Students learn moral lessons
PORTERSVILLE — It used to be class would take place in classrooms and chapel took place in the church.
But, with a new program, Portersville Christian School is changing that.
Spiritual life director Cindy Zonts combined portions of several programs to create Leadership Instilled Through Values Education — or LIVE — a package that focuses on a moral value each month. The value is emphasized each day as part of each grade's curriculum.
The program started in August with retreats for students to Family First sports and convention facility and Camp Fitch, a YMCA camp on the lake, both in Erie County, to introduce the concept to the students.
It's continued with stressing a different value each month. In September, the school focused on respect. This month, it's initiative.
For each value, students in all grades participate in weekly chapels that cover a Bible story that illustrates the chosen theme. And each day, teachers provide classroom work and discussions to remind them of what they should be trying to achieve. For example, some students would do a crossword with examples of initiative as clues.
"Everyone gets the same Scripture, taught in different ways,"Zonts said.
And, when the students demonstrate that example, they earn cards for free meals at Chick-fil-A.
Zonts said the school never had an organized spiritual life program beyond weekly chapel, and she wanted to make it part of everyday life.
"We just felt that, if we could, we wanted to help our kids with character traits," she said, adding she wants the program to "produce Christians with moral values.
"This will change the environment of the school,"she said.
The program is already making a difference, said head administrator Jeff DeSantes.
"I've seen them becoming leaders for the community," he said.
Heidi Stewart, fifth grade teacher, said she noticed toward the end of September the students taking initiative far more often. The students would clean up after activities and seek to comfort troubled students.
Jessica McNulty, fifth grade student, said when she went home, she would offer to do dishes or pull weeds "even though I hate doing it.""When I'm done, I ask Mrs. Stewart what she needs done," said fifth grade student Brandon Wahl.In the high school grades, students focus on the same values, but change the content and detail that they learn, Zonts said.Additionally, an upperclassman elective leadership class teaches the elementary students lessons relating to the weekly Bible story.Senior Danielle Manz said the spiritual life program is the reason she returned to Portersville Christian after attending public school for a few years.She's in the leadership class and said she learned about teaching students and organization when she put together a lesson on respecting authority, for example.Zonts said the next big event for the students will be a Faith In Action day for all students to do service projects with homeless, senior living communities and food pantries.The plan is to continue the program every year, Zonts said. The monthly values are on a three-year rotation.
