Eagle Magazine - Fall 2018/Winter 2019

EAGLE SE CO ND BAP T IST S C H O O L

FALL 2018 | WINTER 2019

NEWS

Take a look at the fall 2018 events and happenings at Second Baptist School.

FAMILY

Community means family at SBS.

ALUMNI

See what’s new with SBS alumni in class notes and features.

SECOND BAPTIST SCHOOL 6410 Woodway Drive Houston, Texas 77057 secondbaptistschool.org Established in 1946, SBS provides a world-class education for the leaders of tomorrow. SBS is a learning community for over 1,000 students (PK-12) who enjoy a breadth of educational opportunities – from customized learning experiences to travel exposure to technological advancement. Nurtured by a Christcentered community that edifies the soul and an academically rigorous environment that enriches the mind, SBS graduates are armed with the character, confidence and capability needed to succeed in the world they confront in the 21st century.

OUR MISSION The mission of Second Baptist School is to train students in areas of knowledge that will allow them to understand clearly, to think deeply, to judge wisely, and to have the courage to live their lives on the great principles and convictions of biblical truth as they engage an innovative and digitallybased global community.

OUR PASSION Our passion is to bring every student into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ while equipping them to do with excellence that which God has called them to do.

HONOR CODE As a member of the Second Baptist School community, I will not lie, cheat or steal; I will do my best to exemplify Christlike integrity in my academic and personal endeavors and encourage others to act accordingly.

The Eagle is published by the Office of Communications and is mailed free of charge to students, parents, faculty, alumni and friends of Second Baptist School. For more information call (713) 365-2310 or visit our website at secondbaptistschool.org.

Disclaimer: Second Baptist School makes every effort to ensure that all names and listings are accurate and complete. If a name has been omitted, misspelled or listed incorrectly, please accept our sincerest apologies.

EAGLE

letter from THE EDITOR

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hen you hear the word ‘family’ your immediate reaction may be one of joy, longing or indifference.

Family: it is a powerful word that conjures up multiple meanings and emotions.

I lost both of my parents, a few years apart, when I was in my 40s. Those were tough days, and sometimes today, I still feel the pangs of missing one or both of them. Our family was so very imperfect, but my mother and father loved me unconditionally, even when they no longer loved each other.

Despite the brokenness of my family unit, I grew up with a host of adults who consistently and intentionally poured into me so that I would not suffer a day without knowing what a cohesive family could be like.

My family looked like my mother’s friends who became my second set of parents, their children becoming my siblings.

It looked like an older couple who had their own large family, taking me in as one of their own grandchildren. It looked like the people I met through Second Baptist Church, many who are still here today, discipling an insecure girl looking for significance and meaning and showing her how to find her identity in Christ.

Beginning with Dr. Davis recounting his own family experience, followed by a special feature showcasing some of our wonderful SBS families, you might recognize characteristics of your own family represented in the following pages. In this issue of the Eagle, I invite you to take a look at how family, whether born into or chosen, impacts our lives every day.

Shari Durrett Director of Communications

Contents 04

LETTER FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL

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CAMPUS NEWS

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WHAT IS FAMILY?

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A LETTER TO MY TEENAGER

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LOVING OTHERS WITH BIRTH ORDER IN MIND

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ALUMNI

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20 QUESTIONS WITH SECOND GRADERS

Family

it looks different for everyone

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letter from

HEAD OF SCHOOL

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s the oldest of seven children, family has always been an important part of my life. My parents sought to raise their family in the discipline and admonition of the Lord, and they greatly influenced the formation of my beliefs and character. They nurtured in me a sense of security and identity that was rooted in God’s word.

Needless to say, there was never a dull moment growing up alongside my four brothers and two sisters. As the oldest, I was often responsible for watching my siblings whenever Mom and Dad were away from home.

Although they rarely appreciated taking orders from their big brother, we all pitched in to do our part—like learning how to change diapers at a young age. And, even though we are all different and fought like siblings often do, we were loyal to the core; you crossed one Davis, you crossed us all.

It can be said that as children we learn more from what we see than what we hear. For instance, my father rarely talked to me about the importance of reading my Bible, yet I can’t remember a morning that he wasn’t reading God’s word when I came downstairs. In middle school, I started a lawn mowing business. My mom would send me to all the elderly neighbors and forbid me to take any money from them. Even today, my family still jokes that I mowed more lawns for free than I was paid for, but from that and because of my mother, I developed a heart for people and understood the value of serving others. From my father, I caught his passion for a deep, abiding relationship with God and learned the value of hard work and discipline.

When Jessica and I married and started a family of our own, I wanted to instill the same values in our children that my parents instilled in me. My greatest desire continues to be that Trey, Jacob and Natalie love God and love others (especially their family) and that they live their lives accordingly.

Jessica and I do our best to be intentional about the time we spend with our family, knowing that the days pass too quickly. We want to create a home built on God’s principles where our children feel safe, know they are loved and understand the difference between right and wrong.

Family: it looks different for everyone. After two short years of being head of school at SBS, I can say that when we come together on campus, we come together as family. We exist to encourage each other, worship together and lean on one another. We bring different strengths to the relationships we develop and while we are not perfect, we are loyal. At Second Baptist School, we are family. At SBS, we are ONE.

To God be the Glory,

Dr. Don Davis Head of School

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CAMPUS

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“This year, I challenge us to be united as ONE in Christ.”

# SBSweareONE

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BS families excitedly returned to campus for the first day of school in August. Shortly after students were settled into their classrooms, the entire community came together in the Worship Center for this year’s Convocation. Once class flags were neatly placed in a semi-circle surrounding the stage and students were seated, Head Prefect, Fielden Baker ’19, addressed the community. He encouraged students to see their time at SBS differently and to not take it for granted, to see its worth and importance.

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At the conclusion of Fielden’s address, Dr. Davis welcomed 13 students to the stage as he spoke.

These students represented the K-12 education one receives at SBS. “I believe Second Baptist School does the best job of preparing students for college and for the rest of their lives,” said Dr. Davis. “I believe this is true because our entire school is aligned with the passion and mission!”

Dr. Davis concluded with these words, “The SBS education is built on three very important values: 1) A Christ-centered education rooted in the Word of God. 2) A pursuit of excellence in all we do.

3) A caring community.”

Arctic Book Blast Book Fair

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his year’s Arctic Book Blast invited SBS families to warm up with a good book.

Each year, the SBS Book Fair brings in hundreds of donations for the library to grow and stay up-to-date with the latest reads for our students. Not only does it provide new books, but the week itself reignites a passion for reading in the community.

Book Fair Chair Bethanie O’Brien stated, “It was so sweet to see many of the students genuinely excited about books and the joy of reading. Their parents came out to support this passion in a huge way.”

Our visiting authors were Debbie Leland and Sharon Draper. Students had the opportunity to engage with these award-winning authors and have their books signed.

In addition to purchasing books, 91 students signed up and participated in the second annual after school Explorer Fair. Workshops ranged from robotics to the science behind making ice cream.

This year, 450 books were donated to the SBS Library. A special thanks to our librarians and Book Fair volunteers. Book Fair Chair Bethanie O’Brien stated, “It was so sweet to see many of the students genuinely excited about books and the joy of reading. Their parents came out to support this passion in a huge way.”

SBS Middle School is EXTREME

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or SBS middle schoolers, Extreme Eagle Day is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. A day filled with school spirit, costumes, laughter, fellowship and games, the 2018 Extreme Eagle Day and pep rally were bigger and better than ever!

It started with carpool drop-off when students were greeted by parents, teachers and administrators dressed to the extreme. Fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders entered the building through balloon arches, wearing adornments of blue and gold. While classes continued as usual and students enjoyed a festive pizza lunch, teachers and students could barely contain their excitement for the pep rally.

The Extreme Eagle pep rally, led by SBS middle school cheerleaders, celebrated our middle school football teams. In addition to cheering on our athletes, all grades participated in a spirit challenge which included relay races and class yells.

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CAMPUS

The Class of 2030 is going to do BIG things – just wait and see!

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Dream BIG!

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he first grade grandparents’ program is always an SBS favorite! Dream BIG: What I Want to be When I Grow Up showcases our talented SBS Class of 2030 and their BIG dreams for the future. In first grade, our students learn how God has BIG plans for their lives and the various jobs they can do to glorify Him. In this program, students proclaim what they want to be when they grow up and sing songs about how God holds their future in His hands.

