What kind of place is this?

Have you ever visited a restaurant that didn’t look like much on the outside, but the food was so good you couldn’t forget it? I have had that experience on a few occasions, and it always fascinates me. If the food is good, people will come back, and more importantly, tell other people to go eat there!

I often wonder how good our “food” is here at CLHS. I’m not referring to our dining service, although I believe they do a great job, I’m referring to what we are feeding students intellectually and spiritually throughout the days, weeks, months and years that they are here with us. There are some ways to try to figure this out, and that is to ask!

We’ve done various surveys over the past few years that help us answer that question, and point us in positive directions concerning how we can improve. One of the things I enjoy doing is asking students to quantify their experience in a word or two by asking, “What kind of place is this?” Certainly, we have a lot of different perspectives in the building; here are a few responses:

“Special and supportive”

“A family”

“Impactful and loving”

“A unique challenge”

“My safe haven”

“A journey”

I truly enjoy hearing the student answers and seeing our school through their eyes. By no means are we perfect, but it is encouraging to hear some positive, thoughtful feedback. My continued prayer for us is that we seek to draw students closer to Jesus, and keep feeding them the spiritual food that they will never forget, and will tell others about!

And finally, as we are in May and approaching graduation, I’d like to share a prayer of Jesus for all believers as recorded in John 17. As I read these words I think of our graduates, but also, all students as they prepare for the journey ahead.

This section of text follows a prayer Jesus said for his disciples. May our Heavenly Father for our sake and the sake of those we love hear His words:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me — so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:20-26 (NIV)

God’s blessings…and GO CADETS! 

Following His Lead,

Mychal Thom,

Principal