Mrs. DONNA BYL – Junior & Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1

Donna came to Elora Road Christian School in September 2001 after more than a decade as a special needs resource teacher.  Donna was awarded the Early Childhood Education Diploma in 1991 and the Resource Teacher Diploma the year after.  She is particularly gifted to work with our young Junior Kindergarten (K4) and Kindergarten (K5) children.  She frequently serves as an advisor when other faculty have questions about special needs students in their classes.  Donna and her husband, Peter, have two grown children and two very special grandchildren.  Donna and Peter are members here at Elora Road Christian Fellowship.

 

Mrs. RUTH WALKER – Grades 2 & 3

Ruth was raised in Argentina in a missionary family.  Her first language is Spanish, though she has been in the Guelph area for more than twenty years now.  Ruth has a real heart for the Lord and for people.  She and her husband, Brad, have two terrific teen-aged children.

Though Ruth graduated from a teacher’s college in Argentina in the early 1980s she did not teach in a formal school setting while her children were young.  Ruth volunteered at our school for two years awaiting the Lord’s call to have her own class of children.  What a delight to finally have Mrs. Walker on board with us.  She is right at home with her young primary grade students.  Ruth and Brad are members at the Guelph Bible Chapel.

 

Mrs. ANDREA FINLAY – Grades 4 & 5

Andrea grew up outside of Guelph, having also lived in Hamilton and London. She met her husband Steve in high school and has been married to him for 2 1/2 years and is loving it!

Andrea graduated from Redeemer University College in 2006 on the dean's list with a double major in Visual Art and English, and graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 2007 with a B. Ed. She has done supply teaching at Elora Road in the past, as well as supply and some teaching at the high school level for the Upper Grand District School Board. She is a practicing artist, enjoying painting and drawing.

Mr. and Mrs. Finlay enjoy Ultimate Frisbee, skiing, and traveling, and have been to both Canadian coasts and to Ireland, where his father is from. They currently attend The Guelph Vineyard, where they are involved in a small group and hope to become more involved in the future. Obviously they like to keep busy!!

 

Mrs. CANDICE DUIMERING – Grades 6 & 7

Candice completed her Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature at the University of Waterloo and has recently graduated from D’Youville College with her Teaching Degree. As a Sunday school teacher and faithful member of ERCF she is very excited to connect with the children and families of ERCS as the Grade 6/7 teacher. She has a strong passion for teaching – ever since she could hold a piece of chalk she’s wanted to get in a classroom and teach – and for helping others. Traveling to Haiti in 2004 and Quebec in 2005 for missions allowed her to use her teaching skills with those in need to teach them about Christ and his ultimate love. Candice and her husband Dan share a love for the outdoors and camping.

 

Mr. JOHN DEKORTE – Principal, Grades 7 & 8

John is an original faculty member from September of 1981!  He and his wife, Joyce, had their four children go through the school during the 80’s and early 90’s.  Mr. “D” has been the senior grades’ teacher for many years now.  He says that while the kids are at school he’s definitely their teacher, but he feels a bit like a father  and looks after each one to the very best of his ability.  Those senior students put Mr. “D” to the test each day, and he is able to put his Mathematics Degree (University of Waterloo) to good use.  A certified carpenter, John is now building into the lives of his second generation of students.  John and Joyce also have three wonderful grandchildren in the school.  The Dekorte’s are members here at Elora Road Christian Fellowship.

 

Mrs. CINDY WESTENDORP – Grades 7 & 8

Cindy is excited to return to the classroom after taking time off to raise her three children who currently attend ERCS.  She graduated from the University of Guelph in 1997 with an Honours degree in Human Kinetics.  She then  spent time developing an outreach program for teenage mothers while working at Youth for Christ.  In 2000 she graduated from Queen's University with her Bachelor of Education, with specialization in Science and Physical Education.  The Westendorp's are currently members of Central Pentecostal in Elora.

 

Mrs. CHRISTY CLAUS - French

Christy completed her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education at Redeemer University College in Ancaster. This came after she earned her Travel and Tourism- Flight Services Diploma from Seneca College and worked in a hotel for a while. Before coming to teach at ERCS, she covered a maternity leave at Drayton Community Christian School by teaching a grade 6/7 homeroom. Teaching is in Christy's blood as she is a third generation teacher. She has a grandparent on both sides of her family that was a teacher and both of her parents are teachers in Christian schools. Christy and her husband, Trevor, are very involved members of the Palmerston Christian Reformed Church and live in Harriston.

 

 

 

 

Other ERCS staff ...

Vice-Principal: Mrs. Amanda McAlpine
Administrative Secretary: Mrs. Adrienne Morries
Accounts Receivable: Mrs. Lynn Wichers
Educational Assistant: Ms. Holly Bouwman
Librarian: Mrs. Miriam Katerberg