Alumni Lance
April 27, 2017
Chargers Golf Classic
We're heading back to the beautiful Echo Falls Golf Club on Thursday, June 22, 2017. It's one of our favorite events and would love for you to join us!

Registration is now open!  Individual, family, and corporate sponsorships are available.  To register click here.
Featured Alumni:  Chris Bunch
Class of 2016

Cliché phrases are the only way to describe what I’m thinking while writing this. Things like “distance makes the heart grow fonder” or “you don’t truly know what you have until it’s gone” to name a couple. Shoreline Christian School wasn’t just my home for my entire school life from preschool to senior year, it was my family. I fought with SCS, I celebrated with SCS, I loved SCS and one thing that stands out to me the most right now as I reflect upon the past is how much God was working in my life at SCS, despite me being almost completely unaware of that fact. This year has allowed me to look at my life, good and bad, because that reflection is how we truly see God and his grace. My hope is that this story shows each SCS student what they really have and how to fully envelop themselves in the blessing that is our community.

Come September 2016 I had just wrapped up working at our Childcare at SCS, a blessing in itself as finding a job was a stressor for me prior to graduation. I packed up what I had, and paused on the diploma, before quickly putting it away. I’ll admit I was ready to put high school behind me. I held a lot of contempt towards the late nights of properly citing sources or doing worksheets that many staff at SCS know I was proficient at handing in late. As the first semester rolled on I had almost completely forgotten about SCS. I was completely neglecting the blessings God had given me while I was there. One night while facetiming with my Mother she mentioned how much she was enjoying volunteering in Mrs. Faber’s first grade class and it was that comment that sent me down a trip of memories of the early years waiting for the orange recess cone setting me free to play. I could not help but feel God tugging on my heart. In days to come I studied the word and came across a verse that stuck out to me. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I read it over and over, and it hit me harder than an eligibility check when I didn’t do my homework. God had not only been with me through each year at SCS but had followed through with His promise He makes in Jeremiah 29:11. From freshman year and being apprehensive about basketball, only to have Him push me into it, to giving me motivation to finish my assignments and making my parents finally proud in Senior year. God was all around me at SCS through each step, through each chapel, each advisor group meeting, each teacher (and I love every one of them so much) for pushing me when I didn’t want to be pushed. God provided at every turn at SCS, even when I didn’t attribute my accomplishments to Him or even rebuked Him. My ignorance of that ability to see it and take advantage of what was around me is something I regret fervently. So when asked on a Religion assignment to define faith for myself, I could not help but see a faith that was built in the warmth of SCS and its community. The yearly theme taught me devotion to God with a long term mindset. Mrs. DeKoekkoek’s lively Bible classes started the spark in me early to learn more about God and the history of His glory. Each staff member at SCS loved God passionately and showed Jesus in the way they lived. That passion rubbed off on me even if I did not realize it in my time there. By the time I had finished the paper I was deeply emotional. Not only had SCS lived up to its mission statement of “Celebrating that all of creation belongs to God, responding by developing students' unique God-given gifts and abilities, and living as dynamic and transforming influences to God's glory”, but they had sent me into the world to act upon that statement and be a light to others to share his word.

I encourage current SCS students to read the mission statement sometime and see what they can get out of it, really sit away from friends and outside noise to just reflect on how each piece applies to them. I also would encourage these students (some of whom I shared my high school experience with) to be open to one another about God, to Start Bible studies, to pray together and mean it. To love God passionately the way SCS has always given you the safe place and opportunity to do.

Former Watson Groen Principal Jack Weirsma Passes

Former WGCS Principal Jack Weirsma passed away recently in Grand Rapids, MI. He was principal at WGCS from 1963 - 1965. He later went on to teach at Calvin College for 16 years, focusing on special education. His obituary appeared in the CRC Banner along with details for a memorial service, and can be read here.
Fred Van Hal Retiring
Fred Van Hal is retiring after 37 years of teaching at Shoreline/Watson Groen Christian School. The  Van Hal family would love for friends, family, coworkers, students, parents, and alumni to join and help him celebrate his time serving the school and its students. 

Please join them for an open house in the Watson Groen Memorial Gymnasium on June 10th from 6:30-8:30 pm. They will gather around 7:30 pm for open mic speeches/memories.  Please spread the word as not all alumni and former school community members receive these communications.

If you are able to make it, please RSVP the Van Hal family by texting 206-383-3515 or emailing vanhalfamily5@gmail.com  so they can have an idea of numbers. If you are unable to make it and would like to send a congratulatory/thank you message for Fred/Mr. Van Hal, please send them to  vanhalfamily5@gmail.com  and they will be assembled in a memory book for him. 

The Shoreline Christian School community will be honoring Fred at the Spring Pops Concert on June 9th at 7:00 pm.  Please join us in celebrating his years of service.
Career Opportunities at SCS
We currently have staff openings for this coming school year.  Applications are being accepted for:  full time middle school math and science teacher, full time 4th grade teacher, full time preschool/childcare director, and part time office administrator.  Job descriptions and applications are available on our website. 
Featured Alumni Stories
Each month we like to feature an Alumni in our newsletter.  This is a great way for alumni to reconnect. We would love to hear from you about where you are and what you are doing now.  

Class Reunions
Is your class planning a reunion?  We'd love to see you back on campus.   Let us know your plans.
2016 Presidential Report 
SCS School Board President, Tom Rietkerk shares his thoughts on the school theme "Make a Difference," read updates from Admissions, Advancement, Buildings and Grounds, Education, and Finance.   Read more online.

Memorial Garden Plaques
We created a physical space for stories - past and present - a memorial garden. 

Now we need stories!  You can tell your story on a plaque that will be attached to the faces of the benches.   Learn more here.