we respond to a parent statement like, “I want some tuition money back because this is not the type of education I signed up for!” or “I am not getting my money’s worth!”

Hands of Authority and Grace

The image of hands has been resonating with me this week. In a time of physical distancing, holding hands or reaching out and touching someone seems to be a taboo activity. However, there is such comfort and meaning in hands held together.

A New Perspective: How To Refocus

First, I want to recognize that lots/most of us are being pushed and stretched in different ways. Business owners/leaders are concerned about their businesses and employees, employees are concerned about their companies and paying their bills. And people are concerned about their health and the health of those they love (especially the vulnerable).

Do Not Fear, God is With You

It was just over a week ago when the news broke that Ontario’s publicly-funded schools would be closed, and Edvance recommended the same for our affiliate schools. That began a flurry—or more accurately, a blizzard—of activity.

Called, Connected, Committed: On the Road with the Church of England’s New Initiative for Leadership in Christian Education

Imagine spending a week visiting Christian schools across the UK countryside. Imagine hearing lead Anglican theologians discuss fresh articulations of the scriptural foundations for leadership in education.

Responsive Classroom Making an Impact

Elora Road Christian School began implementing Responsive Classroom practices into our this past September. Already, we have been amazed by the changes that we are seeing in our staff and students.

Edvance Announces Leader in Residence and next Director of School Services

We are excited to announce the appointment of a Leader in Residence and our next Director of School Services to join our growing organization effective August 1, 2020.

Strength in Weakness

This verse in 2nd Corinthians is the basis for the theme “Strength in Christ”, which our student leaders here at Woodland Christian High School chose for the 2019-2020 school year.

High School Cohort Spiritual Retreat

Several members of the High School Cohort gathered at the Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre in January for a two-day spiritual retreat.

Asking Questions

Leadership is a shifting thing. Just when you think you have something figured out and you are on top of your game, another curve ball comes your way and you have to navigate through new experiences.

Toronto Cohort Meeting Report - January 2020

At our January meeting, Kayla Goodhoofd, school Social Worker at King’s Christian Collegiate in Oakville, joined us to speak about promoting mental health and well-being in Christian schools.

Embracing "Let's Try That!"

Schools tend to run in cyclical cycles, perhaps more than other businesses or organizations.

Be Strong and Courageous in God’s Love, Mercy and Faithfulness

As I stare out of the window of the plane on this cusp of this new year, my thoughts go not to predictions or resolutions, but to the words of the writer of Lamentations.

Reflections on Advent

This year at our house, we decided to do something different for Advent.

Some Give and Take

In my digital immigrant reality when it comes to podcasts, I’m like the apostle Paul—there are some good podcasts that I want to listen to, but I simply don’t. A few days ago, however, I was lucky enough to have the vehicle to myself for a few hours and remembered to cue up a podcast from EntreLeadership. Perhaps by divine intervention, I noted the title, “The Humility to Serve”.

Using Data to Measure School Effectiveness

As an administrator, you’re committed to providing an exceptional learning environment, where students can thrive socially, emotionally, spiritually, and academically. But how do you know if students are learning?

Kindergarten food drive blesses local food pantry

The kindergarten students at Timothy Christian School completed a month-long food drive, combining math skills with discussions about Jesus and His example of loving and caring for others.

High School Cohort Meeting Report - October 2019

Members of the High School Cohort met for a pre-Edvance Educators Annual Gathering meeting on October 23, 2019

Communities Are Built

Do you have the impression that years ago, when our parents were raising us or our grandparents were raising them, it was easier to build community?

Finding Joy in Your Vocation

This is a tale of two waiters. I visited two restaurants on a recent golf trip; one somewhat up-scale, the second a hamburger joint. Both were busy as we entered with our group of 20.

The Importance of a Cohesive Team

Here are the four principles (among others) I believe are essential for a strong team.

Edvance Educators Annual Gathering 2019 - John's thoughts

The opportunity to worship and learn together with this many people involved in common vocation is invaluable.

Edvance Educators Annual Gathering 2019 - Carolyn's thoughts

This conference provided an opportunity for us to connect with our Lord. It enabled us to network with fellow teachers and foster a sense of belonging. And it served as a reminder of the imperative of fostering community within our classrooms.

What Does Love Require?

“Why did those gunmen want to shoot those people in New Zealand? I bet if they only knew some Muslim people, they wouldn’t want to hurt them. They could be friends instead.”

Sticking Up for Christian Schooling

Convivium’s Peter Stockland checks out the innovative independent school in rural Eastern Ontario that was denied a chance to pay top dollar for an empty public school building.

Event Recap: 2019 Autumn Christian School Leadership Retreat

Last week over 100 school leaders gathered in Niagara-on-the-Lake for two days of collegiality and renewal at the 2019 Autumn Christian School Leadership Retreat. Participants were challenged and inspired to increase the competencies of their leadership team in the areas of business, legal, and finance/development.

Fear Not

At a recent Edvance event, I had the opportunity to sit down with one of our Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and hear about his life journey and his calling to become an MPP.

Who Is On Your Team?

Do you empower the others in your building? Do you allow others to make decisions? Do you ever feel there may be others on staff who are better than you are? Are you drawing up leadership in your school? Do you hire life-long learners? Do you hire for leadership?

Be Strong and Courageous

In the first chapter of Joshua, God gives Joshua his leadership mandate: “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” Joshua 1:5-6 (NIV)