As parents, we all desire our children to become mature, thoughtful adults with a thriving faith. A significant step in that journey, for children of all ages, is to take on responsibility.
Our small classes, caring faculty, and proactive approach to encouraging students to take on age appropriate tasks helps them mature. Not every student may be able to take on a formal leadership position, but every student will have the opportunity to take on responsibilities.
Lower School teachers intentionally provide students with small jobs and tasks to build confidence and maturity. Sharpening fellow students’ pencils can be a very big deal for a 4-year-old. Encouraging all young children in even the littlest chores is a springboard for tackling increasing levels of work. As one example, our grade 5 students team up to work with Kindergartners, and they serve as greeters during morning student drop-off. Though seemingly small tasks, these sorts of responsibilities are the building blocks of understanding what it means to do things well, serve others, work cooperatively and grow in responsibility which are all key attributes for future success.
Middle School provides your children with greater responsibility as they join different clubs and organizations, and serve on various committees. Students serve in leadership positions at a class, grade, Middle School, and Middle and Upper School level.
Upper School students are afforded a multitude of opportunities in both formal leadership training and in assuming significant leadership positions. Our school culture promotes students’ growth and maturity. How? Nearly two-thirds of our Upper School students are involved in leadership, mentoring, and training and the opportunities are varied and exciting.
Many schools talk of the need to train leaders. Faith Christian School shares that conviction, but unique to Faith is the understanding that who to follow and how to follow are also important. Each of us must determine who (and what) is worthy of being followed. Christian Classical education is built on the premise that wisdom and virtue are critical characteristics that shape students’ hearts and help them to make wise choices.
Faith is committed to providing choices for extracurricular activities that build on our model of education and develop learners and leaders who are wise, responsible, thoughtful, conscientious, and disciplined.
The following represent some of the opportunities available to students for leadership and service and provide yet another potent avenue to prepare students for the next steps in their lives.
Selected by administration, students complete a minimum of 15 hours of training in Faith Christian School’s Christian Classical model of education, history, curriculum and culture and in proper etiquette and professionalism. Students are responsible for representing the school as Tour Guides for prospective parents, and as Greeters and Hosts at school events and other community events.
Beginning in grade 2, students may audition for this exceptional select choir. The choir holds several formal concerts each year and performs at the weekly chapel services, Open Houses, and other special occasions.
Chick-fil-A Leader Academy
CFA Leader Academy is a national high school leadership program focused on impact through action. This program engages students in “leader labs” focusing on important skills such as vision and values, servant leadership, teamwork, communication, innovation and impact. Faith students also design and lead “impact projects” which serve the community.
Fides (Latin for Faith)
Fides members help shape and contribute to the planning and leading of weekly chapel and other activities to encourage our community spiritually. Students with particular gifts, talents, and a desire to help are encouraged by the Fides members to contribute to chapels whether speaking, performing, leading worship, teaching, or praying. Chapels remind us that everything we do is centered in Christ and that our studies and work are not separate from our spiritual lives.
The Virginia Y is a statewide educational organization promoting leadership and civic engagement for teenagers in the Commonwealth. For over 65 years, students have participated in programs such as the Model General Assembly, Model Judicial Program, Hi-Y and Government Clubs, and the Williamsburg program. These programs provide opportunities for students to become leaders and see first-hand the inner workings of the state government.
Faith students have excelled at the Model General Assembly conference based on their training in sound reasoning and communication and as a result, often are awarded leadership positions. The Virginia YMCA Hi -Y program promotes the core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. For more information: http://vaymca.org/
HOBY (Hugh O-Brian Youth Leadership)
Founded in 1958, HOBY’s mission is to inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovation. Students must apply and be accepted to this annual three-day event with the expressed purpose of developing leadership skills and principles in young men and women. This opportunity is available to Faith juniors and seniors.
Little Hands, Big Hearts
Little Hands, Big Hearts is a Lower School service organization that desires to spread the love of Christ by serving others within the local community with diverse projects. The verse 1 Peter 4:10 reminds us to “use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Examples of our projects include: making no-sew fleece blankets for foster care programs or the local nursing home, sharing a Christmas story and cookies with the residents of a nursing home, preparing and delivering cookie trays to first responders at Christmas, collecting food for local elementary schools, and making Blessing Bags for the homeless. Through participation in these projects our youngest students learn that God desires us to give back to others.
Ministerium (Latin for Ministry)
Students in grades 6-12 are encouraged to grow in responsibility. Ministerium, a school service club, allows students to specifically direct their growth in leadership and responsibility. Ministerium projects have included serving dinner at the Ronald McDonald House, making shoes for children in Uganda, writing cards for Veterans, making blankets for the elderly and children in foster care.
Planning an event for over 600 people provides a significant opportunity for students to take on substantial responsibility. A select group of students in grades 11 and 12 serve as leadership for Project Faith and carry out duties ranging from raising student spirit and performing skits during assemblies to assisting Project Managers in the coordination of logistics.
Project Faith is an annual student-led event that serves as both a fundraiser and a day of service to our community. For months, students work with school leaders to plan and implement a powerful event that instills a love of service in our students, and reaches into our community to serve those in need. Over the past 15 years, Faith has served over 45 organizations, engaged over 6,000 volunteers and provided over 40,000 hours of service. Voted annually as one of the area’s best charity events, Project Faith continues to make a lasting impact in our community.
SGA (Student Government Association)
Elected by their peers, SGA representatives in grades 6-12 are responsible for planning various social events for Middle and Upper School students. SGA representatives must build and manage a budget, raise funds, manage projects, create marketing materials, and consistently work toward improving their processes. These responsibilities align with many of the skills necessary in running a business. The social activities are meant to promote community within our school, to deepen relationships, and to foster strong communication among faculty, staff, and administration.
Students Transforming Athletics for Faith was founded by students committed to serving our community and “visitors” through our athletic program. S.T.A.F.F. members are responsible for ensuring the highest quality experience of those attending our athletic events. Students serve in athletic admissions, concessions, running half-time games, introducing starting line-ups and working behind the scenes making posters, planning half-time games and so much more. These students bring school spirit and service to a new level in our community. A local Chick-fil-A owner provides some of the training for the S.T.A.F.F. members and brings the highest standards of training to the students.
Tertulia offers Upper School students the opportunity to learn and apply leadership skills in their Spanish class. This enrichment club plans and hosts several activities during the school year that are directly related to the culture and language they are studying. Monthly meetings are designed to expand students’ cultural understanding and to give opportunity for extended practice in listening and speaking. In addition to lunchtime meetings, La Tertulia sponsors several events outside of school each year, including “Tapas and a Movie” in the fall and “Spanish Immersion” in the winter.
Veritas Honor Society is comprised of students in grades 9-12 who meet the academic requirements for membership by maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher. As a club, Veritas seeks to serve the school community by providing free tutoring services to Faith students. Veritas members also mentor grade 6 students during the first few weeks of the school year, and host a PigFest in the fall to foster Upper School group discussion of current, debatable topics. The goal of Veritas is to embody the school’s virtues of a mind for truth, a heart for Christ, and a will to serve by helping and inspiring students to strive for excellence in all their endeavors.