Heritage Messenger - Fall 2015

Al Leinbach For nearly 50 years, he has served in faculty and leadership roles at Heritage Christian School. His faith and ministry have influenced generations of students and their families.

FALL 2015

CONTENTS

30

10

12 Heritage Messenger Fall 2015

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AL LEINBACH: THE TREASURED FACE OF HERITAGE HISTORY

Only one individual holds the distinction of having served at Heritage for 49 of the school’s 50 years of existence. Learn about this man who has played a key role in our history.

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BEGINNINGS Heritage Christian School’s history is replete with stories of God’s provision and providence. Learn how the school’s founders started with a God-sized vision and prayer.

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STUDENT LIFE

12

TEACHER PROFILE

14

ACADEMICS

16

FINE ARTS

18

SPIRITUAL LIFE

20

CEO PERSPECTIVE

23

ALUMNI

26

ATHLETICS

30

PARENT-TEACHER FELLOWSHIP

MESSENGER STAFF Lisa Abbott, Editor and Lead Writer Gary Roebbelen, Executive Editor Bri Salm, Designer messenger@heritagechristian.net Cover photo courtesy of Studio Thirteen Photography

The Messenger staff would like to thank talented Studio 13 photographer and Heritage parent, Lesle Lane, for her creativity and expertise that have helped to bring stories to life in this issue. Her generosity has made her beautiful photos a gift to the publication and to the school.

To learn more about her commercial or portrait services, visit www.studio13online.com or call (317) 923-1122.

A glimpse into student and campus life; yesterday and today.

Dan Stroup has made Bible class engaging for generations of Heritage middle school students. It’s his genuine interest in each one of them that has influenced their lives and futures.

Director of Academics, Brenda Klingerman, on Heritage Christian School’s long-standing tradition of academic excellence.

Fine Arts has always been an important part of a Heritage education. Learn how the arts have flourished on campus for five decades.

Part of what makes Heritage Christian School distinctive is a wholistic approach to Christian education. Learn how the school incorporates faith into every aspect of student life.

Jeff Freeman reflects on Heritage Christian School’s history and looks forward to a bright future.

Susan (Harris) Whicker was one of the first Heritage graduates.

Here, she shares some of her memories of the school’s earliest days./ Homecoming 2015/ Class of 2015 Alumnus Todd Abernethy has built his life on his faith, family and his beloved sport of basketball./The strength of Heritage's athletics program is grounded in a distinctive approach that combines competition and discipleship.

Francesca Battistelli headlines Christ to Others (C20) event./Trace the history and impact of the school’s Parent-Teacher Fellowship.

AL LEINBACH

By Lisa Abbott

I

f Heritage Christian School’s history had a face, it surely would be that of the sole individual who has been part of that history from nearly its very beginning. If the school’s history were personified, one man would represent the school’s spiritual, academic and athletic impact over many generations.

But if you ask Al Leinbach, his role in the Heritage narrative simply has been one of a participant and a witness to God’s provision and blessing over the past 50 years. For 49 of those years, his life’s work has been to pour into the lives of more than 3,000 students who have graduated from here.

Interestingly, education was not a path that Leinbach would have chosen. The son of a pastor/street preacher, he initially pursued his interest in medical missions. But in his sophomore year at Indiana University, he left his pre-medical studies and transferred to Columbia Bible College. It was a life-changing experience. On a summer mission trip to Colombia, South America, Leinbach established a relationship with Wycliffe Bible Translators and discovered a latent interest in linguistics.

He planned to work as a missionary for the organization after his college graduation in 1966. He and his fiancée, Donna,

made preparations for summer linguistics training and future missionary work with Wycliffe.

In the meantime, Leinbach sought income through temporary work. A friend told him about a new Christian school that had just formed on Indianapolis’ northeast side. Leinbach applied for a teaching job at Heritage in April of 1966. On a day in late May, he and his bride-to-be had their bags packed, ready to leave for Oklahoma for linguistics training with Wycliffe.

That very morning, Kye Harris, the school’s first administrator, called to set up a job interview. The men met that afternoon at a location in the then-remote Castleton area, on Indianapolis’ northeast side. The Leinbachs left for Oklahoma immediately following the interview. On July 7 (which just so happens to be Leinbach’s birthday), Harris called to extend Leinbach an offer for a teaching position. He needed an immediate answer.

The couple talked it over and decided to return to Indianapolis in August to take the job. “Coming to Heritage was not by my design,” explains Leinbach. “It was specifically by God’s design. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, I knew that God had led me here.”

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Photo courtesy of Studio Thirteen Photography

AL LEINBACH

Leinbach attended in-service teacher training at Heritage at the end of August 1966. The training concluded on a Friday.

decades, he has mentored and trained students in the faith and in preparation for their vocations of every sort.

The couple married the following day and Leinbach began teaching when school opened its doors at Victory Baptist Church on the following Wednesday. He taught 7th grade Geography, 8th grade American History, World History, Physical Education and Health. In the absence of a sports program, Leinbach pioneered and coached the school’s basketball team that same year. It was a crazy, busy time of transition for the newlywed couple. But, says Leinbach, “by the end of that first year, I knew that God had changed my mission field, my direction and my heart toward teens.”

Leinbach has attended every commencement, except one, due to extenuating circumstances. He has seen his own children graduate from the school (Ed in 1990; Jodi in 1992; and Lori in 1994). One of his six grandchildren is a current Heritage fourth grader. Next year, Leinbach will be part of graduation ceremonies for Heritage’s 50th graduating class.

Leinbach was himself surprised by the joy he discovered in teaching. “I thoroughly enjoyed working with the Middle School and High School students,” he says. “I loved engaging the students spiritually, and even socially. We were learning to have a lot of fun while we were trying to learn.”

In the years that followed, Leinbach coached the boys’ basketball and soccer teams. He taught in the classroom.

He took the senior classes on their annual trips. He spoke in chapel. He served at various times as High School Guidance Counselor, Athletic Director and Principal. He was the school’s Headmaster/Principal from 1970 to 2007. Over more than four

Coming to Heritage was not by my design. It was specifically

by God’s design. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, I knew that God had led me here.

He takes pride in Heritage alumni because, he says, “they are a great part of what we want to accomplish here. In the years after their graduation from high school, it’s exciting to see the outgrowth of their commitment to Christ.” Leinbach says that he felt privileged to assume his current role as Alumni Relations Coordinator in 2007. He attends class reunions, weddings, funerals and other big events in the lives of graduates. Facebook has given him a venue for regular communication with alumni.

On graduate’s birthday, he sends each of them a greeting and devotional thought via social media or email. Remarkably, he remembers details and graduation years for many of these former students, just off the top of his head.

Sure, some things have changed since those early days of the school’s beginnings. Buildings have been constructed, programs have been established and grown, the student body has grown in size. But the fundamental values upon which the school was created, says Leinbach, have never wavered. “We stand on the shoulders of the men and families who founded Heritage Christian School,” he explains. “Even though it wasn’t written down at first, our mission always has been, and always will be, to glorify God through the discipleship of our students and the pursuit of excellence in education, with Bible as our foundation and Jesus Christ as our focus.”

