By 12:45 there is a influx of students pouring through the doors. Parents busily remind their littlest children that jackets go downstairs on the coat rack just outside the common room (and not on the floor), to go potty before class, and to do all of this quickly. Older kids cheerfully greet one another and gather in their classrooms boisterously discussing the past week while they wait for classes to begin.
At 1:00 all is quiet in the hallways again. Period 1 classes start promptly, and we jump right into the fun.
1:45 is the beginning of Period 2. This doesn't affect anyone in the nursery, pre-school, or introductory level classes, but all other students pour into the halls and (with a bit of supervision for the younger students) find their way to their next classes. Period 2 begins immediately and the learning continues.
2:30 Between Periods 2 and 3 we all gather in the common room downstairs. This is time for corporate prayer, announcements, and learning/rehearsing our timeline. Each year the timeline is built upon from the year before. We begin with Creation and recite the major events of the world up to the date that we are studying on this particular week. It is not mandatory that newer students go back and memorize all of the previous years' materials, but they certainly benefit from hearing the context of events.
After timeline students move quickly to their Period 3 classes and have a few minutes for (non-messy) snacks, drinks, bathroom breaks, and informal chatter. Lessons resume at 2:40 with casual discussions over the last remaining snacks.
3:25 is the beginning of Period 4, the last class of the day.
4:10 is the official end of the FAITH day. Teacher aides and clean-up volunteers help to put the classrooms back in order while students busily chatter with friends in the common-room and parking lot.
It is always a busy day, as is evident by the amount of materials that moms try to juggle as they usher their families back to the car. Costumes, crafts, bags, and papers are tossed into the trunk as final good-byes are waved to friends. Most of our preschoolers sleep on the drive home, and a few of the moms wish they could join in.
So, in short, it looks like this:
PERIOD 1
1:00-1:45
PERIOD 2
1:45-2:30
Break
2:30-2:40
PERIOD 3
2:40-3:25
PERIOD 4
3:25-4:10
Where your child is in the building for each period is determined by their level, and will be explained in detail on Orientation day. Check this year's schedule for more information.
