In the final session of this class, we discuss the reliability of the New Testament manuscripts.
https://www.facebook.com/riovistachurch/videos/10155369965544170/
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Saturday, April 1, 2017
Truth Unearthed: Archaeology & The Bible (Part Five)
This segment focuses on the time between the Babylonian exile and the life of Jesus.
https://www.facebook.com/riovistachurch/videos/10155344080644170/
https://www.facebook.com/riovistachurch/videos/10155344080644170/
Friday, March 24, 2017
Truth Unearthed: Archaeology & The Bible (Part Four)
This week, we looked at the archaeological evidence surrounding the kings of the Bible.
https://www.facebook.com/riovistachurch/videos/10155322635384170/
https://www.facebook.com/riovistachurch/videos/10155322635384170/
Friday, March 17, 2017
Truth Unearthed: Archaeology & The Bible (Part Three)
"Truth Unearthed: Archaeology & The Bible" is a six-part series led by Rev. Kastensmidt. This series examines some of the archaeological and scientific evidence for the Bible.
View Part Three: The Wilderness through Judges.
Enjoy.
In Christ,
Mr. K.
View Part Three: The Wilderness through Judges.
Enjoy.
In Christ,
Mr. K.
Truth Unearthed: Archaeology & The Bible (Part Two)
"Truth Unearthed: Archaeology & The Bible" is a six-part series led by Rev. Kastensmidt. This series examines some of the archaeological and scientific evidence for the Bible.
The following Facebook links capture Part Two: The Slavery & Exodus of the Israelites.
https://www.facebook.com/riovistachurch/videos/10155246879524170/
https://www.facebook.com/riovistachurch/videos/10155247149639170/
Enjoy.
In Christ,
Mr. K.
The following Facebook links capture Part Two: The Slavery & Exodus of the Israelites.
https://www.facebook.com/riovistachurch/videos/10155246879524170/
https://www.facebook.com/riovistachurch/videos/10155247149639170/
Enjoy.
In Christ,
Mr. K.
Truth Unearthed: Archaeology & The Bible (Part One)
"Truth Unearthed: Archaeology & The Bible" is a six-part series led by Rev. Kastensmidt. This series examines some of the archaeological and scientific evidence for the Bible.
The following Facebook links capture Part One: Beginnings and the Book of Genesis.
https://www.facebook.com/riovistachurch/videos/10155226991064170/
https://www.facebook.com/riovistachurch/videos/10155227110959170/
Enjoy.
In Christ,
Mr. K.
The following Facebook links capture Part One: Beginnings and the Book of Genesis.
https://www.facebook.com/riovistachurch/videos/10155226991064170/
https://www.facebook.com/riovistachurch/videos/10155227110959170/
Enjoy.
In Christ,
Mr. K.
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Safety Response to Friday's Airport Shooting
After Friday's tragic shooting at the Fort Lauderdale / Hollywood International Airport, I want to thank our faculty and staff for their quick and excellent response. Thankfully, the two Bethany dads who work at the airport are safe, as are the two families who had flights scheduled that day. Please pray for the families of those who have unexpectedly lost their loved ones and for those who have been scarred (physically or emotionally) by this event.
I would like to explain (in part) how Bethany addresses these sorts of situations, so you may have peace of mind that the safety of your children is our highest priority.
During the past few years, Bethany has invited three (3) different law enforcement agencies to survey our campus and examine our security procedures. We asked them to make suggestions on how we can best ensure the safety of our students on campus. We have taken their advice without exception.
As a result, we installed a new surveillance system that blankets the common areas of our campus. All of our windows and doors are now impact resistant. Unless a law enforcement official is on premises, all entry points are locked, monitored with cameras, and controlled remotely. We have installed new or upgraded locks on all of our classroom doors. We have assigned receptionists to each public entry point. We also took their advice on simple things like increasing the height of our bushes and fences to reduce our students' exposure to people in the neighborhood. In addition, we schedule routine lockdown drills in anticipation of events like this one. In fact, we had a full lockdown drill on Thursday -- the day before the shooting.
Within minutes of receiving reports of the shooting at the airport, our school implemented a partial lockdown, which is called if we perceive the possibility of a threat to student safety. During a partial lockdown, our administrative team will immediately contact the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, and we will ask for a precautionary police presence on campus. On Friday afternoon, Detective Lee Hancock (a very familiar face to our students) was on our campus for both dismissal and aftercare. The school's exterior and interior doors are locked; no guests are permitted inside the building without being cleared by administrative personnel; our students are not permitted to go outside once the lockdown is called; and a member of our security team will monitor the electronic gate into the South Lot. If the partial lockdown is still in effect at the time of dismissal (as was the case on Friday), our students will be dismissed from inside the school building with an adult escort, unless law enforcement advises otherwise.
Even though Friday's tragedy was four miles south of our campus, we will always err on the side of student safety.
In the event we perceive a threat is imminent, we will immediately issue the call for a "FULL lockdown" over our paging system. If a "full lockdown" is implemented, a member of our staff will have already called 9-1-1. All doors are immediately locked and secured (both inside and outside of the school); all classroom lights are turned off; blinds are drawn; interior windows are covered; and our students are required to sit in complete silence while positioned in the safest possible location inside each classroom. Two years ago, our faculty and staff members underwent basic tactical training on how teachers can best protect their students and confront (and even disarm) an intruder in the event of a classroom breach. In this circumstance, our designated administrative team members will immediately begin surveying various sectors of the school to ensure that we can account for every child, and ensure all lockdown procedures are being followed. Once a full lockdown is implemented, and all of our students are secured indoors, the ONLY people who will be permitted to enter our buildings will be law enforcement officers. In order to prevent any possibility of a security breach, please know that we will NOT allow entrance to parents, nor will we dismiss any student until law enforcement officials have cleared our campus and advised us that it is safe to do so.
Thankfully, Bethany has never experienced a threatening security breach on our campus, and I pray that we will never face anything more serious than these sorts of precautionary measures. In light of Friday's tragedy, we want you to rest assured that your children's safety is our #1 priority.
If you have any questions about our security procedures, please feel free to contact me.
In Christ,
As a result, we installed a new surveillance system that blankets the common areas of our campus. All of our windows and doors are now impact resistant. Unless a law enforcement official is on premises, all entry points are locked, monitored with cameras, and controlled remotely. We have installed new or upgraded locks on all of our classroom doors. We have assigned receptionists to each public entry point. We also took their advice on simple things like increasing the height of our bushes and fences to reduce our students' exposure to people in the neighborhood. In addition, we schedule routine lockdown drills in anticipation of events like this one. In fact, we had a full lockdown drill on Thursday -- the day before the shooting.
