NCS LEADERSHIP
NCS Society & Board of Directors
Nanaimo Christian School is certified by the Province of British Columbia and rated as a Group 1 school under the Independent School Act. As a Group 1 school, NCS must be operated by an “authority” (board of directors) and established as a society.
Nanaimo Christian School is run by the NCS Society’s Board of Directors. All members of the NCS Society in good standing are eligible to serve on the board. Our society is a group of NCS parents, alumni, and staff leadership who meet regularly to share ideas and suggestions that will encourage ongoing strategic development of the school.
Join the society
Are you a school parent, former NCS parent, alumni, grandparent or staff member committed to Christian education? Join the NCS Society to discuss and vote on school issues and board member nominations at the annual general meeting each year.
As a member, you can make a lasting difference in the lives of NCS students.
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Full society membership -- Open to parents/guardians of a child currently enrolled at NCS who are active members of a Christian church.
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Associate membership -- Open to parents of previously and currently enrolled students at NCS, as well as alumni, grandparents, and paid staff members who do not have children attending NCS.
*** Application for 2023-24 membership is now closed. ***
Serve as a board member
Rather than getting involved in day-to-day operational tasks of the school, NCS board members follow a mission-directed governance model. Our board works to protect the school’s mission and vision while creating direction and inspecting everything through a Christ-centered lens.
Board member nominations are considered year-round and are voted on at the annual general meeting each fall.
Tasks & activities
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Strategic plan creation & review
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Policy & bylaw review
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Consultation with SCSBC (Society of Christian Schools of BC)
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Retreats & conferences
Committees & task forces
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Spiritual leadership
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Strategic planning
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Admin/staff
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Finance committee
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Development committee
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Maintenance committee
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Governance committee
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Membership committee
Contact us
250-754-4512
darryn.edmunds@ncsnanaimo.com (society membership) nick.greer@ncsnanaimo.com (board membership)
OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Nick Greer - Board Chair
Nick is a lawyer, mediator, and commercial arbitrator based in downtown Nanaimo and has served on the NCS board since 2019. Nick and his wife Amanda attend and co-lead a Connect Group through Oceanside Church, and have two girls at NCS in grades 6 and 8. Nick has served on several Christian boards including Teen Challenge and Lutheran Housing, church leadership boards, and municipal government development and planning boards. Nick wants to ensure that the board maintains its mission to equip students to "achieve success in who God has called them to be". “NCS is a school where we teach kids to know and love Jesus, and hold fast to our eternal and foundational values in a constantly changing world”. Email: nick.greer@ncsnanaimo.com
Darryn Edmunds - Board Vice-Chair
I have served on the NCS board for the last six, going on seven years. I love NCS and believe one of the main reasons for me being on the board is to ensure the continuity of our foundational beliefs which make NCS standout in our community. The thing that sets NCS apart is undoubtedly our love for Jesus and our desire to see His name made great in our school and ultimately in our community. I am passionate about Christian education and enjoy seeing and hearing of the fruit it brings at NCS; enriching teachers, students and the families that they are part of. There is nothing like seeing children impacted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the life-changing effect it has on them. I am amazed by the incredible hearts our teachers and administrative staff have for every child at NCS, this is very evident and reflected in every child Belonging, Believing and Achieving what God has created them to be at NCS. It is an absolute privilege to serve on the Nanaimo Christian School Board. Email: darryn.edmunds@ncsnanaimo.com
Tim Sevenhuysen - Treasurer
Tim Sevenhuysen is an NCS alumnus who attended the school from grades 3 through 12 and now has four children enrolled, ranging from Grades 1 to 6. He is passionate about NCS’s role in equipping students to be God’s hands and feet in the world, in close partnership with parents and caregivers, by helping students develop solid foundations in their Christian faith paired with academic excellence, critical thinking skills, and joy in discovering who God has designed each one of them to be. Professionally, Tim is a project manager, software developer, and data scientist working in the professional gaming industry. Tim and his family attend Neighbourhood Church. Email: tim.sevenhusyen@ncsnanaimo.com
