Prince Avenue Christian School 2019-2020 Annual Report

Prince Avenue Christian School

2019–2020 Annual Report

Our First Annual Report This Annual Report is another first in our school’s forty-two-year history and reflects the continued maturation in our approach to provide an exceptional college-preparatory education built upon biblical truths. From shared Sunday school classrooms and the Minutemen mascot in land-locked downtown Athens to a spacious, debt-free, sixty-acre campus for our Wolverines in Oconee County, our school has traversed a broad spectrum of changes since its birth. And while buildings, students, and teachers have changed over time, the values, beliefs, and decision-making processes from which we continue to operate remain anchored to a foundation that never changes - God’s word.

At Prince, we are committed to continuously seek self-improvement and embrace deliberate yet moderate change to ensure our students are ready to meet the demands tomorrow will bring.

The leadership required to preserve and grow a Christian covenant school today must be more deliberate in its governance and planning than ever before in the wake of our nation’s rapidly changing moral culture, and we must think strategically and innovatively to retain the privilege of preparing students for college while teaching them to trust and follow Jesus. Innovation requires a calculated level of risk, and schools that fail to embrace that mindset become obsolete. At Prince, we are committed to continuously seek self-improvement and embrace deliberate yet moderate change to ensure our students are ready to meet the demands tomorrow will bring.

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Amidst all the challenges associated with the global pandemic that pivoted us into distance learning on March 16, 2020, and the subsequent modifications to our in-person instruction when we returned to campus for summer athletics and fall classes, we are emerging a stronger school spiritually, academically, and financially. God is real, alive, and He is watching over us!

Our standardized test scores, collection of fine arts awards, and multiple region athletic championships meet or surpass schools in our service area with tuition costs twice ours. As a family-school community, we understand that these are temporal accomplishments and therefore simply a means to an end, and that the end itself is a personal and eternal relationship with Jesus Christ. We are on the road less traveled, but our path provides a holistic, comprehensive journey that not only educates our students’ minds but a biblical worldview that infuses wisdom, which will continue to serve our students long after they leave the safety of our campus.

As you read through our first Annual Report, please do so with the knowledge and comfort that we are unapologetically a Christian and American School, and to Him be the glory!

Seth Hathaway, Ed.S. Head of School

Letter from the Chairman of the Board As a board of trustees, we remain committed to the mission of long-term stability to Prince by providing clear vision and specific expectations in our mission’s performance; our unity of purpose demonstrates one example of our intentional commitment to good governance. The long-range vision contained in our strategic plan, PACS 2023, provides clear goals and expectations for Prince’s operational future. Our Board is fair, firm, and consistent in its decision-making process ensuring Prince remains a healthy, growing, vibrant community that believes children should enjoy childhood by preserving a level of moral innocence consistent with their age.

Prince Avenue Christian School is on a solid trajectory. Spiritually grounded in God’s word, it continues to advance academically with historically high standardized test scores and competitive college acceptances. Fiscally, it is on the cusp of a new building project, and it remains recognized within Georgia’s High School Association at the state level for excellence in the arts and athletics. This Annual Report

is the first in our school’s history, and as stated by our head of school, Colonel Hathaway, it reflects the growing maturity of our school.

Partnerships like ours are voluntary, one where parents, teachers, administrators, and school board members work cooperatively to advance a Christ centered atmosphere, uphold high standards for moral conduct, and embrace rigorous academics and robust co-curricular programs to challenge students to reach their maximum potential by fully exercising the unique gifts God has given them. Ultimately, we aim to educate and mold young people to reflect the heart of God and to look like Jesus.

Brian Elrod Board Chairman

Pictured Left to Right: Seth Hathaway & Brian Elrod

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BY THE NUMBERS Established

1978

STUDENT BODY GEOGRAPHIC & CHURCH DIVERSITY

42

years partnering with Christian families

4 ACCREDITATIONS Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Cognia Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)

13 113

4 MEMBERSHIPS

COUNTIES

CHURCHES

Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA)

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National Thespian Society (NTS)

1:1

2019

Laptop to Student Ratio

Best Private School - Athens Banner Herald

Pre-K through 12th grade

90%

Class of 2020

82 1,061

of seniors who applied were accepted at UGA

AP classes hours of dual enrollment

= 353

college classes

SCHOLARSHIPS The class of 2020 earned about

$1,123,133 in college scholarships

12

VARSITY SPORTS

JUNIOR VARSITY SPORTS

12 SCHOLARSHIPS

ATHLETICS

4

MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS

LOWER SCHOOL SPORTS

5

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While Prince is excited about tomorrow’s needs, today’s requirements cannot be overlooked. The school first asks the Board of Trustees and Faculty/ Staff to support the Annual Fund before reaching out to current families and the community. No gift is too small.

