Volume II, January 2019
A Middle School travel experience like no other.
Lower School Christmas Production “The Jungle King” from A King is Coming to Town
CONTENTS 4 Mission and Core Values 5 Message from the Head Brad Sewell
6 8
A Foundation for Life Annual Auction Event
Volume II January 2019
06 Updated information for 10
Save the date
Cover Story: The Veritas Cultural Expeditions Program
9 Annual Fund Results 12 Cultural Expeditions Program
14
Broadway Up Close
Program
15 Eighth Grade Production Announcement
18 Alumni: Where are they now?
22
12
Upcoming
Remaining Events in
2018-2019 Academic Year
23 2019-2020
Academic Calendar
13
The Veritas Way
Events and Seminars
16 Learn more about this new and exciting initiative at Veritas
21
On The Cover
Upcoming 2018-2019
Seventh graders Ellie and Luke along with sixth graders Nicole and Mikayla participating in the Wreath Laying Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery during the Washington DC Cultural Expeditions Trip. The Chronicum 3
Mission Veritas is an independent Christian school in the classical tradition that prepares students for lives of service and learning through biblical literacy, academic excellence, character development, and intentional engagement opportunities.
Core Values
In pursuit of its mission, the Veritas community is guided by five core values. Our core values represent the philosophical commitments of our community; these values are reflected in our past and guide our commitment to the future. The core values of Veritas embody the promises made for our students’ development. Academic Excellence
Veritas embraces a history of excellence in academic achievement. We are committed to challenging our students to their highest potential in academics and stretching their intellectual boundaries, seeking to model and impart the virtues of inquiry, preparation, and discipline, in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding.
Character Formation
Veritas educates holistically, both character and mind. Moral formation and mature behavior are of equal value with the acquisition of knowledge. We are committed to developing students’ hearts and minds, seeking to instill in them both knowledge and Christian values.
Biblical Literacy
Veritas seeks to shape our students’ thinking through scripture both by understanding biblical content and through a deeper awareness of its meaning and ethical application. We believe that our students’ minds are informed and fashioned through Christian studies and by mastering core competencies of the Bible.
Classical Foundation
Veritas is committed to a classical pedagogy to develop our students’ intellectual abilities and assist them to acquire the skills for good scholarship. The principles of classical thought inform and guide the school in its curricular aims to prepare our students for success beyond Veritas.
Intentional Engagement
Veritas values providing a variety of engagement opportunities, both curricular and cocurricular, for the development of each student. The classroom, the playing field, travel exposure, fine arts integration, and community service are all part of the laboratory of learning for Veritas students. 4 The Chronicum
Message from The Head of School Dear Veritas Community, Happy New Year! I hope your family had a restful winter break and we are glad to have our students back on campus. I always find the new year like the journey of hiking to the top of a mountain. On the mountaintop, you can look in the direction of where you began as well as peer into the distance of what lies ahead. The start of another semester is always an ideal time to take inventory of where you have been and where you are going. There is no better way to begin a new year than being grateful for the one behind you. G.K. Chesterton, a favorite author of mine, would say, “When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” We would like to begin this new year and next semester with a mindset of gratitude and express our thanks. We always count it a privilege and an honor to work with our students at Veritas and see their growth and development. There is no greater joy than to see the overall development of our students as they move from grade to grade and learn to embody Christian character and a scholastic framework for their future. As always, when we reflect on the first semester, we want to thank you for your generosity in contributing to this year’s Annual Fund, ‘I Am Veritas’. It is because of your gifts that we are able to carry out our mission and
impact our students’ lives. Whether it is in your generosity or simply referring a family to our school – thank you for being ambassadors. The number one motivator of a prospective family to inquire about Veritas is when they hear from you as a current or former parent of our school. Most families that join our community do so because of you. Thank you! During the first semester, we began implementing STEAM courses across grades 2-8 as one of our strategic initiatives. For these courses, students are working in project-based environments learning to ask questions, connect dots, and problem solve. These projects stimulate creative thinking and encourage innovation. As a classical education is fundamentally an inquiry-based method, STEAM courses allow students to exercise their minds not only through problem solving but through the critical skill of problem identification. We are grateful for the effort and progress we already see at each grade level. As we look ahead to 2019, we are excited about the creation of a new Student Learning Center that will expand our students’ learning experiences through a library designed to enhance learning and research, and a collaborative technology lab to prepare students with necessary skills for their future. Many of you have joined me for our Foundation for Life meetings to learn more about the new Student Learning Center. I have thoroughly