St. Timothy's Advent 2019 Newsletter

DECEMBER 2020

Leading students to reverence truth, desire goodness, and rejoice in beauty.

Bethlehem artwork by Julia, Grade 3

Advent Scripture Memory Work
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
- Luke 2:10-11 -

From the Director's Desk

Dear friends and supporters of St. Timothy’s,

As we move through this Advent season, we have so much to be grateful for.

It is often when our world is shaken that we have to rely on what is most important: not on our own efforts and achievements, but on God alone. Our world has been shaken. And God is faithful.

As we have trusted Him in the uncertainties of the last months, we have been touched by your support which has helped us deal with the unforeseen challenges we have faced. We were overwhelmed by the wonderful provision of our new building to house our upper grades in a safe and spacious environment, and we have been humbled by the way you have given so freely to cover the multiple extra costs associated with this year. We are very grateful. Your generosity has been real evidence to us of God’s grace.

Being unable to enjoy face to face teaching for three months in the spring made us realise how essential in-person teacher-student contact is to what we do at St. Timothy’s. It has been a real joy to have the students back in the classroom; laughing, working, playing, and delighting in each other. Their thirst for live teaching is very real, and the joy of learning together as a class in relationship with their teachers transcends any restrictions we have to cope with.

We are so thankful for being able to keep our school open every day since September, and for God’s hand at work in the lives of our students, staff, parents, Board, and wider community.

As we move towards Christmas, I pray that you would know deeply the Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy that Jesus brings.

Jenny Small,
for the staff of St. Timothy’s Classical Academy

The Seven Virtues

Even before he was a Christian, Augustine knew all about the cardinal virtues: justice, courage, wisdom, and self-control. However, when he became a Christian, he discovered a different side of God: the love of God. That he loves us so much he would die for us we only learn from the Bible. And when we learn of this love, God does something amazing: he creates in us love, a love that mirrors his love. He creates faith: a trust in Jesus that our sins are forgiven. And he creates hope in our hearts: a certainty that our future is safe in Christ. Through studying the Bible, Augustine realised that God gives the gifts of: “faith, hope, and love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). As Augustine prayerfully pondered this, he wrote that for the Christian there were not just the four virtues of justice, courage, wisdom, and self-control. Because of Jesus, there were seven virtues [Augustine’s On Free Choice of the Will]. God calls us to a life of justice, courage, wisdom, and self-control, but he gives us three virtues: faith, hope, and love. However, he calls us to cultivate all seven.

Recent Events

Our House Captains have every reason to look pleased. The Christmas giving campaign which they planned, organised, and executed was a resounding success. They had hoped to raise enough money to buy a “herd” (a cow, a pig, a goat, and training for the farmers, immunizations, etc.) from the charity World Renew. However, they raised enough to buy two herds. Well done!

Our term ended on a high note with music from Haydn, Vivaldi, and Gershwin along with some Christmas carols played by a string quartet, featuring members of the National Arts Centre Orchestra (including a couple of our parents). What a treat!

Our students are becoming proficient letter writers this year. In order to encourage continued relationships between our older and younger students they each now have a penpal. This has been a source of great joy, overcoming barriers of cohorts and separate buildings.

Support St. Timothy's

Thanks to donations from our community these past months, we've been able to purchase much needed supplies, and cover unanticipated costs related to keeping the school safe and open. There is still time to join the effort. Would you consider a tax-deductible gift to close out the year?

(All donations are made through The Christian School Foundation)

DONATE NOW!

The Halls of St. Timothy's
by Leora Nauta-Haines, music director

Mrs. Nauta-Haines led some of her music classes outdoors this fall.

This Advent, the halls of St. Timothy’s sound a little different on Thursdays, lovingly dubbed by some students as “music day”. On normal Thursday afternoons, students burst from the sanctuary at 2:40 on the dot in vibrant, clashing harmony; this year, little buzzes, hums, claps and wiggles betray their irrepressible love of music. The St. Timothy’s curriculum passes down a rich tradition of 1000 years of Christian musical heritage. Throughout the pandemic, many people have expressed concern that sacred choral music, and even choral singing itself, may not survive. Others ask, “Why do we still learn this music that is so old?”

Good question. For that matter, why do we study history? What’s to be learned from Latin, ancient philosophy, or the theology of a religion no longer on-trend? These disciplines reveal truths that transcend the spirit of the times; truths resonating of God Himself. God’s goodness, His justice, His beauty - these mysteries unfold before our ears in music class. The physics of pitch, the infinite palette of tone colours, the awesome power of dynamics, the relationship of beat and pulse to our very lifeblood… the genesis of a melody dawning into harmony: one, two, three, four voices and more!… the phenomenon of vibrations, reaching the eardrum, being interpreted by the brain to evoke a response that is harmoniously physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual… are all contained within the mystifying genius of a simple carol.

So why study this dusty old stuff? Because every piece is a pilgrimage that defies psychological and neurological explanation. It is the stuff of miracles. We who are called to inherit this tradition have a sacred commission to cherish it and share it with all who will receive it. Echoing the words of Psalm 47, “Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is King of all the earth; sing praises to Him!”

Serving the Community

Our relationship with the seniors at Carefor Day Centre has continued despite pandemic restrictions. For their Remembrance Day video and phone meetings with up to 40 seniors, Carefor shared recordings of St. Timothy’s classes reciting "In Flanders Fields" in both English and French. For Christmas, Carefor sent out 104 Christmas cards, handmade and written by our students, to isolated seniors in the Ottawa area, along with sharing our Advent poetry recitals with the groups.

We eagerly await the day when we can visit the seniors in person!

Curriculum News

Our Grade 1 class learned about spirals, seeing ties to math, nature study, art, and a discussion on how God is a God of order.

As classical educators, we encourage students to see the connections between subjects and topics, to enhance their logical thinking. Mme Rusu has a white board in the Grade 5 room on which she writes French vocabulary and phrases from her lessons. Dr Klaassen has been writing underneath the Latin roots of the French words - a way of showing the children the connection between the languages they learn.

Grandpa Joe is a resident favourite in our Grade 3-4 science class, providing a visual aid to our students as they study the bones of the human body.

Our Grade 7-8 Art class tried their hand at impressionism as they walked through 19th Century art history.

Visit the School

We would love to invite you to visit our school.
Safe, private tours are available by appointment.

info@st-timothys.ca | 613.794.1750 | Visit Us!

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things."
Philippians 4:8