National School Choice Week

Upper Room Christian School is joining together with thousands of schools and educational institutions in celebrating National School Choice Week! Freedom of Choice is a major tenet of our constitution and a major reason for the formation of our great country. It promotes competition between schools as they compete for the tuition of children based on merit and parental preference rather than geographical location.

While we agree that there is a place for "Public Education" we feel that parents should not be financially penalized for choosing "Private Education". School tax money should be distributed back to the families to choose where and how to spend those dollars. As Christians we believe that the mandate to teach our children comes from God and He has given us a scriptural pattern for that education which for us includes the tenets of the Bible.

Here at Upper Room Christian School we have students from all over the world as well as locally and they leave with not only a college prep level education but with God's Word in their hearts so they can fulfill their destiny and dreams.

School Choice for New York State!

The Empirical Evidence on School Choice

A vast body of research shows educational choice programs improve academic outcomes for students and schools, saves taxpayers money, reduces segregation in schools and improves students’ civic values. The fourth edition of A Win-Win Solution: The Empirical Evidence on School Choice brings together 100 empirical studies on each of these essential questions in one comprehensive report. You can download the full report here.

It's time for New York State to get on the bandwagon with the 26 other states that have some form of School Choice program that allows parents to direct some of their school taxes as they see fit for the benefit of their children!

10 Reasons to Choose Christian Education Reason #1

GOD'S WORD IS TAUGHT

"I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not increasingly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt...I am much afraid that schools will prove to be the great gates of hell unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures, engraving them in the hearts of youth." Martin Luther
The place to start is at the beginning, with the first nation, the first educational system. When deciding how to manage your children's education, it only makes sense to ask the One who invented education.
"You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul .... And you shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up." (Deuteronomy 11:18-19)
What we have here is a clear biblical mandate to saturate our children's minds with the Word of God. It's a difficult task under any circumstances, but virtually impossible in a public school setting. Once inside those doors, children spend 30 to 40 hours a week being told that God, if He exists at all, is no longer relevant. No matter how spiritually grounded your child may be, the repetition of such destructive ideas can't help but have an adverse affect.
The harsh reality is that our Supreme Court kicked God out of the public school system more than 40 years ago. A generation later, scientific naturalism and a host of other anti-God values are not only being taught in American classrooms, they're being championed.
Christian schools offer a refreshing, biblical alternative. Not only is the Bible taught for what it is - the inspired Word of God - but it forms the foundation of all other texts. In math, in social studies, in biology, all academic roads lead to God, in whom all knowledge has its origin. Your children won't travel that road in the local public school.

Upper Room Christian School Congratulates 9th Grader Victoria Gravagna on her Prestigious Award.

Victoria Gravagna received the President's Education Award! This award came with a signed letter from both the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama and The Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan.

Victoria is a ninth grader who has been at Upper Room Christian School for the past seven years. She is not only smart and a hard worker but she is a great singer/worship leader and has a wonderful personality.

We are so proud of her achievements and we are proud to have her as one of our students!

Our Latest Video

This video describes a bit of our purpose, mission and vision. Located in Dix Hills, New York, Upper Room Christian School has a 34 year history of providing quality education in a spirit controlled, disciplined, academic environment that is conducive for learning and spiritual growth. Our atmosphere is warm and caring. Our school is safe and vibrant. Come to our next open house on Saturday, April 18th at 10 am or just call our school office at 631-242-5359 ext.201 for more information. You can also visit us on the web at www.URCS.org.

"Smart Boards" in Schools

We took delivery last week on three Sharp Aquos 70" presentation "smart boards". These boards are 70" monitors that can do everything your computer or tablet can do and more. They interface with the new Sharp copiers we bought so a teacher can scan a document to the board, modify it using the collaboration of the group and send it back to the copier with all of the changes intact.

Teachers can also bring in digital media and broadcasts to augment the student's textbooks. The picture on these screens are crisp and the students love them! We have been using then all around the school. Below is a picture of Mr. Horodeski's computer class using the Aquos board while doing a mapping project.

We continue to move in the direction of digital learning with the additions of Ren Web, Moodle and "Smart Board" technology as major textbook publishers make less books and provide more digital learning tools.

Blessings!
Ed

Upper Room Christian School on Cablevision's MSG Varsity

Upper Room Christian School will be featured on Cablevision's MSG Varsity Channel 14 on Thursday, October 11th at 6:58 and again on Saturday, October 13th at 12noon. Our school was selected to host this segment for MSG Varsity.