This year, the Class of 2030 showcased many different

careers. They dream of being doctors, athletes, teachers and even a spy! Students joyfully performed songs that include “When I Grow Up,” “I Am a Promise” and “I Wanna Be Like Jesus” to the delight of parents, grandparents and special guests.

“Our first graders put in countless hours of preparation and practice to make this a most special event,” said Lower School Special Events Coordinator Ashleigh Manion. “They had so much fun dreaming big about the jobs they want to have in the future.”

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The Class of 2030 is going to do BIG things – just wait and see! Careers included: race car driver, baseball player, golfer, basketball player, football player, football team doctor, cheerleader, equestrian, heart surgeon, veterinarian, dog trainer, zoologist, herpetologist, archaeologist, paleontologist, military general, police officer, spy, scientist, astronaut, inventor, engineer, lawyer, author/ illustrator, Disney cruise director, singer/pop star, fashion designer, artist, art teacher and teacher.

Second Baptist School is ALL IN

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tudents, faculty and parents poured into the Worship Center as the lights dimmed and the SBC Youth band played the first song. After a few minutes of powerful, school-wide worship, Head of Upper School Jon Konzelman began the introduction of the chapel’s guest speaker, Gian Paul Gonzalez. A short video played, giving more insight into who he is as a former NCAA player turned motivational speaker and how God is using him in the lives of many. From there, a captivated audience listened as Gonzalez challenged everyone to consider how they could serve God and others if they were willing to go ALL IN for Christ.

For each person, that calling is different. For some, he reasoned, it could be on athletic teams, helping to carry the weight of others, noticing when a teammate is having an off day. For others, he explained, it could be academics, helping a friend who is struggling while you yourself are tired or stressed.

Gonzalez closed by inviting each student and faculty member to consider what going ALL IN for Christ might mean and memorializing that by signing their names on bulletin boards that now hang around the school as a reminder to stay ALL IN.

Chapel Reflections

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iddle school started a new initiative called Chapel Reflections. The purpose of Chapel Reflections is to create a time for students to reflect on the message shared in chapel each week. Our middle school teachers are committed to using Community Time immersed in guided conversations and discussion with students to take the messages to a deeper level.

The goals of Chapel Reflections are:

1. To build community

2. To teach students to reflect on the chapel message from the day before

3. To provide a way to respond to the story in some way

4. To intentionally engage with students spiritually, building relationships with them that inspire growth According to Head of Middle School Ellen Barrett, “The heart behind this initiative reflects our mission and passion at Second Baptist School. Dr. Davis says, ‘We are one,’ and Christian education is not a compartmentalized task. It is an all-in, everyday action. Discipleship is a team sport, not relegated to certain teachers at certain times. Pouring into the spiritual lives of our students in tangible ways is the intention of every faculty member on campus at SBS.”

After one Chapel Reflection during CT, many students were grateful for the new opportunity this initiative has provided.

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CAMPUS

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Senior Retreat Under the Stars

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he Class of 2019 visited Round Top, Texas, where they spent two days bonding and preparing for their exciting final year at SBS. “Senior Retreat was such a sweet time for the senior class to get away and reset before their final year begins,” stated Student Life Coordinator Grace Rummel.

Publicity Prefect Payton Kim ’19 said about her time in Round Top,“I think

for a lot of us, Senior Retreat was the first time we were all together as seniors and realized the reality that we are in our last year of high school. We bonded over both looking forward to this year and looking back at the years we have spent with each other.”

Seniors shared special moments of reflection and prayer led by their class prefects and cherished moments of bonding through hammocking, down time and stargazing.

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A highlight and longstanding tradition is when Ms. Simonton gives each senior a stone to represent their Ebenezer, a tangible reminder of God’s power and protection as illustrated in 1 Samuel 7.

Model U.N. in Chicago

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pproximately 1,000 students from across the globe attended the Chicago International Model United Nations Conference.

Chicago International Model United Nations (CIMUN) is a particularly intense Model United Nations (Model UN). CIMUN challenges students with more real-world experiences closer to the actual United Nations.

schedules and are constantly challenged with real-life simulations. If an international crisis occurs early in the morning, delegates are awakened to collaborate with other committee members to resolve these complex issues. Students are well-versed in parliamentary procedure and have completed significant research about the country they represent.

During this conference, students participate in real time, 24/7

Students participate in different committees. SBS delegate Kara

Swain ’20 shared her committee experience: “I participated in a historic committee set in 1968.

During the conference, I served as LBJ’s Chief of Staff. The cabinet dealt with various international and domestic issues, such as the storming of the DNC, the Vietnam War (specifically the Tet Offensive) and the riots after the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. During the conference, my cabinet held one of our sessions in the Imperial Suite, where President Johnson, Vice President Humphrey and Mayor Daley actually met fifty years ago to discuss Humphrey’s presidential nomination.”

After a few days of demanding and exciting problem solving, Swain said, “I learned how to speak clearly, quickly and persuasively.

I ‘lived’ through various historical crises, and through this hands-on experience I gained real-world knowledge to help me in my history classes!” She went on to say, “During my AP Euro exam, I was thrilled when the topic for our Document Based Question asked about a historical crisis that I had been in a committee about just two weeks before.”

“I learned how to speak clearly, quickly and persuasively. I ‘lived’ through various historical crises, and through this hands-on experience, I gained real-world knowledge to help me in my history classes!”

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CAMPUS

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Angels of Light

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his year marked the 29th anniversary of Angels of Light, a cherished Second Baptist family tradition. This annual event continues to bless families from Houston’s inner-city and surrounding communities during the Christmas season.

Students in all school levels participated in this year’s Angels of Light. Lower schoolers collected wrapped toys during carpool, while middle and upper schoolers collected sports balls. Lower school collected a total of 360 toys. Between middle and upper school, over 300 sports balls were collected! In addition, over 60 students served at the event itself as either bus captains, greeters, distributors, toy wrappers or grocery sackers.

According to upper school Service Prefect Madison Pennington ’19, “It is important for us as students to serve and give back through Angels of Light. During this busy Christmas season, it is a good way to press the pause button on our lives and be thankful for our blessings. Seeing the smile on the kids’ faces is so humbling.” She went on to say, “My favorite part about serving with my friends and my sister is being able to have fun while also helping.”

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Students in all school levels participated in this year’s Angels of Light.

Class of 2022 Freshman Retreat

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reshman Retreat is an important time for each incoming class to create memories to carry throughout their time in upper school. It is a time to treasure friendships, create new ones and look forward to the years in upper school with hope and expectation that God will do big things. From venturing out on the blob to shared conversations over meal time, this retreat at Stoney

Creek Ranch is an incredible way to kick off the school year for ninth graders.

This year, our students spent time playing games, participating in group activities and sharing experiences together that will establish their identity as a class. Teachers, faculty and prefects joined together to show examples of what leadership looks like and to exhort the Class of 2022

to do great things.

“We had a lot of great intentional time,” said upper school Biology teacher Tyler Jones. “The freshmen seemed to be growing closer all the time, to the faculty, to each other and to God. My favorite part of it all was the chance to interact with my students outside of class, especially students that I don’t see regularly.”

Girl Talk Bible Study

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he room was filled with chatter, laughter and the sounds of friends eating lunch together. Girls were scattered throughout the room, filling chairs, sitting on the floor and standing to make room for more girls coming in. At the front of the room sat three chairs filled by SBS student leaders with hearts to minister to others. One such leader was Mary Turner ’20, who began this new SBS Bible Study, Girl Talk, with the help of SBC High School Girls’ Associate Leah Green this school year.

“Girl Talk is a Bible study that happens every week during lunch and is a place where we can talk about any topic,” said Mary. “It is mainly run by the junior girls and Leah. Here, there is no judgment and nothing is ignored. My goal is to grow our faith and display God’s love for everyone.”

Grown out of a love for the Bible and a calling to minister to her peers, Mary asks students to pick topics they want to hear about and see what God has to say about those things.

They are covering a range of topics stemming from the central theme of identity.

Girl Talk is a Bible study that happens every week during lunch and is a place where we can talk about any topic.

“Each week, we cover a different truth regarding our identity,” said Leah. “We start with discussing several sources on which our identities should not be based, such as relationship status, how we compare to other ladies, beauty and others. Some girls have volunteered to help lead these discussions. I ask them to write a couple of discussion questions about the topic and find scripture that speaks to the truth of the matter. I love seeing these girls apply their faith to everyday life. That has been my prayer!”

