2010 FALL NEWSLETTER

The mission of the Christian Educators Association is to inspire and support Christian educators and encourage community by providing opportunities for spiritual and professional growth based on God’s Word.

The Convention Planning Committee is finalizing plans for the 2010 CEA Convention which will be held October 21 and 22 at the Century Center and South Bend Marriott in South Bend, Indiana.  We hope this convention will provide professional stimulation and challenge each one of you!

• Theme: Standing Firm, Moving Forward
• Verse: Philippians 4:1
• Thursday 
  • Keynote Speaker: Jeff Weima
  • Mass Meeting begins at 8:30 a.m.
  • Featured Lecturer: Dan Walcott
• Friday 
  • Devotional Leader: Dale Cooper
  • Mass Meeting begins at 11:00 a.m. (Convention begins at 8:30 a.m.)
  • Featured Lecturer: Syd Hielema

The delegate’s are invited to attend an important Delegate’s Meeting on Thursday at 10:00 a.m., immediately following the Mass Meeting, in the Recital Hall on the lower level of the Century Center.

2010 CEA Convention Theme: Standing Firm, Moving Forward

The theme of the 2010 Convention is Standing Firm: Moving Forward. The 2010 theme directs us to think about who we are as Christian Educators. We have a unique perspective on contemporary society that allows us to respond to that which is around us.  We can offer an answer, a world view to the dysfunctional world in which we live. Christian education is a distinctive way of building community in a world of brokenness. The theme verse of our convention is Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

On Thursday there will be a lunch break in the schedule. There will be snacks and sandwiches available in the Century Center, South Bend Marriott, and area restaurants.  A list of additional eating places close to the Century Center will be available at Convention Headquarters. The list of restaurants is also available online at  www.sjchamber.org where you can click on business directory and then type in restaurants.

In respect to speakers and fellow teachers, the Planning Committee requests that those in attendance at meetings not leave until the chairperson indicates the close of the session. 

Children and infants may not attend any CEA sectional or mass meetings.  We ask for your cooperation in this area so someone from the Planning Committee will not be forced to ask you to leave.  Contact your hotel for babysitting services or make other arrangements for your children if you choose to take them along to the convention.  

Some Loaves and Fishes will now meet informally during the lunch break on Thursday. The round tables on the lower level of the Century Center will be labeled for educators of similar interests to meet informally and share ideas.  Be sure to gather with a few ideas to share. The tables will be labeled with the following:

• Kindergarten Teachers
• 1st and 2nd Grade Teachers
• Elementary and Middle School PE Teachers
• Elementary and Middle School Media Specialists
• Gifted Education
• Theatre Directors
• Business Educators
• Family and Consumer Science Teachers
• HS Art Teachers
• HS Foreign Language Teachers
• HS Industrial Technology Teachers
• HS Media Specialists

The following Loaves and Fishes will be meeting in a room during a sectional time.

• Something Bold Something True (Thursday, 10:45 – 11:45 a.m., Convention Hall A/B)
• K-12 Music Educators (Friday, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m., River Level Suite 4)
• K-8 Art Teachers (Thursday, 12:45 – 1:45 p.m., River Level Suite 5)
• A Few of My Favorite Things (Friday, 9:45 – 10:45 a.m., River Level Suite 5)
• Elementary Smart Board Uses (Thursday, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m., River Level Suites 8 & 9)
• Preschool Teachers (Thursday, 10:45 – 11:45 a.m., St. Marys)
• Loaves and Fishes for Athletic Directors (Thursday, 12:45 – 1:45, Suite 17)

Visitor’s Guides and information will be available at Convention Headquarters. 

Remember that retired Christian school teachers and administrators may attend the convention free of the normal registration charges.  Contact the Executive Secretary, Brenda VanderPloeg, for details.  (cea@ceateachers.org)

Spouse passes may be obtained at Convention Headquarters for $5 and guest passes for educators who are not CEA members are $100.  Student Teachers may attend for $5.

CEA dues for this year will be $80 per member.  These dues cover your convention registration, a subscription to the Christian Educators Journal, and committee expenses.  Your delegate will be collecting dues in September.

An instrumental ensemble will be formed to assist at the Mass Meetings on Thursday.  If you are interested, please bring your instrument and a music stand and plan on participating.  

A hotel reservation form was sent to you in the spring and you have hopefully already made your hotel/motel arrangements directly with the hotel/motel.  Another copy is included below.  

Calvin’s Graduate Teacher Education Program is excited about our CEA and Calvin College partnership that provides all CEA members an additional value in attending the 2010 CEA Convention: graduate credit or SB-CEUs.

If you are interested in graduate workshop credit during the convention you must apply by September 24, 2010. To obtain a registration form call 616-526-6158 and one will be mailed to you. For more information regarding graduate credit please visit the Calvin graduate website at 

http://www.calvin.edu/academic/graduate_studies/academics/professional-d...

Michigan educators may earn SB-CEUs for attending selected workshops. Specific directions may be obtained from your CEA delegate. You may also stop at Convention Headquarters before the convention starts to pick up a registration form. 

If you have any questions please stop by headquarters to speak with a Graduate Program representative or stop by the Calvin College display booth in the Exhibits Hall.

Two name badges will be sent to each teacher this year for use at the convention.  

CONVENTION HEADQUARTERS will be located on the Street Level of the Century Center.  This is very important for you to remember if you are a sectional chairperson or need to buy additional passes to the convention. 

Back by popular demand, our very own CEA Book Club! Read, Gilead by Marilynne Robinson and come discuss these books at book club on Thursday from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. in River Level Suite 4.

As of April, 2006 South Bend will now participate in Daylight Savings Time. South Bend is now in the Eastern time zone, rather than the Eastern Standard Time Zone. That means that South Bend is now on “Michigan Time.” 

