Heritage Messenger - Fall 2018

FALL 2018

STUDENT ATHLETES Make Their Mark

CONTENTS

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5

18 Heritage Messenger Fall 2018

MESSENGER STAFF Gary Roebbelen, Executive Editor Lauren Schneider, Managing Editor Bri Salm, Designer

3

CEO PERSPECTIVE

6

CLASS OF 2018: PREPARED FOR THE PATH FORWARD

10

ALUMNI NEWS

12

MAKING A DIFFERENCE THROUGH THE HERITAGE FUND

14

HERITAGE PRESCHOOL DISTINCTIVES

16

OUR FLOURISHING FINE ARTS

18

TEACHER PROFILE: MELODY CROFT

19

HELPING STUDENTS THROUGH THE EAGLE GOLF CLASSIC

20

EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS

messenger@heritagechristian.net Cover photo courtesy of Studio Thirteen Photography

The Messenger staff would like to thank talented Studio 13 photographer and Heritage parent of two alumni, Lesle Lane, for her creativity and expertise that have helped to bring stories to life in this issue. To learn more about her commercial or portrait services, visit www.studio13online.com.

Thank you to Ronald Blue Trust for their ongoing support of HCS!

www.ronblue.com

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FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

22

PTF EVENTS: BRINGING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER

CEO PERSPECTIVE

W

hat an awesome God we serve and trust. As I anticipate the year ahead, I am thankful for how well God has prepared us for the path forward.

Just a few months ago we completed an intense school accreditation process. We were accredited with flying colors and high recognition for the school’s overall excellence. Last year, we launched our nextsteps Vision 2020 Strategic Plan and completed our Vision 2017 goals. We again received an “A” school rating from the state, and our students achieved outstanding results in SAT, ACT, ISTEP and other academic scoring. Also last year, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education released the results of a 2013-2015 study ranking college preparedness (for public colleges). Heritage Christian School was ranked the #1 College-Prep School in Central Indiana.

We desire to expand our reach for Christ and we want as many people as possible to experience the best Christian education possible. Recent success in our campaigns and enrollment set the stage to achieve this goal and establish a healthy financial future.

This year, our overall school population has grown by over 100 students and we are thankful for an exceptional retention rate of 94%. We rejoice in our growing enrollment!

Also, our Thrive Campaign reached its ambitious $4 million pledge goal nine months ahead of our target schedule. Because of this successful campaign, faculty and staff compensation is increasing, debt is being eliminated, and we are equipping the school better than ever to reach out to the community with our story.

As we wrap up our Thrive Campaign over the next year, collecting on our remaining outstanding pledges, we are excited to launch a new annual fund to help rally our community and meet our greatest needs. The Heritage Fund provides the framework in which friends of Heritage can: 1. Invest in our campus 2. Invest in our students and 3. Invest in our faculty and staff. The campus component of the Heritage Fund includes many items that we put on hold while we addressed Thrive Campaign needs.

Another recent milestone was replacing our 12-year-old stadium turf field this summer. We were exceedingly thankful that we did not have to include the field as an item in the Heritage Fund because our Health and Sport Performance Partner, St. Vincent, agreed to fully fund the field replacement. Praise God! Major investments like this by our corporate friends are crucial, but there are many more needs that require your ongoing financial support through the Heritage Fund.

I am thankful for the strong foundation we have at the start of this new school year. To ensure we stay on track and continue to meet your needs this year and beyond, we are constantly seeking feedback.

We value every comment and insight provided, whether through surveys, meetings, and your messages. We want to constantly be getting better at what we do, honoring God in all we do.

Jeff Freeman, CEO FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

3

DISCIPLESHIP

H

eritage Christian prioritizes students’ spiritual growth and discipleship, and one of the ways this commitment is carried out is through the emphasis on a spiritual theme every school year. The spiritual theme is meant to unify the entire student body toward one goal, as they study the same Scripture and work to understand how the Gospel is lived out in everyday life.

Each year, the discipleship staff, the chapel planning team, and the leadership team work together to select the theme for the upcoming school year. For the 2018-2019 school year, the spiritual theme is #WeWill. #WeWill is based on God’s command in Joshua 22:5, which says, “Be very careful to keep the commandment: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

“We loved the idea of ‘We Will’ as it calls us to action,” said Becky Stowers, Director of Discipleship. “[Joshua 22:5 calls] us to love,

100%

100%

walk, keep, hold fast, and serve – all actions for us as Christ followers.”

The theme #WeWill is intentionally left open-ended so that teachers, chapel speakers, and discipleship staff can change the focus and draw from a variety of Scripture passages throughout the year. Some of the theme ideas for the middle school and high school are #WeWill…be different/transformed (drawing from Romans 12:2) and #WeWill…be unified (Ephesians 2:19). Elementary and intermediate school teachers will be able to simplify the theme to reach younger students. Some of these simplified versions include #WeWill…be kind (Ephesians 4:29) and #WeWill…listen (James 1:19).

