Dawn Renee Stephens's Blog, page 15

Little Pot's Growth Chart

Little Pot grows fruit and we know that the fruit it grows comes from the Holy Spirit. So how does it happen? What are the steps? Recently I worked with an awesome team of educators at Liberty University to develop a leadership model.  We agreed that leadership comes when we can transform what we know into the lives of others (which is also fruit bearing).  Together we came up with five steps.



First we must remember we are created by God and are simply vessels made for His use.  Envision yourself as clay pot.  You are an empty vessel and waiting for the potter's filling so you can grow into a great leader. 

Step 1- Humility

            To grow a leader, the potter fills you with humus or soil. Humus is "a dark brown or black colloidal mass of partially decomposed organic matter in the soil.  It improves the fertility and water retention of the soil and is therefore important for plant growth" ("humus," n.d., para. 2).   The word "humility" is derived from the Latin form of humus. In the Bible Christ explains a parable about a seed (the Word of God) and three types of soil. (Luke 8, New King James Version [NKJV]).  In verse fifteen, He says "the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience" (Luke 8:15, NKJV). God's word may be planted within you but without humility it cannot take root and grow. 

Step 2- Integrity

            The seed of God's word planted in humility will stem integrity.  Integrity is necessary for leaders. It isn't the prettiest part of a plant or the part that others first notice.  However, it is what holds the plant together.  It is the part of the plant that brings nutrients up from the roots.  Our integrity is what we can have to stand on.  "A person with integrity does not have divided loyalties (that's duplicity), nor is he or she merely pretending (that's hypocrisy)" (Maxwell, 1993, p. XI).  Any damage to the stem of a plant can jeopardize the life of a plant.  In the same way, anything we do to damage our integrity will jeopardize our leadership. 

Step 3- Relationships

            Integrity that stems from God's Word rooted in humility will begin to form relationships.  Consider your relationships to be leaves that reach out as you grow.  By fostering relationships we are able to become a more effective leader.  In every relationship we form we act as either a leader or a follower.  Each has specific roles and relate differently to this model of leadership. 

Step 4- Knowledge

            Once relationships form and integrity has stemmed, knowledge will bloom.  In the growth model, think of knowledge as a flower.  Others are drawn to the flower part of a plant, just as they are drawn to your knowledge.  Knowledge is not the final quality, however.  It is not the potter's plan for us to simply draw others toward us and admire us.  The flowering part of our leadership plant has a much greater purpose hidden within.  We obtain knowledge so that we can bear fruit and reproduce it into another person's life.

Step 5- Transform

            The final quality and stage of growth for a leader is being able to transform God's Word into someone else.  Growth is a cycle and must reproduce itself.  Think of your little pot that you filled with humility so God's Word could be planted and take root.  You stemmed integrity, formed relationships, and bloomed knowledge, all so you could bear fruit. It is important to know that within each piece of fruit a seed exists.  That seed is still the Word of God and is ready to be planted into another vessel or person who is full of humble soil.

From the Principal's Office: When Revising Becomes Refuting

It fascinates me how the same evidences in science can lead to two completely different views of Truth. Without a Biblical basis, our "science" can come to the wrong conclusions. 

 

I spent most of my day today trying to revise the 5th grade science SOLs and ended up refuting them. (At least 5.7)

This SOL states:

The student will investigate and understand how Earth's surface is constantly changing.

Key concepts include

a) identification of rock types;

b) the rock cycle and how transformations between rocks occur;

c) Earth history and fossil evidence;

d) the basic structure of Earth's interior;

e) changes in Earth's crust due to plate tectonics;

f) weathering, erosion, and deposition; and

g) human impact.

 

You can see the full SOLs for 5th grade Science here:

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/science/2010/k-6/stds_science5.pdf

 

They may seem innocent enough until you realize the teaching behind these objectives. It is entirely unbiblical. Biblically we can cover the same topics. But we will come to a completely different result and scientific reasoning behind these changes. The students at Central Christian Academy will be learning geological facts that will lead them to six evidences for the Genesis Flood. Answers in Genesis is one of the main sources we will use to teach these evidences and explain how Earth's history, fossil evidence, and even plate tectonics are all recorded for us in the Bible.

