A Not-So-Silent Night N Dec

FBTministries.org/academy/newspaperPatriot • FairfaxBaptistTempleAcademy PressDEC 2015 The junior and senior high choirs sing “O Holy Night” SCHOOL-WIDE EVENT in the concert finale. Christ the Savior is Born The academy Christmas concert rekindles the meaning of Christmas by Enoch P, sophomore The choirs did several unique things, A not-so-silent night n Dec. 10, the entire school came to- such as the elementary singing a Spanish Jr. and sr. high choirs raise the roof at the Ogether to perform some outstanding Christmas song and the junior high having music at the academy Christmas concert. several soloists. The senior high had both a National Christmas tree at the Ellipse From the preschool all the way up through men’s choir and women’s choir along with by Annie C, senior the seniors, everyone had a role to fill. more a cappella songs being sung. “Singing at the Ellipse is such a great op- Whether it was singing in the choir or play- “We are continuing to sing more a cappel- he academy’s junior and senior high portunity to get out in the community and ing in the orchestra, many great songs were la music, which shows tremendous growth,” Tchoirs sang at the National Christmas do something that is really fun. I always love played and everyone had a joyous time. This said Ms. Peterbark, choir director. Tree in Washington D.C. on Saturday, Dec. taking pictures afterwards with the monu- year’s theme was “Christ the Savior is Born” Overall the atmosphere after the concert 11. The performance that night included ments in the back,” said Alexis, junior, with and the message was carried out very well. was very positive, and both the students and songs featuring the senior high, junior high, a smile. “So much of the time, even within our parents were pleased with the performance. men’s groups, women’s groups, and a spe- After the performance, the students school community, we tend to put so much “The best part of the Christmas concert cial girl’s group singing an arrangement of handed out tracts as they went back to buses. emphasis on decorating for Christmas, in- was everything,” said Evin, freshman. “White Christmas.” After getting through D.C. traffic and arriv- stead of emphasizing the greatest gift of “My favorite part of the concert was “My favorite song was ‘Sing we now of ing back at school, the singers were rewarded God, our savior. So this year for Christmas, when all the guys stood in the aisle, started Christmas’ and I was so excited to have the with hot chocolate and cookies. I picked songs centered around the birth of singing, and made a well-done entrance. But experience,” said Santrell, senior. Even though the weather did not model Christ,” said Ms. Peterbark, choir director. both the guys and girls sounded great!” said Back at the school an hour or so before the ideal winter wonderland, the junior and The program consisted of a variety of mu- Payton, freshman. the performance, students hustled to the senior high choirs still brought the Christmas sic. The elementary, junior, and senior high “The part that stood out most for me was buses, where Mrs. Darby gave each student spirit and true reason for the season to Wash- orchestras played many amazing songs, and when the senior high choir sang Oh Holy a mini candy cane to hold them through un- ington, D.C. the addition of new instruments in the ele- Night because we all sang for the Lord and til after the performance. Once in D.C., the mentary added to the concert. At the end, we sang with our hearts,” said Jacqueline, students and spectators disembarked from the audience sang along with the senior high sophomore. the buses and pushed their way around the orchestra and choir which was fantastic. “Even though I go to the Christmas con- extremely packed space around the National “The orchestras sounded great!” said Mrs. cert every year, I am always blown away by Christmas tree. With the weather so mild, it Castilla, orchestra director. how well they sound,” said Mrs. Dyck, par- was unusually crowded, and singing at the “I liked the loud part in ‘O come, O ent. Ellipse this year was considerably different come,’ when Garrett and Matthew played Everyone did a wonderful job. But more than the past frigid nights that the students [the trumpet]. It was spot on!” said Kristyn, important than the songs is the real reason have sung. sophomore, referring to the trumpets in the for Christmas. Jesus Christ came down to “I thought it was beautiful. I honestly orchestra. earth to save us from our sins. He is the real think it was like we were down in Florida,” “The Christmas Concert sounded good,” reason for Christmas. said Andrew, 7th grade. said Joshua, 