UMS Celebrating University-Model Schools and Families ®
l a n r u o J
2011-12 School Year • Issue 1
How to Start a Praise Band Mission Trips AT HOME & ABROAD SUMMIT’s NINE-YEAR-OLD FUNDRAISER
Editorial Advisory Board Barbara Nicholson Freeman, M.Ed. Executive Director National Association of University-Model Schools® Arlington, Texas www.naums.net
2011-12 School Year • Issue 1 Andrea Howey Director of Events & Marketing National Association of University-Model Schools® Arlington, Texas www.naums.net
Barbara Van Wart NAUMS Board of Directors National Association of University-Model Schools® Arlington, Texas www.naums.net
Volume II
HJP Published bimonthly by
Hudson Jones Publications, LLC Houston, Texas • Tulsa, Oklahoma 281-602-5400
Director of Advertising Jo Anne Hudson jhudson@umsjournal.com Bob Cree Administrator Community Christian School Westfield, Massachusetts www.ccsfamily.org
Audra May Executive Director Legacy Preparatory Christian Academy The Woodlands, Texas www.legacypca.org
Terri Turley Administrator Oaktree Academy Virginia Beach, Virginia www.oaktreeacademy.org
Aaron Weast Administrator Logos Preparatory Academy Sugar Land, Texas www.logosprep.com
Editor Daron Jones djones@umsjournal.com Entire contents ©2011, all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part, without written permission of Hudson Jones Publications, LLC, is prohibited. The publisher accepts no responsibility for content of any advertisements solicited and/ or printed herein, including any liability arising out of any claims for infringement of any intellectual property rights, patents, trademarks, trade dress and/or copyrights; nor any liability for the text, misrepresentations, false or misleading statements, illustrations, such being the sole responsibility of the advertisers. All advertisers agree to defend, indemnify and hold the publisher harmless from all claims or suits regarding any advertisements. Due to printing and ink variances, the publisher does not guarantee exact color matching. Opinions expressed by writers are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff. Readers’ views are solicited. Publisher reserves the right to publish, in whole or in part, any materials or correspondence received from outside parties. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material.
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2011-12 School Year, Issue 1 11-12
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Remain Faithful to His Calling Did God Place You in UMS? By Barbara Freeman, M.Ed., NAUMS Executive Director
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Putting Her Money Where Her Mouth Is Student Fundraising for Uganda By Jonathan Bell
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Building Our Father’s House in Israel
Is a Mission to Israel in Your School’s Future? By Dr. John Turner, NAUMS Family Ministries
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In Praise of Bands Interview with Lucas Christian Academy Praise Band Leader, Joel Tolley
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NAUMS News & Notes
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Cross Classical Academy Takes Fight By CCA’s Laura Abbott and Mandi Moore
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Making an IMPACT An Innovative Program from Georgia’s Cornerstone Prep
Follow us on
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Walk-A-Thon A Success for Virginia’s Grace Prep By Melody Nordberg and Micayla Johnson
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@umsjournal 2
Student Corner A collection of work from outstanding UMS students across America www.umsjournal.com
2011-12 School Year • Issue 1
a word from the executive director
Remain Faithful to His Calling
Did God Place You in UMS? By Barbara Freeman, M.Ed. Executive Director National Association of University-Model Schools® www.naums.net
2011-12 School Year • Issue 1
W
ith the beginning of each school year, I often think back to my early years as a fifth grade teacher in the Mississippi Delta. In the mid 1960s, I graduated from Delta State University and completed my student teaching in Greenville, Mississippi. Delta State is an outstanding teachers’ college, and I felt well prepared for a career in education. My husband had just completed three years of teaching mathematics and coaching at Greenville High School when we made the decision to move to Anguilla, Mississippi, with our children, ages five and three. He was offered a high school coaching and teaching position, and I was offered a self-contained fifth grade teaching position in the Anguilla Line Consolidated School District. When one begins a career in education, or in any field, it is unknown as to whether that field will be a lasting profession. But I had a feeling the first day I walked into that fifth grade classroom in Anguilla, a town of 600 people, that I would be in education a long time. After three years of teaching in that small Delta town, the federal government declared freedom of choice unconstitutional. We left Mississippi and moved to Raymondville, Texas, the gateway to the Rio Grande Valley, where we lived 27 years. Although my sister was a homeschooling Mom, and I was active in church, public school was all I knew. Although I thought many times about enrolling my children in a Christian school, that was not an option for public school teachers and coaches – salaries were not sufficient. No one has time to read the rest of my story, nor do I have time to write it. Like so many people, I experienced joys, sorrows, surprises, successes, and a multitude of other experiences over the years, but there was one dramatic change… the sudden death of my first husband in 1997. Little did I know that this would catapult me into Christian education. www.umsjournal.com
In 1999, I married a Ft. Worth architect, and the time seemed right to move from public education to private Christian education. Although my children were adults at the time, I felt I had reached one of my major goals, that of serving God in partnership with parents. I was mistaken. That was not to happen in traditional, Christian education. However, God was at work behind the scenes, and it wasn’t long before I was introduced to Grace Preparatory Academy and the UniversityModel School. Because of my educational background, I recognized the uniqueness of this school immediately, and I wondered where this model of education had been all my life. I was thankful when God placed me in the University-Model School ministry in 2002! As I have worked with over fifty UM schools since 2002, I have seen why this model is unique. By providing the “gift of time” and by working in true partnership with parents, the school joins the home and the church in raising children to be disciples of Christ. Because the God-ordained family community is strengthened, I am fully convinced that the University-Model School will change the culture and direction of our nation. For generations, our nation has experienced public education, private education, homeschool education, and Christian education. But overall, America’s families and values have continued to erode. It is time to take a strong stand for the University-Model School. We must not be distracted by other models of education, we must not be distracted by other philosophies, we must remain faithful to our calling and vision. It is only through partnership and unity that we will change the culture and direction of our nation, of our world! Stay the course! UMS Email Barbara at bfreeman@naums.net. 3
MONEY Where Her Mouth Is
Putting Her 4
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2011-12 School Year • Issue 1
When Natasha Leininger starts looking for an afterschool job seven years from now, she will already have a pretty impressive résumé. The nine-year-old daughter of Ryan and Shantel Leininger, currently a student at Summit Christian Academy in San Antonio, recently embarked on a very adult-sized goal: raise $25,000 to build a school in Uganda.