The exhibits will be in Convention Hall C on the Street Level of the Century Center.  Our Chairperson of Exhibits is Jerry Mastenbrook (Kalamazoo Christian Middle School).  He has worked very hard at obtaining vendors to come to our convention.  Please be sure to visit the exhibits and order materials right at the convention whenever possible.  Even when placing an order later in the year, be sure to mention the convention exhibit.  Since the exhibits are an important source of CEA income, we urge your cooperation.  

The following have donated either products or cash for us to provide exhibitor prizes. Visit the exhibit hall and receive a ticket from the vendors, Drop your ticket off in the prize bowl at the CEA headquarters. We will be drawing prizes each hour. 

Our thanks goes out to:

Distinguished Donor ANDY STEENSMA INSURANCE AGENCY

Serving the Michigan Educational Community since 1950

Outstanding Donor Dunhill Formal Wear Inc.

Outstanding Donor Gordon Food Service

Outstanding Donor Providence Bank

Outstanding Donor Rob Stam

The CEA would like to express our deep appreciation to Ron Van Der Pol from Sheboygan County Christian High School for designing the 2010 CEA Banner.

Christian Educators Association 2010 Election Ballot

Elections for new officers will be held at your school sometime before the convention.  Your CEA delegate will be in charge of the procedure.  The candidates are as follows:

Vice President Elect (vote for 1)

Emily Bosscher:  M.A. – Governor’s State University  

Emily is in her 10th year at Illiana Christian High School where she teaches Senior English, Drama, and a freshman Bible course called Reformed Perspectives on Culture. Emily is very involved at Illiana directing a musical and a play each year. She has also contributed by writing a mentorship program for Illiana. Emily is a member of Hope Christian Reformed Church where she worships and serves God.

Doug Doty:  M.A. – Calvin College                

Doug is in his 3rd year as Principal at Western Michigan Christian High School. In the past Doug has taught at Hamilton District Christian High in Ontario, Grant Christian School and Community Christian School in Pease, MN.

Conrad VanHaitsma: B.A. – Calvin College

Conrad has taught at Grandville Christian School for 20 years. Previously he taught for 2 years at Christian School of York in York, PA. Conrad is a 6th grade teacher at Grandville teaching science, history and math. Conrad is a member of NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) and ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education). Conrad is interested in developing a classroom design which integrates technology in the learning environment. He has participated in Odyssey of the Mind and the Macatawa Cycling Club. Conrad worships and serves God at Seymour Christian Reformed Church.

Secretary Elect (vote for 1)

Gary Cookson:  M.A. – University of South Dakota

Gary is the principal of East Martin Christian High School where he also teaches Bible and History. Previously, Gary has served at Hanford Christian School in CT, Hospers Christian School in LA, Lakewood Christian School in Lake Odessa, MI, and at Champlain Valley Christian School in VT. Gary has experience as the former President and Secretary of the Northern California principal’s organization. Gary worships at Grace United Reformed Church.

Carol Moxey: M.A. – Governors State University

Carol just completed her first year at Crown Point Christian as Education Administrator. She is in process of her dissertation for her Ph.D. degree from Loyola University. Previously Carol served at Hudsonville Christian School, Grosse Point Christian School in Detroit, Doon Christian School in IA and in several Public Schools. Carol taught for 12 years at Governors State University as an adjunct professor in the Education Department. She has been active in Kiwanis, Children’s Worship and Coffee Break at her church.

Matt Hofman: B.A. – Trinity Christian College

Matt has taught at Central Wisconsin Christian School for 10 years. He teaches High School Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics. Previously Matt taught for 7 years at Randolph Christian School. Matt is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and was a member of the Reader Advisory Panel for “Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School” (an NCTM journal) and has served multiple terms on the Education Committee at school. Matt worships and serves God by teaching high school catechism, serving several terms on the Steering Team, and is on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Christian Couples Retreat.

CEA 2010 CONVENTION HOUSING INFORMATION

This important housing/lodging information is being sent to you in preparation for our fall 2010 CEA Convention which will be held in South Bend, Indiana on October 21 and 22.  (More convention information and a request for dues will be sent to you in the fall.)    EACH CEA MEMBER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING HIS/HER OWN HOUSING/LODGING RESERVATIONS.

You must tell the hotels that you are with CEA to receive these rates.

Remember to reserve the correct dates.  The actual CEA Convention is Thursday and Friday, October 21 and 22, 2010.  You will most likely need lodging for Wednesday, October 20 and/or Thursday, October 21.  

You will need a credit card number to make a reservation.

You will be dealing directly with the hotel/motel for ALL arrangements and will receive a confirmation directly from that hotel/motel.

Hotel/motel names, rates, etc. are listed below.

South Bend Marriott Hotel

123 North St. Joseph Street,  South Bend, IN 46601

(connected to the Century Center with a skywalk)

PH:  574-234-2000  

Single or Double = $109.00 Triple = $109.00      Quad = $109.00

Ramada Plaza (formerly Holiday Inn Downtown)

213 W Washington Street,  South Bend, IN 46601  

(2 blocks from the Century Center)

PH: 574-232-3941 or 574-323-2113

Single or Double = $104.00

Hampton Inn & Suites

52709 State Rout 933, South Bend, IN 46637

(2-3 miles north of Century Center)                  

PH:  574-277-9373 King = $109.00 Double =$109.00

Quality Inn University

515 Dixieway North, South Bend. IN 46637

(2-3 miles north of Century Center)

PH:  574-272-6600

King = $59.95 Double=$59.95

Residence Inn by Marriott

716 N. Niles Ave. South Bend, IN 46617

(1/2 mile from Century Center)

PH: 574-289-5555 Studio Suite=$99.00