FEATURE: CORE VALUES

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BY DR. TIMOTHY WIENS, HEAD OF SCHOOL OF MPCSAt the Core S Strategic planning is a process that independent schools, non-profit organizations, and for-profit businesses and industries regularly undertake to ensure they are meeting their mission, acting upon their core values, and appropriately setting goals around those strategic initiatives. Over the course of the 2019-2020 school year, MPCS engaged in a With Christ at the center, these four Core Values are the heartbeat of MPCS and essential to all that we do. When creating programs, examining curriculum, competing on the athletic field, and performing on stage, we understand that these actions must embody the four values. They encourage us to strive to glorify God. They ensure we provide the best comprehensive strategic-planning process, al- that education has to offer. They enable us to lowing every stakeholder – students, alumni, pursue excellence, to do better tomorrow than parents, grandparents, board, faculty, and we did today. staff – to provide input into the direction of Now, as we begin to plan for the next five

4 CORE VALUES:

LEARNING FOCUSED C OMMUNITY ORIENTED CHRISTCENTERED PURSUERS OF E X C E LLENCE

the school over the next five years. By engaging our people, our goal is to inspire and unite our community through the process, ALLOWING US ALL TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER, SO THAT, ULTIMATELY, OUR STUDENTS MAY FLOURISH.

As we considered how to best work out a strategic plan, we knew we needed to implement Core Values that would help guide the work we do each day. These values are derived from a renewed support of the mission of the school: Providing academic excellence in a Christcentered environment, Mount Paran Christian School unites with home and church to prepare servant-leaders to honor God, love others, and walk in Truth. Our Core Values help us determine if all that we do meets our mission. These values include being Christ-Centered,

Learning Focused, Pursuers of Excellence,

and Community Oriented. years, we understand full-well that the world is changing at a pace that is unprecedented in human history. We understand that while we are groups. This invaluable input is assisting us to looking to the future, we are facing issues and ensure we deliver the highest quality educaunforeseen challenges we have not previously tion to our students over the next five years. A experienced, such as the extraordinary period of Virtual Learning brought about by the CoroCHRIST-CENTERED MPCS embodies a nurturing culture where biblical worldview committee – comprised of the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents, LEARNING FOCUSED MPCS enables students to explore deeply, think critically, experience authentically, LEARNING FOCUSED navirus pandemic. To not plan for an uncertain future would be unwise and would guarantee we would not succeed to our utmost potential. We covet your prayers and seek God’s ultimate plan for the future of our school. and deep faith are developed in the hearts and minds of students to impact the world for Christ. COMMUNITY ORIENTED MPCS nurtures community through relationships, service to others, and family connections. and grandparents – has taken this community feedback and is working together to design the strategic plan and five-year outlook. The final strategic plan will be presented to the larger school community in the winter of 2021. PURSUERS OF EXCELLENCE MPCS rigorously seeks the highest standards for exemplary education with quality opportunities for learning, problem-solve confidently, and retain meaningful learning. PURSUERS OF EXCELLEN C E COM M U N I TY ORIENTED CHRISTCENTERED

As we strategically plan for the future of WE HAVE MUCH TO CELEBRATE well-balanced student development, and a complete experience for families.

MPCS, we will produce a plan of action, initiatives, goals, responsibilities, benchmarks, and indicators of success. The strategic plan

ABOUT THE PAST, BUT EVEN MORE TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE FUTURE.

includes an understanding of our mission and values as a school community, a blueprint for action, broad milestones to monitor progress, and information that enables us to improve programming and better promote the school. Our constituents have provided feedback through a S.W.O.T. analysis, participated in a school-wide Strategic Planning Forum, and engaged in division- and area-specific focus With the help of the entire MPCS family, we are creating a plan that will enable us to meet our mission and make an impact in the world around us. We continue to seek God’s plan for our school and for our students in everything we do. The future holds so much opportunity. With the four established Core Values in mind and the strategic plan as our guide, we will set a strong course for all that is to come.

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