When teachers and a student have a day this good, it’s worth sharing. “We called it a Fabulous Friday, because it went so incredibly well,” shares Andrea Tejchma, Chilton’s first grade teacher, and Jessica Tysman, classroom aide at Grand Haven Christian School in Grand Haven, Michigan. “There were sched-ule changes and other challenges, but Chilton went with it and then blew us away with his progress.”

Chilton Giaimo is a first grade student, and the prior few weeks had been a little up and down. He has Autism Spectrum Disorder, which makes it difficult for him to demonstrate verbal and social skills at the same rate as his peers. He had been uncom-fortable interacting with other children and typically preferred to spend recess by himself.

“He was very proud of his wacky hair for the school-wide Wacky Hair Day, and ate lunch with the other students in the gym,” his teachers share. “At indoor recess that Friday, one of Chilton’s friends had to go and finish work with a teacher. Chilton waited patiently, and then used words to ask this friend to play. They were running around and giggling the rest of the time.” This was the first time his teachers had seen him initiating play with other kids, plus he demonstrated his verbal skills!

Later that day, Chilton got every word right on his spelling test, using an iPad. His teachers explain, “He had struggled with pencil and paper, so we learned that he knew the words and it was much easier for him to type.” As his mother, Ginger, shares, “It’s important to never underestimate how special kids are, no matter what they may be struggling with.”

During the next break time, Chilton would usually go to one page in a particular book that he liked to review. Over the course of a few weeks, his teachers were putting sticky notes on other pages, then rewarding Chilton with a treat when he read them. On this Fabulous Friday, Chilton read through three whole books!

At the end of the day, Chilton volunteered to close the class with prayer. “We can usually understand the first few words when he prays, but then it can become mumbling,” explains his teach-ers. “Afterwards, one of his classmates told us, ‘It’s okay that we don’t know what Chilton is praying, because God knows.’”

“’Jesus Loves Me’ were some of his first words, and he sang the entire song through,” remembers his mother, Ginger. “It’s won-derful to have a Christian community to encourage him to grow and develop. All of his progress has come from pushing him to go beyond what we might think he’s capable of, and every time he steps up and meets the challenge.”

SPRING 2014 • Vol. 23, No. 1

Member, Christian Schools InternationalMember, Council of Reformed CharitiesMember, Barnabas Foundation

CONTENTSDirector’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22014 Connections Banquet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Auction Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325 Years of Inclusive Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Donor Profile: Kathy and Kurt Heidmann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Partner School Profile: West Highland Christian Academy. . . 7From the Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

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

A Fabulous Friday: Chilton’s Progress

Chilton Giaimo and his mother, Ginger

2 INCLUSIVE • SPRING 2014

2014 Connections BanquetThis year’s theme was The Decades: 60s/70s/80s/90s and the

students dressed appropriately for the years! More than 200 stu-dents and alumni from South Christian High School, Northpointe

Christian High School, Unity Christian High School, and the Ready for Life program at Calvin College came together at The Pinnacle Center on Saturday, March 1.

Well “how time flies when you’re having fun” as they say. As we wind down this 2013-2104 school year it’s time to reflect on the Lord’s goodness not only to me, but to the CLC Network as a whole as well. So here are some milestones—we will be completing our 35th year of existence (CLC was born in September, 1979), our 25th year of supporting Inclusive Education

programs in local Christian Schools (Zeeland was our first to open in September 1989) and I will personally end my 33rd year as Executive Director (I think I have one more left in me! J).

It’s really been an amazing journey that we’ve all been on in supporting and working with more than 100 Christian Schools over the last 35 years. Throughout this edition of our Inclusive newsletter please read all about how we grew our programs from the original Seymour Christian School campus on Eastern Ave in Grand Rapids, Michigan—to now being involved throughout the Midwest as well as my old birth state of New Jersey.

Please understand that there was no way I did this alone and so I need to give “props” to all of the good folks who comprise

the first generation of leadership here at CLC Network. As we begin to transition that first generation of folks we need to pause for a moment and acknowledge what I will call the “origi-nal brain trust” of our organization (in alpha order)—Doug Bouman, Barb Newman, Phil Stegink, Bev Van Noord, Greg Yoder and our mentor Dr. Tom Hoeksema. To these folks the Christian School movement throughout America (but particu-larly West Michigan) owes a great debt of gratitude for changing the enrollment possibilities within our schools to include “all of God’s kids”!

