THE WOODLANDS THE WOODLANDS
CHRISTIAN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY A C A D E M Y AUGUST 28, 2015
What are 21st Century Skills? - by Steve Zeal, School Principal 21st-century skills, 21st-century learning, 21st-century education, 21st-century learners… These phrases are all around us. What do they mean? What’s different in this century? Why are they necessary? Why are they important to Woodlands Christian? Over the next three weeks I plan to address these questions. The new millennium was ushered in by a dramatic, technological revolution. We live and teach in an increasingly diverse, global, and complex society. Today’s students from kindergarten through college represent the first generations to grow up with this new technology. They have spent their entire lives surrounded by and using computers, video games, digital music players, cell phones, and all the other toys and tools of the digital age. On average, current college grads have spent less than 5,000 hours of their lives reading, but over 10,000 hours playing video games (not to mention 20,000 hours watching TV). Computer games, email, the Internet, cell phones and instant messaging are integral parts of their lives. Our students’ lives have changed radically and they are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach.
The skills needed by today’s students are far greater than those required just a decade ago. Students today must be able to analyze and evaluate information, solve problems, and communicate effectively across a wide variety of platforms. Skills and learning that were designed to prepare students for work and life in the industrial economy need to be rethought and reengineered to serve the needs of students in this century. Simply put, the broad idea of 21st-century education/learning revolves around the notion that schooling as we have known it for the last 150 years must change to keep pace with the demands of the new world. A world that that has been transformed by technological advances, the knowledge revolution, and a global economy. Next week I will be examining what constitutes these 21st century learning skills, and how we are incorporating them into our teaching and learning at Woodlands Christian.
References h"p://www.marcprensky.com/wri3ng/Prensky/-‐DigitalNa3ves,DigitalImmigrants-‐Part1.pdf h"p://cae.org/images/uploads/pdf/CLA_Student_Guide_Individual.pdf h"p://www.p21.org/about-‐us/p21-‐framework
5800 ACADEMY WAY . THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS 77384 . 936-273-2555 . WWW.TWCA.NET
Lower School News Lower School Science Students Classifying and Engineering Lower school students are already hard at work learning about scientific classification and engineering. Kindergarten students classified sea shells into groups and then into sub-groups consisting of of bivalves and univalves. They also discovered that mollusks live in the shells they were classifying. Third grade students tried their hands at engineering by building boats out of aluminum foil that could support the weight of 40 pennies for three seconds while floating in a tub of water. Information and photos submitted by Robert Roach.
Kindergarten students in Mr. Robert Roach’s science lab classify sea shells.
Mr. Roach’s third grade science lab students learn about engineering by building boats from aluminum foil.
AUGUST 28, 2015
Upper School News Senior Class Retreat To Camp Eagle A time-honored Woodlands Christian tradition is the senior class retreat to Camp Eagle. This excursion affords the class an opportunity to spend a few days away from the busyness of everyday life as they enter their final year of high school. The students often look upon this trip as the single most memorable event of their senior year and this year’s trip was no exception. The Class of 2016 took time on the retreat to establish norms for their leadership on our campus and identify areas where they as individuals can improve as leaders. Several seniors are new to our campus this year, and they were quickly welcomed into the family by their classmates. Through fast-paced team building games, extreme outdoor activities, and an environment free from normal distractions these students grew to trust one another on a level they had never before experienced. Several students even overcame their fear of heights, falling, and dark crowded spaces through the encouragement of their peers. Perhaps the greatest lesson the group learned is that leadership is often best demonstrated through faithfulness and humility. This class is on track to lead the way on our campus and will THRIVE in ways we can only imagine. I am excited to see how God will use these young men and women for His glory at Woodlands Christian and even to the ends of the earth. Humbly,
Jason Farra Campus Pastor
Photos submitted by Jason Farra.
AUGUST 28, 2015
Upper School News Middle and High School Science Students Perform Experiments Mrs. Jessica McKenney’s freshman biology class designed their own experiments to test the effect of water temperature on the respiration rate of goldfish. Note - No goldfish were harmed in this experiment.
