Our track team recently wrapped up a successful season, with our students proudly representing BBS. The team was coached by Mrs. Connell and Caitlin Rogers, and included more than 40 student-athletes. Weekly meets were held at either Bright or St. Peter’s, where many of our students consistently placed in their events. The season concluded with a championship meet hosted at Chattanooga Christian School last week. The results from that meet are listed below:

600 meters
Bree Adams -3rd place - 3rd grade girls
Carter Krix - 4th place - 4th grade girls
Chandler Rogers - 1st place - 4th grade boys

50 meters
EJ Ray - 2nd place - 3rd grade boys
Jace White - 2nd place - 4th grade boys
Jude Browne - 4th place - 4th grade boys

100 meters
EJ Ray - 2nd place - 3rd grade boys
Alexis Walker - 1st place - 4th grade girls 
Jace White - 1st place - 4th grade boys
Cooper Lamb - 4th place - 4th grade boys
Eylan Morgan - 1st place - 5th grade girls

400 meters
Aubree Henson - 1st place - 3rd grade girls
Bree Adams - 2nd place - 3rd grade girls
Alexis Walker - 1st place - 4th grade girls
Chandler Rogers - 1st place - 4th grade boys
Cooper Lamb - 3rd place - 4th grade boys
Eylan Morgan - 1st place - 5th grade girls

Relay 4x200
Girls team: Alexis Walker, Aubree Henson, Jossie van der Meer, & Eylan Morgan - 2nd place
Boys team: Jude Browne, Jace White, Chandler Rogers, EJ Ray - 2nd place

The most impressive part of this meet, however, was how the Bobcats placed overall. While most of their 5th-grade teammates were away on the Tybee Island trip, these amazing athletes still managed to finish:
Girls team - 3rd place overall
Boys team - 2nd place overall

Day three of our trip is quickly coming to a close, and it’s been another exciting and educational day. The schedule today closely mirrored yesterday’s, beginning with morning classes focused on the diverse wildlife native to this region.

Students had the opportunity to interact with a variety of animals, including snakes, turtles, a crocodile, and more. One of the highlights was dissecting a shark, during which students discovered fascinating items in its stomach—an unforgettable hands-on learning experience.

Later, the group learned about different types of fishing nets and even tried their hand at catching marine life in the ocean, adding a fun and practical element to the day.

The afternoon brought a special surprise: a dolphin-watching tour that thrilled everyone. The day concluded with a cozy campfire, complete with s’mores and a meaningful evening devotion led by Dr. Corcoran.

We also enjoyed celebrating Lillie Kate’s birthday with special cake! We’ll be up early tomorrow, aiming to depart by 7:00 AM.

Over 200 pictures have been uploaded to the school’s Facebook page.

Our first day at Burton 4-H Camp is coming to a close, and it has been a full and exciting one! The students began stirring a little after 6:00 AM, and by 6:30, they were already outside exploring. Right outside our cabins, we have volleyball and basketball courts, tetherball, gaga ball, and even a giant Jenga game—all of which the students can enjoy during their free time.

Here’s a quick recap of today’s activities:

We kicked off the morning with a class called Cheloniology, where the students learned all about sea turtles. Next, we dove into our first dissection of the trip—squid! The students were fascinated and learned a lot during this hands-on activity.

After lunch, we studied salt marsh ecology and then headed out to the marsh itself to explore it firsthand. The students spent time catching crabs and other small animals, and even treated themselves to a classic mud facial!

From there, we went to the beach for some well-deserved free time. Students enjoyed splashing in the water, building sandcastles, tossing beach balls, and simply relaxing together.

After dinner, we wrapped up the day with a beach ecology class, where students learned about the unique animals and ecosystems found along the shoreline.

Photos from today’s adventures have been uploaded to the school’s Facebook page. Be sure to check them out!

A few years ago, Tennessee began offering Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs) to Hamilton County residents who meet certain eligibility requirements and complete the application process. Several BBS families currently participate in this program.

This blog post introduces a new scholarship opportunity that is available to many of our families. This program has fewer income restrictions than the ESA program. The Educational Freedom Scholarship (EFS), launching for the 2025–26 school year. There will be two scholarship options available:

• 10,000 scholarships based on financial need (for families earning up to 300% of the poverty level)

• 10,000 scholarships available to families regardless of income

You can find the most up-to-date information about the Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarship here.

