Unity

One of the best things about Upper Room Christian School is that there is no barriers of race or color. God teaches us in His Word that we are all family through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ! Here at the school we have students from all nationalities studying, eating and playing together.

God has given us a genuine love and care for each other and has broken down the walls of separation based on color, nationality or culture. We accept and embrace our diversity and see it as a tremendous advantage as we become a global community that is represented right here in our school.

It's fun to watch students from Spain communicating with students from China communicating with students from Jamaica and all of the other countries represented here. The Bible says, "Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity....there the Lord commands the blessing"! Our students are learning how to function in a global community and loving it!!

Grace and Peace,
Ed

Diversity

One of the things that makes Upper Room Christian School great is its diversity. Not only do we have I-20 students from all over the world, we also have sudents in grades K-12. While we seperate the Elementary, Middle and High Schools for most of the day, students still see each other in the halls as we change classes, have electives and at our weekly chapel services.

The students develop such a bond between each other! The High School students love opportunities to become Teachers Assistants for the lower grades and actually help the younger  students with their studies. The younger students look up to their older counterparts and love to say hello in the hall or cheer for their teams during their games.

The diversity in age also gives the school more of a "family" feel. Students that don't have older or younger siblings now feel like they do and we all feel part of a big extended family. The school becomes more of a learning community that models Christian family life and we live, learn and grow together in love, respect and appreciation of each other!

Grace and Peace,
Ed

Columbus Day

No picture today! I couldn't find a suitable one. When I was a kid growing up in Bensonhurst Brooklyn the Italians decided to change the name of Columbus Day to Italian American Unity Day. They just decided to glom (my word...to take without asking) a holiday and call it theirs! Don't get me wrong....I'm an Italian American with grandparents from Italy but taking a holiday, changing it's name and then calling it yours.....Really!

However, this day reminds me of all of the immigrants that came the US looking for a better life for themselves and their families. My grandparents came through Ellis Island and settled in Brooklyn. They brought some of Italy over with them with their language, food and customs. I enjoy the culture to this day and like going into the Salumeria's (Italian Deli) and speaking the few words of Italian I know to the counter men.

Upper Room Christian School is fortunate to host almost 20 students from around the world! They come from China, Korea, Haiti, Jamaica, Dominican Republic Spain and others! They apply for an I20 Educational Visa, find a host home and study at our school from September till June. It is a great experience for them as well as for the school and host homes! Diversity is what makes America great, diversity is why I love New York so much diversity is a small snapshot of Heaven! E Pluribus Unim. Out of the many, one. The vision of God the Father, His Son Jesus, our American forefathers and Upper Room Christian School is that we would be one in Christ.....unity with diversity!
Happy Columbus Day!
Ed