Family Story: The Hubbard Family

By Beth Hubbard

What do you love about Jesse Remington High School and why?

We love that Jesse is such a tight-knit community.  It feels like a youth group, the best kind of camp, and school all rolled into one.  We have seen our daughter become so happy in school since she has started coming to JRHS, and this is really a first.  Her last several years in public school, she was pretty miserable.  Now, after a full week of school and then a whole Saturday of Christmas Gala, she got into the car with a big happy sigh and said, "I wish I had school tomorrow!"  We also love the way that she is so supported in all of her work; while she works hard, she also receives all the academic support along the way that she needs in order to succeed.

Why did you choose Jesse Remington High School for Emily?

We chose Jesse Remington for our daughter because she was not thriving in a large public school setting, and we saw that she needed a much smaller, supportive, loving Christian community in order to really thrive.  

What expected and unexpected growth have you seen in Emily?

I expected that JRHS was going to be a challenge academically, but we have been delighted to see how successful Emily has been in all of her academics.   In another area, it has been fun to see how much she feels a part of the community of kids, and how happy she is just to be seen, included, and cared for.  One recent delight was seeing her act as the MC for the Christmas Gala.  Speaking in front of a bunch of people is not something that Emily would want to do, but she was invited/challenged into this role, and afterwards she was so pleased by having taken on that role and how well it went that she told us she wants to do it again next year!  We have really seen her grow in confidence.  

Another very pleasant surprise has been the number of international students at JRHS. In a state that doesn't have much diversity, I love that our kids are having this opportunity to become friends with kids from other parts of the world and learn about their cultures as well.  This is so valuable for broadening one's perspective. 

In what ways have you seen Emily grow in her faith as a result of their experiences at Jesse Remington High School?

Emily has always had a very strong faith, but we have been happy to see her in an environment where she can be in fellowship with other students and teachers.  In public school she often felt very uncomfortable and saddened by the things she saw and heard, and she has been so happy to be in an environment where faith is an integral part of everything that they do and say.  She has also really loved Bible class and the Dignified Girls nights, which are areas where she continues to grow in her knowledge, love, and experiences of God. 

What is the one word your family would use to describe the JRHS experience?

Blessing

What would you tell other parents to encourage them to consider enrolling their children at JRHS?

I would tell them that their children will be part of a loving community of faith, where kids are invited and challenged to grow academically, spiritually, and emotionally - all while having a lot of fun together!  I am so impressed by how holistic Jesse's education is - in terms of developing the whole person - in areas ranging from basic construction skills, to archery, to cooking, to hiking and wilderness skills, to arts and crafts, to evangelism, to finances, to learning how to navigate the end of a college semester, and so much more.  This is a truly unique educational environment, and I am even more impressed by JRHS now than I was when we first learned about it.