The State of Tennessee will administer the EFS program, including application processing and scholarship awards. The application portal will open on May 15th.

An application must be completed for each eligible student in grades K–12. For each submission, the appropriate application pool must be selected. Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis for completed applications. In future years, priority and preference will be given to current scholarship recipients who remain eligible. We are encouraging all interested families to apply this year.

To be eligible, a student must:

• Be a resident of Tennessee

• Be entitled to attend a public school in any grade from kindergarten through twelve (K–12)

Brainerd Baptist School is a Category III school and meets all requirements to participate in this program. We also want to our families to know that the legislation for EFS specifies that participating schools are not required to change any of their current policies or practices regarding their creed, mission and values, curriculum, admissions, financial aid, or hiring to take part. If at any time we feel like our independence is impacted, Brainerd Baptist School will no longer participate in the program.
While we are still working to learn all the details of this new program, we are happy to help you in any way we can. You can contact Chris Shields for assistance.

We often discuss the importance of creating a learning environment that provides opportunities for all students. While we frequently celebrate achievements in athletics, our outstanding art program, our chorus, and even our Shakespeare on the Playground performances, we also recognize accomplishments in academics. Recently, one of our students competed in an international history competition. Fifth-grade Social Studies teacher Deb Gruner shares more about Porter’s impressive achievement below.

Fifth-grade student Porter Morrison recently competed in the Regional International Academic History  Competition and finished in third place.  International Academic Competitions are open to all students worldwide who qualify on the local, regional, and national level.  Porter qualified for the regional competition by scoring a 96 on the regional qualifying exam in January which enabled him to compete in the regional competition on February 2nd.   His score in the regional competition was enough to qualify him for the national competition in Orlando, Florida, later this year.  Way to go Porter!!

This fall, 8th graders at Girls Preparatory School read Animal Farm by George Orwell. After finishing the novel, their teachers challenged them to write their own children’s books with an allegorical message, similar to Orwell’s work. As part of their final exam, GPS 8th graders visited Brainerd Baptist to share their stories. The students from GPS and BBS gathered together to read their books, ask questions, and engage in lively discussions. It was a fun and inspiring opportunity for our students to see that anyone can be an author and bring their own stories to life.

Brainerd Baptist students also had the chance to share their work, and the classrooms were filled with conversations and laughter. It was a wonderful celebration of the hard work and creativity from both schools this semester. A special highlight was welcoming former Brainerd Baptist students, now GPS Bruisers, back on campus to share their stories as well. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with local schools and celebrate everyone’s success in the classroom!

The SAIS Board of Trustees recently informed our school that we have been re-accredited for another five-year period, spanning July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030. This achievement is the culmination of a comprehensive self-study that identified key areas of growth and self-improvement for our school. The SAIS accreditation process encompasses all aspects of school life and operations, ensuring we meet the highest standards of educational excellence.

SAIS is recognized as the premier accreditation organization in our region, serving over 400 schools across fifteen states, as well as in Mexico, Honduras, and St. Martin. As part of this rigorous process, a team of educators from other independent schools in our region visited our campus in November. Over two and a half days, they engaged with all constituencies, including trustees, parents, faculty, alumni, and community stakeholders. This visit involved a thorough review of our policies, programs, and adherence to standards of best practice.

The visiting team provided us with numerous commendations, highlighting the exceptional work taking place on our campus. These commendations are a testament to the dedication and commitment of our entire school community. Alongside these commendations, the team also offered several recommendations for areas where we can continue to grow and improve. We have already begun addressing these recommendations to ensure our school remains a leader in providing a high-quality educational experience.

Being re-accredited by SAIS reaffirms our commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in education. We are proud of this accomplishment and look forward to building on this foundation over the next five years.

Have you heard about the Bobcat News Network (BBN)? For many years, students at Brainerd Baptist School received their morning announcements over the PA system. However, this year, two innovative teachers, April Connell and Suzanne Breedlove, have taken this idea to the next level. They've transformed the routine task of delivering school news into a fun, engaging, and highly anticipated weekly video series.

