Dr. Gray's Blog

Keep recess in the schedule?

2009-10-16T07:33:00.001-07:00

Check out this study: Life Christian Academy has incorporated recess into each student's schedule, grades K-12, for 5 years!

The 3 R's? A Fourth is Crucial , Too: Recess

The best way to improve children’s performance in the classroom may be to take them out of it.

Should schools make recess and outdoor time a bigger priority for children? Join the discussion.

New research suggests that play and down time may be as important to a child’s academic experience as reading, science and math, and that regular recess, fitness or nature time can influence behavior, concentration and even grades.

A study published this month in the journal Pediatrics studied the links between recess and classroom behavior among about 11,000 children age 8 and 9. Those who had more than 15 minutes of recess a day showed better behavior in class than those who had little or none. Although disadvantaged children were more likely to be denied recess, the association between better behavior and recess time held up even after researchers controlled for a number of variables, including sex, ethnicity, public or private school and class size.

The lead researcher, Dr. Romina M. Barros, a pediatrician and an assistant clinical professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, said the findings were important because many schools did not view recess as essential to education.

“Sometimes you need data published for people at the educational level to start believing it has an impact,” she said. “We should understand that kids need that break because the brain needs that break.”

And many children are not getting that break. In the Pediatrics study, 30 percent were found to have little or no daily recess. Another report, from a children’s advocacy group, found that 40 percent of schools surveyed had cut back at least one daily recess period.
Also, teachers often punish children by taking away recess privileges. That strikes Dr. Barros as illogical. “Recess should be part of the curriculum,” she said. “You don’t punish a kid by having them miss math class, so kids shouldn’t be punished by not getting recess.”

Last month, Harvard researchers reported in The Journal of School Health that the more physical fitness tests children passed, the better they did on academic tests. The study, of 1,800 middle school students, suggests that children can benefit academically from physical activity during gym class and recess.

A small study of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder last year found that walks outdoors appeared to improve scores on tests of attention and concentration. Notably, children who took walks in natural settings did better than those who walked in urban areas, according to the report, published online in August in The Journal of Attention Disorders. The researchers found that a dose of nature worked as well as a dose of medication to improve concentration, or even better.

Andrea Faber Taylor, a child environment and behavior researcher at the Landscape and Human Health Laboratory at the University of Illinois, says other research suggests that all children, not just those with attention problems, can benefit from spending time in nature during the school day. In another study of children who live in public housing, girls who had access to green courtyards scored better on concentration tests than those who did not.
The reason may be that the brain uses two forms of attention. “Directed” attention allows us to concentrate on work, reading and tests, while “involuntary” attention takes over when we’re distracted by things like running water, crying babies, a beautiful view or a pet that crawls onto our lap.

Directed attention is a limited resource. Long hours in front of a computer or studying for a
test can leave us feeling fatigued. But spending time in natural settings appears to activate involuntary attention, giving the brain’s directed attention time to rest.

“It’s pretty clear that all human beings experience attentional fatigue,” Dr. Faber Taylor said. “Our attention has to be restored from that fatigue, and there is a growing body of research evidence that nature is one way that seems particularly effective at doing it.”
Playtime and nature time are important not only for learning but also for health and development.

Young rats denied opportunities for rough-and-tumble play develop numerous social problems in adulthood. They fail to recognize social cues and the nuances of rat hierarchy; they aren’t able to mate. By the same token, people who play as children “learn to handle life in a much more resilient and vital way,” said Dr. Stuart Brown, the author of the new book “Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul” (Avery).

Dr. Brown, a psychiatrist in Carmel Valley, Calif., has collected more than 6,000 “play histories” from human subjects. The founder of the National Institute for Play, he works with educators and legislators to promote the importance of preserving playtime in schools. He calls play “a fundamental biological process.” “From my viewpoint, it’s a major public health issue,” he said. “Teachers feel like they’re under huge pressures to get academic excellence to the exclusion of having much fun in the classroom. But playful learning leads to better academic success than the skills-and-drills approach.”

Join the discussion at nytimes.com/well.

Source LINK

Parker-Pope, Tara. The New York Times. Ed. Gerald Marzorati. 23 Feb. 2009. 16 Oct. 2009 <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/health/24well.html?_r=1>.

Old McFaye's Farm

2009-10-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

Our students recently visited Old McFaye's Farm in Castle Hayne, and had such a great time! The students fed the animals, held chicks and chickens, and learned how life works on a local farm. Here are some pictures from our field trip!

9 Reasons NOT to vaccinate your child with the flu vaccine

2009-10-06T06:37:00.000-07:00

Do NOT Let Your Child Get Flu Vaccine -- 9 Reasons Why
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
October 06 2009 | 59,934 views

This year it is more important that you protect your children and loved ones from the flu vaccines than influenza itself. This article on Lew Rockwell discusses how:

1. The swine flu is simply another flu. It is not unusually deadly.

2. This is the first time both seasonal and pandemic flu vaccines will be administered. Both seasonal flu and swine flu vaccines will require two inoculations. This is because single inoculations have failed to produce sufficient antibodies. This is an admission that prior flu vaccines were virtually useless. Can you trust them this time?

