Patriot Soccer Games Cancelled 0 comments


All Providence Soccer games will be cancelled for Saturday, January 31st.


The All Star Sports Arena is closed because they have no electricity due to the weather.

Crafts For Kids ~ Potholders Anyone? 0 comments

Submitted By Shelley Cassar, Patriot Mom


With our outdoor activities limited because of the colder temperatures, we are all about a fun and functional craft! Here is one I have been doing with my girls: Pot Holder Purses.
They are great for the kids to take with them on trips for digital cameras or their allowance. I like to keep one in my much larger purse and use when I just need my phone and money and don’t want to lug my huge purse around with me.

This can be fun for the boys as well……they can make the potholders for Mom and Dad to use in the kitchen or to give as gifts for birthdays and holidays!

What you will need:
2 potholders (see below)
Fun buttons
Large blunt needle and yarn
12 additional fabric loops

Making the Pot holders
To make your potholders you will want to follow the instructions that come with your loom. If you already have a loom, you can cut your own loops from your socks and t-shirts that are wearing out or are too small. You can also buy the loom and loops at Hobby Lobby.

How to Make your Purse:
When you have your two potholders completed, pick out a color of yarn that will complement the colors in the potholders. Then, place the potholders together and begin hand stitching the three sides together.

Don’t worry about doing it perfectly, with these, the more imperfect, the cuter the purse!
Once you have sewn together your three sides leaving the top open, turn the purse outside in. Then sew a button to the middle of the front of one either side of the purse (see picture below).

To make a button closure
For the closure, take a single fabric loop and sew it using your same yarn to the middle of the back of the purse. This will allow you to stretch the loop to the front of the purse and around the button.

Adding a strap
To make the purse strap, you will want to use approximately 11 fabric loops. You are essentially joining the 11 straps using small, simple knots. Start by taking 2 loops and placing one loop on top of the other so they overlap. Lift the bottom loop up through the top loop and back through itself and pull tight. Now place a new loop under the end of this double loop and repeat. Continue until your strap is as long as you want!
Take your strap and using your needle and yarn, sew it onto the 2 top corners of your bag.

Customizing the look
There are plenty of other things you can do to your purse to make it unique and more ‘you’. Add a third potholder to the top to make a flap closure. Add two purse straps. Or sew buttons or other cute accessories to the purse.
I hope you enjoy making these with your children. We sure did!

Ice Storm 2009 0 comments

Please be praying for all of the Providence families during this storm. Many of our families are without power in Northwest Arkansas and will likely not have power until Saturday.

If you have a specific prayer request, please COMMENT on this post.

Time 0 comments


Time, we all have the same amount of it. What things consume our time? Providing clothing and food to our families, accomplishing household duties, educating our children… these things are necessary, and yet what does the Lord say about such things?

Matthew 6:33-34 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

Jesus told a parable about 4 seeds. The first seed fell on by the wayside, and fowls came and devoured them. This is the person who hears the gospel, but doesn’t receive it because the devil comes and snatches it away. The second seed fell on stony places and were quickly scorched of the sun due to lack of earth. This is the person who receives the word, but turns away from God when tribulation or persecution arises. The third seed is sowed among thorns. This is the person who hears the word, “and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” (Matt. 13:22) The fourth seed is sown in good ground, and brings forth fruit. This is the person who walks in the spirit of God and produces fruit for His kingdom.

The seed I want to think about is the third seed. We are in danger of becoming this seed. It is hard being the housekeeper, private tutor, cook, household manager, taxi service, and so on, for our families. It is easy to get focused on these things which bear so much weight on our lives. These things seem so urgent. We must get to soccer practice on time. We have to complete the science project on time. We need to buy birthday gifts for our niece’s party. We have to bake cookies for the teacher meeting. Our child failed his math test; we need to make corrections and review the material. The list of demands on our lives is endless. I don’t know of a single Providence mom who sits down and thinks, “Hmmm, what should I do? I’m bored.” Because of this, we must make a choice to seek first the kingdom of God. It is a choice we make daily, hour by hour, minute by minute. Satan will tell us there is no time today for the kingdom of God. Don’t allow yourself to listen to his lies. He desires you to be the third seed, overcome by the cares of this world.

