Deeply Rooted Strategic Plan (January 2023)

THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

CHRISTIAN HERITAGE SCHOOL

LIFTS US ALL. A GREAT PLAN

CHRISTIAN HERITAGE SCHOOL

A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

CHS FAMILIES, LION ALUMNI, FRIENDS, & COMMUNITY PARTNERS,

Since 1986, Christian Heritage School has been DEEPLY ROOTED in providing an outstanding Christian education that prepares students for God's plans for their lives. Our mission of Educating Children to Serve Christ drives our daily actions and long-term decisions. In the next chapter of our CHS story, we are excited to share our Deeply Rooted Strategic Plan that will address areas of emphasis designed to strengthen our programming and prepare for our future.

For more than 35 years, CHS has been blessed by a strong community of supporters, employees, and volunteers that have helped create the foundation of the experience our students benefit from today. With over 500 Lion Alumni, a current enrollment of 570 students (from seven local counties and five countries) and 100 employees, the school’s impact on our local community, our country, and the world continues to grow.

During the prayerful process of considering our next steps in strengthening our institution, Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV) provided strong inspiration: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, [deeply] rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

Christian Heritage School will embark on efforts to continue the enhancements being made to our Active Faith pillar [DEEPLY ROOTED].

In addition to Biblical knowledge, we will be expanding and enhancing opportunities for our students to experience mission opportunities and servant leadership with a K-12 perspective. We will be [BUILT UP IN HIM] as we complete a campus master plan that will address both urgent and long-term expansion for our growing programs and enrollment on both North and South Campus.

[STRENGTHENED] in the faith is enhanced by a unified and versatile staff that models a lifelong-learner mentality while implementing national best practices and meeting the individual needs of our students. CHS is committed to enhancing student achievement through this process. And finally, as we are [OVERFLOWING WITH THANKFULNESS] for the countless blessings God has given us and the continued support of our community. CHS needs to be financially sustainable. As a debt-free institution committed to serving families across Northwest Georgia, CHS will implement national-normed strategies to help maintain a valuable tuition rate and alternative revenue sources.

Join me in thanking God for Christian Heritage School, and praying about our future as well as the countless families that will be eternally impacted by our efforts. Deeply Rooted will quickly enhance the experience of our day-to-day operations and prepare us to broaden our impact in the future.

DEEPLY ROOTED IN HIM,

Kent Harrison HEAD OF SCHOOL

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The idea of a Christian school in Northwest Georgia began in 1985 with the collaboration of several local pastors and community leaders who sought to deliver the highest level of education, with a Biblical foundation, to children across Northwest Georgia. After spending one year in intentional prayer, it was decided that Christian Heritage School would open its doors in 1986 at Kinsey Drive Baptist Church. With three teachers, one principal, and 37 students in grades kindergarten through six, the vision of a Christian school came to fruition.

In 1994, after several years of continued growth, two community leaders donated an 11-acre tract to the school. A significant matching grant led to the establishment of the CHS Endowment Fund, allowing the new campus to be built debt free. In 1997, CHS opened the doors of a beautiful new facility, at its current location, in the heart of Dalton, to 218 students and 31 staff members.

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Over the years, CHS continued to add middle and high school grades, and the first graduating class was honored in 2001. Throughout the course of the next decade, new educational and athletic facilities were added to the campus. In 2012, a top-of-the-line athletic stadium was constructed, and the school joined the Georgia High School Association (GHSA).

Over the course of six years, trustees, loyal families, alumni, and community partners dedicated their time, talent, and treasure to the purpose of expanding opportunities for K-12 students and furthering the school’s vision. CHS’s first capital campaign, Building Excellence Together began with years of prayer and resulted in a fundraising effort of $30 million. In November of 2013, CHS broke ground on the beginning phase of a new high school campus. Through the generosity of a local family, the school was given 107 acres across the street from the original campus. On this land, a 65,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility was constructed and opened for the first day of classes on August 14, 2017.