Within minutes of receiving reports of the shooting at the airport, our school implemented a partial lockdown, which is called if we perceive the possibility of a threat to student safety. During a partial lockdown, our administrative team will immediately contact the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, and we will ask for a precautionary police presence on campus. On Friday afternoon, Detective Lee Hancock (a very familiar face to our students) was on our campus for both dismissal and aftercare. The school's exterior and interior doors are locked; no guests are permitted inside the building without being cleared by administrative personnel; our students are not permitted to go outside once the lockdown is called; and a member of our security team will monitor the electronic gate into the South Lot. If the partial lockdown is still in effect at the time of dismissal (as was the case on Friday), our students will be dismissed from inside the school building with an adult escort, unless law enforcement advises otherwise.
Even though Friday's tragedy was four miles south of our campus, we will always err on the side of student safety.
In the event we perceive a threat is imminent, we will immediately issue the call for a "FULL lockdown" over our paging system. If a "full lockdown" is implemented, a member of our staff will have already called 9-1-1. All doors are immediately locked and secured (both inside and outside of the school); all classroom lights are turned off; blinds are drawn; interior windows are covered; and our students are required to sit in complete silence while positioned in the safest possible location inside each classroom. Two years ago, our faculty and staff members underwent basic tactical training on how teachers can best protect their students and confront (and even disarm) an intruder in the event of a classroom breach. In this circumstance, our designated administrative team members will immediately begin surveying various sectors of the school to ensure that we can account for every child, and ensure all lockdown procedures are being followed. Once a full lockdown is implemented, and all of our students are secured indoors, the ONLY people who will be permitted to enter our buildings will be law enforcement officers. In order to prevent any possibility of a security breach, please know that we will NOT allow entrance to parents, nor will we dismiss any student until law enforcement officials have cleared our campus and advised us that it is safe to do so.
Thankfully, Bethany has never experienced a threatening security breach on our campus, and I pray that we will never face anything more serious than these sorts of precautionary measures. In light of Friday's tragedy, we want you to rest assured that your children's safety is our #1 priority.
If you have any questions about our security procedures, please feel free to contact me.
In Christ,
Sam Kastensmidt
Headmaster
Headmaster
Bethany Christian School
Thursday, August 27, 2015
"Feed the Need" & Our Partnership with Haiti
“We love, because He
first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19
In an effort to instill the
virtues of charity, compassion, and gratitude in the hearts of our students,
Bethany Christian School will be partnering with Mission of Hope to offer
outreach and assistance to children in Haiti. Mission
of Hope was founded in 1998 by Brad and Vanessa Johnson, and it has since
partnered with hundreds of American churches and businesses to provide relief and
hope to more than 100,000 Haitians in eleven different villages. Until now,
Mission of Hope has never partnered with a school. This year, Bethany Christian
School will be serving needs and building relationships with the children on
Mission of Hope’s main campus. We will be doing so through a four-pronged
approach.
#1 - “Feed the Need” – During the 2015 fall
semester, Bethany will be launching a campaign pledge drive that will support the ministry of Bethany Christian School and enable Bethany’s students to purchase, pack, and ship more than 10,000 meals to children in Haiti. Each bag of food costs $5 and contains multiple meals. This campaign, which will replace the
Boosterthon Fun Run, seeks to accomplish three primary objectives: (1) to
instill in our children a love of missions and service to those in need, (2) to
raise funds for Bethany Christian School, and (3) to pay for
the costs of meals, packing materials, and shipping.
To "become a fundraiser," click on the following link:
Or text "BOBCAT" to 71777.
After registering as a "fundraiser" on the website, you will be supplied with a link that is specific to your family. There will be one link per family. You can then share this link with your family and friends via text, email, or on social media -- encouraging others to support the cause.
#2 - Village of Hope School Supply Drive –
Bethany will also be partnering with the Village of Hope — the primary orphanage
on the Mission of Hope main campus. We have pledged to provide for the
educational and clothing needs of sixty-two orphans — with ages ranging from
preschool to high school. In this effort, we will be collecting backpacks,
pencils, pencil pouches and sharpeners, pens (blue ink), erasers, scientific
calculators, geometry sets, underwear, undershirts, and belts.
Watch the Story of Jean Marc.
#3 - Pen-Pal Program – In addition to
offering our assistance in supplying nutritional, educational, and clothing
needs, Bethany will be launching a pen-pal program to build relationships of
love and hope between our students and these 62 children. Each of our classes
will “adopt” 4-5 students. Psalm 68 declares that our God is a “Father to the
fatherless,” and He “sets the lonely in families.” It is our prayer that our
students will become an extended spiritual family to these kids who have lost
their families.
#4 - Our Spring Break Mission Trip – Finally,
Bethany and Rio Vista Community Church will be offering Bethany families an opportunity
to take a short-term mission trip over Spring Break to visit the Mission of
Hope campus and to see the fruit of your generosity. During the trip, we will be leading students in the SAINTS sports
camp and working to improve their campus. Our students will be able to meet the children with whom they have formed
these relationships. Our families will have the opportunity to visit the
orphanage, see the supplies, play with these kids, and be blessed in witnessing
the amazing redemptive work that our God is doing in the lives of these
children.
For more information on how you can support our efforts,
contact Marne MacPhee at mmacphee@bcsftl.org.
For more information about the spring mission trip, please contact Scott Carson
at scott@riovistachurch.com.
About Mission of Hope
The Mission of Hope
website declares: “As an organization following Jesus Christ, we exist to bring
life transformation to every man, woman, and child in Haiti. Mission of Hope
was founded in 1998, and continues to serve Haiti daily by meeting the physical
and spiritual needs of the Haitian population. Our desire is to serve the
nation of Haiti, and see lives changed. Our passion is to see the hopeless find
hope through Jesus Christ, and empower future generations through education to
bring their country out of poverty.”
FIVE RESOLUTIONS OF MISSION OF HOPE
1. Intentionally
modeling Christ’s love through relationships.
2. Repeatedly
sharing the Gospel message in targeted geographies.
3. Strategically
developing national leaders to carry the vision to the nation.
4. Pursuing
God’s physical, mental, social and spiritual destiny for every man, woman and
child.
5. Responsibly
utilizing all resources and talents to their fullest potential for God’s glory.
For more information about Mission of Hope, visit their
website at www.mohhaiti.org.
Facts about Haiti
Ø
FACT:
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
Ø
FACT:
Two out of every three Haitians live on less than $2 per day.
Ø
FACT:
Eighty percent of the Haitian population lives in abject poverty.
Ø
FACT:
Haiti ranks among the three worst countries in the world for daily caloric
intake.
Ø
FACT:
The 2010 earthquake killed more than 200,000 Haitians and left 1.5 million homeless.
Ø
FACT:
There are currently more than 400,000 orphans living in Haiti.
Ø
FACT:
Roughly 100,000 Haitian children under the age of five suffer from acute
malnutrition.
Thanks in advance for partnering with us in this effort
to bless our students and the children of Haiti.
“We love, because He first loved us.”
In Christ,
Sam Kastensmidt
Head of School
Bethany Christian School
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Top 20 Summer Campus Improvements @ Bethany Christian School
Hello BCS Family!
I wanted to offer a HUGE thank you to the selfless generosity of Bethany's Parent Teacher Fellowship. Your generosity has allowed us to make many significant improvements to the campus facilities, which I am confident will have a very positive and lasting impact upon our school.
