Courtesy Photo Angel Owens receives her diploma from People’s Baptist Church Pastor Dr. Kent Ramler on May 29 during graduation ceremonies for Frederick Christian Academy. Purchase this photo

Such was the case with Frederick Christian Academy's Class of 2009.

"They've been together a long time," assistant principal Bryan Fry said of the senior class that graduated May 29. "Many have been there since lower elementary school, and some since preschool."

This year's graduation provided some special moments for the 35-year-old Christian school, which is a mission of People's Baptist Church, Fry said.

"We presented a special certificate to our first second-generation graduate," Fry said.

Philip Harrell is the son of the former Karen Leaman (Class of 1982) and James Harrell (1984).

"His parents met at the school," Fry, who also happens to be Philip's uncle, said Saturday.

That closeness and sense of family -- in some cases biological -- is what Philip Harrell said he will miss the most about the school he has attended since he was 4.

"I really liked it and wouldn't want to go anywhere else," he said. "I have nothing to compare it to, obviously, but that doesn't matter."

Philip said he enjoyed playing basketball for the school for the past six years. A highlight of his senior year was being named Most Valuable Player on the team.

School administrator Brad Parker said his staff enjoys a process that most public school teachers miss out on.

"We have most of our children for six or seven years at our school, and many of them much longer than that," Parker said. "It's really exciting to see them grow up in the school."

While most children move from school to school and lose contact with previous teachers, those at Frederick Christian Academy are able to watch a metamorphosis of sorts, Parker believes.

"It's exciting to see the transformation as our students grow from small children to young adults," he said. "It's rewarding to watch them grow physically and spiritually."

All seven members of Frederick Christian's Class of 2009 are headed to college, Fry said. Students are headed to Grove City College, Bob Jones University, Marshall University and Frederick and Hagerstown community colleges.

Philip Harrell will attend Bob Jones, where he plans to major in mathematics, though "that's subject to change," he said.

He credits FCA teacher Cheryl Corselius with his love of math and said she's the best teacher: "She really gave me a love for math."

All of the students are going to places where there will be more than seven students in a class. Philip said that's exactly what he will miss the most -- the closeness of the seven people with whom he has spent most of his life.

"We're very close," he said. "I'll definitely miss my friends the most."