Our Goals

According to the Bible, parents are responsible for the training of their children. Northern Dutchess Christian School serves as partners with parents in providing an excellent education consistent with Biblical truth. Harmony between home and school provides the best environment for godly training to take place. We seek to nurture development of the following essential character traits in the lives of our students. We hope these characteristics will define the graduate of Northern Dutchess. We also recognize that these traits can only fully be realized through the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

• GODLY LIVING. A lifestyle that exhibits the fruit of the Spiritand flees from the acts of our sinful nature. Our standards are found in God’s Word and our desire must be one with God and His holiness. We should demonstrate purity of heart in our actions. We should maintain a sexually pure and modest lifestyle. (Gal. 5:16-26; 2 Tim. 2:22; 1 Peter 1:13-16, 2:9-10; 1 Cor. 6:12-20; Prov. 23:29-35; Phil. 4:8; Rom. 8:6-8)
• INTEGRITY. Maintaining a lifestyle that is above reproach. A Christianshould be honest, moral, and trustworthy in all dealings. We should use good judgment whenever we speak, closely guarding confidences that we hold and never giving room for gossip or hurtful speech. (Titus 1:8; Job 27:5; Prov. 11:3, 20:11; 1 Kings 9:4; Ps. 15)
• RESPECT. An attitude that highly esteems those in properly placed authority. Parents, teachers, employers, governmental authority and church leaders have been placed in our lives by God . God gave us a Biblical command to honor them for our own good. (Rom 12:1-7; Heb. 13:7; 1 Peter 2:13-21; 1 Thess. 5:12-13)
• OBEDIENCE. The outworking of the attitude of respect. We are to obey God and all those He has placed over us in our lives. When we obey, we show our love and respect for God and the authorities He has ordained. Our lives then will be long and fruitful as He has promised. (John 14:21; Eph. 6:1-4; Rom. 13:1-7; Prov 6:23)
• SELF-DISCIPLINE. The ability to control one’s thoughts and actions. The goal is to have a life under control—self-disciplined by the Spirit of God. We should demonstrate an understanding of good manners in all school situations. (Gal. 5:22-26; Job 5:17; Prov. 16:32, 25:28; 1 Tim. 4:7-8)
• RESPONSIBILITY. Being dependable and accountable in all relationships and tasks. We are accountable to each other to love, encourage, confront, comfort and forgive. We should show our peers through all that we say or do that we place others more highly than ourselves. Furthermore, initiative, intellectual integrity and excellence should be the marks of all tasks we attempt. (1 Cor. 13; Matt. 18:15-17; Gal. 6:1-5; Eph. 5:29-32; Eccl. 9:10)
• PEACEMAKING. An attitude that seeks Biblically-based resolution and reconciliation in all conflict. As people reconciled to Godby the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we believe that we are called to respond to conflict in a way that is remarkably different from the way the world deals with conflict. (Luke 6:27-36; Gal. 5:19-26; Matt. 5:9)
• SERVICE. A spirit of humility in focusing on the needs of others. Christ is our example in living a life that is not self-centered, but rather seeking ways to serve not rule. (Eph. 5:21; Phil. 2:3-11; James 4:6-10)
• THANKFULNESS. An attitude of gratefulness. We are to be thankful for everything God brings into our lives. Knowing that God’s dealings in our lives are intended for our “good” will help create an attitude of gratefulness for the things others do for us. (Phil. 4:6-7; 1 Thess. 5:18; Col. 2:7; Eph. 5:20)
• WISDOM. Understanding what is true from God’s perspective, and doing what is right. Wisdom comes from God and our respect for Him. It is developed in our lives by our proper response to correction. If we do not respond to correction with a teachable spirit, the Bible calls us fools and unable to attain wisdom. (Prov. 1:7, 20-33; Prov. 2:1-22; Prov. 4:7)