What began as a simple idea to film a few announcements has evolved into a full-fledged production. Each week, the duo creates a 5 to 10 minute video covering the latest school news, important events, sports updates, and entertaining segments that keep students excited and involved.

What makes the show unique is its combination of information and entertainment. It features fun, student-centered content. One popular segment, "5 Questions," challenges a teacher to answer five completely random questions submitted by students — and they have to respond quickly! The BBN has also caught some interesting things on our cameras that our students have enjoyed watching each week.

To make the videos more accessible, a YouTube channel has been created to house the episodes. You can click the link to see the fun your students are getting to enjoy each week. The channel is also in the process of adding additional content from previous years, such as Christmas programs, Grandparents Day programs, and other fun videos created over time.

If you have followed the Brainerd Baptist School social media accounts, you have undoubetedly seen the hashtag #learningisfunatbbs many times. I never cease to be amazed at the fun ways in which our faculty make learning fun for our students. This past Thursday was International Pirate Day and our 4th and 5th grade teachers did not let this special day pass without incorporating it into a fun day of learning. I have asked 4th grade teacher Jesse Robinson to tell us about this day.

September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, and for the past few years, the fourth and fifth-grade teachers at BBS have celebrated by hosting pirate-themed activities in our classrooms. We transform our rooms and hallway, so when students arrive, they’re surprised to see everything looking a bit different. That’s my favorite part! When students walk down the hallway and notice the teachers dressed as pirates, they know it’s going to be an extra special day. That little moment makes all the time and energy spent preparing completely worth it.

Each classroom offers different activities. As a fourth-grade reading teacher, I give my students a pirate-themed passage and have them create a Main Idea Framework to analyze it. They also perform a pirate-themed Reader’s Theater, acting out a few swashbuckling stories, which they absolutely love!

In English, students learn pirate vocabulary and phrases, then use them to write a short passage. After completing their writings, they enjoy a round of Cannon Ball Toss (Cornhole) to wrap up the lesson. Meanwhile, in math, students embark on a “treasure hunt” of sorts, solving pirate-themed multi-digit multiplication problems. This reinforces their confidence in using the standard algorithm while keeping them engaged.

In fourth-grade science, students create treasure maps and use their newly acquired compass rose skills to label everything correctly. The next day, they trade maps and try to find each other’s hidden treasures. In fifth-grade science, Mrs. Gruner changes things up by hosting a pirate-themed Breakout Room activity via Google Classroom, where students must solve a series of puzzles to complete their mission.

In fifth-grade reading, students also review the Main Idea Framework with hands-on activities and the read-aloud story, Monsters in the Briny by Lynn Becker. As the class works together on the visual tool, Mrs. Cole spices things up with some wild and imaginative reasons why students might have to “walk the plank.” The class wraps up with a playful moment as she announces that everyone must walk the plank, only to reveal one set up at her door for dramatic effect!

What I love most about these activities is that, whether or not the kids realize it, they are learning. These fun days are a great way to review and reinforce skills they’ve been fine-tuning, without them even realizing how hard they’re working. It’s a win for teachers too—we love having a reason to dress up and watch the students get excited about learning.

If you have been a part of the Brainerd Baptist School community for a while, you have probably seen similar posts each summer introducing our new faculty members. I have often said that the most important part of my job is finding faculty who are the best fit for our culture and community. As we make final preparations for the upcoming school year, we are excited to introduce the new faculty and staff joining our team. We are pleased to welcome the following individuals to our faculty for the 2024-2025 year. You can click on their names to read a brief bio.

• Lauren Coughlin - 1st grade

• Dustin Crane - Bible Teacher/Chaplain

• Brittany Cunningham - K2 Assistant

• Hannah Dukes - K3 Assistant

• April Harwell - K4 Assistant

• AnnMarie Harwood Krug - K4 Assistant

• Brianne Quarles - K2 Assistant

Construction is underway in our classrooms

Since 2020, our school has completed several construction projects during the summer months that have completely transformed our campus. We have built new classrooms for 1st grade and K2, a new library, a STEM lab, The Learning Center, a new upper school office, new administrative offices, a new entryway, a new shop, and a remodeled cafeteria. Last summer, we completed a full remodel of our entire lower school, including new floors, paint, windows, furniture in all classrooms, and new bathrooms for our K3 and K4 students.

