FALL 2014 | Vol. 23, No. 2

P U B L I S H E D S E M I A N N U A L L Y B Y T H E C L C N E T W O R K A D V A N C E M E N T O F F I C E

For the last ten years, Jennifer Contreras has been searching for a Christian school in which to enroll her son, Antonio. Over and over, she was told that someone else would be better able to educate Antonio due to his developmental days. But, as Alma Heights Christian School administrator David Gross explains, “Elsewhere doesn’t exist.”

Jennifer recalls contacting twenty-three Christian schools within a 45-minute drive of her home in Pacifica, California. Most often, the school leaders she spoke with couldn’t envision how to serve Antonio and encouraged her to look elsewhere. “I was shocked, I cried in the car after those meetings,” she recalls. “How could every child not deserve a Christian education?”

That question came to influence other areas of Jennifer’s life. “I just couldn’t believe that no one else felt the same sense of injus-tice. I wanted Christianity to be a part of Antonio’s daily life, for him to learn about God from teachers who cared about his faith.” In 2012, as part of her research for a doctoral dissertation on Chris-tian education and students with learning disabilities, Jennifer learned about CLC Network and scheduled a visit.

After spending some time at CLC Network partner schools, Jenni-fer recalls thinking, “This is what it should be. I’ve seen it, it’s been done. It gave me a picture of what I desired for my son, and the confidence that this methodology could be applied everywhere.”

At the time, Antonio was enrolled in the local public school for his first year of high school. “Antonio started categorizing himself as a ‛special ed kid’ and identified himself apart from ‛general ed kids.’

I could see that the segregated environment wasn’t good for his self esteem and with his growth in learning how to integrate with the general community,” she remembers. Antonio also began attending a new church on the campus of Alma Heights Christian School (AHCS), and making friends through the youth group. Jennifer was struggling with trying to find a new church home after seeing Antonio excluded else-where, but eventually she attended an event with Antonio. There she met David Gross, superin-tendant at Alma Heights Christian High School.David was convinced that Antonio belonged at his school. “I didn’t have a strategy, but I had a convic-tion that this was the right thing to do,” he says. “We had been making progress toward a more mature and inclusive educational philosophy for several years, and Jennifer told me that she could provide the ex-pertise through CLC Network.”Jennifer and David quickly came up with a plan, and Jennifer com-mitted to fund the plan herself “with dollars I didn’t have!” she

A Ten-Year Journey: Antonio Finds a School Home

After spending some time at CLC Network partner

schools, Jennifer recalls thinking, “This is what it

should be. I’ve seen it, it’s been done. It gave me a picture of what I desired for my son, and the confidence

that this methodology could be applied everywhere.”

continued on page 2

“Howcould every

child notdeserve a

Christianeducation?”

Jennifer Contreras and her son, Antonio

2 | FALL 2014 | INCLUSIVE

exclaims. “But the train had left the station. We were just trying to catch up.” Jennifer contacted her employer and learned they would match her gift to AHCS, up to $50,000. The plan calls for launching the first year as a pilot, and adding resource staff as more students enroll.

Antonio started attending AHCS this fall as a 10th grade stu-dent. In the first weeks of school, he has already made strides. Antonio shares, “I like AHCS because I can go to school with my friends from church.” But, the positive effects extend beyond that: Antonio’s verbal and math skills have significantly improved. “We think that because he is around typically abled kids, he is able to model his speech after them,” shares Jennifer.

No one objected to the idea of enrolling Antonio, but there were many questions around how it would work. CLC Network consul-tants Greg Yoder and Barbara Newman made an early visit to the school in August to meet and train teachers, and to witness the first day of school. Greg reflected, “It was a thrill for Barb and me to share this day with Jennifer that has literally been ten years in the making. God is truly at work at AHCS and his fingerprints are all over.” In addition to partnering with CLC Network, AHCS hired Antonio’s former tutor to provide part-time support.

“Word was barely out that we were working with CLC Network and doing this, and we had another student (in addition to Antonio) enroll yesterday,” David shares. “I’m guessing I’ll get in over my head, but CLC Net-work is here to help prevent that. I am excited about becoming a community that’s not defined by narrow outcomes for kids, that we are growing their souls instead.”

Thanks to the support of many donors, CLC Network is thrilled to bring our knowledge to California. David shares, “I look forward to confidently saying to other administrators, ‘See! It’s better this way.’ Then I hope that we can be a toehold for inclusive Christian education in the entire Bay area.”

