5 Elements That Are Essential In A Christian School
This morning we started our day 'rolling out the red carpet' for our students and their families as they arrived for the first day of school. There was joy on our students faces as they walked up to the entrance way and saw a bright red carpet lined with blue and gold balloons set there especially for them. As a school, we want them to know how special they are to us and how important it is for us to establish that 'partnership' with them from the beginning.
I was reading an article the other day that said the greatest strength to these precious students education is the relationship they (and their family) have with their school and the partnership that is formed. Here at Calvary Academy we couldn't agree more.
Proverbs 22:6 states: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." We believe that parents have the primary responsibility that is biblically mandated to do just that. We are honored to partner with parents to train up their children, giving our expertise in academics, spiritual teaching and the nurturing of a child's heart.
The article goes on to list 5 elements that are essential in a Christian school and how you, as parents, can count on your "partner" for these critical elements. Here are those 5 elements and we pray they will serve your family well.
1. Truth. Scripture, the revealed Word of God, is taught as truth. You can be assured that among those truths, your students will learn that they are individually and wonderfully created in the image of God. This crucial truth will help them better understand not only who they are - their own worth as individuals - but also the value of others. They will be confronted with the reality of sin and redemption, encouraged to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, and then nurtured and encouraged in their faith. They will be led to a deeper knowledge of God as He is revealed in Christ and as He indwells them through His Holy Spirit. As Christian educators we recognize that all truth is God's truth. Students will learn that all God's creation is a further revelation of that truth, and that the truth revealed in the creation does not contradict the truth revealed in Scripture.
2. Biblical Integration. The entire Christian school curriculum is permeated with God's Word. Faith and learning are integrated in such a way as to develop a student who does not compartmentalize the spiritual side of life from the rest of life. It is through this kind of integration that your student will view the natural world of God's creation as well as human history and God's activity in it. Students will develop a godly perspective on humanity, the development of culture, and how they should live in the world. They will learn to deal with challenges of trying to live victoriously, often in difficult circumstances and with difficult people.
3. Christian Staff. The school's administrators, faculty, and staff are born-again Christians who not only know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior but model a Christ-like life in their living, teaching, and leading. They are not only competent in their academic fields, but they also reflect the wholeness of life. Students will see that their teachers' faith is essential to who they are. Their vision in teaching is that their students will acquire wisdom, knowledge, and a biblical worldview evidenced by a Christian lifestyle of character, leadership, service, stewardship, and worship.
4. Potential in Christ. The major objective of every learning experience - the goal - is to enable students to reach their full potential in Christ. That goal requires the Christian school to focus on each student's potential and strive to develop intellectual excellence through the academic disciplines and every planned curricular activity. Students will also be taught to understand their individual responsibility to society, including the importance of serving and encouraging others. In addition to emphasizing how to live in this world, the school will nurture an eternal view of life. The Christian school aims beyond the inward focus of serving self to the outward focus of a life that honors God now and will live and reign with Christ in eternity.
5. Organizational Practice. You can expect all the school's business and operational practices to be biblically based, giving a moral and ethical center to such matters of school governance as policy development and implementation. You can expect that in handling all necessary financial arrangements, the school will recognize your value as a constituent and as a member of the larger school family. You can expect clear and open communication from the school regarding your child(ren), classroom issues, school activities and events, and your own participation. No Christian school can be "all things to all people," but you can expect the highest integrity as the school communicates with you regarding how it can best serve your student(s).
If you haven't had the opportunity to read our statement of faith or our mission & vision statement, we encourage you to go to our website and review what we have written. We agree the expectations above are important to you and our school, but please remember that your ongoing prayer support will make a difference in the life of every student here at Calvary Academy. Your decision to send your child(ren) to a Christian school may very well be one of the most significant decisions you will make. We understand and know the sacrifice and commitment you have made and we appreciate you partnering with us and giving us the opportunity to shepherd your child's heart. May this school year be a year of academic success for every student and may they know how precious they are to us and to their Heavenly Father.
-Source: Ken Smitherman, President ACSI
