May 11 Home Communicator –This year has been one of ups and downs, refinement, questioning, and growth at the middle school. As we take a brief minute to sit and reflect, we can’t help but say – “Wow, all of that happened in one year?” We started the year with anxiety and nervousness as sixth graders made the trek over to the middle school; to a place most had not been before due to various restrictions. However, through faithful guidance by staff and teachers they are now seasoned professionals at navigating the halls of the middle school and all of the ins and outs of middle school life. The staff developed a new chapel routine to make sure that our student body would never stop worshiping our God in all circumstances. Staff worked diligently to make opportunities possible for students, whether it be on field trips to the dunes, winter camp, Camp Roger, service projects, athletics, plays, and concerts. These many different opportunities continued to help us build community and continue to challenge us to live as one body in Christ.
As we look back through all of the challenges, modifications and hard decisions this year has presented, it continues to be very special. Our middle schoolers have grown physically (you should see some of the 8th graders)! Our middle schoolers have built a strong community within their homeroom and other classes. Our middle schoolers have been challenged and nurtured in developing their faith. Most importantly, no matter the differences, difficulties, or changes, our middle schoolers have remained rooted in Christ and focused on giving Him the glory through it all.
I recently had a prospective family come for a talk and a tour of the school. One of the questions they asked me was “What is this place like?” I answered confidently that we are a family. We have been tested, and pushed to our limits at times. Living in community with others is hard, but out of it has come beautiful times to pray together, help each other in the Word, and cry out for answers. It has been a blessing and an honor to see how in this year God has truly taken our weaknesses to show His strength in our staff, parents, students and community.
2 Corinthians 12:9-11
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
In Christ, Justin Knot, Middle School Principal
