While walking along the beach an elderly gentleman saw someone in the distance leaning down, picking up something and throwing it into the ocean.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a boy, picking up starfish one by one and tossing each one gently back into the water.
He came closer and called out, "Good morning! May I ask you what you are doing?"
The boy paused, looked up , and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."
The old man smiled , and said, "I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"
To this the boy replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."
Upon hearing this, the elderly man commented, "But, do you not realise that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"
The boy listened politely. Then he bent down, picked up another starfish, threw it back into the ocean, past the breaking waves and said,
"It made a difference for that one."
Our expectations and actions are based on our mission statement and stem from the STARFISH values below.
Sportsmanship
Tolerance
Appreciation
Respect
Friendship
Inspiration
Sensitivity
Honesty & Helpfulness
Each of these values is reinforced through the teachings in the Bible as follows:
Sportsmanship
Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Philippians 2: 3-4
Tolerance
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy. Hebrews 12:14
Appreciation
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Thessalonians 5:18
Respect
Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31
Friendship
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Thessalonians 5:11
Inspiration
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us, let us use them. Romans 12:6
Sensitivity
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19
Honesty
A good person is guided by his honesty; the evil person is destroyed by his dishonesty. Proverbs 11:3
Helpfulness
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Matthew 25:35
Children are taught and encouraged to demonstrate these values and are rewarded with Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards for doing so.