Oct. 12, 2020
Weekly Warrior
Stay in touch. Stay informed.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 KJV
What’s Inside:
Week at a Glance
Quick Links
Elementary School News
STREAM Message
Middle/High School News
Alumni Spotlight
Nurse's Corner
BCS and You
Prayer Warriors
Admin Announcements
Elementary School News
Sheila Kerby, Principal
CLUB INVENTION coming soon! Be on the lookout for registration flyers this week.
Club Invention is an
"immersive, after-school STEM program." Club Invention makes it easy to create an environment that promotes critical and creative thinking in school and after school. The students cultivate their creativity, work on their strengths, learn to work in groups, learn new educational concepts, and have fun at the same time.
Club Invention will meet each Thursday from 3:15-3:45 for eight weeks starting on Nov. 5th. Cost of $59.00 per student paid directly to Club Invention. There are 20 seats available. The first 20 students to register will be accepted.
APEX Fun Run is returning! We are so excited to be able to participate this year. The APEX kick-off rally is scheduled for November 2nd, and will culminate with the fun run on November 12th. With this year’s theme “MIGHTY,” we will be working to raise money to support the elementary curriculum, science program, playground equipment fund, and classroom-specific needs.
All students will be able to participate in the fun challenges and will receive a t-shirt. It is not mandatory that children receive pledges.  
Parents will receive links to the daily lessons and videos that the students will be watching in class. In addition to the funds Bracken will receive, APEX also gives to the Feeding America organization on behalf of Bracken. 
A few reminders for parents of traditional and STREAM students:
·   If your child is going to be absent, please call the office by 9:00 am. You may contact the teacher, however, the office must be informed as we record the absences as excused or not excused.
·   If you are going out of town, please call the office and let us know when and how long your child will be out.
·   When you enter the building please check in at the office to get your temperature checked and to sign in.
Teacher Spotlight
This year we have 40 students participating in elementary choir led by our music teacher, Mrs. DeDe Wolf. Music education is an important aspect of a well-rounded education. Music helps children grow in self-esteem, build essential skills, and prepare for a bright future.
We want to thank Mrs. Wolf for providing Bracken students with additional opportunities to be involved in music. Mrs. Wolf is already working with the choir on the Veterans Day chapel and the Christmas program, and we can't wait to hear them sing!
Music can change the world because it can change people.” - Bono
Continue to pray for our school.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28
“Lord, we pray today for our school that we will all confess that you are Lord. This is our prayer.”
Beyond this week:
(Please see above for events this week.)
Oct. 19: "Dig Pink" volleyball tournament to support breast cancer awareness
Oct. 23: Report cards available on RenWeb
Oct. 27: SALT Chapel/storybook parade. No visitors.
Oct 29: Warrior Shoot-Out (see flyer below)
and last day to purchase raffle tickets for Bracken Backers (see below)
A Message from STREAM Director, Jamie King
The Lord is calling us to pour into our children in a way that we will build a community of children that do not know life outside of serving Him! Everything they do will be for the honor and glory of Jesus. As they learn and are educated it will be so that they can intellectually change the world for His purpose and Kingdom. We have to start when they are young and before the world has taken hold of their hearts. We need to make them warriors for the kingdom before we send them to battle. 
This year I see such a sweet love for Jesus. I am blessed to see the love of our teachers poured out on our students! I have been thrilled to see parents partnering with us to bless their children with the gift of time. This is a special place where the Lord is at the center of all that we do. 
Middle School/High School News
Tashi Land, Principal
Spotlight
Mr. Ben Crain is the new art teacher for middle school and high school students. He is doing a fantastic job of offering the students a creative outlet as well as providing them with a Biblical worldview on art. We are eagerly awaiting the first art installation that will be hung in the high school hallway in a few weeks!
Upcoming events: See Week at a Glance for all events this week.
Oct. 16: Debate Club meeting during GAP
Oct. 19: "Dig Pink" volleyball tournament to support breast cancer awareness
Oct. 20: MS chapel. (No visitors)
Oct. 23: Report cards available on RenWeb
Oct 26-30: Spirit week for MS/HS
Oct. 27: SALT chapel/storybook parade. (No visitors)
Oct 29: Warrior Shoot-Out
Oct 29: Last day to purchase raffle tickets for Bracken Backers
Oct 30: Homecoming
Warrior Sports
In cross country on Saturday, Victor Valdez and Jacob Hill received medals in the middle school division.
Sierra Sherman placed 6th and Madi Cobb placed 10th, both earning medals for the high school division.  
The Lady Warriors varsity and middle school volleyball teams scored victories this week against St. Gerard and Winston, respectively.
Middle school football fought hard but fell to Fredericksburg Heritage.
Alumni Spotlight
Class of 2019
Private First Class Isaiah Stirm
Mortarman with 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Isaiah surprised his friends and family this Columbus Day weekend with his first trip home since Christmas. Being able to spend time with his family and friends was all Isaiah wanted when he was given the opportunity to take leave from Fort Lewis-McCord in Washington. 
While back home, he reflected on his time at BCS. "I am so grateful for the years I spent at Bracken. Bracken prepared me for the Army by helping me become strong in my faith, be determined to be the best at everything that is asked of me, and to strive for greatness even during trials. The personal relationships that I developed with teachers and coaches over the years continue to bless me. Coach Stredic, Coach Montgomery and others continue to pour into my life even though I have graduated." 
Isaiah offers the following advice to current students, "Follow your heart, stand firm in your faith, and don't let others convince you to do things you know are wrong. Don't listen to the noise around you." 

