Elevate Magazine - 2018-19 SCA Annual Report

E L E VA T E S H E RWO O D C H R I ST I A N ACA D E M Y

On Mission in

UGANDA Meet the

ENGINE TECH

Takes Over at SCA Championship Year for the

EAGLES

Annual Report 2018-2019

Letter from the Headmaster Welcome to this year’s edition of Elevate, the annual report of Sherwood Christian Academy. At the end of the 2018-19 school year, we celebrated our 34th year of ministry to greater Albany. It was another year filled with many stories of achievement, life change and impact. I am truly grateful for all that God has done in our midst this past year, adding to our rich heritage dating back to 1985.

Our focus this year is technology. For our students to receive the 21st century education they need and deserve, technology must be integrated across the disciplines. For the past several years, we have invested in the essential hardware and software needed to equip our program, but we knew we lacked a first-class instructional technology director to help us utilize these tools. I am thankful that God called Vicki Davis to SCA last July. She came with a wealth of experience in technology and a passion for teaching as well as an impressive professional portfolio outside the classroom. In her first year, her investment has increased the “technology IQ” of both the teaching staff and the students dramatically. Inside this report, you will read about Mrs. Davis and her work at SCA (page 4). Even the outside world has taken notice of Mrs. Davis and SCA.This past April, we were visited by CBS Interactive who chose SCA for a short video piece on the evolution of 5G in education (www.cnet.com/paid-content/news/future-of-5g-transforming-education).

You will read stories involving students and faculty members who are engaged and fulfilling our mission in the areas of academics, athletics and missions. We specifically focus on the stellar career of middle school teacher Cheryl Thompson, as well as the behind-the-scenes servants who have served as administrative assistants for more than 50 years collectively—Nancy Sadler, Lynne Clower and Wendy Wilson (page 56). You will also read about the accomplishments of our 2019 valedictorian and salutatorian, Emma Warbington and Nathanael Sancinito, who will both continue their education at Georgia Tech this fall (page 44). We celebrate several individual state champions this year including repeat state cross country champion freshman Joy Kendrick and the state title her team brought back to SCA. We also celebrate two first-ever boys’ state championships in soccer for middle school and varsity (page 28).

We have added a new feature, highlighting an outstanding SCA family. In this edition, you will meet the NeSmiths, a family that has intentionally chosen SCA despite a 29-mile, one-way commute from Sylvester since 2011 (page 66).

Finally, we catch up with two of our distinguished alums—Andrew Lanier (’11) and Madyson Chambers (’18)—and their collegiate and professional pursuits along with their strong walks with Christ (page 62).

I hope you will see throughout these pages that God has been at work at SCA—most notably, in the 17 students that have made first-time commitments to Christ this school year! Despite the great things happening in the classrooms, on the stage, and on the court and field, it is the souls of young people that will now spend eternity in heaven that pleases me most. Amazingly, in the past five years, more than 125 students have accepted Christ as their personal Savior! At SCA, our primary aim is to lead students to Christ, to build them up in Christ in every area, and to send them out to serve Christ in a world that desperately needs Christ! It is my prayer that God will continue to use us to reach the next generation of young people in Albany for Christ. To God be the glory!

Dr. Brian Dougherty Matthew 6:33

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TA B L E O F CONTENTS

O N T HE COV E R

Hannah Albano (‘24) uses virtual reality in Mrs. Vicki Davis’ technology class. page 4

ACA DE M I C S | 4 Class of 2019 Profile page 8 Reaccreditation page 10

S PI R I T UA L LI FE | 1 3 Uganda page 16 Guac On page 22

AT HLE T I CS | 24

We Are the Champions page 26 Eagle Highlights page 30

FI N E A RT S | 3 2

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers page 34 State Literary Champions page 38 Fine Arts Highlights page 40

ST U DE N T S P O T LI G HTS | 4 2 Emma Warbington page 44 Nathanael Sancinito page 46 Nancy Johnston page 48 Josie Davidson page 50

FACU LT Y S PO T LI G HTS | 52 Cheryl Thompson page 54 The Engine page 56 Star Teacher page 60

A LU M N I S P O T LI G HT S | 6 2 Andrew Lanier page 62 Madyson Chambers page 66

A FA M I LY T O K N OW | 67 The NeSmiths

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ACA D E M I C S

T

echnolog y Takes New D irec tion

by Michelle Mattox, SCA Marketing Director Since 1985, Sherwood Christian Academy has been providing a college-preparatory education from a Christian perspective to the families of greater Albany. Offering rigor and relevance has always been a hallmark for SCA to position our graduates to excel at the next level. Despite a significant investment in cutting-edge technology in recent years,“we now have the right person for our investment to soar,” quips SCA headmaster Dr. Brian Dougherty.

In 1991 when Vicki Davis graduated first in her class in business management from Georgia Tech, she didn’t imagine that 11 years later she would leave the business world to become a teacher.

Not to mention speak at international conferences, be named Top Teacher Blogger in the World, and be recognized professionally for her leadership in technology.

A farmer’s daughter from Camilla, Davis says she knew at a young age that she was called to lead. “I remember telling my mom that, but the problem was I couldn’t get anyone to elect me to anything.

I probably lost 90 elections while I was in school. But my mom said something that stuck with me: ‘Vicki, if God has called you to be a leader, there is nothing anyone on this planet can do to stop Him.’” Her résumé can now attest to that, and it’s the same approach she has in her new position as Instructional Technology Director at SCA. Davis is taking her classroom and the entire campus to the leading, bleeding edge, with her motto of being “World Class and God Honoring.” photography by Todd Stone

In an ever-changing world, SCA administration saw the need a few SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 5

years ago to expand their use of technology to better equip students to fulfill their mission of “providing children with a quality, college preparatory, Bible-based education” and “developing Christlike leaders in their homes, churches, workplaces and communities.”

To help fulfill that mission, just this year Davis has led the implementation of high-speed, campus wide WiFi; all-new teacher laptops; a Bring Your Own Device program that allows students to use laptops in classrooms; game-based learning for all grade levels; using Google Classroom to turn in assignments; a Mac and PC lab; and access to the full Adobe, Microsoft and Google suites for every student in grades 9-12.

The use of technology starts with the youngest students at SCA. Kindergarteners are on personalized learning tracks, so they can use game-based learning at home if they need extra time learning. For example, if they need to focus more on the letter “K,” they can play letter “K” games at home and their teacher has access to see the progress they’ve made.

Davis has also seen the great impact technology has had in her own computer science and filmmaking classes. Her students now perform alpha and beta testing on all of their software, develop and program apps, make movies, design websites, create compelling graphics and explore virtual and augmented reality.

“We, especially as a Christian school, must embrace it (technology).

We have to move ourselves into these areas. I believe our students at SCA can use technology to become the very best leaders in our world.”

These skills are paramount for our future workforce.

Davis believes schools must move from traditional thought processes to a more creative, inventive, problem-solving curriculum. “We want to get students to the top level of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS), which is more creating and evaluating, rather than Lower Order Thinking Skills (LOTS), remembering and understanding,” Davis says.

Davis and the rest of the SCA team have embraced it using an alternative assessment approach in their STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) curriculum. Because the alternative assessment approach is becoming part of SCA’s DNA, teachers all over campus are utilizing skills taught in Davis’ classes in their own classrooms.

“We’re now training teachers that it doesn’t necessarily have to be on a written test. Students can create something and show us their knowledge,” Davis says.

“We’ve got English and Spanish teachers who are letting kids make movies now. It’s all about using technology to excite kids about learning and unleashing their creativity.”

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ACA D E M I C S

Davis says from K3-12th grades, the goal is for all SCA students to be inventive and savvy with technology, while still applying a moral, biblical worldview to solve problems.

“Technology can completely transform the lives of students,” Davis says. “We, especially as a Christian school, must embrace it. We have to move ourselves into these areas. I believe our students at SCA can use technology to become the very best leaders in our world.”

Follow Vicki Davis Blog coolcatteacher.com Featured in Forbes, The New York Times, Mashable, The Washington Post, NPR, Edutopia 100,000+ readers a month YouTube youtube.com/coolcatteacher 3,000+ subscribers Twitter @coolcatteacher Mashable’s Top Teacher on Twitter 2017 Top Female EdTech Influencer on Twitter 159,000+ followers Podcast coolcatteacher.com/podcast 10-Minute Teacher Show 125,000+ listeners a month

CB S I N T E RAC T I V E FI LM S H O O T In April, a film crew from CBS Interactive in Los Angeles visited SCA! They produced a piece for T-Mobile on the impact of 5G in education and featured the expert opinion of our IT Director Vicki Davis.

