Abbotsford Model United Nations

ACS Strategic Plan 2026-2031

Deeply rooted, boldly leading

Guided by our mission to engage minds, nurture hearts, and shape God’s world, and informed by ACS society feedback, this strategic plan was developed by the ACS leadership team and approved by the ACS Board of Directors. It outlines the school’s priorities for the next five years. For more details on how and why this plan was created, please see the FAQs below.

As we approach the 75th anniversary of ACS, we reflect on what has brought us to where we are today and consider what the Lord has in store for the years ahead. His faithfulness has carried us through challenging seasons, and His blessing has enriched prosperous ones. Through it all, ACS remains committed to fulfilling our mission with intentionality, continually asking, “how can we do more to support the educational, social, and spiritual experiences of students in these formative years?”

Our vision remains to cultivate courageous, Christ-like learners who magnify community impact—a community that is sent, not settled; beacons, not bunkers, in a world that needs to hear the good news of Jesus.

Our Mission 

Engaging minds.
Nurturing hearts.
Shaping God’s world.

Our Vision 

ACS will be a vibrant school that is an adaptive and innovative leader in education, inspiring courageous Christ-like learners to magnify community impact.

Core Values 

Truth: Pursuing God’s truth through learning, living, and teaching in obedience to His Word.

Respect: Honouring each person as an image bearer of God through love, integrity, and hospitality.

Excellence: Striving for excellence and encouraging creativity in every area of life.

Service: Modelling Christ’s compassion through servant-hearted leadership and care for others.

Stewardship: Faithfully managing our time, resources, and abilities for God’s purposes.

Celebration: Rejoicing in God’s creation, Christ’s gift of new life, and the community we share.

Strategic Plan

Learning with Purpose

Expand learning opportunities across ACS and support students and staff in exploring and deepening their learning.

Goal 1

Expand support for students to discover their God-given abilities and explore the unique path God has for their lives.

Initiatives:

  • Create more opportunities for middle and secondary students to explore careers, build practical skills, and prepare for their future
  • Broaden course options to better support each student’s interests, strengths, and goals
  • Increase student access to skilled trades and technology learning through partnerships with local organizations and post-secondary schools
Goal 2

Ensure a connected kindergarten to grade 12 learning experience so each year builds meaningfully on the last.

Initiatives:

  • Create a clear kindergarten to grade 12 learning plan, including key assessments in kindergarten to grade 9, to better guide and support teachers
  • Develop a teaching guide to support educators in Christian worldview integration, teaching practices, assessment, classroom management, and student discipleship
Goal 3

Teach students how to use technology wisely, safely, and responsibly, including emerging tools like artificial intelligence.

Initiatives:

  • Establish a clear and informed approach to technology based on research and data
  • Guide students, staff, and parents on how to use technology wisely and responsibly
  • Work with like-minded organizations to explore how AI can be used well in education—and when it shouldn’t be used

Forming

Create a holistic faith formation experience that prepares students to engage the world through a biblical worldview and a life of discipleship.

Goal 1

Help students grow in their faith through an intentional kindergarten to grade 12 approach to spiritual formation.

Initiatives:

  • Strengthen our biblical studies curriculum to ensure it is grounded in our theological foundation and aligned from kindergarten to grade 12
  • Deepen the integration of a biblical Christian worldview across all areas of school life
  • Strengthen chapel experiences for middle and secondary students, with a focus on helping students navigate the challenges they face today
Goal 2

Build strong partnerships with churches and organizations that share our mission and values.

Initiatives:

  • Expand opportunities for partner church pastors and staff to be involved in meaningful on-campus events
  • Invite local ministry leaders to speak in chapels, classrooms, and other school events
Goal 3

Provide more opportunities for students to serve others, lead well, and make a positive impact in their communities.

Initiatives:

  • Develop a student service and mission program in partnership with local churches and organizations
  • Invest in student-led projects that make a difference locally and globally, such as the Junior Residency Program
  • Nurture student leadership through meaningful opportunities at school

Intentional belonging

ACS is building a culture of care, connection, and shared responsibility that enables students, families, and the broader school community to flourish together.

Goal 1

Increase opportunities to partner with and support parents as they nurture their children’s learning and development.

