Spotlight on St. Michael’s Preparatory School

Archery has provided a unique learning opportunity for the students at St. Michael’s Preparatory School in Silverado, CA.  Father Charbel, who was trained at the Easton Van Nuys Archery Center, has used archery as a chance to teach his students both a new skill and Biblical lessons. Archery is a precision sport and it requires strong character traits such as focus, patience, perseverance, and self-awareness.  The sport is also an apt metaphor for many life and spiritual lessons.

“We are thankful for the Easton Foundation’s generosity and I am especially thankful as the Dean of Students than we can offer such a wonderful alternative to video games and electronics. Archery has allowed our students to learn a new art and experience the thrill of shooting arrows and growing in concentration, focus and relaxation,” says Father Charbel.

Moises Gomez, a senior at St. Michaels Prep, gives further insight into their new program:

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Ready, Aim, Pray

By Moises Gomez

I hold my breath. I focus on the target, not allowing myself to move at all. My fingers are curled around the string of the bow. I can feel the tension, the string urging to be freed from my grasp. I focus on the target, reminding myself to keep my shoulder up.

“Bull’s-eye!”

Father Charbel’s face is gleaming as he runs over and pulls the arrow out of the target. Ever since he received the shipment of the archery equipment for St. Michael’s Preparatory School, I can’t help but think of a young child on Christmas morning when I look at him. He told me how excited he was about the new club, and I know he spent a lot of time getting certified to teach students archery.