enjoyed taking our families through the current space that would be transformed into the new Student Learning Center. We will hold two final meetings in February to walk these spaces and discuss the impact that this project will have on our students’ experience. I look forward to seeing you at one of the meetings! As you walk the hallways of our campus, you will notice new signs going up this semester called The Veritas Way. We have been working toward a set of challenge statements reflective of our core values that would become engrained into the fabric of our school culture. Our core values are statements of underlying values shared by the community. The Veritas Way is a set of challenge statements intended to inculcate habits of mind and serve as daily reminders to our students and school community that there is a specific way we can challenge ourselves to approach situations in a positive manner. Each statement was crafted to reflect and re-emphasize our core values and instill habits of mind. We hope these will be etched into our students’ memories now and as they go through life. Lastly, as we will soon be fully engaged in second semester activities, we hope the The Chronicum will serve as a sign post to help guide you through the many upcoming events and offerings this semester at Veritas. As always, thank you for your continued support as we strive to provide our students with an exceptional educational experience that shapes a curious intellect and the heart of Christ. God bless, Brad Sewell The Chronicum 5
The 2018-2019 school year marked a new stepping point in the history of Veritas Christian Academy. The school released its five-year strategic plan - A Foundation for Life - in early 2018 which outlined four key goals to enhance the Veritas experience as we step into the future. The four areas of improvement include enhancements to programs and curriculum, transformation to the campus and facilities, maintainence of its financial sustainability, and the continued development of our faculty. In fall 2018, Mr. Sewell began “A Foundation for Life” meetings outlining the second goal of the Strategic Plan which focuses specifically on the transformation of the campus and facilities. We have already raised $30,000 toward the new Student Learning Center. This year’s Auction will focus on raising the additional funds in an effort to complete our facility enhancement goal. For more information, plan to attend the these upcoming Foundation for Life Meetings on:
Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. Friday, February 8, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. A virtual tour is also available at www.veritasca.org/studentcenter/
6 The Chronicum
SCHOOL LIBRAS
The Chronicum 7
Save the Date! Friday, February 22, 2019
8 The Chronicum
Annual Fund 2018-2019
Over $125,000 raised! Total participation of approximately 85% 100% for Full-time Faculty/Staff 100% Board
The Chronicum 9
CULTURAL EXPEDITIONS PROGRAM New format beginning in 2019-2020 St. Augustine once said “The world is a book and those that do not travel read only a page.” At the core of Veritas’ Cultural Expedition’s Program (CEP) is the belief in experiential learning. We desire for our students to read many pages in the book of travel. CEP is a unique educational program which affords our middle school students the opportunity to explore and experience education beyond the walls of the classroom.
about the early events that influenced and shaped our country - this is the essence of experiential learning. An experiential travel program makes learning relatable to our students; it increases the effectiveness of learning; it expands their level of educational engagement; it assists them with memory retention; and it provides memories through the years of having visited and more fully understanding their world.
Our students not only see but experience history and culture. They learn about key places and significant individuals, both past and present. Understanding Thomas Jefferson or George Washington by visiting their homes, walking bomb sites from World War II in London from the Blitz, stepping on site to visit 9/11 Memorials in Washington DC and New York, walking the Freedom Trail in Boston and learning
Fifth Grade Trip - Texas History (Austin/San Antonio/Fredericksburg)
Sixth Grade Trip - Washington DC
NEW DESTINATION! Seventh Grade Trip - New York/Boston
Eighth Grade Trip - London/Oxford
10 The Chronicum
With two of the three trips in this year’s CEP completed, here is a look back into what our 5th7th grade students experienced on their respective trips.
Washington DC (6th and 7th grade) - For a week, our sixth and seventh grade students took an indepth historical tour of our nation’s capitol. With tour guides leading the way, they were immersed in a distinctive view of various historical destinations, visiting the Capitol Building, George Washington’s home of Mount Vernon, Thomas Jefferson’s home of Monticello, and many of the other monuments within the District of Columbia. Four students also had the experience of participating in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown at Arlington Cemetery.
were also able to spend the day exploring historic Fredericksburg, including a visit to the National Museum of the Pacific War and the Pioneer Museum.
Upcoming London & Oxford (8th grade) - The capstone to the CEP is the eighth grade London/ Oxford trip. This week-long excursion “across the pond” features stops at the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the West End, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Oxford University, and a plethora of other historical destinations. This school year’s London/Oxford Trip will be the week before Spring Break allowing students to get some much needed rest and relaxation at the conclusion of the trip as they adjust to the time difference between Houston and the United Kingdom.
