OACS News Service

Conference to delve into leadership trends
Participants will also receive updates on key operations issues
Friday November 7, 2008 – Michelle Strutzenberger
This year’s Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools (OACS) Leadership Conference will begin with an encouragement to “fear not,” says Ray Hendriks, who is presenting the opening devotional.

As Christian schools move towards making what are often radical changes, many are grappling with the fear that comes with those changes.

“Schools tend to be very conservative and conserving organizations,” says Hendriks, OACS director of advancement.

“We are caught in this frame of thinking that we need to be looking at new and unique ideas, but the dilemma is . . . how do we walk without fear into some of these realms?”

Hendriks’ encouragement will be the launching point for the conference’s focus on leadership trends and the update of some operations issues.

Dr. Adrian Guldemond, executive director, will follow with a keynote address that will explore how the original OACS vision of 1956 — a professional, parallel Christian school system funded by the government — “transmuted into the 2010 vision of confused parochialism buffeted by post-modernism,” according to the conference brochure.

Participants will have time to discuss whether the Christian school movement is still fulfilling its original purpose in light of a changing community.

Related sessions will follow in the morning and focus on the five paradigms for principals operating in independent schools in Ontario, best practices around professional development, and the OACS High School Network PLAN for 2008.

The afternoon sessions will provide updates on some of the nuts and bolts of Christian school administration.

“We have a lawyer coming in who’s going to address a couple of contractual situations that have affected the Christian community and that potentially may have some effect on our schools,” says Hendriks. “So that’s one of those nice heads-up for our school communities.”

Information will also be provided on the following:

• the employment relations manual

• income tax calculation procedures and tax issues

• issues related to Internet, copyright, police checks and privacy

• report revision update

• international student programme update

The conference is geared to Christian school administrators and takes place 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Nov. 20 at King’s Christian Collegiate in Oakville.

For more information, see the brochure or visit the events page. Participants are encouraged to pre-register, however there will be room available for those interested in attending.

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