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Story by Jonathan Bell 2011-12 School Year • Issue 1
t’s a brainchild that sprang from her realization that most of the world doesn’t live in the easy-to-take-for-granted luxury of her well-heeled San Antonio suburb. The desire took root after Natasha heard about Hoops of Hope, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising money for AIDS orphans in Africa. In that program, participants gather pledges from donors who agree to give $1 for each free throw the participant makes. The organization’s founder, Phoenix native Austin Gutwein, launched the program when he was nine years old. Natasha admits she’s not very good at basketball. “I probably wouldn’t make much money,” she muses. But the Boerne resident is a self-described readaholic. “I can read about a page a minute,” she declares, a subtle smile suggesting that she knows this is impressive. And her mom confirms that Natasha isn’t engrossed in the pages of picture books and early readers. “She reads a lot of novels, books like The Chronicles of Narnia and the American Girl series,” Shantel explains. On Natasha’s recent reading list: Gutwein’s Take Your Best Shot, a combination chronicle of Hoops of Hope’s success and a challenge to do something similar. “I began to think, what if we did the same thing, but with books instead of basketballs?” Natasha says. She decided to organize a read-a-thon, a community event in which she and her classmates would read and donors would pledge a certain amount per page. Natasha’s goal was modest at first: “I personally wanted to raise www.umsjournal.com
$1,000,” she explains, adding that she hoped for $25,000 from the event itself. But she soon crossed paths with a local woman who’s worked in Africa on multiple occasions. Although the woman was impressed with Natasha’s initiative, she expressed some concern. As Shantel relates, the woman opined that God is much bigger than Natasha was allowing for, and she challenged Natasha to set the bar much higher: $10,000. And then she put her money where her mouth was, and wrote Natasha a check for $1,000 on the spot. “If that moment wasn’t confirmation, I don’t know what would be,” Shantel says. “A thousand dollars seemed so big at the beginning, and now we were holding it in our hand.” With that encounter, Natasha also earned a chance to pitch her project at the woman’s foundation in Houston. In the ensuing weeks, Natasha watched her life transform from ordinary third grade student to citytrotting young fundraiser extraordinaire. She secured a venue for the event, won presenting slots at a handful of Boerne-area churches, and began recruiting classmates to read alongside her. Behind the scenes, Natasha’s parents connected with a local non-profit called Uganda Tree of Life Ministries, which is doing the ground work of actually building the school. Together, they brought the event from idea to reality in mid-May at Leon Springs’ Cross Mountain Church. As for the $10,000 goal, which once seemed unattainable? “We’ve been so blessed,” says Shantel, 5
“because the money keeps pouring in. Natasha will present at a church and people will come up afterward and write a check for $100, $500, whatever they can give.” Shantel admits to being skeptical when her daughter first broached the idea. “Her dad and I were pleased that she’d want to do something like this, but we almost thought it was just a phase. Hoops of Hope may have been the catalyst.” Two other organizations, Hope for Orphans (connected with Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family) and My Father’s World, were also instrumental in lighting missionary fires under Natasha. “But otherwise, Africa seemed to come out of nowhere,” sasy Shantel. “We don’t have any connection, any link to Africa. She’s never been there. In February, we traveled to Haiti to help with the earthquake recovery efforts, and Natasha was really engaged. We thought, if we get home and she’s suddenly into Haiti, we’ll know it was just a phase. But it didn’t happen. We got back and she was as set on Africa as ever. That’s when we knew it was a God thing.” Natasha seems energized yet unfazed by
to her, even though she knows I can do it.”