Texas History (5th grade) - Our fifth graders took their first overnight CEP trip and were immersed in Texas history as they toured the Hill Country visiting Austin, San Antonio, and Fredericksburg. The Alamo, the State Capitol Building, and Mission San Jose were a few of their stops. The students The Chronicum 11
Upcoming Events & Seminars 7000 Ferris Street • Bellaire, TX 77401 • www.veritasca.org
Early Education Department E
E FR
Thursday, January 17, 2019 at 9:30 AM
featuring Erin Akers, MEd, Director of Education and Development at The Gesell Institute of Child Development • gesellinstitute.org
Register by visiting www.veritasca.org Register by visiting www.veritasca.org!
Middle School Department Parenting for a Digital Future Friday, January 25, 2019 from 8:00 - 9:30 AM
presented by Tony Bianco, Middle School Minister at Houston’s First Baptist and founder and president of Family Technology Plan Learn more about the 3 reasons why managing technology is important: • Prevent a disconnect in face-to-face relationships • Keep from screen addiction • Protect from inappropriate content and people
Learn to create and implement a Family Technology Plan 12 The Chronicum
The Veritas Way The Veritas Way is a set of statements meant to encourage specific habits of mind to develop character during a child’s education at Veritas. Each statement serves as a daily reminder of ways to approach different situations we encounter in life. Each statement transcends any one class and will be a reminder and stimulus to help form excellent habits. We desire for our students to have these habits of mind and character when they leave Veritas.
Act in Faith Persevere in Difficulty Lead by Serving Grow by Challenges Consider Others First The Chronicum 13
Broadway Up Close Program Returns to Hamilton in NYC After its initial launch for the 2016-2017 school year, the Broadway Up Close Program has proved itself to be a popular part of the optional travel education program at Veritas. The program is reserved for seventh and eighth grade students with interest in the performing arts. Students will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of learning from the directors, choreographers, crew, and cast of the Tony Award winning show - Hamilton.
The first-hand experience even includes an opportunity for the students to perform a mock audition for the casting director! Included with the cost of attending the program, Veritas students receive a ticket to watch the show that they studied during the workshop. As they experience the production - in all of its glamour - students see the very crew, cast, and directors which they have worked with personally.
The three day workshop in April will transport a few seventh and eighth grade students to New York City’s Broadway to be immersed in the theater industry. Students learn the ins and outs of putting together a successful Broadway show. These workshops include learning the intricate choreography and vocals of the production. Students learn from the actual cast members and choreographers as they dance and sing from the show’s score.
Visit the Fine Arts Section of www.veritasca.org to learn more about this and other opportunities in the Veritas Fine Arts Department.
14 The Chronicum
The Veritas Fine Arts Department presents
2019 Eighth Grade Production showing Friday, May 17, 2018 at 6 p.m. Tickets go on sale April 1st for $5.00 The Chronicum 15
STEAM Lab Newest initiative on the Veritas Campus STEAM is a new initiative on campus. STEAM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. This new addition to the required curriculum for grades 2-8 provides a project and inquiry-based learning environment for students to implement critical thinking and problem solving skills.
The STEAM program was added for the 20182019 school year as part of the five-year strategic plan A Foundation for Life. Specifically, it is part of Goal 1: Enhance Programs & Curriculum, as one of the implementation strategies; “Help students identify and solve problems with project-based learning through STEAM initiatives.�
Ms. Joy Jones transitioned into the role of STEAM Coordinator. Initially, some of the projects that students first completed included robotics and coding, utilizing bit bots to learn basic and advanced coding skills. Going into the fall season, the middle school grades (5th-8th) began to transition into more problem-solving projects as Ms. Jones 16 The Chronicum
challenged each grade level to think of an issue on campus and come up with solutions to those.
This challenge sparked various projects that the middle school students are still in process of creating solutions to as they progress throughout 2019. For example, sixth grade created storage solutions in the D-Wing restrooms for middle school students. Eighth grade also built the first prototype of three portable computer tables for the STEAM Lab after research and designing varying options.
