Saturday, December 12, 2009

Weekly News Episode 8

The CPT 30 class highlights the Beauty and the Beast performance, Basketball and Pennies for Poverty. And of course...Weather with Hugo!


Friday, November 27, 2009

RJC Weekly News Episode 7

The CPT 30 class presents their latest news offering. See the Art Class Feature and Grey Cup news.


Friday, November 20, 2009

Thursday, November 12, 2009

RJC Weekly News 5 - Mennonite World Conference

The CPT 30 class released their 5th installment of the RJC Weekly News.  This time they interviewed Bishop Danisa Ndlovu from Zimbabwe.  Bishop Ndlovu is the President of the Mennonite World Conference, and had been in Chapel that morning addressing the RJC students.


Deeper Life Days - Food for thought!

This year's Deeper Life Days theme was"Food for Thought". On Nov. 4th and 5th the student body explored issues surrounding hunger, food security, fair trade, locally produced food and the effects of our food choices on the environment.


The Deeper Life Days Band lead in music featuring songs such as "Hungry".


Guest speakers on the first morning included Louella Friesen, a resident farmer who recently launched a Christmas CD with proceeds going to the MCC "Food for All" program, and Claire Ewert-Fischer, the Executive Director of MCC Sask. They shared about their connection with food (Louella as a farmer and director of Innovative Farm Families and Claire as a MCCer concerned with development and relief work throughout the world) and encouraged us all to make a difference by committing to actions that will help the world share the food we have.

Claire addresses the student body.

Louella sings a number from her new CD.

In the Afternoon Wilf Buhler shared about his experiences throughout the world with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Much of the grain donated comes right from our area!

For lunch the students were separated into five groups representing the top 20% to the bottom 20% of people in the world according to wealth. The top group was able to eat a normal RJC lunch, which happened to be tacos for that day. They had unlimited access to seconds, or thirds and could drink as much as they wanted, water or juice. They had fruit and dessert tacos, yum! The next group was given enough food (rice, beans, cheese and taco beef) to live on and not be hungry and access to as much water as they wanted. The third group was limited to a serving of rice beans and cheese (no meat) and was only given one glass of water. The next group was given only rice and beans and a half cup of water. The final group ate only rice and did not have access to water. This exercise helped the students understand what it would be like to not be able to have access to food and water, and to see how unfair that is, and appreciate what we normally take for granted.

The 'rice only' group lacked food, but had spirit!

The 'top group' bellied up!

The Faith and Life Committee served the meals.

Lyle Graham was disappointed with his portion, but played along.

The Faith and Life Committee spent a lot of time on their backdrop for Deeper Life Days. Well done girls!

Part of Deeper Life Days included a student lead journey through the "10 Myths of Hunger" which dispelled commonly held myths about hunger like "there is not enough food to feed the world". Suzanne Luitjens reads one of the "Ten Myths of Hunger"

In the afternoon Melanie Boldt of Pine View Farms in Osler shared about the importance and benefits of locally produced food. That evening some students visited her Souleio Restaurant in Saskatoon which features many of Pine View's products.
The staff hammed it up on Thursday morning with a skit that demonstrated the tensions between some of our values and healthy food choices.

On Thursday we traveled to the Station Arts Theatre to listen to Dennis Helmuth, the operator of the Tea Room, talk about his 'slow food' philosophy. After he spoke we watched the docudrama 'Food Inc." which explores many issues as they relate to North America's, often unhealthy and unjust, food industry.

The Faith and Life Committee Reps, Allison Schmidt, Danika Epp, and Katie McLellan, relax after a busy Deeper Life Days schedule. You did a great job girls! Thanks for bringing this issue to the minds of the student body. Thank you for giving us all some "Food for Thought".

Friday, October 30, 2009

Consumerism - an MCC video by CPT

This is a video put together by the CPT 30 class. It was submitted to the MCC Sask Youth Video Competition on the theme "Consumerism".  The winning video will be announced next week at the MCC SK AGM in Saskatoon.  Watch the CPT 30 offering:


Wednesday, October 14, 2009

RJC Weekly News - Episode 3

CPT class project.  This was delayed because of a technical issue that was not fully resolved.  Look for Epsiode 4 next week.


