New administration, teachers come on board

MOSES LAKE — Ask P.E. teacher Charlie Jones if he has goals for the P.E. department next school year at Covenant Christian School and he will tell you yes, but they're not focused on developing competitive teams or strong school spirit.

Basketball is not the goal but teaching life skills, Jones said picking a sport as an example.

One year after opening in Moses Lake the private school, formerly the site of Day Star Christian Academy, has new faces in some of its administrative and teaching positions who want to teach what cannot be learned from textbooks.

The school is open to students from pre-school through 12th-grade.

Mutual respect, concern for the well being of others and the ability to get along with those who are different from themselves are characteristics the school wants to instill in its students.

"I want to help these boys develop a sense of integrity and direction for their life," Jones said.

"They will learn to love each other with their differences," said principal Barbie Mu-oz who previously held the position of reading teacher.

Mu-oz took up the principal position after her predecessor Norm Lancaster moved on to take care of other responsibilities.

When it opened last school year the intent was to create a sister school relationship with Covenant Christian School in Spokane.

That school and a church were started by Mu-oz's brother Pastor Ken Peters.

Throughout this last school year the Moses Lake site held functions in conjunction with its counterpart.

"We have the same goals and the same vision and the kids love to get together with them," Mu-oz said of the relationship.

The other new face on staff in Moses Lake is Jones' wife Linda, who is teaching primarily in the younger grade levels, an age group she loves working with.

"They are like a sponge; they listen and learn," Linda said.

Linda had previously taught 20 years at the facility when it was still Day Star Christian Academy.

With roughly 25 students last year the school is projecting about the same number for the 2006-2007 school year.

The maximum number of students the school would take is 50, Mu-oz said.

Aside from new staff, other changes for next school year include rearranging classroom space to allow for a room designated just for testing, recording and scoring. New carpeting is planned for installation as well.

The school building is owned by Pastor Ken Sandberg and Gary Trautman, who are allowing the school to operate in the facility at a low cost.

"Because of the kindness of their hearts we are able to open our hearts to other children," Mu-oz said.

The first day of school for Convenant Christian students is Sept. 5.

For more information about the school, call (509) 924-8817.