2022–2023 Head of School Annual Report

Head of School

ANNUAL REPORT

2022-2023

Index Letter from the Head of School ���������������������������3

National Merit Commendation ��������������������������� 18

School Board �����������������������������������������������������������4

Summer Camps �����������������������������������������������������35

SBA at a Glance �������������������������������������������������� 6-7

Grandparents’ Parade ����������������������������������������� 19

Silverdale Homeschool ������������������������������������������8

Serving Our Veterans ������������������������������������ 20-21

Silverdale Online Academy �����������������������������������8

Work-Based Learning ������������������������������������������22

Elementary Media Center �������������������������������������9

Neurodiversity Awareness ���������������������������������23

From the Heart: Service �������������������������������������� 10

Athletics �����������������������������������������������������������24–25

Advanced Placement (AP) Classes �������������������� 11

Outdoor Education ����������������������������������������26–27

The Memory Project ��������������������������������������������� 12

Class of 2023 ��������������������������������������������������28–29

Little Women ��������������������������������������������������������� 13

Picking Up STEAM ����������������������������������������� 30–31

Pollyanna ��������������������������������������������������������������� 14

Under the Big Top Gala �������������������������������� 32–33

Fiddler on the Roof ���������������������������������������������� 15

Preschool ���������������������������������������������������������34-35

Q & A with Elijah Hampton ‘23 ���������������������� 16-17

Our Mission

To partner with families in order to provide an environment of academic excellence with a biblical worldview, which is conducive to developing educated young people of character, while preparing them to represent our Lord Jesus Christ in all walks of life.

Our Vision

SBA’s vision is to impact our world by preparing students to become godly warriors, as we implement Discipleship (Mt. 28:15–20), expect excellence (1 Cor. 10:31), and encourage integrity (Psalm 15).

Class of 2023 Valedictorian, Sierra Lansford, and Salutatorian, Elijah Hampton In an effort to adopt mindful printing practices, one magazine is mailed per household. If you would like to receive additional copies, please contact advancement@silverdaleba.org.

Cover Photo: Silverdale students celebrate an epic 28-21 victory over Boyd Buchanan on September 16, 2022.

Letter from the Head of School Silverdale Family, It is my honor to present to you the 2022–2023 Head of School Annual Report.

These pages are chock-full of reasons to celebrate the excellent opportunities that a Silverdale Baptist Academy education provides. Whether on the stage or the ballfield, in the science lab, black box theater, outdoor classroom, or chapel, SBA students are presented with a multitude of exemplary experiences from which to learn and grow.

One aspect I hope that you see as evident within this year-in-review is the fostering of relationships. Beyond the ever-important “three-legged stool” partnership of the church, school, and home, we strive to encourage the development of healthy relationships among students, faculty members, and community members. Most of all, we focus on modeling for our students how to develop and sustain a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Once we put that loving relationship at the forefront, everything else falls into place.

“And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

– Romans 8:28 As you browse through this report, it is my hope and prayer that you take the time to thank our incredible faculty, staff, administration, and school board, who have been called to the purpose of providing an excellent education for this next generation of Seahawks. More importantly, let’s praise our Heavenly Father for all of the good things that are happening at 7236 Bonny Oaks Drive.

Blessings,

Becky Hansard Head of School

Silverdale Baptist Academy |

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School Board Why I Serve

Bob Peck President

Londie Wallin

I am honored and humbled to serve on SBA’s school board. The Lord provided me an opportunity to join other members who are dedicated to changing the lives of our students for Christ and to providing a great education from a biblical perspective. That is something other students do not receive. Having been involved with the church's youth ministry, I have had the privilege of following students not only as they go through the church and academy but also of seeing how God is using their lives in post-secondary and career choices. I, along with all other members of the board, support our administration and staff because they are the individuals who make the difference each day in the lives of our students. The vision was cast some 30 years ago about bringing a school to Silverdale, and that vision has been greatly blessed by God. The academy is one of the largest ministries of the church, and we want to see the academy continue to grow, not necessarily in numbers, but in the depth of a quality education that will not only prepare them for higher education, but for being a Christ-follower for life.

– BOB PECK

SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT

Vice President

Karen Bolton

Paul Bowman

Bill Copeland

David Klein

John Shadden

Brooke Standefer

Dr. An Tran

Charlie Wheaton

Secretary

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! s n o i t a l u t a r ong

C

LIAM RUNKLE 110 Meter High Hurdles Champion Silverdale Baptist Academy | 5

AT A

Glance

2022–2023

1,314

12:1

Total Enrollment

Student:Teacher Ratio

D I S C IP L ESHI P

EXCELLENCE

Preschool: 135

Elementary School: 430 Middle School: 333 High School: 416

INTEGRITY

SBA's vision is to impact our world by preparing students to become godly warriors, as we implement Discipleship (Mt. 28:15-20), expect Excellence (1 Cor. 10:31), and encourage Integrity (Psalm 15).

