ACADEMICS

CORE VALUE: LEARNING FOCUSED

BY STEVE BOHLMANN, ACADEMIC DEAN

It won’t come as a surprise to anyone reading this edition of Wingspan that being learning focused is a core value of MPCS. After all, Christian education constitutes our purpose. And together, our faculty and students have built an exceptional learning culture. So as a school, and more importantly a Christian school dedicated to the glory of God, are we simply restating the obvious? We don’t think so, and our reason begins with that for which we have been created.

At MPCS, we believe that our God has endowed our students and all members of the MPCS community with a magnificent and inexhaustible capacity for learning – learning first and foremost that deepens our understanding of our Lord, His character, His creation, His love for humanity, His plan of redemption, and His model for how to love and care for one another. Consequently and guided by biblical revelation, we believe that the Lord calls us to pursue robust intellectual inquiry, seeking truth with the understanding that He is the author of all truth.

Therefore, when we support our students’ acquisition of knowledge, wisdom, and the skills to negotiate the most complex of learning demands; when we seek to deepen our students’ understanding of who they are as uniquely-created children of God and prepare them for servant-leadership in the world and God’s church; when our faculty and administration develop their professional learning goals and supportive systems; and when we seek to improve any aspect of the school’s operational infrastructure, at the heart of our actions will always be a fearless commitment to organizational learning, a commitment that is the result of a vigilant emphasis on being learning-focused.

In his book The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization, Peter Senge noted that a learning organization is “an organization that is continually expanding its capacity to create its future.” In the world of today and most certainly tomorrow, rapid change will continue to profoundly impact our lives. Therefore, anchored in Christ and pursuing with excellence the present and future that God has ordained, MPCS is committed to skillful, adaptive, creative, and insatiable learning. Being learning-focused will continue to be a core value that inspires and guides our commitment to mission and doing all to the glory of God.

W

“MPCS IS COMMITTED TO SKILLFUL, ADAPTIVE, CREATIVE, AND INSATIABLE LEARNING.”

INNOVATION OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM R BY TAWANNA RUSK, HEAD OF HIGH SCHOOL AND TINA BAKER, LOWER SCHOOL ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST Real innovation at Mount Paran Christian School starts within the hearts and minds of our community. Never has this been more true than during the spring semester of 2020, when the Coronavirus pandemic put MPCS to the test. The world awoke to uncertainty, where normal routines were greeted Rather than being frozen in fear, the MPCS community created a “new normal” to finish the spring semester. In a three-day span, MPCS TRANSFORMED FROM A BRICK-AND-MORTAR INSTITUTION TO A SCHOOL OF VIRTUAL LEARNING. with business closures, along with new rules Kindergarten teacher Katie Surgala said, and health and safety guidelines. Students "We worked as teams to design lessons that left school on Thursday, March 12, 2020, prioritized student engagement through with a few extra books and school supplies. active learning, just as we do in the class-

They “returned” to school the following Mon- room. Virtual Learning allowed the teachers day, this time online. Students were joined by to evaluate and use many online platforms, teachers who had been preparing to ensure which differentiated student learning to that learning continued for their students. meet each child's specific learning needs.

Virtual Learning was an adjustment for everyone; however, it encouraged us all to look closely at each student and evaluate what was most important to their continued success." The four “C’s” of a twenty-first century education — Critical thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication — were on full display with all that MPCS was able to accomplish, with minimal disruption to student learning. “I have three children in three different [MPCS] schools; therefore, I am seeing three approaches to Virtual Learning,” shared one MPCS parent. “I must say that MPCS has impressed our family with how smoothly you have transitioned. The teachers have calmed and comforted my youngest child, and the quality of their education has not wavered.”

Students logged into Zoom meetings or Google Meet classes during the school day for live instruction, with Google Classroom becoming the repository for student information and resources. Louise McKee ‘20 shared during a senior Zoom call that, while she missed her friends and teachers, Virtual Learning benefited her: "By having to navigate my classes online, plan out my day, and use my downtime to study and complete assignments, I felt better prepared for college."

