8 minute read
Spiritual Life
By Len McKnatt
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Humility / Passion / Unity / Servanthood / Gratitude
We continue to be thankful to be on campus and to be competing in winter sports during this season. We want to take this opportunity to talk a little bit about some of our winter sports teams and things taking place on and off the courts and mat. We also want to take this opportunity to recognize all of our fall and winter non-faculty coaches that do such a great job of pouring into our school and our student athletes. I apologize ahead of time for anyone that I leave out. Our boys and girls 5th/6th grade basketball teams and our boys and girls middle school basketball teams are in full swing. The schedule has been challenging and rewarding at the same time. Our coaches have done a wonderful job of being flexible and working through many cancellations due to COVID related issues with some of our opponents. These boys and girls are working extremely hard and we are excited to continue to see the growth and improvement they are making. Our HS wrestling team is continuing to work hard under the leadership of coach Stephen Peden. This has been a challenging season of getting matches due to the virus, but Carter Murphy and Aidan Pratt continue to press forward. We hope they are able to compete in more matches before the season comes to an end and we wish them the best as they get ready for district and region tournaments.
It has been awesome to see the growth, hard work, and improvement of our HS girl’s basketball team under the leadership of coaches Michael Couey and Crystal Tinnon and their two seniors Carlie Mason and Averi Thorne. They already have impressive district wins over BGA and FRA and are battling to finish in the top half of a very tough district. Their team has been going through Greg Bell’s book, “Water the Bamboo.” This book talks about maximizing your potential and compares this to the giant bamboo. Typically, bamboo farmers will tend the plant for at least three years before they see any signs of growth. What a great example of vision, faith, patience, persistence and focus. Keep up the great work, ladies.
Our HS boy’s basketball team continues to make great strides. Led by seniors Will Beasley and Ashton Kelley, the team has secured district wins over BGA, FRA, and Zion Christian as they also look to finish in the top half of the district and host a home playoff game. The team has five unit leaders who were voted on by their peers. The unit leaders are Will Beasley, Dawson Bechman, Dean Bechman, Ashton Kelley, and CJ Tinnon. It has been exciting to see the growth of these young men and their units.
We want to conclude this article by thanking all of our non-faculty coaches from our fall and winter sports teams. We could not do what we do without the many contributions you make to our school and student athletes. Please know how much you are appreciated and thanks again for all you do. Please see the list below:
Boys Basketball- Johnathan Carver, Dustin Gassert, Bobby Gibbs, Jason Holwerda, Craig McKown, Aaron Morrison, Pete Pirtle, and Brandon Tinnon Cross-Country- Brad Jenkins and Randianne Sears Football- Seth Finch, Jeremy Hiett, Paul Grasmanis, Scott Spencer, Brandon Tinnon, Bob Watson, and Mark Woodard Girls Basketball- Preston Brooks, Randianne Sears, and Crystal Tinnon Girls Soccer- Hope Ring Golf- Chuck Hammett, William Koellein, and Steve Sipkovsky Volleyball- Andy Sloas and Nicole Smith We look forward to honoring our non-faculty spring coaches in the next edition of Celebrating Grace.
By Carrie Estes
Pag e
While most theatres and schools shut down their Arts, we stayed open, and in the world of Fine Arts that was HUGE! The students and the community need the Arts and we were able to continue to THRIVE and grow together during this difficult time. We are beyond grateful for the administration team and GCA families that supported us and allowed their students and families to participate and experience the Arts. Just one semester, one show, one school day, or even one moment can change a student’s life and I know for a fact Honk Jr., our IS/MS Musical, did just that. It shaped students’ lives and enriched them in so many different ways. Honk Jr. had 63 students involved both on and off stage and, once again, the school community and Fine Arts team were blown away by the amount of talent we have at GCA at such a young age. The Lord is SO GOOD! The Fine Arts Team would specifically like to thank everyone involved for cooperating and helping make things run as smoothly as possible.
After lots of prayer and consideration, we also decided to continue with our celebration of Christmas Concerts which included three different programs. We had our beautiful Traditional Elementary Concert for grades 2nd-4th and a special Elementary Christmas Chapel for K-1st grade. Then, we finished out the semester with our HS Choral and Dance Concert which also included our MS Worship Team. It was absolutely beautiful to be able to celebrate Christmas and have some normalcy for our community to usher in the TRUE meaning of Christmas.
All our afterschool clubs grew in numbers with clubs ranging from grades 1st-12th including art, drama, and Elementary and High School dance.
This spring is also packed with lots of wonderful events: • HS Talent Show— March 4th • 1st-8th Grade Talent Show– March 8th • Schoolwide Art Festival— April 8th-May 8th (Submission Deadline April 7th) • “Fiddler on the Roof” — April 29th, 30th, and May 1st • Elementary Spring Concert— May 3rd • HS Choir & Dance Concert— TBD • HS Fine Arts Banquet— TBD
We truly are beyond blessed that the Arts are THRIVING. Arts changes lives, arts make a difference. Please continue to join the Fine Arts Team and continue to pray for the Arts and that we can equip these students to go out and be salt and light in this world that so needs it. Let us be the light and vessel the world needs. We can’t thank you enough for supporting the Arts!
PSALM 18:28 You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” Let us continue to be the light……. To God Alone Be The Glory
On November 17th, GCA charted their FIRST EVER International Thespian Society, ITS Troupe #9046. We have 34 members involved. The International Thespian Society (ITS), founded in 1929, is an honorary organization for High School students. We are so proud of what this club can do for the students and the future of GCA Theatre.
Society Members
Max Glasser—President Mary Chandlers Hicks—Vice President Avery Williams—Secretary Christian Collins—Spiritual Director Blythe Hutchison—Spiritual Director Anna Kate Hiett—Marketing Levi Allen Raybecca Calvert Grayson Caughey Addison Church Sophie Clark Caroline Collins Mackenzie Curle Alec Daugherty Aidan DuBois Liv Gregornik Jonathan Hammett Stellie Higby Elizabeth Jordan Brendan Koreiba Ashlynn Monkley Jenna Pedicini Lincoln Rohwer Annilee Schweiterman Grace Scott Holly Seeley Evan Spychalski James Summers Caleb Varner Elizabeth Vogt Sean Walker Braden Walters Avery Williams Erin Wojcik Brooks Yarbrough
One AMAZING Fine Arts Program, Many
Opportunities!
GCA Medical Team
Meet Amanda Hampton, RN, Sara Pate, RN, and Elise Carver, RN. Combined, these nurses have over 42 years of experience treating patients with compassion, care, and expertise. And each day, they assist our students with everything from bandaids and tummy aches to more serious medical issues.
In addition to their regular day to day tasks, our nurses are now also helping with COVID procedures. Navigating COVID in a school is certainly not an easy task either. Each student or family with any illness must be communicated with to determine the possibility of COVID and if quarantine is necessary. However, these three ladies do it with smiles on their faces and love in their hearts each and every day.
GCA is so blessed to have each of them on our Medical Team! Please say a huge “thank you” next time you see (or email) them.
3279 Southall Road Franklin, TN 37064 615-591-3017 www.gcalions.com
