4700 Magazine Fall/Winter 2016

4700 I AM Meet some of our very own FRAmily

heart heart How one program is impacting lives throughout the FRA community

Fall / Winter 2016

Mission Statement: Franklin Road Academy provides a challenging educational experience in an inclusive Christian community with an unwavering commitment to

develop leaders of integrity and purpose.

BOARD Mr. Mark Weeks Chair Mr. Eddie Alexander Vice-Chairman Mrs. Melanie Jackson Secretary Mr. Michael Lindseth ’88 Treasurer Mr. Jeb Beasley Mr. Roger Brown Mr. Rafael A . Calderon

NEW TRUSTEES

Ms. Laura Campbell Mr. Alex Chan Mr. Randy Chase Mr. Jay Dalton ’88 Mrs. Melody Foster Mrs. Tobi Jane Frankfather Mr. Daron Hall Mrs. Patti Hudgins Ms. Kimberly Jackson Mrs. Ann McKinney Mr. Steven H. Medes Mr. John Mick

Kimberly Jackson brings knowledge and dedication to our community as a parent of two FRA graduates. She has previously served on the Board of Trustees from 2007-2013, and during that time, she chaired the Education Committee and served on the Public Relations and Leadership Committees. An expert in research, data analysis, and environmental sustainability, Kimberly founded Health Impacts of Degraded Environments (HIDE) to develop appropriate research-based educational and holistic solutions for vulnerable populations exposed to polluted environments. Her son Elliott graduated in 2012, and her daughter Madison graduated in 2013.

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Clif Tant has been part of the FRA community for more than 30 years.

A 1994 alumnus, Clif has served in multiple roles of the school, including a previous stint on the Board of Trustees from 2002-2008. He has also served on the Finance Committee, as President, Past President, and Secretary of the Alumni Association, and co-chair of the FRA Golf Classic, and he and his wife Beth have been class chairs for the Annual Fund. Clif has diverse experience with schools and education outside of the FRA community. He is a Board member of the Pencil Foundation, an organization focused on supporting Metro Public Schools with resources and materials, and he has been the banker for LEAD Public Schools and New Hope Academy. Clif champions the unparalleled sense of community and family at FRA and is proud to represent his alma mater. He and Beth have one son, Clifton, who is currently in sixth grade.

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Mr. Clif Tant ’94

E X- O F F I C I O S Mr. Sean R. Casey Mrs. Ritchey Graham ’94 Mr. John Tishler Mr. Charley Williamson ’88

LEADERSHIP TEAM Sean Casey Head of School John Murray Dean of Academic Affairs Prentice Stabler Head of Upper School Ryan Harris Head of Middle School Rick West Head of Lower School Laura Turner

Director of Finance & Operations

Jill Johnson Director of Advancement Courtney Williamson Director of Admission

Kris Palmerton Director of Athletics Brandon Albright Director of Spiritual Life Brenda Huff

Director of the Center for Philanthropic Studies

their students to become more than

impact they had on their classmates

they often times think is possible.

and the five Heart to Heart students

While our faculty members are

who are currently making a difference

challenging students to grow as

in our community!

leaders and develop their sense of

T

The FRA experience

purpose and place in this world, our

I often remind current and

students are learning from each other

prospective families that while we

as well. They are part of a complex

care about college placement at

ecosystem called a community—they

FRA , college admission is not our

often refer to it as the FRAmily.

most important responsibility. We

Through this shared experience, our

recognize that WHO our parents

students continue the process of

drop off to college is ultimately more

learning to see the world through the

important than WHERE they drop

eyes of others and develop a greater

them off. While our graduates have

sense of empathy, which I believe is

great success in the college admission

an essential characteristic

process, we also want them to have

of leadership.

great success later in life as husbands

begins with our people

and wives, fathers and mothers, and

and our programs. In

In these pages you will learn about

citizens of this world. We provide an

the latest edition of the

many of the programs that help us

elite education at FRA , preparing our

4700, I am excited to share with you a

to develop these qualities in our

students for the finest colleges and

number of our programs that support

students at FRA . In particular, you

universities in the country, and at the

our mission at FRA . At Franklin Road

will read about our first graduates of

same time, our programs are designed

Academy, our educational experience

the Heart to Heart program. At first

to remind our students they are not

takes place in the classroom, on

glance, you may think this program

the center of the universe and that

retreats, and through all of the various

is about FRA providing a service for

God calls all of us to see the needs of

programs we offer our students.

families who have a child with Down

others and to make a difference.

While we are true to our traditions,

syndrome, but I encourage you to

our programs continue to grow to

look further and fully understand

I hope you sense both the ongoing

provide the strongest educational

the impact of this program on our

growth in our programs and the

experience for our students in 2017

school community. The Heart to

quality of our people as you enjoy this

and beyond.

Heart program has a strong impact

latest issue. I continue to be blessed to

on the educational experience of our

be a part of this great community and

Our students learn from teachers

students across all three divisions at

appreciate your ongoing support.

who often become lifelong mentors,

FRA , and all of our students are better

and they also learn from each other.

educated because of this program. We

Our teachers come alongside our

are excited that our first graduates

students through our academic and

now attend Vanderbilt and Clemson,

co-curricular programs, encouraging

and we are equally excited about the

Sincerely,

SEAN R. CASEY

Contents HEART TO HEART

F E AT U R E

MS COUNSELING DOGS

1

ACADEMICS

1

Heart to Heart

9

MS Counseling Dogs

7

Dear Lori

11

AP Capstone

13

LS Spanish

18

Senior Spotlight

REGION CHAMPS

AT H L E T I C S

9

WORKING

41

ARTS

41

Fall Accolades

55

Fall / Winter Highlights

47

Spring Accolades

59

Spring Highlights

55

COPYRIGHTED 2017 BY FRANKLIN ROAD ACADEMY. Franklin Road Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, nationality, religion, or ethnic origin, or the administration of its educational and admission policies, scholarships, athletic, and other school-administered programs. Franklin Road Academy is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Southern Association of Independent Schools. The 4700 is a bi-annual publication of the communications office.

EDITOR / Leah Davis Glenn. CREATIVE DIRECTOR / Courtney Williams. COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR / Chloe Coley. PHOTO CREDITS / Jessica McIntosh, Mike Straisinger, Kianush Dixon, Tiff Canady, Michelle Medes, Ross Bolen. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS / David Dawson, Lori Funk, Susan Akers, Clifton Kaiser, Megan Scheumann, Diane Perry, Brenda Jewell, David Tucker, Javier Velasquez, Taylor Smith, Mary Katherine McDowell, Tashinga Vhumisai, Browning Turner, Michelle Nelson, Jay Salato, Rod Jones, Lisa Zenner, John Pierce, Betsey Bachert, Brenda Huff, Clif and Beth Tant.

4700 I AM FRA

R E T R E AT S

F E AT U R E

19

35

19

I am FRA

SPIRITUAL & SERVICE LIFE

35 Retreats 39

S E R V I C E S AT U R D AY

EVENTS

Cross Country for a Cause

CLASS NOTES

63

ALUMNI

63

Service Saturday, Best Buddies Run

67

Class Notes

65

Grandparents Day, Homecoming

69

In Memory, Births

66

FRA All-Community Tailgate, Come See Santa, Fourth Grade Art Show

71

Event Highlights

80

Upcoming Events

81

Donor Spotlight

67

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F E AT U R E

heart heart BY

DAVID DAWSON, Heart to Heart Director

The Heart to Heart program provides a challenging educational experience for students with Down syndrome in an inclusive, integrated Christian community, with an unwavering commitment to developing the full academic and social potential of each Heart to Heart student and instilling in our typically-developing students’ understanding, acceptance, and love for those with developmental and learning differences.

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PICTURED / Daniel Witty

Since its inception with the first Heart to Heart student in 2006, the program has been effective academically and socially for students with Down syndrome, and it has arguably helped change the culture of the school by affecting the way the typical FRA student thinks of and relates to others.

Heart to Heart was first proposed by a family hoping to be able to offer their son with Down syndrome the same opportunities and experiences their other children were provided as students at FRA . Little did they know just how impactful it would be in the lives of so many.

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PICTURED / Michael Blackburn, Natalie Williams

Academically, Heart to Heart is pushing boundaries and limits that have rarely been pushed. Dr. Stephen Camarata, an associate professor of special education at Vanderbilt University and a renowned researcher in fields related to developmental disabilities, continues to assess the students of the Heart to Heart program annually and, in turn, uses the information gathered to aid his research. Dr. Camarata states, “The children in the program have all shown year-to-year advances in academic subjects such as reading and math on standardized achievement tests. This is very

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exciting because, sadly, some believe children with Down syndrome stop learning after the age of 10. The Heart to Heart program at FRA is proving that this misguided assumption is probably false.�

The Heart to Heart program operates with the utmost hope for each student who enters the program. We seek to push students with Down syndrome to break past misconceived barriers and plateaus in which they have been limited. Mrs. Lori Funk, mother of the first Heart to Heart student Rob Funk, explains the reason the program was so important to their family.