Today, Christian Heritage School stands on a 150-acre, debt-free campus, with an endowment of more than $6 million, while being overseen by an elected Board of Trustees. The Deeply Rooted strategic plan will help CHS identify current needs as well as future projects while continuing to further the school’s mission of Educating Children to Serve Christ

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GOD-SIZED DREAMS.

CHRISTIAN HERITAGE SCHOOL

Our school’s Active Faith pillar has had a tremendous impact on my life and continues to work through me to impact those I have the opportunity to serve. My CHS story began just a few short years ago, in 2020, when I walked through the doors of Christian Heritage for the very first time. I arrived with an open mind, praying for a fresh start and for God to use me how He wanted to in some way. Coming from a nearby public school, I had no idea what to expect, but almost immediately, I witnessed how intentionally our school seeks to act as the hands and feet of Jesus. Service opportunities were all around me, and I really felt led to do more for my community and my new school. Through the phenomenal faculty members and the leadership of my peers, I have truly grown in my faith far beyond what I ever imagined possible. Active Faith allows me to serve Jesus and others in some way each day, and CHS has shaped me into the best version of myself through the leadership positions I have grown to love. I would never have an experience like what CHS has given me at any other school, and I feel blessed each day that I was given the gift of a CHS education for my high school years.

-OLIVIA BEAVERS (‘24)

ACTIVE FAITH

DEEPLY ROOTED

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ACTIVE FAITH DEEPLY ROOTED

SERVICE

• Implementation and expansion of divisional service opportunities

• Development of parent/community committees

♰ The school’s backbone is built upon strong partnerships with its families. CHS will launch an official “Community Association” for parents, grandparents, and supporters to be actively involved in the experience and mission. Opportunities to serve and get involved will be available at each division, with the advancement of the institution being the ultimate goal.

MISSIONS

• Implementation of divisional missions goals

♰ Grades K-5: Know and Go - Students will understand and experience love, joy, and peace as the Holy Spirit leads them to deeper levels of truth contained in the Bible.

♰ Grades 6-8: Show and Go - Students will exhibit patience, kindness, and goodness as the outward manifestation of a life motivated by the grace of Christ in their hearts.

♰ Grades 9-12: Grow and Go - Students will cultivate faithfulness, gentleness, and selfcontrol through the discipline of the Spirit, which enables Christians to demonstrate the impact of God’s grace in their life.

KNOWLEDGE

• The school will maintain a continued commitment to instilling a Christ-centered education in every student through the teaching of God’s Truth throughout the classrooms, hallways, chapels, extracurricular activities, and daily functions.

• Professional development of the school’s dedicated faculty will provide high-quality Biblical programming, which will allow every student to shine in their own unique way.

The campus at Christian Heritage School is the foundation of the experience. Each of the four pillars’ strengths, Academics, Athletics, Arts, and Active Faith, rely on creative spaces that allow students to grow and maximize their skill set. It will be exciting to see a campus plan that impacts each division’s experience, arts and athletics, and enhances active faith.

-STEVE HERNDON

FATHER OF CHASE (‘17), ELLIS (‘20), MARY MARGARET (‘20), AND MITCHELL (‘20)

MEMBER OF THE CHS ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION, INC.

CHRISTIAN HERITAGE SCHOOL

2 CAMPUS MASTER PLAN

BUILT UP IN HIM

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CAMPUS MASTER PLAN BUILT UP IN HIM

CHS will embark on an updated campus master plan to accommodate the school’s enrollment growth and increased program demands.

• Addresses urgent needs of: ♰ Classroom expansion in each division

Performing arts space

Carpool and traffic flow

Athletic facility expansion to meet practice and competition demands

• Consideration of divisional locations to maximize student experience

• Development of flexible outdoor dining space to suit divisional growth

• Accommodate strategic placement of administration and admission offices

• Renovation and cosmetic enhancements to the current lower and middle school building on South Campus

• Safety-focused decisions on the interior and exterior of campuses

• School frontage and signage enhancements

At CHS, our dedicated faculty designs challenging learning experiences that are deeply rooted in the teachings of God’s Truth while also preparing our students for the life God has planned for them.