Some SCA students participated in the filming and got to learn about shooting and editing from the film crew.The crew was a pleasure to work with and were very willing to answer questions the students had. It was a wonderful learning experience!

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 7

class of

2019

photography by Kim Russell 8 | ELEVATE 2018-2019

ACA D E M I C S As the Class of 2019 graduated in May, it left behind a strong legacy of service, leadership, achievement and character. The class included 36 graduates, 16 who attended SCA for 13 or more years. Their number increases our alumni base to 939 since the first graduating class in 1990.

8,8 0 0 H O U R S

of cumulative community service

15

2 5 AC T M E DIA N (middle 50%) for class

546 HOURS

community service medals

of college credit earned

13 AT T EN D ED M I S S I ON T R IPS

M O RE T HAN $ 1 M IL L IO N

4 SP ECIAL F I NE A RT S LE T T E R S

college applications

12

1 8 AC C E P TA N C E S

2

3 AC C E P TA N C E S

22

2 AC C E P TAN C E S

Uganda, Peru, Netherlands, Haiti, Cuba, Long Island, New Orleans

all-state honors in athletics college athletic scholarships in the National Honor Society

2 0 HONO R GRA D UAT E S maintained at least a 90% average

5

4.0 grade point averages

9

Zell Miller Scholarships (full tuition)

1 259 SAT

average of top 25%

1 1 2 5 SAT M ED I A N (middle 50%) for class

27 AC T

average of top 25%

in scholarships earned

85

to Christian colleges

to University of Georgia to Georgia Tech

1 AC C E P TA N C E

to Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD)

M O ST PO PU L AR AC C E P TAN C E S

Georgia Southwestern State University, Georgia Southern University, University of North Georgia, Albany State University, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College,Valdosta State University, Lee University (TN)

O U T- O F- STAT E

Liberty University (VA), Middle Tennessee State University, Columbia International University (SC), Southeastern University (FL), University of Mobile (AL), Bob Jones University (SC), Bridgewater State University (MA)

FINANCIAL RECAP 70% | Wages/Benefits/ Payroll/Taxes

6% | Instructional 10% | Facilities 6% | Administrative & General

3% | Food Service 3% | Athletics 2% | Transportation

We are blessed to have God’s hand of favor on our school as He provides for us through faithful friends and families of Sherwood Christian Academy. As our school continues to grow, so do our opportunities to minister. In summary, tuition rates for the 2018-19 school year were $7,980 for elementary and $8,760 for secondary. Total tuition and fees collected this year was $2,666,140 based on 408 students. This includes 19 students (5 elementary, 5 middle school, 9 high school) who are receiving GOAL scholarships to attend SCA. We are blessed to have 35 qualified and dedicated teachers who are committed to our mission. The average teacher total compensation (salary & benefits) for 2018-19 was $43,311. Employee compensation accounts for 72 percent of our expenses.Thank you for your faithful support over this past school year.We are excited about what the future holds for Sherwood Christian Academy.We covet your prayers and continued support as we strive to have a ministry that honors Christ.

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 9

photography by Todd Stone

S CA REC EIVE S

REACCREDITATION

by Dr. Brian Dougherty, SCA Headmaster

SCA is pleased to announce that it has received reaccreditation this spring! Since 2007, SCA has been accredited by AdvancEd (umbrella organization for the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools/SACS) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

This dual accreditation is extremely important to our school. It speaks of operational and academic excellence as well as the implementation of best practices of Christian education. Being an accredited school puts a stamp of approval and legitimacy on our diploma allowing our students to attend the colleges of their choice and to be eligible for a broad range of scholarships nationwide.

In brief, accreditation is a process whereby a school places itself under the inspection of a visiting team of educational professionals representing these two accrediting bodies and their prescribed standards. The specifics cover the areas of mission and philosophy; governance and 10 | ELEVATE 2018-2019

leadership; and operations including security, academics, programming, spiritual formation and strategic planning.

SCA passed the standards inspection with exemplary marks.

Additionally, school leadership chose to add an additional component to this accreditation cycle. Mature schools can embark on Accreditation by School Progress (ASP).

Essentially, a school begins action research in a chosen academic area to develop a project that will have an appreciable effect on student achievement. Over the past two years, we have been examining our student writing.

Our research has reinforced that students’ abilities to write and communicate effectively is and will be very important in the future job market (World Economic Forum: Future of Jobs Report, 2018). Ultimately, we see effective communication skills as the currency of influence with others. As a faculty and administration, we wanted to

ACA D E M I C S increase our instruction in this area across the grades and the disciplines. Hence, we developed a writing project called Writing the SCA Way.

Students learn in creative ways such as the 5th grade wax museum and high school nature walks.

Our new writing project, which is being chaired by faculty members Sabrina Davidson, Cassandra Golden and Vicki Davis, has been a collaborative effort by faculty members to develop new curriculum to help every grade K-12 place a strong emphasis on writing.

The project will include periodic feedback from students, parents and teachers to assess students’ writing needs and, ultimately, progress made in student writing. A model will be adopted as a systematic way to teach writing at SCA, and common rubrics will be used in the different school divisions to reinforce writing expectations. Though the English Department will lead the charge, rigorous writing assignments will be required by all students in other disciplines including history, science and math.

“Ultimately, we see effective communication skills as the currency of influence with others.”

A corollary activity will be oral presentations.

As students progress in their writing, they will be expected to share their writing in the form of class presentations. Public speaking instruction coupled with a common rubric will be used to evaluate students’ presentation skills. We believe this emphasis in writing and presenting will grow our students’ communication skills exponentially.

Annually, school leadership will communicate to the regional accreditation commission progress made on our writing project. Student expected outcomes, curriculum changes, assessments, rubrics and timelines will be reported as well as necessary revisions to the project. Because the effort is organic, self-evaluation and feedback from students and parents will enable us to make course corrections throughout the process.

The goal is that by the next accreditation cycle in five years, our writing project blueprint is reproduceable by other schools. Most importantly, our student writing and communication skills have risen to high levels and have become the new standard in our instructional program.

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 1 1

GICAA

ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS SCA’s Academic Teams had a successful year, and we are proud of each student who has represented our school so well. We competed in a Middle School Academic Competition in the subjects of Math, Spelling and Geography Bee. We also had a middle school and high school Quiz Bowl and Chess team.

MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH Team Won First Place in Region Team: Eric Bergrab, Hudson Carter, Ahlias Pobre, Patrick Shayeb & Mikayla White Coach | Matthew Sheets GEOGRAPHY BEE Hannah Albano Won Fourth Place in Region Ahlias Pobre Won Sixth Place in Region Team: Mikayla White, Rebekah NeSmith, Hannah Albano, Josiah Reeves, Ahlias Pobre & Anna Kroll Coach | Jackie Byrd SPELLING William Greene Won First Place in Region Coach | Jackie Byrd QUIZ BOWL Middle School Team Won First Place in Region Team: Anna Kroll, Eric Bergrab, Ahlias Pobre, Hudson Carter & Mikayla White Coach | Missy Sanders

HIGH SCHOOL QUIZ BOWL High School Team Won First Place in Region Team: Andrew Orr, Andrew Rowan, Trent Johnson & Charlie Taylor Coach | Missy Sanders CHESS Undefeated in Region Tournament Play: Charlie Taylor, Andrew Orr, Nathanael Sancinito, Payton Brooks & Jared Guin High School Team Won Third Place in State Team: Charlie Taylor, Nathanael Sancinito, Andrew Orr, Jared Guin, Grant Kendrick, Patrick Burke, Payton Brooks, John Davis, Addy Wilson, Sammy Scardino, Jackson Bailey & Stephen Taylor Coach | James Byrd 1 2 | ELEVATE 2018-2019

S P I R I T UA L

life

“ C o m m it t o the LORD what eve r you d o a nd your plans will succeed .”

P rove rbs 16 :3

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 13

spiritual life

by Andrew Sanders, Class of 2019

Sherwood Christian Academy. Some might see those words and think of an average private school, loosely affiliated with a religion, but to me, those words mean so much more. As I graduate from SCA this year, I think back to the influence it has had on my life as a student, but also as a follower of Jesus Christ. Every bit of the 13 years I have attended SCA has been spent learning new skills and abilities, but to a much greater extent learning how to be a disciple of Christ, even when that choice isn’t always popular.

