Over one hundred people enjoyed the annual Pub Night benefit for Bryn Athyn Church School on Saturday, March 17. Great cuisine and company were enjoyed by all who attended. Michelle and Landon Synnestvedt dazzled us all with their comic complimentary costume that celebrated the St. Patrick’s Day theme. I want to extend a gracious thank you to all who attended and helped us raise over $4,000 to support our school. A special thanks goes to our many volunteers; most especially Kelly and Ric Asplundh, Julie and Chris Carr, Missy and Thayer Pendleton, and Jennifer and George Pronesti. Well done Figgy and Hilary Bryntesson, 2012 ping pong tournament champions. Congratulations also go to raffle winners: Ingrid Herder, the Kees Family, and the deMaria family.

Dr. Reid Prichett, Headmaster

“Is there a race problem at Bryn Athyn Church School? Does BACS need a Diversity Team?” A thread popped up recently on the Bryn Athyn Church Facebook page posing these questions in response to our Diversity Team convening a Diversity Forum. Are you surprised that the answer to both these questions is: “Yes!”? No, BACS hasn’t experienced a racist event like the one that led to the closing of the Valley Club. But each of us develops biases and stereotypes as we grow up. Through explicit teaching of New Church ideas and modeling them we can help our students, and one another, develop the skills necessary to break down biases. We are developing a New Church education that teaches each of us to do more than act with good will toward the neighbor. The New Church education of the future will provide us a broader range of skills and knowledge to act as responsible, culturally competent citizens of our increasingly diverse world.

Did you know that children's perceptions of race can begin developing as early as the age of four? This and other research findings were presented at the Forum through a New Church lens. The Diversity Team, lead by 4th grade teacher Carla Reuter, helps each of us achieve two key New Church education student outcomes, the formation of:

1) a loving relationship with the Lord and
2) a loving relationship with the neighbor.

 
As New Church teachers we are charged with helping children develop a loving relationship with the Lord. Part of having a healthy relationship with the Lord is understanding Him in His infinite variety (NJHD 26). Children must see a place for themselves in His heavenly kingdom. To create a vision of heaven while we are still on earth, students must see people who they identify with reflected in images around our school and in our curriculum. Through professional development our Diversity Team raises our awareness of the Lord's infinite variety and our effectiveness in presenting the Lord as Someone each student can love.

Additionally, New Church schools are charged with teaching our children how to enter into loving relationships with the neighbor. Really loving the neighbor requires us to step back and see good things through the eyes of others. It means understanding the experiences of those we love. In our society today, race and culture consciously and unconsciously influences human interactions. We are working toward providing our students the skills to break down the biases and stereotypes that can cause harmful conflict in healthy relationships by teaching them to see the neighbor as they wish to be seen. We aim to prepare students to be culturally competent friends, citizens, colleagues, spouses, and parents.

We are a better school because of the ongoing work of our Diversity Team and the way that the team helps us to focus on the needs of each of our students. We can now see more clearly and appreciate the unique skills and gifts the Lord has provided others. The Diversity Team helps our students to develop loving relationships with the Lord and neighbor. I want to thank the team for the important function they are serving in our school.

Dr. Reid Prichett, Headmaster