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Mrs. Linda Davis Makes a Lasting Impression

By jduncan on May 8, 2012 in

Mrs. Linda Davis

Have you ever had one of those teachers that you and your child will never forget? The kind of teacher that you love, respect, and admire because she made a difference for you for eternity?  That is the kind of teacher that Mrs. Linda is to our SCA families.  My son still recalls how much he remembers Mrs. Linda acting out the Bible stories and making them come to life for him. He was quite an energetic pre-schooler to say it tactfully, but she proved to him that she loved him, even when he wasn’t so loveable and she had to correct him.  She is on his all-time favorite teacher list for life.

Mrs. Linda had used the same little wooden chair in her classroom for 18  years. She figured that it might be time for new one, so she put it outside her classroom to be taken to the trash bin.  However, our wonderful parent group, SIA (Servants in Action), noticed her worn out chair, and they decided to take the oportunity to honor this wonderful lady by fixing up this chair for her. They painted and embellished it, and all of her former students at SCA signed it.  It was presented to her at the pre-school program.  The suprise on her face was worth all the effort !

Thank you Mrs. Linda Davis for your Godly example to all of us. May your faithfulness inspire  every parent and student to live a life of service and Godliness.

 

 

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SCA Heads to England and France for Extended Learning

By David Head on May 3, 2012 in

BLOG: ENGLAND AND FRANCE SPRING BREAK TRIP

Dr. David R. Head, High School Academic Principal

                Fourteen SAC students, teachers and parents traveled for ten days during spring break to England and France. We spent two activity-packed days in London seeing the famous sights such as Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, the London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London. We had some super views of the changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and some of our young men who are fans of English football took a tour of Chelsea Stadium while others visited the Poet’s Corner at Westminster Abbey (see photo). We attended a West End stage play, “Noises Off!” on Saturday evening, and the next day took a bus to Canterbury. It was interesting attending a church service in Canterbury Cathedral, followed by a trip down to the coast and departing on a ship from the White cliffs of Dover to Calais, France. Highlights of our France trip included the D-Day landing beaches and American war cemetery in Normandy and the Bayeux Tapestry of the 1066 invasion of England. We saw the spot where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Rouen. The seaside walled city of St. Malo in Brittany and the magnificent Mont St Michel off the coast were spectacular places. We spent the last days of our trip in Paris and saw the Eifel tower (photo), took a boat cruise on the Seine River at night, visited Notre Dame Cathedral, went shopping and museum exploring, ending in the largest art museum in the world, the Louvre and saw the iconic “Mona Lisa” of Leonardo da Vinci.  This was a break-out year for me as an educational tour group leader, with my largest group from SCA, and I look forward to having a number of SCA students, parents and others join us for a trip to England in the summer of 2013. Academic credit – one elective credit for educational travel – is available to any student who wishes to take the challenge!

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Fine Arts Groups Make SCA Proud at Myrtle Beach

By KSkiles on April 10, 2012 in

BOUND FOR MYRTLE BEACH!

The SCA High School Band and Chorus just returned from their annual Spring Music Festival, and, as in other years, we had a fantastic trip full of fun, competition, laughter, and memories that will last a lifetime!  This year we travelled to Myrtle Beach, SC, a past favorite destination for our students, and this year was no different.

We arrived at the Compass Cove Resort on Wednesday evening to pleasant weather and an Atlantic coastline that beckoned us to “jump in”.  And that is exactly what some brave souls did- the water was like iced tea, but not far from the shore were the many hot tubs and heated pools at the resort that warmed us up.  Thursday morning we were able to sleep in and then enjoy the resort.  It was a beautiful sunny day, and the resort had so many recreation opportunities, so the students and chaperones spent a relaxing day of beach football, volleyball, surfing the waves, tubing the lazy river, and getting some sun.  Mrs. Norton even jumped in the freezing water- well, not really jumped, more like “was dropped in”, but she was a good sport.  That evening, we had a group devotion in the conference room.  There were many teary eyed students as they testified about special people in their lives, and we were reminded that God is the source of all of those relationships.  Mr. Smith then gave a devotion about the three Hebrew children who determined that they would do the right thing no matter what happened to them.  It was a good lesson for us all, and we left encouraged and thankful.  It was a sweet time.

Friday was competition day!  We had to drive for about an hour to get to the competition site, Aynor Middle and High School.  The choruses and ensembles competed first, and then the jazz ensemble and concert band performed in the afternoon.  All groups did a fantastic job!  For lunch, many of the students were introduced to BoJangles for the first time, a spicy chicken restaurant in the Carolinas.  Having lived in North Carolina for years, I was glad that so many students came away loving one of my favorite fast food places.  That evening, we went to one of South Carolina’s most popular entertainment complexes, Broadway at the Beach.  This complex is full of restaurants, shops, and attractions.  My favorite attraction was the speed boat, which was basically a jet ski that could hold eleven passengers.  As we sped across the lake and did hairpin turns and 360s,  we created quite a show for onlookers, especially Josh Hinen with his girl scream.  By the end of the evening, students and chaperones alike were exhausted from the full day’s events.