So for some of you who are reading this, thanks so much for taking that 35 year journey with us all. Please know that we will be holding a formal thank you event for that first generation of leadership at the CLC Network just about a year from now in Spring, 2015 (more on that later). But until then—“thanks for the memories” (where’s Bob Hope when you need him!).

Shalom, Bear

Director’s Corner

35 – 25 – 33 - Skidoo!

Students interacted with the Pop Scholars improv group to keep everyone laughing!

Props and costumes made for many great pictures in the photo booth.

Nearly all the attendees ended the night on the dancefloor.

Current and former students enjoyed dinner together at The Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville, MI.

3SPRING 2014 • INCLUSIVE

Auction SUCCESS!We are grateful to the many friends and supporters who came out on a

snowy night (January 25) to make this year’s CLC Network Auction the most successful ever! More than $50,000 was raised in one evening to help build inclusive communities for individuals at all levels of ability. Thank you to our Auction Committee, our many volunteers, and to you!

2014 Auction Committee:Jane BoumanKathy HeidmannJim and Ruth SytsmaWendy Van DoeselaarRoger Wesorick

In-Kind Sponsors:AnonymousBecca Elizabeth PhotographyCalvin Christian Middle

SchoolRottier Auction ServiceRusso’s Pizza Valley City Linen

Save the date for next year’s Auction:

Saturday, January 24, 2015

CLC Network Executive Director R.H. “Bear” Berends catches up with guests.

From left: Margaret Snyder, Lynette Snyder, and Karen Van Doeselaar get ready for the Live Auction.

South Christian alumnus Tim Litton spoke about the great times he’s had at the Connections Banquet. Thanks to all who supported this event at the Auction!

Sharon Baker, CLC Network volunteer and Inclusion Specialist at Byron Center Christian School, with Jackie Baas and Gregory Frederick.

4 INCLUSIVE • SPRING 2014

This year, we are pleased to celebrate twenty-five years since CLC Network launched our first inclusive education program in a Christian school. Since then, inclusive educa-tion has transformed our communities by honoring the image of God in every person, regardless of their abilities.

As we look to the future of expanding inclusion to Christian schools nationwide, we remember how change hap-pened for the Christian Learning Center (as we were known then) and all the faithful partners who believed in our vision: that students with disabilities are part of our Christian cov-enant, and belong in our schools and communities.

Building on our relationships with Christian schools established through CLC Resource Rooms, we were able to convince many schools—fairly quickly—to include students in the general education classroom. We are so grateful to our earliest partners who stepped out in faith and changed our communities for these twenty-five years, and for many years to come.

Our first school partner was the Grand Rapids Christian School Association (GRCSA), who launched the Christian Learning Center under their gov-ernance in 1979. Bill Gritter, GRCSA’s administrator from 1977-1993, recalls, “We had a vision for Christian education, that it should be available to all students regard-less of their ability or disability. We took a risk, but we trusted God with that vision.” Gritter continues, “CLC has been such a positive influence in the life of many schools. I think that’s evidence of God’s approval for what we were try-ing to do.”

1989ZEELAND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Zeeland Christian was the first part-ner school to prove that inclusive educa-tion could be possible in West Michigan. Bill Van Dyk was in his second year as administrator at the time; he recalls, “I knew it was a gamble; it would be an unbelievable success or I would have a short

“The community saw that there was

a whole population of students who were being

denied a Christian education. We all needed exposure to

that population in order to realize the great

opportunity.”

—Bill Gritter

“Many parents have said that their kids are becoming

better people thanks to the inclusion program.”

—Bill Van Dyk

5SPRING 2014 • INCLUSIVE

career here. Clearly it wasn’t a gamble, since God has blessed it so much.”

Their extraordinary commitment to students with disabilities continues today, with more than 60 students receiving services and participating in general education classrooms at some level. “Miracles are hap-pening here all the time, it’s just life,” shares Van Dyk about the inclusive education program.