We typically have about eleven weeks over the summer when we have significantly fewer people in the building, allowing us to complete projects efficiently. We spend months planning and preparing, ensuring materials are ordered and workers are scheduled to begin work the Tuesday after Memorial Day. This summer, we are excited to take on the following projects:

2nd/3rd Grade Hallway: Last year, we completed a full remodel of our kindergarten hallway. This summer, we are undertaking a similar renovation for our 2nd and 3rd grade hallway, which is the oldest part of the building and has not been renovated in several decades. This space will be updated to match the first-grade classrooms built in 2020 with new floors, doors, ceilings, and paint.

1st Grade Bathrooms: Over the last decade, we have remodeled all student bathrooms, and these are the final ones to be completed. They will receive new floors, sinks, countertops (lowered for accessibility), paint, ceilings, lights, and bathroom stalls.

Art Studio & World Languages: These spaces are being completely redesigned and will swap rooms. Additionally, our new art studio will be expanded, and we are also moving our new kiln into this space. These rooms will have a completely new look when students return, and we can’t wait for you to see them!

These projects are made possible through the generosity of our families as they support our annual fundraisers including the auction, our Spartan Race, and the Brainerd Baptist School Annual Fund. We will post pictures on our social media pages throughout the summer.

Over the past few months, teachers at Brainerd Baptist School have collaborated to develop a new grading policy aimed at ensuring consistency across 1st - 5th grades. Historically, different grade levels have adopted their own grading policies, leading to discrepancies and confusion among parents and teachers regarding expectations from year to year. To address this issue, a committee was formed with teachers representing multiple grade levels. Serving on this committee were Abby Souder, Katie Adams, Jesse Robinson, Vikki Cole, Mindi Shoup, and Missy Henson. This group then met with each grade level to hear concerns and frustrations and also explored grading practices employed by other schools.

The objective was to formulate a clear and uniform grading policy that could be applicable across all grade levels and teachers. Starting in August during registration, our faculty will introduce and explain the new policy to parents. However, we also wanted to share it here for those overachieving parents (because, let's be honest, who else would be reading a blog about a new grading policy in May!).

The revised policy primarily focuses on two key areas requiring greater clarity: makeup work and retesting

Grading Policy

A fair grading system should accurately match student performance and effort as they demonstrate content understanding and include flexibility to meet individual needs.

Retesting (at teacher discretion): 

• If a student fails a graded test or assignment they may be given a chance to make corrections to their work 

• The teacher will give partial credit for the corrected work up to a grade of 74.

• The teacher will make a note in the gradebook that the new grade reflects the corrections made.

• After multiple retests, a parent conference will be called to discuss an action plan with the possibility of academic testing. The Learning Center will be notified and may be invited to this conference.

AR:

• If an AR test is used as a recorded grade, teachers may allow one retest per quarter for a failing grade (below 70).

Makeup Work

Illness/Medical Absence & Bereavement

• If a student misses school due to illness or bereavement, the makeup work will be given to the student upon their return to school or can be picked up/sent home with a sibling at the end of the school day.

• The student should have the work completed in the amount of days equal to the days they were absent.

Planned Absence

• If a student misses school due to travel, reading material may be provided ahead of time, but the remainder of the work will be given to the student upon their return to school.

• The student should have the work completed in the amount of days equal to the days they were absent.

Missing Work:

• If a student is missing work due to organizational skills, memory, or lack of self-management, the teacher has the discretionary option to provide the student with an opportunity to gain partial credit.

• If a student is missing work due to habitual tardiness (eight or more tardies), they will be required to return the completed work the following morning. 

We believe this new policy will better serve our students (and parents) by giving clear expectations and also help us, as a school, to be more consistent with grading across all grade levels. If you have questions or would like to discuss further, please call or email me.

Day two is well underway here on Tybee Island. The weather has been absolutely perfect today. We began our morning with the infamous shark dissection (your children learned a new word - Ichthyology). All students were able to complete the assignment - and that doesn’t always happen! After the shark dissection, the students enjoyed lunch (pizza), and then we headed to the beach for one of the favorite classes at Tybee - “Choosies,” in which students were given a lot of different choices from playing in the water, building sandcastles, hunting for shark’s teeth, looking for seashells, playing volleyball, or just relaxing. Both our lacrosse and volleyball players spent some of this time practicing for their tournaments that begin when we return.

