The Markham Center renovation is nearly complete. For those who are new to BJA, the Markham Center is the high school “snack shop,” which is used by our students as a place for enjoying food, fellowship, and studying. I hope you all will make a point of stopping by this year to see the transformation.
With great anticipation, we look forward to the start of BJA’s 90th year in just two-and-a-half weeks! We look forward to getting to know our new families and trust that the Lord will unite our hearts together as we partner in the education of your children. Overall, our enrollment total has increased about 55 students, and we give a special welcome to over 150 new BJA students—for whom we praise the Lord!
The Markham Center renovation is nearly complete. For those who are new to BJA, the Markham Center is the high school “snack shop,” which is used by our students as a place for enjoying food, fellowship, and studying. I hope you all will make a point of stopping by this year to see the transformation.
Most important, we look forward to what God has in store for us this year as we seek to know Him better, to look to His Word for direction, and to challenge our students to follow Him faithfully. Please pray that God will teach us in the classrooms, in the hallways, and on the ball fields.
The spiritual “Ain’t That Good News!” is ringing in my head. And while the greatest news is that Jesus is coming and will clothe us in robes of righteousness purchased with His blood, we have plenty of good news to report to you. Let me share some exciting things that God has been doing here at Bob Jones Academy. BJA Is Accredited! Bob Jones Academy is now accredited by SCACS and by AACS! Our administration, faculty, and staff have invested a lot of energy in this and are to be congratulated. The final report contained many commendations and some recommendations. We have already begun to address the recommendations and incorporate them in a school improvement plan that will position us for application for regional accreditation in the spring of 2016. Good Enrollment Numbers and New Teachers We are encouraged that fall enrollment has been trending above our projections at each school level. Early elementary enrollment has been so good that we have hired additional K4 and 1st-grade teachers. Please pray that the Lord will continue to bring good families our way. The Lord has provided some wonderful teachers for this year for the CDC and for the elementary and high school. Let me encourage you to check out our BJA Facebook page to see who they are and learn a little about them. We will continue to post bios and pictures of new team members over the next few days. You may want to consider encouraging them with a welcome comment. And if you haven’t “liked” our Facebook page, be sure to do so. Let's reach 1000 “likes”! Standardized Test Scores The SAT10 scores are in, and once again, students have performed marvelously. This is a credit to the excellence of our teachers, the diligence of our students, the support of their parents, and the grace of God. Here are the complete battery national group percentile scores for each of the grades that we test. Congratulations to all for such high scores!
Because the accreditation team’s three-day review of BJA was unusual due to wintry weather and school closure on Thursday, their schedule was intensified for the first two days with full days of interviews, observations, and review. On Thursday morning they finished their initial written report and in the afternoon met as planned for an exit conference with BJA’s administrative team.
During the exit conference the accreditation team members spoke about the different pre-assigned topics they had focused on during the visit. Each was very complimentary about BJA, and several gave specific examples. For example, one fifth-grader told them, “The teachers not only teach us all about the subjects but show us God’s hand in them as well.” The team said that it was evident to them that the BJA teachers don’t simply know the mission statement, they live it. The team thoroughly enjoyed their classroom observations, and the team member who looked at technology noted that the teachers’ use of technology was natural, seamless, and effective. They complimented the significant work on the academic manual (philosophy, scope and sequence, and core competency objectives) and recommended the completion of the project before the next accreditation visit in five years. Though the academic manual was not complete, it was far more extensive and closer to completion than was required or anticipated for this year’s visit. Once the team completes its final written report, it will make its formal recommendation to the accreditation board for the accreditation of Bob Jones Academy. What’s next? When we receive the official report (including the team’s recommendations), we will incorporate those recommendations into our school improvement plan. Once that school improvement plan has been in operation for six to nine months, we will make application to Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools – Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) for regional accreditation next spring. The MSA-CESS accreditation will not require an additional site visit. Instead, the commission relies on the recommendation of the SCACS review team, their final report, and progress on the school improvement plan. It is very reasonable to anticipate that we will have regional accreditation by the end of next school year (2015-2016). I am so grateful to each of our teachers, staff members, and administrators who have worked through the self-study and improvement program to provide a strong educational program for our students. Please pray for us as we continue the process of school improvement for the glory of God and the benefit of our students and families. This is not the end, but it is a significant milestone on the path. In addition, please pray for the head of the accreditation review team that was here last week, Mr. Edward Earwood, who was hospitalized earlier this week and is currently in ICU. Mr. Earwood is also executive director of SCACS and has done much for the cause of Christian education in our state. Please pray earnestly that the Lord will restore him to full health. Bob Jones Academy exists to assist like-minded Christian parents in challenging students to love Jesus Christ, to embrace God’s truth, to exercise integrity, to pursue excellence, and to serve others. |
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