1990CRESTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

“We made a lot of mistakes; inclusion was brand new!” shares Greg Yoder, a CLC Network teacher consultant and former inclusion spe-cialist at Creston Christian School. “But it was such a support-ive environment, with a strong sense of community and lots of prayer. Over years, the program became a model of good inclusion.”

Tom Visser, Creston’s principal at the time, welcomed twenty students from CLC’s former program at Seymour Christian to their school. “God’s providence put people into the right posi-

tions at the right times. The year leading up to this was one of my most difficult; we

had to trust God and we didn’t know where it would take us. It’s easy to say afterwards, that was the Holy Spirit working, but it was a challenge to trust Him at the time.”

Creston Christian School closed their building in 2010, and their

inclusion students are now served at both Rockford Christian School and

Grand Rapids Christian Elementary.

1991JENISON CHRISTIAN SCHOOLGRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

Inclusive Education teacher Scott Schermer remembers well the beginning years of inclu-sion at Jenison Christian. “With one of the first resource rooms (in 1980), inclusion was the next logical step for us,” he shares. Approximately twelve students with special needs enrolled in Jenison for the first year.

“Our school became much more repre-sentative of the body of Christ, where everyone belongs and has a place.” Schermer remembers a school-wide biking event, and the school pur-chased tandem bikes so that kids with mobility issues could still participate. “A big part of the success was the strong focus on the social atmosphere as part of our student learning.”

1992BYRON CENTER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL MILLBROOK CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Bob Van Wieren, Byron Center Christian School’s adminis-trator, was new to the school when CLC proposed an inclusive

education model. But after learning about inclusion and its poten-tial, he developed a lifelong commitment to the idea and fostered that commitment in the school. Today, Van Wieren serves as President of the CLC Network board.

Van Wieren gives credit to CLC Network’s Executive Director, R.H. “Bear” Berends, for convincing so many

local schools to try inclusive education. “When he started talking about all of our children being part of the covenant, about belonging to all of us, that really made sense to me. The school community never really balked at the idea, it just felt like this is the way

the Kingdom is supposed to be.”

1993HOLLAND CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

As students began to graduate after their eighth grade year from the inclusive education program at Zeeland Christian School, many enrolled at nearby Holland Christian High School. Stan Konynenbelt, a parent and board member for Holland Christian at that time, explains, “The special education teachers took ownership of the need for these students to be a part of our school, even though inclusion can get difficult as kids get older.”

Konynenbelt recalls, “As a parent, I never felt like there was any risk to sending our daughter to the inclusion programs at Zeeland Christian or Holland Christian, because the staff and leaders shared our faith and sense of purpose. When we are united in faith, it makes a big difference to what we can accomplish.”

1994SOUTH CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

Ellie Van Keulen can still point out her first classroom at South Christian: a small room tucked away in a back hallway. Today,

her classroom is at the very heart of the school. Shortly after launching inclusive education and

enrolling CLC students at South Christian, parents and school leaders wanted their students to become more socially involved.

“I knew the students in my classroom, but I didn’t know most of the students in the hallways,” recalls Van Keulen. That was the spark that started South Christian’s Connections program. This program

includes peer tutoring, lunch partners, an annual ban-quet, and other ways for students to establish friendships.

Today, nearly half of the entire student body is involved in the Connections program, making inclusion an active reality.

Since 199458 MORE SCHOOLS

CLC continued to partner with even more schools, eventu-ally staffing educational support services in more than 49 West Michigan schools by 2000. Now, as a consulting firm, we bring this expertise and experience to more than 58 schools in 4 states.

We are always grateful to our partners who have brought us to this point in our history, and for those who continue to challenge us to do more for the Kingdom!

“The biggest beneficiaries of inclusion are the general education

students. They are changed. Kids with special needs bring so many gifts we don’t always recognize, but they are there.”

—Greg Yoder

“Understanding has grown around

disabilities. Kids are more willing to approach someone

with a disability and aren’t afraid of them; often more so than their parents. They are good

teachers for all of us.”

—Scott Schermer

“Inclusion has come into every part of our

students’ lives —we’ve seen graduates [without

disabilities] take what they’ve learned here and bless their communities in so

many other ways.”

—Ellie Van Keulen

“Inclusive education helped

our school grow in size. People wanted to be a part of this community, because

the challenges of some students strengthened the

entire student body.”

