Today was the last day of class for the high schoolers. They have finals Monday through Friday next week. Middle schoolers have class on Monday and finals on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In orchestra, we autographed the score of “Genesis,” reflected on the year, and prayed for each other. We had great weather for the last day of class, which meant that about half the student body was outside all day long.
It seemed half the school was outside, especially by 7th period!
Study hall was quite funny. Our normal room (the cafeteria) was filled with large black display boards…
One of my study hall kids was actually helping set up the art show!
The art show is for Sunday’s Spring Concert. The choir was also getting ready for the concert:
Choir kids gear up for Sunday's big performance
The auditorium is adjacent to the cafeteria, so even if there had been space for the students, they would have been distracted by the music! There were distractions outside, too:
A Spanish class broke a piñata right outside study hall. At least one of my students joined the candy rush.
The idea of a 7th period study hall on the last day of class was almost comical. There were distractions inside and outside, so I just let all the kids go outside and play soccer/basketball/frisbee.
At the end of the day we had an extended chapel. It started with worship led by the student chapel band.
For the last time, this group of students led worship.
Emotions ran high as the students gathered together for the last time as one group. There was a mixture of excitement over the summer, sadness about departing friends, and anxiety about the unknowns of the future.
Though normally separate, the middle and high school combined for this last chapel.
Then the chaplain, Sam Stemple, had all the non-seniors who are not returning next year come to the front of the auditorium and say where they are going next year.
Each of the departing underclassmen said their names and their next destination.
Our director Tim Shuman concluded the service with a short message to the students. It was a rather emotional message, as this was Tim’s last chapel at BFA. He has been here 24 years, and his wife Sandee has been here 29! He shared that his prayer for the students has always been that they would know God better, know His truth better, and know how they fit into God’s plan of creation.
Tim Shuman gives his final chapel message
He had a cast on his arm because he recently had a mysterious infection that caused swelling in his elbow. He has recovered from the surgery; we are thankful that he was able to get better in time for the last chapel.