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BEGINNINGS

First Board of Directors

1964

First Heritage Christian School Bus

1965

Victory Baptist Church

By Lisa Abbott

T

he story of Heritage Christian School is one of providential design and of a God for whom nothing is impossible.

The year was 1964 and brothers Walter and Donald Best had relocated their young families from Seattle to Indianapolis. The men played key roles in the Best Lock Corporation, a lock manufacturing company founded by their father, Frank Best.

The organization sought to expand its operations on the northeast side of Indianapolis. Interstate 465 construction was underway and a large, undeveloped parcel of land at State Road 37 and 75th Street was a prime location. Frank Best acquired the acreage and it became the location for Best Lock’s headquarters. Through his generous donation, a portion of the land also would one day become the home for Heritage Christian School.

Meanwhile, the Best brothers searched the Indianapolis area for a nondenominational Christian school for their families. Their children had attended Christian schools in Seattle, where a vibrant Christian school movement was gaining momentum. The Bests prayerfully considered their options and decided that, with God’s help, they would start an interdenominational school that delivered excellent education from a biblical point of view. They determined that if God would bring in 59 students, they could make it work.

LAYING THE GROUNDWORK As a first step, they recruited Kye Harris, a Seattle acquaintance with significant experience in starting and helping to run Christian schools.

Harris and his family relocated to Indianapolis in 1965 and he launched a mail campaign to area pastors, inviting them to informational meetings over coffee, in supporters’ homes. Interest quickly grew and within four months, the school had enrolled more than 100 students.

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Harris recruited William Vimont, another seasoned Christian school pioneer, for the role of Principal. He moved his family from Arizona to Indianapolis on faith, since there was no up-front guarantee of receiving his salary.

A Board of Directors was created to provide leadership for the school.

The original group included Leonard Hunt (long-time director of Wheeler Mission); Indianapolis businessman, Dale Malcomson; Robert Porter, President of Lifegate, Inc.; and Walter and Donald Best.

The next challenge was to tackle student transportation. Harris proposed the purchase of six one-ton panel trucks that could be converted to passenger vans. An ingenious idea, really, in a generation that far pre-dated current-day minivans. Finance companies, however, were less than excited about lending money to a school that had not yet even been incorporated.

Undeterred, the Heritage men approached the owner of Johnson Chevrolet. He was polite, but uninterested in assuming risk for a $24,000 purchase from an unestablished legal entity. In a last attempt to persuade the man, Harris pulled out a sheet of the school’s newly printed letterhead. On it were the names of Christian school experts and advisors from across the nation and a handful of Indianapolis businessmen.

The dealership owner casually glanced at the list and pointed to one of the names on it. He excused himself to make a quick phone call.

When he returned, he announced, “Gentlemen, if this man is interested in your project, I will do it. He is my best friend.” He sealed the deal with no down payment and personally financed a year of insurance and the cost to convert the vehicles to special purpose buses. Through providential circumstances and a generous $30,000 gift from Lilly Endowment Inc, God enabled the school to pay the debt in full.

BEGINNINGS

1966

Jubilee Choir

PRAYERS ANSWERED AND DREAMS REALIZED The school moved forward, receiving its official articles of incorporation as Heritage Christian Schools, Inc. on June 14, 1965.

With Harris as Administrator, the school hired necessary faculty and staff. Victory Baptist Church stepped up to house classes.

Heritage Christian School officially opened its doors to 159 prekindergarten through ninth grade students on Sept. 8, 1965. It seemed no small coincidence that the number of students God had provided was exactly 100 beyond the 59 students that the school’s founders had originally prayed for.

Throughout the school day, students occupied virtually every inch of space at Victory Baptist Church. The pastor gave Harris and Vimont use of his office. In the mornings, teachers moved the church pews aside to make room for tumbling mats, creating a makeshift gymnasium down the center aisle. In the afternoon, pre-kindergarteners used the pews for their daily naptime. Even the baptistry served dual purposes. Students auditioned there for the choir, with curtains drawn for anonymity.

Within a year, enrollment had increased to nearly 350 and it was clear that the school needed more space to grow. God ordained two key events during the summer of 1966. First, Devington Baptist Church offered its larger facility as a temporary location, enabling the school to expand enrollment and to include grades 10 through 12. Secondly, Frank Best generously donated an additional 15 acres of land to the growing institution and pledged 25 acres more for future development.

Don Best reportedly drove by the land frequently, saying, “I see it, Lord, I see it.” Heritage Christian School broke ground for its new building.

1966

Devington Baptist Church

A PERMANENT HOME By year’s end in 1966, construction was complete and faculty and staff moved in to the new facility over Christmas break. When classes resumed in January of 1967, they welcomed 450 students into 29 brand-new classrooms. Word spread and enrollment continued to climb. With another five-acre donation from the Best Foundation, additional classrooms were added in 1973. The school’s footprint expanded over the following decades to accommodate the needs of a growing student body and to offer a full range of academic and extracurricular programs. The construction of the current high school and Commons area was completed in 2007.

Today, the 38.5-acre campus houses separate elementary, intermediate, middle school and high school buildings; a Fine Arts building; and athletic facilities that include an elementary gym, a 1,250-seat high school gymnasium complex, a football/soccer/lacrosse stadium, track, softball and baseball diamonds and tennis courts.

AT THE HEART OF THE HERITAGE STORY The Heritage story has God’s fingerprints all over it; from the very beginning to its future. God instilled the school’s founding parents’ desire for their children to receive an excellent education that reinforced the faith and values they were teaching them at home. He brought just the right people at just the right times and built their faith as they saw Him provide resources and answer prayers. He created an environment where thousands of students have received valuable training for work and life as Christ-followers. The story of Heritage Christian School really is one of the God who continues to bless this institution with His favor. It’s an ongoing narrative that He’s writing in the hearts and lives of our students, families, alumni, faculty and staff.

May the telling of it bring Him much honor.

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BEGINNINGS

1965

Kye Harris, First Administrator

William Vimont, First Principal

First graduating class (left to right): Tony Allen Armold,

1967 Ladie Sue Harris and Judith Ann Hawkins

1968 8

PTF holds first open house

FALL 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

DeVern Fromke, First Elementary Principal

Jim Weaver, Headmaster 1967-1982

Long-time director, Jean Ware, (front row,

1970s far right) directs Heritage choirs

Boys’ basketball MCC

1980s (1982 and 1983)

BEGINNINGS

1966

Jim Beck, First High School Principal

Earle Harriman, Assistant Headmaster 1967-1970

State Champions

1992

Groundbreaking for first building, Pictured (left to right): Robert Porter,

1966 Donald Best, Dale Malcomson, Walter Best and Leonard Hunt

1968

Heritage campus

Walter Best (center right) and Superintendent Tim Hillen (far right) at groundbreaking for high school addition

Long-time Elementary principal,

1968 Mary Jane English, joins faculty

Girls’ basketball team wins 6th

2015 IHSAA 2A State Championship Title FALL 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

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STUDENT LIFE

Life as a Heritage student is, and has always been, about more than just school itself.

