Dear Parents,

Our theme for this school week was, “Courageously Standing Up for One Another”, which culminated in our chapel this morning. This was a cross-section of what we have been talking about this month: Black History, Loving One Another, and taking a stand against bullying and injustice; all in light of our school verse 1 Cor 16:13-14 that reminds us to “Stand Firm and Do Everything in Love”. As Christians who have experienced God’s incredible, sacrificial love through Christ, we have been called to action. It is described as “agape” love in the Bible, which is reflected in John 15:12-13 that says, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”.
 
This verse reveals that we should be motivated from the heart to do something great. It compels us to stand up for what is right and pushes us to do good, even if it’s difficult or unpopular. It also means that we may need to endure hardship alongside others as we follow Jesus’ example and stand up for what is right (1 Peter 2:21). We looked at the stories of Ruby Bridges and Viola Desmond who stood up for what was right in the face of injustice and adversity. We talked about how to courageously use our words to speak up against injustice, even if we are not always in a position to act. We also heard about some of the tensions that we currently face by listening to our special guest, Samantha Walkes, who put many things into perspective through the artistic medium of, “Spoken Word” poetry. 
 
We also know that being there for someone else can be of equal importance. We were encouraged by the now famous quote of Michelle Obama, “History has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own.” We know that God is the one that gives us that courage, and that hope is found in Jesus, who provides us with the necessary strength to move forward in love.

Sincerely,
J-D Lussier, Principal