Rocky Bayou brings Christian-based curriculum to Crestview

CRESTVIEW — Rocky Bayou Christian School, which opened its Crestview campus Aug. 10, provides elementary education to kindergartners through fifth-grade students, about 25 percent of whom live north of the Shoal River.

"This indicates a desire for what Rocky offers," Denise Bowers, the school's Crestview principal, said. "Riding on the bus for a long period of time is just not an option for many parents. We felt by opening an elementary campus, we would be making what we have available [in Niceville and Destin] to more families in North Okaloosa and North Walton counties."

RBCS Crestview’s nine employees use the BJU Press curriculum, which is written and developed from a biblical worldview, according to Bowers.

"We use Math in Focus by Houghton Mifflin and Saxon Math for our math curriculums,” she said. “We supplement our reading with Abeka Book and also use this for cursive penmanship, which we start in kindergarten.”

All students receive instruction in music, physical education and art.

"I prayed for somebody who'd be multi-talented in music, P.E. and art, and we got her," Bowers said of teacher Trisha Griffin.

First- through fifth-graders are learning about technology with a focus on keyboarding in the school's mobile computer lab. They also learn one Microsoft Office program per quarter, including Word, Publisher, Excel and PowerPoint.

As a Christian school, RBCS offers a certain kind of partnership with parents, Bowers said.

"Our foundational belief says that kids belong to parents and we exist to help them with the responsibility God has given them to educate their children,” she said. “We do this by offering the setting, teachers, curriculum, high standards and variety in co-curriculars that will help meet the needs of the students while equipping and pushing them to go as far as they can go as fast as they can get there. We offer a safe place for students to develop the gifts and abilities they have been given."

That said, the school's students share the same struggles as students everywhere — that includes homework. Bowers said they also ask the same questions.

"Who am I, why am I here, what am I supposed to do with my life?” she said are some examples of students’ concerns. “We are unique in that we can truly help them answer these questions by using God’s Word and Truth as the standard by presenting these from a biblical worldview. Our parents expect this from us."

Bowers, a Crestview resident, had three children attend RBCS’s Niceville campus over the years and worked there for over 15 years.

"I know that we have something extraordinary, we have something unique, and I also know that having the drive [to faraway campuses] is prohibitive for many people, so having it here is just an open door for more families to be able to take part in what Rocky Bayou has to offer," Bowers said.

Ten students transferred to Crestview from RBCS campuses in Destin or Niceville, leaving many spots available for new students.

Parents interested in having their children attend may visit the school's website, www.rbcs.org, for an application. There they can see financial aid options, voucher program information and learn more about available scholarships.

Call Admissions at 279-3729, 279-3727 or the Crestview campus at 306-3459 for details.

•Over 750 students attend the Rocky Bayou Christian School campuses in Crestview, Destin and Niceville.

•Classes for sixth-graders and up and special services classes are available on the Niceville campus.

•The schools have accreditation from the Florida Association of Christian Schools and Colleges, which is recognized by the Florida Department of Education.

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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Rocky Bayou brings Christian-based curriculum to Crestview