Initiatives:

  • Launch parent learning sessions that share ACS’ heart for partnership, supporting parents in their role, and building stronger connections within the school community
  • Strengthen Wisdom Talks to increase participation and ensure sessions are relevant and valuable for parents
Goal 2

Nurture a culture of care and community where all students feel they belong and can thrive.

Initiatives:

  • Ensure generous hospitality is reflected across all areas of school life
  • Enhance our ability to understand and support student wellbeing across all campuses
Goal 3

Expand opportunities for international students to participate in our programs and enrich our school community.

Initiatives:

  • Pursue opportunities for student exchange programs and foster partnerships with like-minded global schools
  • Develop and run summer camps for ELL (English Language Learning) students

Stewarding

Faithfully caring for the people, resources, and opportunities God has entrusted to us.

Goal 1

Prepare for the future with responsible financial planning that supports both the long-term health of ACS and affordability for families.

Initiatives:

  • Grow our endowment and bursary programs to make ACS more accessible and maintain affordability for families
  • Develop a long-term financial plan that supports strong programs, well-maintained facilities, and future growth
Goal 2

Attract, recruit, and retain high-quality Christian educators and staff.

Initiatives:

  • Support staff growth through professional learning, further education, and leadership opportunities
  • Develop a growth-oriented approach to staff performance reviews
Goal 3

Invest in our facilities to support strong programs, future growth, and changing needs.

Initiatives:

  • Expand spaces for technology and trades education (wood and auto shops, foods lab, robotics, and makerspace)
  • Enhance facilities to support arts and athletics programs in and beyond the classroom
  • Create a vision for the development of our inclusive education program and spaces

Get Involved

Bringing this strategic plan to life will require funding beyond our current resources. If you would like to support these initiatives financially, you may direct your donation to one of the following areas:

  1. Accessibility & affordability
  2. Programs development
  3. Facilities upkeep and improvements

If you would like to learn more about how your giving can make an impact, please contact Director of Community Engagement, Mike Cumiskey at

FAQs

We developed a new strategic plan following a season of surveying and collecting valuable feedback from our community. This process helped identify key priorities and opportunities as we pursue our mission of engaging minds, nurturing hearts, and shaping God’s world. This strategic plan now serves as a clear guide for our initiatives and next steps, helping us intentionally move forward to better serve our students and community in the way God has called us to.

The first phase of discovery took place through a survey sent to every member of the ACS Society. The ACS Society includes current families, staff, the ACS Board, and honorary members.

The second phase consisted of a series of focus groups led by the ACS leadership team alongside the ACS Board. These sessions gave members the opportunity to share honest feedback with the leadership team and engage in open discussion with one another.

We are grateful to everyone who participated in this data collection period. In total, we analyzed survey responses from over 450 homes and 125,000 words from focus groups to identify the key priorities for ACS’ new strategic plan.

As ACS approaches its 75th anniversary, we recognize the deep roots and rich history of our school. Deeply rooted reflects the faithfulness God has shown over the years. Through the various seasons the school has experienced, it has persevered in faith, trusting that the Lord will carry us forward as we continue His work. ACS’ identity is firmly grounded in God’s word, and those deep roots will continue to lead and guide us through every season we walk.

Boldly leading is the natural outworking of being deeply rooted. When we know who we are in Christ, we are able to walk confidently in our calling. For our students, this means developing a deep-rooted faith that empowers them to try without fear of failure. As a school community, it means moving forward with courage and living as disciples of Jesus in our world.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16

As we pursue the goals set out in this plan, this tagline will serve as a reminder of where we’ve come from, who we are, and who we want to be. Essentially, deeply rooted in God’s plan and calling, while pushing forward boldly towards better serving our mission.

The school’s core values were previously described as “core beliefs.” We updated this language to “core values” as it more clearly and accurately reflects who we are. Our “core beliefs” have been renamed to “our commitments”, which you can view in about us.

Great question! Following the development of the strategic plan, initiative “champions” have been selected for each goal. A champion is an individual who is responsible for driving that goal forward alongside a team of people. These teams have developed roadmaps to achieve their goals and will meet regularly to assign tasks, provide updates, and adjust initiatives as needed.

ACS will provide annual progress reports for each goal on this webpage, so you can stay informed on how the strategic plan is progressing.

Have more questions? We’d love to connect with you. Email