THE WHITEFIELD MONTHLY. From the Head of School

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1 THE WHITEFIELD MONTHLY Newsletter February 2017 Aimee Rubesha 2/2 Joshua Ball 2/3 Ed Kiss 2/4 Bonnie Harrison 2/8 Joshua Boswell 2/25 Yvonne Wilson 2/28 From the Head of School Teacher Spotlight PTF News and Updates Grade Level Information Testify Week Update Summer Excursion Opportunity Important Dates Reminders From the Head of School by Gary Mounce, Head of School The education of children for God is the most important business done on earth. R. L. Dabney Our beliefs regarding education should be of upmost importance to us. What I have found is many parents, Christian or not, hardly give it a second thought! Are there beliefs embedded in how we learn to read, write, etc? Is there a sense of right or wrong present as we learn math skills? Those that devalue Christian beliefs have done a great job conditioning us to see education as being neutral, implying that a teacher s beliefs are consider unrelated to what they do in the classroom. Nothing could be further from the truth. Curriculum, designed by educators, will be based on their belief system. Even the NEA works hard to ensure curriculum for public schools match up to their agenda. Then the classroom teacher presents the curriculum to students based on the beliefs they hold. This is why at Whitefield Academy we clearly communicate teaching from a biblical worldview. However, the teaching of a belief system does not just take place in Christian schools. The reality is, if the teaching is not integrated with the biblical worldview then it will be integrated with another worldview; normally the humanist worldview. The bottom-line is this, a teacher s beliefs will influence and shape how and what they choose to teach in a classroom even within a set curriculum. Most of us are familiar with Col. 3:17. Though, whatever you do is an open-ended statement, we can agree it includes learning; one s education. God is interested in all of life! Thus, education, which is not neutral, should be from a biblical worldview. Our desire is that once again you will choose to be part of the Whitefield family. Our goal is not about numbers though; it is about remaining true to our mission. It is about your student(s) being educated from a biblical worldview. It is about you being a part of our vision to help train the next generation for Christ! I want to thank you in advance for choosing Whitefield Academy to be your partner in the education of your student(s). I want to remind you Open Enrollment (for new families) will begin on February 1 st. So, in order to save on the reenrollment fee please make sure to reenroll by January 31 st. (adapted from an article entitled, Why Choose a Christian School, by Covenant Christian School.) Mr. Gary Mounce

2 Teacher Spotlight Dr. Jim Brooks High School Math Algebra 1, Algebra 2, College Algebra, AP Statistics Dr. Brooks is from everywhere, yet nowhere. Growing up in a military family, he was accustomed to moving around. He was born in England, but he would consider himself from the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Brooks attended Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA, where he majored in Mathematics. He also has the following Post-Graduate Degrees: Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies (Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, Portland, OR) Master of Theology in Biblical Studies (Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, Portland, OR) Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Counseling from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY) In his free time, Dr. Brooks enjoys reading, writing and watching football (GO SEAHAWKS!) Dr. Brooks also adds that an interesting fact about himself is that he doesn t eat sugar. Dr. Brooks has enjoyed his first year at Whitefield Academy. He really likes the chapel services and speakers. He also states, I enjoy all my students immensely, and am grateful that I can openly talk about Christ and the Gospel in the classroom.

3 PTF INFORMATION Thank you to all who participated in the Yankee Candle Sales. The winner for Yankee Candle Sales was Canaan Cottrell, 2nd grader, selling over $1,000!! Congratulations! Chick Fil A Spirit Night February 6th 5-8pm Chick fil a Glenmary Come support our Cheerleaders! Otis Spunkmeyer Family Collection February 20 March 6 This year, the catalog will include cookie dough, pretzels, soups, cheesecakes, dips and MUCH MORE! There is no online ordering. TONS of PRIZES you will not want to miss out on! More information will be coming soon!

4 Around the School by Lisa Hammond, Preschool Director This month has always been special at Whitefield for many years because of our Donuts with Dad event. This year we had many fathers and substitute dads come in for a time to eat a donut and spend time with their preschooler at our Fegenbush campus. The event in the World Café was a enjoyable for the dads and their preschoolers. Our East Campus preschool had a similar event called Fruit and Fitness with Fathers. This was in conjunction with a grant project that Cathy Michels, the East Preschool Director and Kara Kennedy, an East Campus teacher are participating in. The child and their dads enjoyed and fruit and yogurt breakfast and then did some fitness activities. Both campus preschools look forward to having our Mom s for breakfast next month. Please look for information to come regarding events at both campuses.

5 Around the School by Dr. Bruce Jacobson, Elementary Principal The elementary students have been involved in numerous activities since the last newsletter: Mrs. Chrisman s 3rd grade class using one of the remote Chromebook computer labs. Two Kindergarten students in Art Class imitating drawing like Michelangelo. Mason Campbell (Kindergarten), standing next to his art work exhibited at the Fine Arts Competition showcase on January 12, Speech Meet: On Friday, January 13, Whitefield Academy held the annual in-house ACSI Speech Meet. There were 82 students who participated and 64 students will be advancing to the ACSI District level competition on March 17 at Frankfort Christian Academy. Congratulations on all of the students who participated. Spelling Bee: Whitefield Academy will host the annual ACSI Regional Spelling Bee on Friday, February 24, There are 18 Christian schools that will compete in this annual tournament. Students from first grade to the 8 th grade will be participating. Robotics: Congratulations to the Whitefield elementary robotics teams who competed in the first 2016 Derby City LEGO League regional robotics tournament in December. are preparing for the Kentucky State Robotics tournament which will be hosted at Northern Kentucky University on February 4, 2017.