 

Our 5.7 Science objective reads:

a) identification of rock types;

b) the rock cycle and how transformations between rocks occur;

c) Earth history and the six main geologic evidences for the Genesis flood

1. Fossils of sea creatures high above sea level

2. Rapid burial of plants and animals

3. Rapidly deposited sediment layers spread across vast areas

4. Sediment transported long distances

5. Rapid or no erosion between strata

6. Many strata laid down in rapid succession

And

e) changes in Earth's crust due to plate tectonics;( www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v2/n4/geologic-evidences-part-one )

 

Students will learn the motion of the earth's crust is accepted by uniformitarian and creationist scientists alike. The difference lies in the time frame over which the movement has happened. Current seafloor spreading, magnetic reversals recorded in the seafloor crust, similar rocks and fossils across ocean basins, and the puzzle-like fit of continents are evidences that appear to be explainable in slow-and-uniform terms over billions of years. However, these evidences can be better explained by the rapid and catastrophic movement of the plates during the Flood. Computer modeling has shown that the continents could have separated in a matter of weeks—millions of years are not required. The key is the runaway catastrophic rate of sinking of the pre-Flood ocean floor crust after it broke up. Additionally, the catastrophic plate tectonics model provides a mechanism for the rainfall during the Flood and the presence of fossilized marine creatures atop mountains and rock layers spread across the continents. ( www.answersingenesis.org/articles/ee2/plate-tectonics )

 

The continents were originally grouped together known as Pangea. The Bible suggests the seperation happened at Creation (Gen. 1:9-10) about 6,000 years ago and again during the Flood about 4,300 years ago (Gen. 7:11-12), while secular scientists believe this happened twice over the last 800 or so million years of earth history.

 

Our students won't be able to pass an SOL test on this objective but that is something to be thankful for. They will know Truth as the Bible presents it. Not a scientific theory that our world claims is proof to the geological phenomenas.

 

Our full curriculum guides for every grade are available here.

Most of the time, we were able to revise the SOLs so they stem from Biblical Truth. In this case, we felt our revising was actually refuting.

 

If we put our kids in the public school system, we have to know what they are being taught as fact is not. and there are answers to these observations that they will never be given.

Fruitful Ambition

Is all ambition good?
Do you want your child's teacher to be ambitous?
Do you want your child to learn ambition?

 

          The leader's challenge as explained in Chapter one of Spiritual Leadership by Henry and Richard Blackaby, (2001) addresses the current trends of technology, globalization and diversity (Blackaby & Blackaby, 2001 pp. 8-10). These issues affect my current leadership position as well. As the principal of Central I see how these trends are relevant to education and the decisions that I face. Blackaby and Blackaby also discuss Leadership in politics, business, the church, and the home (Blackaby & Blackaby, 2001 pp. 11-17). All these areas need strong leaders. These leaders should also be spiritual leaders. The authors question if there is a difference between secular leadership and spiritual leadership (Blackaby & Blackaby, 2001 p. 17). They explain how many spiritual institutions have embraced secular ideas of leadership, while secular leaders are discovering Biblical principles are needed for effective leadership.

            Chapter one addresses the issue of ambition. Great leaders in history were driven by ambition. The authors state that if a Christian leader's "purpose is to invest in their one life as wisely as possible for the advancement of God's purposes on earth, than ambition is a good and useful force in a leader's life" (Blackaby & Blackaby, 2001 p. 26). I work at making sure my ambition is in line with that purpose. I realize that God has placed me in the position of principal of a particular Christian school only so that I can advance His purposes on earth. However, deciphering the specific plans to accomplish His purposes in the complex issues facing education is my biggest challenge. I know that God only provides answers as we need them. His word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path (The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Psalm 119:105). He does not illuminate the future for me. Therefore, I must daily be in His word and seek His advice so that my ambitious nature stays in line with His daily directions. Only then is my ambition fruitful!

