The Convention Planning Committee is finalizing plans for the 2008 CEA Convention which will be held October 23 and 24 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: Redeeming Lives: Do Justice, Love Mercy
 
Thursday

• Keynote Speaker: Walter Wangerin Jr.
• Mass Meeting begins at 9:00 a.m.
• Featured Lecturer: Bethany Hoang
• Featured Lecturer: Roger Nelson

Friday

• Devotional Leader: Angela Taylor Perry
• Mass Meeting begins at 10:30 a.m.
• Featured Lecturer: Nathan Bierema

 
The mission of the CEA is to inspire and support Christian educators and encourage community by providing opportunities for spiritual and professional growth based on God’s Word.
 
On Thursday the delegate’s are invited to attend an important Delegate’s Meeting at 10:45 a.m., immediately following the Mass Meeting, in the Recital Hall on the lower level of the Century Center.
 
On Thursday there will be no lunch break in the schedule. Please plan your own lunch according to the sectionals you wish to attend. 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.
 
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.
 
Spouse passes may be obtained at Convention Headquarters for $5 and guest passes for educators who are not CEA members are $40. If you forget your program booklet, additional booklets will be available at Convention Headquarters for a $2 fee (to cover printing costs).
 
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 only at the Mass Meetings on Thursday. This year the ensemble will be directed by Kevin Schoenbach from Timothy Christian Schools. If you are interested, please bring your instrument and a music stand and plan on participating. If you have questions, feel free to contact Kevin at Timothy Christian Schools – 630-833-4717, or Schoenbach@timothychristian.com .
 
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.
 
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.
 
Two name badges will be sent to each teacher this year for use at the convention.
 
There is one sectional offered this year for which you must pre-register. Please see details and more information later in this Newsletter.
 
There is one sectional offered this year for which you do NOT need to pre-register, but there is a fee. For $5.00 per person, you can participate in a gallery activity with the fall show, “Guild Hall” on display at the South Bend Regional Museum of Art, which is located on the main floor of the Century Center in South Bend. This traveling exhibit will include the names of well known artists including Warhol and Pollack.
 
2008 CEA Convention will be held on October 23 and 24 at the Century Center and South Bend Marriott.
 
Commemorative Edition Posters of the Theme Banner by artist Jim Kamphuis (Illiana CHS) and his students will be available for purchase at Convention Headquarters for a $2.00 Fee. Be sure to pick one up for your room and one to give away.
 
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.
 
Cracker Barrel sectionals have been renamed Loaves and Fishes Sectionals. We look forward, just like the little boy who offered his lunch to Jesus, to coming with a small amount and leaving with a blessed large amount. A list of loaves and fishes will be listed later in this newsletter.
 
Back by popular demand, our very own CEA Book Club! Read, The Blood of the Lamb by Peter DeVries, and/or The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy and come to discuss these books at book club on Thursday from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
 
As of April, 2006 South Bend will now participate in Daylight Savings Time. South Bend is now in Eastern time zone, rather than the Eastern Standard Time Zone. That means that South Bend is now on “Michigan Time.”
 
The Professional Standards Committee will again be available on call at the convention to hear concerns or receive ideas from teachers and as a resource for CEA members. If you have any questions or suggestions for the PSC, feel free to contact the Executive Secretary, cea@ceateachers.org and she will relay your message to the PSC prior to the convention.
 
Loaves and Fishes will once again be offered this year. Come ready to share in your subject area. The LFs on the schedule this year are:
 
THURSDAY 11:30 – 12:30 p.m.

• Business Educators (Come for a time of sharing ideas in teaching Business Education.)

THURSDAY 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

• Preschool (Please bring along a handout of at least 2 activities that have been successful in your classroom. Email your ideas to me at jfriend@dmchr.org and I will make a collective handout.)

THURSDAY 2:15 – 3:15 p.m.

• K-8 Art Teachers (Let’s share ideas for art projects which have specific Biblical references and religious themes. Come prepared for show and tell!)
• K-8 Principals (Bring 25 3-hole punched copies of three to five documents that you have found helpful to share with your colleagues.)

