Applying Theology to Graphic Design

This semester, 8th-grade students have had the opportunity to take “Intro to Graphic Design” with Mrs. Milliron, a local graphic designer with Genovations Media, who has taught with the Academy on a number of occasions. She brings her expertise to the classroom and encourages students to make conscious decisions about their visual efforts because design must be intentional. At the start of this course, Mrs. Milliron taught the students to consider their position as creative beings, created in the image of God. She exhorted them from the Word, helping them to understand why labeling and design matters. The following verses have been the foundation of all the work that students have put in this semester:

1. It allows us to properly label and bring order (and life) to our environment (Genesis 1).

2. It is a part of how we represent ourselves, and reputation is important (1 Peter 2:12).

3. It’s a way we can show hospitality to others, by helping them be represented well, too (Galatians 6:9-10).

Students have been challenged to work with multiple design programs requiring their own drawing skills while also learning tools to enhance their work as well. They have learned about the elements of design, principles of graphic design, color theory, color psychology, typography, layout, and composition. 

With all of these foundational skills in order, students were able to move forward by engaging in logo design for “Flamingo Airlines”, a fictional company, where they had to take the results of a creative brief and work through the steps of brand creation, including, research, brainstorm, conceptualization, refine, and finalize. When this process was finished after several weeks, the students had the opportunity to vote for their favorite final Flamingo Airlines logo among their peers. The winners were Caleb Lasater (3rd), Jonah Willis (2nd), and Sarieli Reyes (1st). See the pictures below for their logo mock-ups on airplanes! 

After the Flamingo Airlines project, students then moved into the final project of the semester, creating their own businesses! Students have worked diligently over the past few weeks to design a logo in multiple forms, create business cards, flyers, and various collateral. They have also done the hard work of giving each other constructive feedback. They will end the semester with a networking event where they will showcase their businesses to other classes and teachers throughout the school. 

The students have done an excellent job making consideration for the Word of God and those they intend to serve with their businesses. Some students have thought very practically about things they can do now, like babysitting, home organization, and guitar lessons. In contrast, others have thought about their future selves and the type of work they would like to get involved in like healthcare, counseling, sports companies for youth, healthy snacks for athletes, and many more. It's been a blessing to witness their future dreams through this project!

Thank you, Mrs. Milliron, for this wonderful introduction to graphic design for our students!

A Prayer to Be Enduring Problem Solvers

On Monday morning this week, my 7th grade Mixed Media Art class began with a student led prayer that has impacted me all week. The words of this student’s prayer included, “Lord, give us the patience to be effective problem solvers. Help us to not get down on ourselves when we have to try something again, because we are students and we are still learning.”

Sit with that. Read it again. Think about a 13-year-old student asking for this type of help from the Lord for herself and her classmates.

Natania, a senior at the Academy, joins us for a portion of each art class for her Teaching Practicum course. This course is designed to give seniors practical skills related to teaching concepts to younger students. She is learning to communicate with students in a way that effectively helps them think through visual art processes and encourages them towards good work. She is pictured above helping a student talk through the process of making a brown paint color for the skin tone of a girl from India. It's been a blessing to have her join us.

These words are profound for a few reasons. First, teens today are faced with all kinds of social media that promotes fast paced pressure for them to have an appearance that they have things figured out. This prayer directly opposes what the culture they are living in demands and instead, sticks closely to God’s hopes for them. Second, our values here at the Academy resonated in this student’s prayer. She not only acknowledged herself and her classmates as students, but took the humble position that they are in need of continued growth because they are learning. Finally, she acknowledged that this would take patience and isn’t something that can be faked (James 1:22).

To make God proud (Law #3 - Exodus 20:7), these students are implementing what it looks like to uphold God’s reputation. They are learning to recognize that their efforts to become effective problem solvers can only come from God’s presence in their life, their knowledge of the word of God, and their ability to walk it out in obedience. Their hard work and faithfulness to the tasks and projects given to them is a sign of their obedience.

After the class collectively said “Amen,” I was able to encourage the students that learning to be effective problem solvers according to God’s word is a lifelong practice. The adults around them engage in problem solving every day and we are prayerful in our considerations along these lines as well. I pray that they can continue to hold this type of reliance on the Lord as they are becoming the people that God needs in the world.

