BE STILL - King's Ridge Christian School Fall/Winter 2021 Issue

KING’S RID GE CHRISTIAN SCHO OL

BE STILL

FA L L / W I N T E R E D I T I O N 2 0 2 1

BE STILL and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Note From The Editor I can still see him in my mind; his little body slumped over in the child-sized chair, right arm outstretched on the counter nearby, acting as a balancing beam for his head.

I couldn’t help but ask him if he was ok. His sorrowful reply caught me completely off guard.

“I keep making bad decisions.”

I quickly turned away so that he wouldn’t hear me chuckle. This precious child was waiting to speak with our Head of Lower School about his behavior and making better choices.

This incident took place several years ago, but it truly encapsulates the Christ-centered environment of King’s Ridge Christian School. It is a place, a community, where children learn about who they are, their purpose, and the expectations of how we treat one another, and it starts with everyone partnering together to serve our Father by serving each other.

So what does it mean “to serve each other”? Each issue of BE STILL is filled with countless ways our community students, faculty, staff, parents, board of trustees, and alumni - come together for the benefit of our students.

But photos and articles can only convey so much. The intangible moments that happen every day at KRCS are the ones that genuinely demonstrate how we serve one another: a fist bump between a teacher and a student in a hallway, carrying a friend’s backpack or a teacher’s lunch plate because they are on crutches, surprising a colleague with their favorite candy just because, or stopping what you’re doing to find out why someone’s response of “I’m good” doesn’t match the look in their eyes.

And yes, it’s also taking the time to discuss their “bad decisions” with a five-year-old with love and support. Ultimately, it’s because we are here to serve one another with excellence in all that God has called us to do.

Michelle Azzi Director of Communications

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Contents 04 06

LETTER FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL

TO KNOW

30 42 TO SERVE

58 WHY KRCS?

TO BELIEVE

Letter From Head of School I am excited about our King’s Ridge Christian School plan for progress because I am energized about what it means for the future; a future that will not wait.

We live in a fast-paced age where the magnitude of distractions has significantly grown, especially in the last few years, and no one feels that more than our kids. Unfortunately, social media in particular has negatively impacted our younger generation more than anything, from mental and emotional health issues to safety and privacy concerns.

Meanwhile, real life is happening, and we’re too busy looking at our phones to notice. That’s why it is so vital that even more young people have the chance to put such distractions aside and discover the joy of becoming all God wants them to be.

This is also a major argument for the value of a Christian school, for where else can a child discover they are made in the image of God, empowered to fulfill His plans and purposes?

King’s Ridge Christian School does that and more by preparing the next generation in their areas of interest and giftedness. In raising them up, we make a wonderful difference in a world we will pass through but once.

The need is urgent, and the time is now. Every day we wait represents another child we could lose. And I am certain there is no one better situated to prevent that than a Christian educator.

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Recall an influential teacher from your past. What if they hadn’t been there to say “I see you?” What would your life be like now if that chance were missed? If someone special hadn’t been there for you?

Someone who, by the way, is not in it for fame and fortune.

I think of Billy Graham’s Sunday school teacher. Do you know who it was?

But I guarantee you, if that teacher had not been there to lead Billy Graham to Christ, Billy Graham would never have led billions to do the same.

I’m not saying your child or grandchild will be a global evangelist, but I do promise that – at King’s Ridge Christian School – we will make the most of every teachable moment in their lives for the success of our students and the glory of God. It might happen in Bible class or in a chemistry lab, onstage or on the basketball court. One of those memorable moments that change the course of a child’s life. You just never know. And as God moves, that’s the wonder of it.

To God be the glory!

Dr. Jeff D. Williams Head of School

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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

GOD IS GOOD Prefect Letters This past July, the seven selected Prefects for the 2021-2022 school year traveled to Aspen, Colorado, to spend five days and four nights in the wilderness. This trip challenged the rising seniors to grow as leaders, depend upon the others as a team, and strengthen their faith in the Lord. The Prefects were led by Dr. Jeff D. Williams, Head of School, and accompanied by faculty members Bo Towns, Director of Christian Life, and Kaile Carroll, Upper School Christian Education teacher.

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Hudson Zawodzinski ACADEMIC PREFECT

When I think back to the Prefect trip in July, I start with our time at the airport. Will Strain and I got there early to help carry and check bags, and as everyone started to show up, you could feel the excitement in the air. Will’s older sister Bonnie, who was a Prefect last year, gave us words of encouragement and wished she could relive the trip we were about to embark on. Once we got there, it was incredibly exciting but nerve-wracking; I had no idea what to expect.

One memory I will vividly remember for the rest of my life is waking up on the third morning of the trip, walking outside, and seeing Snowmass Lake sitting completely still. The reflection was breathtaking and mesmerizing. It truly looked as if the mountain just kept going down. The water was absolutely still, and I was yet again reminded of how blessed we are to see God’s creation every day, whether it be Snowmass Lake or something as simple as a sunset here in Alpharetta, Georgia.

The connections I made on this trip meant more than anything else, and they will truly last a lifetime. After a long day of carrying 40 to 50 pounds of supplies in our backpacks and hiking upwards of 10 miles, we all found the energy to make each other laugh and enjoy our time at camp. Getting off the mountain and onto the bus back home was a bittersweet moment. While I was excited to eat a burger and get a shower, I understood that I might never have an experience like that again in my entire life. To this day, I think back to my time on the mountain and pray I could have the peace, simplicity, and comfort I had on the trip.

Makena Pearce ADMISSIONS PREFECT

Going on the Prefect trip was one of the scariest yet most rewarding experiences I have ever partaken in. Despite the chronic leg pain and lingering injuries from my previous surgery several years ago, the Prefects, Dr. Williams, Mr. Towns, and Mrs. Carroll never made me feel like I was a burden on this trip. Instead, their constant support and affirmations helped me to believe in myself and persevere through every pass within those 50 miles we hiked.

“God is good,” Dr. Williams would shout to us after we had finished a rough switchback. With smiling faces and a sigh of relief, we would all reply with “all the time!” This saying and every bit of this trip was a reminder of the power of the Lord and His endless love for each of us. The bonds created on that trip are like no other, and I will treasure those throughout college and the rest of my life. Whether it be through the laughter we shared, the switchbacks we persevered through, or the nightly devotions we each led, every moment of this trip was irreplaceable and will forever be treasured.

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Will Strain HEAD PREFECT

The Prefect trip to Snowmass, Colorado, was an unmatchable life-changing experience. In addition to getting to know my fellow Prefects, Dr. Williams, Mr. Towns, and Mrs. Carroll, I got to know God on a personal level. I specifically remember the pure beauty of the mountain landscape. Living around Alpharetta, I have become accustomed to cars, people, and other aspects of human life. However, once I was in the wilderness, I got to experience breathtaking views, extraordinary heights, crystal clear water, and new animals that I had never seen before. These experiences allowed me to truly see how beautiful a place God has created for us to live in. I felt as if nature was pulling me toward Christ.

The lack of phones and distractions on the trip furthered my relationship with Christ as well. A few hours into the trip, I realized how much time I had wasted on my phone or occupied with other tasks. Lacking an agenda allowed me to sit, think, and understand what God had done for me, giving me a greater appreciation for God’s love and growing my faith. To conclude, the trip allowed me to identify the extent of God’s love for humanity and focus on my relationship with Christ.