In lower school, foundational skills in reading, writing, and math are emphasized along with individual expression, character building, and faith. These all lay the groundwork for what is to come as students become critical thinkers and problem solvers.

In middle school, students begin to branch out and accept more responsibility for their learning. The middle school cultivates higher-order thinking skills along with creativity to give students various opportunities to grow academically and spiritually.

In high school, students are provided numerous opportunities to learn about their world and who they are in Christ. Our college-preparatory curriculum is uniquely designed for students to be successful after high school both academically and spiritually. Armed with the full armor of Christ along with the 21st century skills of collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking, our students are well prepared to meet the challenges they will encounter after high school and beyond.

-BRITT ADAMS ACADEMIC DEAN DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

ACADEMICS

STRENGTHENED

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ACADEMICS STRENGTHENED

CHS will enhance student achievement by continuing the work and intentionality of a unified and versatile staff who models a lifelong-learner mentality. While implementing national best practices, the school will maintain the ability to meet the individual needs of its students.

STANDARDS ALIGNED CURRICULUM

• Biblical integration in all content areas

• Backward Design as a planning framework, with unit plans and pacing guides for all courses and grade levels

• Continued vertical and horizontal alignment to ensure consistency between disciplines and grade levels

INSTRUCTIONAL BEST PRACTICES / TEACHER SUPPORT

• Renewed focus on student-centered, research/evidence-based instructional practices (including Harkness), with emphasis on the “4 Cs” (collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking)

• Enhanced literacy across the curriculum

• Instruction differentiated by content, product, and process informed by data

ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING

• Intentional focus on formative assessments to inform instruction and summative assessments to evaluate student learning

TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

• Maintain a consistent network for technology integration

• Design a robust digital learning environment for both students and staff

• Provide multiple digital solutions for teaching and learning

• Professional development intentionality for technology-integration mastery

STUDENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT

• Additional social-emotional support for students and push-in support for differentiated instruction

As we move into a new strategic phase in the history of Christian Heritage School, our mission remains constant. We have made great strides in excelling as THE exemplary Christian school in our geographic region, and our goal is to continue to expand our academic, arts, and athletic facilities and programming to not only meet but exceed the needs and expectations of our students and families.

Sustaining a successful educational program in an independent school setting requires commitment and support from all members of the school family –from the Board of Trustees and Head of School, to our teachers, faculty and staff, students and their families, and alumni and friends. It is a collective effort by all to achieve success in a Christ-centered environment.

-BART HILL FATHER OF GRACIE (‘20), MIA (‘24), AND HENRY (‘26) MEMBER OF THE CHS BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND CHS ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION, INC.

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CHRISTIAN HERITAGE SCHOOL

FINANCIAL WELLNESS OVERFLOWING WITH THANKFULNESS

CHS will continue its story as a Christ-centered, debt-free, college preparatory, independent school. Independent schools rely not only on tuition but on both parental and community support to enhance the experience of students and faculty. As growth continues, it is imperative that CHS expands and solidifies its financial-wellness initiatives to further the school’s mission of Educating Children to Serve Christ. With a tradition of inspiring support that has impacted the lives of so many, the school requires continued financial commitments to ensure the impact can continue and strengthen for years to come.

• Design and develop a campaign strategy to meet the needs of the updated campus master plan

• Design and implement a consistent annual fund strategy that is both understood and well-supported by the CHS community for the benefit of each student

• Balance the need for operational advancement with maintaining an affordable tuition point for Northwest Georgia

• Continue cultivating endowment growth to help with today’s and tomorrow’s growing expenses

• Maximize the opportunity for tuition support through the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program

• Identify enrollment targets and expenses with a five-year enrollment plan

EDUCATING CHILDREN TO SERVE CHRIST