MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS LIFE FASTER THAN FAST Now you see him…and now you don’t! Whether it’s running 5k’s or one mile races in and around Riverside, 7th grader Eyan Turk is always on the move. Already finishing in the top 7 in our region, Eyan recently became an All American Athlete with his 4th place finish at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) finals. He recently ran at the AAU Junior Olympics that took place in Knoxville, TN in December 2019. His current personal record for the two-mile race is 10 minutes and 3 seconds, which makes him #1 in the nation! Eyan says, “[Running is] the gift that God gave me and I love the gift He gave me. So, I want to nourish it and use it to the best of my abilities and honor Him. Anything less than the best is to sacrifice the gift.” Eyan has big plans for the future, including conquering the Junior Olympics and then, one day, the Olympics. He says he wants nothing more than to “give God the glory.”
MANY BOOKS BUT ONLY ONE STORY What is the big story of the Bible? What does the Old Testament have to do with Christmastime? Ask a 7th grader, and they might whip out a laptop to give you the full scoop. These students take an Old Testament Survey course for Bible Homeroom. A central critical thinking piece of the course culminates at the end of the first semester right before Christmas. Students create a Google Slides presentation that synthesizes their knowledge of the Old Testament timeline and shows how all of the books of the Bible make up one big story. Students design their presentation and assemble information and imagery to effectively communicate their ideas. They receive ongoing feedback from their teachers and also collaborate with peers on content accuracy and presentation methods. This allows them to become more comfortable with making productive learning mistakes and helps to develop a growth mindset. The presentation is ultimately intended to be shared with friends and family at home for the holidays. The story presentation ends on the importance of Christ’s life, the New Covenant, reflections on the student’s understanding of salvation, and an invitation to accept the Gospel. It is incredible to see our young Bible scholars make real-world applications with their understanding of God’s Word and impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ.
06 | MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS LIFE
