In January our preschool director Eileen Cunsolo and I attended the first ever Global Christian School Leadership Summit in Orlando, Florida. Eight different Christian School organizations from across the world worked together to make this summit happen. It was tremendously encouraging to be affirmed not only in the fact that we are a Christian school surviving in New England, but also in our innovative approach to educating children!
We think that we were two of only four individuals who represented New England out of over 800 attendees. Only ten years ago we enjoyed the fellowship and collaboration of many educators from many Christian schools in our immediate area. Sadly, almost all have closed their doors and this seems to be a growing trend in America. Very few have recovered from the economy crash in 2007 and about 1/3 of the Christian school population is now homeschooling, largely due to finances! Our own population still hovers at about 110-115 and it may be a challenge to return to the student population of 158 we had prior to 2007.
That being said, we are not discouraged, but determined to do God’s school God’s way. Every year we continue to graduate students who go on to excel in their high schools and colleges and now we are enrolling the children of those students! What a blessing! We witness their spiritual formation as they grow and mature through the years. Our students are trained and encouraged to be big picture thinkers, ask hard questions, and examine their own hearts before the Lord. In most cases they go on to be witnesses in a dark world, truly shining the light of Christ to peers who have never heard.
There is also a palpable momentum on the School Committee. The members are stepping up to serve wholeheartedly on sub-committees and fundraisers. They are giving financially as are all the staff and our dedicated families. HCA is still a good, strong choice for Christian families and we desire it to be so for generations to come.
Specific grants have played a major role in our success. We have been able to offer a top notch fine arts program for years that has inspired our students to take risks, think creatively, appreciate the arts, and be at ease in front of a group (no small accomplishment!). We continue to hear from alumni how this training has helped them in high school and college. We were able to construct a fabulous Nature Explore Classroom and become nationally certified. We were able to build our beloved garden and outdoor classroom with funds from grants and lots of donated labor.
Grants have also helped with our marketing, development, and advertising campaigns. These are all areas where we are getting some traction and the School Committee is determined to expand our efforts. We realized that if we had 145 students instead of 110, we wouldn’t have to keep raising tuition at the rate we are and we could increase salaries, which still remain at about 50% -60% of public school teachers. We need to attract new students and this is hard work. To that end, we recently received an anonymous donation which will enable us to upgrade our website using a local company that specializes in marketing.
Last week WVNE (760am) came and recorded a group of teachers, students, alumnae, administrators, and parents discuss many aspects of HCA. They are featuring Christian school education this spring and we will be one of the featured schools. Let us know if you hear us on the radio!
We thank you all for jumping into the Read-a-thon whole-heartedly. We have all noticed a big boost in student enthusiasm for reading and for books. Third grader Matthew read 127 books during the Read-a-thon! We hear them all talking about books, trading books, and reading every chance they get. In the day and age of decreased attention spans and focusing ability, it blesses me to walk by class after class of students absorbed in their books for ½ hour at a time. So far you all have turned in $17,503 with another $1,438 pledged but not received so far. Once all the pledges are received the total will be $18,941! That is a record for the Read-a-thon!! Bravo, Hazzah! I would say we are on a roll. That being said, please mark your calendars for the following events:
March 21 7:00pm We will have a speaker in the library to discuss, Prevention of Lyme’s Disease. Last week, when it was warm and the daffodils were coming up, it seemed like we needed to offer this talk asap due to the fact that outdoor play is an integral part of our program. Despite the snow, spring really is right around the corner and it’s very important to learn how to protect our kids from harmful tick bites.
March 31 8:30-2:30 Medieval Festival and Feast Day- parents are invited to help and we really hope you do! Please check classroom happenings for specifics for your child.
Thursday, April 6th at 6:30 we will be having an Open House with a Live Birds of Prey Demonstration. It is our prayer that every family brings a family to expose families to HCA. This demo integrates nicely with our medieval studies. Wildlife rehabilitator, Tom Ricardi, plans to bring 7-8 birds including an owl, eagle and falcon!
April 17-21 Spring Break
April 29- Saturday HCA 5K- Here is another chance to bring your family and friends to a fun, healthy, and rewarding event that greatly benefits HCA. The 5K Committee has really stepped up this event, hired a professional to run it, and pray it will be a blessing for all who attend. Like the Read-a-thon, this fundraiser is a benefit for our students. Fitness is one of the three main emphases of our Food for Life Program (gardening, nutrition and fitness) so by training for and running the race we will be integrating our learning with fun/fitness as well as raising money for HCA!
At the Leadership Summit, Eileen and I learned that our culture now changes every five years whereas before in history it was every 20! That is why we must continually update events and methods and put a new face on HCA. Our heart remains the same and it is our desire that it will beat ever more closely to the heart of the One who called us into being and sustains us every year! God bless you and thank you!!
In Him who is able,
Susan Hayward, Principal
