Celebrating Progress!

Future HCA high schoolers celebrating their new space

25 years after I first set foot on the campus of HCA as a 29 year old parent of a student in the newly-created TK class, it is hard to describe the journey from then to now. With growth always comes the challenge of maintaining the standards of excellence we have established. We have never been perfect, and never will be, but we have always had Godly, wonderful teachers, parents, and board members who have pushed us, prayed for us, and challenged us to be the best school option in this area. The bigger you get, the harder that is to manage, but I believe we have been able to do just that - to have a school that combines the highest level academic experience with an authentic Christian culture, partnering with the best parents in the area. It's an amazing formula that continues to produce amazing results. 

High School Students on the new field

As you pass by the property today, you will quickly see that the vision continues to develop. One year ago, we purchased 7 acres of land next door with the dream of a new space for our high school families to enjoy, while freeing up areas on the current campus for the yearly addition of new classrooms. Last year was a capital campaign, this year is fruit from our labors and gifts. As we watch the new facility going up one brick and stud at a time, I can't help remembering back to the dozens of people who prayed for modular units, begged for more Sunday School classrooms, set up an entire school every Monday morning and broke it back down each Friday afternoon, and dreamed that we might one day have a graduate who goes to college, or a soccer team that wins a trophy. Those folks were not just living for their own children back then, but for your children a few decades later (who were not even born yet).

First home game in September

What is the timeline? 

While the next stage of school development has taken a little longer than we had hoped, there is great excitement building as we see things coming together. Our beautiful new turf soccer field was completed in August, giving our team the best home field anywhere around. Now, the new facility is nearing completion, which will provide the best high school academic experience for our students as well. This is all not to mention the shiny new asphalt parking lot that will save your car's suspension beginning next fall! Just before Thanksgiving break, I met with our contractors and received an updated timeline on finalizing our new high school. We are now scheduled for completion in late March. At that time, we will relocate our high school students to make room for renovations on the current facility to create bigger rooms for our 3rd - 5th grade teachers in the fall. A year from now, we will repeat that process for 2nd grade and lower. As I said earlier, in between, we will pave the gravel lot (June, 2024). 

How much is this costing our school? 

As we discussed last year, the total cost of this project is around $4 Million. This includes the purchase of the land, the creation of a turf soccer field, the construction of a new high school, the renovation of current classrooms, and paving the parking lot. During our capital campaign last year, we receive over $3.2 Million in pledges, so we are just under $1 Million short of the goal. Focus has been shifted to construction this year, but at some point, we will revisit the remaining financial need to try to finish the project debt free after the three year pledges are all received. If you did not have an opportunity to contribute to the project last year, we still need you! Please let me know if you want to discuss. 

Back entry

What will this provide in future growth needs? 

Our school currently has about 520 students. Most of our grades have two classrooms per grade, but we have begun the process of adding a third classroom, which has grown through 3rd grade this year, and will continue to climb up through the school over the next 9 years. At that time, we will likely enroll between 650-700 students, which will probably be our long term landing spot. 

What is the community impact? 

While we have heard from those in our community who lament the loss of a public soccer field, a playground, a pottery class or who get frustrated with our traffic line every afternoon, the big picture is that young people are being trained to think, develop wisdom and discernment, become a positive influence on an increasingly negative culture, and be well-prepared to not only go to college, but be good moms and dads, community leaders and promote biblical worldview in the darkness. I heard someone recently say that what we are doing today is not for our children, but for their grandchildren. As a fellow parent, it is often difficult for me to see beyond my own household at times, but we all need to understand that as our society continues to decline, the importance of what we are doing here becomes increasingly critical. What will American culture look like in 30 years? We need to prepare for that, even if it is not in the forefront of our minds today. 

View of construction from the field

Why should I care? 