While Bethany has always had a beautiful campus, I am truly grateful for your generosity that has enabled us to make the following improvements at Bethany:
#1 - Newly Renovated Reception Area
During the course of the summer, we renovated our administrative offices in order to offer a more professional and welcoming reception area. As you enter the doors located off of SE 8th Street, you will be greeted by smiling faces behind a counter top.
#2 - Resurfaced Gym Floor
After more than a decade, Bethany has resurfaced our gym floor. The new gym floor was installed by the same company that installed the flooring at the American Airlines Arena for the Miami Heat. This flooring couples the appearance of a professional hardwood floor with the safety of a padded laminate flooring. In addition, the new stripes have been painted in accordance with regulation standards.
#3 - Air Conditioning in Hallways
We have installed air conditioning ducts in the Elementary and Middle School hallways. Prior to this summer, all air conditioning on the south side of the campus was sourced into the classrooms only, which prevented the necessary circulation to keep the hallways both cool and fresh.
#4 - New Ceiling Tiles
In our talk with designers, they told us that the 2x2 ceiling tiles are much warmer and more attractive than the 2x4 ceiling tiles used previously. All common hallways now feature 2x2 tiles.
#5 - New Glass Doors for 9th Street Entrance
During the summer, we replaced the shoe-print stained wooden doors at the 9th Street entrance with impact-resistant glass doors. These doors are not only safer, but they allow plenty of light to pour into the hallways -- making the elementary hallway far more open and welcoming for our students.
#6 - Newly Designed Exterior Landscaping
The landscaping surrounding the main campus was entirely redesigned. This three-tiered landscaping makes the campus look absolutely beautiful and welcoming to students, parents, and visitors.
#7 - New Lighting and Covers for Stairwells
For decades, the stairs ascending to the Middle School and upper Elementary classrooms were merely painted concrete. In an effort to make the stairwells both warmer and safer, we have installed rubber coverings over the stairs (for better traction and softer corners). We've also improved the lighting.
#8 - New Sign on the Western Wall
During the opening weeks of school, we are planning to install a back-lit sign on the western, second floor exterior of the school that will help to identify the school. Currently, the only significant sign for northbound traffic on Federal Highway is the marquee. This new sign will increase visibility for our guests and prospective families.
#9 - Improved 8th Street Curb Appeal
We have launched an effort to enhance our curb appeal for the 8th Street entrance. This entrance into the administrative offices often presents prospective families with their first impression of Bethany. In addition to redesigning all of the landscaping, we have installed new signs and a new awning. We have resurfaced the parking lot. Goodbye pot holes! We have re-striped the parking spaces, and we are planning to install new brick pavers in place of the existing sidewalk.
#10 - Re-Coating the Parking Lots and Pick-Up Lanes
As you will notice, the pick-up lanes and the teacher parking lot have been resurfaced and re-striped to present a fresh and professional appearance to families.
#11 - Plaster Coating Over the Cinder Block Walls
All of the upstairs classrooms have received a bit of a makeover. The cinder block walls, which were present in all of the upstairs classrooms, have received a smooth plaster coating. This smooth coating goes a long way to make the classrooms far more welcoming and warm for our students. We will certainly not miss the institutional look of block walls.
#12 - Expansion of Middle School Mathematics Classroom
We have added several hundred square feet to our Middle School Mathematics classroom. In addition, we have added sound-proofing between the Elementary and Middle School classrooms.
#13 - Privacy Fence for Eastern Walkway
We have installed a fence and all new landscaping on the eastern side of the school. This has provided privacy, additional security, and a more beautiful view to our east-facing classrooms.
#14 - Added Security Cameras
During this summer, we have installed several new cameras to help ensure the safety and security of our students. Two of these new cameras will monitor events in the gymnasium and the lunchroom.
#15 - Replaced Breaker Boxes to Accommodate Growth
In an effort to ensure safety and efficiency, we have replaced two electrical panels on campus. As our school grows, our infrastructural needs grow as well. These new panels should accommodate our needs for a long time to come.
#16 - Additional Motion Lights
In order to improve safety conditions for evening events, we have installed motion lights around the campus. This will ensure that no one is forced to walk through dark passageways to reach their cars.
#17 - New Doorknobs with Interior Locking
Prior to this year, most of our classroom doors were fitted with knobs that were locked by exterior-facing keyholes. To improve response-time in the event of an emergency "lock down," all of our classrooms now feature high-security doorknobs with interior, push-button locking mechanisms.
#18 - Exterior Facelift
The exterior of the campus has been painted; the bricks have been pressure washed; and the existing awnings on SE 9th Street have been professionally cleaned.
#19 - Carpet Cleaning
For the second consecutive year, ServiceMaster by Robinson has completely donated their services to clean our carpets and to wax our floors. They are a HUGE blessing to our ministry.
#20 - New Flatscreen Display Monitors
We have installed three new flatscreen TV display monitors in our hallways to add a touch of life to the campus and to provide important announcements about upcoming events to our families.
This is merely a sampling of the work that has been done this summer to enhance our school's facilities. It does not include the redesigning of storage facilities, the addition of a classroom, the purchase of additional technological resources, or new elements to our classroom curricula.
All of these improvements were made possible by the generosity of those who have chosen to invest in the mission and future of Bethany Christian School.
Why Well-Maintained Facilities Matter to You
Experience and common sense dictate that poorly maintained facilities can lead a person to feel that an environment is unsafe or oppressive. Our souls naturally long to be surrounded by beauty and order. Being a statistics nerd, I was curious if there were any scientific studies pointing to the measurable benefits associated with making campus upgrades. Indeed, recent studies have shown that the condition of campus aesthetics actually has a dramatic role upon student performance, their levels of happiness, and the frequency of behavioral issues.
One scientific study found that something as simple as exposure to sunlight inside the walls of a building actually increases students' academic performance by 19%. Exposure to attractive landscaping also yields a myriad of positive benefits. Another study found that the cleanliness and beauty of a campus has a direct correlation to student creativity and work ethic. It also serves to increase teacher morale and retention rates. Another major study found that the condition of a school's facilities has a direct influence on student motivation, confidence levels, graduation rates, and their overall sense of security. Orderly and beautiful campuses also see fewer behavioral issues like truancy, suspensions, and incidents of student bullying.
We want to shine brightly in every conceivable category, and we are confident that these improvements will enhance your child's experience at Bethany Christian School!
#1 - Newly Renovated Reception Area
During the course of the summer, we renovated our administrative offices in order to offer a more professional and welcoming reception area. As you enter the doors located off of SE 8th Street, you will be greeted by smiling faces behind a counter top.
#2 - Resurfaced Gym Floor
After more than a decade, Bethany has resurfaced our gym floor. The new gym floor was installed by the same company that installed the flooring at the American Airlines Arena for the Miami Heat. This flooring couples the appearance of a professional hardwood floor with the safety of a padded laminate flooring. In addition, the new stripes have been painted in accordance with regulation standards.
