Academy Field Day: A Demonstration of Who We Are
The morning of May 21 dawned bright on a cloudless sky. A blanket of heat promises summer is on the way - but first! A cool breeze flutters a web of streamers lining the G.O.D. Int’l pavilion, overlooking the soccer field. As the clock ticks toward 9am, parents begin to gather and Academy for G.O.D. staff, unified by rainbow tie-dyed tee shirts (Field Day on the front, This is Who We Are theme on the back) set up tents and stations on the field.
Field Day at the Academy for G.O.D. 2021 kicked off with a dance competition led by Trinity Thomas and her daughter, Ari. Parents watched, danced, and cheered for their kids from the pavilion overlooking the field throughout the whole event.
It means only one thing. Time for the 7th Annual Field Day, a much beloved event at the Academy for G.O.D., enjoyed by parents, staff, and most of all, students. The music fades in, DJ’d by Headmaster Gregg Garner, and students begin to stream on to the field, running to their team tent, denoted by color. Blue, turquoise, green, yellow, red, orange, purple - all decked out in face paint and tie-dyed tee shirts to represent. From 9am-12:30pm, the competition unfolds - a series of events including a traditional relay, Bible trivia, Heroes of Faith themed scrabble, and an extreme egg toss (read: water balloons launched at teachers, parents, and Principal Castro decked out as the school mascot, the Phoenix.)
When asked about her own experience of field day as a child, Celesta Bargatze, mother of four Academy students, said, “When I was in school, we had field day, but it wasn’t like this. It was a lot of races, the 5 fastest kids always won, and then there was a tug-of-war at the end. It celebrated athleticism, but it wasn’t fun for everyone. This is a completely different kind of field day. The kids look forward to it all year.”
This year, High School students were assigned the role of coach for their teams. Teachers stepped back and observed, only occasionally guiding the older students to be the example and give clear instruction to their teammates. Student leadership is a strong value at the Academy for G.O.D., and the upperclassmen know how much the younger ones look up to them.
Teams are made up of all ages from kindergarten to High School. Every activity is linked to an academic discipline (Creative Arts, Social & Emotional Learning, Language Arts and STEM) a goal (honesty, demonstration of skills and information learned, teamwork) and an opportunity to display team dynamics: selflessness, strategy, encouragement, unity, communication, obedience, cooperation, positivity.) Masters of Ceremony Craig Duffy (Elementary teacher) and Stephen Ownby (athletic director and High School teacher) monitor, award points, and encourage the kids throughout the day.
Field day is just as full of life for spectators as for the kids. Parents can watch the whole event while enjoying biscuits and gravy made by parent Missy Brooks, or volunteer to make snow cones from fresh juice or popcorn to refresh their kids. Students are ceremonially appreciated throughout the morning for outstanding participation on sports teams, extracurricular committees, and awards given throughout the year for character and outstanding performance. Every aspect of field day reflects something that is true about this school. It is an intentional event, meant to appreciate our students, our values, and to give glory to God.
Cloud of Witnesses Scrabble challenged students to first identify what Hero of Faith was being described, then work together to organize themselves with members of other teams to spell out the name of that individual. The first group of students to organize themselves with a correct spelling received the most points for their respective teams.
Heather Horst, mother to two students who have been at the Academy for three years, said of the event: “Field day was full of contagious happy energy, all the fun food like popcorn, fresh juice icees and corn dogs! Watching the kids and adults run around the field had me wishing I was a kid all over again! My boys were bursting with excitement! We are so thankful for this amazing school!”
When asked what Field Day at the Academy for G.O.D. is all about, Deputy Headmaster Corey Foster said, “Field day at the Academy is a snapshot into every aspect of holistic education that our students receive on a daily basis. From engaging challenges that require critical thinking, linguistic skills, social emotional awareness, and biblical knowledge to students knowing their strengths and the strengths of others. From God’s Word being highlighted to the values from it being implemented in the interactions of both students and staff. From kindergarteners to high schoolers displaying unity to the older serving the younger. Field day is a celebration of who we are.”
