High School Student Union Resource Services

NorthPointe Christian High School is committed to provide Christ-centered education by embracing, equipping, and empowering student who bring various strengths and challenges to our learning community.  We are thrilled to announce that during the 2011-12 school year, our partnership with the Christian Learning Center for comprehensive consulting and psychological services will continue in addition to work with Grand Rapids Public and other local providers.   Respected  CLC specialists Mary Ashby and Doug Bouman return to serve our families.

Student  Union Coordinator Brenda Maas who oversees onsite resource room services emphasizes the call to celebrate the unique design of our NPC student body.  This is based on the Biblical Body Life reality that

• You belong.
• You are needed.

 “But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.  If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body…But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” (I Cor.  12:18, 19, 24B-26).    All NPC students bear the amazing image of God their Creator, are united in one Spirit, are called to discipleship, and are interdependent members of the Body of Christ serving and ministering together.

Returning to the high school resource team this year will be Norrine Bowes teaching math and arranging peer tutors. Becky Tasma will assist with Title I tutor needs.  Bringing fresh insights and expertise is Kara Johnson and Corinne Gettel, our newest team members from Cornerstone Univeristy and Hope College, respectfully.   Miss Johnson specializes in inclusion and will be working to ensure the highest level of classroom success for students. She will also lead the new Circle of Friends social cognition and discipleship arm of the Student Union.  Miss Gettel spearheads the TouchPointe Ministry aimed at providing accountability and academic coaching as well as transition planning.  This involves partnering with the NPC students and community for purpose-setting and preparation for post-graduate training and work success. 

Student Union space conveniently includes side by side, zoned rooms in the middle school wing where the team will serve grades six through twelve in need of tutoring, resource room classes, quiet study space, and alternate site testing, as well as other accommodation services.

Touchpointe Ministry:

In the Student Union, our Touchpointe Ministry aims to provide a one-on-one experience that focuses on developing and implementing organizational skills and tools that will ultimately help students to have assignments turned in on time and to be prepared for tests and projects by looking ahead. In order to encourage these life-long and helpful habits, the use of point systems, "homework" folders, and daily planners are consistently used and monitored. During these weekly meetings, we also review the students' grades and assignments to look at accomplishments and areas of weakness. Additionally, at the beginning of each quarter, the students develop their own goals to work towards. This provides a way for students to take even more ownership while developing these skills and discipline.

Transition Planning:

Our Touchpointe Ministry is a good precursor for students who are involved with the transition opportunities, because it focuses on developing skills that are important in all areas of life.  Developing our transition planning has been much more of a progression, as it is taking time to develop these plans based on students' interests and abilities, regarding life after NPC. Our goal for this is to help students have an opportunity to be placed in a professional setting that matches or closely relates to their interests and strengths. Since we have been blessed with the resources here we are doing our best to place students with parents and families of NPC. As the transition coordinator, I will be supervising these experiences and closely working with the student and adviser to ensure a positive and effective outcome in helping to further shape each student's ability to impact our world for Jesus Christ.