Anxiety in Students

This note below is from the desk of a 6th-grade teacher who talks about real problems students face and provides ideas and strategies to help children.

Over the last year and a half, we have seen and supported students that have been experiencing anxiety in various ways. I asked our social worker Pam White and ESS leader Kathy Fleet if they have any strategies to help us as teachers and parents work with our children that may be having anxious thoughts. Below is a list of things to think about and consider when your child might be having difficulties feeling anxious.

1. Validate their feelings. If you say something like, “it's no big deal" it could send a message that your child's feelings are wrong. Instead, say something like, " It sounds like you are feeling really nervous right now." Be sure to simply listen to them.

2. Distinguish between real threats and false alarms. Help them understand how anxiety is meant to keep them safe. For example, if they are being chased by a lion, their brain would signal to run. There are also times when their brain triggers a false alarm. If it is a real threat they should listen to those alarm bells and take action but if it’s a false alarm then try to face their fear.

3. Teach the child some skills to identify negative thoughts and change them into positive ones using positive self-talk.

Catch it. 

- Help them create a shortlist of negative thoughts.

Challenge it.  

- Encourage them to become like detectives to assess the evidence behind their anxious thoughts.

Change it.

- Once they recognize and challenge their negative self-talk, the final step is to replace it with a positive one.

4. Teach deep breathing. 

5. Try the stepladder approach. Work with your child to come up with a list of the steps they can take to face their fears and meet their goal.

6. Help them change the channel. If they are worried about things they can't control, discuss the fact that the only thing they can control is how they respond. 

7. Maintain a routine as much as possible. 

8. Avoid overscheduling. Children need some quiet time alone to decompress.

9. Limit exposure to upsetting news. 

Real (and difficult) Parent Style Questions to Ask

1. Do you (or other influences) expect perfection? The child may feel constantly pressured to succeed which causes anxiety.

2. Are you too permissive? This leaves too much for the child's own choice that can produce anxiety.

3. Do you set a calm example?

I would like to add one more item to this list and that is prayer. I have prayed with students who have experienced this because I wasn’t always sure what to do, but talking to God usually calmed us both down and helped us gain perspective. I have learned to start with talking to God first instead of leaning on Him as my last resort. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this and know you are not alone. These are real feelings children have. All of us here at BCCS want to work together with you to help your children in all areas of their lives.

Worthwhile, Important, and Essential

In the art of education, teachers structure lessons to accomplish specific student learning, otherwise known as standards. Students should know a standard as a result of a lesson or unit. While standards can help provide a framework for teachers and an overview of the academic concepts students should learn, there are far too many standards (school/district developed, state, and national) to focus on in one year. Imagine the classroom as a boat in the middle of the sea, trying to decide which way to go in a sea of endless standards. Without a clear focus, the classroom becomes a lost ship at sea, or it is pulled in too many directions and never reaches its destination.

In order to establish a direction and ensure an excellent education that is rooted in God’s Word, BCCS teachers take a unique approach to ensure all students are learning. When deciding what to teach, teachers take the 60/60/60 approach to determine which standards are most beneficial for Christian learning.

A skill is worthwhile if students need to remember it for 60 minutes. If the concept needs to be remembered for 60 days, then it is important. Learning is essential if students should remember it for 60 years! This approach helps determine what to teach and how to best use classroom time. BCCS teachers define worthwhile, important, and essential goals in order to provide an excellent and rooted education that is fixed on Christ.

For example, from 5th grade: 

Worthwhile: I can brainstorm and identify important things from my life that would make a good story.

Important: I can retell a story from my own life using proper conventions and detail.

Essential: I can reflect on my own life and understand my part in God's story. 

Or from 8th grade:

Worthwhile: I can understand our bones and skeletal system and understand the purpose of the skeletal system.

Important: I can understand the purposes for which God designed the skeletal system and how to keep it healthy.

Essential: I can understand how life in a fallen world can affect the skeletal system, and I can understand how walking alongside a person (and with God) in difficult times can help heal them physically, mentally, and spiritually.

While there is a lot to learn, we are blessed with a staff focused on ensuring that students have essential faith development and learning on a daily basis.

School Board Update

Greetings on behalf of the BCCS School Board! We are a few months into the school year and witnessing God's blessings and handiwork in so many ways at BCCS. The storyline this year is “Fixed on Christ, Living His Story,” and it has been a joy to watch how God's story is unfolding at BCCS. 