#3 - Air Conditioning in Hallways
We have installed air conditioning ducts in the Elementary and Middle School hallways. Prior to this summer, all air conditioning on the south side of the campus was sourced into the classrooms only, which prevented the necessary circulation to keep the hallways both cool and fresh.
#4 - New Ceiling Tiles
In our talk with designers, they told us that the 2x2 ceiling tiles are much warmer and more attractive than the 2x4 ceiling tiles used previously. All common hallways now feature 2x2 tiles.
#5 - New Glass Doors for 9th Street Entrance
During the summer, we replaced the shoe-print stained wooden doors at the 9th Street entrance with impact-resistant glass doors. These doors are not only safer, but they allow plenty of light to pour into the hallways -- making the elementary hallway far more open and welcoming for our students.
#6 - Newly Designed Exterior Landscaping
The landscaping surrounding the main campus was entirely redesigned. This three-tiered landscaping makes the campus look absolutely beautiful and welcoming to students, parents, and visitors.
#7 - New Lighting and Covers for Stairwells
For decades, the stairs ascending to the Middle School and upper Elementary classrooms were merely painted concrete. In an effort to make the stairwells both warmer and safer, we have installed rubber coverings over the stairs (for better traction and softer corners). We've also improved the lighting.
#8 - New Sign on the Western Wall
During the opening weeks of school, we are planning to install a back-lit sign on the western, second floor exterior of the school that will help to identify the school. Currently, the only significant sign for northbound traffic on Federal Highway is the marquee. This new sign will increase visibility for our guests and prospective families.
#9 - Improved 8th Street Curb Appeal
We have launched an effort to enhance our curb appeal for the 8th Street entrance. This entrance into the administrative offices often presents prospective families with their first impression of Bethany. In addition to redesigning all of the landscaping, we have installed new signs and a new awning. We have resurfaced the parking lot. Goodbye pot holes! We have re-striped the parking spaces, and we are planning to install new brick pavers in place of the existing sidewalk.
#10 - Re-Coating the Parking Lots and Pick-Up Lanes
As you will notice, the pick-up lanes and the teacher parking lot have been resurfaced and re-striped to present a fresh and professional appearance to families.
#11 - Plaster Coating Over the Cinder Block Walls
All of the upstairs classrooms have received a bit of a makeover. The cinder block walls, which were present in all of the upstairs classrooms, have received a smooth plaster coating. This smooth coating goes a long way to make the classrooms far more welcoming and warm for our students. We will certainly not miss the institutional look of block walls.
#12 - Expansion of Middle School Mathematics Classroom
We have added several hundred square feet to our Middle School Mathematics classroom. In addition, we have added sound-proofing between the Elementary and Middle School classrooms.
#13 - Privacy Fence for Eastern Walkway
We have installed a fence and all new landscaping on the eastern side of the school. This has provided privacy, additional security, and a more beautiful view to our east-facing classrooms.
#14 - Added Security Cameras
During this summer, we have installed several new cameras to help ensure the safety and security of our students. Two of these new cameras will monitor events in the gymnasium and the lunchroom.
#15 - Replaced Breaker Boxes to Accommodate Growth
In an effort to ensure safety and efficiency, we have replaced two electrical panels on campus. As our school grows, our infrastructural needs grow as well. These new panels should accommodate our needs for a long time to come.
#16 - Additional Motion Lights
In order to improve safety conditions for evening events, we have installed motion lights around the campus. This will ensure that no one is forced to walk through dark passageways to reach their cars.
#17 - New Doorknobs with Interior Locking
Prior to this year, most of our classroom doors were fitted with knobs that were locked by exterior-facing keyholes. To improve response-time in the event of an emergency "lock down," all of our classrooms now feature high-security doorknobs with interior, push-button locking mechanisms.
#18 - Exterior Facelift
The exterior of the campus has been painted; the bricks have been pressure washed; and the existing awnings on SE 9th Street have been professionally cleaned.
#19 - Carpet Cleaning
For the second consecutive year, ServiceMaster by Robinson has completely donated their services to clean our carpets and to wax our floors. They are a HUGE blessing to our ministry.
#20 - New Flatscreen Display Monitors
We have installed three new flatscreen TV display monitors in our hallways to add a touch of life to the campus and to provide important announcements about upcoming events to our families.
This is merely a sampling of the work that has been done this summer to enhance our school's facilities. It does not include the redesigning of storage facilities, the addition of a classroom, the purchase of additional technological resources, or new elements to our classroom curricula.
All of these improvements were made possible by the generosity of those who have chosen to invest in the mission and future of Bethany Christian School.
 |
| The Front Office reception area was renovated to offer a more welcoming presentation for BCS families and visitors. |
 |
| We resurfaced the gym floor to improve the appearance and to bring it up to regulatory standards. |
 |
| We have installed motion lights around our campus to ensure safety for our guests during evening events. |
 |
| We have installed a privacy fence and added landscaping to enhance the aesthetics for our east walkway. |
 |
| We re-coated our 8th and 9th Street parking lots to make the exterior of the school look much sharper and cleaner. |
 |
| We installed additional lighting and covers to the stairwells to enhance both safety and appearance. |
 |
| We have installed three flat screen display monitors around campus to announce upcoming events. |
 |
| We resurfaced the 8th Street parking lot to eliminate dangerous and unsightly potholes. |
 |
| We added all new landscaping around the campus to provide a beautiful tiered effect. Special thanks to Kara Sher. |
 |
| We have installed additional cameras on campus to enhance security eliminate blind spots. |
Why Well-Maintained Facilities Matter to You
Experience and common sense dictate that poorly maintained facilities can lead a person to feel that an environment is unsafe or oppressive. Our souls naturally long to be surrounded by beauty and order. Being a statistics nerd, I was curious if there were any scientific studies pointing to the measurable benefits associated with making campus upgrades. Indeed, recent studies have shown that the condition of campus aesthetics actually has a dramatic role upon student performance, their levels of happiness, and the frequency of behavioral issues.
One scientific study found that something as simple as exposure to sunlight inside the walls of a building actually increases students' academic performance by 19%. Exposure to attractive landscaping also yields a myriad of positive benefits. Another study found that the cleanliness and beauty of a campus has a direct correlation to student creativity and work ethic. It also serves to increase teacher morale and retention rates. Another major study found that the condition of a school's facilities has a direct influence on student motivation, confidence levels, graduation rates, and their overall sense of security. Orderly and beautiful campuses also see fewer behavioral issues like truancy, suspensions, and incidents of student bullying.
We want to shine brightly in every conceivable category, and we are confident that these improvements will enhance your child's experience at Bethany Christian School!
Thursday, August 13, 2015
"We Love, Because He First Loved Us"
Dear Bethany families,
I hope that you all had a fun, restful and rejuvenating
summer filled with lots of precious memories with your families. Our theme for
the 2015-16 school year will be “Reflecting Christ,” and our selected Bible verse
for the year comes from 1 John 4:19: “We
love, because He first loved us.” Not only is this an easy verse to
memorize, but it is an empowering verse for all of life.
