In order to refresh the content of summer newsletters, I have decided to periodically "introduce" the new 2012-2013 staff members to you. I think you will know who Joy Augustine is when you walk into the same room!  Joy is aptly named! Our new Vocal Music Instructor/Director is a bubbling font of pure and explosive energy!  Joy graduated from Nebraska's Dana College in 2008.  She taught at Mercy Catholic High School in Omaha for three years and in the Ankeny Public Schools for the past year.  A fellow teacher in Ankeny told me, "She has been a blessing this year in so many different ways.  She was so helpful with anything and everything.  She went above and beyond to help people.  She was willing to listen and counsel students with their concerns.  Students trusted her.  She's good with junior high and high school students.  She does everything in a loving way.  She's really good at communicating.  As a friend, she has really shown me her faith. She has a wonderful sense of humor.  She reads situations well, whether good or troublesome.  She can roll with the punches.  She jumps in!" Joy's Principal in Omaha told me, "I find Joy to be a very spiritual person.  We're a Catholic school, and she is not Catholic, but she brought her faith to bear in a very appropriate way.  Her spirituality is very important to her, and she encouraged the students, praying for them.  Her spiritual leadership was genuine and healthy.  She's a good multi-tasker.  She's the type who thrives on being busy.  She's likes that challenge.  She's a good organizer.  I was always impressed with her organization, communication, expectations, and delivery of instruction.  She's a fantastic pianist.  She did fun things, jazzing stuff up for kids.  She's a fine young woman.  She really likes kids.  She knows kids.  She knows what makes kids tick.  She really is a talent.  She will become a master teacher someday.  She loves teaching."  Members of the interview team made the following comments about Joy:  "She made a great impression. . . .She relates well to students. . . .She is bubbly and effervescent. . . .She is very open to student input and leadership. . . .Students are her first priority. . . .She has the perfect skill and experience set. . . .She speaks kid language. . . .She's all-in. . . .She is filled with joy. . . .She is authentic, sincere, transparent. . . .She's fun, artsy, gifted, and knowledgeable."  Ringing endorsements are they all!  What a joy to welcome Joy Augustine to our school!

I am very pleased to report that Des Moines Christian's ACSI accreditation was once again approved without condition after the Association of Christian Schools' Mid-America Accreditation Commission reviewed the report during their meetings on June 4-5, 2012!  Praise God!  I received this news with great JOY! A site team visits DMC every five years, but we are also expected to submit annual written reports about the progress of cited recommendations, so I am once again pleased by everyones' efforts to address key issues at the school.  Accreditation is an extremely important element of school improvement; we need to be accountable for performing and constantly improving in the ways we say we are performing and improving.  We invite our Association members' continuing involvement in the school improvement process; if you have suggestions for improvement, do not hesitate to speak to any DMC staff member, and we'll get your input to the proper person/s.