In an effort to remind students of the daily call to Christian leadership, the theme is displayed around the school on banners and t-shirts. Students can expect to hear #WeWill presented from different perspectives during Spiritual Emphasis Weeks every quarter. The discipleship team hopes this theme will help students and teachers grow in the knowledge of God and seek to live out His Word daily.

QUICK FACTS

Smaller than Average Class Sizes

Graduation Rate

1282 Total

100+

200+

Preschool through high school

Faculty and Staff

Churches Represented

5 Security Officers 40 years military and police experience

4

FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

Nursing Team On-Site

CLASS OF 2018

FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

5

Photo Courtesy of Chuck Owens Photography

Jair Corey Adams Keziah Jalia Adams Daniel Salameh Albatarseh Samantha Marie Allen Jadon Daniel Ambrose Luke Thomas Anderson Alli Mae Azbell Delaney McBeath Benner Lorian Noelle Best Philip Joseph Bishara Jenna Mae Bishop Bianca Nicole Blanks Alexander Patrick Branam Carlee Elizabeth Brandon Matthew Kevin Burton Joseph Isaac Butz Madison Alexis Candler Brooke Elaine Carney Connor Roman Cherba Quinten Grant Cobb Morgan Elizabeth Coers Daniel Richard Corcoran, III Abigail Grace Craig Jacob Carlisle Crosley

6

Joshua Matthew Dage Stephen Michael DeWitt Gina Elizabeth Dietrich Grant Madison East Peyton Gregory Estes Emma Strickland Floberg Zariel Zamica Coi Ford Evan Miles Furnish Katlyn Sherrie Gilbert Trenton Elwood Gordon Alexes Michaela Grafton-Sample Caleb Michael Hancock Dawson Todd Hancock Elaina Grace Harris Hadassah Ciannah Harris Avery Rose Holloway Carynton Leigh Howard William Morgan Huber Anna Elizabeth Johnston Courtney Danielle Katterhenry Allen McLean Kay Samuel Lee Keller John Niccum Kersey

FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

Damaria Jean Killingbeck Ethan Samuel King Evelyn Anne Kress Hayley Noelle Lacy Grant Michael Lisby Adia Fae Maier Natalie Elizabeth May Madeline Mills McDonald Zachary Steven Meus Julia Suzanne Moreland Joel Preston Mounts Samara Faith Norris Marria Lynn Peduto Melinda Grace Peklo Audrey Hoai Huong Pham Michelle Trinity Marie Pierce Jonathan Ross Pinyot Hannah Louise Pope Claire Elaine Porter Conner Eugene Porter Jaelyn Kiaya’ Powell Michael Alexander Preston Matthew Allan Pruitt Elijah William Rotto

Robin Mariel Rumsey Makena Joanne Schlosser Kyle Jackson Somers Garrett John Spencer Margaret Louise Steinrauf Robert Stanley Tolan Grey Lane Tomlin Jonathon Lee Turner, III Abigail Grace Warren Matthew John Wasson Andrew Jackson Watt Dominic Lee Webster Matthew David Wesner Jack Riley Whitlock Corey Irin-Levar Wilson Ethan Nicholas Woods Nicholas James Woodworth Frankie Young, III Kyle David Zachmann Kathleen Kaylee Zapf Angela Quincy Zhang

CLASS OF 2018

2018 GRADUATE STATS

25

Students Attended Heritage K-12

28

17 Elementary School Mentors

National Honors Society Members

Alan Leinbach Servant Leadership Award: Marria Peduto and Matthew Burton

Average GPA

3.60

Highest GPA

4.66 GPA of 4.0 or higher

27% Earned a CollegePrep Diploma

97%

Earned an Academic Honors Diploma

Spiritual Life Leadership Award: Samara Norris and Matthew Burton

VALEDICTORIAN Allen Kay

SALUTATORIANS Angela Zhang Matthew Burton

DOC RICHARDS ATHLETE AWARDS Allen Kay and Marria Peduto

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Frankie Young, III and Katlyn Gilbert

NATIONAL SCHOOL CHORAL AWARD

[

19 AP Scholars

1203

AVERAGE SAT OUT OF 1600

143 points above the national average

Claire Porter

JOHN PHILIP SOUSA BAND AWARD Allen Kay

LOUIS ARMSTRONG JAZZ AWARD Allen Kay

[

Average ACT

25.1 /36

4.1 points higher than the national average

31%

Ethan King

NATIONAL SCHOOL ORCHESTRA AWARD

60%

Took at least one AP course

67%

Took at least one dual-credit college course

$9,595,736

OFFERED IN SCHOLARSHIP MONIES FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

