Why Elementary Activity Time Matters: Enriching Learning Beyond the Desk
Families searching for private elementary schools for their children often focus on reading scores, math benchmarks, and classroom technology. Those things certainly matter, but so does the enrichment that happens outside the desk. At Lakeside Christian School (K-12, Clearwater, FL) we believe activities like field trips, art classes, chapel services, and Saturday sports aren’t just extras. They’re integral parts of how we shape young learners to flourish academically, spiritually, and socially.
1. Field Trips & Real-World Learning Experiences
Elementary students at Lakeside learn from textbooks and they learn by doing. Whether it’s a walking field trip down the road to tour our partner church, Lakeside Community Chapel, or an outing to a local business or art museum, these experiences deepen learning. For example, 6th graders in Mrs. Robinson’s art class recently spent the day bonding over creating wooden painted crafts at AR Workshop in St. Petersburg. The students were so proud of the artistic projects they were able to bring home to their families.
Why it matters:
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Hands-on experiences boost retention of academic content and grow curiosity.
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Field trips help young children see the world beyond school walls.
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For those looking at Christian elementary schools in Clearwater, these trips reinforce faith in action.
At Lakeside, teachers weave preparation and reflection into each outing: students complete a pre-trip discussion, follow with a wrap up activity, and tie it back to the classroom lesson. This cycle turns a fun day out into meaningful growth.
2. Elementary Art & Creative Expression
Creative arts time is far more than coloring or selecting a paint palette. It helps children develop fine-motor skills, cognitive flexibility, and self-expression. Lakeside offers K–5 students dedicated art classes, where they engage in guided projects and explore a variety of media.
Why families seeking a private elementary school in Clearwater, Florida should take note:
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Creative activity supports academic learning by engaging different parts of the brain and boosting problem-solving ability.
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In a Christian school context, art becomes a way to worship, reflect and communicate from a worldview perspective.
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Small class sizes allow teachers to nurture each student’s unique gifts.
Lakeside intentionally schedules art time, displays student work in hallways, and uses chapel or weekly assemblies to celebrate those creations. They even invite parents to art shows in the gym at the end of each semester. The result: young learners feel seen, valued, and confident.
3. Weekly Chapel Services: Building Faith and Community
Once a week, our elementary students gather for chapel services: all together, from K through 5th grade. Every Thursday morning, staff and upper-school students on the chapel team lead, while our elementary classes participate and engage.
Key benefits for young learners:
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A weekly rhythm of faith and reflection helps anchor their biblical worldview early in life.
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Chapel builds a common language of community, belonging, and values across grades.
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For parents researching Christian elementary schools in Clearwater, weekly chapel signals a commitment to spiritual formation.
Teachers integrate the themes of chapel into classroom discussion and activities, making the experience relevant and practical. It also gives younger students exposure to leadership from older peers, reinforcing our K-12 community model.
4. Saturday Sports & Elementary Athletics
At Lakeside, even our youngest learners get a chance to participate in sports. Elementary students (grades K–5) practice during the week during regular school hours, with competitive games held on Saturday mornings against peer private Christian schools in the Pinellas County area.
Sports offered include:
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Coed Soccer
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Coed Baseball (K-2)
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Coed Lacrosse (grades 3-5)
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Coed Flag Football
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Coed Volleyball
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Coed Basketball
Why this matters:
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Early participation builds teamwork, confidence, and healthy activity habits.
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It allows children to try something new in a safe, faith-centred environment.
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For families comparing private elementary schools Clearwater, a robust elementary sports program is a differentiator.
Because this takes place within our K-12 community, younger athletes see older student role-models, learn sport fundamentals in lower-pressure settings, and build long-term love of activity and community.
5. The Impact: More Than Just Fun
When you pull all of these elements together, field trips, art classes, chapel, elementary sport programs, you get an experience that’s deeply formative for children. Research shows that enrichment programs increase student engagement, reduce behavioral issues, and improve learning outcomes. Even at the elementary level, participation in arts and athletics correlates with better social skills, confidence and school attendance.
At Lakeside Christian School, we’ve seen this firsthand:
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Students who participate in our early sports programs often transition smoothly into middle-school sports.
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Children who engage in art and creative classes build resilience, creativity and communication skills.
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Our weekly chapel service and daily Bible class helps students connect academic learning with purpose and faith.
