“Adding the additional grade 1 and 3 classrooms kept us consistent with our growth strategy and reflects our commitment to a student-teacher ratio under 20 students per classroom in our primary grades.” Hendriks stated. It seems to have been easier said than done, though. “We added a portable and did some creative restructuring of the building”, he added.

Hendriks commented, “It is simply amazing to me how the community dove in to help. The majority of the staff were here for at least two work days and a large number of parents, lead by our board members, helped to get the school ready for September 7. The amazing part of it was the willingness to come in during the summer break joyfully and ready to do whatever was required.”

Rhema Christian School is in its 26th year of educating children from Peterborough and surrounding areas. In 1979, it began in the basement of Cephas Christian Reformed Church. As the school grew, it purchased a six-room school in 1982. Over the years, expanding student enrollment saw additions built onto the original facility in 1989 and 1999. Between the additions, portables have been used to bridge enrollment and capacity gaps. “This year, we moved back to having one portable and will probably need to add one a year for the next couple of years.” Hendriks explained.

When asked what, if anything, has remained constant at Rhema Christian School over the years and throughout the changes, Hendriks answered quickly. “The constant at Rhema has always been a caring, family-oriented community which seeks to provide the best Christian schooling possible.”

In summarizing the school’s goals for the coming year, Hendriks concluded, “We anticipated a 5 to 10% growth in school population and that has come in the expected areas. It is our hope that we will be able to continue to facilitate all future inquires.”

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