RenewCast

Long before we ask how we can become more diverse or judge ourselves against other schools by our diversity numbers, Christian schools must have a strong theology of diversity, rooted in a theology of the ultimacy of God and of humanity.

Far too often, school size is a function of facility capacity or enrollment trends which can be driven by a myriad of factors. However, schools should think strategically about the size of the a school that its most likely to help a school fulfill its mission. While host Noah Brink does offer a personal preference, the overarching goal of the conversation is to challenge school leaders to think strategically about a mission-appropriate school size.

If true education is fundamentally about connections, then it's vital that we consider ways to make sure that every student and faculty member are connected. And, it may be that House Systems offer one of the more practical ways to create a structure for that connection. Host Noah Brink discusses some of the "what" and "how to" of House System as well as some of the philosophical connections that give schools reason to evaluate their own system or consider creating one if they don't have them. #christianity #christianeducation #christianworldview #gospel #christianschool #housesystem #studentlife

While some may prioritize sports above everything else in the life of the school and others view it as a necessary evil, it's important to have a balanced view of sports which is saturated in a gospel-driven view of all things. Host Noah Brink shares about how sports can help us develop rhythms and habits where we both learn to see God as higher than us and develop tools to live in a broken world.

The Harry Potter series can teach us a great deal about savoring Jesus, valuing all people, the relational nature of education, and the importance of educational community.

Student Life is no less important than the more formally "curricular" parts of the school are in the shaping of students. Those things which fall under the Student Life umbrella of the school are just as important to connect to the philosophy, theology, and mission of the school as the more traditional aspects of the school are. #christianeducation #christianity #christianworldview #christianschool

All schools function with a stated or unstated view of personhood ... of what gives a person value. Christian school uniquely talk about the image of God, providing dignity to all people, and this commitment ought to be core to the life of the school. But, many schools struggle to have precise definitions for what they mean by the image of God, or more broadly a mission and practice driven by philosophy and theology of humanity. That's why this is one of the primary categories of RenewEd's worldview grid. 

What do we do with our greatest hopes, longings, and joys – especially when they are realized, yet they still don't provide proper fulfillment?

If our schools are going to work to align their mission and practice with the gospel and equip their students to better make sense of the world in the light of the gospel, we can't shy away from conversations about Sin, the Fall, Brokenness, and all of their implications.

As schools consider student leadership programs and initiatives, it's vital that we start from a strong theological foundation with clear definitions and goals in mind.