It's a unique learning environment, with students from preschool to 12th grade all on the same campus. On some occasions, everyone gathers together for long-held traditions like Easter Chapel and the All-School Christmas Chapel, featuring a uniquely-Heritage rendition of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

Homecoming is a highlight of the school year for current students and alumni. Week-long festivities like alumni reunions, chapel and the Lip Sync song and dance competition all culminate in an Eagles home football game.

Over the years, faculty and students have created traditions unique to Heritage culture.

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Elementary and Intermediate kids experience long-held events like the annual hoe-down, Mother's Tea and Famous Americans Wax Museum. Eighth graders and their families attend a year-end celebration of their graduation into high school. High school students attend the Winter Formal, which for many years was known as the annual Christmas Banquet. Seniors participate in a year-long set of rituals including the Senior Retreat, Senior Trip, Senior Parade and the painting of “the Rock.”

STUDENT LIFE

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TEACHER PROFILE

By Lisa Abbott

I

n talking with Heritage Bible teacher Dan Stroup, it’s easy to feel as if you’re the only person in the room. You get the sense that he’s really, truly listening.

That he’s genuinely interested in what you have to say.

And the truth is that he is.

This quality surely is one of the reasons why he’s such an effective instructor with his seventh and eighth grade students. “They want to know, do you love them? Do you enjoy what you’re doing? Do you like to be with them?” explains Stroup. “I think if they sense that, they’re going to be with you.”

With him, they are. Stroup engages students from the time he commences class with a daily “pre-game warm up” review until the bell signals the end of the period.

He clearly has a game plan for each day’s lesson and the kids respond well to the security of the structure, the easy-going pace and the meaty content he delivers.

The class is less a monologue and more of a dialogue about both the facts and applications of scripture. On this day, Stroup guides his eighth grade class through Old Testament passages, pausing at times to ask them questions. “Everything written in the past is here to teach us,” he reminds them.

Over the years, Stroup developed a creative, colorful approach to help students recall biblical content and principles.

He dubbed them “sponsors,” a name loosely derived from the educational realm of Sesame Street. In actuality, they’re effective mnemonic devices infused with homiletical ideas. Every week brings a new, highly anticipated set of Stroup’s simple drawings and correlating ideas. He recreates all of them for easy reference, on a single chalkboard that vaguely resembles a collection of hieroglyphics.

“The more you expose yourself to God’s Word, the more you start seeing your place in the world and begin to understand your purpose.”

Stroup strikes a beautiful balance of foundational biblical knowledge and practical application. From Psalm 73, he accentuates the value of making good life choices. From the pages of Joshua, he reminds the kids that their lives matter to God; that He has uniquely gifted them for service; that they can have an impact on other

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people. “The more you expose yourself to God’s Word, the more you start seeing your place in the world and begin to understand your purpose,” he says.

To reinforce the point, Stroup moves into the “Where are They?”(WAT) segment of the class. It’s a masterful and powerful approach on many levels. Each “WAT” features a Heritage alumnus or alumna who is following God’s calling on their life and profession. Stroup has introduced students to the lives of professional athletes, Broadway actors and missionaries. Today, he dims the lights for a video about Heritage alum Mark Smiley (HCS 2000), who’s a photographer, filmmaker and mountain guide on a quest to scale the 50 classic climbs of North America. When

TEACHER PROFILE

Photo courtesy of Studio Thirteen Photography

it’s over, Stroup gently asks, “What is it that God wants to do in your life?”

With a few minutes of class time remaining, he announces that it’s time for the “S Files,” (S is for Stroup) which he describes as random information that you don’t need to know. It’s just for fun.

It happens to be “Pi Day,” when the world celebrates all things mathematical. One student has brought in individual pies to share with the class, complete with a can of Reddi Whip. Before they

indulge in the sweet treats, Stroup gathers the students for a group photo to commemorate the occasion. He insists that this author join them.

It’s just this kind of inclusive gesture that makes Stroup endearing. It’s that conscious, intentional acknowledgement that another’s presence matters. Of his students, Stroup concludes, “I want them to know that I know who they are. I want to be involved in their lives a little bit in the short time that they’re here in my class, so that when they leave, they’ll be able to say, ‘he knew who I was.’”

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ACADEMICS

BEGINS EARLY

83

5th

6th

7th

Heritage

76.4

4th

77.8

78.7

3rd

80

81

81.5

82

75 70

91

92

86.5

PERCENT PASS (TOTAL)

95

91

88 89

80

83.6

8th

Private

Public

2014 ISTEP Mathematics 99

100

5th

GRADE LEVEL

6th

7th

Heritage

Private

81

4th

81.9

80.5

3rd

97

83

85.8

86

79

70

84

83

75

80.8

80

86

85

89.3

90

96

96

95

81

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85

87

14

90

GRADE LEVEL

At Heritage Christian School, we teach with high academic expectations and train with loving discipline. Our well structured, caring, collaborative classrooms provide an environment that is student focused for learning and growing. Each morning, our early learners participate in our active Minds in Motion (www.mimlearning.com) program that intentionally stimulates them in their visual and auditory processing, as well as their motor skills.

8th Public

2014 ISTEP Science 95 PERCENT PASS (TOTAL)

Academically, we provide our students with a strong phonetic approach to reading in the early years of development and then guide them to think critically and biblically as they read to learn in the upper elementary and intermediate grade levels. Student reading levels are tracked through SRI inventories that measure lexile levels of reading mechanics and comprehension. Through a program called Writer’s Workshop, students are taught a comprehensive and thoughtful approach to thinking and writing. In math, our students are taught through a cyclical approach to concepts and have the opportunity to accelerate in math through a process that measures student math achievement. In order to fully develop our student’s education, we instruct them in the areas of art, music, physical education, Spanish, study skills and technology. These specialized areas

95

85

Within our Elementary and Intermediate schools, students are entrenched in the building blocks needed to reach the higher level thinking and reasoning skills to be a successful student in the 21st century. While many of the methods and tools have changed throughout our 50 years of existence, historically, Heritage has delivered and continues to provide a sound, effective early academic program. It has proven to be effective over time in preparing our students for success in high school and beyond.

One of the indicators of early success is seen in our student ISTEP scores, as we benchmark with other private and public schools across the state of Indiana. This pattern of excellence is continued and documented through the academic achievements of our high school students.

100

89

Photo courtesy of Studio Thirteen Photography

Education is a continuous, life-long learning process that includes developmental goals and milestones along the journey. Heritage Christian School has the privilege of partnering with families early on in their educational journey to provide a strong, biblicallybased academic foundation in the formative years of childhood development.

