5 Reasons for
Why I’m Excited About This Year
By Brett King, RMCA Principal
Shiny shoes. Hole-free pants. Odor-free lunch
boxes. Sharp hair-cuts. What do these all have in common? You guessed
it: the first day of school! Over the years, some of my first school
days have been filled with deep anxiety. Others with joyous anticipation.
And a few with sheer terror. However they have ALL been filled with
a sense of excitement. This year is no exception.
I am excited about this year because we have strong and
unified board leadership. Over the summer, the school board spent time
identifying its goals and topics to address in the coming year. Key
among these is working in conjunction with Rocky Mountain Christian
Church on how building expansion plans will impact the future size,
scope, and direction of RMCA. Additionally, the board will be assessing
the method and timing for pursuing K-8 accreditation. (The preschool
was reaccredited last year.) To get parents perspectives on these and
other issues, we have commissioned a consulting firm to conduct a survey
in October. Watch for it!
I am excited about this year because we have our most
experienced staff ever. Since our inception, we have grown rapidly and
added staff just as fast. At every phase, God has been faithful to provide
the right person at right the time. And that was certainly the case
this year. The quality and longevity of our classroom teachers combined
with the caliber and competence of our administrative team will better
enable us to complete the development of the middle school and focus
on building the quality of our existing programs.
I am excited about this year because we have focused school-improvement
initiatives. Last year we deliberately gathered information about our
programs and policies from our teachers and parents. Many of you shared
your insights and ideas in our parent advisory meetings, open forums,
and roundtable discussions, as well as through our “comments”
email and comment cards. As a result, we made immediate adjustments
in some areas and considered feedback in other, more complex areas.
Using this feedback, the staff collaboratively identified
three areas of focus for the years ahead: (1) curriculum refinement,
(2) staff development and policy review, and (3) parent education and
communication. Addressing and growing in each of these areas will no
doubt help RMCA go from good to great!
I am excited about this year because we have record enrollment.
We will serve nearly 200 students in our early childhood programs and
300 students in our elementary and middle school programs. In addition
to the continuing interest in RMCA from the community at large, we also
realized a high percentage returning students. The national returning-student
average for most Christian schools is 85%, which has been true for us
over the years. Our rate was 90% this year. Behind these enrollment
statistics are real kids. And impacting kids is why we exist!
I am excited about this year because we have an inspiring
mission to guide us. When I was boy, I spent time sailing on some of
Colorado’s lakes and reservoirs. One the first navigation principles
I learned was to set my eyes on a fixed object in the direction I wanted
to head. When the wind changed direction or the waves seemed overwhelming,
a fixed gaze kept me on course. RMCA’s mission is similar to that
fixed point in the distance. It helps us navigate the present while
inspiring us to move toward a desired destination. At times we have
gotten off course, and at times the destination has seemed beyond our
reach. However, we are more committed then ever, more tenacious then
ever, and more optimistic than ever that we are a…
Classical and Christian school dedicated to equipping
students to impact their world for Christ by igniting a life-long passion
to pursue truth, goodness, and beauty.
