Kalona

LifeWise Mid-Prairie is preparing to launch its program in the district for the first time. The program will begin during the first week of October. According to a recent update, 16 students are currently registered.

During the previous school year, LifeWise Academy director Jacob Schaver and other representatives from LifeWise Academy attended several Mid-Prairie school board meetings to introduce the organization and provide more information about the program.

LifeWise Academy is a Bible-based educational program that partners with public schools across the country through released-time religious instruction. The program allows students to receive faith-based instruction during the school day with parental permission.

The LifeWise Mid-Prairie program, directed by Jacob Schaver, will serve students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Schaver is originally from Wellman and attended Mid-Prairie before transferring to and graduating from Hillcrest Academy.

Classes will be held once a week at Kalona Mennonite Church in Kalona. Each session will last approximately 40 minutes, including travel time to and from the elementary schools.

Schaver explained to The News a few months ago which curriculum the program would use and why.

"We partner with the Gospel Project and use its curriculum. We've purchased a license and adapted the lessons to fit into a 20- to 40-minute session, depending on how much time we have with the students."

LifeWise Academy was founded in 2019 and has since expanded into numerous states. Over the past year, the organization has added programs in 33 Iowa school districts.

Schaver and the rest of the team hope the program has a successful first year and eventually plan to expand it to include middle school and high school students.