"Thinking About Others” is one of the emphases at the Adventist Union School in Bellflower. While society is generally geared toward taking care of itself, often at the expense of others, AUS tries to teach students a better way to live their lives.

The emphasis on other people happens at multiple levels. One level is very intentional. Following the Katrina disaster, students held a “Helping Rebuild” fundraiser. As money came in, students placed paper “bricks” on a wall. So, though they couldn’t physically visit the Gulf Coast, they got a sense of how their efforts were helping.

Students also learned to think about others by preparing food baskets. As the students collect food, bring it to school, and package it in nicely decorated boxes, they learn about Jesus’ teaching that the way we treat everyone is the way we treat Jesus (Matthew 25:40).

Students also learn to think about others in every day life, not just during special events. As the teachers strive to help the children understand reading, writing and arithmetic, they also teach them to be kind, loving and thoughtful of others. Sometimes the teachers get a glimpse into how this behavior is evident to others.

During Red Ribbon Week (a drug-prevention program) this year, L.A. County Deputy Sheriff Steven Moses spoke during chapel about the dangers of drugs. He was so impressed by the students and their behavior that he asked lots of questions about what type of school AUS is and what kind of religion it represents. After just a few minutes on campus, he could see a difference.

A few years ago a refrigerator was delivered to AUS. As the delivery man unloaded it, he became very impressed by the school in just those few minutes on campus. “I made a mental note to bring my daughter to Adventist Union School when she was old enough for school," he said during registration for the current school year. "Now that she’s five years old, I have come to enroll her.”

AUS has been providing quality Christian education since 1946 for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, serving the Bellflower and surrounding areas. For more information, visit AUS at www.tagnet.org/aus.