February 28, 2008

2008-2009 Fees:

For the past two years, we have given greatly needed ministry-level staff salary increases, and to provide for these increases, we had to increase tuition. 

For this coming year, we are not raising tuition.  Income for many of you, our parents, has decreased, and with the present economic outlook, we feel that we should hold fees steady.  Instead of increasing the tuition and other fees, we will:  1) add a work requirement for all school families.  An option to pay-off instead of working will be available to our families if they so choose.  2) seek the Lord to help us wisely and diligently gain additional means of funding by gifts and through fundraising such as an auction.

For several months, 1-3 articles/week have appeared in the newspapers about declining enrollments for the local school districts as working families depart the area, and as the school age demographics change, especially for the Three Rivers School District, down from a high of 6,625 in 1997 to 5,344 this past January.

Local district enrollment decreases: 

                       Fall ’06            Fall ’07              Jan ‘08

Three Rivers      5,735               5,590                5,344*       *Notice large drops even since the start

Grants Pass      5,975               5,832                5,725*             of this school year.

Rogue River       1,102               1,065                1,048*

Glendale           467                  437                   423*        **NHCS numbers dropped during the past two

New Hope         285                  264                   269**              years, but are increasing during this year.

Since we are not increasing tuition, we must to be innovative on how to raise more financing to supplement the tuition for this coming year. Our costs of operation (cost of living) will continue to climb.  May the Lord give us grace in the sight of more donors who value the essentials of Christian education.  As the culture around us dims, we must shine brighter and brighter. 

As the local student population decreases, may the Lord enable us to offer needed Christian education to even MORE students!  That will be a miracle of His grace, and diligence on all of our part, for normally during times of economic slow-down, private school enrollments take a sizeable dip even as public school enrollments remain stable.

This Tuesday’s New York Times Pew Report article: 

Poll Finds Fluid Religious Life In the U. S.

            “More than a quarter of adult Americans have left the faith of their childhood to join another religion or no religion.”  The results of this large study are alarming, but very similar to many other surveys, showing large departures from the faith of childhood.  With statistics like this, can we as Christian parents keep our heads in the sand?  No, we must be more diligent!  As America becomes more fluid in religion, in family, in work, in…., it is more important than ever to raise children with the three (3) solid legs of a three-legged stool, all working together to “train up a child in the way he should go”.  The truth of that article emphasizes the absolute need for Christian education, needed EVEN when the local economics get almost unbearably tight. 

The three-legged stool legs of influence:

1. The home          - greatest influence, much time of role modeling, world-view influence, and direction
2. The church        - essential influence, but very little time influence for most
3. The school        - huge influence, much time of role modeling, world-view instruction, and friend

                                          Influence.

Can you expect the best future stability IF any one of these important development legs is lacking?

Needed During the Next Three Weeks:

1. Drywall finish person – in the gym - now

2. Yard work helpers - to work with Tami Pritchett with MANY spring yard needs - anytime

3. Painters - two or three who can paint in the gym - anytime

4. Carpenters – for some dressing room needs - anytime soon

5. Tree trimmings clean-up –  from 5 trees felled in the New Hope Housing - first week of March

6. Backhoe – to dig holes for many trees given to New Hope - anytime soon

7. Mobile home installer – to install a late model mobile home given for staff housing - 1^st or 2^nd week of March

8. Remodel skills of carpet tear-up and replacement, repair of a floor portion - 1^st or 2^nd week of March

9. Carpenter for mobile home steps - 1^st or 2^nd week of March

10. Backhoe work – to improve New Hope Rd entry         anytime

Thanks for helping!  You have made many great campus improvements

this past year -  the generous giving by so MANY of you!

Season’s Last NHCS Basketball Games This Friday

Come watch our very good middle school girls playing at 4:30 and 5:45 p.m.

Last Week’s News Was Sent Home W/O the Envelope.  Many letters did not get home, so if you missed yours, look on-line where most weekly letters are posted.