Path Forward Update Fall 2015

THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS.

Help us finish strong.

THE CAMPAIGN FOR GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Consider making a pledge today and help make these projects possible.

Generous donations to the Path Forward capital campaign are making major initiatives possible on the campus of Greater Atlanta Christian School.

To date, GAC has received more than $26 million in pledges and donations from other families and friends, and we still need your support.

There are still projects that need additional funding in order to begin. Help us reach our goal of $29.7 million so that the remaining projects can be completed.

Your donation will change lives.

W E ’ V E C O M E A LO N G WAY. BU T THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS STILL NEED FUNDING.

Conceptual drawing of new theatre inside Center for Performing Arts.

A new Center for Performing Arts will offer: • 34,000 square-feet • 65% larger stage • Second venue to hold chapels, class programs, and performances • Addition of a balcony to increase the seating capacity to 1,000 • Black Box Theatre (intimate theatre and additional practice space) for drama groups • Larger rehearsal space for choir • New space for AP Music, Chapel Practicum, and performing arts faculty

CENTER FOR

PERFORMING ARTS

“GAC has experienced explosive growth in the arts.

The growing number of students, offerings, and performances has outpaced the availability of our current facility. With the new Center for Performing Arts, every student in grades K-12 involved in the arts - whether it’s drama, band, ballet, music, or orchestra will be directly impacted.”

— Clif Jones, Director of Drama

ADDITIONAL FUNDING NEEDED

With the addition of this second home for performing arts, we will have the opportunity to renovate the Sara D. Williams Fine Arts Center, expanding the space for the growing orchestra, band, and School of Music programs.

PLANNED PROJECTS

With rapidly growing visual and performing arts programs, GAC is in need of more suitable spaces for use by our more than 50 creative classes. Due to the large number of students involved in the arts, it has become difficult to appropriately coordinate performances and to provide adequate stage time for students to perform.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING NEEDED

JUNIOR HIGH/SENIOR HIGH REDESIGN As the landscape of education changes, it is vital that our facilities adapt to the current needs of today’s students.

Research makes it clear that to grow creative thinkers and future leaders, learning areas must be designed more for teacher interaction, teamwork, creativity, and problem solving.

The current Junior High and Senior High buildings are two of GAC’s largest and oldest educational facilities. We will completely renovate both buildings to include:

PLANNED PROJECTS

• A new look and feel including walls and flooring • New furnishings designed for learning • Movable desks and chairs, allowing for quick changes for collaboration • Additional portable technology for group work and display

Senior High

• Writable surfaces for interactive discussions • Collaborative alcove settings in hallways for students to gather for projects “This redesign will allow for the increase of flexibility for the learning taking place in our classrooms. No longer will teachers be limited by their physical environment as they create unique learning experiences for our students. I am excited about seeing all that our students and teachers will accomplish as they are given more freedom in their innovative learning spaces.”

— Brian Dolinger, Junior High Principal

With additional funding, construction will begin late May 2016

Junior High

and is slated to be complete by the fall of 2016.

Conceptual architectural renderings.

INITIATIVES

endowment, necessary funding will be available to cover staffing and expenses in perpetuity, allowing us to focus on attracting and selecting the best faculty for our students.

• Establish a model for recruiting great teachers through an intentional focus on teacher recruitment along with a Faculty Associate program.

“More than any other factor, teacher quality matters most in student learning. Our teachers make the student experience unmatched.

Continually investing in our teachers provides students with expanded classroom experiences, rigorous academics, and creative teaching.

Through this campaign we will be better positioned to find, equip, and retain great teachers.”

• Advance teaching skills through more targeted professional development • Enhance teacher assessment with teaching reward grants for those performing at the highest levels We must identify and cultivate extraordinary teachers who are dynamic in the classroom and share GAC’s Christian values. By creating a recruitment

— Scott Harsh, Vice President of Strategic Planning & Senior High Principal

ADDITIONAL FUNDING NEEDED

Great teachers make a crucial difference for our children. We recognize the importance of the teacher and have developed a Teaching Excellence Program with three strategies:

PLANNED PROJECTS

TEACHING EXCELLENCE

ADDITIONAL FUNDING NEEDED

PLANNED PROJECTS

LEADERSHIP & ENTREPRENEURIAL

PROGRAM

GAC strives to launch students into the world as capable leaders and creative thinkers. As part of the Leadership & Entrepreneurial Program, students will have the opportunity to study real-world problems and arrive at creative solutions in a collaborative setting.