“The conventional wisdom of our public school system was that people with special needs should be segregated from their typically-developing peers. One administrator summed up that attitude by saying ‘Rob cannot go any further.’ Our family’s response to this misconception was, ‘Rob is not done yet.’”

At FRA , Rob proved that. Students are integrated into as many classes and community activities and opportunities as possible. Certified special education teachers provide appropriate academic modifications for each student and are responsible for ensuring all of the classroom teachers involved are knowledgeable and prepared to fully educate each student. Each student receives one-on-one instruction in the areas of math and reading throughout the day. These instructional times are fully customized to each

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individual student by the Heart to Heart teacher and use many different techniques based upon the student’s specific learning style.

Beyond academics, the students of the program are given opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities at FRA . From athletics to arts to service programs, the Heart to Heart students are fully accepted and encouraged to participate in the manner that best fits their needs. Students have managed athletics teams at both varsity and middle school levels for football, basketball, soccer, and track and field. As their comfort levels increase with the coaches, often times they are even given opportunities to play the sport as the coach advises.

Students have also chosen to be involved with the FRA theater as technical hands behind the scenes,

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and this year, one of the students has landed two roles in the middle school musical presentation of Seussical, Jr. that will be presented in the spring. Most students take a visual art class, where they are guided by the teachers to express their creativity. This has resulted in some beautiful pieces of art that have

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been displayed around campus and at FRA art shows.

Students of the program are highly encouraged to serve others, and throughout the year, the Heart to Heart program participates in service opportunities around the Nashville community.

FRA commits to provide unique opportunities that equip students for life. The Heart to Heart program is no different. In fact, that is the primary objective. Striving to prepare a student with Down syndrome as appropriately and effectively as possible is the factor that motivates the faculty at FRA . We prepare our students to be as confident as possible as they mature into adults. As with all students at FRA , we prepare our Heart to Heart students to move to the next level of their educational journey with the skills and experiences that will give them the chance to succeed at any endeavor they embark upon.

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In the spring of 2016, the FRA Heart to Heart program saw its first two students walk across the stage at graduation. As the director of the program and the teacher of Rob Funk and Robert Lewis for the previous four years, I witnessed a true representation of the impact that the program made on those two students and on the entire FRA community. As the ceremony began and the addresses were presented by our head of school, head of the upper school, valedictorian, and salutatorian, a common theme

bonded each one of their thoughts. All of them mentioned and acknowledged either Rob, Robert, or the Heart to Heart program at some moment. I didn’t even comprehend the reach and impact until I heard from those four different perspectives, all very different and all from people I assumed did not “know” Rob and Robert other than as their peers or their students. Their thoughts included how a group of fourth graders learned how to look past each other’s differences and how their class was set apart because of an intangible quality to support and build each other up. The importance of the Heart to Heart program is not necessarily measured in their ability to do long division or to write senior level essays, but in the teaching of what it really means to have a relationship with someone; to look past a surface level difference and see that the similarities far outweigh the differences. The joy and admiration that comes from these relationships is so real and defining. I can honestly say that most of the students from that 2016 class will never forget their experiences at FRA because of how they learned to treat each other.

UPDATE Rob Funk is currently a student at Vanderbilt University in the Next Steps program. He also serves as a manager for the Vanderbilt football team and the women’s basketball team. Robert Lewis is currently a student at Clemson University in the LIFE program. He is living on campus and has future aspirations to manage the Clemson men’s basketball team next season. He also expressed to me that he “lives to go to Tiger football games.”

At FRA, we currently have five students in the Heart to Heart program: MICHAEL BLACKBURN (8th grade) , ELLA KINDER (6th grade) , DANIEL WITTY (5th grade) , ETHAN BEASLEY (3rd grade) , and POPPY DUKE (3rd grade).

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Dear Lori,

A LETTER FROM 51-YEAR-OLD LORI FUNK to 30-YEAR-OLD LORI FUNK Lori Funk’s son Rob was FRA’s first Heart to Heart student

Look, I know you are scared to death with your new baby, Rob. I know you are wondering how he will get through life. I know you are wondering if he will go to school and have friends. You are scared he will be sick, puny, and unable to do most things. And you think you cannot do this…handle a child who is different, handle a child you know nothing about, handle a child who had surgery when he was twodays-old to fix his intestines. Fix his intestines?

Yes, it sounds horrible, but it really isn’t. Let me tell you what is coming, and trust me, you won’t be scared at all.

...trust me, you won’t be scared at all Rob will go to FRA in the fourth grade. It will take lots of work, and you will have to raise a lot of money, but it will happen. His first friend will be a boy named Thomas Fortune. Thomas will greet Rob with a hug at the door and announce “Hey, Buddy! I get to sit by you!” Not, “you get to sit by me.” Thomas and Rob will be friends all through school because Thomas never changes or loses one ounce of enthusiasm for Rob. There will be a boy named Will Tansil. Will will love Rob from the moment he meets him. He will run to you one day in about fifth or sixth grade and say with 100 percent complete joy, “Rob can say my name!”

In sixth or seventh grade, a boy named Sam Harvin will roll into FRA . This kid is full of personality and will have a smile that will stretch to Texas. You will love this kid and have a soft spot for him. He will run to hug you every time he sees you. One day he will overhear some kids making fun of something that Rob has done. He will say to them, “Say that to 7

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my face.” Those kids will never look Sam in the eyes again. This will be the only time, you know of, Rob was made fun of at school.

Tre’ Wilhoite will arrive in seventh grade. You will grow to love his entire family. You will be in the Melrose Kroger and suddenly feel arms around you.

It will be Tre’ and his brother, Lance. Tre’ is very quiet, well mannered, and gentle. He will have great hair, but never means to bring attention to himself.

You will visit his church one Sunday. Tre’ and Rob will sit together, and Tre’ will have his arm around Rob the entire service. He will patiently hand Rob crayons to color with because he knows sitting through a church service is hard for Rob. Calister Turner will be in class with Rob from the beginning. Rob and he will be friends, and Calister will, from time to time, let you know how much he enjoys going to school with Rob. You will get a kick out of how much he loves Rob’s baby pictures.

In ninth grade, there will be a boy named Sam Wheeler. He doesn’t say much, but he is very kind.

He will be on the track team with Rob and celebrate every shot put throw of Rob’s. Now, the throws won’t go very far, but Sam will be the first to give Rob a fist bump each time.

Will Hazelwood will be one of the kindest boys you will ever meet. He will always greet Rob with a hug, and he will always speak to you.

Ryan Clark will one day decide to be the football kicker. You won’t know him well, but you will be so proud of the fact that he gets better and better. Rob will run to get the tee when Ryan kicks off. If Ryan forgets and picks up the tee before Rob runs out on the field, Rob will yell at him and make all kinds of

That trophy will sit on a shelf in your living room until the day you die.

hand gestures. This will be funny and a crowd pleaser. And all the times Rob gets the tee and hands it to Ryan, he will pat Rob on the back in thanks.

You will often see smiles from both faces during these exchanges.

Everyone will cheer for Woody Weicker. He is a quiet boy and a great athlete. His senior year will be hard for him, but he will be a force on the football field.

He will be at every team dinner, and he probably understands the meaning of “team” more than anyone. He will smile at you every time you see him.

God will be with Woody.

Garrett Walker is a very nice boy. Like Sam W., he will be on the track team with Rob. Garrett is a kid who shows up for everything, and he seems to like whatever he is doing. He also likes to tease Sam W., and Rob will think this is funny. Rob and Garrett will cross paths often.

Benjamin. Ben. Jam. Jam-a-lam. Your family will have lots of names for a kid named Benjamin Jackson. Buckle your seatbelt for this one. He will be entertaining you for years, and when God made loyal, he made Benjamin. Rob will call him Jam until about midway through junior year, and then one day call him by his real name. You, however, will always call him Jam. He will be one of the toughest yet softest people in the world. He will get his helmet knocked off in most of the games you watch him play and then tell you about how he cried in a movie. Jam will be one of Rob’s greatest protectors. In fifth grade, there

will be a middle school assembly where the fifth grade football players are given trophies. Jam will realize that Rob, who will have been the manager the entire season, was not recognized. After returning to his seat, Jam will stand up, walk back to the stage, walk over to the principal, whisper in her ear, and give her his trophy. She will then call Rob to the stage and give him the trophy. That trophy will sit on a shelf in your living room until the day you die. You will love Benjamin Jackson forever.