Preschool and lower school teachers provided manipulatives and supplemental work activities in a weekly exchange program. Parent conferences and staff meetings from home took on a new look through the ease of Zoom. Special events were reimagined. High school parent Stephanie Mathis said, “I would just like to thank the administration and faculty for going above and beyond during a very difficult time. I have two high schoolers, and their transition was seamless.” Determined to bring students on campus safely for the start of school in August, leadership and staff again utilized the four “C’s” to define the new normal for school amid COVID-19,

ENSURING THAT STUDENTS WOULD HAVE OPTIONS TO RETURN TO CAMPUS OR ATTEND SCHOOL VIRTUALLY.

To allow for synchronous instruction for at-home learners, classrooms are now outfitted with an extra Microsoft Surface computer that serves as the Zoom/Google Meet host, in addition to tripods and microphone/ speaker devices. Several classrooms offer new Lumens cameras to enhance instruction.

MPCS invested in the installation of the Synexis microbial reduction system, a stateof-the-art air-treatment system to filter the air. Every classroom receives daily fogging with EPA-approved equipment and products, while the operations team provides diligent cleaning throughout the school day. UV cabinets have been placed strategically throughout the lower school so that student devices and materials may be routinely disinfected. An electronic dismissal program was implemented at the start of school to allow for lower and middle school students to remain cohorted in classrooms.

One lower school parent shared, “Thank you all so much for your dedication and hard work to ensure that there is a bit of ‘normalcy’ in our child's education during this unprecedented time.” Though face-to-face instruction has returned to MPCS, creativity and innovation have not stopped. The MPCS faculty and staff will carry innovative learning solutions beyond the current situation and continue to trust the Lord in this everchanging world.

W

ROBOTICS

STATE CHAMPS

TBY BRAD SMITH, HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER

The FIRST® Championship is the world’s largest celebration of science, technology, engineering, and math for students. Repeating the success of last year’s first-ever MPCS FIRST® Championship experience was a tall order for the Eagle Robotics high school teams, but the students were bent on returning to “worlds” this season. To reach this goal, they needed to best 180 other Georgia teams, making improvements in engineering, strategy, programming, community service, project management, process efficiency, quality control, and documentation.

The teams even aspired to receive the Inspire Award, the iconic orange banner that represents the State champion’s success, not only on the robotics field, but also for highest achievement in every measurable category. To receive such recognition would be a first for Eagles Robotics.

Team 11364 Diamond Plate is the Eagles’ development team. Newcomers to the program are initiated here with the task of designing, building, programming, and competing with a robot. Team 7373 Carbon Fiber is the Eagles’ flagship team. In addition to designing and programming robots, Team 7373 is also judged in competition for community outreach, engineering documentation, and connection with STEM professionals from the community.

Both teams had success in the four months of league play, and both qualified for advancement at the Western Georgia League Tournament. At the State championship in February, Team 11364 Diamond Plate finished as a game semifinalist. Team 7373 Carbon Fiber took home the State robotics championship, both in the robot game as captain of the winning alliance, as well as the coveted orange banner, the Inspire Award. After this record-breaking performance, the Eagles were poised for a return to the FIRST Championships as the Georgia State Champions. While the robot had surpassed expectations, new features were added and upgraded to enhance its performance, speed, and agility. However, in mid-March, the FIRST Championships were canceled due to COVID-19. The devastating news came as a crushing blow to team Carbon Fiber. They felt stronger this year than last and were anxious to see what impact they could make on the international stage. But today, these students are already working on attempting a third trip to W“worlds” in 2021.

THIS YEAR, 98 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN EAGLE ROBOTICS: 17 IN HIGH SCHOOL, 21 IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND 60 IN LOWER SCHOOL.

best teacher MPCS FIRST-GRADE TEACHER KELLY MOSS WAS SELECTED “BEST TEACHER” IN THE BEST OF COBB We Our Teachers! 

