HOPE TRIUMPHS

HOMESCHOOL SUCCESS STORIES

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By REVEREND TONY ZEKVELD

Many of us, no doubt, can relate to having our children at home for their schooling. Call it virtual learning or school on Zoom; but I know many children who said they prefer to be in the classroom.  

I’d like to share my story. Our five children were schooled at home throughout their grade school and high school years. But it was not virtual learning nor was it school on Zoom. They had curriculum sent to them designed for actual school in the home – textbooks, notebooks, assignments and tests to be sent in and graded. Their parents, especially their mom, were involved in assisting them, helping them to maintain order, discipline, and consistency. It was real school, but at home.  

Our children were also part of a larger group of homeschool families who met one full afternoon a week at a public facility for social connection, forming friendships, learning how to play and compete in sports. They scripted plays for year-end programs, put hours of practice into them. Parents, extended families, friends from the community would assemble together for these final programs. We had special ceremonies for graduates from grades 8 and 12.

Often people would ask us, “How can they go to college or university without a recognized degree?” Our children took an ACT or SAT, a three to four-hour standardized test for university. All our children went to either college or university, and graduated from these institutions. Two of them have Master’s degrees and two more are currently working on their Masters.

School at home was no obstacle for them getting into university and doing well in their studies. Currently, our daughter who is married, is teaching her children at home similar to the way she was taught. Her children are now involved in the same larger home school group where she went as a child. Would I advocate for school at home in this way? Yes, provided mom is at home to assist them consistently. For us it was a positive experience.

Hope Academy, our accredited mission school, also builds on this model of education. It is a small school, having close supervised learning and a strong disciplined environment. There is a strong emphasis on reading, writing and arithmetic. Teachers have personal connection with students and parents.

If you are interested in learning more about homeschooling, feel free to contact my wife Arley-Ann at 416-740-0172. If you are interested in Hope Academy, you may call Chris VanDyken at 416-254-1617.

Reverend Tony Zekveld can be reached at 416-740-0543 and tzekveld@primus.ca. If you would like to learn more about Hope Academy, feel free to visit www.hope-academy.ca.