Finally, the third aspect of the spiritual curriculum will be helping students to take the spiritual concepts they have learned and apply them in everyday life situations, so that each student can enter the outside world while retaining their core as a devotee of Krishna.

“For example, we’ll take a theme from the Bhagavad-gita such as the modes of material nature,” Jaya Sri Radhe says. “Then we’ll look at different areas of their life—such as food, association, activities etc—and ask, where does each one fall? And is that where you want to be? We’ll also do goal setting, so that they can see that their life choices impact where they’re going to end up.”

Another interesting feature of the Krishna Sharanam Middle School will be its “Exploratory Wheel,” a multifaceted life skills program. Taking into account that middle school students are at the age of exploration, it will offer them the chance to try on a variety of different hats in order to find out who they are and what they want to do.

Skills taught will include fine arts, dance, drama, music, devotional arts, technology, foreign languages, communication skills, gardening, outdoor activities such as native plant identification, and old-time crafts such as spinning and woodworking. In the process of learning all these, students will also gain understanding of how Krishna is the source of everything, and learn how to use their talents in his service.

“As our program continues, we also want to give the students spiritual apprenticeships with local devotees who are putting on festivals, cooking for the Deities, etc,” says Jaya Sri Radhe, “So that they will be prepared for success not only in an outside world professional setting, but also in a temple setting.”

Once Bhaktivedanta Academy students reach tenth grade, they will have the choice of either taking advantage of Florida’s robust dual enrollment system, and getting their high school diplomas and college credits at the nearby Santa Fe College; or, they will have the option to do the IB diploma program offered through the local Eastside High School.

Whatever their future holds, Jaya Sri Radhe hopes that Krishna Sharanam will give them a solid foundation for it.

“My dream is for children who grow up in Krishna consciousness, especially in these middle years, to identify with being a devotee of Krishna, and want to be one in the future,” she says. “I want to give them all the necessary tools, faith-building exercises, and academics expertise they need to be successful in the world while being a devotee of Krishna.”

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