As we go throughout the year, you will hear and see the phrase ACS LION PRIDE on a regular basis. If you follow our social media, you will see our hashtag #acslionpride. What exactly is Lion PRIDE? ACS strives to Pursue Righteousness in Discipleship Education on a daily basis. Practically, how do we achieve that? Well, ACS has a set of schoolwide expectations (PRIDE) that we desire our students and staff to follow. Please familiarize yourself with them and make sure that everyday you strive to have ACS Lion PRIDE and be an active member of the ACS family. P.R.I.D.E. P - We are Peacemakers - We use the Golden Rule. We treat others as we would like to be treated. We use our manners (yes/no ma’am/sir, please and thank you). We strive to live in peace. When situations are challenging we step up and try to bring resolution. Peace must be made. Peace never happens by chance. A peacemaker is never passive. We always take the initiative. We are up and doing whatever it takes to live in peace. We strive to honor God in all that we do. (Colossians 3:12 You are always and dearly loved by God! So robe yourself with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others.) R - We are Responsible - We keep our area clean. We are considerate of others. We do what is expected of us. We always are teachable and committed to personal growth. Responsibility is not so much related to the tasks performed or the obligations, but rather with commitment involved. Becoming a responsible person means being able to consciously make decisions, conduct behaviors that seek to improve oneself and/or help others. Because of the level of responsibility we have, people around us are confident and secure. When around us, people think, “yes, they are a responsible person, they will do it and things will work out." We strive to honor God in all that we do. (James 13a & 17a 13 If you consider yourself to be wise and one who understands the ways of God, advertise it with a beautiful, fruitful life guided by wisdom’s gentleness. 17 But the wisdom from above is always pure, filled with peace, considerate and teachable.) I - We have Integrity - We are honest, brave and take ownership of our school. We do what is right when no one is looking. Integrity in its simplest form is purity of intention. It’s keeping a clean conscience. To some extent, integrity contains a bit of reliability, a healthy helping of honesty and a portion of sincerity and kindness. Purity of intention is really a reflection of the heart, and having a pure heart before the Lord is so important. We strive to honor God in all that we do. (Colossians 3:23 Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others.) D - We are Disciples - The standard definition of “disciple” (noun) is someone who adheres to the teachings of another. It is a follower or a learner. It refers to someone who takes up the ways of someone else. Applied to Jesus, a disciple is someone who learns from him to live like him — someone who, because of God’s awakening grace, conforms his or her words and ways to the words and ways of Jesus. We follow the teachings of Christ because we love Him. We are learners and remain teachable at all times. We stay humble and remain grateful. We strive to honor God in all that we do. (Colossians 3: 10 & 11 10 For you have acquired new creation life which is continually being renewed into the likeness of the One who created you; giving you the full revelation of God. 11 In this new creation life, your nationality makes no difference, nor your ethnicity, education, nor economic status--they matter nothing. For it is Christ that means everything as he lives in every one of us!) E - We strive for Excellence - Excellence refers to pursuing and doing the best we can with the gifts and abilities God gives, giving our best effort to the glory of God. Excellence is not being better than everyone else. Excellence is being the best we can be with God's grace. We try our best with what we have. We do not strive for perfection. We strive to honor God in all that we do. (Philippians 3: 12 & 14 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.) As you go throughout the school year, make sure you are doing your best to have ACS LION PRIDE. Remember, every student that comes to our school deserves to LOVE their experience. Teachers and Staff make a huge impact on the experience that our students have. We hope that you love our school and that your students will love it too! We believe that loving the ACS experience starts with having ACS Lion Pride! Being Shepherds:
In a healthy school culture, it is about the Shepherd (teacher/faculty) equipping the sheep (students). In an unhealthy school culture, it will be about the teacher. We want to make sure that our school culture is founded in equipping the sheep (students). The mission of our church is to Reach People, Build Lives! It is important that we are in alignment with the mission of our church. The students are the sheep. The teachers/faculty are the Shepherds. We are training them. Sheep: have hair that can grow long and sometimes prevent them from seeing, have great hearing, have the inclination to follow a leader into a new pasture, can become stressed when they separate from their flock, can recognize human faces for years to come, can learn to respond to their name, very trainable Shepherd: knows his sheep, takes time to develop relationships with them so they know his voice and trust him, understands what threatens sheep and what makes them sick, leads them to fresh pastures and fresh water, defends them against enemies, brings them back to the flock when they go astray, shears