Clientele:
The goal of the Baptist Education Service will be to establish a Christian College in Mt Hagen that will serve the needs of both corporate and missionary ex-patriots and the local community. Initially the school will cater for students from Preschool to Year 7 and move towards a Middle School ( yrs 7-9) in following years.The School:
The school will be a learning community, built upon a strong Christian foundation where everyone is appreciated for who God created him or her to be. It will strive to challenge students to explore God's world around them through creative hands-on projects using multiple intelligences as well as teacher-student dialogue and interaction, while at the same time establishing a high standard of achievement.
The Student:
Each student is loved as a creation of God with unique gifts and abilities. They will be encouraged to reach their full potential and impact their world in a positive way. It will be a learning community, working together, to produce a place where everyone feels secure and confident.
The Teachers:
Our teachers will be the most important part of our curriculum as they treat each student with love and respect while at the same time exercising firm discipline when necessary. Integration of Christian character and Bible teachings into the curriculum will be a major focus of the school. Teachers will be committed to excellence as well as to the development of the whole student - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Our goal will be to have an environment where Christ is modeled and taught.
The Curriculum:
The Curriculum will reflect a Christ-centred and biblically based learning community.
1. It should be Christ Centred. The Bible tells us that God is the creator and the sustainer of everything that happens in our world. (Heb 1:2, Col 1:16-18) It recognizes Christ as Lord of the school and all areas of its activities.
2. It should be biblically based. While the Bible is not viewed as a textbook, it is God's revealed word and becomes the basis for education as what it has to say is important in all areas of life.
3. It should happen in a learning community. The Bible teaches that while each person is valuable, we are meant to learn in community. Our aims should be communal not just individual. People need to be nurtured in a community of love where each person is valued and encouraged to work together for the good of the whole community.
The Curriculum will cover the following subject areas:
English - with a strong phonics program, especially in the early years (K-3)
Maths
Science
Society and Environment - as it is an international school, the program will reflect a cross cultural approach that develops a love and respect for all cultures.
Physical Education/Health
Fine Arts - including music, drama, art
Information Communication Technology
L.O.T.E - (Language other than English) Tok Pisin has been selected as it is the local language. Students will learn to read, write and speak Tok Pisin whilst also learning about the people, culture and History of PNG.
Enrolment Policy
The school will operate with an open enrollment policy, where every family can qualify for entry regardless of race, religious belief or faith. However, upon enrollment, parents must be fully aware of the foundations of the school, its Statement of Faith and the School Discipline Policy. Upon enrollment, every family will be required to sign an agreement that accepts and supports the position of the school and agree to uphold the standards and policies of the school.
For ESL applicants, it will be a requirement for the student to sit a literacy and numeracy test before entering the ‘mainstream' system. It is proposed that an ESL bridging course be offered to those who fall below the score required for mainstream inclusion. The bridging course will be a minimum of 1 year and have reduced learning outcomes that focus solely on literacy and numeracy.
School Year
The school will operate by the PNG school calendar year of 42 weeks, consisting of 4 terms, 2X10wks, 2X11wks, commencing Feb 2009.