Someone who is focused on the kingdom of God will not lose her temper with her children. She will speak with joy about upcoming projects, papers and assignments. (Remember, joy is not based on circumstances; it is the inward out flowing of the spirit of God which triumphs over circumstances.) She will smile when her husband comes home rather than start in retelling complaints from the day. She will encourage her children to not complain about things they do not want to do, and she will be an example of a bridled tongue. She will have songs of praise to the Lord on her heart throughout the day, and will pray without ceasing.

Now, if it seems like I have been peeking in your window, and am accusing you of failing to be focused on the kingdom of God, take heart. I would not be so bold as to take the speck out of your eye when there is a plank in my own. God has put these things on my heart because it is what he is working on me with, and I simply share my trials and ask that we journey toward righteousness together, encouraging one another to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto us. Take note, our job is to seek; His job is to add these things to us. All He asks is obedient seekers, and He will change our hearts into the image of Himself. Praise be to God for his wonderful plan of salvation and redemption out of our fleshly bodies into his marvelous light!

Serving the Lord,
Cindy Palen

Snow Day 0 comments


Providence Academy will not have school on Tuesday, January 27th due to ice and snow.


The science fair has been rescheduled to Tuesday, February 3rd at the West Campus at 7 p.m.


The rumor that Mrs. Holt (the science teacher) has sent out a snow truck to pick up all science projects is false.


Have a wonderful day at home with your families!


Mom To Mom ~ Question Of The Week 3 comments

Submitted by Shelley Cassar, Providence Mom

On days when I teach at home it can be somewhat of a challenge keeping my toddler occupied so that I can work with my 1st and 5th grader on their school work. Now that he is growing out of his naps it leaves us with even less quiet time to get the work done.

One suggestion I was given that I am going to try is to keep a box of toys separate from all the others that the child can only play with when I am teaching. That way they look forward to playing with the toys that they don't have free access to and play with them longer!

What things do you do to occupy your toddler when teaching your older children?
Please COMMENT on this for a chance to win a $10 gift certificate this week to Starbucks. Let's get this conversation going to learn ideas from each other!

Mom to Mom ~ Organization tips for schooling at home 0 comments

Submitted by Stephanie Easley

These are a few of my favorite organizaton tips to stay successful on our school days at home.


Although I designed this great "school" corner of our playroom, the distractions are many as the kids toys are in the same room. My husband discovered schooling our easily distracted child at the "sitting" table in our bedroom corner which faces the wall. This atmosphere minimized distractions.

I try to spend a good chunk of time on Tuesdays playing with our toddler, avoiding letting her watch TV. I save her "TV" time for 7 p.m. or so when we sit down to open the school books and get a jump start on Wednesday's homework. She cuddles up with her blanket and a Disney movie. I feel no guilt about her watching TV since she hasn't had any all day.

While our toddler is watching TV or napping, I try to knock out the school work that needs my attention such as studying for tests, administering spelling tests, or aiding my kids with computer assignments. I try to have the kids work on the assignments that can be done independently without my assistance when our toddler is awake.

I started in 2nd grade having my kids read their own assignment sheets and allowing them to mark off the assignments as they finished. I also have them put their assignments in their blue folders, books in their own backpacks, and pack their own snacks and lunch (as much as possible). We are trying to develop independent children who can do their own school work as they get older.

I hope some of these tips are helpful to you. Please let us know your helpful tips by commenting back to this post.

Patriot Recipe 0 comments

The perfect dip for your Superbowl party!

Recipe Submitted by Lori Bova

HOT CORN DIP

2- 8OZ. PACKAGES OF CREAM CHEESE (NOT FAT FREE)
2 CANS ROTEL - HOT OR MILD, YOUR PREFERENCE
2 CANS NIBLET CORN DRAINED
GARLIC POWDER - TSP OR SO
SALT TO TASTE

POUR ROTEL INTO CROCKPOT OR MICROWAVE SAFE BOWL. ADD DRAINED CORN AND CREAM CHEESE. IF MICROWAVING, STIR AS YOU GO OR PUT CROCK POT ON LOW.
YOU CAN DOUBLE AND TRIPLE WITHOUT MESSING UP THIS RECIPE. SERVE WITH FRITOS SCOOPS OR TORTILLA CHIPS.
Enjoy!

Scripture For Thought 0 comments

I am so excited we have this great venue to encourage and reach out to one another. The bible is full of verses that do just that! Verses that encourage us and remind us how important our words to one another are. Below are some verses that have encouraged me. I would love to know what verses you find encouraging!

