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Academically Excellent and Distinctly Christian
CONTENTS
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Head of School News 2
J u ne 201 8
Development News/Alumni Spotlight 5-9 Elementary Principal Rona Branson 12-13 PTF News 15 IS/MS Principal Suzanne Bechman 16-17 Recent Additions to the GCA Fam 20 & 26 Honor Roll 22-23 HS Principal Richard Anderson 24-25 Spiritual Life 27 Athletics 28-29
Fine Arts Meet the Medical Team 30-33 34-35
Getting to know Rona Branson
Elementary Principal
Tell us about your family. I am married to Keith Branson. It is hard to believe, but we are celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary this month. He works in Nashville with Westminster Home Connection helping elderly and disabled with critical home repairs and modifications so that they can age in place. We have three children. Joanna is married to Nate Lampa. They work at The Belonging church, with People Loving Nashville and Wild Indigo Prison Ministry in Nashville. Emily is married to Josh Smallbone and they live in East Nashville. Josh works in the Christian music industry and Emily is a new mom to Ronen (2 1/2) and Eléa (3 months). My youngest, Mitchell, is married to Rebekah. He serves in the 160th Airborne Division (AKA NightStalkers) in the army and was recently transferred to Hunter Airfield Base in Savannah, Georgia. They have 3 children- Marley (6) who recently attended Kindergarten here for a few months before they moved to Savannah, Selah (4) and Jacob (2). Each one is a tremendous blessing to me.
What makes GCA such a special place? I frequently hear people say when they come in the door that they can feel God what drew me and keeps me here. The love of God is so evident in our midst in the way the staff interact with one another, the way students are loved, valued and cared for, and the way we reach out to others to share that love. It is a privilege to be a part of what God is doing here.
What do you love most about your role at GCA? I LOVE our students. I love watching them thrive in a safe, loving environment. Students in our Elementary program love to learn! Their joy and excitement about even the smallest things is contagious. I love interacting with students, watching them learn, helping them grow in Christ, and helping them feel loved and accepted. I can imagine anything more important than pouring into the next generation during this critical time of growth and development.
Tell us about your family. I am married to Keith Branson. It is hard to believe, but we are celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary this month. He works in Nashville with Westminster Home Connection helping elderly and disabled with critical home repairs and modifications so that they can age in place. We have three children. Joanna is married to Nate Lampa. They work at The Belonging church, with People Loving Nashville and Wild Indigo Prison Ministry in Nashville. Emily is married to Josh Smallbone and they live in East Nashville. Josh works in the Christian music industry and Emily is a new mom to Ronen (2 1/2) and Eléa (3 months). My youngest, Mitchell, is married to Rebekah. He serves in the 160th Airborne Division (AKA NightStalkers) in the army and was recently transferred to Hunter Airfield Base in Savannah, Georgia. They have 3 Marley (6) who recently attended Kindergarten here for a few months before they moved to Savannah, Selah (4) and Jacob (2). Each one is a tremendous
What makes GCA such a special place? I frequently hear people say when they come in the door that they can feel God’s presence here at GCA. That is what drew me and keeps me here. The love of God is so evident in our midst in the way the staff interact with one another, the way students are loved, valued and cared for, and the way we reach out to others to share that love. It is a privilege to be a part of what God is doing here.
What do you love most about your role at GCA? I LOVE our students. I love watching them thrive in a safe, loving environment. Students in our Elementary program love to learn! Their joy and excitement about even the smallest things is contagious. I love interacting with students, watching them learn, helping them grow in Christ, and helping them feel loved and accepted. I can’t imagine anything more important than pouring into the next generation during this critical time of growth and
What is something you know now that you wish you knew during your first year as a principal? What would you go back and tell your former self? Probably the most important thing I have learned is to be quiet and listen. The story behind the story is often what is most important. The why behind a behavior or action often leads to heart change and resolution in a way we never expected. If we just focus on correcting behavior and don’t listen to hearts, we lose an important opportunity for discipleship and connection.
What has been your most memorable moment at GCA? When For King and Country came and gave us a surprise concert :-)
What do you like best about being at school? Visiting classrooms and seeing our wonderful teachers at work. Connecting and talking to students.
What is one thing you are really good at? Any hidden talents? Not really any hidden talents. I love reading, writing, cooking and gardening. I love studying people and personality types like Enneagram and Myers Briggs.
Which children’s storybook character is your favorite and why? Winnie the Pooh for the simple yet profound wisdom he speaks such as, “The sun still shines, even when it’s hiding."
What was your favorite subject in school when growing up? Biology! I LOVE the study of life and seeing God’s creativity and brilliance in all the things He made (Romans 1:20). I majored in Biology in college before I got into education. I taught High School Biology for over 10 years.
What is one place in the world you would like to visit or return? Oh, so many places I would love to go. I love to travel and I have traveled to five continents and more than 15 countries. If I had to choose right now, I would choose to go to Bali to experience the rainforests and coral reefs there.
Do you have a word or scripture verse you have chosen for the new year? Isaiah 44:3 "‘For I will pour out water on him who is thirsty, And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants; “
Parent Teacher Fellowship is GCA’s parent organization that helps to bridge the gap between our teachers and staff and the parents and families of our students. We had a great first semester of the school year! Last fall and winter, our PTF parents hosted a PTF Teacher Luncheon, a Mom’s coffee event, and our Room Moms helped the elementary teachers with Homecoming Week and Christmas parties. PTF also partnered with Grace Chapel to make food baskets for area families. Our Lower Campus families contributed enough food items and gift cards to put together 25 baskets for families in need in our area.
As we move into the spring semester, we will be hosting our annual Scholastic Book Fair the week of March 1. Our Book Fair is a way for students to purchase new books, while also supporting our school library and classrooms. Scholastic donates a portion of book sales back in funds to be used to purchase everything from books to rugs and technology support. The Book Fair is not able to run itself and we need volunteers like you to help make it work. Volunteers will help students pick out books, fill out wish lists, run a register, and deliver donated books to classrooms. If you’d like to volunteer, please sign up HERE.
In addition to the Book Fair, we will also be hosting Teacher Appreciation Week and will begin preparing for the 2021-2022 school year by ordering Lower Campus supply kits, welcoming new families with welcome signs and gifts, and hosting the uniform consignment sale at the beginning of the summer. If you’d like to volunteer to be a part of the Welcome Committee or work the consignment sale in June, please email Haley Riggs at hriggs@gcalions.com. As the new school year approaches, we will also have other ways to volunteer. Be looking for more communication regarding that soon!