The Chronicum 17
Alumni Where are they now? Jake Bedevian High School Attended: Second Baptist School University Attended or Attending: Nicholls State University, majoring in Business Administration What do you hope to do for a career? I hope to go into full-time ministry one day. What do you most enjoy studying? Besides the Bible, I enjoy studying marketing and management. Reflections from your time at Veritas The students may graduate, the teachers may retire, but Veritas will always be a great school. I have been out of Veritas for almost as long as I went there now, and every time I visit, I am reminded about the impact it had on me not only as a student, but as a follower of Jesus. Veritas planted in me a great education that prepared me for my next step. I say planted, because the faculty and staff truly do sow into each child’s life, and they certainly did mine as well. I am so thankful for the care and attention they showed me and continue to give today. Veritas is one-ofa-kind. High School Attended: Stratford High School
Noelle Flores
University Attended or Attending: Baylor University - Honors College, majoring in Corporate Communications What do you hope to do for a career? My dream is to work for the Walt Disney Company! What do you most enjoy studying? My communications classes are my favorite. The professors are very intentional and are excellent at stressing the importance of being personable in any field of work. Reflections from your time at Veritas My Veritas friends and teachers were very accepting, caring and understanding, and they really helped me grow in my faith and as a person. I wouldn’t trade my time there for anything! 18 The Chronicum
Caroline Hughes High School Attended: Debakey High School for Health Professionals and then Bellaire High School University Attended or Attending: Baylor University majoring in University Scholars (concentrating in Biochemistry, Medical Humanities, and Math) What do you hope to do for a career? I hope to go to medical school and become a doctor. I am possibly interested in medical missions. What do you most enjoy studying? This past semester I most enjoyed my great texts and organic chemistry courses. Reflections from your time at Veritas Veritas is where my love of learning was first nurtured and I am so thankful that I was able to experience what it was like for teachers to encourage me and help me succeed.
Gavin Grieb High School Attended: Debakey High School for Health Professionals University Attended or Attending: University of Miami - Masters/Bachelors in Biomedical Engineering What do you hope to do for a career? Surgeon in the Military or in International Ministry What do you most enjoy studying? My capstone project for my Master’s degree involves writing computer programs to analyze data collected from babies in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). I love my work, my coworkers in the lab, and the patients in the NICU. Reflections from your time at Veritas When I walked through the gym at Veritas during my most recent visit, I remembered the countless times I had pledged allegiance to the American flag, the Christian flag, and the Bible each morning before school. As we pledged our allegiance to the Bible, we would say, “I will make it a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. I will hide its words in my heart that I might not sin against God.” It is almost impossible for me to summarize the blessings that come from a childhood rooted in God’s truth. It is only by looking back at my life that I can praise God for the grace, mercy, and love that he showed me through the faculty and staff at VCA. The Chronicum 19
From the Nurse’s Clinic General guidelines for not coming to school Good attendance at school is important in order for a child to do well. However, there will be times when your child is too ill to attend. The following symptoms or situations can help you determine whether your child should stay home.
or greater need to remain home. A fever indicates inflammation or infection that may be contagious. Your student should be fever free without the aid of fever reducing medication for 24 hours before returning to school.
Strep Throat A positive Strep Throat culture requires your student to stay home until they have received a minimum of 24 hours of antibiotics and are fever-free without the use of fever reducing medication.
Runny Nose/Cold Symptoms A bad cough or cold symptoms can indicate a severe cold, bronchitis, flu, or even pneumonia. If your child has a harsh or persistent cough, difficulty breathing or is complaining of discomfort in the chest or throat, please check with your pediatrician
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) Following a diagnosis of conjunctivitis, the child should return to school 24 hours after the first dose of prescribed medication is administered.
right away. However, a mild cold should not be a reason to miss school.
Diarrhea and Vomiting If your child has diarrhea and/or vomiting, keep your child home from school until the illness passes, and 24 hours without vomiting or diarrhea. Make sure your child is tolerating fluid and food prior to their return to school. Fever Children who have a temperature of 100 degrees
Yearbook Pictures Wednesdays, February 6 and 13, 2019 Class Pictures/Make-ups Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Veritas Class of 2019 Graduation Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.
20 The Chronicum
Any Suspected Type of Illness/Infection Should your child have symptoms of illness not mentioned here which may or may not be contagious, feel free to call the school nurse to assist you in determining if you should send your child to school. A sick child cannot learn effectively and is unable to participate in classes in a meaningful way. Keeping a sick child home prevents the spread of illness in the school community and allows the child the opportunity to rest and recover.
