Outdoor Lab/Camp (6th Grade)
The curriculum for 6th grade students includes an Outdoor Lab experience, typically three school days, apart from school and home, in a mountain retreat setting. This trip, usually occurring in the fall, provides opportunities for students to learn about and experience many different things such as animal tracking, outdoor survival skills, archery, and rappelling. It also offers opportunities for friendship, mentoring, and spiritual growth.
Holidays and Celebrations
Because of the strong secular emphasis given to certain holidays, the following guidelines will be followed in respect to school celebrations.
Halloween
Because not all families or their Christian tradition recognize or participate in Halloween activities, we choose not to recognize this holiday. We will, instead, focus on the harvest theme of the season. Also, recognition and celebration of the Protestant Reformation (occurring on October 31, 1517) is an option for teachers.
Thanksgiving
Before Thanksgiving we will observe a time of prayer and thanks to God for the many blessings He provides. The historic Christian roots of this holiday will be emphasized.
Christmas
We want the students to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and, therefore, we will emphasize and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s precious gift to us. There will be no deliberate promotion of Santa Claus at the school, but students will not be reprimanded by teachers for discussing him. We want to encourage an atmosphere of critical thinking and dialogue rather than stifling a child’s God-given inquisitive nature.
Valentine’s Day
We will focus on friendship and God’s love.
Easter
We will emphasize the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There will be no promotion of the “Easter Bunny” at the school, but students will not be reprimanded by teachers for discussing him. We want to encourage an atmosphere of critical thinking and dialog rather than stifling a child’s God-given inquisitive nature.
Birthday Parties
Students who have birthdays during the school year may bring treats for the entire class if desired. Birthday treats may be distributed at a convenient time as determined by the classroom teacher. A day near the end of the school year may be designated to celebrate summer birthdays or students may choose to celebrate their half birthday. If you are inviting students from school to a birthday party and want to give out invitations, please mail them or hand them out personally. Do not use the teachers or the classroom for this purpose. Birthday parties shall not be held at the school.
Special Days and Weeks
Special days will be planned throughout the school year, designed to raise school spirit, encourage spiritual growth, and build community awareness. Example: School Colors Day, Bronco Days, National Day of Prayer, Missions Week, Patriotic Week, National Book Week, etc. Other special days may also be planned.
