August, 2016

Dear Parents of Middle School Students, 

Another school year is coming and we are not only ready but excited for all this year will hold! Part of the excitement of a new year is the fresh start, the new beginning that it brings. But, what is most exciting is the anticipation of what God plans to do. He will work and move in ways He never has before and we humbly pray ... "bring it on Lord"! As we continually seek and surrender, we also pray that this year, and all we do, brings Him the glory for He is worthy of it all! 

"Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, 

because of your unfailing love and faithfulness." Psalms 115:1

The middle school team of faculty, staff, and administration enters into this year with much prayer and great preparation. We are committed to providing an education that is exemplary and meets the needs of all students. We are committed to nurturing a Christ-honoring environment in which our students thrive. And, we are committed to building community and, let's not forget, HAVING FUN! Across all areas-spiritual, social, academic, and emotional-we want our students to be challenged, inspired, and connected. We also desire that our students will love learning, feel safe taking responsible risks, and embrace opportunities to be creative and innovative. Our greatest desire however, is that every student will grow in their understanding of who God is and in confidence in who they are as His unique, amazing, gifted, and beautiful sons and daughters!

We look forward to this new year with much excitement. Last year, God brought several new members into the middle school team. We are thrilled that this year, the entire team is back together again! With a stellar team in place, we are poised to make great strides and provide new opportunities across all areas. A few exciting highlights for the year include: 

• Math: Enhanced math pathways across all three grade levels (new to 7th grade this year) as well as an advanced math pathway to support Algebra II.

• English Language Arts: Through placement criteria and assessments implemented at the end of last year, we will launch an 8th grade Honors English pilot course with the intention of expansion into 7th grade next school year.

• Spanish: Expansion of online Spanish offerings to 8th grade (7th grade piloted last year).

• Electives: Exciting new options including Woodworking, Journalism to create a school newspaper, and advanced courses in Photography, Technical Arts, and Programming as well as the return of previous favorites including Worship and Surfing.

• Bible/Spiritual Formation: Introduction of a new Bible journal for all middle school students as well as a Bible reading and devotional plan for all homerooms.

• Service: A continued global partnership with Gulu, Uganda as well as an expansion of opportunities for students to participate in local outreach activities throughout the year.

• Homeroom: Expanded homeroom time every morning to allow for greater community building and bonding.

• All Academics: The implementation of Illuminate, an assessment platform to monitor student progress and support data-driven instruction, and benchmark assessments across all subject areas.

These highlights are only the beginning of what this year will hold for the entire middle school community. With so much to look forward to, we know that your contribution and our partnership are vital to a great year! We are excited to be in this with you! In partnership, we ask for your continual prayers and support as, together, we proclaim, "God be glorified in all we do and say and to Him alone be all the glory!"

In Him,

Heather Harrison
Middle School Principal