Welcome BACK

First week of school is already in the books, and we had a great start to the year.  Not too many tears, and so far band-aids have fixed all of our owies.  Wednesday is our weekly Chapel day, and I have to confess it's one of my favorite perks of the job.  I just love that we have a children directed church service.  Everything is child-centered, with lessons made just for them.  We sing fun songs with actions.  Celebrate birthdays, and students of the month are recognized.  Each week chapel is presented by a different teacher, classroom, or guest speaker.  You can find out who is presenting each week's chapel on the school newsletter. 

Chapel Families -  Our students walk across the street to church for chapel.  All our students are divided into Chapel Families - this is a mix of older students who help the younger kids.  This year there are 15 chapel families.  Each family has a 7th or 8th grade student as the main leader, then there is a mix 6th and 5th graders that help direct the younger students in the group.  Each family sits in their own pew during chapel and has to behave, sit quietly and pay attention to the lessons.  This is great practice for the younger students, pre-school on up, to sit still and work on their listening skills.  Our older students shine as they help the little kids with buttoning jackets in the colder weather, holding hands across the street, and holding doors for the smallest kiddos.    I'll never forget one day a few years ago when my oldest daughter was in preschool and ran to the school door, she wasn't yet big enough to get it open.  Before I could get there, a big kid opened the door.  Later I asked my daughter who the big kids, since I didn't know, she replied it was her chapel buddy!  As a mama myself, I can't express enough how good it feels to see my little ones being treated kindly by the older big kids. Now as my girls have grown, I am so proud to see them learning to care for the little ones.  Chapel families are just one example of the extra, in a Christian School.