2014 ISTEP English / Language Arts

PERCENT PASS (TOTAL)

By Brenda Klingerman, Academic Director and Elementary School Principal

96

90 85

86

80 75

76

70 65 GRADE LEVEL

74.9 69

4th

68.9

6th Heritage

Private

Public

ACADEMICS

of instruction are an integral part of the curriculum and development of our students. For the exceptional student, our Educational Support Services department is staffed with trained therapists. These teachers come alongside students to meet the educational needs of those within our population who experience frustration within the learning process.

2014 ISTEP Social Studies PERCENT PASS (TOTAL)

95

95

90 85

Partnering with parents in the academic success and spiritual growth of their children is vital to accomplish the mission of Heritage Christian School to “Glorify God, disciple students and pursue excellence. We were honored this past school year to receive the Quality Education Award from the Institute for Quality Education in Indiana as a “school where quality matters.”

87

80 75 70 65

76

75 71.4

4th

GRADE LEVEL

73.2

6th Heritage

Private

Public

We are grateful to the faculty, staff, parents and students who invest in the lives of HCS students in order to raise up this generation to impact culture for Christ.

IWU OFFERS HCS NEW SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH WILDCAT CONSORTIUM We’re pleased to partner with Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) to offer some great new scholarship opportunities for Heritage Christian School high school students, their parents and even HCS faculty and staff.

RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS:

Here are the details:

(Years at Heritage Christian High School) X $1,000 = TOTAL SCHOLARSHIP

Graduating seniors have an opportunity to receive up to a $10,000 ($2,500 per year) scholarship toward attending IWU. Students graduating from a Wildcat Consortium (WC) school, such as Heritage Christian, are eligible to receive the WC scholarship at Indiana Wesleyan University. The scholarship amount will be calculated based on the number of years the student attended Heritage in grades 9-12.

The total amount of the scholarship will be divided equally between the four years of attendance at IWU. In addition, the total amount of all scholarships may not exceed the cost of tuition at IWU.

(Years at Heritage Christian High School) X $2,500 = TOTAL SCHOLARSHIP

NON-RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS:

Heritage graduates planning to attend IWU will automatically receive this scholarship, so no application process is required.

Also, Heritage Christian community members (parents, siblings, faculty, etc.) receive a 10 percent discount toward undergrad or graduate courses through IWU’s CAPS division.

For more information on how to obtain this community tuition discount, contact Shelly Perkins at 317-849-3441.

For more information about the Wildcat Consortium, contact Heritage Guidance Director, Erik Smith at erik.smith@heritagechristian.net.

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FINE ARTS

By Lisa Abbott worship during chapel services and compete at the local and state level. Heritage music programs have won numerous state awards as a member of the Indiana School State Music Association (ISSMA) and national recognition through the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation.

PERFORMING ARTS Photo courtesy of Studio Thirteen Photography

S

ince the very early days of the school’s history, the Fine Arts have been an integral part of a Heritage Christian School education.

The large Fine Arts building at the center of campus testifies to the arts’ prominence and expression here. When it was constructed in 2000, the structure created significant, dedicated space for art instruction in many forms. Housed in the facility are two spacious art studios, including one with a professional firing kiln; expansive practice rooms for choir, band and orchestra; classrooms for theater, photography and video/music production; and a cafetorium with a full-sized stage, curtains, lighting and sound system. In addition, the Elementary School features two over-sized classrooms where students create music and visual arts.

The annual Fine Arts Festival showcases the artistic work of talented Heritage students. For one evening, students transform the Fine Arts Building into a concert hall and an impressive art gallery with wallto-wall student art exhibits. The celebration of the arts is one of the highlights of the school year and is a showcase for the exceptional art instruction Heritage students receive in virtually all forms.

MUSIC For many years, choir class was a requirement for Heritage students of all ages. William Vimont directed the music program when the school met at Devington Baptist Church. A few years later, Jean Ware assumed responsibility for the choirs. In the early 70s, Dave Brickel introduced the band program.

Current Fine Arts Co-Department Head and Music Teacher Cathy (Heatly) Bartemus joined the Heritage faculty in 1980. She structured an Elementary music program that harnessed the talents and energy and engaged the minds of young students. She’s one of the longestserving Heritage faculty members and continues to teach and to direct the fourth grade Hosanna choir. By the time students reach Middle School, they’re well prepared for further musical development and involvement.

Today’s robust music offerings include choir, band, orchestra, jazz band and praise band. Students perform for the community, lead

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Heritage students have taken to the stage, dating all the way back to the school’s inaugural talent show. The annual tradition included dramatic skits, comedy and musical numbers. For many years, it was a much-anticipated entertainment event for the Heritage community.

When the school added drama as a high school class elective in 1975, students performed the first official school production of “Cheaper by the Dozen.” Today, elective theater classes are offered to middle school and high school students. In 1984, elementary, junior and senior high school students all combined for the school’s first-ever musical theater production of “The Music Man.” Students currently perform two stage productions each year; a musical in the fall and a play in the spring.

Music students provide orchestral accompaniment to the musical and students create all of the stage props and scenery for the play. Both productions attract patrons from within the Heritage family and the Indianapolis community.

VISUAL ARTS Whether it’s an oversized crayon in a kindergarten class or an artist’s paintbrush and acrylics in the high school, Heritage students of all ages have long had many opportunities to cultivate their creativity in the visual arts. The pages of the school’s first yearbook (from 1967) include photos of young students drawing and painting. In the early 80s, Art Teacher Sue Meggenhoffen laid a foundation for a systematic approach to art instruction for grades 1-8.

With the advent of the Fine Arts Building in 2000, the school attracted the talent and vision of Art Instructor, Julie Cooper. With the necessary space and resources in place, she expanded the existing middle school and high school art programs to include advanced instruction and independent study.

Today, students can enroll in Introduction to Two-Dimensional or Three-Dimensional Art, Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Advanced Three-Dimensional Art, Two-Dimensional Design, Photography, Advanced Photography, Art Portfolio and Advanced Placement Studio Art. Our high school art students have been accepted and received scholarships for further study at prestigious colleges and universities.

Many of them submit individual work for state and national competitions, such as the well-known Scholastic Art Competition and are often recognized for their artistic accomplishments.

FINE ARTS

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SPIRITUAL LIFE

By Lisa Abbott

T

here are the obvious and important things that one would expect from a Christian education; Bible classes and chapel services. But from the outset, Heritage Christian School has taken a fundamentally wholistic approach to cultivating both students’ education and spiritual lives. The school was founded on the conviction that Jesus Christ is preeminent in all things and that the Bible is the source of wisdom and knowledge for all of life, including academics.

students understand that following Christ means reaching out to others. They collect Coins for the Kingdom, to benefit an overseas orphanage. They go for One Day Without Shoes, a shoe collection drive for needy kids around the world. They gather for an afterschool Missionary Club, where they learn firsthand what it means to share and practice the love of God near and abroad. A group of students and their families travel to Mexico and help to build a home for a needy family with Homes of Hope.