3. Adjuvants are added to vaccines to boost production of antibodies but may trigger autoimmune reactions. Some adjuvants are mercury (thimerosal), aluminum and squalene. Why would you sign a consent form for your children to be injected with mercury, which is even more brain-toxic than lead?

4. This is the first year mock vaccines have been used to gain FDA approval. The vaccines that have been tested are not the same vaccines your children will be given.

5. Over-vaccination is a common practice now in America. American children are subjected to 29 vaccines by the age of two. Meanwhile, veterinarians have backed off of repeat vaccination in dogs because of observed side effects.

6. Modern medicine has no explanation for autism, despite its continued rise in prevalence. Yet autism is not reported among Amish children who go unvaccinated.

7. Researchers are warning that over-use of the flu vaccine and anti-flu drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza can apply genetic pressure on flu viruses and then they are more likely to mutate into a more deadly strain.

8. Most seasonal influenza A (H1N1) virus strains tested from the United States and other countries are now resistant to Tamiflu (oseltamivir). Tamiflu has become a nearly worthless drug against seasonal flu.

9. Public health officials are irresponsible in their omission of any ways to strengthen immunity against the flu. No options outside of problematic vaccines and anti-flu drugs are offered, despite the fact there is strong evidence that vitamins C and D activate the immune system and the trace mineral selenium prevents the worst form of the disease.

For even more reasons, please review the full article on LewRockwell.com.

See You At The Pole

2009-09-23T05:30:00.000-07:00

What an awesome morning! This morning, despite the rain and cloudy weather, our high school students gathered with the students and faculty of local homeschoolers and Topsail High School to pray for our schools and our country.

There was a total of 56 students, teachers, and staff gathered around the flag pole of Topsail High School for 30 minutes this morning, lifting prayers up to the Lord and singing praises to Him. Below are some pictures and video from the morning. Enjoy!

Student Blog: Senior Project

2009-09-22T08:03:00.000-07:00

Senior Project Blog

Erika G. Senior Project Blog: Invisible Children

Each LCA student has individually, or with their class, chosen to support a mission for the entire year. These missions range from Invisible Children, Life 90.5 Fm Radio, Operation Christmas Child, and Campus Crusade For Christ.

Public Schools....Change From Within?

2009-09-16T04:58:00.000-07:00

Star News Online Editorial: Help public schools change from within

Published: Saturday, September 5, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 2:26 p.m.

Our public schools can do better. They should do better. They must. Who could argue with that?

The trouble with making that happen always has been that a giant bureaucracy takes on a national problem with the intention of “fixing” it, only to discover somewhere down the road that one size almost never fits all. “No Child Left Behind” was born of sound concepts – that all children can learn, and schools charged with educating our future work force should be held accountable for results.

Its implementation, however, has resulted in a rigid system in which schools, teachers and students are labeled failures because a racial, ethnic or socioeconomic subgroup here or there didn’t meet the arbitrary achievement goal set by bureaucrats.

And then, there is the ongoing battle over how to fix what’s broken in our schools. For decades, a struggle has ensued involving forces that believe the schools are beyond repair and the only solution is to throw out the whole system; teachers groups that resist efforts to tie teacher evaluations at least in part to student achievement; politicians whose primary focus is on the next opinion poll or election and the public’s tendency to long for the ostensible “good-old days” when a high school diploma could get you a job for life.

Those days are gone. And our schools must change if they are to prepare students for a scary, competitive world. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, a veteran of the Chicago public schools, has touted charter schools – independent schools supported by public money – as well as evaluation measures that tie teachers’ job evaluations at least in part to test scores.

Charter schools do not answer to the local school board, giving them more flexibility in curriculum, discipline and approach. Because they are schools of choice, parents and students may be more likely to form a bond with the school.

But the jury’s still out on achievement. A Stanford University study released in June found mixed results, based in part on state policies and restrictions on charters. It found lower results in states that cap the number of charter schools, as well as in states where there is no centralized approval process.

A supplemental report was done for North Carolina, which has a cap. Here, charter school students far surpassed the reading gains of their public-school peers, but did much worse in math.

And African-American students – a group that has been a particular focus of laws such as “No Child” – enrolled in charter schools did no better than their public-school peers in reading, and “significantly” worse in math. Not a resounding success story.

Innovation doesn’t have to mean removing a layer of accountability or using tax dollars to subsidize private schools, the option many conservative politicians prefer. (To “fix” the public schools, destroy them.) What it does mean is encouraging public schools to take calculated risks, realizing that not every new idea will succeed.

Instead of pouring everything into one or two “big” policies, try smaller pilot programs – that’s essentially what charter schools are. North Carolina already has begun to expand the traditional high school with the formation of early college programs across the state. Though each program is relatively small, the concept has potential, especially for students who aren’t bound for a flagship university and who will need to leave high school with skills that can help them compete in the work force when they graduate. Test results from four local programs are encouraging so far.

Beyond the “new school” concept, however, reform can happen classroom by classroom if teachers are given more freedom to innovate while they educate. Sunday’s New York Times tells the story of a Georgia language arts teacher who is among a growing number of educators allowing students a broad choice of what they read to satisfy classroom requirements.

