Chapin Academy

08/18/2026

The school year is off to a wonderful start!💙💛

Chapin Academy is excited to celebrate our 10th year, and we are so grateful for the students, families, and teachers who make our school community so special. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!

08/18/2026

Pizza lunch orders are now open for September!

This optional pizza lunch (on Thursdays) includes cheese pizza, fruit, dessert and a drink. Orders for September are due by Monday, August 24, at 11:59 p.m. You must order for the entire month and no late orders will be accepted.

Click here to place your order: www.chapinacademy.com/lunch-order

08/17/2026

Don’t miss your opportunity to purchase 2026 Spirit Wear!

This year’s Chapin Academy spirit wear t-shirts and hoodies are available through our pre-order until Friday, August 21, at 11:59 p.m.

If you haven't already ordered, click here to place your order today: https://bit.ly/CAspiritwear26

08/14/2026

Chapin Academy families, will you join us tomorrow starting at 9 a.m. for a Prayer Walk for Chapin Academy and Chapin Elementary School?

Join us for a special time of ministry to our community through prayer on Saturday, August 15th. We will meet in the church lobby at 9am to pray for Chapin Academy, followed by prayer at Chapin Elementary at 10am.

08/08/2026

It’s almost time to welcome everyone back to campus and kick off a wonderful new school year!

We can't wait to see our families at Open House on Tuesday starting at 6:00 p.m.

08/07/2026

📚Meet Mrs. Paige Payne, our 1st grade teacher!📚

Mrs. Payne is married to Matt, and they have three precious children: Ellison (15), Charles (12), and Emma Grace (9), and two furry family members, Molly, a silly Boykin Spaniel, and Fortune, a rescue dog. Her family lives in her childhood home on beautiful Lake Murray, where they love spending time outdoors, admiring God's creation, watching the wildlife, and taking sunset boat rides to explore nearby islands.

She holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of South Carolina in Elementary Education. She began her teaching career as a math intervention teacher in grades 2-5. After many wonderful years as a full-time mom, she began substitute teaching in Lexington/Richland School District Five and at Chapin Academy. During her time as a substitute at Chapin Academy, Mrs. Payne says, “I have witnessed firsthand the school's commitment to academic excellence, Christian values, and nurturing each child as an individual.”

When Mrs. Payne thinks about her classroom this year, one word comes to mind: family. She says her class will be a family of learners who encourage, support, and celebrate one another as they grow academically, socially, and spiritually.

Mrs. Payne enjoys reading Christian books that remind her of God's promises and faithfulness. Although she has many favorite Bible verses, Mrs. Payne’s current favorite is Psalm 34:3: "Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." She says it perfectly captures what she hopes for her classroom this year. Together, her class will learn, grow, and magnify the Lord every step of the way.

08/06/2026

📚Meet Mrs. Savannah Bass - Music Teacher, 3rd-6th Grade📚

Mrs. Bass has been married to Josh (Chapin Academy Class of 2022) for two years. This past March, the couple welcomed their first baby boy, Forrest James.

Growing up in a musical family helped to develop a love for music that Mrs. Bass has shared through worship ministry, songwriting, and music theatre. This year, she is excited to experience music in a new way: through teaching. As she begins her first year in the classroom, she looks forward to helping students discover the joy of making music.

Gracious is the word Mrs. Bass hopes will describe her classroom. She wants her students to know she is eager to help them discover new musical abilities and to encourage and support them.

“It’s never been about performance, perfection, or striving for acceptance, let me tell you, it’s only by the blood.” These are lyrics from her favorite worship song, “The Blood.” Mrs. Bass says that the lyrics fit music class/music ministry so well, and she hopes her students will remember that message long after they leave her classroom. She LOVES coffee, and her favorite order is an iced salted caramel and coconut latte with oat milk.

08/05/2026

📚Meet Mrs. Bouknight, our K4 teacher.📚

Mrs. Bouknight and her husband, Christopher, will celebrate 10 years of marriage this October. They are blessed with two children: Harper Wesleigh, who was only here briefly, and Jake (5). Their family raises mini cows and Nigerian Dwarf goats on their farm, and they also have chickens, two ponies, and a mini Bernedoodle. Mrs. Bouknight says life can be hectic and interesting!

If Mrs. Bouknight looks familiar, it’s because she served as part of our nursery staff last year. This is her first year of teaching, and she is looking forward to all the challenges, adventures, and fun that the school year will bring.

Curiosity is one word Mrs. Bouknight’s hopes will describe her classroom. She says, “We'll ask questions, explore, and discover God's amazing world through play and purposeful activities.”

Gummy bears and gummy worms are Mrs. Bouknight’s favorite treat. Her favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 31:26: "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."

08/04/2026

📚Meet Mrs. Beckham - 5th and 6th grade science and 2nd grade assistant📚

Mrs. Beckham and her husband, Andrew, have been married for 15 years. They have been blessed with two daughters, Rylee and Lander, who also attend Chapin Academy, as well as Mrs. Beckham’s stepdaughter, Hayden. The family loves living their sweet country life in Blair, SC, where they care for a variety of animals, including dogs, horses, and even a corn snake.

Mrs. Beckham has been homeschooling her children for the past 10 years and has also helped teach at parent-led homeschool co-ops. This will be her first year teaching in a classroom setting like Chapin Academy. She also teaches Sunday school for the middle and high school students at her church.

This year, Mrs. Bechham is most looking forward to getting to know her students and fellow teachers. She is especially excited to put her Marine Science education to use as she teaches science. The one word she hopes will describe her classroom is curiosity. She loves asking questions and learning new things, and she hopes her students will never be afraid to ask questions, because that's often where the best learning happens.

Her favorite coffee order is an iced caramel chai latte, and Mrs. Beckham’s favorite Bible verse is John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

08/03/2026

📚Meet Mrs. Sara Margaret Wagner, our 4th grade teacher!📚

Mrs. Wagner and her husband, Jacob, have been married for six years and have three children: Caleb (4), Susanna (2), and Henry (8 months). Their family also includes two big dogs, Tuff and Ruby.

After taking a pause from teaching when her oldest was born, Mrs. Wagner is looking forward to returning to the classroom. She previously served as a resource teacher for students in grades 3-5.

One word she hopes will describe her classroom this year is encouraging. Mrs. Wagner wants her students to know she is committed to learning alongside them, and she is especially excited about all the wonderful books they'll read together throughout the school year.

Her favorite coffee order is a flat white, and her favorite hobbies outside of the classroom include baking sourdough bread and learning how to cross-stitch. Mrs. Wagner enjoys listening to a good podcast, including "The Car Mom" podcast during a quiet moment and "The Tiny Theologians" podcast with her children.