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| Ed Noot |
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| Principal (both campuses) | Ed has been the principal at Unity Christian School since 2006. He was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, hence his hopeless loyalty to (former) Edmonton sports dynasties. He has a BA in Philosophy from Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Michigan) and a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from UBC. Ed is passionate about Christian education as an expression of God's sovereignty over all of life. He also loves the biblical concept of "Shalom". He loves spending time with his family and plays golf whenever (& with whomever) he can. In his spare time he referees hockey.
"Nothing matters but the Kingdom! Because of the Kingdom, everything matters!" - Gordon Spykman |
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| Jeanette Berkenbosch |
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| Vice Principal Elementary | Jeanette was born and raised in Edmonton and moved to the Lower Mainland in 1993. She received her BA in Social Sciences from The King’s College in 1991 and a BEd in Elementary Education from the University of Alberta in 1993. Her career began at Abbotsford Christian School and she held a number of different positions there over 14 years. Ed Noot (principal of UCS) “stole” her away from Abby Christian to begin work at UCS in September 2007. She is kept busy with her different roles at Unity, where she is excited about working with the students and staff and watching them grow and learn in a Christian school where we recognize God in all we do. She admits that she’s a sucker for a skinny vanilla latte from Starbucks! She loves to read, watch movies, go for walks, travel and spend time with friends.
"The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living." Hebrews 11:1 (The Message) |
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| Diane Bruinsma |
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| Office Administration (both campuses) |
Diane has worked for Chilliwack Christian School Society since 1996 when her youngest daughter began kindergarten. She worked at the front desk at the Elementary school until 2001 when she moved up to the new Highschool. She currently works part time doing bookkeeping tasks for both campuses. Diane loves to hike, travel, watch sporting events, read and especially spend time with her family. Diane feels blessed to be part of this special community for so many years, she even attended the elementary school when it first opened in 1969.
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| Erin Martens |
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| Secretary |
Erin is in her 8th year at UCS. Favorite past times are golfing, tennis, camping with her children, spending time with her 4 grandchildren, riding motorbike with her husband, and going anywhere where there are hot sunny beaches. And of course working at UCS is always a highlight of her day!
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| Annette Wiebe |
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| Little Blessings Preschool Director / Teacher |
Annette has been teaching the preschool classes at Unity Christian since 2006. Prior to coming to Unity, Annette worked in Surrey and Abbotsford in daycares for 4 years. Annette attended Columbia Bible Columbia and received her Diploma in Early Childhood Education. In January 2010, Annette returned to CBC to complete her Special Needs Diploma. Going to Starbucks is a favorite pasttime.
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| Jessica Thiessen |
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| Kindergarten Teacher |
Jessica has been teaching at Unity Christian since 2006. Prior to coming to Unity, Jessica taught English in Korea for a year and half. That was a fantastic learning experience. Jessica attended the University of the Fraser Valley for part of her undergrad and then went to UBC where she graduated with her BEd.
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| Melody Moffat |
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| Grade 1 Teacher |
Melody is enjoying her first year at Unity Christian School. Last year, she taught Art Grades 2-12, Sewing 8/9, and English 8. Before that, she completed her practicum in a Grade 1/2 classroom in West Vancouver. Melody completed her Bachelor of Arts with a Major in English and an Extended Minor in Fine Arts at UFV. She then completed a Bachelor of Education at UBC. Melody is very happy to be teaching at Unity and is enjoying getting to know each of the amazing kids in her class! Melody loves missions and has traveled all over the world to work with orphans! When she's not exploring new places, she loves to paint, hike, bike and kayak.
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| Keri Hoeppner |
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| Grade 2 Teacher |
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Keri has been teaching Gr. 2 at Unity since 2005, starting her teaching career in Alberta a few years earlier. Keri has her Bachelor of Education from TWU but also holds a Bachelor of Religious Education. She worked in Church Ministries as well as the travel and finance industries for several years before becoming a teacher. She loves her family, outdoor activities, travelling and seeing God work all over the world!
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| Elsa Wierks |
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| Grade 3/4 Teacher |
Elsa has begun her teaching career in January 2011 at Unity Christian School after raising her busy family of 4. She is excited to begin this phase of her life and feels truly blessed to be a part of this school community. Elsa graduated from UFV in 2010 from the Teacher Education Program with a major in History and minor in Anthropology. She loves to cook, garden and read in her spare time.