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Meetup

Axis & Parenting PhD

econd Baptist School’s TechFest was started six years ago as a chance to showcase the innovation and collaboration happening at SBS and across the city. It has grown into a full day of workshops and seminars where educators teach, share and grow. This year’s theme was Meetup. According to Director of Technology Hannah Noble, “While technology in education is where the idea was born, what keeps it going year in and year out is the people. Our theme, Meetup, celebrates the gathering of teachers and leaders throughout Houston who are passionate about innovation and education.”

arlier this year, Second Baptist School and Church partnered on a parenting series, Parenting PhD. The prayer is that this series equips and prepares us for the ever-evolving and fast-paced wireless culture that children encounter every day.

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From Merge Cube Mania and Coding in the Art Classroom, to What’s New in Apple for Education, the options to learn abounded. Educators from 25 different schools journeyed from classroom to classroom, taking copious notes and engaging in challenging discussion.

Over half were returning attendees. In addition to visiting participants, all SBS teachers present at or attend TechFest so that they, too, will continue to grow.

According to SBS Technology Instruction Designer Blake Alderfer, “TechFest provides an opportunity for like-minded teachers on the cutting edge of their craft to share new tools and strategies to help improve the dynamic use of technology in their lessons. It also provides networking opportunities for local educators around Houston.”

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The initiative started with a session geared toward middle and upper school students presented by Axis. Axis is a non-profit organization that seeks to creatively share God’s truths to the next generation. The mission of Axis is “to empower the next generation to think clearly and critically about what they believe and to take ownership of their faith.” Through a dynamic presentation titled “Alone Together,” Axis shared the impact of too much screen time on a teenager’s life.

Their strategy is “simple, yet incredibly unique: they are culture translators. Being aware of the pulse of culture allows them to bridge the gap between generations by translating pop culture into the ideas it espouses for younger generations, while explaining and interpreting youth culture in ways that older generations understand.

By speaking the languages of both generations, they bring common ground and open the way for understanding.”

Head of Upper School Jon Konzulmen added, “As parents, we need to be proactive in having conversations with our children about difficult topics. It’s our responsibility to walk alongside our children and students as they navigate the formative years of their life.”

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A special thanks to this year’s Distinguished Speaker Luncheon Chairmen, Emily and Jon Goolsby and Kimberly ’88 and Eric Thode, for their passion and hard work that made this year’s luncheon such a success.

Distinguished Speaker Luncheon 2018

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he annual Second Baptist School Distinguished Speaker Luncheon is held every fall in honor of our faculty and staff and has a history of notable guest speakers. All proceeds from the annual luncheon go directly to pay for Christmas gifts for SBS faculty members and salary increases for the following year.

Introduced by Dr. Ed Young, Steve Green, President of Hobby Lobby, Inc. and founder of The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., inspired and shared much of his story with the SBS community.

SBS also welcomed Sarah Harmeyer ’95 as this year’s Distinguished

Alumni Award recipient. Honored, Sarah stated, “Love shapes us, doesn’t it? We don’t forget how love feels. When I think of SBS, it feels like love.” She went on to say, “Love gives you opportunities to be yourself. It allows you to stretch your wings and try, fail and sometimes soar. Love shaped me at SBS and it is a pleasure to be back here today.”

In addition to our Distinguished Alumni, SBS also honored two Distinguished Alumni Parents for their longtime and generous support, love and heart for Second Baptist School. This year’s recipients were Mr. and Mrs. David Dominy. The Dominys graduated three children

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from SBS: Drake ’06, Dalton ’08 and Kirsten ’10, married to Christopher Duncan ’09.

Thanks to our outstanding speakers, those in attendance at this year’s Distinguished Speaker Luncheon left inspired and grateful for the gift of a Christ-centered community.

Arts _ Much Ado About Nothing

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he familiar tale of Benedick, Beatrice, Hero, Leonato and fan favorite Dogberry, among many other iconic characters, brought to life the Shakespeare classic play Much Ado About Nothing.

From casting to final curtain, this show has been in the works since last school year. In that time, there were countless rehearsals, meetings, props created, costume fittings and memories made.

“We are so very proud of our students,” said Mrs. Blades. “Being a student of Shakespeare lends itself to a greater understanding of the English language, politics, society, human nature and historic literature.

These high school students have portrayed, digested, comprehended and interpreted a great literary work in Much Ado About Nothing.”

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" These high school students have portrayed, digested, comprehended and interpreted a great literary work."�

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Disney’s, The Lion King, Jr.

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or many middle school students, the musical is their first taste of SBS theatre. Directors Cindy Blades, Claire Westmoreland and Sam Brown helped make this rendition of Disney’s The Lion King, Jr. an experience our students will treasure for many years. From the auditions to the final curtain, our young actors enjoyed every moment.

After the audition and callback process, the cast was set and rehearsals began! This time of bonding together as a cast is essential to capturing relational dynamics onstage.

Spending time with classmates and meeting new ones who quickly become close friends are what our theatre students enjoy most about participating in musicals at SBS.

“My favorite part of the musical was making friends with the seventh graders and becoming closer friends with kids in my grade. I really enjoyed working with them and our directors to put on a great show,” said Lauren Schweers ’23, who played the role of Nala. “Overall, the musical was so much fun and a great experience!”

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Fall Choir Concert Second Baptist School choirs performed beautifully composed, skillfully sung pieces from a variety of composers at this year’s choir concert. Students began preparing for the concert early in the fall semester and their hard work was evident as the evening presented amazing talent and expertise.

“In order to learn the songs, Ms. Martin spent time teaching us the correct notes. After we felt comfortable singing the right parts, she began teaching musicality, such as dynamics,” according to Student Choir President Scott Holcomb ’19. “The most memorable part was standing in awe the first time we rehearsed with Mr. Anderson for ‘He Never Failed Me Yet.’”

Through the combined efforts of middle and upper school choirs, the audience heard a wide repertoire of music from “Hosanna” as performed by the Concert Choir to “He Never Failed Me Yet” featuring special guest soloist, Jeff Anderson from Veritas.

The Festival of Christmas To kick off the Christmas season, the Second Baptist School arts department hosted families and friends at the annual Festival of Christmas. They presented their talents before a packed house.

Preparations for the Festival of Christmas include after school rehearsals to class time devoted to learning new music. Students and arts teachers, alike, put in great effort to ensure a successful performance.

“I love all aspects of the Festival of Christmas,” stated band director Mark Lewis. “It is really fun for me to go down to the lower school each year and help Liza Brown with the fourth grade handbells.

By listening to them at the concert, you would never know that they learned all their music in 10 rehearsals and that none of them had ever even picked up a handbell before.”

Fall Art Show For the second year in a row, the Fall Art Show took place during the Book Fair and aligned itself with the fair’s theme. Since the first day of school, art students in lower, middle and upper schools worked on the pieces that were displayed. According to upper school art teacher Nora Ripple ’02, “I love our students’ diversity and how even though many are assigned the same project, the personalities of our students can be seen in their creations, making each piece one-of-a-kind.”

About 230 works of art were presented to the SBS community. According to Director of Arts Kathy Payne, “My favorite part was watching students come with their parents to show them their art pieces and the pride each student and parent had as they viewed their pieces. Watching them take pictures of their student standing with their art on display was very special to see.”

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ATHLETIC FOOTBALL

Season Record

11 wins, 2 losses District Record 5 wins, 0 losses Awards/Honors District Champions Area Champions Regional Champions

All-State Individual Awards

First Team Tyler Holt – Defense Johnathan Gooden – Defense Grant Doré – Defense Second Team Dylan Cordell – Defense Dylan Cordell – Offense

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Second Team Sam Oelfke – Offense Jay Coleman Dylan Kim Cameron Bonner

Second Team Jillian Wright Carly Berkman Kate Kell Honorable Mention Laurel Howell

Honorable Mention Connor Cordell Kyle Bruegger Elijah Adickes Grayson Kim Thomas Jobe Dane Dentler Drake Gilbert Anthony MacKenzie Jaden Prothro

Touchdown Club Finalist Grant Doré – Defense Tyler Holt – Defense Terry Pirtle – Coach of the Year

“It was a special year for our team,” said Head Coach Terry Pirtle. “We had great leadership from our seniors and our coaches did an amazing job. We were able to enjoy many memorable moments. We captured the district championship with an exciting overtime victory over Lutheran South. We beat Cypress Christian 54-15 in the regional finals in front of a good crowd full of Second Baptist alumni, and it was the sixth consecutive season in a row for our program to win district, with a score of 11-2.”