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Total Baptisms

125

12.9%

Decisions for Christ

School Year Theme 6 | 2022–2023 Head of School Annual Report

Diversity

13%

of students received Tuition Assistance

Financials 2%

Revenue

17%

Tuition & Fees: $14,082,438

81%

Auxillary Services: $2,952,561 Miscellaneous Income: $294,504

Total Revenue: $17,329,503

Expenses

28% 13%

Salaries & Benefits: $10,031,596

59%

Instruction & Student Services: $2,298,097 Operations & Maintenance: $4,781,053

Total Expenses: $17,110,746

Silverdale Baptist Academy |

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Launched February 2022 2022–2023 Enrollment: 97 students K-12 Silverdale Homeschool provides Record-Keeping (curriculum and grades) Attendance Transcripts Advising Student and Teacher IDs Private music lessons in the Fine Arts Department BOOST and SOAR participation Free application to SBA’s online courses Optional standardized testing Free entry to all home games with their student IDs

SILVERDALE

ONLINE ACADEMY Many of our students have taken advantage of the online courses that are not currently available in person. This opportunity has allowed them to engage in an online environment preparing them to transition from high school to college, where online format is commonplace. During this pilot year, we had 34 enrollments that resulted in 25 full credits and 9 half credits that fulfill graduation requirements.

1 in 10 Upper School students are enrolled in at least one online course through SOA.

I would recommend SBA Online because it has so many other resources outside of the work required to help you prepare. It keeps you on track and has so much information and helpful tools. It really helped me feel ready for the ACT. – SBA STUDENT: MELINA STAFFORD

This course helped prepare me for the ACT. The workload was reasonable for a summer course. I definitely recommend this because it equipped me with strategies and tips that I would not have known otherwise!

– SBA STUDENT: MADELYN GOUGE

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BEYOND JUST BOOKS INSIDE OUR DYNAMIC ELEMENTARY MEDIA CENTER SBA’s Elementary Media Center is a vibrant, multifunctional space dedicated to nurturing a love for reading and fostering creativity in our students, teachers, and families.

At the heart of our mission is the belief that a deep appreciation for literature is the cornerstone of a child's development. Our Media Center is thoughtfully designed to provide students with access to a rich array of both digital and print media. We understand the importance of offering diverse resources to cater to various learning preferences and styles, from traditional printed books to cutting-edge digital platforms.

Embracing our local literary community, we proudly feature visits from talented authors, inspiring our young minds not only to read, but also to explore the captivating world of writing. These interactions ignite excitement and curiosity, instilling a passion for both reading and the creative process.

Beyond being a repository of knowledge, our Media Center is a collaborative workspace, where students are encouraged to unleash their creativity. Our Makerspace, equipped with both digital and hands-on tools, empowers students to craft engaging content. From videography and podcasting to digital book creation and other multimedia projects, students can let their imaginations soar.

By incorporating elements of STEAM learning, we strive to make education engaging and holistic. Through coding and robotics, our students delve into problem-solving and critical thinking, preparing them for a dynamic future.

Silverdale Baptist Academy |

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From The Heart: When Mary Pike was hired in March of 2020 at the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in Chattanooga, Tenn., she had no idea that the responsibilities of Chief Development Specialist, for which she had just been hired, were about to change with a little pandemic “pause” called COVID. With a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications (2019) and an MPA in Nonprofit Management (2021) from Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., Mary was ready to take charge of the day-to-day tasks of fundraising, nurturing partnerships, planning special events, and a whole lot more. The job is one of many that is critical to keeping RMHC of Chattanooga a functional place of long-term rest and refuge for families whose only focus should be on their hospitalized children just across the street.

After learning of a job opening at RMHC two and a half years later, Emma Dale, having no direct ties to Mary Pike, got the job, and the two have been working in the same office ever since. Emma’s undergraduate degree in Business Management from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (2022) made her a prime candidate for her own full load as both Donor Database Specialist and Executive Assistant to the CEO, Michael Brown. When Emma isn’t working the inbox or keeping the CEO on schedule and up-to-date on all the relevant buzz, she’s working with Mary as they manage donor funds and engage with both current and prospective donors.

