Liberty Christian School Blog

In the blink of an eye, another school year has come to an end.  Join us as we fondly recall some of the key events and activities that took place at Liberty Christian School during the 2015-16 year.

10. Lobby Renovations

The fundraising efforts of the Development Office and Parent Teacher Leadership (PTL) paid off when the school’s new and improved lobby area was unveiled at the start of the school year.  Cosmetic renovations included the addition of new laminate hardwood flooring as well as drywall and fresh paint.  Once the paint was dry, Art teacher Krista Quenzer designed a photo gallery on the wall opposite the front office that highlights LCS students.  And, thanks to a donation coordinated by a Liberty Christian School parent, the wall opposite the main entrance now features a large lobby display housing student work, sports and chess trophies, as well as Costa Rica mission trip memorabilia.  A TV monitor graces the same wall and displays a running scroll of photos as well as school news and announcements.  These changes have transformed a functional area into a warm and welcoming entryway to our school.

9. Spirit Wear

With last year’s introduction of a new school logo came the need to update our Spirit Wear collection.  This fall, that need was met with the introduction of a new and expanded line of vibrant clothing that students, teachers and staff, parents and alumni have been wearing to school as well as throughout the community to show their school spirit.

8. 9- Square In The Air

9-Square In The Air is a new and exciting game that has become a big hit at churches, camps, schools and other similar venues.  Invented by a middle school pastor, this game is a 3D adaptation of the traditional ground-based 4- or 9-square game.  Thanks to Mr. Tibbels who discovered the game along with a generous donation from a Liberty Christian School community member, the school was able to purchase a game set this past school year.  The game, which is being used in PE class, middle school clubs and athletic department fundraisers, has become a big hit within our own student body.

7. Science Fair

Middle School Science teacher Mrs. Mueller’s vision to provide her 8th grade students with a creative and experiential learning activity became a reality when the class hosted a science fair at the end of the school year.  For the project, students were given the freedom to select an experiment of interest to them and were then held responsible for gathering the necessary project materials, conducting the selected experiment, writing an 8-10 page project report, preparing a display, and presenting their findings at the in-house science fair.  The project was a great learning experience for those involved as it helped them further develop their skills in the areas of planning on a mass scale, time management, critical thinking and problem solving, verbalizing their thoughts and getting them down on paper, as well as presentation and public speaking.  The culimating science fair itself offered those in attendance, including our 6th and 7th grade students, teachers, staff, and parents the opportunity to learn from their findings.   Mrs. Mueller was pleased with the project outcome, impressed by the effort put forth, and hopeful the experience has prepared our 8th graders for the rigors of high school.

6. Helping Up Mission Visit

In January, LCS hosted the choir from Helping Up Mission (HUM), a community of hope which offers a comprehensive recovery program for men in Baltimore, Maryland.  Our 8th graders had the honor of serving lunch to the men and the entire school body participated in a Spirit-filled choir performance consistng of music and testimony of the unbelievable power of God to save and transform lives.

To be continued...

Bullying is a hurtful behavior and a serious issue that should not be taken lightly.  However, as a result of the increased focus these days on this topic, lines are becoming blurred and some are quick to instantly label any type of hurtful behavior as bullying when that may not, in fact, be the case.  This mislabeling can be detrimental when it comes to properly addressing and correcting the misbehavior.

Since overcoming bullying requires different methods than overcoming other hurtful acts, those in a position to intervene need to be able to clearly identify the differences between bullying and other hurtful behaviors in order to determine the best course of action.

According to Licensed Social Worker, national educator and author, Signe Whitson, it is important to understand the difference between three types of behavior: rude, mean, and bullying.  Knowing these differences will provide insights to determine what to pay attention to and when to intervene.  Here are her definitions of each behavior and ways to address them:

Rude

Inadvertently saying or doing something that hurts someone else.  This behavior is occasional and unintentional.  Offering constructive feedback and coaching on social skills is an effective way to address rude behavior.

Mean

Purposefully saying or doing something to hurt someone once or twice.  This type of behavior is typically an impulsive cruelty based in anger.  Most often, this behavior is regretted by the perpetrator.  This behavior needs to be addressed and should not be ignored.

Bullying

Intentionally agressive, usually premeditated behavior that is repeated over time and involves an imbalance of power.  These are considered behaviors of bullying and should be treated as such.

Knowing the difference between these behaviors and being able to identify them can better position you to properly address and overcome them.

Resources for more information on this topic:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/passive-aggressive-diaries/201211/is-it-rude-is-it-mean-or-is-it-bullying

https://tstbocesyouthdevelopment.wikispaces.com/file/view/DASA+Newsletter+-+January+2014.pdf

This month’s Liberty Christian Spotlight features alum Caleb Hopler, a 2007 graduate of LCS and son of former LCS teacher Terri Hopler.  Caleb’s interest in environmental studies led him to become involved in numerous international sustainability and social justice projects since his days at Liberty Christian School, including an internship with Maderas Collective in Nicaragua.  Here is what Caleb had to share with us.

Q. What have been your education and/or work experiences since you graduated from LCS?

A. After attending Liberty Christian School from kindergarten through 8th grade, I went on to Chapelgate Christian Academy for high school and Virginia Tech for college.