Second Chances

This week in our Jonah Bible study we learned how God gives us second chances. (by Priscilla Shirer)

               The past week of daily studies we took a close look at what must have been going on in the heads of the men on the boat with Jonah.  I still haven't gotten over the idea that God used Jonah's disobedience to bring the men on the boat to a knowledge and understanding of who He is. It is wonderful how His objective is always the same and I'm so thankful that He can use our circumstances even when we aren't willing to be used ourselves. Other than using the circumstances to change the men on the boat, He also uses them to change Jonah's heart too. After all, these guys were Gentiles and now Jonah is willing to be thrown overboard to save them. Somehow Jonah became sensitive toward people, the same Jonah that said no to God about going to Nineveh to help the people there.

               In the video this week, we learn about second chances. And considering that the big fish vomits Jonah back up on the land near Joppa is something I never really thought of before. He could have taken him closer to Nineveh …. But, instead, Jonah ends up right back where he started. God's command is given to him a second time and is the same, but we get to compare the two times God tells Jonah exactly what to do. Verses 1:2 and 3:2. When you read these two verses you'll see the difference. The second time around God builds on the faith that Jonah gained in his experience in the belly of the fish.

               I'm so glad that the times God has told me to do something and I've ignored Him that He doesn't take "no" for an answer. He just begins to work on me through my stubbornness and experiences to get me ready to say "yes".

               He is a God of second chances! (And even 3rd, 4th, and 5th, or as many as we require!)

If you missed today or any other week of our study, I challenge you to jump in next Tuesday at 3:30 with us at CCA. It is amazing to study God's word together and see all that He does to speak to us individually and as a group! Consider this a second chance to come and get involved with us. – We'd love to have you there.

From the Principal's Office: Testing Week … Why We Test

This week our students are taking the Stanford 10 tests. This is the recommended standardized testing company by ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International). Interestingly enough, ACSI is changing this recommendation to the TerraNova3 test for next year, which may lead some to question why we are still using these tests this year. I questioned it myself and after researching and comparing standardized tests this past year. I came to the conclusion that the Stanford 10 test is NOT a great measurement of what our students should know at their assigned grade level.

So why are we giving it?

Basically, for CCA the reasons are valid. One reason is that we already own it. Testing packages are very expensive and as we are rebuilding our school and operating on fewer students, it didn't make sense to purchase new tests until we sure which ones we wanted and would best measure our students' ability and our unique curriculum. In Virginia, our public school elementary students do not take any standardized test a part from the state required tests better known as the SOLs. The philosophy behind this decision is that our state standards exceed the national ones. Therefore, if students can score well on our state tests there is no need for them to take a national standardized test before high school and they take the ACT or the SAT. As an elementary administrator of a private school and a parent I personally find that to be a problem. I want to know that our public school students and our own CCA students are held to the same standards. Public schools have created a "teach to the test" curriculum model that I do not want used at CCA. However, I do want to know that our students could pass an SOL test as well as a national standardized test. In May, we will give our third-sixth grade students an SOL test to make sure. This week, however, they are taking the Stanford. I did make the decision to give it earlier and at a younger level than recommended by the testing company. (Our students are that advanced this year) The question still remains … Why? What do we gain from giving this test if it is not the best measurement? Well, here are a few reasons (beyond cost) why I believe it to be important.

We are able to see where our students compare on a national level of students in their grade. (In some cases the grade above them)
We gain a lexile score for each student that we use to know if they are reading above or below the literature required in our literature-based curriculum.
It gives us an indication of the knowledge a student gains from year to year.
We are given class scores from these tests that provide quantitative information on a teacher's ability from year to year.
We are and plan to remain an ACSI ceritified school and they require us to have a formal evaluation of testing to compare our students to other ACSI schools. They do not recognize the SOL tests or other state tests in their comparisons. 

Testing is an accepted pracitce in our schools today. One that is I believe necessary to maintain.  I have not decided yet if we will move to the TerraNova3 tests with ACSI next year or if we will choose another testing company. I will continue to require some form of standardized test so we can gain the information above. We will also continue to give the SOL tests on our own. These tests are not sent to the state or included in the state's comparisons. However, we want to know our students are being held to the same standards and are competitive  on every level and model of education available to them.