After Choosies, the group returned to Burton and had a class called Surf Sleuth where they learned about fish nets (seine nets), and we headed back to a different part of the island where the students divided up and practiced what they had learned earlier. Ask your child if they were peanut butter or jelly on this activity. We also had some dolphins that decided to visit this area of the island while we were there.

Tonight is packed with activity as well. After dinner, we will celebrate a birthday as Ahna turns 11 today. We will then play a game called “Fishbowl,” and then we will have a devotion and s’mores by a campfire to close out our night. We will be leaving bright and early tomorrow morning with the goal being to return by normal dismissal time (or a little earlier). Atlanta traffic will play a big part in determining our arrival. We will update you via text message of our ETA. Like last night, a huge photo dump from today will be available on the school’s Facebook page.

We're wrapping up our first full day at Burton 4-H Center, and I'd like to give parents a glimpse into our day so you can see what your children (and chaperones) have been up to. While we understand that some of you may desire more frequent photo updates, our standard practice is to capture moments throughout the day and post them in the afternoon. Due to limited internet and cell coverage at the camp, posting updates in real-time is challenging and also time-consuming. Our priority is to be fully present with the students as they are doing these fun things. However, rest assured, a comprehensive photo album will be shared soon via the school’s Facebook page.

The day began with students rising between 6 and 6:30 am, depending on their assigned dormitory. Girls are accommodated together, while boys are divided into two separate dorms. We're sharing the camp with two other groups of 5th graders from Christian schools in Virginia and Augusta, GA. During free time and meals, our students mingle with theirs, but they attend classes exclusively with our group. These classes are organized into four learning groups, each named after animals found on or around the island (Manatees, Sea Turtles, Alligators, and Raccoons).

The morning featured two different classes. The first, "Cheloniology," focused on sea turtles, covering their life cycles, habitats, adaptations, and challenges. The second class, "Teuthology," explored squids and included the first dissection of the trip.

After lunch, the group participated in two additional classes: "Coastal Critters" and "Salt Marsh Ecology." In "Coastal Critters," students learned about the diverse range of animals in the coastal environment. They had hands-on experiences holding various species of snakes, a baby alligator, crabs, and several marine invertebrates. Later, they were bused out to one of the island's many saltwater marshes, where they hiked into the marsh to learn about its ecosystem and its crucial role in flood control. They also enjoyed activities such as crab chasing and snail spotting, with some adventurous students even opting for "mud facials."

After dinner, students headed to the beach for their final class of the day on beach ecology, followed by a chance to witness the sunset. Everyone is thriving and having a blast in this unique outdoor learning environment.

I am passionate about sharing the wonderful events that unfold on our campus each day. Our teachers spend a LOT of time developing learning activities that are not only needed and practical, but also stimulating for young minds. This past week was particularly busy for us brimming with various activities that our school community cherishes. Throughout the week, our students delighted in perusing the offerings at the annual Book Fair and showcasing their artistic talents at the Art Show. Culminating the week was one of the biggest events of our year - Grandparents’ Day. The festivities commenced with a delightful breakfast and was followed by a program where our students showcased a medley of songs from beloved Broadway productions. Finally, students hosted their grandparents in their classrooms where they engaged in special activities together.

This year's art show featured a fun addition—a collaborative exhibit between students from Girls Preparatory School (GPS) and Brainerd Baptist School. BBS Art Teacher, Christine van der Meer, shares her insights on this enjoyable collaboration below:

Augusta Webb, Art Teacher at GPS (a former art teacher at BBS and current BBS parent), approached me with an Instagram video showcasing a cross-grade level art collaboration from another school. We both immediately felt compelled to replicate the idea. Augusta teaches Ceramics I and II at GPS, which comprises students from grades 10-12. As we deliberated on which grade level would best tackle an illustration project like this, Kindergarten (K5) immediately came to mind. At that age, students tend to think creatively and outside the box!

