FCS Blog
FCS Blog
FCS Blog
September 15, 2026
Building a Work Ethic That Lasts a Lifetime
One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is a strong work ethic.
A good work ethic is not something that suddenly develops when a
child becomes an adult. It is a character trait that must be intentionally
developed over time, beginning at home.
Start young and start small. Give children age-appropriate
responsibilities such as making their bed, putting away their toys,
helping with laundry, setting the table, or unloading the dishwasher.
These tasks may seem small, but they teach children that they have
responsibilities and that their contribution matters.
As children grow, their responsibilities should grow with them. It is
important not only to give children responsibilities but also to hold
them accountable for completing those responsibilities. While it may
sometimes be easier for a parent to do the task, allowing children to do
it themselves teaches independence, perseverance, and follow-
through.
What children learn at home often spills over into the classroom.
Students who are accustomed to being responsible for chores and
completing tasks at home are more likely to take ownership of their
schoolwork. They learn to apply themselves, work through challenges,
and understand that doing something well is more important than
simply getting it done.
A strong work ethic also helps students care about the quality of the
work they turn in. They begin to understand the importance of giving
their best effort rather than doing the minimum required.
As a Christian school, we want our students to understand that hard
work is more than a life skill—it is a biblical principle. Colossians 3:23
reminds us,
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and
not unto men.
”
The habits we establish in our children today will shape the adults they
become tomorrow. Start small, give them responsibility, hold them
accountable, and teach them to do their best. These lessons will serve
them well for a lifetime.
FCS Blog
September 01, 2026
MIDDLE SCHOOL IS A SEASON OF TREMENDOUS GROWTH. OUR STUDENTS ARE DISCOVERING THEIR STRENGTHS, DEVELOPING
THEIR CHARACTER, BUILDING MEANINGFUL FRIENDSHIPS, AND LEARNING HOW TO NAVIAGTE NEW RESPONSIBILITIES. THEY ARE
BECOMING MORE INDEPENDENT WHILE STILL NEEDING THE GUIDANCE, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND SUPPORT OF THE ADULTS IN THEIR
LIVES.
GROWTH DURING THE MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN IN A STRAIGHT LINE! ALMOST NEVER! THERE WILL BE
SUCCESSES TO CELEBRATE, BUT THERE WILL ALSO BE CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY. A DIFFICULT ASSIGNMENT, A DISAPPOINTING
GRADE, A FRIENDSHIP STRUGGLE, OR A POOR DECISION MAY FEEL OVERWHELMING IN THE MOMENT. HOWEVER, THESE
EXPERIENCES CAN BECOME VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN, MATURE, AND GROW. WHEN STUDENTS ARE
ENCOURAGED TO REFLECT ON THEIR CHOICES, PERSEVERE THROUGH DIFFICULTIES, AND TRY AGAIN, THEY BEGIN DEVELOPING
THE RESILIENCE THEY NEED THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND.
OUR THEME THIS YEAR,
“THE BEST IS YET TO COME,
” IS A POWERFUL REMINDER THAT ONE DIFFICULT MOMENT DOES NOT DEFINE A
STUDENT’S STORY. GOD NEVER SAID IT WOULD BE EASY! HE IS STILL WORKING IN THE LIVES OF EACH OF OUR STUDENTS, EVEN
WHEN THEY CANNOT SEE THE OUTCOME. THEIR GIFTS ARE STILL BEING DEVELOPED, THEIR CHARACTER IS STILL BEING SHAPED,
AND THEIR STORIES ARE STILL BEING WRITTEN. WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT MISTAKES ARE NOT THE END OF
THE JOURNEY. WITH FAITH, DETERMINATION, AND A WILLINGNESS TO GROW, THEY CAN CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH
CONFIDENCE.
AS EDUCATORS, WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WALKING ALONGSIDE OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS DURING THIS SEASON OF
THEIR LIVES. OUR GOAL IS NOT ONLY TO HELP THEM SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY BUT ALSO TO HELP THEM BECOME RESPONSIBLE,
COMPASSIONATE, AND CONFIDENT YOUNG PEOPLE. WE WANT THEM TO LEARN HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES, TREAT
OTHERS WITH KINDNESS, MAKE WISE CHOICES, AND APPROACH CHALLENGES WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. THESE SKILLS WILL
SERVE THEM FAR BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.
