ALL SCHOOL NEWS
Friday, October 22, 2004

For the fourth year in a row, Shannon Forest Christian School (SFCS) has been named the South Carolina Physical Fitness Champion of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness (PCPFS). By achieving state champion status, SFCS continues to address the concern over the ever-growing epidemic of childhood physical inactivity and obesity. The United States Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that obesity will soon pass tobacco use as the leading cause of preventable death in our country. “Starting a routine of physical activity and fitness at an early age is critical to the health and well-being of all of us,” says SFCS Athletic Director, Rita Harrell. “Taking part in this program and achieving state champion status entices the children to raise the bar to a higher level of performance each year.” Once again, the school will proudly display a certificate of State Champion status and the 114 students who passed the 2003-2004 school year physical fitness tests will be awarded State Champion emblem patches. “This is not a skill test,” continued Harrell. “It is a test of drive and discipline. With practice, all students are capable of reaching the goal of a passing score.” Testing for 2004-2005 school year is currently underway as SFCS continuously strives to honor God with strong minds, souls and bodies!

Congratulations 2003-2004 Physical Fitness Champions!

Operation Christmas Child Spreads Love Around The World

The Samaritan’s Purse website writes: “Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through giftfilled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. This program of Samaritan’s Purse provides an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on mission project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas— Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift. Along with shoe box gifts, millions of children are given Gospel booklets in their own language. In 2003, this effort collected over 6.6 million shoe box gifts worldwide and distributed them to children in some 95 countries.” The Shannon Forest Christian School (SFCS) Key Club will be collecting shoeboxes for this worthwhile ministry from Wednesday, October 13, through Friday, November 19. Please bring shoeboxes to Miss Jessica Gilbert’s Room, Upper School, Room 205. Each box is worth five service points, but project forms must be filled out to be included. Project forms may be downloaded and printed off the SFCS website.

Meet Amber Thompson!

Amber Thompson

She may be a new teacher at SFCS this year, but she is a very familiar face around campus! Amber Thompson is the latest teacher to be featured in our list of new teachers for the 2004-2005 school year. She is currently teaching 8th Grade Pre-Algebra Advanced, 6th Grade History and the 6th and 8th Grade Life Skills and Study Hall periods. Thompson is also responsible for two Upper School Study Halls. She graduated in May of 2003 from North Greenville College with a degree in Christian Studies. Another familiar face on campus is her husband, David Thompson! He is the Assistant Athletic Director and Physical Education teacher at SFCS. The Thompson’s have been married just over one year and though they currently do not have any children of their own, the couple consider the students at SFCS to be part of their extended family! When not teaching, Thompson enjoys scrap booking and reading. If you’d like to make her day…send her to her favorite place to kick back and relax…the beach!

Take Advantage of GREAT Reading With the Take-Home Christian Book Fair!

Reading books that enrich the soul is such a vital part of a child’s education! For this very reason, SFCS has chosen to participate in the Thomas Nelson Enrichment Program, a Take-Home Christian Book Fair. Students have already brought home a catalog displaying a wide variety of Christian products from Thomas Nelson Publishers, the largest publisher of Bibles and Christian inspirational books in the world. Please consider ordering one or more products for your family. In addition to providing great tools for the family, SFCS will receive 40% of the retail sales in library products and cash. All order and money need to be turned in to the school by Wednesday, October 27. Checks should be made payable to Shannon Forest Christian School. All products will be delivered to your child in their classroom within three to four weeks after the company receives our school’s order. The SFCS Library staff - Susan Bellew, Kathy Malphrus and Michelle Brown look forward to some great Christian books arriving in our homes and community as well as increasing the resources of our school’s Library!

SFCS CPR & AED Trained & Ready

Matt Collom looks on as Gina Powell practices her skills

In the spring of 2004, the SFCS Booster Club purchased two Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machines for our school. SFCS staff members from Administrative/Support, Athletic Department and faculty were selected to attend a four-hour training course in administering CPR and the in the use of the AEDs. An AED is a device that is used with CPR to restart the heart in case of sudden cardiac arrest. CPR, along with defibrillation, is the primary treatment for patients in cardiac arrest. SFCS had a total of ten people attend the training course. Matt Collom, an experienced CMT states that, “ There have been several instances in Greenville County over the past few years, where students have suffered cardiac arrest while competing in athletics.” He added that, “this training is not only to assure the care of our students, but it also enables our staff to assist visitors on our campus to proceed with possible life-saving procedures.” AEDs are being placed in schools, churches, theaters, shopping centers, universities, airports and airliners… almost any place where people gather. Now, SFCS is updated in the care and support of our students. AEDs are located, with trained personnel standing by, in the Upper School Main Gymnasium and the 300 Building of the Lower School Campus.

SFCS Raises An Astounding $2,005.55 For Piedmont Women’s Center!

Piedmont Women's Center staff with SFCS class representatives.

The spirit of giving was alive and well at the recently held SFCS Baby Bottle Drive to benefit the Piedmont Women’s Center. Hats off to the junior class who raised a winning amount of $533.65! The total amount for the entire fundraiser was $2.005.55! The donations were presented at a special chapel on Wednesday, October 20. Donations were delivered in giant baby bottles that were collected according to grade. Congratulations to the SFCS junior class for raising the top amount in this important fund raiser! They will enjoy an ice cream party for their hard work and devotion.

Picture Make-Up Day

Didn’t like your smile…hair a mess? If so, you’ll want to mark Tuesday, October 26, on your calendar. Previously taken pictures have been sent home. If you do not like these photos and want a retake, you must return the package to the photographer on retake day. If a student did not have their picture taken, please pick up a form in the appropriate school office.

The Shannon Forest Missions Committee Presents…A Weekend of Spiritual Conviction and Renewal Cultivating Sexual Wholeness in the Church and Family

Saturday, November 6, and Sunday, November 7 Guest Speaker: John Freeman, Harvest USA , www.harvestusa.org

Schedule of Events

	October 15, 2004 - "SFCS Grandparents’ and Special..."
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