The "Why" of School Choice

Giving school tours to interested families is often a highlight for me. I appreciate that it helps me to see our school in a new way through their eyes. Talking with them makes me think about why we have a Christian School in East London.

It’s not because our academic program is superior to all others. We work hard to ensure we provide students with a diverse and robust student program at LCES delivered by qualified staff who use the best wisdom of our age, but we are aware that other schools also are capable of this.

It’s not because class sizes are smaller. We do enjoy small classes which produce excellent opportunities for learning with 20 students on average per room, however, numbers alone do not accurately forecast the success of a child in school.

It’s not because sin has parked itself on the street. Although we do enjoy an above average degree of harmony and unanimity here at LCES, we do face problems, conflict, and the results of poor choices.  We frame our response to them around the idea of forgiveness, restoration, and growth.

It’s not because it is easy. The long road of the oldest child starting JK or SK through to the youngest completing grade eight or beyond is full of challenges of all sorts– financial, social, and faith and more. For both students and parents, its a journey. And yet, in the words of a grandparent who shared their take with me, “there is no money I have spent in my lifetime with greater joy and satisfaction – both then as we participated and now as it bears fruit”

It’s because it is a package deal. Life at LCES is flurry of living and learning in grace. Having students at LCES makes them aware of the reality of a world affected by sin, but redeemed by the incredible love of God. It is the intertwining of faith and fact, wisdom and learning, knowing and doing. It is the daily presence of a teaching staff entirely committed and vocationally called to the craft of Christian teaching. They love each child and see them as God created them – talents, weaknesses, abilities, and passions included. It’s the preparation for our students to be salt and light – in their circles today, but also in their wider communities of tomorrow. It’s a vibrant community of believers, committed to a common goal and to each other. It’s a daily pattern of faithfulness that has implications into eternity. 

SJ