Development Annual Fund: Prince Party Palooza The Annual Fund Kick-Off Event for 2019-2020 school year was the Prince Party Palooza. Over 1,000 people enjoyed carnival food, face painting, sliding, swinging, climbing, jumping, and catching up with friends. $85,245 was donated at this event.

Spring Gala: The yearly Spring Gala, normally held in March, was cancelled due to COVID-19.

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Capital Campaign: These are exciting times in the life of Prince Avenue Christian School! Since relocating from the original campus in downtown Athens, Georgia to our new facility in Oconee County, our enrollment has more than doubled.

The support of the “NOW It’s Time” capital campaign has been phenomenal! The initial goal was to raise $3.2 million dollars to build a new 18,400 square foot middle school building and purchase fourteen acres of land that borders our campus along Highway 78.

Because of the generosity of our supporters, we not only met our goal of $3.2 million dollars, we surpassed it with a final total of $3,715,859.74!

$3,715,859 raised for middle school building & 14 acres of land

The construction of this new instructional space and purchase of additional acreage directly align with the vision cast in our PACS 2023 Strategic Plan and help position Prince Avenue Christian School to meet the school community’s needs for the next five to eight years.

Amidst all the challenges associated with the current global pandemic, we are emerging a stronger Prince Avenue Christian School – spiritually, academically, and financially!

To Him be the glory!

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Rotary Student of the Semester: Two seniors were selected as the Rotary Student of the Semester chosen by teachers for their demonstration of the Rotary Club motto of “Service Above Self”.

Sammy Hodges was selected for fall semester, and Mackenzie Case was selected for spring semester.

Sammy is the son of Kenneth and Therese Hodges and chose high school science teacher Carrie Owens to share this honor with him.

Mackenzie is the daughter of Alan and Cindy Case and chose high school Spanish teacher Karen Ruiz as her teacher representative to share this honor.

Give Every Year . . .

Make a Difference Every Day! 8/Prince Avenue Christian School

Prince Avenue’s list of competitive colleges and universities to which graduates earn acceptance serves to promote the school’s reputation as a high-quality college-preparatory school. Beginning in lower school, students are given the tools necessary to grow and mature academically and are given opportunities to pursue the academic rigor that best meets their personal capabilities and goals. At the foundation of academics at Prince is the school’s commitment to teach all subjects from a biblical worldview.

The spring of the 2019-2020 school year ushered in the sudden and unexpected need for “distance learning”. Parents, students, faculty, and staff coordinated efforts in order to continue to provide a quality and consistent educational experience for students at all grade levels. Teachers at the middle and high school levels utilized Microsoft Teams as a curriculum repository and meeting platform to continue instruction virtually. Lower school students received their work through both hard and digital copies and turned in completed assignments through ParentsWeb.

Despite the challenges, PACS still had many wonderful academic achievements for the 2019-2020 school year.

Academics Class of 2020 Statistics: Graduates: 75 College Bound: 74 Military Service: 1 Hope Scholarships: 67 (5 not eligible/international) SAT: 1158 (Top 10% 1480) ACT: 23 (Top 10% 32)

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Honor Societies: Students in middle and high school were inducted into the National Art Honor Society, International Thespian Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Beta Club, and National Honor Society. Students participated in the society pledges and received pins and certificates for their respective organizations.

Duke Tip: Forty-three Prince fourth through fifth-grade students who scored in the 95th percentile or higher on a sub-test of the Terra Nova Achievement Test in the spring of 2019 were recognized for qualifying to participate in the highly selective Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP).

Participation in the talent search offers students opportunities such as online activities, a book club, newsletters for students and parents, educational programming, and discounts on independent learning materials.

