By EMILY FLORA - Staff Writer

Two town hall meetings to discuss the Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy (SMLCA) are scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 13 at Halesford Baptist Church and Thursday, Nov. 29 at Radford Baptist Church, both at 6:30 p.m.

The meetings will introduce new information about the school, its mission and tuition.

The SMLCA plans to open in the fall of 2008 for grades six through eight, with possible plans to expand in the future.

The school will be located on land at Lakewatch Plantation off Route 122.

Deke Andrews, head of school, said that there seemed to be a need for something more accommodating in the area toward Rocky Mount and Bedford County.

"By being an independent tuition-driven school, you have the independence and freedom to do things you may not be able to do in a public school setting," Andrews said.

SMLCA will provide a curriculum to introduce middle school boys and girls to four guiding principles to become "Students of Integrity," Andrews said. These principles are developing the heart of a lion by becoming physically fit, acquiring the eye of the tiger by becoming academically acute, being gentle as a lamb by learning to be a selfless servant, and how to soar like an eagle by developing a mind for the master.

"When parents are paying extra money in the form of tuition, there is a lot of accountability," Andrews said. "That creates a lot of motivation to do things well and to meet the needs of those particular families."

"A real priority within our fundraising will be providing financial aid. For any family who wants this option, we want to be able to provide the means for them to be able to attend," Andrews continued. "The tuition alone would not be a prohibiting factor for them."

The academy will consist of smaller classrooms to create a comfortable environment for students, while allowing students to be challenged, according to Andrews. The smaller classrooms will increase communication between students, teachers and parents so that students do not "fall through the cracks."

"Everything can be taught from a biblical world view, and that is what our approach is going to be," Andrews said.

SMLCA plans to offer interscholastic and intramural sports, such as football, wrestling and baseball for boys; volleyball and softball for girls; and soccer, basketball and tennis for both genders. Andrews also said SMLCA will utilize the lake surroundings through physical education and elective opportunities.

The school is in the process of selecting a board that will act as a governing body for the school, Andrews said.

The school will be based on orthodox Christianity and will be non-denominational.

"We think our mission statement is a little different than some you might read," Andrews said. "We hope it captures our passion, a generation of young people who are physically fit, academically acute and selfless servants. We want them to be strong, wise, humble and Godly."

SMLCA is looking for a temporary location until the school is built and seeking Christian teachers.

Applications for enrollment will be available around the first of March.

Andrew said those interested should attend one of the public meetings or fill out contact information on the website at www.smlacademy.com.