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April 14, 2003
School helps enrich children
by Cheri Scott
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

At the Interfaith Academy and Day Camp, a Christian based school in Humble, Texas, young minds are being molded.

"With the right amount of training and encouragement they are off to a really great start," said Audra Smith, a teacher at Interfaith Academy. "Their future is very bright."

Their day consists of more than reading, writing and arithmetic. All of these students know how to use a computer, the alphabet, spelling and writing their individual names, seasons of the year, counting numbers, months of the year, days of the week, primary colors and shapes. Their day also incorporates social studies, music, home and fire safety, and social skills training.

Many of the thought and motor skill processes they have are used in playtime. Going outside is always a favorite. Kierra Lee, 4, and Thalia Delgado, 3, are the freeze-tag champs.

Patrick Taylor, 4, throws a football that flies through the air a good ten yards and Kelvin Lee, 3, catches it with no problem. Tatiana Delgado, 2, Nathan Mack, 3, and Brinea Wheatfall, 5, are the puzzle champions. They like to race to see who can put them together the fastest. Within a learning environment, there is competition.

"The foundation of success is education and having a close personal relationship with the Lord," said Patricia Brown-Johnson, apostle and director of Interfaith Church and Academy. "One of the things that we endeavor to do at Interfaith Academy is to provide a foundation and a support system for the parents as they are bringing their kids up in the kingdom of God. Hosea 4:6 says God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. It is our mission and part of our vision to provide a foundation from knowledge, not just in content, but application. We are glad to have the children and staff members working here to bring our people into spiritual and natural principles that will guarantee success. Education is the foundation."

These children have their own ideas about the way they want to spend their life and why. They feel, even at their young age, education is important. They have a thirst for learning. It is essential to teach children the skills that they need to survive.

Brinea, 5, likes exercise and music time and expresses her interest in being a nurse so she can help people. Raniya Grays, 2, likes drawing and watching movies. Her favorite video is Barney. She also fully recites the Pledge of Allegiance and her ABC's.

"My favorite thing to learn are my numbers and shapes," says Dakota Jackson, 3. "I want to be a doctor."

Braxtyn Brown, 3, likes learning her alphabet letters and reading books. Christal Johnson, 6, enjoys science and Spanish. She also likes music time.

"I am going to be a doctor and a singer," Christal said, " so I can sing for my mom."

Jessica Lee, 11, who attends the after-school enrichment program at Interfaith Academy, says she likes to draw and loves art. She looks forward to going to college and earning a degree.

"Education will help me get better grades and will eventually lead to a great job in the future," Jessica says. She is having a hard time deciding between the careers of a lawyer or a movie star.

These children will be in all areas of the future workforce. They will be religious, medical, legal, transportation, scientific, business and social professionals. They are our future pilots, corporation heads, doctors, pastors, lawyers and communicators.

"The children are intelligent, articulate and full of energy," said Lynn Walker, principal and child psychologist at Interfaith Academy. "Students today are much more advanced. They have better reasoning and motor skills. They are smarter and pick up things much more quickly than other generations. They are our future college students. It may seem a long way off, but at the rate these kids are developing and learning new skills, going from pre-school education to college education will not be that far off."

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