May 2023

IN THIS ISSUE:

Living Out Our Faith in the Fine Arts

LaMurl Morris, Director of Fine Arts

Big TEAM, Little Me

Richard Ricketts, Director of Athletics

Living Out Our Faith in the Fine Arts

LaMurl Morris, Director of Fine Arts

Our mission at Prince Avenue Christian School is to partner with Christian families to provide scripturally based discipleship while pursuing excellence in academics, fine arts, and athletics from a biblical worldview. As a fine arts faculty, we encourage our students to pursue excellence in the arts each day in class and in rehearsals. Our desire is that each student discovers who they are in Christ while acquiring and sharpening skills in their artistic discipline. Growing as a disciple of Christ occurs both inside as well as outside of the classroom.

Our students have the opportunity in their daily interactions with teachers and classmates to build godly character. Our lower school art teacher, Heather Lambert, shared a story about a high school fine arts student who stopped to assist her one day while she was hanging artwork. As the student was walking by Mrs. Lambert, he noticed that she could not reach the top display strip to hang the paintings. He stopped, offered his assistance, and hung the artwork for her.

I have encountered high school band students who arrive every Monday morning during the school year to set up the middle school auditorium for band classes. In addition, two of our high school band students meet with fifth-grade band students before school each week. These high school students are mentoring young musicians not only in the fundamentals of music-making but also in character development.

Travel is one of the components of our fine art department’s pillars. As our students work with professional musicians and actors, rehearse and perform in a variety of venues, and interact with people from around our state and country, they are experiencing how to live out their faith. People watch how our students interact with each other and how we treat those we encounter in our travels. While our students were building our set at the Cobb Energy Center for the Shuler Awards Ceremony, another school was loading in their set. Since none of the students from the other school were on location, our students assisted their director in preparing their set. Our act of kindness was the passageway to forming a relationship with that school’s director and students.

How do we treat the waiter, the hotel clerk, the bus driver, or the barista? Do we take direction from the Broadway workshop professional or band clinician? How do we handle constructive critique or a request from the producer of a televised program? Our actions and responses reflect our faith.

We set the bar of academic and artistic excellence high for our students. As teachers we see them excel and grow in their creative pursuits. As Christian teachers, our greatest calling and greatest joy is to see our students live out their faith in their daily life.

Big TEAM, Little Me

Richard Ricketts, Director of Athletics

When I worked for UGA Football in the 1980s, Coach Dooley’s motto was “Big TEAM, little me.”  He put that motto on everything: it was on t-shirts and posters; it was everywhere. Back in those days, I never really paid attention to it; I just liked all the free stuff they gave us with the motto on it.  Now, thirty years later, I understand completely what Coach Dooley was trying to emphasize. 

When you are on a team, the team should be bigger than the individual. I am sure that was a hard sell for Coach back in the 80s, but I think it is a harder sell today.  Everything in our culture is about “me” as in, “What is in it for ‘me’?”. One of the great aspects of team sports is the necessity of learning to put others ahead of “me”.  Do our athletes ask, “What’s in it for me", or do the athletes think of others? 

As parents, do our words and actions teach our children to think of others? Successful teams are comprised of individuals who put others’ needs ahead of their own.  It is obvious to onlookers that a real “team” is made up of members who really care for each other. It is VERY obvious when a team is made up of a bunch of “me” athletes.  Which team would you rather play for?  Which team has a higher ceiling?  When people watch us play or practice, do they see a big “me” or a big “TEAM”? 

So here is the question:  Are you a big “ME” little “team” person, or are you a big “TEAM” little “me” person?  The crazy thing is that all individual athletes have more success and fulfillment when they think about others more than themselves.  

I recall a man named Jesus who lived over 2,000 years ago and taught us that basic concept.  Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” 

As the year ends, try thinking of others more than yourself……try thinking "Big TEAM, little me.” You might be surprised by what happens!

Go Wolverines!