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As we come to the close of our second week back to school, I want to wish all of you a belated Happy New Year. This time of year is significant to me for two reasons. It is a time to reflect on the many accomplishments of the first semester, as well as count our blessings, and evaluate our progress.
Celebrating Nashville Christian's 40th Anniversary with alumni and friends gave us pause to recognize and affirm our school's vision--a community dedicated to help students realize and pursue their full potential--spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially--while learning to be secure in their relationship with God.
Our students, families, and staff have lived out that vision and their faith in meaningful and formative ways:
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by providing over 200 Christmas gifts for children, with only 3 days notice, to an emergency need for impoverished families in Jellico, Tennessee
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by donating over 125 coats and 140 Bibles to the less fortunate in middle Tennessee through the "Warm Coats from Warm Hearts" project
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by furnishing shelter, clothing, food, & fellowship for homeless men on Christmas Eve, and
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by consistently responding to the needs of the hungry, the aged, the widowed, and the afflicted whenever called upon
The iMPACT* and progress made by faculty and students' in our quest to integrate technology into Nashville Christian's educational process has been remarkable. Every day brings revelations, innovations, and challenges, as we embrace technology as an educational-tool and pursue our goal--to prepare NCS students for a digital world.
The Support for our School has been heart warming and encouraging.
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"A Blue Ribbon Affair " (our dinner/auction) was a big success--not only in terms of profit (over $33,000) but in attendance, fellowship, and fun.
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Magazine and Entertainment Book Sales resulted in over $35,000 in sales--netting over $14,000 of profit. Again, what inspires and encourages me are our families' response and their support.
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Our Thanksgiving Gathering of parents and faculty (With Praise & Thanksgiving) drew a tremendous crowd and left me with a wonderful aftertaste of fellowship and community.
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NCS faculty and staff, who were working the Open House in November, witnessed the largest number of prospective families--ever. The halls and common area were teaming with parents searching for a Christ centered education for their children.
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We will continue to pursue Ministry Partnerships. Because we share a common mission, NCS wants to lock arms with local Churches so--together--we can teach and encourage our youth to live and walk in Christ.
As a college-preparatory school with a Christian perspective, it is important that we are "Anchored in Academic Excellence." To that end, we established new initiatives in 2011.
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Flight Club - a program to inspire and engage students who want to be challenged, furthermore, academically
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Transformation Station - a program to help ensure that students, who need encouragement and reinforcement, do not fall behind
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2 new AP courses - AP Biology and AP Stats
I am heartened and thankful for the following gifts that will carry us into and throughout this New Year...
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for a faculty and staff who tirelessly give of their time and talent, consistently commit to the students and the school's mission throughout a depressed economy, and faithfully witness Christ's love in their daily interactions within our community.
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for a board whose counsel and vision help guide our school through exacting times--and continually challenge and hold one another accountable in their desire to serve, sustain, and build NCS.
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for the many parent volunteers who contribute many selfless hours to our school.
Moving forward in 2012, we renew our commitment to the students
and you their parents...
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to live out Nashville Christian's mission,"to demonstrate Christ's love," in tangible ways throughout each and every day,
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to secure our future,
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to strengthen our connections,
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to sustain our relationships, and
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to seek excellence for our students' mind, body, and soul.
To fully realize those commitments, may we all find focus and empowerment through Lamentations 3:22-24: "Because of the Lord's faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him."
May God bless you and your family in this New Year,
Connie Jo Shelton,
President of Nashville Christian School
* iMPACT - informed Minds Pursuing Academics through Computers and Technology.
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