We began our partnership with Cablevision's MSG Varsity 3 years ago and our involvement has grown each year. In fact, last year we won the Excellence in Video Production award. We attribute part of our success to Mr. Clyde Davis who is a respected sports photographer and magazine publisher. Mr. Davis volunteers several hours a day overseeing our HD TV class.

Cablevision's commitment to education is commendable as they provided our school with some much needed equipment as well as grants and awards to fund this well liked class. Several of our graduates have actually decided to major in either Communications or Journalism as a result of their experiences in this exciting elective class.

Kelli Moore's English Classes

With the beginning of the school year already behind us, I can say September was a complete success. My students have been "blasting through the lessons" with enthusiasm and with, quite honestly, good-ole'-fashioned drive to learn. I'm loving it. The best year yet!
I thank my students for being as awesome as they have been and the staff for "keeping the good times rolling." It's certainly a great introduction to what I plan on being a great year. "Rah-Rah!"
Mrs. Moore
English Teacher

Guiding Your Special Needs Child to Adulthood

This article was taken from the Fall/Winter 2006 edition of Healing Magazine.

It was written by: Ellen Notbohm and Patti Rawling-Anderson

Although "fortune-teller" is not one of the services provided in a typical IEP (Individualized Education Plan), you can know with certainty that medical science and education will only continue to grow during all the years of your child's development. Whatever the special needs may be, in no previous generation has there been a better time for optimism.

Preparing a child for adulthood begins long, long before job skills training or learning to balance a checkbook or navigate a grocery store. The good/bad news is there is no recipe, no how-to mannual that will have all the answers for your unique child. But the seeds of preparation lie in just that - the special abilities, strengths, interests and motivations that every child has, regardless of ability. The most important brick in your child's road to adulthood is recognizing those special components and using them to develop your parent-child relationship in a way that gives him both roots and wings. Roots - knowing that she belongs, is connected to others, is valued and capable and needed. Wings - knowing that she has the inner resources to learn and do and, with practice, succeed.

Clearly, finding the fine line, the "just right" amount of challenge for your child, can be tricky. If you set the expectation too high, the child feels defeated before even starting. Why try? he thinks. If we set the expectation too low, we promote laziness and dependency.

The most important thing a parent can do is help his child laugh, play and build relationships with all of the people in their lives. That's more important than therapy, more important than speech and language and more important than cognition. When a child feels connected, he has the internal motivation he needs to do all those other things.

Never forget that a parent's attitude toward the child is going to be that childs's attitude toward himself. If helping create a sound-emotional sense of self is not the primary focus of what you are providing to your child, no amount of "therapy" or "education" you layer on top is going to matter. See her and celebrate her as the capable, interesting, productive and valuable adult you have every reason to believe she can be. And hold that vision, because, through your eyes, she sees it too. Seeing is believing, and believing makes it happen.

Upper Room Christian School has the largest special education department of any Christian School on Long Island. Ten percent of our total population have IEP's and are serviced on location through the Half Hollow Hills School District. We are committed to providing a loving Christian environment whenever possible for any student regardless of their special needs.

For more information by the writers of this article go to:

http://www.ellennotbohm.com/

pedipt@comcast.net

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urcwc.org/

Mrs. Moore

Hello returning and new students to URCS. I am excited to start the new year like all of the teachers here. We are excited and ready to go! I am especially hopeful and enthusiastic about the upcoming year because of my new endeavours as a middle school teacher. I have been teaching High School English at Upper Room for seven years and this will be my first year in the middle school. I look forward to the new curriculum and students as the first day of school approaches quickly. I will see you soon!
Best Regards,
Mrs. Moore
English Teacher

What the Bible Says About Education

The parent is the God-appointed leader and teacher of a child. This should come as no surprise to anyone, including a non-Christian. The task of raising a child is in the hands of the parents.
Ps. 127:3: "Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him."
Eph. 6:4: "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."

But teach them what? What or who is the most important thing or person for the child to know? The answer is, "God is the most important person for a child to know." The goal of Christian parents is for their child to know God in a personal way and to know all about God. Nothing could be more important!

God says that the education of children and youth is a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week process that must take place from birth through maturity. Note the Deuteronomy passage below and the context. God is instructing His people how to live as they prepare to go into the Promised Land. Critical to the life and health of His people is the teaching of the Word of God by parents on a daily basis in every situation.

Deut. 11:18-21: "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."
Proverbs 22:6: "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

As you can see, the education of children and youth must be based on God’s Word as absolute truth.

