Issuu

| DEC 2025

ROAR &

Rejoice

GOOD NEWS & GRATITUDE FROM GRAPEVINE FAITH

ROAR &

Rejoice

GOOD NEWS & GRATITUDE FROM GRAPEVINE FAITH

This edition of Roar and Rejoice features a glimpse of incredible student and staff accomplishments. We have the opportunity to highlight a new program at Faith, The Career Symposium, celebrate published authors and so much more. One thing GFCS is never short on...reasons to celebrate and thank the Lord.

Surprise Ceremony

ONE VERY SPECIAL CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION IS TAKING PLACE ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 13TH. CLICK HERE TO RSVP TODAY! YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THIS INCREDIBLE EVENING! THE BASKETBALL COURT AT DALLAS ROAD WILL BE NAMED THE LEBEAUX COURT IN HONOR OF GRAPEVINE FAITH SCHOOL PATRIARCH, NOLAN LEBEAUX. PLEASE JOIN US FOR A SURPRISE DEDICATION CEREMONY TUESDAY, JANUARY 13 5:30-6:30 COME & GO RECEPTION 4:30PM JV GAME | 6PM VARSITY GIRLS GAME | 7:30 PM VARSITY BOYS GAME COURT DEDICATION | HALFTIME OF BOYS’ GAME

SENIOR AUDREY NORMAN TO COMPETE IN STATE DAR CONTEST

Campus NEWS

COLSON FELLOWS PROGRAM CONTINUES FOR FACULTY Three faculty members and four GFCS parents are continuing their study in the Colson Fellows, a oneyear program aimed at honing Biblical worldview. The program involves a reading load of books such as "Mere Christianity," "Knowing God," "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus," and "Another Gospel," and culminates with a Worldview Teaching Practicum and a Personal Mission Plan. Staff members in the Colson Fellows Program include Jeff Kramer, Mark Garcia, and Colin Roe.

Audrey Norman recently won the essay contest for the Daughters of the American Revolution Captain Molly Corbin Chapter. Her essay now enters the state level of competition for the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Each year, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Captain Molly Corbin Chapter (DAR) sponsors a Good Citizen program for area high schools. At the local chapter level, schools are chosen by the chapter committee to sponsor the DAR Good Citizens program. The school winners have the option to write an essay on a topic and focus question, which is provided to the student. The chapter winner is then entered into the state level of competition.

CampusNEWS CELEBRATING 46 YEARS OF IMPACT: PRINCIPAL KEITH HALL At the end of the first quarter of the GFCS vs FWC game, we had the honor of recognizing Keith Hall for the significant impact and fruitful service of his 46 years in Christian education. Mr. Hall’s leadership spans four states: Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, and now here in Texas at Grapevine Faith. His efforts have seen thousands of high school graduates go on to better the world around them in communities across the globe. We are grateful for Mr. Hall’s commitment to Christian education and all of us at Grapevine Faith. Mr. Hall plans to retire from his role at Faith at the close of the 2025-2026 school year. Watch for details on a celebration to honor him in the coming months.

CampusNEWS

SENIORS ATTEND HERZOG FOUNDATION'S STUDENT FORUM

STUDENTS PRACTICE HARKNESS DISCUSSION MODEL

High School teachers Cliff McNeely and Jason Worsley recently trained on the Harkness Discussion Model, a studentcentered teaching method where students sit around an oval table to discuss a text or topic rather than being led by a teacher.

Senior Javed Drew, Sarah Cates, Ian Harriger, and Cohen Ross attended a four-day retreat in November as part of the Faith & Nation Student Forum, hosted by the Herzog Foundation in partnership with the Young America’s Foundation. Mr. Rick Jackson joined the students on the trip as they met together at Camp Hoblitzelle alongside other seniors across America. "The Faith and Nations Forum was so impactful as it helped us grow in our faith and teaching us how to apply it well to our political beliefs and the community around us," Javed said. The Herzog Foundation's Student annually brings together high school seniors "to think critically, engage culture faithfully, and lead courageously," according to the Herzog website.