Turning Dreams Into Reality The investment has paid big dividends. Natasha completed her goal in July and was able to present a $25,000 check to Uganda Tree of Life Ministries to build the school in Uganda. The school is currently under construcNatasha presented Uganda Tree of Life Ministries with a check for $25,000. She flew to the African nation to see God’s work in action tion and Natasha travelled and attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony in September. to Uganda in September for the ceremony. the buzz she’s generated. When asked about “I was excited to visit Uganda and see the the hardest part of her calling to educate a work that we accomplished,” Natasha says. third-world country, Natasha looks as if it’s “I’m just glad that I could help, especially a strange thought that any part should be when I’ve been given so much in my life.” hard—as if undertaking large fundraising What plans does she have after the campaigns should be all in a third grader’s event’s passed? While most kids would be day’s work, nestled between multiplication content to bask in their success and enjoy the tables and bike riding. coming summer vacation as a well-deserved “Probably practicing my speech,” she respite, Natasha, perhaps characteristically, answers after a minute of consideration. “My has bigger plans: “We want to make this a mom always makes me recite my speech national event.” Don’t laugh—she’s already well on her way to doing just that. This summer, she presented her upcoming read-a-thon project at the annual NAUMS conference in Ft. Worth. The presentation was a huge success, with several schools willing to partner with Natasha’s efforts to help children in Uganda. Her new goal for the read-a-thon this year is $60,000 to build an orphanage in Uganda. “We would like to get every NAUMS school involved to show our kids they can make a difference in another child’s life that is less fortunate,” Shantel says. With Natasha’s help, the schoolchildren of Uganda will soon be reading books in their own language, books very similar to the ones Natasha is reading in her quest to bring Uganda something that she enjoys every week at Summit: a quality Christian education. UMS For info on how your school can host a read-a-thon for Uganda, contact Shantel Leininger at skleininger@yahoo.com. Also, check out Natasha’s YouTube video by searching for “The Read A Thon Success Story” at youtube.com.
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2011-12 School Year • Issue 1
Building our
Father’s Housein
Is a Mission to Israel in your school’s future? By Dr. John Turner, NAUMS Family Ministry Specialist
John Turner stands in the Sea of Galilee, preparing to baptize young Mitch Earwood. 2011-12 School Year • Issue 1
Israel
NAUMS Family Missions
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n the first chapter of my book,
Character-Driven College Preparation, I tell the story of our family’s introduction to UMS. I “accidentally” heard a guy mention a new school in Arlington designed to have students in class less and with parents more. Eighteen years and four UMS grads later, I can assure you: my hearing that was no accident! Without a doubt, it was the providence of God and a game-changer for our family. Since that day in 1993, I have been delighted to hear hundreds of stories like mine. Parents, teachers, and business leaders love to re-tell the way they “accidentally” discovered this remarkable model. Then they recount the adventure with God that ensued, and how their lives were never the same! Well, true to form, here’s another story. Lead Them to Israel In January, 2010, I was at a NAUMS Strategic Planning event, just minding my own business. It was dinner time. I sat down next to Mark Earwood from Faith Academy in Marble Falls, Texas. Mark said: “Yeah, we’ve been planning trips to Europe to help our students better understand history, but I’ve been thinking. If our objective is to raise up students who live out of a biblical worldview, why don’t we take them to Israel to help them better understand the Bible?” I stopped eating, turned to Mark and said, “Have I told you what I’m doing these days?” I was fascinated when he said no. Why would he “just mention” something like that, if he didn’t know what I had been
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(Above) Mark and Laura Earwood enjoy a camel ride in the Israeli Negev region. (Below) Glen and Ellen Schuknecht on the worship boat, on the Sea of Galilee.
doing the last 18 months? Mark knew my role with NAUMS as Family Ministry Specialist was adjunct, or part time. He knew I served as a pastor bivocationally, which also means part time. There was seldom time or cause for me to discuss the rest of what I do – until THAT moment! So, Mark politely responded, “No, John, what are you doing these days?” Perhaps he thought I was about to change the subject. “Mark, in the last year I’ve been to Israel four times.” I began to tell him about my full-time job as Executive Director of Father’s House Educational Foundation, a non-profit Christian organization founded in 2008. FATHER’S HOUSE Father’s House supports various causes at home and abroad related with biblical education and mercy ministry. One of the foundation’s focused objectives, however, is to bless the body of Christ by helping Gentile believers (most of us) reconnect with the roots of their faith in Israel as described in Romans 11:13-18. 8
The primary means to this objective is to organize educational journeys to Israel and then, as an investment in local church ministries, provide matching grants to make it possible for pastors and other paid ministerial leaders to join their members on those journeys. By the time Mark and I were talking, Father’s House had sponsored four such journeys to Israel for a total of 162 participants, including 36 pastors and ministry leaders who were matching grant recipients. Mark listened as I raved, explaining how going to Israel in 2009 had revolutionized my Bible study, preaching, and teaching. I had been a pastor for almost 30 years. What would happen if high school students began reconnecting to their faith roots this way, with their entire adult lives still ahead of them?