Before we launch into this year, I wanted to share some
thoughts for why we chose this theme, as well as a sampling of some of the exciting
ministry opportunities that Bethany is launching this year.
“We Love, Because He First Loved Us”
Though God’s love can be defined in a variety of ways, there
are two particular aspects of His love that are extremely comforting to me. First, God’s love is infinite. In mathematics,
we know that when infinity is divided by any other number (no matter how
large), it still remains infinity. Therefore, if God’s love is infinite, this
means that God loves each of you and your children, infinitely. There is no limit to His love!
Second, God’s love
for his children is unconditional. This means that neither you nor your
children can ever stumble too many times or fall so far that our Savior is no
longer there to catch you.
So if we truly believe that God loves us with THAT sort
of love, how should it impact our lives?
Finding Freedom
& Value in Christ’s Love
When we realize that we are secure in Christ’s love
despite our faults, we are freed from the temptation to find our value and identity
based solely upon our performance. We don’t need to look for validation in the
opinions of others. Our God, who is perfectly wise, has already set a price tag
on our lives, and He did so on the Cross! And if God loves us that much, the flawed
opinions of others lose their power over us.
In Christ, we can pursue excellence in all things out of
a sense of gratitude for His love, rather than mere obligation to His laws. There
is a huge difference. A person who seeks to gain God’s favor through unfailing
effort and obedience will eventually find religion to be slavery, because we
can never measure up to God’s perfect standards. But a person who experiences
the love of God in the midst of struggles and failures (and we all have them!) will actually want to please God out of an abundance of gratitude.
I wholeheartedly believe that this brand of Christ-centered
love makes Bethany special and unique as a school. We seek to love others out
of the overflowing abundance of God’s love for us. We strive to ensure that each
and every child is loved — not based on performance — but upon the model of
Christ’s infinite and unconditional love expressed toward us, even in the midst
of our own flaws and failures. When we reflect Christ’s love toward others, we
discover the key to authentic joy in the Christian life. We find joy in loving
the lowly and the broken, because Christ loved us when we were lowly and
broken. At Bethany, we want our students to experience the joys of this brand
of selfless compassion and charity.
Bethany’s Partnership
with Mission of Hope
Out of this desire, I am excited to announce that Bethany
is launching a partnership with Mission of Hope — a Christian ministry located
in Haiti. Specifically, we will be sponsoring the Village of Hope Orphanage,
which currently houses 62 kids. Each class will be building relationships with a
few of these precious orphans. Our classes will receive a full personal profile
on each kid; we will develop pen-pal relationships with them; and we will seek
to ensure that these orphans are equipped with all the back-to-school supplies necessary
for success. In addition, instead of hosting our annual Boosterthon fall
fundraiser, we will be hosting a “Feed the Need” campaign drive, in which
Bethany’s students will be packing more than 10,000 meals to feed malnourished
children. Half of these meals will go to the students who are located on
Mission of Hope’s campuses. Last year, several of Bethany’s teachers, parents,
and students visited the main campus, and they were greatly impacted by this
ministry. This upcoming fall and spring, several others are planning to go on mission
trips to their main campus. During these trips, our students will meet their
pen-pals and see how their generosity has helped to enrich the lives of these
children.
If you would like to learn more about Mission of Hope and
its impact upon the lives of Haitian children, please watch the following
videos. They are truly inspiring!
The Story of Mission of Hope & Village of Hope
The Personal Story of Jean Marc (a rescued orphan)
If you would like to get involved in the “Feed the Need”
campaign drive, please contact Marne MacPhee at mmacphee@bcsftl.org. If you are
interested in participating in future mission trips to the Mission of Hope
campus, please contact Amanda Mason at amanda@riovistachurch.com. In
either case, this is an extraordinary opportunity to help shepherd your child’s
heart in “reflecting Christ” to a hurting world.
It is my sincere prayer that this year’s ministry and
service projects will have a profound impact upon the hearts and minds of each
and every child who calls Bethany home.
“We love, because
He first loved us!”
See you soon!
Sam Kastensmidt
Headmaster
Bethany Christian School
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Are We Raising a Generation of Helpless Kids?
This is a great article on the importance of allowing our kids to learn from their failures.
Are We Raising a Generation of Helpless Kids?
Are We Raising a Generation of Helpless Kids?
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Allowing Our Kids to Learn from Failures...
The famous Christian author C.S. Lewis once wrote, "Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement." When I look back on my life, I can confidently say that the most pivotal and transformational moments of my life were forged in the moments of my greatest failures. Like gold is refined through fire and the diamond is made indestructible through pressure, the human spirit is shaped through adversity. As I think about what the future holds for my own sons and daughter, I suspect that this will be among the most difficult lessons to learn as a dad.
Should I allow my kids to suffer the sting of failure?
In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), Jesus examined the hearts of two sons and their father. The younger son was entirely ungrateful and unsatisfied with his father’s provisions. In fact, he longed for his father’s death so that he could take possession of his wealth and pursue his own sinful desires. Unwilling to wait for his father’s death, the son asked for his share of the inheritance. Despite this incredibly heartless betrayal, the father granted the son’s request. In this parable, the father is analogous to God the Father. What?!?!? This should cause parents to stop and ask questions like: "How could a wise and loving father allow his son to leave with his share of his inheritance? Why would a perfect Father, whom Jesus compares to God, allow his beloved child to suffer such an easily foreseeable circumstance of failure?"
As the son endured miserable slavery and desperate hunger in the distant country, he was forced to reflect upon the goodness of his father. Though he had once despised the daily provisions of his father, he came to realize that his father had actually lavished an abundance upon him. Even the father’s servants were given so much that they had food to spare. So the prodigal son decided to humble himself and make the long trek home — eager to confess his sins and to beg for a position among the servants. The prodigal knew that he had forfeited his right to be treated as a son, and he could only hope that his father would be willing to hire him as one of the household servants. Regardless of his status, the son desperately wanted to once again live under the father’s care.
Imagine the pain in the heart of the father through all of this. I'm sure that he experienced many sleepless nights filled with bitter agony and weeping. But he was trusting that this son's failure would produce something that unhindered privilege and prosperity never could.
When the father initially watched his youngest son venture off to the far country, his son was filled with a despicable arrogance. On that day, the son enjoyed a healthy appearance due to the faithful provision of his father. He left home with the father’s abundant wealth, and he was dressed in the finest robes and sandals. However, things were radically different as the son returned. The posture of arrogance was replaced by a posture of absolute shame. The wealthy son now returned in utter poverty. His face and frame were much thinner due to the effects of starvation. His finest robes were now soiled and tattered from his daily service among the pigs, and he was returning without any sandals at all. As the prodigal approached the father’s house, he undoubtedly expected to be shamed for his wickedness and his embarrassing failure. Then comes the triumphant parenting moment.
