Kindergarten learners are thriving in their classrooms as they grow academically and deepen their understanding of God's story.

At this point in the year, teachers are working hard on foundational reading skills and math concepts. Students have also unpacked God’s big story of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. They have discovered their uniqueness as precious children of the King (Creation), how they make mistakes (Fall), have a need for a Savior (Redemption), and are invited into helping others (Restoration). While this is a great foundation to help students be rooted in a biblical worldview, it also applies to their learning.

Throughout the year, kindergarten students explore what it means to Shine for Christ. In recent FLEx work, students connected their classroom learning to service through an integrated study of science, art, and faith.

Guided by Mrs. Battjes and Mrs. Clousing, students reflected on how God created each person in a special way. Everyone is unique! Students created artwork highlighting things they are good at and things that are hard for them, celebrating how God uses our differences to bless others. As part of their science curriculum, students studied plants by collecting flowers and greenery found around campus. They practiced being creation enjoyers as they observed God’s world, and they were beauty creators as they pressed and dried flowers. Students then created pinch pots and used their flowers to decorate them. The finished pots were delivered to Rising Kites singkites.org/(a coffee shop that provides employment and job training to individuals with intellectual disabilities while fostering community) as a gesture of encouragement and gratitude, allowing students to share their gifts with the community and live out what it means to Shine for Christ.

We are thankful for the ways our kindergarteners are learning to shine for Christ each day.