In this episode, David Jackson (Middle School Assistant Principal and Learning Services Teacher) and Susan Priebe (High School Learning Services Teacher) discuss our Learning Support Services efforts. The panel explores belonging in community, the inherent value and image bearing nature of every child, and how we can support the diverse needs of all our learners. As families seek different practices to build supportive environments for their children, this episode offers valuable insights into how learning services teams play an essential role in equipping students to become all God created them to be.

In this episode, Berkley and Kevin discuss how our LCS service learning program is being developed under the direction of Chris Seppelt (Service Learning Coordinator) and Joel Ditson (High School Principal). As part of our efforts to have students more engaged in local to global service, build community partnerships, and develop intercultural understanding, the panel discusses the early stages of our high school service learning program. The discussion is filled with stories of faith and insights into how the program will start to connect into our K-12 Bible curriculum over the next few years. Tune in as Chris and Joel encourage LCS families to engage in service learning as part of their social emotional and faith development.

Berkley and Kevin go deep theologically into Genesis 1 and 2 with Erin Thiessen (Middle School Homeroom Teacher) and Tom Allen (High School Chapel Coordinator and Bible/Humanities Teacher). The discussion explores how we continue to support student social emotional development and faith formation around Biblical perspectives of identity, relationships, gender, and sexuality in our Bible curriculum. Erin and Tom share examples of our approach and how we are facilitating the learning in ways that are consistent with a high degree of clarity, integrity, and care for our learner. The panel also shares relevant texts for further reading and an invitation to continue the partnership we hope to see with families across a range of sensitive but important discussions.

Strategies from our Youth Care Workers for Connection & Belonging  In this episode, Jamie Robertson and Lauren Enns discuss youth care at LCS. The panel explores belonging in community, the inherent value and image bearing nature of every child, and strategies to ensure our learners thrive. As families seek different practices to build supportive environments for their children, this episode offers valuable insights into how to equip students to become all God created them to become. Learn more langleychristian.com

Joy and Attachment Are Necessary for our Faith-Formation  Our brains are wired for joy and attachment. What does it look like to support our students’ social emotional development and how does this matter for our faith formation? Join us as Berkley and Kevin chat with School Counsellor, Dave McVety about how our community is working to make sure every child is known, their giftings are nurtured, and that we create opportunities for meaningful connection leading to learning. The episode examines several biblical and practical examples of how to have important restorative conversations with our students.

Launching Season 4 on Faith, Identity, and Social-Emotional Development LCS Talks is in its 4th Season! Join us as we explore conversations on Faith, Identity, and Social Emotional development. Since launching this podcast in 2021, we have had a lot of positive reception in the British Columbia Christian educational context. And though engaging with our school community remains our primary purpose, we thought we would continue to give voice to another void of silence in Christian education: the role that social-emotional development plays in our identity and faith formation.  Berkley and Kevin frame the season ahead and chat with Joyce Wang, K-12 Director of Learning Support Services. This episode was recorded at the end of the 2022-23 school year. The panel shares about some of the staff professional learning we have engaged with and why it is important that a Christian learning community should care about social-emotional development.

In the final episode of LCS Talks, Season 3 on Faith, Identity, and Christian Formation, Berkley and Kevin reflect on how we have grown as a thriving Christian learning community with guests Anita Wood (Elementary School Assistant Principal), David Jackson (Middle School Assistant Principal), and Patrick Lee (High School Assistant Principal). Tune in to hear about how each of these incredible leaders have been impacted in their faith this year and how God show up in our shared work and learning.

In this episode, Berkley and Kevin chat with three of our middle school Bible teachers, Nathan Rhea, Erin Thiessen, and Regan Davis about the early development of our K-12 Bible curriculum. Tune in to get to know these incredible teachers. Listen to their stories about how God brought them to LCS, how we support student learning, and what it means to approach important conversations from an educational posture of listening and learning. The team highlights some important theological considerations and invitations for families to partner as we encourage spiritual conversations in middle school classes and with adolescents.

In this episode, Berkley and Kevin chat with Tim Van Hemert, Elisha Neufeld, and Briel Walters on how each of the campuses are planning for Christian faith-informed learning in different subject disciplines. Tune in to get to know more of our incredible staff members and hear about how they articulate our vision for community learning, and how to think about how faith informs the arts, sciences, and STEM programming. The panel explores how being made in the image of God and creating points to who we are as a community of learners.

In this episode, Berkley, Brenda, and Kevin chat about Christian teaching practice with Dr. David Smith, Director of the Kuyers Institute at Calvin University and author of several influential Christian educational books including “On Christian Teaching: Practicing Faith.” In this conversation, the team discussed the role of the Bible in Christian education and how to help teachers live out their faith in their practice. Join us as we explore what it means to lead our students, notice their God given gifting, and help them to live purposefully in the world.

In this episode, Berkley and Kevin talk with our Grade 11/12 Bible teachers, Bruce Wergeland, Josh Withrow, and Tom Allen. The conversation explores how these teachers are implementing our new Bible curriculum, approaching how they teach students how to read the Bible, and engaging in conversations about faith-formation. Tune in to get to know these incredible educators and how they are working towards the faith-formation of high school students.

In this episode, Berkley and Kevin chat with Harmony Wilson (LCS ECE Manager) and Rachel Cram (Founding Director of Wind and Tide Preschools) about the developmental needs and faith formation of early learners. The discussion is filled with stories about children and practical insights for how to have spiritual conversations, engage in play, build attachment, and communicate well with our children. Explore how we lead children to be grounded in Biblical teachings while also helping them to live a life of wonder and curiosity. Tune into the conversation as these two incredible women share about their insights for supporting our children in their faith formation.