Psalm 27:14 (NKJV) Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD

Colossians 3:16 - NKJV - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Proverbs 25:11 - A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

Acts 15:32 - Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.

Philippians 4:11-13 - NKJV - Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - NKJV - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Romans 15:4 - NKJV - For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Patriot Recipes 0 comments

Submitted by Lori Bova


An inexpensive, quick, and hearty meal for a cold winter night!



1 lb cooked ground beef
2 cups cubed potatoes, cooked
3 Tbsp margarine
1 small onion, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
4 cups milk
2 cups water
4 Tbsp chicken liquid bouillon (I used 2 Tbsp of powdered chicken bouillon)
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp salt (I didn’t think it needed this extra salt)
pepper to taste
4 Tbsp corn starch 2 Tbsp cold water, combined
1.5 cups shredded cheddar

Directions:
In dutch oven, melt margarine over medium heat.
Add onion, celery and cook until transparent.
Add milk, water, bouillon, spices. Heat through, stirring often. DO NOT BOIL.
Add corn starch mixture. Heat until thickened. Again, do not boil milk.
Remove from heat. Add cheddar, stir until blended in.
OPTIONAL: Add chopped green onions and bacon for topping.

Making Greek Theatre Masks ~ A History Project 0 comments

Submitted by Kim Brinson, Providence History Teacher and Chair


Comedy and Tragedy ... ah, yes, Greek Theatre! The origins of theatre in our culture can be traced back to Ancient Greece. The Greek drama began as a religious observance in honor of the god Dionysus. In Athens this was one of the city's most important religious celebrations, lasting five days. Over time the plays developed into two distinct types: tragedies and comedies.

Actors each wore a painted mask that featured exaggerated facial features, thus indicating the feelings of that character. Easily visible, these masks could be seen even from the back of the theatre. In order to amplify and project the actors' voices, the mask usually had large, open mouths.

The 8th-10th grade history class is studying Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome this year. The Greek Theatre Mask is an excellent hands-on project for older students, due to the detailed nature of the project. Students' masks are actually molds of their own faces, which added to the fun. After the mold dried, students used paper-mache pulp to build up areas of the face (cheeks, eye brows, chins) to form exaggerated expressions. The masks were finished by painting and using a variety of embellishments such as hair, leaves, glitter, fake eye lashes, and jewelry.

Marketplace Kids Eat Free 1 comments

Patriot Moms,
We thought you would want to know that it's "Kids Eat Free" month at the Marketplace Grill.


During the month of January at the Marketplace Grill, with the purchase of an adult entree, 2 kids 12 and under eat free anytime after 4 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday.

Submitted by Debra Guthrie, Providence Mom
Julie Roetzel, who is a Bible study leader and women's speaker in Northwest Arkansas has agreed to share devotions with us on our moms blog. Many of you have had the opportunity to attend her studies, and know what a heart for God that Julie has.
We are honored that Julie will be sharing on our Patriot Moms Blog from time to time. We welcome her to the Providence family, and I know you will be blessed by her wisdom.

Stop And Consider 0 comments

By Julie Roetzel
It won't be long before many of our schedules will start spinning out of control again as the New Year quickly unfolds. This year more than ever I want my days to be pleasing to God, to be filled with the things that are according to His will and not the things that the world tells me I should be doing.

So I am going to STOP and take time to consider the things that make up my days thus summarizing my life.


My desire is to:
Steady myself in God's word. Practically speaking this is to daily meet with God, reading His word, and applying it to my life. Thinking on what I have read throughout the day asking Him to enlarge the meaning of the Word I have read in my heart and mind.


Talk to Christ about the things that make up my life... The roles, (wife, mother, grandmother) the activities, the responsibilities, my hobbies. Let him search each one and show me where I need redirection, repentance and change or growth.


Open my heart and mind to His leading and teaching in my life. I am very capable of thinking I know what is best for my life or even where I need change when He is the only one that truly knows.


Ponder the path of my feet. Before I jump into something I need to take it before Him. Other wise I allow my emotions or the world to define what fills my life and that leads nowhere fast! This includes big as well as small decisions and choices.

Haggai 1: 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider your ways!"
Proverbs 4:26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.