Olivia Melnikoff PUBLICITY PREFECT

For me, the most intimidating responsibility that came with being a Prefect was the hiking trip. I had never been away from home before, and I was terrified of flying.

Excited for the trip but also very overwhelmed, I tried to hide what I was feeling from the others until I couldn’t any longer. The night before we set out for the mountain, we talked about how vulnerability brings us closer together and how when someone is vulnerable, others can see who that person really is, and trust grows. I was confident and knew that I could trust the six others and the leaders from then on.

The first day out, we hiked over 10 miles. It was strenuous and intimidating, but I learned two things in those four short hours. The first was that I was not hiking up the mountain alone - I had God helping me every step of the way.

The second was I learned not to give up. I kept my mind busy by thinking about how this mountain represented the mountains in life that we must climb sometimes.

I had known most of the Prefects for many years, but I grew closer to them in those two days than I did in five years.

Unfortunately, I had to come back down on the second day due to a migraine, and it broke my heart. I didn’t want to leave my team behind. I wanted to make those memories with them, but I learned that the right decision isn’t always easy. I often listened to my heart more than my head before this trip, but that day taught me to use both even when they disagree. Their efforts to lift my spirit will always shine brighter in my memory than anything else.

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Haley Wilkinson SERVICE PREFECT

As I reflect on the trip to Colorado, I realize how much I learned about myself and grew closer to the other Prefects. Before the trip, I remember feeling overwhelmed and anxious about how it would go, but now I will forever cherish the trip and the relationships that grew during it. The day we got to Colorado, we all got to walk around Aspen. I remember the seven of us getting dinner, and we couldn’t stop laughing and talking. That seemed to be a common theme for the trip; no matter what happened or how we were feeling, I knew I could always count on the other Prefects to make me laugh.

I may have downplayed the amount of hiking the trip would entail, but my expectations were set straight after the first day. The hiking was not easy, but everyone encouraged everyone, and when someone was tired, we would all stop together. Nothing was more rewarding than reaching the top of Buckskin Pass on the fourth day. I will never forget how excited we all were. We had finally done it, and we did it as a team.

As we sat up there and ate lunch together one last time before getting off the mountain, I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that we had hiked as far as we had. We headed down to the campsite that day, and it started to rain.

Though we were all in our tents, we were playing 20 questions and enjoying every minute. I miss how in the moment I felt during that trip; there were no distractions, just us. I will never forget the bonds formed, and it will serve as encouragement that the tough moments don’t last forever and you will reach the top of the mountain.

Alexa Aaron STUDENT LIFE PREFECT

Going into the Prefect trip, I was anxious and had no idea what to expect. I had always loved hiking and the outdoors, but I had never done anything as extreme before. Also, the idea of leaving my phone behind and disconnecting from my friends and family was extremely discomforting. However, my worries immediately began to fade when I realized that all seven of us were in it together. Because we were all thrown out of our comfort zones, we all became much closer than we already were.

All five days were filled with laughter and making memories. Some of my favorite memories include losing track of time by sitting and talking with the group for hours on end, swimming in Snowmass Lake, and the rewarding feeling of reaching the top of Buckskin Pass. Although there were times when I began to doubt my ability to keep going, it was comforting to know that I was not alone. I learned countless lessons that I will take with me throughout my life, including the importance of leaning on those around me.

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Danielle Adler UNITY PREFECT

When you take seven teenagers and place them somewhere that is unknown to them, leaving all communication and comfort behind, there is no telling what their response could be. We could not have predicted how much our upcoming journey would teach us about ourselves, shape our leadership, and strengthen our bonds. I and a few others in our group found ourselves pushing physical boundaries that we had never imagined we could reach. Hiking 10 miles a day in the thin Colorado air with 30-50 pounds on our backs sounds hard enough, but actually engaging in this managed to surpass what I expected. I considered myself to be relatively in shape, but that mountain laughed at my definition of “in shape.” I can say with confidence that I could not have hiked that mountain on my own. However, having my peers and friends there pushed me beyond what I could ever do alone.

Most of the time, the boys, who could have easily gone ahead and finished long before us, would stay in the back to keep pace with the rest of us and encourage us to keep pushing ourselves. We were already a pretty tightly knit group, but I cannot even describe how close this experience brought us. The comfort level we all gained with each other and the many stories that will bind us for the rest of our lives is indescribable and truly amazing. We learned to lean on each other in times of need, always build each other up, never be afraid to ask for help, and always be the first to step in when the need arises.

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TrustThe Timing of YOUR Life

KRCSEvents

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Lower School Meet & Greet First Day of School Love ALL, Ladies Tiger Tennis Open or Craft Event Upper School Retreats

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Pinwheels for Peace Jr. Tiger Night New Family Tailgate Convocation

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Breakfast for Parent Connectors 5th Grade Science Fair 3rd Grade Musical Lower School Book Fair & Parade

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Cape Day for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta 4th Grade Colonial Day Middle School “Most Spirited” Award Day Braves Day

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Homecoming ​​(Parade, Pep Rally, KRCS Faculty/Alumni BBQ, Court)

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Middle School Favorite Book or Movie Character Day Upper School Musical - Les Misérables Middle School Class Trips Rising 9th Grade Expo

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Operation Christmas Child Grandparents & Grandfriends Day Upper School Day of Service Christmas at the Ridge

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KRCS Counseling Upper School

An Intentional Balancing Act At times students can become single-minded, focusing only on academics. While good grades are certainly an important goal for every student and a key to college admissions, grade point averages should not define students nor consume every waking hour. A life filled only with textbooks, essays, and standardized tests is not spiritually meaningful, socially purposeful, or physically healthy. Thus, as a college preparatory school, King’s Ridge Christian School strives to provide students with rigorous academic preparation as well as social, spiritual, and physical fulfillment, which are all necessary for college and life beyond.

Research supports this call for students to live a balanced life. According to the Johns Hopkins Student Assistance Program, “Students often prioritize academics at the expense of personal factors, including relationships and exercise. This can lead to a decline in academic performance, as general health and well-being are critical to optimal academic functioning.”

Perhaps most surprising is that college admissions departments tell counselors that a high school resume filled only with academic accolades is not what they seek in applicants.

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As such, the Upper School counseling department at KRCS focuses on developing the whole child: one who successfully balances academics, extra-curricular interests, the arts, a spiritual relationship with Christ, and athletic pursuits. Counselors educate students on the importance of being well-rounded and how to create balance within academics and social, spiritual, and physical health.

To do this, KRCS counselors work with students on four key areas, thus ensuring that students attain their postsecondary goals. These four areas are: • • • •

Guiding academic choices, Supporting academic achievement, Developing social and emotional well-being, and Initiating, supporting, and managing college planning and applications.

Through one-on-one meetings, small group advisement lessons, large group presentations, family conferences, and daily informal settings, counselors seek to know each of the students as individuals through their unique talents, aspirations, struggles, and strengths. Counselors act as guides, encouraging students to build resiliency, selfconfidence, and independence, qualities that are crucial for success in college and beyond.

During the 2022 spring semester, students will select courses for the 2022-2023 school year. Counselors and teachers will both play a crucial role in helping students make well-informed, intentional academic choices that match their interests and strengths as well as helping them achieve their college goals.

