"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"  Psalm 119:105

We've been privileged to be in session at school for almost a month already, and thought to share some highlights of our first few weeks at DLIGR!

School Opening

September 8 was a special day for our students, staff, volunteers, and parents as we met at school for the first time to begin our new school year.  We began with a short opening meditation in the chapel, joined by grandparents and friends.   Following some words of welcome to the students, there was opportunity for refreshments and a tour of the facility.  By late morning, the students began orientation in their respective learning centers with an introduction to their PACE work, and a technology orientation.  Some of the parents served the first hot lunch to complete the first day.

A few highlights

Religious instruction

• Lower EL students began the year with the Creation story, Paradise and the fall of man
• Upper EL began Bible Guide work, and started the Church History classes with the study of the Apostolic Age 
• High school students have begun the Bible streaming classes through ECS.  Mondays are set aside to study the Heidelberg Catechism in depth, piece by piece, beginning with the introduction.  The rest of the week involves Bible instruction by way of a study of sections within Genesis, and discussion of pieces of early church fathers, including John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, Reformed Dogmatics, Matthew Henry's commentary and a section of Hugo Binning's works.  As school families and students, we wish to gratefully acknowledge the Ebenezer Christian School Board and Staff who have helped make this sound religious instruction a reality for our small school.  Its inestimable value is keenly felt every day.  Above all, may we be given to ask the Lord to bless this instruction to the hearts of each of our students.

Academics

• In both high school and elementary the students have adjusted well to learning through individualized PACE work.  The students have become familiar with the flag system, setting individual goals each day, and doing lots of scoring at our scoring stations.  The PACE work is very clearly laid out, and formatted in interesting ways, using color, pictures, diagrams, and multiple check-ups to test the student's learning throughout the PACE.  We will be working hard and learning a lot!
• Spanish class is a highlight of the day!  Learning is centered around fluency in reading and telling stories.  The students are introduced daily to conversational phrases and common verbs by way of games, repetition, stories, and song.  Even younger siblings of our students are picking up Spanish phrases...
• Kindergarten class has already grown!  We were so happy to welcome Melanie Sporte in our second week of school, after a successful recovery of open heart surgery in August.  The Kindergarten class has begun reviewing their letters, numbers, the classroom routine and roles within the family.

Extras!

• At the end of our first week, the Elementary students went on a scavenger hunt in the back field and walked to the creek to explore and enjoy some fresh air!  A fall forest field-trip is planned for this week complete with a picnic lunch and outside games.
• Wednesday afternoon is elective afternoon for the High Schoolers!  This opportunity has been opened for other interested homeschool students to join, and we were happy to welcome several families to both the Home Ec and Shop sections.
  • The girls meet in the kitchen and divide into groups for a variety of baking experiences.  They've made pies, fudge cakes, muffins and frosted bars with additional theory about baking techniques, substitutes in the kitchen, skills and of course taste-testing!
  • On the first Wednesday afternoon, the boys enjoyed a grill-out at the shop location with Mr. Marshall and Mr. VanDyke, and discussed course content and potential projects throughout the year.  They've broken into groups, and started with some body work, plasma cutting and welding for some groups, and fixing a few non-working generators and weed-whippers for some other students.  They discussed different ideas of fundraising and selling items they fix as ways to benefit our little school.  Stay tuned for the first items!  A treasurer and foreman were appointed, and everyone was introduced to the Peterbilt semi-truck air horn as the way of keeping order!  

Building

The location we've been given has proven to be very suitable for us!  The rooms are comfortable, and the use of the gym, chapel, and kitchen make it feel complete.  We've been given approval by the state to continue to use the facility as a school, which gives us a quiet, settled space.  In the past few weeks, we have purchased a bell system, balls, outside benches and picnic tables and placed an outdoor basketball hoop for a few additional play options for the students.

Ways to help

As we've begun our school year, we can reflect on weeks of extensive planning and preparation that have come to fruition.  The Lord has provided abundantly, above what we could have asked or thought, and sometimes in such surprising ways.  There are several things we still hope to purchase in the future for our students, D.V.:

• Student cubicles:  currently our students are working at tables with cardboard dividers to make their workspace individualized.  In the future, we would like to purchase individual cubicles to maximize space and enhance the possibility for individual, more private study areas.
• Soccer nets/goals
• Play set:  surrounding the school building is a large expanse of grassy play area which is available for us to place a play set, make a ball diamond, etc.  It is our hope to provide this especially for our elementary students in the near future