November 2022

IN THIS ISSUE: Thanksgiving Reflections Becky Callaway, Lower School Principal Ways to Keep Your Students Safe in an Online World Daniel Head, Middle School Principal The Value of the High School Experience Dan Knudsen, High School Prinicpal

Thanksgiving Reflections Becky Callaway, Lower School Principal

As the fall of the year has careened from September, through October, and into November, I find myself, as I do every year, especially reflective of the many things I have for which to be to be thankful. Salvation, family, friends, security, and creature comforts are always high on my Thanksgiving list. This year, though, I find myself particularly thankful for the blessing of being part of a school that has weathered, and continues to do so, what I am sure history will reveal to be one of the most turbulent eras in the life of American education. Daily, my inbox is flooded with articles lamenting the pitiful state of our country’s schools in the “Post-COVID” world. Educational leaders and policymakers across America frenetically grasp at straws to try to stem the tide of plummeting and unprecedented academic losses sustained due to the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. These declines can be quantitatively measured by standardized math and reading test scores over the past two years. According to data released from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), in September of this year, “A historic drop in math scores on the Nation’s Report Card delivers perhaps the starkest verdict yet on the pandemic’s ‘profound toll’ on learning. The latest math results for 4th- and 8th-graders show the largest-ever decline recorded by the influential Nation’s Report Card assessments.” (DA Weekend Roundup, Oct. 24) This same reporting mechanism shows that reading scores in these two sample grades have fallen to levels not recorded since 1992.

As schools throughout the nation try first one approach and then quickly move to another to arrest some dismally bleak academic trends, perpetrations of violence and disorder in schools are on the rise. According to the online news source, The Conversation, in an article published October 25, school shootings for 2022 currently total more than 250, already surpassing the total number for all of 2021. Many of these acts of violence are attributable to the residual effects of depression and frustration from which individuals suffer due to prolonged lockdowns and draconian mandates associated with lockdowns. How can teachers be expected to further students academically in an environment riddled with such chaos? The words of the Apostle Paul to his protégé, Timothy, come to mind: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4) Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, puts it this way: “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint.” (Proverbs 29:18)

As the world around us teeters on what often looks like the brink of implosion, by contrast, under the leadership of our school’s strong and steady senior administration and the tutelage of some of the most qualified and dedicated teachers in the profession, our students have continued to progress steadily since returning to in-person instruction in August of 2020. You, our parents, see it and agree that our forward progress has not stopped. One piece of data that helps to underscore that we are on solid ground is our most recent nationally norm-referenced test results from last spring’s Iowa Assessments. As usual, our students performed very well. The core composite scores for grades kindergarten through five range from the 71st percentile to the 93rd percentile. In short, this means that each grade level’s performance, on average, is better than 71-93 percent of all students, nationwide, who took the Iowa Assessments last year. In an ordinary year, these figures would be praiseworthy, and while they are, indeed, a good indicator of sustained growth, we have to remember that we are comparing ourselves to a nation that is ailing academically. That said, an even more impressive statistic is that each of our classes, as a whole, performed between .5 to 1.65 years above their assigned grade on each of the subtests in the assessment. This means that our students handled the testing materials as if they were .5 to 1.65 grades older or more advanced than their actual grade level and age.

The academic environment of our school is just one of many indicators that we are in good health. The expansion of our campus this past summer despite increasing economic inflation and our ability to attract great mission-fit families, gifted teachers, and hard-working support staff to our ranks further confirms God’s favor over the work that we do. He is overseeing and ordering our steps safely and securely in this turbulent world. My heart is filled with gratitude to our Lord for the way he has protected our school, our employees, our families, and our students as he has navigated us through the choppy waters of life these past two and a half years. I hope as your family gathers around your Thanksgiving table this season, that you, too, realize and lead your children to understand how incredibly blessed we are. Blessed, not only to be part of such a wonderful and resilient school, but to be citizens of this incredible country where freedom is still valued and protected, and most importantly to be citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven and living under the watchful eye and protective hand of the King of Kings.

Ways to Keep Your Students Safe in an Online World Daniel Head, Middle School Principal

As your students move into middle school, many new doors and opportunities come their way. The social aspect of life changes, and in the mind of your middle schooler, a phone becomes a necessity, which is quickly followed by the belief of a need for social media accounts. There are many good and practical reasons for students to start getting a phone when they get to middle school. A phone can help a parent know when to get their student from after-school practices and games. Rehearsals can run long, and students need to let their rides know the new time to get picked up. I am sure the list can go on and on. A cell phone can be a valuable tool for a family that is being pulled in many different directions by the busyness of life.