At the same time, counselors will emphasize the importance of being involved in extracurricular activities, athletics, and community service in order to create a balanced school year that builds intellect, spirit, and body. The KRCS counseling team truly believes that the well-balanced student is best prepared “to know, to serve, and to believe” now and in the future.

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KRCSAthletics

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Middle School Cross Country, Coach Shelby Pope Some of our favorite moments were seeing how the athletes would get nervous and then talk it out with each other and laugh to get it all out. We enjoyed talking and joking with them to comfort and calm them before their races. One of our favorite memories of our top runner, William Smith (8th grade), was seeing him running behind the first-place athlete in one of our last races. He had fought all season to work his way up the top 10 and then to number 1.

We remember seeing him at about the 1.2-mile mark having this feeling that this was his race, and he was running strong and determined. One of the coaches stayed at the 1.5-mile mark to tell him how close the finish was and then proceeded to sprint to the finish to meet William there! We got to proudly watch him round the corner in first place after overtaking the other runner. Filled with excitement and pride, we got to watch him meet with his parents and celebrate with them. We love seeing our families at meets, and it means so much to the kids when their parents show up to watch. This season was great, full of personal records, Jesus talks, and team bonding!

Middle School Football, Coach Pat Sullivan We had a great season from a development perspective and a wins-losses perspective. We had the same team (for the most part) from the previous season, with the addition of some very promising players. The team’s record was 7-1, and we outscored our opponents 24024 for the season. The future is bright for this team. It’s a great group of boys, families, and coaches!

Middle School 5th/6th Grade Cheerleading, Coach Maria Fessler The 5th and 6th grade cheerleaders left it all on the football field this fall season! They exuded school spirit during every football game and cheered the football team to an almost undefeated season. They led the KR fans in many chants; they tumbled and stunted. All their hard work shone brightly every time they stepped out, not only on the sidelines but also during their halftime routines. King’s Ridge is blessed to have this group of young girls leading the school in kindness and love. Paws up, Tigers!

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Middle School 7th/8th Cheerleading, Coach Brenda Bowman The Middle School Cheerleading squad for the 8th and 9th grade football team ended successfully, and though they cheered through three games in the rain and the rest in the heat, that didn’t stop our spirited young ladies. We started the season by attending a cheer facility in Duluth to work with professionals on tumbling, choreography, and stunting. The team was composed of six girls who combined with the 5th/6th grade squad towards the end of the season to finish out the year strong and cheer on their classmates.

Although we started the season with only five girls, we added another girl a month into the season - which was a blessing as she ended up becoming our main fly. We ended the season with no injuries and a lifetime of memories, and all of this year’s cheerleaders are committed to coming back next year to cheer again!

Middle School Softball, Eric Swegman The Middle School Softball team was loaded with brand new faces this year, and many of them were firsttime softball players. But, as a team and individually, they improved tremendously throughout the season.

The team was composed primarily of 5th and 6th graders while our opponents were primarily 7th and 8th graders.

Our girls competed extremely hard in each and every game. I couldn’t be more proud of a group of players than I am of this team. Next season can’t get here soon enough!

Middle School Volleyball (White Team), Coach Landyn Foxworthy This team’s display of teamwork and communication was the key to success throughout the season! The girls’ love for volleyball and each other showed each time they were on the court together. We are so proud of their hard work and dedication to the sport throughout the season. This was a season of growth, and we cannot wait to see what is in store for the future with King’s Ridge Volleyball.

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Middle School Volleyball (Purple Team), Coach Leigh Denard As a coach, I am so impressed with this group of girls! They started the year not knowing much about volleyball; many had never played before. However, with lots of hard work at practice, these girls got better every time they touched the court. Through their hard work and dedication to the sport, they grew tremendously throughout the season, not only as a team but also individually. They approached each day with a positive attitude and love for one another. It was such a blessing to be a part of their experience. I am looking forward to watching them continue to grow next year and beyond. Go Tigers!

Varsity Football, Coach Terry Crowder The start of the 2021 season had the Tigers on the road for the first three consecutive games, but we were able to come out with a 2-1 start. The next two home games were well fought but lost in close contests to Darlington and Mt. Paran. A rash of player injuries started with the Darlington game, and the season ended with the East Forsyth game, where the Tigers had lost nine starting players. However, the Tigers were able to finish the season with a 44-0 win over East Forsyth to end the season 4-6. School spirit was incredible this season, which was so fun to be a part of.

This was an awesome group of young men.

Varsity Cheerleading, Coaches Kaile Carroll and Katie Layton If we had to choose one word to describe the 2021 Varsity Cheerleading season, it would be excitement!

The return to normalcy - fans cheering in the stands and a packed student section to cheer with - brought palpable joy to each game day. We are so proud of the way the girls went all out in their enthusiasm for their sport, for spirit days at school, and then for the Tigers on the field on Friday nights. We incorporated new material and had so much fun sharing that material with our student body during pep rallies. More than anything else, we are proud of the character we saw develop in our girls this year and hope above all that they continue to pursue Christ in glorifying Him through cheerleading.

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Varsity/JV Cross Country, Coaches Karen Coleman and Garrett Adams This Cross Country season at King’s Ridge, we focused on building off of the great success our team had the previous year. This summer, we ran together and spent many early mornings getting our practice in before school. The year started strong for us, with the summer miles paying off in substantial personal bests for many of our athletes. We were plagued with injuries towards the middle of the season, which tested us mightily. However, in the end we had a competitive region race that resulted in Isaac Martin qualifying for the State Championship race in Carrollton, Georgia, where he would ultimately place 12th in the state for 1A Private as a junior! This year, our top female runner was Lia Thomas, who was new to the sport but still managed to run near-record times for our school’s program. We are thankful for all our parents, coaches, and athletes and are looking forward to a great season next year!

Varsity/JV Volleyball, Coach AJ Jones Varsity Volleyball had the most successful season in school history with 14 wins – a program record! Most notably, one of these wins included beating our across the street 6A rival, Cambridge High School, as well as another 6A school, Sprayberry High School. Varsity had two players who reached the 500 career digs mark (first time in school history) and had three athletes make 1st team All Region: Laney Burke, Lily Kuck, and Rafa Wenceslau. Most recently, senior Kate Ares committed to play collegiate volleyball at Bates College in Maine, another first for King’s Ridge Volleyball. Overall, it was a fantastic season for our team with great promise for the years to come!

JV Volleyball was composed of mostly 8th graders and a few freshmen. With this being a younger team, they showed a lot of promise. They had a nearly .500 season playing against true JV teams with girls almost two years older than most of them, and by the end of the season, they were beating teams they had previously lost to. They will bring a lot of talent and volleyball IQ to high school next year!

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Varsity Softball, Coach Tim Todd The season was a strong step in the right direction for the program after not fielding a Varsity team in 2020.

A team of freshmen and sophomores primarily with nine returning players from the previous year, they held their own in the Area with the eventual State RunnerUp and Champion. The team finished 5th in the Area and was one game away from making it to the State Tournament. Emerson Jackson and Amy Stefanowicz led the way offensively and on the mound throughout the season, as well as earning 2nd Team All-Area.

Annika Smith at third base, Avery Adkin at shortstop, and Saylor Adamski as catcher led a defense that improved with every game. Our program will continue to grow, as shown by the 18 players currently on the Middle School team who will build on what this team has started.

