Nourishing Our Future: The Local Foods to Schools Grant

The Academy’s nutrition program has embarked on an exciting journey this year. Thanks to the "Local Foods to Schools" grant, we have the opportunity to purchase fresh produce and meat directly from small local farms. This initiative not only supports local farmers but also promises to provide our students with nutritious, high-quality meals while reducing the environmental footprint of our food supply. In this article, we'll explore the benefits of the grant and our partnership with Pure Pastures, a family-owned farm in Barren Plains, Tennessee.


Nutrient-Rich Harvest

One of the key advantages of sourcing food locally is that it allows us to deliver nutrient-dense meals to our students. As a general rule, the longer the journey from harvest to table, the more nutrients a food item loses. By purchasing fruits and vegetables from nearby farms, we can ensure that our students enjoy the maximum nutritional benefits.

Local produce is often fresher and more vibrant, brimming with essential vitamins and minerals. It's a known fact that fruits and vegetables begin to lose their nutritional value the moment they're harvested. The shorter the distance they travel, the less time there is for nutrient depletion. This means that our students get to enjoy the full spectrum of goodness these foods have to offer.

A Farm to Table meal plan is a strategy the Academy has adopted since the beginning of our meal program. Ensuring students have opportunity to eat meats and vegetables from local food sources is priority for our meal program team. These chickens belong to Pure Pastures!

Organic and Sustainable

In addition to enhanced nutrition, the "Local Foods to Schools" grant empowers us to buy organic produce, a win for both our students' health and the environment. Organic farming practices prioritize soil health and sustainability, avoiding synthetic pesticides and fertilizers that can harm the ecosystem. Choosing organic options from local farmers allows us to support sustainable agriculture practices that benefit our planet.

When it comes to meat, sourcing locally offers transparency and traceability. We have the opportunity to understand how animals are raised, what they are fed, and ensure that we are serving high-quality, nutrient-dense meats to our students. This not only contributes to healthier meals but also aligns with our commitment to ethical and sustainable food sourcing.

Supporting Local Communities

One of the most significant aspects of this grant is the ability to develop strong relationships with local farmers. Our partnership with Pure Pastures is just the beginning of a journey that will not only benefit our school but also the surrounding communities. By supporting small, family-owned farms like Pure Pastures, we contribute to the growth and prosperity of local economies. This grant is a catalyst for building a network of trust and collaboration between schools and local producers, fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility.

Lunch is a highlight of the day for Academy students. Not only do students receive nutritious meals, they are encouraged to engage in meaningful conversation with their peers. Fellowship over a meal is a value we hope students carry away from their school day and into their homes with their families.

The "Local Foods to Schools" grant is an exciting opportunity for our school nutrition program to make a meaningful impact on our students' health, the environment, and local communities. By prioritizing nutrient-rich, locally sourced foods, we aim to provide our students with top-quality nutrition while supporting sustainable and responsible farming practices.

As we continue to explore our partnership with Pure Pastures and other local farms, we look forward to the growth of this initiative. It's a chance to bring the bounty of our home state right to our students' plates, ensuring they not only receive the best nutrition possible but also develop a deep appreciation for the local food ecosystem. In the years to come, we hope to see more schools embracing similar initiatives, nurturing healthier generations, supporting local economies, and making a positive impact on the environment. The "Local Foods to Schools" grant is more than just a grant; it's a step towards a brighter and more sustainable future for our students and our world.

Academy Students on Mission this Summer

The following excerpt was written by Vice Principal Meg Mathews, who organized the Academy SLAM Nashville Week 2023.

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What a wonderful week we had as a student body of worshiping the Lord together, serving those in need in Nashville and studying His Word! I am so thankful for safe travels and for the Lord meeting us every night in Worship. This year’s theme was "How Much it Cost?" from John 15. I can say the energy that our students bring to worship is unmatched. I love watching our students give their all, even on the first night, without hesitation. 

The Service Projects that we participated in last week were as follows:

1. The Bridge Ministry 

1. THE BRIDGE, INC. exists to alleviate the suffering of underprivileged children, the homeless, and the working poor by providing life-sustaining resources and a message of hope.The Bridge is housed in a 20,000 square foot warehouse in Nashville, TN, that not only stores the food for the Tuesday evening services, but also acts as a local food bank for other area ministries. The Bridge Ministry also aids school children on assisted lunch programs by filling their backpacks with food on Friday afternoons so that they have food to eat over the weekend.  Academy students packaged over 1,000 care packages for the homeless. 

2. Dream Streets

1. Dream Streets is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Their mission is to protect and empower individuals living in distress. They provide supplemental groceries and family-strengthening tools. In addition, they foster positive community relations at our physical locations, mobile ministry sites, and the streets we serve in West and North Nashville. Students got to help distribute food two days this last week.