6. Why Choose Lakeside as Your Christian Elementary School in Clearwater
For families seeking private Christian elementary schools in Clearwater, here’s why Lakeside stands out:
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Faith-Based Foundation: Every activity is framed within our mission: “that all students would come to know, love, and honor the Lord Jesus Christ.”
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Small class sizes: Teachers know each student and can guide not just academically, but socially and spiritually.
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Holistic enrichment: The blend of field trips, creative arts, weekly chapel, and sports means children develop curiosity, character, and community.
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K–12 continuity: With grades K–12 on one campus, younger children benefit from strong role-modeling, mentorship and seamless transitions.
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Active parent-school partnership: Families are invited into the process early, supporting children’s growth in all domains.
7. Enroll Now for Fall 2025
If you’re exploring private elementary schools Clearwater and want your child’s early years to be shaped by wholesome values, vibrant activity, and academic excellence, Lakeside Christian School still has seats available for Fall 2025. And enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year is now open too!
Contact our admissions team today to schedule a tour, learn about our tuition support options, and see how your child can thrive here.
👉 Schedule a campus tour » or call 727-261-0937.
Schoalrship Opportunities: Get Started with Step Up & Lakeside
If you’ve held back from applying before because of an income barrier, now is the time. Step Up for Students scholarships mean that many more families in Clearwater are eligible than ever before.
👉 Schedule your personal tour with our principal to see Lakeside in person, talk through scholarship options, and determine what support your child will get. Reach out via our contact form or email us today at office@lakesidechristianschool.org to start the process.
Enroll Today and See the Difference
We believe that a Christian education for all K-12 students is an eternal investment.
If you are seeking a private Christian school where your child will be nurtured, challenged, and prepared for life, we invite you to tour our campus to kick off your enrollment process.
Contact us to schedule a tour, learn more, or speak with our admissions team. You can reach us at 727-261-0937, email us at office@lakesidechristianschool.org, or fill out our online contact form.
Experience the Lakeside difference: where growth, leadership, and faith come together to prepare students for a bright future.
Why Athletics and Arts Matter in High School: More Than Just Extracurriculars
Academics and extra curricular opportunities usually top the list of parents searching for an excellent private high school for their children. Those are critical. Lakeside Christian School in Clearwater, FL, a small and safe K-12 grade private Chirstian school, realizes how central athletics and the arts are to a fully rounded high school education. Sports and fine arts aren’t add-on activities, they are integral to how we develop leadership, faith, and life-ready skills in our students.
The Benefits of Athletics and Arts Programs in High School
Character Formation on and off the Field
High school is a season when students test boundaries, learn resilience, and discover identity. Athletics and arts provide structured opportunities to grow in character. In team sports, students learn responsibility, teamwork, and perseverance: lessons that show up in the classroom and in life. When a player deals with a tough loss, they’re learning humility and grace. When a team practices and perseveres together and gains the victory, they celebrate their God-given gifts of talent and hard work. When a student creates a masterful painting, uses 21st century skills to produce graphic designs, or takes captivating photos for the school yearbook, they’re cultivating creativity, confidence, and communication.
At Lakeside, coaches and arts instructors intentionally connect these experiences to a Christian worldview: practice and performance become places to apply biblical values like service, integrity, and humility. Coaches model servant leadership; arts teachers encourage work that honors God. This integration helps students form habits of heart, not just habits of performance.
Building Community, Belonging, and Mental Health
Belonging matters. Sports teams and art classes give students a sense of identity and a circle of peers who encourage them. That social support reduces isolation, increases school engagement, and improves mental health, especially during the high-pressure teen years.
Lakeside offers multiple entry points for students to belong. Whether a student tries out for JV basketball, joins the varsity soccer team, leads worship and games in elementary chapel, or helps design pages for the yearbook, they find supportive mentors and lasting friendships. Coaches, parents, and staff all play a role in coaching character as much as technique.
Practical Life Skills That Colleges and Employers Value
Colleges and workplaces increasingly look for the soft skills developed through athletics and arts in high school: teamwork, problem solving, time management, persistence, and creativity. Student-athletes learn to balance practice schedules, travel, and academic commitments. Yearbook students learn collaboration and project management. Visual arts students develop attention to detail and creative problem solving.