Q. What  LCS teacher had the most influence on you and why?

A. Titus McGrath (former middle school science teacher). His teaching methods and overall personality kindled a love for natural science in me. Beyond education, he and I became friends and are still friends to this day. Not only was he a teacher and friend, he served as one of my mentors during middle school.

Q. What is your favorite LCS memory?

A. During the school’s auction fundraiser, Mrs. Jackson (former 5th grade teacher) offered a fun overnight trip to her house for the winner plus three friends. I believe she had done this multiple years in a row and it was quick to become the prize every student wanted. Josh Hindle won and I was one of the friends picked to go with him. After school on a Friday we had a big dinner, went out to the movies and watched “Holes,” then just had a big slumber party the rest of the night.

Q. What is an accomplishment that you are most proud of in your life so far?

A. I have accomplished a lot so far in my life, graduating from Virginia Tech, conquering a multitude of severe health issues, and many international sustainability and social justice projects. However, what I am most happy about is the fact that I have been able to accomplish these things with God as my focus. I could not have accomplished anything if it weren’t for my reliance on Him.

Q. Is there anything from your time at LCS that sparked your interest in environmental studies or working in Central America?

A.  Liberty Christian School  is as a wonderful school that taught me much more than education, it also instilled values, passions, integrity, and a respect for all life. LCS, as well as my parents, laid the foundation for me to be able to hear God’s calling, and in this way, LCS helped lead me to work internationally in sustainable ventures.

Q. What type of work and ministry have you been involved with in Nicaragua? Describe what led you to your internship with the Maderas Collective.

A. During my time at Virginia Tech, I had a yearlong internship that took me to Nicaragua twice, focusing on ecotourism and fuel-efficient cookstoves. With a love for the country and the contacts I built up, it was easy to decide that after graduating Virginia Tech I would work in Nicaragua in sustainability, hoping to create lasting partnerships that would allow me to return to Nicaragua for new projects in the future. After cold-calling the CEO of Maderas Collective, they took me in and mentored me until I was ready to begin my first project: biomass briquettes made from local agricultural wastes. Currently, I am creating and leading a briquettes team in San Jose de Bocay, teaching English in a local school, and helping to design a sustainability program with the wastes generated by production at Maderas Collective.

Q. What are some of the interesting things you have been a part of since moving to Nicaragua?

A. Nicaragua is a fascinating place with a rich culture and gorgeous natural environments. I have hiked volcanoes, explored a cave with thousands of bats flying around me, rescued a wild sloth that was stuck in the middle of the road, watched a rural rodeo during a holiday… The list continues. Every day I experience something new.

Q. What do you envision yourself doing 5 years from now?

A. Though I love exploring new things, I also love familiarity, a place I know very well to return to after new great adventures. Therefore I’d like to move back to either Maryland, Northern Virginia, or Las Vegas, NV (all places I’ve lived) and work a job in sustainability while on the side, running a nonprofit to benefit Nicaragua.

When it comes to raising children to become responsible, independent adults, the transition to middle school is an important milestone in that journey.  Those at this stage who were once in need of much care and guidance are now poised to take on increasing responsibilities as they continue along the road to self-sufficiency.  But what exactly can we expect our children to be able to do at this stage?

Here are 5 things children should be able to do on their own by the time they reach middle school:

Get Ready for School

By the start of middle school, children should be able to carry out their own morning routine, including setting the alarm clock in order to get out of bed on time, picking out their clothes, washing and dressing for school.  At this age, they are also capable of preparing a simple breakfast and packing lunch for themselves.  To get them to own these activities, help them establish a routine that empowers them to carry out these tasks independently.

Do Their Homework

At this age, children need to be given the opportunity to manage their homework on their own.  Support their efforts by providing the space and resources necessary and help them establish a homework routine.  While they may need a bit more guidance at the start of each new school year to ensure they understand what is expected of them, once the expectations are established give them the freedom to take responsibility for their own learning.

Manage Their Classwork and Assignments

Learning to communicate with people in more powerful positions is an important life skill, and giving children the opportunity to get clarification on assignments or to ask a question or for some help allows them to practice this skill.  Rather than stepping in when it may not necessarily be warranted, support your children by helping them rehearse what they might say to the teacher.

Assist With Household Responsibilities

To support their efforts to become more self-sufficient, get your children involved in chores around the house, such as cooking and cleaning.  This can help lighten the load for you, allow your children to master essential life skills, and give them a sense of pride knowing they have positively contributed to the family.  And, if you don’t already do so, consider looking into ways to offer your children an allowance in conjunction with these tasks to help them learn how to handle money.

Choose How They Spend Their Time

Encouraging children at this age to try new things is a great way to help children discover their interests and develop their talents.  Rather than taking the lead in choosing activities simply because they will help them as adults or look good on a college application, give your children the chance to decide upon their own extra-curricular and enrichment activities based on their interests.

Setting the expectation that your children are capable of carrying out these responsibilities and giving them the opportunity to do so can not only help ease the transition into middle school, but can also prepare them to take on increasing responsibilities that will prepare them for high school, college and beyond.