Christian Elementary West

Teacher Bios

Shelbi Bush

I fell in love with Christian Unified all the way back when I was a student on the West Campus. I love being able to teach the students the Word of God and help them grow in their relationship with Christ.

Lydia Ciccarelli

Our school focuses on offering an education to our families with high academics and strong Biblical values. It is a school that supports the whole development of students, physical, emotional, and academic while maintaining the Bible at the center of its teaching.

Melodie Dielli

I love being able to work in a Christian school where I can help to impact the next generation of leaders in their relationship with God.

Leslie Francis

I believe that it is so important to teach our students through the eyes of Jesus and His word. I hope to help prepare our students academically and spiritually to go out into this world, succeed and make a difference for His Kingdom.

Kurt Hines

Christ centered in all we do!

Jana LaFave

I love teaching from a Biblical perspective and encouraging children to seek and grow in the Lord and in His wisdom.

Denise Nichols

Sydney Pilgrim

I chose to work at Christian Unified because I wanted to be part of a like-minded community and help children grow in their relationship with God.

Marissa Runge

I am passionate about being part of a child’s academic journey and watching them grow mentally, physically, and emotionally. I also feel called to walk alongside them in their spiritual growth. Finding Christ transformed my life in countless ways, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help students experience that same hope and joy. I believe Christian Unified is the best place to nurture both minds and hearts, and I’m blessed to be part of this community.

Audrey Shebloski

I am a Christian High School Alum, Class of 2020 and yes, we did graduate in the parking lot. I went on to play Division I softball at New Mexico State University where I graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice.

Angela Swaim

I choose to work for Christian Unified because of its commitment to teaching children to think, learn, and live from a Biblical worldview. As a Christian Unified teacher, I am able to create a classroom where my students thrive in being all that God has created them to be, and where we strive to be a blessing to others and glorify God in all we do.

Dennis Tucker

I work for Christian Unified because of the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the next generation! I love the opportunity to teach, mentor, and lead our students, and to keep their focus on God's holy Word. The opportunity to work in a Christian environment where we can instill and embrace biblical world view daily is a dream come true.

Tina Wells

As an alumna of Christian Unified, I know the value of Christian education. I appreciate the opportunity to openly weave faith into learning, and teach children about Jesus.

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Christian Unified Schools

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY MINIMUMS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Grade	TOEFL Jr	TOEFL	iTEP	Duolingo
6	700	NA	3	NA
7	750	NA	3	NA
8	800	50	3.3	80-85
9	850	50-60	3.3	85-90
10	NA	60-70	3.5	90-95
11	NA	70+	3.8	95+

STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

GENERAL PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

Because we believe God’s Word is the primary source of truth and meaning, Christian Unified Schools of San Diego (CUSSD) seeks to operate based on Biblical principles. From God’s Word, perspective from the past, context for the present, and direction for the future is established.

Christian Unified Schools of San Diego believes that Jesus Christ is the Truth (John 14:6) and in Him as revealed in God’s Word, lives can be sanctified (John 17:17) and set apart to glorify God (I Corinthians 6:20). In accordance with the Articles of Faith and Practice, CUSSD seeks to integrate faith with life and learning from a Biblical point of view by providing a coherent academic foundation within a consistent method of thinking, which includes the concepts that all people are:

Made in the image of God – physical and spiritual beings: creative, independent, thinking, and capable of having a relationship with God and others
Fallen and sinful
Redeemable – saved by Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection
Valuable – unique, having purpose and free will, able to pursue interests and love
Flesh and blood – who possess physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and social strengths and weaknesses

Our goal is to train students in the arts and sciences and to nurture them in the faith of Christ so that they are challenged to think well and live well and do both for the glory of God and in service to others. The Mission, Vision, Core Values, and Expected School-wide Learning Objectives reflect this philosophy.

ADMINISTRATION PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

The administration is responsible for upholding the philosophy and foundational statements, provide a carefully developed curriculum, professionally support and serve the teachers, and work to ensure a God-honoring school where like-minded parents can expect their student to receive a quality Christian college preparatory, liberal arts education.

TEACHER PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

The teachers are instruments of God in the redeeming and shaping process. As detailed in the Staff Code of Ethics, they model Christian behavior and strive to instill knowledge and the tools of learning in the student. The teachers are vital to the establishment of the spiritual and professional quality of the school. They are to be called by God to teach, train, discipline, and serve. They are to have a clear Christian testimony, be growing in their Christian faith, and be life-long learners. They are to model, integrate, and include a Biblical worldview and Great Commission perspective in lessons, activities, and assessments. They are to be professionally prepared and appropriately qualified.