Academic Team: The PACS Varsity Academic Team took second place at the Hebron Christmas Quiz Bowl. Prince went 5-0 for the day but tied with Providence who took first place based on points to break the tie.

Education Support Services: The Education Support Service (ESS) program is designed to provide academic support to students with diagnosed learning differences in a college preparatory setting. The ESS program also assists students in need of additional support through tutoring. In the 2019-2020 school year, the ESS program served 81 students in lower, middle, and high school with accommodations as documented in their formal support plans.

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College Acceptance Story: Seniors Sammy Hodges, Tanner Iley, and Hunter Melton were presented with hand-delivered early acceptance offers from the Georgia Institute of Technology. The offers were delivered by the Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions from Georgia Tech, Katie Faussemagne. There were more than 22,000 applicants to Georgia Tech this year with a total of 4,569 students admitted on this particular round. Only a handful of admissions were hand-delivered a day early.

Technology: While the sudden need for at-home learning in March of 2020 was not an event that could have been predicted, PACS had the technological structure in place to rise to the challenge and make adjustments quickly.

Prince already had a 1:1 student laptop ratio for students in grades 6-12 and was ready and able to utilize the Microsoft Teams platform for class meetings and lectures school-wide. Following the conclusion of the school year, the school worked quickly to upgrade preparedness by improving the student laptop ration to 1:1 in K-4–12th grades for the 20202021 school year.

Valedictorian: The 2020 Valedictorian was Jaden Drudge. Jaden is the son of Jay and Katherine Drudge and has attended Prince Avenue for seven years.

Jaden earned the Wolverine Academian Gold Award for the highest grade point average in his class each year of high school and was a 2019 Georgia Merit Scholar. While in high school, Jaden was in the National Honor Society, Beta Club, and Interact Club. He was also on the Academic Team, participated in Fine Arts productions, and ran Cross Country and Track for the Wolverines.

Jaden attends Athens First United Methodist Church where he is involved in the youth choir and volunteers with the Souper Supper program helping to feed those in need. Jaden plans to attend Wake Forest University.

Salutatorian: The 2020 Salutatorian was Hunter Melton. Hunter is the son of Jayson and Holly Melton and has attended Prince Avenue for seven years. Hunter earned the Wolverine Academian Award for being in the top three grade point averages in his class each year of his high school career and was a 2019 Georgia Merit Scholar. While in high school, Hunter was in the National Honor Society, Beta Club, and Interact Club. He was also on the Academic Team and played Varsity Baseball for the Wolverines.

Hunter attends First Baptist Church of Monroe where he volunteers at Vacation Bible School each year. He also volunteers at FISH Monroe helping to pack lunches in the summer for children in the community. Hunter plans to attend Georgia Tech and major in biomedical engineering and minor in Spanish.

STAR Student: Senior Jared Deatrick was named the 2019-2020 STAR Student for Prince Avenue Christian School, scoring the highest on one sitting of the SAT test this year. He selected science teacher Col Dale Autry as his STAR Teacher. Both Jared and Col Autry were honored at the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce STAR Student Breakfast.

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The Prince faculty and staff are not only committed to preparing our students for college but also training up the next generation of Christian families.

Faculty/Staff Educators of the Year: Second-grade teacher Becky Padgett and middle school math teacher Stacy Reincheld are the 20192020 Prince Avenue Christian School Educators of the Year. Each received a crystal vase and a generous cash award, which is given each year by a genrous and anonymous donor.

Becky Padgett has been in education for 42 years having taught in both public and private schools before joining the Prince faculty in 2015. She has an extensive background in multiple areas of education including curriculum planning, tutoring, and mentoring other teachers. At Prince, Mrs. Padgett has taught both 1st and 2nd grades and has been instrumental in beginning the school-wide mission project “Children Helping Children” in which students help those impacted by the floods that occurred in South Carolina in the fall of 2015. In 2017, she earned the honor of GISA Master Teacher.

Stacy Reincheld began her career at Prince in 2018.

Previously, Stacy and her husband were missionaries to Kenya where she taught at Rift Valley Academy.

At Prince, Stacy teaches middle school accelerated, college prep, and honors math classes. She is also the middle school Math Olympics coordinator, 7thgrade class sponsor, and helps with with costumes in the Fine Arts department.