A Ten-Year Journey: Antonio Finds a School Homecontinued from page 1

“I didn’t have a strategy, but I had a conviction that this was the right thing to do.”

Antonio Contreras (left) with his friends

“Welcome back to the new school year” is a refrain that teachers, adminis-trators and students hear a lot during the early weeks of September each year. I have personally been going to school full time ever since September, 1956 when I entered kindergarten at the age of four. No kidding, I have never not entered a school building since I was four years old each September of my life – and that number now stands at fifty-eight years. What a blessing, what a great place to have to show up each year, wow what a ride!

I have been a very blessed man to be involved in some form of educational experience - whether that be concerning my personal education for the first seventeen of those fifty-eight years - or my own career as a professional edu-cator for the next forty-one.

I started out with the Grand Rapids Public schools in 1973 after I graduated from Calvin College. Then in 1981 I was asked if I would be interested in tak-ing a leave of absence from GRPS for only one year to help guide the Christian Leaning Center through a transition period of management and organiza-tional change. Ha, the joke was on me – one year, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight – I never left and so here I am a total of thirty-four years later about to end my full time professional career at CLC Network on August 31, 2015.

Wow, what a ride those last thirty-four years have been: • Starting out with being part of the Grand Rapids Christian Schools when I arrived on the scene in 1981. • Incorporating into our own organizational entity and our own 501-(c)-3 status in 1985. • Opening our first Inclusive Education Program at Zeeland Christian in 1989. • Finishing the inclusion process across the West Michigan Christian school community and closing our Seymour Christian segregated, self-contained program in 1995. • Creating a “Tuition Equity” system in 1996 so that all parents of Christian school students with disabilities did not have to pay more tuition than the going rate at their local school. • Picking up our first out of state Christian school to support in Oostburg, Wisconsin in 1998. • Getting our first taste of becoming a national educational service provider in 2001 by doing so for the All Kinds Of Minds Institute located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. • Creating our Church Services division in 2005 to support inclusion throughout North America in religious faith communities. • Changing our name to CLC Network (from the Christian Learning Center) the same year (2005) to better reflect our movement into be- coming a “disability reconciliation agency” in both schools and churches. • In 2006, moving into our own wholly owned office building in Wyoming, MI that was graciously given to CLC Network by our fantastic group of donors. • Receiving the Board of Directors’ mandate in 2008 to intentionally strive toward becoming an organization that could help out both schools and churches on a national level. • Completing the research and development transition to becoming a non-profit, national consulting group of “best practice educators” available to both schools and churches in 2013.

Whew, no wonder I’m looking at retirement in August, 2015 – and that list above doesn’t even tell half the story folks. So stay tuned for one final year ‘cause you never know what’s gonna happen, now do ya!

Shalom, Bear

D I R E C T O R ’ S C O R N E R

Here We GoAgain!

INCLUSIVE | FALL 2014 | 3

Rick and Vivian Minnema are committed to making sure CLC Network continues to provide resources and training for Christian schools around the country.

“We believe in CLC Network, and we know it costs more for schools to take on inclusive education,” explains Rick. “We will continue to support this work beyond the time when our kids need services. Where would schools turn for Christ-centered resources if not for them? We know the importance of having CLC Network there to help.”

Rick and Vivian got to know us as parents when they enrolled their daughter, Anneke, at Ada Christian School. A few years later, Vivian served on CLC Network’s Board of Directors (at the time, it was the Christian Learning Center).

In both roles, they got to know several staff members. “We always felt comforted to have Bear [Berends, executive director] and Phil [Stegink, director of educational services] in our corner. They are advocates, advice-givers, and so knowledgeable and passionate about their work. More than anything, they know inclusion.”

The Minnemas are eager to see CLC Network grow, and to help push member schools to the next steps of inclusion. “When it’s done well, inclusion is an understood and everyday thing, not about one person helping another,” explains Vivian. “When I thanked some of Anneke’s friends for watching out for her over the years, they said ‘thanks for what?’. My thanks were out of place; Anneke was just a classmate like anyone else.”

“I think it is the coolest thing to think about the generations of people who will be impacted by inclusive education,” Rick adds. “Every time CLC Network adds another Christian school, it will help raise another generation of smart kids who are simply used to those who have disabilities or differences. More and more,

businesses and other parts of society are seeing the value that people with disabilities bring to the community.”