And finally, there will be George and Spence (no last names needed). They will know Rob as well as you.

They will frequent your house so often, they will know where everything is. They will understand what Rob says. They will know what Rob is thinking before Rob knows what he is thinking. They will go on many vacations with you. They will wear goofy costumes and sing silly songs with Rob. Their birthdays will be like national holidays. They will be family, and they love Rob unconditionally. These two will make you wonder “What will Rob do without George and Spence,” and they will be telling you, “Rob will be fine.” They will be your gift as much as they are Rob’s.

And all of these boys will have a perfect regular football season. They will stick together like glue.

They will be consistent, determined, disciplined, and smooth as a team, but you will know them as people.

They will understand they need each other, and one piece of their puzzle cannot be missing. And they will know this about Rob. He cherishes each bus ride and team dinner. He runs his heart out to get those tees.

He fills those water bottles exactly as he is told. He jumps for joy at each touchdown. Rob is happy, and he is a Panther.

You will be proud of all of them.

Lori Funk Fall / Winter 2016 | 4700

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They are great listeners, non-judgmental, and always happy.

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ACADEMICS

What has eight legs, two heads, & loves Franklin Road Academy?

BY

SUSAN AKERS, MS Counselor

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Ask any FRA middle schooler, and they will surely tell you it is Don and Cantor, the therapy dogs that arrive early each morning.

Resources come in many forms, and Don and Cantor offer their own breed of support. The middle school began using therapy dogs 10 years ago when T.J. arrived, and Don followed about two years after him.

Cantor joined the team two years ago after retiring as a Seeing Eye guide dog. All three labs were trained at S.E. Guide Dogs in Palmetto, Florida, and joined FRA as a second career.

There is plenty of research to support the effectiveness of dogs. Studies going back to the early 1980’s support the idea that dogs—and other pets—have enormous health benefits for people.

Pets have been shown to lower blood pressure, improve recovery from heart disease, and even improve people’s psychological well-being and self-esteem. Don and Cantor are a regular stop on admission tours, and guests are always taken aback that FRA has two labs on staff.

These dogs are a great tool because they put students and adults at ease. They are a great ice breaker and help diffuse difficult discussions.

“On my first day at FRA , I was excited but nervous.

I wondered how long it would take for me to make friends. As soon as I walked in the lobby, I saw Don and Cantor, and after meeting them, I felt like I had made my first friends. They helped me feel at home right away. As I have made more friends at FRA , I will never forget my first friends,” said an FRA middle schooler.

The dogs aren’t limited to the middle school – they have visited the lower school for pre-kindergarten dog-day activities, and upper school students regularly stop by to pet “the boys.” After school the dogs can be spotted on the quad playing fetch with students who sign up on the dog-walking calendar.

They are great listeners, non-judgmental and always happy. What else could you ask for in a support team?

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APS T O N E P R O G R A M BY

CLIFTON KAISER

For all of the excitement that surrounds the new AP Capstone Program, the first question I am asked is, “So what is it?�

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It all started about three summers ago when I learned of the brand new Capstone Program created by the College Board. I distinctly remember being very intrigued and wondering if I might be able to bring it to FRA .

Thus began a long process of inquiring and applying, which ended with the College Board accepting our application.

Naturally, new courses involve a mixture of excitement and confusion, and when the new course involves a new College Board AP program, the levels of excitement and confusion are amplified even more.

In terms of the big picture, AP Capstone is the overall program that consists of two year-long courses, AP Seminar and AP Research, with the former being a prerequisite for the latter. A student who takes and passes both earns the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. If that same student takes and passes four of any other AP courses, he or she will earn the AP Capstone Diploma. The College Board grants each school some autonomy to place the courses

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into the curriculum. At FRA , we offer the seminar and research courses as academic electives in the 11th and 12th grades, respectively.

Switching from the broad view to a view of the specific courses, it is safe to say these capstone courses are unlike any other courses at FRA . They are skillsbased courses that are not tied to any specific course content, and the students have a large degree of control over the topics they want to cover as they learn the skills.

AP Seminar, at its most basic level, is an in-depth study of research-based arguments.

This means both analyzing and writing such arguments. But research-based arguments are quite common in English and history courses, so how does this one differ?

FRA’s AP Capstone Program offers students a flexible curricular content model with room for creativity and student input.

First, the students spend more time on the topics. In many courses, teachers must move quickly through the content in order to ensure all material is covered by the end of the year.

Currently in AP Seminar, we are nearing the end of a six-week examination of gender inequality and feminism. We will examine a variety of topics — some of the students’ choosing — and examine them through various lenses such as ethics, art, philosophy, economics, science, politics, culture, and history.

essay and a small-group, argumentative presentation.

In the second part of the fall semester, they write an individual argumentative essay and perform an individual presentation on a different topic. In the spring, they essentially accomplish these major tasks, but they do so almost entirely under their own leadership. In other words, each student takes the initiative to choose topics, find sources, compose essays, and present to the class.

Second, students must evaluate and analyze a wide variety of source materials. For the focus on gender inequality and feminism, we examined many disparate sources. These include Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s 1848 Declaration of Sentiments; contemporary opinion pieces

by President Obama as well as by social critics Camille Paglia and Phyllis Schlafly; a Harper’s Weekly cartoon from 1868; a 2016 report on the economic gender gap by the World Economic Forum; The Wife of Bath’s Tale from Chaucer’s 15th-century Canterbury Tales; several news items from sources like NPR, The Guardian, and TIME; and music lyrics and videos like Nancy Sinatra’s 1966 hit These Boots Are Made For Walking. Students carefully evaluated each source for its credibility, line of reasoning, and content.

With regard to the second capstone course, AP Research, we will offer it next year to those students in AP Seminar this year. It is essentially a student-driven, year-long research program that will challenge the students to investigate — even more deeply — an issue of their own choosing. As part of the course, they will need to craft a major research essay and defend their work in front of a panel.

So, in answer to the opening question of “What is it?” I can truly say the Capstone Program intends to prepare students for the rigorous academic work of their college studies, and it provides FRA students with a unique opportunity to investigate real-world topics of their own interest in the process.

All of this material, along with the skills the students practice, lead to an individual research

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H At FRA , every lower school student has the opportunity to experience Spanish language and culture through bi-weekly Spanish classes. One of the goals of the Spanish program in the lower school is to expose our students to various Hispanic cultures and help the students develop an appreciation for them. We also hope to create curiosity and self-motivation in the students to continue to learn Spanish and explore other cultures.

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Pre-kindergarten classes focus on exposure to the language to build a foundation for learning Spanish. Students in pre-kindergarten learn colors, numbers, and animals, among other topics, through songs, stories, and games.

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lo a

from

THE LOWER SCHOOL

BY

MEGAN SCHEUMANN, LS Spanish Teacher

Students are exposed to other cultures and thus increase their global awareness, which is one of the 21st-century skills we focus on at FRA .

In kindergarten and first grade, students continue to develop their Spanish vocabulary and learn more about numbers, family, food, body parts, and shapes.

They go fishing for numbers and colors, make silly snowmen, write their own Spanish books, and sing a variety of songs.

interactive learning experience as their imaginations took them aboard a plane to Honduras and Spain.

This year they are traveling to Mexico. Thanks to SAGE Dining Services, students are also able to sample foods from the different countries they have studied.

Students in grades 2-4 explore even more vocabulary and learn about the weather, seasons, food groups, clothing, and how to express their likes and dislikes.

These students go on an imaginary trip to a Spanishspeaking country to learn more about the country’s history, geography, people, and culture. On this trip, students are able to practice shopping for clothes, order food, and learn how to greet someone new. Last year, the classroom was transformed into yet another

Starting a world language at such a young age is a huge benefit to our students. Many studies have shown that children’s brains are like sponges and are able to soak up a new language faster than adolescents or adults. This will result in much better and easier fluency in their language acquisition in whatever language they choose to study.

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SENIO R SP OT L I G H T

I LOVE FR A BECAUSE the inclusive environment allows students to be so comfortable with other students and faculty, which I think is really special.

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PA BLO DE L A TOR R E A LVA R AD O My favorite senior memory so far has been the first kick around after school because I met a lot of people in different grade levels.

Since that day, we have practiced soccer together and have also gotten to know each other really well off the pitch.

The thing I’m most looking forward to during the remainder of my senior year is finishing strong both academically and athletically. Academically, I hope to finish with strong grades, graduate, and get accepted to a good college. Athletically, I hope to end my soccer career on a high note. I’m ready to work hard, have fun, and enjoy all of the opportunities being a senior provides these last few months.

