At Providence Christian School (PCS), we believe that there is a clear Biblical responsibility for parents to educate their children. We are called to teach the commandments diligently to children and to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. These commissions are at the heart of what we believe Christian Education should be: the raising up of children in the knowledge and love of God. However, while this education must be shaped by scriptural teachings and principles, it must not be limited to Bible study. In addition, we must develop the mind in accordance with God’s will and the teachings of Jesus. In Matthew 22:37, we are commanded to love God with all our heart, soul and mind. God gives us inquiring and discerning minds and it is the responsibility of parents in partnership with educators to develop the wondrous gift of the mind. Together, we are required to provide for not only the spiritual development of children but for their physical, social, emotional and intellectual development as well.

It is the intent of the staff, administration and Board of Providence Christian School to supplement and assist parents in their role as primary educators of their children and not to usurp parental roles and responsibilities. Raising children is a parental responsibility; developing an exceptional teaching and learning institution is the responsibility of the PCS Board, administration and staff. The ultimate benefit to children occurs when parents and school actively and collaboratively participate to achieve God’s intended design for children.

The following precepts guide the development and administration of Providence Christian School:

Effective Christian education takes place through a Christian worldview.
We are made by God in the image of God who gives us our ability to reason, create, deduce, communicate, discover. God loves us (His children) and we are called to love God and our neighbor. God still actively works to bring about His purposes in the world and in our lives. Through the Christian worldview, we learn to understand and appreciate God’s design in creating and integrating His world and all in it. All teaching and learning occurs in this context.

Effective teaching is relational.
Humans do not exist, grow or flourish in isolation. Loving and nurturing relationships are required for human growth and development. Christ lived among us, chose disciples and cultivated relationships. He touched lives collectively and individually. He modeled for us caring and effective teaching. Effective teaching begins with offering unconditional love to children and the ongoing bond of a strong and positive teacher-student relationship. Strong teacher-student relationships are developed and enhanced when class size is small enough to allow the time and attention required for a teacher to know and understand the unique gifts of each child. In this way, the full potential of each child can be realized.

The content of all learning is connected and integrated.
Effective teaching guides students in acquiring and assimilating a body of knowledge and assists them in finding the interrelationships and connections of all learning. When content areas are taught in isolation, student learning lacks the depth and breadth of understanding required for authentic understanding. As a result, their learning may remain at the lower levels of acquiring and comprehending facts without their ability to analyze, synthesize and apply their learning in meaningful and productive ways. Literacy, math, science, social studies and the arts must be taught by skillful teachers who understand how to integrate content areas to result in deep understanding. Teachers must also know how academic knowledge is connected to spiritual truth. The mind, body and soul are all impacted and connected when education is complete and effective.

Human intellectual development is cyclical and recursive rather than linear.
Effective teachers know and understand the learning cycles. They know that learning is recursive (pertains to rules and procedures that can be applied repeatedly). Teachers know how to use learning standards, benchmarks, curriculum tools and assessments as tools of their trade. Professional and effective teachers make decisions related to teaching and learning based on their knowledge and skills, study and research. They do not allow curriculum tools (textbooks, teacher guidebooks, scope and sequence charts, etc.) to dictate the sequence and pace of their instruction. Effective teachers individualize instruction so that each student reaches his/her full potential. Students must not be limited by the parameters printed in guidebooks. They must be motivated by effective teachers to reach the full potential intended by God who created us all as unique individuals loved by Him and worthy of the highest human regard.

By working in partnership with parents, Providence Christian School assures that all students will be educated according to a Christian worldview and will be supported in consistently striving to achieve their full potential. God sees the best that each of us can become. He knows the full plan for each of our lives. At Providence, we strive to see each child as seen by God. Children are precious gifts entrusted to Providence Christian School by the parents and by God. Relying on God, we will do our very best to honor this trust. We give thanks to the families of our students and to God for the privilege of educating your children!

Statement of Faith