Academic All-State

VOLLEYBALL

Honorable Mention Grant Doré – Defense Josh Johnson – Offense Grant Doré – Offense Superlatives Josh Johnson – District MVP Grant Doré – District Defensive MVP

Dylan Cordell Dylan Kim Jared Monroe Tyler Holt

All-District Individual Awards

First Team Dylan Cordell – Offense and Defense Tyler Holt – Offense and Defense Christian McMillian Josh Johnson Grant Doré – Punter, Kicker and Defense Jared Monroe Sam Oelfke – Defense Johnathan Gooden

“Even though this season was challenging dealing with injuries, I am so proud of the team for never giving up,” said Head Varsity Coach Sue Berg. “They fought hard every day, had a great attitude and I loved going to practice to see them push and fight to get better.”

CROSS COUNTRY District

Varsity men finished second Kendall Rodriguez: fourth place Dylan Sanders: sixth place Varsity women finished fourth Janie Cagle: sixth place Caroline Torn: eighth place

State

Varsity men finished eighth Varsity women finished seventeenth “What an amazing cross country season we had!” said Head Varsity Coach Roxanne Hill. “Our varsity men had several highlights including winning first at the Cypress Christian Warrior Invitational in September. They also placed third at the Faith West Hills Race in October.

Our men worked hard this season to defend their district championship from last year. In the end, our men placed second at the TAPPS district meet in October. The girls team placed third overall at district.”

Season Record

16 wins, 12 losses

District Record 9 wins, 5 losses

Awards/Honors

Fourth in district

All-State Individual Awards Second Team Julia Faseler

Academic All-State Emma Reed Julia Faseler

All-District Individual Awards First Team Julia Faseler Emma Reed

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COACH OF THE YEAR

Terry Pirtle g

The Houston chapter of the National Football Foundation, the Touchdown Club of Houston, named the 2018 Private School Coach of the Year as Second Baptist School’s very own Varsity Football Coach Terry Pirtle. Leading the SBS football team to six straight district championships, the success of this year and his hard work and dedication to the program at SBS contributed to Pirtle being recognized with this honor.

“Being selected as Coach of the Year simply means that our entire staff did a great job coaching their players,” said Pirtle. “Our varsity football staff worked hard every week to make sure each player was prepared every Friday night. It is a good feeling to know that Second Baptist School is recognized as one of the premier football programs in the area.”

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The Touchdown Club of Houston recognizes coaches and players from the Houston area private schools, including TAPPS and SPC. Second Baptist School is blessed by coaches like Terry Pirtle who invest in the lives of students daily and exhort them to excellence.

2018

Second Baptist School

HOMEC OMING Second Baptist School Homecoming brings together our entire community for a week filled with fun and fellowship.

Current students anticipate the festivities through themed dress-up days. This excitement culminates at the all-school pep rally where students of all ages participate in games, cheer on the football team and watch cheerleaders and Golden Girls perform. Perhaps the most fun occurs when students show their school spirit during class yells. This year’s class yells winner was the Class of

2020. Congratulations, juniors!

At the Homecoming game, there was no shortage of activities. Future eagles found themselves enjoying the newly renovated playground and pavilion, The Green, while other Eagle fans made their way to their seats to enjoy an exciting game. Alumni and alumni parents gathered in the Eagle Club in the Athletic Center for a delicious dinner and quality time to reunite with friends.

At halftime, the highly anticipated

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Homecoming Court winners were announced. This year’s Homecoming Court winners were: Freshman Prince and Princess: Cooper Patterson and Carly Berkman Sophomore Prince and Princess: Michael DiCecco and Francesca Garvin Junior Prince and Princess: Nicholas Barrera and Maia Bradford 2018 Homecoming King: Fielden Baker 2018 Homecoming Queen: Shelby Clark

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AlumniHOMECOMING

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? y l i af m

WHAT IS

TREIBMANN/ NELSON Families

Sisters Mia (age 16) and Kaya (age 18) Treibmann both spent their junior year living with family friend Julie Nelson and attending SBS as year-long exchange students from Germany; Kaya (2016-2017) and Mia (2018-2019).

Over 20 years ago, after becoming friends while studying in Germany, Julie and Vicki promised each other if they ever got married and had children, they would send their children to each other’s country for one year of high school. That promise came true when German natives Kaya and Mia decided they wanted to attend school for one year in the United States. Their mother, Vicki Treibmann, longtime friends with Julie Nelson, arranged for her daughter Kaya to attend SBS in 2016-2017, then Mia followed in 2018. Kaya and Mia’s brother, currently 12-years-old, can’t wait to have his SBS school year in 2022!

How do you define family?

Family is a permanent bond. Friends may come and go, but family is forever. Some friends are family.

What is most special about your family?

Our family extends across the ocean. Mia, Kaya and Till have Mom and Dad in Germany, but they also have their American “parents,” Gus and Julie.

What do you consider to be the toughest thing facing families today?

Kids think that parents don’t understand their generation because things have changed so much from when we were their age.

How does your family stay connected?

We spend quality time together and try to have at least one meal a day together.

What is the impact SBS has had on your family?

SBS has provided opportunities for independence for Kaya and Mia. It has helped them grow into young adults by allowing them to be on their own yet surrounded by friends who are like family.

Is there anything else you want to share about family?

According to Mia, family is the greatest thing you can have.

HARVEY Family

SBS parents LaJuande and Danny Harvey enrolled both of their children, Danny ’29 and Dylan ’31 in 2017.

Danny is a native Houstonian and was always familiar with SBS and almost transferred here when he was a senior in high school! He and his wife, LaJuande, both educators, value faith-based education and a strong academic curriculum that produces leaders and thinkers. When it came time to find a school for their sons, SBS was at the top of their list. One thing they love most aside from the Christ-centered community, is that all grades (PK-12) are on one campus. They feel this allows their boys opportunities to observe older kids so that when they are older they will realize the importance of being a good example.

How do you define family?

Family is the people who love you unconditionally, place your needs above their own, will be honest with you and will make sacrifices for you and the family.

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What is most special about your family?

What is most special about our family is the foundation that our parents gave us and the sacrifices they made for us. Their example of being God-fearing, prayerful, supportive, loving, encouraging, giving and sacrificial are the things that we want to pass on to our boys, so they can be all that God wants them to be.

What do you consider to be the toughest thing facing families today?

We think it is the same thing that has challenged families for decades but just more prevalent and overt today: distractions and environments that differ from a family’s Christian morals and values.

How does your family stay connected?

We try our best to do things together, communicate, be mindful of our environment and take advantage of teachable moments. We are not trying to shelter our children but every person needs a foundation and a set of solid, core beliefs. We understand the importance of diversity and tolerance. However, during these formative years we want to create a foundation of morals and values that will last.

What is the impact SBS has had on your family?

Environment during our boys’ formative years is very important. SBS plays a vital role, as the mission and vision align with what we want for our boys. During the school year, they spend more of their awake time at SBS than they do at home. While no school, kids, families or environment are perfect; we love SBS and the safety and foundation it provides our boys each day. With an unapologetic Christ-centered focus, high academic standards and a strong, tight-knit community, SBS provides symmetry in what our boys hear at school, at church and at home.

Is there anything else you want to share about family?

Sometimes family and community intersect, and your community can feel like family. To me, community is not always the people that look like you or have the same blood. It is the people who care about you and the people you care about. The people and group you want to uplift. SBS provides that for our family and we are grateful.

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LISENBY Family

Jessica graduated from SBS in 2004. She and her husband, Gray, enrolled their child Addie ’31 in 2018.

They also have Grayson, Gabe and Griffin.

The loving community and knowledge that their children would be loved similar to how they are loved at home is what brought the Lisenby family to SBS. They value how their children will learn about Jesus through all aspects of the SBS curriculum.

How do you define family?

The tribe that helps build your people up—not just your immediate relatives but the people that pour into you and your children and love them well.

What is most special about your family?

Big, unconditional love and a lot of fun!

What do you consider to be the toughest thing facing families today?

The world we live in today is so dark...raising kids that love the Lord, are kind, respectful and eager to grow is challenging.

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How does your family stay connected?

Family dinners are a must! We try to limit screen time during the week and we go outside whenever possible and play games together.

How do you define family?