I feel prepared for my first year of college because FRA has provided me with solid academic and personal preparation to excel in college. This school has taught me to balance my academics and social life.

The one thing FRA has taught me that I will carry with me is that it is possible to balance responsibilities with fun, and that you can achieve a very good academic profile while still being involved in the community.

A L I S O N M CK IN N E Y The thing I’m going to miss most about FRA is the community.

I have been here for almost 13 years, so life will be so different without all these people I have spent almost all of my life with. It will be really sad to leave the students and faculty here.

The one thing FRA has taught me that I will carry with me is to not be afraid to try new things. You might end up loving something you never would’ve expected.

The person who has taught me most at FRA is Jerry Williams because he taught me not only about U.S. History but also other life lessons during his class.

My biggest accomplishment during my time at FRA has been reinstating the lower school ambassador program with the other lower school liaison leaders last year. We worked to bring together the high school and lower school and were able to make relationships with some of the younger students and help them get involved.

After graduation, I plan to hopefully go to the University of North Carolina or University of Virginia and study foreign affairs and Spanish, but my plan could always change!

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I WOULD DESCRIBE MYSELF A S hard-working, friendly, and driven.

P O N DER T H URM ON D

The person who has taught me most at FRA is Coach Weicker. He had so many great life lessons for his players and colleagues, and he always was there to teach me how to improve and continue to work toward being my best. For someone who said so little, he meant a lot to the community, and he truly taught me to live meaningfully.

The thing I’m going to miss most about FRA is the people here and relationships I’ve developed. Everyone has a great opportunity to foster really close relationships with others, and I will definitely miss the intimate friendships I’ve made with my peers and the close relationships with some of my teachers. These aren’t “tangible” qualities of the school, but they are definitely irreplaceable and have made it great for me.

The one thing FRA has taught me that I will carry with me is how to address adversity. Everyone fails at something at some point, and my teachers have helped me understand how to learn from my mistakes and move forward beyond them to set myself up for success at my next opportunity.

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I feel prepared for my first year of college because FRA has shown me how to succeed.

As students, we are given all of the tools and advice to succeed in and out of the classroom, and these tools and lessons make me feel very prepared for the next step.

My biggest accomplishment during my time at FRA has been winning the State Championship in baseball in 2016. It was the first time in quite a while that we were able to win it, and after finishing as runner up in 2015, it was nice to win one in memory of Coach Weicker.

I LOVE FR A BECAUSE there is an endless amount of opportunities waiting to be taken. There are no rules or boundaries as to what you can accomplish, and every club, classroom, and lunch table comes with open arms and a smile.

YA S AM I N E M O US AVI My biggest accomplishment during my time at FRA has been becoming student body president. I’ve taken many leadership roles in my high school career, including business club, student council, newspaper and international club, but the one that has impacted me the most is being student body president. I’ve seen truly how hard a leadership position is, and I’ve realized that students do have the opportunity to make a change.

The thing I’m going to miss most about FRA is the sense of community and companionship that roams in the halls. I may never be in another place where I can name every person or have an inside joke with most them. I will miss how there is always a smiling face and the opportunity to know your neighbors.

The one thing FRA taught me that I will carry with me is I am in charge of my learning, and I have the ability to change something if I want to. It is up to me to start a dialog if I want to change.

the difficult task of teaching me French, but his classes have shaped my academic and personal philosophy. Mr. Climer ’s class has taught me to be responsible for my learning and that it is important and an imperative part of learning to be challenged.

The best part of my upper school experience has been the environment and the culture of the school. All of the alpha/omega events, FRAternity, and dances have been the best part of being an FRA upper schooler.

The person who has taught me most at FRA is Mr. Climer. He is the teacher who has by far taught me the most. Not only has he taken up

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I AM

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F E AT U R E

DIANE PERRY TEACHER

I am very humbled and honored to be asked to write my “FRA Story” for the 4700. God has definitely chosen more than once for Franklin Road Academy to be a very important part of my life journey. “For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans to prosper you, to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 In the fall of 1979, Bill Bradshaw gave me, at the time “Miss Johnson,” my first after-college job opportunity when he hired me to teach first grade at FRA. I taught first grade from the fall of ’79 to the spring of ’82. Little did I know that someday I would have the opportunity to return to FRA and teach the children of some of my very first 1st graders.

I have so many special memories from those early years at FRA. We were small, and we were family. My class literally put away our desks and chairs every Friday to set up for the adult Sunday school class with whom we were sharing a room. We had the sweetest Christmas programs every year where the students sang “Twas the Night Before Christmas” as the pictures they had drawn were run across an overhead projector. And yes, overhead projectors were considered high tech back then! I loved Friday mornings when every single child would carry his or her own chair from the classroom to the gym for the Friday all-school chapel led by Mr. Bradshaw. Cat and Mamie were our fabulous cooks.

Our Spiritual Emphasis Weeks were over the top with people like Clebe McCleary, Michael W. Smith, and Joe Bias. I can still hear Joe singing “There is Power in the Blood!” But the best thing about being a part of FRA back in those early years was the feeling that we were all family. FRA was built on one man’s dream, Bill Bradshaw’s, but many people, many families poured their lives into laying a foundation for something great to come!

I must throw in at this point a life changing event that took place during my first year teaching at FRA. Bill Bradshaw had also hired a really young and cute assistant high school football coach and middle school English teacher. His name was Tim Perry. You can figure

out the rest! Thirty-five years and 3 grown children later, Tim and I both are still very thankful our paths crossed because of FRA. My next stint at FRA was ’83 to ’84 when Bill Campbell gave me the opportunity to be the assistant librarian in the upper school and varsity cheer coach as Tim and I awaited the birth of our first child. The whole school threw me a big “Diaper Baby Shower” and blessed us with enough diapers to last a year! When Clay was born the whole school celebrated God’s sweet blessing with us.

In 2006, two months short of the day I had left FRA 22 years earlier, I was hired back, this time by Sissy Wade. God is so good. Not only did Sissy give me the opportunity to return to FRA but also to first grade.

Eleven years later I still love teaching first grade. Have some things changed since 1979? Oh yes! Are some things still the same? Oh yes!

What has changed? I now teach in a beautiful big classroom where I do not have to set up for Sunday School on Friday afternoons. I have a Promethean Board, five student laptops, five iPads, and my own laptop. All a far cry from the one blackboard I had in ’79. No one is using an overhead projector and transparency sheets for the Christmas program anymore; instead our laptops connect directly to a digital multimedia projector. Friday chapels are very special. We have grown so large that each division now has their own.

Yes we have grown, but the best part of being back at FRA for me is that we are still family. We are still a group of people who love the Lord and love children and are all working together for His glory. FRA is still a place where many people, many families pour their lives into strengthening a foundation for something great to come. I am so very thankful that I can be a part of this place at this time to see all that God is about.

I began by writing that I recognize it is not by chance that at some of the most important times in my life FRA was and is a big part of it. I thank God for the three heads of school I have worked under, the deans, my first grade teams, co-workers, the students, and the parents who God has placed in my life. Many have become my very close and dear friends. So many at FRA have been prayer warriors for me and my family, especially over the past 10 months. I will forever be grateful to Bill Bradshaw for hiring me fresh out of college to come teach and to come be blessed by FRA.

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I AM

BROWNING TURNER KINDERGARTEN, CLASS OF 2029

Hey! My name is Browning Turner. I’ve been going to FRA for four years.

My first day at FRA was like a whole new world. I love science and math.

We do projects in enrichments like weaving. That’s when you make stuff go up and down and sideways. Every day we do a devotion before we start class. Then, we do things like writers workshop, enrichments, Math in Focus, and handwriting. My favorite part of the day is going to enrichments.

In enrichments we do arts, music, and guidance. I get to play a lot of instruments, and the drums are my favorite. I was just in the kindergarten Christmas devotion. That was fun.

I have a lot of friends – CJ, Blake, Rafa, and Luke. And now my brother is here, so I like that. Sometimes we get to play with older students, like when we do Panther Pals. We made Christmas ornaments with Jesus on them. My Panther Pals are fifth graders. And we have fourth grade reading buddies.

When I’m not at FRA, I like to cook. My favorite thing to cook is making crackers with Nutella and chocolate and hot dogs.

FRA teaches you a lot of stuff. It’s really fun. I think I’ll be at FRA for a long time.

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I AM

BRENDA JEWELL TEACHER

It’s amazing how many memories are made in 20 years. I started working at FRA in the fall of 1996 teaching three classes – a kindergarten class, a middle school choir, and an upper school group.

