November 30, 2007

Friends,

One of our goals at SRCS is to build a strong community culture, this week you guys have demonstrated that commitment:

• SCF Sponsored Craft Fair – Over 70 students and an army of parents stayed after school on Wednesday to make Christmas crafts.  After feasting on pizza, parents and students made ornaments, stocks, and other holiday stuff.  Super job by Lisa Andes and her team and all the parents who helped.  Even more amazing was the transformation of the gym from a school-wide chapel to decorated craft tables – way to go guys.
• The school spirit our fans have been showing at basketball games has been great.  I keep hearing from grammar school parents, especially, about how fun the atmosphere is.  Great job students and fans!
• There are other seemingly countless examples of folks responding as community – providing meals to families, paying tuition for others, volunteering in the classrooms, and more …

SRCS is blessed with a wonderful staff.  Any given day, week, or month, individuals excel and make our school a better place.  Sometimes we don’t notice the work of support staff who work behind the scenes and we would be impoverished without their gifts.  In recent weeks, I have been particularly taken by the work of Sue LaTorraca our school nurse, and Shennen Bowman our academic advisor.  “Nurse Sue” embodies a servant’s heart as she tends to sick kids and fills in so many gaps.  Mrs. Bowman is relentless in her pursuit of our high school students in preparing them for scholarships, college admissions, and graduation.

Did you know that the vast majority of SRCS teaching staff attended the Leadership Institute at SRPC or that 20 came on the previous Saturday to receive technology training?  Several faculty members are also taking additional college courses to improve their professional training.  All SRCS faculty and staff are involved in a new training matrix called the 7Rivers Institute that is designed to strengthen their worldview, build cohesion, and improve performance.

Traditionally December is the month in which SRCS receives the lion-share of our annual fund donations.  This year’s need is $247,000 of which $118,000 is for tuition assistance.  Please consider a gift to our annual fund this year.

Blessings,

Joel