Providence Wins Benton County Spelling Bee 0 comments

Congratulations to Ryan Hoyt, a Providence 6th grader who won the Benton County Spelling Bee this weekend. Ryan competed against 37 other contestants in grades 3rd through 8th grades to win the competition.

Ryan spelled these words correctly to win the bee: barrow, nightingale, strategy, inane, lederhosen, hypocrisy, precocious, basmati, archipelago, prerogative, pasteurize, facetious, and narcissistic.

Ryan will now go to the Arkansas State Spelling Bee in Little Rock, which will be held on Saturday, February 28th, where he will compete against the winners from the other counties in Arkansas. The winner from the state bee will win an all expense paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington DC to be held in May.

GO PATRIOTS!

Mom To Mom ~ Question of the week 1 comments

Patriot Moms, what are you doing with your kids during these really cold days when they can't go outside to run off some steam?

What are some fun ideas to keep the kids busy during these cold winter days? Please comment to share with us your great ideas.

A great recipe 1 comments

Submitted by Lori Bova, Providence mom

Hope you guys enjoy!

A GREAT RECIPE

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day, and while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning, complete the following statement,' My purpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for_________.'

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious time on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your time in the present moment and submit your requests to God.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life is not fair, but it is still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it will not spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In fiveyears, will this matter?'

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals - but you have to ask Him.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job will not take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night, before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for ______. Today I accomplished ________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings.You will be smiling before you know it.

God Bless You.

Book Review ~ Lord Change Me 0 comments

This book review was submitted by Providence mom Shelley Cassar


A couple of years ago my prayer life had stalled and I was feeling frustrated that my family members were not making the changes I knew they needed to make. About this time a precious Christian mentor of mine suggested the book "Lord Change Me" by Evelyn Christianson. She mentioned that she had gone through a similar experience and that this book was a real turning point for her. I rushed out and bought it right away. It is was so full of biblical wisdom that I could only read two or three pages at a time. You know the kind of book you end up highlighting the entire book!

It is an area that I still revisit from time to time but this book has been a real blessing. It has helped me in my prayer life and helped me keep my focus on what I need to change within myself instead of what I think others in my life need to change. What a huge burden to put down.

First published in 1977, "Lord, Change Me" outlines seven methods of real, inside-out change as well as ways to check to be sure it is God who is doing the changing. Some of the chapters in the book include:

Lord, How Do I Change?
Changed - When I Study God's Word
When I Pray for Others, I Change

I'd love for you to comment and let us know what books have helped you in your walk with the Lord.

Patriot Recipe 0 comments

One of our Patriot Moms made these delicious sandwiches for Mrs. Waind's class. The kids and adults loved them so much that we all requested the recipe. It's too good to keep to ourselves so we thought we would share it with everyone! If you have any questions about the recipe, just post it in the comments and we'll let you know!

Honey Mustard Ham and Cheese Sandwich Recipe

The Original Recipe

1 pkg. of Dinner Rolls
Sliced Ham or Turkey (Both is good!)
Sliced Swiss Cheese

Split Rolls and fix sandwiches.

Topping:
1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
1 1/2 T. Mustard
1 tsp. Onion Flakes
1 stick butter, melted
Poppy Seeds

Melt butter and add all remaining ingredients. Pour topping over the fixed sandwiches; refrigerate overnight. Heat for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

One Variation
I use the Hawaiian Sweet Bread Dinner Rolls and Colby Jack cheese. I also use less Mustard and add Honey to the topping until I like the taste!
Enjoy.

Science Fair Examples 0 comments


This is an exciting time of year for the upper school students who are completing their science fair projects. This week at Providence, some of these science projects have been set up for viewing for students and families to see examples of successful science fair projects that have been done in the past at Providence Academy. Just in case you were not able to view the projects, and still have some questions, here are some examples for you to refer to as your student is working at home.
This project, "Bouncy Science" was done with our science teacher Mrs. Holt by the 4th grade class in 2006 as an in class project.











Here are other projects that placed in the science fair last year.

A great on-line resource to refer to is http://www.sciencebuddies.org/
This site has a science project guide, which is a step by step guide for successful science projects.
If you have any other great resources or suggestions for our families regarding science projects, please comment on this post to share them.

Spotlight on a Teacher ~ Mrs. Waind 0 comments

Providence is the second family I didn’t even know I needed! I can’t wait to meet all the extended cousins. I know there are faces that I don’t know personally yet. May God bless all of His at Providence!