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State Board of Education State Advisory Panel for Special Education: Director of Education Support Services Kelly Vandagriff was recently selected to serve on the State Board of Education State Advisory Panel for Special Education. Mrs. Vandagriff was selected for this important position based upon her educational credentials and experience in working with students with learning differences.

Yearbook Dedication: The 2019-2020 Prince Yearbook was dedicated to two Prince Avenue faculty members – middle school Bible teacher Mandy Eley and Substitute Coordinator and Education Support Services (ESS) Testing Coordinator Kathy Stamey.

Mandy Eley

Mandy Eley has been at Prince for 11 years and in the education field for 13 years. Mandy earned her Masters of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Kathy Stamey has been at Prince and in education for 10 years. As the Substitute Coordinator, she is responsible for making sure that classrooms in all grade levels have substitutes when needed. Kathy also serves as the Testing Coordinator for the Educational Support Services (ESS).

Kathy Stamey

GISA Master Teachers Three teachers from Prince Avenue Christian School were recently selected by the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) as Master Teachers. Second-grade teacher Cindy Hale, High School Art teacher Meghan Hudson, and Middle School Science teacher Bob Wentworth were chosen from over 166 GISA member schools and hundreds of applicants.

The selection process for Master Teacher is challenging and competitive. To be considered for the program, candidates are required to submit an application as well as a portfolio including three tangible examples of outstanding work related to the classroom and to sharing and collaborating with other educators. Among other requirements is an unedited video of the candidate’s classroom teaching utilizing best practices and five letters of recommendation. In all, Prince has had eight teachers selected as Master Teachers, which is the second highest number of Master Teachers of any independent school in the state. Congratulations to these Prince teachers for their exemplary work and for all that they contribute to Prince Avenue Christian School.

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“…the arts are a beautiful gift from God; and in the process of creation lies the joy of God’s creative heartbeat.” ~ Mako Fujimura The vision of Fine Arts at Prince Avenue Christian School is to release the creativity within each student and to use that creativity to glorify God. The arts foster critical thinking and stimulate imagination while addressing different learning styles – visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. All fine arts activities and programs enrich the educational, spiritual, and cultural lives of students as well as increase the sense of community and teamwork.

The Fine Arts Department was proud to present the following student productions during the 2019-2020 school year: • • • •

High School Fall Production: Freaky Friday Lower School Musical: Faith News Middle School Musical: The Little Mermaid High School Spring Musical: Guys and Dolls

Region One-Act Competition: Prince Fine Arts placed 2nd in Region at the Area 4-A Private One Act Play Competition with their performance of Freaky Friday. The cast and crew advanced to the Class A Private State One-Act Play Competition. Competing at state competition was a first for PACS Fine Arts.

Prince students received the following region awards: • Best Actress- Riley Wilson (senior) • Best Supporting Actor- Thompson Sewell (senior) • All-Star Cast- Emilie David (senior) and David Simpkins (freshman) • Best Ensemble State One-Act Competition: Prince Fine Arts placed 2nd in the State One-Act Competition with their performance of Freaky Friday.

Prince students received the following state awards: • Best Actress – Riley Wilson (senior, pictured left) • All-Star Cast – Emilie David (senior) and Thompson Sewell (senior)

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GHSA Region Literary Competition: The Prince Avenue Christian School Literary Team placed second overall in Region 4-A Private Literary Competition. Eleven Prince students placed first or second in their respective events advancing to state level competition.

Prince Avenue hosted this year’s competition with students from all over the region competing in a variety of events.

• Musical Performance, Girls Solo: Emilie David (senior) – First Place • Musical Performance, Boys Solo: Jack Johnston (senior) – Third Place • Musical Performance, Boys Quartet: Jack Johnston (senior), Thompson Sewell (senior), Finn McGinnis (junior), Walker Johnson (junior) – First Place • Rhetorical Essay: Jaden Drudge (senior) – Second Place

GHSA State Literary Competition: State Literary Competition was cancelled due to Covid-19.

