My name is Abby Parnell and I am a junior at Lehigh Valley Christian High School in Catasauqua. I participate in drama, choir and girls soccer. I will be contributing to this column to share with you about life at LVCHS.

LVCHS is off to a great start. There are new students, classes, teachers and electives as well as new renovations to the school building. Our mission remains the same – to "equip students to think biblically and to function purposefully in society."

We would like to welcome the new Medical Academy Charter School to our building. They will be using the ground floor of our building and sharing the gym. Their focus is to prepare their students for the medical and health industry that is rapidly expanding in the Lehigh Valley. LVCHS is happy to support them by sharing the building.

Fall sports include girls' soccer, boys' soccer, girls' volleyball, and an all new co-ed cross country team. After a loss against Calvary Baptist School, the boys' soccer team has a record of 3 wins and 2 losses. The girls' soccer team has a record of 3-2. The girls' volleyball team played in a challenging tournament in Maryland Sept. 22. Finally, the cross country team has run in numerous meets all across the valley.

A new program offered this year is the drama program. A class is held three times a week and an activity period on Wednesdays is available for those who cannot make the class. The winter program is going to be "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, and there will be a spring musical as well. We also have a number of students in our school's choir program who will be auditioning to participate in District Choir.

Last week, during a Mission's Chapel, students shared the experiences they had on summer mission trips. A number of students participated in a school mission trip to Brazil and others traveled to Madagascar, Italy and China.

We are currently selling "Kids Stuff Books." Anyone interested may call the school office at 610-403-1000.

Students from the junior class served at "The Celtic Fest" in Bethlehem Sept. 28 through 30 and raised funds for their class.