7

CLASS OF 2018

SENIOR CLASS TALENT 7 Eagle Scouts 1

American Heritage Girls Stars and Stripes Award recipient

MISSION TRIPS Mississippi, Louisiana, South Dakota, New York City, Nepal, Mexico, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Guatemala

1

student is spending the summer in China with the National Security Language Initiative for Youth

1

Center for Leadership Development participant

1

student is a deer hunter and makes her own deer jerky

1 conference team championship, 4 conference individual champions, 1 sectional championship, 2 city championships

8

FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

1

student volunteers as a volleyball coach’s assistant while working 20 hours a week

1

commissioned officer with the AFROTC

Published authors

A sailing instructor who attended the Naval Academy Summer Seminar and the NRA Youth Education Summit

2

winners of the American Legion Speech Oratorical Competition

Butler University Jazz Band Camp participants

1

Gold ratings for multiple students at solo and ensemble district and state level music competitions

15 seniors signed to play sports in college

A clothing business owner who runs his own YouTube show while serving as a deacon at church

student was a member of three teams: Mock Trial, Robotics, and Go-Karting

12 7 2 1 4 32

Honors Band participants with Cedarville University

athletes named to all-city teams athletes named to all-conference teams

Pit orchestra members

NCSAA All Americans McDonald's All American Indiana All Stars named to Academic All State teams

Theater program participants

ALUMNI

From left to right: Andrew Watt, Luke Anderson, Lorian Best, Jenna Bishop, Audrey Pham, and Courtney Katterhenry

ANDREW WATT Shelly (Morris) Watt ‘91

JENNA BISHOP Julie (Thompson) Bishop ’82

AUDREY PHAM Eve (Lukowiak) Pham ‘91 LUKE ANDERSON John Anderson ‘82 COURTNEY KATTERHENRY Kevin Katterhenry ‘93 Lacy (Ells) Katterhenry ‘93 LORIAN BEST Richard Best ‘77

FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

9

ALUMNI

ALUMNI WITH NEW POSITIONS: • Amy Givens ‘88, Project Coordinator at Mussett, Nicholas and Associates • Jason Klingerman ‘93, K-12 Cultural Principal at Greenwood Christian Academy

• Nathanael LaPointe ‘08, Controls and Data Software Engineer Intern at Rolls-Royce • Grant Costakis ‘15, Intern at JDRF International • Olivia Dixon ‘15, Sales Operations Intern at Sharpen

• Griffin Rager ‘95, Project Director at Brooks Life Sciences

• Noah Millet ‘15, Project Engineer Intern at DPR Construction

• Kirsten Guidero ‘99, Assistant Professor of Humanities and Theology at Indiana Wesleyan University's John Wesley Honors College

• Selena Webb ‘15, Interactive Media and Outreach at Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum

• Jason Gloye ‘04, SVP, Account Director at 21GRAMS in New York City

• Luke Peduto ‘14, Game Presentation and Promotions Intern with the Memphis Grizzlies

• Robert Mumme ‘06, Campus Director at Texas A&M • Ashley Simonson ‘06, Sr. Business License Specialist at Target • Ryan Ledbetter ‘10, Financial Advisor at Edward Jones

OTHER ALUMNI MILESTONES:

• John Miley ‘09, Sr. Sales Performance Consultant at Roche

• David Benge ‘69, Celebrating 15 years at Accordant Health Services

• Conor Daly ‘10, Drove a third Roush entry in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Road America in August

• Wendy (Heller) Smith ‘74, Retired from Colonial Christian School after 26 years of teaching

• David Kennedy ‘12, Health & Benefits Specialist at Aon

• Steve Pena ‘79, Celebrating 13 years at Pena's Computer Services

• Jennifer Simpson ‘12, Marketing Director at Outlets at Castle Rock near Denver, CO

• Gary Parker ‘80, Celebrating 21 years at Great Dane Trailers

• Adam Meadows ‘13, Senior IT Analyst at Eli Lilly and Company

• Ken Fleetwood ‘85, Celebrating 25 years at Beam, Longest & Neff, LLC

• David Wesner ‘14, Real Estate Financial & Investment Analyst at BWI, LLC.

• John Pritchett ‘85, Celebrating 21 years at Pritchett Orthodontics

• Zane Wright ‘14, Staff Consultant at D. L. Adams Associates, Inc.

• Jason Beehler ‘92, Celebrating 14 years at RJE Business Interiors

• Monica (Dever) Clark ‘84, Celebrating 12 years at Mary Kay

• Matt Tumey ‘94, Celebrating 11 years at E&E Exhibit Solutions

INTERNSHIPS:

• Josh Armiger ‘99, Celebrating 13 years at Sam's Club

• Samantha Cohron ‘14, Intern at Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation and Institute

• Stephen Parker ‘01, Celebrating 19 years at Kroger

• Emily Lorentz ‘14, Intern at Precept Ministries International

• Isaiah Mylin ‘03, Celebrating 18 years at Mylin Swim School, LLC

H

10

• Ben Conner ‘02, Celebrating 12 years at Conner Insurance

eritage values our alumni. They are an important part of our rich history and community. We are excited to announce a scholarship for new HCS students of alumni beginning with the 2018-19 school year.

