Mr. Tom Zimmerman's Blog

It's a New Day (09/07/2010)

Talking Walls (06/11/2010)

If these walls could talk. I know you have heard that saying but think about it. The Academy walls are 100 years old! I was just looking at some names etched into a door. Young people received at least part of their preparation for life right here. How did they make out. As we ponder that, it becomes most profound for those who just turned their tassel. What would these walls prophecy about them. All is quiet here now except for the silent scream of the walls . We few remaining begin to prepare for yet more names.
Some of those names are in a foreign language - Korean, Japanese, Chinese. New languages seldom etched into the heart of these walls. Good names that enhance the learning experience and school culture of a few"county" kids. A few names that impact the lives of people and families of the Houlton community.
We call them "international students". Young people leaving everything familiar and venturing into the unknown of a small Christian school in the middle of the crown of Maine. Their names so unfamiliar for county folk, they adopt English names but the walls know who they are; these walls only know what is true. These internationals freely embrace new English friends and their host families.
Academy walls have some wonderful new stories to tell of these "strangers". Houlton area students learn that our friends from across the sea have much to offer and in many ways have the same struggles and same interests. It is not they only who benefit from their cultural immersion;we students, teachers,community, too, profit greatly.
For these walls to continue to herald names from other lands, the Academy needs host families - families to take these young people into their homes for a season. The benefit will not just be theirs. Aside from being able to put a little cash in the bank, the host family benefits in many intangible ways, too. Ask those families who have served as hosts.
Want to give these hundred year old walls something new to shout about? Find out more by contacting me here at the Academy.

How the Media is Killing Our Children (05/10/2010)

Gets your attention doesn't it? That was the title of a graphic presentation presented by Dan Frazell I attended at The Orrington public school a few weeks ago. Dan, after 25 years as a D.A.R.E. / Community relations police officer has been traveling across the continent for 17 years warning teachers, parents and community leaders about the effects media of all kinds is having on our children.

The two hour session was like drinking out of a fire hose as I frantically tried to pen notes from his speaking and power point presentation. I came away more awakened than ever to the dangers of moral devastation that await children through face book, my space, television, cell phones, video games and the music industry. The increasing advent of new technology is confronting young people with an unprecedented array of enticements. I will throw out just a few facts for you and then list some things parents can do stem the tide.

each day, 5400 children younger than 16 years of age take their first taste of alcohol
over 20 years, promoters have spent 2.4 billion dollars advertising beer during the super bowl often deftly targeting youth
64% of high schoolers have played the choking game (recently in the news)
GASPinfo.com lists the signs and warnings (there are how to sites for the game, too)
South Park often makes Jesus the brunt of crude jokes
sex is the number one topic searched for on the web
60% of all websites are sexual in nature
60% of teens have received an email or IM from a stranger and 40% have responded
Internet chat rooms and sites like Myspace and Facebook have become pedophiles favorite play ground
48% of teens have received sextings and 20% have sent sextings (sending messages with sexual content over the cell phone) also , recently in the news as cause of bullying and suicide

Unfortunately, this is the dark side of the world we live in. Here are some things you can do to help your child:
1. Know your child's entertainment interests and monitor them often (you are paying for it)
2. communicate- ask who, what , where, when?
3. do your homework - "urbandictionary.com" will give the real meaning of some of the words your child may be reading and using
4. pay attention to warning signs- doodles,drawings,comments, opinions,peer groups, change in appearances
5.explain your values, the moral compass will hold true in the trickiest situations - confrontation is unavoidable
6.take charge- take away the car keys, set time limits on the computer,take away the cell phone use leverage
7. don't be afraid to get professional help
8. Pray Pray Pray

This is hard stuff, I know. Remember Paul's admonishment to Timothy:"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (II Tim 2:22)

We have to equip our children with the knowledge, faith, and strength of conviction to withstand the pressures of a crooked and depraved generation (Philippians 2:15)

GHCA at Academic Day 2010 (04/14/2010)