—Tom Visser

6 INCLUSIVE • SPRING 2014

Kathy and Kurt Heidmann“My sister was so social, she would have

thrived in an inclusive environment, to have kids go to lunch with her, do activities with her, and be her friends. When I see that in schools today, it is such a joy and a blessing,” shares Kathy Heidmann, a CLC Network volunteer, former board member, donor, and advocate.

Kathy’s younger sister, Patti, was diag-nosed with Williams Syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by medical prob-lems and highly social personalities. Patti attended the Pine Rest Children’s Retreat (CLC Network’s predecessor) until she passed away at age 29.

Years later, Kathy’s parents, Jay and Kathleen Morren, were approached by CLC to help start the inclusion program at Byron Center Christian School in 1992. Kathy also served as a board member from 1998-2001. “It has been so fun to see how far we’ve come to reflect the body of Christ,” Heidmann shares.

With roots in Cutlerville, Michigan, Kathy and her family have helped CLC Network evolve and change throughout its history. “I am grateful for the Pine Rest Children’s Retreat because they rec-ognized that these kids needed Christian education, and they provided it when no one else did. But to see how it’s emerged and become so much more a reflection of God’s Kingdom is really incredible.”

In addition, Kathy and Kurt’s four kids attended area Christian schools. “It blessed my kids to be exposed to inclusive education. I don’t know who it has blessed

more: the kids in the program or the kids who walk alongside them,” Kathy reflects. “It broadens their perspective of the body of Christ; of who they are and what their responsibility is.

Kathy’s passion for inclusive education also draws on Romans 12 verses 4-5: For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. “When Patti was growing up, she was always a ‘lesser member’, but really she’s on an equal footing with everyone else. I’m not any better than my sister just because she was born with a disability and I wasn’t. Before Christ we are the same. It makes

you look at things a little differently.”CLC Network has also been grateful

to enjoy Kathy and Kurt’s leadership over the years; currently, Kathy serves on the Auction Committee. She shares, “We don’t look at it as a responsibility to support CLC Network; it’s just a privilege. To have an organization like this that is so com-mitted and well-run, we have a real gem. CLC Network isn’t just staying stagnant and doing one thing—you’re trying to reach other communities and trying new things. I think that’s great.

“To see the body of Christ worked out in the Christian schools is such an incred-ible gift,” Kathy states. “I wish more people knew about CLC Network’s mission and what we do.”

Kathy and Kurt Heidmann

Donor Profile

SAVE THE DATE

G O L F O U T I N G 2 0 1 4Pilgrim’s Run Golf Course

SPONSORSHIPS AND REGISTRATION ARE AVAILABLE NOW @ www.clcnetwork.org

T H U R S D A Y , J U N E 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

7SPRING 2014 • INCLUSIVE

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

CLC NETWORK BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bob Van Wieren, PresidentDean Rietberg, Vice PresidentHugh Groot, Treasurer

Tom Hoeksema, SecretaryLindsay Wieland CapelBetty Grit Robin Ipema Stacy LadenburgerJosh LeoRandy Setsma

CLC NETWORK SCHOOLS 2013-2014

IOWAHull Christian, Orange City Christian, Rock Valley Christian, Sanborn Christian, Western Christian

MICHIGANAda Christian, Adams Protestant Reformed, Allendale Christian, Anchor Pointe Christian, Ann Arbor Christian, Borculo Christian, Byron Center Christian,

Calvary Schools of Holland, Calvin Christian, Dutton Christian, Eastside Christian, Fremont Christian, Grand Haven Christian, Grand Rapids 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 Academy, West Side Christian, Zeeland Christian, Zion Christian

NEW JERSEYSussex Christian

WISCONSINBrookfield Christian, Central Wisconsin Christian, Cross Trainers Academy

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFFR.H. “Bear” Berends, Executive

DirectorDoug Bouman, Director of

Evaluation ServicesElizabeth Lucas Dombrowski,

Advancement DirectorBarbara J. Newman, Director of

Church ServicesPhil Stegink, Director of

Educational Services

CONTACT US at info@clcnetwork.org or 616-245-8388, or visit clcnetwork.org.