Matthew 24:35: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
Psalm 119:89: "Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens."

Give your child the gift of a Christian Education.

Matthew 7:24-25: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urcwc.com/

WHat do Parents Say About Upper Room Christian School #2

This response is from Mrs. Yvette Jenkins.


When asked why do you send your child to Upper Room Christian School? Mrs. Jenkins said," The school is founded on Christian Values, the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit. The curriculum and educational standards are good for providing the foundation for my children's growth and development. The teachers are commited to their purpose and care about the children. I also like the ethnic diversity of the school."


When asked how has the school made a difference in your child's life she responded, " My sons have grown and become more confident. Upper Room has been a support in maintainng our family values while our sons are in school and have contributed to my peace of mind knowing that they are free to develop in the Word of God, in Worship, intellectually and socially with their classmates."


"Upper Room's enviornment is diverse with students from many different areas compared to the local public schools. School Spirit and pride in teams seems higher at Upper Room as well."


Mrs. Jenkins sons are in Miss Cipriano's 2nd grade and Mrs. Claudio's 3rd grade.


Grace and Peace,
Ed
http://www.realfoodforlife.blogspot.com/

You Can be Discriminated Against for Your Faith.

Here's the situation: Gina, a college student whom the American Center for Law and Justice is representing, is facing discrimination in her Intro to Philosophy class, a required course at her college. Gina had perfect grades on her Philosophy class assignments - until she took a stand for her faith, in opposition to her professor. The professor has not only docked her grades - he has also repeatedly derided Gina for her faith. (Does ''derided'' seem too strong a word? Decide for yourself: He has called her ''close-minded,'' ''uncritical,'' ''hurtful,'' and ''blinded by belief'' simply because she would not adopt his way of thinking. He said that to engage in dialogue, you have to at least acknowledge the possibility that God does not exist! Also, students could opt out of the final if they would put in writing that ''we have no free will.'')

This would be an outrage (and utterly unconstitutional) even if it only affected Gina - but it doesn't stop there. If this professor can get away with doing this to Gina, anyone can do it to YOU ... or your children, your grandchildren, your loved ones, your neighbors, members of your church ... anyone. This goes on daily in public institutions all across America but especially in public schools and Universities. Another strong reason for Strong Community Based Christian Education! A safe haven for the knowledge of God to be revealed and nurtured.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urcwc.com/

Upper Room Christian School vs. Public Schools: What's the Difference?

Cost

Public schools cannot charge tuition. They are funded through federal, state and local taxes. When you pay your taxes, you are paying for your child's education and the education of other children in your community.
Upper Room Christian School does not receive tax revenues, but instead is funded through tuition, fundraising, donations and public grants. According to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the median tuition for their member private day schools in 2005-2006 in the United States was close to $14,000 for grades 1 to 3, $15,000 for grades 6 to 8 and $16,600 for grades 9 to 12. The Digest of Education Statistics 2005 from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that for the 1999-2000 school year, the average private school tuition was about $4,700.
Parochial schools generally charge less. According to the National Catholic Educational Association, the average freshman tuition (for 2002-2003) was $5,870. Upper Room Christian School's tuition is a bit less than the average area Catholic Schools.

Admissions

Public schools admit all children. By law, public schools must educate all children, including students with special needs. To enroll in a public school you simply register your child by filling out the necessary paperwork.
Private schools are selective. They are not obligated to accept every child, and in many private schools admission is very competitive. Upper Room Christian School has the largest "special needs" population (approx. 10% of it's population) of any private school on Long Island and strives to meet the needs of Christian families in this area. Our criteria is based on spiritual, academic, and behavioral standards.

Governance
Public or Private? The Debate Rages
Private school students typically score higher than public school students on standardized tests. Researchers found that private schools came out ahead in 11 of 12 comparisons of students. Upper Room Christian School is no exception to these findings! Public schools must follow all federal, state and local laws in educating children. Such laws usually include specifics about funding, program development and curriculum.
Private schools are not subject to as many state and federal regulations as public schools. Since private schools are funded independently, they are not subject to the limitations of state education budgets and have more freedom in designing curriculum and instruction.

Curriculum

Public schools offer a general program, designed for all children, which usually includes math, English, reading, writing, science, history and physical education. In addition to these key subjects, many public schools offer programs in music and art. In a public school, the substance of what children learn is mandated by the state and learning is measured through state standardized tests. Upper Room Christian School uses the best secular and Christian curriculum's taught by professing Christians with a Christian World View and meets all of the NYS standards for education while participating in all state administered testing.
Private schools have the flexibility to create a specialized program for students. For example, private schools may use art or science in all classes, or take children on extended outdoor trips that blend lessons across the curriculum. Private schools can create their own curriculum and assessment systems, although many also choose to use standardized tests.

