The Friday Finish – September 6, 2024
Celebrating 10 Years of New Family Ties
More than two dozen Red Bird Christian School dorm alumni returned last week to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the reopening of the dorms. The group returning was largely made up of international students that began coming when the dorms reopened in 2014. It was a true homecoming for them because they were able to get hugs from dorm parents and staff; share where they are and what they’re doing; and eat the home cooking they’ve missed since leaving for college.
Staff had been talking for months about having a celebration of the reopening, but it was the return of Fernanda Bray (a Mexican national that moved in that fall in 2014), and her husband, Jairus, for a baby shower on Labor Day weekend that sparked the idea of issuing a call for dorm alumni to gather. Jairus, also a RBCS alum, has lots of family and friends in the area so it was a chance for them to celebrate the joy of the expected birth since he and Fernanda were stationed in Hawaii with the U.S. Navy for several years.
The dorms had to be closed in 2010 as a part of the financial cuts to keep the school open. Through holy inspiration and research, the late Dr. O. Taylor Collins proposed the idea to bring international students to provide financial stability to the dorm program. He asked former girls dorm parent, Gail Nantz, to head up the program. Gail took charge of the incoming girls at the newly remodeled Bonnie Adams Lawson Dormitory and quickly enlisted her niece, Catrina, to be “mom” to the boys at the J.L. “Johnnie” Turner Dormitory.
The home cooked meal cooked by Gail’s sisters, Ruthie and Nettie, was the appetizer for the entrée of catching up as the group gathered afterwards. A dessert of singing those choruses they learned during their dorm and school days topped off the evening with a group photo. Most were able to stay over until Sunday morning where they heard Jairus preach and tell about their new calling to church planting in southwest Texas.
AdventHealth Expands Partnership to School
Residents in the Red Bird River valley have enjoyed stable medical services provided by AdventHealth at the Red Bird Clinic location at Queendale since 2011, and AdventHealth has just added more health services on site at Red Bird Christian School (RBCS). A Facebook posting this week introduced Courtney Sizemore, CMA, to our student families and community. She will be available during school hours a couple of days each week to coordinate AdventHealth mental health counseling, psychiatry, and psychology services for our students. Courtney and other AdventHealth staff were also in attendance at the Back to School Bash a few weeks ago to meet our Cardinal families.
“Christmas time’s a comin’, and I know it won’t be long”
That’s the refrain of a bluegrass Christmas song popular in the mountains of Kentucky, and it’s a good refrain to announce the opening of Red Bird Mission Christmas assistance programs on Tuesday. Supporters have been sending and volunteers have been organizing items in the Christmas rooms of the Schaeffer Building since last Christmas season. Parents and guardians of children that fall below the poverty line and our senior citizens will be signing up during the month of September and boxes will begin to be filled in October.
The application for child assistance is quite lengthy because volunteers and staff will be recording clothing and shoe sizes; preferences for games, toys, Bible and reading books; as well as bedding and school supply needs. Community Outreach staff record specifics on location for the elderly so that the baskets delivered by DeWall Senior Center staff and volunteers can deliver a basket of fresh fruit, a blanket or throw, winter hat and gloves along with a special Christmas card and devotional material.
School Homecoming Challenge Starting to Roll
Many have begun to mail in donations or give online to the 2024 Homecoming Challenge for Red Bird Christian School. Those giving thus far in the first 14 days have contributed $30,980! That puts the amount received at 31% of our goal for the Homecoming Challenge.
The challenge was first initiated by a member of the Class of 1967 that has now raised 50% of the $10,000 that will be matched dollar for dollar. We are challenging other alumni classes, church groups, and individuals to create challenge groups at work or in their neighborhood to raise support to cover the approximately $6,500 tuition gap for each student at Red Bird Christian School.
Remember, this is not about a financial goal but is about creating opportunities for students to be leaders in our region and throughout the world! Spread the word and start your challenge to help our students towards success!
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