Both Mary and Emma credit Silverdale with providing a firm foundation for their faith through a focus on the biblical principle of service, which they carried into their college time and now on into their professional careers. Emma still vividly remembers visiting the Ronald McDonald House while in elementary school to bake pumpkin pies and help with tasks like cleaning the facilities as part of a service project through SBA. In a non-profit service industry like RMHC, community volunteers are crucial to the daily success of the operation, and those lessons have had staying power in the lives of our alums.

We are proud of our alums and how they represent Christ, their family, and their alma mater beyond graduation!

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Service

Mary Pike ‘15 (R) Podcasts or music? Music Coke or Pepsi? Diet Coke Favorite SBA Class or Teacher?

Mr. Vandegriff (Latin). He was the last class of the day for me, and so much fun.

Favorite SBA memory? Powderpuff, because we always won!

The most valuable lesson learned at SBA? Your walk with Christ is evident in how you live your life.

Emma Dale ‘18 (L) Podcasts or music? Music Coke or Pepsi? Coke Favorite SBA Class or Teacher? Mr. Hetrick (Math). He has been a great support system, even through the college years. Also, Coach Daugherty (Volleyball), because he was my coach from the YMCA days of elementary volleyball all the way through to Silverdale’s high school varsity team.

Favorite SBA memory? Our senior class trip to Greece.

“Chap” Roger Woods was there and gave a powerful devotion where the Holy Spirit really moved. I saw many of my classmates changed.

The most valuable lesson learned at SBA? Having a heart for service.

Advanced Placement (AP) Classes Silverdale Baptist Academy has a tradition of offering a rigorous academic experience with a variety of honors, Dual Enrollment, and Advanced Placement classes. Our students can receive more than 30 college credit hours and increase their college readiness skills. With the Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement programs we offer, this makes them highly successful as they transition to college.

Within the last year, we were able to add AP Biology to our offerings, as we strategically expand the Biomedical focus in our STEAM path. Under the Biomedical path, we offer AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Calculus, and Honors Anatomy.

Other AP course offerings are AP United States History, AP American Government and Politics, AP Psychology (2023–24), and AP Computer Science (2024–25).

At SBA, we are not just expanding our honors program. We are ensuring that our students are successful by engaging with the content in the classroom, ultimately preparing them for the AP exam. Those classroom victories are based on a recipe that requires highly qualified instructors, diligent effort to master the content, and excellent preparation for the exam.

SBA is able to deliver this successful recipe to our students. In the 2023–24 school year, our students were highly successful in passing their AP exams and receiving college credit.

AP BIOLOGY: 100% of our students received college credit, compared to 70% in TN and 64% globally; five students received the highest score.

AP CALCULUS: 73% of our students got college credit, compared to 58% in TN and 58% globally; three students received the highest score.

AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS: 86% of our students received college credit, compared to 48% in TN and 49% globally; one student received the highest score.

AP UNITED STATES HISTORY: 82% of our students received college credit, compared to 50% in TN and 48% globally; one student received the highest score.

Mrs. Ioannidis, the High School Dean of Academics, is very thankful for the dedicated and outstanding faculty that are teaching these classes at SBA. I am so proud of our students for these accomplishments and for their highly successful transition to higher education to pursue the paths and the calling that God is placing in their lives! At SBA we are all about preparing our students to discover the call that God has for their lives and to equip them to serve Him diligently as they advance His Kingdom and redeem our culture!

– MRS. IOANNIDIS HIGH SCHOOL DEAN OF ACADEMICS

Silverdale Baptist Academy |

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The

Memory Project

(L to R): Mia Schmidt, Jillian Kincer, Rylie Denning, Chloe Rice, Casey Neal, Rylie Brannon, Rheagan Hoover, Sophie Spurgin, Micaela Smith, Kaitlin Preast, Kai Lam, Mrs. Jennifer Leslie, Chloe Creekmore, Alanna Barker, Andrew Figlestahler, Grady Hale.

Art students at Silverdale Baptist Academy have participated in the Memory Project, which provides lifelong gifts for vulnerable children. The Memory Project is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Middleton, Wis. Since the project began in 2004, more than 100,000 American art students have created portraits for children in 44 countries.

"The Memory Project was really special because it allowed me to connect with someone from the other side of the world in a more meaningful way than words could amount to.”

– Kai Lam '23 12 | 2022–2023 Head of School Annual Report

This is the third year that we have joined the Memory Project, which invites art teachers and their students to create and donate portraits to youth around the world. Those young people have faced substantial challenges such as neglect, abuse, loss of parents, violence, and extreme poverty. Given that youth in such situations usually have few personal keepsakes, the purpose of the portraits is to provide them with meaningful mementos of their youth.

