ELANCO Released Time will begin observing its 26th year when the program meets this September. During the month of August, New Holland coordinator Deb Reimers was getting ready for the fall term to start by looking ahead and considering how many volunteers she will need. "I will need at least four listeners," said Reimers, referring to the small group listening time that is part of each weekly session.
During the 2018-19 school year, Released Time registered more than 100 students. This year, the program will once again meet at Petra Church on Airport Road in New Holland. The first session will be held on Thursday, Sept. 12, from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. Released Time will continue to meet each Thursday that school is in session through May 14, 2020.
Reimers noted that each year the program is held, about 20 new students take part. This year, third- and fourth-grade students and fifth- and sixth-grade students will be divided up, with the younger grades meeting in Petra's multipurpose room and the older students meeting in The Oasis. Reimers and her team of volunteers will work with the students during large group time, which consists of prayer, songs, and a lesson during the first 15 to 20 minutes. During the final 20 minutes, the students are broken into smaller groups with an adult to listen, answer questions about the lesson, and help with worksheets.
The ELANCO program uses a two-year sequential curriculum that begins with the establishment of God as Creator. The program establishes that humans are sinful and in need of a savior and that God provides a way to salvation through Jesus Christ.
Students who take part in the program will be given the opportunity to earn points toward a week at Woodcrest Retreat in Ephrata, Greenview Bible Camp in Denver, or Tel Hai Camp in Honey Brook. Students earn points each week by bringing their Bibles to Released Time and memorizing and looking up Bible verses. Students receive awards for each 25 points they earn. For each 15 points students earn, they have a chance to put their name in a camp box. Each grade has its own camp box. At the end of the spring session, two students' names from each grade will be chosen randomly from the boxes to win a camp scholarship. In addition, the two students with the highest number of points for the whole year will also receive scholarships.
Reimers noted that the opportunity to attend camp on a scholarship attracts a number of students to the program. "The (children) are very excited about going to camp," she said. "They all talk to each other (about the experience). It's a big deal (to them)."
Sixth-grade students who take part in the Released Time program can look forward to attending a production at Sight and Sound Theatres in the spring. "The graduation gift (to sixth-grade students) is a trip to Sight and Sound," said Reimers. "It's given to all sixth-grade students who attend the program."
During the week of Aug. 26, registration papers are scheduled to go home with every third- through sixth-grader at the school. Parents can send the completed registration papers back to the school. On Tuesday, Sept. 10, representatives of ELANCO Released Time will be at the New Holland Elementary School back-to-school night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Students who register prior to Wednesday, Sept. 11, will be able to go to the first session. Students may still register after the session begins.
Organizers would like to see grandparents and other retired citizens from the area help out. Adults who would like to volunteer may call 717-354-6553. Individuals who would like to learn more about the program may find "ELANCO Released Time - New Holland Released Time" on Facebook.
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