Now is the time to begin thinking about where to enroll for the next school year

This month begins the first of three Open House events, designed to introduce the school, faculty, and staff of Northpoint Christian School to prospective families and their students. The school will host the first Open house on Sunday afternoon, October 20, from 2-4 PM on the campus of Northpoint Christian School, 7400 Getwell Road, Southaven, MS 38672.

What should someone look for in a school? Although there are different ways to evaluate a school, I recommend that you look at a school from such perspectives as its emphasis on academics, the strength of its athletic, performing arts, and fine arts programs, the spiritual growth of students, and the student life. Northpoint Christian School strives for excellence in each of these areas.

Our mission captures the heart of our focus, to be a Christ-centered, college preparatory school that enables our students to know and honor Jesus Christ, grow in knowledge and wisdom, and reach their God-given potential.

In terms of our emphasis on academics, just two months ago, we were informed that the Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature and Composition test results for the 2013 graduates showed that all students scored 4 or higher, with a score of 5 being the highest ranking. The average score for the four students was 4.75.




Recent achievements in our athletic programs indicate our desire for

excellence. Last month, our Boys and Girls Varsity Golf Teams each finished fourth in the TSSAA State Golf Tournament held at Willowbrook Golf Course in Manchester, TN. Phillip Hickam finished fourth individually out of 36 golfers. The boys’ tournament team consisted of seniors Phillip Hickam, Ben Otten, and Taylor Newton along with juniors Heath Newsom and Daylen Tapp. The girls’ team members were seniors Rebecca Jenkins and Candice Walker along with junior Marty White.



Last week, our Drama Department presented the junior musical, Dear Edwina Jr. in the Performing Arts Center on the school’s campus. The performances were the highlight of the annual Drama Conservatory that featured 38 students in grades 1-9.

As both Chef Ludmilla, left and played by Sarah Katherine Meek, and the Fairy Forkmother, played by Mikayla House, joined in the celebration, Edwina Spoonapple, played by Mary Addison Wadsworth, explained how to set a table.

 

This week, our fine arts department displayed movie posters using positive and negative space interchangeably. 

Northpoint Christian School also emphasizes fun and tradition as well as spiritual growth of our students. During our Homecoming week activities last month, the senior students rode to school on trailers as the remaining high school students and upper elementary students cheered.

Finally, two weeks ago, students, faculty and members of the school administration met at the flagpole where class and student council chaplains led in prayer for our world, country, state, city, parents, teachers, and students. Later that morning, four members of our faculty led worship and an alum from the class of 2004 presented the devotion at the regularly scheduled high school chapel program.

We invite you to attend the Open House on October 20, 2013. Eat some light refreshments, talk with faculty members for your student, tour the school, and learn more about this fine school.

George Carnall, 
Director of Development

Being a Part of the Family of God

We are well into the 2013-2014 school year. Everyone has adjusted to the “routine” and our staff and students are intensely engaged in the learning process. We look forward to a good year for Northpoint Christian School.

Recently while I was involved with my Thursday morning parking lot duty, a parent who was walking through the crosswalk told me how Northpoint Christian felt like one big family. Her comment was such an encouragement. As I thought about her words later that day, I began to consider what is it about Northpoint Christian that reflects such a family environment. Several reasons came to my mind. It is teachers who truly invest themselves in the lives of their students. It is alumni who come back often to thank their teachers for that investment. It is students who come along side of classmates when they are going through a difficult time. It is parents and staff who rally to the needs of other parents and staff in the time of personal loss or crisis. It is students who genuinely want to minister to teachers through acts of kindness. It is parents, teachers, and students who have been at Northpoint Christian for several years who make sure that those who have been here for just a few days feel welcomed. It is parents who give their time to assist our staff. It is a sense of genuinely being pleased for one another when accomplishments are realized. Finally, it is a place where God’s favor graciously has been extended for the past 41 plus years and because of that we can enjoy His presence as we interact with each other within His family.

Why did I choose these reasons? These are just a few examples that I recently have observed. Northpoint Christian is not a perfect place, but is a special place. Let’s be intentional to do all we can this year and years to come to preserve our family environment. And let’s never lose sight of the fact that through Jesus Christ we are extended the privilege of being a part of the greatest family, the family of God.

God’s blessings upon your family this year.

David Manley

Where the time went

“The 2012-2013 school year is well underway. As with previous years we are already asking ourselves where the time went. The much anticipated first few days of school are now in the past and the transition from August to September is complete.” No, this is not a typo or a misprint. These are the words that I used to introduce the first administrator’s blog for the 2012-2013 school year. Now it is my privilege to write the final blog for the year. I thought it interesting that when I opened the file in my Word documents, the first thing that caught my attention were the words in italics. Now, ten months later, the question regarding the passage of time that opened the first blog is again being echoed by teachers, parents, and students. (Well, maybe not as much from students.)

While reflecting back over the current school year, I discovered there were good days and there were difficult days. Is that not usually the case? There were life experiences that we did not anticipate when school started, and there were events that we hoped would occur that did not. As the old saying goes, “such is life.” Yet, when considering the fast pace and uncertainty that is synonymous with life, there are two verses that immediately come to mind. The first is Ephesians 5:15, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise.” In a world where we constantly ask, “Where has the time gone?” we need to be intentional about making wise use of the time we have. Time is a gift that passes much too quickly. Secondly, Hebrews 13:8 tells us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” In the midst of an ever-changing, uncertain world, it is so comforting to know that we serve a Savior that remains constant, regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

So, as we close out the 2012-2013 school year, let me encourage each of you to savor the gift of time that you have received, be wise in how you invest it, and take comfort in the fact though life is ever-changing, you can have confidence in the never-changing consistency found in the person of Jesus Christ.

Enjoy your time away from school this summer, because when August comes, you will be wondering where the time went.

D. Manley

What Is Important?

What sets SBEC apart is not what we do but how we do what we do. SBEC meets the same accreditation standards as all public schools. Accreditation committees look to see if a school is pursuing their mission statement and, if so, are they doing it with academic rigor. Our mission statement consists of our students being Christ-centered, knowing and honoring Jesus Christ, growing in knowledge and wisdom, and reaching their God-given potential and is the standard of everything we do here at SBEC. Anyone associated with SBEC for a few months will attest to the academic rigor. However, our students are not only fulfilling the mission statement in academics but our athletic teams practice hard and play hard, not to win accolades for themselves but to show that competition can be done in a Christ like manner. Our musical production of Singin’ in the Rain demonstrates that wholesome entertainment can be done well and recognized for excellence. Our classes, while developing our student’s academic skills, are places where God and Jesus are familiar topics in the discussion. Everything we do points to God. It’s the how we do what we do that is important.

February was a very active month for the high school with basketball taking center court as both the boys and girls basketball teams advanced to the regionals. The Lady Trojans even went all the way to the state tournament. Also in February, our award winning drama department put on yet another amazing musical production of Singin’ in the Rain which included an actual rain shower on stage.

In addition to the extra-curricular activities it was also time for re-enrollment. SBEC is blessed each year as parents decide to again partner with us in the education of their sons and daughters. It is a responsibility we take very seriously and strive to improve each year.

SBEC grieves the loss of our elementary assistant principal, Cathy Laster. After a long bout with brain cancer, Cathy was called away from the trials of this world to the joys of heaven. Cathy Laster epitomized an SBEC faculty member for she loved God, loved her family, and loved the students. We shall miss her.