Class status: Thursday, January 27th
January 26th, 2011Our network has been repaired and classes will be held as scheduled on Thursday, January 27th. If you have any questions please email me or call the school office.
Our network has been repaired and classes will be held as scheduled on Thursday, January 27th. If you have any questions please email me or call the school office.
Please remember the upcoming field trip to Pier 39, Thursday, November 11th. Each of you should have received a consent form from the school office. This form was sent home with your student. If you have not, please contact the school office and Mrs. Smith will provide you with one. Please make sure that the consent form and the $12 fee is returned by Wednesday, November 10th. There will be no classes on this date; therefore, if your teen does not attend the field trip please have them work at home. If you need more information; or if you would like to attend as a driver/chaperone; speak with Mrs. Zamacona or Mr. Abshire.
Life is full of challenges, and even more so for teenagers. In my thirty years experience working with teens, I have seen some of the finest young people make mistakes. It is important here that we understand, and expect, that they will make them. Mistakes are a part of the maturing and learning processes of life, so when they come we must be prepared to help, and ready to forgive. So, what do you do as a parent when your teen makes a mistake?
FIRST, purpose to forgive them before the mistake is made. This is a lesson clearly taught in scriptures: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you (Eph 4:32). If God, in His wisdom and mercy, can forgive us for the sin in our lives, then certainly we can learn to forgive our children for the mistakes they make; regardless of the magnitude.
SECOND, forgiveness does not remove consequences. While I believe it is imperative that we forgive, we must not alleviate the consequences for the mistake. The most lasting and important lessons we learn in life come from facing the consequences for our actions. I tell the teens I have mentored, “I expect that you will make mistakes; however, I also expect that you will have to pay for them.” Don’t forget, God’s mercy did not remove His demand for justice. The consequences of my sin were paid for by Christ on the cross. Be compassionate, but make sure they face the consequences for their mistakes.
THIRD, be a help in building them back up. It has been my experience that teens will hurt more for what they have done to their parents than what they face as a consequence. Make sure that you reinforce your love and forgiveness to them. Help them get back up and keep pushing forward. Let them know that the trust that has been broken can be repaired in time. Give them hope that they will be able to restore this trust and confidence you had in them. Don’t leave them with a feeling of hopelessness, as this will drive them deeper into despair and ultimate rebellion.
I count it a privilege to work with your teens, and if I can be of any help please do not hesitate to call upon me. I leave you with the words of our Saviour:
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:36
Our server has been repaired and is up and running; therefore, classes will resume on Thursday, March 25th at 8:30 a.m. We do apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Due to problems with our SOS Server, classes will not be conducted on Wednesday, March 24th. Students are not required to attend classes and may work from home on their laptops via the Student DL application. Students will not be charged with an absence during this time. This problem is being actively pursued, and we expect the server to be back up very soon.
The first semester came to an end with a bang!
We had a great close to the first semester with two very successful fundraising events. First, the Young Artist’s Auction was a great success. Our student artists brought in just over $1,200 for our school. Please remember to visit the Art Sonia website to view the student’s work and to purchase items for yourself, your family, or friends. Then, the Christmas program brought in another $1,100 for our school through ticket sales to family and friends. I want to express my most heartfelt thanks to all of you for your participation in these events. Lastly, the first semester went out with our Crusader’s Basketball team winning a total of 4 regular season games; 3 in a row at the end of the season. We won one additional game in the Tournament and finished the season tied for 3rd place overall!
Now, we turn our attention to the second semester. This launches an entire new set of important events for you to remember. Girl’s Volleyball kicks off with a home game on Friday, January 29th at 6:30pm. Please make plans to be in attendance for this game. As usual, there is no charge for admittance to our athletic events. February will bring our annual Rock-A-Thon, scheduled for Friday, February 19th. This is a very important fundraiser specifically for our athletic programs. March will bring our annual Science Fair and the open house event on Friday, March 26th at 7pm. April brings the annual WCBC Youth Conference, scheduled for April 7th through 8th, in Lancaster, California. May is packed with activities: Human Race event on Saturday, May 8th; 12th Annual Sports Banquet on Monday, May 10th; Friday, May 21st is our annual school-wide field trip (location TBA); Academics Awards presentations on Wednesday, May 26th at 9am; Kindergarten Graduation on Thursday, May 27th at 7pm; Last day of school on Friday, May 28th at noon, and High School Graduation on Friday, May 28th at 7pm.
Lastly, 1st Semester report cards will be sent home on Friday, January 22nd. If you do not receive your student’s report card (either by email or in print) contact me right away.
The first quarter is coming to a close on October 23rd, and I am very pleased with the progress of all the students in the Upper Learning Center.
October will conclude with a very busy schedule for our students and student athletes. The Crusader Basketball team will host a game this Friday, October 23rd at 6 p.m. This is followed by three road games over a nine day period: Monday, October 26th in Fairfield; Thursday, October 29th in Antioch; and Monday, November 2nd in Napa. In addition to this, we are conducting rehearsals for our annual Christmas Drama three days per week. This is a taxing time, and it is very important that the students remain focused on their assignments and avoid falling behind. You can help me by holding them responsible to you for their daily work. If you need help using the parent module on your student’s laptop please stop by and I will instruct you in its usage.
Please make sure to keep your scheduled parent conference appointment. If you have not received your appointment please contact the school office right away and speak with Mrs. Smith.
Thank you for your support.
Yes, it’s that time once again. Time for us to pack up and head into the redwood forests of Mt. Gilead. Following is information regarding this event:
This retreat is a very important time in our school year. It provides us with the opportunity to get to know one another, and more important, to draw stronger in our personal walk with God. The days will be filled with challenging activities and messages; the teens will enjoy the atmosphere and the aura of the majestic redwood forest. Our theme this year is: “Find Us Faithful” taken from 1 Corinthian 4:2. Each student will be challenged to live their lives faithful to: parents, family, school, friends, country, etc.
Please do not underestimate the importance of this retreat; it will have a long reaching impact on the character of your teen. Students who have graduated and go on often speak to me of the fond memories they have of their days at Mt. Gilead.
If you have any questions please contact me directly.
That’s right parents and teens! It is nearly time for another school year to start! Only twenty-seven more days until we begin another year of classes!
We have three new students in our classroom this year: Lynea, Ryan, and Serif. I trust that all of you “old hands” will make them feel welcome in our class.
We will hit the ground running this year. Basketball training will begin immediately following the start of school and Christmas program rehearsals will begin right after our annual retreat to Mt. Gilead. It will be a “fast” start into the school year, and I am looking forward to a great year!
Please make plans to attend the Parent Orientation scheduled for Friday, August 21st. We will meet and discuss the changes for the coming year. You will not want to miss this important meeting. If you have any questions please be sure and contact me directly. I am looking forward, with great anticipation, to the start of the new year!
Spring is here once again, and with spring come our annual Fine Arts Competitions. We began these competitions twelve years ago, with the only category of competition being art. Now, we offer competitions in a variety of areas: Music (including singing and instruments), Art (painting, drawing, lettering, etc.), Academics (English, Math, History, Spelling, and Bible), Strategies (Chess and Scrabble), Culinary Arts (Entrees and desserts), and Photography. Please encourage your child to use the talents God has given them and to enter these competitions. Parents are invited, and encouraged, to come and see your student compete. More information will be forthcoming.