Kathryn Dykstra teaches her Grade 5 class at Rhema Christian School.
Rhema teacher reflects on 15 years of teaching and prepares to be a student
In Kathryn, I am losing a gem of a teacher: Hendriks
Friday, June 8, 2007 -- Jennifer Higgs
After 15 years of teaching at Rhema Christian School, Kathryn Dykstra is going back to school to pursue a new career path.

Dykstra says she knew before she was offered the teaching position at Rhema that she was in love with the school.

“When I was in elementary school, I went to Grace Christian Academy. So when I first heard about the job at Rhema, I didn’t apply because I felt like I was almost being a bit of a traitor,” she says.

“When I came for the interview (at Rhema), I just fell in love with the school.”

Dykstra, who grew up in the Peterborough area, says the best decision her parents ever made for her was to send her to a Christian school.

“I only went (to Grace Christian Academy) for three years . . . it just makes such a difference, and I’m so thankful that my parents did that and feel so incredibly blessed that I have those three years,” says Dykstra.

“As parent, I can’t imagine sending my own children anywhere else. They get such a solid foundation, first and foremost in their faith, but in relationships with others, in building community, in building sanctuary.”

Dykstra’s three children – Erin (Grade 7), Jack (Grade 4) and Peter (JK) – attend Rhema. She says her children love Rhema, and look forward to going to school everyday.

Over her years as a teacher at Rhema, Dykstra has taught a variety of classes. This past year, she taught Grade 5 with Gwyneth Zylstra and core French for Grades 4 to 8. Dykstra says she has really enjoyed getting to know the Grade 5 class.

She came to Rhema fresh out of teacher’s college. Dykstra has a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in linguistics applied to foreign language teaching from the University of Ottawa and attended Brock University for teacher’s college.

Her plan for the fall is to be a full-time student at Peterborough’s Sir Sandford Fleming College in the forensic biotechnology program. She calls this a “complete turnaround.”

“I’ve prayed so much about this,” she says. “I felt a stirring in my heart, probably for a couple of years now.”

Dykstra says she sees herself working in a crime lab geared towards sexual offences. She says she has always had an interest in science and law, and has a heart for women who have been mistreated or abused.

She says she finds the field of forensics very interesting. “I just find it so fascinating, and I think I need to do something that gets that spark going,” she explains.

But she says her decision hasn’t been an easy one, and she knows she will miss teaching in the classroom.

“Now that things are winding down, I’ve got such mixed emotions. I really think I’m going to go through a bit of mourning and a grieving because I’ve done this for so long and I do love it. But I know that it’s time to move on,” she says.

She has nothing but good things to say about Rhema and the school’s environment.

“It centres around a relationship with God, and how everything is brought back to God,” she says. “Our relationship with staff, with students, with parents – we’ve just got that core that binds us together and something that’s very unique in this world. It’s a loving, faith environment and over these years I have felt so supported.”

Dykstra says she would like to thank everyone for the years of support.

“I’ve loved each and every child that I’ve worked with. I adore the staff and they’ve been amazing with their support,” she says.

When she reflects on some more difficult times over the past 15 years, she says the staff was always there to pray for her and support her.

She recalls how principal Ray Hendriks supported her when she experienced the loss of her father, when she had difficult pregnancies and when she needed some time during the lunch hour to be with her son.

“I brag to everyone that I’ve got the best boss in the world,” she says.

Her colleagues express they will miss Dykstra and the high level of teaching she has provided.

Her co-teacher Zylstra says Dykstra is extremely dedicated to her students and her family.

“Kathryn is committed to a high level of professionalism, everything she does and produces is a wonderfully polished, finished product,” says Zylstra. “(She is a) wonderful mixture between fair and gracious.”

Hendriks gives kudos to Zylstra’s comments, and adds that Dykstra is a gem and will be missed.

“Kathryn’s Christian faith was quiet and yet very, very evident in everything she did and she does in this school. She’s just a model of Christ-like servant-hood,” he says.

“In Kathryn, I am losing a gem of a teacher. I know she’ll do well in whatever she is going to do, but it certainly is our loss here.”