Rather than shaming and humiliation, the son’s return was marked by a celebration, and the father joyfully sought to restore his son in every manner possible. When he saw that his beloved son was famished, he ordered his servants to prepare a feast and to slaughter the fattened calf. When he saw that his son was barefoot and that his robes were covered in filth, he ordered his servants to put new sandals on his feet and to clothe him in the family’s best robe. After hearing his son shamefully confess that he was no longer worthy to be called a son, the father ordered the servants to place the family’s signet ring on his finger — granting him all the privileges and authority of a son. Despite all of his sins, the father was overjoyed and thrilled to restore him as a beloved son. No questions. No lectures. No looks of disgust. Just an open-armed embrace from a father thrilled to embrace his humbled and desperate son.
The father had been eagerly waiting and watching for the day of his son's return. Upon seeing his son in the distance, the father was not interested in shaming his son, nor did he wait for his son’s confession. The father was not hindered by the son’s shocking appearance. Instead, he raced out to meet his son and embraced him — filth and all. Though his culture viewed it as shameful for an elderly man to lift his robes and run, the father endured the shame, because he could not contain his delight. Before the son could even offer his apology, the father wanted his son to know that his love was unconditional. His love was not dependent upon the son's performance. Nothing in the son’s past could separate him from the father’s love!
In the end, it turns out that the father's decision to allow the prodigal son to fail actually served to rescue his son. Thankfully, the father chose to allow for such an epic failure at a time when he would still be around to welcome and restore his son as a new and redeemed man. One can only imagine what fate may have befallen the son if he had received the inheritance as a result of his father's death.
Of course, I am not suggesting that we should allow our little ones to run away or to get into such terrible trouble. Remember that the prodigal son of this parable was a grown adult. However, on a much smaller and milder scale, I AM suggesting that we should seize the incredible opportunities that we are given to shape our children through their failures. Like the father of this parable, we will be racked with grief at times. We will want to shield them from the pains of this world. But when we shield them from every potential chance of failure or disappointment, we are actually robbing them of the opportunity to learn and grow and develop through their failures.
We can all agree that we would much prefer our children to learn to process failure (and your children WILL eventually experience some form of failure) while the consequences are relatively minor. Better now when the consequences include detentions, being grounded, or having a phone taken away than to see them learning how to fail at college, in their careers, or in their marriages.
At Bethany, we want success for every child. Often times, that road runs through a path of difficult failures. But we serve a God who is masterful at transforming our mud puddles into masterpieces! And that should be a great source of comfort and hope for all parents!
Should I allow my kids to suffer the sting of failure?
In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), Jesus examined the hearts of two sons and their father. The younger son was entirely ungrateful and unsatisfied with his father’s provisions. In fact, he longed for his father’s death so that he could take possession of his wealth and pursue his own sinful desires. Unwilling to wait for his father’s death, the son asked for his share of the inheritance. Despite this incredibly heartless betrayal, the father granted the son’s request. In this parable, the father is analogous to God the Father. What?!?!? This should cause parents to stop and ask questions like: "How could a wise and loving father allow his son to leave with his share of his inheritance? Why would a perfect Father, whom Jesus compares to God, allow his beloved child to suffer such an easily foreseeable circumstance of failure?"
Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything (Luke 15:13-16).After the son’s great betrayal, he quickly discovered that his sinful pursuits had left him empty and enslaved to strangers in a distant land. The son had completely squandered his father’s wealth, hiring prostitutes (Luke 15:30) and feeding his sinful appetites. Initially, he was able to purchase his friends. But once he was completely broke, the people of that region were unwilling to care for him. This son grew so desperate and hungry that he found himself longing to eat alongside the pigs. Though he had once been a cherished son in the house of his father, he now found himself eager to share dinner with the most defiled of animals in the ancient world.
When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’” So he got up and went to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate (Luke 15:17-24).
As the son endured miserable slavery and desperate hunger in the distant country, he was forced to reflect upon the goodness of his father. Though he had once despised the daily provisions of his father, he came to realize that his father had actually lavished an abundance upon him. Even the father’s servants were given so much that they had food to spare. So the prodigal son decided to humble himself and make the long trek home — eager to confess his sins and to beg for a position among the servants. The prodigal knew that he had forfeited his right to be treated as a son, and he could only hope that his father would be willing to hire him as one of the household servants. Regardless of his status, the son desperately wanted to once again live under the father’s care.
Imagine the pain in the heart of the father through all of this. I'm sure that he experienced many sleepless nights filled with bitter agony and weeping. But he was trusting that this son's failure would produce something that unhindered privilege and prosperity never could.
When the father initially watched his youngest son venture off to the far country, his son was filled with a despicable arrogance. On that day, the son enjoyed a healthy appearance due to the faithful provision of his father. He left home with the father’s abundant wealth, and he was dressed in the finest robes and sandals. However, things were radically different as the son returned. The posture of arrogance was replaced by a posture of absolute shame. The wealthy son now returned in utter poverty. His face and frame were much thinner due to the effects of starvation. His finest robes were now soiled and tattered from his daily service among the pigs, and he was returning without any sandals at all. As the prodigal approached the father’s house, he undoubtedly expected to be shamed for his wickedness and his embarrassing failure. Then comes the triumphant parenting moment.
Rather than shaming and humiliation, the son’s return was marked by a celebration, and the father joyfully sought to restore his son in every manner possible. When he saw that his beloved son was famished, he ordered his servants to prepare a feast and to slaughter the fattened calf. When he saw that his son was barefoot and that his robes were covered in filth, he ordered his servants to put new sandals on his feet and to clothe him in the family’s best robe. After hearing his son shamefully confess that he was no longer worthy to be called a son, the father ordered the servants to place the family’s signet ring on his finger — granting him all the privileges and authority of a son. Despite all of his sins, the father was overjoyed and thrilled to restore him as a beloved son. No questions. No lectures. No looks of disgust. Just an open-armed embrace from a father thrilled to embrace his humbled and desperate son.
The father had been eagerly waiting and watching for the day of his son's return. Upon seeing his son in the distance, the father was not interested in shaming his son, nor did he wait for his son’s confession. The father was not hindered by the son’s shocking appearance. Instead, he raced out to meet his son and embraced him — filth and all. Though his culture viewed it as shameful for an elderly man to lift his robes and run, the father endured the shame, because he could not contain his delight. Before the son could even offer his apology, the father wanted his son to know that his love was unconditional. His love was not dependent upon the son's performance. Nothing in the son’s past could separate him from the father’s love!
In the end, it turns out that the father's decision to allow the prodigal son to fail actually served to rescue his son. Thankfully, the father chose to allow for such an epic failure at a time when he would still be around to welcome and restore his son as a new and redeemed man. One can only imagine what fate may have befallen the son if he had received the inheritance as a result of his father's death.
Of course, I am not suggesting that we should allow our little ones to run away or to get into such terrible trouble. Remember that the prodigal son of this parable was a grown adult. However, on a much smaller and milder scale, I AM suggesting that we should seize the incredible opportunities that we are given to shape our children through their failures. Like the father of this parable, we will be racked with grief at times. We will want to shield them from the pains of this world. But when we shield them from every potential chance of failure or disappointment, we are actually robbing them of the opportunity to learn and grow and develop through their failures.