The project also allows art students to practice kindness and global awareness, while enhancing their portraiture skills. Students in our Advanced Art Classes at Silverdale (Art 3) receive photos of vulnerable children and then work in their art classroom to create the portraits.

During the 2022–2023 school year, Art 3 students worked on creating portraits of Ukrainian children and babies who have suffered from the horrors of war, become orphans, or were displaced, losing family members, their homes, and their belongings. Once finished, the Memory Project delivers the portraits to the children.

November 3–5, 2022

Our middle school’s production of Little Women featured almost 70 students in two separate casts. The leads of both casts poured life and hours into their performances. Students not only acted in the shows, but also were responsible for gathering costumes and props. The participants were truly a reflection of the body of Christ as they each stepped in to do their part, whether on stage or off, for the betterment of the show and the glory of God.

Silverdale Baptist Academy | 13

November 17 & 18, 2022

Our high school’s production of Pollyanna, with a cast of 30 students, was led by seniors Abby Fisk as Pollyanna and Jenny Adams as Aunt Polly. This production presented the power of gratefulness, not only in one’s own life but also in spreading it to others. Mrs. Bateman described the cast as “young people who want to use our beautiful stage as an opportunity to shine for Jesus.”

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Fiddlethre Roof on

April 28 & 29, 2023

The high school’s spring production of Fiddler on the Roof was the final bow for the 25 seniors and the director, Terri Bateman, in her retirement. More than 70 students from kindergarten to 12th grade wowed audiences from the stage, backstage, tech booth, and orchestra pit with three incredible performances. Shows like this are bittersweet in their storylines and in the closing of a chapter for our veterans of the stage. What many don’t realize about theater is during the process of preparing and creating the “magic” that happens, you become a family. Many seniors were firsttime performers who instantly felt welcomed into the theater family. Terri put it like this: “The theater has been my home. These beautiful walls have been our house!

The stage has been a place to serve. The students have been a delightful extended family to Chuck and me.” The Performing Arts of SBA are eternally grateful for the leadership and legacy of Terri Bateman and the Class of 2023. Thank you, and may God richly bless each of you in the next chapter!

Silverdale Baptist Academy |

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Q&A with Elijah Hampton ‘23 Salutatorian | Attending West Point

Elijah Hampton, Salutatorian of the SBA Class of 2023, has become just the second Silverdale graduate to attend a military service academy. Jordan Sanders, ‘20, is currently attending the United States Naval Academy and playing football. Elijah shares his thoughts on life at SBA, pursuing the United States Military Academy (West Point), and more in this Q&A. We are proud of all of our alumni but are especially grateful for those who have answered the call to serve our country through military service!

Elijah pictured in the middle

Q: What are some of your favorite memories of your time at Silverdale?

Q: What are some major lessons you’ve taken from SBA?

A: My all-time favorite memory would be the senior Greece trip. It is an amazing time of spiritual growth and a time when the seniors who go on the trip grow closer to each other. On top of that, we got to eat some great food and see the amazing Greek culture and sights.

A: One thing I have been challenging myself with that is talked a lot about at SBA is what it means to love others as Christ loved them. I feel like SBA prepared me well to be a light in the darkness wherever I go, and I have made it my goal at West Point to be salt and light, as Jesus put it in Matthew 5, to the lost people I am around. I want to be known not for my achievements here, but rather as a loving, Christian young man.

Q: Of all of the faculty and staff at Silverdale, who made the most significant impact on your life during your time at Silverdale, and why?

A: I would say Robert Hetrick had the largest impact on my life.

He was a huge spiritual mentor in my life, especially the last two years of high school. As my former cross country coach and Calculus teacher, he showed us how to find our identity in Christ and not in our performance in academics, athletics, or achievements, which is a lesson I still hold on to.

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Q: How has your faith been challenged? How have you seen the Lord working in your life since graduation?

A: It was definitely a challenge adjusting outside of the Christian community of Silverdale that I have been in my entire life. Over the summer, cadets go through a basic training called Beast, where we don’t have access to our phones. I was permitted to bring my Bible, which I spent a lot of time in at the end of the very long days. I found myself being refreshed and revitalized every time I read it, and it was often the thing I looked forward to most during the day.

It was difficult to be in a largely non-Christian environment after being in a tight Christian community my entire life, but I was able to grow as a Christian and learn to actively feed myself with the word of God daily.