them so they can see, disciplines them, comforts them, works tirelessly to keep them moving forward, keeps sheep from fighting or hurting one another, anoints them with oil to heal an injury, has joy in finding lost sheep, carries them close to his heart, is gentle with the young sheep, has deepest satisfaction when the sheep are well fed and safe, rejoices in the prosperity of the flock- the shepherd is INVESTED What is our school mission? To train disciples to impact their home, community, workplace & world. Q: Who are the disciples that we reference in our mission? A: the students Q: Who is the person doing the training? A: the teachers Training takes time. To train (definition): to teach a skill or type of behavior through practice and instruction over a period of time. 1. Teaching requires more hands on work than than most other professions. “The teachers job is to help students see themselves in this continuum and to get them moving” (Teaching to Change Lives) Ultimate goal of teaching is GROWTH... academic & spiritual growth. *Academically: We need to give constant feedback so students can correct errors and lead them in the right way so that they will grow in knowledge. We teach from a biblical worldview *Spiritually: Speak the truth in grace. When situations arise we need to work with the students so that they learn and grow from the situation. Be consistent in discipline yet allow kindness to bring repentance. Romans 2: 4 MSG “God is kind, but He is not soft. In kindness he takes us fairly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change. 2. If we take the time to listen to children, love them despite their behavior and rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us in training them we will be in awe of the GROWTH that we will send at the end of the school year. *Academically: We are in covenant with families until they withdraw, are dismissed or the school year ends. We need to make sure that we are doing what we say we will do. Make sure you have helps classes weekly (they are a form of intervention for those who need more help). Teach bell to bell and answer any questions they may have academically. *Spiritually: Pray for your students by name. Speak kindly to them and their parents. When we see a parent, go out of your way to say hello. This job is one of public relations. Keep all communication with parents and students in the attitude of love. 1 Corinthians 13:3-7 MSG “If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.” Do not say or do anything that is not out of love. Every loveless act is sin. Think about it.... Who do we not treat with love? 3. Providing a clean and organized classroom, ample instruction, and consistent discipline and training is essential to maintaining a healthy classroom culture that desires student GROWTH. The success of a teacher is in the compassion they have for each individual. We have to tend to the flock but care for the individual. *Academically: being able to identify an academically weak student and making sure that you have done everything that you could have to help them succeed academically *Spiritually: identifying a broken child that shows symptoms of bad behavior (lying, cheating, aggression, and even manipulation) and making sure that you have done everything that you could have to help them be restored to the Father This can be hard for the shepherd. Sometimes we have that one sheep that is stubborn or wants to do their own thing. Sometimes we may be faced with a temptation to strike back. We must remember that God is love. We are a reflection of His love and kindness can lead to repentance. Matthew 18:12-14 MSG “Look at it this way. If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine and go after the one?” Here are some Conflict Resolution tips that will help you when circumstances arise that require us to care for the individual student:
Why do you teach? Great pride comes in caring for children. Maybe - personal satisfaction. The humble work of teaching something for the first time can be unmatched. The gift of teaching through the lens of a biblical worldview is eternal. At the end of the day, we all do what we do because we are called. Remember: In a healthy school culture, it is about the Shepherd (teacher/faculty) equipping the sheep (students). In an unhealthy school culture, it will be about the teacher. We want to make sure that our school culture is founded in equipping the sheep (students). DEFINITION OF CULTURE: CHARACTERISTICS & KNOWLEDGE OF A PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ENCOMPASSES LANGUAGE, SOCIAL HABITS, MUSIC, ART & RELIGION ANOTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE CULTURE IS THE SHARED PATTERNS OF BEHAVIORS & INTERACTIONS (CAN BE LEARNED & DEVELOPED BY A SOCIETY) IN ORDER TO GROW SPECIFIC PATTERNS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO A GROUP. CULTURE GIVES A PICTURE OF THE SOCIETY ITSELF AND MOST SOCIETIES ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR CULTURE. SCHOOL CULTURE: OUR SCHOOL’S CULTURE DETERMINES HOW WELL OUR SCHOOL FULFILLS THE MISSION THAT WE HAVE. OUR SCHOOL CULTURE IS LIKE AN ICEBERG. WE HAVE VISIBLE AND NON-VISIBLE FACTORS THAT AFFECT OUR SCHOOL CULTURE. OUR SCHOOL CULTURE IS DEVELOPED & MAINTAINED BY STUDENTS, SUPPORT STAFF, TEACHERS & ADMINISTRATION. EACH ONE OF YOU HAVE INFLUENCE HERE AT ACS. YOU ALL PLAY A VITAL ROLE AND WHO YOU ARE AS AN INDIVIDUAL AFFECTS THE CULTURE OF THIS SCHOOL. HOW EACH ONE OF US DOES OUR JOBS & FULFILLS OUR ROLES REALLY DOES AFFECT THE SCHOOL’S SPIRITUAL CHARACTER & VALUES WHICH ULTIMATELY PLAYS A ROLE IN HOW WE HELP FORM OUR STUDENTS LIVES.