Even in the earliest days, a biblical worldview permeated curriculum. Faculty was hired based on equally important criteria; educational expertise and a solid testimony of Christian faith. The founders understood that Christianity is caught, as well as taught.

They knew that Christian teachers would instruct and disciple students, both inside and outside of the classroom. There also was an acknowledgement that teachable moments of faith happen in the course of academic learning, in the heat of athletic competition or in artistic expression. This conviction has been the catalyst for a commitment to discipleship of students that permeates everything.

Students in grades 7-12 have unique opportunities to grow spiritually through participation in Bible classes, involvement in weekly chapel, ongoing community service, and opportunities to use their gifts in mentoring, fine arts, clubs and athletics. Many students pray with one another, study the Bible together and participate in the growing campus ministry of Young Life. At Christmastime, Heritage partners with Samaritan’s Purse, as an official drop-off location for Operation Christmas Child. Middle and high school students greet those who visit campus to donate their boxes. Students pack the donated boxes and help load the containers onto distribution trucks.

For five decades, the school’s leadership and faculty has continued to infuse education with a decidedly Christian perspective and a commitment to teaching, mentoring and training students to be lifelong followers of Jesus Christ.

Heritage students learn from an early age what the Bible teaches and what it means to have a personal relationship with Christ.

When a chime sounds over the intercom in the Elementary School building, it’s a recognizable signal to faculty and students that a child has just decided to commit their life to Jesus. Elementary

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Powerful discipleship takes place outside of the classroom, too.

Athletic competition at Heritage has always been an important component of student athletes’ spiritual lives. Countless Heritage alumni recount stories of their spiritual development and growth on the courts, fields and arenas of competition. Many of them reflect gratitude for the Heritage coaches who shared spiritual truth and taught life lessons through sport.

SPIRITUAL LIFE

A

n anchor. In the nautical world, it’s a simple object that prevents a watercraft from drifting. Amidst blowing wind and strong current, an anchor holds steady a vessel that’s proportionately massive in comparison to itself. It’s a symbol of security, stability and immovability.

Heritage Christian School has always been anchored by Word of God and Jesus Christ. With this truth in mind, this year’s annual spiritual theme is “Anchor,” based on Hebrews 6:19: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

These are powerful and encouraging words that give us hope and confidence in who God is and what Christ has done for us.

This reality should change everything; the way we live, breathe, move, serve and love. Heritage faculty teach, mentor and train our students by encouraging them to find stability and identity from

nothing other than a relationship with the true anchor, Jesus Christ.

The annual spiritual theme is a springboard for classroom conversation, our athletics teams and clubs. From our preschool students to high school seniors, the theme unites our students around a common idea that’s grounded in spiritual truth.

TEACH Facts of the Bible Doctrines of the Bible Principles of Christian living

Discipleship Distinctives 1. Christian teachers 2. Biblical worldview

Model Christian lifestyle Build relationships Cultivate character

MENTOR

CHRIST CENTERED

TRAIN Use spiritual gifts Share the Gospel Provide ministry opportunities

3. Bible classes 4. Christian values 5 . Intentional mentoring 6. Redemptive discipline 7. Community service 8. Leadership development

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CEO PERSPECTIVE

Word of God, and biblical principles with Christ at the center.

The case for and cause of Christian education has never been more important than it is today.

Heritage Christian is responding to the dynamic and ever-changing challenges facing Christian families in the 21st century. While our mission and vision have not changed, our methods and the way we deliver Christian education will always need to change and improve.

Photo courtesy of Studio Thirteen Photography

H

eritage Christian … a Christian heritage. For 50 years, Heritage Christian School has established a rich heritage of providing quality, biblically-based Christian education at the corner of 75th and Binford Boulevard in Indianapolis.

The same vision that was embraced by the founding fathers of Heritage Christian 50 years ago still rings true today: to prepare the next generation of leaders to impact the world for Christ.

Our school's mission also remains the same today as it did at our founding: to glorify God, disciple students and pursue excellence in education, with the Bible as our foundation and Jesus Christ as our focus.

The Heritage Christian School success story is one that comes directly as a result of God's blessing. From its humble beginnings to its current position as a leader in Christian education, God has blessed Heritage Christian School and He is still in the blessing business.

Much has changed in the world, in our culture and at Heritage Christian over the past 50 years. One thing that hasn't changed is our commitment to provide an outstanding education with a biblical worldview; a view of the world through the lens of the

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We are committed to excellence in education and have increased and enhanced the quality and quantity of our academic offerings, as well as enhanced the use of technology in the classroom. We are utilizing our Teach, Mentor, Train approach to refine and elevate our culture of discipleship, while maintaining our commitment to integrate a biblical worldview into every aspect of the educational experience.

We are fervent in our desire to connect, enrich, and develop more people; by attracting and retaining the highest quality, missionminded faculty and staff and enriching the racial, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity in our school community. We desire to expand our reach as we grow our admissions and marketing practices, to increase new student enrollment and expand our presence to impact further our internal and extra communities for Christ. Lastly, we are working fervently to secure our future, to improve the school’s value proposition by executing our strategic plan and strengthening our culture of donor discipleship.

Our dream for the next 50 years is that “Heritage Christian School will be a light that shines in the darkness, a premier institution increasingly recognized as a model of 21st century Christian education, transforming lives and reaching the world for Christ.”

Whether you are affiliated with Heritage, past or present, thank you for being part of our family and part of our dream.

We so appreciate the vision and support of the Heritage Christian founding fathers, Board members, administrators, faculty and staff, alumni and others throughout the years, for all they have done to make Heritage what it is today.

Our school’s future is bright because of the Godly heritage of our past.

God bless,

Jeff Freeman, Chief Executive Officer

○ The Indiana School Scholarship Tax Credit Scholarship Program is an innovative approach to increasing access to education opportunities using tax credits to encourage private investment. ○ The state will allow an individual or corporation to donate to Heritage Christian School through the Scholarship for Education Choice (SEC); formerly known as Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). This gift will receive a 50 percent tax credit on the Indiana state tax due. ○ The gift also qualifies as a charitable donation on the federal tax due. This provides both individuals and corporations an additional tax benefit of leveraging this SEC opportunity. ○ For example, a $10,000 gift (at the 35 percent tax bracket) would have a true cost of only $1,500 after the Indiana Tax Credit

($5,000) and the Federal Deduction ($3,500). That’s 15 cents on the dollar for your gift. Imagine what a gift of $100,000 could do!

○ There is no limit on your donations. The credit is applied to your state tax liability.

It may be carried forward up to nine subsequent years, but may not be carried back or refunded. ○ On July 1 of each year, Indiana renews the allocation of tax credits for SEC to offer individuals or businesses an incentive to fund scholarships. On July 1, 2015, the amount available will be $8.5 million statewide. That amount will increase to $9.5 million on July 1, 2016. ○ This scholarship benefits Indiana K-12 students who meet the income eligibility guidelines and attend a participating school (such as Heritage).