Teachers

Public schools: All teachers in a public school are usually state certified or, at a minimum, working toward certification. Certification ensures that a teacher has gone through the training required by the state, which includes student teaching and coursework.
Private schools: Teachers in private schools may not be required to have certification, and instead often have subject area expertise and an undergraduate or graduate degree in the subject they teach. Upper Room's teachers are well qualified in their subject areas and meet the added criteria of having Christian Morals and Character.

Students

Public schools: The children at most public schools usually reflect the community. Students may be split up based on ability or interests, but in many public schools, there is a diversity of student backgrounds. NOTE: In many states, if you are not satisfied with your assigned school, you may be able to send your child to another public school in the area.
Private schools: The student population at a private school is determined through a selection process; all students must apply and be accepted in order to attend. Although students may be from different neighborhoods, they will probably have similar goals and interests. This tends to create a fairly homogeneous student body. At URCS student's families are interviewed and screened to make sure their child's placement is the best for that specific child.

Special Needs

Public schools: Due to special education laws, public schools must educate all children, and provide the necessary programs to meet their special needs. This means that most public schools have special education programs and teachers who are trained to work with students who have particular needs.
Private schools: Private schools do not have to accept children with special needs, and many choose not to (although there are a small number of private schools specifically designed for special needs children). As a result, most private schools do not have special education programs or teachers trained to work with students with severe special needs. Upper Room Christian School has a staff of highly trained "Special Ed" certified teachers and services all sorts of IEP,s through our "Special Ed" department. Private schools will try to help all the students they admit, but extra resources may also come at an additional cost.

Class Size

Public schools: Many states recognize the value of small classes and have provided funding to keep class sizes small in grades K-3. As students become older, class size tends to get bigger in public schools, especially in large school districts and urban schools.
Private schools: Private schools are generally committed to providing small classes and individual attention to students. Many parents choose private schools for this reason.

The Bottom Line

There are a few fundamental differences between public and private schools, but here's the bottom line: There are great private schools and there are great public schools. The trick is finding the school that best fits your child's needs. You may also want to consider public charter schools or homeschooling. It's a good idea to research the schools that interest you and, to get a true picture of the school, visit in person. We're here at Upper Room Christian School to help you find the God ordained educational model for your child. At Upper Room we are committed to raising our student body in spirit, soul and body for Christ and to serve the needs of our community!

Grace and Peace,

Ed

7 Christian Educational Principals to Consider

1. There are basically two kingdoms: a kingdom of light and a kingdom of darkness. It seems strange to have those who walk in darkness educate children of light. It doesn't fit.

2. If Jesus Christ is Lord, then He is Lord of all. We cannot divide things into secular and sacred.

3. All truth is God's truth, and God's Word sheds light on our path. Only in His light can we see light. Education is not focused on possibilities but on certainties found in God's Word.

4. Deuteronomy 6 tells parents that, in all they do, they should provide a godly education 24/7.

5. Three key institutions that shape a child are the home, the church and the school. Children are served best when all three institutions point them in the same direction.

6. Only an education that has the liberty to address the whole child -- social, intellectual, emotional, physical AND spiritual -- reaches the possibility of excellence.

7. The best preparation for effective service is to be well grounded in one's mind before direct engagement of the culture.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

What the Bible Says About Education

The parent is the God-appointed leader and teacher of a child. This should come as no surprise to anyone, including a non-Christian. The overwhelming task of raising a child is in the hands of the parents.

Ps. 127:3: "Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him."
Eph. 6:4: "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."

But teach them what? Clearly, God has a great deal to say about this. What or who is the most important thing or person for the child to know? The answer is, God is the most important person for a child to know. The goal of Christian parents is for their child to know God in a personal way and to know all about God. Nothing could be more important!

With those two simple facts in place as the foundation of our discussion, we can now look at what God has to say more specifically. God says that the education of children and youth is a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week process that must take place from birth through maturity.

Note the Deuteronomy passage below and the context. God is instructing His people how to live as they prepare to go into the Promised Land. Critical to the life and health of His people is the teaching of the Word of God by parents on a daily basis in every situation.

Deut. 11:18-21: "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."
Proverbs 22:6: "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

As you can see above, the education of children and youth must be based on God’s Word as absolute truth.