We are thankful that God has blessed BCCS with 622 students this year, and we are humbled to partner with each family here. Our community is expanding, and due to this growth, we are diligently exploring different options for expanding our campuses. The Board commissioned an ad hoc committee to explore the West Campus in greater detail as we consider how to continue the legacy of that building. We are also forming a Philanthropy Committee (as well as hiring a new Development Director) to ensure we are able to provide access to talent for the Board to carry out its duties. It will also support the work of the school, both operationally and strategically, from a financial perspective.

Our work continues on improving the language of the proposed governance change which is designed so the board can be more visionary, rather than focused on school operations.  We will have another town hall meeting to review any proposed changes in the coming months.

We are moving forward with the construction of the outdoor learning pavilion that has been generously funded by last year's “Fund the Need” at the auction and the BCCS Parents Club. A few preliminary pictures are included to the right. 

We are also working on long term planning with school leadership in order to ensure greater missional fulfillment in the years to come. The Board, administration, and staff are creating strategic plans that will serve as a guide for operational, facility, marketing, financial, and academic outcomes. We look forward to ensuring we are continually improving both the learning experience for all of our students.

Would you like to learn more about what is happening at BCCS? Feel free to contact our school office to set up a time to hear more.

Thank you to each parent, staff member, and supporter of BCCS for an excellent start to the school year!

Spreading God's Love

First grade always begins the year with an important Bible memory verse from 1 John 3:1, which reads, "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

In order to illustrate the word "lavish" and ensure learning at a deeper level, teachers bring in some homemade strawberry jam. Mrs. Wilson shares:

It is so delicious that I lavish it onto a piece of bread and continue to take bites in front of the kids, talking about how yummy it is, and letting it drip onto my plate. Of course, they want to try some too, and it is so good that I can't keep it just for myself. Everyone gets to try a piece of bread lavished with homemade jam.

The essential lesson is that God lavishes His love on His children. He doesn't hold back! His love overflows and He spreads it out generously. Once we receive this love, what can we do in response? We spread it to others because it is too good to keep just for ourselves!

Teachers brainstorm with students ways to spread God’s love in day-to-day living: holding the door open for others, praying for each other, hugging our moms, making cards for friends who are sick, and making short video greetings for those who have been sick. As the year continues, they will connect more learning with the actions of spreading love to others. The hope is that students are inspired to do things on their own. Ultimately, students find that spreading God's love creates joy for both the giver and the receiver!

Mrs. Wilson’s deep hope is that the children will always remember Jesus' lavish love for them, and that they will spread His love as they learn and grow. Teachers pray that this messy, yummy treat will "stick" with each child, reminding them of God's sweet and lavish love.

How to Find the Best Preschool or Kindergarten

Wondering about the preschool or kindergarten registration process? Check out this short video below

We highly recommend touring or visiting schools, asking all your questions (not knowing everything is normal), and saving the date registration opens.

Reminder, some of our classes will fill on January 11, so if you are interested in BCCS, contact us today! We are happy to help as you look for the right place for your son or daughter!

Fixed on Christ, Living His Story

We are very excited to share our school verse and school storyline (formerly known as theme) for this year. Teachers, staff, and students partner to select the verse, storyline, and a visual representation that will provide an important focus for the school year. The verse is Hebrews 12:1-2 and the storyline is “Fixed On Christ, Living His Story.”

Hebrews reads: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

The verse serves as a Biblical call to focus on God’s Word. “Fixed on Christ” promotes a rhythm of looking to scripture and standing firm in truth. We were also intentional about using the word “story.” Each student, family member, and staff member is living a personal journey within God’s redemptive story. While we each discover our individual abilities and passions, we seek to engage in God’s story, for His glory. Our deep desire is to invite our students into that journey of discovery and engagement. Their learning should lead to a deeper understanding of God's story and also inspire action and service. Christ was the ultimate example of how to live, and we want our students to also be empowered to live like Him. 

The storyline will guide school chapels and middle school small groups, but will also connect well with each individual classroom. Teachers will display storyboards so students can visually connect everyday learning to God’s larger story. 

Let the excitement ensue! Consider how BCCS’s 2021-2022 storyline might also encourage your family and children to fix your minds on Biblical teachings and find ways to engage in God’s story!

Children of the King

One of the most important things we can help our kindergarten students learn is who they are in Christ. Check out this great letter from one of our teachers as she partners with parents to ensure our students know they are unique children of the King!!

Dear Parents,

It has been an absolute delight to get to know your precious children over the first weeks of school.  Part of my deep hope is that your kids will know they belong to God and because of His great love for us, He calls us His children. What a joy to share this truth from God’s word!