Giving students some control – and responsibility – for their education has benefits that can last beyond their school years: It can encourage reading for pleasure and learning for learning’s sake, seemingly lost concepts in this day of “fill in the bubble.”

Those tests are an important yardstick, but the value of an education is more than the score on a standardized test.

All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.

Click HERE for direct link to online article

Small Business Information

2009-09-15T10:42:00.001-07:00

Hello all!

As I am the owner of multiple small businesses, I thought this information would be helpful to those of you who run their own small business.

Small Business Summit
Tuesday, September 29
UNCW: Burney Center
8:30am-12:30pm
No registration required

Enjoy!

Dr. Gray

Click HERE for article, about half way down the page.

What do LCA students do over the summer?

2009-08-04T13:09:00.000-07:00

We wanted to share with you what some of our students have been doing on their summer break. Two of our students and our administrator went to Buffalo, NY for a missions trip, and here is glimpse into the work being done.

Buffalo Missions from Scotts Hill on Vimeo.

Christ is truly working in the lives of those in our communities, and all around our country, up and down the east coast. It is going to be an AMAZING school year, the Lord truly has incredible things planned for our students, their families and friends, and our faculty.

If you have any prayer requests, please call or email the school, we will continue to lift those up individually and as we meet as team to prepare for this year. Any questions or comments, give us a call, we'd love to speak with you.

Our American Flag

2009-05-19T10:55:00.001-07:00

This morning our 4th-11th graders had the privilege to view a presentation of our American Flag from the National Sojourners. Mr. Babson and his team explained how our country's flag came into existence, and what each stripe and star represented. Each student learned new information about their flag, and saw the different stages from the first flag to our current edition.

As a one-on-one student focused school, we are able to bring in community leaders and group such as the National Sojourners for presentations and guest speakers that align with our students current curriculum. Check out the pictures below for a view of the presentation this morning.

National Day Of Prayer

2009-05-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

We just got back from the National Day of Prayer at the Hampstead Village Gazebo with our 4th-12th graders. It was such a blessing to join with the Hampstead community as we lifted up seven points of prayer! We joined together with the community to pray for our government, military, schools, businesses, churches, and families.

Several community representatives were present, including local pastors, our Pender County Sheriff, well known media hosts, and local high school school representatives. Check out some pictures from today.

2009-04-24T02:07:00.000-07:00

I listened in frustration to talk radio yesterday. They were talking about having cell phones in the schools. Curtis Wright bellowed that if he had a private school (my ears perked), he would not allow any cell phones in the school. His guest in the studio returned with a remark that his 6 year old will have a cell phone in a month to take to school to his first grade class (after all, you can get a phone for $19.99 on the family plan!). He said many 5 and 6 year old's have cell phones in their bookbags.

Curtis asked what the pros and cons are for children this young to have cell phones. His guest said the pros are for safety in case the child were to be abducted, he/she would have a phone in their book bag to call and phones these days have GPS features and can be located if lost. The cons are the child would socialize too much.

I understand this position, I really do. The answer, nonetheless, is not a cell phone. I don't know all the answers, but I do know that I would put my child in the safest, best, closest to home, "closest to me" environment as possible as they grow up. Are we always 100% safe? No. Things can still happen. And they do happen. A cell phone is just another automatic babysitter taking the responsibility from the parent to the computer.

Consider keeping your child home. Keep them with you so that YOU can be their role model!
No one else can do as good a job as you can. Try home schooling your children. It is legal, affordable, safe, and impacting the rest of your and your families life.

So you can't home school because you both have to work? And you still want the safe, loving, growing experience for your child during the day while you are away? Consider Life Christian Academy.

Life Christian Academy is a private, fully accredited, college prep, K-12 Christian school offering a home school-like atmosphere with one-on-one education for every child, gifted to challenged. Call us at 910-270-9558 in Hampstead, NC. and learn more about us. This school came to be for this very reason. For those who want a home school environment but cannot do it themselves for whatever reason.

We cannot keep our children safe from a cruel world 100% of the time. There is no such bubble. But we can put ourselves into the safest situation as possible. Come talk to us and we can help you find the best situation for you and your family.

Serving a loving Christ,

Dr. Gray

2009-03-31T02:17:00.001-07:00

Good Morning!

We are quickly approaching spring break for our school and a well deserved one at that! As with every spring, it is hard to keep ourselves focused when the birds are singing outside and the temperature is warm. Remember to spend some time with your children by going outside with them, walking the beach, encouraging them to build a fort, something that makes them play outside instead of inside. They will be far more refreshed!

Don't forget, on April 16th, the Thursday following spring break, LCA parent/teacher/student/family (PTSF) has a fantastic show for you! You will not want to miss it! Our students are so talented and they are learning so much. This night gives them a chance to show you how much about Life they really have learned. It is far more than text books! Please bring as many friends with you as you can. We will let you know where the show will be held soon. It is a very special meeting.

I want to thank our dedicated staff of teachers, volunteers, grand parents, student helpers, parents, our administrator, and everyone that participates in the future of our students lives. They put so much effort and prayer into every minute at that school, you can be proud to call them your own. Never before have I seen so much love and hard work put into the handful of children we have. Spend just one day at the school every month and see just what they do. You will get your socks blown off!

