Past Principal Points
Working Together
Over the
years one of the great challenges AKCS has faced and (largely) overcome is
creating a
sense of unity and community. When we
first started out in the basement of Living Springs Fellowship, we were a small
school of 54 students from kindergarten through grade seven. There were just
twenty families or so in the entire school. Everybody knew everybody. During
the summer there were workbees as we mounted
chalkboards and bulletin boards, moved in desks and chairs and books and
shelves. There was a lot to do, and when we came down to the final inspection
we were told that it wasn’t good enough. It was crushing, but we were able to
get some grace from the building inspectors to finish a few things right then,
and open on time the following Monday.
Eight
years later we tackled a much bigger project in the move to our present
location. As the summer progressed and buildings were moved on to the site, it began to look like a
small concentration camp. Mud and boards and tools
were everywhere. The buildings were UGLY! The rooms needed paint. Even more
books and shelves and desks had to be moved in. As fall approached, we again
were not ready, and this time we had to delay the opening of the school by a
week. It was exhausting, but there were some good things that came out of it.
One of the
most important benefits was that it drew us together. In part,
this was simply through the fact that we worked side by
side digging trenches, pounding nails, mounting skirting (do you know that we
have about a half mile of skirting on the bottoms of all our portables?!!),
etc. Working side by side gives people the opportunity to talk and share about
their families and churches and their school involvement. It builds Koinonia.
Second,
these kinds of experiences drew us together because we faced a common obstacle and overcame it. There was a problem that was too big for any one of us, but
together we were able to meet it and overcome it. It’s a wonderful feeling, and
it helped to develop that sense that we are a team and a family…. A community.
We don’t
have many work bees anymore. Right now, there is nothing that requires all of
us to be involved. That’s nice, but it means that we have to find other ways of
bringing ourselves together and strengthening our community. Some of the ways
we do this are through our Parent-Teacher CARE nights, our concerts, and our
banquets. These are all good times of fellowship for us, and they are important
for the life of the school. But, we also need to do these kinds of things for our children. We need to provide opportunities to work side by side as a team
and accomplish what no single individual could do.
One of the
best ways that we do this is through our
This year,
in addition
to our teachers who take time off of their
weekends to spend with our children picking garbage, we are asking as many
parents as possible to join us. This is
such a wonderful opportunity to teach our children that we are not above doing
menial work, and that we believe in the principle of service to others with no
thought of return. Over the years I’ve been a part of a lot work bees and
serve-a-thons. I’ve picked lots of garbage and shoveled lots of snow. I think
it is one of the most important ways that I teach my own children (as well as
yours) what I think being a Christian is all about. We’d love you to help with the fundraising side as
well (especially approaching businesses), but if not, at least join us to pick
garbage. It’s a good time, and it’s good for our school,
and it’s good for our kids. Please consider joining us on May 24.
Principal,
Copyright © 2002/2003 Airdrie Koinonia Christian
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