It’s that time again when parents are thinking ahead about what their plan for the next academic year will be. Wondering what the right school is for their family and if now is the right time to opt for a private school for their children. One of the big questions we get from parents deciding whether to send their child to a DeLand private school is what they can expect day to day.
Make no mistake, St. Barnabas Episcopal School is a normal school, but far from ordinary. We have the freedom to set priorities that are different from those of most public schools. These days, it seems public school systems value testing over all else. At St. Barnabas, it’s our mission to educate the whole child, mind, body, and spirit.
From the moment you drop them off at school, your child is in a safe, faith-centered environment. Teachers, staff, and administrators know who they are and are tuned into their well-being and success. Because of our small class sizes, our students tend not to fall through the cracks. Your child will be in environments where their skills and deficits are known, and lessons are molded to fit their learning style.
Each week, our community gathers together for a chapel service where we worship together and hear an age-appropriate bible lesson. This is a special time for our community to be together and share in God’s presence. We are proud to say that our collective faith experience doesn’t end at the chapel doors. Our bible lessons are integrated throughout the school day, woven through academic lessons and playtime, just as we hope our students’ spiritual practices will be.
Our academic programming is rigorous, and we are focused on adequately preparing our students for high school and beyond. We offer an enrichment program for students in 3rd-5th grade who excel that allows them to experience more in-depth learning and learning outside of the classroom. Students in the program delve deeper into their curriculum by participating in field trips, science labs, and other fun activities.
Like you, we know that sitting still in a classroom all day isn’t always a recipe for success. That’s why we offer plenty of opportunities for students to blow off steam and just be kids. Our students love to be outside, and they get plenty of breaks from our challenging and exciting curriculum. Our younger children get recess time to burn off their energy and help them stay focused, and our older children have access to the largest catalog of athletic programs in Volusia County. Baseball, basketball, soccer, golf, and volleyball are just a few of our options. And don’t forget about our award-winning cheerleading team!
Our fine arts program is another way students expand their learning experience at St. Barnabas Episcopal School. Like sports, fine arts are a great way to break the tension of an academic day. But unbeknownst to many students, the fine arts can contribute to more success in the classroom as they instill valuable skills.
When you pick your child up at the end of a St. Barnabas school day, you’ll understand why we are the premier DeLand private school. Our students learn to be great students, but they also learn to be great people. With a focus on educating your whole child, we celebrate the excellence that lives inside them, which benefits our DeLand private school community and the greater community outside our doors.
If you’d like to learn more about a day in the life of a St. Barnabas student, we encourage you to contact us to schedule a tour. There is no better way to experience the palpable joy on our campus than by being here in person.
