PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE

Impact Statement:
One of the distinctive elements of Birchwood Christian school is its preparation of students for a life-keeping faith with God. Spiritual formation assists students in the development of a pattern of life that leads to Christlikeness. The evidence of a biblical lifestyle involves the practice of spiritual disciplines, a balance of discipline and correction, head to heart development of the mind, body, and character, and a spirit of service and gratefulness.
Rationale:
Students express an informed faith in Christ, have a visible testimony, are engaged in church and other related activities of growth and service that contribute to the Great Commission, act appropriately for justice, equity, and peace, and make maturing application of biblical principles in organizational, family, and social relationships.
Mission Objectives: Students…
Personally respond to carrying out the Great Commission locally and around the world in a culturally sensitive manner.
Understand and commit to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Know, understand, and apply God’s Word in daily life.
Are empowered by the Holy Spirit and pursue a life of faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Treat their bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit. Are actively involved in a church community, serving God and others. Respect and relate appropriately with integrity the people they work, play, and live with.

Impact Statement:
Birchwood Christian School Students have the opportunity to intentionally assist students in developing a coherent and consistent worldview. BCS seeks to assist students in framing their view of God, molding their understanding of what it is to be human, grounding them in their faith, and shaping their values of a person’s place in society, community, family, and church.
Rationale:
Students apply the unifying principle of God as the Creator and Savior in their thinking as it relates to all content disciplines, have a working knowledge of biblical worldview, demonstrate an understanding of the inherent tension between popular culture and a biblical worldview, and evidence a commitment to bring life, beliefs, and behavior into conformity with the teachings of Christ.
Mission Objectives: Students…
Have a critical appreciation of languages and cultures of other peoples, dispelling prejudice, promoting harmony, and encouraging biblical hospitality. Are committed to lifelong learning. Understand the worth of every human being as created in the image of God. Can articulate and defend their Christian worldview while having a basic understanding of opposing worldviews. Possess apologetic skills to defend their faith. Embrace and practice justice, mercy, and peacemaking in family and society. Understand that work has dignity as an expression of the nature of God.

Impact Statement:
As an academic institution, it is our responsibility to well-educate our students. Students need to engage in ideas, principles, and knowledge of content in a thorough and comprehensive way. Learning should engage a general acquaintance with many things and a thorough examination and mastery of many others. Students should be able to reason, be reasonable, be articulate, and demonstrate graciousness.
Rationale:
Students evidence learning across disciplines, demonstrate a proficiency in transferring learning from one subject to another, utilize higher order thinking skills, demonstrate an ability to think logically, support inferences, and justify conclusions, evaluate a variety of problems, and utilize multiple and creative strategies in solving or posing possible solutions to them.
Mission Objectives: Students…
Are well prepared in all academic disciplines, and are skilled in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and thinking. Are proficient in mathematics and science. Appreciate literature and the arts and understand how they express and shape their beliefs and values. Value intellectual inquiry and are engaged in the marketplace of ideas (open honest exchange of ideas). Have an appreciation for the natural environment and practice responsible stewardship of God’s creation.

Impact Statement:
Students must develop a strong knowledge base, but the academic institution has an obligation to teach the skilled use of that information. Students need to be able to read, speak, and write, make application of logic, utilize tools of research, frame their questions, compute the resources and facts, investigate their findings, and be confident in their conclusions.

Rationale:
Students utilize a variety of resources including technology to develop and evaluate information, demonstrate an ability to develop thoughtful questions in problem solving, engage their community responsibly both politically and socially, evidence an attitude of responsible stewardship of Creation, life, time, finances, and material goods, and articulate the biblical respect for all vocational callings as a gift from God.
Mission Objectives: Students…
Know how to utilize resources including technology to find, analyze, and evaluate information. Have the skills to question, solve problems, and make wise decisions. Understand, value, and engage in appropriate social (community) and civic (political) activities. Are prepared to practice the principles of healthy, moral family living. Are good stewards of their finances, time (including discretionary time) and all other resources.