However, that same tool can also bring all sorts of new challenges and harm right into the palm of your middle school student’s hand and if not adequately monitored, can create severe issues for a student and his or her family. Today, there are about 4.66 billion active internet users, and trillions of online content can bring danger to an unsuspecting student. Some studies show that at least 50 percent of children have experienced cyberbullying, and on any given day, there are 500,000 predators online. Most, if not all, middle school students are not equipped at their age to identify and handle this amount of information and threats. One study shows that 53% of 11-16 year-olds have been exposed to explicit material online. Of these, 94% saw the content before the age of 14. Most of these surveyed saw the material by using their mobile phone.

Knowing all the dangers for our children when we put a phone in their hands, a parent might ask, "What can I do to help ensure my child remains safe while using this tool?". Fortunately, many companies offer products that help parents monitor what is happening on their child’s cell phone in real time. I don’t have the room or space to share each one with you, but I thought it would be helpful if I shared a few.

Qustodio Pricing: $54.95-$137.95 annually Compatibility: iOS/Android Qustodio checks all the boxes for what parents might want in a parental control app: content and app filters, device monitoring, screen time control, location tracking, call, and text monitoring, real-time alerts, and multiple device linking options. To put it simply, all your bases will be covered.   Google Family Link Pricing: Free Compatibility: iOS/Android Google Family Link is an excellent option for families looking for a cost-effective and minimalistic app. You’ll need to set your little one up with a Google account. This app offers the basics, like activity monitoring, app management, screen time limits (including the option to lock the device remotely), and location tracking. However, it doesn’t have some bells and whistles many other parental control apps do, like in-depth reporting, website blocking, and real-time monitoring. Also, it’s best for younger kids since control options become much more limited once a child reaches 13 years old, Google’s “age of consent” for individual accounts.  Bark Pricing: $5-$14/month Compatibility: iOS/Android Bark is one of the more well-known parental control apps, and for a good reason. It’s packed with features parents want to help keep their kids safe. This includes content monitoring (emails, texts, social media, and more), screen time control, content blocking, and location sharing and tracking. The app also shares real-time alerts for when your child may be in danger—whether that danger is from someone online or their activity suggests signs of depression or suicidal thoughts.  Life 360 Pricing: Free to $24.99/month Compatibility: iOS/Android Life360 is the best app for parents most concerned with tracking their child’s whereabouts. While it doesn’t offer any internet, call, text, or app monitoring, it keeps track of your child’s location, gives you alerts when they reach a specific location, and keeps an eye on your teen’s driving (and helps keep them safe in the event of a crash).

These are just a few parental control apps that are out right now. A quick Google search will give you a list of additional apps that can be used. Whether it is one of the apps listed above or something you find on your own, I encourage you to use something that helps monitor your middle school students’ cell phone use. This will help you as a parent know that your student is using this powerful tool wisely.

The Value of the High School Experience Dan Knudsen, High School Principal

Thank you for the warm welcome so many of you have given me after I joined the leadership team in June as high school principal. It has reinforced the certainty my wife, Paige, and I had that this was the Lord’s next assignment for me. While you can read my bio online, I thought I’d take this time to share a little of my heart. The first time I spoke to the high school students in August, I told them three things I wish for them during these very formative four years: That they would enjoy these years very much. That they would take advantage to get a great education. That they would leave here with a passion for Jesus and a desire to love and follow Him.

Enjoy High School I loved my high school experience and have many wonderful memories from that time. These can be friendships that last a lifetime. For many of us, it was very difficult to keep up with high school friends after graduation. Nowadays, students have everything on their phones to keep up with friends so they can continue these friendships for many years after leaving our school.

Take Advantage of a Great Education Prince offers students many ways to get a great education. Whether or not you are an academic “high-flyer” or one that must work hard for every grade you get, our school is a place students can get either challenged or supported, whichever is needed. We have many levels of academic challenges from which to choose. From honors, AP, and dual-enrollment courses to an educational learning center that offers tutoring for those who need a little extra help. We desire that students challenge themselves academically and take advantage of the dual-enrollment courses we offer on campus, during the school day, for college credit. Parents, one significant way to assist your students with their schoolwork is by helping them manage their time when it comes to three areas: screens, study, and sleep. The right balance of these will go a long way in your student's academic success.

Personal Discipleship Lastly, I want to see students graduate with a desire to walk with Jesus. While that may look differently for each one, we can plant and nurture seeds of faith during these years that will bear fruit now and for decades to come. Our part in this is weaving faith into the lessons and fabric of the school day, Bible classes, retreats, and the discipleship relationships the adults here have with students. Parents, you can help by modeling a strong walk with the Lord, letting your students see you spend time alone with the Lord on a regular basis, and making consistent church attendance an important part of your family’s schedule. I look forward to partnering with you for years to come and invite you to let me know how I can serve you and your family.

Prince Avenue Christian School's mission is to partner with Christian families to provide scripturally based discipleship while pursuing excellence in academics, fine arts, and athletics from a biblical worldview.