As the Director of LCA, I do much of my work at my desk in my home, just 8 minutes up the road. But when I walk into the school to connect with everyone, the Presence of our Lord strikes me immediately upon entering. The peace and solitude you experience when you walk in, makes it ALL worth the challenging journey. Just trust me, and walk through the doors one day, and feel the love and peace throughout each room and in the faces. You don't get that these days in our schools, I can tell you that!

I love you all and look forward to seeing you at the next meeting on April 16th. Please tell people about your school, how we operate, where we are located, why you love your school! We are enrolling for next year and need your help! Who do you know that needs this Christian school atmosphere and learning environment like LCA. Watch out for our new bill board on Highway 17 by Scotts Hill!

Blessing to all!

In Christ we serve,

Dr. Christina Gray

Ages rather than grades?

2009-03-30T05:04:00.000-07:00

End of Grade Levels?

We're already doing that!
Check out this recent Parade Magazine article.

2009-03-06T01:48:00.000-08:00

You cannot help but look around and see the changes that are happening in the world. They seem to be happening so fast. Things are spinning out of control. We are all feeling it.
What is not changing, though, is the cross. Jesus Christ came to save us and He still is.

Is your family spinning out of control? Is your home broken? When was the last time you and your loved ones held hands as a family and prayed right there in your kitchen? Dad, when was the last time you called your harvest together and asked God for His help? Prayer is our artery to the power of God...to save us. It starts at home. A family that prays together, stays together.

Your priority in life is not your career. It is your Creator. Every morning, open your eyes and remember to thank God for the day behind you and the day ahead of you. Make sure you are being watched by your children. There is nothing more powerful than to learn from mom and dad by example. Be consistent.

Did you know your students pray every morning at school? Oh yes, they convene every morning together, all grades and ages, and pray together, pledge allegiance to the flag and the Bible, sing together and then the "olders" move back into their room and discuss issues that come from the heart and end in praying for each other.

You see, prayer is the barometer of our school. What happens in our prayer time will be the gauge by which we will judge success or failure because that will be the measure by which God blesses us.

"If we call upon the Lord, He has promised in his Word to answer, to bring the unsaved to Himself, to pour out His Spirit among us. If we don't call upon him, He promises nothing".
No matter what we teach, what we preach, or what we do for our students, the future for these kids depends upon our times of prayer as parents, as teachers, as leaders, and as mentors.

Did you know one of our students gave her life to the Lord this week? Another young man recommitted his! This is why LCA exists. This is why God created His school. Even just one soul.

Oh, the power of the Holy Spirit is moving at Life Christian Academy! Let us reconvene this coming Thursday, March 12th, and pray together at the PTSF meeting (Parent/Teachers/Students/Family). Your children will be performing for you also! It is an exciting time of year for us as we register new students for the coming fall semester and finish the year with 11 weeks left.

May God bless you and your family and we will see you at the meeting next Thursday! Call us anytime at 910-270-9558.

In Christ,

Dr. Christina B. Gray

2009-02-26T07:22:00.000-08:00

Just a thought...I had a mom ask me if it would be alright if she kept her child home for a day and just did "school" with her child at home. I told her I encourage this and wish more families would participate. The student sure would not be counted absent as long as work was done! Talk about teachers and families working together!

Many times we are not able to just take a day off to spend at home. Personally, I think it should be in the benefits package at every business that employees get a "parent day" off every month or two. This would put some of America's focus back on the family and less on politics.

Just something to think about...

In Christ,
Dr. Gray

2009-02-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

Spring is here! (I think). Our students are sure acting like spring! My favorite time of year!

Another one of my favorite times is during our student home visits. Understanding the importance of communication with our families during the spring of the school year, we visit our students homes and meet their entire family, sitting down with the child and learning more about them and what their life is like, thus creating a more intimate relationship with the family. This opens up the lines to talk freely and on the family turf.

What is the result of such a visit? Clear, definite projection of the students future goals created by the parents and the school. Clear, definite areas revealed where the child struggles and where he/she excels. Shared vision of the tools (curriculum, books, resources, etc) that best suit the child to reach excellence (at home and school) in their academics now, next year and in life after school. Ideas exchanged of how to create a better study "area" for the student at home, better eating habits that promotes a healthier body and sharper mind, exercise they can do at home, and how to help the child prepare every morning by praying and reading God's Word to relieve him or her of any burden carried on their shoulders; giving it all away to the One who created us. If we would all remember this, our lives would indeed be different.

Looking forward to visiting your family! We will be contacting you.

Remember, we are in Open Registration so if you know of any families who would like to tour our school, call us at 910-270-9558. We are taking appointments now.

God Bless you and call us anytime.

Dr. Gray

2009-01-26T02:47:00.000-08:00

I challenge everyone this week to spend some extra time with your child. Whether they are 5 years old or 17 years old, take a full day this week and let them see what you do all day! The best way for our children to learn is by observing. You are the most important person in their life. No school, private or public, can beat a day of learning with mom or dad.

At Life Christian Academy, we encourage a special day at home with mom or dad. Let your child bring home some of their work to do during the day. Get up and have breakfast together and possibly let them cook! Spend from 9-12 letting them do their school work (they know what to do!) and you can be doing some paperwork that you've put off (be prepared for distractions from them and drop everything to help them since this is their time)!