Persons who – whether because of blood relation or voluntary will – love one another, consider one another,

What is the impact SBS has had on your family?

This year has been so amazing, from simple things like Addie reading to Grayson and teaching him how to sound out words, to teaching him the hand motions to Bible verses. Her Bible knowledge is truly heartwarming.

There is nothing sweeter for a parent than to watch your children teach each other Scripture. Gray and I both know Luke 2 from attending SBS growing up, it is so fun saying it as a family during the Christmas season.

Is there anything else you want to share about family?

As their mom I know I am biased, but my family is truly the best. It is definitely a circus most of the time, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. The joy, love and laughter is genuine and fills my heart!

WALKER Family

Laranda Walker brought her boys John Luke ’29 and Lincoln ’32 to SBS in 2017.

Things changed drastically for the Walker family in December 2016, when Laranda’s husband passed away unexpectedly. Months later, as she prepared to send her oldest son, John Luke, to first grade, she prayed that God would lead them to a school that challenged her son’s mind and nurtured his grieving soul. Knowing that they were members of Second Baptist Church and attended the South Campus in Pearland, a trusted friend suggested she consider SBS. Although she was a church member, she had never even been on the Woodway campus.

Laranda toured the school and immediately knew it was the place for her family. Thus far, this has proven true.

She and her two boys, John Luke and Lincoln, have been warmly embraced and made to feel right at home. She has found peace and comfort knowing that her boys are getting a quality, Christ-centered education while feeling safe, supported and loved.

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sacrifice for one another, celebrate together in times of joy and weep together in times of sorrow.

What is most special about your family?

What’s special (but undoubtedly not unique) about our family is how vigorously we love one another. I love how excited my kids get when I walk into a room! My kids and I certainly don’t agree all the time, but we’re never too upset for a hug, kiss or snuggle. John Luke and Lincoln don’t recognize it yet (because they’re busy antagonizing each other half the time), but they have a very strong bond.

They’re already making plans to live together with their wives when they grow up – and they say they’ll have room for me too, if it’s okay with their wives.

What do you consider to be the toughest thing facing families today?

Quality time – if you’re like me, you’re being pulled in various directions at all times. Most of the time, I feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day.

How does your family stay connected?

I think you have to be intentional and make use of the resources at your disposal. We seem to always be on the go, but some of my best conversations with my kids are in the car. John Luke loves to talk, especially in the car. We also connect through playtime, whether it’s a board game, football or their favorite, “Fight-the-Mommy.” As for our extended family (who are all out of state), phone calls and text messages are a critical piece of staying connected.

What is the impact SBS has had on your family?

It’s huge. My kids spend the majority of their week at SBS. I love that my boys’ teachers have been open and willing communicators. I feel that I can reach out to them as needed and that they will let me know if there are concerns. Additionally, we live in the neighborhood and try to attend as many sporting and other school-sponsored events as we can. In short, SBS is a big part of our lives.

Is there anything else you want to share about family?

Our family has grown because of SBS. In the short amount of time we have been here, we have made friends whom we now consider family.

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BRECHAN Family

Helene and Jacob Brechan brought their three children Cathinka ’24, Alexandra ’26 and Axel ’28 to SBS in 2011.

Their extended family includes Lulu the dog, Oreo the bunny, Tailless the cat and N’cowboy the horse.

The Brechan family came to SBS because of its excellent reputation and strong athletic programs. It was also right next door to their new house when they enrolled!

How do you define family?

Togetherness, tolerance and emotions.

What is most special about your family?

As Norwegians, we are very active in lots of outdoor activities! We all sail and ski, participate in baseball/ softball, soccer, horseback riding and hiking. We try to have a sit down dinner with all five of us at least five times a week. Our dining table seats quite a few, and we love having every chair full when family and friends come to town.

What do you consider to be the toughest thing facing families today?

Too many after-school and weekend activities plus electronics. These take time away from quality family time together. That and fast food. Family around a table together is so important.

How does your family stay connected?

We have a guest room that we love opening up to friends and family when they come to Houston. We also communicate on FaceTime regularly and try to spend summers in Norway with friends and family.

Additionally, we try to limit electronics so we can focus on getting creative and having fun together.

What is the impact SBS has had on your family?

With sports and other activities at school, the parents and staff at SBS are our extended family! This is a gift because some weeks they are the only family we get to see.

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“the school where I go to GiGL.” In the fall of 2010, Eli began first grade at SBS. How do you define family?

Family is the circle of loved-ones (related or not) that support, respect, enjoy and love each other unconditionally.

What is most special about your family?

Despite having five, very different personalities, we try hard to be friendly, sociable and kind to everyone.

What do you consider to be the toughest thing facing families today?

Having quality time together and being physically and mentally present to support and communicate with each other. In this era of electronics/smartphones, super busy work schedules and competitive extracurricular activities, there is always something that is pulling us away from quality family time.

How does your family stay connected?

It’s not easy and we rely on several things to foster connections. We have family meals on the weekends that include family conversations about faith, politics, current topics, etc. We do not allow electronics of any kind during those meals. We typically try to have one outing each weekend that includes all of us. In September, we started weekend family games (basketball, volleyball or Monopoly). We also support each other’s extra-curricular activities as much as possible. As parents we can’t be everywhere at all times, so sibling support is required. Taking family trips each year also helps us stay connected.

SMITH Family

Parents Keith and Terri brought their children Eli ’22, Olivia ’24 and Aaron ’27 to SBS in 2010.

In the fall of 2009, the Smith family moved to Houston from Westchester County, New York. They were attending services at the Woodway campus of SBC and their oldest child, Eli, was attending Bible study and GiGL. After about a month of attending services regularly, Eli asked to move from his public school to

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What is the impact SBS has had on your family?

SBS has had a significant impact on our family these past nine years. When Eli began attending SBS, he expressed (and still does) so much joy and enthusiasm for SBS. He participates in all the school and church have to offer. He has a wonderful group of friends and we together have an amazing and supportive Christian community at SBS. Our other children, Olivia and Aaron, were not students in 2010, but found themselves constantly wanting to attend SBS activities. After a period of time, they too began to ask if they could go to SBS because the school “felt different” and everyone was “friendly and happy.” Finally, in the fall of 2015, we

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moved Olivia and Aaron from a neighboring school and fell quickly in love with SBS! We value how SBS challenges our children to think critically about their choices and how the Bible plays a role in their daily life. The middle school years aren’t easy, and upper school won’t be either, but the manner in which the school has challenged our children to grow and develop emotionally and take responsibility for their actions is second to none.

SBS was the natural choice for their family!

How do you define family?

Those with whom we share our trust, emotions and love.

What is most special about your family?

We recently moved from Korea, so we feel that we are its de facto ambassadors to SBS! How does your family stay connected?

When we moved to Houston last August, it was so I could spend more time with my kids. We try to do things together as a family, such as going to Second Baptist Church, cleaning our home, traveling and sharing meals together, either at home or out at a restaurant.

What is the impact SBS has had on your family?

SBS completely transformed me (Patrick) when I was a student here. The welcoming faculty and friends were especially kind to a young Korean boy still adjusting to his new life in the U.S. More than anything, my experience at Second taught me to be grateful, kind, loving, caring and respectful. And I was introduced to Christ while I was here.

My wife (Vivian) and I were 100% certain that SBS would be the right school for Morgan and Ewan, since we both knew how instrumental the school was during my formative years. SBS has already helped Morgan and Ewan adjust to their new lifestyle in the U.S. (and Houston), make great friends and remember to be thankful for everything that they are given. We are so happy that our children love the school as much as we do!

KIM Family

The Kim family came to SBS in 2018, when parents Patrick and Vivian enrolled daughter Morgan ’27 and son Ewan ’30.

Patrick moved to Houston from Korea when he was a teenager to live with his aunt and uncle. He started his sophomore year at SBS and graduated in 1995. Recently, the Kim family moved back to the U.S. (Houston), and

Is there anything else you want to share about family?

I remember so many great teachers from when I was a student, specifically Mrs. Elsa Jean Looser. She singlehandedly transformed my academic path. From my admission to Columbia University (the first SBS admit) to my eventual graduation from Harvard Business School, I can trace it back to Mrs. Looser’s teaching, dedication and love.

We are immensely grateful and proud to be part of the SBS family!

