As varsity football coach Reggie Shaw prepares to enter his fourth season as the head football coach for the Falcons, he comes off a record breaking 2009 season. His Falcons went 9–3, the most wins in school history. For Shaw, it is just the latest in an up and down ride that is high school football.

Read the story from the Columbia Star here.

Two Ben Lippen teachers have been named to the SCISA Master Teacher Class of 2010-2011.

In September, Coach George Johnson will begin his 51st year as a track and cross country coach. On August 1, the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association awarded Johnson with an Outstanding Service Award for his 50 years of coaching.

Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.thecolumbiastar.com/news/2010-08-13/Sports/Falcons_legendary_George_Johnson_recognized_for_50.html

Recently the BLS Varsity football team and cheerleaders teamed up with Home Works for two days of very hard (and hot!) work replacing a roof, broken windows, and a door, and painting a home in Columbia. What a great experience for the students and for Coach Reggie Shaw, who spent the entire two days with them. Ben Lippen is grateful for the Home Works of America adult volunteers who came providing tools and materials and know-how, and, of course, for the homeowners who were gracious and generous with their willingness to let such a large group invade their property and to spend time talking with the students. Here are before and after pictures of the front of the home.

Former student reflects on the impact retired principal Les Lehman had on her life

Hebrews 13:7 – Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

As I consider Mr. Lehman’s way of life – his faithful dedication to the Lord, his humble service, and his sense of humor – I would not be ashamed to imitate his faith. Mr. Lehman was the principal during my four years of high school. When I think back to those years, he stands out in my mind as an example of what it means to love the Lord wholeheartedly. He was known for his gentleness and grace in dealing with students. He had the ability to look beyond the surface, and in so doing, he paid more attention to the students’ hearts than to their behavior. The joy and patience he consistently embodied were fruit evidencing God’s work in his life.

His dedication to the Lord was also seen in his desire to serve. Mr. Lehman did not occasionally serve; he practiced service as a lifestyle. I remember seeing him regularly walk the parking lot picking up trash left by students. As a high school student, I did not think much about the trash, but three years after graduation, the sight of Mr. Lehman picking it up has stuck with me. What a model to follow! He led through humility and service, much like Jesus during His time on earth.

Another aspect of Mr. Lehman’s character that impressed me is his lightheartedness. He understood students and could relate to them because he met them where they were. Though he was serious at appropriate times, Mr. Lehman was able to lighten the mood of a tense situation. Whether a frustrated student ran into his office to complain about the teacher who “just doesn’t get it” or he was dealing with those girls who were disrupting class again, Mr. Lehman was able to put things into proper perspective. The more I reflect on his life, the more I realize I want to be like him. I want to be someone who is committed entirely to the Lord, who serves humbly, and who can put others at ease just as Mr. Lehman did for nearly 30 years at Ben Lippen School.

By Abbey Shoemaker (Ben Lippen Class of 2007)

It is with great joy that Ben Lippen announces Mrs. Helen Boen as the new elementary principal.  Helen has served in Christian education for decades, and has been part of the Ben Lippen administrative team for three years.  Her workshops on raising responsible children have received marvelous reviews here at BLS and around the nation.

In her decades of service, Mrs. Boen has been a classroom teacher at every elementary grade level.  She launched her teaching career in Mexico, where she and her husband served as missionaries.  They eventually moved to Georgia, where Helen founded an educational testing company called Westar.  While in Georgia, Helen served  on the senior administrative teams at Colonial Hills Christian School and at North Cobb Christian School - both of which asked her to serve for a season as their interim headmaster.