ALSO 2011-Crossing Borders With Care

 RJC staff and students are busy preparing for our annual ALSO week happening March 28 –April 1 2011.  The purpose of ALSO week is to give students an opportunity to learn about service and to put that learning into action.  Staff and students will be engaging in service learning in Guatemala, Mississippi, Calgary, Edmonton, and Saskatoon.  

 This year’s ALSO theme is “Crossing Borders With Care”.  As we prepare to depart we know that we will cross borders.  We will travel to new communities, and experience new cultures and situations.  Some of the borders we will cross are physical.  We will visit new towns, cities, and countries.  But many of the borders we cross will not be as obviously marked.  We will try new skills, discover new gifts, enter into new ways of thinking, seeing, and knowing.  We will learn, hopefully, more about people and places that were once off the ‘map’ of our hearts and minds.  As we depart we will try to cross these borders, as Jesus did, with care, love, and compassion.    

ALSO participants in Guatemala and will be working with MCC’s connecting peoples’ program.   Students in Mississippi and Edmonton will be working with Habitat for Humanity.  Students in Calgary will participate in CASA, MCC Alberta’s Urban Plunge Experience.  Students in Saskatoon will work with Habitat for Humanity, Saskatoon Community Schools, and at the Saskatoon SPCA. 

ALSO 2011 Locations (students)            Staff Supervisors

Saskatoon                                                        Adam, Richard, Bev and Gail

Edmonton                                                        Ryan &; Nancy

Calgary                                                            Joel &; Holly

Mississippi (Mar. 24 – April 3)                        Karalee &; Lloyd &; Nic

Guatemala (Mar. 20 – April 2)                        Jim &; Cassandra

Dorms                                                             Kathy &; Heinrich

Please remember us in thought and prayer as we travel and work at our destinations.  The groups will do their best to blog about their adventures while they are gone.  Please continue to check this website under Service Education.

Sam Hawkins

The boys dorm hosted the annual Sam Hawkins evening.  The boys invite their 'dates' in  creative and fun ways to attend an evening of dressing up, good food and fun activities.  This year's theme was 'You Tube videos'.  Students dressed like their favorite video stars! 

The boys came through with many creative ideas as they invited their dates for a fun evening of activity .

Johnathan prepares his invitation for Steph .

A 'star wars' battle for a lady's hand.

A special feast was prepared for the evening

The chocolate fountain was a hit.

What do you call 90 students being chased in the dark....Mission Impossible!

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday's school day started off with a twist.  The students celebrated  by attending a Lenten Chapel followed by a pancake breakfast!

Ryan lead the Lenten devotional before breakfast.  Ryan explained the meaning of Shrove Tuesday and Lent.  He encouraged the  students to consider giving something up for Lent.

Ryan, Evan and Jordan read scripture.

The cooks prepared a pancake breakfast feast with all the toppings for all the students.!

Lion's Speak Off

The Lion's Speakoff program was begun in 2003 to give students an opportunity to develop their public speaking skills. Two of our students, Ryann Goota and Kirsten Wiens, reached the finals after first competing at the local level and then at the regional competition.  By the slimmest of margins they finished in the two runners up positions.  Ryann spoke about the reality show Jersey Shore in her speech while Kirsten took the audience into a fantasy world of the Zombies.
Congratulations Girls!

First place winner, Melissa Saunders of Borden, stands with the large plaque she was just presented by District Governor Lion Doug Reid of Battleford.  Beside her are runners up Ryann Goota and Kirstin Wiens of RJC and second place finisher Darci Tkaczyk of Borden.



Courtesy the Valley News

Student Commons and Gathering Space Completed!

RJC students, along with the larger RJC family, were the recipients of a wonderful gift in 2010-2011 as donors and volunteers came together to create a wonderful new space in the central core of the school building.  What was once the men’s washroom and athletic change room has been beautifully transformed into the school’s new Learning Commons and Gathering Space.  

The project was led by a Building Committee which included board members Jim Flath, Peter Hooge and Nicolle Tiessen and volunteer Project Coordinator Peter Schroeder.  The majority of the labor for the renovation was provided by a large group of willing volunteers coordinated by staff member Mel Siemens with a core group of builders including Schroeder, Peter Guenther, Bruno Klassen and John Fitzgerald providing continuity, leadership and expertise from beginning to end.

The end result is a warm, comfortable and inviting space in the school where all members of the RJC community can mix, mingle and relax! .

 

New Gathering Space

Students are enjoying the newly renovated gathering space just inside the main entrance.

Dirty February officially ends!

Dirty February came to an official end!  The boys celebrated with a Guys Night Out, Mustache Party.  The boys all donned mustaches, real or otherwise to attend the manly party.  Here the boys tested their physical strength with manly wrestling matches and their mental strength during the eating contests.  They then feasted on deep fried pizza pops, bacon and french fries dripping in gravy and cheese!

Tyler with a head lock on Patrick!

Luke checking out the 'mystery meat' during the eating contest.

Ready set go!  Paul Ayres went on to claim the victory!

A feast only a man could love!

Although 'no shave' February started as a 'guy thing', the girls were not to be outdone.  They celebrated the end of dirty February with there own feats of physical and mental strength.  They hosted a 'spa' night where they 'waxed' the night away.

Kayla, Laurel, Kelsey and Kyla gives the thumbs up!