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Te en ag er A letter to my

THE LARGE ELM WAS A PERMANENT FIXTURE IN OUR BACKYARD. I WISH TIME AND MEMORIES WOULD HOLD STILL JUST LIKE THAT GIANT ELM. E AG L E

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THE DAYS ARE LONG, BUT THE YEARS ARE SHORT.

t seems like yesterday, you were three-years-old, running around in your little sneakers in our backyard. We spent countless afternoons together underneath the shade of the elm tree, which held your favorite yellow swing. I pushed you as high as I could and then ran under the swing as you repeatedly shouted, “Push me again, Mama! Push me again!”

When you were tired of swinging, I twisted the rope as tight as it would go, and once I let go, you squealed dizzily with delight. I can still picture your big brown eyes lighting up and the sun shining through your curls. I can hear your joyful, innocent giggles.

Sadly, our beloved tree had to come down. As the large truck removed the tree, I’ll never forget the sadness we felt that day. We loved that tree. We both loved the memories it held. It was not just a tree; it was a record of your childhood. In the rough bark of the trunk, you wrote your name and drew a cross—a remembrance to all the fun we had playing hide-and-seek, calling the tree “base” for every game we played, finding constant rest under its shade, and swinging joyfully from its branches.

I’ve heard many describe motherhood with the phrase, “The days are long, but the years are short.” How true this is! I recall a time in that same backyard, suddenly confronted by the realization that these current moments are fleeting. I can’t believe we are here: sophomore year, halfway through high school. The years are truly flying by. Now that I’m here, and you’re just years away from graduation, I’m choosing to cherish the present as I joyfully watch you grow into an amazing young woman.

As I wake each morning, words of wisdom and encouragement for you come to mind. I want to tuck words of truth into your lunch and sneak words of encouragement into the pages of your textbooks.

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I want to share my own high school experiences with you—how I wish I had done things differently (or even the same) when I was your age.

But, if I could share my most meaningful advice, I would start by saying BE YOU! YOU are a gift, my child. I understand the pressure you feel to be someone other than who God has created. However, you are approved and loved by Him, and that’s everything! You are at your best when you are you. It’s exhausting trying to be someone else. God’s Word has so much encouragement for us as we learn to navigate the rough waters of this life, whether it’s now or twenty years down the road. When I think of how to confront a daunting challenge, David comes to mind. When he went to fight Goliath, he was small in stature and weak by comparison.

In a futile attempt to protect David, “Saul clothed David with his armor.

And he tried in vain to go. David said to Saul, ‘I can’t go in these’.”

Live for the glory of God. John Piper reminds us that, “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.” We live in an age of dissatisfaction because we have exchanged the glory of God for a lie.

The great lie of this generation is there are people out there who are living their “best life,” when in reality, their “best life” is what you see

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IF I COULD SHARE MY MOST MEANINGFUL ADVICE, I WOULD START BY SAYING BE YOU!

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Can’t you just see David mustering up the courage to tell Saul he couldn’t wear his gear? As a teenager, people will get you to “wear their gear,” but it takes courage to say no and even greater boldness to be who God made you to be. I wish I could protect you from all harm. I would give anything never to see you hurt, but that is not my job. God’s job is to protect, but there will still be hurt this side of Heaven. When God made you, He wasn’t making clones. He made you unique, so you could shine brightly for Him. And He will protect and keep you. The world needs your laugh, your joy, your kindness, your heart for Jesus, your encouragement, and your love for simple things like yellow swings dangling from an elm.

on Instagram. The perfect, posed and polished facade is extremely misleading. We’ve all witnessed people who seek greener pastures; their world crumbled as a result of their momentary lapse of judgment or sanity. Simply put: life is never greener apart from Jesus, and once you taste and see that He is good, you just can’t (nor will you want to) do life apart from Him. And when you try, it’s miserable.

Another great lie of this generation is that something other than God can make you happy. I do believe God wants us to be happy in Him—to have a deep, abiding joy that comes from knowing Him, being His child, and experiencing His amazing presence and activity in our life. There is nothing better. Man’s glory fades away, but God’s glory lasts forever. I’ve had moments watching you when I could see something wonderful in you that was just like your dad. His fingerprints were all over you. Similarly, God leaves a unique mark on all of those who love and trust Him. A life lived for God’s glory has evidence of His fingerprints in minor and major moments. As you walk through life, remember that 1 Corinthians 10:31 encourages, “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

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‘BE HUMBLE AND KIND.’ TIM MCGRAW SANG IT. ‘HAVE COURAGE AND ALWAYS BE KIND.’ CINDERELLA’S MOM SAID IT. AND, IT TAKES THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LIVE IT.

“Be humble and kind.” Tim McGraw sang it. “Have courage and always be kind.” Cinderella’s mom said it. And, it takes the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to live it. Like rare jewels found in a rock quarry, humility, courage and kindness sparkle in a world full of pride and cowardice. Our hearts know when we are the beneficiary of another’s humility, courage and kindness. As the bedrock of God’s character, these attributes are so becoming in a young person. When you find yourself tired and frustrated with others, remember the wise words of 1 Corinthians 13:4: “Love is patient, love is kind...” It takes courage to go against the grain and esteem one another in love. You might be called to be “bold as a lion.” Remember it takes courage to be a voice for the voiceless or to take a towel and basin as Jesus did to serve

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“

...it takes

courage TO BE A

VOICE

for the voiceless... your fellow brothers and sisters when you’d rather be served. Jesus left us a powerful example in how he treated others with value and dignity because every person has been made in the image of God. As your mother, I have a front row seat watching you blossom into all that Jesus has made you to be, and this, my darling, brings me great joy! You have a brilliant mind, and you possess an inner strength from God with the ability to keep your composure under pressure. I respect and admire you. Your heart of compassion doesn’t just notice; it stops and moves toward those who need encouragement. Never let your love for Jesus and people wane. Should it diminish, seek first His kingdom, and everything else will fall into place. God is for you, and I am too.

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I LOVE YOU, MY TEENAGER, AND I AM SO PROUD TO BE YOUR MOM.

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While I still have you in the nest for a while longer, I will cherish the moments of laughter and pray that time slows down. Being your mother is the greatest joy of my life. I pray for wisdom each day, confident that you are the woman He has made you to be. In my mind, I have a beautiful image of Him holding your hand as He leads you into the wonderful adventure ahead. Each day, I pray that God will give you “more than you can ask or imagine!” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:12-13

Loving Others with

Birth DER

OR

in mind

BY JANE JACKSON, LOWER SCHOOL COUNSELOR

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f you consider a tree, rarely do the branches point in one direction. So it is with our family tree, with the parents at the trunk and each child branching off from it. Some trunks are thinner than others, like in a single-parent household.

A blended family might have a larger trunk. In Dr. Kevin Leman’s book, The Birth Order Book – Why You Are the Way You Are, Dr. Leman explains how birth order shapes who we are growing up and the impact it has on the person we become.

It’s common to see tangible examples of this.

Consider that of the first 23 American astronauts sent to outer space, 21 were firstborns; the other two were only children.

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Twenty-eight out of forty-four that’s 64% of U.S. presidents are firstborns or functional firstborns.

Parents, parenting styles and birth order factor into how we are raised to become who we become.

Other variables that impact how we grow up and develop include the health of the members in our family of origin, adopted siblings if we became part of a blended family or the death of a sibling. All have profound effects on a family’s dynamics.

Why consider this information beyond just some interesting trivia?

Because if we can understand ourselves and the people we love around us better, then we can better relate to one another.

First Born

Firstborns are defined as the first child born in a family, or the firstborn child of that gender, even if there was a child born before them. A firstborn can also be a child born to a family where the next closest same-gender sibling is five or more years older.

Firstborns are often reliable and conscientious. They are the type to make lists and are typically black and white thinkers. They are driven, high achievers, often drawn to demanding professions

like medicine, science or law.

They are often rule-followers that believe there is a right way to do something, and they typically prefer structure and order in their environment. Firstborns are natural leaders, well-organized, critical, scholarly and logical.

Firstborns are usually easy to recognize too. They are the ones in the room that are well-dressed and well-groomed. It is interesting to note that 28 out of 44—that’s 64%—of U.S. presidents are firstborns or functional firstborns.

home. They place importance on friendships and relationships outside of families where they can have more say in their social role.

For this same reason, middleborns may be the first ones to leave home. Middle children are defined in Dr. Leman’s book as, “A person born somewhere between the first, or oldest and the last, the actual baby of the family.” With hands on hips and a furrowed brow, a middle child could realize that they were born too late to receive the

Only Children

Only children, aka “onlies,” take the traits of a firstborn a bit further.

