In this past week of snow, ice, cold temperatures, and digital learning days, I hope that you’ve had some warm and restful family-time! Even though we did not have chapel this week due to weather conditions and concerns, I want to take this opportunity to make you aware of some really exciting opportunities ahead for your student(s)…especially your high school student(s).
We are never content with simply providing content for our students…we firmly believe that the catalyst of spiritual growth is pouring out onto others what has been poured into us. In essence, we begin seeing God move in our lives when we begin to put into practice what we have been taught from His Scripture. None of us were ever meant to function like a still lake whose purpose is to simply collect more water…the love that God has poured out on us is to be like a mighty rushing river that is to spill out, soak, and saturate everyone we come into contact with. It is, as the Book of James teaches, faith in action.
As you begin discussing plans and class schedules for next school-year (and prepare for your Guidance Counselor meetings throughout the month of February), I’d ask that you and your student prayerfully consider two incredible opportunities for spiritual growth:
CHAPEL CLASS:
Up until this point, our Chapel class has been exclusively reserved and utilized as a tool to train and mentor members of our student-led Praise Band. While a section of this class will continue to be devoted to the music component of our Chapel program, our desire is to open this class up to rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students who desire to contribute to our chapel services in the forms of announcements, prayer, greeting, and programming. These students will be individually mentored by selected faculty members, biblically discipled, and challenged to grow in their Christian leadership. Any students who are interested in the possibility of joining the chapel class for the Fall of 2018 are encouraged to see either Ben Wallis or Wes Davis. There is an application process that involves teacher and pastor recommendations. For any student who may be interested in serving on the Praise Band, there is the same application process with an additional musical audition involved. This class is an elective class.
BARNABAS PROGRAM:
The Barnabas Program is designed to enhance and develop the sense of community between lower and upper school students. The course is called Barnabas (which translated means “son of encouragement”) and it is a program that provides a platform for students who are sophomores, juniors, and seniors to learn about service by teaching and mentoring students in the lower school. Some of the objectives of the high school students participating in this elective course include: developing a plan to effectively minister to their lower school student’s needs (academically, spiritually, and socially), understanding basic tutorial techniques used with young students, engaging in one-on-one communication with young learners to help their socialization skills, identifying various learning styles and differences in young learners, and establishing and maintaining long standing relationships with lower school students. There is an application process that involves teacher recommendations, and the application is due back to the Mrs. Simpson by Friday, January 26th. This class is an elective class.
I am so excited, generally, about all that God has in store for Prince…and, specifically, about all that God has in store for each one of our students as He continues to move them and use them!
If there are any questions that you may have, please do not hesitate to contact me.
