Why AKCS?
With all the other schools
available, why would someone choose to send their child to Airdrie Koinonia
Christian School? We can think of lots of reasons!
1. Proven Track Record: Airdrie KCS
was founded in 1987, and has grown from a K-7 school of 54 to a K-12 school of
about 300. Annual re-enrolment runs between 85% and
95%. The primary reason given for not re-enrolling is that
a family is relocating. Indeed a number of families, teachers, and the school's
principal have been with the school for ten years or more.
2. Christian Peer Group: Parents
choose Airdrie KCS for their children because they agree with its values. High
school students must make their own personal choice to attend the school and
abide by its standards. Consequently, there is tremendous agreement about right
and wrong and what constitutes acceptable behaviour.
The problems commonly associated with schools today are virtually non-existent
at Airdrie KCS: bullying, swearing, drinking, smoking, promiscuity, defiance,
disrespect. Our junior and senior high students
are worthy role models and our elementary students tend to follow their lead.
The student who studies hard and behaves well is the norm rather than the
exception. Peer pressure is the pressure to do well and follow the Lord.
3. Excellent Teachers: All of our
teachers are deeply committed born-again Christians who, we believe, have been
called and gifted by God to teach in a Christian school. When they advise a
student about career plans or counsel them about misbehaviour,
it is done from a Biblical perspective. Teachers
seek God for the answers to problems and will take time to pray with students
or parents about any concern. They are exceptionally well
qualified. All have a Bachelor of Education degree and current Alberta Teaching
Certificate. Nearly all have also received additional training at Bible college and are certified by the Association of Christian
Schools International. Many hold multiple degrees, and on average have about
ten years of teaching experience.
4. Superior Academics: The school
uses a balance of traditional and individualised
instruction depending on the needs and maturity of the children. For example,
in high school all core courses are taught using direct instruction while over one hundred electives are available by using independent study, the
Internet, and other outside resources. The school
does not screen student applicants on the basis of academic ability;
nevertheless, the average
AKCS student will typically achieve in the top
twenty percent of all students in Canada. In recent years our
grade three and grade six students have been in the top
one percent of schools in the province on the Provincial
Achievement Tests, and our grade nine students in the top five percent on those same tests. (We do not yet
have enough grade twelve students to provide reliable statistics for Diploma
Exams, but so far they are above provincial averages overall.)
5. Outside Accountability: Airdrie KCS
is member of the Koinonia Christian Education Society which includes nine
Koinonia Schools across Alberta and the Northwest Territories. This is the
largest system of independent schools in the province. Each school is
independently run, but there is tremendous support
available to the Board and Administration to help
ensure that the school operates with the highest ethical and academic
standards. When problems arise between parents and the Board, or a teacher and
the Administration, there are outside resources to call in for advice and
prayer. If a school needs financial assistance, there are others available to
lend a hand.
6. Very Affordable Tuition: Tuition
rates are the lowest available in our area. The cost of the first child in any
grade is just $4200 per year; the
second child is just $2400,
and the third is only $1200! Not
only that, but there are no additional fees. That's it. Just $6600 for two children for an entire year of
Christian education. (And most families pay $200 less due
to our special rebate program.) How can we do this? Two reasons: First, our
dedicated teachers give up approximately 20% of public school salaries for the
sake of ministering in a Christian school. Second, we have chosen to create our
school from very inexpensive portables (average cost: $20 per square foot) and
pay cash, so we have no mortgage.
7. Personal Attention: The average
class size is 22. The largest class is no more than 28, and every elementary
teacher has a part-time Teacher-Aide to assist with the critical subjects of
Language Arts and Math. Teachers can modify their program to meet individual
needs, and students get a lot of personal attention!
8. Peaceful Setting: Approximately
one quarter of our student population comes from Calgary, and one of the
reasons they give is that they like the rural setting and peaceful atmosphere
of our school. The short 10-20 minute ride in the country is relaxing with
little traffic and a bit of time to talk with the kids. The trip home becomes a
time of prayer. Families from Calgary are often
pleasantly surprised by how close we are, and how peaceful it is in the
"country."
9. Parental Involvement: All parents
are required to be involved in the school by helping out as a monitor from time
to time, assisting with fundraising, and volunteering for other projects. This
means that our parents and teachers get to know each
other very well and can work together to provide the best
education possible for our children. Research indicates that the best education
occurs in those schools which have active parental support and involvement. It is one of the reasons why our students perform so well
academically.
10. Physical Education: Students in
senior high are provided numerous opportunities to explore life long leisure
activities through our off-campus Physical Education program. A wide variety of
activities are available including canoeing,
horseback riding, mountain biking, golfing, scuba diving, rock climbing,
hiking, and orienteering. There are also competitive sports
teams for basketball and volleyball. These teams have been consistently
recognized for their tenacity, skill, and sportsmanship.
11. Biblical Command: The Bible
says nothing about Christian schools, but it says a lot about Christian
education. In fact, the Greatest Commandment in the Bible includes the command
to teach our children. Listen to what it says in Deuteronomy 6:4-7, "Hear
O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one! And you shall love the LORD
your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your
heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them
when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down
and when you rise up." In fact, the whole chapter is
joined together with "and's" making it all
one thought and all part of the "Greatest Commandment." The Bible is very clear, then, that we are to teach our children the
ways of God diligently, morning, noon, and night. Some
parents choose to do this in a Home School, and others delegate this
responsibility to teachers in a Christian School. If the former is not a viable
option for you, and you live in the North Calgary/Airdrie Region, then Airdrie Koinonia Christian School stands ready to assist you in
fulfilling this Biblical command.
Brian Hazeltine, B.Ed., M.A.
Former Principal, Airdrie
Koinonia Christian School
Last Modified: 2008-02-22