Fine Arts • Musical Performance, Girls Trio: Riley Wilson (senior), Emma Allen (junior), Kaylor Jones (freshman) – Second Place • Dramatic Interpretation Duo: Hendley Jones (junior), Walker Johnson (junior) – First Place • Dramatic Interpretation Solo: Cooper Capps (freshman) – Third Place • Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking: Sammy Hodges (senior) – Third Place • Argumentative Essay: Mac Ross (senior) – Second Place

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Honor Band: Prince middle and high school band students participated in the 2020 Georgia Music Educators Association District Honor Band. Middle School Honor Band was held at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Toccoa. Those students who participated were Lyndsay McCall, Carly Land, Meredith Hale, Jenifer Dunn, Garnett Elayan, Preston Mitchell, Andrew Gilmore, and Brock McDonald. High School Honor Band was held at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville. Seniors Maddy Wilson and Caleb Land were selected from hundreds of eligible students to pariticpate in this special event.

Band Performance Evaluation: The Prince Avenue Advanced Band received straight “Superior” ratings at the Georgia Music Educators Association Large Group Performance Evaluation. The band performed a challenging musical program for a panel of three judges, all of whom awarded the highest possible rating of “Superior”.

This marks the fifth consecutive year that the Prince Advanced Band has earned this prestigious rating.

Shuler Awards for High School Musical Theatre: Finn McGinnis: Best Supporting Actor Nominations: • Jack Johnston, Leading Actor • Riley Wilson, Supporting Actress • LaMurl Morris, Music Director

Cultural Foundation Scholarship: Prince Avenue Christian School senior Caleb Land was the recipient of the Athens Classic Center Cultural Foundation Scholarship in the instrumental category. As a result of this accomplishment, Caleb received $2,000, and the Prince Fine Arts Department received $500.

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Honorable Mentions: • Guys and Dolls, Overall Production • Mac Ross & Hannah Hunt, Technical Execution • Thompson Sewell, Featured Performer • Emilie David, Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress • Hannah Hunt, Direction

Because of distance learning, Prince Visual Arts seniors posted their Senior Art Shows in a gallery online that could be shared with the Prince community, family, and friends.

PACS 2019-2020 Fine Arts Awards: Levite Performing Arts Award: Tanner Iley & Thompson Sewell Candy Todd Award: Jack Johnston & Emilie David Exodus 35 Visual Arts Award: Allie Carter & Gracie Martin Louis Armstrong Jazz Award: Tanner Iley GMEA All-State Band: Caleb Land, Trombone Reg Gattie Memorial Scholarship “Sing Strong” Award: Jackson Mitchell John Philip Sousa Award: Caleb Land Patrick Gilmore Band Award: Abigail Merhar Director’s Award for Band: Andrew Gilmore Woody Herman Jazz Award: Maddy Wilson

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The purpose of the Wolverine Athletic Program at Prince Avenue Christian School is to provide students a setting to glorify God through the development and exercise of personal character, sportsmanship, self-discipline, and athletic ability.

Athletics STATE PLAY-OFFS: Volleyball: First Round Softball: Sweet Sixteen Football: Quarterfinals Girls Basketball: Sweet Sixteen

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Region Offensive Player of the Year: QB - Brock Vandagriff

8 Football Region 8 – A Awards: First-Team Offense: RB – Landon Owens (junior) WR – Logan Johnson (junior) OL – Alex Sudderth (senior) First-Team Defense: DL – Shane McCormick (senior) LB – Tyler Payne (senior) LB – Davis Ridings (junior) DB – Chaz Scoggins (junior) Second-Team Offense: TE – Jack Johnston (senior) WR – Zac Dyer (junior) OL – Matthew Chapman (junior) P – Bryson Franklin (sophomore) K – Caden Bush (senior)

College Athlete Signings

Caden Bush Football - McPherson College Charlie Graffin Soccer - Hamilton College Shane McCormick Football - Kennesaw State University McKay Melnick Football - University of South Carolina Tyler Payne Football - Berry College Bryson Seay Baseball - Lee University Caleb Smith Baseball - Truett McConnell University Alex Sudderth Football – Presbyterian College

Second-Team Defense DL – Harrison Finney (senior) DB – McKay Melnick (senior) Honorable Mention: DB – Landon Ragle (senior) DB – Andrew Ridings (junior) OL – David Bach (senior) WR – Trey Stiles (senior) 2019 - 2020 Annual Report/19

