NLCS Annual report 2014-15

2014-2015

New Life Christian

Annual Repo!

School www.nlcsny.org

The$mission$of$New$Life$Christian$School$is$to$ensure$a$Christ$centered$environment$for$integrating$faith$with$learning$through:• Critical$thinking

• Developing$interpersonal$skills

• Community$outreach

• Athletics$and$the$arts

We$challenge$students$to:• Excel$in$academics

• Experience$a$personal$relationship$

with$Christ• FulCill$their$godly$potential$and$impact$

the$world

Photo credits: Jenna St. Pierre www.jennastpierre.weebly.com.

BOE$MembersEric$Faisst

Wayne$ChabotScot$Ioset

Trina$SettleBev$Campbell

Mission Statement

From the PrincipalGrowth$is$a$key$word$at$New$Life$Christian$School.$Not$only$do$we$strive$to$see$growth$in$our$students,$but$there$is$a$desire$to$grow$the$student$population$and$transform$our$facilities$as$well.$The$teachers$are$focusing$on$growth$by$developing$a$curriculum$mapping$process$and$reCining$their$teaching$practices.

Christ$challenges$each$of$us$as$individuals$to$grow.$He$often$used$agricultural$pictures$to$depict$how$our$faith$grows$to$maturity.$Our$aim$at$NLCS$is$to$see$that$growth$cultivated$in$each$other$and$in$our$students.$It$is$so$rewarding$to$see$those$“ahMha”$moments$in$our$students$as$they$make$wise$choices,$develop$as$leaders$and$challenge$one$another$to$be$better.

New$Life$is$seeing$growth$in$our$student$population$as$well.$While$many$Christian$schools$are$experiencing$a$decrease$in$student$enrollment,$we$continue$to$add$more$students.$I$believe$this$speaks$to$the$strong$academic$and$spiritual$program$at$New$Life.$The$Board$of$Education$and$teaching$staff$are$working$hard$to$develop$a$stronger$program$that$will$continue$to$attract$more$families.

Finally,$we$are$working$toward$growth$of$our$facilities.$Just$this$year$we$doubled$the$amount$of$land$for$the$school.$Many$may$not$realize$that$the$community$center$did$not$belong$to$the$school.$This$building$and$the$land$that$goes$with$it$was$gifted$to$New$Life.$As$a$result,$it$creates$the$opportunity$to$reconsider$the$growth$plan$for$our$facilities.$Currently$the$Board$of$Education$and$the$Church$Trustees$are$making$plans$for$renovation$of$our$existing$facilities$and$expanding$our$classroom$infrastructure.

These$are$exciting$times$for$our$school$community.$I$encourage$you$to$read$this$annual$report$and$thank$God$for$His$hand$upon$our$school,$and$what$is$being$accomplished.

I"am"the"vine;"you"are"the"branches."Whoever"abides"in"me"and"I"in"him,"he"it"is"that"bears"

much"78it,"for"apar;"7om"me"you"can"do"nothing."

John"15:5

Student Testimonial

Senior$Cassie$Neidhart$entered$NLCS$as$an$eighth$grader$after$being$homeschooled.$She$credits$New$Life$for$providing$opportunities$for$her$to$grow.$“NLCS$has$challenged$me$to$live$out$my$Christian$faith$by$sending$me$out$to$do$community$service$and$helping$people$in$need.$The$teachers$challenge$us$by$helping$us$make$the$right$choices$in$everyday$life.$Bible$class$and$chapel$help$us$to$stay$focused$on$what$God$would$want$us$to$be$doing$with$our$lives$everyday.”