OUR FCS FAMILIES ALSO PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN THIS GROWTH. WHEN PARENTS AND TEACHERS WORK TOGETHER,
STUDENTS ARE SURROUNDED BY A STRONG AND CONSISTENT SYSTEM OF SUPPORT. OPEN COMMUNICATION, CLEAR
EXPECTATIONS, AND SHARED ENCOURAGEMENT REMIND STUDENTS THAT THE ADULTS IN THEIR LIVES BELIEVE IN THEM AND
WANT TO SEE THEM SUCCEED. TOGETHER, WE CAN CELEBRATE THEIR PROGRESS WHILE CONTINUING TO CHALLENGE THEM TO
REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
WE ARE ALREADY SEEING WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOMS. STUDENTS ARE ASKING
THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS, DEVELOPING NEW SKILLS, STRENGTHENING FRIENDSHIPS, AND LEARNING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A
PART OF A COMMUNITY. EVERY LESSON LEARNED AND EVERY CHALLENGE OVERCOME IS PREPARING THEM FOR WHAT COMES
NEXT.
THERE IS SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO AS OUR STUDENTS CONTINUE GROWING IN KNOWLEDGE, FAITH, CHARACTER, AND
CONFIDENCE. WE ARE PROUD OF WHO THEY ARE TODAY, AND WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE WHO THEY WILL BECOME! AS WE MOVE
THROUGH THIS SCHOOL YEAR TOGETHER, MAY WE CONTINUE REMINDING THEM TO WORK HARD, TRUST GOD, LEAD WITH
KINDNESS, AND LOOK FORWARD WITH HOPE–BECAUSE THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
FCS Blog
August 20, 2026
THE BEST IS YET TO COME
AS WE BEGIN A NEW SCHOOL YEAR, THERE IS SOMETHING EXCITING ABOUT
A FRESH START. NEW CLASSROOMS, NEW FACES, NEW OPPORTUNITIES,
AND NEW CHALLENGES REMIND US THAT EACH YEAR IS A CHANCE TO
GROW, LEARN, AND DISCOVER WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE.
OUR THEME THIS YEAR,
“THE BEST IS YET TO COME,
” INVITES US TO LOOK
AHEAD WITH HOPE AND EXPECTATION. BUT IT ALSO REMINDS US THAT
WHAT COMES NEXT IS SHAPED BY WHAT WE CHOOSE TO DO TODAY.
COLOSSIANS 3:23 GIVES US A WONDERFUL FOCUS FOR THE YEAR:
“WHATEVER YOU DO, WORK AT IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AS WORKING
FOR THE LORD.
” AS STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND FAMILIES, WE MAY NOT
KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS SCHOOL YEAR WILL BRING. THERE WILL
CERTAINLY BE SUCCESSES, SURPRISES, AND MOMENTS THAT CHALLENGE
US. YET WE CAN APPROACH EACH DAY WITH PURPOSE, GIVING OUR VERY
BEST IN ALL THAT WE DO.
DOING OUR BEST DOESN'T MEAN BEING PERFECT. IT MEANS SHOWING UP
WITH A WILLING HEART, PUTTING FORTH OUR BEST EFFORT, ENCOURAGING
ONE ANOTHER, AND TRUSTING GOD WITH THE RESULTS.
AS WE STEP INTO THIS NEW SCHOOL YEAR, LET'S EMBRACE EVERY
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, SERVE, GROW, AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THE
JOURNEY AHEAD IS FILLED WITH POSSIBILITY—AND WE CAN MOVE
FORWARD CONFIDENTLY, KNOWING THAT THE BEST IS YET TO COME.
FCS Blog
August 12, 2026
THE MISSION STATEMENT FOR FAITH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL IS: FCS EXISTS TO GLORIFY GOD BY PARTNERING WITH CHRISTIAN
PARENTS TO PROVIDE A CHALLENGING COLLEGE PREPARATORY PROGRAM AND DISCIPLE FUTURE-READY STUDENTS. OF COURSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXPLAIN THE WHY IN MOST STATEMENTS AND THAT IS PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD. AS AN
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, TEACHER, COACH, AND INSTRUCTOR I ALSO FEEL IT’S IMPORTANT TO EXPLAIN THE HOW. SCHOOL
ATHLETICS CAN BE THE MOST VISIBLE WAY TO REPRESENT A SCHOOL’S CULTURE AND MISSION. WHEN A TEAM COMPETES
WELL WITH AN ATTITUDE THAT DISPLAYS WHAT THE SCHOOL IS ABOUT, IT CAN BE INSPIRATIONAL TO EVERYONE INVOLVED
INCLUDING THE OTHER TEAM. I BELIEVE KNIGHTS ATHLETICS SHOULD REPRESENT HOW CHRIST HAS AN INFLUENCE IN
EVERYTHING WE DO. SO HOW DO WE DO THAT?
