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“[The faculty at Faith Christian School] are partnering with Eugene and me to mold our children into the people God has created them to be and for the “good works” - Katy Eng
How long has your family been a part of our school?
All three of our children have been at Faith Christian School since the beginning of their schooling. Our oldest, Caleb is 16 and a sophomore. Ellie is 13 and in seventh grade, and Hannah is 10 in the fourth grade.
Why did you choose FCS for your child(ren)?
We were first introduced to Faith Christian School before we even moved to Roanoke. We were visiting Roanoke for a job interview and my host (and Caleb’s – who was one at the time) for the day showed us around town, including FCS, while Eugene interviewed. At that time FCS was housed at Cave Spring Baptist Church. My baby was barely one and I was not yet in the mindset of finding a school for him. All I wanted to know that day was, “Are there good schools in Roanoke?” I knew nothing of Christian classical education or why that might be a good idea. But there are a few things I saw on that visit I remember all these years later. The school personnel knew my host and her young adult children and asked about them by name and with a specificity that indicated a genuine relationship. The school felt warm and loving, and the people who were interviewing Eugene and I (who we knew to be sincere and mature believers) trusted this place to educate their children.
%20(6).png?width=600&height=600&name=Stories%20Photos%20With%20Captions%20(Landscape)%20(6).png "Eng Family First Day of 2021 School Year")
That first visit to Roanoke led to an offer of employment, and eventually the time came for us to look into schools for Caleb more seriously. For us, all options were on the table, but Faith Christian School definitely had a head start. We considered homeschool, secular private school, public school, and Faith Christian School. In our consideration, we read by-laws and educational philosophies, asked people we knew what their impressions were, and also visited schools. Faith Christian School’s head start quickly became a solid lead in the process, and it was a confirmation of those things I first observed that continued to draw us in. But also, as I learned a little more, I was intrigued by this educational approach that I knew very little about and also by the excellence and rigor that were, and are, a part of FCS.
I was very anxious as a mom to hand my little boy off to a school for so many hours a week, but I was thankful to be welcomed into the school for volunteering, field trips, special programs, birthday celebrations, and other activities. I was encouraged to meet staff and teachers who cared for my child as a person with his unique personality, gifts, and shortcomings. I could see that FCS was a place to partner with Eugene and I as parents, a place with godly educators, and that this was not a Christian education in name only, but that Christ permeates the school in all areas including educational philosophy and worldview, discipline, curriculum, conflict resolution, and the understanding of parents’ roles.
%20(7).png?width=300&height=300&name=Stories%20Photos%20With%20Captions%20(Landscape)%20(7).png "Caleb Eng is inducted into the FCS Veritas Honor Society")
What do you love most about FCS?
It has been many years since we made that first decision to send Caleb to Faith Christian School, and since then we have decided to send our daughters one after the other to the school as well. My husband and I are parents to three very different children. They have different personalities, interests, academic, and athletic abilities and sin tendencies. So it has been to my delight that I have seen FCS meet each of these uniquely created people as they are. Their teachers know them, they know how to encourage them, to work with their strengths and help shore up their weaknesses. They are partnering with Eugene and me to mold our children into the people God has created them to be and for the “good works He has prepared in advance for them to do.” At times this partnership has meant us meeting together with the teachers or administration to talk about a challenge we are facing with our children. Each time I have come away encouraged by the partnership, prayed for, and confident in God’s hand on the life of my children.
How is FCS preparing your student(s) for God's call on their lives, including hopes, plans, and dreams for college, career, and/or community?
As our children get older, I am reminded that our time with them in our household is short, too short. A verse that has stuck with me for many years and has become a frequent prayer is Psalm 90:12. “Teach me to number my days, that I may present to you a heart of wisdom.” And I pray this of my parenting as well. Eugene’s and my years of having our children under our influence and in our care are limited, and I know what we provide as a foundation for their childhood will greatly impact the rest of their lives. I desire above every other thing to provide every opportunity for my children to grow in wisdom and knowledge of the Lord. And that is why we partner with Faith Christian School where they are led and taught by godly men and women to prepare them for the call God has placed on their life – whatever that may be.
