SEW: HAVE YOU HEARD OF JESUS?

SEW—Spiritual Emphasis Week—is a new addition to the high school year this February. ASB, Bible Leadership, and Mr. Talley created SEW for students to build more relationships with God and each other.

“The idea of SEW was started when Mr. Scott would show his classes the spirit week’s at his old school,” said Bryce Ebrahimian, secretary of ASB. “Looking at the success of the Freshman retreat, ASB wanted to give an opportunity for the whole high school to partake in an event like that.” Ebrahimian and ASB hope that the week will help take some time away from stress and rigorous academics, and focus on connecting students with each other and their faith.

Mrs. Swing, the high school principal, says, “The concept to do a spiritual week is that we decided to do something more missionally aligned to who we are.” She is more than likely alluding to the school’s mission statement, which says, “We empower students to achieve their highest potential through Christ-centered educational excellence.”

Many choices are to be presented to students for student-led chapels. Mr.Matt Hallock, a previous Monte Vista teacher, is coming back to share his story during chapel.

On day two of spiritual emphasis week, there will be a time—after fourth period, during the normal chapel time—when students can decide which venue they would like to go to. Some ASB students will be in classrooms waiting to tell their stories for their classmates to hear. The heart of this event is for people to have contact with God.

The last day of SEW will include a night under the stars after school, which is where students can come back to Monte Vista and have small group discussion with Bible leaders. Students can bring blankets and towels and watch the night sky.

Bible Leadership helped plan and orchestrate this event. Andres Fernandez and Jonathan Siemsen, two students from Bible Leadership, both love the night under the stars event, the small group discussion that happens and the ideas and questions that come from students. Fernandez and Siemsen both hope students come and participate.