As I just mentioned, the world our children and grandchildren will grow up in will continue to change at least as much as we have seen changes in our world over the past few decades. HCA provides a few things that will equip our kids to thrive in that difficult future. First and foremost, our kids need biblical worldview. When newscasters and politicians are raging over endless topics, Christians should always ask the question of what God's Word says about these things, and pointing our children to that. This is beyond political parties. Every day on our campus, every viewpoint and every lesson are grounded in Biblical truth (the only real source of truth). Secondly, a Classical education will train our students to learn to reason, discern, debate, and discuss. Make no mistake that modern education primarily teaches memorization of facts through standardized testing. Those who have been raised on decades of memorization are now leading our culture into chaos, because they were not equipped to think and process and because they have only a secular definition of truth. We need to think well beyond high school and college. What will this type of education produce in our children when they are 30, 40, 50 years old? There is so much at stake, and we need to train up reinforcements for tomorrow's world. Finally, the Christian community at HCA is unparalleled. 350 families raising their children together for a common purpose is such a beautiful thing. The only thing greater would be 500 families doing the same thing. There is amazing strength in numbers, and a difficult world to raise kids is just a little easier when we do it together. 

Enjoy the ride HCA! The best is yet to come!

Future high school breezeway

Hallway between the old and new

Arched walkway for a classical look

Plumbing in place for the bathroom

Two classrooms and a gathering area planned for this space

The First Day of School

First Day of School

Today I hurry off to school, 

To work and learn and play. 

I'm in a brand new grade this year,

What a happy day!

- Author Unknown

My first grade pic

When you actually add them all up, I am entering my 45th year of school, as a student, teacher, and administrator.  45 first days of school.  Hard to fathom that is even possible.  

To some extent, they all run together, but each one certainly has its own story to tell.  12 years ago, I created this blog that I called "Principal Perspective", with the intent of sharing the fleeting thoughts in my brain with the folks God had placed in my life at HCA.  My very first post ever was about the first day of school in 2010, but written on the first day of school in 2011, when the building shook from a surprise Hickory earthquake (I suppose all earthquakes are a somewhat of a surprise).  Here is the link: http://hcaknights.blogspot.com/2011/08/first-day-of-school.html

As I think back over my life, being a "school guy" for most of it has its advantages and disadvantages.  But one of the great perks to being a "school guy" is a fresh start each August, which builds another new experience for that following school year.  Whatever didn't go well last year is in the past, and we get a chance to clean it up and move on and whatever did go well, can go again, but be improved upon.  

The Johnson family starting a new year at HCA

Each first day of school is a significant milestone in a child's life.  I remember buying school supplies, writing my name in all my notebooks, and vowing to be much more neat and organized this year (I continue to go through that same process today!).  Unfortunately, within a few weeks, I was back to my old self.  But, even with that track record, it was always exciting to get a new start.  There were always a few new kids in the class, a different teacher, and a new outlook on life. 

It was a joy to see all the kids and parents taking pictures this morning, celebrating (some with tears) the next step in the parent/child relationship.  Today, Gayle and I sent our youngest of six children to his final first day of school.  Levi is a senior!  Our oldest daughter began in the very first Transitional Kindergarten class back in 1999, so we are tying the bow on 24 consecutive years of sending our kids to HCA.  What a blessing to our family!

For 24 years, our children have been challenged and have grown academically, spiritually, emotionally, and socially.  They are all in good places in their young adulthood now, in large part due to loving, supportive teachers who were rooted in truth and who helped us hold our kids accountable, knowing we needed all the help we could get!  I am super excited for each of your children to have a similar blessing this year.  We are humbled to serve you this year.  Welcome back!

Mrs. Peeler's 25th Anniversary

We have all been in gatherings over the years where someone was honored for something they did. Sometimes in those events, the person being honored had a specific personal impact on SOME of the individuals in attendance. But, rarely do you honor someone who had an impact on EVERYONE in attendance. However, such is the case with Connie Peeler at HCA. 

Having joined the school in the fall of 1998 as a kindergarten teacher, Connie quickly displayed her passion for the hearts and minds of young children, including my own daughter, Sydney, who was in Connie's kindergarten class in 2001-2002. Mrs. Peeler simply wants her students to know Jesus, love one another well, display discernment, and develop the heart and mind of Christ to become adults who will also make a difference in the lives they touch. 

