About a month ago I received a letter from one of our parents at Arkansas Baptist Elementary School. I don’t often receive letters from parents. However, when I read this letter, I knew it was written with passion. It speaks to the very heart and soul of what we are trying to accomplish academically at ABSS. With the writer’s permission, I want to share parts of the letter with you:
There are many areas for which I am perpetually grateful, and I would like to address those areas which include, but are not limited to the following: I am grateful for the amount of quality instruction time per day that is spent on task. I think anyone can understand the importance of making the most of the time that is spent in the classroom. I appreciate the fact that although there are field trips throughout the school year as well as extensive activities to the regular academia, all are respectively connected to enhancing the grade level’s positive benefits to the child. So often in some schools, I see just the opposite, i.e.: projects that seem to be totally disconnected from the learning process and fun-centered activities that seem to have no purpose other than just that. No matter what time of the day I am at the elementary school, I have always observed, without exception, great learning taking place, and that makes me very, very proud! One thing that I am often told is that the very same things go on in private schools that go on in a public school. My response is always the same. Yes, the same things go on. Respectively, the difference, however, is that in a private school those things are much, much less likely to be allowed to continue. This is another area in which I feel that AB Elementary School shines. I am so appreciative of the rules and policies that students must follow in order to be part of AB Elementary School.
Self-admittedly, I know that the academic expectations are very high at Arkansas Baptist Elementary, but that is one of the areas for which I am most proud! It blesses my heart to see teachers in those classrooms working side by side with the children in a strong attempt to help the students achieve their full potential. I thank God for that. I feel that the label of academic excellence is not something that any entity automatically is. Rather, it is a label that one can only earn, and when I see AB Elementary, I definitely see academic excellence.
In addition to high academic standards, I feel that parents are held to a high level of accountability, as well, and that is an additional benefit to the school, indeed. I know it must be a difficult role to keep every parent happy. We know that it is not possible to keep everyone pacified. I sincerely appreciate the stand that AB Elementary School takes in continuing to distinguish itself apart for the rest.”
I want to compliment Mrs. Yates (Elementary Principal). When I am there, be it for a designated event or unannounced visit, it is always very refreshing to see her walking in the hallways, checking on staff, and talking with parents. I greatly admire an administrator who knows what is going on both inside and outside of the classroom. I challenge you Mr. Bennett and the Board of Directors to set the bar high in your decision making and in all that you do so that ABSS will continue as the leading school for both academic and spiritual growth.
In closing, I must state that certainly there may be areas of improvement within the school that I am unaware of, but from my perspective, I am so pleased!
As Head-of-School, I’m thrilled to receive positive feedback. I want to thank the gracious parent who took the time share such heartfelt words.
From the Superintendent 