Beyond the Classroom
How Dirty Hands Are Building a Legacy
If you ask our students what their favorite school supplies are, you might expect answers like binders or art supplies. But for one adventurous fourth grader, the answer might just be shovels, soil, and space seeds.
Jerry Vos, one of our dedicated Grade 4 teachers, told story after story of students discovering God’s creation in ways that simply don’t fit inside a classroom. From restoring local forests to growing food from “space seeds,” these experiences are forming our students into “creation caretakers” and “community servers.”
Here’s the part we want our supporters to know: projects like these happen because of you. When you give to Maple Ridge Christian School, you’re not just funding projects — you are empowering faith, learning, and community in ways that shape students for life.
Fishery and Tree-planting Project (Restoring Kanaka Creek)
What began years ago as a small class project raising salmonids has grown into a full stewardship partnership with Metro Vancouver Parks, Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship Center, and the Bell-Irving Hatchery (KEEPS). During the Fall the classroom moves outdoors to Kanaka Creek Regional Park to assist in the planting season. This year alone, students planted and mulched around 500 trees and bushes.
It’s real work. Students dig, haul, and mulch. But as Mr. Vos shared, it’s about more than gardening — it’s about legacy. Someday, our students will walk these trails as adults and say, “I helped build this.”
One of the most touching moments of this year's planting trip occurred right at the work site. The students, who had been memorizing Psalm 8, gathered together to recite the scripture about God’s creation while standing in the middle of the very nature they were helping to restore.
That kind of formation doesn’t come from a worksheet. It comes from opportunities that donors help make possible.
A Spring Surprise in the Making
Students have also planted nearly 300 daffodil bulbs at the front of the school — some purchased by our school, some generously donated by Agriculture BC. By Spring Break, we expect a joyful burst of yellow to greet families and visitors. It’s a simple project, but it teaches patience, hope, and care.
Edible Education: Potatoes & Space Tomatoes
Potato Project
In March and April, students plant potatoes in pots. They learn the process of “hilling” them as they grow, and eventually, the plants are sent home for care. By June, they are brought back to school for a big harvest.
Tomato Sphere:
Perhaps the most futuristic project is “Tomato Sphere.” This science experiment involves two sets of tomato seeds: one regular set, and one set that has been in a space-simulated environment (or actually aboard the Space Station!). The students track germination rates to see if space travel affects the seeds, contributing real data to a national science organization.
The Fruit of Their Labor
Whether it’s the satisfaction of planting a tree or the excitement of a sprouting potato, something deeper is happening in the hearts of our students. They are discovering the joy of hard work, the beauty of creation, and the call to serve.
And every shovel lifted, every seed planted, every forest tended — is a direct reflection of the generosity of our donors.
Thank you for empowering students to grow as learners, leaders, and faithful caretakers of God’s world. Your support is shaping who they are becoming, far beyond the classroom.
“They’re getting fresh air, exploring places most people never go, and learning the joy of service.” — Jerry Vos
