Dear Providence Families,
What a great first day of school here at Providence! The car line was impressive this morning, and it was wonderful to see our campus filled with students, families, and excitement as we begin another school year together. I am especially grateful to all of you who thanked me for the conversation we had on Curriculum Night regarding our morning prayers and pledges and the respect we show for the National Anthem at sporting events. It is important that we live one of our core values, honor, by showing respect for the men and women who have given their lives serving under our flag so that we may enjoy the freedoms we have today. Also, it is equally important that we honor our Lord and Savior as we begin each school day. If you arrive at school and the announcements are covering the prayer and pledges, we expect everyone to stop where they are and respectfully listen to the prayer and pledges being shared over the announcements. Please help us by teaching your children to do the same. Thank you for your support and partnership!
This year our theme verse is Philippians 2:3-4, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests but take an interest in others, too” (NLT). We know that our culture is trying to tell our children and us that it is only about them and what they desire. This is a lie that we will not accept. As our students prepare for academics, sports, arts, and interests, this verse teaches us to consider others and to grow in our willingness to be great for God rather than for our own interests. Your partnership with the school is instrumental to our students’ understanding of this verse and its application in their lives.
As always, I want to give a special acknowledgment to those who put the school back together for the opening day on Wednesday. The following people and their teams deserve honor and recognition for all they have accomplished this summer! Dale Zink, Justin Self, Jason Mills, Johnny Allen, and Rodney Drabek, and their teams. The front office is amazing. If you haven’t seen it, you need to! The sanctuary stage at New Life Christian Fellowship has been upgraded, benefiting Providence students and families. Thank you, New Life! The boys’ and girls’ restrooms on the first floor of D wing have been remodeled and look amazing. The hallways and classroom floors are shining like new in their 30th year of service here at Providence. I know there is more that I am missing, but thank you to all who have served so well this summer.
We expect to live out our faith daily this year here at Providence, while preparing our students academically for the plans the Lord has for them. We will strive to show you every day that we, the Providence Team, love Jesus! We hope you see Him when you interact with us here at Providence. If you don’t, just reach out to us and let us know how we can do better! Moving from good to great one day at a time here in His School!
Have a Blessed Year, Providence!
Respectfully,
Tim M. Anderson, Ph.D.
Head of School
Providence School of Jacksonville
