From the desk of Sandra Fritcher, Lower School Principal:

Every year, students at the Lower School participate in the ACSI Speech Meet competition.  This competition provides the opportunity for students to practically apply and develop skills necessary for confident Christian leadership.  Students develop communication skills, poise, and confidence in speaking before an audience.  Selections to memorize come from various genres:  Poetry, Scripture, Folktales, Fables, Bible Prose, Patriotic Orations, and Original Speeches.

Our students begin their participation first at the classroom level.  Each student in grades 1-5 memorizes a selection, and recites it before a classroom audience.  Grade level competitions are then held, and the top students in each category are selected to represent each genre.  These students will progress to the final competition, participating with students from other schools in our area.  The competition this year will be held Friday, March 4.  The Lower School is hosting this academic competition, and Mrs. Jeanette Ponce is coordinating the event.

Here are the students representing the Lower School this year.

1^st Grade:
Poetry: Kate Reynolds, Brooklyn Smith, Blake Terry
Bible: Kamryn Buske, Sawyer Buske,  Swayze Smith, Alternate:  Samuel Bergren
2^nd Grade:
Poetry: Lillian Ruark, Brazos Mazzare’
Bible: Kyleigh Norris, Camden Wilson
Fable: Analiese Barney, Brian Freeman, Alternate: Jack Weaver
3^rd Grade:
Poetry: Zack Rhea, Kelaina Willis
Bible: Julianna Mize, Cole Stansberry
Fable: Savanah Wallace, Kai Glenn, Alternate: CJ Bird
4^th Grade:
Poetry: Kayla Powell, Reed Overbeek
Bible: Kurtlee Smith, Gemma Lake
Fable: Aaron Nguyen, Drea Tonroy, Alternate: Brooklyn Davis
5^th Grade:
Poetry: Callie Bailey, Karsyn Cunningham
Bible Memorization: Noah Langemeier, Cade Chesley
Patriotic Oration: Grayden Goates, Reagan Steele
Bible Prose: Emily Gragg, Jackson Steele

The Lower School staff encourages and inspires all students toward a standard of excellence in all they do.  The ACSI Speech Meet is a wonderful opportunity for our students to develop the techniques needed to speak audibly and articulately, expressively, and with poise and confidence.  The competition impacts our students’ educational and spiritual growth, and encourages them to be a testimony to the gospel.  CONGRATULATIONS to ALL of our students for their efforts in this year’s competition.