As$a$student,$Cassie$embraces$the$way$teachers$challenge$her$to$think$critically$in$her$studies.$“In$every$class$the$teachers$are$always$encouraging$you$to$not$just$answer$the$questions$but$to$use$critical$thinking$to$really$Cigure$out$what$is$being$asked$and$to$Cigure$out$the$best$way$to$answer$them.$By$having$the$teachers$challenge$us$in$this$way,$I$now$take$important$questions$and$think$about$them$more$so$I$can$make$the$right$choices.$“

When$asked$about$the$lasting$impact$that$she$believes$NLCS$will$have$on$her$she$states,$“I$like$that$NLCS$challenges$me$to$be$the$best$person$I$can$be;$even$when$I$am$not$in$school.$I$love$how$NLCS$teaches$you$to$not$be$of$the$world,$but$to$make$the$best$impact$on$the$world$that$you$can.”

Teacher Testimonial

As$a$Language$Arts$teacher$in$the$high$school$and$middle$school,$Mrs.$St.$Pierre$enjoys$the$strength$of$the$team$at$NLCS.$She$says$that$NLCS$is$a$“place$where$you$feel$a$team$spirit,$it$is$ever$present,$connecting$what$God’s$plan$is,$to$the$administration,$to$the$teachers$who$are$in$contact$with$each$of$the$students.$I$feel$a$sense$of$encouragement$from$the$top$down,$that$allows$for$Clexibility$and$a$pursuit$of$excellence.”

Although$she$had$to$leave$several$years$ago,$she$is$enjoying$the$return$to$NLCS.$Since$she$has$come$back,$she$has$been$challenged$to$“learn$about$new$ways$which$students$need$to$critically$think.”$The$focus$on$teacher$development$and$training$is$translating$to$expectations$in$the$classroom,$which$will$continue$to$prepare$students.

As$Mrs.$St.$Pierre$looks$to$the$future$of$NLCS,$she$believes$the$future$is$bright.$“I$believe$that$as$we$build$a$school$that$is$ChristMcentered,$integrating$faith,$critical$thinking$and$developing$interpersonal$skills,$we$will$have$a$student$body$ready$for$the$rigors$of$college$and$career,$not$only$academically,$but$spiritually.”

Parent TestimonialWhen$KC$and$Kristi$Mangine$moved$to$the$area$10$years$ago,$their$son,$Cory,$was$ready$to$start$Preschool.$When$they$enrolled$Cory$in$Preschool$they$found$that$New$Life$wasn’t$just$a$school$but$a$community$that$they$now$embrace$as$part$of$their$family.

“Before$choosing$to$send$our$kids$to$NLCS,$we$honestly$didn’t$know$that$there$were$so$many$options$to$choose$from$for$our$children’s$education.$$KC$and$I$both$just$assumed$we$would$send$our$kids$to$public$school$(just$like$we$had$attended).$We$had$so$many$wonderful$opportunities$afforded$us$in$our$education$paths$growing$up,$but$a$lot$has$changed$in$25$years.$And$we$wanted$God$to$be$the$center$of$our$lives$and$that$was$especially$true$in$our$children’s$education.$NLCS$has$given$our$kids$both$a$strong$education$and$puts$God$at$the$center$of$all$they$learn$and$do.”$

Not$only$do$their$kids$attend$New$Life,$but$also$KC$and$Kristi$give$back$to$the$community.$Kristi$serves$as$a$member$of$Parent$Action$Group$for$Excellence$(PAGE)$in$various$roles,$especially$helping$to$organize$the$annual$Christmas$Shoppe.$KC$teaches$drum$lessons$at$school$and$serves$as$a$trustee$at$RNLC.$They$both$serve$as$the$youth$leaders$at$RNLC,$which$always$spills$over$into$school$activities$as$well.

“New$Life$Christian$School$is$a$part$of$our$family.$It$isn’t$just$a$place$where$you$hope$something$good$will$happen$to$your$kids.$It$is$a$place$where$God$builds$the$whole$family$and$makes$disciples.$It$is$where$we$can$drop$off$our$kids$and$through$God’s$Word,$the$teachers$guide,$pray,$love$and$challenge$our$kids$to$reach$their$full$potential…and$it$is$only$the$beginning$of$where$God$is$leading$them.”