I was really excited that I could work part-time doing something I loved. When I arrived at FRA, the group I taught didn’t have much experience, but they were so excited to have a new opportunity. And I was so excited to be at FRA. From the very beginning, our students were so talented; choir just took off because of it. Back then, obviously the school was a lot different; it was a lot smaller, so we met in what is now the weight room, swapping out the space with the band classes.

As time went on, the students became more interested in choir and more invested in the subject. I had been teaching some of them for up to eight years, so I thought we were finally ready for a competitive choir. At one point, we were seeing up to a fourth of the upper school student body as part of the group. When students started taking choir

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in middle school, they were ready for something more serious by the time they reached high school, and so was I! Still, because of the times, we weren’t able to travel nearly as much as we can now. We did Disney trips and the occasional cruise, but now we’re able to travel places like Carnegie Hall. It’s a completely different playing field.

When you have the opportunity to work with so many talented kids, memories are made every year. There are moments like seeing students’ eyes light up when they walk into Carnegie Hall, knowing who has stood on that stage before them, or opening for Alan Jackson at the Ryman Auditorium that are incomparable. From all my years teaching, the one thing I’ll never forget at FRA is singing at Pearl Harbor’s 70th anniversary just a few years ago. The students performed a 20-minute a cappella set of patriotic songs after we had studied Pearl Harbor in class. We rode the navy boat over and stood around the commemorative seal while singing the National Anthem. It was an incredibly moving experience, and when we finished everyone was in tears, even the kids.

FRA has proven time and time again to be such a unique place, and this is ultimately what has kept me here for so long. In my opinion, treating the whole child is the only way to do education, and it’s what this school does best. As a child, I was an athlete. Basketball was my first love all the way through school, so I would come off the court just long enough to accompany the spring concert. It was so important in my development, and I wanted to contribute to that in today’s youth. Plus, you can’t find these relationships anywhere else. After I’ve been with some students for eight years, those are the friendships that will be there for a lifetime. It’s been amazing to see kids go from an insecure fifth grader to the lead in the upper school musical. I’m so thankful that I get to do what I love every day.

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TAYLOR SMITH CLASS OF 2021

I AM

Franklin Road Academy is my school, community, and home. I have grown up and have been shaped into the person I am today because of this wonderful place.

As a child, I lived in Clarksville, Tennessee, and moved to Nashville when I was about 4 years old. I started FRA in kindergarten. My brother, Garrett, who is two years behind me started in preK-4.

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I am now an eighth, rising ninth grader and have had many wonderful memories and experiences that I could never get anywhere else, in and out of the classroom. I have participated in basketball, track and field, volleyball, and middle and upper school soccer. I have also participated in the middle school play, Peter Pan, and other showcases such as Cocoa and Carols. All have been exciting and fun opportunities.

I have grown up surrounded by teachers who I feel comfortable enough to turn to in times of need, faculty members who are willing to talk and get to know me, and classmates, older and younger, who I now consider my family.

One of my favorite things about FRA is that the older students are always making connections with younger students and vice versa. I can remember back in lower school having an “angel buddy.� This angel buddy was a middle school student who came and talked to and helped us make cards for soldiers coming home for Christmas. Recently, I have gone with my classmates to be an angel buddy myself.

Being with younger students who you know will grow up to be loved and cherished in our FRA community is something that I value and appreciate.

The friends you make here are ones who are always there for you. One of my best friends, Campbell Carroll, has been in my grade since kindergarten. Together, we have grown close in and out of school through our community. I know for a fact that her family, and every family at FRA, is willing to go out of their way to help one another. Even within my grade, parents are willing to help pick kids up for a ride to a game, volunteer to set up events, and even donate their time and money to just bettering the school. Growing up in a community where you are constantly being told and shown that you are loved is something that every child deserves. I am fortunate to be given an opportunity to be a part of this wonderful family at Franklin Road Academy.

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JAVIER VELASQUEZ MAINTENANCE STAFF

I am Javier, but everybody calls me Javi. I have been working at FRA 12 years, and I am so thankful God brought me here through an answered prayer!

I AM

My goal has always been to serve others and share God’s word with others by singing worship songs when I am invited. My prayers for all my awesome friends here have always been to see them blessed, happy, smiling, progressing, overcoming the bad things, and to be successful in life, body, spirit, and soul. I believe the students at FRA will never be the same after they graduate because what they learn here in this school cannot be found anywhere else — they are loved.

My experience at FRA has always been SUPER GOOD! I am so blessed to work where it feels like home every day. I will never forget when the staff surprised me with a Secret Santa. Santa didn’t come to my house when I was little, so they surprised me with gifts from Santa for a whole week! Channel 4 even came out and interviewed me in the lower school, where I get to sing Feliz Navidad there every year. I’m not a professional singer, but they always make me feel like the Mexican Elvis!

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I have so many memories at FRA, but last year’s Cocoa and Carols will always be one of my favorites. Two students, my friends Kimiko and Brianna, asked me to do a song with them. I didn’t know what to do, so I decided to bring out Zozo, the Christian clown of joy. I have never done anything like that, and it was a BIG hit!

Everyone loved the show, and I was so blessed to be invited to perform with them!

The students and teachers are the heart and soul of FRA, and so many of them have been blessings in my life.

I have a special appreciation for…

Addie Dillard and Ashton Dillard who surprised me a few years ago by inviting me to Addie’s graduation. They sent a special letter to my house! I was so excited that I cried.

The Hooker family, who have always called me brother. They adopted me to be their brother, and we accept each other in the name of Jesus. This family is my heart.

The deans and teachers who have given me the opportunity to share the word of God with the students. You make me really feel appreciated.

Diane Perry, who is an awesome warrior who never gives up and has a spirit of prayer that is strong and deep.

The ladies in the Hill House and Carriage House, who have such big hearts. You represent so much in my life, always smiling, always kind.

The parents who tell me their children love me.

Shaun Blevins, who was an excellent teacher with great love and dedication. I can always count on her.

The prayer moms, who are warriors of God. Thomas Fortune, who I have known from the time he was a little kid in lower school to a strong muscle dude in upper school. He was always smiling and shouting, “JAVI!” His spirit always inspired me to serve others with joy and happiness.

Cornelia Cranberry, who was the Spanish teacher and helped me when I was in the cafeteria. She has an open heart no matter who you are or what you look like.

And, Bubba, Tiff, and Mike, who are more than my teammates; they are my friends.

I have so many more things I could say about this wonderful place. I’ll end by saying that being a part of the FRA family is SUPER GOOD!

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MARY KATHERINE MCDOWELL CLASS OF 2025

Hi! My name is Mary Katherine McDowell, and I’m in fourth grade. I have loved all of my teachers at FRA, but my first teacher, Mrs. Becky (Carter) was my most special.

I AM

My first day at FRA was when I was four. That’s right, I am an FRA lifer! I still remember, it was a rainy day, and I held a pink umbrella with a bee that I still have! I clung to my mom as we walked in. There were white walls, and in a corner of the room, the walls were military green.There were boys playing with red, blue, and yellow cardboard blocks that looked like bricks. My mom introduced me to my teacher Mrs. Becky.

After my mom left, Mrs. Becky led me to the carpet, and there

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was a girl playing with dolls. Mrs. Becky said, “Laura, this is Mary Katherine; Mary Katherine, this is Laura. Laura and I were best friends until she moved to Portugal.

Mrs. Becky will always be held dear to my heart. She put so much effort into every day and made each an adventure. She even noticed that I was obsessed with our class pet lizard, so she got me my own! I named it Aggie Sunshine.

Today, I am in dance, Girl Scouts, piano, and Panther Paws. I love that I can choose from so many enrichments.

I love FRA, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me!

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DAVID TUCKER TEACHER

I’ve been at FRA for as long as I’ve had a career, except for the one year out of college that I worked for my brother’s landscape architect business. I was a fine arts major and played football at MTSU, and all I really wanted to do when I “grew up” was art, whether that was going to get my MFA or find a place to do pottery.

Knowing I needed to make some money, I went to work for my brother, who one day realized I wasn’t happy.

He said to me, “Why don’t you look into teaching and coaching somewhere?” I thought he was crazy, but the more I thought about it, the more it stuck with me.

I felt that God was calling me to teach. There were three schools I was speaking with about a position, and ultimately God placed me at FRA. That was in the fall of 1981.

They just loved that, and that group of boys ended up becoming the state championship team in ’91.

That bond didn’t just stop with the students.

Believe it or not, FRA was just as much a family back then as it is now. It was much smaller, too. I taught grades 1-12 in art, so I really was involved with all the students throughout the whole school. I always did clay days with the kids. When they would come in and I would announce that it was a clay day, they just went crazy! They jumped up and down and everything.