This new curriculum dynamically combines: • leadership training focused on building character • a Senior High entrepreneurial course developing skills to start both for-profit and non-profit businesses • mentoring by community and business leaders • an annual speaker series featuring diverse leaders who have attained high levels of success in their field of expertise

“Preparing our students not just for college but for their entry into the working world is something that sets our students’ education apart from the typical college prep track. As part of the Leadership & Entrepreneurial Program, GAC is teaming up with one of the great Christian leaders in the field, Ron Blue at Indiana Wesleyan University, to provide students with a strong financial skills foundation. The new Senior High entrepreneurial course will teach out-of-the-box thinking skills from a business perspective. Giving our students access to a one-of-a-kind experience like this is exactly what we want for our budding leaders.”

— John Wood, Board of Trustees, GAC father, and GAC graduate

— Holly Ballenger, Visual Arts Teacher

ART & DESIGN CENTER

COMPLETED PROJECTS

“The new Art & Design Center is a very inspiring place for students to explore and create. As a visual arts teacher, it is wonderful to look out through the floor-to-ceiling windows and see God’s creation. The industrial chic design promotes an attitude of production and students are able to move around with plenty of space to create. I feel more prepared for success because the space is more conducive to creative art classes than our previous space.” ­­

COMPLETED PROJECTS

MULTI-SPORT COMPLEX

“The lacrosse program is so excited about the addition of the Multi-Sport Complex for the 2015-2016 season. This will allow the lacrosse teams to have their own space and allows for program growth. The new facility also gives us the flexibility to potentially host more than one game at a time by utilizing both Spartan Stadium and the Multi-Sport Complex fields. In addition, the new space will allow the youth teams to practice on campus rather than renting practice space off campus. This facility is a huge blessing for many athletes.”

— Tim Ball, Boys Lacrosse, Varsity Head Coach

STRICKLAND PLAZA “The addition of Hoover Field House allows our male and female athletes involved in cross country, football, lacrosse, and track adequate space to prepare for and participate in their respective athletic seasons with excellence. Athletes and coaches have access to a new facility including: three locker rooms, a training room, a large meeting area, several breakout rooms, a kitchen, several coaching offices, and a large digital scoreboard.

Our athletes are proud to call Hoover Field House home.”

— Dr. Tim Vick, Athletic Director

COMPLETED PROJECTS

HOOVER FIELD HOUSE

“The newly redesigned Strickland Plaza provides an area for students to interact and share interests inside and outside of the classroom. Whether students are throwing a football, catching up on the day’s activities, or having class or a small group meeting at the new tables, the plaza has become a space for community.”

COMPLETED PROJECTS

— Bill Burton, Administrative Vice President

STRICKLAND PLAZA

& CENTER STAGE

“When people step onto our campus and see the Cross Tower at its center, it is our desire for them to know immediately to whom we belong. It’s a beautiful way to daily express that Jesus and the cross are the very heart of GAC. The Center Stage will be a place for educational discussions, student performances, special speakers and concerts.”

— Dr. David Fincher, President Estimated completion November 2015

COMPLETED PROJECTS

CROSS TOWER

“With structures that reflect the wonder of nature, students engage their imaginations while strengthening their physical abilities. The Adventurescape is a popular destination that encourages creative play, promotes social development, and provides students with opportunities to learn about themselves and others.”

COMPLETED PROJECTS

— Rhonda Helms, Elementary Assistant Principal

ADVENTURESCAPE

CENTER

“We are extremely fortunate to have an Environmental Center on campus where our younger students can learn, hands-on each day. They engage in daily learning activities as they carry out real life operations of a working greenhouse, fish hatchery, chicken coop, and even hydroponics. Students have the opportunity to learn about future issues like sustainability, limited resources, and develop new behaviors and attitudes toward the environment.”

— Dr. Brad Schultz, Elementary Principal

COMPLETED PROJECTS

ENVIRONMENTAL

We are excited about the progress we have made so far in the Path Forward capital campaign. Without the financial support of GAC families, friends, and other supporters, these completed projects would not have been possible. While we have made great strides, there are still several key initiatives that still need funding.

YOU can make these remaining projects possible with a commitment to the Path Forward.

For questions:

www.greateratlantachristian.org/path-forward 770.243.2208 Katherine White Vice President of Advancement kwhite@greateratlantachristian.org THE CAMPAIGN FOR GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Heni Jordan Leadership & Planned Giving Officer hjordan@greateratlantachristian.org