“Love your neighbor” opportunities happen every day in the hallways and classrooms and in the Quadrangle (the high school campus). Careful attention to daily relationships (teacher to student, student to student, and teacher to teacher) is important to set the service tone, but specific focus opportunities for service include fine arts and foreign language groups ministering in local churches, the annual paper drive for a local women’s shelter, field day, and the New York City mission trip. These activities provide opportunities for student leadership, develop student responsibility and initiative, and encourage cooperation and unity among students—all to the end of helping students learn to love God and serve others.
When students embrace God’s truth, they understand that life is about loving God and serving others. While this truth finds its foundation in a balanced Christian home and local church, it is important that our high school provides ministry opportunities for our students at this critical growth period in their lives.
“Love your neighbor” opportunities happen every day in the hallways and classrooms and in the Quadrangle (the high school campus). Careful attention to daily relationships (teacher to student, student to student, and teacher to teacher) is important to set the service tone, but specific focus opportunities for service include fine arts and foreign language groups ministering in local churches, the annual paper drive for a local women’s shelter, field day, and the New York City mission trip. These activities provide opportunities for student leadership, develop student responsibility and initiative, and encourage cooperation and unity among students—all to the end of helping students learn to love God and serve others. This school year students have enthusiastically participated in a wide variety of service opportunities such as food and paper drives, nursing home services, Christmas decorating, and card writing. The Academy mission trip to NYC is yet another opportunity for many of our oldest students to concentrate an entire week on serving others and sharing Christ with those who have never heard.
As children do things that make others happy, they learn that serving others is fun. As a student matures, they not only enjoy serving, but they catch a glimpse of the eternal significance it plays in the lives of those around them. As the summer months approach, we hope students will continue to find age-appropriate ways to serve others with the talents and abilities God has given them. There are many ministries and individuals that can use extra assistance during this time when people are focused on vacations rather than donations. Whether you participate in small acts of service or mission trips this summer, it is always fun to set your sights on someone who has a special need and then work together as a family to fill it. Much of what makes us Bob Jones Academy is based on what happens in the classroom, but school culture is purposely supported outside the classroom. High school trips have an academic focus and provide opportunities for social interaction, spiritual growth, and service.
Some trips may be connected to a specific class (touring the BMW plant or visiting a local TV station) or fine arts ministry-related (Christmas at the Biltmore House for the choir as well as church ministry for the orchestra and band). Trips are also generated for specific interest (American Association of Christian Schools Youth Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.; the Camp Spearhead Work Day; the Leadership Retreat). The class trip to The Wilds certainly is an important part of shaping a senior’s school year, as is the senior mission trip to New York City. Our interscholastic sports teams, the speech and debate team, and our mock trial team are involved in numerous trips. While the focus on competing against other schools is obvious, each trip involves life situations such as personal and corporate testimony, evangelism, budgeting food money, getting along with team members, and a host of other stretching lessons in faithfulness and perseverance. Competent teachers/sponsors guide the students in navigating situations, sharing in the victories and defeats—“equipping the saints” (Ephesians 4:12). Certainly, the opportunities for high school trips allow BJA to make progress in meeting the goals of our mission statement. 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. Children today are growing up in an electronic world full of distraction. While devices keep us informed and instantly connected with anyone from nearly anywhere, one of the unfortunate sides of an electronic age is the pull for families to be more connected to their devices than to each other. True “face time” is suffering in the society in which we live. Occasionally it is good for us to take a step back and watch ourselves for a day. Are car rides spent talking together or is everyone focused on their devices? What about dinner times? Is one hand texting while the other manages the silverware? No doubt, we have all been at a restaurant and witnessed a family around a table all individually captivated by their devices. A friend of mine who has several teenagers has a family rule that the first one who picks up a phone during a meal pays for the meal. Wow! I was very challenged by their dedication to family interaction over meals. It is those times—whether in a car, at a meal, or even around a table playing a board game—when strong, lasting relationships are built.
Multitasking has become a way of life; and amazingly enough, even children seem to be increasingly adept at it. However, studies have shown that a child’s ability to communicate significantly decreases when the child is consistently exposed to adults who perform other tasks or do not maintain eye contact while the child is speaking. Reading that information challenged me again to stop what I’m doing and listen when a student talks. I enjoy communicating with our elementary students; and when they talk, I need to give them my full attention. I have been challenged to recognize that a looming task can actually wait so I can encourage them to be good communicators and also show them that I care. Similarly, I’ve noted times when a student ends up deflated at a program or activity when the person who came to cheer on the student seems more attentive to a device than to the student. Setting down a device may be a simple act, but it reaps a significant benefit in the life of a child. None of these thoughts is new or profound; they are just areas I have been reminded of lately. How important it is to literally look up—to look up from our devices…and beyond that to look up for help from our loving Heavenly Father and make every day count with the wonderful children the Lord has entrusted to us. |
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