Work and Play

Student Life at New Song brings a healthy mixture of work and play. 

“It’s been really encouraging to see the kids’ passion to work outdoors this fall,” shared Bob Schloss, New Song’s Executive Director. “We pay the students for doing small projects on campus, and they have a surprisingly strong work ethic, from our 7 year-old all the way up to our 13 year-old.” 

The kids not only benefit financially from their work, but are also learning how to follow instructions and do particular jobs like mow grass and trim bushes. “Mr. Bob” (as students call our director) also talks with them about entrepreneurship in terms of how they could create small businesses performing lawn care in their neighborhoods back home. 

Wholesome play on and off campus also helps our students thrive! They thoroughly enjoy Together Tuesday activities each week, which is when kids from both homes get together after school on Tuesdays and participate in activities like scavenger hunts and play games like capture the flag, bucket ball, and “21” in basketball. 

Nighttime hide-and-seek tag has also been one of the student’s favorites this fall. Once a week after dinner we’ve been taking the kids to a safe, secure school playground in a local community where the staff and students play the game together. It’s been loads of fun for the kids and staff alike as the kids quietly hide and then shriek with laughter as they run around trying not to get caught! 

And football games during school recess each day have also brought a lot of joy to the kids. They set up orange pylons as goals at each end of the field, break up into teams, and play two-hand touch. It’s an “all pass” game where each team gets four plays to score a touchdown and can get a first down by making two successful receptions. They love it! 

“All of these activities, both work and play, are so good for the kids,” says Mr. Bob. “It brings tremendous joy to my heart see them working hard and playing hard. These activities are part of the fabric of the ministry and they help the kids to enjoy life at New Song. The exposure they gain with us to good clean fun and a sense of accomplishment from completing a work project is really important for their childhood years.”