Matthew 24:35: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
Psalm 119:89: "Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens."

Grace and Peace,

Ed

The Home/School Partnership

When "healthy" relationships exist between the home and school, both teachers and parents value the expertise that each of them bring to the education process. When parents and teachers work together to build the foundation of a team, everybody benefits. As a parent, what can you do to contribute to your child's class or school, and what are some ways you can value and support the talents that the teacher brings to the classroom?

While here at Upper Room Christian School we strongly encourage parental involvement and support, let's first consider why a teacher might be a bit hesitant to tap the resources of a willing parent, or might have trouble thinking of a parent as a member of a team. A teacher might be wary of this "free service" if he has had a bad experience with parents in the past. Parents who force themselves on a teacher, who intrude on a teacher's personal life, or who work themselves into the classroom with a personal gripe or "agenda" are not likely to be regarded by a teacher as a valuable asset.

Let the teacher and school administration know that you want to help out on in the classroom, and let them know how you might be able to help. You might even volunteer to be the editor of a student-produced class newsletter, so all parents can stay informed about classroom activities.

You and other parents can support your child's teacher in a variety of ways -- by chaperoning field trips, preparing specialized materials for students, helping with lunch coverage, or even creating learning centers which focus on a certain topic or theme. You can generate a survey form on which parents (at an open house, in a school newsletter, or a school's Internet site like this one) can indicate their willingness to share a talent, some information, a service, or a product with the school. If you have the time and energy, you might develop and coordinate a pool of parents who can help out in a variety of ways. You may even be able to find a grant that would pay to put together a dependable parent-support network.

Help your child's teacher put his or her best skills to work in the classroom. By assisting with various non-teaching functions, you can give the teacher more time to be creative in the classroom. Every teacher wants a teammate who can do that!

Grace and Peace,

Ed

Be not Conformed, Be Transformed!

Rom 12:2 says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God". This is part of the mandate of True Godly Education!

Webster defines conformed as an intransitive verb: to be similar or identical also to be in agreement or harmony. To be obedient or compliant. To act in accordance with prevailing standards or customs.

Webster defines transformed as an intransitive verb: to change.

So then there are two very different educational systems in the world today one teaching us how to CONFORM with the world system based on selfishness and carnality and the other teaching us how to be TRANSFORMED into the image and likeness of God.

It is therefore impossible for a secular public school system to teach true biblical transformation as the carnal and spiritual are at enmity with each other. They have opposing goals! The are subject to different objectives.

Our children are not to be conformed to this worlds ideology but they are to be conformed to the image of God! Rom 8:29 says, " For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers".

What is your child's educational system conforming them to? All education shapes the mind and helps formulate our opinions and beliefs. First our children's minds need to be transformed, changed from their Adamic identity to their identity in Christ! Then they should be taught to be conformed into His image and likeness.
Rom 8:5
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

If your on Long Island and you're looking for a Christian PreK-12 school call us at 631-242-5359.

Children Owning Their Education

No matter how exciting our lessons, how well-planned or executed, no matter how innovative or hands-on, how scholarly or inspired—reality is that children remember best what they themselves "produce." I remember teaching my 8th grade Science class physics by having them conceptualize, and produce a model for an amusement park ride we called "Volcano". We even had a class trip to Great Adventure in New Jersey on Physics Day where we put some of our theories to the test.

Both teachers and students appreciate colorful, well-designed curriculum with high interest and appropriate expectations. However, the lesson that is teacher-produced has a short-term effect and very little staying value in the mind (let alone the heart) of the child. On the other hand, the lesson that engages the student and requires his response achieves a longer-term effect. The degree to which the student is engaged determines the total impact on his life and heart.

All Christian education aims to form character and scholarship worthy of Christ. Our curriculum places the burden of learning upon the student, challenging his reason, causing him to research and relate, and thus impacting his life through the formation of Christian character. As a result, the student is able to articulate the subject out of his own thinking.

A recent visitor to one of our school's presentations asked students who had just presented a series of orations and other presentations why they didn’t appear nervous before such a large group. The students replied nearly in unison, “Because we’ve been doing this since kindergarten!” Their quick response verified their experience in a curriculum that impacts character thus producing leaders. The most obvious mark of the leader is the ability to speak confidently, even persuasively, and out of his own conviction before others. This should be the ultimate curriculum test: resulting in a student who has the character and skill to fulfill the great commission—discipling the nations for Christ.

Grace and Peace,
Ed