Q: How have you been challenged, in general, since leaving home?

Q: Where do you see yourself after West Point? After military service?

A: Sleep and time management are two big priorities at West Point. I definitely get less sleep than I was used to during high school, but West Point generally does a good job of acclimating you to the sleep deprivation through the summer training. As far as time management goes, as a cadet, it is necessary that you stay on top of work and learn to prioritize work that is worth the most points for the class.

West Point intentionally gives you more on your plate than you can handle, and you just have to learn which things to prioritize at the moment.

A: I haven’t really considered what I would like to do after military service. Right now, I am considering going into Army aviation to fly helicopters for the Army, which would extend my service requirement to a minimum of 12 years. At that point, I may remain in the Army and make a career out of it. I have also thought about branching into the Combat Engineers, serving for a period of years, and then coming back to Chattanooga to work with TVA. Both plans appeal to me, but I have a while to think and pray about it.

Q: Talk about your decision to pursue military service, specifically through a service academy. What led you to West Point?

A: I became interested in attending a military academy around my junior year when I attended the Naval Academy’s summer camp. The community I experienced during that time left me with a strong desire to go back and attend one of the main service academies. Specifically for West Point, I came because I wanted to surround myself with excellence to develop my own personal excellence academically, physically, and as a leader. A large reason why I want to be an officer in the United States Army is to learn to lead others well.

Many people struggled with the workload initially at the start of the semester here at West Point, but I honestly felt well prepared by my time at SBA. I was worried that it would be very overwhelming with all the work assigned, and while it is definitely a challenge, I felt well prepared academically and spiritually.

– ELIJAH HAMPTON

Silverdale Baptist Academy |

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National Merit Commendation

Carter Crawford '24

Carter Crawford has been named a Commended Student in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented by the principal to this scholastically talented senior in the Class of 2024.

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2024 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students place among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2024 competition by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

“Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”

SUMMER CAMPS Silverdale Summer Camps had another record-breaking season with more than 1,300 registrations for a total of 63 camps offered! With camp offerings for ages preschool through high school, we also added 12 brand-new camp options this past summer.

If you’ve been a part of Silverdale Summer Camps before, you also know that our outdoor camps help make us unique, and they sell out fast! There are outdoor options like fishing, mountain biking, archery, gardening, and more.

We’re not about entertaining or babysitting children while mom and dad are at work. We’re about providing experiences and creating memories that will last a lifetime, all while pouring Jesus into them!

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2022

GRANDPARENTS’ “Jan and I are so very thankful SBA recognizes the role grandparents play in the development and growth of our grandchildren. The grandparents parade is possibly more exciting and meaningful to us than it is to our grandkids.

Definitely an opportunity to build wonderful memories."

Parade March 24, 2023

– SAM & JAN WILLS, SBA GRANDPARENTS

Friday, March 24 began like any other day at Silverdale…until grandparents in their top-down convertibles and overly-decorated daily drivers started showing up by the hundreds for the grandparents’ parade! At one point as the campus was filling up with cars staging for the parade, we were legitimately concerned that we had created traffic gridlock on both Bonny Oaks and Silverdale Road!

Hey – we should have known that when grandparents were given the option, they would show up and show out!

After more than an hour of waving while driving through the parade route to see their grandchildren, lunch was served at the athletic complex. Various crafts and entertainment were also available, allowing grandparents to spend quality time with their grands at school.

The response from grandparents and grandkids alike was overwhelmingly positive, so be on the lookout for this as a staple event at SBA!

Ed and Donna Lawrence, Grandparent Council Chairs and parade Grand Marshals Silverdale Baptist Academy |

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Service over Self:

Serving Our Veterans COMMUNITY YARD SIGNS Our middle school students have led out for the past decade in honoring our military veterans with a special schoolwide Veterans Day program held on our campus with veterans as our distinguished guests of honor. This past year, we pressed pause on a formal program to shift gears and instead serve veterans in the Chattanooga community. Groups of students and teachers chose projects like inviting veterans into their classrooms, participating in the Valentines for Veterans project, making baskets for veterans with personalized cards, gathering supplies for local National Guard recruits, and sharing gift cards for veterans and their families to eat out at local restaurants. What an honor it was for our students to give back just a little for the sacrifice made for us!

Our 4th grade students had a contest to produce an image that honors our veterans.

Four images were chosen to be turned into custom, mass-produced yard signs that were delivered and put in the yards of veterans connected to our greater Silverdale Family. It was a small way for our students to honor the service and sacrifice of our local veterans and to give recognition to them in their smaller communities within Chattanooga and beyond.

