Logos school goes through the accreditation process

Part of my role here in Cambodia has been to help Logos School become internationally accredited with both an international christian organization ACSI and the California based WASC organization. This past week the ACSI, the Association of Christian Schools International and WASC, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges accrediting bodies have been visiting our school. They have been inspecting our school from top to bottom and from inside and out. One month ago we presented this accreditation team with our final (approx 500 pages) self-study report. The self-study report is the culmination of a long process of work and improvements. The group is here to determine if the things we said in our report are correctly represented or not. The team has been here looking at our curriculum, going through our financial reports, and watching teachers in the classroom. The accreditation team has been busy interviewing a variety of groups including students, teachers, parent, and administration.

From all accounts, the time with the accreditation team went well. The chairman of the ACSI team says he thinks our report is honest and accurate. During a mid-week meeting the team presented their preliminary commendations and recommendations to the Logos admin, staff and parent committee.
In short, the committee stated that the school has done a great job of providing a strong academic and strong christian education. Many kudos were mentioned to the principal, fellow Canadian, Dan Hein for his commitment, his vision and fortitude to see this process through. He truly has done a great job of understanding how to build a strong school in Cambodia. He has been a pleasure to work with. The teachers were mentioned for their strong christian commitment to the students and for creating strong starting documents in curriculum. The parents of Logos were thanked for their long term commitment to the school too.
Some of you have asked if the accreditation team can tell everyone if Logos is now an accredited school, however, this current visiting group of people will be unable to do this at this time. The final acceptance of the school for accreditation will belong to their respective boards back in the U.S.A.. Everyone here will be notified by mid June as to the final report conclusions. Keep praying.
If I were to anticipate anything, I am pretty sure we will be accredited by both organizations. However, I am not sure how long the accreditation term will extend (you can get up to 6 years before your next full visit). I don't think we will receive the full 6 years because, after all, this is Cambodia: The 4th likeliest place in the world to collapse!

On a personal side, I am very humbled to be part of this process and I a really do have a good sense of accomplishment. Many many hours have been spent writing support documents, writing the report itself, and creating or improving processes along the way. Yet I know that the Lord is building this school and using so many people to establish Himself in the place. So I will boast in Him and all the He has done!

Blessings,
Dean


PS. As an aside, on one of the first nights the accreditation team was here (2 people from USA, 1 from Thailand, and 1 from Malaysia) we went out to dinner. As we were picking them up from their hotel, the rain was coming down really hard.

The flooding was unbelievable in the streets. Here is a picture of some of the flooding and some of the trees that seemed to come down. Apparently the Rainy season has come early! The visiting group asked if this was "normal", everyone of us responded with..."is anything normal in Cambodia?" (ASIDE:Gotta love the color of that dirty water!)