Cultivating School Spirit
Dear Mark.
I am amazed at how few parents come out for some events but I think there is much desire to learn how to parent; learn about the heart of a child, etc.
As I develop the idea further I would sure appreciate your input into your material that you would recommend, and if possible ask you to come and do an evening seminar if it fits in with your schedule.
All this said, please pray for us as God brings us to remembrance.
Thanks for praying!
A new Administrator
Dear Administrator:
God is good. Here is my counsel, as limited as it is: Shepherd your teachers and parents, and students. They don't need an administrator, they need a shepherd. Peter taught that the way to knowledge is virtue: add to your faith, virtue, and to virtue, knowledge…the goal is love.
I would love to help in any way that I can. Let me know what dates you are considering. You must read Education of a Child by Fenelon; How Children Fail by Holt; In the elementary grades, remove all fear…replace with hope and encouragement, without sacrificing healthy competition and rewards for hard work. In the higher grades, focus on virtue and celebrating individual gifts and abilities. Make sure the students and teachers know that success is failure upon failure with great enthusiasm! (T. Roosevelt)
Lastly, we live in a day when parents need counsel and direction. Our Lamplighter books are having a great impact upon families. They also need access to redeeming books like How to Act Right When your Spouse Acts Wrong and especially the book, Families Where Grace is In Place. This of course will all take time, but this appears to be your highest calling. Father's discipleship classes should include books like Raising a Modern Day Knight, Four Pillars of a Man's Heart, King Me by Farrar.
Student spirit is important. Give the students things to look forward to, where they participate in making their communities better, and leave a witness for Christ. Balloon day for elementary is always fun: have each grade make their own Bible tract and then place inside of a balloon. Then rent helium and fill all the balloons; have the senior high students help do all of this. Then have the student body go outside with their balloons and release them all at once after prayer, that the balloons will reach and reap a harvest for the Lord. You can also have more than a tract, possible a quote from Proverbs, or a favorite Bible verse etc.. I would recommend having an email address or physical address so those who find them can write the school. We received one from Virginia !
Western Day is a good one…An elementary student has a shoot out with Big Black Bart (a big high school student full of drama). The elementary students learn to protect the young girls because chivalry is not dead…teach boys at an early age especially in a school setting that they need to love and protect girls, because they might indeed be protecting their future wife. Cultivate a change of thinking among young boys so that the idea that “girls are yuk” etc, changes and is redeemed. I witnessed this happen among our students.
Language Arts, Science Fairs---enable students to be successful. Keep photos and records of winning entries from years past so that students can see what makes a winning entry. Enlist the parents help so that they work together. It is alright if the parents do a lot of the work…the students are still learning. Oh, so much to talk about….pray,, God will give you guidance and wisdom. I would love to help. Let me know when and how.
Excited for you,
Mark