At 12:00, make a healthy lunch (baked potato, steamed veggie, noodles, water) and enjoy a quiet lunch at home together leaving a window open for them to have 100% of your attention, just the two of you. Do you know what their favorite color is? Do you know what their favorite hobby is? How about their favorite book? Do they know yours?

If you cannot be at home on this day with them, take them to work with you. Tell them to bring their books with them and create a desk in the corner for them to sit or in the back seat of your car! They may get some work done or they may not. For this day, the main thing is that you both spend time together.

I encourage this. I promote this. I would say do it once a month. You will not be sorry. You will have a stronger relationship between you and your child and one day look back upon these days and rejoice that you were able to do it.

Call me anytime at 620-1341 if you have any questions.

Be blessed!

Dr. Gray

School Closed Due To Inclement Weather

2009-01-19T11:47:00.000-08:00

School Closed Due To Inclement Weather on Tuesday, January 20 and Wednesday, January 21.

We will be operating on a regular school schedule Thursday, January 22.

2009-01-08T04:59:00.000-08:00

Good Morning and Happy New Year!

The new year is always filled with hope and excitement for the coming months. We are starting the new year with a gathering of our families at our monthly PTSF meeting (parent/student/staff/faculty). We will have a pot luck style dinner for everyone so please come and join us!

This is the time of year to be conscience of our health. Eating raw fruits and vegetables should be the staple of our meals throughout the day. What a great way to start a healthy new year.

So, what is your resolve this year? Do you resolve to eat better? Do you resolve to be more organized? Do you resolve to love more this year? These are all good resolutions but the greatest resolve we can have is to honor our Savior Jesus Christ every morning as we begin our day. To do more Kingdom work!

Are we working today to satisfy our needs or are we working today to serve our God? You know, if we put Him first, then all other things will fall into place, He promised us this!

Keep thinking about your Maker and keep reading His Word every morning and you will be pleased at the gifts God has for you. Just look around.

Be Blessed today!

Dr. Gray

2008-12-09T07:07:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Fellow Shoppers!

The season is upon us as we rush around getting those gifts and things! But don't forget the reason we celebrate this season...the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Can you feel it? Can you see Him rise? Heavens opened up, the light shines in the dark!

Almost every morning our kids and my husband and I meet in the living room before we rush out to begin our day and read a chapter out of God's Word. May I encourage you to do the same? It makes such a difference especially in this torn and broken world today. Our family unit must remain strong. There is no other way. We must take care of our children and later the children must take care of us. That is the way it is meant to be. Family. The world would be a different place if we would look "in" instead of looking "out".

My challenge to you? Read your Bible, given to you for the direction you need each day. It has no errors. It is your map. Just try it.

May God bless you and your family today and the days to come.

Also, please come to our school meeting this Thursday at 6:00 at 15965 Hwy 17N, Hampstead.

See you there!

In Christ,

Dr. Christina B. Gray

2008-12-01T02:07:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!

As we count the days to Christmas, let us not forget to take one day at a time. Sometimes I tend to get ahead of myself and before I know it, the day is over and I have missed so many opportunities. Opportunities that are right in front of me, but because my mind is somewhere in the future, I could be looking at something or someone and not even realize what I am looking at and miss it completely! This is how we miss those precious days with our children. We look around and they are all grown up and we wonder where the time went!

God's Word says in Matthew 6:34, "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it's own things. Sufficient for the day is it's own trouble.". My encouragement to you is to step into today and only think about today. What could you do now? How could you grow your business...now? What could you do with your son today? How could you touch someone's life today? What can you give to someone today? Whom could you say hello to right now, with a smile on your face?

Remember, we are most effective in the present. It is where our power is...in this moment!

Today is the first week of Advent. Our German teacher, Oma, will be making advent wreathes all this week with the grades K-12 to take home to their families!

Also, remember to eat healthy this holiday season! You will feel much better! Call the school anytime, we would love to here from you! We are very excited planning for the upcoming spring semester and into next school year 2009/2010, any feed back or ideas are always appreciated!

God Bless!

Dr. Gray

2008-10-29T02:06:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

After 2 weeks of a sickness in the family and out of town trips, things are settling down again (I think!).
When life gets a bit crazy and those unexpected moments drop into your life, it is very important that you involve your children in them. Our tendency is to hire a babysitter or another place for them to be while you deal with the situation at hand. Perhaps a family sickness or situation. Possibly a death in the family or job loss. My first instinct is to screen my kids from the pain.

It is very important to include our children in the moment. They not only need to feel they are a part of the family, but they can also see, first hand, how life can be and how "human" we really are...even dad or mom. Our children watch our every moves, even when we are not looking.

As we pray for Oma and Opa (grandfather and grandmother in German) through this time of healing from a gall bladder infection (Opa), my youngest son got to see first hand what it is like to take care of our grandparents in times of need. Nothing is as important as their health right now. We took our books, our pencils, our papers and studied on the road. Our teenager daughter took up mowing the lawn for Opa, and cooking meals for Oma.