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

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Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Grab Hold of the Baton and Carry On “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” many.” – Mark 10:45 The year was 1941, and the news of Pearl Harbor moved in lockstep with Japanese troops entering Indonesia. For my grandparents, David and Helen Morken, who were missionaries in Sumatra, the waves of radio reports about World War II were now impending footsteps at their door. Danger was imminent. Grabbing only a few items of clothes, a baby book, their Bible, a wooden ink blotter, and some unwashed silverware, they fled with my mom, who was five, and her two-year-old sister. Thanks to the American Embassy, they were able to board a ship called the President Madison, the last American boat to leave Java. Along the way, they often sang a familiar tune with added lyrics by my grandfather: “Jesus is a wonderful Savior, He will carry you through...Until the battle’s done and the victory is won, my Lord will carry you through. O my precious brother, when the world’s on fire, you’ll need Jesus to be your Savior. He’ll hide you ever in the Rock of Ages…just cleft for you.”

These lyrics came to life as they zigzagged through torpedo-infested oceans and entered ports marked by wreckage and floating debris.

The treasured words would remind them of the hope they had in Christ – their true lifeline. These words also rang true for their missionary friends who stayed behind in Sumatra – all of whom were eventually placed in Japanese war camps. The fate of those who had boarded the earlier ships was far worse. The three other ships which set sail that night in Sumatra were torpedoed by the Japanese and sunk to the bottom of the Sunda Straits. Each of these followers of Christ embarked on their separate journeys, not knowing whether they would live or die, yet they all trusted Christ as the true anchor of their souls. In Him they rested. They rested on the promises of God, knowing that they served a wonderful Savior that would carry them through. It was with this assurance that my grandparents took their two young children into the dark waters.

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Without a convoy, even Captain Nielson of the Madison sensed they were not alone. He did his best to prepare by having his crew paint the entire ship gray; they made a wooden anti-submarine gun as a decoy. Once all passengers were aboard, Nielson and crew set out with a top speed of no more than 8 knots per hour. In the dead of night, my grandfather was sitting on a deck chair when, without warning, his eyes were opened to a world unseen, and his adrenaline flooded with light. It was a submarine! In an instant all wrapped up into one, his life flashed before him, and just as quickly, the light was gone. Fortunately, the submarine turned out to be one of our own that surfaced to identify the ship, but those on board faced these natural fears day by day and moment by moment. For my grandparents and for many more, these fears would be tempered and subsided by light. For although the enemy lurked in the dark waters below, my grandparents knew they were at peace with God – no longer enemies of God because Christ had died for them. So, just as Jesus calmed the storm of the Sea of Galilee, God whispered to this sweet family’s bulging heart – be still, and it was still, and there was air – the breath of God. For as Paul says in Romans 8:31, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

This perfect peace, a gift, could also be seen in the trusting, simple eyes of my mom, Andrea. Often, they would have lifeboat drills during the day. Never at night. One night, my grandfather jumped up to the sound of submarine alarms going off and proceeded to put on the lifebelts. By the time he reached my mom, he feared the worst, but a hand reached into his. Wide awake and giggling, my mom said, “Oh Daddy, isn’t this fun? We’ve never had one at night like this before!” My mom has often shared this story as a reminder that there is no greater place to be than in the hands of the Father. What a great reminder of Jesus’ own words recorded in John 10:28-29, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

The submarine alarm that night turned out to be an unexpected drill. By morning, the pianos on board played, “Jesus is a wonderful Savior, He will carry you through.”

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My grandfather never expected to get through safely, physically. No one back home knew if they were dead or alive; if the ship was still afloat or gone; none but God. The captain received news that two ships near them were sunk.

The question, “Would they be the next?”, was finally answered when the Madison came through the dark fog of three grueling months. At last, they could see the Statue of Liberty. My grandfather later recounted, “No one that I remember cheered; there was no laughter or tears. It seemed like we were completely satiated and spent emotionally.

We were numb.”

Magazine headlines later read, “Ghost Ship Arrives” and “Lost Ship Arrives.” A pastor days later introduced my grandparents to an audience, describing them as castaways who had lost everything. When my grandmother had the opportunity to speak, she said, “I have been sitting here trying to remember what we lost, and I’ve decided we did not lose anything of value! All that we invested in Sumatra was in the lives of people – men and women and children were converted and brought to the Lord Jesus Christ. They belong to Him; we belong to each other.

The Japanese, all the armies of earth and hell could never take those treasures away. So, we really have not lost a thing!”

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We, too, will face our own “torpedo-infested waters” and ideologies that bleed out man’s inhumanity to man, but we must remember that Christ has already won. In John 16:33, Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” The prior generations have given us a lasting legacy to continue on – to know, to believe, and to serve Christ no matter the circumstance.

Therefore, be prepared to answer the call to love God and love others. Seek and speak “the Truth,” not “my truth.”

Rest in His promises. Build on Christ’s foundation, not the temporal things of this world. Remember the good news of great joy told in Luke 2:10-11: “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

And with that, take hold of the baton passed on to us and run with endurance – unashamed of the Gospel – for we too have a wonderful Savior who will carry us through.

Amy Helm Christian Education Teacher

The Morken family continued their missionary service in Shanghai, China, and were rescued once again by Captain Nielson following the communist occupation and city arrest. After their evacuation, they served as missionaries in Japan, India, and Hong Kong, with various stints throughout Asia and Europe before retiring to pastor a church in Colorado. March 28, 2022, will mark the 80th anniversary when the ghost ship, President Madison, glided by the Statue of Liberty.

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KRCS Parent

Connectors

Connecting and Building Community The past few years have been unlike anything most of us have experienced, particularly in education and the workforce. In 2020-2021, during the early phase of the pandemic, we were able to begin the school year with 756 students, of which 165 were new. By the end of the year, we had enrolled 210 new students.

At a time when the world seemed to shut down, we thrived. People redirected their priorities, and to many, in-person education and newfound friends became the priority. The frequent question was, “How do you build community when only children are allowed in the buildings?” Our Parent Connectors played a vital role in welcoming our new students and their parents to KRCS. These incredible volunteers invited families to the park for picnics, to their homes for swim parties, met them for coffee, and so much more. They went above and beyond to reach out to every new family to make them feel a part of something special.

This blessing has kept our Parent Connectors quite busy. With heartfelt gratitude, we thank them for being ambassadors of our mission, connecting our community, and positively influencing campus. Their commitment to King’s Ridge and our families has been priceless, especially when relationships are so meaningful and essential.

Lower School Lead Parent Connector: Kaylan Lewis • Pre-Kindergarten – Janie Halverson and Lisa Sullivan • Kindergarten – Megan Dancey and Mary Kennon Lewis • 1st Grade – Jennifer Henson and Dr. Leigh Ann Patel • 2nd Grade – Stacie Trottier and Dr. Sonya Windham-Wilder • 3rd Grade – Amy Jenkins and Kaylan Lewis • 4th Grade – Kristina Brinkman and Lyn Thomas

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Middle School Lead Parent Connector: Kristin Kohrman • 5th Grade – Kaylan Lewis and Abigail Whittle • 6th Grade – Dr. Anita French and Kristi Zito • 7th Grade – Kristin Kohrman and Jacquie Segars • 8th Grade – Dr. Anita French and Allyson Jacobi Upper School Lead Parent Connectors: Carolyn Kester and Katie Stewart • 9th Grade – Shawn Martin and Katie Stewart • 10th Grade – Lisa Caudill and Holly Lucenay • 11th Grade – Dawn Ackerman and Carolyn Kester • 12th Grade – Cheryl Adkin and Stephanie Powell As of December 2021, we have completed enrollment of 838 students, of which 189 are new and are still enrolling!

