Principals Message December

I have been neglectful of communicating this semester. I shoulder the blame and ask forgiveness as time seems to slip away. God has blessed us in many ways this year. Wonderful students and parents, great opportunities, and a generally smoothly operating school.Below I have listed some important news to be shared:

The Jaime Jorge fundraiser was a success. Between cash and pledges $17,500 was raised. There are many worker elves who helped make this happen, they know who they are and I wish to thank them.

The elementary book sale was a success with the dollars raised going to support our elementary library.

The 2010 Iowa Test results are in. Our students have done extremely well across the board. In all grades tested, english language profiency, when measured as a class average, are well above the national norm. In most cases it is above the 70th percentile. Sciences, social studies, and use of materials are also well above the national average. Math has been the lagger in the past but even that has shown improvement. Math in general is above the national norm (although not as dramatic). All math areas have shown improvement with general computation as a challenge . We are working on that.

As we look forward to second semester, things like music festivals and tours, mission trips, sports activities appear on the calendar. These events and many others will be both eventful and exciting.

New School Year - Old Ideas

I just recently had the opportunity to read the school bulletin for South Lancaster Academy for the 1934 - 35 school year. It is interesting that many items in the bulletin are similar to what our current school bulletin says, just seventy five years removed. Required attendance, classes, grading policies, and discipline are a few that are very similar.

Work was required and the classes were set up accordingly to facilitate work. Wake up in the dorm was no later than 6:00 AM with classes promptly starting at 6:45 AM. Morning and evening chapels were mandatory for all students. This is not very different from boarding academy's operating now adays.

Some things are different however. Take for example the questionable activities. Naturally the prohibiting of not partaking of movies, card playing, tobacco use, and alcohol would be expected and were listed. The two that caught my attention were sleigh riding and frivolous parties. Sleigh riding? Not a worthy activity? I could see it if it were in the company of another relating to the fairer sex, but it did not stipulate that. Sleigh riding. Now adays that would be a worthy activity as it is not common.

I was once privy to a conversation by some older alumni who were discussing their treatment while living in the dorms (back when the academy was a boarding school affiliated with AUC). As I casually listened in while busy with something else, the discussion drifted to how they were treated and the bitterness they felt towards how they were treated. One example, apparently one warm Sabbath afternoon there was a hiking activity up one of the local mountains (this is still a common activity). The story teller related how a young lady went to this activity in something other than a Sabbath dress. She was reprimanded by the ladies dean who warned her that by her actions her salvation was in question. We have certainly come a long way from this "not so good ole day".

As I look back and forward at my point in life, I thank God for insight into the motivations behind different traditions within Adventist education. And my prayer to God is that we as an institution continue on a "reasonable course".