Oliver Sherrod (6) crosses the finish line to win the relay race for Purple Team, flanked by team members Justice Garner (15) and Leif Nadeau (16) who ran the final lap with him, encouraging him toward the finish line.
To all students of the Academy for G.O.D., congratulations on a year finished well. Have a great summer!
Blog written by: Sara Davis
Manager of Communications for G.O.D. Int’l
Take the Lid Off - No Grade Levels!
Elementary teacher, Ms. Vagatai, expounds on the Academy’s approach to grade levels, student progression and the future of education!
Written by elementary teacher, Ms. Leafa Vagatai
“We don’t have grade levels in our school!” My sharp response to my students when I overhear them describing themselves as “second graders” (1).
I proceed to explain to them that our school is fluid because we create classes, activities, and content to meet their individual needs as they continue to grow.
Elementary students often complete assignments and projects with a partner or small group. Developing the ability to cooperate, share, and acknowledge one another’s abilities are skills gained at this age level.
“Everyone grows at a different pace in different disciplines and not everyone's the same. Instead of forcing everyone to be the same, we adjust ourselves.”
Cue the critic…
“C’mon, it’s all just semantics right? You’re a second grade teacher!”
No, I’m not and a comment like that is only indicative of a misunderstanding of the philosophy of the Academy and also what the goal of education should be: to holistically educate children, not manufacture them. Not only is this the future of education, but it is what’s desperately needed in education right now.
When the pandemic of Covid-19 hit, schools across the globe shut down and the concern for educators and administrators has been what to do about the inevitable learning gap (2). Remediation has always been a hot topic within education, but now it’s everyone’s problem as students are missing months, and soon to be years, of education on a global scale.
The fluidity offered between levels for students opens up opportunities for some students to be challenged to a greater extent while others gain the needed support in another level. Seeing students thrive in their level placement is a goal of our teachers!
Studies throughout the years have shown the impact that the disruption of school has on children for years to come. One article published by RISE program explained that even when Pakistani students were able to return 3 months after an earthquake in 2005, 4 years later were still 1.5 years behind in schooling, identifying a major contributor to that gap being an inflexible and unadaptable pedagogical practice (3).
So, what’s the solution to the impending learning chasm? It’s what we’ve been doing from the beginning of the Academy for G.O.D.; fluidity in curriculum and an individualized approach to a child’s education. Meeting children where they’re at and helping them to move forward. Remedial or not, this is education.
Fall 2021 Enrollment & Prospective Family Events
Sign up today for your tour this spring! Applications for campus and homeschool programs are now released. We look forward to meeting you!
Spring 2021 is the time to learn more about the Academy for G.O.D. through a tour or open house. We hope you’ll plan your visit today!
At the peak of the 2020 global lockdowns imposed to counter the spread of COVID-19, 1.6 billion children were out of school.(1) Families immediately began experiencing the effects of having to care for their children, facilitate virtual schooling (if available), and maintain their own jobs. Despite being mandated to close our campus in March 2020, Academy students remained connected to their teachers and classmates, and 100% of students finished the spring 2020 semester in full. As we’ve moved into the beginning of the spring 2021 semester, our campus is open with over 230 students enrolled on campus or online, and our programs are thriving!
Our faculty and staff are committed to the best practices to promote the health and safety of each individual on our campus each day. With policies and prevention plans in place, we will continue to keep our campus open. However, the Academy also continues to offer programs for homeschool families in the Nashville area, the United States at large, and international students. If you have questions about which program would be the best fit for your family, please reach out to our admissions department. We also invite you to visit our campus this spring and learn more about who we are. All guests must RSVP to attend events this spring, so don’t miss your opportunity to sign up today!
The Legacy Talent Show
in honor of their grandparents, our students took the stage to showcase their creativity and talents. The night was a blessing to all who viewed live and online!