Lakeside helps students translate those experiences into real outcomes. High school students build portfolios in graphic arts, complete entrepreneurial projects in business courses, and can take dual-enrollment classes at SPC and PTEC to earn college credit or career credentials, all while staying grounded in our Christ and gospel-centered mission.
More Opportunity, Not Less: Inclusivity in a Small School
Because Lakeside is a close-knit K–12 community, students have more chances to try different activities than at a large public school where competition for roster spots can be fierce. Here, a student can play football and be part of chapel crew, or be in the art room and still compete on the track team. That flexibility helps students discover passions without being boxed in.
Our athletic philosophy prioritizes growth over pure winning. Coaches teach competition and skill, but they also mentor students to lead with godly character. The school’s commitment to values is why Lakeside has been honored in the past with recognition for sportsmanship: a reflection of how we compete and how we represent Christ in every arena.
The Arts: Voice, Creativity, and Stewardship
While athletics build teamwork and resilience, the arts cultivate voice, empathy, and cultural engagement. Creative pursuits help students process life, communicate deeply, and offer beauty to their communities. Lakeside’s arts program includes visual art, digital art, performance opportunities as a part of chapel crew, and elective coursework that aligns with college and career pathways.
Importantly, our high school arts instruction is also faith-infused: students explore how creativity reflects God’s image and can be used in worship and service. That spiritual framing makes creative work more meaningful and encourages students to think biblically and artistically about their gifts.
Outcomes That Matter: Graduation, Scholarship, and Purpose
The combination of academics, athletics, and arts contributes to strong outcomes. Students who are engaged in these programs demonstrate leadership in school and community, and apply to colleges with portfolios or experiences that stand out. Lakeside graduates leave with academic preparation plus transferable skills: leadership, collaboration, and a vocational sense of calling.
Families looking at private schools in Clearwater often tell us they want a school that prepares children “for life, not just college.” Lakeside answers that by layering rigorous academics with character development in sports and arts rooted in a Christian worldview.
Quick FAQ for Parents
Do students need to be elite to join? No. Lakeside welcomes students at multiple levels — competitive and developmental programs exist so every student can participate and grow.
How do you staff programs? Coaches and arts teachers are qualified educators and committed Christian mentors. Many are staff, parents, or experienced volunteers who invest in students’ character and skills.
How does this fit with the school’s mission? Every program is designed to help students know, love, and honor Jesus Christ — whether on the chapel stage, in the art studio, or on the athletic field.
How do I find out more about Lakeside’s Athletic Programs? Parents can learn more about our Lakeisde Christian School athletics programs here or by emailing our Athletic Director, James COffman, at jcoffman@lakesidechristianschool.org
Ready to See It in Person?
If you’re comparing Christian schools or private schools in Clearwater, Florida, and want your teen to grow academically and spiritually, while also developing leadership and life skills through sports and arts, Lakeside Christian School invites you to schedule a tour. Our principal leads personal campus visits so parents can see our programs and culture firsthand.
Schedule your tour today by filling our our easy contact form or call Admissions at 727-461-3311. Fall 2025 enrollment AND enrollment for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year are both open. Find out how athletics and arts at Lakeside can help your child thrive.
Schoalrship Opportunities: Get Started with Step Up & Lakeside
If you’ve held back from applying before because of an income barrier, now is the time. Step Up for Students scholarships mean that many more families in Clearwater are eligible than ever before.
👉 Schedule your personal tour with our principal to see Lakeside in person, talk through scholarship options, and determine what support your child will get. Reach out via our contact form or email us today at office@lakesidechristianschool.org to start the process.
Enroll Today and See the Difference
We believe that a Christian education for all K-12 students is an eternal investment.
If you are seeking a private Christian school where your child will be nurtured, challenged, and prepared for life, we invite you to tour our campus to kick off your enrollment process.
Contact us to schedule a tour, learn more, or speak with our admissions team. You can reach us at 727-261-0937, email us at office@lakesidechristianschool.org, or fill out our online contact form.
Experience the Lakeside difference: where growth, leadership, and faith come together to prepare students for a bright future.
LCS Fine Arts Quick Facts
1) After years of success in the early 2000’s, followed by a hiatus, the LCS chorus returned three years ago. In those three years, the group has grown from 7 to 18 students and has received an Excellence award at the ACSI chorus festival each of the past three years.
