HughHarris

FCA – Off to A Great Start!

The start of a new school year is always exciting, busy, and sometimes stressful. If I have learned anything over the years from these beginnings it’s – we’re going to be ok! For parents and students, especially those that are new there are so many questions – will I have new friends, what’s my teacher like, will my child adjust to this new setting? What are we going to learn this year?

One of the ways we help answer these and other questions regarding school culture is to begin the year at a camp for 4 days. We help develop community and a culture of discipleship among students, teachers, and families. We want students to get to know their classmates and teachers in a setting that fosters FCA’s vision. We also want Seniors and upperclassmen to learn and demonstrate what it means to be a servant leader. By starting this way we lay the ground work for an academic setting where teachers relate with students in a Christ centered environment.

Our staff and Seniors have been planning and preparing for the entire summer. They have met once per week at least to lay out the vision and theme of camp. To design camp t-shirts, develop team building games, skits and activities that drive home and communicate the theme. Worship times, devotionals, prayer, paintball, crafts, and meals are all designed to build a culture of
cooperation and community as we walk with students and get to know them and they each other in a fun, safe, exciting atmosphere.

Each year we divide the school into teams or activity groups that are “cross-grade” – meaning there are all grades represented in each group, 5th- 12th grade, this way students get to know other students that might not be in their grade. Teachers are assigned to each group but Seniors are
given much of the leadership responsibilities and are encouraged to serve and lead their teammates. Seniors stress looking out for each member throughout the day. During meals, rest time, activities they are constantly monitoring to make sure that all their teammates are engaged and included in whatever is going on.

Thanks to Tommy Rhodes and the folks at Barefoot Republic for hosting the FCA Camp for the 3rd year now. Thanks to FCA faculty, Rona Branson and Melanie Sutton, for spearheading our camp and of course our amazing Seniors! You wouldn’t believe what all they have in store for our students. We know and pray that God will meet us there and we anticipate everything He has
in store for us at camp and the 2011-12 school year!

August 13, 2011 - Posted by hughharrisfca | Education