3. Mother to Mother 

1. Mother to Mother is a non-profit organization founded in 2004 with the sole mission of connecting those in a position to help financially with the case workers and healthcare professionals who see firsthand the enormous needs of struggling mothers and children.

4. Widow & Elderly Care 

1. Students got to help elderly residents in need by doing some much-needed landscaping around their houses, mulching and trimming hedges. 

5. TWO Refugee and Immigrant Kids Camps at the Summit and Overton Apartments

1. Students had the opportunity to get engaged with the next generation! We brought activities to each location, and facilitated kids camps, engaging the children with the gifts that God gave us.

6. Old Hickory Estates

1. Ms. Paula is the manager of the trailer park where Camp Skillz Madison is held each year. The trailer park community center needed some stain put on a new fence, as well as some landscaping around their offices. Students were able to complete this task, helping in this community of need with very limited resources!

7. Madison Church of Christ Garden and Meals on Wheels

1. The Madison Church of Christ Church Garden creates a common growing space for the Madison Church family to work together, practice stewardship, build relationships with each other, and provide a tangible expression of God’s love to their neighbors through providing fresh and healthy foods for the local community. They raise chickens, fish and grow fresh fruits and vegetables without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers in raised garden beds and aquaponic systems, which are then distributed to the local community through their Benevolence Center and Meals-On-Wheels program. In the short time our student group was there, the director reported that they knocked out the equivalent of two weeks of gardening projects!

2. Meals on Wheels: Volunteers prepare and deliver about 35 lunches per day, six days a week, to nearby residents. Most of the people who receive this service live alone, don’t drive, and live on a low income. Students served these recipients, doing everything from washing dishes to organizing and meal preparation.  

8. Dandridge Apartments, Trevecca & Chippington Towers

1. Students cleaned the apartments of the elderly by doing tasks that they no longer can due to their physical age. We are so thankful we can serve those that are in our city’s high rise apartments.

I can truly say that the Lord was with us every step of the way. I really am so thankful for all that transpired amongst our student body, and my prayer is that they will continue to reflect upon what type of friend they are to one another. 

I left the students with some questions to reflect on as they finished out the week: 

1. Are your friendships rooted in the shared value of loving Jesus? How can you evidence this?

2. According to John 15, how can you cultivate a mindset of joyfulness despite whatever circumstances you might be in?

3. How do you think we make God known through our relationships?

4. How can you be a better friend this summer, denying your preferences so you can love your friends like Jesus modeled?

My prayer is that as students go into the rest of their summer, that they will spend their time wisely investing into the things that matter, such as family and friends. May they look to the interest of others and not their own, and spend time with Jesus every day because that is the best time spent. 

Academy Sees its First International Graduate

This spring we had the privilege of seeing our first international remote learner graduate from the Academy. 

Tebandeke Barnabas joined the Academy in 2020 through necessity, when Covid-19 shut down his local school in Uganda. In reflection, he shared all the questions he had surrounding how a remote education would work. “Students need teachers around for guidance; now how were teachers going to interact with students with thousands of miles separating them? How about the official documents; will the high school diploma from the U.S. be valid in Uganda? How about student interaction; can you even make friends on video?” I wondered.

In faith, Barnabas stepped forward and began taking Academy classes, first through pre-recorded content and then through live video calls directly into the classroom. 

For the past 3 years, Barnabas has continuously impressed his Academy teachers with his diligence, joy and giftedness. Despite challenges due to local power outages and internet failures, he continued to press on and earn top grades in his classes. His courses required much more interaction and critical thinking than his prior school, and he wouldn't have it any other way. 

“I have met really wonderful people, caring teachers, and realized how big the family of God is, and yet, He takes care of each of us. I have enough time to hang out with my friends, family and also to talk to God. I have come to the conclusion that joining The Academy was the best choice I have ever made and not going against the flow of God’s will is another thing I will never regret.”

Barnabas has always been interested in technology, specifically electronic engineering. During his education at the Academy he completed several classes and student internships related to this field. He demonstrated high aptitude in this area, and hopes to go on to pursue both high biblical education, and greater practical skills in technology. 

At our 2022-23 Academy Graduation ceremony on May 20, Barnabas graduated with high honors! He shared a pre-recorded speech, and his accomplishments were shared and celebrated with an audience of classmates, teachers, and (online) friends and family. 

We are so grateful for the many supporters who have contributed to Barnabas’ (aka ‘Ssubi’) education over the years. From his attendance at primary school to the miraculous way he was able to stay on track and graduate through the Academy Home Education program despite a global pandemic –  thank you to ALL who have invested into him! This young man has a bright future ahead, and is moving into it with faith in the Lord and determination to do well.

