From the Eagle’s Nest – Quarter 2 (2024)

I’ve been thinking a lot about seasons and how each one, whether literal or figurative, brings its own unique blessings and challenges. We felt that recently with the unexpected snow days. Whether you viewed that as a blessing or a challenge probably depended on whether you were a parent or student! Just as we all have our favorite season of the year, we also have our favorite seasons of life. The season you’re experiencing right now may be incredible! Or you may just be persevering through, eager for it to pass. But the beautiful thing about seasons is that we can rest in the assurance that they are all part of God’s loving plan.

Recently we had a chance to share how God has been working in this season of life at Twin Oaks Christian School through our Annual Report Presentation. Whether you’ve had a chance to listen or not, I want to highlight for you the season of abundance and growth that we’re experiencing as a result of our partnership together and God’s faithfulness to us. The wins we share are meant to bring glory to Him, for He is the source of all our success!

Programmatic Distinction

Our students are continuing to benefit from our commitment to provide engaging learning activities that capture their interest and require them to use creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Check out these examples:

We are proud to announce that we have become a certified Project Lead the Way (PLTW) school! PLTW empowers students across the U.S. to reach their full potential by equipping them with the essential real-world knowledge and skills needed for success beyond the classroom.
- Recently, our 6th grade students collaborated to design a boot aimed at helping individuals with cerebral palsy walk with increased stability. They applied their skills in science, math, and technology to plan, create, and test the boots, assessing their effectiveness in real-world scenarios. This hands-on experience not only enhances their learning but also fosters critical thinking and problem-solving abilities crucial for future success.
The Electric Eagles Robotics Team secured 1st place overall among more than 30 teams at this year’s competition at MICDS. This achievement highlights the remarkable growth of our program since its inception just three years ago.
We have begun planning to update our existing science lab to make it a more functional, versatile learning space for all of our students. Enhancements such as new furniture and flooring, equipment and supplies will allow us to make the most of our new science curriculum, designed to offer hands-on learning opportunities.

Academic Distinction

The curriculum committee has been hard at work reviewing math curriculum to adopt for the 2025-2026 school year. Each year a different subject area undergoes a rigorous review process to ensure our students are supported by the very best instructional materials. We look forward to providing an update once a decision has been made.
We are now in our second year of implementing ERB standardized tests, which have greatly enhanced our ability to know and love our students. This detailed data allows teachers to assess knowledge retention and learning progress. As a result, they are refining their lesson plans and prioritizing learning objectives based on insights gained from the ERB assessments.
We’ve surveyed the high schools attended by our 8th grade graduates and received excellent feedback about the preparation they received at Twin Oaks. Not only are our students academically prepared for high school, but have been spiritually nurtured as well. Enjoy this quote from a high school teacher familiar with Twin Oaks graduates: “I love the way Twin Oaks follows up and is always striving to improve. I have been encouraged by Twin Oaks graduates on campus and have taught some of your older graduates. They are biblically literate: understanding the storyline of Scripture, application of the text, and general knowledge of the Bible. I have had many graduates serve on my leadership teams, and they do a great job seeing a need and filling it. This is very encouraging and helpful as we dive into deeper concepts of biblical truth. Many students coming in from public school do not have this helpful foundation. I can tell they have been well instructed as well as taught to take ownership of their faith and serve others as they live out the gospel. Thank you for your instruction and discipleship of these students. Keep doing it!!!!”

Institutional Viability

Just what does “institutional viability” mean? It refers to the ability of the school to sustain itself long-term, ensuring that it continues to fulfill its mission to provide a high quality, Christ-centered education for generations to come.

Students are not the only ones learning at Twin Oaks Christian School! This year, teachers and leaders have participated in over 250 hours of professional development related to assessment, instruction, culture-building, time management, curriculum alignment, and more. Our goal is to be a community of continuous improvement and growth.
For over a year, we have diligently developed a plan to enhance our capacity for growth, benefiting our students while honoring the Lord. By God’s grace, we successfully achieved our year-end giving goal of $315,000. This accomplishment enables us to pursue our objectives without fully transferring costs to parents.
The quality of classroom teachers is the most significant predictor of student success. To attract and retain exceptional educators, we are committed to enhancing our compensation packages. Our goal is to align pay more closely with market rates and to recognize the countless hours teachers dedicate beyond the classroom.

Perhaps one of our greatest blessings is the strength of our community. The partnership we enjoy with our families creates a rich network of support, collaboration, and encouragement that allows our students to thrive academically, spiritually, and socially. We praise God for the way His Spirit lives and moves in us to create a Christian community that is unique to Twin Oaks Christian School.

Over its 52-year history, Twin Oaks Christian School has experienced many seasons of growth and transformation. I am delighted to share this positive report on the remarkable work God is accomplishing in our community during this time. Your belief in our mission and vision is invaluable. We cherish each student and consider it a privilege to nurture their growth, guiding them to deepen their relationship with God and develop the gifts He has given them. Thank you for being with us this season. We look forward to journeying with you into the next!