We are just on the verge of re-enrollment for the 2015-16 school year. It is both an exciting and anxious time for us. Exciting because we know this will bring many new families into our school community. Anxious because re-enrollment numbers are the clearest indication of parent/student satisfaction regarding what we are offering here. There are always factors that can negatively affect re-enrollment, some out of our control. The local economy, the affect of charter schools or free public school kindergarten programs, loss of jobs are examples of things that we have no control over. Then there are things we do control, such as tuition increases which occur every year so that we may keep giving our staff at least a cost of living increase and continue to grow, expand and improve our school. I know that parents have to weigh out the affordability of Christian education. So as you weigh that out at this time of year, let me share some things about ACS you can factor into your decision.
1) We were recently chosen as the Number One ranked private Christian school in Alamance County by Niche.com. We don't take that lightly. Factors like growth, academic achievement, parent/student satisfaction all were considered in this ranking.
2) We are one of the fastest growing Christian schools in North Carolina. We have seen a 43% increase in enrollment at ACS over the last three years and we expect more growth next year. We presently have waiting lists in our pre-school, lower school and upper school classes. We are bringing modular buildings on our campus next year to provide for continued growth until we can move into a building program. Good things are happening here and people want to be part of it. This is a God thing. We have great staff and great families but none of this happens without the direct movement of God.
Consider this....We are an independent school with no church supporting us financially, providing buildings and buses, paying utilities. We are almost completely a tuition driven school. We have no major benefactors or donors. Yet, we still have an annual tuition which is no higher than mid range among NCCSA schools in our state. Understand, I know the sacrifices our families are making to have their children here, but there is no doubt about the value of the education they are receiving.
3) Despite the fact that we are existing in a world culture that is trying to push us to compromise on the Word of God, ACS remains steadfastly committed to the commandments of the Scripture and the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith. Our message of truth has not changed one iota since the school's founding in 1969. The board of governors and the administration is firmly committed to never wavering on the schools mission and statement of faith.
So, as you weigh your re-enrollment decisions in the next few days, consider what God is doing here and ask yourself if this is the kind of place you can trust your children to be loved, protected, taught, mentored and prepared to impact this world for Jesus Christ. If the answer is yes, then why would you even question whether or not to re-enroll? Where God leads, God provides!
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Monday, January 5, 2015
I Highly Resolve
There is something very wonderful about the beginning of a new year. It's like a chance to wipe the slate and start fresh and clean! Very few people look at the beginning of a new year lightly and we have all made those "resolutions" to lose that holiday 5 or 10 pounds, start exercising more, be more organized or read the Bible daily. There is a reason why, beginning the day after Christmas, our televisions are deluged with health club, exercise equipment and diet plan commercials. How many of us have made a closet out of an unplugged treadmill or are still paying that monthly fee to a fitness club that we haven't been to since LAST January? So, is it wrong to make resolutions? Actually, not at all. In fact, resolutions are like goals, so let's talk about goal setting. Here are a couple of suggestions:
1) We SHOULD set goals. I have heard it said, and I concur, that nothing of any true significance is ever accomplished without goal setting. We are not going to lose that weight, become more fit, read our Bibles more, etc. without setting a goal of some type to shoot for. My old coach used to say if you aim at nothing you'll hit it every time. So, make resolutions, set goals, have a target.
2) Set goals that challenge you and make you work hard. Our goals need to be high enough that they cause us to put forth maximum effort. There is something very rewarding about setting a high goal, working at it and seeing it accomplished. And it is a proven that success breeds success. I will confess that I gained a few pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hey, don't judge me! :-) There was far too much fudge, pie and cake thrown in my face for 30 days, and to misquote Will Rogers, I never met a dessert I didn't like! So, I need to lose that weight. But to set a goal of losing a pound a month would not be a challenging goal for me because I could do that without a lot of effort. We need to recognize what challenges us to work hard and make that our standard for goal setting.
3) Conversely, set reachable goals. I had a young man who played basketball for me early in my coaching career who was just a wonderful kid. He's a great high school basketball coach today. He told me once that he had a personal goal of dunking with two hands. Well, he was white, 5-4, slightly pudgy and had the vertical jump of a rhino! I thought he'd have been better off to set a goal of touching the bottom of the net someday. He worked hard at it but soon realized he had set his aim just a bit to high, pun intended. Goals need to be reachable.
4) Finally, once you reach your goal, reload! Continue finding areas where you can set personal, professional, physical goals and work toward them. Never get to a point where you can jut sit back and tell yourself, "I've arrived and I don't need to improve anymore." Make your long range goal to be ever learning, ever growing, ever expanding your horizons and then fit smaller goals into that long range plan. Don't misunderstand me. I don't mean we can't take time to enjoy our accomplishments, because we should. But continue to search for ways to advance, improve and become the best you can be for you, your family, your career, and in your faith.
Happy New Year to you all and best of luck with those resolutions this year!
1) We SHOULD set goals. I have heard it said, and I concur, that nothing of any true significance is ever accomplished without goal setting. We are not going to lose that weight, become more fit, read our Bibles more, etc. without setting a goal of some type to shoot for. My old coach used to say if you aim at nothing you'll hit it every time. So, make resolutions, set goals, have a target.
2) Set goals that challenge you and make you work hard. Our goals need to be high enough that they cause us to put forth maximum effort. There is something very rewarding about setting a high goal, working at it and seeing it accomplished. And it is a proven that success breeds success. I will confess that I gained a few pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hey, don't judge me! :-) There was far too much fudge, pie and cake thrown in my face for 30 days, and to misquote Will Rogers, I never met a dessert I didn't like! So, I need to lose that weight. But to set a goal of losing a pound a month would not be a challenging goal for me because I could do that without a lot of effort. We need to recognize what challenges us to work hard and make that our standard for goal setting.
3) Conversely, set reachable goals. I had a young man who played basketball for me early in my coaching career who was just a wonderful kid. He's a great high school basketball coach today. He told me once that he had a personal goal of dunking with two hands. Well, he was white, 5-4, slightly pudgy and had the vertical jump of a rhino! I thought he'd have been better off to set a goal of touching the bottom of the net someday. He worked hard at it but soon realized he had set his aim just a bit to high, pun intended. Goals need to be reachable.
4) Finally, once you reach your goal, reload! Continue finding areas where you can set personal, professional, physical goals and work toward them. Never get to a point where you can jut sit back and tell yourself, "I've arrived and I don't need to improve anymore." Make your long range goal to be ever learning, ever growing, ever expanding your horizons and then fit smaller goals into that long range plan. Don't misunderstand me. I don't mean we can't take time to enjoy our accomplishments, because we should. But continue to search for ways to advance, improve and become the best you can be for you, your family, your career, and in your faith.
Happy New Year to you all and best of luck with those resolutions this year!
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