OACS News Service

Cathy Van Arragon’s Grade 3/4 class meets RBC Olympian John Hastings.
Olympic torch visits Ottawa Christian School
School focuses on building community relations as it looks to move to new location
Wednesday November 11, 2009 -- Michelle Strutzenberger
Excitement was high as the torch for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games was carried into Ottawa Christian School (OCS) last week by RBC Olympian John Hastings, a member of the Canadian National Kayak Team.

As OCS plans a move to a new location in September, 2010, a representative of a future neighbour, Martha Dreier, branch manager for the local RBC, arranged for the torch to be brought to OCS as a way to say, ‘Welcome to the neighbourhood.’

“We were thrilled to have the opportunity to share the Olympic experience first-hand with our community — and especially with some of our newest, or soon-to-be, neighbours,” Dreier stated in a press release.

Grade 7 OCS student Jordan holds the torch as RBC Olympian John Hastings looks on.

Hastings recently returned from a world championship event in Spain, where he finished fourth in the team event. His ultimate goal is to compete for Canada at the 2012 Olympics, and he is currently working towards this goal.

During his Nov. 4 visit at OCS, Hastings shared information about the sport of kayaking and explained his training regime.

He also took students through an exercise aimed at encouraging them to realize they can achieve success in their own areas of interest.

“He encouraged and challenged the students to first dream and then follow that dream,” says OCS director of advancement Virigina Dawson. “He explained that it takes a lot of hard work and persistence but that it is worth it.”

“It was great to have John Hastings at OCS,” said OCS principal Paul Triemstra. “He did a wonderful job encouraging the children to set goals and to pursue those goals tenaciously. His example of determination in the face of obstacles is one all of our students can benefit from.”
The new OCS facility in Barrhaven is currently under construction.

Dawson notes the 36,000 square-foot building is visible from the road and “people are getting excited to have neighbours where once a cornfield stood.”

“As the staff and students prepare to move, one of our foci is to begin building the relationships long before we move in, in June 2010,” says Dawson.

“The OCS facilities will be a place where the community will come to use the gymnasium, soccer fields and baseball fields. Yes, this is a private school built with private funds yet it will be opened to the greater community. We look forward to meeting our neighbours and sharing the gifts that the Lord has blessed us with.”

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