The last few weeks!

If you are part of an educational institution I don't need to tell you how busy the end of the school year can be. Classes are being wrapped up, the school is being cleaned, exams are being taken, and celebrations are happening every other day! 


These past few weeks have been incredibly busy for me. My "babies" of the year were the 8th grade dinner and the Middle School Awards Ceremony. As Ruth (MS Principal) and I were in completely new roles this year, each of these events were new to us. I began creating awards certificate templates and looking online for decorations. If you ask anyone I lived or worked with, they will tell you I lived and breathed these events for weeks. I absolutely loved it! 


Here are some of the things I did for these events:
- Ordered gold paper for awards certificates (which came 10x the size I wanted! - a small German mishap on my part)  :) 
- Printed Subject Awards
- Created Awards Night Programs
- Bought and created table decorations
- Bought 200 cream puffs and 200 mini eclairs
- Made large batches of punch from scratch
- Created a seating chart
- Made an 8th grade powerpoint of baby-current pictures


My absolute favourite part was on the night of. When I saw the 8th grade class enjoying their dinner together, and when the awards ceremony ran smoothly, I knew all the extra hours and projects were entirely worth it. However, I know that it was not in my own strength that the evening was a huge success. As the night drew near, I was praying that it would turn out well, and it did. God made it happen. I was just His hands and feet, and what a joy it was! 

8th Grade Dinner

Table Decorations

Reception after Awards Ceremony

Reading an 8th grade students' tribute

 2011-2012 MS Staff

19 Days

On the bulletin board outside my office it says "19 days left of school!" Is this really true? Are there really only 19 days left with these kids? It's hard to believe that almost another entire year has past. Thank you to all of you who have supported and prayed for me this year. I appreciate it so much! While there have been ups and downs, like most years do, there have been SO many highlights! Let me briefly name a few.


Highlights:
1. Working under the Middle School Principal, Ruth
2. Having my mom visit
3. Teaching (chapel band, games, guitar, drama)
4. Having a small group
5. Watching 56 MS students grow physically, mentally and spiritually
6. Laughing with my small group girls
7. Celebrating my 22nd Birthday
8. Having friends visit
9. Being mentored
10. Fun activities with the MS students
11. Working with the MS staff
12. MS Overnight
13. Small Group Christmas Party
14. Helping in my roommates' 4th grade class
15. Small Group Relationship Panel
16. High School Retreat


These are only a few highlights from this past year! If you would like to hear more about my year, and more details about these events let me know - I'd love to get together with you this summer! I will be home from June 8-August 13. I am looking forward to being back on Canadian soil for the summer! See you soon!

Mari Ellen

Dear friends and family,

Thank you for your prayers in the past week. Our beloved friend and staff member, Mari Ellen Reeser went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 8, 2012. She has been a staff member of Janz Team/BFA since 1990. Her most recent role as school counsellor among many other things over the years has connected her deeply with so many staff and students.

Please pray for her friends and family, near and far, as well as our BFA community as we grieve the loss of our friend. Students and staff are on spring break until Tuesday, April 16. Please continue to pray for us as we console and encourage one another once returning back to school. 

Her memorial at Black Forest Academy will be on Tuesday, April 16 at 7pm (8 hours ahead of Calgary). 

Thank you in advance for your prayers.

Blessings,
Brittany

School Events

Hey friends and family,

I hope your week is starting off well! We have 4 days (including today) left before spring break officially starts! It will be really nice to have 2 weeks off to rest and get ready for the busyness that comes after break. Listed below is the school calendar for the rest of the year. The things that I am involved in, I have changed to purple for you to see. These are activities in ADDITION to the normal week's events of small group, school, and homework/teaching. If you would like more information on an event or activity, please let me know and I would be happy to explain it more in detail. Please be praying for the staff and students as we try to finish off the year well. May we bring glory and honour to the One who has given each day. 

Blessings,

Brittany 

BFA School Calendar April - June 

March 30 - Last day of classes before break

April 1 - 6 BFA mission trip teams leave for Italy, Central Asia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Slovenia and Romania

April 1-16 - Spring Break, Dorms closed

April 16 - Staff Breakfast

April 17 - School Starts 

April 20-21 - Soccer Teams Away

April 21 -Track Team Away, Staff music recital

April 22 - Senior Music Recital

April 23 - Language Field Trips 

April 26-29 - AP Trip to London

April 27 - MS Class Parties, HS Course Field Trip

April 28 - Track/Soccer Teams Away

May 3 - Senior Day

May 4 - Jr/Sr Banquet

May 5 - Track Away, Soccer Home Games, SAT Testing

May 7-18 - AP Exams

May 8 - Staff Appreciation Dinner

May 11 - Music Recital

May 12 - Track/Soccer Teams Away

May 14-18 - MS Experiential Learning Week

May 18 - HS Spring Party

May 20 - Dorm Parties 

May 21-24 - Soccer Finals

May 25 - Elementary School Program

May 26 - 8th grade dinner, MS awards, Track Finals Away

May 27 - Spring Concert

May 29-31 - HS Exams 

May 30-31 - MS Exams

May 31 - Last day of school 

June 1 - HS Awards

June 2 - Graduation

June 3 - Dorms close, All staff BBQ

June 8 - Flight to Canada

Talent Show

Last Friday night the entire BFA community sat in the auditorium to listen to our very talented staff and students. Students shared songs they had written, cover songs were played and the staff wowed everyone with their amazing hand bells performance! 

Take a look at the video below to listen to two of my very talented 

small group girls perform a disney medley with their friends! 

High School Retreat

This past weekend was spent with over 250 high school students! On Friday all students and staff boarded 4 buses and headed 2 hours away to Lenk, Switzerland. We spent the weekend listening to a speaker, worshipping God, and spending quality time as a small group. On Saturday we also had free time to participate in many different activities. These included learning how to cut hair, playing dodgeball and watching a session on self-defense. The kids had a blast!


I absolutely loved getting to spend more time with my 7 small group girls. These girls are honest, open and yearning to know more about God. It is such a blessing and privilege to have the chance to invest into their lives. Please pray for me as a leader as I guide them in discussion each Wednesday evening. Also please pray for these girls as they are learning how to becoming truly committed followers of Jesus.

Guitar Finale!

This past Thursday my 17 eighth graders performed at the MS music recital. We had a great turnout of parents and other students. I am so proud of these kids for the hard work they put into guitar class this quarter. My last class with them today was rather bittersweet. While I am glad for less classes in the last quarter of the year, I will miss teaching those kids! I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to teach them, and that I will be blessed with teaching guitar again next year!