Temper Tantrums (03/30/2010)

Have ever observed a parent trying to placate a tantruming child at the store while trying to look like they are in charge? What would you do in that situation. Probably you have some good ideas. Kevin Leman in his book, Have a New Kid by Friday , shares some wisdom on the subject;

If you handle the tantrums when your child is age 2, you'll change the behavior, guaranteed, by using my tried and true method:

1. Say it once.

2. Turn your back.

3. Walk away.

Leman says, "You won't be dealing with the behavior down the line. But this method requires consistency, follow through, and no looking back to see if the child is following. If the child is still tantruming at age 8 or older, they have your number.They know what it takes to win the the fight because they've always won in the past."

With older children, the same holds true (no matter where you are) :

1. Say it once.

2. Turn your back.

3. Walk away.

If you're not in the area, the child is less less likely to continue the tantrum because the goal is to get your attention.
If you have allowed tantrums to control your actions in the past, now is the time to you'll need to hold fast to stop the power tantrums. Then the child must apologize -- really apologize. Remember, "B doesn't happen until A is completed". Without an apology, life doesn't go on.

So next time you see a tantruming child, perhaps there may be an opportunity to pass on a little wisdom. maybe you might even have a chance to try it yourself. Who knows?

Good News (03/10/2010)

Everyone likes to hear good news especially if it is of the sort that affects them personally. Of course, bad news can bolster us if it comes to someone else . When we hear about events such as the Chilean earthquake, though we have compassion for them , we feel blessed to have escaped the catastrophe.

When someone like a kindergartner makes a decision to follow Jesus or I hear about an eighty year old man walking the aisle for salvation, it gets me excited - even though it doesn't impact me personally. Maybe because it's kinda a family thing.

Did you get excited when the boys basketball team made their trip to the Bangor Auditorium? Perhaps you didn't personally know any of the players. Maybe it's kinda a family thing.

Are you excited and proud because the Academy is now fully accredited? Perhaps you really weren't involved with the process like others, but you are flat out ecstatic. Maybe it's just kinda a family thing.

Family brags on one another, supports one another. I am surely glad you are supporting the Academy. We have GOOD NEWS.

New Hampshire Trip (02/18/2010)

First up, thank you for supporting the Academy staff in their professional development trip to Concord Christian Academy. That in itself gives us a boost you may not realize. My observation of all who went is that it was very profitable personally and professionally. It enlarges our perspective to see what other Christian schools are doing. We glean both from their struggles and triumphs. I was encouraged by the entire CCA staff's desire to not show off but rather to do what they could to help a sister school way up north succeed.

The trip down gave us opportunity to talk and listen to one another in a relaxed and comfortable setting. The trip back gave us 5 plus hours to share our observations with one another.

What a beautiful, unconventional facility houses CCA. It gave a sense of openness, refreshing and alive. They certainly were creative in modifying the new facility, once a senior center, into classroom and office space. The classrooms were active with an air of students excited about learning. The integration of technology seems to flow naturally. The elementary is using an online program to teach technology that GHCA is using currently on a 30 day trial period. Students in the secondary school take a lap top out of the storage console in the classes to use as needed. The systems administrator can "hack" into any students lap top at any time to observe what they are doing and send them a message like, "Good work on the homework" or "Aren't you in Physics class?" :)

CCA have been creative in meeting the school family needs. As members of the Alliance program parents provide a volunteer force for the school while reducing their tuition expense. After school,students are dismissed to the waiting parents from help classes and after school programs anywhere from 3:00pm to 5:00pm . Teachers "volunteer " to run the programs for an increase in salary which helps them meet their tuition payment needs. Each Thursday is a delayed start to allow for professional development time for teachers. One week elementary supervises early arrival students while secondary meets and the following week the order is reversed. CCA is now pioneering dual credit courses for high school students in cooperation with a local college.

Impressive ideas but maybe the best was that all of us truly came away with a stronger conviction that GHCA is a great little school.

