The Purpose of Focus Level Elective Courses

Written by Ms. Rebekah Davis, Lead Teacher

This week our Focus students jumped into their semester-long elective classes. Now, maybe you’re secretly asking yourself, “Wait, what grade is Focus again?” Focus refers to our upper elementary students - typically ages 10-11. Your next question might be, “And elementary students get to pick their own classes?” That’s right! Within parameters.

At the Generals level (6-7 yo), students are exposed to a wide variety of subjects and skills. At the Specifics level (8-9 yo), they go deeper and look into the nuances of that discipline and its application. For example, Generals have a My Emotions class, and Specifics use that content to engage in Conflict Resolution class. Throughout these early elementary years students are learning themselves and discovering the natural gifts and inclinations God has given them.

In elective courses, students are able to explore a given subject in greater depth. In a Fermented Foods class this semester, students are learning to make kefir water.

By the time the students get to the Focus level, they know themselves well enough to have notably stronger interest in some disciplines over others. Their classmates know it too. Jimmy is the math whiz! Ali can write a 10 page story over the weekend! Two years of choir class has highlighted musical gifts in many.

Paying attention to these budding gifts, we offer a diversity of classes to the Focus students, and let them select 2 of their classes each day. This semester’s electives span subjects like Fermented Foods & Gut Health, The History of Math, Speech/Debate, Typography, Forming & Maintaining Healthy Habits, Chorale, and Robotics!

The diversity of classes matches the diversity of our students, keeping motivation high for students as they each have ownership over their schedule. Stay tuned for some exciting reports this semester from our Focus electives!

Training in Godliness

Written by Mrs. Mathews, 7-12th Vice Principal

Headmaster Garner spends afternoon training sessions with the students. Mr. Garner has facilitated over 250 national and international mission trips, and he offers valuable lessons for our students in their preparations.

“Train yourself in godliness; for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, holding promise for the present life and the life to come.” - 1 Timothy 4:7-8

Spirituality doesn't automatically happen for those who are in pursuit of our Lord. Spirituality has to be developed over time and with great intentionality. As parents, we know this to be true as spirituality is not something that we practice just for ourselves but we try to emulate for our children.

There have been so many moments this semester thus far where I have seen our students demonstrate what they have been taught both at school and at home. The SLAM Winter Retreat started our semester off right where our students left hungry to know God’s Word. Students returned making commitments of reading God’s Word every day, spoke about doing their devotionals earlier and longer, and expressed a desire to hold one another accountable.

We have had moments where our Jr High and High students used their recess time to worship God and pray, not just because they were encouraged by a teacher to do so, but because they felt prompted by the Holy Spirit. Our Jr High and High chapel experiences have been filled with hearts ready to worship and testimony to God’s answered prayers.

Not only are our halls being filled with impromptu worship sets and prayerful voices, but our students are now preparing to take their spiritual disciplines abroad.

Vice Principal, Mr. Muñoz, leads the El Salvador mission team in Spanish worship songs. Learning Spanish has been one of the major aspects of training for this team as they learn to communicate cross-culturally.

Watching our 8th-12th grade students prepare for their El Salvador mission trip is such a joy! As they practice their Spanish speaking skills, skits, and songs, I see a young generation being trained in godliness, wanting to use their spirituality not just for themselves but to serve those in need.

Our young people are more than ready to use their training in “godliness to be of value in every way” for all those they serve both here and abroad. Please continue to be in prayer for them as they prepare these final weeks for their mission trip to El Salvador!





Worship in Spirit & Truth

Written by Mrs. Hollie Benoit, Specifics Level Lead Teacher

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God.”  Psalm 95:6

In a world where differences such as skin color or clothing brand can drive children apart, making them feel insecure and alone, our students are being unified in their love for the Lord. This semester our older and younger students have combined classes for our weekly Chapel. As students transitioned into this new phase during the last few weeks, we as teachers have encouraged them to spend time together, getting to know each other on a deeper level. 