At Life Christian Academy, we understand how the family works. How supremely important the family is and how neglected in todays times, the family is. If you are going through challenges in your life, please let us know how we can pray for you. Take your children with you and include them in the realities of life. Our staff and teachers will provide you and your child with all the studies necessary to "keep up". Even if they fall behind a bit, it's OK. When they graduate from Life, they will have learned the most important things in their young lives.
How to love, how to grow under adversity, how to help others, how to see the big picture and how to have faith in our Master and healer.

If you would, keep Opa in your prayers this week as he heals from gall bladder surgery. May God bless you and your family. Stay warm and bundled!

Blessings,

Dr. Gray

2008-10-15T03:30:00.001-07:00

Good Morning!

Today we will be going to our North Campus. The days have been so beautiful and perfect to do our work with nature close by. Thank you to Jennifer Kostyal for sharing God's Word with the olders group yesterday. We want our students to stay close to God throughout their day and remember who their Creator is.

I have been in close (almost daily) contact with most of our parents keeping you informed about your students progress. If you ever need to contact either me or the staff, please call us at 910-270-9558.

Remember, Friday LCA will serve lunch. This week we will be serving Macaroni and cheese with veggies! Eating healthy is a very important prerequisite to learning as well as exercising daily.

Enjoy God's day today!

Blessings,

Dr. Gray

2008-10-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon!

Today we took students up to our North Campus which sits on about 3 acres of beautiful woods with a small pond and trails and playground and 3 large classrooms for our students to study and have class.

Part of the mission for the school is and always has been to create an optimum learning environment for our students. It is amazing to me how much they can learn sitting by a trickling water fountain, or a small dock under a willow tree, or in a classroom with no buzzing noises or phone ringing or computer humming, just nothing. All we hear is the bird chirping outside, fish jumping or a mama duck waddling by with her young chicks. Distracting you say? Ahhh...but no, only creating deeper thought for the child. Never in my teaching career have I seen more work accomplished than at North Campus. Deeper, richer work.

A few quotes from the book,"Last Child In The Woods SAVING OUR CHILDREN FROM NATURE-DEFICIT DISORDER" By Richard Louv, "The grounds are the classroom, buildings look outward, and gardens cover the campus. The works of naturalists would be the vehicle by which we would teach reading and writing. Math and science would be taught as a way to understand the intricacies of nature, the potential to meet human needs, and how all things are interlaced."

"An environment-based education-at all levels of education-will help students realize that school isn't to be a polite form of incarceration, but a portal to the wider world." Richard Louv.

Come with us to North Campus and see for yourself. Learn with us for a full morning and who knows...you may even feel like a kid again, celebrating LIFE.

God Bless!

Dr. Gray

2008-09-29T03:04:00.001-07:00

Good Morning after such a fine weekend!

Last week was so refreshing for me. I spent a lot of time with parents discussing their children and how it all fits into the big picture of life! We had a breakthrough for a particular student. This student went from doing very little work to excited and working all day! All it took was a trip to North Campus for the day with 3 other students and one on one time in a natural surrounding and they came back that afternoon on fire to do well and finish!! We figured out that this student could not work because of a feeling of restlessness that came over her at times. Well, being that Dr. Gray has a very creative mind, I took this student outside in the middle of the day and they ran 5 laps around the driveway. We went back inside and they worked twice a fast and hard to get the work done. God is so good!

That is what it is all about folks! Determining what works for your student and actually taking the time to figure it out and do it. Never give up! Never, ever give up. As long as your child attends this school, we also will never give up on them or you. Success for your child is our goal and we will do whatever it takes to get there.

In Christ,

Dr.Gray

2008-09-23T02:44:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

A brand new day is upon us and a chance to give it a fresh start! Our students did not get to do outside exercise yesterday as planned due to the rainy weather. I did take the opportunity to go to Champions Assisted Living Care with two students and have lunch with a senior who had a stroke and is lonely. We prayed together, ate together and laughed together. I would like to implement this into our busy student schedules every week, if possible, with different students. We must teach them about all the hurting and lonely people out there and that they can contribute to their community, even as a kid.

Let us stay in close contact... you, our students, the staff, the teachers and me. Everything and everyone can flourish when we stay in communication. Stop by the school, I will ALWAYS make time to meet with you and so will your teachers. Write us a note or an email. As I shared with a parent yesterday, you hired us to do what no other school or education facility has ever done. Consider us an extension of your family. All our children are gifted students as far as I am concerned. Let us take the time (and time is what it takes!) to find their gifts today.

God bless you,

Dr. Gray

2008-09-18T05:53:00.000-07:00

Good Day!

The coolness of the morning made me think about the fall season that is upon us already. I cannot wait until the time changes again because as a runner, I like to go running at 5:30AM after all my study time is complete. Lately though, at 5:30AM it is pitch dark and I prefer not to run out on the streets in the dark! Thus, I have neglected my bodies signs to exercise and I miss it dearly.

It is amazing how when we do something long enough, especially exercise, our body will signal the need to do it again. You see, it has become a habit and praise God for that! Don't give up on your exercise program even if it is a 10 minute walk every morning. This is a jump start to your day and your heart and your mind. Do it long enough and it becomes a habit you cannot break.