CALLED FOR LIFE SEC Giving to Heritage

I

$564,749

$289,684 $153,680 $100,671

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

2014-2015

n the Spring 2015 issue of the Heritage Messenger, we shared the inspiring story of Ebola virus survivor and Heritage alumnus, Dr. Kent Brantly (1999). With his wife, Amber, Dr. Brantly has written a recently published book, "Called for Life: How Loving Our Neighbor Led Us Into the Heart of the Ebola Epidemic."

"Called for Life" tells the riveting inside story of Kent and Amber’s call to serve their neighbors, as well as Kent’s fight for life with Ebola and Amber’s struggle to support him from half-a-world away. It reminds us of the risk, the honor and the joy to be known when God and others are served without reservation.

The book is available through bookstores and online booksellers.

PERFORMANCES NOV. 5-7, 2015 Nov. 5: 7 p.m. ○ Nov. 6: 7 p.m. ○ Nov. 7: 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.

Online ticket sales begin Oct. 19 at www.heritagechristian.net.

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HOME C OM I NG 2015 FESTIVITIES FRIDAY, OCT. 2 Eagle Village Sponsored by the class of 1995 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM Adjacent to athletic stadium

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN

OPPORTUNITIES EVENT The Eagle Golf Classic

DATE

Monday, October 12th, 2015

Alumni Tailgating Tent With alumni welcome table Inside of Eagle Village Food catered by Ruth's Chris Steak House Served from 6:15 PM - 8:30 PM 50th Anniversary Celebration Ceremony 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM - High school gym Varsity Football Game Heritage vs. Lapel 7:30 PM - Heritage athletic stadium Alumni seating in south endzone Men’s/Women’s Alumni Soccer Game 10:00 PM - Heritage athletic stadium

SATURDAY, OCT. 3 Alumni Baseball Game 11:00 AM - Heritage baseball diamond

TIME 9:00 AM Tee Time

PLACE Broadmoor Country Club For more information, contact Educational Support Services at 317.849.3441.

Alumni Fine Arts Review 7:00 PM - Fine arts cafetorium Various Reunions Planned Around Campus Reunions for 1967-69, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010

For details, go to heritagechristian.net/alumni

ALUMNI

By Lisa Abbott was then a high school junior. She says she remembers fondly the chapel services and choir rehearsals that were held in the sanctuary.

In the winter of 1967, Heritage moved into its new facilities on the current campus; just in time for the first-ever springtime commencement ceremony that took place in the gymnasium (now the current Elementary cafeteria). Graduation day was huge, says Whicker. An Indiana state Congressman addressed the crowd. The choirs sang. The place was packed. It was exciting and a little intimidating, all at once.

After high school graduation, Whicker earned a Science degree at the Indianapolis campus of Purdue University. When she married Ron Whicker, her husband of 45 years, their wedding ceremony was officiated by both her father and long-time Heritage headmaster, Jim Weaver.

The Whickers moved to Colorado while Ron served in active duty for the Army. They subsequently moved to Westfield, Ind. and then relocated to their current home in Florida in 1973. The couple has three children and eight grandchildren.

F

ew alumni (in fact, only three) can claim school fame as members of the very first graduating class at Heritage Christian School. Susan (Harris) Whicker (1967) just happens to be one of them.

Whicker’s family was among the first on board before the school’s doors even opened. Her father, Dr. Kye Harris, was an educator, pastor and a man with a life-long passion for Christian education. At the request of Heritage founders, Walter and Don Best, Harris moved his family from Seattle to Indianapolis to begin the project of starting a Christian school in the area. Harris had great experience for the job, having opened other Christian schools across the country. He became the first Administrator for Heritage Christian School. Her mother, Frances Harris, was a talented administrative assistant whose work helped the school operate. “She was the heart of the office,” says Whicker. “In many ways, she was an onsite mom for all who attended.”

Whicker and her siblings were among the first students to begin their studies in the basement of Victory Baptist Church. Whicker

Susan and Ron Whicker

For Whicker, Heritage and family kind of go together. It was from her parents, she says, that she learned about Christianity and service. “The foundation of my faith was strong, thanks to my parents,” she concludes. “I am so thankful that I can look back and know that my parents put Jesus first in their lives.

Since my parents were Heritage to me, it had a very strong influence on my faith.”

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ALUMNI

2015

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN GRADUATES

In the corridors of Heritage Christian School’s high school, you’ll find a photographic history of our graduating classes mounted above the students’ lockers. Faces and memories from 1967 to 2015 line the walls. Each graduating class has had its own character and personality, but across the years there has been among them a common thread of academic strength and performance.

Robert Allen  Karstyn Anderson Kaylee Arnold  Cassidy Ball Tamara Batarseh  Andrew Bichey II Austin Bontreger  Samantha Bradford Joshua Brown  Grant Costakis Mariah Coster  Courtney Costlow Abigail Crosley  Rachel Crosley Matthew Daily  Olivia Deering Anna Ditslear  Olivia Dixon Natalie Dufek  Lauren Estes Jonathan Eyster  Peyton Fallis Austin Fisher  Alexander Flinchum Kayla Fox  Isabella Gandy Nicholas Garvin  Heidi Gatliff Tyler Gerig  Melissa Gudeman Sydney Hall  Katherine Haney Matthew Harris  Emma Hastings Shelby Henry  Matthew Hollingsworth Celia Hornback  Lillian Huff Austin Huffman  Andrew Hunt Daniel Hunt  John Hutchins Kyndal Inskeep  Grace Jacob Collin Jewett  Jesse Kempson Kara Kinnius  Eric Kirkpatrick Garrett Lisby  Grant Longardner William Loy  Samuel Lyons Noah Millet  Kylie Mink Luke Mongin  Alexander Myers Amaris Myers  Ferris Nimri Naomi Norris  Madalyn Peklo Eleanor Perkins  Reily Petty Carolyn Pottle  Robert Pressly Mallory Qualls  Peyton Reffeitt Maxwell Roberts  Emily Robinette Samantha Rogers  Daniel Ruesch Isabelle Ryerson  Brogan Salmon Andrew Sauer  Scott Scales Hannah Schlegel  Allison Schofield Megan Schrock  Britney Sheltz Spencer Sikes  Madison Simmons Grace Smith  Caleb Snyder David Spooner, Jr. Chloe Sprehe  Samuel Storey Henry Teeter  Connor Tomlin Caroline Toon  Elizabeth Walker Luke Warner  Selena Webb Logan Wedmore  Jessica Whitaker Jessica Whitlock  Grant Wiley Kathryn Wilkins  Alyssa Williams Gavin Williams  Nicholas Yacoviello Kayleigh Yahne Katherine Yeager  Kegan York

The Class of 2015 has turned the tassle, making it the 49th class of Heritage graduates (pictured on page 25, upper right). The group boasted a 100 percent graduation rate and held an overall Grade Point Average of 3.62. These students received offers of nearly $7.5 million in scholarships.