For the first time in the history of admissions, we have already accepted 21 Pre-K students and 24 new applicants for kindergarten for the 2022-2023 school year. We have added a class in almost every grade level in the Lower School and have enjoyed touring families seeking Pre-K entry for 2023 and 2024. So many grade levels on campus are full, yet the phone continues to ring. To God be the glory!

We give thanks to each of you for entrusting your most precious gift with us: your children. May 2022 be a year filled with newfound friends and blessings abound. May God continue to lead families to King’s Ridge so that we may grow as a Christian community.

Shuntel Beach Director of Admissions

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Looking Back

As a child, I was the “librarian” of my parents’ bookshelves, and my sisters and friends were the patrons. I loved cataloging the books, stamping them with my mother’s sewing machine pedal, and then returning them to the laundry basket, aka the book return.

When I look back, it surprises me that I never thought of pursuing a career as a librarian. After college, I was an Education Consultant and then a Sales Manager in the corporate training and performance improvement consulting industry for 18 years. I was often away on business trips, so in 2000 I decided it was time to quit.

I then spent many Sundays in church asking God to point me in the right direction and to show me what was next.

When my neighbor hosted one of the first community meetings about the Advancement for Christian Education (ACE), I walked across the road and heard about the school they were looking to start – King’s Ridge Christian School.

I had a new mission: help ACE secure their land on Freemanville Road. I wanted our daughter Erin at that school! I went door to door to get a petition signed and felt very special when John Smoltz (founding member of Board of Trustees, past Board Chair, and MLB Hall of Famer) called me to say thank you. I attended community hearings at the Atlanta courthouse and talked up ACE and then King’s Ridge whenever I could.

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Fast forward to September 2001; Erin started fifth grade in the former grocery store I used to shop at, and I joined as one of the volunteers who were developing a library for King’s Ridge. A few months later, I sat in a parent meeting and heard Barbara Adler, our first headmaster, announce that the next hire would be a librarian. Finally, the light went on – I can be a librarian! Thank you, God, I am listening!

Mrs. Adler was incredibly supportive, and the plan was for me to start as the librarian while also returning to school for a Master’s degree in School Library Media. Then I did some research. I turned down the position since I heard it would be a tremendous amount of work, especially with two young children at home. Barbara Adler’s serendipitous answer was, “No, we can do this.” My response (with my prepared list of reasons why I couldn’t in my lap) was, “Oh, okay.” Thank you, Barbara, for your faith in me and those five words!

We were able to bring our son Nick to King’s Ridge the following year. The final reinforcement that God had me in the right place was that the property that was finally chosen to be the permanent home for King’s Ridge Christian School wasn’t on Freemanville Road, but, instead, on Bethany Bend – right around the corner from where we live.

Oh, how I love being the librarian at King’s Ridge! I love books, bookstores, and libraries, but most of all, I love watching our students’ excitement when they find a ‘just right’ book.

Sue Borain Librarian

My husband Simon and I grew up in South Africa. However, we have lived in America since 1986 and are proud to be American citizens. We have two adult children, Erin and Nick, a son-in-law Jacob, and a perfect grandchild, Emmett.

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Thank You ONE Sponsors

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Fine Arts Sponsors

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TO

BE LIE VE

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Mark 11:24

10 Things You Don’t Know About Me KAREN COLEMAN

CHRIS CONRAD

Operations Administrator

I am from New York.

I graduated from the University of Scranton with a bachelor’s degree in business communication.

I have lived in Georgia for 21 years.

I am the third of four girls in my family.

My husband Michael and I have been married for 21 years.

After Care Director

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3 4 5

I love watching my boys play golf.

6 7

I have a 12-year-old golden retriever named Bailey.

8

We have two sons – Ryan is 19 and Jimmy is 17.

Love football – College and the NFL! I worked as a DJ at my college radio station.

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9 10

I was born in Germany and lived almost half of my life there.

I met my husband while working for his sister on a one-year au pair visa. One month later, I returned to America to marry him, and our wedding ceremony was on the “Spirit of Charleston” on a sunset cruise in the Charleston harbor.

My favorite shopping trips are to shoe stores.

I have been working at KRCS for 17 years.

My daily driver – my beloved Fiat 500C Cabriolet – is a stick shift. Also, learning to drive a stick was required of each of my three kids before getting their driver’s license.

I have eight chickens that live in my front yard.

Before moving to America, I was formally trained and employed as a Physician Assistant.

My dream vacation destination is my mother’s kitchen in northern Germany, eating German potato salad and wiener schnitzel, BUT… I hate to fly!

My favorite movie is “You’ve Got Mail.”

DEBBIE RITCHIE

DAWN WEBER

Business Office, Accountant

I grew up in Wisconsin.

I have four siblings, and I am an Irish twin.

I graduated from the University of WisconsinWhitewater with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

My co-worker, Jen Cook, went to the same university.

After I got married, we moved to North Dakota and lived there for three years.

I have lived in six states (Georgia, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin).

My husband and I have two children and four grandchildren, with another on the way.

I love the beach.

I love to cook and bake.

I am a greeter at North Point Community Church.

(1 to r) Dawn Weber, Debbie Ritchie, Chris Conrad, Karen Coleman

Lead Nurse

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I was born and raised in southeastern New Jersey.

I have a Master of Science degree in Nursing from Georgia State University and maintain my certification as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

I managed the wrestling team during my undergraduate years at Clemson University.

My son Max attended King’s Ridge from Pre-First through 12th grade.

I began working for KRCS when the school was in the former grocery store, and the clinic was behind a partition in the lobby.

We adopted our dog Gus, a Bichon Poodle, nine years ago. I also love goats!

I have been married to my amazing husband, Mike, for 31 years.

February 2022 will mark my 4th year as a breast cancer survivor.

I own a small business: Chuchie’s Custom Cookies.

My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

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KRCS

Fine Arts

They Dreamed a Dream Musical theater is an immense and complex subject with a rich history. Music, words, staging, dance, sets, and lighting are all crucial elements that work synergistically but are typically created by different people.

So how does the KRCS Fine Arts department accomplish this impressive feat each year with its Upper School musical? This year’s masterpiece was Les Misérables, the world’s longest-running musical, which was a massive undertaking due to the talent required to achieve such a vocally challenging production. For a private, independent Christian school to attempt a show of this magnitude is nothing short of miraculous.

Let’s rewind to the beginning and examine the fine-tuned process the award-winning Fine Arts department employs to achieve its ambitious goals. We spoke with Holly Krig-Smith (Director of Fine Arts), Kathy Winchell (Director), Jenny Piacente (Music Director), Annie Dietz (Choreographer), Kathy Burns (Scenic Designer), Keith Allen (Set Construction), and Michele Kendrick (Head Costume Designer) to unpack everything that goes into making a King’s Ridge Christian School musical performance.