On Saturday, we woke to cloudy skies and possible bad weather.   It did begin to rain in the morning, so we decided not to go to the Nascar Speedpark, which  was our original plan. The resort had several indoor pools and lazy rivers, so there would have been activities to keep the students occupied.  The weather, however, cleared up, and we had another nice day. Saturday evening was the Pirate’s Voyage Dinner Show and Awards Ceremony.  We feasted on chicken and pork as we watched the aerial acrobatics of the pirates, cheering on our team as they competed.  Brandon Ardley and Tanner Richardson were especially spirited, almost as if they thought the competition was real.

Then came the awards ceremony for the festival.  As we congregated in the pre-show area, we realized for the first time how big some of the other schools were.  We felt small compared to them, and as the awards were being called out, it seemed as if two of the bigger schools were dominating, which, I think, is a good lesson in humility.  We did receive several excellent ratings, the high school chorus received a superior rating, but in the categories for which there was competition, we did not come in first place.  As the awards ceremony came to an end, the announcer prepared to give the final trophy of the evening.  It was called the “Esprit de corps” award, and he said that people from the festival had been watching the schools throughout the festival to determine which school had the best attitude, cooperation, behavior, etc… It was an overall award, including performance, and as he read the name of the winner, Seffner Christian Academy, our school broke out into thunderous applause!  What a blessing it was to receive that award.  It was a trophy we could share with all of the groups, and it was a testament to the behavior and spirit of our kids. What a way to end an already memorable weekend.  For me, it was one of the best band and chorus trips we have had in quite a while, and I am thankful to all of the parents and teachers who made it possible.  Most of all, thanks to our Lord for giving me the privilege of teaching here at Seffner Christian Academy.  May His blessings be always upon us!

-Kevin Skiles

 

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The Wall of Praise

By rduncan on February 29, 2012 in

THE WALL OF PRAISE

 

Last school year, the Lord impressed upon me to establish a wall of praise here for our teachers and staff.  I wanted to have a place on our campus where our teachers could visibly express their gratefulness to God for His blessings upon their lives. It’s located in our teachers’ lounge, and it’s filled with praise reports from our teachers.  The other day I had to eat lunch a little later than usual, so I took my food into the lounge and sat down to eat.  For the next 15 minutes or so, I read over the praise reports from our staff on that wall, and what a blessing it was to my heart.  There were some that praised God for their families, some that were grateful for specific things He had done in their lives (i.e. – healed a family member from an illness), and others that simply thanked the Lord for the privilege of working here at SCA.  As I finished eating and headed back to my office, I was reminded of how powerful praise, and how essential, it is in the life of any Christian or ministry.  There were some things listed on that wall that I had forgotten about, but by having a designated place to post these blessings, I was able to recall some of the wonderful things God had done for our school family.  So often the devil persuades us to spend more time thinking about our problems, than remembering our blessings.  A wall of praise prevents him from doing this. 

 I wonder how it would impact our families if we created a wall of praise in our homes? Just think of the possibilities.  Children being more thankful for what parents provide for them, parents feeling more satisfaction in seeing their children recognizing their blessings, and entire households being drawn closer to the Lord because they are taking the time to acknowledge their goodness to Him.  Psalm 22:3 tells us that the Lord inhabits the praises of His people, and anytime we can get more of the Lord’s presence in our lives, homes, or ministries, good is going to come of it.  The great preacher, Adrian Rogers, once preached a sermon entitled, “It’s Amazing What Praising Can Do.”  That pretty much sums it up!

Roger Duncan II

Administrator

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Keep Praying!

By rduncan on February 29, 2012 in

ARE YOU STILL PRAYING?
Persistence is one of the necessary pre-requisites in seeing God move to answer a major request from us. We see this truth illustrated in the Scriptures in Jesus’ teachings on prayer in Luke 11. There always seems to be a “testing period” from the Lord to see if we really mean business about what we are praying for. As I write this blog to you today, our need for a new academic building has never been greater. The phone of our Admissions Director is ringing off the hook with calls from new families who desire for their children to come to our school next year. Our high school has approximately 20 spots remaining for the 2012-13 school year. So, I want to challenge each of you to remain steadfast and faithful in your prayers concerning “The James Project”.
There is a story In I Kings 18 that should encourage us, as we continue to pray for the funds we need at SCA. In verses 41-45, God has told Elijah that the 3-year drought was going to be ending. Elijah went to the top of Mount Carmel and began to pray for the rain to come. The Bible tells us that six different times Elijah sent his servant out to see if the rain had arrived, and six times the servant came back with the same report, “There is nothing”. But the seventh time that Elijah sent him out, the Scriptures tell us there was a little cloud in the sky, about the size of a man’s hand. That’s all Elijah needed to assure him that the rain was on the way! He sent his servant to King Ahab to let him know what was about to happen, and verse 45 tells that a “great rain” took place.
What if Elijah had given up praying after he sent his servant out the 3rd or 4th time? Do you think God would have still sent the rain? We will never know for sure, but what we do know is that we cannot let the times that “there is nothing” discourage us in our prayers. Let’s keep going to God on behalf of our school that He will send the $5 million we need for a new building!  I’M STILL PRAYING!!