It wasn’t until about the late ’90’s that I started teaching classes.

Coach Weicker came in the same year as me, and our chemistry with the other coaches was just unbelievable.

None of us really knew each other, but we clicked like no other coaching staff I know. One memory I have, which I think describes our staff pretty well, was in 1991 (the year our football team won the state championship). An intense faculty pickle ball game actually ended with me in the hospital for an emergency surgery on my leg. Before I even got into surgery (which was emergency, did I mention that?), George Weicker had the doctor ask me to write out the plans for football practice that day. Once I finally got out of surgery, George was the first to call me. He didn’t ask how I was, he didn’t ask if I was feeling okay, but rather he said, “David, is there a copy machine in the hospital you can get to?” He wanted me to run copies off for practice that day! He also brought a VCR tape to the hospital and had me watch film. That’s the way we all were that year. We barely made it through the game that week, and then we went on to win the state championship.

Like art, coaching football has been a part of my FRA story since the very beginning. I had a class of about 15 second grade guys that I got really close to. We had so much fun in class, and when they would leave we did this thing we called bumps. It was like a shed drill, where they would run as hard as they could, and I would give them a little flipper, like in the drill.

That’s what is so special about FRA. I’ve been here for 35 years and I’ve been able to watch my daughters learn and mature at school, I’ve become like family with my coworkers and coaching staffs, and I’ve built lifelong relationships with students as I’ve watched them grow up. Over time, your roots grow deeper and deeper, and there’s nothing that can replace that.

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TASHINGA VHUMISAI CLASS OF 2019

I AM

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You know that feeling you get when you know you are exactly where you’re supposed to be? As soon as I started at FRA as a freshman last year, I got that feeling. I came from a middle school in Mount Juliet – it was a good school. But I love FRA. People always talk about the community here, and everything they say is actually true. It is one thing to be told of the friendships and the FRAmily; it is another thing to actually be on campus and experience it.

I’ll never forget playing in the soccer game that took us to the State tournament last year. It was at FRA, and there were so many people there. I remember being on the field and just looking up on The Hill and seeing people cheering everywhere.

We sometimes get spoiled with our family and friends coming to all of the games to support us, but to see people I didn’t even know cheering as loud as they could was something special. Plus we won the game, which made it even better. That game really reassured me that I was where I was suppose to be. I was doing something I loved with the support of the entire community behind me.

Things like that game set FRA apart from most other schools, and it’s no different in the classroom. FRA is smaller than a lot of schools, and that is something I really like. It makes every class fun and unique. I have around eight people in each of my classes, and everyone is so engaged. I think the small classes also give our teachers a little more freedom to be creative too. I really enjoy Spanish II with Mrs. Dunn because she makes learning a new language challenging and also really enjoyable, and it has become something I’m passionate about. We spend time reading to learn the vocabulary; we sing songs to learn the words in a new way; and we do hands-on activities like workbook pages to practice using the words. People know me as someone who is serious in class – I want to get things done when it comes to coursework. I’m glad to be in a place that challenges me in a way that I get the most out of class both in the content and in the approach to learning, and smaller classes allow me to do that.

There is also a huge variety of clubs and activities on campus that let me be myself and do what I love. I’m part of the International Club, where we get to learn about the different cultures that are represented by our members. I moved to Nashville from Zimbabwe five years ago, so I might bring in Zimbabwean food or share about my experiences there. It’s the same for our members from China, Guatemala, England, and other countries. Anyone can join, and it is a great way for us to learn all about our classmates from all over the world and here in the United States.

All in all, FRA encourages my classmates and me to be our best. I’m challenged academically and athletically, and I’m also supported by my friends and teachers like Mr. Virgin, who is new to FRA this year. I feel comfortable asking him for advice on almost anything. This school has taught me to be responsible, so I can balance all the activities that are available to me. And because of all of these things, I really think I can go on to med school to become a doctor like I hope to do. My goal is to just keep my grades up, so I can have more options when it comes to schools and careers in the future.

I consider myself lucky to be part of the FRAmily.

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SPIRITUAL & SERVICE LIFE

GRADE-LEVEL

Building Community

“Grade-level retreats at the start of the year are one of the ways we promote and nourish the strong community that thrives at FRA .

Though the connections between grades help strengthen our school, the relationships within any given class are even more important.

These friendships shape class identities, and these connections grow and strengthen year after year. Retreats provide an opportunity for our students to purposefully spend time with one another, bringing together athletes, artists, and academicians to pursue a common goal: building a community where our students know, love, celebrate, and support one another. By doing these retreats early in the year, we provide time and space for our newest students to integrate into their classes and ensure their early weeks at FRA will be truly memorable.�

- PRENTICE STABLER Head of Upper School

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YMCA CAMP WIDJIWAGAN Fifth & Sixth Grade Retreat BY

MICHELLE NELSON, Fifth Grade Chair

The fifth and sixth grade retreat at YMCA Camp Widjiwagan is packed with bonding activities and fun! Students participate in a variety of team-building activities and individual challenges. Archery is a fifth grade favorite. You can hear teammates chanting the names of our beginning archers as they strive to improve and hit the targets – the winner is always a surprise! The sixth graders face the challenge of heights, climbing to face the Wet Willy Slide. Mr. Casey and Mr. Harris set the example, traversing the tower and being the first to glide their way into the lake.

Accomplishing tasks in our advisory groups is also a crowd favorite. Students spend the day with their new advisory groups to build relationships with both the adult advisor and the young men and women they will spend time with during the school year. The real “mountain” to climb at Camp Widji is the much anticipated Alpine Challenge. This 50-foot wooden climbing tower is intimidating, but every year the students encourage each other to strap on the safety equipment and work their way to the top.

The advisories below cheer their fifth and sixth grade classmates all the way to the top. Compliments abound as we work together to accomplish leadership challenges through a variety of game opportunities. Group leaders

fellowship. The retreat offers invaluable experientiallearning opportunities for our students to grow outside of the classroom.

Brandon Albright kicks off the retreat with a devotion on the school’s theme verse for the year (Romans 12:9-10 – “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”), and the theme of “Greater Than.” This sets the tone, as the students shower each other with brotherly and sisterly love throughout the day.

In the morning session, the grades are split, and students play volleyball, wiffle ball, and other team-building games with their classmates. Teams are purposefully chosen, and advisors move through rotations with their advisees.

The students really display the fruits of the spirit in their interactions with each other during this time.

During the afternoon, students enjoy time at the lake, where they swim, paddle around the lake in kayaks and canoes, and fly into the lake on the zip line. Whatever the student’s passion, Deer Run has an outlet for them. In true #OBY (Others Before Yourself) fashion, the students make sure everyone has an opportunity to try all of the activities.

BAREFOOT REPUBLIC Freshman Retreat BY

ROD JONES, Freshman Grade Chair

emerge, friendships are made, and students interact with teachers in an informal way that promotes the deeper

The freshman retreat is designed to provide the entire

discussion during advisory time at school.

freshman class a time to get to know their fellow

Spiritual Life Director, Brandon Albright, leads our devotion, grounding our experience together with the lessons of Christ’s love. He reminds us that, although we all bring different gifts to the table, God has a plan for each of us here at FRA . Camp Widjiwagan sets the tone for the great year ahead for our fifth and sixth grade students.

classmates, spend time with their advisory groups, and have fun prior to the start of the school year. It is an overnight retreat held at Barefoot Republic in Fountain Run, Kentucky, and it is led by various upper school faculty members and a group of senior leaders. These seniors act as the first liaisons into the life of the upper school at FRA and help ease the transition into the start of a new school year.

Most of all, it is a time of fun for everyone who attends, and

DEER RUN Seventh & Eighth Grade Retreat BY

attend their first class.

JAY SALATO, Eighth Grade Chair

Each September, the seventh and eighth grade students attend their annual fall retreat at Deer Run Retreat Center.

At FRA , we take great pride in developing the whole child, and this is a purposefully-planned day off campus, offering opportunities for individual growth and group 37

it brings the group together as a whole, even before they

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PERCY PRIEST LAKE Sophomore Retreat BY

LISA ZENNER, Sophomore Grade Chair

Sophomore year is a critical year in the life of a high school student. This is the year GPA , decisions, and social

Freshman Retreat

dynamics are hugely impacted. It is important that they

the falls is a little more than a mile, and the last half of the

have a “safe place” to go to on a daily basis, and this is

journey is up a creek. Because of the rain and high water

why advisory groups play a major role in the sophomore

levels, the class had to be careful, take our time, and help

retreat. The purpose of this retreat is to strengthen the

each other through the more dangerous parts of the hike,

advisor and advisee relationship. During the retreat, the

but that was actually part of the purpose of the trip.

class participates in activities such as icebreakers, an egg toss, and cup stacking as a way to not only encourage teamwork but also allow time for students to simply spend time with their advisories outside of the typical classroom

Overall this is a great day of fellowship spent in a beautiful setting to remind us about going through difficult obstacles and challenges to receive great reward.

atmosphere. Students also enjoy lunch, swimming, and games before departing.