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Step 1 – Choosing the Production Holly Krig-Smith: We have THE Dream Team for Artistic Direction. Kathy Winchell, Jenny Piacente, Annie Dietz, and I work together to choose the show each year. With the level of vocal talent at KRCS right now, selecting a musical to showcase that talent was an enormous part of selecting Les Misérables. Having the depth of vocal skill and having Joel Terning as Assistant Music Director has been a game-changer. Joel worked with the show’s male cast members for months, which was evident in the quality of the result.

Step 2 – The Auditions Kathy Winchell is very involved in the auditioning process as she teaches drama to both Middle and Upper School students. This is beneficial in her awareness of upcoming talent in the freshman class, but Kathy also looks at new students transferring to KRCS. Kathy Winchell: Choosing the cast during auditions is my favorite part of the entire process. I give the students scripts to read (called sides), and Jenny provides music cuts to sing.

Holly Krig-Smith: We are always surprised at how each student does, and we never have any preconceived idea of who will get each role.

Kathy Winchell: Winchell: Five new KRCS students were cast in the musical this year. One fun example – when Samantha Codrington’s family toured KRCS last spring, she learned about the Fine Arts department. She then decided to attend KRCS and audition for Les Miz. Samantha ultimately won the role of Fantine, and she was thrilled to be involved with the talented cast and crew of this production.

Step 3 – The Set Design Set design is a collaborative endeavor with Keith Allen, Kathy Burns, and Kathy Winchell. Once the final decision has been made on the musical choice, Kathy Winchell has a general idea of what she’s liked in other productions and will give Keith and Kathy photos of those sets. They will then derive ideas from those images.

Kathy Burns: I take Kathy Winchell’s ideas and begin on the schematic drawings for the set and size measurements for the set pieces, taking into account what will move around easily on the parameters of the stage. Consideration is also given to how it will fit in trucks to take to ThesCon (the annual Georgia Thespian Conference held in Columbus, GA) and the Shuler Hensley Awards (the Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards) if the cast is invited to perform there.

Kathy Winchell: Keith Allen is a huge part of the set design, and unfortunately for him, he has shown us that he can do just about anything, so we now think more elaborately than we used to.

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Keith Allen: There There were some difficulties in building the Les Misérables set due to the specific blocking involved.

After Kathy Burns gave me her drawings, I made another set to give to Manuel Banderas, Bennie Martinez, and Jesus Guillen, my construction crew. The four of us then built everything in my woodworking shop located in Jasper, GA. They constructed most of the larger pieces while I tackled the more detailed, intricate work.

After the set pieces are built, painting them is a very integral and artistic process. Sometimes the pieces are painted first, then put together, and sometimes the reverse.

Keith Allen: All the artistic painting is done by Kathy Burns. She’s exceptionally talented in this area.

Kathy Burns: Eden Kiewiet (9th grade) emailed me several times beforehand about wanting to help with painting the set. We set up a couple of times for her to help paint a stairway together. She did a great job, and I appreciated her assistance and proactive approach in contacting me about wanting to help with the set!

In September, the set was taken to the KRCS Student Center for the final assembly. Each piece had to be small enough to fit through the 6’ wide and 7’ high doors. The assembly process on the stage takes a few days, and then further modifications need to be made where miscalculations on paper didn’t necessarily work on the actual stage.

Step 4 – Voice Rehearsals There is very little dialogue in Les Misérables as most of the numbers are sung, and Jenny Piacente spoke of how this works in favor of the cast since it’s easier to memorize lines when they’re set to music.

Jenny Piacente: After I receive the tracks for the score, I then decide how to make edits that will work with the show’s cast.

Holly is involved with the licensing duties of the tracks, while Joel Terning and I work with editing, cutting, and splicing the tracks until they match the vocal talent of the cast. This is a very long process, so a great deal of it is done during the summer.

Due to the impressive vocals needed to master the musical numbers, cast members needed to engage in private lessons to reach the capacity necessary for the show.

Holly Krig-Smith: They didn’t mind because Les Misérables is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a student and a director.

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Step 5 – Costume Design Michele Kendrick: I love working with the kids so much. I don’t have kids at KRCS anymore, but I volunteer to be part of this incredible Fine Arts department. The musical process kicks off each year with a phone call from Kathy Winchell: “What do you think about…” I then watch the Broadway version of the selected musical and the movie version, if applicable, and take notes on the costumes and every detail that goes into the style of that period. I can find period costumes in many different places, but I always start with Goodwill. I then scour historical websites, military websites, and other online stores to buy period costumes.

Michele is also adept at sewing and alterations. In addition, she has many trade tricks; for instance, to “dirty up” clothes for battle scenes, she uses various substances, such as cinnamon, paprika, cocoa powder, shoe polish, scissors, and sometimes matches!

Each character has their clothing rack with their names and costumes listed on them. The costumes are in order by scene as costume changes need to happen very quickly backstage. The boys had the most frequent costume changes in this production, so the theater moms were backstage to help with the changing process since tying cravats, buttoning gloves, putting on suspenders, and donning military uniforms is quite time-consuming. The costumes are saved and boxed by category for future productions for each musical performed. The scene shop is highly organized with boxes of hats, socks, wigs, jewelry, shoes, tuxedo pants, etc.

Step 6 – Cast Rehearsals Annie Dietz is also involved in choosing which musical to produce each year. In the past few years, the musicals have been extremely “dance-heavy” (Crazy (Crazy For You; How to Succeed in Business) Business) because many talented dancers attended KRCS. This year, vocal talent is very well represented in the Upper School. There are a few dance numbers in Les Miz, notably “Master of the House’’ and the wedding scene.

Annie Dietz: As a theater kid, I couldn’t say no to Les Miz! I like to involve my dance captains in helping with choreography and gave Hailey Castano and Olivia Haschak the roles of Assistant Choreographers for this production.

This allows the girls to build their choreography skills and gives them responsibility for the show’s success. Rehearsals for this show began in August.

There were several battle scenes in Les Misérables which had to be carefully choreographed so that they were accurate for the time period. A little-known fact about Kathy Winchell – she is a Civil War reenactor!

Ms. Winchell did all the blocking for the show, including the battle scenes.

Kathy Winchell: Since I know how to load a musket and fire one, I taught the boys how to pretend to do it correctly, which I felt was important for the show’s authenticity.

Soldiers from that era carried bags containing gunpowder and a musket ball. They would open the bags with their teeth during battle, then pour the powder and ball into the musket to reload. This made for very realistic war scenes. The attention to detail was imperative for every aspect of this production.

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Step 7 – Marketing Holly Krig-Smith: My biggest role is the oversight of the entire production and the marketing of the show. This consists of creating banners and posters, events on social media, and sending material to Broadway World, a website that showcases productions happening by region. In addition, Subplot Entertainment designed the posters, banners, and yard signs.

The Fine Arts Committee (parent volunteers Jinny Abi-Sarkis, Dawn Ackerman, Jennifer Anderson, Dawn Bye, Suzie Castano, Shannon Chau, Dawn Codrington, Annette Divers, Duna Gardiner, Dana Letchworth, Holly Lucenay, Julia Muscott, Amy Simons, and Dawn Thomason) also worked diligently with Holly during the entire production.

Holly Krig-Smith: The Fine Arts Committee is invaluable, and none of this would have been possible without them. The fathers of the cast members also contributed in major ways to this production.

Step 8 – Showtime!

