“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
I spoke to the Secondary Assembly on Monday morning. My theme was ‘Setting the Standard’. I want to pick up the same idea here.
The 2019 Parent Satisfaction Surveys and the respective Student Survey pick up a common idea in the Academic Program section. Emmanuel Christian School received a strong 3.9 out of 5 from parents about students being challenged in their learning. Students gave an average of 3.8 out of 5 when asked about high academic standards. Although this is good to see, we want all results to be over 4 out of 5. We listen to what we are told in the surveys, and we greatly respect the time taken by families to fill them out each year.
We are continuing to work hard to raise the standards here at Emmanuel. The Secondary School has sent out to families a document explaining how late work affects results and some of the expectations expected. The ‘Emmanuel Christian School Class and Homework Policy 2020’ should have come home with students from Grade 7 to 10 yesterday. Our office is able to provide this upon request, and we will make it available via SEQTA Engage. Just as students are expected to wear the uniform correctly, we also have high expectations of academic effort and behaviour. We believe this is vital for students looking for employment in an increasingly competitive workplace.
However, as soon as standards are set, there are always those who have trouble meeting them. If you have concerns, please contact us so we can look at addressing them as we are able.
The bible tells us what God’s standard is. In Matthew 5:48 Jesus himself tells us that we must “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your heavenly Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Wow! Tough standard!! How can we be perfect? That sounds impossible, especially when we read verses of scripture like Romans 3:23 where Paul reminds us that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Well, on our own it is impossible. But the good news is that God has made a way for us to be perfect and justified before Him. And it’s as simple as putting our faith and trust in what Jesus did for us on the cross. “Because Jesus Christ did what God wanted him to do, we are all purified from sin by the offering that he made of his own body once and for all.” (Hebrews 10:10)
Emmanuel Christian School is a place high standards are expected and Biblical standards highlighted. We appreciate the opportunity to share with all our families in the nurturing of the highest standards in the lives of our young people.
Scott Winkler - Principal