FRIDAY 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

• Kindergarten teachers (We’ll focus on three main topics; full day kindergarten, the project approach to curriculum, and whether the question of “developmentally appropriate” is being refined.)
• K-5 Music (Come to get ideas or to share ideas with your fellow general music teachers.)
• EL and MS PE Teachers (You’re invited to share new ideas and suggestions.)
• K-8 Library Media Specialists (Come to share your best ideas and favorite books from the past year.)
• 2nd and 3rd grade teachers (Please bring an idea or two to share. Print your idea on 20 copies to pass out to those in attendance.)
• Industrial Technology (This will be a group meeting/discussion for teachers in Industrial Technology and Technology Education Field.)
• Theater Directors (Bring your own success stories, great play ideas, set solutions and costume connections.)
• High School Math (Please bring some of your favorite lesson plans/projects/teaching ideas to share with your colleagues.)
• HS Art Teachers (Come ready to share some of your own ideas and leave with a few new ones.)
• HS Worship and Beyond (Come and share a few of your best ideas, themes or topics for high school chapel.)
• HS Foreign Language (Participants are asked to bring 15-20 copies of practical classroom ideas or useful websites to share.)

FRIDAY 9:15 – 10:15 a.m.

• HS Administrators (Principals are invited to come and share on topics of their choice. Please submit topics in advance to Clyde Rinsema at Rinsema@timothychristian.com)

More detailed information regarding each Loaves and Fishes will be found in the program booklets when you receive them shortly before the convention.
 
 
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)

• Dave Bierenga: M.A. – Western Michigan University

Dave is a 5th grade teacher at Kalamzaoo Christian West Elementary. Dave has been in the Kalamazoo Christian School Association for 28 years. Previously, Dave served 7 years at Constantine, MI public school, 1 year at N.L. public and 2 years at Jenison Christian School. As a professional educator, Dave has been a member of the MEA and NEA as well as the CEA Convention Planning Committee. Currently Dave is a member of CSI. At church, Dave has served as a deacon and elder including the position of president of council, as well as involvement in the following; Sunday School, Catechism, praise team, worship leader and Calvinist Cadets. In his community, Dave was a board member for the Kalamazoo Deacon’s Conference.
 

• Wailand Groenendyk: M.A. – Michigan State University

Wailand is a middle school teacher at Grand Haven Christian School and has enjoyed this position for 28 years. Previously, Wailand taught Adult Basic Ed and English as a Second Language for 1 year. As a professional educator, Wailand has been a member of the Professional Standards Committee as well as a CEA delegate. He has taught at risk students at Bethany Christian Services in Grand Rapids each summer for the last 11 years. Wailand has also been a Bible curriculum writer for CSI. At Spring Lake CRC church, Wailand has served as a deacon, elder and been the chairman for several committees including the Pastoral Search Committee.
 

• Dave Haagsma: M.A. – Grand Valley State University

Dave is and has been a teacher at Legacy Christian School, formerly known as Kelloggsville and Cutlerville Christian Schools, for 29 years. Dave teaches music, choir and orchestra. As a professional educator, Dave is a former CEA delegate, and a former member of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association. At church, Dave has been directly involved in various church choirs for 30 years. In his community, Dave is a regular volunteer at their local Christian school thrift store.
 
Vice Secretary Elect (vote for 1)

• Rob Lagerwey: M.A. – Monclair State University

Rob is a mathematics teacher at Illiana Christian High School and has served there for 14 years. Previously, Rob served 15 years at Eastern Christian High School. As a professional educator, Rob is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. At Peace CRC, Rob has served as a deacon, elder and worship committee member.
 

• Julie Musch: M.A. – Cornerstone University

Julie teaches at Byron Center Christian and has served there for 7 years. She is a sixth grade teacher and teaches Bible, Science and Math. As a professional educator, Julie is the secretary who takes the staff minutes for 7 years and counting. She is a member of the Education and Science Curriculum Committees. She has organized theme week and participates in leading chapel. Julie taught in the Gifted and Talented program for 2 years. At church, Julie is the Sunday School coordinator, a Sunday School teacher and a small group leader. Julie has a great deal of basketball experience. She is a junior high coach and official and basketball camp counselor. Julie has also served as the assistant coach at Cornerstone University in the women’s basketball program for 2 years.
 