In this episode, Berkley, Kevin, and Lori chat with Dr. Lynn Swaner, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at the Association of Christian Schools International. Dr. Swaner is familiar with the BC Christian educational context, having spoken at the Christian Schools Conference this past year. She has also worked with our LCS leadership team at one of our morning sessions and helped facilitate leadership learning around creating a flourishing Christian educational community. Tune in as we explore insights concerning faith formation, flourishing Christian learning communities, and practices that encourage our school community to help students thrive.

In this episode, Berkley and Kevin chat about our efforts towards discipleship and faith formation in the middle and high school. You won’t want to miss some of the important insights shared as we get to know Brenda Wind (Middle School Assistant Principal) and our lightning life House Directors (Kara Davis, Brodan Thiel, and Cody Friesen). The conversation is filled with some key considerations about how a community of faith, teaching, and learning engages in practices to encourage spiritual conversation. Mr. Thiel that our scars help students believe that our vulnerabilities point to the need for a saviour at the same time. Ms. Wind characterizes when we lead with vulnerability, we create a safe place where kids can be vulnerable. Join in the conversation if you want to hear about our learning or if your school community is exploring different approaches to community and faith formation.

LifeLong Faith - A conversation with author, teacher, researcher, and ecumenical thinker, John Roberto In this episode, Berkley and Kevin chat with author, teacher, researcher, and ecumenical thinker, John Roberto. John is the author of a recent (2022) book, “LifeLong Faith: Formation for All Ages and Generations” and several other books on Christian formation. John has also founded several ministries and led projects on Faith Formation including the Center for Ministry Development in 1978 and LifeLong Faith Associates in 2006. His graduate work was in the areas of religious education and sociology and brings that lens into his work. John offers a view of ecumenical collaboration between different Christian denominations in learning communities. His work has inspired the focus for our podcast season on Faith, Identity, and Christian Formation. This conversation is filled with insights and practices for educational communities, families, leaders of faith formation in K-12 Christian education, and educational staff. Check out John Roberto’s website for free resources and ideas for how to encourage faith-formation in your families, churches, and teams: https://www.lifelongfaith.com/.

Welcome back to LCS Talks season 3, episode 3 where we are discussing how our community might think about the relationship between Faith, Identity, and Christian Formation. In this episode, we pick up on our discussions about Christian Formation with Dave McVety, Middle/High School Counselor and explore a vision of shepherding, soul-care, and faith-formation for this year. Join us as we hear about Dave’s God story, how we order our lives in such a way that we can be formed more like Christ, and listen deeply to God in our educational efforts.

In this episode, Kevin and the LCS Principals reflect on some of the highlights this school year on each of the campuses and in our educational programming. Lori Carpenter (Elementary School Principal), Berkley Glazer (Middle School Principal), and Joel Ditson (High School Principal) discuss how LCS has become a more resilient community. They explore how this has been a formative year for themselves and the community in faith and in our efforts to grow as learners. Tune in as LCS Talks explores how the conversations and learning have impacted our school leaders, what this means for our families, and the exciting work that we have ahead next school year as it pertains to Faith, Identity, and Christian Formation.

We are excited to announce the launch of LCS Talks Season 3 on Faith, Identity, and Christian formation. This next season, we not only explore our teachers’ journeys implementing our re-envisioned K-12 Biblical Studies curriculum, but report back on some of our staff professional learning with our formational Christian teaching practices, discuss the importance of faith-formational efforts in our teaching and learning, and what it looks like to encourage more lifelong learning views of education. We will be joined by Christian education experts from all over the world and our own teaching staff as we engage in discussions about Christian faith-formation. As we engage with local thinkers, Christian school leaders, our K-12 staff members, and students, we seek to tell the stories that are shaping this community of faith and learning. In episode one, some key voices from the K-12 Bible team, Karen Brouwer Vlieg (Grade 3 Teacher), Regan Davis (Grade 8 Teacher), Josh Withrow (High School Bible/Humanities Teacher), and Amy Stromgren (Grade 6 Teacher and Indigenous Learning Coordinator) share the stories that have shaped the re-envisioned Biblical Studies curriculum, what they have learned throughout the process, and what they are excited about in terms of the direction and work ahead with our phased implementation plan. You can subscribe to the podcast so you can stay up to date with our releases into the fall this next school year.

In the final episode of Season 2 on Faith, Identity, and Technology, Berkley Glazer, Eric Bylenga, and Kevin Mirchandani talk with Jon Kuehl (Grade 8 Homeroom Teacher) and John Van Weelden (High School Teacher) about our Drones and Aviation Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies (ADST) courses and programming. The discussion is filled with examples of how our teachers are encouraging learning that invites students to reflect on Biblical principles for innovative technology use. Mr. Kuehl and Mr. Van Weelden help us think Biblically, theologically, and practically in terms of what it looks like for a Christian learning community to build programs that help students develop technological citizenship with a future-oriented vision of Christian education.

In this episode, Berkley Glazer, Kevin Mirchandani, and Adam Woelders chat with Jonny Zuidhof former LCS Middle School teacher and current teacher at Heritage Christian Online School about online learning, comparing online / remote learning to brick and mortar schools, and the formation of students in technology-rich environments. The panel explores the possibilities of offering online education in a community like LCS. Be sure to check out this conversation for insights into future-focused Christian education.