Region and Area Athletic Awards: Softball Region 8-A Awards: First Team: Kam Caldwell (junior) Madi Gillespie (sophomore) Second Team: Karlee Armstrong (junior) Taylor Bond (senior) Honorable Mention: Tori Cameron (junior)

Basketball Region 8-A Awards: First Team All-Area Girls: Karlee Armstrong (junior) Honorable Mention: Niyah Beasley (senior) Noelle Hynes (sophomore) Volleyball All-Area Recognitions: First Team All-Area & All-Area Tournament Team: Anna Greer Vadagriff (sophomore) Kelly Cascella (senior) Second Team All-Area: Maret Black (junior) Maggie Allen (junior) All-Area Honorable Mention: Meghan Jackson (junior) 20/Prince Avenue Christian School

First Team All-Area Boys: Andrew Cheek (senior) Honorable Mention: Jared Deatrick (senior) Phillip Kelley (junior) Josh Britt (freshman)

Soccer, Baseball, Tennis, and Track & Field seasons were interrupted and subsequently canceled due to COVID-19. Seniors were honored with senior videos made by Athletic Director Richard Ricketts, and senior signings were observed virtually.

Middle School Cross Country: The Prince Avenue Middle School Girls Cross Country team competed in the state meet finishing 3rd place overall with all five girls finishing in the top 25. Ashlyn Smith made school history as the first PACS middle school cross country runner to place first in the state meet.

In addition, Francis Kelley finished 5th, Audrey Vandagriff finished 13th, Naomi Gowder finished 24th, and Gracie Smith finished 25th.

This is the highest placing by a PACS Middle School Cross Country team at the state meet in school history.

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Prince Avenue Christian School’s mission is to partner with Christian families to provide scripturally based discipleship while pursuing excellence in academics, fine arts, and athletics from a biblical worldview.

Discipleship is not just part of Prince Avenue’s mission; it is the umbrella under which all other areas of the school function. All faculty and staff have professed their faith in Jesus Christ and teach, lead, and coach from a biblical world view.

Each year, the Director of Spiritual Life chooses a theme on which to focus. The theme for 2019-2020 was “Seek 1st”.

Weekly Chapel Services Lower School Chapel was held on Thursdays in the PABC Worship Center and planned and led by Lower School Principal Becky Callaway. Throughout the year, guest speakers included leaders from churches represented in the lower school student body, school staff, Mrs. Callaway, and Col Hathaway. Worship was led by lower school music teacher Gincy Moon.

Lower school students collected an offering each week raising approximately $2,000 to give to the Village of Hope Orphanage in Morogoro, Tanzania.

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This project is made possible by Fine Arts Director LaMurl Morris who visits the village each summer.

Over three years of collecting this offering, lower school students have purchased mosquito netting, mattresses, shelf-stable food items, and school uniforms.

Middle School Chapel was held on Thursdays in the PABC Middle School Theatre. Teaching was led

by Middle School Chaplain Dr. Clark Daniel, and music was led by middle school teacher Wes Davis. High School Chapel was held on Thursdays in the PABC High School Theatre. Engaging and fun activities and worship were led by the PACS Praise Band under the leadership of Jonathan Kilgore, and teaching was led by Spiritual Life Director Brandt Akin.

Christmas Chapel was a special time together for the entire student body. Students wore Christmas clothes and shared in a special time of worship. The band and chorus led the student body in special music, and the 2nd-grade students quoted Luke Chapter 2 from memory.

Annual Spiritual Retreats The 2019 Middle School Spiritual Life Retreat was held at Camp Westminister.

Worship was led by Matthew Smock, and teaching was led

by Middle School Chaplain Dr. Clark Daniel. The teaching was focused on the Spiritual Life theme for the year, “Seek 1st”.

The 2019 High School Spiritual Life Retreat was divided into two trips. The 9th-10th grade retreat was held at Strong Rock Camp in Cleveland, Georgia. The 11th-12th grade retreat was held at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Toccoa, Georgia. Worship was led by guest Nathan Unger, and teaching was led by Spiritual Life Director Brandt Akin at both retreats. The focus of the teaching was “Hearing God’s Voice”.