At her 8th grade graduation ceremony, the speaker called Anneke “the secret agent of the class” for the way she made her class-mates better people. Rick and Vivian claim that is true for her family, too — they have learned to enjoy life in a different way and are better people for it. But, as Vivian says, “I want a school where Anneke will be educated to her greatest ability, not just cared for.”

Often, the motivation to learn is higher for students with disabilities when they are placed in a general education classroom. Rick and Vivian have seen this in their home, as Vivian re-calls: “One night at dinner, I asked all of our kids what element is created when lightning strikes the ground. Anneke was the only one who knew the answer — Nitrogen! I give a lot of credit to Anneke’s teachers and resource room teacher, for helping her learn things like that.”

“It’s so important for CLC Network’s services to grow,” Rick noted. “Without CLC Network, school staff can become isolated — CLC Network means they have many more passionate, knowledgeable people on their team.”

Vivian adds, “We have friends who have had to consider moving so their child could get a Christian education. What a great thing that CLC Network can reach out, and families don’t have to be up-rooted. This is how it should look when we use a Christ-centered approach to educating all of God’s children.”

“[CLC Network staff] are advocates, advice-givers,

and so knowledgeable and passionate about their work.

More than anything, they know inclusion.”

Rick and VivianMinnema

D O N O R P R O F I L E :

Photo by Jules K PhotographyClockwise from left: Payton, Breighanna, Vivian, Rick, Anneke, Delanie, and Tobias (in front) Minnema

4 | FALL 2014 | INCLUSIVE

each other in community. In middle school, small groups led by teachers, youth pastors, and adult volunteers help students re-flect on their faith. Commitments like this help create a safe en-vironment of care, which is especially valued by parents of kids with disabilities.

Parents like Jim Horman have an especially strong relationship with the school. His son, Cole, transferred to Ada Christian last year after struggling in a public school. “It’s been a surprise how much Christianity is infused into everything at this school,” he shares. “They are Christian in their responses to Cole, not just in the title of the school. They help other students see Cole beyond his disability, and talk openly about his needs. As his parents, we feel like an extension of the team surrounding him with compas-sion and understanding.”

“I couldn’t express strongly enough how positive our experience at Ada Christian has been,” reflects Randy Russo, whose daughter Isabelle is enrolled in 7th grade. “As a parent of a child with a disability, that positive experience becomes emotional for us. The teachers and students just accept her so eas-ily, she blends into the school in all capacities without hesitation. The feeling of acceptance in this school is incred-ibly unique.”

Ada Christian con-tinues to refine its approach. This year, Jim Hapner became

Ada Christian SchoolS C H O O L P R O F I L E :

Third graders share what they’re learningwith principal Melissa Brower

A first grade boy enjoys recess at Ada Christian

When asked how inclusive education fits into Ada Christian’s vision, Principal Melissa Brower is stumped. “Without it, we wouldn’t be whole,” she says. “Inclusive education fits in just like everything else we do.”

Ada Christian School enrolls approximately 560 students in pre-school through 8th grade, and has worked with CLC Network since 1987. Their mission, equip-ping students for service in God’s world, breaks down

into four focus areas: mind, body, soul, and community. Mrs. Brower explains, “As a school of course we have high standards for our students, but high standards may look different for different learners. Our job is to meet each student where they are and help them grow.”

Part of that growth is m a k i n g s u r e p a r e n t - teacher conferences and c l a s s r o o m d y n a m i c s reflect all areas of personal growth. “Our society can be so fo-cused on judging people by their output, their ability to produce something. We want our students to know that everyone plays a part in God’s Kingdom, no matter their abilities.” Each week, homeroom classes review how they are treating

Sixth graders demonstrating that everyone is part of God’s family with a “family portrait”

“I want our students to know that everyone plays a part in God’s Kingdom, no matter

their abilities.”

INCLUSIVE | FALL 2014 | 5

CLC Network from Coast to Coast

Alma Heights Christian School | Pacifica, California

“CLC Network provides the training and expertise that our school needs to move into stronger support for more students and for their teachers and families,” explains David Gross, principal at Alma Heights Christian School. “I am excited and challenged by the good that a pos-itive emphasis on inclusion will do for all of our students, faculty, and families. We can focus on the good of loving neighbor as self in order to proactively combat the evils of gossip, bullying, and self harm.”

Crown Point Christian School | St. John, Indiana

“Partnering with CLC Network will allow us to better meet the needs of a diverse learning community,” explains Carol Moxey, principal at Crown Point Christian School. “As our school continues to grow, we realized this is an area that needed improvement. We’re excited about the training opportunities that CLC Network provides.”

