Some parents only consider private school when children are approaching adolescence because they’re worried about negative influences among teenagers. Statesville Christian School says it’s wiser to expose students to a private Christian education much sooner.
“Younger children are more impressionable and eager to learn and remember facts well,” says Jennifer Jones, director of advancement and admissions for SCS, the largest private school in Iredell County. “By the time they get to middle and high school, they’re developmentally at a stage where they’re challenging everything. It’s critical to lay the foundation for a biblical world view while they’re still little.”
SCS was established in 1995 as a grassroots, independent and interdenominational Christian school. It currently serves 300 students in grades K-12 and employs 35 highly-qualified teachers.
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One of the cornerstones of the school’s educational mission is the cultivation of leadership skills.
“We are striving to prepare students for the future academically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally,” Jones says. “Whether they’re going to be a stay-at-home mom building the next generation, a doctor who finds a cure for cancer or a high-level executive of the next Fortune 500 company, we want them to be citizens who lead and give back to society in a positive way.”
That means instilling, first and foremost, a love of Jesus and His teachings that provides a moral compass for every situation, says Head of School Dr. Barry Redmond.
This priority is outlined in scripture. Consider: “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 and “ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,” Colossians 3:23.
“The recent passing of ‘America’s pastor,’ the Reverend Billy Graham, created an enormous amount of news media recognizing his influence and impact on our world,” says Dr. Redmond. “Losing people with such influence begs the question ‘Who will replace these amazing people?’ No one can deny the complexity of today’s world. Evil and violence abound, division and mistrust are rampant; and the default escape for many is found in substance abuse, improper social media, and a multitude of poor choices. Our only hope is Christ, and his message is only received when it is lived out in front of others in a consistent, dependable manner.”
At SCS, the mission is to develop strong Christian leadership at all grade levels. “The end goal is to place young Godly leaders in every vocation around the globe. A more civil, kind, safe, and caring society is only possible when the next generation of leaders are equipped with a strong faith and stand ready to lead others toward a better way —God’s way,” adds Dr. Redmond.
Of course, moral lessons don’t come at the expense of practical academic work that prepares students for college and the workforce. The school offers rigorous AP and honors courses in math, science and literature, and its students score above the state and national average on both the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the ACT.
SCS also teaches soft skills that enhance the ability to lead in any industry or community, such as time management, organization, commitment, responsibility, grace, courage and a strong work ethic.
Through extracurricular activities, such as fine arts, athletics, internships, mission trips and service projects, SCS is able to provide avenues for students to develop their interests and God-given talents. Skills such as teamwork, diligence, dedication and perseverance are also reinforced and nurtured.
Children exposed to this kind of spiritual and leadership instruction early are better able to navigate a world in which peer pressure and both social and traditional media may send the wrong message.
“Media, peer pressure, and misguided perceptions bombard us with messages that our worth comes from the opinion of others,” Jones says. “God tells us we are fearfully and wonderfully made, created by His hand, and He loves us so much that He sent His Son to die in our place as the payment for our sin. Ultimately, we want students to know they are loved beyond measure by their God, their Creator, and to serve Him with all their heart, soul, mind and body. If they do that, the world will be a better place for us all.”
SCS is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), AdvancEd, SACS and the North Carolina Department of Non-Public Instruction.
For more information, call (704) 873-9511 or visit the school’s website at StatesvilleChristian.org.