NAUMS MISSIONS TO ISRAEL That’s how the idea of putting together a NAUMS Journey to Israel began. The first NAUMS Israel Family Mission took place June 4-14, 2011, with 20 participants. Some were church ministry leaders who had been awarded Father’s House matching grants. Others were church members who had raised their own funds. Seven of us (not counting me and my wife, Roxie) were members of NAUMS schools, Faith Academy, Marble Falls and Veritas Academy, Austin. Mark Earwood not only came, he also brought his wife Laura, his son Mitch, and his mother Emma. After the trip, he said, “This was a transformation for me. For years I had effectively discounted the Old Testament, thinking all I need is Jesus and the truths of the New Testament. Going to Israel brought me the revelation of the fullness of the Bible. The Old Testament is as much about Jesus as the New, and the land is inseparable from the story. Not a morning has passed that my thoughts haven’t turned to Israel and the tremendous story God is still unfolding in that incredwww.umsjournal.com
ible land. It is truly the land of his promise. Seeing it in person connected all of the dots for me.” Ellen Schuknecht, Principal of Veritas Academy, added, “The NAUMS trip to Israel was a milestone experience for both my husband and me because it made the Bible come alive in ways we can’t even explain. Spending time in the land of the Bible, with an inspirational guide deeply devoted to an examination of HIS story from Genesis through Revelations, is something we strongly desire to see all parents, teachers and students experience.” Both Mark and Ellen are now sharing their experiences and building momentum to bring more faculty, parents, students, and pastors next year. Elective credit courses are being developed for high school students who participate. Parents will know they are not just funding a “trip,” but making an invaluable investment in their children’s education and spiritual growth. MORE TRIPS COMING IN 2012 You can join the next NAUMS Israel Family Mission, June 5-15, 2012. Now is the time to sign up and begin enlisting your family, school, and church members. For more information, go to www. fathershousefoundation.com. On the home page, hover over Holy Land Trips, click Upcoming Trips, then More Info. A pastor or paid ministry leader you know may be eligible to apply for a Father’s House Matching Grant. Invite them to go to our home page and click Church Leader Trips under Holy Land Trips. The online application will display. If you suspect that reading this article just might be one of those “accidental” introductions to another adventure in God’s leadership, email me immediately at jturner@fathershousefoundation.com. Let’s talk. UMS THE AUTHOR Dr. John W. Turner, Jr. is author of the definitive UMS book, Character Driven College Preparation: Parents and Teachers in Partnership Through University-Model Schooling. Married to Roxie, four of their five children graduated Grace Preparatory Academy, Arlington, TX and then Dallas Baptist University. The fifth also went on to college, graduating “homeschool style” after the Turners moved to a city with no UMS. Dr. Turner has been a pastor of churches since 1981 – full time for 18 years, then bi-vocational after joining the Grace Prep administration in 1999 as their first Dean of Character Development. 2011-12 School Year • Issue 1
Cross Classical Academy Takes Flight! By CCA’s Laura Abbott and Mandi Moore
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n this very special day, as we ceremoniously presented Cross Classical Academy to Brownwood, Texas, we were proud to represent parents and staff who desire to serve the Lord wholeheartedly in raising up the next generation of Christ-like leaders. The mission of Cross Classical is to partner with parents to provide their children a classical education founded upon a Biblical worldview in a University-Model setting. Blossoming from three to 22 students, Cross Classical Academy is now located on the historic Union Presbyterian Church campus in downtown Brownwood. Located across the street from Howard Payne University and within walking distance of resources such as the public library, this church-shared space will not only allow for growth, but has also provided CCA students with beautiful art and music rooms. Our ever-growing school represents seven Central Texas towns and more than a dozen community churches. A foundational Scripture passage for Cross Classical Academy is Isaiah 40:31: “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” On the heels of a successful pilot year, Cross Classical Academy, aptly named “home of the eagles,” has done just that. Through much prayer, anticipation, and evidence of the Lord’s provision, CCA has taken flight! UMS
2011-12 School Year • Issue 1
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Making an
Impact
Georgia’s Cornerstone Prep Takes Learning to the Streets with an Innovative, Week-Long, Out-of-the-Classroom Program
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F
or the past few years Cornerstone Preparatory Academy’s Administrator, Jeanne Borders, knew God was calling her to begin a new program at her school. “God continued to bring before me examples of programs that left the confines of their classroom walls, making real life connections with math, science, and reading,” said Borders. “I knew it was time to bring that type of program to Cornerstone.” After gaining the Cornerstone board’s approval, the next step was to hire someone to oversee the program. The school enlisted Jeanine Marlow to run the program, and she gave the program its name, Impact. “At CPA, we work hand in hand with our families to build a firm foundation of academic excellence and Christian discipleship in our students,” said Marlow. “This program will not only impact our students lives; it will also allow our students to impact the world around them.” Initially introduced to the program in May, parents learned all the details about Impact during a Parents Meeting this August. Students can choose from 12 different Impact Teams, each of which allows them to expand their educational view outside classroom walls by taking part in missions, field trips, and educational opportunities – all from a Biblical worldview. There are four choices for the 7th-8th grade students, and eight choices for the 9th-12th grade students. “While the week of Impact is technically the one before Spring Break, the process of Impact actually begins in the fall.” explained Marlow. “Teams meet
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2011-12 School Year • Issue 1