I am so glad that our headmaster, Dr. Dougherty, and Coach Jeremy Davidson (also our campus pastor) take such an initiative to invest in my generation because, to me, the most important thing I could ever learn from SCA is how to stand up for my faith on my own, without someone to hold my hand in that process. Furthermore, I am honored to go to a school that is supported by 14 | ELEVATE 2018-2019

Sherwood Baptist Church. I know pastors and people in our church are praying for us that want us to succeed in life.

SCA teaches Bible classes in every grade. Even as an elementary student, I can remember learning about stories in Bible and my teachers sharing about God’s love for me. Those Bible classes were fundamental building blocks in my faith in God. Learning the Bible at such a young age prepared me to understand deeper theology classes I was able to take in high school.

This year, I took a worldview class, taught by Jeremy Davidson, that showed me how other people and religions view the world and God through a different perspective, but also showed me how to defend my faith based on that perspective and share with those types of people.

S P I R I T UA L L I F E

Elementary students had a blast at chapel led by Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee Tanya Crevier.Tanya led with a message of enthusiasm and hope and performed incredible basketball demonstrations.

Tanya Crevier has traveled the world sharing her unique basketball handling skills and inspirational message of motivation.

photography by Christopher Vega

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IT’S A GOD THING: Salvations this year at SCA!

SCA has chapel nearly every week. Those chapels are led by a number of guest speakers and local pastors throughout our community that share God’s love with us and teach us how to love others better than ourselves. In addition to our weekly chapel, SCA takes a week every year called Spiritual Emphasis Week to pick a topic about God and dive deep into the practical applications of that lesson in a daily chapel. Along with Spiritual Emphasis Week, SCA hosts a conference in the fall called ReFRESH®, where we pray earnestly for a revival to come upon our nation.

SCA takes the spiritual life of its students even further beyond chapel and Bible classes. Each student gets prayer cards from teachers who care about them.

The coaching staff at SCA also incorporates Christhonoring sportsmanship and behavior in everything that we do, whether a student is on or off the field.

Even still, some of the deepest and most insightful conversations I have about God are conversations in the classroom about how wonderful God’s creation is and how everything I learn in school is a testimony of His glory and lovingkindness.

My school has prepared me to take on challenges in life, and to defend my faith. When I leave home for college, I will know how to bring the light of Christ to a lost world that needs Jesus, thanks to the efforts of all the faculty and staff. SCA is not just a school’s name, it’s a close-knit community that supports students and wants to see them fulfill the roles God has placed on their lives.

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 15

U

g and a

by Elizabeth Montgomery, Class of 2021

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photography by Traci Grubbs

S P I R I T UA L L I F E

In December, SCA and Sherwood Baptist Church partnered with With Open Eyes to gather students to embark on an international mission trip to Uganda, Africa. While in Uganda, our team spent time and ministered to the refugees there.

During the trip, we worked in a refugee camp with Sudanese natives that were forced to leave South Sudan because of war. Although they were each different in personality and appearance, they all had one thing in common: a deep longing to be back in their homeland of South Sudan. Even though each had this heavy burden tugging at their hearts, they still made the most out of their time in Uganda.

In this refugee camp, there were a great deal of children. They had a school and a church in the camp that emphasized God as the most important aspect of one’s life. The children of Uganda are drastically different from those of America. They willingly help their mothers in their huts with cleaning, cooking or watching their younger siblings, and they are perfectly content with things that most of us would consider insignificant such as the toys they have made out of trash, sticks and even dirt. During the day, the girls play with all the children, and the women help the Sudanese women cook.

The boys, on the other hand, had a totally different responsibility. They helped build a much-needed fence around the school yard and a playground for the children. While building, they were able to work alongside other boys their age. Some of the guys from our team were able to refresh old relationships they had made from the previous year as well as form new ones.

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 17

Partnering with Sherwood on this mission trip to Uganda was With Open Eyes, a Christian organization that works with missionaries around the globe.

Their purpose is to “accelerate the sharing and teaching of the good news of Jesus Christ to the unreached and underserved peoples of the world.� With Open Eyes has mobilized 458 mobile messengers, seen 386,815 salvations, and planted 496 churches since 2011.

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S P I R I T UA L L I F E

“The most fascinating part was not the dancing, but that these tribes were once enemies and have found unity through Christ.�

They also invited us to their worship service and New Year’s celebration, which was an honor. The worship service involved exuberant singing and dancing down the aisle. It was a common practice to them, but an unforgettable experience to our team. During the celebration, many tribes came together and gave us a glimpse of their culture through their dancing. The most fascinating part was not the dancing, but that these tribes were once enemies and have found unity through Christ.

From eagerly welcoming us into their small, oneroomed huts to sacrificing their own, limited livestock to make sure we had a meal daily, we were overwhelmed with the humility and the service of these outwardly poor people who were inwardly filled with abundant riches. As a believer, it is encouraging to know that while facing hardships in life, there are people across the world that are faith-filled alongside you.

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 19

HURRICANE MICHAEL D I SA ST ER C L EAN-UP

by Sammy Scardino, Class of 2021

photography by Joel McDowell 20 | ELEVATE 2018-2019

Albany was changed forever on October 10, 2018, when Category 2 Hurricane Michael hit our beloved town, causing thousands of trees to fall, houses to be ruined, and power outages that lasted weeks. However, through this storm, Romans 8:28 was depicted, as it says, “...God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Immediately following the storm, the community got involved, as churches, students and neighbors went out by the hundreds to help each other. SCA joined in the efforts by serving those in need in our community.

SCA held two service days on which the juniors and seniors went out to clean up debris. The first day was dedicated to aiding a fellow school, Southwest Georgia Academy in Damascus. The second clean-up day was devoted to serving one of SCA’s own teachers, Mrs. Vicki Davis, and several of her neighbors in Camilla.

Led by Coaches Jeremy and Jayson Davidson on chainsaws, students and teachers worked tirelessly together moving cut logs, stacking broken branches, and clearing destroyed property of all debris. Despite the blisters and sore muscles that such work brings, the joy of serving others kept the students and accompanying staff hard at work for hours. The impressive work ethic displayed by these teachers and students allowed SCA to make a significant difference on the outward appearance of these stormdamaged places, but most of all it allowed SCA to display the inward attribute of Christ’s love for others.

Hurricane Michael brought many people together under the common goal of helping each other and the community.

Through the witness of the selfless Christians who worked tirelessly to serve the community, more than 80 people accepted Christ. God truly turned a terrible circumstance into a way for Him to be glorified through the people called for His purpose.

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 21

G

UAC ON

by Michelle Mattox, SCA Marketing Director With a heart for serving others, Elizabeth Montgomery has shown great determination to go on mission trips. In February, the SCA sophomore told her parents her desire to go on mission trips with her church and school. Knowing the trips wouldn’t be cheap, Elizabeth’s parents encouraged her to think of a way to raise money to help fund her trips.

That’s when she started making homemade guacamole and selling jars of it to her friends, family and at farmer’s markets. Elizabeth’s guacamole grew in popularity and her small project turned into a USDA-certified brand called “Guac On.”

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S P I R I T UA L L I F E

Fast forward nine months from when she began and Elizabeth had not only paid for a mission trip she went on to Honduras, but she also just recently placed 7th in the World Guacamole Championship in Los Angeles!

She also saved money to go to Uganda in December and plans to go back to Honduras.

Guac On, Elizabeth! We’re so proud of your accomplishments, creativity and determination to go on missions!

Want to support Elizabeth and get your hands on this award-winning guacamole?

Contact Wendy Montgomery via Facebook to order. photography by Christopher Vega SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 23

AT H L E T I C S

e ve r y b ody do the Eagle r umble, e ve r y b ody do the Eagle r umble, st op. drop. and r umble, r umble, r umble.

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AT H L ET I C S

photography by Anthony Williams

photography by Christopher Vega

photography by Joel McDowell

W

E ARE

VA R SIT Y GI R L S C ROSS C OUNTRY S t at e Champ ions state champions piece JOY K EN DRIC K S t a te C h a m p i o n C ro ss C o unt ry

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AD DY WI L S ON S tate C ham pion Pole Va ul t

AT H L ET I C S

THE

Champions

C HA RL I E TAY L OR S ta te C h a m p i o n Te nnis

VAR SI T Y BOYS SOCCER S tate C ham pions

state champions piece

photography by Joel McDowell SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 27

photography by Christopher Vega

photography by Brian Kelley

photography by Brian Kelley

photography by Brian Kelley

AT H L ET I C S

SCA Athletics continues to win at all levels. With a Christian worldview, we recognize that a “win” is more than a scoreboard that is in our favor at the end of an athletic competition. We win every time a young man or woman gains self-confidence through athletics, or each athlete develops discipline and learns to honor the Lord through their effort and demeanor while competing. Our greatest wins are our athletes that graduate from SCA and become godly leaders in their homes, communities and churches.