They are charged to:

Support the school’s philosophy, foundational statements, and school-wide policies
Maintain professional conduct
Possess and utilize effective classroom management skills
Use developmentally appropriate, sufficiently challenging instructional strategies
Be well-prepared for class
Communicate clearly and effectively
Assess learning accurately
Reflect and improve continually
Demonstrate God’s character instructionally and relationally

CURRICULUM PHILOSOPHY STATEMENTS

General Curricular Statement:

The curriculum is designed to produce rational, reasoning, and responsible Christian citizens with a Biblical worldview as the foundations for thinking, doing, and being. With knowledge that God is the Giver of all Wisdom, Christian Unified Schools of San Diego seeks to:

Incorporate a Biblical worldview into each unit, grade, class, and program in a purposeful, intentional, and pro-active manner
Instill the Tools of Learning incrementally by building on concepts one step at a time in ascending order
Articulate, integrate, and align the content into the various disciplines and within each level
Provide a balance of quality academic, arts, athletic, leadership, and service opportunities
Meet educational needs so that the students will:

- Have firm convictions based on a foundation of Biblical truth, sound thinking, and practical purpose
- Be prepared to further their education
- Become skilled, life-long, self-directed learners who have a body of knowledge and skills
- Be able to develop facts into logical arguments to solve problems
- Be able to convey their critical thinking ability clearly, eloquently, and persuasively
- Live well in two kingdoms simultaneously
- Contribute to and influence the culture in which they live as salt and light
- Lead with integrity
- Serve with love

The Curriculum is rigorously developed, thoroughly documented, well-executed, and Biblically integrated. It is structured to provide interrelated disciplines. It incorporates the general philosophy, school-wide learning results, measurable objectives, instructional strategies, adequate resources, and appropriate assessments throughout. It is driven by policies and procedures. It includes a Biblical worldview and a Great Commission perspective.

The Methodology uses researched, best practices to incorporate knowledge with application through differentiated instruction aligned to cognitive development. It provides a dynamic, rich, creative learning environment. It incorporates high-yield instructional strategies, technology, and activities to promote wisdom and understanding, essential skills and content knowledge, and critical and higher level thinking ability.

The Goal is to provide for the educational needs of individual students while motivating them to attain to the best of their God-given ability within the framework of character development. We seek to prepare students to live life from a Biblical worldview with strong moral and spiritual values. We hope to see students who continue learning, leading, and serving with integrity and purpose. We desire that students glorify God by loving God and others with their whole hearts, minds, and souls.

PARENTAL PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

The parents and the church are the institutions charged with the education of children. Therefore, the parents are ultimately responsible for the physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, and social development of their child. The parents, by entrusting their students to the school, understand and support the philosophy, foundational statements, and school-wide policies. They strive to reinforce the school’s values as ascribed in the Parental Agreement. They participate in activities, and they provide for the success of their student.

STUDENT PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

The students are uniquely created in the image of God and in need of discipleship to use their talents to full potential as they grow in grace, knowledge, and wisdom of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18). Students are to be prepared, principled, and creative life-long learners and well-educated, purposeful, Godly leaders and servants. They are to submit to the authority structure set in place by God not only while students but also as adults. They are to abide by the school-wide standards as outlined in the Student Agreement and handbook and strive to attain the Expected School-Wide Learning Results by becoming:

Influential Christians who:

Accept the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior.
Apply Biblical principles as the foundation for moral and spiritual living.
Develop and maintain an informed Biblical worldview that shapes their lifestyle choices.
Demonstrate God’s love through acts of service and sharing the gospel.

Investigative Learners who:

Master a body of knowledge, vocabulary, and skills.
Understand, analyze, and order relationships among facts.
Assess their needs and apply appropriate strategies to learn concepts and skills.
Actively use the tools of learning throughout their lifetime.

Perceptive Thinkers who:

Identify, analyze, discriminate, prioritize, and apply information.
Have the ability to solve problems by thinking independently and logically.
Make responsible and well-reasoned decisions.
Actively seek and apply absolute truths.

Effective Communicators who:

Demonstrate the ability to accurately understand, interpret, and exchange information.
Communicate with eloquence, creativity, and persuasion in writing and in speech.
Develop and utilize artistic expression.
Proclaim and defend the gospel with wisdom, wit, and respect.

Quality Producers who:

Demonstrate a growing knowledge of curriculum.
Develop their God-given talents and abilities.
Display standards of excellence in all pursuits.
Work well with others toward a common goal.

Responsible Citizens who:

Respect and submit to authority.
Actively protect and promote freedom and democracy.
Enjoy God’s creation and live as good stewards within it.
Recognize and contribute to meeting the needs of others.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired, inerrant, plenary, and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of CUSSD’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, Shadow Mountain Community Church is CUSSD’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through the shedding of His blood, His bodily resurrection on the third day, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, His personal, pre-millennial return to rapture His Church before the Tribulation, and His glorious appearing to set up His Millennial Kingdom.
We believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith, apart from works, by the merit of the shed blood of Christ, and that the born-again believer is eternally secure in Christ.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe in the individual priesthood of the believer.
We believe life begins at conception.
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning— the uniting of one biological man and one biological woman in a single, exclusive union as delineated in Scripture (Gen. 2:18-25.) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a biological man and a biological woman who are married to each other (1 Cor. 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4.) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
We believe that the Scripture dictates standards of sexual behavior. The unique roles of the male and female are clearly defined in Scripture. Any promiscuity, homosexuality, gender identity issues, or other deviations from Biblical principles is a sin that is offensive to God (Matt. 5:18-19; I Cor. 6: 9-10, 19-20; Eph. 5:3-5; 1 Thess. 4:3-8).