ON CAMPUS
CORE VALUE:
Community O R I E N T E D
F
BY JASON BEARD, ASSISTANT HEAD OF HIGH SCHOOL
amily. It is one of the first words that come to mind when thinking of Mount Paran Christian School. Being community oriented is one of the MPCS four core values. We are a school that strives to know each student and love them as they mature and grow into their faith. One high school student said in an anonymous survey, “[The MPCS community] is
LIKE A SECOND FAMILY, WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR YOU, AND WILL BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED THEM MOST.” We were meant to live in community and do life together. At MPCS, we nurture community through relationships, service to others, and family connections. In James K. A. Smith’s book On the Road with Saint Augustine, he describes authentic community and mentions the true friend is one who has realized what you’re called to be and is willing to let you be uncomfortable as you wrestle with that calling. This beautifully describes the role of faculty, staff, and coaches on campus who develop relationships with students and who help young people learn who they are in order to carry the name of Jesus as they enter the world. Laura Gardner, parent of two recent MPCS graduates, shares her thoughts about the role of community: “At every stage, from preschool to high school, MPCS has provided our children with the support they have needed to reach their full potential academically, spiritually, and socially.” MPCS is a family
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that nurtures the whole child so they can best understand what it means to flourish and cause others to flourish. Ours is a community that serves and loves one another. Jesus said that people will know we are His disciples by our love for one another. Another high school student reflected on what MPCS family represents to them: “The community shows me love and support. I like knowing that they really care and will always try to help you.” We strive to create an environment in which students feel known and loved by faculty and then are challenged to show that same love for neighboring communities. Whether it is a Family Serve Day, a Serve Saturday, students collecting funds for cancer research, or one of our many high school service clubs in action, our students are using their experience at MPCS by imitating the model of Jesus as servant-leaders. In reflecting on her children’s experiences at MPCS, Pam Keller said, “I am thankful that
SO MANY AT MPCS HAVE TRULY KNOWN THE HEARTS OF MY CHILDREN AND HAVE TAKEN TIME TO PRAY WITH THEM, SHARE WISD O M , L ISTEN, A ND C ONNEC T. ” From Friday night tailgates and football games, to spiritual retreats, parent education seminars, service together, or a note of encouragement from a teacher, Mount Paran Christian School is a family that loves well. W
2020 Homecoming Queen, Maggie Epps