(L to R): Isaiah Polino, Knox Collins, Maci Wilson, Skylar Shook

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WREATHS ACROSS CHATTANOOGA SBA middle school students designed veteran-honoring t-shirts that were then sold as a fundraiser, with 100% of proceeds going to support Wreaths Across Chattanooga. The mission was to contribute to our community around Christmastime by helping to purchase wreaths to be placed at the graves of our local servicemen and women who have been laid to rest in the Chattanooga National Cemetery. In doing so, we remember all the Chattanooga area veterans who served our country, honor the lives of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and teach the value of freedom and about those who protected it.

Captain Mickey McCamish, US Navy, Retired, is responsible for the wreaths initiative in Chattanooga and had this to say about our SBA family: "An extremely important part of Wreaths Across Chattanooga is the involvement of the future generation of leaders. SBA's extraordinary involvement and efforts make a statement that our country's future is in very, very good hands with very capable SBA leaders."

Thanks to the generosity of the Silverdale community and beyond, we raised an incredible $3,630 in support of Wreaths Across Chattanooga!

SBA's extraordinary involvement and efforts make a statement that our country's future is in very, very good hands with very capable SBA leaders.

– CAPTAIN MICKEY MCCAMISH, US NAVY, RETIRED Silverdale Baptist Academy | 21

WORK-BASED Since 2019, students in the Work-Based Learning program at Silverdale Baptist Academy have had the opportunity to develop soft skills like teamwork, communication, decision-making, and creative thinking across multiple job sites throughout the school year. The 2022–2023 community partners included our preschool, Fit One Gym, and the JA Henry YMCA Food and Fun Kitchen.

The opportunities provided by these service-oriented organizations enabled our students to practice skills in a safe environment. From preparing appropriate lunches for the community to being a teacher’s assistant, these real-life opportunities have allowed our students to set goals that they might not have considered. Our desire is for them to use opportunities like these to help identify their aspirations for their future!

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Learning

Neurodiversity Awareness

Neurodiversity is a word used to explain the unique ways people’s brains work. While everyone’s brain develops similarly, no two brains function just alike. Being neurodivergent means having a brain that works differently from the average – or neurotypical person. Our Instructional Support team hosted Neurodiversity Month in April, giving both our students and our employees opportunities to learn more about neurodiversity, which includes conditions like dyslexia, ADHD, and autism, just to name a few.

April 12 launched an assembly with guest speaker and neurodiversity expert Haley Moss, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. She discussed her experience as a neurodiverse learner, as well as all the disabilities that are included under the umbrella of neurodiversity. Along with other resources being provided, our media centers also hosted books specific to neurodiversity, encouraging teachers and students to read them and then discuss them together in class each week. We had a unique sock day just to highlight how amazing and different we all are, and we sold neurodiversity t-shirts to help raise awareness at school and beyond.

Haley Moss, author and advocate for disability inclusion and neurodiversity, speaks to Silverdale students.

The goal of Neurodiversity Month was to spread awareness of just how unique God has made us and to help our students learn the importance of recognizing and respecting each other’s differences as it relates to the way all of our brains work. Dr. Cindy Ford, Director of Instructional Support, says, “It is our desire at Silverdale to acknowledge all the different ways our students learn and how we can best support each type of learner.”

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

– Psalm 139:14

#weareALLsilverdale

Silverdale Baptist Academy |

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Athletics High School BOYS & GIRLS GOLF | Both teams qualified for Region • Campbelle Williams qualified for state as an individual.

BOYS BASKETBALL | 1,000 points: Brett Wright • All District team: Kennedy Okpara, Elyjah Richardson, Brett Wright • All Tournament Team: Brett Wright

FOOTBALL | State Quarterfinal Round • Region Offensive Player of the Year: Brett Rogers • East Region All-Academic Team: Zach Lynch

SWIMMING | 4x4 Boys Relay Team: Undefeated regular season • Liam Runkle and Ryan Tueton qualified for Southeastern Championship.