19 school year, and would be in addition to any other financial aid provided.

Families where at least one parent is a HCS alumni will receive a one-time $2,000 per new student tuition scholarship.

This scholarship is available to all new students of alumni enrolling at Heritage for the first time, beginning in the 2018-

For more information, contact Admissions at (317) 849-3441 or admissions@heritagechristian.net.

FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

Existing alumni families who enroll additional children, beginning in the 2018-19 school year, are eligible for this onetime scholarship for their new children being enrolled.

ALUMNI

JOIN US FOR

2018 • Samantha (Duggan) Banowetz ‘05 and husband John - baby girl Stella • Tyler ‘02 and Melissa (Bauman) Blake ‘06 - baby boy Ozzy • Lisa (Azhar) Bouse ‘01 and husband Andrew - baby girl, Lydia • Daniel and Jackie (Logan) Brocker ‘08 - baby boy Phillip • Seth and Bethany (Harry) Caldwell ‘08 - baby girl Robin • Mitch and Elyse (McFarland) Causey ‘07 - baby boy Marshall • Becca (Goosman) Chivington ‘05 and husband William - baby girl Libby • Ben Conner ‘02 and wife Alyssa - baby girl Quinn.

• Julie (Reinwald) Crooke ‘95 and husband Val - baby boy Kaden • Erika (Freed) Cummins ‘07 and husband Kody - baby girl Sloane • Lauren (Kendall) Dawson ‘02 and husband Adam - baby boy Kade • Adam and Jessy (Kennedy) Delaplane ‘02 - baby girl Livi • Kelly (Sweeney) Donaldson ‘07 and husband Ben - baby boy Weber • Aubrey (Simmons) Fisk ‘09 and husband Zach - baby girl Adeline • Molly (Painter) Gearheart ‘14 and husband Mackenzie - baby boy Noah • Stephanie (Jennings) Hall ‘09 and husband Stephen - baby girl Ryleigh • John-Mark Harless ‘07 and wife Lindsay - baby girl Julia • Ginger (Kreitl) Heyne ‘04 and husband Brady - baby boy Liam • Joseph ‘10 and Jordan (Sprehe) Hockett ‘11 - baby boy Luke • Joy Yoo-Jin (Cho) Kim ‘04 and husband Jae - baby boy Covenant • Matt and Jenny (Chase) Kistler ‘02 - baby boy Hudson • Madison (Yeary) Krumwiede ‘11 and husband Chayne - baby boy Cole • Chris Langebartels ‘06 and wife Emily - baby girl Evie • Michele (Stout) Levengood ‘02 and husband Adam - baby girl Madeline • Robert Lyon ‘07 and wife Lindsay - baby boy Abel • Ryan ‘10 and Maddie (Anderson) Ledbetter ‘11 - baby girl Eden • Jessica (Hendrix) Mattax ‘05 and husband Robert - baby girl Amelia • Cam McWilliams ‘10 and wife Megan - baby girl Samantha • Leanne (Current) Moore ‘05 and husband Jeremy - baby girl Remy • David Neff ‘03 and wife Joelle - baby girl Nora • Juliet (Jay) Nguyen ‘99 and husband Pascal - baby boy Alexander • Zack and Maddie (Lemke) Ohrvall ‘11 - baby girl Charlotte • Emily (Farthing) Papineau ‘98 and husband Scott - baby boys Eli and Zeke • Stephanie (Rogers) Pickett ‘10 and husband Ben - baby boy Obed • Claire (Freeman) Ray ‘09 and husband Kyle - baby boy Kase • Austin and Laura (Jewett) Reilly ’10 - baby girl Aubrey • Annie (Milligan) Royle ‘03 and husband Ben - baby boy Cooper • John and Libby (Counsell) Sandvig ‘09 - baby girl Ruthie • Julia (Buben) Sheets ‘06 and husband David - baby girl Selah • Emilyn (Donley) Shively ‘07 and husband Brian - baby boy Llweyn • Jared Simmons ‘03 and wife Mary Claire - baby boy Anderson • Kelsey (Kennedy) Smith ‘06 and husband Nathan - baby girl Isla • Annie (Conner) Spencer ‘99 and husband Ryan - baby girl Caroline • Alyssa (Hall) Thomas ‘08 and husband Chad - baby boy Hank • Ben Thorsell ‘02 and wife Wendy - baby girl Quinzel • Heather (Kelton) Vernon ‘03 and husband Hamilton - baby boy Ethan • Janna (Smith) Wade ‘02 and husband Justin - babies Cyra and Samson • Jathan Wilsey ‘08 and wife Holly - baby girl Mila • Lindi (Simmons) Wilson ‘06 and husband Matthew - baby boy James • Rosie (Kreitl) Wittleder ‘01 and husband Mark - baby girl Sadie • Stephanie (Todd) Woodruff ‘02 and husband Art - baby boy Daxton