• Jackie Noordewier: M.A. – Aquinas College

Jackie has been at Millbrook Christian School for 17 years. She has taught Middle School, 3rd grade and currently teaches 4th grade. Previously, Jackie taught for 1 year at Sylvan Christian School. As a professional educator, Jackie has served on the following Millbrook Committees; Middle School, Professional Development, Special Events and Spiritual Emphasis. At Calvin CRC, Jackie has been a TLC teacher for several years and is now the TLC coordinator. She is a Worship Center Teacher and is planning the 2008 Vacation Bible School.
 
Vice Treasurer Elect (vote for 1)

• James Koop: B.A. – Calvin College

James teaches 7th grade Bible and Math at Grand Rapids Christian Middle School where he has been for 4 years. Previously, James served 12 years at Millbrook Christian School. As a professional educator, James is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and a CEA member. Outside of school, James has served on many committees and served many council terms at his church.
 

• Deb Top: M.A. – University of Minnesota

Deb teaches Business Education classes as well as a Bible class for freshman at Illiana Christian High School. Deb has been at Illiana for 21 years. Deb is the head coach for the girl’s cross country and track and field teams. As a professional educator, Deb is a member of Delta Pi Epsilon, the Illinois Business Educators Association, and the Illinois Cross Country and Track/Field Association. Currently, Deb is a member of Peace CRC where she is involved in children’s ministries. Formerly a member of Munster CRC, Deb served on the Worship Committee, Evangelism Committee and was a GEMS leader.
 

• Ivan VanDuyn: M.A.T. – University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Ivan teaches at Kalamazoo Christian High School and has been there for 16 years. Ivan teaches Business and Computer classes and is the Registrar. Previously, Ivan served 16 years at Sheboygan County Christian High School. As a professional educator, Ivan is a member of the Michigan Association of Computer Users in Learning, a member of the Michigan State High School Soccer Coaches Association, and a member of the National Business Education Association. At Millwood CRC, Ivan serves as the Educational Director.
 
 
 
SECTIONAL PRE-REGISTRATION
 
1.I Can Use This on Monday by Staff of Discovery Network Services Thursday – 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. (K-4th)
 
Participants will be introduced to a variety of teacher-made reading and math visual games. Materials will be available to make the examples and take them for use in the classroom on Monday. (Please bring a scissors.) There is a limit of 35 people for this sectional. Please assume you are registered for this sectional unless you are notified otherwise.
 
Name _______________________________________ School __________________________________________
 
Email Address ______________________________________________________________________________________
 
Mail (or FAX) to: Brenda VanderPloeg – 5745 Park Ave – Hudsonville, MI 49426
 
FAX: 616-662-0484
 
* * * * * * * * * * * *
 
 
CEA 2008 CONVENTION HOUSING INFORMATION
 
To: ALL CEA MEMBERS
 
From: Brenda VanderPloeg (CEA Executive Secretary)
 
Phone: 616-669-3497
 
email: cea@ceateachers.org
 
Date: MAY, 2008
 
Re: CEA 2008 CONVENTION HOUSING/LODGING
This important housing/lodging information is being sent to you in preparation for our fall 2008 CEA Convention which will be held in South Bend, Indiana on October 23 and 24. (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 23 and 24, 2008. You will most likely need lodging for Wednesday, October 22 and/or Thursday, October 23. 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 = $105.00 Triple = $105.00 Quad = $105.00
 
Holiday Inn Downtown ? 213 W Washington Street, South Bend, IN 46601 (2 blocks from the Century Center)PH: 574-232-3941 Single or Double = $104.00
 
Hampton Inn & Suites ? 52709 US 31 North, South Bend, IN 46637 PH: 574-277-9373 Single or Double = $95.00 Triple = $95.00 Quad = $95.00
 
Quality Inn University ? 515 Dixieway North, South Bend. IN 46637PH: 574-272-6600 Single or Double = $69.95 Triple = $69.95 Quad = $69.95
 
Oliver Inn Bed and Breakfast ? 630 W. Washington St. South Bend, IN 46601 ?www.oliverinn.com ?1/2 mile from Century CenterPH: 574-232-4545 15% discount for CEA $135-$175 one room , $309 for Carriage House
 
Queen Anne Inn Bed and Breakfast ?420 W. Washington St. South Bend, IN 46601 ? www.queenanneinn.net ?Less than ½ mile from Century CenterPH: 574-234-5959 $89.00 per room or $650 for entire house (9 guests)