Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

New Life Christian opened its doors for the 2020-2021 school year on Thursday, and for the teachers and students it was a rather easy adjustment to the change dictated by COVID-19.

Director Annie Blackmon said when the school was closed due to the coronavirus in March, the students didn’t miss a beat.

“New Life Christian has been a virtual school since 1981-82, even before Troy University,” Blackmon said. “So, our students went home and continued to do what we were doing here at school.”

Blackmon said by being a virtual and a digital school, the New Life Christian students have the opportunity to learn from teachers all over the world and also benefit the one-on-one opportunities in the traditional classroom.”

“That combination is extremely beneficial to our students,” she said.

For the New Life Christian students, the major adjustment to school attendance during the coronavirus pandemic will be in the area of prevention – wearing masks, social distancing and hand washing. For the teachers and administration, prevention, detection and control of COVID-19 are concerns.

“We are all wearing masks and the students are adjusting to that extremely well,” Blackmon said. “Children seemingly adjust to change more easily than adults.

“We are maintaining social distance throughout the school. Some of our classes are being conducted both virtually and digitally, allowing more space for social distancing. We are making sure that our students have a safe learning environment.”

Blackmon said the teachers and staff are aware that, with COVID-19, comes feelings of anxiety and children are not immune.

“Because children and young people are so connected to social media, they are aware of COVID-19 and its effects and that can cause anxiety,” Blackmon said. “That will be something we are looking for as we move forward in the school year.

For the 2020-2021 schoolyear, New Life Christian has 80 students ages, kindergarten through 11th grade.

“Our older students have the opportunity for dual enrollment at Troy University,” Blackmon said. “We encourage our students to take advantage of every learning opportunity.  Our goal for all our students, is to grow spiritually, culturally, to develop good character and to live lives that glorify God.”