CLC NETWORK

CLC Network Partner School Profile

West Highland Christian AcademyTrina Mavin, Principal

“There’s something magical about this place,” shares Greg Yoder, CLC Network’s teacher consultant serving West Highland Christian Academy in Milford, Michigan. “Students are leaving with a love, caring, and understanding of the differences in every person. It’s a wonderful microcosm of the real world.”

West Highland’s teachers and parents agree that this student body is truly a family. After their first year of inclusive education with a student who had signifi-cant special needs, students responded to a survey telling the teachers they couldn’t imagine their school without that student.

The next year, five more students with disabilities enrolled. “I expected it to grow, but not that quickly,” shares Trina Mavin, the school’s Principal. “But when God sends someone to this school, we have to trust that He’s going to make it work.”

With 85 students in grades from kin-dergarten to twelfth grade, part of West Highland’s secret is to keep class sizes small. “Our teachers are incredibly sup-portive, and we serve each student indi-vidually rather than creating a program,” adds Mavin.

The school also enlists the students’ help with their classmates. Currently, seven students serve as student aids, help-ing three students with disabilities to get where they need to be and to work on

specific goals. Next year, one high school student will shadow a younger students’ therapy, receiving early training for a career in special education.

After being told he wouldn’t graduate from his previous school, one tenth-grade student with autism spectrum disorder is now on the path to a diploma. “The stu-dents really reach out to my son and teach him social skills, without ostracizing him or making him feel different,” explains Barb Barber, Tim’s mom. “Tim has come out of his shell, and he is getting A’s and B’s in some general education courses. He’s using his brain and really progressing.”

In addition, West Highland Christian Academy specializes in working with stu-dents who have dyslexia. “Because we have

such small classes, stu-dents were functioning okay before we imple-mented screening,” explains Mavin. “Now that their dyslexia has been identified, they’re doing much bet-ter.” The dyslexia program serves seven-teen current West Highland students as well as ten area students enrolled in after school programs.

“I believe all Christian schools can do something,” says Mavin. “Even small steps, some accommodations. The body of Christ isn’t all high achievers.” And at West Highland Christian Academy, the body of Christ is seen as a family helping each other.

Trina Mavin

High school students at West Highland Christian Academy

4340 Burlingame Ave SWWyoming, MI 49509-3770

Non-Profit Org.US Postage

PAIDGrand Rapids, MI

Permit No. 592

Contact us at www.clcnetwork.org or by phone at 616-245-8388

From the Field“You Just Ooze Jesus”

Spring is the season for travel at CLC Network. In our Church Division, Barbara J. Newman attends several national conferences for church leaders to encourage churches to be welcoming places for indi-viduals with disabilities. At these events, Newman has the opportunity to hear from people who are making change in their community.

Newman shares how these interactions inspired her:

• From Orlando, Florida in January:A session participant threw her arms around me

and said, “You just ooze Jesus.” I am so glad because after many flights, speeches, and conversations with so many people, sometimes you feel as though there is little left inside to share. But, how important when someone reminds me that it’s not “me” or “CLC” they want anyway. To “ooze” Jesus is the very best we can do—and I am so thankful she felt His presence.

• From Miami, Florida in January: After this international conference, I was chatting with a

man who turned out to be in a very prominent position within the Seventh Day Adventist Union in Jamaica. He attended the entire day-long conference, including my presentation on including children and youth with disabilities in church school. Normally he wouldn’t have attended an event like this, but he was there because the politician who oversees Jamaica’s senate was offering the devotional. He told me, “The senator and I talked at lunch and agreed that we will change things.” Just think: God used a little organization from Grand Rapids to impact at least 20 countries who were represented at high

levels of leadership. And they left excited, filled with ideas. I got to stand before the nations with the good news of inclu-sion, and perhaps my life was changed a bit by the experience.

• From Ontario, California in February:A woman at my Spiritual Formation session brought her

overseer to the booth. The overseer asked, “Will these children ever reach the age of understanding?” Without missing a beat, and before I could answer, the woman who attended my ses-sion said, “Oh, I know what to do now. We are all set.” That was an amazing answer—empowered in an hour!

To support CLC Network’s outreach to churches, please return the enclosed envelope and write “Church Division” on your check. Thank you for your prayers and gifts!

CLC Network board member Betty Grit (middle) and Barbara J. Newman (right) at a recent conference.