AcademyCovenant

Starting Fall of 2012

“A Classical and

Distinctly Christian

Education”

E-Newsletter

JULY 2012 / VOLUME 08

From the AdministratorBy Karen Stafford.…………………………………….…..pg. 1

Schedule/Supply list..…..…………......….…....…pg. 2

School Calendar……….…………………...………pg. 3

Clothing Guidelines……..…….………………..pg. 4

Books for Loan ……………...……………………..pg. 5

Sneak Peak…………………………………….…….. pg. 6

The Return to Classical Standards…..…….pg. 7

Covenant AcademyJuly 2012 Volume 08

Table of ContentsThe Covenant Academy Newsletteris a monthly publication of Covenant Academy, Lafayette, LA.

Publisher and Editor: Shelby StaffordContributor and Editor: Karen Stafford

Contact

Address:Covenant Academy1700 East Willow StreetLafayette, LA 70501

Phone: (337)- 290- 6749

Email: karengstafford@bellsouth.netWeb: http://covenantacademyla.org/#/home

“Education without values, as useful

as it is, seems rather to make man a

more clever devil.”

C.S. Lewis

“A Classical and Distinctly Christian Education”

From the AdministratorJuly 2012 pg. 1

August 15 marks the first day of school for the Covenant Academy graduating class of 2025. How

privileged I feel to be involved in this ministry from the very beginning and to have the opportunity

to serve the families of Covenant Academy.

We have dedicated this issue to pertinent information that incoming students and families will need.

Remember that all of our documents can be found in their entirety on our website:

www.covenantacademyla.org, under the “Documents” tab. If you have not taken the time to read

our parent/student handbook, please try to do so before classes begin.

As always, continue to pray that God would richly bless our school as we seek to honor Him in all of

our teaching.

In Christ,Karen Stafford

July 2012 pg. 2

8:00-8:30 8:30-9:30 9:30-9:50 9:55-10:25 10:30-11:25 11:30-12:00 12:00-12:30 12:35-1:00 1:00-2:45

Bible and hymns

Math Break Spell to Write and Read

Storytime/centers

Lunch Recess Alternating:MusicArtScience

Literature

Kindergarten Schedule

• 3 ring binder with inner pockets (1 ½”)• Standard ruled notebook paper, 4 pkgs• Ruler• Fine-tipped dry erase markers• 2 boxes #2 Pencils • Large pink erasers• Crayons (24 count)• 4 pack Red pencils• Blunt-tipped scissors• 8 Glue sticks• Post-it type color tabs• Zipper pouch for pencils and supplies• Colored map pencils• 1 box wet wipes• Large box of tissues

School Supply ListKindergarten 2012-2013

(Students will need to bring a sack lunch and

drink.)

(Children will attend

chapel during this time every

Wednesday)

Drop off begins at 7:25 - School begins 7:50

Pick up at 2:45

July 2012 pg. 3

AUGUST 2012AUGUST 2012AUGUST 2012AUGUST 2012AUGUST 2012AUGUST 2012AUGUST 2012AUGUST 2012AUGUST 2012AUGUST 2012AUGUST 2012AUGUST 2012AUGUST 2012AUGUST 2012SundaySunday MondayMonday TuesdayTuesday WednesdayWednesday ThursdayThursday FridayFriday SaturdaySaturday

29 30 31 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1st Day of School1st Day of School 1st Day of School1st Day of School

drop off begins 7:25 AMdrop off begins 7:25 AMschool begins 7:50 AMschool begins 7:50 AM

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31 1

2 3 Notes:Notes:

Fall 2012-Spring 2013 School Calendar

First day of school: August 15Last day of school: May 29

Full calendar

Drop off begins at 7:25 AMSchool begins 7:50 AM

Pick up is at 2:45 PM

Drop off begins at 7:25 AMSchool begins 7:50 AMPick up is at 2:45 PM

New student/parent

orientation. 6:00 at school campus.

July 2012 pg. 4

COVENANT ACADEMYCLOTHING GUIDELINES

2012-2013

Boys School Clothing: Pants: khaki or navy slacks Shirts: white, light blue , navy polos, or white button-downs Sweaters: navy Shoes: brown or black leather or conservative tennis shoes with socks

Girls School Clothing: Pants: khaki or navy slacks Skirts/ Jumpers: khaki, plaid, or navy skirts or jumpers (dark plaid only-no pastels) Blouses: white, light blue, navy, red polos or white blouses Sweaters: navy, white, or red Shoes: brown or black leather, or conservative tennis shoes with socks

Clarifications:1. All skirts and jumpers must be at least knee-length. Shorts must not be shorter than

one student’s hand width (measured across the palm), above the knee.2. All pants and shorts must have a belt, and all shirts must be tucked in.3. Sweaters may be pull-over, cardigan or vest (hoods and zippers are excluded).4. Exclusions: stripes, embroidery (other than a school emblem), skorts, cargo pants/

shorts, sweatshirts, distracting styles (e.g. dyed or unkempt hair, boys’ earrings, no show or wild socks,torn clothes, etc.).