RESPECT (MATTHEW 7:12 SO IN EVERYTHING, DO TO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO TO YOU, FOR THIS SUMS UP THE
LAW AND THE PROPHETS.)
PLAYERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO TALK TO ADULTS/ COACHES/ TEACHERS/ OFFICIALS/ OTHER SCHOOLS WITH RESPECT AND
CONFIDENCE. TRASH TALK IS ALWAYS DETRIMENTAL AND IN MOST CASES WILL DISQUALIFY US AS A POSITIVE INFLUENCE. I
WAS A BASEBALL UMPIRE FOR SEVEN YEARS FOR LOCAL SHOWCASE TOURNAMENTS FOR TEAMS 13 - 18 YEARS OLD. THERE
ARE FEW COACHES OR TEAMS WHO SHOW BASIC RESPECT FOR OFFICIALS OR THE OTHER TEAM FOR THAT MATTER. THERE
WAS ONE TEAM THAT STOOD OUT TO ME IN ALL MY TIME AS AN UMPIRE. A COACH FROM A CINCINNATI TEAM SAID IN OUR
PRE GAME MEETING THAT “WE ARE A CHRISTIAN TEAM AND YOU WON’T HEAR ANY COMPLAINTS OUT OF US”. I REMINDED
HIM THAT IT WAS OUR FOURTH GAME OF THE DAY IN 100 DEGREE HEAT AND WE MIGHT MAKE SOME BAD CALLS. HE SAID “I
DON’T CARE HOW BAD YOU MAY BE, WE WON’T SAY A WORD.” THEIR TEAM PLAYED HARD AND WITH COMPLETE CLASS.
THEY PLAYED LIKE A CHRISTIAN TEAM SHOULD. THEY HAPPENED TO WIN THAT GAME BUT I DOUBT IT WOULD HAVE
MATTERED. IT WAS INSPIRATIONAL!
ACCOUNTABILITY (ROMANS 14:12 SO THEN, EACH OF US WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF OURSELVES TO GOD)
PLAYERS, COACHES, AND PARENTS SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOW THEY COMPETE AND
HANDLE OBSTACLES. A POPULAR QUOTE SAYS “THERE MAY BE A 1000 REASONS FOR FAILURE, BUT NOT ONE SINGLE EXCUSE.”
WE WILL ALL MAKE MISTAKES AND THOSE SHOULD BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO SHOW OUR CHARACTER BY GETTING BACK
UP AND GETTING BETTER. ONE OF THE BEST THINGS A TRUE LEADER CAN DO IS TAKE THE BLAME. AS A PROFESSOR I HAD FOR
ONE MY CLASSES AT THE CITADEL “MESS UP, FESS UP, AND MOVE ON.”
HUMILITY (JOHN 15:5 ....APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING)
MATT HOLLIDAY, A FORMER MLB ALL-STAR PLAYER ONCE SAID “THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF PLAYERS. ONES THAT ARE HUMBLE
AND THE ONES WHO ARE ABOUT TO BE HUMBLED.” HAVING BEEN A PLAYER FOR THE LAST 38 YEARS OF MY LIFE AND A
COACH FOR 20 YEARS, I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT HE IS RIGHT. WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER WHO GIVES US EVERY
TALENT, ABILITY, AND OPPORTUNITY AND BE APPRECIATIVE BY GIVING OUR BEST EFFORT EVERY DAY.
IF WE CAN LEARN HOW TO WIN AND LOSE WITH HUMILITY, BE A GREAT TEAMMATE, AND HANDLE CRITICISM AND
INSTRUCTION WELL, WE WILL BE A GREAT MOTIVATION TO OTHERS.
THIS ISN’T A COMPLETE LIST OF EVERY CHARACTER TRAIT AN ATHLETE SHOULD HAVE, BUT IT IS A GREAT START AND WILL SET
US APART FROM NEARLY EVERY OTHER TEAM. I LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT YEAR WITH ALL OF OUR TEAMS AND I KNOW WE
HAVE A LOT OF STUDENT LEADERS WHO CAN HELP US BE SUCCESSFUL IN CONQUERING OUR MISSION TO BE GREAT
AMBASSADORS AND DISCIPLES FOR CHRIST.