Calvin Christian School | South Holland, Illinois

“We chose to partner with CLC Network because we wanted some-thing more,” explains Randy Moes, principal at Calvin Christian School. “We recognized that we could be more effective in how we intervened with students who struggled. This partnership will allow us to further enhance and improve what we do here, to the glory of God.”

Netherlands Reformed Christian School | Rock Valley, Iowa

“Our school has an effective, experienced, and well-educated special needs staff in place,” states Daniel Breuer, principal at Netherlands Reformed Christian School. “But this partnership will advance our program’s procedures and processes as we look to better serve our students with equity and as we equip our general education teach-ers with the confidence they need to serve all students, regardless of ability or disability.”

the first full-time Inclusion Specialist. “I’ve been really impressed by how the school’s vision guides everyone here, helping us

work together,” he reflects. “I look forward to working closely with students who may struggle to meet social and academic challenges.”

Linda Slotsema has served as an instructional aide at Ada Christian for more than thirteen years. Over that time, she’s observed many changes in how teachers react to students with special needs. “Our teachers

are proactive about getting help for their students — not for the

School Profile: Ada Christian Schoolcontinued from page 4

purposes of getting them out of the classroom, but to make sure they are successful inside of the general education classroom.”

Mrs. Brower shares some of the demonstrations of success she sees in her day. “It’s the little things that are really such big things. Like during a band con-cert, seeing a student reach out and calm the person next to her who may be panicking over the change in routine. Or watching a student hurry out, but when his friend reaches out to say goodbye he stops, and takes time to recognize that person and ask about his day. That’s the picture of Christlike behavior we are striving for.”

“They help other studentssee Cole beyond his

disability, and talk openly about his needs.

As his parents, we feel like an extension of the team surrounding him with

compassion and understanding.”

Your contributions help us impact communities across North America! We now partner with schools in seven states: Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, New Jersey, and California. We are especially pleased to launch major partnerships with four new schools this year:

“The feeling of acceptance in this school is

incredibly unique.”

Third grade learners and friends

6 | FALL 2014 | INCLUSIVE

Thanks to the generosity of sponsors and attendees on June 8, CLC Network raised more than $27,000 at our annual Golf Outing! We are grateful to everyone who gathered for a beautiful morning at Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club in Pierson, Michigan to help

Golfing for Inclusion: Golf Outing 2014 a Success

SAVE THE DATE!G O L F O U T I N G 2 0 1 5

Thursday, June 11, 2015Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club

create inclusive communities. A special congratulations to the day’s winners, Rick Bolkema, John DeYoung, Kent Rottman, and Dan Vredevoogd, with a score of 59!

Many thanksto our sponsors:

EVENT SPONSORS MTM RecognitionNyenhuis Collision

Center

CART SPONSORSKiekover, Scholma,

& Shumaker, PCTuff Cover Inc.

BREAKFAST SPONSORSAnonymous

TerHorst & Rinzema Construction Co.

REFRESHMENT SPONSORSAnonymous, Critter Control

Franklin Press Inc.J Veldhouse & Son Electric LLC

Dave Zondervan, Curt Zondervan, Anna Zondervan, and Dave Geenen

Harold Van Duyn, Ray Van’tLand, Charlie Kornoelje, and Ed Kornoelje

Lily Smit and Audrey Wiltjer Brian Konynenbelt, CLC Network board member Randy Setsma, Dan Petroelje, and Bill Haveman

Dean Snoek, Tyler Doezema, Ken Scholma, and Todd Lambers

The day’s winners, Dan Vredevoogd, John DeYoung, Rick Bolkema, and Kent Rottman

INCLUSIVE | FALL 2014 | 7

Announcing New Partners In ServiceWe are growing again! We are pleased to introduce two new teach-er consultants, Elaine Kappers and Linda Weemhoff, who will help serve and encourage partner schools in Wisconsin and Iowa. Both are veteran special education teachers, with more than 64 combined years of teaching experience.

Jacki Sikkema works closely with Barbara Newman, director of church services, to support church leaders around the country with

“I’m looking forward to working with the CLC Network team and learning from their knowledge and expertise. I also look forward to working at other schools and helping them with the challenges they face.”

— Elaine Kappers

inclusion tools. Also a teacher at Grand Rapids Christian Schools, she brings a passion for ministry and special education in a wor-ship setting.

