The FFA and Murphy-Brown, LLC make a “Splash” at Harrells

Amos Lanier and Emily Benton watch

as the results of one experiment appears

           Water quality and education have long been a focus for Murphy-Brown, LLC and the opportunity to share that with the students at Harrells Christian Academy was welcomed by the agricultural science teacher and FFA advisor Tony Dunnagan. “At Harrells we focus on providing an education that has real world applications and this program was perfect for us” stated Mr. Dunnagan.

            The program brought Murphy-Brown personnel and HCA students together to measure the water quality of a local water basin. Students performed the measurements, conducted experiments, and then recorded their individual results. Those results were then averaged for each water source and reported via the internet directly to a group that measures water quality around the world. The measurements will then be retaken in six months to measure change.

            When asked how students reacted to the lesson, Mr. Dunnagan replied “Students seem to enjoy and take interest in the class because of the fact that they are part of a real effort to record data then possibly affect change and that is part of bringing real life into the classroom. The more real the lessons the better our students will be prepared to make a positive difference at home and in the community.”

Congratulations! MS Volleyball Tournament Champs!

Harrells Christian Academy Middle School Volleyball team wins the South Eastern Middle School League Tournament. 

Homecoming Royalty

Homecoming King and Escort

Homecoming Queen

“Rocking Chairs and Rainbows”

   Harrells Christian Academy celebrated their 12^th Annual Grandparent’s Day on Friday.  Each year the lower school students invite their grandparents  to see a special chapel program and all the great things they have been doing.  This year the program was all about “Rocking Chairs and Rainbows”.  The children performed a wonderful program that included singing and dancing.  This year, the grandparents were able to participate during “Grandparent Idol”.  Several grandparents showed off their talents as they sang, hula hooped and played the piano with their grandchildren.  After the program, the grandparents were able to visit the classrooms, have their photo taken with their grandchildren and enjoy refreshments.   This was an exciting day for everyone especially the grandparents!

New HCA high school building expected to open in November

 

   The construction of a 10,000-square-foot, 10-classroom wing at the upper school building of Harrells Christian Academy, as well as a 20,000-square-foot practice gymnasium, are expected to be complete by mid-November, according to headmaster Dr. Ron Montgomery.

   “The classrooms that are being used now for high school will become middle school classes,” he said Thursday. “The move into the new high school will probably take place between semesters. The middle school move looks like it will wait until the next school year because we will be able to do some painting and some other things that we need to do in order for those rooms to be ready.”

   The bold $3.5 million project, paid through private funding, got under way close to a year ago, when officials gave a complete revamp to the sewer/septic system. The septic system project was completed prior to school opening. And now that both structures are almost complete, excitement continues to build.

   The new gym will be have two full courts, and is big enough that officials can come back later and add a theater or stage, some locker rooms and classrooms. The old gym, which sat on the campus for over four decades, was sold to a private buyer, who wishes to remain unidentified. It was recently relocated, as it sat originally, near the school.

   In the 10-room new high school building, the main attraction is two new state-of-the-art labs — one for chemistry, the other for biology.

   “We are really excited about this,” asserted Montgomery. “It has been a long process, and with the economy taking the dive it took, it is really exciting that our parents and folks here have taken the challenge to make this commitment.”

   Patricia Thornton, the school’s new public relations director and a former HCA student,said she is proud to be part of the system. “I am an alumni and I am excited to get back,” she said. “The school has really grown so much, it is almost unbelievable. I think the students are really excited to get over to the new classrooms and the new gyms. The parents are really excited, too. We have a lot of alumni parents who come here and they are really excited about everything that is going on and where we are headed. For me, when I came to school here, it was just the main building and a small cafeteria. So, to see all of this advancement is just wonderful. I have a 1-year old and I am getting excited for her to be old enough to come out here.” She laughs. “I can’t imagine where we will be by them. I know that the alumni that I have talked to are impressed with all of the advances the school has made and it makes us proud.”

   It’s a statement that pleases Montgomery.

   “It really makes me feel good to hear that,” he stressed. “And the good thing is, I hear it over and over again. We have so many alumni that are having graduates. We have a large number that feel like this is the place for their children to be. Some of my staff members here are alumni, and it makes you feel good to know that you are doing something right and people are proud to be part of this school. We have a strong sense of famil,y and I will be honest, that is a strong selling point, because you can see it in everything we can do.”
However, the new construction is not just for growth, it is for the current and future students of the school, as well.

   “The emphasis is not so much on the growth but to improve the quality and instruction of the students that we already have here,” Montgomery said. “It was really built for enrichment for programs that we already have in place.” The headmaster also wants the public to see the progress of the school.

   “We have an open-door policy here,” he stressed. “We encourage people who want to come check us out to come on. It is good if they call ahead, but they are always welcome to come in and see what we have to offer here.”

   The school currently has approximately 453 students.

   For more information, visit the academy’s website at harrellschristianacademy.org or call for an appointment to tour the school at (910) 532-2958.

Exciting News From Lower School

   Lower school is excited to introduce our new reading program “Building A School of Readers” to our students and parents.  In the past years Accelerated Reader has been used to promote reading and comprehension skills.  We at HCA have designed a program that will foster life-long readers and measure student achievement through critical thinking activities.  Through these activities our goal is to sculpt 21^st century learners that enjoy reading and are able to take the content from their books and apply it in multiple ways.

   This program is designed to be adapted for each grade level and its needs. By allowing classroom teachers to set guidelines for students, the program will enable students to gain reading and critical thinking skills appropriate for their age and ability.  The overview of the program consists of the student having the privilege of choosing the book he is interested in reading.  After completing the book, the student will choose from a list of activities provided by the teacher.  These activities could include but are not limited to the following: travel brochures, time lines, collages, letter to an author, book report, puppets, etc.  After completing the activity the student will turn his work into Mrs. Usher or Mrs. Quinn.

   Teachers will assign the number of activities to complete during each six weeks or throughout the year. Activities will not be required for every book read. Our goal is to encourage students to read for pleasure and to gain knowledge on topics of their choosing.  Students that are actively involved in this program will be rewarded throughout the year.  Each six weeks we will hold a drawing during lower school chapel and each child that has completed activities will have a “brick” to be drawn out of a box for a prize. 

   Your support and encouragement is needed to ensure our program is a success and our children are achieving at their highest academic potential.  Your child’s teacher will provide further information to you that will map out guidelines and expectations in their classroom.  This is an exciting new journey that we are embarking on together to ensure each learner’s reading success.

Excitement is in the air as Harrells students return to class

Excitement is in the air as Harrells students return to class: On the first day of school, Harrells Christian Academy rolled out the red carpet. You could see the enthusiasm in the smiling faces of all the new and returning students. The Crusader mascot greet...