5. Dress Shorts (khaki or navy) may be worn August, September, October, April, and May

Covenant Academy 2012-2013 Student/Parent Handbook

29

July 2012 pg. 5

Questions about Classical Education?Our goal is to compile a resource

library for parents who wish to learn more about the classical style of

learning.

Titles available for loan on Kindle: On Secular Education by R.L. DabneyThe Gospel and the Mind by Bradley G. GreenWisdom and Eloquence: A Christian Paradigm for Classical Learning by Charles EvansThe Case for Classical Christian Education by Douglas Wilson

Several print titles are available for loan upon request.

Contact Karen Stafford for more information.

Suggestions for items to donate

• balls• jump ropes• books. See our Amazon wish list• playground toys

Ways you can support Covenant Academy

Here’s how it works: Visit Target.com/ tcoe or call 1-800-316-6142 to designate our school, then use your REDcard whenever you shop. When you use your REDcard® (Target Credit Card®,Target Debit Card®or Target® Visa® Credit Card),Target® will donate up to 1% of your purchases to the eligible K–12 school of your choice.

Shop at Albertsons and have them donate a percentage of your purchase to Covenant Academy. Contact Karen Stafford if you need an Albertsons Community Partners Card

July 2012 pg. 6

Snea

k Pe

ek o

f ou

r cl

assr

oom

!

A common confusion afflicts those who confront

the problems caused by “relaxed standards.” In

our calling and vocation as educators, these

relaxed standards are of course academic

standards, but the same problem can readily be

seen in every area of life.

As standards fall, there will always be a certain

number of people who are distressed by it all.

They would like to raise the standard; they would

like to “tighten up,” but they are afraid that

“others” will not tolerate it. The mess is the way it

now “has to be.” Part of the reason we assume

others will not accept a return to rigor is that we

interpret any amount of resistance as evidence of

an upcoming fight to the death. This is nothing

less than a failure of nerve on our part.

We assume that a return to standards will

provoke some sort of mass revolt, and that we

will lose what little influence we have remaining.

But as we consider the secular educational world,

chasing first after this reform and then after that

one, we should recognize that our culture is

beginning to develop an ache for the older

discipline. When that discipline arrives, there will

of course be noise and thunder ruckus when an

undisciplined three-year-old finally gets a

genuine spanking. But the child needs the

discipline, and on a fundamental level wants it,

noise notwithstanding.

In the midst of our educational morass, we have

been called to raise the standard of classical

Christian excellence in education. Now the

phrase “excellence in education” is hackneyed,

and it is certainly overdone by the enemies of

excellence as they parade their wares. But we

must not abandon the genuine to show our

disapproval of the counterfeit. Just because the

current government education fraud talks about

excellence does not mean we should react and

call for a “return to the lousy.”

So what does genuine excellence mean? Prior to

any given curriculum choices, it refers first to an

attitude – an attitude of the classical mind. We

decide, before we begin, that we will not tailor

our curriculum to suit the student; rather, we

educate the student so that he conforms to, and

masters, the curriculum. The process of

education is larger than we are, and it transcends

the generations currently alive. We do not set the

pace according to the whims of a sullen kid

muttering in the back row. The pace is being

called by Homer and Jeremiah, Virgil and

Athanasius, Shakespeare and Bunyan, Van Til

and Lewis.

Will modern kids put up with this? Will their

parents? Of course they will – they will embrace

the opportunity to work with educators who

have the courage of their convictions. If we

recognize the opportunity we have, our schools

are going to see remarkable growth. If we seek

growth through compromising standards, we

may still grow, but the same way a cancer does.

But if we stand firm, we will see great blessing.

As C.S. Lewis put it his essay “The Weight of

Glory,” “The only people who achieve much are

those who want knowledge so badly that they

seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable.

Favorable conditions never come.” Those who

recognize this make their favorable conditions.

The Return to Classical Standardsby Douglas Wilson

July 2012 pg. 7