A preschool parent wanted to send her child to Bethel for the 24/25 school year, but felt her son was ready for more than 3 days a week. She has been blown away by the Christ-like community school wide. “Unprompted, these kids notice the needs of others and help each other no matter their age. You don’t see this in schools today.” Because of her feedback, we will now offer 3 preschool programs instead of one. We already have 10 preschoolers enrolled.
A 1st grader moved from Texas over the summer and enrolled at Bethel. We’re his first school since he was homeschooled prior. He has a cognitive speech delay that makes it difficult for him to communicate and socialize with those around him, as well as to advocate for himself through the use of words. We have witnessed incredible growth as he has discovers how capable he is at self-regulating using the life skill tools we have provided him as we work to partner with his parents and therapists. More importantly, he is learning what it means to remain in God, bearing His fruit through the use of his words and actions. His mother shared, “Thank you again from the bottom of my heart, no place or person has made us feel so safe and trusting with leaving our boys, but especially [name] ever before. Thank you for giving us that peace! We’re so humbled and thankful to you and all the Bethel staff!”
A learner that had joined our community midyear was asked by the leadership team of a local Christian school while they were touring Bethel, “What is your favorite part of the day and your least favorite part of the day at Bethel?” Her response was, “At my old school, my favorite part of the day was leaving school, and my least favorite part of the day was getting dropped off at school. Now that I am at Bethel, that has switched.” This particular learner comes from a home with trauma and has seen far more than any adult has ever experienced. Whether she recognizes it or not, her favorite and least favorite part of school has switched because here she knows she is loved by God and our community each time she enters this building. God is planting and watering this seed in her life and in her family’s life. Praise God!
A learner with various needs that had never been in school before decided to join Bethel as a middle schooler. The learner was craving social interaction, but they were not comfortable sending her to a school where she would get pulled out of community. Prior to the first day of school, they expressed, “We do not want [name] to be a burden to you and your staff.” In our conversation with them, we shared that we do not look at this child as a burden. Rather, we view this child as a child of the King who has so much to offer to this community and those around her; it’s not just about what we have to offer her. Having her at Bethel paints a fuller, more beautiful representation of God’s kingdom here on earth. With tears in their eyes, they thanked us for welcoming her with open arms. She came with little peer interaction, knowing a majority of her letter sounds, and had some number recognition 0-10. Now she is:
Interacting with learners of all ages and had her first birthday party with all the middle schoolers in attendance celebrating the gift she is to those around her. She is:
Reading and writing at a Kindergarten and first grade level and continuing to make forward progress
Counting to 100 and recognizes those numbers
Believing in herself because she knows she is capable of so much more than she ever imagined
Seeing herself as an active participant in the story God is writing in and through her!