Discipleship International & Community Missions Senior Mission Trip The Prince Senior Class had 56 students and five chaperones who traveled from March 1-7, 2020, to San José, Costa Rica, in partnership with Joshua Expeditions. While there, students worked in communities, schools, VBS, and construction projects.

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Community Mission Projects It is part of the culture of PACS for classes, clubs, teams, and organizations to participate in service projects that minister the love of Christ to the local Athens area as well as those in other areas of the nation and world. This year’s mission projects included partnerships with the following organizations: • • • • • •

Food Bank of Northeast Georgia F.I.S.H. Monroe A Bigger Vision Kids First Athens Crisis Pregnancy Center Downtown Academy

In addition, students participated in the following service projects: • “Operation Christmas Child” shoeboxes • Handmade blanket donations to local law enforcement (3rd Grade) • “Empty Bowls” Silent Auction (NAHS) • “Big Thank You” letters to service members (Interact Club) • Money Raised for Senior Mission Trip (Interact Club) • Hay Bale Contest to Benefit ESP (Interact Club) • Food Drives (NJHS) • Book Drive (1st-Grade) 24/Prince Avenue Christian School

Epistle Award Recipient The Epistle Award is given annually to the graduating senior who, in the opinion of the faculty, best represents what PACS values more than anything else – a Christ-like spirit that manifests itself in a desire to grow in the Lord and serve others for the glory of God. The 2020 Epistle Award Recipient was Allie Carter. Allie’s heart for Jesus shines through in all that she does, and she uses her God-given gifts to pursue excellence.

Allie is the daughter of Jeff and Susanne Carter and has attended Prince for 14 years. During high school, Allie was in the National Honor Society, Beta Club, Interact Club, Student Government, and Barnabas Mentor Program. Allie was also on the volleyball and tennis teams and was her class Homecoming Representative for her 9th – 12th grade years.

Allie attends Prince Avenue Baptist Church where she volunteers in the nursery and sings on the youth praise team. Allie now attends the University of Georgia.

The Prince Avenue Christian School community extends beyond students, parents, faculty, and staff. Grandparents, extended family, friends, community leaders, and businesses are all members of our school community.

Community Veterans Day Ceremony: On Monday, November 11th, the Prince Avenue Christian School student body gathered for a special Veterans Day Ceremony. The school extended an invitation to local veterans to attend the ceremony and to be honored on their special day. Many of the veterans in attendance were family members of students.

This was the second year that the school sponsored this student-led ceremony, and the event was met with much enthusiasm by local veterans and their families as well as parents and visitors. More than 90 veterans attended representing all branches of the military. They were greeted in the entranceway by lower school students holding American flags and were then escorted to a seat of honor in the front of the worship center.

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Grandparents Day: Each year, on the early dismissal day before Thanksgiving Break, Prince hosts Grandparents and Special Friends Day. There is a school-wide program in which special guests are welcomed followed by the opportunity for grandparents and special friends to visit their lower school students’ classrooms, meet teachers and friends, visit the Wolverine General Store, and visit the Fall Book Fair. This is a special and fun day for the entire school community.

Daughters of the American Revolution: Sophomore Georgia Nunn was selected as the winner of the DAR Christopher Columbus Essay Contest.

She was honored as the PACS school winner and the DAR Apalachee Chapter Winner.

Senior Hamilton Culpepper was nominated by PACS teachers to receive the DAR “Good Citizen Award” .

GISA Day at the Capitol: Members of the Prince Avenue High School Student Government spent a day at the Georgia State Capitol for GISA Day (Georgia Independent Schools Association). Students observed a session of the House of Representatives, had a photo meet and greet with their local congressman, Marcus Weidower, and enjoyed a luncheon in which they heard from a number of congressmen about bills and laws that impact them directly. During lunch, Prince students were also able to network with other students that attend independent schools around the state of Georgia.

Another highlight of the day was gathering for a picture with Governor Brian Kemp and Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan.

Walton EMC School Empowerment Grant: In December 2019, Prince Avenue Christian School was awarded the Walton EMC School Empowerment Grant. This grant provided a shade structure for the outside area near the playground and green space and will benefit both students and faculty schoolwide. In attendance to present the grant to Ginger Robinson, Administrative Assistant to the Head of School, was Savannah Chandler, Walton EMC Communications Coordinator who is also a Prince parent.

