“Our name defines who we are,” says Amy Davis, director of Fine Arts K-12 at Community Christian School (CCS). That is evident in CCS’s mission statement: “Community Christian School’s mission is to introduce students to Christ, to develop Christian character through academically challenging programs, and to build the next generation of dynamic leaders who will make a difference for Christ.” Community Christian School takes their mission very seriously.  “We stand behind our mission,” says Davis.

Fine Arts at CCS is just one way the school is helping young minds expand.  “We really get them introduced to the elements and principles of art,” says Ashley Terrell, visual arts teacher K-12 at Community Christian School. “It helps them develop academically,” says Davis. Students aren’t just coloring in art class. “Fine Arts as a whole at Community is a huge focus,” says Davis. “They get the fundamentals, the foundations, to use their own creativity,” says Terrell. “Fine Arts as a whole is such a way to express worship to God,” says Davis.

“It’s a perfect time for our fine arts to shine,” says Terrell. Students not only get to create art in school for class and art shows, but they are also able to compete as well. “Last year we had several of our high school students, upper middle and high school students that did get to go to the state competition,” explains Terrell. And receiving an award for what they created. “The high school level, at regional, we got a trophy for runner up overall,” says Terrell. These students have taken pride in their work. “They’re so proud, they did that,” shares Terrell.

What does working for Community Christian School and teaching these kids mean to these educators? “That’s one of the things I love and why I’ve stayed in Christian education and private school education for so long, having that freedom to know my kids and to be able to teach them where they are and there’s no limit to how far we can grow,” says Davis.

The impact CCS has had on these educators and what the students mean to them is clear. “There are kids who now, they’re young adults, they’re in college, and they’re leading worship on Sunday with me and they’re kids I’ve taught in elementary school,” says Davis.

“I feel like our name really represents what we’re about and I think we’re really about our community,” says Davis.

By JM Sylver