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| Shena Gorter |
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| Grade 4/5 Teacher |
Shena is in her first year of teaching at Unity Christian Elementary School as well as her first full-time teaching position. In February-March of 2010, Shena completed one of her student teaching programs with Unity Christian Elementary School in the grade one classroom (as Ms. Shena Couperus), so it’s nice for her to be back! Shena grew up in Abbotsford and attended the elementary and secondary Christian schools there. After high school, Shena attended Dordt College, a Christian Liberal Arts school located in Iowa, USA, where she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in May of 2010. During her studies she met and later married her husband, Nathan, and they now live in Abbotsford. Some activities Shena likes to do are: playing piano (for church and for fun), playing soccer, watching hockey, playing games and blogging. Check out the Grade 4/5 blog at diveintofourfive@blogspot.com!
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| Brad Klok |
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| Grade 6 Teacher |
This is Brad Klok’s sixth year of teaching at Unity Christian School. Brad completed his Bachelor of Arts in English in 2002 and his Bachelor of Education in 2005, both from the King’s University College in Alberta. Brad has been a passionate Edmonton Oilers fan since the age of 5, despite some current setbacks in our quest for the Stanley Cup.
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| Patti VanderKwaak |
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| Music |
Patti grew up in Iowa, and she received her BA in Elementary Education at Dordt College. She has been involved in music in many ways, playing saxophone in bands, singing in choirs, teaching piano lessons and playing piano in the worship band at church. Patti gets to help students explore, create, imagine and share music in many ways. God’s gift of music is never ending in its possibilities. Outside of school, Patti loves to spend time with her family, ride bike and garden.
"How good it is to sing praises to our God" ~ Psalms 147:1
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| Jo Blaak |
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| Violin Teacher | Jo Blaak has been teaching our Fiddle Club at the Elementary campus of UCS since September 2009. Jo has studied music at McGill University, has a degree from Capilano College in Paralegal Studies and is currently working on completing her Bachelor of Arts. She has played with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Fraser Valley Symphony, Abbotsford Symphony and she is currently performing as the lead violinist with the Central Fraser Valley Fiddle Society, Branch 4. Jo is also a highly active member of the music team at Calvin Presbyterian Church. Above all, Jo seeks to make music a positive experience for her students. Mastering an instrument is hard work, but “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. We don’t make music because we have to, but because we love to. |
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| Reina Anema |
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| Special Ed. Coordinator (both campuses) | Reina has been working in the field of Special Education and Learning Assistance for the past 16 years. Prior to that, she taught at the primary grade level for 7 years, all of them being at Chilliwack Christian/Unity Christian School. Reina has been privileged to work with a great variety of teachers and students at both campuses of UCS over the years. Reina received her training at Dordt College in Sioux Centre, Iowa. |
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| Heather Schroeder |
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| Educational Assistant |
Heather Schroeder received her B.A. from Trinity Western University specializing in Education and Physical Education. Previous to working at Unity Christian School, Heather taught ESL in Korea.
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| Lisa Hamper |
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| Educational Assistant |
This is Lisa’s 6th year at Unity. She spent 2 years in Grade 7 and 8 at the middle/high school before coming to the elementary campus. Before that, she worked one-on-one with Autistic children for six years. She really likes figure skating, photography and reading a good book.
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| Angela King |
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| Educational Assistant | Angela has been working as an EA in a variety of capacities at Unity since February 2005 Currently, she is working as a Learning Assistant in all grades. Angela was born and raised in England, moving to Canada in 1998 with her husband and three daughters. She graduated from Middlesex University in 1979 with a UK teaching qualification (Cert. Ed.) and taught for 8 years in England. She loves living in BC and enjoys reading and travelling. |
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| Dorothy Kuperis |
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| Educational Assistant | Dorothy has been at Unity Christian since January 2009. She has a diploma in Rehabilitation Services from Mount Royal College in Calgary. She is currently doing course work through Douglas College towards becoming an intervener for deaf & blind students. Dorothy loves to spend a good portion of her summers camping with her family. One of her favorite Bible verses is Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through him (Christ) who gives me strength.” |
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| Jane VanEerden |
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| Librarian |
Jane has been the librarian at Unity since 1995. She works at the elementary campus on Mondays and Wednesdays and is at the mid/high campus on Tuesdays. She enjoys finding good books for all the grades but picture books are her favourite. When she isn't working, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, taking pottery classes, photography and reading whenever she can but, there are "so many books, so little time"!
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| Karen Kelbert |
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| Computer Technician (both campuses) |
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