Beyond the Bell: Aftercare Cultivates Faithful Hearts

By Graham Gutekunst, Shield Editor

Care does not end when the school day stops. NRCA’s Aftercare ministry ensures each student has a safe, enjoyable time with friends and teaches students to be faithful in serving Christ. “At Aftercare, staff ask the students, ‘Are you being F.I.S.H?’” 

“This is an acronym I created which means Faithful In Serving Him in our thoughts, words, and actions. If students enrolled in Aftercare remember one thing, we pray it is this question,” said Mrs. Susan Smith, NRCA’s Aftercare Director. She noted that no matter what students end up doing when they grow up, they can all strive to be faithful in serving the Lord. 

Along with Mrs. Smith leading as the Aftercare Director, it takes a team to make an operation happen smoothly. The Aftercare team includes Ms. Kaycie Kennedy, Mrs. Katie Poston, and, new to the ministry this year, Mrs. Eve Cibula. The Aftercare team is also blessed to have two subs who faithfully serve in Aftercare, Mrs. Michelle Strong and Mrs. Rebecca Schieni. 

With a new year comes new students. The enrollment numbers in the Aftercare ministry have increased over the years, and with more students, comes more responsibilities. “Aftercare serves over 150 families,” said Smith. “Some days attendance is higher, and some days attendance is lower due to absences, changes in pickup, etc.,” she said. 

In serving these families, the Aftercare ministry wants to ensure every student gets picked up by their parents with a certain mindset. “We want parents to feel their children were loved and cared for until they safely arrive for pickup,” said Smith.  

At NRCA, school does not end at the bell. Many of our students continue to grow, play, and learn together until the final pickup.  

Interested in your child being the next child to be a part of the Aftercare ministry? Head over to nrcaknights.com/aftercare for more information on how you can get your child enrolled today.