Lavonne Zwart attended 9th grade at O’Neill, a public high school in Oshawa, in the gifted program.
Feeling overwhelmed as one of 1500 students, Lavonne and her parents explored the option to attend Durham Christian High School. After one visit to hear a panel of students speak about the school, Lavonne and her parents were sold. The more intimate setting of the school and the fact that the teachers would know her by name appealed to them very much. During her time at DCHS, Lavonne made close friends, was academically challenged, and participated in a wide range of activities including: the badminton team, the school play, and the choir.

Lavonne graduated from DCHS in 1988. The Ontario Academic Credits (OAC’s) she took in her last year of
high school prepared her well for college; particularly Henry Knoops’ English class and Mark Wards’ history
class where she had to write a mini-thesis. Lavonne majored in psychology at Calvin College and graduated in 1991. Lavonne married Philip Schaafsma and traveled for a year doing both short term mission work and sightseeing. After this year, Lavonne attended Fuller Theological Seminary’s School of Psychology. Lavonne received a Masters degree in Theology and a Doctorate of Psychology.

Lavonne and Phil now have 3 children, Owen (age 9), Isaac (age 7), and Grace (age 3). They live in downtown Grand Rapids. Lavonne now works in private practice as a therapist and her husband, Phil, continues to work for the City of Grand Rapids. They attend Mars Hill Bible Church and are thankful daily for the good gifts God has given them.