This past Saturday evening, 23 students from Kindergarten to 12th grade took the stage to dedicate the most sincere, heartfelt productions to some of The Academy’s dearest supporters: our students’ grandparents. From original songs and dances to martial arts and comedy acts, our students left the audience laughing, crying, and rejoicing over what they saw.
What did they see on the stage? One of our judges and a two-time Dove Music Award winner, Meredith Andrews, said it best: “This is more than a talent show. This is the heart of God on display!”
At the end of the night, each performer received a superlative award for their act. Sharing this moment of celebration was a highlight of the show!
The show’s theme was “Legacy”, which became a moving and emotion-filled thread throughout the night. Students expressed how their acts were inspired by their parents or grandparents. Others shared how their grandparents passed down a special talent to them that they in turn wanted to share with others. Two of our senior students even wrote a song for the Academy students coming up behind them, reminding them to practice what they learn in God’s Word because there is a world in need waiting for them. Each performer walked off the stage at the end of the night with a superlative in hand; an award given to them by the judges that distinguished their act above all the rest.
The Legacy Talent Show would not have been possible without the selfless service of our PTO and parent volunteers as well as our tech crew, made up of Academy high school students! In light of our month-long Legacy Campaign, our students have been learning what it means to receive and to leave a legacy. As the campaign highlights the Academy’s scholarship program, our students recognize they are receiving the gift of a Christ-centered education, and in turn are becoming equipped to bear the fruit of good works in the world. This was the inheritance on display during our Legacy Talent Show!
There’s still time to give towards the Academy’s Legacy Campaign! If you’d like to give the gift of a holistic, biblical education to students in the United States and around the world, we invite you to join us and thank you for your generosity!
Traditional Art Inspired by Mexico
Written By Elementary Teacher, Ms. Laura Voight
Alebrijes are a form of traditional art from the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. You have likely seen them in the popular Disney movie, Coco. While they were not highlighted within the movie, they are shown and explained as a part of the culture in southern Mexico and an important aspect to the holiday, Día de los Muertos. Known for the vibrant colors and unique patterns, they are exquisite pieces of art.
The alebrijes project was an opportunity for students to connect with the people of Mexico through a form of visual arts.
This project also provided the perfect opportunity for the Focus Level to “get their hands dirty” with an art project in their Principles of Design I class. The first two principles that the class learn about were contrast and pattern, two essential components of alebrijes. Since a part of the mission at the Academy for G.O.D. is to raise up a generation of children who are globally conscious, this was also the perfect opportunity to examine and imitate art from a foreign culture. The class learned about the history of alebrijes and how they are tied to the native Zapotec roots of Mexico. These designs are similar in style to Mayan and Aztec artistry.
The students set out on a journey to create their own alebrijes - only they would not be carving wood as the traditional sculptures are made. After learning about the symbolism behind animals used in the traditional Oaxacan art, they used newspaper, cardboard, paper towel rolls, and finally, paper mâché to make their sculptures. This alone was a week long process. Students learned how to use their hands to form what their minds imagined. They had to be resourceful with the materials given to them and persevere through the inevitable phase of art creation where you’re just not sure what, exactly you have created. In the end, the students themselves were surprised with their work! They were proud of their creations and several of them admitted to having created something that they liked very much, despite their conviction in the middle of the project that they had somehow created the ugliest art imaginable.
In the end, the students were able to connect to the people of Oaxaca through their endurance of artwork that did not come easy. Just as the artists in Oaxaca take time to carefully carve their animals from wood, the students had to mold and re-mold their animals with paper and cardboard. They had to recall their lessons on contrast and pattern and incorporate the traditional patterns used in alebrijes. They learned to not only craft a form of art that was not initially appealing to their eyes, so used to soft colors and open spaces, but to appreciate it as well. By then end of the unit, each student was excited to take home their piece and show their families what they had learned.