GIRLS SOCCER | District Champions (undefeated in regular season play) • Final Four in State Tournament • TSWA All-State Team: Addie Chapman

WRESTLING | JV Weight Class champion: Nate Hampton • JV 3rd place in Weight Class: Gaven Hobbs

BOYS & GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY | Girls 2nd in Region • Girls qualified for state • All Region Team: Natalie May, Jaycee Rogers, Savannah Inman GIRLS CHEER | All American Cheerleaders: Lucy Lagutin, McKenna Tew, Ravina Talwar, Carly Riggs, Hannah Martin, Allie Vanveldhuizen, Rylie Brannon, Marlee Burrows, Lendi Herron GIRLS VOLLEYBALL | 2nd place–District • 2nd place– Regional • Elite 8 in state tournament • All District: Casey Neal, Camryn Neal, Faith Woods • 1,000 digs: Casey Neal GIRLS BASKETBALL | Regular Season CoChampions • All District Team: Taylor Bledsoe, Kelsie Johnson, Tori Gibson, Braylee Raby

TRACK & FIELD | State Champion: Liam Runkle 110m hurdles • 2nd place state – 300m hurdles • Girl’s Team: Regional Runner up SOFTBALL | District Champions • East Region Champions, Final Four • State Champions • District Player of the Year: Kennedy Stinson BASEBALL | District Champions, Final Four (ended 3rd) • All district: Brett Rogers, Turner Junkins (Player of the Year), Ian Reagan, Brody Lamb, Owen Phillips TENNIS | Boys Team: District Champions • Girls Team: District Runner-up • Individual District Champion: Kai Lam • Individual District Champion: Gabi Fernandes

College Signees Eric Boggess | Lee University Cam Bowen | University of the Cumberlands Logan Gadd | Cleveland State Josh Hardaway | Cumberland University

Ryan Teuton | Emory & Henry

24 | 2022–2023 Head of School Annual Report

GADD

Brett Rogers | MTSU

BOWEN

Ian Reagan | UAH

BOGGESS

Addie Keef | Chattanooga State

HARDAWAY

Turner Junkins | MTSU

Middle School FOOTBALL | All-Conference Team: Connor Jenne, Luke Bowman, Cannon Rogers, Luke Burger, Parker Holland, Titus Hinkle • Conference Runner-up

BOYS SOCCER | 3rd place ISC GIRLS SOCCER | ISC Regular Season & Tournament Champions • Undefeated

CROSS COUNTRY | Boys and Girls: 2nd place in conference • Sarah Jane Inman: Overall Girls winner • Jax Pas (1st place Boys)

BOYS BASKETBALL | ISC Regular and Tournament Champions • Undefeated in conference play

SOFTBALL | ISC regular season and tournament champions

GIRLS BASKETBALL | ISC Regular and Tournament Champions

BOYS & GIRLS TENNIS | Girls: 3rd place • Boys: 4th place

BASEBALL | Baseball Regular & ISC Tournament Champions

CHEERLEADING | Named camp champion for “Best Sideline Game Day Routine” • 3 cheerleaders chosen as “All American Cheerleaders”

VOLLEYBALL | ISC runner-up TRACK & FIELD | 2nd place in both Boys and Girls GOLF | Boys: 2nd place

Elementary School

TEUTON

ROGERS

VOLLEYBALL | Undefeated season • ISC Tournament Champions

REAGAN

COED SOCCER | 2nd place

KEEF

BOYS BASKETBALL | Undefeated season • ISC Regular and Tournament Champions

JUNKINS

CROSS COUNTRY | Boys: 1st place in ISC • 6 qualified for state

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OUTDOOR EDUCATION

HIGHLIGHTS Strider Bikes for Elementary P.E. Students Thanks to elementary P.E. teacher Liz Hinkle, our youngest SBA students learn to ride bicycles on brand new Strider bikes through the All Kids Bike curriculum.

New Middle School Outdoor Education Course Added B.E.A.R (Basic Education in Adventure Recreation) teaches students leadership and stewardship in nature. This includes the principles of Leave No Trace and many outdoor adventures and activities.

Creation Celebration ‘22: Happy Fall, Y’all!

A petting zoo, hayrides, and a "pumpkin patch" with face painting, fall pictures, pumpkin painting, fall games, and a cow train were all part of the celebration!

There were also displays, vendors, live music, and artisans, such as wood carvers, quilters, weavers, candle makers, soap makers, potters, and blacksmiths. Students were able to sample various items, such as foods from foraging, goat cheese, goat milk, and kettle corn. The S.O.A.R. Program provided free ice cream and cider.

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New Solar-Powered Outdoor Library and Resource Center Soon to be completed, our newest S.O.A.R. building will be a fully solar-powered office, library, and resource center, where students, teachers, and staff may come and browse through a growing collection of outdoor resources.

S.O.A.R. Bees We have approximately 30,000 bees on campus in our apiary. Students in our S.O.A.R. kids program receive quarterly lessons about hive operations, honey flow, hive democracy, and orienteering.

