We are passionate about teaching students and teaching them well! We are not interested in the latest fads but will use any approach (old or new) which has been proven reliable and is consistent with Christian teaching. Our program has been built around eight key principles. These principles under gird and guide every aspect of the program and are considered the keys to our success. Click on each link to see what we believe each of these principles include.
Every day begins with prayer for staff and students alike
The Bible is considered the ultimate "policy manual" and "textbook" giving wisdom for every decision
Scripture should be studied and memorized so that it may be accurately and regularly applied
Bible is considered a core subject and given "core time"
Chapel is held every week as a time to worship God and be encouraged in Christian living
Textbooks, wherever possible, are written by Christian believers
All subjects are taught from a Biblically integrated perspective
Biblical principles are systematically integrated into policies and procedures
Christian character should be nurtured every minute of every day
Teaching is viewed as a gift of the Holy Spirit
The teacher is considered integral to the learning process
Access to a competent teacher is the chief value of the school experience
Opportunities to interact with the teacher (as opposed to computers) should be maximized
The teacher assesses the needs and determines the activities which occur in each class to meet those needs
The teacher is accountable to God, the Board, and the Parents to ensure that learning occurs
Understanding of simple concepts should proceed more complex ones
Students who are skilled in the basics are best equipped to learn advanced problem solving
All students should be able to read well, write well, and calculate quickly and accurately
Phonics, spelling, and math facts are foundational to reading, writing, and arithmetic
Creative writers must first be literate writers
Creative artists and musicians must first be skilled artists and musicians
Good athletes should first of all be "good sports"
Our definition of "Teaching" is "Causing Learning to Occur"
Nothing has been "taught" until "something has been learned"
If one method, no matter how credible, doesn't work, another should be tried
If one resource doesn't work, another should be tried
Methods and resources should be found and implemented until learning takes place
Policies and procedures should support, not undermine, the learning of each student
Parents should be informed of the success or lack thereof of each program
Results should be verified through a variety of means including standardized testing
Every teacher is a born-again Christian
At least one parent from every family is a born again Christian
All society members and board members are born again Christians
Every family is actively involved in a local church
The school does not seek to admit unsaved students in order to evangelize them
Every high school student is committed to the Lordship of Christ
Daily instruction from wise and understanding teachers is key to developing a Christian world view
Daily example from godly role models is key to developing Christian character
Success breeds success
Mastery of concepts fosters self-confidence and therefore a willingness to try something new
Mastery of concepts provides the proper foundation to be able to succeed at the next task
Success on complex concepts is best assured by "mastery" (80% or better) of the simpler ones
It is better to ensure that a few things are learned well than many things poorly
Students with differing abilities should not be treated the same
Not all students can or should work at the same pace or with the same materials
All students can do well if the program is properly designed for them
All students should be allowed to study at a level appropriate to their gifting
Programs should be adapted to students, not the other way around
Parents are ultimately accountable to God for the upbringing and education of their children
The school exists to support the ministry of the home by confirming and reaffirming the values of the home
Parents are actively involved in the daily activities of the school
All policies are determined by the local board and can be changed by that board
The Board is composed of members of the Airdrie Koinonia Christian School Society
The Society is composed of parents with children in the school
Last modified: 2001/07/04