Wierdsma family says good-bye to Rhema
Friday, June 15, 2007 -- Jennifer Higgs
For the past 20 years, at least one of Joanna Wierdsma’s five children has been attending Rhema Christian School. Her youngest child, Nick, is now graduating from Grade 8.

Wierdsma and her husband Sim bought their home property, which is located a kilometre from Rhema, in 1985 with the intent of sending their children to the school. In 1987, her first child started at Rhema.

She says she chose to send her children to a Christian school because it is Christ-centred and a family atmosphere.

“I know attending a Christian school myself I just really felt the family atmosphere,” she says.

“We wanted to continue that into our children’s lives as well as give them the same opportunity to the best of our ability,” says Wierdsma.

Twenty years ago, she says Rhema was a much smaller school with approximately 80 students in total. Since then the school population has grown to around 250 students.

“(We) knew every parent, and knew every child, partly because we were very involved from the beginning,” she says.

Over the years as a Rhema parent, Wierdsma has been involved in fundraising activities for the school. She says she first started out on the fundraising committee.

“I was really impressed with the camaraderie – and it was women at that time – the fellowship we could have as well as working for the school,” says Wierdsma. She says one of the best memories of the school is the family feeling from the fundraising events, whether it was a tea and bazaar or any other function.

At one point, Wierdsma and another parent even started their own catering business and gave the proceeds to Rhema. Called the Caring Caterers, the two women worked on this project for about four years.

After graduating from Rhema, her four older children entered the public high school system. She says they all did very well, both academically and socially.

“We encourage them to be involved in their school, and whenever you’re involved of course you often meet like-minded students,” she says.

Wierdsma says her children’s time at Rhema helped give them good ethics. She says her children entered high school with an understanding of doing their homework. They also knew to treat their teachers and peers with respect.

Wierdsma recalls when the children were going door-to-door for a walk-a-thon sponsorship a neighbour expressed her support of Rhema.

“She gave to the kids financially and she said, ‘that school is the cornerstone of our society,’” says Wierdsma.

The community surrounding Rhema has seen the school grow, says Wierdsma.

As her son is graduating from the school the family has been part of for 20 years, Wierdsma says she would like to say thank you to the school’s staff.

“(I would like) to really thank all the teachers over the years. They have certainly helped to shape and mould the kids into who they are,” she says.

“(And) a thank you to the staff for their tireless energy.”