Support for Private Education

Merle Skinner, Administrator of Champion Christian School and the Coordinator of Pennsylvania Council on Private Education (PACAPE), just returned from three days and nights in Washington, D.C. meeting with my counterparts from across the country, legislators and staffers.

There are three things that are happening:
1) School choice is succeeding in states where the schools and patrons of private schools are contacting their legislators. Where they are silent, saying they can’t be involved, good things are not happening, and the benefits that private schools have now are being further taken away. Private school parents must email, call, and communicate with those who represent you.

2) There are opportunities for Private Schools to benefit from the education monies that are available, if our representatives allow it.

3) Congress has voted to kill the DC Scholarship bill as a way of making a stand against school choice. Both of our US Senators, Casey and Specter voted against this. Contact them and let them know that you are watching and do not appreciate their stand against school choice.

If you need more information about this issue go to www.pacape.org and follow the links to DC Voucher Bill. You can hear a passionate plea for the bill by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) by clicking HERE. It couldn’t have been said better!

Take a second and email Senator Specter and Casey and let them know you are disappointed in their negative vote on the DC Scholarship Bill and ask them to vote for equitable participation on all of the education funding bills so that your tax dollars can benefit your children!

In our own state of PA, the Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program was cut last year and will be cut this year unless we make our voices heard. These dollars directly affect your tuition financial aid.

Take five minutes and tell them now!

Senator Casey:

Casey, Robert P., Jr. – (D – PA) Class I 393 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-6324

Senator Specter:

Specter, Arlen – (D – PA) Class III 711 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-4254

TKA Grad – Future Olympian?

Jaclyn Yacomes (‘06) has been working hard on the ice practically her whole life.

She’s in the clip below:

U.S. House Poised to Regulate Private Schools U.S. House Bill 4247

February 9, 2010 — The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote soon on legislation governing elements of a school’s disciplinary policy and practice. The House Education and Labor Committee cleared the measure February 4 by a vote of 34 to 10.

This bill threatens to place various mandates regarding pupil restraint, seclusion, staff training, reporting upon any private school who receives benefits from federally funded programs.

Please read more about this legislation at CAPE’s Website at: http://www.capenet.org/new.html

You can express your opposition to this bill at CAPE’s Legislative Action Center:
http://capwiz.com/cape/issues/alert/?alertid=14668476

You can also view CAPE’s letter regarding this legislation at the following site:
http://www.capenet.org/pdf/CAPEHR4247.pdf

Take the Annual TKA Satisfaction and Referral Survey

Here is a chance to tell us what you really think! Your opinions voiced in the annual TKA Referral and Satisfaction Survey gives us a lot to work on every year.

Your opinions and suggestion, both positive and…shall way say, constructive….have caused us to improve our service over the past couple years. We know that there are things that we don’t see that are obvious to you…so we need you to point things out to us!

This survey is completely anonymous and only takes 5 – 7 minutes to complete…so, before you go out to tackle the driveway (or after you get back in and get warmed up!), click on the link below to take the survey!

Take this survey

Thank you for your participation in the goal of continual improvement to train leaders in knowledge, wisdom and godly character!

Pictures from the trip to Lion of Judah Academy

New Communique Banner

They’re Home!

After a 15 hour bus ride, a flight to Belgium, then to Philly, our team is on the ground and excited about their life-changing trip…and glad to be home.

Africa Trip is Concluding

Our team in Africa has faced some challenges this week. Two students contracted malaria, were treated immediately and are both doing well.

One of the team’s goals was to get LOJA’s soccer field in playable condition. This started with Headmaster Mtebe’s visit to The King’s Academy last year. The students decided they were going to raise the money to build this soccer field.

Well, not only did they raise the money, they went over to help them build! It was graded when they arrived, and they got to work preparing the field, building goal posts, etc.

They worked feverishly to complete the goal posts and, as they were completing the cement work, the referees blew the whistle to start the tournament championship game.

The team will board a bus tomorrow and make the 13-16 hour ride from Bulima to Nairobi. They will spend a day and a half in Nairobi, then fly back to the States, arriving on Tuesday.

Please pray for safe travels, health and an ongoing impact made on LOJA through the relationships that have been formed or solidified.

Africa Team Quickly Forming Bonds

The Africa team is quickly forming bonds with the African students at Lion of Judah Academy.  At the end of their first day, they were all very excited and happy with how things are progressing.

Our team will be bringing a student namd Abia Shinyanga home with them to experience The King’s Academy firsthand.  As part of our International Program, Abia will engage the American culture and teach our students about hers.

The Noble family will be her hosts while she is in America.  This will be a good fit, since Mrs. Noble and her two daughters (both TKA students) are on the team and will meet her either tonight or tomorrow morning!

Africa Team on the Ground

The team of adults and students on their way to the Lion of Judah Academy in Bulima, Tanzania, Africa have made it safe and sound and have just finished their first work day.  The team is happy with the progress of the first day and have already begun forming relationships with the students and team member from another organization.

The LOJA campus is located on the southern banks of Lake Victoria. It is quite hot there this time of year, but the team is enjoying the rugged beauty of the land.