Repeated hushes echoed off the gymnasium walls, silencing the assembled students on Aug. 19. Final conversations were whispered as campus pastor, Scott Falk, greeted students during the first campus chapel.

“I always try to look for specific verses for my sermons in chapel,” Falk said. “This year I used the student leadership class’s theme verse, Colossians 3:23. I am also using this verse in my senior Bible classes and it seemed to fit in well for my chapel lecture as well.”

Typically campus chapels include of worship and a speaker, along with an occasional skit preformed by the campus drama class. However, the first chapel of this year consisted of several faculty members addressing the assembled students.

“Mr. [Principal Gary] Schultz always plans out the first chapel of the year,” Falk said. “Usually the deans [Mick Fuller and Molly Sargent] and campus pastor speak. Mr. Schultz gives out the topics and the teachers plan out what they are going to say.”

Some of the issues addressed during the chapel were those on school participation and friendships by physical education director, Scott Callish, and dean of women, Molly Sargent.

“I strongly feel that in order to have a successful school year, students need to feel accepted by their peers,” Sargent said. “The best and most effective way to accomplish this is through strong friendships.”

As teachers used their topics to apply to the average student’s life, their words seemed to influence some the congregated young scholars.

“I like chapels with sermons and worship music but just having the speakers for the first chapel were fine,” Sunny Petrie, ’06, said. “I think Mrs. Sargent’s friendship lecture was good because kids can be really mean sometimes, especially girls.

“I also liked Mr. Callish’s school participation speech because hardly anyone participates in anything event wise. Everything goes more smoothly when people participate, and it brings unity to our school.”

Chapels are held in Ground Zero at 11:15 on Thursdays. In the next chapel, the drama class will present a skit on Aug. 26.

For more information on other school activities, go online to www.fresnochristian.com, scroll down to the School News icon and click on HS Daily News.” “” “” “” “” “Fresno Christian Homepage