They tend to be perfectionists and desire things to go their way. They are very structured and have high expectations for themselves and others. Their best friends can be books, they can appear mature beyond their years as most of their role models are adults. Onlies can work independently, not always understanding why children in other families argue. They can be little adults by the time they are in second or third grade. Only children desire to be “rescuers” when they see an issue and want to solve the world’s problems.

When seeing someone who has a problem, an only child might move in, take over and make it right.

Middle Borns

Consider the middleborn typically branching off in the opposite direction of the firstborn. Dr. Leman says middleborns are the hardest to define. They may feel left out at times, ignored or even insulted. Those in the middle may feel squeezed out sometimes at

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It is frequently a middleborn that acts as negotiator or peacekeeper between other family members.

privileges and special treatments that firstborns seem to inherit by right, (like Jacob who stole what his older brother Esau had coming to him) and arrived too early to win the prize of more lenient discipline from parents. However, it is frequently a middleborn that acts as the negotiator or peacekeeper between other family members.

Middleborns want to avoid conflict and will work to keep strife at bay.

Last Borns

Lastborns, the baby of the family, are usually outgoing and very social, uncomplicated, spontaneous and humorous. Most of us agree that the youngest child is often the most likely to get away with something and the least likely to be punished. Though the baby of the family might have it easier, this position doesn’t come without a price, such as wearing hand-medowns, being an easy target for older siblings or having to go to bed earlier.

Of course, not everyone fits the mold, and there are characteristics on each list that won’t describe that firstborn or lastborn. Some variables that may flip or tweak typical birth order characteristics include the number of years between children, gender, physical, mental or emotional differences. Among the variables mentioned earlier, the relationship between parents and the critical eye of a parent are factors to be very aware of. Dr. Leman says the key to understanding birth order is “identifying and examining the dynamic, fluid relationships between existing members of the family.”

Parenting with Birth Order in Mind

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s parents, the tendency is to identify with the child in the same birth order position. The author states that he would often defend his son, who is the third child after two sisters, whenever there was a dispute among them. Dr. Leman would tend to overprotect his son, making excuses for some of his behaviors. He points out that his daughters at a young age were well aware of his favoritism of their brother.

simple 30-minute homework session takes three hours instead. Be careful not to redo assignments that your child does, or remake a bed he/she already made. Actions like this send a loud and clear message: You don’t measure up. Even straightening the bedspread a tiny bit says that it was not just right or worse, it was not perfect. Some kids think that if they cannot be perfect, they will not be anything at all. Thus a discouraged perfectionist is born.

Overidentification can also come in the form of a critical eye from a firstborn parent. Expectations can be high from a firstborn parent to a firstborn child. Some signs that a critical parent lives at your house may be a child who procrastinates in many areas, tears up a drawing and declares that it’s no good or a

A discouraged perfectionist may exhibit the following behaviors: completed class assignments are not turned in because he/she thinks they may not be done exactly right; many projects or activities may be started but not finished; he/she fears the enormity of a task and therefore, rarely even starts.

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A good way to show our kids that we are not perfect is to ask for their help from time to time. For example, “Where do you think is the best place to put these flowers so we can all enjoy them?” or “Do you think your sister would like this or that?” Seek out your children’s thoughts and opinions rather than their service in completing a task.

Our message to firstborns or onlies needs to be that everyone makes mistakes, and that no one does anything perfectly. What our kids crave and need is the grace of Jesus Christ reminding them that He came to die for them so they would not have to pay for their mistakes.

As Christ told Peter that he should forgive 70 times 7, we need to forgive our children when they mess up or are imperfect. The best way to learn how to do this is to ask them for forgiveness when we mess up.

All kids need encouragement more than prodding.

Whenever possible, we should ask ourselves if we are modeling the character we desire our children to have. A good way to show our kids that we are not perfect is to ask for their help from time to time. For example, “Where do you think is the best place to put these flowers so we can all enjoy them?” or “Do you think your sister would like this or that?” Seek

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out your children’s thoughts and opinions rather than their service in completing a task.

Be purposeful in accepting the differences among your children.

Beware of labels, and schedule time alone with each child. And most of all, as Christ does for us, give your children unconditional love—that which has no bearing on their grades, what color they came home on from school that day or any other external thing. Be slow to speak, slow to anger and quick to listen.

In any family, much of the dynamic depends on the personality and parenting style of parents. It is good to keep in mind that birth order is not a science that proves anything, but it can serve to provide clues to understand individuals in our family and what his or her thoughts or feelings may be. And the first step to love and serve one another is to know each other well.

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@SBS_Houston

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Second Baptist School

Senior

SEND-OFF

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Class of 2018

SBS says “farewell” to our newest SBS alumni over lunch and the NEW yearbook!

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Alumni

CHRISTMAS LUNCH Catching up with old friends and former teachers, enjoying some delicious Tex-Mex...isn’t that what winter break in college is all about?

We had the best time at our young alumni Christmas fiesta this year.

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#AlwaysAnEagle 49

1982-2018

ALUMNI

notes

1984

HELEN MUKHAR BUCKNER recently started working as a luxury family travel adviser at Ciao Bambino in Houston, Texas. Let her know if you want help planning your next family or multigenerational vacation!

1991

TODD DEEKEN lives in Park City, Utah, with his wife and son. He is the co-host of the show “Everyday Driver” on MotorTrend Cable Channel with older seasons available on Amazon Prime. They also have one of the top ten most popular automotive podcasts in the world, “The Everyday Driver Car Debate,” which is quickly approaching 400 episodes. This January, they released their fifth feature film project, a retrospective on all the generations of the Corvette, from 1954 to the present called “American Original.”

1994

PEYTON MILLINOR started his own consulting and advisory practice, offering expertise within the commercial real estate investment realm to clients as they assess acquisitions, dispositions and value maximization of their real estate assets and loans nationwide.

2001

ELIZABETH SMITH HAFFNER was elected July 10, 2018, to a city council seat for the City of Freeport, Florida, where she will serve a four year term.

Elizabeth loves living in Florida with her husband David and their two daughters, Mary Beth (4) and Emma Grace (2).

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2002

2005

MICHELLE MILLER has worked as a criminal defense attorney with an emphasis on representing teenagers for the past five years. In April 2019, she is moving to Kenya to work with an orphan ministry, Oasis for Orphans.

HOLLY O’REILLY MIURA and her husband Jamie are excited to announce their newest addition to the family, a baby girl named Josephine (JoJo) on June 13, 2018.

Jamie and Holly are going on three years living in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and love it! Holly is a stay at home mom to Cooper (2) and JoJo.

2005

LEIGH FRIEDEL UTAKRIT and her husband Tong recently grew their family with the birth of their daughter Henleigh Mahli on May 12, 2018.

2002

COREY WOOD and her husband, Marcos Garcia, welcomed a new baby girl, Violet, five days late on Christmas Eve 2018. Violet measured 8 pounds, 7 ounces and 20 inches long. Big brother and sister, Emily (4) and Marcos (2.5), got the Christmas baby they had been promised after all! Violet was very happy to come home and meet her siblings. Her face lights up when she hears their voices.

2006

CHERANDA WHEELER ROBERTSON and her husband Andrew recently welcomed Aria Hope on October 26, 2018. The Robertsons are absolutely overjoyed and soaking in this sweet new blessing. The entire family adores her and just can’t get enough snuggles with her!

2004

2006

JORDAN KATES BOWLING and her husband Warren welcomed baby girl Olivia Kate on April 9, 2018. She adores her big brother Cooper (3) and is the perfect addition to their family!

RICKY JOHNSON and ANDYSHEA SABERIOON were recently interviewed by Houston’s ABC 13 regarding their business, PledgeCents. Check it out on the ABC13 website!

2004

2008

TIM ROGERS and his wife Jamie were excited to welcome their newest son, Charles Jack, on June 13, 2018. Matthew (5) is excited to have a little brother and is already enjoying making Jack laugh and giggle!

CAROLINE SUFFIELD PATTERSON and ELIZABETH SUFFIELD WILHITE ’05 celebrated Christmas as four generations – Elizabeth and Adam Wilhite welcomed their second daughter, Marilyn “Mimi” Benton Wilhite on July 11, 2018, named after Elizabeth’s grandmother and six generations of Bentons on Adam’s side. Their older daughter Emma Caroline is two. Caroline and her husband, Blake Patterson, celebrated their first anniversary and live in Irvine, California.