once a month for six months. These extended in the area. In addition, Cornerstone strove to offer a variety of choices and price points lunch-period team meetings allow the to families. teams to bond and work to a common goal. Teams are led by Cornerstone staff Students will be taught and encouraged to engage and impact the world for Jesus as part members. Every year the Impact trips and teams will change, thus providing numerous of these meetings.” opportunities for students during their time Students are allowed to sign up for the at Cornerstone. team of their choice. As the teams prepare for their mission, students have ample opMIDDLE SCHOOL OPTIONS portunities for leadership development. For middle school students, there are When their team returns after Impact four exciting Impact Team options. Students week, students will prepare oral presentacan learn about the mysteries of the animal tions about their experiences, deliver these kingdom while enjoying the hospitality of presentations to their teams and write a the Busch Gardens Zoo and Amusement three-page paper about their experiences. Park in Tampa, This provides adFlorida. Or they ditional chances for can see our nation’s students to improve Christian heritage communication skills and be inspired and enhance their to become world college resumes. changes for the Parent Laura Patpresent as they visit terson is excited about Washington, DC. Impact. “I think the Another opprogram is a great adtion – not so far dition to our school. away, but with an It appeals to different international flavor interests, talents, and – is the Servants In learning styles. Our (Above) Cornerstone students and parents Faith and Technolstudents can broaden got to choose between a number of Impact ogy (SIFAT) Team. their horizons, as well Teams. The purpose of this as learn things that (Opposite) The New York squad recruiting trip is to encourage aren’t in their regular team members. students in developschool curriculum.” ing a heart for missions and an awareness of Impact also can build a sense of comThird World Cultures. munity within the school. “In a UMS school, Finally, middle school students can parstudents aren’t together every day,” says ticipate on the Local Missions Team, which Patterson. “So taking a mission trip, rebuildwill partner with different local ministries ing after a tornado, or planting flowers for and spend one night with our high school a church will allow our students to build relationships among themselves while minis- team at 7 Bridges to Recovery. tering to others.” HIGH SCHOOL OPTIONS Patterson’s son, Brian, is a senior at High School students can choose from Cornerstone and plans to join the Ecuador eight team options. Ladies can spend the Team. week meeting with published authors and “Impact is allowing me to venture into gaining tips on how they themselves can unknown territory,” Brian says. “I can go to get published. The Chick Lit team will also places I’ve never been and perhaps impact lives across the globe or just across the street. spend a day serving with a local woman’s ministry. Plus, I have the chance to bond closer to my For students wishing to really spread friends and make more memories with my their wings, the Ecuador Team will serve the classmates, particularly important to me staff and children at a home for abandoned since this is my senior year.” His sister, Katy, an 8th grader, has a more and special needs children at Casa de Fe in Shell. practical outlook: “Impact will be a good Another exciting option is the New York experience for me and my classmates, plus it City Team. Students will experience all the will help make me more interested in school, sights and sounds of NYC in a week, plus mainly history.” can serve others through a local community Teams and trips were chosen based on outreach project. many factors, including what CPA students Students might want to try CSI: Forenare studying this school year, various passions of the CPA staff, and different local and sics. This team will explore God’s most beautiful creation and how it may be used to solve regional mission and learning opportunities 2011-12 School Year • Issue 1
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mysteries. Also, it will include a ministry day, seeing the practical aspects of science. For those who want to take a walk on the wild side, look no further than the True Adventure Team. This high adventure team will challenge the body, mind and spirit to produce growth and expand their ability to reach those around them. They will also spend a day repairing the tornado damage areas in Dekalb and Jackson Counties, Alabama. Students can choose the Local Missions High School Team, which will be partnering with 7 Bridges to Recovery by providing care packages and sharing the Word of God through interaction during the week. It is their hope to impact individuals and families and help usher in a positive change to those who are lost and in need of our Savior. There is also a Regional Missions Team that is partnering with Samaritan’s Purse. Working in Tuscaloosa, AL, this team will assist with the rebuilding there and glorify God using their various God-given gifts and talents. Finally, there is the Visual Arts Team, whose primary mission is to paint a mural for local ministry. This team will also design the Impact t-shirt for the secondary school. Students will learn about painting, color mixing, care of materials, and the creative process. SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE “Overall, we feel Impact will bring our school together in a way that nothing else can,” said Borders, “as our students bond in their teams over a common goal and mission; this will strengthen our school as a whole. It is our desire that not only will our students be impacted by this week of learning, but they will impact those they meet. We desire that our students become life-long learners, and these week long Impact trips allow them to spend time in an area of special interest to them. We want to expand their horizons beyond textbooks into the real world. We want to make an impact on the next generation. We want Cornerstone students to reach out into the community and impact others for Christ!” UMS Jeanine Marlow is the director of Communications and Marketing at Cornerstone Preparatory Academy. Entering its eighth year, Cornerstone Prep is located in Acworth, Georgia. Currently, it has 365 students in K-12th grades. For more info on Impact, contact Jeanine Marlow at jmarlow@cornerstoneprep. org or 770.529.7077. 11
In Praise of bands
started in an ensemble, the better. Concerning the age difference, a lot of that depends on the maturity of the students. This year I have some teams that have freshmen working with seniors and it seems to work well in most scenarios. The biggest challenge is having younger students that are leaders, as sometimes they feel a little awkward leading older students. I do think it is great experience for all of them, as it helps them all to grow and it really reveals their hearts in that it becomes obvious who the leaders are and who is in the program to serve. However, as a general rule, I probably would not mix junior high students with high school students, except in special situations.
