A HAMILTON DISTRICT CHRISTIAN HIGH PUBLICATION
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the holy one, is here. Be Still, for the Presence of the Lord by David J. Evans
FALL 2023
Vol. 17 Issue 1
Faithful Presence
The theme for 2023-24 School Year is Presence Ways We are Present Each person who comes to HDCH, whether staff, student, parent or community member, is called to be present. Adults, present with our students, support HD’s vision that our students be a faithful presence in the communities that they serve. We are called to be: • Present with God • Present with each other • Present with our students • Present in our city and region
Why Presence? When HDCH staff speak about being present with students, we mean working “with” students and knowing each student.
Social Discipline Window Costello, Wachtel and Wachtel, 2009
Our 2023-24 theme of Presence asks each of us to be more intentional in the ways we are present with students, families, and with one another. As adults, we know that modeling presence will help our students be more present in their learning and daily interactions.
Expectations & Challenges
high
Educators and support staff alike are intentional in our relationships with students. We set high expectations for community participation, while simultaneously providing high support to reach those expectations. This is consistent with the Restorative Practices we are committed to at HDCH.
low
TO
WITH
NOT
FOR
Support, Nurture
high
Our Anchor Image This 500-year-old image from a language textbook written by John Amos Comenius is our anchor image depicting what being present with students means.
The student is poised to learn, pointing to his ear that is ready to hear and inclining his head toward his teacher. The teacher stands, cloaked in knowledge, ready to walk alongside the student, sharing the wisdom that he has learned that is inspired by the Word of God which shines through him. We see both student and teacher with their two feet firmly planted on fertile ground–putting them in a place of readiness for learning as they journey together. While ideas about teaching have evolved from Comenius’ time, there are many faithful messages that resonate as we think of being present with our students today. Comenius and his student circa 1650
HDCH Vision: To see all HDCH students be a faithful presence in the communities that they serve.