My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:6-7, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." God has really been my ever present help with being anxious. His peace does transcend all understanding!

On a perfect day I would... love to wake up to a beautiful sunny day. The day would provide extended time in the Word and in prayer. God would show me something new and wonderful that would fill my thoughts for the day. I would get to spend the day with family playing games (monopoly is a blast…even more fun on the Wii). My house would already be clean and all the laundry would be done. That evening I would get a date night with my husband and the kids would be excited to have a fun night with a free babysitter. When I go to bed at night, I will have had eyes to see all that God has done in that one day!

My favorite class to teach is first grade. I LOVE being a part of a child’s growth as a reader. It’s definitely my favorite subject.

I love teaching at Providence because I get to see God working in the lives of little people and getting to be a part of that is a tremendous blessing! I believe the University Model Approach to education is successful because the students are taught in a Christian environment both at home and at school where the curriculum is consistent. I think the individual attention the students receive at home is invaluable to their education, and the smaller classes at Providence provide the teacher the opportunity to work one on one with the students as well. It’s also such a blessing to see godly friendships develop even in first grade.

When I was a child, I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up, like my mom and my aunts. I had the smartest stuffed animals on the block!

Patriot Recipe 0 comments

Submitted by Tanya Fifer, Providence mom
All mothers need quick and easy recipes for busy weeknights. As Providence moms, we face some unique challenges on those homeschool days when we have papers and blue folders everywhere (usually on and around the kitchen table), and perhaps a toddler or two underfoot. Here are some recipes and tactics I rely on to keep my family of six fed and satisfied on those busy nights.

Onion Chicken
4 large frozen chicken breasts (or 8-10 smaller chicken breast tenderloins)
1 can french fried onions
1 egg
Thaw chicken breasts. Crush french fried onions in ziploc bag. Dip chicken in egg and then roll in crushed onions. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. I pair this chicken with broccoli (the steam-in-the-bag kind), or a green salad for a quick and nutritious dinner.

Ham and Scalloped Potatoes (slow cooker)
1 lb pre-cooked, pre-cubed ham
8-10 medium sized golden russet potatoes, thinly sliced (I do not peel them to save nutrients and time)
1 onion, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper (according to taste)
1 C grated cheddar or American cheese
10 3/4 oz can cream of celery soup
Layer half the ham, potatoes, and onions in slow cooker. Sprinkle with half the salt and pepper, and then half the grated cheese. Repeat layers. Spoon undiluted soup over ingredients. Cook on low 8-10 hours, or on high 4 hours.

Bear's Creek dry soup mixes are a staple for our family in cooler months. Our favorites are chicken noodle and potato. I use whatever add ins I have available; leftover chicken, ham or bacon, frozen or left over veggies. Corn muffins from a Jiffy mix are an excellent compliment to any soup! Dinner is ready in 20 minutes and everyone loves it.

"Busiest of Busy Nights" Meal
A new tradition this year has become Cereal Night. Even the simplest of homemade meals does require a little prep time and clean up. Every member of our family is active in our church Wednesday night Awana program, meaning we leave the house at 5:15 p.m. sharp. Not wanting to turn to expensive fast food every week, or face a messy kitchen upon returning home at 8pm, we have instituted Cereal Night on Wednesdays. I set out all the cereal choices, bowls, milk, spoons and fresh fruit and let everyone "make" and "clean up" their own dinner! We rarely eat cereal for breakfast at our house, so this is actually a treat for the kids, and a HUGE time saver and stress buster for mom!

Wednesday Wisdom ~ Fun tip for getting students motivated 0 comments

Submitted by Stephanie Easley

Wednesdays tend to be the most challenging day of the school week, and so we do our best to make every moment of the day as productive as possible. On Wednesdays when I need the children to be especially diligent, I like to give them Chuck E. Cheese tokens, or other coins for staying focused. We also try to give the kids a special snack or a Coke on Wednesdays to get them motivated.

Providence Spelling Bee 0 comments

Congratulations to 6th grader Ryan Hoyt for winning the Providence spelling bee on Thursday. Each class in the upper school was represented by one student who competed in the spelling bee for the chance to go on to the Benton County Spelling Bee. Some of the words the students spelled were: gospel, thermal, easel, hustle, denture, topical, forlorn, spectrum, and finally, tsunami, which was the winning word. Congratulations also to Caleb Lee who got 2nd place.