During the 2018-19 school year, SCA Athletics excelled adding several Region and District titles through both Varsity and Middle School sports. We have also made our mark at the state level with two team state championships, two team state runner-up awards, and four individual state titles.

In the fall, our Girls’ Varsity Cross Country Team finished with six runners in the top 25 at the state meet to capture the GICAA Division I Girls’ State Championship. In addition to a team championship, freshman Joy Kendrick finished first in the girl’s division with a time of 21:35.93 to earn to earn a second, consecutive, individual state title.

The winning continued in the winter with the Girls’ Varsity Basketball Team finishing 14-4 on the season and earning the chance to play for the GICAA Division I Girls’ State Championship. Unfortunately, they fell just short in overtime and the team was honored as the State Runner-Up. Finishing the school year strong with spring sports, SCA athletes earned numerous individual state titles. The

tennis program continued to grow and gain momentum as junior Charlie Taylor was awarded as our school’s first individual state tennis champion. His team would finish as State Runner-Up. SCA’s track teams also continued to garner a winning reputation as two more individual titles were earned, and three school records were broken.

Senior Ke’Mia Starling was named the GICAA Girl’s Division I State Shot Put Champion after setting a school record of 36’6.5”, and junior Addy Wilson was honored as the GICAA Division I State Pole Vault Champion, also setting a school record of 7’6”.

The Girls’ Varsity Soccer Team continued to excel with an overall record of 17-2, scoring 86 goals while only allowing nine all season. After reaching their sixth straight State Championship game, they finished as the GICAA Division I State Runner-Up. In the last athletic competition of the school year, the Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team finished their 13-2-1 season with an 84-11 goal differential and earned the GICAA Division I State Championship, defeating Young Americans Christian School for the program’s first state title.

Over the last few years, SCA Athletics has continued to grow and excel at the state level, yet our focus remains the same. Titles and championships are rewards for hard work and dedication, and certainly goals for which we strive. However, the real “win” is the culture in which athletes put forth the effort worthy of those accolades and compete at their highest level with the primary goal of honoring the Lord.

by Chad Evans, SCA Athletic Director

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 29

Eagle

HIGHLIGHTS

SE NIO R AT H L ET E AWA R D S ANTHONY ADAMS HANNAH HUCKABY ANNA KENDRICK

14-4

GI RL S VAR SIT Y BASKETBALL

R EG ION RU NNER -U P + STATE RU NNER -U P

7-4

M I D D LE S C HOOL G I R L S BAS KETBA L L

DI ST R I C T 2 RU N N E R-U P

15-0

M I D D LE S C HOOL B OYS BAS KETBA L L

DI ST R I C T 2 CHA M P IO N

12-5

M I D D LE S C HOOL VOLLEY BALL

RE G I O N C H AM P I O N + STATE F I NAL FO UR 30 | ELEVATE 2018-2019

AT H L ET I C S GIRL S CROSS COU N TRY

STATE C H AM P I O N Joy Kendrick (1st Region & 1st State) Anna Kendrick (6th Region & 5th State) Caroline Mathis (5th Region & 7th State) Alexis Kelley (7th Region & 10th State)

13-2-1

VAR S I T Y B OYS S OC C E R

R E G I O N CHA M P I O N + STAT E C HA M PIO N

17-2

GI RL S VAR SIT Y T RACK

VAR S I T Y G I RL S S OC C E R

STATE CHAMPION SHOT PUT

R E G I O N CHA M P I O N + STAT E RU N N E R -U P

KE’MIA STARLING GI RL S VAR SIT Y T RACK

ADDY WILSON STATE CHAMPION POLE VAULT VAR SIT Y T E NNIS

CHARLIE TAYLOR INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPION

8-4-3

M I D D LE S C HOOL G I R L S S O C C E R

R E G I O N CHA M P I O N + S . DI ST R I C T RU N N ER-U P

8-2

M I D D LE S C HOOL B OYS S O C C E R

R E G I O N CHA M P I O N + S . DI ST R I C T C HA M P IO N

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 31

FINE arts M illy : “D on’t you lik e girls?”

G id eon: “ We ain’t hard ly eve r see n one.”

- S e ve n B r ides for S eve n B rothe rs

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FINE ARTS

photography by Joel McDowell

photography by Todd Stone

photography by Christopher Vega

photography by Brian Kelley

SEVEN BRIDES for

SEVEN BROTHERS

by John Mark Willard, Class of 2022

7 brides for 7 brother

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FINANCIAL

Based in 1850 Oregon, the comedy musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers follows the story of backwoodsman, Adam, who brings a wife home to his farm. His six brothers, all living in Adam’s cabin, decide they want to get married, too. Adam’s new wife, Milly, sets out to reform the uncouth siblings to no avail. Then, after reading about the Roman capture of the Sabine women, Adam develops an inspired solution to his brothers’ loneliness – kidnap whoever they want to marry and bring them back to the cabin.

photography by Todd Stone SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 35

photography by Todd Stone

This year I had the amazing opportunity to play the character of Frank in SCA’s fall high school production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. It was an awesome experience for me to be part of a high school musical, especially since it was my first time performing in a school production.

When the auditions started, I didn’t feel confident about the dance audition since I had not danced much in the past, but the directors encouraged me and gave me an extra boost of confidence to do my best in the audition.

The show director, Mrs. Christine St. Jacques, was a driving force behind me even attempting to dance. Whenever I thought I couldn’t do some moves or choreography, she was always the first one to tell me that I could do it and that I just needed to practice. For the guys, it is always fun to fight, so I was excited to hear we were going to do some fighting scenes in the show. A big thanks goes to Seth Brasher, who choreographed all the fight scenes and stunts and made the show a lot more exciting.

Not all the performance was dancing and fighting though.

There was also singing directed by my father, Mark Willard.

He was a big help to not only me, but all the cast. He gave of his time to rewrite the score of the show and record our voiceovers to help while we sang live.

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photography by Joel McDowell

FINE ARTS

“...even though this is a high school production, that doesn’t mean it can’t be Broadway quality.”

photography by Joel McDowell

A lot of the practicing came from time not only in class at school, but rehearsals at Sherwood Baptist Church on many weeknights. During that time, we would either run dance numbers, scenes or vocals for songs. In rehearsals, everyone was encouraging each other and helping with choreography or lines.

I don’t remember one time when anyone in the cast got into an argument.

Although musical theatre is not usually a time to socialize, I did make many new friends that I might not have had the opportunity to spend time with if it weren’t for theatre class. This pointed to how Christ used our time together to build relationships and glorify Him.

photography by Joel McDowell

The directors never stopped encouraging us and helping us be even better than we thought we could be. The thing that I heard most from them was that even though this is a high school production, that doesn’t mean it can’t be Broadway quality. After the show was over, everyone I talked to was amazed by how good the play was. It was a very satisfying payoff for the hours of rehearsals and practices during school. I am glad I listened to the encouragement of the directors. It helped me step out of my comfort zone and try something I had no previous desire to do.

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 37

spring literary STATE CHAMPS

by Julia Warbington, Class of 2021

Spring Literary is a competitive, but fun, event that focuses on a wide variety of talents and skills of the students.

The events offered during Spring Literary include Girls’ Solo, Boys’ Solo, Girls’ Trio, Boys’ Quartet, Piano, Spelling, Personal Essay, Argumentative Essay, Rhetorical Analysis Essay, Dramatic Oral Interpretation, Humorous Oral Interpretation, Duo Oral Interpretation, and Extemporaneous Speaking – US & International.

Participants begin preparing for their event(s) before Christmas and spend a lot of time in preparation. SCA’s literary team has grown exponentially in the past year.The increase in talent allowed the team to participate in every 38 | ELEVATE 2018-2019

single category at this year’s event. Students competed against schools from their own region as well as other schools from all over the state of Georgia. The GICAA region competition was held in Macon where everyone performed exceptionally. Overall, the team won first place and many individual awards were given as well.The literary team moved on to the State competition, which was held at Sherwood Baptist Church. The team won first place overall at State and many individual awards were also given. This is the first time in school history that SCA has won first at the State level. This is a huge accomplishment, and the SCA literary team cannot wait to see what is in store for next year’s team!