Connie's drive for excellence in what she did, the respect she held on campus from parents and teachers, as well as her understanding of Classical education, led us to hire her as the Grammar School Principal in the fall of 2006, where she continues to serve to this day. When our accreditation team visited campus last fall, they were quickly impressed to recommend Mrs. Peeler present her skills at the national conference this summer, as other school could learn from her leadership. 

To say that Connie has had an impact on HCA is a massive understatement. She has been the foundation for our Grammar School, and a stable rock upon which the success and growth of the entire school has been built. Of course, Connie would deny that, which is part of what makes her so special to this place. To do something so well with such humility is an example to all of us who claim to be believers in Christ. For, after all, isn't that the standard that Jesus Himself set two thousand years ago? 

More than 500 cards from the HCA family!

As Mrs. Peeler completes 25 years at HCA this Spring, please join me in celebrating a life well-lived, and a job well done. Thousands of young lives have been pointed to the Lord, and strengthened for success because of her endless hours of devotion to them. The Proverbs 31 woman is often celebrated as the example for biblical womanhood. As I read it, these two verses stand out and make me think of Connie Peeler: 

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. - Prov. 31:25-26 

If you are a student, Mrs. Peeler simply loved you. 

If you are a parent, Mrs. Peeler partnered with you in the growth of your children. 

If you are a teacher, Mrs. Peeler led with wisdom and grace. 

If you are me, Mrs. Peeler has been an unwavering friend, a partner in ministry, and a true servant to our mission at HCA.

Thank you Mrs. Peeler for your faithfulness to the students and families at Hickory Christian Academy! Congratulations for 25 years of excellent service to the Lord! We wouldn't be who we are without you!

Waiting on the Lord

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.  It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord.   - Lamentations 3:25-26

For the past 28 years, Hickory Christian Academy has been defined in many ways.  We are a Classical school.  The only one in our area.  This means that we have rejected the modern educational model of rote memorization, and maintained the centuries-old method of training young minds to think for themselves.  Around 85% of our graduates attend 4 year universities straight out of high school, with most others doing a community college first.  This is an impressive academic statistic for any school in today's world, and can also lead to community identity as well.  Sometimes we even are defined by athletics, when we happen to have championship years, like our girls soccer team has seen recently.  But, in my 23 years with HCA, my main desire is that we would be seen as an authentic Christian school community.  

For those who have been believers for a long time, you know that true Christianity is not an easy life.  Trusting in a God you cannot physically see is challenging, especially when dealing with humans each day whom you can see (and hear).  In the effort to be authentic in our Christian faith at school, we have never claimed to be sinless or perfect in any way.  Instead, we believe we are a collection of flawed, sin-stained individuals who are actively and collectively seeking a Savior.  That is what we do each day on campus...we study academics to develop our understanding of the world and humanity, with the end goal of knowing the one who can point us to truth.  And, we do believe that absolute truth exists, as clearly stated in God's word to us and in the incarnation of His Son.  (John 17:17, 14:6)

But, even as those who make every attempt to hear from the Lord and understand His will, life can be frustrating.  We all have an impatient nature to want what we want, right now.  It starts immediately from the womb, and never ceases.  Sometimes our wants are purely selfish (a certain vacation, a particular home or car, as much money as our neighbor, etc.), and other times our wants are seemingly good things (healing from sickness, enough money to pay the power bill, reconciliation with a family member) that just don't seem to be happening for reasons unknown to us.  

A Sunday School teacher once told me that God has three answers to our questions, "Yes", "No", and "Not Yet".  While the "yes" answer is always satisfying, and is the one that we like to post about on social media, the other two answers can confound us, especially as we become adults who feel we have matured to the point where we can be granted our requests without challenge.  But, from a spiritual standpoint, we have to remember that we are God's children and He is our Father.  