Embracing Holistic Development: Unlocking the Potential of Student-Athletes

This year we celebrated the Academy’s 10th anniversary. Like many schools, our athletic program has played an important role in the lives of our students and seen some significant successes! Since our establishment in 2013, our school athletic program has produced championship teams, celebrated all-conference players and league MVPs, and garnered admiration from players, families, and fans alike. However, what truly sets us apart is our holistic approach to player development. “We are not solely trying to build athletes,” says head soccer coach, Jason Roufs. “We’re trying to build well-rounded individuals who enjoy sports, who aren’t afraid to engage in sports as adults, and who have the understanding, strength and coordination.” Our philosophy revolves around the belief that by encouraging student-athletes to participate in multiple sports until the age of 16, we foster comprehensive growth, strength-building, intellectual maturation, and the development of invaluable life skills.

Coach Roufs (far right) celebrates an incredible 2023 soccer season with his high school team after they finished as runner-up in the division tournament.

A key biblical passage for Coach Roufs comes from Ephesians 4:1-13. This text highlights the many various roles that are required for a well-functioning team. “Sports culture celebrates just a few positions. Look at the stats that are kept: most points scored, most assists, or most saves. But what gets overlooked is how every single player plays an integral part. The life skill to be learned is that the goal is not for everyone to become the highest scorer: the goal is to figure out your giftings and the role that you play best, and contribute that to the success of the team.” 

Phoenix athletes participate in cross-country, volleyball, basketball, and soccer. At the heart of all these sports are two key values: 1) giving one’s whole heart and energy to the learning process, and 2) embracing mistakes as integral to growth. We acknowledge the reality that sports are temporary. Even if a student wants to go pro, it will be a temporary season in their life. But what the students will always take with them is the attitude of approaching every practice time, every game, with focus and whole-heartedness. Mistakes are normal. Necessary, in fact. What is to be celebrated is the humility and resilience to push through mistakes and come out stronger on the other side. 

A great example of that this year was freshman Camden Cole, who nervously tried out for the Phoenix soccer team. Unsure as to whether or not he had the skills and experience to be on the team, coaches encouraged him to to try out, and he made the team. “At the beginning of the season I placed him all over the field, to figure out his skill set. He started out as an outside mid, then forward, then outside back,” Coach Roufs shared. “By the end of the year he was our starting goal-keeper, filling a crucial need on the team.” Camden’s coaches and teammates alike were impressed with his unwavering commitment and willingness to step into a very difficult position. “That’s the kind of person we need in our athletic program. People who are willing to give their all for the team, and trust their coaches to place them in whatever position best serves the team.”

Coach Olson instructs his high school volleyball team during a regular season match. Learning to trust the authority and direction of a coach is emphasized in our sports program.

Junior Moriah Olson says that sports have offered her valuable life lessons on leadership: “One of the key values I have learned through Phoenix sports is that leaders are servants. I have been playing volleyball longer than my other teammates and so naturally I have been put into a leadership position over the past 3 years. As a result, I have had to learn that being a leader is more than just instructing and correcting others, but it is about making sure your team is doing well as a whole (spiritually, interpersonally, interpersonally, academically, etc.). It’s about sacrificing your time and energy for the betterment of the team.”

Jr High basketball player, Nanozi Nyago, takes a free throw during a semifinal tournament game. Nanozi is learning to take lessons from her bible classes and apply them to her team dynamic and skill development as a basketball player.

Phoenix athletes also learn how scripture applies to every aspect of their lives, both on and off the court. 7th grader Nanozi Nyago says this has been the most valuable lesson she’s learned in her athletic experience with the Academy: “A valuable lesson I have learned playing with our athletics program that I have carried into other areas of my life is biblical application. Our coaches have taught me and my teammates how to apply scripture to any situation, good or bad. I’ve been able to apply this value to academic, social, spiritual, and emotional situations.” 

Moriah Olson further emphasized this point.  “A verse that Coach Olson often brings up on the court is ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭14‬. In volleyball, it is important that we have what’s called “a short memory”, where we learn and then move on from the mistake we made. It is a fast paced game and each rally ends in a mistake (made by your team or the opposing team). This verse is a great metaphor for the game of volleyball but it’s great for life too and I have learned to apply that “short memory” in school, at home, and with my friends. Mistakes are going to be made, it’s a part of being human, but when we can learn from them and then move on, it is going to do a lot more good than holding on or feeling shame for the mistake made.

Off-season training has begun for the 2023-2024 year for Phoenix athletes! Students are preparing to take the court and field again, representing their school and the Lord. We hope to see you there cheering them on!

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!