FROM A PARENT OF GRADUATES FROM PCS

I just wanted to send you a quick email of encouragement. I just completed a brief position at (Anonymous) Middle School as a Special Ed teacher. I quickly realized this position was not something I wanted to continue in for a variety of reasons. I let the Special Ed director know fairly quickly so they could hire another teacher but I volunteered to stay on until the hiring process was completed. This turned out to be a 4 week stay! I learned so much during this time which has led to this email.

PCS is doing lots of things right! I know it has been a tough season for the school. But from what I have seen in the public school, PCS offers hope along with an excellent education. The atmosphere I encountered was so oppressive. God is excluded from every subject, as we know, of course. But the sense of hopelessness was overwhelming. I also realized how far left education has shifted. Many of the problems we are seeing in our society can be directly traced to public education, in my humble opinion. I encountered very nice teachers who wanted to do their best for their students. But without the hope of Christ, their efforts are really in vain. I knew all this but seeing firsthand the state our public schools are in and getting a glimpse of where public education is going, I was glad to receive validation that PCS is doing excellent teaching and holding their students accountable for their education.

Recently, (student) asked me to pass a couple of messages on to (Teacher A) and (Teacher B) on how prepared he has been for his classes at Grace College and to thank them for being so thorough in their teaching. His public school educated classmates have had a harder transition to college level work than he has had. I have been very thankful throughout this whole experience that my children were blessed with a quality biblically based education. 

In closing, I just wanted to encourage and uplift you in your leadership at PCS. Educating children is not an easy task but based on my experience, PCS is doing a really good job! I pray that God will open doors and allow PCS to have an even greater impact upon our community.

Portage Christian School

Important Message about Tardiness

PCS Families,

Mr. Pender issued an important statement about tardiness on Monday. If you didn’t get a chance to read it in the highlights, here it is! Thank you for your attention to this issue!

CHRONIC TARDINESS – I have researched this problem and found that in many schools 95% of the student body arrive on time almost without fail. These are the students/families that rise early, plan in advance and leave with plenty of time so that they are not rushing out the door frantically, yelling about the one making them late, breaking the speed limit and raising the stress to dangerous levels. It is the 5% that make the start of the school day difficult for teachers, office employees and themselves. I haven’t found a magic pill that fixes the problem but parents and students should understand the difficulties they create.

First, in the life of the student it establishes a bad habit and character issue.

Second, it imposes on others and is disrespectful; the daily devotions and prayer, pledges and announcements are missed or disrupted so the day does not start right for the student and possibly others interrupted by the student. The first thing that usually happens in a class is instructions for the day or at the very least the first lesson. When a student arrives late the teacher is inconvenienced by having to repeat what he/she told everyone else and the class sometimes has to wait for the late comer to catch up. Thirdly, chronic tardiness reveals priorities. Things that are a priority to us take a front row seat in our planning and practice.

To demonstrate the importance you place on education in the life of your student rise early, pray with him or her about school that day, make sure they have all of their work, drop them off a little early with a blessing and lay the ground work for success in their life. A smooth start to the day is likely to have a positive effect for the rest of the day.

News Flash

PCS Math Mastery Initiative

All grades and all subjects are putting a special emphasis on learning math. This year we have put a special push on our students becoming excellent in their mathematics skills. We have incorporated an assessment tool called NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association) to identify specifically where each student is in math understanding. This program provide accurate data for setting goals and promoting advancement. Along with NWEA we are also utilizing MathXL to assist those that have fallen behind to get caught up. Added to those excellent tools we offer Math Lab on Mondays and Wednesdays after school. Then another tool is found in our gymnasium hallway – our Math Mastery Word Wall where we have posted hundreds of pertinent math words arranged in grade order. Teachers use the wall to keep their math words ever before their class.

God’s Girls

Each Wednesday the girls of MS/HS are invited to a devotional during their lunch period. They are encouraged to bring their lunch and eat during the study. Currently they are talking about any subject that is of interest to them. This special time is lead by Mrs. Joyce Girgenti.

Godly Young Men

Beginning January 9th we will begin an exclusive small group of HS boys to study “Disciplines of a Godly Man” during their lunch period. They are encouraged to bring their lunch or participate in the $5 lunch provided and eat during the study. We are only taking 14 young men on a first come first serve basis. They need to sign up in the principal’s office. This group will be lead by Mr. Larry Pender and Mr. Jared Frick.