21 SEPT

FESTIVITIES

Friday

Eagle Tailgating Tent (open to everyone) Sponsored by PTF 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM Adjacent to athletic stadium Dinner (open to everyone) Food catered by Ruth’s Chris Steak House 2 Kobe beef sliders, chips, cookie, drink for $8 or sliders only for $5 Served from 5:30 PM - 8:15 PM Varsity Football Game Heritage vs. Covenant Christian 7:00 PM - Heritage Athletic Stadium *Alumni VIP seating in south endzone Men’s/Women’s Soccer Game 10:00 PM - Heritage Athletic Stadium

22 SEPT

Men’s/Women’s Baseball/Softball Game 10:00 PM - Heritage baseball field

Saturday

Various reunions planned around campus Classes of ‘73, ‘78, ‘83, ‘88, ‘93, ‘98, ‘03, ‘08, ‘13

TO THOSE ALUMNI RECENTLY MARRIED • Joan Kingsolver-Mains ‘80 • John DeVries ‘85 • Mary (Pritchett) Wippler ‘90 • Leslie (Benson) Harmon ‘99 • Cameron Clark ‘01 • Steven Doster ‘01 • Bianca (Rice) Twiss ‘02 • Zachary Shorter ‘03 • Evan Diehl ‘05 • Jeremiah Chlumsky ‘06 • Kyle Donahue ‘07 • Steven Hunsicker ‘07 • Brittany (Garrison) Mundroff ‘07 • Katie (Hornback) Glenn ‘08 • Nathanael LaPointe ‘08 • Megan (Hamilton) Sypniewski ‘08 • Maxwell Weerts ’09 • Amanda (Lum) Harper ‘09 • Lei (Lilly) Che Liu ‘09 • Nick Thompson ‘09 • Christopher Ward ‘09

• Hillary (Wolfe) St Aubin ‘10 • Blake McFarland ‘10 • Elizabeth (Gentry) Whitlock ‘10 • Jordan (Scales) Fonseca ‘11 • Caleb Nishida ‘11 • Austin McDonald ‘12 • Emily (Wilkins) Cox ‘12 • Megan (Thomas) Snyder ‘12 • Daniel Cain ‘13 • Mollie (Michna) Simonsen ’13 • Jenna (Killingbeck) Vandewalle ‘13 • Stephanie (Porter) Estep ‘14 • Braden Kellems ‘14 • Laura (Davis) Krajewski ‘14 • James and Claire (Toon) Waggoner ‘14 • Eric ‘14 and Maddie (Peklo) Beadle ‘15 • Natalie (Dufek) Gill ‘15 • Collin and Jessica (Whitlock) Jewett ‘15 • Samuel and Rachel (Crosley) Lyons ‘15 • Kayleigh (Yahne) Sizemore ‘15 • Katherine (Yeager) Upton ‘15

FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

11

HERITAGE FUND

Inspiring Education

through

the Heritage Fund

We love our students and our mission.

Through inspiring education, Heritage is equipping the future with exceptional doctors, artists, athletes, engineers, lawyers, business leaders, journalists, pastors, politicians and entrepreneurs who are also prepared to be effective citizens, good neighbors, loving husbands and wives, Christ-focused parents, and everyday prayer warriors.

Your gift makes a difference Your gift to the Heritage Fund makes it possible to provide inspiring education for Christian families and fulfill the mission of Heritage Christian School. Your support provides tuition assistance, classroom and facility upgrades and equipment, teacher and staff compensation, and meets other areas of greatest need.

While one-time campaigns such as Thrive or those involving major facility initiatives may still be executed in the future, the Heritage Fund is our ongoing campaign to meet our prioritized annual needs.

Since tuition and fees alone do not cover the full cost of Heritage operational expenses and needs, regular support from friends of the school is always needed.

This year we are blessed to have St. Vincent, our partner of twelve years in health and athletic training services, step forward to generously cover the full cost of a required stadium field replacement. Major investments like this by our corporate friends are crucial, but there are many more needs that require financial support. Your investment in the Heritage Fund provides the opportunity to have a vital role in ensuring the school’s ongoing financial health.

OUR GOAL

$1,100,000 12

FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

HERITAGE FUND

This year’s Heritage Fund goal is to raise $1.1 million by June 30, 2019, and covers three vital areas: 1. Investing in our campus: • Classroom and High-Traffic Area Upgrades: Twenty classrooms are in critical need of renovation, including flooring, ceilings, paint and security upgrades.