Let’s face it. Certain extracurricular activities can pose problems for UMS schools. Many schools, particularly small to mid-sized outfits, simply don’t have an adequate number of students, or the required funds, to host student activities that most schools take for granted. For example, traditional music programs, such as marching bands or orchestras, are just not on the radar.
However, with a slight shift of perspective, workable alternatives appear. Instead of thinking like a traditional school, UMS Student Life and Fine Arts coordinators may choose to think more like a church, and start a Praise Band program for their musically-inclined students. Lucas Christian Academy has just such a program going strong down in Texas. We asked their band leader, Joel Tolley, to shed some light on how to get a Praise Band up and running.
Small UMS schools that might not have a lot of students or access to instruments may have to get creative as to instrumentation, equipment, etc. Any words of advice for them in starting a praise band program? Sure. Start by talking to local church leadership. Many churches have “extra” equipment laying around that they aren’t using and would like to see put to use. I would highly encourage fundraising in any form. In my opinion, the biggest thing you can do is vision cast. Dream big and frequently cast that vision and people will jump on board and support it in whatever capacity the need is. Concerning instrumentation, I think it is easy to get caught up in what a band is “supposed to look like.” The Bible lists a plethora of instruments to worship with, so you can use anything. There is nothing wrong with having a choir or a drum circle as the beginning of worship team. I’ve seen DJ worship, drum circle worship, upright bass and vocal worship, banjo and fiddle style worship, etc., and it’s all beautiful. I believe this is where we have the freedom to think outside the proverbial box and release the creativity that is inside of us.
How many praise bands does Lucas Christian have? We have five bands. Our junior high band is considered a small group, so they only meet once a week and perform much less frequently than the other bands. We have a Monday team that performs once a month for our Monday chapel, two Friday teams that rotate each week for our Friday chapel, and a Select Band, which is also a small group team that meets once a week and performs primarily for special events.
When and where are good opportunities for student bands to perform? For us, any opportunity to worship is a welcome one. At the beginning of the fall semester we give our students a few weeks of rehearsal and then we hit the ground running. Our Select Band
Would you recommend waiting until a certain age group to start kids in a band? Do you find kids of different ages and grades mix well, or should bands stay within a grade or two among their members? After having worked with kids of all ages for as long as I have, I personally feel that the earlier you get them 12
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2011-12 School Year • Issue 1
meets about two weeks before the beginning of the school year. We have a retreat, in which we fellowship on a Friday night and then run an eight-hour rehearsal day of material that was sent out about two weeks prior. After we get up and running, we seize every opportunity. Obviously our chapels are the most consistent venue, but we also do fundraisers, Youth With A Mission events, various church services, holiday events, and anything else we can assist with. As a matter of fact, my wife and I have a music-based ministry in which we occasionally take students, or an LCA band, to come minister alongside. The experience has been invaluable for all of us. It’s good for the students to see what is going on outside of their own domain and it is a blessing to see what the next generation brings to the table. Your program is so large and successful that you actually have auditions. How does that process go? Are there minimum skill requirements? We give our prospective musicians an application that I get to review before the audition. Then, I send out two songs one week before the audition date, as I like to see how they work under time constraints (the Friday teams only get three rehearsals between scheduled sets during the school year). On the audition day, I give them a word of encouragement and then I start putting kids on the stage and let them do their thing. As they audition, each student has an evaluation sheet that a panel of people comprised from the music department comment on. We select our teams and meet with each student individually. We express their strong points and areas that need work and based on those factors we explain why we think they are a good fit for the band and position we are offering them. We vision cast with them and touch base with their parents so they can decide if they want the position. We don’t have any minimum skill requirements per se, but we do place students in bands based not so much on the level that they are at, but where they can grow most effectively. Our Select Band, on the other hand, is a hand-picked team of our most skilled musicians. We do require our Friday teams to take private lessons to help them hone their skills. Does the school own the instruments (or some of them), or do you require the students have their own instruments? Except for drums and keyboards, which the school owns, we don’t provide any instruments. If you don’t own one, you can’t practice. If you can’t practice... well, the outcome is obvious. We don’t push perfection, but we do promote excellence. 2011-12 School Year • Issue 1
But, of course, schools with new programs shouldn’t shy away from starting a band even if their kids are new to the instruments, right? Would you recommend keeping it very simple at the start in that case, to still get the kids involved and interested? If you are starting a new program you definitely shouldn’t shy away from starting a praise band for any reason. You have to start somewhere and give kids grace to grow while you create a safe environment to fail as well as celebrate their progress. It’s not about the end result, it’s about the process. If you don’t start with what you have, you become like the servant in the Parable of Talents (Minas), who didn’t take what he was given and make an effort to increase it. Yes, if you do have beginner students, start off slow. Keep it extremely simple and use that time to really build their confidence, get them interested, build teams and relationships, and dream big with them. What types of music do your bands like to play? Do they pick the songs or you? Do you mix secular and Christian artists and material? Well, if it were solely up to them, it would be nothing but rock! I expose them to all kinds of music (funk, old R&B, jazz, classical, fusion, Latin, Afro-Cuban, Reggae, etc.) in a class assignment to help expand their horizons and that filters into their playing some. We have set up leadership in each of our teams so, primarily, they pick the songs. They won’t learn anything if I pick all of their sets. They need to experience what went well and what didn’t go well. Then we discuss it as a group in a fashion that allows them to draw their own conclusions. Too many times I feel that instructors are too busy telling them what this thing should look like and that just robs the students of their own individuality, creativity, and gifting that God has put in their lives. I do challenge them on the doctrinal values of the music they are choosing and on occasion, if there is a song that I feel is vital to encourage the student body, I will encourage them to use it, but that is pretty seldom. Our Select Band primarily carries the responsibility of performing “cover tunes” (I’m not particularly fond of the word “secular” for theological reasons), but they also do worship songs. The other bands do all worship. UMS For more info about how to start your school’s Praise Band program, email Joel Tolley at joeltolley@ gmail.com.
