Your Gifts in Action - A Progress Report

Pastor Charles Salinas • March 18, 2025

Dear Partner,

In The Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan the Lion is not only the King and creator of Narnia but also the captain of the ship Dawn Treader. Similarly, we have made the intentional decision to make Jesus, our Lion King, the captain and Lord of our school. He is the One who guides and directs our path, the source of our strength and purpose, just as Aslan is in the world of Narnia.

With His leadership and love, we trust that under His authority, our school will continue to thrive both spiritually and academically. It is my privilege to share with you the wonderful accomplishments that, by God’s grace, we achieved this school year as an educational community. At Dawn Treader Christian School, we believe that every child in Paterson deserves the opportunity to experience a Christian education filled with love, values and academic excellence. This year, we are overjoyed to celebrate a 10% increase in enrollment, which is a clear reflection of God’s faithfulness. We are grateful for the collective effort and dedication that has made this possible, and it is with great honor that we share the fruits of this ministry of Christian education with you.

"Thank you for your continued support. With God’s help, we are confident that the best is yet to come".

Accreditation through ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International)

One of the greatest milestones we reached this year is obtaining accreditation from ACSI, the Association of Christian Schools International. This recognition validates the high standards of education we strive to provide and serves as a testimony to the unwavering dedication and hard work of our teachers and leaders. Their commitment to teaching with excellence, while honoring God in all they do, is evident in this significant achievement. We are excited about the new opportunities this accreditation will bring for our students, both academically and in their spiritual growth.

Renovation of 219 Windows in the School

This year, we were also blessed to complete the renovation of 219 windows across our school. This project, made possible by the generous support of our community, has enhanced the security and comfort of our school environment and symbolizes the renewal that God works within us.

Just as we continue to renew and improve our facilities, we also seek spiritual renewal, striving to align our hearts and actions with God’s will in all areas of our lives.

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Expansion of Programs and Classroom Improvements

Looking ahead, we are committed to expanding our educational programs and further enhancing our classrooms. We understand the importance of providing a nurturing learning environment where students can grow academically, socially and spiritually. Our goal is to offer programs that enrich the whole child, developing knowledge, character and faith. We trust God will continue to bless the growth and success of our school, and we eagerly anticipate the direction He will lead us in the coming years

I Pray that We Continue Forward with Faith and Hope

I pray that this message touches your heart and inspires you to continue partnering with us in this important work. Every prayer, every contribution, and every act of support leaves an eternal impact on the lives of our students. Together, as the Dawn Treader family, we can continue moving forward, trusting that the Lord will lead us into a future that will bear much fruit for His glory.

We invite you to share this testimony with others who may be a blessing to our school and the mission God has entrusted to us. Thank you for your continued support. With God’s help, we are confident that the best is yet to come.

With gratitude and blessings,

Pastor Charles Salinas

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Ship's Log - School Update

By Taneka Darby • September 23, 2025

Cultivating Minds and Hearts It's a privilege to assist our teachers and parents in cultivating the young minds and hearts of our students. As an alumna of Dawn Treader Christian School and a former teacher, it's a full-circle experience to observe the many facets of education, such as admissions, academics, classroom instruction, assessments, and academic competitiveness. Student and Academic Growth We're grateful to have experienced growth in admissions this year. Our student body has increased to 117 students, and we're planning for more growth in each grade level in the months and years to come. With growth comes the responsibility to steward our learners, and our staff members are extremely excited and eager to instruct our students. Not only are they utilizing smartboards and Chromebooks in the classroom for instruction, visual aids, and classroom management, but students also have after-school activities available, such as classes in Coding, Math Enrichment, and STEM. Making STEM available to our students has been one of our top priorities as we train them to advance in their academics and beyond. Preparing for the Future As we prepare our students for middle school and high school, we use I-Ready Diagnostic Assessments and standardized testing tools to help teachers and parents understand the strengths and challenges of our students. Last year, we implemented an I-Ready Pep Rally to help ignite excitement in reading and mathematics. During each round of I-Ready, every class experienced growth in both subjects, and students were celebrated for their efforts. Our eighth-grade learners are also in the process of preparing for high school applications, open houses, and shadowing opportunities, which is always exciting. Extracurricular Enrichment This year, a plethora of events are planned for our students, including Hispanic Heritage Presentations, participation in the Northern NJ Christian School Spelling Contest, the annual D.T.C.S. Christmas Concert, Black History Month Presentations, Read Across America, and our annual Spring Concert, to name a few. We're looking forward to an exciting year full of growth and success for our students and staff. Thank you for your partnership and willingness to sow into the lives of our students as we help them tap into their God-given potential. We pray that the seeds that have been sown into Dawn Treader Christian School will, in turn, bless you richly. Ms. Taneka Darby Dean of Students and the Admissions Contact

From Ensemble to Elite Eight: Imani Baker's Journey of Praise and Purpose

By Robert Skead • June 23, 2025

Imani Baker , a rising 8th grader at Dawn Treader, seamlessly blends her passion for music with a deep-rooted faith. From harmonizing with her beloved Ensemblet o navigating the supportive halls of Dawn Treader since kindergarten, Imani's journey is a testament to the power of community, mentorship, and a clear vision for the future. Her story, marked by a love for abstract art, a dedication to her studies, and an ambition to return to Dawn Treader as a teacher, highlights a young woman already living out the quiet yet impactful life described in her favorite Bible verse. Favorite thing about being in the Ensemble: My favorite thing is praising God. I like the people too. It’s really fun. We have so much fun together. I especially like how we do harmonies for specific songs. It was sometimes tricky to learn, but Ms. Williams taught and encouraged us, and we got it. Favorite thing about Dawn Treader : My fellow students and the staff members. I’ve been at dawn Treader since kindergarten, so I’ve met lots of people through the years. Some have moved on, some are still here. Mr. Berra does everything and I know I can always go to him when I have a problem. When I need help, all the teachers are there to listen. They pray for me and give me Bible verses and biblical advice. Favorite school subject: Music On what she wants to be when she grows up: I want to come back and be a teacher at Dawn Treader. I’d love to be the music teacher like Ms. Williams, who has taught me so much, but I’d teach any subject. Hobbies: Singing, painting (abstract art), dancing, reading, swimming Favorite Bible verse: 1 Thessalonians 4: 11-12, NIV, which says, “and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that yo uwill not be dependent on anybody".