“All"your"children"shall"be"taught"by"the"Lord,"and"gEeat"shall"be"the"peace"of"your"children.”

Isaiah"54:13

Alumni TestimonialJared$and$Brittany$(Ioset)$Houseman$spent$the$majority$of$their$school$years$at$NLCS.$Both$were$actively$involved$with$sports,$leadership$and$ministry$opportunities.$Jared$and$Brittany$attended$Houghton$College$where$Jared$played$basketball$and$was$named$the$Business$Student$of$the$Year.$Brittany$was$accepted$to$the$honors$program$and$graduated$as$the$Valedictorian$of$her$senior$class.$

Now,$back$in$the$Hamilton$area,$Jared$is$working$as$a$Cinancial$advisor$and$Brittany$is$a$Physician$Assistant.$Both$point$to$NLCS$as$a$critical$part$of$their$development.$Brittany$says,$“I knew who I was when I graduated New Life. It is so important to understand and be confident in your identity as a young person entering higher education. New Life helped me establish my identity as a student, a person and most importantly as a child of God.”

As$they$reClect$on$the$importance$of$their$education$from$NLCS,$they$are$so$grateful$for$an$atmosphere$that$fosters$academic$and$personal$growth.$It$is$the$spiritual$formation$that$sets$NLCS$apart.$“There are many private schools which are academically rigorous, but New Life places a strong emphasis on faith and Christian values. Students are challenged to explore what their faith means and encouraged to take personal ownership of their faith. Students learn to cultivate a worldview that is grounded in the Word of God and the person of Jesus Christ.”

New"Life"creates"an"environment"for"

st8dents"to"become"lifelong"learKers.

Student DevelopmentAcademic$FocusAs$we$continue$to$challenge$our$students$to$excel$in$academics,$the$teachers$identiCied$Cive$different$areas$where$we$can$improve.$The$Cirst$two$areas$we$are$focusing$on$are$multiple$revisions$and$critique.$As$we$work$on$papers$and$projects,$we$recognize$that$student$work$improves$through$trying$things$multiple$times.$As$we$know,$we$often$don’t$produce$our$best$work$on$the$Cirst$attempt.$But$through$a$process$of$receiving$input$from$others$and$thinking$through$project$expectations,$we$produce$higher$quality$work.$Through$the$critique$process,$we$also$want$to$teach$our$students$how$to$give$and$receive$feedback.$By$receiving$constructive$criticism,$we$learn$how$to$listen$to$others$and$take$their$advice.$We$also$want$our$students$to$be$able$to$give$ideas$in$a$way$that$encourages$others$and$is$speciCic$and$helpful.$This$process$is$producing$quality$work$and$raising$the$expectations$we$have$for$our$students.$Students$are$being$encouraged$because$they$see$that$as$they$go$through$the$collaborative$process$of$multiple$revisions,$their$product$improves.$The$Cinal$product$is$better$than$their$Cirst$attempt.

Lego$RoboticsIncreasing$interest$in$science$and$math$is$a$strategic$objective$identiCied$through$the$strategic$plan.$In$our$second$year$of$offering$the$NLCS$Lego$Robotics$Club,$we$have$not$only$seen$increased$student$interest,$but$also$increased$success.$One$of$the$core$values$of$the$Lego$Club$is$that$students$work$towards$solutions$and$the$coaches$assist$as$mentors.$Students$work$to$collectively$Cind$innovative$solutions$to$problems$while$learning$to$work$as$a$team.$

This$year$the$number$of$NLCS$and$homeschool$

team$members$increased$from$10$students$to$14.$Because$we$were$able$to$purchase$an$additional$robot,$New$Life$was$able$to$Cield$a$second$team.$As$a$result$of$their$hard$work$at$the$area$qualiCier$and$area$Cinals,$NLCS$brought$home$3$trophies$for$their$robot$design$and$robot$performance.$More$importantly,$our$students$are$learning$essential$teamwork$and$critical$thinking$skills.