I devised a lesson on careers in art, with a specific focus on "animators." We examined the meticulous details animators invest in creating a single character, enabling expressions to convey emotions without relying on words. The Kindergarteners enthusiastically embarked on designing whimsical monsters, pouring their imaginations into intricate details.

Subsequently, I forwarded our illustrations to GPS, where Mrs. Webb's students skillfully brought our visions to life, faithfully translating what they saw into tangible creations. The outcomes were truly stunning, with each artist offering a unique interpretation of the illustrations.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Augusta Webb and her Ceramics Classes for transforming our K5 illustrations into vibrant reality!

If you follow any of our social media accounts, you've probably noticed the hashtag #learningisfunatbbs. However, it's more than just a clever hashtag we use on our Facebook or X (Twitter) posts. It's a mantra we strive to embody every week at our school in various ways. One of our annual traditions each spring is a school-wide contest centered around the iconic sporting event, March Madness. While predicting winners adds excitement, there are numerous educational aspects to this activity.

We host competitions for both friends and family and our students, with prizes awarded to the top finisher in each category. While prizes are enticing, bragging rights are equally rewarding! The tournament officially commences on Thursday, so if you wish to participate, you must have your bracket completed BEFORE the games tip-off on Thursday morning. To participate, you'll need to create an account on ESPN.com. Please note: I cannot offer technical support if you encounter issues. It's advisable to fill out your bracket well in advance, so you have time to address any issues and submit your bracket.

Click here to enter this year’s challenge. The password is: Volsforthewin (this is for any Kentucky fans that choose to participate!)

We are thrilled to announce a significant overhaul of our summer camp program for the upcoming summer. We are delighted to welcome back a familiar face - Zoë Corcoran, who has been appointed as the director for both our after-school care program and Camp Bobcat. Zoë, formerly a teacher assistant in K4, is enthusiastic about taking on this new role. She has diligently planned and organized our camp and is eager to share some of the exciting new developments scheduled for this year. Please read on as she outlines some of these details below.

Brainerd Baptist School is a special place, as many of you may already know. Our goal is for Camp Bobcat to embody the same uniqueness! We want your child to feel safe and loved while having fun and learning new things. We aim for them to discover something new about each weekly theme and explore activities they enjoy. We have an amazing staff who genuinely love and engage with the children, some of whom may be familiar faces to you! We are confident that we can provide a camp where your child can have fun and enjoy themselves all summer, giving you peace of mind knowing your child is safe and having a great time!

This year, there will be several new activities at Camp Bobcat! In addition to the typical activities from the past, we are introducing various exciting activities and field trip locations! Each week will have a designated "Theme of the Week." All activities throughout the week will be related to that theme. Daily highlights will include a STEM activity, a delicious and fun snack, and a craft, all tied to the Theme of the Week. We have retained some of the field trips from previous years and added several new and exciting destinations for this year, including Top Golf’s Mini Putt Putt Course, The Creative Art Place, Nooga Splash, The Little Debbie Playground/Imagination Station, and many more! We are thrilled for another fantastic year at Camp Bobcat and hope you will join us!

If you are currently exploring options for your child this upcoming summer break, Camp Bobcat might be just what you’re looking for! If you want more information about costs, schedules, and activities, visit our page dedicated to all things Camp Bobcat. If you would like to register your child for Camp Bobcat, you may do so here.

The following is a guest post by World Languages teacher April Connell. In the post below, she shares her experiences from her time spent in Spain this summer. This was the fourth time that our school sent Ms. Connell to a Spanish-speaking country allowing her to immerse herself in the language and cultures. In previous years, she has spent time in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Peru. This time is invaluable as she returns to our campus and shares her experiences with our students.

Typically, when you hear the expression “study abroad,” your mind tends to conjure an image of a fresh-faced college student embarking on a journey to learn a language or specialize in a particular field, living with a host family, and immersing themselves in a culture entirely different from their own.