The Harkness Discussion Model is a pedagogical approach designed to help students think critically and articulate their understanding of complex topics. Prior to each discussion, students annotate a selected text so they come prepared to contribute meaningfully. "Students have responded very positively to this approach; it has provided a rich opportunity for them to express their perspectives thoughtfully and articulate their biblical worldview with clarity," Mr. Worsley said.

WORSLEY PUBLISHES PEERREVIEWED ARTICLE

High school teacher Jason Worsley published a peer-reviewed journal article this summer in the Christian Education Journal: Research in Educational Ministry. Mr. Worsley's article explores the Christian motivations that drove Robert Raikes, an English philanthropist, to establish schools for the poor and marginalized in late-18th and early-19th century England. Raikes’s deep Christian convictions compelled him to bring both education and the gospel to youth who were suffering amid the upheavals of the Industrial Revolution.

DR. JEFF KRAMER PUBLISHES BOOK, “A DADDY’S LOVE”

GRAPEVINE FAITH TEAM JOINS PASTORS IN VISIT TO ISRAEL Jon Brooks, Vice President of Student Development, joined with some 1,000 U.S. pastors and representatives as part of a Friends of Zion trip to Israel. The visit was billed as the largest group of American Christian leaders to visit Israel since its founding. Reflecting on the trip, Jon said, “Israel is the land of the Bible. For every believer, cultivating a strong biblical worldview is essential to living the abundant life Christ promises. Visiting Israel brings Scripture to life in a way nothing else can - what you’ve read for years suddenly becomes three-dimensional, tangible and unforgettable. A journey through the Holy Land becomes more than a trip; it becomes hyper-fuel for a vibrant, grounded, and growing biblical worldview.” Ashley Khan, GFCS Director of Community and Strategic Services, and Chris Barker, of Brookhaven Church and husband to Faith elementary teacher Dori Barker and father to three Faith graduates also attended the trip. The December visit consisted of pastors taking part in “an immersive, state-level experience” with meetings with Israeli officials, generals, intelligence leaders and President Isaac Herzog. “For Christians, Israel is not just another country on the map. It is the cradle of our faith. The story of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, King David, and Jesus starts here,” Friends of Zion founder Mike Evans said in a press release.

Spotlight

ART STUDENTS PAINT PORTRAITS OF ORPHANS FOR "SEEN PROJECT" With a paintbrush and a picture, six Grapevine Faith artists completed paintings of orphans as part of the "Seen Project," a nonprofit aimed at bringing joy to orphans around the world. Mrs. Amy Reavis, high school art teacher, senior Savannah Ballard and juniors Elyana Ansley, Paolo Zoota, and Cade Vander Ark all painted portraits of orphans from the 3 Angels Haiti Orphanage. The paintings will be sent to the children as gifts to remind them they are "seen" and loved. The founder and president of the Seen Project is a former Faith student, Aubrey Schaub. Mrs. Reavis is continuing to work with the Seen Project to allow more students to be part of the mission.

on the...

ARTS DRUMLINE PERFORMS AT LONE STAR CLASSIC COMPETITION The Faith Drumline performed in early November at the Lone Star Classic Competition at Marcus High School in Flower Mound.

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Director Fred Boyce and Jeff Ausdemore, of Drum Corps International, launched a private school category for this annual competition. This year, Drumline performed "Echoes From Beyond." The performance earned high praise from some of the top drumline instructors in the nation, including Ben Maughmer, of the Blue Devils, Jeff Ausdemore, of the Blue Knights, and Richard Kearns, of Centennial High School.

Spotlight on the ARTS STUDENTS EARN RECOGNITION AT THESPIANS STATE FESTIVAL Thirteen Grapevine Faith students were recently named National Qualifiers at the Texas Thespians State Festival. Among the awards, the troupe was named an All Star Troupe and Tatum Landry and Faith Floyd were selected to perform their duet, "In His Eyes," on the Mainstage. Only 16 performances from more than 5,000 students were chosen to perform on the Mainstage. Tatum and Faith and a second duet dance entry from Ellery Church and Harper Bushnell also earned Mainstage Callbacks, which requires a perfect score from all three judges.

