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Fall is around the corner and with it comes cooler temperatures. I hope you and your family have been able to beat the heat and use the gift of summer to slow your pace, replenish your energies, escape for a vacation or two, and to reflect on all that is good and right in your lives. I must confess, way too often I will drown myself in complaint over temporary discomforts like heat, droughts, and work loads—so much so that I forget to rejoice and replenish in summer’s respite and the rains that are always sure to come. Which brings me to the first part of my letter, our spiritual theme for 2012-13:
LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF THE CALLING. — Ephesians 4:1
Our rising seniors chose this scripture after much prayer and discernment. It reminds me and summons me to recognize/realize the important calling I and my fellow administrators and educators have been given. With no intent of being boastful, I ask all of us: WHAT OTHER VOCATION has more impact on the LIVES of our children, the FUTURE of our community, or the DIRECTION of our nation?
I think our seniors have chosen well. You will hear more about these leaders-in-training and the ways we plan to press them into growing roles of responsibility and accountability. We want them to caste deep and long shadows of the cross through their choices and actions now and as adults.
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WHILE WE ARE ON THE TOPIC OF “LIVES WORTHY OF THE CALLING” LET ME INTRODUCE SOME NEW FACES TO OUR CAMPUS ALONG WITH SOME FAMILIAR FACES WITH NEW RESPONSIBILITIES:
JEFF BROTHERS has assumed a new responsibility for our school: Assistant Principal for grades 6-12. I have redistributed job responsibilities to better allow administration to focus on and advance curriculum and teacher development. Jeff will also continue to serve as our Athletic Director and Head Football Coach. >>> Click here and listen to what Jeff has to say about it: http://youtu.be/RQlgmXuvBpU
LORETTA PASSEN will move from the high school LIFE program into the 7-8th grade science classroom. Loretta has been an integral part of the NCS family since 2002. She is an experienced teacher with endorsements in Middle School Core Content and Special Education. Her passion for teaching will be fully utilized in building a strong science foundation in your middle school students.
We gladly welcome WENDY RAMPY back to NCS as a 4th grade teacher and to teach 5th grade science. Wendy has previously taught both Kindergarten and 4th grade at our school. For the past 18 months, she has served as Children's Director at Bellevue Church of Christ and has taken an active leadership role in our school's P.T.P..
JENNIFER FORSYTHE will join the NCS staff as a secondary math teacher. Jennifer has been with Sumner County schools for the last seven years as a teacher’s assistant in the special ed program. Currently she is completing her Master’s Degree and certification in secondary math education. Jennifer is a member of the Northside Church of Christ and we welcome her to NCS.
MIKE MCPHERSON will assume multiple roles in the high school for NCS: Bible teacher, strength-trainer, and assistant boys basketball coach. Mike has a great resume with 30 years of teaching experience at Ezell Harding, David Lipscomb and just as many years in youth ministry. Please extend a warm welcome to Mike.
GRAHAM BULL, another addition to our athletic staff, will take the reins of the girls’ soccer team AND begin the relaunch of a boys’ soccer program. Graham lives in Ashland City, but originally hails from Oxford, England AND is “passionate” about soccer. Please welcome him and spread the word about our new boys soccer program.
ANS is not really a face that you will see, but you will benefit from its presence. NCS will be working with ANS (Advanced Network Solutions) to manage and maintain our technological tools. ANS is a recognized and awarded comprehensive computer network solutions company. Their engineers will partner with NCS to ensure we are using our technical resources to their fullest potential.
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FOCUSING ON ADVANCING CURRICULUM AND TEACHER DEVELOPMENT.
In order to help students realize and pursue their full potential—spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially—we continually work towards refining and advancing our curriculum.
PRINCIPAL, SUZIE ESTES, summarizes the progress in Elementary School, “There are exciting changes in place for the 2012-13 school year—all designed to enhance each student’s learning experience. The Elementary School recently piloted and integrated three proven learning strategies into its curriculum: the Singapore Approach to Math, the Daily Five Method of Reading Instruction, and an Interactive Science Program. To realize these subjects' full potential and utilize their resources our faculty will be participating in an ongoing technology-training program. In the classroom we are going to address an issue that is inherent in all classes—different learning styles. This year our Enrichment teachers will provide individual and small group academic support to help ensure active-participation and encourage student advancement. Our Elementary Curriculum is continually assessed, modified, and formed with the use of research-based strategies. This ongoing process allows NCS to offer proven and effective academics to our students—enabling them to pursue and realize their full potential.”
PRINCIPAL BRIAN BISHOP describes the advancements made in the MIddle and HIgh School curriculums, “While many schools advertise their college acceptance rate, we focus on building college-ready students with a strong foundation in all core academic areas. To this end we continually assess, revise, and add challenging levels to our course offerings. For example, this year we are introducing new AP courses in Spanish and Physics as well as a high school credit, foreign language course for students in 8th grade. We believe refinements and additions like these will enhance your student’s ability to excel and compete academically. In addition we continue to assess our ACT scores and make improvements to our program based upon that research.”
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AND LASTLY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY…
I beseech you to join me in prayer. I pray daily for your family, your student(s), our teachers, our administrators, and our board. Please do the same. I believe fervently that this carries us through an all-to-often cynical and toxic culture that refuses to recognize the value of education in forming children's lives and shaping our communities' future. Without prayer “we” cannot “Live a Life Worthy of The Calling.”
In His name,
Connie Jo Shelton, President
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