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news & notes
NAUMS Welcomes Belinda Carr to Staff
New RenWeb iPhone App for Faculty and Staff RenWeb School Management Software, used by many UMS schools, has launched the Staff App for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. The Staff App enables teachers to access their online gradebook, take attendance, and place lunch orders from their Apple mobile device. “Our new Staff App demonstrates RenWeb’s continued commitment to offering member schools best-in-class service and technology. We look forward to seeing how the Staff App’s anytime/anywhere access to RenWeb transforms teachers’ most common duties at over 2,000 RenWeb client schools,” said Bob Wilbers, RenWeb Founder and President. RenWeb’s new Staff iPhone App enables staff members to: • View student demographic information, including student pictures and class schedules. • Manage grade book information, including establishing grading criteria, entering homework assignments and recording grades. • Take attendance. • Manage lunch orders, including adding, modifying and deleting lunch items for students. To download the Staff App, click the App Store icon on the iPhone or iPad screen and tap “Search.” Type “RenWeb Staff” into the search bar. The RenWeb Staff App will appear in the search results. Tap it, and then tap “FREE” in the upper right-hand corner. Tap once more when the word “INSTALL” appears. UMS
Starting a career in education in 1983, after graduating from Texas State University and experiencing public school, homeschool, and day care, Belinda Carr found herself placed in a University Model School. As Faith Academy of Marble Falls was opening its doors in 1999, Belinda was called to join the team of teachers. During the 12 years that Belinda was a part of the Faith Academy staff she served the school in a variety of roles. The main roles of Academic Supervisor and Teacher were where her heart and passion was devoted. Faith Academy provided the opportunity to grow in several areas; teaching, supervising, developing relationships, and spiritually. The relationships she formed over the years at Faith Academy are those of a family who genuinely cares about you as a person. She considers Faith Academy her extended family. “If I ever needed anything, I knew that someone was praying for me, or would come by my office to offer encouragement when I needed it the most,” says Belinda. Working with the staff, teachers, students, and families was a great blessing and an honor. During her time at Faith Academy, Belinda became involved in the NAUMS organization as the teacher trainer, and one of the members of the Curriculum Committee. As she joins the NAUMS staff, God continues to surprise Belinda with new and exciting adventures. “Transitioning to the NAUMS office has been a pleasure, and full of learning opportunities,” she says. Developing materials that will benefit the NAUMS organization is one of the many tasks that Belinda will work on with diligence and joy. Working with schools to answer questions and train teachers will also fall into the realm of Belinda’s duties. It is her heart to learn about and develop personal relationships with each school. “It has been a great pleasure to work alongside Barbara Freeman, and all the NAUMS staff members,” says Belinda. “True teamwork is the philosophy at NAUMS – working together to bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ.” UMS
Growth for Greenville Classical
Greenville Classical Academy in Simpsonville, SC, had a 300% increase in its number of Upper School students (7th - 12th grades). They went from seven students to 21 Upper School students this year, and are adding a JV girls basketball team to go with their JV boys basketball team. UMS 14
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2011-12 School Year • Issue 1
Walk-a-Thon a Success for Virginia’s Grace Prep By Melody Nordberg and Micayla Johnson
W
ith a word of prayer and the blowing of a horn, Grace Preparatory School’s first Walk-a-Thon began on the morning of May 7, 2011 at the Stafford County Public School track. Organized by volunteers Liz Gursky and Monica Bellamy, the Walk-a-Thon was the Stafford, Virginia-based University-Model School’s largest fundraiser of the year. Nearly 50% of the families turned out to walk the 5K, and many more volunteered at refreshment and prize tables. The event was extremely successful, raising about $8,500 after expenses and bonding the school through fellowship activity. Proceeds from the event were used to purchase new laptops, a technology curriculum, a network printer and other technology improvements for the school. The original idea for the event came from Gursky, who then formed and led a committee who worked as volunteers, planning and executing the Walk-a-Thon. The event was proposed after a previously scheduled golf tournament fundraiser fell through after the closing of the golfing facility. As a result, there was very limited time to plan and organize the 2011 Walk-a-Thon (only about seven weeks). Another obstacle occurred when the organizers were unable to arrange a date for reserving the track. However, Gursky and Bellamy were persistent and went to arrange the reservation in person. To their surprise, they found their neighbor in the office and with that personal connection were able to reserve the track for a convenient day. The morning of