As Christian schools go, Paideia pulls together as a community more than most. The latest example of this is the Ambassadors Award, a new way to reach out to mission-appropriate families with financial aid. Even our by-laws state that we want to balance “generous financial compensation of faculty and staff with affordability to a wide economic spectrum of families.” Our bottom-line thinking is this: we don’t want any good family to stay away or to go away merely because of money.

In this spirit, a generous Paideia family has donated funds equivalent to one full tuition this year, to be used to recruit new students/families who will then reach out to their friends on behalf of the school. That’s why we’re calling it the Ambassadors Award. The application for this award reads, in part:

Just as Christ calls believers to be His ambassadors, to make His gospel known to the world and share the blessings of His kingdom, so we ask all Paideia families to be ambassadors for the school, to tell what good things happen here and share them with like-minded folks and thus build up our community of disciples, scholars, and citizens.

The Ambassadors Award recognizes in some families a high degree of potential influence in the church and in the community, and calls them to accept an honorary role as ambassadors on behalf of the school. In anticipation of their good work in building bridges of goodwill from the school to other families in church and community, we award them a tangible benefit…

The first recipients of the Ambassador Award are the families of Isaac Fanelli (K) and James Hernandez (5th). Now that school has begun, both families have begun to form early impressions of Paideia. First we hear from the Hernandez family.

We are very blessed to have been able to send our son James to the Paideia School. We know how important not only an education is but the importance of having spiritual doctrine as part of the education process.

James came from a public school environment and has adjusted quite well to the culture that the Paideia School has to offer. He loves his teachers and has made friends. He had reservations initially but by the second day he was very happy. He loves the fact that his teachers really care for him not only academically but spiritually. The ratio of students to teacher is wonderful. Teachers are able to really get to know James and help him in his weak areas and encourage his strengths.

Our experience has been wonderful from the registration to the first day of school. God has truly blessed the Paideia school with wonderful teachers and leadership, with GOD being the center of everything.

Next we hear from the Fanelli family.

We have already been so blessed to be a part of Paideia.  We are constantly amazed by the leadership, teachers, support staff and students.  There are so many examples, from the kindness of Mrs. Wilson with my "special needs" to Biblical mandates being expressed in the classroom.  As an educator myself, it is exciting to see classical education at work and the amazing scholars it produces.  We feel God's hand can be seen in every aspect of the school and I couldn't help but cry when we circled the students the first day and prayed for them.

Isaac has enjoyed his classmates very much.  The classroom itself has been full of fun with the animals - and especially his own desk.  He absolutely loves Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Leonard.  It is comforting to have these two wonderful ladies step in and provide the love, nurturing, and assurance he needs as he enters Kindergarten.  Words cannot express our gratitude and respect for Paideia.  We look forward to learning and being a part of such a precious community of believers.

For those who have been here for a while, it’s good to see the school again through fresh eyes, and we look forward to these new families reaching out to still others with Paideia’s story. We are so pleased to make the Hernandez and the Fanelli families the very first recipients of the Ambassadors Award. (If you would like to contribute to the Ambassadors Award fund for future students, please contact Mr. Bray.)