BY MICKIE ROBERTS, LOWER AND MIDDLE SCHOOL REGISTRAR

2020 CONTEST BY COBB LIFE MAGAZINE.

“BEST TEACHER” “BEST TEACHER”

Mrs. Moss started teaching in 1996 after graduating with Honors from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She has taught students of all ages, planned creative instruction for student mastery, and implemented classroom management strategies that ensure learning success. Mrs. Moss continually seeks God first and teaches with the high expectations of each child reaching his or her fullest potential. Recently, she has enjoyed leading teams in our lower school Eagle Robotics and PLTW® programs. Over the next two years, Mrs. Moss will also be pursuing her Master of Arts Leadership Degree at Gordon College. Mrs. Moss has been happily married to Stephen for 27 years. Their son, Jordan Moss ‘18, is pursuing an ECE degree at Georgia Tech. Their daughter, Kristy Moss ‘20, is attending Berry College to pursue a future career in Medicine. Jordan and Kristy are among Mrs. Moss’ first “students” and inspired her love of teaching children to read and to always do their best. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with family and playing golf. Mrs. Moss is IN GREAT COMPANY AMONG MANY FABULOUS TEACHERS IN ALL LEVELS. We congratulate her on this well-deserved honor! “BEST PERFORMING ARTS” “BEST PERFORMING ARTS” W

best preschool OFFICIALLY THE “OTHER” HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH

BY AMBER IRIZARRY, COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Inside the cozy Sewell Cottage at Mount Paran Christian School, groups of preschoolers are clustered around a SMART Table. They’re learning about habitats, dragging howling or clucking virtual animals on the touch-screen to their correct environments. Giggles indicate these young students are having a ball. From all appearances, the MPCS preschool is all fun and games, but there’s authentic learning taking place.

By learning through play, these youngest members of the MPCS Eagle family don’t even realize how much they’re learning or that they’re mastering cutting-edge technology at the age of three.

This immersive learning environment is just part of what makes the preschool at Mount Paran

Christian School the “Best Preschool” in Cobb county, as selected by the readers of Cobb Life Magazine/Marietta Daily Journal.

Part of what makes the MPCS preschool “the best” is that we provide children with the foundation for a life-long love of learning. Hands-on, stellar PreK instruction comes from loving, certified teachers in small classes. Preschoolers also experience STEAM, Spanish, P.E., phonics, math, and biblical training. EXPERIENCED TEACHERS, INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION: Ongoing formative classroom

assessments by our degreed, Georgia-certified teachers provide evidence that preschoolers enrolled at MPCS demonstrate an average of 13% higher level of kindergarten readiness than students entering kindergarten from other programs. This can partly be attributed to our small class sizes that allow for individual attention for our young learners. INTENTIONAL TEACHING: Every activity is planned to accomplish readiness goals, using research-based best practices. Children master letters, sounds, and numeration with colorful and engaging hands-on activities and technology. Skills such as eye-hand coordination, ability to focus, attending to a task, building stamina, and cross-body movement are incorporated to develop the early learner’s brain. Visual and tactile exploration within the classroom help to engage and develop young minds. MEETING EVERY CHILD’S NEEDS: At MPCS, children feel safe and develop their curious minds in an environment where unconditional love is felt and mistakes are welcomed as a part of learning. Our teaching staff meets each child where they are, offering individualized instruction. Our speech-language pathologist works with preschool and lower school students to diag-

VISIT THEBESTOFCOBB.COM TO READ COBB LIFE’S BEST OF COBB SPECIAL ISSUE.

“BEST PRESCHOOL” “BEST PRESCHOOL”

nose speech and language problems early. This ensures specific skills and strategies can assist children in becoming independent and competent communicators. Preschool parent Aloo Seda says, “I have always loved Mount Paran Christian School, but, during this unusual time, I am full of gratitude. We are truly honored that our two kids get to be a part of the great “BEST PERFORMING ARTS” “BEST PERFORMING ARTS” “BEST TEACHER” “BEST TEACHER” family of Mount Paran Christian School.” W