We also have decades old worn flooring and other renovation needs in our Fine Arts corridors, High School library, High School lobby and cafetorium that need attention.

• Technology Upgrades: In our Elementary School, sixyear-old iPads on one of our iPad carts and the six-yearold computers in our computer lab need replacement.

Also, our six-year-old High School Mac Lab requires updating.

• High School Gym Bleachers: Following 30 years of extensive use, our High School gym bleachers require replacement. Motors to move them in and out are failing.

Seating and other mechanical components are worn. Fireup and support our Eagles!

2. Investing in our faculty and staff:

• Our servant-hearted people make Heritage special. We are committed to continuing the wonderful tradition of blessing our “worthy servants” at Christmas through a one-time bonus. Your gift to help us reach our Heritage Fund goal ensures a Christmas bonus for our faculty and staff

3. Investing in our students: Tuition assistance allows as many families as possible to experience a Heritage Christian education.

• With almost 50% of our community receiving some form of financial assistance, our tuition assistance budget is an important part of our school’s finances. Your gift directly to the Heritage Fund or through our Heritage SGO (Scholarship Granting Organization) that administers funds for Indiana’s popular tax benefit SEC (Scholarships for Education Choice) program helps individual students and the school. The Heritage Fund will also assist with Educational Support Services (ESS) H.O.P.E. scholarships for students receiving additional academic services.

Through a successful Heritage Fund campaign, our Worthy Servants Christmas bonus for faculty and staff will be continued.

Please join us through the Heritage Fund in fulfilling and continuing the life-changing mission of Heritage.

Help us meet our most pressing needs, partnering with Heritage to provide inspiring education, exceptional opportunities and excellent services for all of our students.

You can give securely online (www.heritagechristian.net/ give) or via the enclosed envelope. You can also provide monthly giving of any amount through your bank, credit card or Heritage student billing.

FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

13

PRESCHOOL

T

he early childhood program has been growing, and its newest members are precious and excitable three-year-olds. Heritage Christian opened a preschool in 2014, after parents had expressed interest in having a program for their three-year-old children. In its four years, the preschool has grown into a program of three teachers with an average of 30 children each year.

Heritage teachers and administration have worked hard to make sure that these little ones are well prepared for prep-kindergarten and beyond, while also recognizing that young children think, grow, and learn differently than older children. Throughout the school year, the children are introduced to the basics of all school subjects.

They practice fine motor skills of drawing and writing, use their five senses, and learn to work with other children in groups.

“Our ultimate goal is to develop curriculum based on bestpractice that encourages learning through play,” said Sarah Terrell, head preschool teacher. “This is all done with the Bible as our foundation.”

Terrell and the other two preschool teachers use a Bible lesson as

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FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

the basis for all other learning activities, including learning letters, numbers, colors, and the basics of school subjects like math, science, and art. For example, for the Bible story about God’s creation of animals, the teachers converted their classrooms into a pet store and vet clinic, filled the library with books about animals, and even had live animal guests visit the class. This sensory learning approach teaches to the whole child.

Aside from schoolwork, though, the children get ample time to play, as imaginative exploration is a vital part of mental, social, and emotional growth. They go outside as often as possible, and many of their learning activities involve the imagination.

While the preschool children typically stay in the early childhood wing of the school, they also have opportunities to interact with older students. Elementary and middle school students can become book buddies with a preschool child and high school students can help as teacher assistants during a class period. Preschoolers get to participate in “specials,” the same rotation of special classes that continues through middle school at Heritage: music, PE, library, and STEM.

PRESCHOOL The preschool hopes to continue growing! In 2017-18, the preschool served about 30 children, divided into three different classrooms, two five-day rooms and one three-day room. The administration aims to keep the ratio at 6:1, so three teachers and their assistants manage about 12 children to a classroom. In order to make the preschool program accessible for all parents and children who are interested in enrolling, the school structures full-day and half-day classes depending on parents’ needs from year to year.

Preschoolers can look forward to learning from dedicated teachers who are well equipped to work with children in these pivotal developmental stages. This past school year, some teachers participated in professional development programs through Indiana Wesleyan to learn more about literacy and project-based learning.

Beyond professional preparedness, though, these preschool teachers love to work with this age group, to play and explore with them, and to serve as their advocate. Terrell, who has 20 years of teaching experience across many grade levels, loves the preschool age the most.

“Most days I’m completely exhausted when I step out of the building,” she said. “But my heart is full.”

