Coach Smith......."I've coached nearly 800 boys and girls basketball and volleyball games in 12 years at Faith Christian, and I can say with total confidence that I've never been more proud of a group of kids as I was at tonight's Hoops for Haiti Invitational at Einstein Academy in Elgin." The Falcons had to overcome several adversities to compete in the Tournaments final day of games; due to a knee injury to Sarah Clemens, and our sixth-graders at Timberlee, the Falcons were down to six players for today's action. Instead of feeling sorry for themselves, the girls played like champions who refused to lose. They defeated Fox River Country Day's 8th/7th-grade team 20-8 in the loser bracket game, then with only 8 minutes to rest up the played in the consolation finals against Trinity Oaks Christian's well-rested 8th- and 7th-grade squad. But that didn't shake the Falcons, who left it all on the court in a thrilling 20-19 victory that earned them the Third Place crown. The girls rallied from a 12-4 third-quarter deficit to pull off a huge victory over a taller, more physical Trinity Oaks team. Crystal Okpisz's driving layup with 18 seconds remaining, and Chloe's length-of-the-floor baseball pass to Kristen Hermes to break Trinity's full-court press in the final 5 seconds were the capper to a thrilling game. The girls gave an inspiring performance that had a packed gym buzzing with excitement and the tournament director singing the players' praises to Coach Smith afterwards.  Crystal, Kristen, Chloe and Priscilla played every minute of both games tonight and displayed the heart of a champion -- really, the heart of Christ -- battling through collisions, injuries, tired legs, opponents who had 10-deep rosters and a tough shooting night to keep pursuing the prize. They refused to quit even when it was tempting to give up. They played with incredible resiliency, tenacity, energy, motivation and toughness. Madalynn Lagatuz and Katelyn Richter, two fifth-graders brand new to basketball, stepped up to play 7th/8th-grade competition due to so many players absent. They played with amazing poise and courage while being thrown into a difficult position facing huge kids 3 years older than them. Another coach was heard to say it was one of the gutsiest efforts he's seen a junior-high team make. He said he was in awe of how the kids dug deep and came up with big play after big play with such a thin roster in two up-and-down-the-court games. "My girls couldn't have done that," he said. "I don't know many groups of girls who could, to be honest." The tournament results may say we finished in third place, but in the eyes our coach, and all of the Faith fans, the Falcons were champions tonight. Congratulations on your victory.....Great Job!!

The Music department at FCA blessed us all with a beautiful performance at the 2009 Christmas Concert. Students from all grades contributed to the performance with music and song, as well creating the stage decorations and setting up for the performance. Many students also created beautiful artwork that was on display during the performance. Our appreciation goes out to all of the students, Mrs. Barnes, Mr. Clemens, Ms. Bennett and Mrs. Andresen for their efforts in producing this wonderful night of musical celebration.

Faith Christian features a year-round slate of extra-curricular programs in girls volleyball (fall), boys and girls basketball (winter), girls and boys track (spring) and cheer leading. Our unique approach to athletics is summarized in our motto: "Sports with a Higher Purpose." Our primary mission is to use athletics as a tool to develop students morally, spiritually and relationally for life.

Faith Christian Academy currently offers three outstanding Band programs; Beginner Band, Concert Band, and Honors Band. Beginner Band is for instrumentalists with less than one year of experience and usually consists of 4th and 5th graders. Concert Band is for instrumentalists who have one or more years of playing experience or for older beginners (grades 5-8) who successfully pass an audition, and Honors Band is one or more small instrumental ensemble(s) made of up the exceptional players of Concert Band. For more information on FCA's Band program, please see the full article under Fine Arts.

Faith Christian Academy is committed to encouraging family-centered, out-of-school learning by helping parents create learning activities and adventures that they can share with their children both now and for years to come. We believe that this will help students become better students and families become stronger families. Faith (Christian Academy), after all, is built on families, and families are built on faith. Families were designed as the foundation for learning about this life and the next, and we want to support and strengthen that foundation in every way we can. “Families Learning Through Faith” is an ongoing series of evening gatherings in which parents are encouraged to share out-of-school learning adventures with their children. These shared learning adventures are designed to meet the interests of children in every grade, and they served to reinforce lessons taught in every classroom subject.

Faith Christian Academy students annually volunteer at the Feed My Starving Children facility in Aurora. Feed My Starving Children is a nonprofit organization that has helped to feed children in more than 60 countries all over the world. "It is a natural extension of what we believe education is all about," said William Russell, assistant director of Faith Christian Academy.

At Faith Christian Academy we believe that when kids delve into creating projects with their hands as well as their minds, they develop skills in creative thinking, problem solving, self-expression and cooperation. The Art program is designed to provide each student with an awareness of their God-given gifts and abilities and confidence in using them, as well as a sensitivity to God's creation.

Faith Christian Academy holds a yearly open house in May. Classroom projects are on display for all to see and enjoy. This is a great opportunity to come and visit and to see what each class offers. For the specific date, please refer to the school calendar.

Faith Christian Academy offers its choral students opportunities to become involved in theatrical events such as a Broadway style musical performed every other year. These musical events provide the students with invaluable stage experience, and are enjoyed by students, family and friends alike. Previous musicals performed include " Fiddler on the Roof", "Godspell","A Christmas Carol", and "Pinocchio".

Science at FCA is filled with wonder! Rich in nature, we capitalize on a child's built-in curiosity about the world around them and give them opportunities to explore and investigate the things they are being taught. Our students learn the steps of scientific inquiry from the first grade on, and our curriculum is rich in vocabulary building, giving multiple opportunities for hands on experiments.