CAPE GAZETTE, Friday, August 1 - August 7, 1997 - 35
SCHOOL & EDUCATION
Christian pre-school to open at Lewes's Bethel Church
By Rosanne Pack
Colorful Noah's Arks sail along
the wall of a Sunday School room
while Kathy Pepper, the teacher of
a soon-to-open Christian pre-
school, makes lists of things to be
done 'and takes inventory of the
materials that will keep four-year-
olds busy.
An outreach program of Bethel
United Methodist Church in
Lewes, the new school is now tak-
ing registrations, and Pepper and
volunteers are preparing for a
Sept. 8 optning. It might not be
part of the curriculum she soon
will teach, but Pepper's prepara-
tions have included scraping,
patching and painting walls and
counting crayons. Her husband
George Pepper, a Cape Henlopen
teacher and father of one of the
new students, has been enlisted for
the stenciling effort and other
chores; and building a puppet
stage in the shape of Noah's Ark
and a bookshelf are also on his
calendar. "Some of our church
members had this idea for a pre-
school, and we were originally
thinking of opening in 1998," Pep-
per said. "But, we have a four-
year-old, and there were some oth-
ers who have children who are
ready, so we are getting it together
for one foUr-year-old class this
fall." Pepper said that Keri Fair-
cloth, Judy Schultz and Mary
Murabito were instrumental in the
formative phase of the school; and
they formed a steering committee
that included her and Kathy Ben-
son, Chuck Smith, Regina
Legates, Joe Baker and Allen
Riley. "We made our presentation
to the church board, and just got
approval two weeks ago," Pepper
said. "Then, right after the church
approved us for the renovations to
the classroom and money for
materials, we had a couple call to
say that they would donate the
money for materials as a memorial
to their son."
Jane and Charles Hood are
donating materials as a living
memorial to their son Kevin
Charles Hood.
Pepper taught public school for
eight years and private school for
two before agreeing to take the
position of the first teacher of
Bethel's pre-school. This year, the
four-year-old's class will meet
Monday, Wednesday and Fridays,
8-11 a.m. The long-range plan
includes adding classes for two-
and three-year-olds as well as for
five-year-olds whose birthdays
don't meet the publickindergarten
cut-off: Next year, the four-year-
old program will expand to five
days a week. Additional staff will
join Pepper next year with Fair-
cloth already enlisted as the
administrator and spiritual leader
of the school.
"We wanted to get started this
year, but we are satisfied to start
small," Pepper said. "We look at
this as a time to develop our rou-
tine and ensure quality, and to
establish our reputation."
The teacher said that the need
for a Christian pre-school •seemed
apparent from the waiting lists at
Epworth Methodist Pre-school in
Rehoboth Beach and at Sunshine
Pre-school in Milton. She said that
the curriculum at Bethel will
include standard approaches to
preschool learning, and spiritual
lessons will be integrated to help
children understand God's love
and how he will help them.
"The message will be low-key,
but we feel that our parents want
their children in a Christian set-
ting," Pepper said. "Our Noah's
Ark theme came from the motto of
the rainbow, 'I believe in God's
promise,' which is to protect and
care for us. And children are cer-
tainly God's promise."
Fees for the first year of Bethel
Christian Pre-school include $20
for registration and $45 for materi-
als. The monthly tuition is $90.
Five children are registered so far,
and the class will he kept to a
maximum of 14. Pepper said that
the steering committee and church
board envisionasing any profits to
establish a scholarship fund for
future years; but the pre-school is
too new for one this year.
The school is open to all. For
information, call the church office,
645-9426; Faircloth, 645-0269 or
Pepper, 645-8776.
Rosanne Pack photo
With a little help from daughters Rebecca, seated, and Han-
nah, standing, teacher Kathy Pepper prepares a classroom for
the new Bethel Christian Pre-school.
Cape High students return from World Scholar Athlete Games
amazing and inspiring, the U.S. government and other
By Rosanne Pack
Two Cape Henlopen High
School students recently partici-
pated in a super sleep-over with
more than 2,000 other teens from
all parts of the world. Jennifer
Pepper and Chris Myers were cho-
sen to be part of the fourth World
Scholar Athlete Games that took
place at the University of Rhode
Island.
The two high school juniors
spent from June 22 to July 2 in the
company of other students who
excel in their fields of scholastic
expertise, whether it be as an ath-
lete or artist. In the case of the
Cape students, their expertise is
more on the cultural side. Myers
went as a choir student, and Pep-
per as an artist.
Both students regard the experi-
ence as the chance of a lifetime. In
talking about their experiences,
each shared the same impression
that there is a common bond that
links them with other teenagers all
over the world,
"It was a really mellow week,"
Pepper said. "I found out that.
everybody was just the same; dif-
ferent, hut the same."
Myers agreed and said that the
oneness he felt with students from
entirely different cultures was
Chance of a lifetime
Created and governed by the
Institute for International Sport,
the games are held every four
years. Applications are sent out
worldwide, and 500,000 went out
this year. Of that number, 36,000
were returned, and 2,000 students
were chosen to attend this year's
event.
At Cape Henlopen High School,
Myers' father, John Myers made
sure that the applications were cir-
culated. The guidance counselor
and soccer coach knew that two
students from Cape had attended
four years ago, and he looked at
• the opportunity as one that should
not be passed up.
"It costs $400 for a student to go
for almost two weeks and have an
experience that is beyond com-
pare," John Myers said. "This is
the kind of thing that our commu-
nity should always take advantage
of. I'll do what I can to get spon-
sors for kids that may be chosen in
the future."
It costs approximately $1,200,
and it is heavily subsidized by
major contributors which include
Nike, Kodak, Walt Disney Com-
pany, many international airlines,
national governments, foundations
and many manufacturers of sport-
ing equipment.
Global hopes
The purpose of the games is
summed up in a quote from the
student handbook: "To foster
communication among the
world's future leaders and to
establish a network of internation-
al friendship." Alan S. Feinstein, a
philanthropist who helps fund the
games also said, "Helping to bet-
ter the lives of others, regardless
of race, creed or color is the great-
est of all achievements."
The Myers family members
were enthusiastic attendees at the
closing ceremonies where they got
to video tape their son performing
with the international choir.
The format of the games allows
students to focus on the field for
which they were chosen, but they
also participate in seminars and
discussion groups on universal
and contemporary issues that
effect the world's population.
Speakers who are knowledgeable
on such issues as world hunger
and health, the global, environ-
ment, conflict resolution and
ethics and sportsmanship met with
Rosanne Pack photos
Chris Myers recalls his experiences at the World Scholar
Athlete Games. Jennifer Pepper attended the games as an art
student.
the assembled games participants
on theme days.
"Some of the speakers were just
inspirational," Myers said. "We
got to hear people like Denise
Brown, Nicole Brown Simpson's
sister, who spoke on domestic vio-
lence. We also heard Arthur
Ashe's widow."
Pepper remembers hearing the
first woman who was an agent for
a professional football player.
After openiog sessions in one
huge group, teenagers separated
into 16 groups, and then into
smaller discussion groups. In
Myers' small group, his fellow
students included those from
Texas, Nigeria, Tanzania, North
Dakota, China, Nigeria and Soma-
lia.
Pepper has to laugh as she
remembers her discussion group.
"Our group always got a world
theme day leader that went off the
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