2018 WHAT

WHERE

arents Grandpay D

WHEN

Heritage Christian School

October 9-12

Elementary School (K-4)

Middle School (7-8)

Intermediate School (5-6)

Elementary School (9-12)

OCTOBER 9

OCTOBER 10

OCTOBER 11

OCTOBER 12

For the event schedule and more information, please visit www.heritagechristian.net/GPD

FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

15

FINE ARTS

16

FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

FINE ARTS

SAVE the DATE

OCT 3

FALL CONCERT Middle school and high school choir

NOV 1-3

FALL MUSICAL Thoroughly Modern Milly

NOV 10

FLAVOR OF JAZZ Instrumental department fundraiser

DEC 5

CHRISTMAS CONCERT Middle school and high school choir

DEC 12

CHRISTMAS CONCERT Middle school and high school band/orchestra

DEC 18

CHRISTMAS CONCERT Intermediate school band/choir/orchestra

JAN 26

VOCAL/PIANO SOLO & ENSEMBLE CONTEST

FEB 2 FEB 9

FEB 16

VOCAL/PIANO STATE SOLO & ENSEMBLE CONTEST

FEB 23

INSTRUMENTAL STATE SOLO & ENSEMBLE CONTEST

MAR 1

FINE ARTS FESTIVAL & POPS CONCERT

MAR 14

HONORS BAND DAY CONCERT

MAR 22-23 SPRING PLAY MAY 8

SPRING CONCERT Middle school & high school Choir

MAY 10

SPRING CONCERT High school band/orchestra

MAY 14

SPRING CONCERT Middle school band/orchestra

INSTRUMENTAL SOLO & ENSEMBLE CONTEST

MAY 21

SPRING CONCERT Intermediate school band/choir/orchestra

BROADWAY NIGHT Choir department fundraiser

For more information visit heritagechristion.net/finearts

HCS Fine Arts Patrons promote the arts through program attendance as well as provide financial support. The Patrons program has helped the Fine Arts department purchase multiple items, such as school owned instruments, stage lighting, sound equipment, curtains, and other larger items.

2018-19 GOALS • Upgrade theater storage and work spaces • Upgrade lights and sound on elementary stage

CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT

BENEFITS

$100

10 Patron Event Tickets with VIP Seating

$150

15 Patron Event Tickets with VIP Seating

$200

20 Patron Event Tickets with VIP Seating

$250

25 Patron Event Tickets with VIP Seating

Visit heritagechristian.net/patron for more information.

FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

17

TEACHER PROFILE

W

hen you arrive in Melody Croft’s Spanish classroom you quickly discover that you have competition: students left over from a classroom “fiesta,” who felt comfortable enough to stay.

Croft makes it clear that her students are the most important part of teaching.

The connection Croft has with her students was learned early, when she noticed the same commitment in her professors at Indiana Wesleyan. Though she was initially unsure of her college decision, she quickly “fell in love” with the school. Croft’s professors were genuinely invested in their students, and that investment easily translated into her relationships with future classes of her own. “It’s really cool to see the students every other year,” she says, happy in the flexibility that her teaching schedule grants her. By teaching alternating levels of Spanish, Croft is able to revisit students she had as freshmen or sophomores again, when they’re seniors. It’s a gap that holds great times of transition. She says: “I like seeing how they change.”

Croft teaches Spanish II, IV, and AP Spanish at Heritage, a schedule that benefits both her love of students and the language. Croft has a deep connection with the Spanish language, one that shows both in her cultural roots and enthusiasm in the classroom. Her mother is Costa Rican, and Croft grew up speaking Spanish. Studying it at a higher level allowed her to understand the complexities of the language and delve deeper into the history and literature—aspects of

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FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

Spanish that weren’t covered in her high school classes. “I always loved the language,” she says. “For me, studying it in college was kind of a self-discovery.”

She now gets the privilege of passing on what she has learned to the foster children who pass through her home. Melody and her husband, Travis, began looking into foster parenting after seeing friends from church step into that role. They were officially licensed in May of 2018. Fifteen minutes after receiving the call about their license, they got another call: they had their first placement! The Crofts have fostered four children in the few short months since then, and although they have to manage the craziness of visitations and various appointments, Melody says it’s worth it. “The point of fostering is to get kids reunited with their parents,” she says, “They say it takes a village to raise a child and it’s cool to be a part of their village until they are reunited.”

In her classroom as well as her home, Croft helps those around her with their own self-discovery; freshman and senior years are both transitory times for students and foster children often search for who they are when life seems a little unsettled. Whether it’s students or foster children, Croft does her best to support her “kids”, and we are sure that the ones eating in her room after their fiesta was over would agree.

SUPPORTING ESS

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rab your golf clubs and polo shirt because this year’s annual Eagle Golf Classic is quickly approaching! For the past 10 years, this event has supported Educational Support Services (ESS) and their efforts to make schooling—and educational success— accessible for every student.

ESS provides eight NILD (National Institution of Learning Development) certified programs for students with identified learning differences. “So many students with learning differences just need the right intervention for them to be successful!” says ESS Director Julie Hight.

of the ESS Hope Fund in memory of Mary Jane English: a longtime advocate for HCS students who needed additional support to succeed in school. The HOPE Fund provides scholarships to cover the additional tuition associated with ESS programs.