Here at Brainerd Baptist School, I refer to this experience as “Professional Development,” and that's precisely how I spent my summer in Bilbao, Spain, albeit without the 'fresh-faced college student' label. Thanks to the numerous opportunities that our administration encourages and provides for our faculty, I had the privilege of enrolling at the Hemingway Institute of Bilbao, situated along the banks of the Nervión River in Northern Spain. I resided with a host family, indulged in local cuisine, and diligently completed my homework every night. Although my primary goal was not to learn Spanish for the first time, I embarked on this journey to reimmerse myself in the language and expand my understanding of this unique corner of the Spanish-speaking world. Interestingly, this particular region, known as Basque Country, boasts some of the deepest cultural and communal roots in all of Spain, with its primary language being Euskera. In fact, Euskera, predating the Romance languages, is widely spoken in the streets and shops and is the exclusive medium of instruction in all of the region's elementary schools. Witnessing a community celebrate its heritage and pass down its traditions to the next generation is a truly beautiful experience.

Integral to this culture are the numerous festivals that honor various Saints, including San Fermín and the Running of the Bulls. While I did not personally witness the "adventurous" individuals running from the angry bulls in the neighboring town of Pamplona, I did observe local groups paying homage to the event by playing music, donning red attire, and dancing in the streets of Bilbao. On another occasion, I crossed the Nervión River aboard a suspended cable car ferry, known as the Vizcaya Bridge, and watched as the entire village dressed in blue and white plaid while singing the songs of their ancestors during the San Cristóbal festival.

While the Iberian ham and tapa-like pintxos were undeniably delicious, and the art and architecture of the Guggenheim Museum were breathtaking, what I cherished most were my teacher and my classes. My fellow classmates hailed from Germany, Switzerland, the USA, Russia, and Morocco. Through them, I gained insights into various cultures and customs from around the world, all while conversing exclusively in Spanish. It was a truly enriching experience.

I eagerly anticipate sharing the teaching ideas and games I learned from my professor, Laurentzi, with my students here at BBS. I can hardly wait to regale them with amusing stories about the foods I sampled and how everything seemingly comes to a halt for the midday siesta. I am deeply humbled and grateful to Brainerd Baptist School for affording me this opportunity to acquire new knowledge, grow as an educator, and return home equipped to impart this wisdom to our students

We are busy preparing for students to arrive on campus three weeks from today. As I type, new floors are being completed in our K3 classrooms, new windows for our lower school are being delivered, painting is happening in our K4 and K5 rooms, new ceilings are being installed in our cafeteria, and our K3/K4 bathrooms are being completely remodeled. To add to the craziness that is happening in our lower school, a semi just pulled up to deliver a LOT of new furniture to classrooms that aren’t quite ready to receive that furniture! The point is simple - in all the craziness, it is easy to become so busy in preparation for things that must happen before the first day of class that we can overlook more important things.

We believe that prayer is crucial to our success. Our school has been blessed for decades by friends and families that uplift our school in daily prayer. Our teachers and administration have been praying over their class lists for several weeks now. On Tuesday, August 15, from 9 am to 12 pm, we are opening up our classrooms for a special time of prayer. Parents, grandparents, and friends are welcome to come into their child’s class and pray over their child (at their desk if you desire), the class, the teacher, and our school. This will be a special time when you can come and go as your schedule allows. There will be no formal program, just time and space provided to pray. We are expecting great things this year, and know that your prayers are vitally important in this pursuit.

As we are making final preparations for the upcoming school year, we are excited to share with our school community the new faculty and staff that are joining our school. Brainerd Baptist School continues to experience significant enrollment growth, and we are anticipating enrollment for the 2023-24 school year will be the highest ever. We began working to fill our open positions back in January. The hiring process at Brainerd Baptist School is a very thorough undertaking that requires interviews with multiple groups, including an admin team and a team of teachers. Additionally, prospective teachers spend a day on campus teaching and interacting with students. Much effort is given to identifying the best fit for our students and teachers. Once this process is complete, teachers are hired, and we begin the orientation process with our new faculty members.

We are excited to be adding the following individuals to our faculty for the 2023-2024 year. You can click on their names to read a brief bio.

• Gillian Black, 1st Grade Assistant

• Ally Cardwell, K3 Assistant

• Natalie Chatfield, K3 Teacher

• Ally Herring, 1st Grade Teacher

• Christine Krug, K5 Assistant

• Tristen Lowery, K2 Assistant

• Lindsay Mercer, 3rd Grade Teacher

• Morgan Schild, K4 Assistant