2005

ANNABEL STEPHAN HARDIN recently received a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Achievement – Commercial for producing a commercial series called Big 12 Champions for Life. This campaign also won three Telly Awards in 2018.

What an exciting accomplishment!

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2008

LAUREN ROGERS married Bryan Farmer on September 8, 2018, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church with a reception following at The Crystal Ballroom at the Rice Hotel.

Bryan and Lauren met in Houston on a blind date after they had both graduated from The University of Texas at Austin. After three years of dating, Bryan proposed aboard the charming floating Parisian river bistro, Le Calife, as they passed in front of the sparkling Eiffel Tower.

Lauren works as a CPA and financial reporting accountant with Hilcorp Energy Company. Bryan is a strategy and planning advisor with Chevron Corporation’s Energy Technology Company. The couple resides in Houston, Texas.

2008

ASHLEY ROLLAND TELLKAMP and her husband, Randol, recently welcomed a daughter, Gracie, on June 16, 2018. Gracie measured 7 pounds, 11 ounces and 21 inches long.

Ashley and Randol love being new parents.

2010

JENNA HENDRICK married Nick Bergmann on January 19, 2019, in Houston, Texas. Jenna’s wedding party included many SBS alumni: JENNIFER DOUGHTIE TISE ’10, CAROLINE JAMES MARTIN ’10, RACHEL THOMAS ’10 and LESLIE SLAUGHTER ’10, and her brothers, RYAN HENDRICK ’09 and KYLE HENDRICK ’13. Jenna and Nick reside in Houston, where Jenna is a natural gas scheduler, and Nick is a commercial real estate broker.

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2006/2009

2011

GEORGE BEAUCHAMP recently started working as a security officer at Second Baptist Church with plans of moving into law enforcement soon.

2012

KAYLA CHAMBERS accepted a job at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio as a pharmacy resident in order to specialize as a pediatric clinical pharmacist after she graduated in May 2018 from The McWhorter School of Pharmacy with a doctor of pharmacy degree.

2013

KATHERINE ANN RUSH will graduate from Texas Christian University with a masters in communication studies in May 2019. At this point, she is considering getting her doctorate or using her masters to teach at the undergraduate level after graduation.

2013

JORDAN STADING recently earned his MBA from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. He now works as an associate at American Metals Supply Co. in St. Louis, Missouri.

h c i r o h a B n Be rich o h a Eric B Simmons John

BEN ’06 and ERIC ’09 BAHORICH and JOHN SIMMONS ’06 started a dual-purpose family company two and a half years ago that functions as both a non-op oil and gas E&P, as well as a long term hold multifamily rental real estate group started in Houston.

The company owns assets in the SCOOP/STACK in Oklahoma as well as the Powder River Basin in Wyoming on the oil side while buying and operating assets in Houston and College Station on the real estate side. John came on board at the beginning of this year and now that makes 30% of the staff SBS alumni. Eric says, “2018 was a wild year with fluctuating oil prices. With such dramatic swings, we have learned to take a winning deal while it is in front of us! It has been a ton of fun working together, and we look forward to what lies ahead in the coming years.”

2013

MARY PAIGE STEVENSON married Andrew Harris on July 6, 2018 in Houston, Texas. Mary Paige and Andrew met on a blind date at the University of Texas at Austin. The Harrises now reside in Houston, where Andrew works as an appraiser for Jones Lang LaSalle. Mary Paige started teaching at Second Baptist School this fall!

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2013

KENDALL TILLMAN married George Carameros on September 22, 2018. She and George met while students at Baylor University.

Kendall’s wedding party included SBS alums ELIZA KLEIN ’13 and JENNIFER MOHLER ’13. The newly Carameroses live in Waco where Kendall works for Accenture, and George is currently in a training program to own a Chick-Fil-A.

2013

BEN TOUR has accepted a job at one of the world’s most renowned private equity firms, Chicago based Madison Dearborn. He will be focusing on generalist investing. He moves to Chicago in July!

2014

CONNOR BRYANT recently started working as a field drilling engineer for Pioneer Natural Resources in Midland, Texas.

2015

SARA WHITE was one of ten students selected by the student body to be a 2018-2019 Ole Miss Campus Favorite.

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2013

Amy Rosenthal

2015

AMY ROSENTHAL moved from Austin, Texas to Washington, D.C. to work for polling and data analytics firm, WPA Intelligence last spring. The firm works with different candidates at the local, state and federal level to provide campaign strategy based on survey research and predictive analytics.

As a digital client manager, her role is to consult clients on the implementation of data into digital advertising strategy to reach the right voters with the messages most likely to move them.

ROBYN WHITAKER will be biking 1,700 miles down the Pacific coast after she graduates this spring with an organization started by GRACE PFEFFER ’13. The purpose of this ride is to raise awareness about the injustice of sex trafficking occurring specifically in Texas, where 79,000 minors are being sold for sex, and to raise money for a holistic aftercare facility in Austin, Texas, called The Refuge.

2016

JORDAN HAYLEY visited with our sophomore students during the fall to share her experiences in college, campus leadership and politics.

She spoke to the students about maintaining her faith while working in Washington, D.C. Jordan is now a junior at Liberty University. While living in D.C. serving as a summer intern for the American Foreign Policy Council, she had coffee with SENATOR TED CRUZ ’88.

Amy absolutely loves living in D.C. and learning the political industry first hand. This cycle, her firm participated in several hotly contended races across the country, and it was great to see so many clients experience victory on election night.

2017

HAYDEN GROBLEBEN joined the crew team at Vanderbilt University this year.

Since moving, Amy has had some amazing experiences. She met several members of congress (including SBS alumnus and WPA client, SENATOR TED CRUZ ’88), spent the Fourth of July at the White House, and traveled to South Florida where she was deployed to represent her political party during a recount after the 2018 election.

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the class of 1998

20 YEAR REUNION

The Class of 1998 gathered for their 20 year reunion last spring at Upstairs and had a wonderful time reconnecting and reminiscing.

Thank you so much to Meghan Griffin Norton for organizing a wonderful event!

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the class of 2005

MINI REUNION

The Class of 2005 held a mini reunion over the Christmas holidays! It was a blast to spend time with old friends!

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20 questions

1

What do you love most about SBS? That they are opening the new program for three-yearolds, so next year my little brother can come to school with me.

2 What do you want to be when you grow up?

A pilot, police officer, teacher, comedian and both a pastor AND a basketball player or “NFL” basketball player.

3 What has been your favorite part of second

wit h Second Graders

grade so far?

Learning and all of the teachers.

4 What is one thing in your life you couldn’t live without?

Food, water, family, God and cable.

5

What’s your favorite song?

“Happy!”

Alison Tidmore’s Class

6 What does the word “tradition” mean?

Exact thing, exact place, exact year, every time.

7

What are some traditions you have in your family?

Every Christmas we hide a pickle ornament in the tree, and on Christmas morning, whoever finds the pickle gets an extra present!

8 Who’s the funniest person in your family?

Me!

9 Do you have any pets? Names? Why do you love

this pet?

I have a dog, and her name is Minnie, and she is a maltese. She’s 13 in human years and 91 in dog years.

She likes to lick people.

10

What word would you use to describe your family?

Fun, enthusiastic, weird, extraordinary, caring and strong.

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11 What’s the best advice your mom gives you?

16 What makes a great family?

12

What’s the BEST part about having a brother?

Sister? Being an only child?

You get to have someone to play with if your parents can’t and you can blame them for something.

Your dad?

Be kind to other people, stay strong and wash your hands after using the restroom.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about God? He loves us!

13 What is the best thing about being in your family?

They take care of me, they love me, they keep me safe and that the youngest can blame everything on the older siblings.

14 What’s your favorite show to watch?

Ninja playing Fortnite.

15 What Bible character would you like to meet

in person?

David, because he was a good king and a good man and John the Baptist, because he baptized Jesus.

The love that connects everything together.

17

18 What’s the WORST part about having a brother?

Sister? Being an only child?

Sometimes we fight; like this morning, we fought over cookies.

19 Are you good at sharing with your brothers/sisters?

Why or why not?

Absolutely not.

20 Does your mom like to cook? Do you help her?

Not really because sometimes she doesn’t want to and we go out to eat. But, sometimes she does if she just absolutely HAS to. If we’ve had like El Patio five times in a row, she’ll say, “Okay, FIIIINE.”

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