The Heritage class of 1968 graduated six students. Pictured here are Ken Best and Claudia Smith.

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ALUMNI

Congratulations! HERITAGE CLASS OF 2015

FALL 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

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ATHLETICS

By Lisa Abbott

Photo courtesy of University of Mississippi

I

f you looked only at his career as an international professional basketball player and collegiate assistant coach, or at his awards and impressive statistics, you might be tempted to think that life for Heritage alumnus Todd Abernethy (2003) is all about basketball.

Nothing could be further from the truth. "Being a Christian is an everyday thing," he says. "It changes everything I do."

He says that his faith grew while he was a Heritage student. "Heritage played a huge role in my life. It helped to build the foundation for my faith,” he says. “I learned that you don't have to be in Bible class to talk about how to apply it to your life."

In both middle and high school, Abernethy led chapel worship as a member of the Worship Band. Al Leinbach, then principal, remembers, "Todd's influence on the student body was huge and in the right and godly direction. He has a real passion for anything he gets involved in."

Abernethy played all four years on the Heritage varsity team and became the school's all-time leading scorer, averaging 28 points per game during his senior year. His scoring averages during his junior and senior years were among the top five in the state. He was named City Co-Player of the Year and was selected for the Indianapolis Star Super Team in 2002-2003.

In the off-seasons, Abernethy played tennis for then-Heritage tennis coach, Ron Young. "Todd’s presence at practice and matches greatly contributed to one of the most successful seasons for the boys' tennis

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FALL 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

“Being a Christian is an everyday thing. It changes everything I do.” team," recalls Young. "I measured this success not by wins, but by the players' maturity as individuals, athletes and Christians. Todd made a difference in the lives that he touched."

An unfortunate and serious shoulder injury kept Abernethy off the basketball court during part of his senior year at Heritage. It was a tough time. But, he says, "God is sovereign. Being a Christian helps you put everything in perspective. God's still good even if things don't go your way."

He signed on with the University of Mississippi and started every game during his freshman season. He finished his Ole Miss basketball career with over 1,000 points. Abernethy married Micah, a fellow Ole Miss athlete, in 2007.

He immediately began a six-year international professional career that included stops in the Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and the Ukraine. "Micah and I realized just how big the world is," he says.

"It was during this time that we developed a real heart and love for Eastern Europe."

Upon returning to the U.S., Abernethy became Director of Basketball Operations at IUPUI in 2013. He and his young family (Micah and their daughters Ruthie and Maria) returned to Ole Miss in 2014, when Abernethy accepted his current role as Assistant Coach for his alma mater. Looking at all of his life experiences, Abernethy says he's grateful for each one. "I've definitely experienced God's favor and His hand," he concludes.

ATHLETICS

By Lisa Abbott

I

n 1967, then-teacher Al Leinbach became the first-ever Athletic Director for Heritage Christian School. He provided leadership in this important role for nearly 10 years. When the school kicked off its official athletics program in 1968, those early basketball and gymnastics teams and the inaugural cheer squad initiated what would one day become a vibrant, full-fledged athletic program.

Heritage teams participated in inter-school competition in the early and mid-70s, primarily in the Midwest Christian Conference. When the Association of Christian Schools International (ASCI) formed in 1978, Heritage joined the organization’s Christian school athletic league and continued competing in it until the year 2000.

Over three decades, HCS teams won numerous awards, with boys’ soccer and basketball and girls’ volleyball wining multiple tournament and state championship titles.

Under then-Athletic Director, Jim Martin, it was a big day when the school became part of the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) in 2001. Martin provided leadership for Heritage beginning 1978 and through the transition to IHSAA, until he retired from his role in 2003.

Today, Heritage student athletes compete in 18 IHSAA-sanctioned sports, boys’ and girls’ lacrosse and numerous other athletic clubs. Intermediate and Middle School students have opportunities to develop their athletic skills in extracurricular teams that help prepare them for more advanced competition when they reach high school.

All along the way, the school has invested in facilities for training and competition, including soccer fields, two gymnasiums, a tennis complex, baseball diamond and batting cages, softball field, all-weather track and lighted stadium for football, lacrosse and soccer.

The program has produced numerous city, sectional, regional and state championship teams and champions. The girls’ basketball program has been a consistent standout.

In 2015, the team proudly took home its 12th City Championship and sixth IHSAA 2A State Championship title. Every year, college scouts recruit and attract Heritage athletes to collegiate programs across the nation. Several Heritage alumni have even pursued professional sports careers.

But Heritage athletics always have been about so much more than competition.

Student athletes not only receive coaching, but also countless opportunities to engage their faith in Christ on and off the field. Christian coaches play a huge role in these students’ lives and they’re a big part of what makes the school’s athletic program distinctive. They go beyond their coaching role to mentor students, pray with and share Scripture and practical faith lessons with them. They’re in it for more than wins; they take seriously their unique opportunities for ministry, discipleship and impact for the kingdom.

Heritage alumna and 2007 IHSAA 2A State Diving Champion Audra Egenolf Long experienced this discipleship-based athletic experience and describes it well. She says of her former HCS coach, “Coach Smiley intertwined devotionals into our workouts, and I will never forget him telling us he was not only our diving coach, but also our spiritual coach. I have never met a man so dedicated to the growth and wellbeing of his athletes.”

Heritage Christian School has, over many years, developed a state-wide reputation for athletic excellence that’s balanced with an intentional emphasis on student athlete discipleship. It has always been an important component of what makes a Heritage education a valuable experience for students and families.

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ATHLETICS

2006

2004 STEVEN MYERS

2007 AUDRA EGENOLF (LONG)

IHSAA 2A ACHIEVEMENTS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS   



12 team appearances 14 individual athlete appearances Nine team championship titles ○ Girls’ basketball: 2006-2009, 2014, 2015 ○ Baseball: 2009, 2010 ○ Football 2008 Two individual state champions ○ Steven Myers, tennis singles: 2004 ○ Audra Egenolf (Long), diving: 2007

SEMI-STATE COMPETITION  

28

2007

14 team appearances 12 championship titles ○ Girls’ basketball: 2004, 2006-2009, 2014, 2015 ○ Football: 2007, 2008 ○ Baseball: 2009, 2010

FALL 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

2009

 Individual semi-state champions ○ Steven Myers, tennis singles: 2004 ○ Sam Hall, golf: 2011 REGIONAL COMPETITION  

28 team appearances 20 championship titles ○ Girls’ basketball: 2004, 2006-2009, 2014, 2015 ○ Girls’ soccer: 2013 ○ Boys’ basketball: 2006 ○ Football: 2007, 2008 ○ Baseball: 2009, 2010, 2015

SECTIONAL COMPETITION  

42 individual finalists 34 championship titles ○ Girls’ basketball: 2003-2009, 2013-2015 ○ Baseball: 2005, 2008-2010, 2014, 2015