When my teenage kids ask if they can go to a party because everyone else is going, I might say "yes" and I might say "no", based on the facts I know about the party and about my child.  I might also say, "not yet", if I don't feel my child has the maturity to handle these situations well, but in a year, they may gain that trust.  Regardless of what my answer is, it is always grounded in unconditional love for my child to do what is in their best interest.  Might they get angry if I say "no"?  Of course.  But, the fact is they have not gained the life experience to know what is best for them quite yet.  So, they need a father (or mother, as the case may be).  It is just as difficult for that teenager to trust his father at that moment in time as it is for God's children to trust His answers, but in both cases, a loving father has chosen to provide for and to protect his child, whether they understand that or not.  

HCA Employees in the fall of 2006.  You may
still see a few familiar faces!

In November, 2006, Hickory Christian Academy moved onto the campus we now enjoy.  We had 278 students at that time, spread over three church campuses in town.  While we had desired to move years before, God's timing was perfect, and the space was exactly what we needed.  However, we knew the growth was likely to continue, and we continued to pray for God to provide what we needed for the long term.  The easy solution seemed to be the building next door at the city park.  The location and size were ideal.  But, all conversations with the city about this property were quickly shut down.  It seemed God had clearly answered "no".  

In the fall of 2013, our enrollment had increased to 414 students, and we were again out of space.  Simultaneously, God had blessed Hickory Bible Church with growth and a new campus across town.  The church moved in September the next year, just in time for HCA to fill what is now our middle school building (as well as full use of the chapel building).  This gave us what we needed for the near future, but again, we believed that the growth would continue.  Since then, we have increased to about 520 students, again in need of solutions for space.  In the meantime, multiple school boards have painstakingly looked into land and property opportunities.  We have literally entertained a half dozen possibilities, but nothing ever fully developed.  All the while, we continued to ask about the property next door.  Literally a few times per year for 15 years we asked the question, and continued to get the same answer.  

Current Board Chairman, Justin Query,
and I celebrating closing on the new property!

Fortunately, while the answer from the city was "no", the answer from God was "not yet".  He knew what we needed, and He knew exactly when we would have to have it.  In each recent year we have examined our current space and had doubts that we could make it work, but every year there was a solution.  It wasn't until now that the viable solutions have vanished.  We are truly packed out in every classroom and the interest in our school continues to increase.  So, in His perfect timing and according to His will, it took 15 years to purchase the property next door.   But, on December 20, 2022, we finally closed on the deal and took ownership.  

There is still a ton of work to do to get this new property ready for HCA to grow into, but even though it was often painful and frustrating to wait, I am thankful that God chose to hold off on us paying for a new property, power bill, extra employees, etc. until we were ready.  He waited until we were debt free before we took on this new project.  He waited until we had enough families in the school to stand a chance of a successful capital campaign.  So, while we didn't get what we wanted exactly when we wanted it, we now have what we need in much better shape as a school than if He had given it to us way back then.  

I am sharing this as a celebration of God's continued provision for our school, and I am sharing this because many of us have things in our lives that we want right now, and the Lord does not seem to be listening.  As children, sometimes we just have to trust our Father, even when it doesn't make sense in our own minds.  

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.  - Psalm 27:13-14

O Holy Night

 Infinite, and an infant.  Eternal, and yet born of a woman.  Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman's breast.  Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother's arms.  King of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph.  Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter's despised son.  Oh, the wonder of Christmas!"

-Charles Spurgeon

Those of us who have been Christians for a long time tend to use some special words in an all-to-familiar fashion at times, because after decades of hearing them in church, we can become numb to the meaning and significance.  "Holy" is such a word.  At Christmas, when we hear 'O Holy Night' or 'Silent Night, Holy Night', we often just hold our candle and run through the verses, so we can get to the family dinner.  

