September 2024 Newsletter – Hold onto Hope
The last three weeks at Bridge have been so exciting. Our “Hope Again” series has been such an encouragement to all of us. People are finding strength and faith as they renew their hope in God.
In the weeks ahead, we will continue our series and build upon the foundation for hope we have laid. We will explore numerous accounts of people throughout the Bible who found hope while facing challenging circumstances. We encourage you to invite your friends, family, and anyone you meet who needs hope.
Join us for the “First Thursday Prayer” on Thursday, September 5th. Our special prayer focus will be on our nation, which desperately needs hope and healing. There will be live worship as we gather to pray. Let’s fill our auditorium and stand in the gap for our nation.
We want to encourage you with a verse that has given us hope as we have recently experienced a few health challenges. “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalms 27:13-14 NIV
Take a moment now and declare over your life, “Father, I thank you that I will see your goodness in the land of the living. I choose to wait for your time. Thank you for your strength and courage while I wait.”
Also, parents, please see the section below on our local schools’ Social Emotional Learning mandate.
Keep Your Hope In Jesus!
Pastors Bob & Stephanie
Things to Know!
CAPE CORAL CITY SCHOOLS MANDATE SEL FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
We recently learned that the Cape Coral City Charter Schools would utilize navigate360.com to meet the Florida requirements for “Resiliency Education Standards.” Here is the original email notification from Oasis Middle School. We cannot confirm that Lee County Schools is also utilizing the navigate360.com to meet the state requirements for “Resiliency Education Standards”
From Oasis Middle…
To ensure our students receive the five hours of resiliency education as required by the Florida Department of Education for all students in grade 6-12, beginning this quarter, students in health (6th grade) and students in PE (7th, 8th grade) will receive SEL coursework led by their teacher. The coursework comes from Suite 360, a program that meets all the standards required by the State.
Beginning next week, teachers will spend an average of 20 minutes per week on this content with students in health and PE.
More details can be found on our website – Mental Health Info – Oasis Middle (oasismiddleschool.net)
If you want even more information about Suite 360, please contact our social worker, Tiffany Corbin at tiffany.corbin@capecharterschools.org She can also provide you a Google Form to complete if you want to opt your child out of the program.
SO WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?
- PRAY. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and show you everything you need to do for your child and family.
- RESEARCH SEL, CASEL, & NAVIGATE360. We encourage you to be informed about your child’s education. Unfortunately, some organizations want to utilize our education system to promote their radical agendas and unbiblical ideologies.
- CONTACT YOUR SCHOOL GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT. Ask to see the complete curriculum, not just an outline. You have that right as a parent. Unfortunately, evil ideologies are sometimes hidden under honorable titles. Your definition of empathy and tolerance may differ drastically from that of Navigate360, CASEL, and the instructor.
- MAKE THE DECISION THAT IS BEST FOR YOUR CHILD. You have the legal right to opt your child out of any instruction against your beliefs. That is what is great about our nation.
- SPREAD THE WORD. Life is busy. Every parent misses things. Help other parents make an informed decision by sharing the resources we have provided for you.
- HONOR JESUS. We must be loving as we disagree. Setting boundaries that protect you, your children, and your family is emotionally healthy. Those boundaries do not make you a racist, homophobe, or any of the other terms used by those who promote this evil. Remember Paul’s words to the church in Rome… “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-19, 21 NIV
WHAT IS SEL?
SEL is the acronym for “Social Emotional Learning.” SEL was developed and introduced by the CASEL. Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) in 1994 at the Yale Child Study Center.
The CASEL website, CASEL.org, does not come out and directly confirm their adherence to Critical Theory (Race, Queer, etc); the site is filled with clear evidence that Critical Theory is a driving force in their approach. In March 2020, CEO Karen Niemi announced an update to the definition of SEL: embracing the racial identity aligned with critical race theory.
Below is a link to a video that examines the dangers of SEL and CASEL. Foundation Worldview provides this. We encourage you to subscribe to their YouTube channel, which has numerous quality videos that will help you address the cultural challenges your children face. Their website is https://foundationworldview.com/. Also, we encourage you to visit the Freedom Life Apologetics website. https://www.freedom.life/apologetics
In addition to the clear radical ideology CASEL also identifies and promotes teachers, counselors, and coaches as the first safe point of contact for students. Parents are seen as the third-level contact for children.
WHAT IS NAVIGATE360?
Navigate360 is one of numerous organizations that utilize the CASEL methods to teach SEL. Their website clearly expresses their connection to and promotion of the CASEL SEL methodology. While NAVIGATE360 is separate from CASEL, its curriculum is based on CASEL SEL.
