An important announcement from our School Superintendent

by Greg Bitgood

Dear Heritage Christian Online School Families and Friends,

Over the past month there has been a great deal of uncertainty in Distributed Learning (DL) Schools as the BC Ministry of Education has been giving directives for specific changes in the policies and procedures of DL schools. Also, several legislative changes have been made as of last week through Bill 33 becoming law.

All of the changes in Bill 33 will be very positive for us in the Independent School Branch of the Ministry. Most notably, Distributed Learning is now an official part of the Independent School Act. Up till now we have had a special agreement with the Ministry of Education to run our DL school. We are now official! This should have little or no effect upon how we provide our educational program. Heritage Christian Online School continues to be a leader among Distributed Learning (DL) Schools and we are more committed than ever to meeting the needs of our enrolled and registered families. We believe that God has distinctly called us to serve the body of Christ in aiding the Home Educator, the Distant Learner and Christian Education in the Province and beyond.

The main concern for our Distributed Learning (DL) families has been in the area of reimbursements for curriculum and program activities. Let me give a bit of background...

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The Homeschooling Community and HCOS teachers

by Janet Rainbow

People love to share or dare I say boast a bit about those who are dear to their hearts. Parents love to share the successes of their children. I am sure most of us have looked at pictures of someone’s grandchild and listened as we heard how cute and smart they were. It is with these thoughts in mind I would like to share (boast a bit) about the teachers at HCOS.

Some of you may think that all of our teachers are sitting in front of their computers searching through Encom to see if they can find a PLO that your child has or has not met. They do spend some time doing that but it is not their focus. At our August training staff meetings we encourage our teachers to think of themselves as a team player with you and your child. We continuously look at ways that this can be accomplished. We also encouraged our teachers to get involved with the local homeschool group and where possible, if they were offering a group activity that it wouldn’t just be limited to families enrolled with HCOS.

If you live on Vancouver Island there is a good chance you have heard of the “Beacon” group. This group was the brain child of our Nanaimo teacher and expanded this year to include the two new teachers from that area. This group has done a wide variety of activities and a few highlights are: a science fair, ski trip, and are organizing a trip to Science World in Vancouver. This same Nanaimo teacher worked extremely hard at developing our science resource bins for grades K to 7 and should be in full circulation next year...

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A Mom's Thoughts

by Sarah Bennett

People love to share or dare I say boast a bit about those who are dear to their hearts. Parents love to share the successes of their children. I am sure most of us have looked at pictures of someone’s grandchild and listened as we heard how cute and smart they were. It is with these thoughts in mind I would like to share (boast a bit) about the teachers at HCOS.

Some of you may think that all of our teachers are sitting in front of their computers searching through Encom to see if they can find a PLO that your child has or has not met. They do spend some time doing that but it is not their focus. At our August training staff meetings we encourage our teachers to think of themselves as a team player with you and your child. We continuously look at ways that this can be accomplished. We also encouraged our teachers to get involved with the local homeschool group and where possible, if they were offering a group activity that it wouldn’t just be limited to families enrolled with HCOS.

If you live on Vancouver Island there is a good chance you have heard of the “Beacon” group. This group was the brain child of our Nanaimo teacher and expanded this year to include the two new teachers from that area. This group has done a wide variety of activities and a few highlights are: a science fair, ski trip, and are organizing a trip to Science World in Vancouver. This same Nanaimo teacher worked extremely hard at developing our science resource bins for grades K to 7 and should be in full circulation next year...

...read more

Christian Education: Proclaim Christ as Truth OR Teaching Human Level Thinking

by Chris McGrath

“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life" ~Jesus Christ

One of the greatest strengths the Bible brings to education is that it is rooted in the person of Jesus Christ. Oddly enough, Jesus makes the audacious claim that he is the Truth (John 14:6). It is audacious because we, in the west, equate truth with concepts and ideas rather than in a person, but Jesus makes the claim that truth is rooted in him and it is because of this that truth is never neutral and education should always be biased towards the glorification and enjoyment of God. Not only is Jesus the Truth, he is also its Author and Creator and Sustainer (Col.1:1-17).

What does that mean for the student? Education, from beginning to end, is designed to reveal Christ as the one true source and the Christ in every aspect of life challenges the learner to see Christ as the one who directs every molecule. The acquisition of information and knowledge demands a response from the learner towards its author. Who is this person called Jesus? Why does he get praise for all things? Why would Jesus want me, a student, to know him, to know the Trinity? How do I learn more about him and how does the Spirit direct and instruct me in my education? What purpose does Jesus have for us through our learning?

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Worldview Alert: The DaVinci Code

by Ted Gerk

By now you would no doubt be very aware of the hype surrounding Dan Brown’s book “The Da Vinci Code”,  and subsequent movie. I’ve seen the movie and am reading the book…and I can tell you its’ no great Hollowood epic nor a literary masterpiece. 

There are two thoughts on how the Christian community can respond to the controversy. I certainly respect the rights of those who feel slighted and offended by the ancient heresy portrayed both in the book and the movie.  But I’m impressed with how some groups such as Campus Crusade for Christ have latched on to this incredible opportunity to “tell the story of Jesus”.  To that end a series of web sites, blogs and books have been produced, educating the public and the Christian community on our “roots”.  I say “roots” because how many of us know and understand how our Bible came to be?  How versed are we in Church history? And the claims of Christ…was he just a great teacher?  (All these questions and more can be found at web sites that I’ll list at the end of this article.) 

As a parent, though, how do I handle this cultural quest to diss Jesus? My older children are being encouraged to either read the book or view the movie.  Additionally, I’m using Josh McDowell’s new book: “The DaVinci Code: A Quest for Answers” to spur on discussion and educate them on early Church history. In fact, we at Heritage Christian Online School believe so passionately in using such opportunities to “teach” our children, that we’ll send a free copy of Josh McDowell’s book to any family that emails me at: tgerk@onlineschool.ca ...

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So, What's a "PO" anyway?

by Ted Gerk

Many of you are asking youself just that question these days.  As I drift off each night, dreaming of your PO numbers, I want to ensure that YOU know just what they are, what they can be used for, and how we can help each other implement the new provincial regulations as seamlessly as possible.

First, and this is very important, if you’ve been sent a PO number and have NOT re-enrolled your child, please take the time to log into Encom and do that task you’ve been putting off.  Some of you have been busy purchasing that curriculum for the fall, and we think that’s just great!!  But the PO numbers are to be used for purchases for enrolled or re-enrolled students, so we really ask you to take the time to contact us ASAP!

Now, a “PO number” simply means Purchase Order Number. It allows a vendor, or supplier to keep track of who you are, and provide us with a means of tracking your purchase when the invoice needs to be paid. Simply put.  We’re working hard to make sure as many vendors and suppliers are participating with us so you can continue to have a full realm of choice when it comes to curriculum purchase.  Our updated list can be found here.

Now, even as I speak, we are working hard to provide a way you can sign up for lessons, get computer equipment, and purchase that hard-to-find curriculum that you need that is integral for the training of your children.  I want to assure you that we are doing EVERYTHING in our power to make sure that our HCOS families have the same amount of flexibility they have always enjoyed.  And we remain committed to that fact. 

So, stay tuned.  We’ll have more announcements to make in the coming days!!