Our Team

Miss Averink

Miss Averink was born and raised in Burgessville (near Woodstock, Ontario). She attended Oxford Reformed Christian School for her elementary and secondary education. Miss Averink holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours in History and Minor in English) from Wilfrid Laurier University (Brantford, ON) and a Master of Science in Education from Niagara University (Lewiston, NY). Miss Averink started teaching at Providence in 2022 and teaches courses in History, English, Art, and Bible.

Mrs. Bergsma

Mrs. Bergsma is a former student of PRC and graduated in 2015. She attended Brescia University College for four years and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honors Specialization in French and Major in English). Mrs. Bergsma married Jesse Bergsma, also a PRC alumni. Mrs. Bergsma started teaching at PRC in 2019, and she and her husband moved to Christchurch, NZ for a year where she obtained her Bachelor of Education degree. They now live in Appin, ON. Mrs. Bergsma serves as guidance counsellor and athletic director. She teaches French and some electives. Mrs. Bergsma loves coaching and playing volleyball and traveling.

Mr. Ellens

Mr. Ellens was born in Niagara-on-the-Lake but moved with his family at the age of 9 to Alberta. After graduating high school, he studied English and Math at Redeemer University College where he also received a Bachelor of Education degree. While at university, he met Amanda and they were married in 2010. Shortly afterward they moved to Carman, Manitoba where Mr. Ellens taught at Dufferin Christian School. In 2017 the Ellens family moved to Strathroy, Ontario and became part of the Providence Reformed Collegiate community. They have four children: Emma, Ezra, Cora, and Judah. Mr. Ellens teaches English, Math, and Philosophy and serves as vice-principal.

Mr. Haklander

Mr. Rik Haklander and his wife, Marya, live on a farm near Poplar Hill, and have three children. Mr. Haklander joined our teaching staff in September 2020 to teach our construction engineering and transportation technology courses and cooperative education program. He graduated from Fanshawe College as an automotive power technician and worked as a licensed mechanic for over 30 years. He also continues to work on his cash crop and veal calf operation. Mr. Haklander is excited about helping direct young people in their understanding and appreciation of the trades.

Miss Hiemstra

Miss Jenna Hiemstra was born and raised in Watford, Ontario. She graduated from Providence in 2019 and moved on to complete a 3-year Bachelor of Arts at Brescia University College (Major in French for Teaching). In June 2024, she completed her Bachelor of Education at Western University with a focus on French and General Science. Miss Hiemstra will be teaching French and Science at Providence, as well as some elective courses.

Miss Janssens

Miss Janssens is our administrative assistant. She lives in Strathroy and attends the Providence URC. She joined our staff in November 2020, coming to Providence with more than 25 years of experience in Christian school office administration.

Mrs. Lenting

Mrs. Lenting grew up in the Waterdown area and moved to Strathroy when she married her husband, Rob, in 2006.
Together they attend Grace Canadian Reformed Church in Kerwood and have 5 children. Anne has been involved in Covenant Christian School for many years, primarily as librarian. When her oldest child began attending Providence, Mrs. Lenting sought a way to be involved here as well. Anne studied Child and Youth Work at Mohawk College and serves as an EA at Providence.

Mr. Pennings

Mr. Ken Pennings and his wife Belinda have been blessed with six children, who range in age from two years to 20 years old. He was born and raised in the St. Thomas area on a pig farm. He studied at Redeemer College from 1992 - 1996. Following his studies at Redeemer, he taught for two years before coming to PRC from 1999 to 2007. Those years hold many good memories for him. He then moved on from PRC and taught at Oxford Reformed Christian School for 5 years. Following the Lord's prompting, he then studied at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, MI from 2012 - 2016. Mr. Pennings teaches Family Studies, Bible, Geography, and Philosophy.

Mrs. Pieterman

Mrs. Pieterman grew up in the Hamilton area but moved to London during her teen years. Good thing, too, as this is where she met her husband, Art. They were married in 1991 and have been blessed with five children, all of whom have now graduated from Providence. The Pietermans are members of Pilgrim Canadian Reformed Church in London. Mrs. Pieterman joined our staff as a part time Educational Assistant in 2016. She is currently our Learning Assistance Coordinator and teaches a variety of courses, including Learning Strategies, Civics, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, and Computer Technology.

Mr. Vander Deen

Mike Vander Deen has served as Principal of Providence Reformed Collegiate for over ten years. Raised in Strathroy and a proud graduate of PRC (Class of 2001), he began his teaching career at Heritage Christian School in Jordan, Ontario, where he taught from 2006 to 2014. Since joining Providence in 2014, he has taught part-time while serving as principal.
At Providence, Mr. Vander Deen has taught a variety of courses and is dedicated to integrating design principles and intent into every aspect of Reformed Christian education. He holds a B.A. and B.Ed. from Redeemer University and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Calvin University. In 2019, he completed the Executive Management in Christian Schools program at the Van Lunen Centre.
Mr. Vander Deen and his family live near Mt. Brydges and attend Providence United Reformed Church in Strathroy.

Mrs. Vandermeyden

Pam Vandermeyden lives in Appin with her husband Marty and their five daughters. She earned an Honours B.A. in History from Western University and subsequently completed her Bachelor of Education at Western's Althouse College, with a focus on teaching high school English and History. Pam has taught at both the elementary and high school levels and currently teaches English, Bible, and Hospitality and Tourism at PRC.

Mrs. VanWynsberghe

Mrs. VanWynsberghe is a past student from Providence who recently received her undergraduate degree at Redeemer University in Biology. She completed her teaching degree at the Niagara University. One can find her playing or coaching a variety of sports and hopes to contribute to the athletic world at Providence. In line with her passion for science, she will be teaching Biology, Science, Math, and Phys. Ed.

Mrs. Wattel

Mrs. Ebelien Wattel was born and raised in Waterdown, ON. She married Peter in 1992 and they currently live in Kerwood and attend the Grace Canadian Reformed church there. They were blessed with three daughters who attended and graduated from Providence. Mrs. Wattel has served the Providence school community in many capacities through the years - as librarian, bus driver, and volunteer admin assistant, to name a few. After taking a year off from Providence when her youngest daughter graduated, she missed the school community so much that she came back as an EA in 2018.

Ms. Xu

Mrs. Phoebe Xu was born in Wuhan, China and completed her B.Eng. in Materials at Wuhan University of Technologies. In 1995, Mrs. Xu moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she completed her M.Eng. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Detroit Mercy. In 1999, Mrs. Xu moved to Canada and completed her B.Ed. at the University of Windsor. She then taught at Maranatha Christian Academy for over 18 years and completed an additional Honors Specialization in Chemistry in 2018. Mrs. Xu was introduced to Jesus in 1980s during her studies in China and eventually became a Christian in 1995. Her son was born shortly after her move to Canada and is currently studying at Western University. Mrs. Xu teaches Chemistry, Sciences, and Math.