Our Yearly Theme

One of the very important goals of education is helping students to become useful citizens. For educators and parents associated with Oak Arbor School, this goal extends not only to adult life in this world, but to life in heaven. Much of elementary education is preparing the groundwork for students to become of service as adults. Along the way, we also provide many opportunities for them to be of service to their peers, their teachers, the school, the church and the surrounding community.

Our theme this year emphasizes the importance of everyone being useful throughout our lives on earth such as through occupations, volunteering, and doing all sorts of things that are useful to oneself and one’s family. Also, we will be looking at the useful functions of the various kingdoms of the world – the mineral, plant and animal kingdoms and how they are symbolic of the spiritual or heavenly ways we can be useful.

Classroom worship services for students in grades 3-6 will focus on this theme starting with a big unit on various people’s jobs in the Bible. There will also be units on the uses of various things in the mineral kingdom (such as rocks, gems, mountains, water), the uses of various things in the plant kingdom (such as trees, flowers, etc.) and the uses of various animals mentioned in the Lord’s Word.

Friday morning chapel services for all students in grades 1-8 will be divided into two units. Up to Christmas we will focus on the usefulness of various acts of worship, such as reading the Word, praying, and some of our customs, such as lighting candles, meditation, etc.  January through May we will focus on the useful functions of the various parts of the human body and how they are symbolic of being useful in the “body of Christ” or the church.

~Nathan Gladish, Principal