This is the first time KRCS has had all six shows sell out, and it was the first time an extra show had to be added due to high demand. Post-production responsibilities will involve submitting a video of the show and the leading actor and actress submitting their digital resumes for consideration for the Shuler Hensley/Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards. Also, the show is being considered to perform in the Georgia Thespian Conference. Judges for both events were present at the shows.

Holly Krig-Smith: This show was also dedicated to the memory of Jade Reardon, who was a long-time kindergarten teacher at King’s Ridge. Her son, Ben Reardon, graduated from KRCS in 2019 and was a huge part of KRCS Fine Arts, with leading roles in many musicals during his years as a KR student.

Ben was at the final show of Les Misérables and shared his thoughts: “Seeing “Seeing Les Misérables at KRCS was truly a spiritual experience. My beloved high school theatre program has produced one of the most masterful pieces of live theater that I have ever seen in my life. Its production quality rivals that of collegiate and professional shows. There was not a moment I was drawn away from the action taking place onstage – every performance was absolutely exceptional.

The show is the ONLY show I have ever cried watching; I have never cried at a single performance of any show I’ve ever seen before…

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I cried ELEVEN times last evening. My momma would be so proud of each and every member of this company. What more can I possibly say? I count myself blessed and privileged to be an alumnus of this program. God was glorified so beautifully last night.

Tomorrow, we’ll discover what our God in Heaven has in store for you, my KRCS Fine Arts family. Bravo.”

Bravo.”

By the Numbers - some final stats on this amazing musical:

2,000+ 46

Cast members

1,000 30

Tickets sold

Programs printed

Full cast rehearsals

600+ 53+

ours for set design, fabrication, H painting, and set-up

Parent volunteers

The amount of planning, preparation, and execution spent on this production was truly awe-inspiring. It is evidenced by the tireless dedication and talent of the cast, crew, directors, voice instructors, committees, set and costume designers, and theatre parents. We cannot wait to see what the future holds for the KRCS Fine Arts program!

Laura Adams Marketing/Communications Specialist

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KRCS Alumni Staying Connected Two new alumni events were held in mid-December.

Friday, December 17 – King’s Ridge alumni competed against Mount Pisgah alumni in the Crosstown Showdown, a basketball game in the Student Center coached by Dave Burnett, Upper School history teacher and former basketball coach, and Brandon Albright, former Christian Life Associate. Brandon is now Director of Spiritual Life and Assistant Upper School Boys Basketball Coach at Franklin Road Academy in Nashville, TN. Connor Beecham ‘10 organized the game with his friend, Brad Bostic, a Mount Pisgah alumnus. This year, King’s Ridge came out victorious, but everyone who participated enjoyed the competition and expressed interest in making this an annual holiday tradition.

Saturday, December 18 – 30 alumni gathered with spouses and guests at Roaring Social in downtown Alpharetta for the first-ever King’s Ridge class reunion. Spanning the classes of 2007–2013, a group totaling 96 graduates, the reunion was a resounding success. Planning Committee member Hillary McManus ‘10 said she had a great time and was “very pleasantly surprised with the turnout” given the challenges of this holiday season. Courtney Guhl Tyrrell ‘11, also a member of the Planning Committee, said that “people had an absolute blast and were asking when the next reunion would be.”

Mr. Burnett and Mr. Albright generously committed their time by coaching the basketball game and attending the event at Roaring Social. Mr. Burnett shared, “I enjoyed every minute. It’s great seeing what fine young adults these alumni have become. I’m ready for the next one.”

Mary Beecham Alumni and Public Relations Coordinator Please contact Mary at mbeecham@kingsridgecs.org with contact information, updates, or questions about our alumni programs.

Follow us on Instagram – www.instagram.com/kingsridgealumni Like us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/kingsridgealumni

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Spotlight on Kirsten Bagwell ‘12 Since leaving KRCS, I’ve rambled quite a bit, trying to discover a career that spoke to me. As it turns out, I think rambling is my favorite path…or maybe I’ve just gotten addicted to the pursuit of that ever-elusive “life calling.”

I’ve been an A-EMT, equipment operator, luau photo girl (on Maui), a submarine co-pilot and naturalist on a tour submarine (also Maui and definitely my favorite job thus far), ski patroller (three winter seasons now), and an executive assistant (which made me quickly learn an office job is not for me).

Most recently, I’ve become a commercial helicopter pilot. I originally began my helicopter training as a hobby, so I could fly with my brother, Leland (‘15), and quickly fell in love with helicopters. In April, I got my first job as a pilot flying for Prestige Helicopters in Atlanta. I fly tours around the city as well as survey and photo flights.

It’s been an amazing opportunity, and I’m excited to see where else it leads.

As far as hobbies and travel goes, I’d be hard-pressed to narrow that down for a short update. However, a real highlight this year was a spearfishing trip I took with Leland. While living in Hawaii, I developed a love for freediving, and Leland and I enjoy freediving and spearfishing together. So this year, he invited me on a tuna spearfishing trip in California. We spent three days spearing yellowtail (hamachi) and bluefin tuna.

There’s nothing quite like stocking your freezer with tuna you caught yourself.

And for over a year now, I’ve been converting a 1991 Blue Bird Handy Bus into a tiny house. Check out my progress on Instagram @moonrisebus.

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BIRTHS Lauren Valentino Migliore ‘12 and her husband, Jerryn, welcomed Luca Joseph Migliore on August 19, 2021. (1)

WEDDINGS Erica Moore and Clayton French ‘07 were married on November 6, 2021, in Norcross, GA. Other than Clayton’s two brothers, the groomsmen were all King’s Ridge alumni: Stephen Elkourie ‘07, Travis Williams ‘07, Ryan McCann ‘08, and Andrew Marshall ‘09.

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Hannah Mahoney and Tanner Hamilton ‘12 were married on October 30, 2021, at The Wildflower Barn at Little River Farms in Alpharetta, GA. Connor White ‘12 served as a groomsman. (2) Leah Kartovicky ‘12 and Brandon Worthey were married October 16, 2021, at Creekside at Colliers End in Mooresville, Alabama. Heather Allen ‘12 was Leah’s Maid of Honor, and Ashley Merkin ‘12 was the virtual Matron of Honor from her home in Australia. (3)

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Parisa Poorak ‘12 and George Morris were married on October 16, 2021, at Parisa’s family home in Alpharetta, GA. Lauren Valentino Migliore ‘12 served as a bridesmaid and Parisa’s brother, Daniel Poorak, served as a groomsman. The reception was held at Atlanta National Golf Club. (4) Molly Watson ‘12 and Devin Van Wert were married on October 9, 2021, at Vecoma at the Yellow River in Snellville, GA. Peyton Carell and Camden Fuller ‘13 were married on July 17, 2021, in Franklin, TN. (5)

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Maddy Walters and Sam Hughes ‘13 were married on August 21, 2021, beneath the redwoods in Santa Cruz, CA. The couple resides in Santa Cruz. (6) Ryan Kiss ‘14 and Olivia Beals were married on August 8, 2021, at Kaya Vineyard and Winery in Dahlonega, GA. (7) Chantal Guerrero and Henry Jones ‘15 were married on July 11, 2020, at the Powel Crosley Estate in Sarasota, FL. Henry played golf at Berry College and is now a golf pro at Interlachen Country Club in Winter Park, FL. (8) Stephanie Farish and Ben Lewis ‘16 were married on November 6, 2021, in Libertyville, IL. Ben graduated from Northwestern University in 2020 and is currently a consultant at ADDO Worldwide in Atlanta. (9) Olivia Kolkana ‘15 and Jack Coning ‘17 were married June 4, 2021, at Juliette Chapel in Dahlonega, GA. (10)

ENGAGEMENTS Anna Byrnes ‘15 and Jonathan Oshinski became engaged on October 31, 2021. In addition to being an alumna, Anna is a KRCS 8th grade English teacher and soccer coach. (11)

developments in Charlotte, NC. Zach is also a singer/ songwriter who has written songs for local artists and has had some of his original music featured on Netflix and MTV. Sample his artistry @zach_j_thomas and on SoundCloud.