I am anxious to see how our students score compared to others in both public and private education. I expect it will be a great year of growth after being challenged with a new curriculum and the creative teaching staff they have been working under.

Report Cards and Grades

Today we sent home report cards. It is always a joyous time for some students and a stressful time for others. We live in a society that puts a lot of weight on grades. Educators often debate their importance and their value. I even attended a seminar last fall that addressed if grades were Biblical and I realized that God himself operates on His own rubric throughout the Bible. He is the one that stated at His own creation, "It is Good" and since he stated that, You have to wonder if there could have been anything less? – After all, He is God!

I have noticed though, that as parents, we sometimes put too much weight into the grades our kids have. If they have A's we assume they are doing great and they have learned everything necessary at their grade level. If they have poor grades, we panic and think they have not learned the necessary information. At CCA, we work hard to have grades reflect the child's ability. However, you have to realize there is no perfect grading system.   I have even known schools in the past to make sure students always pass and get good grades just so the parents are happy with them.   Our curriculum at CCA is a tough one and some of our students work very hard just to earn C's. Sometimes they even fall lower. We also have not moved to a 10 point grading scale so to earn a C, B, or A at our school is more difficult than schools that operate on the 10 system.

While we are all tempted to celebrate report cards, I think it is more important to celebrate the work your child does. That is why we host the literacy events and post their work on facebook and our school walls. We think the work they do is a better demonstrate of what they are learning then a letter grade that spans a nine week period.

As principal, I looked at each of our student's report card on Monday afternoon. I can honestly say that even though I saw grades from As to Fs … I was proud of all our CCA students. I know the growth that has taken place in each of them these past nine weeks. I see the effort they put forth each day and remain very proud to call each of them a CCA student.

My Life Interrupted

This coming Tuesday (March 29), I will begin leading the Bible study by Priscilla Shirer titled, Jonah, Navigating a Life Interrupted.

I was searching for a new study to do with our moms and teachers and a friend recommended this one to me.  I first wondered if God had more for me to gain from the very familiar story of Jonah. Then I realized that I am definitely living an interrupted life.

To be perfectly honest with each of you, it is one area I still struggle with when I get alone with God. That is because CCA and becoming the principal there is an interruption to where I thought my life was headed as an author.  I've had to make huge sacrifices with my own life goals and plans to successfully do the job at CCA. I knew that going into it. However, it is still a stronghold that Satan likes to work on in my life when I get discouraged with the many pressures of my job. I have learned just in the first few days of the study that being principal at CCA is not an "interruption" to God's plan for my life but a "divine intervention".   

I am very excited to work through this study with the teachers and parents at our school. I know God has a lot more to tell me.

We will meet each Tuesday in Room 26 at 3:30

Central Christian Academy

1200 Hodges Ferry Rd

Portsmouth, VA 23701

 

The schedule will be as follows.

March 29 – Session 1

April 5 – Session 2

April 12 – Session 3

…(Easter Break)

April 26 – Session 4

May 3 – Session 5

May 10 – Session 6

May 17 – Session 7 and Review

 

I hope you can join us.

Godspeed or God Speed

Inside the principal's office, it seems time has gone by at "God Speed".  It was a year ago that I met with God and agreed to become the principal of Central Christian Academy. I was uncertain of what was ahead of me, but I had realized that God liked putting me in positions where I was forced to rely on Him for wisdom and strength. Therefore, I accepted the position.

At that time, friends and family wished me …"godspeed". The dictionary defines godspeed as, "Good fortune; success (used as a wish to a person starting on a journey, a new venture, etc.)." 

Seemed a very fitting wish then. However, "God speed" is what I was given and it is more than just good fortune and success.

I remember moving into this office while the students were on spring break last year at this time. I had no idea what to bring to a principal's office or what I would find. I never spent much time in one as a student (thankfully) – and even as a teacher I tried to avoid being in one since it housed my boss. 

