Warrior News

Dear Warrior Nation,

As a parent of a student at a Christian school, you have been asked at some point, “Why do you have your student(s) in a Christian school?”  Fair question, as a public school education doesn’t cost you extra.  What should you expect, as a parent, from your Christian school?  Should it be a positive learning environment?  Should I expect academic rigor? At RCS, we are committed to providing a rigorous academic environment that challenges and nurtures each student. Will it be perfect?  Is every student there a Christian?  I get these questions and more during every tour I give.  The ultimate question I will address over the next few weeks is, “Why RCS”?

Before we tackle what makes up the Warrior experience, let’s address what we are not.  First, we are not a school for kids who were removed from public or other schools for poor behavior or other reasons.  In fact, when new student files are brought to my desk, the first place I look is at their behavior, discipline, academics, and attendance.  If, after consulting with the division principal, we feel that the prospective student will not be a positive contributor to the school community or if the student has significant concerns in the areas mentioned above that may put our students at risk, we will not move forward with an interview.  Like all schools (public and private, as well as home schools), we do not have perfect students.  If you search for that perfect school, you won’t find one this side of heaven.  We have many great kids, each with flaws, shortcomings, and challenges, just like every one of us.  But, we have been blessed to minister to them in their time with us.  Like us adults, they have good days and bad days and will, like us adults, fall short of God’s glory.  Our job is to partner with you as parents to support, encourage, and even discipline, when necessary, based on the Word of God.  So, join me over the next few weeks as we unpack the first part of our “Why RCS?” series, breaking down our Expected Student Outcomes.  Stay tuned for more!

Carline is starting to hit a groove, and the process is becoming more streamlined.  I would continue to ask for your patience, especially in the afternoon, as more cars are coming through the back carline than last year.  The leadership team continues looking into making the process even more efficient.

Here are some upcoming events to keep in prayer for the school:

• 12-14 September - The school leadership will meet with Jack Farmer, Superintendent of Berean Baptist Academy in Fayetteville, NC, as we map out the strategic plan for the next five years.
• 16-20 September - Spiritual Emphasis Week – a week of drawing close to God for grades K-12
• 25 September - See You At The Pole – plan to join us for this national prayer event.  

Thank you all for your partnership and for a great first two weeks of school!  We can’t do it without you!

All 4 Him!

Bill Sharp, M.Ed.
Head of School
 

Dear Warrior Nation,

Change can be challenging – “new” can be equally tricky.  A new job, town, and school can bring uncertainty and anxiety.  When “new” seems overwhelming, adjusting and settling in takes time.  During that time, we can trust the One who is the Prince of Peace, The Sovereign King of Kings, who will give us the peace, strength, and even joy to walk through each circumstance.  In Isaiah 26:3, the prophet says of the Lord, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”  If your students are struggling in the transition, help them by encouraging them to speak these scriptures over themselves.  Written in a language as a prayer, they can pray over themselves:

• John 14:27 – “Jesus has given me his perfect peace. My heart won’t be troubled, and I won’t be afraid.”
• John 16:33 – “Even though the world has trials, Jesus has overcome all of the trials of this world.”

God's peace is available to everyone through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you have questions about that? Let’s chat.

Warrior Welcome was a big hit again this year, with a large community turnout for this annual kickoff event.  The bounce houses and face painting provided fun for the younger students, and the Spirit Store was the hot-ticket item of the day!  Thank you to the parents and student volunteers who helped make this a great event and allowed us to start the year joyfully!

Although this is only the first week, we are seeing great strides in the carline process. Thank you all for following the safety team's directions. Please make every effort to drop off your students by 7:55 at the latest to give them plenty of time to get to their classrooms, drop off their coats and bags, and be ready to start their day at 8:00.

Speaking of starting -To those using before and after care, thank you so much for your flexibility at the start of the year.  With the installation of the new keyless entry system across the campus, we have had to make adjustments to our protocols to get the work done while maintaining safety as our priority.  Once the new camera and doorbell are installed on the new gate, we will share the new official protocol for drop off and pick up for extended care.

Speaking of new, there are lots of “new” around the campus (besides new students and families): middle school windows, a roof on the high school, carpet in several rooms, and some new teachers - nine in fact! God has blessed us with some great staff additions, and we are excited to already see how God is using them in ministry. The new keyless entry system, which is being installed campus-wide, will be completed soon. More to come on that later.

Please continue praying for our staff, school, and community.  It has been a great start to the school year, so let’s continue the momentum for what God has planned for Warrior Nation this year.  Also, be sure to read newsletters sent by our principals carefully.  They work hard to manage each division and inform you of its events.

All 4 Him!

Bill Sharp, M.Ed.
Head of School