FAQ#3:  Will we have the same transportation system for students when we move to the new campus in Ramsey?

A:  The Ramsey campus is in the Anoka-Hennepin School District, therefore we still can avail ourselves of their transportation services.  Transportation dollars are state monies that go with the student, so every student at Legacy generates transportation dollars for their local school district. Every Anoka resident gets free transportation to any school within District 11 boundaries. We have met with Anoka transportation and asked about changing starting and ending times at our new campus, and they said they would look at those possibilities once we move.  But for now, we will receive free transportation through the Anoka District for all district residents at our new campus.  We are also considering running bus shuttles to areas outside the district as well as a shuttle from the NorthStar train station in Ramsey to our campus as a way to draw more students to Legacy

FAQ#4:  What kind of student are you looking  for at Legacy?  Is the emphasis on academic excellence eliminating students that struggle academically?

A:  We have learning labs and a discovery center that do help students with a wide variety of abilities succeed at Legacy.  Because of our small class sizes and very skilled and dedicated faculty, we are able to help students with learning disabilities and learning differences. We do not have a special education program at Legacy.  As we look at our student model, we are emphasizing developing the whole student.  Students learn differently and we attempt to differentiate our instruction to accommodate different learning styles. As we develop new ways of instructional delivery that emphasizes collaboration and inquiry-based learning, students who traditionally found school boring will become more engaged in learning.

We look for students/families that are here because of our faith commitment and are willing to partner with us in educating their children.  We want students to understand, when they are developmentally capable, that they need to own their learning.  Students are not learning to make mom and dad happy or to please their teacher, but they are learning to reach their God-given potential.  It is a student’s job to learn, that is why they are in school.  With that premise, willingness to work hard with a positive attitude really does make a difference regardless of ability.  This is a huge paradigm shift from the way many schools do school. We expect our students to work hard and do well.

On January 30, 2012, we had a parent meeting where we laid out the future plans for Legacy Christian Academy.  The second part of that meeting was a chance for parents to gather in the lower gym to record questions and comments about Legacy’s future. The conversations, comments and questions were enthusiastic and helpful. Further opportunity was given for clarification and questions at four “Closer Look” gatherings that I hosted for parents during February and March.  In the next few blog postings, I will attempt to answer the frequently asked questions (FAQ) that were raised by participants at these gatherings.  Clarity on these FAQ’s will help us move forward with the exciting plans that we feel God is calling us to fulfill at Legacy Christian Academy.

FAQ #1:   We love Legacy.  We want stability for our children.  We want to tell our neighbors and friends about Legacy…BUT, until we see a wall going up at the new campus, we are hesitant. We have been disappointed by starts and stops in the past.  We want to know Legacy will be here for the next 100 years…..when will we know for sure???

A:  That is the million dollar…..no, the twenty-two million dollar question.  We are on schedule with the timeline we explained at the parent meeting.  We have submitted the credit package and the pro forma to banks and are expecting to hear back if they are interested in conversations by the end of March. We are hopeful that those conversations will lead to commitment by bank(s) to offer us financing for the new building. This timeline will allow us to break ground this summer with an anticipated move in date of Fall 2013. Please keep praying for a positive outcome from the bank process.

FAQ #2:  Have you dropped Bible memorization from the Legacy curriculum in the upper grades?  If so, why?

A:   Absolutely not. We have changed our placement of Bible memorization to hopefully give it more meaning and context. Bible memorization used to be “tested” in homerooms and there was a great amount of inconsistency in how this was done.  We found that many students would quickly memorize the passage….some as they walked into homeroom….and just as quickly forget the passage once it was written.  We felt it would be taken more seriously and be put into a more meaningful context if it were part of the Bible class curriculum which is where it is found currently.  Rote memorization of any subject matter is the lowest and least effective learning tool.  Understanding and engaging with the material will allow that material to actually be learned.

More FAQ’s to come…….thanks for reading them.

The last blog was about our character program.  I believe it is an important part of who we are and our mission of ”Cultivating Christian Leaders to Change the World”.  I have the “opportunity” to talk to students about behavior that does not meet our Legacy expectations.  This is another way of saying….I get to deal with students that are in trouble.  This does not happen very often.  I am very impressed with the behavior of our students.  The vast majority are respectful and kind and on rare occasions need to be reminded of behavior expectations. On those occasions, I appreciate so much the ability to talk about Christian character.  There is such a difference when you can remind a student of high expectations instead of rules. Our culture is starved for people who do the right thing because it is the right thing.  I believe that by teaching these traits, putting them in a Biblical context, positively reinforcing the desired character traits and expecting our students to demonstrate them; we are making an important difference in their lives.

Under the direction of our extremely creative art instructor, Elise Valley, our upper school art students have created the mural pictured below and displayed in our main hallway.  Wisdom, this month’s trait, will soon be added to the mural.  It is a great visual reminder of the importance of Christian character in our school.

Legacy has embarked upon a new character development program for the 2011-2012 school year.  Every month we will emphasize a character trait that supports our vision of “Creating Christian Leaders to Change the World”.  A friend of mine once said that creating smart leaders without developing their character is just creating more Enrons.

These character themes are implemented in our chapels, in our Legacy periods for Middle and Upper School and in the classrooms of our Lower School. A student-created mural is on the wall in our main hallway that illustrates the character traits we have emphasized each month. We are also beginning a reinforcement program that further encourages students to demonstrate Christian character traits.  This month’s theme is Authenticity….”walking your talk”.  How do we become authentic? In our faith, in our relationships, in sincerely getting to know each other and care for each other.

It is a privilege to work at Legacy where we have the ability and the responsibility to develop students’ character.

Jesus told us to love our neighbors as ourselves.  Very clear…not much wiggle room in that statement.  How do we model that commandment to our students at Legacy?  Our all school service-learning day in December was an attempt to teach the importance of service.  Please note the “learning” part of the description.  It is so very important, regardless of the age of the student, to begin the conversation of why it is a privilege to serve others.  People who are less fortunate than us, regardless of the circumstances, need our compassionate support.  Our students, whether packing meals at Feed my Starving Children,  learning about service opportunities in the inner city, buying and wrapping Christmas presents for needy families, doing chores around school, sewing blankets for the homeless, reading to pre-school students, singing to residents in a nursing home……are learning the importance and joy of serving others.  Our all school service-learning day is an important day at Legacy, and we are already in discussion on how to make it even better next year.  It is a privilege to serve others.