We can all agree that we would much prefer our children to learn to process failure (and your children WILL eventually experience some form of failure) while the consequences are relatively minor. Better now when the consequences include detentions, being grounded, or having a phone taken away than to see them learning how to fail at college, in their careers, or in their marriages.
At Bethany, we want success for every child. Often times, that road runs through a path of difficult failures. But we serve a God who is masterful at transforming our mud puddles into masterpieces! And that should be a great source of comfort and hope for all parents!
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
How Schools Can Kill Creativity
This is an enjoyable, and insightful TED talk. Please take 20 minutes to watch it. It's an important reminder on how we should seek foster and encourage a love of the learning process in all of its forms. This is why Bethany stresses the importance of inquiry-based learning and an exposure to the arts in their various forms. Please feel free to share your thoughts.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Has God Abandoned You?
On November 17th, I was blessed with the privilege of preaching at Rio Vista Community Church, and I wanted to share this message with our Bethany family.
To listen, click the sermon title below.
Jesus' Triumph Over Satan's Temptations
Just as the sheep are called to know the voice of our Shepherd, so too are the sheep expected to recognize the whispers of our great adversary. As we read about Jesus' triumph over the devil’s greatest temptations, we discover that our Savior is the only unfailing hero in this world. Our God willingly embraced a life of suffering, so that he could sympathize with our tears and secure our fate in heaven. Incredibly, Jesus loved us too much to accept a kingdom without the Cross. And he did all of this for us! So when the familiar whisper of Satan comes to you in the midst of your greatest moments of suffering (“If God really loved you, he would never allow you to suffer"), let us remember the faithful example of our Savior who persevered through suffering and refused to let go of the faithful promises of God.
I pray that this message richly blesses and encourages your heart!
In Christ,
Sam Kastensmidt
Headmaster
Bethany Christian School
To listen, click the sermon title below.
Jesus' Triumph Over Satan's Temptations
Just as the sheep are called to know the voice of our Shepherd, so too are the sheep expected to recognize the whispers of our great adversary. As we read about Jesus' triumph over the devil’s greatest temptations, we discover that our Savior is the only unfailing hero in this world. Our God willingly embraced a life of suffering, so that he could sympathize with our tears and secure our fate in heaven. Incredibly, Jesus loved us too much to accept a kingdom without the Cross. And he did all of this for us! So when the familiar whisper of Satan comes to you in the midst of your greatest moments of suffering (“If God really loved you, he would never allow you to suffer"), let us remember the faithful example of our Savior who persevered through suffering and refused to let go of the faithful promises of God.
I pray that this message richly blesses and encourages your heart!
In Christ,
Sam Kastensmidt
Headmaster
Bethany Christian School
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Letter to BCS Middle School Parents...
Hello BCS parents,
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank each of you
for the privilege of teaching your sons and daughters. As you know, I have
taken on the role of teaching Bible this year, and it has been such a great joy
for me. I have been so impressed by the maturity and wisdom expressed by your
kids. As a teacher, I have always had very high expectations for my students, but
I confess that their ability (and eagerness) to grasp the most important concepts
of life has been quite impressive — especially considering that they are in the
middle-school stage of life. They are an awesome bunch of kids, and they have absolutely
dominated my high-school level Bible curriculum. Our textbook is being used in
three private, Christian high schools in Broward County, and I’d put my students
up against any of their students!
In each of my classes, we have had so many great
conversations about life, the grace of God, Christian ethics, philosophy, and
the most important priorities in life. From my perspective, the students seem
genuinely excited to learn about the Scriptures, which has really blessed my
heart. Along with you, I am hopeful that their deepening relationship with God is
giving them a solid foundation for the rest of life.
The Middle School years can be among the most challenging
developmental years in all of life. As I mentioned during the Open House, each
of the teachers in the BCS Middle School considers ourselves to be partners in
shepherding your child’s heart. If you ever notice an area where your child needs
encouragement or discipleship, please let us know. While we are absolutely
committed to providing the best academic environment possible, each of us
serves at Bethany Christian School because we feel called to help shepherd and
shape the hearts of our students for a lifetime to come.
Again, thanks for the opportunity and privilege that we
have in loving and teaching your kids!
Blessings in Christ,
Sam Kastensmidt
Headmaster
Bethany Christian School
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Calling All Bethany Dads...
Last year, we launched the DADS' ministry of Bethany Christian School. Each month, Bethany's dads gathered in the Attic once each month to enjoy an impressive breakfast spread, to build friendships, and to share in a brief devotional message on biblical fatherhood. Ask around. It was always a great time filled with really fruitful discussions.
This year, we will be holding the DADS' Breakfasts on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30am in the Attic. There is no charge, and childcare is available. Our first breakfast of the year is scheduled for September 10th. Our goal is to cultivate a healthy and vibrant community of dads who are engaged and growing closer together in friendship.
The Bible tells us, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." As dads, it is extremely important that we are fed spiritually and encouraged in the difficult task of fatherhood.
I look forward to seeing you on September 10th when we will be discussing the impact of fathers as "role models." Please feel free to invite other dads!
Blessings in Christ,
Sam
This year, we will be holding the DADS' Breakfasts on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30am in the Attic. There is no charge, and childcare is available. Our first breakfast of the year is scheduled for September 10th. Our goal is to cultivate a healthy and vibrant community of dads who are engaged and growing closer together in friendship.
The Bible tells us, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." As dads, it is extremely important that we are fed spiritually and encouraged in the difficult task of fatherhood.
I look forward to seeing you on September 10th when we will be discussing the impact of fathers as "role models." Please feel free to invite other dads!
Blessings in Christ,
Sam
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Thanks for Your Generosity!
Hello Bethany families!
We have officially launched the 2013-2014 school year, and things are off to a great start! You can sense the incredible level of enthusiasm and positive energy among our students, parents, faculty, and staff. This atmosphere makes it a lot of fun to be part of the Bethany family!
During the past two summers at Bethany, our team has worked very hard to ensure that our school's facilities and resources are top-notch. Thanks to the generosity of our school families and church community during our two major annual fundraisers -- Boosterthon and the Auction, we have been able to make a number of significant upgrades to our campus. It's always good to know the impact of your generosity, so I wanted to take a brief moment to highlight thirty upgrades made to Bethany's campus during the past fourteen months.
With an incredible faculty, an impressive academic profile (top 4% in the nation), and upgraded facilities, Bethany is a top-tier private school in Broward County. And word is now getting out. Last year, Bethany set an opening day enrollment record with 265 students. This year, we set yet another enrollment record -- opening our doors with 291 students (305 students, if you count the nursery).
Along with the blessing of growing enrollment numbers comes the challenge of spatial needs on our existing campus. Last year, we added a second Kindergarten class. This year, we added a second first-grade class. Our team has already drawn up plans to ensure that our facilities can accommodate two classes for each elementary grade going forward. We are planning an expansion campaign for Bethany! This year's fundraising goals will be devoted to short-term expansion needs as well as the development of exciting new academic programs.