6 Around the School by Dr. Bruce Jacobson, Principal Living Hands Free. Living Hands Free means making a conscious decision to temporarily push aside the daily distractions of screen time and give your undivided attention to someone or something meaningful in your life. Here are six small changes you can make that will make a big impact on you and your family s well-being, now and in the future: Protect family time by turning off the notifications on your phone and placing it out of reach so you are not tempted to check it whenever it dings. Go to places with no electronic distractions and leave the devices at home or in the car. Resist the urge to look at your phone when you are with your children/family in waiting situations like the doctor s office, restaurants, etc. Be an example of what it means to live presently. Let it be known to your family when you make the choice to put away your distractions or limit your screen time. Create at least one daily ritual where time with your child/family members is sacred and undistracted. Use visual reminders to keep yourself focused on what is important. Post stop sign notes around the house as reminders to not get distracted with window devices. Reference Hands Free Life by Gary Mounce, High School Principal are our decisions really ours? "It is not hard to notice similarities to the Babylonian educational agenda within our public higher education system. Dr. Steve Henderson I think we would all agree the most important decision for our student to make is accepting Christ and surrendering their life to Him as their personal Lord and Savior. Apart from this, most other decisions don t compare. That's not to say there are not other significant decisions to be made by our students. Who to marry?, If and where to go to college?, and What career to go into? For me, my college choice played a pivotal roll in these important decisions. Unknowingly, I was lead by God to go to a Christian College. I can honestly say I would not be who I am, doing what I do, and married for 35 years if not for the Biblical worldview I encountered personally and was reinforced by friends and faculty at college. Given my experiences, it is not surprising to me to see new research suggest that one s college choice has an impact not only on these important decisions but also on religious commitment! I greatly encourage you to check out an article I read recently, When a Christian teen attends a non-christian College. The article can be found through the following link: February 1 Beta Club Meeting 3:00pm, room HS Spirit Week 10 Senior Lunch 10 Homecoming Ceremony 7:00pm 10 Homecoming Woodhaven 9:00pm-12:00am 17 Career Day 17 Smashball (boys volleyball) 24 Senior Lunch

7 TESTIFY WEEK by Derek Hopperton, Director of Student Life On January 17-20, our High School experienced our second annual TESTIFY week. Each day, we had a chapel service that featured guest speakers simply sharing their story of how they were transformed by Jesus Christ. This year we were blessed to have Josh Greene, Taylor Starr, Regis K-Drama Jones, and Nick Lynch. Please pray that the week s impact would remain in the hearts and minds of our students and that God would continue to grow them into the men and women he s calling them to be!

8 Summer Excursion 2017 What: 1 st Annual Whitefield Academy High School Summer Excursion Where: New York City, USA When: July 6-10, 2017 Who: Current 9-11 th Grade: Students and Parents Why: An unique and fun opportunity to experience a cultural, educational, and spiritual impact that will last a lifetime! How Much: $1,750 per person (taken in a deposit and 3 payments between March and May) Cost includes: Roundtrip Airfare & NYC Metro Passes Quality Hotel Accommodations Full-Time Tour Guide All Activities and Experiences All meals except lunches Donation & Supplies for Missions Project **Registration will be open until Feb. 8** Contact Director of Student Life Derek Hopperton if you would like to register or if you would just like more info! Derek.Hopperton@whitefield.org Phone:

9 Important Dates January AP Test Fees Due 31 Seniors: Community Service Hours Due 31 Admissions Open House 6:00-8:00pm (East/Fegenbush) February Open Enrollment Begins 6-10 High School Spirit Week 8 Mid-terms 10 Homecoming 17 Muffins with Mom FC 7am-8:30am 17 Muffins with Mom EC 7am-8:30am 20 School in session: Snow Make Up Day 21 No Preschool K-12 OPEN 24 ACSI Spelling Bee 28 American Red Cross Blood Drive March Louisville Cedarville Highview East Campus 10 3 rd Quarter Ends 14 Senior Parent Meeting 7:00pm 15 Report Cards Scholastic Book Fair 23 Junior Ring Ceremony Spring Drama 24 Grandparents Day Testing Week 27 MS/HS Course Requests turned ON 31 No School or Snow Make Up Day April No School Spring Break Senior Trip

10 REMINDERS ACSI Looking for Volunteers ACSI Spelling Bee will be held at WA on Fri., Feb. 24, We have over 400 students and parents from 17 schools attending this event. We need a lot of volunteers to help make this a success! We need helpers to start from 7:30-1:00. If you can serve any hours, please contact Mrs. Underwood- at kunderwood@whitefield.org as soon as possible. Help is needed for serving breakfast to the judges, signing in students from schools and monitoring the classroom doors during the bee. No one will be asked to judge. ACSI Speech Meet will be held at The Frankfort Christian Academy Frankfort, KY on Fri., Mar. 17, We need 15 people to serve as judges for Grades 1-6. It is a fun and enjoyable event. The time is from 8:30-12:00. You will not be judging the entire time. Please contact Mrs. Underwood if you are available to serve- kunderwood@whitefield.org. Class and Club Pictures Class and Club Pictures will be taken on March 14th. Social Media Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!