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“If it (activities) were fun, you would be 'happy' for a little while, but joyful discovery is learning difficult things, things for the future. I would be 'happy' doing fun things, but narration helps you learn things better, and there’s a lasting joy in that.”
Class Five Student
Exhortations from Teachers’ Chapel
by Doug Reynolds
Each year we enjoy hearing from the Clapham staff at our last chapel. The exhortations given this week were a wonderful send off for the students for the summer and a great reminder to us of the Lord's provision for this year. I hope everyone has a wonderful summer! Thanks for a great year. Here is a sampling of what the teachers shared:
Doug Reynolds, Head of School, encouraged us to remember God’s great faithfulness this summer. To help us contemplate the faithfulness of God, we sang “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” a hymn Clapham students had previously memorized.
Emily Schmitt, Explorers I teacher, shared some verses from their recitations this year. She urged the students to love God and to keep His commands. In this way, we will be like the wise man who built his house on the rock (Matthew 7:24-25).
Melissa Harder, Explorers II teacher, asked one of her students to summarize a Bible story that they had studied this year: the Cripple at the Pool of Bethesda. Mrs. Harder then encouraged the students to know more deeply the heart of Jesus and to help the people around us.
Reneé Shear, Class One teacher, reminded us that true joy results from serving and loving both God and others. She urged us to follow I Timothy 4:12 by being Christ-like examples to others.
Elise Redfield, Class One teacher's aid, shared her personal study of Daniel and exhorted students to do things excellently, despite what the world might expect of us.
Jenny Bernthal, Class Two teacher, focused our attention on what makes God happy. From Ephesians 1:4-6, she pointed out that God finds pleasure in making plans for our lives.
Kim Sceggel, Class Three teacher, explained that though we often enjoy participating in activities that draw attention to ourselves, our goals this summer should be to faithfully do what is right and to love accomplishing God’s work. Doing such things pleases God, others, and us. We should long to hear the Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)
Nathanael Szobody, Class Four teacher, read Revelation 3:20 which pictures Jesus standing at the door knocking, waiting to feast with those who answer. Nathanael compared the learning of ideas, forgiveness, and patience to a feast and encouraged us to indulge in these things.
Cheryl Ward, Class Five teacher, reflected on Class Five’s progress throughout the year. They began the year as children and are leaving as more purposeful, skillful and “grown up” individuals who have learned to become satisfied with their best work. She shared words of hope from Jeremiah 29:11, “God has a good plan for His people.”
Jason Barney, Class Six / Seven teacher, used I Peter 2:1-3 to emphasize the importance of putting off sinfulness while developing a longing for God. He encouraged us the students to “taste” the Lord’s goodness and to “drink” Him in more and more.
Patrick Egan, Class Six / Seven teacher, read Psalm 1. He encouraged the students to not only play this summer, but to take time to delight in God and in what He wants us to do.
Sarah Stankevitz read Psalm 103:11-12 and recounted God’s great love and forgiveness toward us. She relayed to us the faculty and staff’s desire that students develop a deeper love for God and understanding of his character.
Susan Carrión, Director of Instruction, used Proverbs 2:1-11 to inspire us to know God and diligently seek His wisdom, rather than seeking after mere knowledge alone.
Joyful Discovery from Class Five
by Cheryl Ward, Class Five Teacher
Several weeks ago during Bible class, the children recognized that there is a difference between “happiness” and “joy.” According to Class Five, happiness is “a temporary feeling that you get from doing or having something pleasurable (like getting what you want).” Joy is “a deep, long-lasting feeling which often comes from doing hard things (like helping make beds at the homeless shelter).” You should have both in your life, but joy is more important.
We have all been doing a lot of thinking about one part of our motto: Joyful Discovery. I was challenged to ask the students what they thought on the topic. So, in a round table discussion, I asked the following questions: What is joyful discovery? How does Clapham practice or not practice it? These quotes are taken directly from that conversation:
“Quality is joyful discovery. The education we are receiving at Clapham is really high quality. We talk about deep things instead of just popular things, like discussions about grammar instead of simple things like Power Rangers (etc.), and that’s really great.”
“Some schools try to make things fun but then kids become unruly which isn’t fun. At Clapham you don’t try to make it fun but it is fun anyway. Or it’s hard starting narration or taking piano lessons, but it is fun in the end when you see what you have accomplished.”
“At Clapham we have fun but we don’t waste time. When you have too much fun, food, candies, parties, then you get spoiled for it and don’t really like it anymore. I like school.”
"I really like the conversations – like deep conversations in Bible. Or like the one we’re having right now about joyful discovery. Or I was dreading the Lycurgus essay but then it was interesting to write. Learning a lot is joyful discovery.”
“It feels really joyful to do homework even though we’re sometimes ungrateful for it. We should be grateful for our homework because it helps us learn. You would be 'happy' if you didn’t get homework but you are 'joyful' when you finish because you feel good about what you accomplished.”
“Joyful discovery is a sense of accomplishment. I accomplish a lot here and I feel really good about it. When I do my homework, I look to see which assignment is the most fun and save that for last.”
Summer Reading Program Fundraiser
by Carolyn Litfin
Clapham's annual Summer Reading Program will run this summer from June 17th through July 28th, 2010. This is one of Clapham's two major fundraisers each year, and it is a wonderful opportunity to encourage the students to read while raising money for the school.
Students will try to read (or be read to) at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks to total around 900 minutes of summer reading. Students are also working to find sponsors who will support them in their reading by donating an amount "per minute read" or a set amount for completing the reading program.
The students worked hard the last 2 weeks of school to find sponsors. At our Field Day yesterday, 5 students who have each obtained 11 sponsors were recognized and given their choice of a book from the Clapham reading list!
Parents, please support your children as they continue to find sponsors through the beginning of the program on June 17th and then in their reading this summer. We look forward to announcing the results of this program at the annual all-school picnic in August! Thank you for your participation!
Upcoming Events
Please note that there will be someone in the Clapham office until noon each weekday during the month of June, but in July the staff will be away and only checking messages and emails periodically.
Friday, June 4: Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday, July 15th: Tuition payments due, either in full or the first quarterly payment. Checks may be mailed to the school at P.O. Box 209, Wheaton, IL 60187.
Tuesday, August 10, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Registration for Returning Families; parents may choose between this date or August 14th to drop by the office to be sure their registration is complete.
Saturday, August 14, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Registration for Returning Families
Tuesday, August 17, 7:00-8:30 p.m.: New Parent Orientation for New Families
Saturday, August 21, 5:00 p.m.: All-School Picnic at Kelly Park in Wheaton; please bring food for your own family and join us as we start a new school year!
Tuesday, August 24: First Day of Classes for 2010-11; noon dismissal (Explorers I will start on Wednesday, August 25th.)
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