National Qualifiers (requires a superior rating) Gabriella Adair Owen Akin Harper Bushnell Ellery Church Gabby Fischer Faith Floyd Adeleigh Khan Tatum Landry Owen Little Clara Nester Noah Staats RJ Weaver Kate Wilcox

TPSMEA ALL STATE CHOIR INCLUDES MULTI-YEAR SENIORS Six Grapevine Faith choir students have earned the distinction of being selected for the TPSMEA All State Choir. Two of the six are four-year members of the All State Choir, and another senior earned his third selection to the All State Choir. ABI WAHBY, 4-Year All State

BEN DEMAREST, 4-Year All State

LUKE LITTLE, 3-Year All State

NOAH STAATS, All State

FAITH FLOYD, All State

ASPEN ONDREY, Alternate, All State

The students will perform in January at the Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson.

CAPITOL CONGRESS TOURNAMENT RESULTS

2025 THANKSGIVING CARD ART WINNERS

Lions competed in the House, Senate, and Novice divisions; plus, three students broke to finals, a notable achievement.

SPEECH AND DEBATE TAKES SECOND AT WACO CONNALLY INVITATIONAL Congressional Debate Maisie Grech - 2nd Owen Little - 3rd & Outstanding Presiding Officer

Senate Finals Owen Little Sophia Belcher

Novice Finals Margo Bruner

Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate Joshua Hancock - 1st Eli Carman - 2nd Novice Policy Debate Margo Bruner and Viv Stoll, 6th & first policy debate team to compete for GFCS in recent history!

RICHLAND VIRTUAL TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Informative Extemporaneous Speaking Isabelle Aughenbaugh, 3rd

LD Debate Sophia Belcher - 1st Travis Williams - 2nd Blake Williams - 3rd Eli Carman - 4th Austin Browning - 6th Nora Croft - 8th

Novice Extemporaneous Speaking Eli Carman, 2nd Carson Thomas, 3rd Parker Allen, 6th

Persuasive Extemp Speaking Zane Duffy - 1st Margot Piacentile - 5th

Varsity LD Debate Travis Williams, 2nd Sophia Belcher, 4th

Congressional Debate Joshua Hancock - 3rd Vivian Stoll - 6th Margo Bruner - 7th Owen Little - 8th Maria Genzale - 9th Bernarde Hughes - 10th Isaiah Carrasco - 11th Informative Extemp Isabelle Aughenbaugh 5th Parker Allen - 6th

1st - Garrett McClurg (5th Grade) 2nd - Wyatt Reeder (3rd Grade) 3rd - Hannah Wang (4th Grade) 4th - Ella Fourment (2nd Grade) 5th - Ruby Ortiz (2nd Grade)

Junior High and High School Creative Arts teams joined forces to kick of Christmas at Faith with their “JOY” program. A packed house enjoyed performances by our talented band, choir, and dance groups.

Click here to view the complete photo gallery.

“WAITING FOR THE PROMISE” CHRISTMAS PROGRAM Elementary students in grades 2nd -5th performed to a packed audience in the Creative Arts Center on December 12th. The program was written and directed by music teacher Jessica Kirby. Click here to view the program recording and photo gallery.

Blake Mitteis, Honorable Mention All-District

CROSS COUNTRY

Brooklyn Boledovich, 2nd Team All-District

Jacob Montes, Second Team AllState, First Team All-District, Second Team All-District, Special Teams Player of the Year (TAPPS Division II, District 1 FOOTBALL

UPDATES

VOLLEYBALL

Athletics

ALL- DISTRICT/ALL-STATE HONORS Sophia Belcher, All-District, All-State & Academic All-State Margo Bruner, All-District Carlier Combe, All-District

JACOB MONTES

Senior Kylee Brandenburg has committed to continue her lacrosse career at Stetson University. Kylee is part of the 214 Lacrosse Club in Coppell. At Grapevine Faith, Kylee ran cross country this fall and was part of the 2025 Girls District 1 Championship team.