But, the word 'Holy' is special.  It deserves more attention.  Literally, 'Holy' means "set apart".  When we say God is holy, we are literally saying He is set apart.  He is not only different that you and I, but He is different than anything ever created or imagined.  On a plane and in a lane of His own.  Inconceivable to the human mind.  We get a glimpse of this in the sixth chapter of Isaiah, where we look into the throne room of God in heaven, surrounded by angels who are constantly crying out, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory!"

A similar scene is described in Revelation 4, where scripture says the angels "day and night, do not cease to say, 'Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is, and who is to come."  Think about that.  Since the beginning of time, there has never been a moment where God is not hearing the words 'Holy, Holy, Holy'.  Literally, these angels are acknowledging that there is something very very different about the Lord.  He cannot be adequately described or put in a 'box', so they just keep saying "Set apart, Set apart, Set apart."  Not like us.  Beyond our understanding.  Holy.  

Christmas is a prime moment for us to honor the significance of this term, which is why it is included in so many songs of the season, as well as other hymns throughout the rest of the year (i.e. Holy, Holy, Holy).  The events of the nativity are holy indeed.  Never before, and never since has anything like this unfolded.  God Himself became a helpless infant.  The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  When this happened, the angels Isaiah saw in heaven came down to earth to continue the celebration of God's holiness - And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.' - Luke 2:13-14.  

The next two weeks are full of fun stuff.  Lights, trees, presents, gatherings, time off of school and work.  I tell students all the time that we take one day off for George Washington (President's Day), and one day off for Martin Luther King, Jr., and one day off for the birthday of our nation on July 4.  But, for Jesus, we take two weeks off!  It is that special, that different, that holy.  Even the secular schools and organizations will shut down for multiple days at Christmas, and although they would never admit it, if it were not due to the significance of this particular occasion, they would just do the one day holiday and move on as well.  Christmas is holy.  It is set apart.  It is different.  

As we all make our way to various locations next week to celebrate the holiday, I hope, in the midst of all the Santas, trees, lights, tinsel, shopping, movies, etc., that we can keep ample focus on the holiness of our Savior, and this amazing event we observe in December on His behalf.  I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas celebration this year.  Jesus is worthy of our praise!

Who among us will celebrate Christmas correctly?  Whoever finally lays down all power, all honor, all reputation, all vanity, all arrogance, all individualism beside the manger; whoever remains lowly and lets God alone be high; whoever looks at the child in the manger and sees the glory of God precisely in his lowliness.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Thank You Card

There are a few people throughout life who have a special impact on us, beyond the normal routines of life. Obviously, our parents, spouse, and other family members fall in this category, along with certain close lifelong friends. But, then you also have other folks who display such consistent examples of character, faith, integrity, etc. that they influence you without really even trying. Erin Sipe was one of those people for me. 

 In a world of self-indulgence, entitlement, and constant demands for our "rights", Erin was a bright light of selflessness, kindness, and sacrifice. She was one of the hardest working teachers I have ever seen, but never asked for anything from me other than a classroom and students. It was her sanctuary where she felt at home, at peace, and full of joy. Other than God and her family, Erin's greatest treasure was to love, teach, and influence the next generation. She simply thrived as an educator, and her students loved every minute of her class; certainly not because they loved the selected novels or papers to write, but because they loved the one who was loving them first. They knew that Erin's purpose in their lives was far more than passing the test on The Great Gatsby. She cared about them. What was in the Great Gatsby that could lead her students to understand God in a deeper way? What life lessons were there in that book that might bring them joy and success in life? Her students knew that they were her personal focus, far more than the curriculum.

  When we hired Erin to teach at HCA, six years into a 10 year battle with cancer, we knew we would likely face this moment in time. Erin was very candid about that as well, almost to a fault, always trying to protect the school and me from undue stress. But when you get one of those special people in life, you take it, even if it carries risk, and even if it is for a short time. She taught two of my own children, and I am forever grateful for the influence she had on them during that time. 

