Amelia, Alice, and Acie Avery celebrate Grandparents’ Day with their grandmother, Mitzi Morin. |
Grandparents’ Day Shout Out
Thank you to our amazing team of volunteers who made our Grandparents’ Day such a success! We are truly grateful for all of your hard work and for going above and beyond to make this event so special for our grandparents. We’ll be reaching out to grandparents with photos and a survey in the coming weeks.
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Informational Meeting, Tomorrow, Oct. 24
We’re expecting several prospective families to join us for chapel and an admissions meeting following chapel, so please help any unfamiliar faces find their way to the welcome tables in the foyer outside the worship center in the morning. It’s not too late to tell a friend (website, Facebook)! No RSVP is required.
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What’s Brewing with Mr. Billman, This Thursday, Oct. 26
Parents, please join us for “What’s Brewing with Mr. Billman” this Thursday, Oct. 26 in the gym. These meetings keep you up to speed on school-wide happenings, including strategic initiatives. We’ll take some time for your questions during the session, and administration and board members will be on hand after the meeting for your questions, as well. As always, we’ll have some good coffee!
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Fall Fling, Oct. 31
We are getting excited for Fall Fling, coming up next Tuesday, Oct. 31! Students and staff are invited to wear costumes on this Fun Lunch day. The guidelines:
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Wear non-scary costumes inspired by literature or historical figures. This is not a jeans and t-shirt day, so if your student doesn't dress up as a character, s/he must wear a uniform.
- Leave all weapons at home (including plastic ones.)
- House points are awarded to top costumes in Upper School.
Parents, we still have some volunteer positions listed here we'll need help with if you can join us!
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Lessons and Carols, Dec. 7
Save the date for this lovely Advent tradition featuring music from our 3rd-12th graders and art from our PreK-2nd graders.
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Circle Drive Dismissal
We’ve had some issues with pick up in the circle drive on Main Street. Please follow these guidelines to help our line go smoothly and safely:
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Pull up toward 5th street to wait for your student to avoid backing up traffic on Main. Your student can come to find you in front of the small sanctuary.
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Exit the circle by going right. The traffic on Main makes left turns dangerous.
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2024-2025 Applications Now Available Online
Applications for PK-11th grades for the 2024-2025 school year are now available online; you can access them either here or through going to the Resource Board in Blackbaud and selecting the Apply link. Please note that these applications are only for NEW students not currently enrolled at Providence; the recommitment period for current students will be in January of 2024. After completing this initial application, an admissions checklist will be assigned to your account for you to upload remaining application items (for example, essays and report cards). To find your child’s checklist, simply click on your applicant’s name under Children in your Blackbaud account.
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We are also processing kindergarten applications for both current and new families earlier this year and will use the following timeline: | |
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A note about fall assessments for Kindergarten: we’ve had several parents ask about whether it will make a difference whether their child tests in the fall versus the spring. As Mrs. Billman notes, “This test is made for a wide age range, so ... while the questions are the same, the test is scaled according to months of age. We don't expect a 4 1/2 year old to be able to answer as many questions, write as well, or engage as attentively for the assessment as a 5 year old. The value of the test is … to give [parents] an idea of any areas [to] focus on this year in getting [their child] ready for Kindergarten. The assessment covers number concepts, auditory skills, language skills and fine motor ability.” Of course, if either a parent or Mrs. Billman feels uncertain about a child’s readiness, we can always re-assess later next semester.
Please reach out to Dr. Baird with any additional questions!
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Sweatshirts
Thanks to everyone who has purchased a Providence sweatshirt so far! They continue to be available on our website store through November 3, with prices starting at $35. We anticipate sweatshirts to arrive before Christmas break so stock up on gifts before the weather (hopefully) gets cooler!
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Upcoming School-wide Events
October 24: Informational Meeting and School Tours
October 24: Vision and Hearing Screenings Begin
October 26: What’s Brewing with Mr. Billman
October 31: Fall Fling
November 2: Co-Teacher Connect
November 7: Logic School Retreat
November 9-10: School Pictures
November 16: Thanksgiving Lunch Family Potluck
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“Using mottos in our parenting and our homeschooling allows us shortcuts to the core of our parenting lectures. When we rely on mottos, we have something memorable and pithy in our back pocket, so we can simply repeat our saying and then expect obedience because we all know we’ve had this conversation before and we all know what the saying means."
-Mystie Winckler, Mottos as Parenting Powerhouse
Click to the article for some new mottos, or use these Providence mottos with your children this week:
- I am, I can, I ought, I will.
- We obey quickly, completely, and cheerfully!
- It is always the right time to do the right thing.
- Work while you work, play while you play.
- SLANT (Reminders for attentive habits: Sit up, Listen, Ask and answer questions, Nod your Head, Track the Speaker)
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First grade classes recite together during our special Grandparents’ Day chapel. | |
Prayer Garden Dismissal Note
We enjoy trees, and we enjoy our students. For the health of each, we ask that students not climb the trees in the prayer garden or Pearl Street pick up area.
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Chapel Recitation Coming Soon
November 2 - First Grade
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Co-Teacher Meetings
We are looking forward to meeting with you in grade level groups. There will be time to meet other parents, interact with teachers, and receive additional training.
3rd Grade: Co-teachers will meet tomorrow, October 24, at 8:20am in the large worship center. Our academic focus will be fun ways to practice facts and a short introduction to multiplication bar models.
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Bonhoeffers in Buda: Joshua Porterfield, Grace Herring, Hunter Herring travel with a friend to cheer on Maxwell Tow and Gabriel Tow in their martial arts tournament this weekend. | |
Augustine Service Project, Oct. 28
Augustine will hold their first service project of the year on October 28 from 9-11am at Oak Creek Academy in Killeen. Augustine members will be helping with different tasks like cleaning, unboxing toys, organizing supplies, painting, and more.
