January 2010
In the Biblical
book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon states, “To every thing there is a season, and a
time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a
time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.” After a seed is planted,
it germinates. When it is watered and cultivated, it will eventually bring
forth fruit in the harvest. So, too, a child’s life is conceived, born,
nurtured, educated and fulfilled.
Like the four
seasons, the years of a child’s life can be characterized in four stages. These
stages of development, or better yet, these seasons of education are planting,
watering, cultivating, and harvesting. Your partners in education at
Studies indicate
that by the time a child has his six-year molars, he has already acquired 80
percent of the attitudes, values, fears, and loyalties he will demonstrate for
the rest of his life.
With our certified
teachers and phonics-based curriculum, the planting stage begins in the
kindergarten years and continues through our lower elementary program. During
this time the academic foundation and character development of the child
germinates, takes root, and begins to grow. Our teachers understand the
importance of this critical developmental season and prayerfully sow with love,
patience, and wise counsel.
The second season
of education is that of proper watering. This watering process is imperative
for your child’s growth and future productivity, and our
There is no better
opportunity to instill the Word of God into the heart and mind of a child than
during these watering years, for a child’s ability to memorize is at its peak.
Thus, within our Bible-based curriculum, there is a significant emphasis given
to the memorization of Biblical truth as well as academic facts.
The third developmental
stage spans grades seven through twelve and can be described as a most challenging
period of cultivation. This season of education is a time when concepts
previously learned will be evaluated and synthesized for full understanding and
application.
It is not uncommon
for students to experience an academic/character “crop failure” during this
season of education. Some become turned off to education and lose their desire
or motivation to learn. Why? Because substantial planting and sufficient
watering did not take place in the earlier years. When such children cross the
threshold between the presentation of concrete facts and the introduction to
abstract concepts, they cannot make such a transition. However, the spiral
approach of much of our curriculum to achieve mastery of the subject material,
as well as New Bridge Academy’s soon-to-be ACSI-accredited Courses of Study
(target date--April 2011), greatly enhances the student’s opportunity for
successfully passing through this transitional season of education.
The
final stage or season of the educational process is harvesting. The receiving
of the cherished high school diploma is the beginning of the harvesting
process. It is the culmination of the seasons of planting, watering, and
cultivating the educational and spiritual life of a child.
Our
faculty and Bible-based advanced curriculum prepares students academically. Our
emphasis on Biblical principles molds the student spiritually to stand firm in
his faith and bring forth abundantly the fruit of the Spirit. These seasons of
education—planting, watering, and cultivating—bring forth a Christian
educational harvest whereby our children, teenagers, and young adults give
honor to their Creator God and love and respect to their loving, caring parents.
Sincerely in Christ,
Stan Stone, Headmaster