I am working with the students on good habits. We go outside every other day and run 10 laps around the driveway (all ages) and cheer each other on when we cross the finish line. After the laps, we do crunches on the ground and then cool downs and then go behind the school to throw the ball or Frisbee. The kids are forming a habit of exercise in their lives. This helps them learn their studies and much more!

Thank you for opportunity to help your kids grow into fine, intelligent, young adults. It takes that one-on-one attention to detail that shapes our kids and our families...one child at a time.

Enjoy this beautiful day in the Lord,

Dr. Gray

2008-09-17T03:03:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

I experienced two events yesterday that makes what we do at LCA worth every minute! One of our students ("olders" as we call them) came to me and said that she realizes now that you cannot just read a passage in a book and expect to know what it means. There is a difference between just reading and READING! She said she finds herself going deeper upon each word and understanding the meaning of the author and finds this quite stimulating! Ahhhh...precious to my ears.

Another student (olders group as well) came to me two days ago panicked and said,"Dr. Gray, I have to meet with you and try to get everything right...I am so confused and frustrated about my school work!". OK, I thought, thats good. The next day he came to me with a smile on his face and said he felt so much better because he took the time and organized his papers and notebooks and with a smile on his face said,"Can you help me with this reading?".

You see, we are setting examples for our students everyday not by doing it for them, but by encouraging them to do it on their own. We discourage spoon feeding education and encourage self-teaching. Later, when they are in the world of an ever changing culture and society, they will know what to do because they learned it growing up.
It is never too early to teach these concepts. We start this kind of learning at age five.

Well dear readers, be blessed today and call us anytime for any needs. You can reach Dr. Gray in her chiropractic office at 910-803-0333 (after 3:00) and in the school during the day at 270-9558.

In Christ,

Dr.Gray

2008-09-15T03:14:00.000-07:00

Good Monday Morning!

Let us start this week on a good note by taking the time to pray for just a few minutes. When was the last time you prayed for your family, your brother, your sister, your parents? I found myself asking God to give them strength and courage to go through whatever they need to go through in their lives. You know how hard it can be at times. We all need Him. So think about them today and have a peaceful, energetic, healthful day yourselves (don't forget your weekly chiropractic adjustment for physical healing!).

Remember to get the minutes from our last family meeting last Thursday so you can be up on all activities/events at LCA.

I love all of you and please call me anytime at the school 910-270-9558 or practice 910-803-0333.

Be blessed today,

Dr. Gray

2008-09-12T03:09:00.000-07:00

Wishing everyone a beautiful family weekend!

I am looking forward to the day because the children will be learning Russian today (all grades K-12) from Mrs. Rosa and we will be serving a hot lunch made by the Home-Economics crew! They will be serving hot soup and sandwiches. This is a chance for the students to learn how to cook and serve as well as how to set a table and cleanup. Two youngers and two olders will be on the crew team and next Friday we will alternate the students. Remember, turn in your two dollars early in the week.

I will be finishing all student physicals today. All students will have had their first chiropractic adjustments this week. I will continue to check them every week for subluxation (refer to "Chiropractic" at receivinglife.org) as well as all teachers and staff. It is amazing to see how much more they learn and focus when they have been adjusted. Along with the healthy nutrition and exercise, this equals success!

May God bless you and your family! Keep praying!

In Christ,

Dr.Gray

2008-09-11T01:58:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Everyone!

How do we interpret in our minds such an event as 9/11? What do we do with it today? The only thing I know to do is to pray. I hope you will be remembering today also.

Don't forget our family meeting this evening at 6:00. Bring a friend if you would like. We meet once a month to get to see everyone and also to share ideas and listen to you and your families needs.

We are not just a school. We are a network of like minds trying to achieve excellence in our children one by one, by being their role models, their coaches, their teachers, their friends, their disciplinarians, their spiritual parents, an extension of their own family. We realize the frustration you feel when your child does not fit in all the time or does not meet the guidelines of a "normal child his/her age". This is where the tire meets the road!

Whoever they are, whatever they look like, where ever they are academically, challenged or gifted, we, at Life Christian Academy, will begin with that mold everyday,and allow the child to take the shape God has planned for him/her. We are here to help them create a healthy body by teaching them to eat healthy, exercise, align their spines to reach optimal levels of healing. Then, to provide an environment rich with information so their minds can absorb at optimal levels according to God's plan for them, at their own speed. We talk about God's plan for us throughout the day and create relationships with other ages in the school. All the while learning rich academics from Math to Science to reading and writing, college courses to basics in English. One child at a time...until he succeeds.

We love you and see you tonight! Don't forget to bring a warm or cold dish and a friend. Come very casual and ready for an evening of fellowship.

In Christ,

Dr. Gray

2008-09-10T02:56:00.001-07:00

Good Morning,

This morning we would like to remember 9/11 and the lives that were lost that day. Tomorrow, September 11th, our students and staff will be in silent prayer 4 times.

At 8:45 AM: a hijacked passenger jet American Airlines Flight 11 out of Boston, crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center, tearing a gaping hole in the building and setting it afire.

At 9:03 AM: a second hijacked jet United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston, crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center and explodes. Both buildings are burning.