Friday, October 2, 2009

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Weekly News Episode 1

The CPT 30 class is working on weekly news reports. Here is their first installment.  Watch for more episodes later.


Tuesday, September 22, 2009

RJC Opening Program

The official school opening for the 09-10 school year was held on the afternoon of September 20th. Parents, grandparents, alumni and constituents joined in encouragement and support for the upcoming school year.


Erik Epp and Heidi Epp, co-presidents for the 09-10 school year introduce the leadership teams.

Welcoming comments were made by Principal Gail Schellenberg.

Jim Epp presents the 08-09 Proficiency Award winners, Jennifer Regier and Aleta Martens


Aleta Martens accepts the 2009 Govenor General's Medal.
Geraldine Balzer has comments from the Board

Taylor Roy, grade 12 student, shares his comments about his experience at RJC.

Ed and Mary Ellen Brockman, parents of Evan and recent graduate Carissa, shared their thoughts at opening.

Concert Choir performed two songs for the audience.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Grade 10 Spiritual Retreat

It was an exciting time when we packed up for Grade 10 Retreat at Christopher Lake Quest Bible Camp, 1 1/2 hours north of Rosthern. 17 excited 15 yr olds (two more joined us the next day) eagerly loaded up the bus. The theme of the retreat was 'Risking New Beginning". Jim Epp lead the three sessions using the story of Moses to explore the theme. Nancy Epp lead the music with some enthusiastic grade 10 students and Holly Epp lead in some of the activities. The 'hidden agenda', and one we met quite well, was that of having fun, relaxing and getting to know one another. After many ping pong, card and kick ball games we grew much more comfortable with one another.

We were sad to see the sun disappear and thunder clouds roll in but we did not let it dampen our spirits and we continued with all the activities that we had planned. Monday morning was spent participating in initiative and cooperative games lead by Shaun the Quest camp director. That afternoon we headed out on the water. The students spent the majority of their time swimming, playing on the water trampoline, or tubing and surfing behind Ron and Edith Regehr's boat. The water was a balmy 68˚!

Thanks to all who helped make it a successful time. Special thanks to Ron and Edith Regehr for taking the day and providing the boat and the expertise behind the wheel of the boat and making it such a fun day for the kids on the water. Thanks to Ashley Nickel for braving the storm to travel up to the lake to help keep us safe by life-guarding for the afternoon. We are also thankful to Ewald and Louise Epp for cooking and feeding us very well for 3 days!


Jim Epp leading one of the sessions on 'Risking new beginnings"


Holly Epp organizing the 'getting to know you games!'

'Kaiser' face off!

Welts was a popular past time with the boys!!!

Tying the knot with Shaun.


Red light...... green light!!!

Crossing the poisonous water.

Turning the page.


Plugging the dike. A race to the finish.
Water fun !
Ryan Epp, Paul Ayres, Joey Fan and Michael Epp dare the driver to capsize them!

Tori Penner, Kaitlyn Baker and Stephanie Willie are not to be outdone.
Fun on the water trampoline.

Can the whole class be out on the water at the same time?

The whole gang!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Grade 12 Retreat

The grade 12s went to Camp Valaqua in Alberta for their class retreat
last weekend. There, they spent time contemplating community, what
that means, and how do you achieve the type of community that reflects
God's plan for the world. They were led by Abe Janzen, (MCC AB
director), Kim Thiessen (singer/songwriter/activist), and Carrie Enns
(MCAB youth leader).

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Bringing Down the House

The leaders of the Faith and Life Committee introduced their chapel theme for this year. They have chosen "Bringing Down the House" for their theme. It focuses on how Jesus brought heaven down to earth. They plan to explore and develop this idea and touch on other ideas throughout the year. The unveiling chapel had the student body involved by having them separate into groups and 'build' with lego blocks a place where God is present on earth. They then presented their structures to the rest of the student body and explained how they felt God was present there.

Lego!
Katie Baschuk and Tiera Goertz representing their group

Hugo Malan and Colton Regier experienced some technical difficulty during their presentation.

God is found "Everywhere"

And especially at "RJC"