Dear Parents,

One of the things we value deeply at Heritage Academy is the Christian culture of our campus. We recognize that this culture does not develop accidentally. It is created by the influence of our homes, our staff, and especially the young people who live, worship, and learn together each day.

Our approach at Heritage is not to assume that our students are worldly young people who must be controlled by an ever-increasing list of rules. Rather, our students generally come to us from Christian homes whose parents have deliberately chosen Christian education for their children. Through our admissions process, students indicate their willingness to live harmoniously within the Christian culture and mission of Heritage Academy. Consequently, we expect their conduct to be consistent with the Christian principles upon which Heritage Academy is founded and which their families have chosen for their education.

That expectation applies at all times and in all places. Christian deportment is not simply how a student behaves when a teacher or dean is present. It includes conduct in the classroom, dormitory, vocational area, recreation, transportation, and social activities. It also includes private conversations between students when no staff member is listening. We expect our students’ language, humor, relationships, attitudes, and treatment of one another to consistently reflect the Christian standards of our school. Students should not engage in conversation or behavior that is vulgar, crude, sexually suggestive, degrading, demeaning, or otherwise debasing. As our Bulletin states, “Students of Heritage Academy are expected to represent Christ in word as well as action” and “Let all communication be of such a nature as would uplift Jesus Christ.”—Heritage Academy Bulletin, p. 37.

This means that our standard is higher than simply asking, “Is there a rule against this?” We want our young people to ask, “Is this consistent with the character of Christ? Does this strengthen or weaken the Christian atmosphere of our school? Is my influence helping the young people around me toward Christ?” We expect our students to be respectful toward adults and one another, responsive to correction, considerate of others, appropriate in their relationships, careful in their language, faithful in their responsibilities, and conscious of the influence they exert upon others.

We understand that our students are young people who are still growing. They will make mistakes, and part of Christian education is patiently helping them recognize those mistakes, make things right, and grow through them. At the same time, there is a difference between making a mistake and choosing a pattern of conduct that is inconsistent with the Christian culture of the school. Our Bulletin states that “attitude is an important factor in the relationship between student and school” and recognizes that there may come a point when a student’s influence upon others becomes detrimental to the school community. We take that responsibility seriously because every parent who entrusts a young person to Heritage has a right to expect us to protect the Christian atmosphere in which that young person lives.

We are about to begin our annual Purity Retreat, and during this time we will address some of these matters very directly with our students. We will talk about Christian purity not simply in terms of physical relationships, but also in terms of thought, conversation, humor, relationships, entertainment, and influence. Purity is much more than a list of things a Christian does not do. It grows out of a relationship with Christ and should be evident in the way we think, speak, and treat one another.

I am grateful for the trust you have placed in us by allowing your young person to attend Heritage Academy. We need your partnership in maintaining the Christian culture that makes Heritage distinctive. Please talk with your young person about these expectations and encourage them not merely to comply with school rules, but to exert an influence that makes Heritage a better, safer, kinder, and more Christ-centered place because they are here.

Doug Baker,

Heritage Academy Principal