WHEN PARENTS REGISTER THEIR CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOL, THEY ARE GIVEN A REGISTRATION PACKET. IN THOSE PACKETS, PARENTS WILL FIND PAPERWORK & OUR STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK. OUR MISSION STATEMENT AND PURPOSE STATEMENT ARE FOUND AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK. THESE STATEMENTS MAINLY REFLECT THE CULTURE THAT ACS IS KNOWN FOR. HOWEVER, THERE ARE PLENTY OF THINGS THAT AREN’T ON PAPER THAT DEFINE OUR SCHOOL CULTURE AS WELL. HERE ARE A FEW: BELIEFS OF RIGHT & WRONG; WHAT WE WEAR (STAFF & STUDENTS); HOW WE DISCIPLINE; HOW WE TREAT STUDENTS, PARENTS & VISITORS; HOW WE LOVE OTHERS; HOW WE (AS EMPLOYEES) ACT ON CAMPUS & OFF CAMPUS. EACH TEACHER AT ACS IS A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR. MORE THAN THAT WE ARE AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST. AS WE START EACH DAY WE MUST RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLES REALLY ARE. THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO BE IN CHURCH EVERY CHANCE WE CAN GET, WE NEED TO BE IN THE WORD OF GOD (MEMORIZING SCRIPTURE & ANALYZING IT). WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE SHARE IN REGARDS TO OUR TESTIMONIES. PHILLIPIANS 1: 27 & 30 (LIVING AS CITIZENS OF HEAVEN) PAUL IS WRITING TO THE CHURCH IN PHILIPI: 27 ABOVE ALL, YOU MUST LIVE AS CITIZENS OF HEAVEN, CONDUCTING YOURSELVES IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT CHRIST. THEN, WHETHER I COME AND SEE YOU AGAIN OR ONLY HEAR ABOUT YOU, I WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE STANDING TOGETHER WITH ONE SPIRIT AND ONE PURPOSE, FIGHTING TOGETHER FOR THE FAITH, WHICH IS THE GOOD NEWS.30 WE ARE IN THIS STRUGGLE TOGETHER. YOU HAVE SEEN MY STRUGGLE IN THE PAST, AND YOU KNOW THAT I AM STILL IN THE MIDST OF IT. IN CLOSING, REMEMBER THE WORLD DEFINES THE CULTURE THAT SURROUNDS US. OUR CAJUN CULTURE IS KNOWN WORLDWIDE FOR OUR FOOD, MUSIC, AND EVEN LANGUAGE. MODERN AMERICAN CULTURE HAS LITTLE TO NO UNDERSTANDING OF A CHRISTIAN WAY OF SEEING THE WORLD. AS CHRISTIANS, WE SHOULD BE DIFFERENT IN HOW WE ACT, OUR WORK ETHIC, HOW WE ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS, HOW WE DRESS, WHAT WE VALUE, AND EVEN HOW WE SPEAK IN COMPARISON THE CULTURE OF THE SECULAR WORLD AROUND US. WE HAVE TO BE PURPOSEFUL OF HOW WE INFLUENCE THE CULTURE OF THIS SCHOOL AND WE HAVE TO BE DELIBERATE IN ALL THAT WE DO INSTEAD OF JUST LETTING THINGS HAPPEN. WE HAVE TO BE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN, WITH ONE SPIRIT, ONE PURPOSE ALL FIGHTING FOR THE SAME FAITH IN THE GOOD NEWS. OUR SCHOOL’S MISSION SHOULD BE SO INFLUENTIAL THAT IT DRIVES CHANGE WITHIN ALL OF OUR HEARTS AND ULTIMATELY WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY. OUR SCHOOL CULTURE SHOULD BE ONE THAT IS COUNTER THE CULTURE THAT THE SECULAR WORLD ESTABLISHES. IF WE WANT TO TRULY IMPACT THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THEN WE MUST APPROACH EVERYTHING THAT WE SAY AND DO WITH A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW. ONCE WE BECOME A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN, THEN THE CULTURE THAT WE LIVE IN AND SUPPORT MUST BE ONE THAT IS BASED ON THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRIST. IF YOU EVER FEEL TIRED OR WEIGHED DOWN, REMEMBER VS. 30: "WE ARE IN THIS STRUGGLE TOGETHER." REFERENCES: HTTP://WWW.EQUIPPINGCHRISTIANSCHOOLS.COM.AU/ "Good boundaries, both those that help us manage ourselves and lead others, always produce freedom, not control." from "Boundaries for Leaders: Results, Relationships, and Being Ridiculously in Charge" by Henry Cloud I have been reading/listening to this audio book for a few weeks now. It has been teaching me so much about the importance of boundaries from a leadership standpoint. I had previously read Dr. Cloud's other book that is simply entitled BOUNDARIES and knew that this new edition of his book would be great for me to read since coming into