Ginny Kempner - Secretary
Hi NCS community, my name is Ginny Kempner. My family moved to Nanaimo 6 years ago. We have 3 children; 2 that attend NCS: Grade 12 and Grade 9. Our family attends and serves at Generations Church. There are many reasons why I decided to serve on the NCS board. I believe in the vision and mission of our school and support the environment that has been cultivated here by our staff and teachers. Our school provides a safe place where kids are known, shown the love of God and feel as though they belong. I am excited about the future of our school and the next season that we are walking into and I'm passionate about keeping God number one and our mission front and center as we grow. A community thrives under healthy leadership and I am confident in the leadership of our school; from our board of directors to our administration. I see a group of leaders who place God first and seek His direction for our school and I am excited to be part of it. My hobbies include spending time with my family, laughing, reading, thrifting (I love a good deal), laying in the sun, having fun with friends... but let's be real - my free time is really just consumed with driving my kids around... if you have teenagers, you understand! Thank you for the opportunity to serve on the board of directors. Email: ginny.kempner@ncsnanaimo.com
Ashton Deibert - Board Member
Born and raised in central Alberta my family and I moved to Nanaimo in 2018. When God gave us the opportunity to move to the island the first thing I looked for was a faith based school, the community, teachers and staff at NCS has been an incredible blessing to our family since day one. I'm passionate about Christian education having myself been raised in it, and I look forward to raising our 4 children in community with fellow believers that uphold biblical truths. I'm excited for NCS's future, I believe in their mission wholeheartedly and consider a position on the board an opportunity to serve a community we love. Our kids span all four divisions in grade 10, 8, 4 and 2. When we aren't shuttling from one sporting event to another, we enjoy spending time hiking, skiing, baking and traveling. We traditionally spend Friday nights as a family curled up on the couch with an absurd amount of snacks watching a movie. I've been a Realtor for the last 10 years and often help my husband with his bread distribution business in the wee hours of the morning. The flexibility has provided an opportunity to volunteer and drive/coach sports teams etc. and I honestly love getting to know all the kids of NCS. Email: ashton.deibert@ncsnanaimo.com
Josephine McNeilly - Board Member
Email: josephine.mcneilly@ncsnanaimo.com
Fred Jacobsohn - Board Member
Our journey in Nanaimo started in 2018 after moving from Quesnel in Northern BC where we spent 5 years prior. Our first interaction with NCS was when we came for an initial site visit for work and Dawna kindly took us on a tour of the school. We were so excited about what we saw and enrolled our 2 children (Rachelle and Benjamin). I can’t believe how quick time has passed. Rachelle is graduating this year and Benjamin is in grade 9. It has been a privilege to be part of the community and appreciate the teachers and staff who pour their lives into providing an incredible education to our kids. A little about me.. I have been married to Elsjé for 20 years this year. We started our journey in Canada as a young married couple in 2004 arriving with 2 suitcases from South Africa. Rachelle was born in 2006 in Quesnel. We then moved back to South Africa for me to specialize and Benjamin was born there. An opportunity came up for us to move back to Quesnel in 2013 and then the Lord opened the door for us to move to the island in 2018. I am a general surgeon at NRGH. The opportunity to serve on the board has not been taken lightly. It is definitely outside of my comfort zone but I do believe that the timing is right to do so. Christian education is under a lot of pressure but now more than ever I believe that we have the opportunity to influence our city and the culture of the day as we are called to be salt and light, counter culture in a broken world. Email fred.jacobsohn@ncsnanaimo.com
BC Ministry of Education
Christian Schools International
Christian Schools Canada
Society of Christian Schools of British Columbia
Christian Educators of British Columbia
Christian Principals Association of British Columbia
Federation of Independent School Associations of British Columbia
Center for the Advancement of Christian Education
OUR AFFILIATIONS
“I volunteer at Nanaimo Christian School because every day I see the staff giving freely of what they have to invest in our children and families. Nanaimo doesn’t have a large Christian population, and I am thrilled to see youth being discipled into leaders that are a light to our whole city.”
Jenn Tonsi, Board chair