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Elliot House Social, Nov. 4
Save the date for Elliot’s next House Social on November 4th at the Barnetts' home from 5:30-8:00 PM; pizza and snacks will be provided. Watch for an email with more details!
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House Lunch
Houses will be planning for our upcoming Fall Fling this Friday, October 27. For logic students (and rhetoric students not participating in the RamFam Feast), please make sure to bring a non-microwaveable bagged lunch.
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Scarves and Ties Ceremonies
Students new to Rhetoric School (9th-12th grade) will receive their house tie or scarf in a short ceremony in House Chapel over the next few weeks. Parents, don't worry if you can't attend. We will video it for you.
Bonhoeffer: October 27
Elliot: November 3
Wilberforce: November 10
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PSAT, this Wednesday, Oct. 25
All students in 9th, 10th, and 11th grades will take the PSAT this Wednesday, October 25.
By now you should have received an email with important information about what to expect for each grade level, so please check that out!
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Central Texas College Fair Tomorrow
WHEN: October 24 at 6pm – 8pm
WHERE: Bell County Expo Center
WHAT: A number of college reps available to meet with students from schools throughout the Central TX area.
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RamFam Friday Feast
Rhetoric School students (9th-12th) and Faculty/Staff are invited to place your order for Raising Cane’s by 4pm on Thursday, October 26.
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Logic School Retreat
Reminder: The Logic School Retreat will take place on November 7 at the Baylor University campus. If you have not done so already (many of you have - thank you!), please make sure you fill out the permission form through your Blackbaud account, and let us know if you are available to drive. Please note that there is also a student waiver form, linked in the Blackbaud permission form, that must be printed out, signed, and returned to the North Desk for participation in the Challenge Course.
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Logic Green poses with their 3rd place plaque from the All District ACAA Tournament in Round Rock. | |
Week in Review
Volleyball
Logic Green and White both won games against Grace Academy, while the JV and Varsity teams took losses to Grace Academy.
Both Logic Green & JV won against Waco Liberty in Waco while the Varsity landed a W against the Methodist Children's Home.
Congratulations to Logic Green, who placed 3rd in the All District ACAA Tournament in Round Rock.
This week wrapped up a great season for both Logic teams and JV.
Soccer
The Rams went 1-1 last week dropping a heartbreaker on Thursday and bouncing back Saturday with a 3-0 victory.
Flag Football
The Rams finished the regular season unbeaten at 8-0 and won their first round playoff game. Rams will host the Semi-Final playoff game Monday. A win advances the Rams to the championship on Tuesday at 6pm.
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Games This Week
Flag Football
Monday, Oct. 23
Rams v. Grace Academy, 5:30pm at Temple Crossroads
If the Rams win on Monday:
Tuesday, Oct. 24,
Rams v. TBD Team, 6:00pm at Temple Crossroads
Soccer
Saturday, October 28
Rams v. Gold, 12:30pm at Heritage Park
Volleyball is headed to the playoffs!!!
Monday, Oct. 23
Varsity v. Sterling, 5pm at Austin Sports Center
Tuesday, Oct. 24
Varsity v. Grace Academy, 7:15pm at Killeen Memorial
Thursday, Oct. 26
Varsity v. CTCS, 6pm at Temple Nazarene
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Logic School Basketball Parent/Player Meeting, Nov. 2
Logic School boys and girls will have a parent/player meeting at Belton Church of Christ from 5:15-5:45 on Thursday, Nov. 2. Parents, please make every effort to have at least one parent per family represented at your player’s meeting.
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Stacie Diestch,
English & Logic
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Mrs. Dietsch has been teaching at Providence since 2020. She earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Justice & Policy Studies from Guilford College in Greensboro, NC and an MA in Theological Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary.
“Two things stand out as particularly motivating to me when it comes to Christian classical education: an emphasis on the whole person as being created in the image of God and discovery through discussion. None of us learn in a vacuum, so it is important to recognize this in the classroom. An effective Christian classical education should assist the student in finding the connections between knowledge and life in a way that impacts them personally and compels them to examine themselves and the world around them in light of Scripture. In an English class, a lot of this discovery happens through discussions of classic literature. For example, we are reading Lord of the Flies by William Golding, and it is impossible to read this classic without discussing the impact of the Fall (Genesis 3) on us individually and in all of creation. Likewise, in The Great Divorce, as we read, we are confronted with common human sins and their inevitable results, thus forcing us to think of our own particular temptations and how we can guard against them before they give birth to sin and lead to death (James 1:14-15). By understanding that our students (and ourselves) are not merely consumers of information, but rather human beings created in the image of God, yet fallen and in need of a savior, we are in a position where we can find those connections between knowledge and life that make a real difference in all our lives.“
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Jen Moore,
5th Grade Math & Science
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Mrs. Moore has been teaching at Providence since 2020 and graduated from Angelo State University with a BA in business management.
“The beautiful thing about classical education is that we are helping students gain necessary tools to become lifelong learners. In math and science, I get to ask students many “how, why, what’s next, and what does this help us understand” questions. My hope is that this builds in my students a confidence in the knowledge that they are gaining and that they can use it for great things.
[I like to think of collaboration] with parents at Providence [as one thinks about a] team sport; we get to face the challenges and share in the victories together!
Being able to share my faith and teach the Bible to my students at Providence means that we get to truly look at what matters as we live our lives. I get to reflect the image of God, although imperfectly, and see it reflected in my students as well. We can forgive each other, encourage each other, and grow together in wisdom and virtue.”
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Mailing Address:
2608 N Main Street Ste B193
Belton, TX 76513
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