Administration & Governance

Our elementary school principal, John Sawatzky, and collegiate principal, Shannon Smith, would like to welcome you.

John Sawatzky

Elementary Principal

I am a graduate of MBCI and became familiar with Calvin Christian School when many new students from Calvin joined our high school for grade 10. After obtaining my B.Theology and B.Religious Studies from the U of Winnipeg my wife and I served as Youth Workers in Ontario for three years. Upon our return I explored a teaching career and have been invested in that work ever since. I taught at Winnipeg Mennonite Elementary School for many years, and served as principal there as well. I obtained my M.Ed. in 2009, and as of 2018 I have served as the elementary principal at Calvin. My wife Monika and I enjoy spending time with our children and grandchildren, and we attend Douglas Mennonite Church.

Shannon Smith

Collegiate Principal

I am a graduate of Calvin Christian and have served Calvin Christian for 25 years as an educator. I have had a wide range of experiences that include teaching middle years math, science, PE and Bible. I pioneered the start of our resource department when we expanded and developed a high school. I then filled the roles of athletic director, assistant principal and now principal. My side hustle was coaching and playing sports. In the mid 90s to early 2000’s, I represented Canada in the sport of rugby, scored a few points in international play and was inducted into the Manitoba Rugby Hall of Fame in 2019. I am also the proud mother of 2 teenage girls. My oldest daughter graduated from Calvin. I love that in my every day, I get to interact with wonderful people – staff and students. My job allows me to be a part of and witness student growth in all areas. I get to do kingdom work for kingdom students. 

2022/2023 School Board

  • Ron Pluchinski
  • Rick Hordijk
  • Chris Jansen
  • Kier Wiens
  • Tyler Bekkering
  • Rachel Siwak
  • Brenda Olfert
  • Ken Vaags
  • Trevor Siepman

Greater Winnipeg Society for Christian Education

Calvin Christian School is owned and operated by a parental society incorporated as the Greater Winnipeg Society for Christian Education. It is not directed or financed by a church or denomination. Members of the school society elect a board of directors that is entrusted with policy-making and governance of the schools. The board delegates the responsibility for day to day operations to the principals of each campus, who are responsible to the board for the educational administration of the school. In our educational tradition there is a well-developed construct regarding the relationship between the church, the home and the school – three critical institutions in the life of the child.

Affiliations