ANNUAL REPORT - Bethany Christian Schools

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Principal’s Report —Allan Dueck The past year marked something of a transition at Bethany Christian Schools. With the completion and dedication of new facilities, Bethany focused on forward-looking planning initiatives along with providing Christian education of the highest quality for students. This report highlights several achievements of 2005-06. First, Bethany carried out a thorough marketing study that yielded useful counsel. Given Bethany’s excellence in preparing young people for active Christian discipleship and leadership in the 21st century, Bethany engaged marketing consultant Richard Harrison Bailey (RHB) to enhance the school’s profile in Elkhart County. After meeting with many groups inside and outside Bethany, RHB led the faculty and board in developing a new tagline for marketing the school: Learning that lasts. Faith that lives. In addition, the firm designed an attractive new logo and a new school sign with an LED message panel. RHB highlighted the importance of effective one-on-one recruitment for growing the enrollment. To implement this counsel, we refined admissions procedures and challenged teachers and those close to the school to tell others about Bethany and encourage students to enroll. Second, students enjoyed rich opportunities for learning. Bethany students continued to excel academically as Bethany’s seniors again earned outstanding SAT scores in 2005-06—with averages significantly above local, state, and national averages. While high scores are just one indication that students are engaging in learning that lasts, other evidence supports this too. For instance, when students interview parents or pastors for social studies or Bible projects, they’re making connections between their studies and their future. They also do so when singing in Jubilate Singers, acting in The Crucible, presenting speeches in class, and serving as Student Body Association leaders or fish heads. And they do so while engaging in non-traditional learning activities during Interterm—assisting lowincome people through LaCasa, conquering fears while climbing mountains in Colorado, and examining racial issues while exploring colonial history and culture in Virginia. Students are also learning for the future when they utilize digital technologies to complete assignments. And Christian teachers such as Matt Miller and Eileen Becker-Hoover, who believe God has called them to mentor young people, guide students as they learn. Third, students explored issues related to their faith and developed a language of faith. Christian Smith, a sociologist researching the religious lives of American teens, recently found that youth are more open to faith and the church than most Christian adults think, but few speak with adults about religion or acquire a language to speak about faith. In contrast, at Bethany students and teachers talk about faith issues, and teachers encourage students to follow Christ and discover the joy of serving others. At Bethany students speak about faith in classes—such as World Geography where they discuss how Christians might respond to inequities in the world while studying differences between the developed and developing world. They listen to pastors and teachers in chapels, serve on worship teams, and participate in service assignments for classes and school-wide service days. And, most important, seniors articulate their own faith in a public setting for their Bible project. Given students’ opportunities to think about the Bible and church history and faith, it’s little wonder that pastors often commend Bethany students and alumni for their capacity to articulate their faith. As the new tagline asserts, Bethany encourages students to cultivate faith that lives. Thank you again for helping to provide an excellent education for today’s young people, enabling them to discern their Christian calling to serve Christ here and across the globe. BCS Annual Report 2005-06 / Page
Board Chair’s Report —Eldon Heatwole Thank you for generously supporting Bethany Christian Schools by enrolling your children, praying for students and staff, attending school events, volunteering at Fun Fest, serving on committees, and providing financial support! Let me share several achievements of the past year. First, collaborative efforts with key stakeholders grew. In 2005-06, the first year of the new Partnership Plan, 11 congregations joined—a substantial increase from the three congregations remaining on the old plan the year before. In the spring of 2006 several more congregations were actively considering membership for the coming year. In a parallel initiative, Bethany established a special partnership with three area congregations with more diverse memberships, including Iglesia Menonita del Buen Pastor and True Vine Tabernacle. On another front, in 2005-06 Bethany administrators met with a representative group of parents to reshape the school’s Parent-Teacher Organization. What emerged was a significantly changed organization built around eight Action Groups, including the Fine Arts Action Group and the Sports Action Group, which give parents a chance to volunteer their help in areas of their interest. Most parents and teachers committed themselves to participate. These two initiatives promise to enhance collaboration of church, home, and school at Bethany. Second, Bethany concluded a highly successful capital campaign and building project. As a board, we are deeply grateful for the generous support of all who early on contributed cash and pledges to fund the entire $4.63 million project costs. Now that the five-year pledge period is nearing the end, we’re grateful too that almost all donors are following through on their pledges. During the summer of 2005, renovation of the high school wing was completed. Improvements included installation of large new lockers, acoustic ceiling tile, and new paint and carpeting coordinated with the new middle school wing. Also during the summer of 2005, the master plan for the grounds, including a new wetlands educational area, was implemented. Shrubs, trees, grasses, and flowers significantly enhanced the beauty of our campus. On November 6, 2005, Bethany celebrated completion of the building project with a worship service thanking God and honoring donors. Third, Bethany committed itself to a major new strategic planning process. With successful completion of the capital campaign and building project, Bethany determined to embark on a strategic planning process. In June 2006 the board confirmed plans to seek accreditation with not only Indiana’s Department of Education, as in the past, but also Mennonite Education Agency and the North Central Association. The planning process, expected to span two years, calls for input from many Bethany stakeholders—parents, pastors, alumni, students, faculty members, board members, conference personnel, and so on. As a community, we need to discern together where we believe the school should head during the next five years to ensure that it continues to effectively prepare today’s youth for Christian service. Having completed the maximum nine years on the board, I am writing my final report as board chair. My board experience has heightened my conviction that Bethany provides Christian education of the highest quality. I believe that, as time advances into the 21st century, we must reshape our institutions to meet current needs, and we must support them with our encouragement, dollars, ideas, efforts, and prayers. May we continue to work together to provide quality Christian education for our young people, so that their generation too may follow Christ, serving others in the church and community. BCS Annual Report 2005-06 / Page
Page 1: Bethany Christian Schools 2005-06 A
Page 5 and 6: Class of 2006 (Front row) Krysten P
Page 7 and 8: Parent-Teacher Organization Executi
Page 9 and 10: Carmen Stutzman Thompson June Hersh
Page 11 and 12: Timothy/Margaret Thut* Dana Troyer

ANNUAL REPORT - Bethany Christian Schools

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