FINE ARTS

Dramatic Oral Interpretation Ashlynn Dapper | 3rd place Humorous Oral Interpretation Smith Langstaff | 1st place Duo Oral Interpretation Liza Langstaff and Julia Warbington | 2nd place US Extemporaneous Speaking Nathanael Sancinito | 1st place International Extemporaneous Speaking Jared Guin | 1st place

STAT E RE SU LT S Rhetorical Essay Emma Warbington | 4th place

R EGI O N R E S U LT S

Personal Essay Ashlynn Dapper | 2nd place

Rhetorical Essay Emma Warbington | 1st place

Girls’ Trio Josie Davidson, Sydney Taylor, Emily Whatley | 2nd place

Argumentative Essay Elizabeth Montgomery | 1st place Personal Essay Ashlynn Dapper | 1st place Girls’ Solo Josie Davidson | 4th place Boys’ Solo John Mark Willard | 2nd place Girls’ Trio Emily Whatley, Sydney Taylor, Josie Davidson | 3rd place Boys’ Quartet Gavin Griffin, Cameron Rambo, Andrew Sanders, John Mark Willard | 2nd place Piano Emma Warbington | 2nd place

Boys’ Quartet Gavin Griffin, Cameron Rambo, Andrew Sanders, John Mark Willard | 1st place Piano Emma Warbington | 2nd place Duo Oral Interpretation Liza Langstaff and Julia Warbington | 2nd place Humorous Oral Interpretation Smith Langstaff | 1st place Dramatic Oral Interpretation Ashlynn Dapper | 2nd place US Extemporaneous Speaking Nathanael Sancinto | 3rd place International Extemporaneous Speaking Jared Guin | 1st place SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 39

fine arts

HIGHLIGHTS

E LE MENTARY P R O GRA M S + CER EM O NI E S

K3

END-OF-THE-YEAR PROGRAM CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

M I DDLE S C HO O L DRA M A DE PA RT M E N T GETTING TO KNOW THE SOUND OF MUSIC

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

K4

BEST DAY EVER

THANKSGIVING PROGRAM

DISNEY TRIP

K5

HI G H S CHO O L DRA M A DE PA RT M E N T

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM GRADUATION

1st-4th grade

SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS AN ADVENTURE ON BROADWAY

Spring Literary

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM END-OF-THE-YEAR PROGRAM + AWARDS CEREMONY

PLACED 1ST AT REGION AND STATE

5th grade

One Act

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM + WAX MUSEUM + AWARDS CEREMONY

THIS IS A TEST: WON 3RD AT REGION

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

SCHOOL WIDE PROGRAM FOR VETERANS DAY

Drama Troupe JUNGLE BOOK KIDS

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photography by Brian Kelley

photography by Christopher Vega

FINANCIAL

s tudent

S P OT L I G H T S

photography by Joel McDowell

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 4 3

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

Emma

WA R B I N G T O N valedictor ian

Valedictorian Emma Warbington graduated with honors with a 4.0 GPA and will be attending the Georgia Institute of Technology as an engineering major.

Recognized this year as SCA’s STAR student, Emma exceled academically as a member of the National Honor Society, an SCA Headmaster Scholar for four years, and ACSI Distinguished Christian High School Outstanding Achievement Award winner. Emma also exceled in athletics as a four-year letter winner in cheerleading, two-year letter winner in soccer, and Scholar Athlete for four years. She served as class secretary, treasurer and president, and as the student body vice president. Emma received the gold medal of recognition for exemplary community service throughout high school. The daughter of Chad and Suzanna Warbington, Emma attended SCA for 13 years and is a member of Sherwood Baptist Church.

ALL ABOUT EMMA Spends most of her spare time playing bass guitar and piano Enjoys making chocolate chip cookies and shopping with her sisters Loves coffee and ice cream Loves singing and playing instruments in the worship band at Sherwood Baptist Church Georgia Tech Legacy (her dad is a graduate) Goal is to pursue a biomedical engineering degree with a minor in music and study abroad while at Georgia Tech Secret talent...being amazing at air hockey

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FINANCIAL

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 4 5

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

Nathanael

SANCINITO salutator ian

Salutatorian Nathanael Sancinito graduated with honors with a 4.0 GPA and will be attending the Georgia Institute for Technology as an engineering major.

Excelling both academically and athletically, Nathanael was one of SCA’s Headmaster Scholars and Scholar Athlete for four years. He was a member of the National Honor Society, ACSI Distinguished Christian High School Outstanding Achievement Award winner, four-year letter winner in soccer and cross country, two-year letter winner in basketball, and one-year letter winner in track. Nathanael was the recipient of SCA’s Coach’s Award, Kingdom Athlete Award and Christian Character Award. He served as class vice president, president and student body chaplain. The son of Chuck and Kim Sancinito, Nathanael attended SCA for 13 years and is a member of Sherwood Baptist Church.

A L L A B O U T NAT H A NA E L Likes to train calisthenics, read, practice Spanish, and play chess Works as a barista at the Source Café Frappuccino is his weakness Loves Marvel and playing ping pong Enjoys Tuesday morning student prayer time at Chick-fil-A Georgia Tech Legacy (his dad and mom are graduates) Goals are to graduate from Georgia Tech with a degree in industrial engineering and one day operate his own Chick-fil-A Hopes to learn how to play the piano, lead a God-honoring family and impact other people’s lives for good wherever he goes

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 4 7

nancy under class men spotlight

4 8 | ELEVATE 2018-2019

UNDERCLASSMAN SPOTLIGHT

Nancy

JOHNSTON junior

Nancy Johnston has always had a passion for horses. She has been riding and competing for more than 10 years. Like most students, she pushed herself daily to complete her school work so she could get to what really excited her—her horse Roxy. Yet something happened this school year that expanded her passions.

Nancy took film class as a high school elective with Mrs. Davis. Because of her semester encounter with Mrs. Davis, Nancy is considering a career in the arts, particularly the film and TV industry.

Nancy will spend this summer at Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) as a student in their Rising Star program to help her further pursue her newfound interest. This challenging five-week program awards college credit to rising high school seniors who are ready for a university experience. Students enroll in two college-level classes and have the opportunity to build or enhance their portfolios while evaluating their choice of college and career path. It is hoped this unique opportunity to attend SCAD for the summer will help her find her niche within the arts while connecting and exchanging ideas with rising seniors from all over the US as well as international students.

To help make this experience a reality, Nancy received an academic scholarship for her course work at SCA and an achievement scholarship for her many horseback riding awards and championships. SCAD has a nationally ranked equestrian program and classifies horseback riding as an art. Equestrian students marry their love for horses with their passion for art. Some go on to careers in equine farm management, riding instruction, equine photography or video, farm and barn architecture, or clothing and accessory design.

While attending, Nancy will have the opportunity to experience college academics and life—from classrooms and computer labs to studios and production suites—in the development and completion of class assignments in digital film and fashion design. SCAD libraries, galleries and other resources are also available for her to explore. Participating students live in a residence hall for the five-week duration and get the full oncampus experience. Congratulations, Nancy!

Nancy is the daughter of Mike and Donna Johnston and is a member of Sherwood Baptist Church. Article written by Dr. Brian Dougherty, SCA Headmaster.

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 49

MIDDLE SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT

Josie

D AV I D S O N seve nth grade

Curly hair, blue eyes, quiet spirit, sweet smile…all things you notice about Josie Davidson at first glance. Once you get to know her, however, you discover she is all of that and so much more – except maybe not all that quiet if you ask her brother, Levi. The “much more” encompasses not just who she is, but also what she does.

Josie is one of the sweetest and most Christlike leaders in her grade. She serves in her church by volunteering in Wee Care and has received the Christian Character Award for the past two years. She is a loyal friend to all, which is demonstrated in that she was voted president of her 7th grade class.

Josie also excels academically. As her history teacher, I can see first-hand how much she is dedicated to doing not just good work, but excellent work. She takes great care in making sure her work is neat and complete, and I’ve seen her creativity shine in our interactive notebooks. Her academic achievements include A/B Honor Roll, Duke TIP, and being named among the top five in her class.

Outside of the classroom, Josie played JV and Varsity tennis for SCA, served as a middle school cheerleader for two years, and is even trying her hand at volleyball.

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Josie also excels in the fine arts. She was SCA’s GICAA Literary Girls’ Soloist and also part of the Girls’ Trio. She is involved in One Voice and has appeared in two major roles in the middle school drama department as Belle in Beauty and the Beast and Maria in The Sound of Music.