Scenes like this are what make the Academy’s weekly chapel services a distinct part of our students’ week. Growing together in prayer and support for one another is a precious lesson the students are learning.

Chapel is the one time during the week when all four classes at these levels come together except for lunch and recess. There were understandable insecurities the first few times among the younger students: “who will I sit next to”, “what do these older kids think of me”, among others. Recently, we were blessed to witness the overflowing presence of the Lord in the room as the children allowed for freedom in worship to occur: on their knees, crying out to the Lord, hands raised in worship to God with all their heart. 

I often find myself getting caught up in worship doing the same, closing my eyes and raising my hands. During this particular Chapel though, I heard small cries to the Lord which turned to weeping. When I opened my eyes to check on the students, I was overcome with the sight before me. Several students, of varying levels, from all four classes, were around the child who had been overcome by the Lord’s presence. They were laying their hands on them, praying for them, worshipping the Lord together, embracing and supporting each other during what can feel like such a vulnerable moment. 

The past weeks have been building to this culminating moment, and they were getting to experience unity together, the way the Lord teaches us. They released all insecurities and were genuinely free to worship alongside one another in complete vulnerability and truth. In John 4:24, Jesus teaches that “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Our students are overcoming any differences to support one another, pray for one another, love one another, and depend on each other. I am so incredibly thankful for moments like these that remind us of the Lord’s goodness and his promise to be with us always. 

We all have spiritual giftings and differences, and recognizing our differences is useful. However, those differences should not separate us but instead should be the very thing that encourages us to thrive in our role in the body of Christ. I’m proud to see a generation of children who see each other the way God made them different, but yet the same, all created in His image. These students are living this out daily, and the work the Lord is doing in them never stops amazing me!

The Gift of Learning New Languages

Written by Mr. Stephen Ownby, Specifics Lead Teacher

There are so many languages in our world. There are the languages that are understood via
speech, and then there are the languages that are demonstrated, acted out, and creatively produced. The students at the Academy for G.O.D. are getting experience in all of these languages.

Students will spend time with Spanish, English, and even Hebrew at our school. Additionally, they are learning the value of communicating through the creative arts such as music, drama, and even athletics. All of these skills and expressions are ways that people communicate, and it is preparing them not only for the future, but also for their present interactions with one another and their greater communities.

Jr High students, alongside Vice Principal Muñoz, lead the student body in worship during a school wide chapel service.

During times of worship you can see older students effectively leading worship for their peers. Throughout the building you'll hear the languages I mentioned above, but it's also possible to hear Hindi, Swahili, Tagalog, and multiple other languages spoken from around the world. I believe that the education our children are receiving is better than we could have ever imagined for them. Our students are incredibly intelligent, and they are growing in wisdom and discernment every day as they experience the Spiritual, Ethical, Social, Emotional, Academic education that they are receiving.

I use the word experience because I witness our teaching staff facilitate creative moments every day for your children to grow closer to our God who has demonstrated His great love for us. These kids are learning to speak many of the various forms of communication that exist in our world, and mostly they are learning how to love in the way that God has instructed us to do through our words and actions.

Deut. 4:5-8 -- "See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?"

John 13:35 -- "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Arcola Winter Retreat

Preparing to enter a rigorous spring semester, our Jr High and High students headed up to Arcola, IL to meet up with other Christian youth and spend concentrated time in worship, prayer, Bible studies and fellowship. This time is being facilitated by a passionate team of Academy faculty, staff, and parent volunteers. 

Why would we invest such an incredible amount of energy into a road trip just on the brink of a new semester? Because we fully believe that these times of being collectively focused on the Lord offer our students an invaluable, grounding and energizing time that will transform the remainder of the year. 

One of the five aspects of The Academy’s holistic education is that of spiritual development. It is our goal to see youth conformed to the image of Christ, filled with God’s spirit and displaying that fruit in their lives. We are grateful for the volunteers that made this trip possible, and eager to see the good fruit that is produced this semester, in strengthened friendships, sensitivity to the Lord, and grounding in His word.