Kristin Contant and Tim Annema join our Online Courses teaching staff, to help guide academically talented students. Kristin teaches 6th and 7th Grade Advanced English, and Tim teaches Middle School Algebra and Middle School Geometry.

“I am excited to begin working at CLC Network as it combines many passions in my life. These include working with middle school students, the use of technology in education, mathematics, and the exploration and revelation of Christ’s redemptive work in creation.”

— Tim Annema

“I am very thankful that God is opening a new door for me. God has uniquely created all of us and I am excited that He is giving me the oppor- tunity to continue to work with students and teach- ers as we all discover more about how God has gifted each of us to work in His Kingdom.”

— Linda Weemhoff

“I look forward to equip- ping churches and communities with tools to better include those who have disabilities. I’m also excited to see how God works in these communities, displaying His love through each and every member as they grow in Him.”

— Jacki Sikkema

OUR MISSIONCLC Network promotes the development of people with a variety of abilities and disabilities to live as active, integrated members of their communities.

THE INCLUSIVE NEWSLETTER is published in spring and fall by the CLC Network Advancement Office. The entire issue and back issues are available at clcnetwork.org.Editors: Elizabeth Lucas Dombrowski, R.H. ”Bear” Berends

BOARD OF DIRECTORSBob Van Wieren, PresidentDean Rietberg, Vice PresidentHugh Groot, TreasurerTom Hoeksema, PhD, SecretaryLindsay Wieland Capel

Betty Grit Robin Ipema Josh LeoRandy Setsma

MEMBER SCHOOLS 2014-2015 CALIFORNIA

Alma Heights ChristianILLINOIS

Calvin ChristianINDIANA

Crown Point ChristianIOWA

Hull Christian, Netherlands Reformed Christian, Orange City Christian, Rock Valley Christian, Western Christian

MICHIGANAda Christian, Adams Protestant Reformed Christian, Allendale

Christian, AnchorPoint Christian, Ann Arbor Christian, Borculo Christian, Byron Center Christian, Calvary Schools of Holland, Dutton Christian, Eastside Christian, Fremont Christian, Grand Haven Christian, Grandville Calvin Christian, Holland Christian, Hudsonville Christian, Jenison Christian, Lamont Christian, Legacy Christian, Living Stones Academy, Moline Christian, New Era Christian, Northpointe Christian, Plymouth Christian, The Potter’s House, Providence Christian, South Christian, St. Thomas the Apostle, Unity Christian, West Highland Christian West Side Christian, Zeeland Christian, Zion Christian

NEW JERSEYSussex Christian

WISCONSIN Central Wisconsin Christian, Oostburg Christian

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF R.H. “Bear” Berends Executive Director Doug Bouman Director of Evaluation Services Elizabeth Lucas Dombrowski Advancement Director Barbara J. Newman Director of Church Services Phil Stegink Director of Educational Services

CONTACT US info@clcnetwork.org (616) 245-8388 clcnetwork.org

C L C N E T W O R K

SAVE THE DATEAUCTION 2015SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2015

“I am excited to be teaching honors English for CLC Network. As a passionate life-long learner, I’m looking forward to sharing my love of literature and writing as well as my faith with my students. It is my goal that students develop their God-given gifts in English to be effective communicators as they seek to serve Christ.”

— Kristin Contant

Member: Christian Schools International, Council of Reformed Charities, Barnabas Foundation

4340 Burlingame Ave. SWWyoming, MI 49509-3770

NON-PROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE

PAIDGRAND RAPIDS, MI

PERMIT NO. 592

C O N T A C T U S A T C L C N E T W O R K . O R G O R B Y P H O N E A T ( 6 1 6 ) 2 4 5 . 8 3 8 8

“Champions for Christ” Win Big at Friendship Festival

For one day every spring, we have the chance to celebrate and honor those friendships that donors make possible in CLC Network partner schools. This year, the Friendship Festival brought together more than 180 students from ten West Michigan schools! The Olympic-themed games, snacks, and worship services at Jenison Christian School brought smiles to everyone’s faces.

Congratulating teammates on a great game Students surround and celebrate their friends with disabilities on this special day

Students race each other through the “luge” game

Gifts of stock save you money! Consider making a gift of stock before December 31, and you could receive a tax deduction for the fair market value of your gift. Your stock, and other appreciated assets, can be transferred to CLC Network to help create inclusive communities for individuals at all levels of ability. To learn more, contact Elizabeth Lucas Dombrowski, advancement director, at (616) 855-3103 or edombrowski@clcnetwork.org.