CUMMINS FALLS Junior Retreat BY

JOHN PIERCE, Junior Grade Chair

Junior year can be a very challenging one – typically classes are demanding, standardized tests are taken, college application and selection becomes a lot more real, and more is required of juniors as upperclassmen and leaders in the school community. Cummins Falls State Park is the perfect location for the junior retreat because the analogy of a difficult hike to get to a place of beauty fits perfectly with the junior year. The hike will most likely be hard, but if you are diligent and stay focused, the payoff is rewarding. This thought process and analogy is expressed in a devotional given at the falls.

This is also a day to get away from school and focus on the bond that is developing within the class. This year, it had

BAREFOOT REPUBLIC Senior Retreat BY

BETSEY BACHERT, Senior Grade Chair

In August, the senior class travels to Barefoot Republic for an overnight retreat, where they reconnect as a class and develop a leadership plan for their senior year. The retreat is a time to allow the rising seniors to bond as a group and reflect upon their time as students before officially jumping into their senior year. The students participate in activities like zip lining, swimming in the lake, and competing with their groups in the Advisory Olympics.

They also spend time setting both individual and class goals for the year ahead.

To conclude their time together, the seniors kick start their year of leadership by welcoming the freshmen to the campground with a high-energy tunnel at their arrival bus and leading them in a greet line, where every freshman and senior shook hands and meet one another.

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A

5K

CR O S S C OUN T R Y

Total Distance

Service Learning LEADERSHIP COMMUNIT Y E XPERIENCE

Across the country, walks and runs are a very popular way for non-profits to raise money and awareness for a wide variety of important community issues. Cross Country for a Cause was initially the idea of Julia Scott ’17, who was talking with her mom, Becky, about how fun it would be to plan benefits for a foundation or charity.

F OR

C AUSE

BRENDA HUFF, Director of the Center for Philanthropic Studies BY

“I brought the idea to the Center for Philanthropic Studies (CPS), and before I knew it, the ball

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sponsorship letters, and her student-leader team members, who assisted her with all of the hands-on preparation and execution of the event.

On Saturday, September 19, the FRA community came together to walk or run at Cross Country for a Cause, which raised nearly $5,000 for the Thisbe and Noah Scott Foundation.

This has definitely been an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world, and I hope it continues for years to come.

– Julia Scott was rolling toward an event,” said Julia.

The CPS is always looking for ways to get the FRA community involved in service learning initiatives. At FRA , we are always working to get students thinking about ways to serve in the Nashville community, and we decided to make this a student-led initiative that would be passed down to a new student leader every year. This method allows upcoming leaders to become familiar with all the procedures and protocols involved in leading an event.

The first piece of the puzzle was choosing what kind of event to plan and what charity to support.

“I eventually chose the Thisbe and Noah Scott Foundation. When I was a child, I used to participate in a walk the foundation would hold in Centennial Park, and I

loved it. The foundation supports children with neuromuscular diseases, and I thought that would be a great cause for us to get behind and support through our event,” said Julia.

After choosing a 5K event and a charity, the planning quickly began. The name of the event, Cross Country for a Cause, was established, and Julia was tasked with building the event from the ground up. This service platform is a great challenge for a teenager to tackle while also knowing support is never far away. It was a joy to see our students’ commitment from the brainstorming phase to the finish line. The benefits include the communication and organizational skills that are developed over the six-month pre-race planning process, leadership development, good fun, and great fundraising!

Julia worked with various FRA departments – athletics and cross country leaders to determine the course and logistics of the race, communications to develop marketing materials and

“Everything about this event, from the conception to the planning and implementation, has been such a great opportunity to bring awareness to such a terrible disease. There was a lot more work than I originally anticipated, and I am so grateful that I was able to learn so much while supporting a great cause,” said Julia.

Elizabeth Day ’18 was Julia’s assistant throughout the process, and she will lead the 2017 race.

Our hope is that this will expose the entire FRA community to important social causes and organizations while giving our students the opportunity to take on a great leadership opportunity.

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SPORTS ACCOLADES FA L L R E C A P 2 0 1 6

GOLF BOYS

REGION CHAMPIONS; STATE RUNNER UP

JOSH HOLTSCHLAG

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Individual State Runner Up

AT H L E T I C S

GIRLS

REGION CHAMPIONS; STATE RUNNER UP

ANGELINA CHAN

Individual State; 3rd Place

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SPORTS ACCOLADES FA L L R E C A P 2 0 1 6

VOLLEYBALL NICOLE WEST

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DISTRICT RUNNER UP NICOLE WEST All-District

SOCCER

SYDNEY MALHAM

DISTRICT RUNNER UP; REGION RUNNER UP SYDNEY MALHAM

JAMIE KENDRICK

MAEVE KELLY

KATIE WALL

All-District; All-Region All-District; All-Region

All-District; All-State All-District

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SPORTS ACCOLADES FA L L R E C A P 2 0 1 6

FOOTBALL

CHRISTIAN DRAKE

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CHRISTIAN DRAKE

All-District Defensive Player of the Year; All-District All-Academic Team

WATSON TANSIL

HALE WILLIAMSON

TYMON MITCHELL

ADRIAN ROPER

ADONIS OTEY

ERIC STOXSTILL-DIGGS

All-District All-District All-District

All-District Honorable Mention All-District Honorable Mention All-District All-Academic Team

KATIE WALL

CROSSCOUNTRY

All-District; All-District All-Academic Team

LANCE WILHOITE

KATIE WALL

All-State; TSSAA State Cross Country State Championship, 7th place

ELI FRIZZELL

All-State; TSSAA Cross Country State Championship, Top 15

ETHAN RHODEN

All-State; TSSAA Cross Country State Championship, Top 15

ANDREW COX

All-State; TSSAA Cross Country State Championship, Top 15

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SPORTS ACCOLADES SPRING RECAP 2016

BASEBALL

WOODY WEICKER

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SPRING RECAP

STATE CHAMPIONS; REGION CHAMPIONS; SUB-STATE CHAMPIONS; DISTRICT RUNNER UP WALKER PALMERTON

All-District; All-Region; All-State; TBCA Division II Class A Player of the Year

ZACH WALKER

All-Region Tournament MVP

PEYTON WARREN All-Region

DALTON NEY All-Region

WOODY WEICKER All-District; All-Region

COACH JON WILSON TBCA Division II Class A Coach of the Year

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SPORTS ACCOLADES SPRING RECAP 2016

SOFTBALL

JULIANNA ALEXANDER

TAYLOR HIGH All-District

JULIANNA ALEXANDER All-District

HAYLEY FULLER

All-District Honorable Mention

JACKIE HUNTER

All-District Honorable Mention

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WRESTLING REGION CHAMPIONS AVERY DANIELS

WILL TANSIL

DRAKE MITCHELL

SAM WHEELER

State Tournament – 5th Place, 138 Weight Class State Tournament – 4th Place, 160 Weight Class

State Tournament – 5th Place, 170 Weight Class State Tournament – 6th Place, 220 Weight Class

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SPORTS ACCOLADES SPRING RECAP 2016

BASKETBALL RILEY CASEY

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GIRLS DISTRICT CHAMPIONS; DISTRICT TOURNAMENT RUNNER UP; REGION TOURNAMENT RUNNER UP; STATE FINAL FOUR

CATERA SAWYERS

All-District; All-District Tournament Team

TAYLOR CASEY

All-District; All-Region Tournament Team

RILEY CASEY

All-District MVP; All-District Tournament MVP; All-Region Tournament Team; TSWA All-State

BASKETBALL KENNY COOPER

BOYS DISTRICT CHAMPIONS; DISTRICT TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS; REGION TOURNAMENT RUNNER UP; STATE TOURNAMENT RUNNER UP KENNY COOPER

All-District MVP; All-District Tournament MVP; All-Region Tournament Team; Mr. Basketball Finalist; TSWA All-State

