Vision News 1/12
The Vision
Richmond Academy January 2012
1900 West Main Street, Richmond, IN 47374 765-962-7677 Fax: 765-966-8060
http://richmondacademy.org/default.aspx office@richmondacademy.org
Dean: Mrs. Amy Hollingsworth Headmaster: Dr. S. Chad Ross
“An educational system isn’t worth a great deal if it teaches young people how to make a living but doesn’t teach them how to make a life.” ~Author Unknown
From the Headmaster
Here we are completing yet another semester at Richmond Academy. New relationships have been formed and old friendships have been made stronger.
Richmond Academy has a very unique ministry to the community. We are a partnership of home and school, working together for the purpose of preparing students academically, spiritually and emotionally for the challenge of life. We nurture and develop the whole student – not just educate the mind. We are preparing young people not just for college, but for life.
This spring we are planning to again participate in FABA – Fine Arts, Bible, & Academic State Competitions with other AACS member schools in the state. We have many talented students that will be performing in speech, spelling, art, science fair and other academics. We look forward to meeting other Christian schools and being inspired to participate in new areas next year.
God does make provision for every family desiring a Christian education. It does take faith and obedience to do His will.
-Dr. S. Chad Ross
Parents’ Corner
http://richmondacademy.org/Exhortation.aspx
Teaching Your Child the Joy of Reading
Reading increases one’s vocabulary, stimulates one’s thoughts, and broadens one’s horizons.
Do your children enjoy reading, or do they view it as a task about as enjoyable as a trip to the dentist? If your children do not enjoy reading, what can you as a parent do to change the attitude of your children towards reading?
John Milton, Christian author of the classic Paradise Lost, said, “Good books are the lifeblood of a nation.” What is true of a nation is first true of the families and individuals in that nation.
In spite of the fact that Americans have greater access to a larger supply of reading material than any other people in history, we are a nation of nonreaders. As a result, we are missing many benefits of reading. Reading provides one of the least expensive means of entertainment, but there is far more than that. Reading increases one’s vocabulary, stimulates one’s thoughts, and broadens one’s horizons.
We, as parents, can do much to teach our children the joy of reading. Perhaps the following suggestions will help you in this worthy task.
1. Provide your child with an abundance of good reading material in your home.
Attend used book sales and yard sales to look for good but inexpensive books. The internet is also a good source for new and used books. Subscribe to a variety of good magazines. As a family, make regular use of your local library. Your children will not read unless the material is available to them.
2. Encourage your children to read about a variety of subjects.
Especially encourage reading in areas of special interests. Help your children to understand that books can open up a host of interesting topics. If your son is interested in sports, encourage him to read about various sports, biographies of famous atheletes, and “how-to” books that will help him improve his own abilities. If your daughter enjoys short fiction, introduce her to some of the famous short story writers, especially the humorous ones who often are left out of the traditional literature textbooks.
3. Guide you children’s reading, providing direction and purpose.
Be aware of what your children are reading. Not all materials are suitable or worthwhile, so help your children select materials that are consistent with biblical principles.
4. Prioritize your family activities so that your children have time to read.
Reading takes time. It is so easy to let jobs, clubs, entertainment, even church activities crowd out family reading time. No matter how many good books you may make available to your children, unless you afford them time to read, they will not be able to take advantage of the books. Make reading a priority in your home, even if you have to curtail other activities.
5. Participate with your children in reading.
Do not simply tell them, “Here are the books, now read,” while you go off to watch television or wash the car. Set a positive example for them by reading yourself. Nonreaders beget nonreaders. Children need to discuss their reading interests.
6. Read aloud to your children as often as possible.
Research shows that reading to children when they are preschool age actually improves their reading and listening skills. Read to your children to improve their reading fluency, reading rate, and reading accuracy. Oral reading relates positively to reading comprehension for children of all ages. Even high school children enjoy hearing their parents read a good book.
Broadening Horizons
Most of us will never leave our own country. Some of us will never leave our own local region. But each of us can travel to the ends of the earth and beyond. We can inexpensively visit Shangri-La, explore the ocean floor with Cousteau, or leap onto the moon with Armstrong. With a little creative imagination and uninterrupted silence, we can all live exciting lives of adventure, humor, or travel-with a good book.
Offer your children this invitation inscribed in the children’s reading room of the Hopkinton, Massachusetts.
Library:
Books are keys to wisdom’s treasure;
Books are gates to lands of pleasure;
Books are paths that upward lead;
Books are Friends. Come, let us read.
Conclusion
If your children do not enjoy reading, do not merely shrug it off with, “Well, that’s just the way they are.” Rather, begin to apply the previous suggestions, and with a little time you may begin to notice that your children have an increased interest in reading. Perhaps they will never become avid “bookworms,” but they will certainly read more than they once were.
Dennis Peterson has taught various subjects including history and writing at the junior high, senior high, and college levels.
Upcoming Events
http://richmondacademy.org/CampusLife.aspx
January
4 School Resumes
16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day – No school or Snow Makeup Day
18 100th Day of School
February
2 FABA 4-6
6 22 ½ Weeks – Day 113
10 1/2 Day for Students – PED (USAM)
14 Valentines Day Parties
15 24 Weeks – Day 120
20 President’s Day – No School or Snow Makeup Day
29 Senior FABA Testing
March
6-8 ISTEP+ Testing
8 27 Weeks – Day 135
8 ½ Day for Students – PED – USPM
8 LS Pageant
9 ½ Day for Students – PTC – USAM
13-15 iRead 3
15-16 FABA 10-12
19-23 No School – Spring Break
26 School Resumes
Jr. High Boys Basketball
Jan 9 vs Springfield Christian 5:30
Jan 13 at CCS Connersville 6:00
Jan 17 vs Middletown Christian 5:30
Jan 20 vs Greater Morningstar 6:00
Jan 27 at Springfield Christian 5:30
Jan 30 at CCS Richmond (Hillcrest) 6:00
Feb 9 at Indiana Christian 4:30
Fifteen Ways You Can Help
http://richmondacademy.org/Donate.aspx
1. Pray for us.
2. Give a memorial or honorarium gift to the Triune Fund
3. Remember Richmond Academy in your will
4. Purchase items at our Spirit Shop
5. Schedule us to visit your church or ask your pastor to speak at our chapel
6. Hand out brochures at work or church
7. Turn in Box Tops for Education ($.10/label)
8. Link us to your website or advertise on ours
9. Volunteer your time
10. Turn in empty ink and toner cartridges ($3/cartridge)
11. Donate goods
12. Talk to your employer about sponsoring us
13. Sign up for “.org News” at http://richacad03.wordpress.com
14. Recommend our school to other families
15. Search the web using GoodSearch.com
Goods and Services
http://richmondacademy.org/default.aspx
We are in need of the following goods:
- 2 ibeam pads
- 1 volleyball referee stand pad
- 2 flat screen tvs
- Install 3 electrical outlets & storage room light
If you can help in any way, please contact the main office.
Do you have a gift or talent that you would like to share with the children? Please contact us about that as well. We are always looking for volunteers to enhance our academic programs.
TELL YOUR FRIENDS!
QUESTIONS: mailto:webmaster@richmondacademy.org