So that very first day at CCA I came in carrying  "Little Pot" -(Those of you who do not know, Little Pot is a painted flower pot who represents the main character of The Little Pot. It travels with me to author events and represents a great deal about my willingness to be obedient to "The Potter" and bear His fruit. (Reading the book will help that make more sense.)

Regardless, that day, Little Pot and I, (who were both feeling quite empty inside) sat in the middle of the office floor asking God once again to fill us. (Eph 3:19)

Those of you that know the story of The Little Pot also know, however, that Little Pot is only full when it is growing fruit. I knew that by placing me in CCA, God was giving me another amazing opportunity for fruit to sprout through my life.

It is now one year later …. and fruit is growing at "God speed". Little pot is not just full  – It is overflowing! And, I truly have a hard time keeping up with what the Holy Spirit is doing at CCA. Nine of our students and one parent received Christ as their savior this past year. Five were just baptized this morning. We have had countless opportunities to share with other parents and students the relationship that Christ wants to have with each of them.

We built a curriculum that is based on the fruit of the Spirit and creates an environment in which students are encouraged to show the characteristics of that fruit every day. God has blessed us with gifted and creative teachers. He continues to bring us new students and families causing our enrollment to  increase every month.

I am trying desperately to keep up with God. I cannot believe a year has passed. I am rejoicing at the work He has done and  am grateful to the CCA families who have embraced the changes this past year.

For those of you waiting on God to do something in your life, I want to encourage you to get prepared in every way you can.  There comes a time when the waiting ends and His answers and fruit grow at "God speed" - a pace beyond our own human ability.  Be ready, because when it comes, it will require you to be filled with the Spirit every day and move at "God speed"!

itouch Missions

Our itouch missions conference begins today. This is always a fabulous time for our school and church. We get to meet missionaries from different countries. We learn about the countries where they serve and grow fruit. Below is a schedule for the rest of the week.

 




Wednesday, March 9th:

5:30 Dinner (Gymnasium)

Menu: Lasagna & Salad

6:15 – 6:50 Focus Rooms (Church Building)

… 7:00-8:15 Children's Program

7:00 Main Service, (Sanctuary) Speaker: Bruce Humbert

Thursday, March 10th:

8:45-11am CCA students get to visit our missionary Focus Rooms

5:30 Dinner (Gymnasium)

Menu: Fried Chicken & Potato Salad

6:15 – 6:50 Focus Rooms

7:00-8:15 Children's Program

7:00 Main Service, (Sanctuary) Speaker: Bruce Humbert

Friday, March 11th:

9-10: Central Christian Academy – School Chapel

5:30 Dinner (Gymnasium)

Menu: Meatloaf & Mashed Potatoes

6:15 – 6:50 Focus Rooms

7:00-8:15 Children's Program, (Upstairs)

7:00 Main Service, (Sanctuary) Speaker: Bruce Humbert

After Firday's Service-Teens & Missionary Hang-Out Time

Sunday, March 13th CELEBRATION SUNDAY

(and Remember – DAYLIGHT SAVINGS – Spring Forward 1 hour)

9:00-9:30 Sunday School with Missionaries

9:30-9:45 Prayer and Faith Promise

10:00 AM Service

Missionary Introductions

5:30 International Dinner (Gym)

6:30 Celebration Service (Sanctuary)

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Our Morning Announcements on Dr. Seuss' Birthday

Today at Central Christian Academy, we are celebrating Dr. Seuss birthday. Here are the morning announcements we had:

"It's time for school,

It's time for fun,

It's time for learning,

There's work to be done.

You can think up new things, that's what you can do …

You can think about yellow, You can think about blue,

You can think about red, You can think about pink,

You can think in our school … It's a great day to THINK!

You have brains in your head,

You have feet in your shoes,

You can steer yourself

Any direction you choose.

You are at school and you'll learn more and more,

And YOU are the one who will decide if you soar.

So have a great day, a wonderful day

And grow some fruit, while you work and you play!

Because after all … It's Dr. Seuss' BIRTHDAY!

 

 

 

And our lunch today is a real Hoot,

It is spaghetti, and corn, and bread, and some fruit.

Try not to spill it on your shirt,

cause there is milk or juice,

and a special dessert.