Chaplain’s Column

New school year is here

The school year is quickly approaching and all of the exciting summer camps, vacation bible schools and other activities are coming to an end.

What should students and parents do to prepare for another exciting year of education? Can there be an integration of spirituality along with school preparation?

The answer is a resounding yes!

As a former science instructor and school administrator, I know so well all of the emotions that both educators, parents and students experience. For some teachers it can be a daunting task to shift from vacation mode back to the routine rigor of preparing lesson plans and decorating the classroom. For parents it may be the pressure to get all of the school shopping done and to finally get the kids registered at school. For the students, one of the most difficult transitions is getting back to the habit of going to bed early and preparing mentally to focus on learning again.

Here are a few recommendations for our educators, parents and students as everyone prepares to enter another school year:

*Parents, take some time before school starts to pray for your children and their teachers. Pray for everyone’s safety and the learning environment of your child.

*Communicate your expectations to your child’s teacher early and establish those lines of communication so that everyone is on the same page.

*Parents, talk to your children about their thoughts, excitement or fears about the upcoming school year. Provide them with practical solutions to address their concerns, use your spiritual resources and seek assistance from a school counselor if necessary.

*Teachers, pray for your students and their parents. Oftentimes teachers get the brunt of parents emotional struggles during the school year. As a result, you will have to be spiritually fit to tackle the challenges of teaching and meeting the needs of the parents.

*Parents, try to utilize resources at your house of worship to help your child make a smooth transition from one grade to another. Sometimes those persons who consistently work with your child from a faith perspective can also help them address some of their concerns at school.

*Take a deep breath and plan your approach for getting everything done as much as possible before school starts. Do what you can do and seek help from others to do those things you cannot accomplish on your own.

I am anticipating that all of the children, parents and teachers connected with Naval Air Station Corpus Christi will have an exciting and adventurous school year!

WORSHIP SERVICES

ABOARD NASCC:

Protestant Worship Service

Base Protestant Chapel

Sunday Service: 10 a.m.

Catholic Worship Service

Catholic Chapel

Daily Mass Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 11:30 a.m.

Sunday Mass: 9 a.m.