Honor Roll of Donors

Capstone Magic Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida. As the tagline goes, it’s “The Most Magical Place on Earth.” Visitors of all ages from around the world enjoy the rides, food, shows, and fireworks that can only be found at the House of Mouse. And after two years of missed Set against capstone trips – undoubtedly one of the most special perks of the MBCA Middle School experience – sixth, seventh, and eighthgrade Eagles made up for lost time by spending three full days in the April soaking up theme parks and the Kennedy Space Center. The Middle School faculty, staff, and 188 students left at 6:00 backdrop a.m. on two flights for the start of a multi-day itinerary packed with adventure and covered in opportunities to create lifelong of thrill memories. It was destined to be great, but nobody knew just how magical it would be! rides, Capstone trips are an important part of the Middle School experience. Each year, the different grade levels enjoy a culminating experience offering opportunities to explore, learn, showcases, connect, and grow beyond the walls of the academic setting. But like so many things since March 2020, those traditions came to parades, a halt when the pandemic set in. Unable to travel, the trips were placed on hold for a safer time and place. And like everything in God’s perfect timing, He orchestrated the perfect return to and more... capstone trip traditions. Set against the backdrop of thrill rides, showcases, parades, and more, the Middle School worked their way through The Magic Kingdom, Kennedy Space Center, and Hollywood Studios in a quick 72 hours. There were logistical challenges and long lines to overcome, but the moments shared and time spent navigating the expectations and independence are what will be remembered.

The time outside of the classroom walls to connect was the true gift throughout the experience. Sharing rides and meals, watching shows, team-building, and witnessing the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch for a record-tying 12th mission provided opportunities to bond in such a meaningful way. It is the “secret sauce” to the Middle School experience, and the students and teachers returned tighter because of it. Students thrive in the family environment these experiences foster. Kicking off the 2022-2023 school year on an overnight retreat is another way our Middle School team reaches students for His Kingdom impact. These trips are a true blessing to kids during the challenging Middle School years. Thank you to all who so generously support these efforts! 2021-2022 MATCHING GIFTS

Corporations across the country are helping Mt. Bethel Christian Academy make a significant and lasting impact on educational outcomes for our students through their participation in matching gift programs. Many businesses offer matching gift programs that match a portion or the full amount of a gift made to Mt. Bethel Christian Academy by their employees, employee’s spouses, and retirees. Please contact Jen Collier in the Advancement Office at jennifer.collier@mtbethelchristian.org with any questions about securing a matching gift, or visit the Matching Gifts section of our website at www.mtbethelchristian.org/giving/matching-gifts. Thank you to the following companies who contributed over $19,000 in matching gifts, furthering the power of gifts made to the 2021-2022 Annual Fund Campaign for Mt. Bethel Christian Academy. MATCHING GIFT PARTNERS

5Q American Express Bank of America Coca-Cola Equifax GE Home Depot Inspire Brands Labcorp McKesson McKinsey Movement Mortgage Nasdaq Northwestern Mutual Procure Analytics Splunk VMware Wells Fargo

Football for the Win

The 2021-2022 school year ushered in an exciting addition to MBCA’s sports program with its inaugural football season! The first season consisted of one team of twenty-two fifth-andsixth-grade boys who trained for and competed in a competitive season of games against The Walker School and North Cobb Christian.

The football team was headed up by Coach Eric McAfee and assisted by Josh Inglis and Nate Huddleston. The team began with workouts and training sessions with our dedicated players in late summer and the very beginning of school so as to be ready for the first game in September. It’s clear that the MBCA coaches, administrators, Board of Directors, and parents agree that the first season was a success, with high hopes for the future of the program, due to the summer groundbreaking of the Upper School turf field. Coach McAfee noted that, “Our first year of Mt. Bethel Christian Academy football exceeded all of our expectations! From winning our first-ever football game, to providing guidance to our young men, we could not have asked for a better start to our program. I am so very proud of our players, their families, our Administration, and the entire Mt. Bethel community who supported us every step of the way! We are very excited as we continue to grow our program into two teams, and then have football available to Upper School students starting in the fall of 2024.” MBCA leadership is very focused on the bright future of the program, with Athletic Director Cal Boyd remarking that, “2021 marked the inaugural season of football at Mt. Bethel, and with it, high expectations for the future. Our fiveyear plan is to bring GHSA Varsity football to our school, and Year One was a great start. Twentytwo fifth-and-sixth-graders came together to become the first team to wear the navy MB logo on their helmets. With the construction of our multi-purpose turf field on our Upper School campus, we will now have room to add an additional football team and sideline cheer to the growing list of competitive athletic opportunities for our community. It is a very exciting time to be an MBCA student athlete.”

Go Eagles!

Middle School Softball

The Middle School softball program made its debut in the fall of 2021. Sixteen young ladies began the foundation of a program that looks to bring great things to Mt. Bethel Christian Academy in the future. The team finished 4-4 overall in the regular season, which was good for a fourth-place finish in the Metro 10. Unfortunately, the Lady Eagles lost a close playoff game to end their season a little earlier than they had hoped. The team was built around a trio of eighth-grade players - Kaitlin Bennett, Kate Rogers, and Gabby Siemon. All three of these girls brought a tremendous amount of experience to the team and were true leaders both on and off the field. “I am so amazingly proud of this team. We went from hoping we would have enough players to field a team, to nearly beating the team that wound up winning the Metro 10,” said head coach Daryl Brooks. “The dedication, effort, and resilience of these girls was amazing. I was truly blessed to be able to coach this team.”

Middle School Athletics Director Greg Hall noted that, “We had talked about starting a softball team in the past, but we never felt like we had enough support to get things off the ground. Last summer, the administration and families really rallied around this idea of forming a team. It was great to see the results. Last year was just the start of a bright future for the program.” The Academy’s commitment to serving student athletes and offering co-curriculars that enhance the MBCA experience for every student is stronger than ever. Thank you to the families, coaches, and students who do so much behind the scenes to support these efforts.