Thursday, May 27, 2021

The day-to-day challenges we face can sometimes steal our focus and our joy and it can cause us to wonder if what we are doing is actually working. There are times we need to slow down and remember that all of our students are at different points along their journey to fulfill their God-given potential, and if we are able to refocus on our ultimate goal of educating not only their minds, but also their hearts we realize there is a reward for our hard work and determination to find what is true, good, and beautiful. 

 

With final exams approaching and the anticipation of summer vacation, we can easily lose sight of our ultimate goal of producing young men and women of wisdom and virtue. It can be difficult to finish a school year, especially a year which included the uncertainty of COVID-19, but I want to encourage each of our students, teachers, and parents to stay focused on the task at hand and remember why we are investing so much of our time and energy into this priceless education. The task of educating our student’s hearts and minds is a challenging and sometimes frustrating task, but it is well worth the reward if we continue to pursue God’s purpose and the excellence it brings. Galatians 6:9 states it best, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

 

The first fruits of this “harvest” will be visible next week as we graduate our first senior class. This celebration of our seniors as they graduate is also the perfect time to reflect upon the different stages of growth for each of our students, and remember that each day, week, and year done well is one step closer to fulfilling their God-given potential. As we prepare to celebrate the graduation of our first senior class, it is evident that our graduates have fulfilled our school’s mission and are prepared to move on to the next chapter in their lives. Pete, Jacqueline, and Samantha are each an excellent example of what a graduate of Jackson Hole Classical Academy should be. 

 

These seniors are an encouragement to me as a parent because I see the quality of graduates from Jackson Hole Classical Academy. As a teacher these seniors are a reward for the hours of hard work, preparing lessons, grading papers, answering questions, and investing in their hearts not just their minds. As the Dean of Students, I am proud of these seniors because I can see that our mission is more than just words. I am thankful for the standard of excellence that our seniors and our school have established, and I look forward to a tradition of future graduates continuing to take what they have learned and contributing to a free and flourishing society.

 

Sincerely,