"We honestly felt that if we were working so hard at home teaching them Christian ethics and values and giving them a Biblical foundation, to send them to a public school could jeopardize what we were doing," says RuthAnn in a telephone interview.

At first she considered homeschooling. Then, she says, they found in Rhema Christian School what they were looking for, "a quality education in a Bible-based environment."

"Our experience there has been absolutely phenomenal," says RuthAnn. "I don’t have one negative thing to say about it."

RuthAnn’s two daughters, Emma, seven, and Sarah, five, attend Rhema.

RuthAnn says she appreciates the fact the classes are fairly small, which means more attention can be given to each child.

"The teachers are all very approachable. They encourage interaction and feedback. You can see that they have a real love for the kids and a heart to see the kids all saved, which is super important to us."

RuthAnn believes much of this has to do with the excellent leadership skills of Principal Ray Hendriks. "Ray knows the name of every child in the school," she says. "He’s phenomenal."

Her daughters are equally enthusiastic about the school. "They love it," says. RuthAnn "They love their teachers. Kids can tell when someone is truly concerned about them, and they know their teachers love them."

Evidence of the school’s excellence also comes through in the basic attitudes and behaviour of her children, RuthAnn points out. "They’re happy. They want to learn. They want to learn about God... It’s a safe environment where they feel comfortable being themselves."

Sarah cried last year when she learned she’d be moving up a grade and leaving behind her beloved junior kindergarten teacher.

"Both girls will be the same with their teachers this year. They just absolutely love them."

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