This week we are focusing on the word UNIQUE.  I can already tell many ways that each of the children in my class are unique, but I would like your help with something. On the paper I am sending with this sheet, could you please write some things that make your child unique? 

“My deep hope is that you will know that you are a UNIQUE Child of the King, set apart to serve God and others in work and play.”

— Cathy: Kindergarten Teacher

I think this is a great discussion to have with your child about the things that set him/her apart. It is affirming for them to know that you notice and value the ways that they are a unique part of your family. Just writing some bullet points under their name is fine (It would be great if you as parents could do the writing). I would like to hang these around our bulletin board in the classroom and read them to the children. It will be cool to discuss the ways God created us to be unique. 

Please send them back to school in your child’s folder when you are finished.  I appreciate your help with this and value the role I get to play as your child’s teacher this year. Each day they bring me so much joy! We have become like a little family, and they truly love and care for each other and show God’s love to me and one another on a daily basis. I’ve been so blessed by each of them! 

In Him,

Cathy

A Look at Learning

Jenna Oetman, 4th-grade teacher at BCCS, shares the following note from one of her days teaching last week.

In science, we have been discussing animals and their habitats. Today, we explored our schoolyard habitat to find animals that live in this environment. As they were coming back inside after listening to and drawing many animals, Noah shared "I never noticed how many animals lived at our school. You just have to look". Many students agreed with him.

I asked them what that reminded them of (looking closely at things), and they said our school storyline of being fixed on Jesus! A student shared "sometimes we don't notice God's miracles or what he is doing for us, but we need to be fixed on him". 

This led to a great discussion of how if we open our eyes to other neighbors in our environment (other than small animals!), we may notice a friend in need. Sometimes the most important learning takes place even in a simple science activity!

What is Winning?

Read the following reflection from Laurie G, one of our teachers at BCCS!

On my first day of student teaching at a rural high school, I went to meet the school’s seasoned teachers while following my mentor teacher into the lunchroom. As I stepped in and nervously smiled, a teacher boisterously yelled across the room to my supervisor, “Wait, you're telling me you need another teacher to roll out a ball?” This comment was followed by raucous laughter. I remember my cheeks turning as red as my hair and I looked around hopefully for someone to defend my newly chosen profession.

I have been teaching in various capacities since 1996 and while I have taught children sports skills, I have also taught social skills like kindness, perseverance, integrity, courage, empathy, discipline, patience, and resourcefulness. Every day I get to encourage my students to practice what my Calvin University professors outlined in my Physical Education teacher training; “share, care and play fair.” However, have I thought about what story my classroom will tell? Have I conveyed my deep hope? Have I taught character and social skills with the same vigor as physical/sport skills? Here is where I take a step back and pause to reflect on the bigger goal; telling a Baraka kind of story.

My hope has always been that my students are seeing what is valued in our class; kindness not competition wins. I believed that by being a caring and empathetic teacher, my students would learn these character traits almost through some sort of sweaty, gym osmosis. More than anything else, I want my students to learn how to be a good person. But really, I want them to be so much more than good. I want them to have strong, Godly-character. I want them to be people who have confidence, show responsibility, lead others well, participate in community, be a good steward of the gifts and abilities they have been given, and be like Christ. These “wants” require a growth mindset and healthy habits of learning. I’m hoping the story my classroom will tell is that being Christ-like is “winning” and that honoring God with our bodies is good, holy work. I hope that my students understand that they are all valuable in our gym just like they are all crucial in God’s story. They have an important role that only they can play in this larger story.

What I thought would come very naturally to my students typically doesn’t and let’s be honest, some families seem to be living their own “Babel story.” The competing stories of having to always be the best, never losing, winning no matter what even if you have to cheat, and promoting your own abilities over someone elses are distracting at times and completely overpowering at others. The story that physical education isn’t as important as the “core classes” can be disheartening and discouraging but I look forward to inviting all of my students to join in a “Blessing-God Story'' in our gym and will do so with a reckless, hopeful heart.

Find God's Calling

The Center for the Advancement of Christian Education recently published a blog entitled “Why We Love Career and Technical Education-Part One.” In it, Tim Van Soelen shares “If we are serious about bringing restoration in the fields of health care, business, law, the arts, media, politics, hospitality, etc., we need to think about what it means to do all our work to and for the glory of God.”

When we consider the importance of Christian education, one of the reasons is because we are striving to help our students explore MANY ways to bring restoration to the world. All of us are unique and have been given unique abilities. Can we challenge our students to use them for God’s glory?

Read the full article below!