 Monday night, when I knew Erin's time was at its end, my wife and I were on a walk, and I asked her, "What stands out to you about Erin?" Gayle mentioned five or six things that everyone who knew Erin would agree with, but the very first thing she said struck me, and has stuck with me this past few days. When asked what stood out to her, Gayle said, "Erin always hand wrote Thank You Cards". At first, I thought this was a minor thing, but the more I think about it, this truly defines who Erin was. 

Erin leading morning faculty devotion

 Someone who hand-writes Thank You Cards in 2021 has some unique qualities. It would be so easy to do what we all have become accustomed to do these days, and just text my "thank you" to someone. Or maybe email. But, to take a couple days to go to the store, pick out the right cards, find a pen in the drawer, use cursive handwriting you learned back in school, lick the envelopes, buy stamps, and put it in the mailbox displays more than thanks. This is someone who is so intentional in showing kindness and gratitude that she refused to rush through it. And, when you recieve that card in the mail, there is little doubt that you have someone on the other end who loves you. This is not just going through the motions. It is deliberate in its personal touch, a truly rare thing in today's world.

So, as I take the quick route and electronically type my words, I just want to say Thank You to Erin Sipe for showing me how to endure a trial as a believer in Jesus. You never complained, even though you had more reason to do so than anyone reading this today. In the midst of stage four cancer, you loved my kids more than you loved yourself, and you taught them eternal truths far more valuable than any high school novel could reveal. You also loved Hickory Christian Academy, teaching through a pandemic while going through chemotherapy and other treatments, all the while knowing it could threaten your life. But, the beauty that we all saw was that your life was never your own. you knew you had been bought with the matchless grace of God, and so your desire was that the rest of us would see what you already knew - life is not about protecting, but about giving (a lesson you learned from Jesus Himself). Thank you for giving yourself to our school, our families, and our students for these four years. You are already greatly missed, and you will always be loved and treasured at HCA.

The Return of Chapel

 Some Classical Christian Schools have chapel, others do not because of the constant integration of scripture into the daily school environment.  At HCA, Chapel has been a long-standing, integral part of our weekly routine.  

For 26 years, our inter-denominational Christian school has invited parents and pastors to present a Biblical worldview lesson from the truths of scripture to our students each week.  The tangible benefits of this are obvious.  I love hearing multiple people from differing Christian backgrounds (who have become one Christian family at HCA) speaking on the impact that Jesus has on their lives, and on the things He is teaching them.  It is so important that the adults in our children's lives display an authenticity of their Christian walk to the kids.  And, weekly, that is what we try to share with our students at Chapel.  

Life is hard.  If we pretend that being a Christian erases all of the hurt, anguish, frustration, and fear, our children will feel like they are failing when they experience the same things.  But, when we tell them that, even as adult Christians, we struggle with life, it helps them see the reality of their own issues, and further, when we explain that the steadfastness of the Lord is our rock to lean on, we reveal that even when we are six feet tall, we cannot truly succeed in life apart from a relationship with God.  

Last school year, as everything was unusual, we stopped our normal chapel services.  While we had to do what we had to do in the covid year, the impact on the school was real.  Without the weekly gathering of believers, we all felt a void that transferred into fears and frustrations that may have been alleviated to some extent by the truth reminders from the Holy Bible - God's Word.  

Motions with the school verse song

We were all so excited to be able to start up chapel services again last week.  Mrs. Peeler started off the Grammar grades with our school verse (John 16:33), and the reminder that we can find peace in troubled times because Jesus has overcome the world.  Yesterday, Pam Starnes shared with our students that they all have eternal worth as Children of God, even when it doesn't feel that way.  

High School Praise Team leading worship

In the upper grades chapel, Dan Tarr shared from James chapter one about how believers should be set apart from the world in how we handle trials.  James tells us that we should find joy in our trials because they solidify our faith and point us back to the Savior, who is the real source of joy and contentment.  

As God would have it, both chapels were full of wonderful reminders for the crazy times in which we live. I am sharing all of this today simply to celebrate the fact that we are able to slowly get back to the real mission and vision of HCA, and we are already seeing a difference.