A New Chapter for Hannah
Three years ago, sixth-grade student Hannah Davis began working with Dayspring’s National Institute for Learning Development (NILD) teacher Linda Driedger.
“Hannah is very bright and at the top of her class,” Mrs. Driedger said. “She has learned to organize her thoughts and has enhanced her reading and spelling skills (through the program). Hannah is not your typical sixth-grade student, and she has a true love of reading.”
That love of reading classical literature led Mrs. Driedger to think about her own mother’s precious collection of first-edition Pollyanna books that were copyrighted in the 1930s. Thinking that Hannah would love the books, Mrs. Driedger asked her mother if she could loan the books to Hannah.
Hannah did love the books. She read them through, then read them through again.
As the school year was winding down this year, it became clear that Hannah was going to graduate from the NILD program, and Mrs. Driedger was no longer going to teach at the school. Hannah was going to have to part with these books she had grown to love.
“Hannah’s mom let me know that she was very emotional about having to give the books back, and that Hannah was already reading them through a third time.” Mrs. Driedger said.
Mrs. Driedger had told Hannah that the books were out of print and would probably be kept in the family.
“After hearing how Hannah had fallen in love with these books, I talked to different family members and we decided that we wanted Hannah to enjoy the books instead of storing them in a dark attic," Mrs. Driedger said.
So, unbeknownst to Hannah, her mom, Daphyne, purchased the books.
“It was our last day together,” Mrs. Driedger said. “Hannah’s mother packaged up the books as a gift and brought them in at the end of the session. Hannah opened the box and (realizing they were being given to her), she burst into tears. It was an emotional last meeting together.”
Hannah moves on from the NILD program and steps immediately into a leadership realm. She was chosen from Dayspring’s fifth- and sixth-grade classes to attend the Jr. National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C., which helps scholars develop and sharpen their leadership skills by examining the leaders of the past and empowering them to make a positive social impact in their community and the world.
Hannah has been a student at Dayspring since she was in academic kindergarten. God has given her a love of history, and she hopes to one day be a history teacher. Her parents are Douglas and Daphyne Davis, and she has a sister, Mykenzie, in third grade at DCA.
Red Umbrella Artist Shares Testimony with DCA Art Students
Long before the now-famous red umbrella was unfurled in the artwork of Lancaster’s Liz Hess, she committed her life to Christ.
“I went through an experience which really frightened me," Ms. Hess remembered. “While I lay on the floor, thinking I was dying, I cried out to God to save me, promising I would commit myself to Him.”
She relayed to DCA Art students how she has walked with the Lord and trusted in Him in this journey that has made her one of Lancaster’s most beloved artists.
“I was working in a gallery when a friend and I first thought about opening our own gallery,” she shared. “I really prayed over it and felt that’s what the Lord wanted me to do.”
He blessed her faithfulness by opening up the space for her current gallery on Prince Street at a time when “no one could have known that this would become ground zero for art galleries in Lancaster.”
She shared her experiences as a Christian artist with Upper School students in Toni Mann’s art classes.
Ms. Hess revealed how the first red umbrella popped up in a painting that simply needed a little color. She first cast it in her paintings during a trip to Italy along the canals of Venice. Since that time, she has traveled the world to gain inspiration from God’s canvas. Her latest artistic excursion took her to the lush rolling hills of Ireland. New work from this trip will be unveiled in October.
According to Ms. Hess, “the artist she idolizes most is the Master Painter Himself, who has filled this earth with form, color, and pattern too beautiful for any human being to recreate. It is this Artist, God the Creator, who has made all the difference in her life.”
We extend special thanks to Liz for sharing her compelling testimony and captivating artwork with Dayspring students.
Around Dayspring
Jenny Bleecker, Certified Athletic Administrator
Congratulations to Dayspring’s physical education teacher, Jenny Bleecker, who recently completed the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association process to become a Certified Athletic Administrator. Mrs. Bleecker will serve as Dayspring’s athletic director beginning next fall.
Shelly Hilton Receives Master’s Degree
DCA’s nursery school teacher and school aide Shelly Hilton received her master’s of education degree from Regent University in May. Mrs. Hilton has worked at the school for five years and has three children who attend: Tanner, Kristopher, and Emily. Her husband, Randy, teaches Bible and Understanding the Times here as well. She plans to pursue her doctoral degree in early childhood education.
Anita Casteel Receives Master’s Degree
Dayspring Christian Academy’s advancement coordinator, Anita Casteel, recently received her master of science in education degree with a concentration in enrollment management from Capella University. Mrs. Casteel has just completed her 11th year at Dayspring.
Retired Teacher Volunteers in Third-Grade Class
This year, third-grade teacher Mary Stauffer enjoyed the generous spirit of Diane Rima, who volunteered for two hours two times each week. Mrs. Rima is a retired third-grade teacher from Kona, HI, who helped Mrs. Stauffer with math and reading.
“She missed her kids so she came to me,” Mrs. Stauffer exclaimed. "(DCA teacher) Rita Simmons hooked us up, and she's just delightful.”
Mrs. Rima helped Mrs. Stauffer to run reading groups and mentored her in that area. She read stories and did a puppet show, but surely the class favorite must have been the litter Golden Retriever puppies she brought in “for the kids to love on and enjoy!”