Raising our own children brings life to our parents were always right.
My husband took the Savannah Street exit. When we approached the end of the exit, he turned right. This street eventually turned into McCluer Road.
I sat in the passenger seat pointing out several memories:
My dad's friend lived here.
The convenient stores on either corner.
The street where my friend and her parents lived.
Another street a friend lived on before her family built a new house.
The ball field where I grew up.
My sisters friends house.
Another friends house.
Family members house.
A new neighborhood.
A stop sign added since childhood.
Soon the long road, McCluer, came to an end. Our car made a complete stop. Across the street, a yellow sign wedged into the ground. The sign had a double black arrow on it. One way pointed left, one way pointed right. My husband turned right on to Siwell Road. I looked at the street corner as we pass. Home of the red fire station I knew from childhood. Now, it seems not so bright red. As if bleach ran down the sides. Then he turned to the immediate right. This lead us on to the campus of the school I graduated from, Hillcrest.
Meanwhile, we parked in the paved parking lot once gravel. It was chilly. We gather our things before heading into the gymnasium. Where the piece of property once only held a barn with an open pasture. However, my heart was warm on that Saturday morning. Mainly, knowing my daughter was playing against the school responsible for shaping my life.
This was not the first time back on this campus. My oldest daughter who is now graduated from high school played against Hillcrest in basketball and softball. We even attended a football game one Friday night in support of my daughters team. Each visit on the campus was fun. Fun to see my life progress, see my kids progress but then there was the community surrounding the school. The community was not progressing. Instead, it's seemed to be on a back hill slope.
Since the day of the last ball game, I attended 4 weeks ago, I received news the school was in finical stress. Even a possible closing of the school floated in rumor form. Only brief details were brought to my attention. Enough for me to gather something was going on. I did not need full details.
Here's where my mind spins:
Mad, mad the school I graduated from might no longer be a school. My graduating class celebrated our 20-year class reunion in October 2015. Seeing the people Hillcrest helped shape and mold was awesome.
When I was in 2nd grade the school I attended, McCluer Academy, closed. McCluer closed and Hillcrest bought it in 1986. Hillcrest operated from two location. One on the corner of McCluer and Siwell Road, home of the junior high and high school campus. The other was located on Sykes and Wheatley. This was home of the elementary campus. In the late 90's the elementary was moved to new construction at the Siwell location. Wheatley sold.
Three years ago the school my oldest daughter attended merged with another school under a new name, Hartfield. The transition was a hard. Hard in the sense my daughters school she was about to graduate from was closing. I watched kids/families fumble in all sorts of directions. It was heartbreaking to the core. Kids stopping by my house crying. Kids in the hallways crying. People's anger and rage escalated. People walked away. People stayed. Honesty helps heal. And hard times helps us grow. We don't always crave growth. Although, God's best interest is to grow His kingdom. The school is now flourishing. It took obedient hearts walking through deep waters. Seeing His work first hand is amazing.
The community surrounding Hillcrest is falling. From my viewpoint, it started near my childhood home, almost 20 minutes from the school. Near the Metro Center, now closed. Near the Walmart, which recently closed. These closings make crime push in different directions. This makes families not wanting to raise their families in the school area. So then you see attending numbers drop in the schools. No wonder Hillcrest is in finical stress, right. I am only being honest as an outsider. We all know the area is declining.
For "Pete's sake" a man was murdered. On the same long road my family traveled the Saturday morning for the basketball game. It was three weeks later, he was in his yard doing yard work. He was 85 years old. Come on, not a place I'd want to raise my family. Makes me sick to even fathom. Yet alone the family of the inspiring older gentle. I actually know the family and somewhere down the line one of their family members had a child with a family member of mine, so basically they are family. The reward raised in the where about's who committed this violent act. My prayer is the person who is guilty will turn in themselves. When they do may the Lord smack him/her over the head waking their feeble soul. May lives be changed, hearts would be healed right down to the core where hatred, meanness, unlife likeness take place. We as a nation must stand for each other's protection. We've got to cry out for hearts of these precious people who are uneducated. Not understanding the difference between right and wrong. Not understanding how to live a healthy life free from crime and violence. Where did we go wrong as a society? A mess like this takes place in broad daylight on the streets we grew up on. People run out of the country, people run to other states doing mission work. Hello my friends how bout in our own great state. How bout in our own great community where we were raised. We can't back down. The more we let others push us out of our communities the more they will move towards us. How bout stop. Stay. Meet them right where we are being the hands and feet of Jesus. Take them in. Minister to them. Mentor them. Be a friend. Let's rise up. Let's show them how to really live. It starts right where we are today, where we shop, where we attend church, where we bank, pump gas, the streets we live on etc. It's called love my friends. Love. Let's love like Jesus. The Lord is stirring in my soul. I am speaking to my own heart here as well.
So you see, my experience in the private schools is broad. My experience and knowledge of the surrounding community is broad. Here's the thing, other private schools in declining areas are still open running full fledge. Think Jackson Academy, First Pres, Saint Andrews etc. This brings me to my biggest point: tuition alone is not what keeps a school running. It's fundraising. And connection with Alumi. Something Hillcrest has lacked over the last however many years. If your heart is prompted to helping the schools needs in it's current state that's awesome. Keep reading.
One thing I can't help to keep thinking about is losing a school means losing an opposing team to play. My prayer is surrounding leaders in opposing schools, churches, families, friends and the Alumni of Hillcrest will find a way to keep the school going. God knows. We must listen to His calling.
Here's my prayerfully considered viewpoint projection long term if Hillcrest closes now or ever:
-surrounding church attendance will drop.
-homes will become empty.
-homes will fill with declining attendants.
-leaves bigger gaps for crime.
-opposing school will have one less team to play.
-businesses will close.
You may not have graduated from Hillcrest, nor have children or grandchild who attended. But you could have a child or a grandchild who attends another private school who needs opposing teams to play. If you never attended a private school or never plan to send your children to one, God could have in mind for you or one of your family members life to be touched by a co-worker, a friend or even a spouse from a private school. Keeping these types of schools up and running is healthy for all of us. Not just the one attending.
Life moves on, you realize a new meaning to life raising your own kids. Especially now one of my kids is actually graduated school. The impact on her life attending a private Christian school let's me truly see the value of having schools like such around. My parents were right.
Since starting the writing of this blog post, I've received a firm confirmation:
Hillcrest is NOT closing.
Praise God!
But Hillcrest does need our help. I ask you prayerfully consider donating to the fundraiser the Hillcrest Alumni is hosting for 90 days, March 1st - June 1st.
Grace, grace, grace...
Let's help Hillcrest raise $100,000 < Click HERE for information on this fundraiser.
Oh, that's a big number. Friends, I truly believe God has it on a lot of hearts to reach out a helping hand. Helping others heals hearts while growing communities one dollar at a time.
Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
Think outside the box:
maybe your family can only donate $10, $20, $30+
your youth group
your small group
your current school
in honor of your grandchild
a portion of sales from your small business
ask a restaurant to donate a night of sales
send letters of encouragement
pray for the school
share on your facebook
When you've done everything you can do, that's when God will step in doing what you can't. 2 Corinthians 12:10
Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. Isaiah 40:31
Be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead. 1 Peter 1:6
If you are a parent pat yourself on the back. You are a great leader. No matter where your child attends school.
Helping a friend heals hearts!
Let's do this!
We can do this!
Please!
Donate!
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