Parents and Pastors Anoint the Children; FCAT is Coming

Starting Tuesday, March 05, 2010 FCAT assessment will begin.
It seems appropriate that FCAT falls after the first Sunday of March.

This gives churches and Ministries an opportunity to anoint the children
in their respective Ministries to spiritually prepare children for the
State Comprehensive Assessment FCAT.

I’m a firm believer as a teacher and Christian in the power of prayer
and that it can change things. My belief respects prayer in that it can
influence children’s learning and behavior in school, consistant and
genuine prayer does change things. Although prayer was taken out
of the educational system, parents should pray for and anoint their
children every day before they go to school.

Upon reading this it should encourage you; individually to contact
your religious leader(s) to make special arrangements to perform
an anointing and prayer service for the children, especially those in
third to twelfth grade. Religious leaders should want to put a special
blessing for the children of the church particularly when they are
faced with the challenge of something that may keep students from
academic promotion to the next grade or even
keep them from graduation. Schools that have been struggling need
a extra dose of prayer and the students “laid hands on” anointed with oil.

Stated by Marian Edelman (Child Rights Advocate) “Education is
for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and
world better than you found it.” Many students in schools across this
country must take and pass some kind of assessment that is why it
is important for parents to understand as much about their child’s
respective academic status and tests. Each test is designed
to measure how well students are progressing at grade level, literacy,
comprehension when reading, critical thinking skills, mathematics
understanding and application.

Students should be able to synthesize, analyze and evaluate information
on or above grade level. Teachers teach skills that prepare students
for various assessments, unfortunately many parents
have not taken the time to inquire or investigate how their child is
doing until too late in the school year. Let these words encourage
all parents to be more active despite their individual educational
backgrounds. Parents can make a significant contribution by
encouraging, praising and having high expectation of success
for their child. Continuous communication that is positive and empowering.

The Motto of E3 Business Group (http://www.e3businessgroup.org/)
that is forming a partnership with DCPS; Educate, Encourage and
Empower are the tools parents can learn to employ. E3 offers free
forums for parents and business leaders in our community to allow
discussions on how parents can be better parents at home and
in their child’s school. The best way parents can be anointed is
through education so that they can be about the business of
being better parents.

Minster Keira Farr (Faith Christian Center) has stated,
“Education is a process of constant deposits being made
into our lives, building a solid foundation so that one day
we have something of substance to give others”. Pastors,
those religious leaders that make a difference in our lives this
is an opportunity to be involved spiritually on an academic level,
to expand beyond the church house and into the school house.
Teachers incorporate tools to reinforce learning; Accelerated Reader,
FCAT Explorer, Gizmo, Read 180, Compass Learning Odyssey
and other tools.

Pastors have spiritual tools that they incorporate in their teaching,
to empower, encourage and provide knowledge and understanding.
In Matthew 7:24-25 there is mention of a house upon a rock, a rock
that serves as a foundation, the foundation that a house is built upon
so that it will not be brought down by adverse weather conditions.
Children’s lives, their futures should be built on two strong foundations,
the first a strong and unwavering spiritual foundation and the second
a educational foundation that will provide for the present and future.
Parents be unto like wise men and women, establish a foundation
for your children, encourage and model excellence in praise, prayer
and learning.

Take a moment to anoint your children with positive and encouraging
words, “lay hands” on them to cover and keep them protected.
|Pastors lead your flocks and shepherd them spiritually, cover the
children of your church and the schools in your areas so they
will be mentally and spiritually ready to face challenges that seek to
deny them success.

FCAT Information Online: http://www.duvalschools.org/Students/fcat/

Edited by Nick McClenton and Cheryl Williams