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So many students with learning differences just need the right intervention for them to be successful!

All families want to provide the best opportunities for their children, and this scholarship puts that goal within reach for those who normally would not be able to afford it. Through the generosity of HCS golfers and corporate sponsors, ESS is able to give 50 or more scholarships every year to the students who need it most. Beginning this year, proceeds from the golf event will go through the Heritage Fund ensuring ongoing scholarship support for ESS students. Learn more about the Heritage Fund on pages 12 and 13 or visit heritagechristian.net/ heritagefund.

Educational support, however, is so much more than these structured programs. ESS oversees accommodations for temporary or long-term medical needs (like a broken arm, concussion, mental health concern, etc.) as well as boosting the potential of international and high-ability students at HCS. Julie Hight and the rest of the ESS teachers believe that “God has created all students uniquely” and they go to work every day to “be faithful to what we know God wants us to do.”

As ESS celebrates its 30th anniversary of NILD programming this fall, support for ESS is as important as ever. “Regardless of need,” Hight says, “families want to give students a Christian education. I’m so glad that the teachers and administration are supportive of what we strive for!”

Overall, ESS serves over 300 of Heritage’s students in some form, which is why the Eagle Golf Classic is of such great importance.

Proceeds raised during the day go to the Heritage Fund, in support

This year, golfers and spectators will gather at 12:30 pm on September 27th at River Glen Golf Club. Learn more or register for the Eagle Golf Classic at heritagechristian.net/golfclassic.

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While Heritage athletics has established a recognized tradition of excellence over the past 50 years, it is our intentional commitment to discipleship and community outreach that sets us apart. From the days M of playing in the ASCI to moving into the IHSAA and now joining the Circle City Conference, our goal has always been to glorify God in all that we do. Visit hcsathletics.net to discover how you can get involved with one of our 52 teams.

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Photo courtesy of Circle City Conference SID Trevor Wilson

T H EIR

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ATHLETICS

Photo courtesy of Circle City Conference SID Trevor Wilson

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FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

ATHLETICS

Photo courtesy of Circle City Conference SID Trevor Wilson

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PTF

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TF is an organization of volunteers dedicated to encouraging Heritage faculty, staff and families. From new family activities in the fall to the annual Jog-a-Thon fundraiser in the spring, Heritage's Parent Teacher Fellowship hosts events that bring Heritage families and faculty together throughout the school year.

PTF is a great way for any parent to become more connected with the Heritage community.

Their events, like the Daddy-Daughter Dance and men’s and women’s prayer groups, facilitate community between Heritage families. On the teacher side, through initiatives such as supporting the Heritage Fund and providing TEEM funds, PTF helps meet practical classroom needs.

PTF serves families and teachers of every grade level, so there is always a need for more parents to get involved. PTF President Lisa Kelly says, “With the number of events we put on each year, we need people to help in every area. Whatever level of service you are interested in, we need!”

The only prerequisite needed to be a part of PTF is a willing spirit!

Anyone is welcome to come to “The Breakfast Club” informal gatherings in Heritage’s elementary building to learn more about what PTF is doing and how to get involved.

Want to get involved? Send an email over to ptf@ heritagechristian.net or fill out an interest form online at heritagechristian.net/ptf. The Heritage teachers and families thank you in advance!

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FALL 2018 HERITAGE MESSENGER

SAVE the DATE

Family Carnival & Concert F E A T U R I N G

SIDEWALK PROPHETS

PARENT-TEACHER FELLOWSHIP 2018-2019 EVENTS SEPTEMBER C2O: Sept. 9

Breakfast Club: Sept. 14 All-School Football Game Tailgate: Sept. 21 Elementary School Dads’ Lunch: Sept. 25, 26 & 27

NOVEMBER Breakfast Club: Nov. 9 DECEMBER Worthy Servants Brunch: Dec. 9 FEBRUARY Father/Daughter Ball: Feb. 2 MARCH

Breakfast Club: March 15 K–6 Roller Skate Party: March 18

MAY

Jog-a-Thon: May 3 Faculty/Staff Spring Lunch: May 6 Breakfast Club: May 10

More information available at heritagechristian.net/PTF

SEPTEMBER 9, 2018

CARNIVAL 2 - 5 PM | CONCERT 5:30 PM OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Tickets $10 in advance | $15 at the door Tickets available at heritagechristian.net

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M A G A Z I N E

Messenger 6401 E. 75th St. Indianapolis, IN 46250

Messenger

Glorify God. Disciple Students. Pursue Excellence.

NOW ENROLLING PRESCHOOL - 12th GRADE Schedule a tour today!

317.849.3441

or visit heritagechristian.net