Covenants versus Contracts.
At the beginning of this school year we have asked our
students to review some of the classroom expectations and sign corresponding
behaviour agreements. In many of the classrooms
this has led to conversations about what this looks like in action and what
would it sound like in the classroom, the hallways and on the playground. After these participatory conversations the
students were given behaviour contracts that outline the expectations in the
parent handbook. I would like to suggest
that it is much more than just a lifeless contract that was signed. We covenant together around our core values
and agree how we should treat each other and how we view ourselves. We have a shared commitment to these values
and goals laid out in this document. It
is not a cold and formal agreement but a living document that helps us express
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience with one another. It aids us in the formation of a caring
community that is influenced by love because over all the points on the
behaviour contract we are called to put on love.
It is the crux behind it all; the central and unifying element. We look to strengthen our school community by
rallying around our core values and focus on living out Christ’s love in our
learning community. Through a
Christ-centric education we pray our students will don the clothes of Christ
as stated in Colossians 3:12-14 and be prepared for a life of leadership and
contribution in God’s kingdom. ~Mr. Bouwers
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