Windsor Christian Academy’s ‘Lord’s Army’ sounds off

Exercise helps students learn teamwork
by NATHAN WRIGHT, Staff Writer
It’s not every day that the students at Windsor Christian
Academy are allowed to attend class wearing face paint and dressed
in full camouflage.
The Lord’s Army, an event third grade teacher Sue Giovannoni has
held for the past six years, features a troop of youngsters
marching, chanting, and telling the story of David and Goliath.
“I had a room mother who had all these skits,” said Giovannoni.
“This one just stuck.”
The event began with Giovannoni, playing the role of drill
sergeant, introducing the story of the Lord’s Army to the school’s
study body. She then introduced her third grade class, who lined up
at the back of the church, and then proceeded to march and
chant.
“Jesus is the King of Kings! He’s the Lord of everything! He
made Heaven and Earth I know! For the Bible tells me so! Sound off
– Jesus, Sound off – Jesus,” chanted the students while marching to
the front of the church.
After lining the students up, Giovannoni led her class in the
telling of David and Goliath, allowing each student to tell his or
her own part. After the tale was finished, the students invited
members of the crowd to march with them before the activity was
completed.
“They’re learning and they don’t even know it,” Giovannoni said.
“In the third grade, it’s very difficult to work as a team. This is
good training.” Giovannoni believes that her Lord’s Army activity
teaches her students patience, teamwork and how to practice.
“I liked singing and marching the best,” said third-grader
Caitlin Cullen. “I liked the songs,” added Daniel De Vries. Many of
the students thanked their families for coming, and honored
Giovannoni as their “favorite teacher.”
Many of the students’ costumes were borrowed from family
members. Sam Barker wore what he called a Swedish army helmet,
complete with sword and bullet marks. All students wore dog
tags.
The event is held in honor of the U.S. troops, but did not
include any mention of current events. Many of the participating
students have family members in the armed services, including
Ashton Stockham, who says his dad is in the Army.
Events like the Lord’s Army take time to plan, but Giovannoni
doesn’t mind putting in the extra time. “It’s more work to pull off
something like this, but it’s worth it,” she said. “More teachers
should try things like this.”