the Walk-a-Thon was gorgeous, with clear skies and pleasant temperatures. As walkers and volunteers assembled, the field began to swarm with blue. Each participant received a blue GPS Walkathon T-shirt and a number sticker, which would be used to keep track of their laps. The setting was best described as festive. Everyone was wearing matching shirts, colorful tents were set up, and everywhere people of all ages were talking and laughing. As each walker passed the starting line, a volunteer crossed off one lap until each person had done the full fourteen laps (5K). In addition to the money raised by donations and pledges for walking, there were several raffles and concessions that added to the event’s success. Raffles included a movie basket, picture frame basket, camera basket, and a kid basket filled with toys and activities. The event received very positive feedback from all who participated. The turnout and the beautiful weather, as well as the financial support, made the day a great success. More importantly, the event knit the Grace community even tighter together, as people had time to walk and talk as families with good friends. “It was great to see kids involved in serving their school and people across so many age groups (teachers, board members, parents, and students) participating,” said Suey Nordberg, Assistant Administrator at Grace Prep. Due to the fundraiser’s success, Grace Prep is planning another walk-a-thon this fall. “We decided to switch to fall in hopes that our families, both students and parents, will get to know each other earlier in the school year and be able to form friendships that will last throughout the year,” said Mrs. Gursky. This year they are calling the walk-a-thon “Race for Grace.” The school has set its goals high and hopes to raise $10,000. UMS 2011-12 School Year • Issue 1
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student corner
Riddles
Seniors Grace Preparatory School (Stafford, VA)
Recently the seniors at Grace Prep wrote their own riddles as a response to studying Anglo-Saxon Literature. They were challenged to be creative and use personification in their work. These are just a couple examples of the excellent work they produced. See if you can solve them and perhaps even write a few of your own.
? I am swift and deadly
Often I take people by surprise
Out of darkness I come, uncontrollable I kill and cut
I maim and slaughter
My weapons are sharp and once loosed cannot be retrieved I pierce the heart and cut the mind I am unstoppable and rebellious What am I?
–Jordan Riley
Ever present, forever gone
Always pursued, never attained
Worry cannot add to my number
Love cannot stop me in my place
I am marked by hands and held by He Who can alone determine my pace What am I?
–Maggie Turner
The world has hailed the coming of this pacifier with praise And the world is doubtless happier for the calming friend.
My Sacred Place
By Hannah Staples King’s Academy Christian School eart pounding, I quickly jump rock to rock avoiding the rushing water splashing around my feet. Every year we take the same path to this sacred place that I hold so dear to my heart, Cedar Falls. Even though it takes three hours to reach our divine destination, the journey is greatly rewarded in the end. At this beautiful place I feel so at peace and touched by the Holy Spirit. After climbing over many different rocks looming out of the swirling waters I finally find my sacred place. Curling on top of the smooth boulder I slip out of my hiking boots and socks and dip my feet into the cool water. Looking up, I begin to take in my magnificent surroundings, which I have become so familiar with over these past three years. The edge of the huge cavern towers hundreds of feet above my head making me feel like I’m two feet tall. Centered in the cavern’s northern walls, a beautiful white waterfall crashes down into the pool of clear water sprinkled in brilliantly painted leaves. The leaves dance upon the twirling waters as if they were dancing before the throne of the Lord. I close my eyes, taking in all the beautiful sounds. The roaring of the waterfall echoes in my ears, calming my very soul. I listen as the breeze whispers through the trees as it harvests their withering crops. The smell of nature and pine surround me as a peaceful comforter. It amazes me how every time I come here God touches my heart in a different way. He constantly shows us His beautiful nature but sometimes we get caught up in ourselves and our vision gets blurred from what God has for us. Often we get caught up in our busy lives and we forget to slow down and quiet ourselves before our Creator. Every time I go to Cedar Falls the Lord reminds me that He’s always there and will always bring me peace in every season of my life.
H
Wolf
8th Grade By Caroline Shook Legacy Prep (The Woodlands, TX)
This friend has a sweet nature, but also one quite dark.
The many moods of her spirit match all those known in the world. This is why she is popular and soothes the deepest stress. She understands each person as only she could best.
Few people can resist her when she calls out to them, More powerful than coffee or even plentiful sleep.
If she had not been born to add flavor to the earth,
People would see wretched days without her relieving touch. What am I?
–Melody Nordberg
ANSWERS : the tongue, time, and chocolate
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