As the sixth-grade students in the ELANCO School District transition to studying at the Garden Spot Middle School, the ELANCO Released Time programs have taken different approaches to the fall of 2025.

According to Deb Reimers, who oversees the New Holland Elementary program, second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students will be able to participate in Released Time this fall.

Kevin Kirkpatrick, who oversees the Blue Ball Elementary program, stated that the program will be for third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students this year.

The New Holland program is slated to begin on Thursday, Sept. 11. Paperwork for parents will be sent home shortly after school begins.

Kirkpatrick stated that students at Blue Ball received paperwork to take home on Aug. 22 and that the program will begin on Thursday, Sept. 4.

New Holland Elementary School students who choose to take part will ride buses provided by local churches from the school to Petra Church, 565 Airport Road, New Holland, each Thursday at 2:15 p.m. Students at Blue Ball Elementary School will be walked to nearby Blue Ball Mennonite Church, 143 Ewell Road, East Earl. Released Time volunteers will arrive at the school at 2:15 p.m. to walk participating children to the church.

The ELANCO Released Time program uses a two-year sequential curriculum that begins with the establishment of God as Creator. The program teaches that humans are sinful and in need of a savior and that God provides a way to salvation through Jesus Christ. While both programs use the same overall curriculum, implementation may vary, but both generally include a Bible lesson, songs, prayer, listening time, and memorizing Bible verses.

Students who take part in the New Holland program will be given the opportunity to earn points toward a week at Woodcrest Retreat in Ephrata, Greenview Bible Camp in Denver, or Tel Hai Camp & Retreat in Honey Brook. At the end of the spring session, two students from each grade will be chosen through a drawing to win a camp scholarship. In addition, the two students with the highest number of points for the whole year will receive scholarships. Reimers noted that a total of 10 scholarships are given out. In addition, a group of mimes visits the program to give a presentation of the Gospel each year around Easter. "We will make a big deal of the fifth-grade students when they graduate," shared Reimers, who noted that a trip to Sight & Sound Theatres is part of the celebration.

Children who participate in the Blue Ball program will also earn points each week for verse memorization and other accomplishments. "We plan to give prizes to the boy and girl with the most points in each grade and a pizza party for our graduating fifth-graders," shared Kirkpatrick.

Both programs rely heavily on volunteer mentors who work with students during a large group and breakout time each week. "We can always use volunteers," stated Kirkpatrick. "It would be great to get smaller mentoring groups, so there is not real cap on how many (volunteers) we can use," he said, adding that the date for staff orientation is Thursday, Aug. 28, at 2 p.m. at Blue Ball Mennonite Church. Individuals who wish to volunteer may email terrehillbfc@gmail.com.

Reimers said she is in need of about 10 volunteers for the fall program, noting that the volunteers are especially important during the small group "listening" time. "The kids do their (Bible) memory work then," she explained, adding that the students are asked to explain and look up verses. Volunteers keep track of each child's points. "They get points for the lesson, and it motivates the students to do the work," she said, adding that a system is in place for the volunteer listener to follow and that an orientation is held each year for volunteers prior to the start of the program. Reimers noted that they are looking for volunteers who love the Lord and that high school students from ninth through 12th grade are welcome to volunteer. "We have kids from the high school," she stated, adding that parental permission is necessary to leave school early and that students may receive credit for volunteer hours for helping out. "The (Released Time) kids love having (high school) kids (as volunteers)," Reimers explained, adding that her grandson, Jude Kauffman, worked with a group of four boys until he graduated. "They just thought he was the best thing, and he felt he had a platform because they looked up to him," she said. Reimers recalled that when Released Time ended in the spring, Kauffman gave his students some advice. "He told the students to read their Bibles and get involved in FCA at middle school and high school," said Reimers.

Both programs serve a number of students, with Blue Ball working with more than 120, and New Holland reporting about 118 participants. Individuals who would like to volunteer with the New Holland program may call 717-283-8921 or email drjr145@yahoo.com. Those who would like to learn more about the program may find "ELANCO Released Time - New Holland Released Time" on Facebook.