New Business Office Secretary
Yvette Schultz is originally from Los Angeles, California. Her husband Ron and their family have been in Houston for the last 28 years. Mrs. Schultz has worked for HISD for over 11 years as an administrative assistant at Meyerland MS and most recently at Carnegie Vanguard. Previously she enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom raising two daughters that are now attending TCU and CU-Boulder. “I’m excited to be a part of the Veritas family and work in a nurturing environment that has such a high priority on raising strong individuals that are well rounded scholastically and spiritually”.
Spelling Bee
Friday, January 18, 2019 hosted at First Baptist Academy - Baytown 3rd - 8th grades
Speech Meets
Elementary Friday, March 1, 2019 hosted at Alpha Omega Academy or Summit Christian Academy - Huntsville 1st - 5th grades Junior High Friday, March 8, 2019 hosted at Rosehill Christian School - Tomball 6th - 7th grades
Math Olympics
Friday, February 22, 2019 hosted at First Baptist Christian Academy - Pasadena 3rd - 8th grades
Math League
Mail-in Event (7th - 8th grades)
Art Festival
Friday, April 5, 2019 hosted at Faith Academy of Bellville 3rd - 8th grades
Music Festival - Choir
Friday, March 22, 2019 hosted at The Woodlands Christian Academy 1st - 8th grades
Creative Writing
Monday, January 28, 2019 hosted at Humble Christian School 5th - 8th grades
The Chronicum 21
2019 List of Events Remaining events in 2019
GO
DAY
Friday, February 22, 2019
History & Science
FAIR
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.
Fine Arts Night Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 5:15 p.m. Jeans Day 2019
Thursday, January 31st Thursday, February 28th Thursday, March 28th Athletic Awards Ceremony Wednesday, April 24th Wednesday, May 22nd Thursday, May 2, 2019
at 6:00 p.m.
No School Days
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Monday, January 21, 2019 President’s Day: Monday, February 18, 2019 Spring Break: Monday, March 11, 2019 - Friday, March 15, 2019 Easter Break: Friday, April 19, 2019 - Monday, April 22, 2019 22 The Chronicum
Early Dismissal Day on Friday, May 24, 2019 Please ensure that your child is picked up by 11:30 a.m. as there is no After School Care available on Early Dismissal Days
2019-2020 Academic Calendar 2019-2020 School Calendar August S
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Dates and Events August 9 13 15 20 22
New Parent Orientation Back to School Night First Day of School MS Parent Education Seminar EE / LS Parent Education Seminar
September 2 4-6 17 25
No School - Labor Day MS Orientation (Carolina Creek) School Portraits See You At The Pole
October 7-12 11 14-15 21 26 28-1
November 2 15 18-22 22 25-29
Chili Cook Off (Rain Date) Annual Campaign Ends Book Fair Family Day No School - Thanksgiving Break
December 4-6 12 12-18 18
5th Grade Texas History Trip Lower School Christmas Production Middle School Midterms Early Ed (PreK3-K) Christmas Production 20-6 No School - Christmas Break
7th Grade New York / Boston Trip Faculty Development Day / Early Dismiss No School - Fall Break Annual Campaign Begins Chili Cook Off 6th Grade Washington DC Trip
Grading Periods
January 1-3 No School 6 Teacher In-Service 20 No School - Martin Luther King Day
February 5 12 17 19 21 26
March 3 6-12 13 16-20
Progress Reports
Yearbook Photos 1 Yearbook Photos 2 No School - President's Day President's Day Chapel Annual Auction Event Class Pictures
History & Science Fair 8th Grade London / Oxford Trip Faculty Development Day / Early Dismissa No School - Spring Break
April 1-9 10 -13 15 17 23 30
Standardized Testing Window No School - Easter Break Shakespeare Day Parent Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast Fine Arts Night Athletic Awards Ceremony
May 8 11-15 18-21 20 21 22 25
8th Grade Production 8th Grade Finals 7th Grade Finals End of Year Chapel 8th Grade Graduation Last Day of School / Early Dismissal Memorial Day
Report Cards
Q1 August 15 - October 11
Q1
September 17
Q1 October 15
Q2 October 16 - December 19
Q2
November 12
Q2 January 7
Q3 January 7 - March 13
Q3
February 11
Q3 March 24
Q4 March 23 - May 22
Q4
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Q4 May 27
7000 Ferris Street Bellaire, TX 77401 www.veritasca.org 713-773-9605
The Chronicum 23
7000 Ferris Street • Bellaire, TX 77401 www.veritasca.org • 713.773.9605