It is a great time to be a Bethany Bobcat! Thank you so much for your past support, and we hope that you will partner with us for the exciting days ahead!
Sincerely,
Sam Kastensmidt
Headmaster
Bethany Christian School
We have officially launched the 2013-2014 school year, and things are off to a great start! You can sense the incredible level of enthusiasm and positive energy among our students, parents, faculty, and staff. This atmosphere makes it a lot of fun to be part of the Bethany family!
During the past two summers at Bethany, our team has worked very hard to ensure that our school's facilities and resources are top-notch. Thanks to the generosity of our school families and church community during our two major annual fundraisers -- Boosterthon and the Auction, we have been able to make a number of significant upgrades to our campus. It's always good to know the impact of your generosity, so I wanted to take a brief moment to highlight thirty upgrades made to Bethany's campus during the past fourteen months.
- 30 iPads for classroom use
- A Mobile iPad Cart (36-Unit)
- Wireless Access Points Blanketing the Campus
- A Guest Network for Wireless Access
- Overhead Mounted Projectors & Screens in Each Classroom
- Apple TV connections (enabling interactive iPad instruction)
- Security Surveillance System Covering the Entire Campus
- New Graphic Arts Program & Software for MS Students
- New Online Reading Comprehension Program
- New Signage around the Campus
- Newly Renovated Art Room
- Newly Renovated Music Room
- Newly Renovated 2nd Grade Classroom
- Newly Created Media Center (22 Laptops)
- Newly Renovated Teacher Workroom
- New MacBook Pros for Our Teachers
- Upgraded PCs for Administrative Personnel
- Office Renovation for our New Director of Academics
- Biblical-Themed Murals on Campus Walls
- Integrated VOIP Phone System for Entire Campus
- Updated Wiring in the Preschool Building
- Fiber-Optic Cable (beneath 9th Street)
- Integrated Networks to Allow for File-Sharing
- A Ministry Outreach Coordinator
- A New Nursery ("The Creation Station")
- Drywall over Cinder-Blocks in Downstairs Classrooms
- Newly Painted "Green-Top" Courtyard (reducing heat)
- New In-House Digital Camera to Record BCS Events
- A Contract for Hardcover Yearbooks (coming this year)
- New Online Platforms for Grades & Communication
With an incredible faculty, an impressive academic profile (top 4% in the nation), and upgraded facilities, Bethany is a top-tier private school in Broward County. And word is now getting out. Last year, Bethany set an opening day enrollment record with 265 students. This year, we set yet another enrollment record -- opening our doors with 291 students (305 students, if you count the nursery).
Along with the blessing of growing enrollment numbers comes the challenge of spatial needs on our existing campus. Last year, we added a second Kindergarten class. This year, we added a second first-grade class. Our team has already drawn up plans to ensure that our facilities can accommodate two classes for each elementary grade going forward. We are planning an expansion campaign for Bethany! This year's fundraising goals will be devoted to short-term expansion needs as well as the development of exciting new academic programs.
It is a great time to be a Bethany Bobcat! Thank you so much for your past support, and we hope that you will partner with us for the exciting days ahead!
Sincerely,
Sam Kastensmidt
Headmaster
Bethany Christian School
Sunday, May 5, 2013
An Open Letter to the BCS Faculty
Dear BCS faculty,
On Tuesday, the nation will celebrate the national Teacher Appreciation Day. As we come to the end of the school year (my first at BCS), I wanted to let you all know how much I love and appreciate you. Being a teacher is hard. It requires such an enormous investment of love and energy, and your efforts aren't always noticed (though God notices) or accompanied by obvious fruit (though I've seen a lot of fruit this year)! But I want you all to rest in the promises and exhortations of God. Even in the seasons when the labor is hard and the harvest seems empty, cling to the words of the Apostle Paul.
1 Corinthians 15:58
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
Bethany is a very special place, because of you! You have done an excellent job to make this place shine. And I count myself blessed to work with such a Christ-like and committed group of people. I've only known you for one year, and you already feel like family. And while things are great at Bethany, I pledge that I will do everything in my power to assist you in making next year even better! There are some exciting things in store for Bethany.
I am very excited about the team that God has assembled here, and I am confident that He will richly bless our efforts going forward!
So let me steal a few lines from the Apostle Paul and make them my own...
1 Corinthians 1:4-6
"I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge—because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you."
Philippians 1:3-6
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
I love you all, and I am very grateful for the faculty at Bethany Christian School!
In Christ,
Sam
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Happy Easter!
Last Thursday night, my wife and I went to the MaundyThursday evening service at Rio Vista.We had a special time of worship with Ryan. We heard a great message from Pastor Matt. As we celebrated Communion, all of the families were invited up front to be prayed over by the church's pastors and leaders. We then listened to a reading of the Passion narrative and left in total silence.
What a wonderful and much-needed evening to help turn our eyes upon Christ!
As Matt began his message, he talked about the honor that our Mickey took in transporting the heavy wooden cross to the stage in preparation for this weekend. Mickey chose to carry it alone, treating it as an opportunity to reflect upon Christ and His love in carrying the Cross for us. And when Laura and I walked to the front to receive prayer, I was met by Jim Stafiej, who received us with a smile and a hug. He prayed over us. It was really beautiful, and it again reminded me of how much I love and appreciate our staff at Bethany! Thank you for loving Christ so well and wanting to love Him even more.
As I sat in my seat toward the end of the service, I was not ready to go home. I wanted the evening to continue all night. Husbands were praying over wives. Tears were flowing all around me. Then a woman I've never met came and sat down in front of me. She was wearing a shawl around her neck with a Scripture verse stitched into the fabric facing me. It was my life verse... a verse that I had penned into every yearbook as a teacher at Westminster Academy -- hoping that my students would cling to it. It was the verse that I chose to include in our Bethany yearbook. It was a verse that God has used to help rescue me from so many painful seasons in life.
Zephaniah 3:17
"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you; He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing."
That verse captures so much of the heart of God to me. He is so very close and near to us. He has promised and is powerful enough to provide rescue for you. This verse shows His ENTHUSIASTIC love for you -- His passionately romantic heart for you. Your Savior SINGS over you! He takes DELIGHT in you! And He is eager to quiet your soul and bring peace into your hurting heart. As I pondered the goodness of God to put that shawl in front of my face in that particular moment, I then looked up to the wooden Cross which had been lit red.
That Cross was the cost of Zephaniah 3:17. In an act of sweet tenderness, God flooded my heart with gratitude and worship for the undeserved love expressed on that Cross. That love is too great to comprehend. And as we celebrate this Good Friday, we can be confident that the power of the Cross has made Zephaniah 3:17 a reality for all of us. Amazing!
I pray that God gives you all a very peaceful and worship-filled Easter break!
Love you all,
Sam
Thursday, March 14, 2013
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