2010

○ Boys’ basketball: 2005, 2006, 2008 ○ Volleyball: 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012-2014 ○ Football: 2007, 2008 ○ Girls’ soccer: 2013, 2014 ○ Softball: 2012 ○ Boys’ golf: 2013 ○ Swimming and diving: 2007

OTHER ATHLETIC TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS CITY ALLIANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS     

Boys’ tennis: 2003, 2004 Girls’ basketball: 2003-2015 Boys’ swimming: 2004-2006, 2012, 2013 Boys’ golf: 2013 Girls’ soccer: 2014

OUR IHSAA STATE CHAMPIONS

2008

2008

2014

Boys’ Lacrosse Semi-state championship: 2007 Regional championship: 2006-2008, 2011, 2013, 2014 Midwest Christian Conference (MCC) Boys’ Basketball Championship at Grace College: 1972, 1973, 1976, 1982, 1983 Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)  Girls’ volleyball state championship: 1989-1992, 2000  Girls’ basketball state championship: 2000-2001  Girls’ basketball regional championship: 1994-1997  Boys’ soccer state championship: 1995-1999, 2000  Boys’ basketball state championship: 2000, 2001 National Association of Christian Athletes (NACA) Championship  Girls’ basketball: 1995  Boys’ basketball: 1991, 1993

2009

2015

National Christian School Basketball Invitational Boys’ Championship at John Brown University: 1973 Indiana High School Soccer Association (IHSSA) Boys’ Soccer Championship at Victory Field: 1977

ALUMNI  

Scores of collegiate athletes Professional athletes ○ David Ledbetter (HCS class of 2010) ○ Ryan Ledbetter (HCS class of 2010) ○ Todd Abernethy (HCS class of 2003) ○ Kelly Faris (HCS class of 2009)

FALL 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

29

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL'S PARENT-TEACHER FELLOWSHIP

Francesca Battistelli

WELCOMES

FOR A LIVE CONCERT AT CHRIST TO OTHERS (C2O) EVENT ON SEPT. 19

We’re excited to host best-selling Contemporary Christian Music Artist and six-time Dove Award winner, Francesca Battistelli, as headliner for the C2O live concert event.

Her current album, If We’re Honest, debuted #1 on the Christian Soundscan Chart. Her first two albums, My Paper Heart and Hundred More Years, both hit #1 on the Christian charts and ranked on pop charts as well. Her first hit song, “I’m Letting Go” earned accolades and “Free To Be Me” earned her a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Gospel Performance.

Battistelli is happy to see her musical message connect with all sorts of music lovers. “Some of the most inspiring moments come when someone comes up to you and says, `I wasn’t a believer until I heard your music on a TV show or playing in a store, and it prompted me to look you up, to find your music, and eventually to find the Lord.’

Sometimes they simply say, `Your music helped me find through a difficult time.’ To me that’s what it’s all about.”

Opening band, All Things New, takes its name from 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come.” The band’s origins date back to the musicians’ mid-teen years as a six-piece outfit born from other Fellowship of Christian Athletes worship bands. Band members wrote the group’s first single, “New Man,” about how God creates beauty from ashes.

Tickets for the C2O event, including the live concert, are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

Visit www.heritagechristian.net for more information or itickets.com to purchase advance tickets.

PARENT-TEACHER FELLOWSHIP

By Lisa Abbott

P

arents are, and always have been, the bedrock of Heritage Christian School. The school was founded out of the desire of Christian parents who wanted an excellent Christian education for their children.

The group also plays an important role in the school’s spiritual underpinnings. Today, it sponsors both a men’s and women’s prayer group, made up of parents who gather monthly to pray for students, faculty and staff.

During the early days of the school’s history, parents drove buses, prepared lunches and cleaned classrooms. They looked for creative ways to raise funds, including the “Spaghetti Splash,” a smorgasbord, a rummage sale and a paper drive. They not only invested in their children’s Heritage education, they also endowed the school’s future by playing an integral role in its development.

PTF finds ways to strengthen parent-student connections, as well.

The annual Dads’ Lunch gives parents an opportunity to join their student for lunch on campus.

When the school’s Parent-Teacher Fellowship (PTF) began in 1968, it was a natural outgrowth for Heritage families, whose numbers were growing rapidly. They understood that their children’s educators played a big role in shaping their academic and spiritual interests.

The new organization looked for practical ways to demonstrate parents’ support for teachers and administrative staff and for the school as a whole.

With each successive year, PTF’s work and vision grew. The group became a major sponsor of the school’s fundraising efforts. For many years, PTF hosted an all-school “Round-Up,” a family event that included pony and hayrides, class races and games, face painting and catering from Peachey’s. In 1976, they initiated an annual fundraising tradition: Donkey Ball.

PTF’s fundraising contributions have made visible differences on the Heritage campus over the years. In 1968, PTF funds were helped to fund construction of new science labs. The 80s brought the advent of the annual Jog-a-Thon, to support special projects not covered by the school’s annual budget. In the early 90s, PTF launched a “Spring-aThon” fundraiser. More recent campus enhancements have included the front entrance and gate, security upgrades, playground equipment, Cafetorium sound system and High School Commons upgrades.

At Christmastime each year, PTF hosts the Worthy Servants Brunch.

It’s a highlight of the school year, as faculty and staff gather off site for a time of fellowship, worship and encouragement. In the spring, PTF treats faculty and staff to a festive lunchtime gathering on campus.

During the holiday season, PTF transforms a large classroom into a kid-friendly Christmas shop for the Gingerbread Bazaar. Parents enjoy coffee and fellowship in the Elementary School lobby.

Meanwhile, PTF parents and upper-grade students guide their elementary school-aged shoppers, helping them pick out low-priced gifts for their friends and family.

In recent years, PTF developed the semi-annual “Christ to Others” (C2O) outreach event. Heritage opens its campus and welcomes current families and the entire Indianapolis community for a familyfriendly carnival and outdoor Christian music concert. In recent years, C2O has attracted over 3,000 guests. It has become a valuable tradition and a way to share Christ with the school’s surrounding community.

PURCHASE TICKETS NOW!  Sept. 19, 2015

 Family carnival from 3-6 p.m.  Food trucks available  Live concert at 7 p.m.  Tickets for sale at itickets.com  Ticket prices: $10 in advance, $15 at the event All Things New will open for the C2O Battistelli concert.

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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.

Educational Excellence Never Goes Out of Style.

A lot can change over the course of 50 years. But for Christian families, one thing never goes out of style: a quality education that’s delivered from a solidly biblical point of view.

For half of a century, Heritage Christian School has delivered Christ-centered education at its best.

We’ve helped prepare generations of students for life, work and ministry. It’s a tradition we’re proud of and one we’re committed to continuing for the next 50 years and counting.

Contact us today to learn more about what makes a Heritage education distinctive.

Visit us at heritagechristian.net or attend our all-school open house on Oct. 29 at 6:00 p.m.

Call 317.849.3441 or email us at admissions@heritagechristian.net