Like for many of you, this has been the most unique “first week back from Spring Break” that I have every experienced. And, I will tell you, this is NOT how the first week back from spring break is supposed to go.

We are used to coming back from spring break excited to see each other again; excited to see students, excited to see other staff members, and excited to be together! We are used to giving each other hugs and high fives and handshakes. We are used to getting excited about all the wonderful and fun learning opportunities that come with this time of the year.

Instead, we are practicing social distancing. We are not giving each other hugs or high fives. We are not swapping stories about exciting adventures that took place over spring break, and we are not sitting with eager anticipation over some of the events on the calendar that were scheduled for this period. Perhaps most difficult of all, we are not gathered in the same physical space. During times like this we may feel lonely. We may feel anxious. We may be nervous. For many people there is increased financial strain. We are seeing less people than we normally would or are inside more than we would like. All those feelings are OK.

However, in all those feelings, and in the uncertainty, I find myself trying to live into the “and yet”-ness of it all. This is different and hard. And yet, there are “good news” stories emerging. And yet, there are stories of people helping each other. And yet, there are stories of people caring for each other in ways they might not otherwise have done. And yet, we serve a God who is so much bigger and greater than a virus, and so much bigger and greater than our fears.

At Surrey Christian School, we are sad not to be coming back together again. And yet, we also know that this does not need to stop us from connecting with each other. One of the things I love most about Surrey Christian School is the tremendous sense of community. The journey is difficult, but we are on it together. The road is hard, but we are not alone. This certainly is not how we would have planned this out, but there is a sense that the collective “we” as a Surrey Christian School community will rise to this challenge. We will continue to strive for wholeness, and continue to work at trusting in the Lord, following the path that He has laid out for us.

We know that the Lord is our light and our salvation. Resting in that knowledge allows us to operate out of a posture of hope.

This is hard. But we can do this.

Praise be to God.

Danny Nagtegaal,
Fleetwood Campus Principal

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Photo credit: Michael Hoffmann