Bailey Miller ‘14 was the guest speaker at the Upper School chapel during Homecoming Week. His message to students was to take stock of what we spend our time on and what it gives us in return. He said, “Things that happen today shape every one of our tomorrows. Don’t waste today.” Bailey and Abbie Miller have a son, Ezra, who will turn one in January. (12) Ella Reid ‘20 was one of 15 students selected nationwide for the Washington Program on National Security (WaPoNS). The Alexander Hamilton Institute for the Study of Western Civilization organizes the program held in June in Washington, D.C. Ella is pursuing a degree in strategic and security studies with a concentration in intelligence and a minor in Chinese at the University of North Georgia. (13)

UPDATES Rachel Smoltz VanderPol ‘12 led her Greater Atlanta Christian School Spartans Volleyball team to their first state championship and was named Gwinnett County Volleyball Coach of the Year.

Zach Thomas ‘13 received a degree in Communications from Kennesaw State University and now works as a project manager for Vankirk Electric, running electrical construction jobs in large multi-family and mixed-use

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WHY

KR CS?

JrTigers .

Jr. Tigers is a multi-sport development program providing students in grades K-4th (sometimes 5th and 6th depending on the sport) with the ability to represent and play for King’s Ridge Christian School in individual leagues or sports development programs. It also provides parents the opportunity to coach a KRCS team, meet the head varsity coach of that particular sport, and help represent our school in our community.

Our goal for the Jr. Tiger program is to build our own school’s sports programs by introducing a variety of sports to our younger students while providing a positive impact that extends far beyond our campus. A bonus is that KRCS students can invite their friends and neighbors to play with us, giving them a taste of what our community is like.

This fall, we participated in Flag Football with NAFL, and we were able to bring home 1st and 2nd place trophies by our KR Black and KR Purple 4th and 5th grade teams. We worked hard following our schools’ protocols and were able to fill six teams this past year. We also had a record of 60 cheerleaders to help our teams each Saturday. It took 70 flag football players, 18 flag football parent coaches, 10 team moms, 12 cheerleading coaches, along with guidance from the KR Varsity cheerleaders at summer cheer camp. The students practiced at home and at Bell Memorial Park. We set a school record of participants and now have three trophies in the last three years for Flag Football (one 1st place trophy and two 2nd place trophies).

Along with flag football and cheerleading, Jr. Tiger sports offerings include basketball, lacrosse, and dance in partnership with our Fine Arts department.

Connie Sheets Lower School Athletic Director

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K/1st Flag Football (Purple Team)

K/1st Flag Football (Black Team)

2nd/3rd Flag Football (Purple Team)

2nd/3rd Flag Football (Black Team)

4th/5th Flag Football (Purple Team)

4th/5th Flag Football (Black Team)

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I’ve coached 30+ teams in my life, and this was easily one of my favorites. Not because of the undefeated season and the championship (although that was awesome…go Tigers), but more importantly because of the kids, families, and what we represent with the KR logo on the front of our jerseys. Being new to King’s Ridge, we wanted to get involved right away, and what we found were open arms welcoming us into the Jr. Tigers program from both the Lower and Middle Schools. I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my new KR family. To be given the opportunity to coach the kids at this school was an incredible honor and experience.

– Jr. Tigers Flag Football Coach Charlie Mentzer I’ve coached a number of sports and ages in different recreation leagues, but this past football season was my first through King’s Ridge. It was the most enjoyable and rewarding season I’ve experienced coaching! From the first practice, you could see the friendships and camaraderie amongst the kids. There was a tremendous sense of community and pride in the families and fans at every event. Win or lose, that sense of community is what mattered most. My favorite moments of the season were after each game. We had a Tiger Chain for the player that embodied our three principles: trying your best, listening to coaches, and having fun. Seeing the pride that each player took in their accomplishments was special.

– Jr. Tigers Flag Football Coach Jim Komperda Getting to coach the K/1st Black Team this year was a blast. I felt very fortunate to have an amazing group of kids this season, but the best part (which I was not expecting) was the parents. They were both dedicated and involved in making sure our team had everything they needed while having fun along the way. The saying “It takes a village to raise a child” was certainly true for our team. We had a whole village of parents who contributed and helped out during our entire season.

– Jr. Tigers Flag Football Coach Ryan Claterbaugh As I watched the championship game, I could not believe the level of competitiveness and skill involved. To say we have some athletes coming is an understatement. Very exciting!

– Varsity Football Coach Terry Crowder Offering Jr. Tiger opportunities in a growing number of sports gets our Lower School students engaged and plugged in early, which is great for our athletic programs. Being able to make a connection from the Varsity level to the Middle School and Jr. Tiger levels builds a strong sense of community and gives our youngest Tigers something to look forward to as they get older.

Offering skills clinics and camps, recognizing and including Jr. Tigers at varsity events, and celebrating their accomplishments schoolwide is something that makes KRCS unique.

– Athletic Director Crissy Watkins Both King’s Ridge teams were in the championship game, so no matter who the winner was, King’s Ridge won the championship!

– The Barrett Family

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K/1st Cheerleading (Purple Team)

K/1st Cheerleading (Black Team)

2nd/3rd Cheerleading (Purple Team)

2nd/3rd Cheerleading (Black Team)

4th/5th Cheerleading (Purple Team)

4th/5th Cheerleading (Black Team)

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We cannot brag enough about the coaching team and the players. The way they coached these boys…it was more than just about football; it was teamwork, Christian attitudes, trust, passion, technical skills, and sportsmanship. I could go on!

We could not be more proud.

– The Morgan Family This season was special. The coaches facilitated the kids by not only teaching them about football and how they can be successful at it, but they fostered an environment that really developed strong bonds of friendship between the boys!

The final game for the championship was a win we really wanted, obviously. Our son played his best game with all his heart, so we don’t feel a sense of loss at all! We think that tough losses are a chance to learn good sportsmanship and grace. We don’t want our kids to be anxious about losing, just to work hard at practice and play your best game possible!

– The Doyle Family The 4th Shane boy finally had his turn to play flag football through the KRCS/NAFL alliance at King’s Ridge Christian School. The flag football program has been a perfect place to teach our boys football in a style and environment that works for my family. Coaches agree that the combination of the parents and athletic directors at the school who create an atmosphere where children can compete and be proud that they earned it together in Christ is central to the program’s success. We have seen the program double in size over this time and can’t emphasize enough how it is known by the kids as “the place to be!” It is the dedication of Connie Sheets every year that has made the program what it is today.

– The Shane Family

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King’s Ridge Christian School is a Christian community providing a college preparatory education equipping students to know, to serve, and to believe.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10

2765 Bethany Bend Alpharetta, GA 30004 770.754.5738 www.KingsRidgeCS.org