Mrs. Jennifer Russell’s 7th grade science students explored the characteristics of living organisms by conducting an experiment to measure respiration in yeast. (See photos at right.) Mrs. Russell’s 8th grade students collaborated with one another to investigate the ideas of accuracy and precision in scientific measurements. (See photo below.)
Photos submitted by Jennifer Russell.
AUGUST 28, 2015
 
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT NEWS
Warrior Football Set To Kick-Off 2015 Season Warrior varsity football opens its regular season on the road against The John Cooper School on Friday, August 28. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Even though this is an away game, Cooper is just a short drive from Woodlands Christian so come out and support your Warrior football team. The team doesn’t return for a home game until September 25 so take advantage of this opportunity to see your Warriors in action!
Warrior Volleyball Continues Its Winning Ways The Warrior varsity volleyball team is on an eight game winning streak. The team defeated Rosehill Christian in their Tuesday night match, 3-0. Another home match is on tap Thursday, August 27 when the Warriors face Katy St. John XXIII. The matches begin with the junior varsity squad playing at 5:00 p.m. followed by the varsity match at 6:00 p.m. The Covenant Christian tournament in Conroe will be played August 27-29, not August 20-22 as previously announced. Please make note of this schedule change. Go Warrior volleyball!
Congratulations to Luke Hudson on being named to the Preseason Private School All Greater Houston Football Team by the Touchdown Club of Houston.
All School Fall Sports Pep Rally & Fellowship Wednesday, September 2 5:45 - 8:00 p.m. David Gym/SLC AUGUST 28, 2015
 
All School News Dads Wanted! Qualifications desired - a heart for prayer. Join the dads of Woodlands Christian to pray for our students and our school on the first Sunday of every month at 7:00 p.m. The first meeting is Sunday, September 6. Please meet in front of the Timothy Building. Questions? Contact Drew Howard at drewdhoward@gmail.com
Moms In Prayer
Thursday mornings beginning August 27 8:00 a.m. Room 309 (lower school deck) The Woodlands Christian Moms In Prayer group invites all moms, grandmas, aunts, any woman desiring to pray scripturally and specifically for our children and our school to join them for a powerful time of prayer. For more information please contact Jerri Mortensen at jerriandcurt@yahoo.com
Faith Through The Fire A Study of 1 Peter
PTF Ladies Bible Study Begins September 9 $40 per player 1:30 p.m. Library
(includes dinner, drinks and door prizes)
Sherry McClure will present Faith Through The Fire, an eight
This is a social doubles tournament for Word of God to learn about week study in the beginner through advanced players. having a faith that will be proven genuine.
MaterialsChristian will beAcademy. distributed All proceeds benefit The Woodlands
during the first class. So that we may have adequate materials, please contact Shawn Lusk if you are interested in attending. luskfamily@mac.com AUGUST 28, 2015
Parent Information Nights
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Note From The Clinic We are committed to providing our students with the best nursing care possible during the school day. Parents, we need your assistance in doing all that we can to make Woodlands Christian a healthy, happy place! For the well-being of our school community, please keep your student(s) home from school if any of the following symptoms are present — • • • • •
A fever of 100.5 Suspected contagious disease (including head lice) Vomiting or diarrhea Student exhibits signs of a severe stomachache, headache or earache Inability to remain in class due to illness or injury
Students must be fever, vomiting and diarrhea free for 24 hours, without the use of symptom reducing medication, before returning to school. If you have any questions, please contact our school nurses, Felicia Noah and Angela Kontor at nurse@twca.net For the complete health clinic policy, see pages 18-19 in The Woodlands Christian Academy Student/Parent Handbook. Click here to view the handbook.
Thank you!
$40 per player (includes dinner, drinks and door prizes) This is a social doubles tournament for beginner through advanced players. All proceeds benefit The Woodlands Christian Academy.
AUGUST 28, 2015