A new opportunity for students to learn character-building skills based on Bible lessons will soon be available in Wells County.
Starting in January 2023, LifeWise, a national program which provides Bible-based character education to public school students, will be taught to kindergarten and first-grade students from Ossian Elementary School.
With the cooperation of the Ossian Presbyterian Church, which sits adjacent to the school, the LifeWise program will provide volunteers who will march the children across the school parking lot during the day to a building owned by the church at 115 South Jefferson St.
Currently, the building located just north of the church is used by the congregation as a place for elementary kids to meet after school on Mondays for a program called Presby Kids. That program will continue uninterrupted.
Rhonda Maller of Bluffton has been hired as the LifeWise program director. She learned about the LifeWise program in 2021. LifeWise was established in 2018 with a curriculum that introduces lessons about honesty, kindness, joy and more.
Maller said it captured her heart.
“Children are the future for our community, country, church, and families,” she said. “If we can teach godly principles to them at a young age, these children will have them always.”
She added that in 1952, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that public schools can release students during the school day to receive private religious instruction off-campus with parental consent. Such arrangements are referred to as Released Time Religious Instruction.
A further condition is that RTRI must be privately funded.
Maller added that she has met with Andrea Larkin and Theresa Casto, principal and vice-principal of Ossian Elementary, respectively. They, as well as Mike Springer, superintendent of Northern Wells Community Schools, are behind the LifeWise program.
“They are excited about it and have our assurance that our LifeWise staff will uphold school discipline rules according to the Northern Wells standards,” said Maller, who meets regularly with the Northern Wells LifeWise Board for assistance — Shari Fiechter, Jamie Misch, Brett McBride, Sonya Bertsch, Gary Lewis, Jordan Arnold, Jennifer Amstutz, and Lane Sander.
Bluffton resident Taylor Gerber has been hired to teach the LifeWise class for kindergarten and first graders. Gerber, a 2020 graduate of Illinois State University in elementary education, taught fifth grade for two years at Lancaster Elementary School. When, in 2022, she was unable to find adequate daycare for her son, she and her husband Drew decided she would quit her job to stay home.
The opportunity to teach part-time for LifeWise thrilled Gerber, who attends the Bluffton North Apostolic Church.
“I have a passion for teaching and presenting the gospel to little children,” she said. “This is a great way for students to learn and for me to only obtain daycare one day a week.”
Having studied the LifeWise curriculum, she is pleased. “The lessons are well laid out and age-appropriate.” The LifeWise program provides a five-year plan that covers the entire Bible; no grading is involved.
Jordan Arnold, also of Bluffton, heard about LifeWise in 2019 while working in Van Wert, Ohio. He was impressed at learning that 95 percent of the students in the Van Wert school system were enrolled, while only 30 percent of those attended church regularly.
Arnold, who is married and the father of an infant and a two-year-old, is employed as a financial advisor for Strategence Capital. He is heading up the fundraising efforts for the LifeWise Academy – Northern Wells program.
“I hope to see this program teach children from the community about the Bible and influence them to inhabit great social skills,” he said. “I also hope to see the program firmly in place when my children are old enough to attend.”
There is no cost to students enrolled in LifeWise. The program relies on donations from the community.
More volunteers are needed to escort students to the sessions. Every volunteer is subject to a background check. Those interested in volunteering may contact Sonya Bertsch at 260.273.7936.
Area businesses which have contributed to restoration of the LifeWise space include Meyer Building LLC, Yaste Painting, TTG Equipment, A Harvest of Health Nutrition and Wellness Center, The Pallet Barn, Trusted Manufacturing, AdamsWells Internet, and Habegger Ace Hardware of Bluffton.
“We appreciate everyone connected with this program,” said Maller. “We could not provide this type of program free to students without community support.”
The public is invited to visit the LifeWise facilities today — Thursday, Dec. 1 — from 5 to 8 p.m. during Ossian’s Hometown Christmas celebration.
An open house is scheduled for Thursday, Dec 8, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Permission slips can be picked up on Dec. 1 or Dec. 8. The permission slips must be turned in before Dec. 12, which is the deadline to sign up for January enrollment. Applications received after that will apply to a February enrollment.
At 4 p.m. Dec. 14, a ribbon cutting with the Wells County Chamber of Commerce will take place.
For more information, go to Lifewiseacademy.org
Donation forms are available at the website or funds can be mailed to LifeWise – Northern Wells, P.O. Box 371, Bluffton, IN 46714. Checks should be made payable to “LifeWise Academy” with Northern Wells in the memo line.
Contact Maller with additional questions at 260-827-8032.