Roger Duncan II
Administrator

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Developing a Love for Foreign Missions

By lnorton on February 21, 2012 in

2011 SCA Missions Team

Sometimes God touches our lives in very dramatic ways and the effect can ripple into many others’ lives.     He did this to me some years ago on a mission trip to Jamaica, where He changed me radically in a number of ways.

The Christian life is really all about change, and as a high school teacher at SCA, He continues to change me and allows me to watch Him change others as well.    One of the greatest glimpses of His work in some of the high school students happened in a place called the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf in Knockpatrick, Mandeville, Jamaica, where a team of 11 spent eight days ministering to deaf children.   The nine students on this team,  as well as the two adults, were deeply affected by the obvious – poverty, beautiful scenery, cultural differences, and the children, who won their hearts.   But more deeply, God had placed each team member in a position of vulnerability and allowed each of us to respond to Him and His Word in a special way.

If you’ve ever been on a foreign mission trip, I’m sure you’re nodding in agreement right now.  Although the stated purpose of such an outreach is to minister to the foreign group, whether  through work projects, VBS, music outreach or evangelism, in reality the purpose is to see God work, up close and personal!  He never disappoints.

In 2011 we returned a second time to CCCD with a team of 29, and this year we have 32 on the team (so far!) – all wanting to experience something special.   Please pray with us that this special experience for each of us results in seeing God more centrally in every area of our lives, for the rest of our lives.   And pray, also, that God uses us to continue His transforming work in the lives of those around us.

 

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8th Grade to Washington D.C: Days 3 and 4

By meveritt on February 10, 2012 in

The past two days have been a whirlwind of experiences and historical sites. On Wednesday, we were able to tour to the White House in the morning. We spent the afternoon at the Newseum learning about the history of the News. It was a fun and interactive experience. Our bus drove through Embassy Row on our way to the National Cathedral. We ended out the day at some of the museums of the Smithsonian and an evening tour of monuments including WWII and Iwo Jima.

On Thursday morning, we climbed the hill at Arlington National Cemetery to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown soldiers. Because we take this trip during low tourism season, we were the only ones at the guard changing. As we left, the officers invited us down to the area where the guards prepare and learned the amazing history of the changing of the guards. Our tour guide told us that this was the first time in all of his tours that a group had been invited back there. What a privilege! The students were very exited to ride the Metro to the Capitol. We toured the Capitol and also sat in the gallery of the House of Representatives. The most astounding visit was the Holocaust museum. The students were amazing representatives of SCA and our Lord as they discovered and learned of the atrocities of this dark time in our history. The day ended with a tour of more monuments such as Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, and Korean War Memorial.

We’re all very tired, but we are having a great time. We look forward to one more full day of exploring our nation’s capital.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

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Washington D.C. : Day Three

By meveritt on February 9, 2012 in

Our students had the honor today of visting the White House!  The students were able to see the formal downstairs rooms where many important historical decisions have been made. Everyone in the group was amazed by the beautiful architecture and historical significance for our country. Thank you Mrs. Skiles for planning this wonderful trip for everyone.

A Visit to the President's House

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NED was at SCA

By dhead on February 8, 2012 in

I am sure anyone with elementary aged children knows that NED was here in chapel. Each year, The NED Show motivates and inspires more than 2.2 million children.  NED teaches kids what it takes to become a champion at school and in life.  Mel, the yo-yo specialist, was fantastic!  She was so talented with the yo-yo and also inspired our students with the NED message – Never give up, Encourage others, and Do your best.  This unique character-building assembly combined a great message with humor and audience participation.  Ask your child if he or she can tell you what NED taught in elementary chapel.

Thank you to Mrs. Vorster and her volunteers for helping with the sale of the yo-yos.  SCA will receive a portion of the profit to use for student incentives.  Our fifth grade students also helped the younger students get started with their yo-yos.

What a fun way to learn vaulable character lessons that will last a lifetime!

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Washington D.C. Trip for 8th Grade : Day Two

By meveritt on February 8, 2012 in

Day 2 started out early with a stop at the Jamestown settlement. The students were able to watch live demonstrations of canoe making and musket firing. We also boarded one of the full size replica ships on which the settlers arrived . The students were also able to hear an explanation of how the settlers traversed the Atlantic ocean to get to the new world.  Everyone left with a great appreciation for our early American roots and the sacrifices that were made for freedom.

In the afternoon, the group spent three hours exploring Colonial Williamsburg. The weather was wonderful, and we were able to walk the town without our heavy jackets. The students sat in the seats of the first Capitol building in America as well as play games that colonial children would have played.  What an exciting way to learn history!

After a fun dinner with the group, we boarded our buses again and took a three hour journey to Washington D.C. The weather is much cooler, and we will definitely need to bundle up tomorrow. We’re excited to start our tour of D.C. tomorrow morning with a visit to the White House!!

 

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