In her “spare” time, Josie loves to read and draw and is a huge animal lover. This has spilled over into a love she also has for missions. She has a great burden for missions and has created a bookmark business called “Zoe’s Critters” (after her dog). Her handmade bookmarks feature all kinds of animals such as elephants, eagles, hedgehogs and lions – all with the purpose of raising money to allow her to go on future mission trips.

It’s obvious that Josie is not afraid to use the talents God has given her. She is a walking testimony of her life verse, 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God gave us not a spirit of fear, but of power and love and selfcontrol.”

Josie is the daughter of Jayson and Sabrina Davidson and is a member of Sherwood Baptist Church. Article written by Missy Sanders, SCA Middle School Teacher.

FINANCIAL

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 51

FA C U LT Y

spotlights “ D ear M rs. Nancy, Yo u a lways are mak ing someone la ugh. You are the best!”

- B ianca Pe rez

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SPOTLIGHT

photography by Joel McDowell

photography by Joel McDowell

CHERYL THOMPSON

by Wendy Wilson, SCA Headmaster’s Assistant

I first met Cheryl Thompson when I started serving at SCA in 2005. She has been a faithful friend and colleague for 14 years. She is a dedicated mother to three SCA graduates (Emily, ‘14; Hannah, ‘15; Caleb, ‘17).

Ms. Thompson graduated with a double major in English & Communication and a minor in Political Science from Mercer University in 1989. After moving back to Georgia from Texas the summer of 2005, she was offered a faculty position at SCA. After teaching 2nd grade for a few years, she moved to 4th grade where she was most known teaching alongside Mrs. Amy Nobles. I was blessed as a mom to have my youngest in her class. Addy thrived due to her creativity and encouragement to do her best for the Lord. Ms. Thompson has always been intentional in pushing her students toward excellence.

In 2015 after the campus merger, Ms. Thompson joined the middle school faculty where she teaches English and yearbook to the high schoolers. She has done a phenomenal job with our annual the last four years as the yearbook sponsor. Her enthusiasm and creativity can be seen across the pages each year as she looks for new things to add to our yearbook. She challenges her students to grow in their understanding and use of technology to make the yearbook come alive.

When Ms. Thompson is not busy working, she spends time keeping up with her children as well as visiting with her mother and sister’s family who still live locally. She also enjoys reading, traveling, and going to the theater to see Broadway shows. Ms. Thompson is a member of Sherwood Baptist Church and serves the babies in the Cubby ministry. I am so grateful that God called Ms. Thompson to SCA. Her ultimate desire is for her students come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and that is what makes her a great fit for SCA.

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SPOTLIGHT

photography by Joel McDowell SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 55

THE E N G I N E T ha t Ke e p s th e SCA Train Movin g

by Wendy Bellacomo

admin faculty spotlight

photography by Joel McDowell 56 | ELEVATE 2018-2019

SPOTLIGHT “The idea that administrative assistants simply answer the phone or greet visitors is not a reality at Sherwood Christian Academy,” says SCA Elementary Principal Sylvia Hager. “Nancy Sadler, Wendy Wilson and Lynne Clower possess all the qualities that make great administrative assistants: communication, organization, time management skills, attention to detail, and the ability to multi-task and anticipate problems before they happen. As the support system for the administrators, faculty and staff, parents and students, they are part of the foundation that has made our school so successful.”

SCA Headmaster Brian Dougherty agrees. “I have had the privilege of working closely with each of these ladies throughout my eight years at SCA. They have been pillars for us! They often represent the face of the school because they are the first ones prospective families interact with as they visit the school—and they do it so well!

“They each have different individual gift sets, but they all have big hearts for the students and are deeply committed to the mission of SCA. Because their children were blessed to receive an SCA education, they each have been paying it forward with the students and parents they serve on a daily basis.”

students,” Nancy says.“Especially the sweet hugs from our ‘little people.’”

“To our elementary students, she is ‘Miss Nancy,’ and she is their greeter, hugger, guide, nurse and encourager,” Mrs. Hager says. “She wears a multitude of hats to meet their needs and whether they are a three-year-old or a senior, they know if they need help, she is the place to come. To the middle school and high school, she is their ‘mom’ away from home.”

“She wears a multitude of hats to meet their needs and whether they are a three-year-old or a senior, they know if they need help, she is the place to come. To the middle school and high school, she is their ‘mom’ away from home.”

For the staff at SCA, Nancy keeps things running smoothly and has a good time doing it. “Nancy Sadler is the ‘general’ of the office,” explains 5th grade teacher Jill Johnson. “She is the go-to girl for all our needs!”

NA N CY SAD LE R

Records Clerk & Front Desk Receptionist Nancy Sadler joined the SCA staff 21 years ago, and has been the first person to greet anyone who enters the doors of SCA and most likely the person you hear on the other end of the line when you call the school. Retiring at the end of the 2018-19 school year, Nancy will be missed by faculty and staff, parents and students who have come to love her for both her efficiency and her quick wit. She has always enjoyed her job, and it shows.

“My favorite part of the job is interacting with the

IT Director Vicki Davis agrees. “Nancy is the queen of organization and does many tasks that go unnoticed. From getting subs to making sure a child’s forgotten PE clothes get to the right person, Nancy juggles many things with a smile. But it is her sense of humor through it all that makes her so endearing. Nancy is a gem!”

Nancy’s work day begins about 7 a.m. getting set for the day. She answers any email requests, makes sure all substitutes are in place to handle teaching duties, places mail into teachers’ boxes, and unlocks all the front building doors for students who are arriving early. During the day, in addition to answering calls to the school and monitoring entrance into the building, her duties may include updating and maintaining student files, updating student attendance, and signing students in and out.

Office assistant Renae Brown works closely with Nancy at the front desk and says that no matter how busy Nancy SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 57

may get, she always keeps her sense of humor. “I never knew you could laugh in the workplace so much until I started working with Nancy. She has brought pure joy to SCA! She has a deep love for everyone around her and always has a quick comment to brighten your day. What a blessing she is!”

Nancy has been married to Steve Sadler for 39 years.Their favorite pastime is traveling to visit their adult children, William and Frances, and their four grandchildren. Nancy also enjoys participating in the Albany Run/Walk group.

She and Steve are members of Sherwood Baptist Church where she is a member of the Shining Light Bible Class.

For Lynne, those requests for help are just part of a regular school day. On most days, she likes to arrive at the office early and start her essential oil diffuser and relaxation music so that she’s prepared for whatever the day may hold.

“I am here to help the administrators, teachers, parents and students where needed,” she says. “I have found that school days are like snowflakes – no two are just alike.”

Happiest behind the scenes, Lynne is known for her ability to get the job done. “Lynne is one of the most efficient people I’ve ever known,” Mrs. Davis says.“She is also a true servant leader who doesn’t like any attention brought to her.”

Happiest behind the scenes, Lynne is known for her ability to get the job done.

LYNN E CL OW E R

Registrar & High School Administrative Assistant Lynne Clower was hired in 1996 as the Headmaster’s Administrative Assistant and initially handled enrollment for 6th-12th grades. Her love of technology and learning has led her to serve in several different capacities at SCA. “I have moved wherever needed to help SCA keep moving forward,” Lynne says.

Today, her official title is High School Administrative Assistant & Registrar, but Lynne likes to call it something else. “I call myself ‘Charmin,’” she laughs, “because I clean up after everyone as their unofficial proofreader.”

Lynne has also become the resident expert for technology questions in the office.“From a technology perspective, she not only helps teachers and students have their problem fixed, but she wants to know how to fix it so she can do it next time,” says IT Director Vicki Davis. “Students are often in her office with their phones or computers trying to join the WiFi network, print, or check their grades.”

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Lynne would rather concentrate on the job at hand. “I try to help keep things running smoothly, be it the bells, weekly announcements and communications, grade books, schedules, whatever, so that teachers can teach and students can learn.”

Guidance counselor Brenda Keefe has a long-time working relationship with Lynne and has also seen Lynne’s work ethic first-hand. “I admire the way Lynne does all things with excellence,” Mrs. Keefe says. “She is not only a dedicated and trustworthy colleague, but a dedicated and trustworthy friend. Students constantly circulate through Lynne’s office because they know they can depend on her whatever their need. What a privilege it is to have the opportunity to work with someone I admire so much!”

Lynne’s favorite part of her job is her interaction with the students. “It’s the kids – always the kids,” she reflects.