JV FOOTBALL TEAM FINISHES SEASON STRONG The Junior Varsity Lions charged through their season with grit and teamwork, playing a full 10-game schedule. The Lions finished the season with eight wins, one loss, and a hard-fought tie. Their record earned the team the title of JV District Champions.

COMPETITION CHEER SQUAD SHINES AT STATE The Grapevine Faith Competition Cheer squad earned a Superior rating at the 2025 TAPPS State Championship Cheer Competition in Waco. Overall, the team earned fifth place, while individual cheerleaders were recognized. AWARDS Piper Allen All State Honorable Mention Sailer James Second Team, All State Honorable Mention Lola Simpson Second Team All State Honorable Mention All Star Tumbling Finalist Leah Smith First Team, All State

ALUMNA SARAH BROOKS RELEASES CHILDREN’S BOOK, "A NEW EWE" Sarah Brooks, Grapevine Faith Class of 2009, recently released a children's book, "A New Ewe." The book follows Emy the Ewe, an 8-year-old sheep who wants to look perfect for Picture Day, but she soon learns that true beauty comes from being one of God's sheep. Sarah was also featured on CBS News, discussing her new book. "In the Bible, over 500 times God uses the word 'sheep,'" she said. "It lit something in me. I wanted to teach my own little lambs how to hear, know and follow Jesus. "If you dig below the surface, it's about the heart, who we are as people and our need for a savior. I think it can stir some really powerful conversations.” Sarah is married to Brandon Brooks, Class of 2008. Their children, Baker and Emery, attend Faith.

CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION

Alumni

IN THE NEWES

INAUGURAL CAREER SYMPOSIUM WELCOMES PROFESSIONALS, ALUMNI High school students had the chance to connect with 20+ professionals, including some Grapevine Faith alumni, current parents, and parents of alumni, at the Inaugural Career Symposium in November. Panelists included business professionals from creative, business, business analytics, finance, engineering and trades, corporate engineering, architecture, and healthcare. "I am very grateful to have been able to participate in this career fair," senior Tallulah Polonsky said. "It offered the opportunity to really learn and grow in an unintimidating space where we knew everyone wanted us to succeed." The symposium was part of Grapevine Faith's Career & Calling program, coordinated by Jamie Garner. Mrs. Garner teaches "Adulting" at the high school. In addition to answering questions about their careers, panelists also spoke about how they live out their faith in the working world.

CLASS OF 2018 GRAD NAMED TEACHER OF THE YEAR IN COPPELL

"The Career Symposium offered students a valuable opportunity to explore future career pathways while reflecting on how their gifts can be used to serve and lead," said Amy Kirchhoff, counseling director. "This event strongly supports our mission at Grapevine Faith, and I look forward to growing it into a prioritized annual fall event."

Hannah Corley, GFCS Class of 2018, has been named the 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year for Coppell High School. “It is an honor and privilege and I’m very humbled to be recognized,” Corley said. “The whole school has so many incredible teachers and it is hard to pick one. I feel lucky that I get to be the representative of CHS as a whole.” Corley has worked at Coppell High for four years and currently teaches English II Honors. She attended Baylor University.

NOW AVAILBLE TO WATCH ONLINE:

STORIES OF FAITH featuring...

LUCCA, JACOB, MATTEO, & AUSTIN TRANSFER STUDENTS

ELVIS GALLEGOS | ATHLETIC DIRECTOR & AMY GALLEGOS STUDENT AFFAIRS COORDINATOR

MICHELLE TAYLOR DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE & ACADEMIC ADVISING

JAMIE GARNER CAREER & CALLING COORDINATOR

FRED BOYCE DRUMLINE/BAND DIRECTOR

PATRICK BERGMAN DIRECTOR OF FOOD SERVICES

ROAR & REJOICE

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