NURSE'S CORNER
BLOOD DRIVE
Already made an appointment? If you are unable to keep it, please let us know by calling 210-731-5590.
Watch your donation in action @connectforlife
Copyright © 2019 South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, All rights reserved.
Our contact info:
6211 IH-10 West at First Park Ten
San Antonio, TX 78201
(800) 292-5534 ext. 3500 or (210) 731-5590
For patients who need blood during a pandemic, it’s a 9-1-1 situation. Because of COVID-19 restrictions life-sustaining blood is limited. Your donation is so important!
As our thank you for your time, you'll receive your choice of gifts from your online donor store such as restaurant eGift cards or STBTC merchandise.

Your continued health and safety is our top priority, which is why we are taking the following measures and protocols: donations are by appointment only, masks are required, and social distancing is provided throughout the process. 

Through Oct. 31, all blood donations will be tested for the antibody to COVID-19. Results will be available on your donor profile within a week of your donation.

We look forward to seeing you soon!
BCS and You
There are many ways you can support YOUR Bracken Christian School. Choose to volunteer, donate classroom items, participate in fundraising campaigns, and make monetary donations. See below for many opportunities to help your Warriors thrive!
The Giving Tree
BCS classrooms have needs that you can help meet. Weekly featured items are below. Please contact teachers for any questions you may have.

Featured STREAM needs:
2nd Grade (Turtoro/Miller) - Back of chairs organizers (10)
3rd Grade (Slye) - Small card table for working puzzles on
Featured MS/HS needs:
Document cameras for each secondary classroom
Revenue Sharing Fundraising
Help Bracken with no extra cost to you.
Raise money for BCS with gift cards through Scrip. When you buy a gift card from Scrip, you give a gift to Bracken. Over 700 merchants. See Tammy G. in the elementary office or go to ShopWithScrip.com and click "Join a Program." Enter code 6BL5A91B6151.
SO EASY! Use your own Amazon account to login in to smile.amazon.com, make Bracken Christian School your charity, and start shopping. Same products, prices, and features as Amazon.com. With every purchase of eligible AmazonSmile products, 0.5% of the price can go to Bracken! It adds up! Note: AmazonSmile does not work on the iOS Amazon app.
No clipping. No sending Box Tops to school. All you need is your phone. Download the Box Tops app HERE, shop, then scan your receipts. The app will automatically credit your school's Box Tops earnings online.
Prayer Warriors
Please be in prayer for our school and these specific requests:

Pray for continued health for all students and staff. 

Pray for an increase in spiritual depth on campus, for students and staff to be overwhelmed by God’s amazing love for them.

Pray for God to move in a mighty way this year in the hearts of students and staff.
 
Pray for the Lord to move in power and reveal Himself to each of our students, and that our students would know Him and receive His love.

If you have a prayer request that you would like to share in the newsletter, please contact one of the principals or Amy Day to have it included here.

Administration Announcements
PHOTOS!
This year, Bracken will again partner with Waldo Photos, a photo delivery service where you can get photos of your student delivered straight to your phone! This optional service uses facial recognition to find photos of your student, and then sends them to your phone via the Waldo app with notifications when new photos are found. Only one parent enrolls per student. You can then invite six other family members to also receive your student’s photos.

And we're excited to announce that photos are already being uploaded!

How to enroll:
Click here or text BRACKEN20 to 735-343 and follow the prompts. Cost: $19.99 per student for the 2020-21 school year.

You can also scroll through and view all the photos on the free web gallery here: https://waldo.photos/galleries. Enter the join code: BRACKEN20

Need more help? Email support@waldophotos.com
The Bracken Uniform Plus store will be open M-F from 8:00-8:30 am. For your convenience, appointments can also be made by contacting Amy Day at 830-980-3267 or amy.day@brackenchristian.com.
In it Together
Below is a list of Bracken's efforts to keep our campus COVID free. Staff and faculty are working diligently to keep our school safe and open!
  • Digital face scanners are being used in the MS/HS to catch potential symptoms.
  • Temperatures are checked with a non-contact forehead thermometer for elementary students and any visitors entering the campus.
  • Faculty and staff wear face coverings.
  • Sanitizing with Vital Oxide via an electrostatic sprayer twice a week.
  • Frequent hand washing is practiced and sanitation stations are numerous.
  • UV lights have been installed in the air conditioning units to reduce pathogens.
Administration:

Head of School:
Jeff Coleman

Marketing and Communications Director:
Amy Day

HS/MS Principal:
Tashi Land

Elementary School Principal:
Sheila Kerby

STREAM Director:
Jamie King

Athletic Director:
Terri Sanders

Admissions Director:
Mallory Smith

SHIELD Coordinator:
Kim Miglicco