‘Old school’ benefits still working
By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – Lynda Palao spent 18 years in the public school system before accepting the job last year as the new principal at First Baptist Christian School, something that led her to a revelation at FBCS that she wants all Slidell parents to know about.
Since starting her first year at First Baptist in the leadership role for students there, Palao has loved seeing the advantages in directing a private Christian school where they are able to provide old school benefits for the students.
“First Baptist offers great academic opportunities, a wide range of sports activities, a focus on discipline and behavior that assures children feel protected, and of course, we are able to utilize Biblical teaching,” she said.
“We teach kids how to be upstanding young people. We teach them how to protect others and how to be role models,” she said. “Every situation we run into we address it immediately with a goal to raise good kids, and good, Godly citizens.”
Former Principal Mona Nelson, now the Head of School, said that in her 18 years as principal the school only had one actual fight between students, and like any other issues they run into, the situation is addressed immediately.
“The main thing I want parents to know is that we are here to help them raise successful kids,” she said. “I want the community to know that since I don’t believe many people realize what a great thing we have going on here.”
First Baptist ranks right up there academically with all public or private state schools and has posted higher ACT score averages than the parish and state numbers.
“Our kids can earn TOPS, they do well in college, and a high percent of our students go to college,” she said.
Palao said First Baptist has a zero-tolerance policy on issues of today that frequently begin on Social Media, but they do more than settle the problem.
“We address every situation with conflict resolution between the kids. Even if a couple of fourth graders have a spat on the playground, we bring both kids in for an interview, talk it out and partner with the parents to make sure no child feels bullied,” she explained.
First Baptist has several key goals, besides producing high scoring students. Among them is to use their faith-based approach to life issues, which start with a weekly chapel and daily Bible classes.
Even though they are a smaller school compared to the huge area public schools, First Baptist offers most major sport and many minor sports, other than football, including boys and girls’ basketball, baseball, volleyball, track, golf, tennis, cross country, powerlifting and swimming.
Palao said that teachers and the administration can see the values being taught to their students from some of their field trips and fun outings, such as going on an airboat, taking a ride on a shrimp boat, a Friday night bonfire or going to a lake in Franklinton.
“We recently had a Friday Game Night and I saw seven cell phones sitting around because kids were playing games and having so much fun. And this is for seventh to 12th grade!” she said. “How often do you see that? The kids are happy here and you can see it every day.”
The school has a cell phone policy that requires phones be kept in book bags and turned off, and any grades from 10th on down have no open access to the Internet.
Palao said she never saw herself ending up at a private Christian school when working in the public school system for 15 years. But then the challenges there led to consider the opening for a new principal at First Baptist.
“I didn’t feel like I was able to protect my kids, and it really affected me personally. I took one Christmas break and prayed for God to show me what I should do, and then a friend of mine who taught at First Baptist told me about the principal’s opening,” she explained. “I never saw myself doing this, but I felt God leading me to it, and after many, many interviews, I was hired.”
“It has been the best decision of my life. I love the school since there is such attention to academics, safety and just loving the students,” she added.
Now in her first full year as principal, Palao said she set a personal goal to learn the names of every one of the 290 students, something she accomplished along with Nelson.
“Now that I have been here a while I want the parents in this area to know what we have since we can really provide a great place for your child to go to school, and you can be sure they will be protected,” she said. “And our tuition is around half of many other private schools.”
Anyone who would like more information or set up a tour of the school can call 985-643-3725 or go online to: fbcseagles.com