After this wonderful moment, students dove into their art workshop developing class murals. Their first quarter project is to collectively create a mural that expresses a value that they chose from God’s word that has been highlighted during their time at the Academy. One group chose the theme of “Unity” with an emphasis on people from around the world working together. The other group chose the theme “Rise Up” and are working through the resurrection motif that comes with our school's mascot, the Phoenix.

Students are engaging in higher order thinking skills related to creating artwork that communicates a theme or concept based on their knowledge and ability to apply and analyze it. This project has required students to problem solve with measurement (more math than they would have imagined fitting into an art class), color mixing, and painting. Students are also engaging their SEL skills of teamwork and communication to effectively problem solve their project as a team. I’m seeing wonderful fruit during this first quarter of Jr. High!

Academy for G.O.D. Ranks in 5 ‘Best of Nashville’ Categories

Since 1988, The Nashville Scene, a free "alternative newsweekly," gathers votes for the "Best of Nashville" contest. Prized certificates can be seen in frames in restaurant lobbies, food trucks, dentist offices, and beauty salons throughout the city. Nashville citizens vote for their favorite businesses in over 250 categories with detailed contest rules and zipped-lip results until the "Best of Nashville Day" in October each year. 

In the Nashville Scene’s Best of Nashville Contest 2021, we are proud to announce that The Academy for G.O.D. placed in five categories: 

1. Best Elementary School - 3rd Place

2. Best Middle School - 2nd Place

3. Best High School - 3rd Place

4. Best Private School - 2nd Place

5. Best Teacher: Robert Muñoz - 2nd Place

Established in 2013 with 22 students, The Academy for G.O.D. offers innovative education for students K-12. Birthed out of the ministry of Global Outreach Developments International, The Academy for G.O.D.'s mission is to “holistically educate children to become responsible, kind, ethical neighbors; competent persons, globally conscious and historically relevant." Today, The Academy is home to 250 students across its campus program in Old Hickory, its hybrid program for homeschool students, and its online program reaching remote learners across the globe. 

Courses are biblically-based with an emphasis on Social-Emotional Learning. Teachers are challenged to recognize and cultivate the Multiple Intelligences each child may be most gifted in (linguistic, mathematic, kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, interpersonal, and spatial). The Academy has a growing athletic department with a committed fan base (Go Phoenix!) and diverse after-school clubs (chess, yoga, geocaching, etc.). They provide annual STEM fairs and contests, Grandparents Day, Talent Shows, and Student Performance showcases. It is also a nationally recognized farm-to-school program incorporating fresh produce and meats from local sources, featuring produce from G.O.D. International’s Hopewell Farms. Most importantly, the Academy is surrounded by supportive parents who regularly pray for Academy students, teachers, and staff. 

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated an existing goal to make Academy education available to more students via an online platform. Today, students from Uganda and the Philippines attend live courses via Zoom, bringing a global experience into the classroom. As for the kind and ethical portion, students have Bible courses every day and regularly participate in service opportunities benefitting their Nashville neighbors. (You may find Academy students sharing music with a retirement community, an Academy high schooler teaching a painting class to individuals with special needs, or junior high or high school students serious about learning Spanish for their cross-cultural mission experiences.)

The Academy for G.O.D. is a Category IV non-public school registered with the state of Tennessee and a member of the Association for Christian Schools International (ASCI). Academy teachers and staff have been featured speakers and facilitators for ASCI conferences in South East Asia. 

As for our honored teacher, the late Robert Muñoz, he was simply the best. Robert played a major role in getting the Academy off the ground alongside his best friend, Academy Headmaster Gregg Garner. Over the years, Rob, who had his Master in Public Health, taught Science and Biology to all age groups. He also regularly spoke at weekly chapels, led worship, and gave 200+ kids a positive start to their day through his famous morning announcements. Rob’s latest and most honored position was the Elementary Vice-Principal, which he held from 2018 to 2021. Rob passed away in July of 2021, leaving behind his wife and five amazing kids who all attend The Academy for G.O.D. Rob, who loved to celebrate and be celebrated, would have felt so honored to have received this award. We believe he's cheering as loud as he always did for his Academy family today. 

Thank you, our beloved Academy family and Nashville voters, for cheering on the Academy for G.O.D.! We are happy to continue raising the next generation to be kind, ethical neighbors who consider all people God's family worthy of love and respect. Join in the cheer Mr. Muñoz so often led us in: Phoenix - Rise Up!