a leadership role here at ACS. As I read through the first 4 chapters, several things stood out to me that correlate with having boundaries as a tool for classroom management (even though this book does not reference classroom management at all). Below you will find information straight from his book that may help you with your classroom management. I have changed the words "leaders" into "teachers" and "organization" into "students". All credit for the following information goes to Dr. Henry Could. I pray that this information helps you utilize boundaries to create a positive learning environment here at ACS. DRI = The Directly Responsible Individual! As a teacher, you are the DRI of your classroom. Ask yourself, "Who owns it?" It is a central principle of boundaries: ownership. Ultimately, teachers own their classroom. Teachers are the ones who define and create the boundaries that drive the behavior of the classroom. What a teacher has to “not allow.” What the teacher has to say no to and how to prevent those things from existing in the classroom is vital for having a successful learning environment. Teachers are a positive force for good and a negative force against bad. Students need to know what the teacher is for and what they are against. You will get what you create and what you allow. Besides giving direction, good classroom management and boundaries also establish the norms and behaviors that drive success. They build unity and energy. Good classroom management and boundaries diminish bad behavior and forge an immune system that automatically identifies, isolates, and stamps out toxins, infections, or other viral patterns that would make the classroom environment sick or lead it away from its values, mission, purpose, and results. Strong teachers set up the kind of culture and structures that will deal with negative behavior quickly and effectively so that it never takes root. The work of classroom management is always twofold: 1- to make sure positive conditions exist 2- to rid classrooms of the negative elements that stand in the way of high performance. Just think of what is possible if the right conditions exist: innovation, creativity, problem solving, goal orientation, planning and organizing, initiation and perseverance, adaptation, self-regulation, and more. SCIENCE BEHIND IT: The brain relies on three essential processes: 1-Attention: the ability to focus on relevant stimuli, and block out what is not relevant: “Pay attention!” 2-Inhibition: the ability to “not do” certain actions that could be distracting, irrelevant, or even destructive:“Don’t do that!” 3-Working Memory: the ability to retain and access relevant information for reasoning, decision making, and taking future actions: “Remember and build on relevant information.” In other words, our brains need to be able to: (a) focus on something specific, (b) not get off track by focusing on or being assaulted by other data inputs or toxicity, and (c) continuously be aware of relevant information at all times. Teachers must set the stage and ensure that: a. What is important is always being attended to—attention. b. What is not important or destructive is not allowed in—inhibited. c. There is ongoing awareness of all the relevant pieces required to fulfill the task—working memory. What structures, disciplines, and practices make sure that your students are attending to what is most important? What processes do you have in place that are inhibiting what is disruptive, irrelevant, or destructive? How do you keep students conscious of what they need to be conscious of in order to make it all work? How do you manage your classroom in a way that enables students to attend, inhibit, and remember? The ACS student handbook provides teachers with the rules that they should be using within the classroom. If you need help with classroom management, please contact your immediate supervisor for assistance. |
Monique SanchezPrincipal Categories |