Areas of Service Faculty Staff Appreciation: The Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF) periodically provides treats to the faculty and staff to show appreciation for all that they do for the school, students, and families of Prince. Each faculty member is recognized on his or her birthday, and the PTF provides breakfast and lunch to the faculty and staff during special in-service days.

Parent-Teacher Fellowship

Gently Used Uniform Sale: The PTF sponsors the Gently Used Uniform Sale in the summer and once during the school year. The sale provides a low-cost options for parent to purchase school uniforms and allows parents to donate or consign uniforms that their family no longer needs.

Dollars for Education: The PTF coordinates the various opportunites available for the shopping dollars of parents to be used to benefit the school.

These opportunities include Box Tops for Education and programs offered through Publix, Ingles, and Office Depot.

PTF OFFICERS: Christy Britt - Co-Chair Kim Elrod - Co-Chair Allison Gilmore - Treasurer Wendi Milner - Secretary

Parent Involvement Parents in Prayer: Once a week, PTF sponsors a prayer time in which parents come together to pray for the school and for any specific needs of the Prince community.

Grade Representatives: PTF Grade Representatives serve as an additional avenue of communication between Prince parents and administration. Grade Representativess have quarterly meetings with the principals to strengthen the partnership between parents and the faculty/ staff. Grade Representatives are also an important link in communication with new families as the families are getting settled and learning about Prince.

This program promotes a sense of unity throughout the school.

Coffee & Conversation: Once a month, the PTF holds an event after morning drop-off. These gatherings are an opportunity for parents to connect and for the PTF officers to share about PTF happenings and ways that parents can participate.

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The purpose of the PACS PTF is to foster fellowship among teachers and parents in order to promote unity, increase parent involvement, be a source of encouragement to the PACS family, and above all - honor God. Special Events Homecoming Dance: The Homecoming Dance is a fun and exciting time for high school students to dress up and celebrate Homecoming Week. This special event is sponsored by the school, but the PTF helps by providing event planning.

Mother/Son Night of Fun: This year’s theme for Mother/Son Night was Western Fun! More than sixty mothers and sons participated in the event held in the Prince Pavilion. Moms and boys enjoyed digital skeet shooting, mechanical bull riding, corn hole, and many other exciting activities.

Father/Daughter Winter Ball: The Father/Daughter Winter Ball is a special night of music, fellowship, and dinner for Prince fathers and daughters. More than 100 people participated in this memorable night.

Thing-a-Thon: Prince’s annual Thing-a-Thon field day event was canceled due to COVID-19.

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Jon Desso Scholarship Committee Reunion: The Jon Desso Scholarship was established to remember and honor the life of PACS graduate, Jon Desso (Class of 2000). Each year, a group of Jon’s friends gathers to support awareness of the scholarship and to continue the friendships that were very important to Jon. This year’s reunion was held at the Prince Pavilion and was attended by more than 50 people.

Alumni

Homecoming Alumni Tailgate: The Homecoming Alumni Tailgate is held each year in the end-zone near the scoreboard prior to the Homecoming Football game. All alumni and their families are invited to attend.

Mez Blume Reads to Students: Prince fourth-graders enjoyed a visit from Prince alumna and children’s author Mez Blume (Class of 2006). Mez dressed in Victorian character and read to students from her newest book, Katie Watson and the Caged Canary, the third in her Katie Watson – Mysteries in Time Series. Mez also led a question and answer session in which she answered questions about the creative writing process as well as the Katie Watson series.

Coach Jonathan Leathers Returns to Coach Varsity Boys Soccer at Prince: In 2019, PACS hired PACS alumnus Jonathan Leathers as the new Varsity Boys Soccer coach. Coach Leathers graduated from Prince in 2004. Ironically, Prince did not yet have a soccer program when he was a student, but he found other ways through club teams to excel in the sport. Coach Leathers went on to play soccer at Furman University where he was a three-time All-Conference first team player and one-time second team All-American. After graduating from Furman, Coach Leathers was drafted 25th overall by the Kansas City Wizards. During his professional career, he also played with the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Charlotte Eagles.

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Prince Avenue Christian School

2201 Ruth Jackson Road Bogart, Georgia 30622 678-726-2300 SAIS, SACS, Cognia, ACSI accredited.

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