“It has been even better since we combined campuses. It is wonderful to watch the preschoolers and elementary children interact with the older students. There are lots of high fives! The younger students enjoy being a part of our ‘send-offs’ when our athletic teams head out for state competitions, and I believe knowing the ‘littles’ are watching them keeps the older students on their best behavior.”

SPOTLIGHT Lynne is married to her “best friend,” Max Clower, and they have three adult children. They both grew up at First Free Will Baptist Church where they still attend. Lynne enjoys spending time with and/or Facetiming her eight grandchildren and working in her yard.

and I also love that I get to work with friends.”

Wendy is also responsible for handling registration, reports, bills, payroll, phones and scheduling appointments for Headmaster Brian Dougherty and Principal Sylvia Hager.

She gets it all done with a cheerful attitude, according to IT Director Vicki Davis. “Wendy is a conscientious and kind leader on our campus. She works to help set appointments with some of the busiest administrators on campus and manages our calendar. Even though schedules change frequently, Wendy always has a smile.”

Wendy loves the people she works with at SCA. “The people I work with have become more like family than just co-workers,” she says. Her co-workers feel the same way about Wendy. Mrs. Davis echoes their feelings. “Wendy is a sunbeam wherever she goes. We all appreciate her sunny attitude.”

WENDY WIL S ON

Administrative Assistant to the Headmaster & Elementary Office Receptionist Wendy Wilson has been a part of SCA’s staff since 2005, beginning as the assistant to the elementary principal.

Her job looked a little different then than it does now.

She recalls some special challenges she faced when the elementary grades were housed at a different campus.

“When I was at the other campus, you never knew what you would have to do. Our janitors came in after school and our maintenance team was housed mostly at the upper school, so when a toilet overflowed or someone threw up, that fell to one of us to take care of in addition to our regular duties.You just never really know what you will have to do when you are dealing with tiny humans!”

Wendy has been married to her high school sweetheart, Bobby, since 1990, and they have three children.Their two oldest, Robert Aaron and Saralyn, are both graduates of SCA, while their youngest, Addy, is a rising senior. Wendy grew up attending Sherwood Baptist Church and is still an active member, serving in a variety of ways. She has always loved cheering her children on in sports and enjoys reading and traveling with her family.

“The people that I work with have become more like family than just co-workers.”

In her current position as assistant to the headmaster, Wendy still finds that her days can hold surprises.“Nothing is typical at a school,” she says, “especially when you work closely with the front office. Anything can happen at a moment’s notice to get you off track of what you think you want to accomplish for the day. You learn to be very flexible.”

Her regular duties include finding subs for elementary teachers and helping with the Accelerated Reader program, which Wendy says is one of the favorite parts of her job. “I love seeing students get excited about reading, SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 59

STAR TEACHER BETH SHEPARD

by Emma Warbington, Class of 2019

Having attended Sherwood Christian Academy for all 13 years of my education, the biggest blessing has undoubtedly been the teachers I have had throughout the years. It is amazing to know that all of my teachers know and love the Lord and have a genuine desire to see me grow both spiritually and academically. Having said this, it was hard to choose just one as my STAR teacher, but there is one who stood out to me the most – Mrs. Beth Shepard.

star teachers

The two things that stand out to me about Mrs. Shepard are her amazing classes and her leadership outside of the classroom. I first got to know Mrs. Shepard through Student Council when I was a freshman on the board. As our head of Student Council, she always pushed us to work hard to serve our school, and she never let us cut corners. She held us accountable and taught us so much about servant leadership. When I took her honors biology class my sophomore year, I can honestly say that I worked harder in that class than ever before. She has the ability to explain things in a way that anyone can understand it, and she pushes all of her students to do their best. I love how she challenged us to think critically and outside of the box.

The studying habits I learned in her class changed the way I prepared for every other class. She was always available after class to help with any questions, and once retaught an entire lesson just to me so that I could understand it better. Even when I was no longer in her class, she was always willing to help me with any problems. I knew that her door was always open, and that she would give me godly, wise advice. She is so driven and gives 100 percent in everything she does. I am thankful for how she has invested in me academically and spiritually and for everything that she’s taught me about being a leader. I would not be the person I am today without her impact in my life.

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photography by Joel McDowell

SPOTLIGHT

FACULTY SERVICE AWARDS 5 years

Jayson Davidson Sabrina Davidson

20 years

Vickie Knuckles

30 years Jackie Byrd Jill Johnson

We are sad to see these staff members leave, but wish them the best in their future.

They have a combined 67 years of service at SCA. Thank you for your investment in SCA and our students!

Nancy Sadler |

21 years

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT, MISS NANCY!

12 years

| Rebecca Fyock

Jeremy + Tracy Davidson | Ann Hobbs |

5 years

8 years

13 years

| Christine St. Jacques (not pictured)

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 6 1

ANDR EW LANIER alumni spotlight

6 2 | ELEVATE 2018-2019

G

SPOTLIGHT

by Wendy Bellacomo

rowing up, Andrew Lanier says, “I was always the kid with the camera in my hand.”

The son of well-known wildlife artist David Lanier, Andrew claims that he can’t draw at all, but instead found his creative outlet through videography.

“I got my start making videos for school and church, and at events like church camp,” he recalls. “I’ve just always loved everything about it.”

Today, SCA has a thriving video technology program, but that was not the case when Andrew attended, beginning in 8th grade and graduating in 2011. While he wishes that SCA had been as technology driven then as it is today, he has nothing but praise for the time he spent there.

“I absolutely loved Sherwood. I could not have had a better high school experience. I would do it all over again if I could. All of the teachers there cared about how you were doing both academically and spiritually. That Christian environment was exactly where I needed to be.”

After graduating from SCA, Andrew headed to Valdosta State, buying his first “real” camera, a Canon 60d. He intended to use it just for fun, but soon was making videos for the college ministry at his church, too. It wasn’t long before those around him started making note of his talent, and, in 2012, a church contact approached Andrew with a request that would lead him in a whole new direction.

“The youth minister there was engaged, and he asked if I would make a video of his wedding. I had never done anything like that, so my response was ‘Are you sure you want me to video your wedding?’”

Andrew took a look at some other wedding videos and decided that this was a challenge he thought he could handle. That first wedding led to a request from another friend from the college ministry, and that second wedding led to several others. “The bride was in a sorority, and photography by Kaylie B. Poplin Photography

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 6 3

I ended up doing wedding videos for six or seven of her sorority sisters,” Andrew says. “It all took off from there.”

But while Andrew was building a solid side gig with his wedding videos, his educational path wasn’t quite as direct.

At Valdosta State, he started out as a biology major before switching to education. “After student teaching for a week, I realized that wasn’t my forte,” he recalls wryly.

He then moved back to Albany to enter the Physical Therapy Assistant program at Darton State College, an interest that was sparked from his SCA days. Andrew played baseball and ran cross country while at SCA, interacting often with Chauncey Keith, the school’s athletic trainer.

“I was always in his office,” Andrew recalls. “Initially, I thought I wanted to do athletic training, like he did. He talked me out of that, though, because of the irregular hours. Most games are in the evenings and on weekends.

He encouraged me to pursue physical therapy instead, so that I would have more time for family in the future.”

Andrew took that advice seriously as he started his own family. He and wife Brittany were married in 2013, shortly before Andrew started the physical therapy program. His first job in the field took them to Birmingham where their first child was born, a son named Chaz. They then moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and welcomed daughter Caroline in 2017.

photography by Amanda Sumner

While the main impetus for the move was to be closer to his wife’s family, the location was definitely a perk. “We figured if someone has to live at the beach, why not us?”

During this time, his video work grew steadily. By 2014, he was averaging 27-28 weddings a year. “I can honestly say that over the years I have eaten more than 100 pieces of wedding cake!” he laughs.

While he is now working to build a client base in Florida, Andrew says that 95 percent of his wedding video work is still in South Georgia. “The wedding industry is very different in Florida. Lots of jobs are vacationers doing destination weddings, and the market is very saturated.”

He doesn’t mind coming back home to work, though.

“It’s only a three-hour drive, and it gives us plenty of opportunities to visit the grandparents and other family and friends that we have here.”

Ideally, Andrew says that he would love to do video work full-time and has lots of ideas for documentary film-making projects. “If that’s where the Lord leads, I’ll be all for it.”

6 4 | ELEVATE 2018-2019

“I absolutely loved Sherwood.

