TRA Families,
Let’s talk about JOYFUL and RELATIONAL, the lesser-known values here at TRA. The first two core values, are classical and Christian.
Why Joyful?
So why did we choose joyful? It’s really about who we are and who we want to be: we are God’s people teaching God’s children about God. We are telling them about God’s world, how it works, and about the people God created. These are JOYFUL facts!
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Teaching About God Yields Joy
We are teaching about the only One, true and good God, our Creator, who personally and lovingly made our planet and shaped us to rule our beautiful earth with justice and wisdom. When these Truths have soaked into our souls, the fruit is love and joy! So, of course we tell our stories joyfully; they are packed full of God’s goodness, grace, and unfailing love and faithfulness. Our children are God's children and we are teaching them about God and His World, so there is no reason for any lesson to be less than beautiful, well-crafted, and filled with life and joy. We want to honor our students by making every lesson in every subject taught in an engaging and joy-filled manner.
Our Teachers Are Joyful
We study God’s word and our history to see Him working out His will and plan to redeem the whole Earth! Every subject, not just Bible, but math, science, literature, and history are all wonder-filled, hope-infused, mind-engaging subjects. All of this deliriously amazing material is taught by teachers who are lifelong participants of learning themselves. Our teachers love their students, and thoroughly enjoy their subject material, and are enthused to share this love and enjoyment with their students. Students who are interested in what is taught, are actively engaged in the lessons and who feel loved by their teachers remember the material and enjoy their classes.
Why Relational?
So why did we choose relational? We believe that working and learning in an environment where every person feels seen and understood is key to doing the best job possible. As C.S. Lewis says in The Weight of Glory, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.”
Our students and our co-workers are immortal souls, made in the image of God. This is astounding to consider and imperative to remember. And so, we regard our school to be a sacred community. Acknowledging where we have hurt others and asking and offering forgiveness where there has been conflict in our relationships are integral parts of our Christ-following community. We see this play out in our classrooms every single day. Our children are educated with and play alongside the same group of kids for years, so they are forced to learn meaningful conflict resolution and forgiveness. They cannot dispose of these relationships when they get difficult. Our core value of “relational” pushes us toward repentance and forgiveness. It is in these moments of humbling ourselves and working toward restoration and reconciliation that we as Christians are set apart from the world! Without confession, repentance, and forgiveness, we would have to muddle along working and learning in relationships that sustain daily more and more damage, with no way for real reconciliation!
May it never be so here! Here, with every confession and request of forgiveness, the relationship is made new, in fact, better than new. For with each submitting of ourselves to repentance and reconciliation, we are remade more fit for glory. With every healing, we become stronger than before. Our Christian community is a gift that never stops giving for it shapes one and all for the Kingdom of Heaven as we work and wrestle in these human relationships, practicing grace, and love, and forgiveness, as Christ has modeled for us.
And so it is with thankful and joyful hearts that we arrive each day. And I am blessed to work in one of the most beautiful Christian communities I have ever experienced.
Tonya Griffith
Secondary Principal
“But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