At 9:43 AM: American Airlines flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon, sending up a huge plume of smoke. Evacuation begins immediately.

At 10:10 AM: United Airlines Flight 93, also hijacked, crashes in Somerset, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburg.

We will take the time to explain to the students what happened that day and how God has His hands over these kinds of tragedies.

Remember, we pray everyday with our students and they also keep prayer journals where they can write down their conversations with God as well as specific prayers of the class. We read directly out of the Bible every morning and we also memorize God's Word every week. We say prayer before we eat our snacks and lunch. After our exercise outside (3 times per week) a girls group and a boys group "huddle" together just before we go inside and we pray and bond as a group before starting our work again.

We also pray for you, our families. May God bless you today and bring your families back together tonight safe and at peace.

In Christ,

Dr. Gray

2008-09-08T02:53:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

As you head out today, remember to take good care of yourself. We are being watched every second by someone (especially those little eyes in our homes) so lets make a good impression. Taking care of your body requires you to be selective in what you put into it! Eat a salad for lunch today and drink 8 glasses of water. That is a good goal to begin with. Remember, the more concentrated our body is (little water intake), the higher risk we are for sickness and dis-ease. It will amaze you how good you can feel and look, just by keeping a sipper of water by your side all day. After 1 week, you will feel better, I can guarantee it!

I am praying for you every morning at 3AM. Please let me know if you have any prayer needs. This is serious business, so let us pray for each other now. We also pray as a student body everyday at school. You would be so proud of your kids if you could only hear them (join us one morning).

Have a blessed day and call me anytime at the school, 270-9558. I am there everyday.

In Christ,

Dr. Gray

2008-09-07T02:09:00.000-07:00

Good Morning To Everyone!

This morning I woke up with student curriculum on my mind. We are beginning week 3 next week and I have had a chance to assess each child and place them where they will thrive academically. In language for instance, our goal is for students to improve their writing skills. In today's time, texting (for those children who have cell phones) messages is most popular and writing is becoming a lost art. We cannot allow that to happen to our students! Our students must learn how to write with their pencils, on paper, with a hand held dictionary beside them (no spell check) and in cursive, even in 12th grade! This not only helps them communicate more effectively but they are working on hand-eye coordination unlike that of a mouse and computer screen during video games.

My friends, on that note, let us start this week out strong! May we align ourselves in God's Word by reading it today, and set some kind of goal to further strengthen our families, our children, and especially our relationship with the Father. "What can we do to change the world today?" I ask the upper students every morning. Would it be to hold the door for an older person today? Help mom with the dishes? Perhaps help someone younger learn math? How about writing a letter to a senior citizen just to say hello. Daily, we must remind ourselves and our kids that it is not about us. It is about our Father and His Son, all the time, everywhere.

May Blessings rain down on you today!

Dr. Gray

2008-09-06T03:17:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

I think everyone survived the storm since it was not that threatening! As I woke up at my usual time, 3 AM, I quickly shuffled to the coffee maker to make some wonderful organic "decaf with a splash of caf" coffee. All this before the power flickered off. Don't we take our electricity for advantage so often? After the power cut off (plenty of hot coffee made thank Heaven) I took advantage of the nothingness I heard! No fish tank running, refrigerator humming, air conditioner blowing...just nothing. What a sound. My home lit up without the power. I suddenly noticed His presence. As the candles flickered, I paced the floor thanking Jesus for His gift.
Let me encourage you to thank Him today also. It is during the storms we should be saying thank you...for all You do. Have an awe inspiring day today, be with your family if you can, take today to rest. We are truly all so blessed, aren't we?

Love in Christ,

Dr. Gray

2008-09-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon all!

What an awesome day of learning! Everyone is so focused and on-task this morning. Some students are taking advantage of the beautiful weather while it’s here by studying outside and enjoying the sun and wind. Speaking of weather…..We’ve been keeping a close eye on Hanna, and here is the latest from The Weather Channel:

The brunt of Hanna's impacts should arrive Friday night through early Saturday over northern South Carolina and eastern North Carolina. Weather conditions will rapidly deteriorate with rising waves and tides, increasing strong winds, and heavy rain moving onshore. (weather.com)

We are still operating on a 12:00pm dismissal on Friday,
with no after-school care, however the carpool will be running.

We are also keeping a close eye on Hurricane Ike, and we will notify you next week of any school closings. Hurricane Ike is currently moving west-northwest, and it should continue to wobble in a general westward direction over the next several days. Ike will likely maintain a category 4 or 3 status as it moves westward. (weather.com)

Have a blessed day!!

Hurricane Hanna

2008-09-03T05:33:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone! There will be a half day on Friday, with dismissal at 12:00pm (no after-school) as Hurricane Hanna approaches the East Coast.

Hanna's projected path

Reorganization and reintensification of Hanna is anticipated on Wednesday and Thursday however it is difficult to determine at this time how much strength it can attain considering the poor state it is in now (weather.com).

We will keep you updated as the storm approaches, but for now, mark your calendars for a half day on Friday with dismissal at 12:00pm, and no after-school care.

Carpooling families: The carpool will be running, and we will arrive at the pick-up/drop off destination at 12:00pm.

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2008-08-29T11:43:00.001-07:00

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