Ryan will go on to compete in the Benton County Spelling Bee which will be held on Saturday, January 17th, at 9:00 a.m., at NWACC.

Good Luck Ryan!

Chick Fil A Gift Certificate Winner 0 comments

Congratulations to Tanya Fifer for winning the Providence Mom Bloggy Giveaway for a $20 gift certificate to Chick Fil A. We are all looking forward to reading the upcoming posts submitted by our Providence moms.
Thank you to everyone who entered, and we will have other giveaways for you to participate in soon.

VIP ~ Kelly Krause 0 comments

Thank you to our own "Very Important Person" Kelly Krause who has volunteered faithfully this year by managing our new spirit wear. She has done such a great job.

You may have seen her at either campus meticulously organizing the new spirit wear to be distributed.
Thank you Kelly for serving our families!

You are a blessing to us all.

Meet The Cassar Family 0 comments


Meet the Cassar Family
Shelley, Stephen, Taylor, Molly, and Adam Cassar

If any of you are enjoying the new Patriot Moms blog, then you need to thank the Cassar family the next time you see them. Shelley and Stephen designed the blog for the school and made sure it was ready to go by January 1st. They have also written and published the “Patriot Post” for the last several years at Providence. The Cassar family has been an integral part of the Providence family for four years now.

The Cassars would tell you that Providence has been the biggest blessing to their family. While at Providence they have enjoyed the teachers, the families, and seeing their kids love grow for the Lord. This year, the kids are the most excited about the new electives being offered at the school. Taylor loves Musical Theater, and Molly is so excited about science class with Mrs. Waind this semester.

Their favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 40:31

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as EAGLES they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

When the Cassars are not serving at the school, they like to hike, go to the library, and enjoy their horses.

Thank you to the Cassar family for their ongoing support at Providence Academy.

Matching Donation Update 0 comments

As many of you know, we have been offered a matching challenge donation by a friend of Providence Academy. So far, we have successfully raised half of the matching donation in only our first month. Our donor has already matched the first $12,500 we have received. We still have three more months to raise the balance to receive a total matching donation of $25,000. Thank you to all who have so generously given to the campaign. Please continue to pray that more donors will come forward to help Providence reach our goal.

Providence Takes Flight 0 comments

Providence Academy's inaugural capital fundraising gala – Providence Takes Flight – was held in November of 2008, and it was a tremendous success! The event was sponsored by McAlister Dental Clinic and took place in an aviation hangar in Springdale.

The night's activities included food, entertainment and exceptional auction items, and the feedback from those who attended has been very positive. The event deposited over $18,500 toward Providence’s future campus.

PCCA would like to thank Lori Bova, Alicia Taylor, Shauna Mann, and all who contributed to the planning and preparation for this event. We also want to communicate our appreciation to the businesses, foundations and families who contributed financially to its success.


Warren Barfield , who provided the entertainment for the gala, has released a new CD. You can learn more about his song from the movie "Fireproof" by clicking on his link.

Spotlight on a Teacher ~ Ashley Keylor 0 comments

The spotlight is on Mrs. Keylor this week. Anyone who meets Mrs. Keylor loves her automatically. She has such a love for children, and always has a smile on her face. She answered a few questions for us in this weeks spotlight to let us get to know her a little better.

This year at Providence, I teach Kindergarten and Art. Providence has renewed my love for teaching. It has been a blessing to me since the first time I walked through the doors. The Faculty, Administration, parents, and children are all amazing down to earth people who love the Lord and make you feel very welcome.

My Favorite Bible verse is: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Romans 12: 9-13

I love these verses because they encompass everything I am striving for in my walk with Christ. It’s like a mirror for me to see all the ways I still need to grow.

I believe the University Model Approach to education is successful because it is the best of both worlds. When raising children and teaching children falls solely on a teacher, it’s unbalanced, but children also need the classroom experience for social and behavioral growth. I think both the parents and the teachers have their own unique qualities to attribute to the child’s education. It’s a winning combination.

What did I want to be when I was a child? When I was a child, I wanted to be a teacher or a baker when I grew up. Because of my lack of willpower, I figured I better go with teaching. Ha!

Mom to Mom - Home organization tips 0 comments

One of the most asked questions at Providence is,
"How do you organize your school room?"

