T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Bellaire Elementary School children attend their first Lifewise Academy session Friday. The Bible-based instruction is offered for voluntarily participants during free or special class periods during the school day.

BELLAIRE — Children at Bellaire Elementary School piled into the distinctive, red Lifewise Academy bus Friday to travel to their first session of Bible-based instruction.

A few minutes later, the bus pulled up beside Neffs Methodist Church, where volunteers welcomed them.

Diana Kennon, director of the Bellaire branch of the academy, said the opening went well and organizers hope to expand.

“We’re having a fantastic day. This is our launch of Lifewise Academy, Bellaire Local Schools, and we have had a 20% participation out of kindergarten, third and fourth grade. We are not offering it yet to first and second grade,” she said.

Kennon said there are 62 children enrolled.

“We only have the funding right now for kindergarten, third and fourth, and we are hoping to add first and second as soon as possible,” she said.

Program planners hope to eventually offer middle school and high school classes as well.

“We are privately funded, parent permission and off school property,” she said. “We’d like to be able to see students be able to choose this at any grade level.”

Kennon said the program has strict rules requiring background checks and child safety training for any adult involved. She said a typical class includes watching a video, then hearing a story from the Bible focusing on a character trait related to that narrative.

“This week’s is ‘hope.’ We talk about hope and what the scriptures say about hope. We play a game. We love to play games, and with that game we also learn about the character. All of the things parents would want their kids to know: hope and kindness and respect and self-worth.”

She said each Lifewise Academy has a paid teacher. The Bellaire instructor is Cassie Bendel, who works from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays. The Bellaire program also has 14 volunteers.

“The parents are saying they want their children to learn biblical character principles, and they want their children to know truth, and truth comes from knowing Jesus Christ,” Kennon said. “If they love God, they’re going to love other people, and that’s really what we’re teaching them.”

She said third-graders, kindergarteners and fourth-graders are transported to the church in three trips during free or “special” class periods. Lifewise classes last 40 minutes from the time children are picked up until they are dropped off back at the school.

“It is once a week on Fridays here in Bellaire,” Kennon said.

She said she has heard participation is increasing across Belmont County.

“They have a lot of people who want their kids to learn these characteristics,” she said.

Volunteer Shane Bickmeier said the program has been welcomed.

“We’ve got a lot of community support. The buses are provided through the St. Clairsville chapter of Lifewise. We’ve got the Neffs Methodist Church for our use, which is just a three-minute bus ride from the school,” he said, adding that feedback from classes early in the day had been positive. “They’re anticipating next Friday already.”

Kennon said the Bellaire Lifewise Academy is sharing the bus with the St. Clairsville Lifewise Academy. She said the Bellaire group has obtained a bus, but it must be painted red and detailed.

“We are looking for contributions,” she noted.

She added that organizers are grateful to the church and the school district.

Bellaire Local Schools Superintendent Derrick McAfee said the program is a way to broaden students’ horizons.

“There’s been a lot of interest. It’s been a really positive experience for us,” he said. “I had the opportunity to meet with the group and a lot of the people involved, and they are just quality people.”

Carol Morgan, director of the St. Clairsville Lifewise Academy who spearheaded the program in Belmont County, said close to 500 students are participating countywide. She expects this number to increase as programs open or expand.

Already there are Lifewise Academy programs operating in Shadyside, St. Clairsville and Barnesville. She said Union Local volunteers will begin Lifewise classes Feb. 5. Bridgeport Exempted Village School District volunteers are in the process of looking for staff, and Martins Ferry City School District volunteers are exploring the possibility.

“Every school has either started or in process,” she said of the county’s public districts.

She added that all of the participating districts offer elementary classes, while Shadyside also has middle school classes and is looking into options for high school students. She said Barnesville and St. Clairsville are considering middle school options.

She said she appreciates the generosity of local communities.

“The programs usually have a paid director and paid teacher. It’s privately funded, so churches and individuals who are helping, and I know there’s some different businesses who have given donations as well.”

She said the Lifewise Academy sites are operated individually and that each has its own board of directors. Morgan said the budget for a given director and teacher depends on the hours worked. She added that some programs have more than one teacher and others volunteer. A bus driver is also usually paid. She said pay is based on what the school district pays their substitute teachers.

Classes are held once a week, usually lasting 40 minutes to an hour including transportation time.

She said background checks are conducted by the Ministry Mobilizer program, which runs record checks for religious organizations. Staff members also receive training from Lifewise.

Morgan said she first became acquainted with Lifewise while participating in the Winners Walk Tall character education program at St. Clairsville Elementary and spoke to teachers who were interested in the program.

“It’s been a joy, and I’ve had several friends that have been directors for different schools. It’s just been very exciting to see it expand throughout the whole county,” Morgan said, adding that Lifewise Academy sites could open in West Virginia and the Buckeye Local School District.

Morgan said holding classes during the school day offers an advantage in terms of convenience and accessibility for all students.

“There’s kids for, if it was after school, they might not be able to get picked up or it might interfere with sports, especially as you move into the middle school,” Morgan said.

Another early participant in bringing Lifewise to the area is Alyson Farmer, co-owner of Community Coffee & Tea in Bellaire. Farmer, who served as a guidance counselor at Bellaire Middle School from 2017-2022 now pastors Belmont Presbyterian Church. She said her business will be one of the contributors.

“Whether you believe in God or not, the principles they are teaching are good for society in general,” she said. “For Lifewise to take off (in Bellaire) today is amazing. It’s a fulfillment of the last 9-10 months of work. God’s blessed us with incredible resources. I’m really excited to hear from my friends that did it today.

“It’s optional. It’s totally privately funded,” she added. “It’s all parent choice.”

Lifewise Academies have Facebook pages, and more information can be found at Lifewise.org. Morgan said 50 signatures are required to start an academy in a district. For more information about the Bellaire program, contact dianakennon@lifewise.com.