8th grade. The warm weather produced a great turn- out at the tree. The overall time of the performance was about thirty minutes, including Ms. Peterbark’s solo of “I Wonder as I Wander.” Ms. Peterbark sang, “I Wonder as I Wander” at the Christmas concert at the Ellipse. The K4 through 3rd grade elementary choir sang beautifully, much to the delight of all of the parents The 3rd-4th grade Orff ensemble had a great opportunity to show parents and visitors the beautiful music who did their best to capture the event with their iPhones and iPads. that they can now create with the new instruments purchased from the Patriot Press funds. Patriot Press Page 2 Mrs. Fea demonstrates the lab experiment JR/SR HIGH to the 8th grade science class. Lab teaches hands-on New teacher spotlight: The new science labs are a hit with the students by Hart Z, freshman Miss Koechig very Thursday, the junior and senior high “My favorite lab was when we got to Estudents go a little further down the left make our own Mr. Potato Heads,” said Sa- FBTA gains a new ray of sunshine hallway of the “Y” to get to the science lab for vannah, 7th grade. The students were able their special lab class taught by Mrs. Fea. Lab to choose different kinds of eyes, hair, and “It’s cool that we have a holiday every- by Hart Z, freshman class is where the students apply what they other features based on the particular DNA day,” said Reem. have been learning in science class to real-life sequence they were given. ue to some teacher reschuffling over “She gives us candy and lets us watch vid- scenarios. “Learning is much more interesting and this past summer, FBTA was in need of eos,” said Jonathan [educational videos, we D “I enjoy doing lab with my classmates be- stimulating when it is hands-on, said Mr. a new 5th grade teacher, and Mr. Bradford are quick to add]. cause it is very hands-on, and it will prepare Bradford, school administrator. “The people hired Miss Koechig to fill that role. She loves Miss Koechig tries to keep the class in- me for future career choices,” said Enoch, who do more hands-on work usually learn teaching and has a passion for kids. teresting by including reading contests and sophomore. the most, and I want the kids to have as “I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, learning fun ways to ascend a staircase. Students have done labs using micro- many opportunities as possible.” and I majored in elementary education at “I also love to inspire students to culti- scopes, Bunsen burners, and scales. Some of The addition of a lab class is one of several Bob Jones University,” said Miss Koechig. vate the love of learning through reading the lessons are measuring the acceleration of improvements the academy has made as a re- “I love to make crafts, play the piano, read by entering the various worlds presented in a rolling ball, burning sugar, getting the salt sult of the increased enrollment this year. The Shakespeare, write, and shop.” books,” said Miss Koechig. out of salt water, seeing onion cells through a administration is still looking into adding an One of the unique activities in Miss Miss Koechig is a great addition to our microscope, and measuring M&M’s. art class at some point in the near future. Koechig’s class is that the 5th grade has a hol- academy staff and has already become very iday every day —such as cookie day, dog day, involved in the work here at FBTA as well as shooting star day, and baked bread day. in her students’ lives. Unwrapping Christmas “I play in the snow or play with my traditions Christmas presents,” said Kaitlyn, kindergar- by Caleb D, freshman The 4th grade visits the White House and the Washington Monument ten. ELEMENTARY for one of their field trips. any people do something that is spe- “Sometimes I help my mom with the or- Mcial to them every Christmas. Some naments for the tree,” said Sydney, kinder- people visit family, sing songs, hang stock- garten. Fantastic field trips ings, or read the Christmas story to build up “We visit our relatives and have a good Recent elementary field trips the suspense just before opening presents, time with them,” said Enoch, sophomore. but mainly just to remember the reason for “We three kids camp out around the tree by Jason U, senior The 3rd grade took a trip to the Children’s the season. on Christmas Eve, tell stories, and shake our change in the academy that has hap- Science Center, the 5th grade visited the “I like opening presents under the tree,” presents all night trying to guess what they A pened this year is that each class is en- Koshland Museum and the Ford’s Theatre, said Emma, kindergarten.

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