One of the great benefits of the Patriot Moms blog, is that we can all share our ideas for staying organized in our "satellite campuses" at home.
By Michele Lee, Providence mom

Here are a few organizational ideas that help us with our at home school days.

Have a cabinet or shelf area where all at-home books, supplies, teacher keys, etc. are kept. I have a specific shelf for each of my children. When they need something, they know exactly where to go for their own things. This saves time and energy. Some of the things we keep on their shelves are teacher keys, notebook paper, card stock, page protectors, all required school books that aren't kept in their backpacks, dictionary, latin dictionary, everything they use when working on history timelines, a box of supplies (pencils, markers, scissors, glue,etc...)

For loose papers that come home in the blue folders, I keep an accordion file for each of my kids. Sometimes their papers need to be filed in required binders for their classes. If not, we file them in their accordion folder under the labeled class. We don't throw away any papers in case they're needed for studying or possibly were forgotten to be turned in. We try to keep folders cleaned out each week.

We have a computer that is accessible near our work area. For the older kids, this becomes essential. If your younger kids haven't started learning keyboarding, you might want to invest in a computer program or find a website and make keyboarding lessons part of their at home work. They use the computer A LOT in the upper grades for compositions, research and many writing assignments. We are so blessed to have the new computer lab, because they will be able to do some keyboarding at school now.

And finally, the teachers and staff at PCCA have extended a welcome to all emails when you have questions. So, I take advantage of that often. If we don't have clarity on an assignment or have any questions regarding their class, we email their teachers. They're always gracious and helpful.

Most importantly, we do try to start each at home day in prayer asking God to help us get through the hard stuff. Our first year was the hardest in trying to establish a routine and becoming organized. After that year, things began to fall into place. The kids know what is expected of them and begin to work toward those expectations. We are so thankful for Providence! Hang in there!

The Value of Encouragement 1 comments

Submitted by Jason Ross, Providence Headmaster


In Acts 4:36, some Bible translations (NKJV, NIV, etc…) tell us the meaning of the name Barnabas—‘son of encouragement.’ I believe it was no accident that Barnabas, the companion of the Apostle Paul, received this name, because we are given one story in the Bible that demonstrates that Barnabas knew the importance of encouraging others.

Paul took two fellow ministers on his first missionary journey; he took Barnabas and John Mark (called Mark). For some reason, John Mark abandoned the mission long before it was complete. Paul was angry with John Mark and would remember his lack of commitment later.

When Paul was planning a follow-up mission, Barnabas, wanting to give John Mark a second chance, suggested that they invite John Mark to go along. Paul refused to take him this time. The ‘son of encouragement,’ however, had faith in John Mark despite his failure. Actually, Barnabas probably had faith in something greater when he looked at John Mark. It’s likely that Barnabas saw beyond his nephew’s ability and saw Christ in him. Of course, the fact that they were related probably helped Barnabas to be more patient with John Mark too. Regardless of the causes, in the same way that Samuel looked beyond the shepherd boy and saw the king and Mary looked deeper into her Son to the Miracle Worker at a wedding in Cana, Barnabas envisioned who John Mark could be. He considered what John Mark could do in Christ! (Acts 15:36-40)

As a result of their disagreement about John Mark, Barnabas and Paul went in different directions in their ministries at that time. Barnabas took John Mark. Paul invited Silas.

History teaches us that Barnabas’ patience and encouragement paid off. John Mark went on in ministry that culminated in his greatest acts of obedience—writing the Gospel According to Mark and walking through his martyrdom for Christ. Paul even acknowledged John Mark’s work later in life, saying, “Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” (2 Tim. 4:11)

We can learn a lesson about the importance of encouragement from Barnabas. We are also able to see beyond others’ mistakes, poor attitudes, and even sins. Through our own prayers and actions we can call on Christ within one another. We can see brothers and sisters in the Lord for who they are meant to be. Of course, that does not mean that everyone will maximize his/her potential, but it does mean that we would have cooperated with the Holy Spirit in assisting and encouraging fellow believers. The expansion of God’s Kingdom on Earth will be the result.

In the light of this truth, I am thankful and excited about the Providence Mom’s Blog. It’s a great avenue for you to encourage one another.

Philippians 2:1-3 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (NIV)

Patriot Mom Bloggy Giveaway 8 comments




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