JACK DOHERTY All-District 52

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BRENNAN CROOK

All-District; All-District Tournament Team; All-Region Tournament Team

SPENCE JONES

All-District Tournament Team

SPORTS ACCOLADES SPRING RECAP 2016

TRACK & FIELD MATT WARD MATT WARD

State Champion, Pole Vault

DRAKE MITCHELL

All-State: Triple Jump; High Jump; Decathlon

4X400 TEAM: SPENCE JONES, BRAXTON SMITH, DRAKE MITCHELL, NICK MURPHY State Meet – 6th Place

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BOYS SOCCER RYAN CLARK

DISTRICT CHAMPIONS; STATE FINAL FOUR RYAN CLARK

RYAN MADONDO

All-District; All-Region; All-State

All-District; All-Region

GEORGE SOMERS

MASON CHAMBLISS

All-State

BENJAMIN JACKSON All-Region

All-District

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Arts

Arts

Arts Arts

Arts

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ARTS

WORKING UPPER SCHOOL

FA L L / / M U S I C A L T H E AT E R

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P R A C T I C I N G T H E F U N D A M E N TA L S UPPER SCHOOL

FALL // DR AWING

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CHRISTMAS PRODUCTIONS LOWER SCHOOL

W I N T E R / / M U S I C A L T H E AT E R

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JEANS TO JAZZ LOWER SCHOOL

S P R I N G / / M U S I C A L T H E AT E R

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D A N C E R E C I TA L MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL

SPRING // DANCE

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P E T E R PA N MIDDLE SCHOOL

S P R I N G / / M U S I C A L T H E AT E R

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JAZZ CAFÉ MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL

SPRING // MUSIC

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EVENTS

SERVICE S AT U R D AY Our community packaged 10,000 meals in under two hours for Stop Hunger Now.

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EVENTS

BEST BUDDIES RUN Twnty-five FRA members participated in the 2016 Best Buddies Run.

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G R A N D PA R E N T S D AY

2016 HOMECOMING

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F R A A L L- C O M M U N I T Y TA I L G AT E

PHOTOS W I T H S A N TA

FOURTH GRADE ART SHOW

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ALUMNI

PICTURED / Second Lieutenant Bo Korpman ’12

A L U M N I U P D AT E S

Class Notes PICTURED / Kiran Thawardas ‘15 and Sarah Kromer ‘14

Second Lieutenant Bo Korpman ’12 was

Kiran Thawardas ’15 and Sarah Kromer ’14 met

a special guest at our academy-wide Veterans Day Assembly. He currently serves in the United States Air Force.

in Guangzhao, China this summer. Kiran visited

Cadet Tripp Waller ’15

spoke to our upper school students during convocation. He attends the United States Military Academy at West Point and serves on the Cadet Public Relations Counsel.

China while studying abroad in Hong Kong. Sarah was working in southeastern China with a mission organization.

Jessica Walker ’06 was recognized as a Founder’s Medalist for the School of Nursing from Vanderbilt University.

David Goodloe ’13 received the TurnipseedIkenberry Scholarship at Honors Day from Birmingham Southern College. This scholarship is awarded to a rising junior or senior majoring in physics, mathematics, or history.

Lauren Patten ’00 was recognized as a MidSouth Super Lawyers Rising Star. She specializes in business litigation with Butler Snow in Nashville.

Congratulations to Mattie Jackson ’08 on the opening of her new restaurant Salt & Vine.

Amelia Young ’13 spent her summer interning at Seacrest Studios in Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

Amelia is in the College of Communication and Information at the University of Tennessee.

Emily Canady Smeykal ’08 has established an PICTURED / Cadet Tripp Waller ‘15 and Head of School Sean Casey

event planning company, As We Gather, based in Nashville, TN.

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IN MEMORY

BIRTHS

Sam Barter Dennis ’09

Emmaline Ruth Foster

Franklin Graham Locke ’94

born November 11, 2016, to Caroline and Brian Foster ’08.

Timothy Allen Moore ’84 Daniel Shean ’81 William Gregory Slonecker ’81

Tucker Jay Williamson born October 5, 2016, to Melissa and John Williamson ’96.

Oliver Andrew Miller born September 22, 2016, to Anna ’03 and Nick Miller.

Proud grandparents are Cathy and Ed Zaborowski.

Elizabeth Whitfield Fotiades born January 14, 2016, to Kathryn ’98 and Adam Fotiades.

Libby joins big brother Wyatt, age 4. Kathryn and Adam reside in Washington, DC.

Eliza Ann Crowell born November 1, 2016, to Claire ’04 and Tyler Crowell.

She joins big sister, Hattie Jane.

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PICTURED / Clockwise from top left: Eliza Ann Crowell, Tucker Jay Williamson, Elizabeth Whitfield Fotiades, Emmaline Ruth Foster.

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EVENTS

Golf Classic Over 100 alumni, parents, grandparents, faculty, and sponsors played in the FRA Golf Classic, which raised over $50,000.

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Alumni Weekend FRA alumni from classes of 1979-2011 enjoyed drinks and hors d’oeuvres on the Turner Quad to kick off Alumni Weekend.

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Alumni Tailgate All alumni were invited to the Grill on The Hill before the Homecoming game.

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Legacy Breakfast Homecoming week wouldn’t be complete without celebrating our 75 legacy students and their FRA alumni parents.

Moms’ Breakfast

CLASS OF 2016

The class of ’16 moms shared college move-in stories and celebrated their recent graduates.

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Soccer Kick Around Alumni soccer players played the FRA team during the annual kick around and grill on Homecoming weekend.

College Care Packages Class of ’16 moms sent care packages to FRA’s college freshmen.

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Happy Birthday Coach Tucker Alumni gathered to celebrate David Tucker on his 60th birthday.

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Alumni Basketball Ten teams battled on the court for first place in our 3-on-3 tournament during Christmas break.

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UPCOMING EVENTS F R I D AY, MARCH 3 Stars & Guitars S A T U R D AY, APRIL 8 Alumni Easter Egg Hunt JUNE 16-17 Alumni Weekend JUNE 16 FRA Golf Classic

STARS & GUITARS A ROARIN’ 20’S SOIREE Friday, March 3, 2017 6 p.m.

Loews Vanderbilt Hotel Silent & Live Auction featuring: The Downtown Band For tickets visit

FranklinRoadAcademy.com

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Beth and Clif Tant ’94 PA R E N T S O F C L I F T O N T A N T ’ 2 3

C

Charitable giving is important to our family, and Franklin Road Academy is one of our three philanthropic priorities for a multitude of reasons.

As native Nashvillians, we were both fortunate to attend independent schools, and we wanted to afford our son Clifton the same experience. When considering schools for Clifton, we chose FRA for many reasons. We love that FRA offered the opportunity for Clifton to go from kindergarten to twelfth grade all on the same campus. I (Beth) had to transition schools after sixth grade, and I will always remember how difficult that was. The ability to grow roots and flourish in the same community for 13 or more years was attractive to us, and we viewed this as a foundational opportunity in Clifton’s life.

The academic curriculum and personalized support at FRA are amazing. I (Beth) know Clifton’s academic success has been a direct result of FRA’s small class size and the ASPIRE program.

The coordinated, forward-thinking program is providing support for the broad spectrum of students’ learning abilities.

Additionally, FRA’s development of leaders with character and a genuine sense of community service makes it unique. FRA is fostering integrity and global compassion – building a desire to help others who are not as fortunate as themselves.

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Another longstanding and critical aspect that led us to choose FRA is the Christian community. I (Clif) was led to accept Christ with the guidance of a lower school teacher. Later in life, Coach David Tucker baptized me and my sister. At FRA , Clifton is positively influenced by adults who teach and embody those Christian principles that are important to us.

The relationships that I (Clif) built while at FRA remain among my strongest and most cherished. It has been 23 years since I graduated, and I speak to several of my classmates every week and there are coaches and teachers with whom I still stay in touch. We love seeing Clifton develop these same types of relationships with his classmates and teachers at FRA .

It is healthy for an organization’s constituents to provide ongoing financial support. We have been led by and influenced by our parents’ giving to our schools when we were kids.

Clifton is benefiting today because of the philanthropy of his grandparents and many others. We want to be leaders in this area and ensure that our son’s children experience an even more dynamic FRA . Hopefully our passion for this giving is evident and impactful to others.

YOUR INVESTMENT IN

T H E AN N UAL F UN D EN SUR E S ...

SMALL CLASSES

DISTINGUISHED FACULT Y

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL LIFE

T HANK YOU Thank you to the 2016-17 donors to the Annual Fund, helping FRA fulfill its promise of providing a challenging education experience in an inclusive Christian environment.

WANT TO JOIN T HEM? Your support helps make FRA the special community our students love with the exceptional quality you have come to expect.

TO D ONAT E To make a donation, you can mail your gift to FRA , 4700 Franlin Road, Nashville, TN, 37220 or go to FranklinRoadAcademy.com and click on “Support.”

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