Easter in Narnia?
Robert Skead • April 4, 2025
Dawn Treader is named after the ship in the Chronicles of Narnia series. As such many of the books’ themes are also taught to our students via chapel messages and in the classroom. Easter is the perfect time to reflect on some of these themes—and on Aslan the mighty lion (Jesus).
As you read the themes below, please think about your own childhood memories and how important these were (and are) to your spiritual growth.
- Christianity:
The story uses allegorical elements, like the talking lion Aslan, to represent the Christian journey, suggesting that faith can be challenging but ultimately transformative.
- Growing Up and Selflessness:
Eustace, a character who is initially selfish, undergoes a transformation, learning the value of companionship and helping others. His journey highlights how selfishness can lead to isolation, while selflessness can foster purpose and connection.
- Temptation:
The characters encounter situations that test their moral compass, such as the temptation of greed or power. These moments highlight the importance of resisting temptation and making choices that align with one's values.
- The search for the divine:
The story also explores the desire of human beings to grow in their character, to become better people, and of the search for the divine in this life, and the hope for something beautiful in the next.
- The Christmas and Easter connection:
A life without Jesus (darkness) is best reflected by these lines from the book - “It is winter in Narnia,” said Mr. Tumnus, “and has been for ever so long…. always winter, but never Christmas.”
How sad a world without Christmas would be. We rejoice because after Christmas we know there is Easter! When Aslan gave his life for Eustace’s sin on the slab, he broke the curse of “winter!” Jesus took our sin on the cross and broke the curse of death! Like Aslan, Jesus rose in real life to real life!
That’s good news! May the peace of Christ be with you always as you journey with us on the Dawn Treader.
Cultivating Minds and Hearts It's a privilege to assist our teachers and parents in cultivating the young minds and hearts of our students. As an alumna of Dawn Treader Christian School and a former teacher, it's a full-circle experience to observe the many facets of education, such as admissions, academics, classroom instruction, assessments, and academic competitiveness. Student and Academic Growth We're grateful to have experienced growth in admissions this year. Our student body has increased to 117 students, and we're planning for more growth in each grade level in the months and years to come. With growth comes the responsibility to steward our learners, and our staff members are extremely excited and eager to instruct our students. Not only are they utilizing smartboards and Chromebooks in the classroom for instruction, visual aids, and classroom management, but students also have after-school activities available, such as classes in Coding, Math Enrichment, and STEM. Making STEM available to our students has been one of our top priorities as we train them to advance in their academics and beyond. Preparing for the Future As we prepare our students for middle school and high school, we use I-Ready Diagnostic Assessments and standardized testing tools to help teachers and parents understand the strengths and challenges of our students. Last year, we implemented an I-Ready Pep Rally to help ignite excitement in reading and mathematics. During each round of I-Ready, every class experienced growth in both subjects, and students were celebrated for their efforts. Our eighth-grade learners are also in the process of preparing for high school applications, open houses, and shadowing opportunities, which is always exciting. Extracurricular Enrichment This year, a plethora of events are planned for our students, including Hispanic Heritage Presentations, participation in the Northern NJ Christian School Spelling Contest, the annual D.T.C.S. Christmas Concert, Black History Month Presentations, Read Across America, and our annual Spring Concert, to name a few. We're looking forward to an exciting year full of growth and success for our students and staff. Thank you for your partnership and willingness to sow into the lives of our students as we help them tap into their God-given potential. We pray that the seeds that have been sown into Dawn Treader Christian School will, in turn, bless you richly. Ms. Taneka Darby Dean of Students and the Admissions Contact
Imani Baker , a rising 8th grader at Dawn Treader, seamlessly blends her passion for music with a deep-rooted faith. From harmonizing with her beloved Ensemblet o navigating the supportive halls of Dawn Treader since kindergarten, Imani's journey is a testament to the power of community, mentorship, and a clear vision for the future. Her story, marked by a love for abstract art, a dedication to her studies, and an ambition to return to Dawn Treader as a teacher, highlights a young woman already living out the quiet yet impactful life described in her favorite Bible verse. Favorite thing about being in the Ensemble: My favorite thing is praising God. I like the people too. It’s really fun. We have so much fun together. I especially like how we do harmonies for specific songs. It was sometimes tricky to learn, but Ms. Williams taught and encouraged us, and we got it. Favorite thing about Dawn Treader : My fellow students and the staff members. I’ve been at dawn Treader since kindergarten, so I’ve met lots of people through the years. Some have moved on, some are still here. Mr. Berra does everything and I know I can always go to him when I have a problem. When I need help, all the teachers are there to listen. They pray for me and give me Bible verses and biblical advice. Favorite school subject: Music On what she wants to be when she grows up: I want to come back and be a teacher at Dawn Treader. I’d love to be the music teacher like Ms. Williams, who has taught me so much, but I’d teach any subject. Hobbies: Singing, painting (abstract art), dancing, reading, swimming Favorite Bible verse: 1 Thessalonians 4: 11-12, NIV, which says, “and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that yo uwill not be dependent on anybody".
Kashmir Dickson
Zymeik Goodwin
