About Cedars
Our History
Cedars Christian School started with humble beginnings and big dreams. After years of struggle and prayer by several godly and persistent families, Cedars opened its doors to 75 students in 1977. The school was purchased from the school district, which had closed the doors of North Nechako School some years earlier.
The structure contained only a few classrooms and no gymnasium, but it wasn’t to stay that way for long. With considerable hard work and sacrifice, 3 major building projects have been completed over the last 25 years.
A historical timeline of our school
First, a gym was added, then several more classrooms, and in 1996, a third addition was built to contain a new high school facility, and the vision for a PreK-12 Christian school became reality. In September 2022, Cedars opened the doors to a new high school gym facility with room for six new teaching spaces and a large fine arts/meeting space.
Cedars has changed its physical site considerably over the years, but the vision for Christian education hasn’t changed. Cedars staff and parents work together to integrate their faith in Christ into all aspects of daily life. Our goal, as it has always been, is to present education to our children so that they see that God is Lord of all aspects of our lives. From science lessons to puppet shows, our vision is to develop responsive disciples of Jesus Christ. We do this with a goal for excellence and quality, each child encouraged to achieve to their potential – to become all that God wants them to be.
Land Acknowledgement
We respectfully acknowledge that we live, work, learn, and play on the traditional, unceded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh.
Mission and Vision
Mission Statement
Educating and equipping discerning disciples of Jesus Christ for restorative work in His kingdom
Our Vision
All instruction, recognized by the BC Ministry of Education, is taught by BC Certified teachers and supported by an active parent society, to incorporate a Christian perspective in every aspect of daily education. Both staff and parents unite to help the child to:
- Develop their unique potential
- Internalize spiritual values
- Live a life of service, fellowship, stewardship, discipleship and obedience to God.
Statement of Faith
- We believe the Bible (Old Testament and New Testament) is God’s written word to humanity, is divinely inspired, and is the only trustworthy and authoritative guide in all matters of Christian faith and conduct.
- We believe there is one God, he is the creator, redeemer, and sustainer of the universe, and that he is eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- We believe God created humanity in his image, and that as a result of Adam’s and our sin we are alienated from God and are in need of redemption.
- We believe Jesus Christ is God’s only Son, and he is fully God and fully human. We believe in Jesus’ virgin birth, sinless life, sacrificial death, victorious resurrection, ascension, and future return.
- We believe the Holy Spirit works in individual lives to draw people to God, and that he indwells, equips and empowers followers of Jesus in all aspects of life and ministry.
- We believe it is only through genuine faith in Jesus that a person can be saved and eternally reconciled with God. We believe all of humanity needs to be saved by Jesus and that at the end of time God will judge both the living and the dead; those who are saved to eternal life, those who are not saved to eternal death.
- We believe every follower of Jesus, as a member of the body of Christ, is called to walk faithfully in all areas of life and to make disciples by reaching out, inviting people to follow Jesus, and by teaching the truths of the Bible.
- We believe every follower of Jesus is to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love others as themselves.
What We Believe
The basis for the instruction offered at Cedars Christian School is the Word of God. We believe that the Bible, the written Word of God, is the power that directs our lives and is the infallible authority that is to govern all our activities including the education of our children.
Through the Scriptures, we know that God created all things by His Word and that He continues faithfully to uphold and sustain all of created reality. We believe that man, through sin and disobedience, became estranged from God and his neighbour and thus became blind to the true meaning of life and reality. Jesus Christ, the Word of God Incarnate, reconciles the world to God and redeems our lives in their entirety.
The purpose of Christian education is to guide and direct the children in such a way that they commit their hearts and lives to Christ, come to an integral and meaningful knowledge of the wonderful creation God has given us, and are prepared in all life’s aspects to serve God and their neighbours.
Core Values
Christian Education:
The primary goal of Christian education is the formation of a “peculiar people” who believe that Jesus Christ is Lord of all of life — not just the religious or sacred corners of it. In close partnership with parents and the local church, we integrate Biblical, Christian perspective across the curriculum and engage students in authentic conversations about who God is and who He has called them to be.
Developing Unique Potential:
We believe that each student is created in the image of God, and is shaped uniquely for restorative work in the Kingdom of God. Noticing, naming and nurturing the unique gifts of our students allow the diversity in the body of Christ that leads to flourishing, Christian community. Curricular and extracurricular learning experiences provide rich opportunities to use and celebrate gifts stewarded well.
Service:
Following the example of Jesus, we seek to meet the real needs of our neighbors in our local community and beyond. We let our light shine so that others may see our works of service and glorify our Father in heaven (Matt 5:16). Serving one another in love, is the fulfillment of the greatest commandment and the pathway to experiencing life in all its fullness.
Community of Grace:
Cedars creates space for students, parents, and staff to learn to live in a Christian community of grace. With hearts full of gratitude for the grace bestowed upon us, we seek to have God’s grace flow through us toward one another by showing mercy, offering forgiveness, and sharing the gospel of peace.
Governance
Cedars Christian School is a non-profit society. Members of the society meet twice yearly, once in the fall (the Annual General Meeting) and once in the spring.
We need all families who are willing to abide by the society’s declaration to become members. Being a member of Cedars Christian School (the Society) is similar to being a member of any community. It gives you the power to help in decision-making, to elect board members, and to have the opportunity to be on committees or the Governance Board.
How the Society Works
Membership
Parents/Guardians who are confessing Christians and who attend church are invited to become members of the Association.
In order to become a member, you must fill out a membership application which is then submitted to and approved by the Board of Directors. Application forms are available at the Cedars Christian School Main Office.
School Board
Society members elect a six- to nine-member board which then uses a Policy Governance model to direct the operations of the school.
Decision-Making
The society meets twice a year and at these meetings will approve a budget, elect board members and give input to the Board of Directors.
Society Organization
Society Downloads
Board of Directors, 2022-2023
Karla Eby – Chair
John Bandstra – Vice Chair, Membership and Nominations, Building
Marilyn Carlaw – Policy, Employee Relations, Capital Campaign, Recruitment and Retention
Luke Cutbill- Membership and Nominations
David Claus – Finance, Building
Tammi Bluemink
Donya Smith-Powell
Teaching for Transformation
What makes Cedars unique? This question drives the work of our staff during our Wednesday early dismissal research and development time. Every Wednesday afternoon for an hour and a half or more, we work to enhance our integration of Biblical perspectives into our entire curriculum. We do this because what makes Cedars unique is that we teach all our subjects in such a way that our students will learn who God is and learn about themselves. We want them to know who they are and how they have been blessed with gifts/talents/abilities that they can use to restore His broken world.
In order to improve our integration of biblical perspective into unit plans and lessons, we have adopted a model of teaching called “Teaching for Transformation”. Developed by teachers in Alberta Christian schools, it is a structure and methodology for teaching that uses “Throughlines” – themes that are both ways of thinking and ways of being. The ten throughlines are: God-Worshipper, Creation-Enjoyer, Earth-Keeper, Order-Discover, Community-Builder, Image-Reflector, Idolatry-Discerner, Servant-Worker, Justice-Seeker, Beauty-Creator. The following articles will explain what these mean and how they are being taught, discovered and experienced.
Originally published in The Cedars Shake 2014-2015