I could not have had a better high school experience. I would do it all over again if I could. All of the teachers there cared about how you were doing both academically and spiritually. That Christian environment was exactly where I needed to be.”

SPOTLIGHT For now, though, he seems to have struck a nice balance.

“With a family, it’s definitely a plus to have a full-time job with benefits,” he says. That job also gives him a lot of personal satisfaction as he works one-on-one with his physical therapy patients. “I get to meet so many interesting people. In this area, we have lots of active and retired military folks, and they have some fascinating stories.”

In addition to his ongoing wedding video work, Andrew is able to use his video talents at Gathering Church, where he and Brittany attend in Fort Walton Beach. There, they also co-lead a small group, and Andrew plays guitar and occasionally leads worship. Brittany works at the church part-time as the assistant children’s director.

“We love our church,” Andrew says. “It’s grown from 100 to 500 people in the six years since it’s started, and it’s led to so much personal growth for us as well.”

In Florida, Andrew has also had the opportunity to partner with the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) program at a local preparatory school, working with the students to make a video for their website. In a way, it’s brought him full-circle from the time when he was the “kid with the camera in his hand.” Now, he’s able to share what he’s learned with these kids who understand his love of video and technology.

photography by Kaylie B. Poplin Photography

In his rare bits of free time, Andrew enjoys being outdoors – fishing, kayaking, playing baseball or disc golf. Since the Laniers live only 10 minutes from the beach, the family also enjoys beach days when the weather is nice.

Even though his full-time job as a physical therapy assistant and his passion as a videographer seem very different at first glance, there is a common thread that ties it all together for Andrew.

“I enjoy meeting new people and making new friends. And I’m always inspired by a good story. Everybody has a story, whether it’s my patients or my video subjects, and you never know what it is until you start asking questions.

You may think you know everything there is to know about someone, but sometimes if you just ask one more question, a whole new story will unfold.”

Through his lens, Andrew sees the opportunity to help tell those stories. “You can create such a range of emotions through video images and music.With the wedding videos it’s all about telling each couple’s unique story. It’s such a personal thing, and it’s truly an honor to be asked to record such special memories for someone.”

Through his unique combination of creativity and technology, Andrew Lanier is using the camera in his hand to preserve some of life’s most important moments. And, after all these years, he still loves every aspect of it.

photography by K&R Photography

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conve rsation with

MADYSON CHAMBER S RISING SOPHOMORE AT SAMFORD UNIVER SIT Y

photography by K&R Photography

Interviewed by Caroline Dougherty, Class of 2022 What is your major?

Journalism and Mass Communications What is your goal?

My goal is to do something with photography. That is what I am passionate about and I would love to pursue something in that field.

What three words would you use to describe your first experiences in college and why?

“Crazy,” because your first college experiences are supposed to be crazy. You bounce around from friend group to friend group until you find your people. Another word I would use is “fast.”

This year has absolutely flown by and I am still trying to wrap my head around the completion of my first year in college. Lastly, I would use “grow.” That is what freshman year is all about.You are supposed to grow as a person and grow spiritually.You learn how to truly live without your parents and the protection they have over you. You learn a lot about how to save money.

As a former SCA student, how has your faith in Christ grown since leaving SCA? You have to be disciplined in your spiritual walk when going to college. There is nobody there to wake you up and make sure you are going to church. In college, you will be hanging out and go to sleep late, but you have to make yourself get up. If you miss church once, you are more likely to miss it again the next week.

You will be faced with things that you won’t be OK with, and you have to stay strong in the way that you were raised and what the Bible says. There is also a certain discipline that comes when you are looking for a church to attend.You will try many, and they won’t be like what you have grown up in, but you have to stick with change. This is a time to jump in your faith.

What advice would you give to a senior leaving SCA? Some of the big things are to remember that in the first few months of college, nobody has their life together. They don’t have their friend group, even though they look like they do. Second, always call home.You don’t have to call every day or talk for long, but the simple act of a random phone call to your parents will make their day. Third, grades. If you fail a test, I promise it will not be the end of the world. You can recover and your grade will be perfectly fine. That doesn’t mean you don’t need to do well and 66 | ELEVATE 2018-2019

study hard! Lastly, don’t be afraid to make spontaneous decisions.

Go to Whataburger at midnight, go on a random road trip, or stay up really late. Those are the memories that you will always remember.

If you wouldn’t mind, could you share your biggest challenge this year and how you overcame/faced it?

My biggest challenge this year was being OK with not knowing everyone right away, and not having “my people,” as some would say. I rarely go somewhere where I don’t see someone I know; so, in my first few weeks into the semester I was really struggling with the idea that I only knew a handful of people. It was something that I genuinely struggled with and it made me miss my hometown friends. Being four hours away from home forced me to be in a place where I had to be OK with not knowing a lot of people for a few months, and I eventually found the wonderful friends I have now.

How well would you say SCA prepared you for college?

SCA prepared me very well for college! SCA taught me to be organized and figure out what needs to be done and do it.

Although we know the Lord is great at altering our plans, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years I would love to be married and have a cute little family. Although I am not sure what the future holds for me yet, I want to pursue something in photography, so I hope to be doing something with that in the future.

SPOTLIGHT

A FAM I LY TO K N OW The NeSmiths

by Dr. Brian Dougherty, SCA Headmaster

photography by Joel McDowell

Great schools are only great, in part, because of the families that comprise it. I have heard it said long ago from one of my mentors, Christian educator Mary Jane English, that the “strength of the child is in the home.” One such family that makes SCA great is the John NeSmith Family. John and Ginger are the proud parents of Rebekah (‘23), twins Jack & Anna (‘26), and Winnie (‘31). The NeSmiths came to SCA when Rebekah started K4 in 2009, after much research and prayer.

Part of the equation for them was that they live in Sylvester.

John assured me they didn’t take the decision of schooling lightly for Rebekah. He shares, “We took a tour at an SCA open house and met with some of the elementary teachers.

We loved the warm, family-friendly environment that we received and felt that Rebekah, who was only used to childcare from her grandparents, would transition smoothly into this kind of classroom setting.” They realized early on that this was more than a private school, it was a family.

“The relationships that our children have made with others as well as the relationships we have made with parents and all those affiliated with SCA give us so much joy.”

At the top of their list for choosing a school was their strong conviction that their children receive a Christ-centered education. Interestingly, a friend made the comment that children spend as much, if not more, time with the staff of their school than with their parents.This comment was a shocking reminder to the influence of the school environment. John says, “There was never any question as to where our other children would attend after Rebekah’s first year at SCA!” Obviously, the SCA mission and philosophy were spot on.

And to this day, the NeSmith’s commute about 60 miles round-trip every day for their children to attend SCA.

Rebekah, the leader of the NeSmith pack, has been a Headmaster Scholar, Scholar Athlete, and member of the National Junior Honor Society throughout her three years in middle school. She has also been a member of the middle school volleyball and basketball teams and has enjoyed participating in middle school chorus and drama.

Rebekah’s twin siblings, Jack and Anna, will be entering the middle school with exemplary academic records as well.

Jack was also a member of the state championship boys’ soccer team this spring. Winnie will be moving up to 1st grade this fall. Though the caboose, she holds her own in the NeSmith clan!

John is a partner at the CPA firm of Hudson & NeSmith in Sylvester. Ginger serves as the Financial Applications Manager at Phoebe Health System. When not working, you can find John and Ginger attending athletic contests, fine arts productions, and the monthly SCA Dads of Prayer group (John) that meets throughout the school year.

The NeSmith family has been a big supporter of SCA missions.

After John’s sister Beth passed away in 2013, the family (John Sr. & LuAnn) began the Beth NeSmith-Campbell Memorial Scholarship to help support individual SCA students who have participated in mission trips, most recently Uganda.

Beth was passionate about missions. Interested students must submit essays and have a demonstrated financial need in order to qualify for trip assistance. The Beth NeSmithCampbell Memorial Scholarship has been a blessing to our missions program at SCA since its inception.

SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 67

1418 Old Pretoria Road Albany, GA 31721

s t n e d u t s NEXT L EVEL

Since 1985, Sher wood Christian Academy has been providing a comprehensive, Bible-based, college-prep education to prepare our students for the future. W hether that next step is college, the workforce or just middle school, SCA’s rigorous academics and cutting-edge technolog y have positioned our students to excel in and out of the classroom. Are you ready to help your children soar to the next level? S chedule a tour today to se e how we can get you there.

SCAeagles.com | 229.883.5677 | 1418 O ld Pretoria Rd.