Character DevelopmentSports$Teams$Our$soccer$and$basketball$teams$had$a$very$successful$year.$All$of$our$teams$made$it$to$the$championship$games$in$the$North$Country$Athletic$Conference$(NCAC)$league$for$both$soccer$and$basketball.$The$girls$basketball$team$was$undefeated$in$league$games$and$also$won$the$league$championship$game.$The$soccer$team$and$boys$basketball$team$both$took$second$place$in$the$league$tournament.

Worship$Worshipful$expression$is$an$important$aspect$at$NLCS.$Students$in$middle$and$high$school$have$the$opportunity$to$play$and$sing$on$the$worship$team.$This$group$presents$at$open$houses$and$for$the$student$body$during$morning$opening.$Music$is$an$important$part$of$worship$and$we$offer$music$lessons$to$students.$The$school$makes$music$lessons$available$as$requested.

Operation$ImpactServing$others$in$the$name$of$Christ$focuses$our$attention$on$meeting$the$needs$of$others.$Through$these$service$projects,$our$students$actively$participate$and$make$a$difference$in$their$communities.$This$project$seeks$to$meet$needs$in$our$community$while$offering$students$ways$to$demonstrate$what$they$are$learning$in$the$classroom.$It$is$through$this$service$that$our$students$learn$the$importance$of$helping$others$in$a$practical$way.$

Financial

IncomeTuition$and$Registrations$$157,150

Fundraisers$$22,762

Donations$$57,000

Miscellaneous$$9,195

Total&$246,107

ExpensesWages$and$BeneCits$

$220,753

Supplies$$13,560

Miscellaneous$$8,879

Total&$243,192

Strategic UpdateHere$are$the$highlights$of$strategies$addressed$and$implemented$during$the$past$year:

• Dual$enrollment$courses$

were$offered.$Four$senior$students$participated$in$these$courses$to$receive$both$high$school$and$

$$$$$$college$credit.

• A$new$teacher/staff$

orientation$plan$was$implemented$in$the$fall.$Through$this$orientation,$our$teachers$and$staff$received$targeted$training$

$$$$$$to$address$school$and$classroom$needs.

• The$Parent$Action$Group$for$Excellence$(PAGE)$was$formed.$This$

group$is$comprised$of$parents$and$is$working$to$support$our$teachers$and$classrooms.

• A$written$vision$statement$is$being$

Cinalized$through$Mr.$Slabaugh’s$partnership$with$the$Van$Lunen$Center$for$Executive$Management.$This$vision$statement$creates$a$graduate$proCile$detailing$the$skills$and$characteristics$we$desire$our$graduates$to$develop.

• The$IXL$online$math$program$is$being$used$

to$complement$classroom$instruction$and$improve$student$math$skill$mastery.$Since$the$beginning$of$the$school$year,$over$18,000$questions$were$answered$in$grades$3M8.

• An$initial$review$of$all$courses$detailing$

continuity$with$NYS$standards$to$further$ensure$the$highest$level$of$academic$standards.

What’s Next?• Identify$and$implement$

building$rennovations$and$building$plan.

• Curriculum$mapping$has$

$$$$$$begun$to$ensure$curriculum$$$$$$$$continuity$between$grades.$

$$$$$$We$aim$to$complete$this$$$$$$$project$by$the$Spring$of$$$$$$$2016.

• The$Board$of$Education$is$

aligning$school$policies$toward$accreditation$standards$from$the$Association$of$Christian$School$International.$$

• The$Staff$Development$Action$Team$is$updating$the$teacher$evaluation$process$to$better$assess$teacher$performance$and$put$a$plan$in$place$for$teacher$development.

• Creation$of$an$

updated$teacher$and$staff$handbook.

• Create$a$plan$to$

increase$donations$through$the$creation$of$a$graduate$proCile$and$building$relationships$with$potential$donors.

www.nlcsny.org

New Life Christian School1528 River Rd, Hamilton, NY 13346

Phone: (315) 824-2625Fax: (315) 824-5102