To Be or Not to Be (01/27/2010)

That is the question -- to be or not to be ______. You fill in the blank. Lot of choices. We have talked much about being joyful and that, being a choice. It's a worthy challenge, to be joyful or not to be joyful.

How about , To Be a Teacher or Not to be a Teacher. Funny, when you ask children and even high school students quite often, they want TO BE A TEACHER. What is up with that? I did read a survey result that indicated teachers are one of the most satisfied groups of professionals. The reason? Fields of employment which require interaction with PEOPLE are the most rewarding. And those who fail in teaching do so because, though they know the information and may be able to communicate it, the prospective teacher cannot manage their students. So To Be a Teacher or Not to Be a Teacher is determined primarily on the ability to interact with PEOPLE. The very thing that makes a career enjoyable is the very thing that causes chagrin.

I love to watch a good teacher interact with students. There is firmness yet freedom. There is exhortation and exuberance. There is intellect with interest. There is joy and justice. There is humility with honor.

Thank God for the Academy teachers who decided TO BE TEACHERS.

Judgement Day (01/08/2010)

Not a very inviting title is it? What do you think of when you hear "Judgement Day"?

Well, recently, I had the opportunity to serve on jury duty. Intriguing terms "serve" and "duty". "Serve" holds the idea of choice whereas "duty" connotes obligation without choice. Few people really want to "serve" jury "duty" . That's why it is a duty - a civic duty. Not a bad thing for a believer. When it was all said and done, I considered it a privilege.

I did feel a bit nervous when considering my ability to pass a fair judgement. How does the defendant feel about his peers passing judgement on him? The poor fellow had gotten himself into a real fix. A wealthy , lonely , vulnerable , older gentleman who made some bad choices after being so worldly wise. And now he faces the consequences of those missteps. But is he guilty of the crime he's accused of though his poor choices have brought him to where he is now. That is for us , the jury, to determine. According to our law, the state must prove guilt beyond "reasonable doubt".

Wouldn't you know it, I am juror number 1, which I learned means you are the foreman of the jury! Maybe they thought ,because of my roll as Assistant Head of School, I would be a competent foreman as well as judge of the evidence. There are so many predicaments God puts us in to point out our ineptness and our utter need for Him!

As I pondered this case, I couldn't help but think how life is so about "choices". It is that fork in the road that determines destiny. Look back on your life. We make many choices as parents to direct our children's destiny. Christian school is one of the best. What is the thousands of dollars invested compared to the future for our children. Choosing Christ. What profiteth a man if he gain the whole world and loses his own soul?

The acts of the defendant in this trial case were judged, hopefully fairly, for the results of his choices. None of us escape the consequences of choices. I see so many young people making good, healthy choices here at the Academy. What a joy! I see plenty of poor choices too; what sadness. Really, "Judgement Day" is every day. Every day we sow and every day we reap. May we, the Academy family, sow bountifully and reap bountifully.

Christmas Cheer All Year (12/22/2009)

The Snedeker family was so pleased when their first children, twins, David and Tyson, were born. But at the age of two, they were diagnosed with a rare disease which progressively left them debilitated by blindness and deafness as well as increasing infirmities . When David was at the point where a stomach tube was required for feeding, he asked a question of a compassionate visitor he had asked many , many times before of others. He asked through his mom, the only one who could interpret his disease afflicted speech, " Do you know Jesus?".
Five years later, when Tyson lay in a hospital bed, he , too, having a feeding tube inserted, wanted his mother to ask the doctor a question, " Do you know Jesus?"
At David's funeral there were over 500 people plus many more that stood outside. As the pastor looked down at the casket, he said,"If David could sit up up right now he would ask, 'Do you know Jesus?' "
As I read this story, I had several thoughts. One, I am very thankful for my and my family's health. Two, God's economy is not our own. Three, there is total equity at the foot of the cross and four, Christmas is too rich to celebrate once a year.

Do you have questions or comments about this blog? Email Mr. Zimmerman at tzimmerman@ghca.com!

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