As the Reid Temple Christian Academy prepares for another school year, we are so thankful to God for all that has been done to accomplish the mission of providing a holistic Christian education-one that ministers to the whole child-body, mind and soul. We believe that the Academy is continuing to fulfill the biblical mandate that if you "train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." (Proverbs 22:6, NIV). We also believe that the foundation that is provided at the Academy will prepare our students to reach their full, God-given potential and make a positive impact on the world.

The Academy has worked tirelessly to provide our students with not just an exceptional educational curriculum but also to provide them with a broad range of opportunities. These opportunities included Speech Meet, Art Contest, Chess Tournament, Band, Dance, Mad Science, Choir and Archery. Academy students are also given an opportunity to become published authors and illustrators through our partnership with Student Treasures.

We have been blessed by the tremendous support of our PTSA and parent volunteers who have worked with students, faculty and staff in all areas from field trip chaperones to monthly mystery readers.

During our inaugural year, I asked students, parents, teachers and staff to join us on an awesome journey of learning. Along this journey, we symbolically asked our students the soul searching question posed by Marianne Williamson, "Who [are you] to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?" and our students triumphantly demonstrated Ms. Williamson's answer "...who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."

We have taught our students to expect the best, to do their best, and to see the best in others. They are taking their rightful positions as predestined by God and are truly God's "chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that others may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light."

As we continue on our journey, the best is yet to come. We will continue to reflect and transform ourselves into exactly what our students need to be productive citizen in a changing world. So, I encourage you, to join us on this awesome journey of learning as we forge upward and onward to follow our vision of academic excellence.