End-of-Year Updates
By Brett King, RMCA Headmaster
A few months ago in Perspectives, I alerted you
to some of the projects “in the works” around RMCA. In this
Perspectives article I want to take the time to share with you how some
of those projects are progressing and some of our plans for over the
summer.
But first, I want to tell you how excited I am about next
year. With over 90% of our current students reenrolling for the fall,
and a continued influx of new students, 2007-08 enrollment is strong
and getting stronger. We should easily exceed the record of 320 students
that were enrolled in K-8th grades this year!
Building and Security Improvements
In May, we completed a major upgrade to our data
and voice networks. It’s now possible to go anywhere in the main
building, playground, or modular and communicate wirelessly on our phone
and computer networks. This has helped us to streamline our communication
procedures in the event of an emergency.
Additionally, we planned to create areas with controlled
access in the main building. Although we had anticipated completion
of this project by now, the building permits were delayed for several
months by Boulder County. We now expect work to begin in early June
and to be completed by the time school starts in August. These controlled
areas will have limited access during school hours, but will still allow
students to move freely within each zone.
Over the summer, we also plan to make continued improvements
to the modular building. This will include upgrading bathrooms and landscaping,
making that temporary building a more appealing home for our middle
school students.
“Perks and Pages” Coffee Shop and
Book Store
Also delayed by building permits, construction on
the bookstore should begin in early June and be completed by the start
of school. Plans call for the bookstore and coffee shop to be open during
school hours, providing a place for parents to “hang out”
after they have dropped off their children. So if you want a place to
work on your laptop or just have a cup of java with your friends, check
out Perks and Pages near the west entrance next fall.
Faculty and Staff Changes
Since our inception, RMCA has been blessed with a
very stable leadership team, faculty, and staff. Next fall will be no
different. Only 2 of our K-8 teachers do not plan to return to RMCA
next year. We wish Dan Bauer (7th/8th grade math/science) and Bill Watkins
(7th/8th grade history/logic) the best in their new endeavors. They
will be missed! At the time of this writing, we were in the final phases
of filling these vacant positions with outstanding instructors. We look
forward to introducing new teachers to you in the fall.
Curriculum Refinements
RMCA regularly evaluates and updates curriculum materials.
This school year, RMCA’s K-8 Principal, Dr. Robinson, led a team
of parents and teachers to analyze and refine our writing and composition
curriculum. What they have discovered so far has been encouraging, but
also daunting. Because this area of our curriculum is so vast and so
important to what we do, we have decided to take an additional year
to continue our research and development. We want to be sure we get
this right, since one of the most important elements of a classical
education is the ability to express one’s self persuasively and
eloquently.
High School Planning
You may have noticed the announcement in the Monday
Memo of the launch of our online high school program beginning this
fall. This was no small decision, but one that will be an exciting first
step in our journey to create a distinctively classical and Christian
“brick and mortar” high school. In the months ahead, a high
school task force will continue to tackle the exciting yet challenging
issues that face us as we seek to create a place where students can
be motivated and equipped to seek truth, goodness, and beauty!
May God bless you this summer!