Greenhouse and Gardens The S.O.A.R. greenhouse and gardens have been busy again this school year. Thanks to the greenhouse, we have early sprouted multiple plants and then transplanted them to our multiple garden beds.

Stream Team–WaterWays Chattanooga Waterways worked again this year with four grades (pre-K, 3rd, 6th, and 9th), who met several times this past school year to learn about water, water pollution, and Friar Branch stewardship.

NewTerra Compost and Recycling Programs S.O.A.R. On The Water!

We now have a fleet of watercraft to extend our outdoor learning experience, including: 11 single kayaks & 5 double kayaks

In the 2022–2023 school year alone, SBA recycled more than 16 tons! In addition to our recycling program, we partner with NewTerra Composting. Compostable products from the lunchroom are now converted to compost that can be used in gardens and other areas. Last year we composted more than 5 1/2 tons! As a result of our recycling and composting efforts, SBA has reduced our environmental footprint by more than 21 tons.

8 stand up paddle boards (SUPs) Watercraft trailer (carries up to 6 kayaks and/or multiple SUPs) 5 metal frame storage racks Life vests, paddles, replacement seats, and other maintenance items

S.O.A.R. Gear Barn The Gear Barn is a brand new space for our outdoor ed gear, located beside the outdoor ed shed. It is used to store our new educational watercraft fleet, as well as mountain bikes and other gear.

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Class of 2023 Class Size: 99

Average ACT: 23.2

Average GPA: 3.5

Top 25% ACT average: 28.4

28 | 2022–2023 Head of School Annual Report

Scholarships Offered:

$8.2 million Scholarship Average:

Honors Diploma: 30 Entering the Workforce: 8%

$84,536

Two–Year College: 19%

TN Hope Qualified: 84%

Four–Year College: 72% Silverdale Baptist Academy | 29

Picking Up

STEAM Coding and working with robots are skills that are important to success in the 21st century.

Programs like competitive robotics have provided an excellent avenue for our students to gain invaluable experience in the development of these skills.

– DR. BOB WALTER,

DIRECTOR OF STEAM

MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS During the 2022–2023 school year, SBA competed for the fourth year in the VEX High School Robotics Program. Each year, teams are tasked with designing and building a robot to complete a specific task. These tasks have ranged from turning caps over, shooting balls, turning flags, climbing platforms, stacking cubes, hanging rings, moving goals, and driving robots on a balance platform. This past year, the focus was shooting disks into a goal, turning rollers, and covering tiles on the robotics field. SBA Robot teams have participated in the Tennessee Valley Robotics League and attended several tournaments.

VEX Robotics is a collaborative community. Students enjoy talking to other teams about robotics and making friends with other school teams. They also enjoy working on the robot throughout the year, watching it complete the task it was designed to do. Dr. Bob Walter, Director of STEAM, says, “Coding and working with robots are skills that are important to success in the 21st century.” VEX Robotics and the Tennessee Valley Robotics League provide an avenue for our students to gain invaluable experience in developing these skills.

SBA started its first middle school club with 23 students during the 2022–2023 school year. These middle school students met weekly to work on VEX robots in an attempt to meet the same challenge as the high school students. These middle school students had the opportunity to compete in a mini‑tournament at the end of the school year.

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REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL STEAM COMPETITION In February of 2023, four of our high school students traveled to Creekside Christian School in Hampton, Ga., to represent Silverdale Baptist Academy for the first time in school history at ACSI’s divisional (regional) STEAM Competition. On top of having no prior experience with the competition, Dr. Walter and sponsor Mr. Titus Freuler faced a setback when, just a few days before the competition, student sickness and availability meant SBA might not even be represented! By the grace of God and one original team member, a new team was solidified just in time: then-sophomores Emma Waldoch and Steven Camp and then-freshmen Zethan Jones and Jacob Renninger.

During the three-hour drive south, they game-planned with one another and Dr. Walter, focusing on one specific event: the Onsite Design Challenge.

Once there, the student teams were given their Onsite Design Challenge to design and construct an object out of paper or cardstock that would support a certain weight for a certain amount of time. After each team completed their project and the judges had time to review the builds, the students were interviewed regarding the processes they used in planning for and constructing their object. At the end of the day, Silverdale Baptist Academy’s STEAM Team took home first place, making history while at the same time qualifying for the International Christian STEM Competition finals at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix later that semester!

On April 22, 2023, after flying into Phoenix and arriving on the campus of Grand Canyon University, SBA’s STEAM Team was presented with another Onsite Design Challenge.

This time, it was to design and construct something that operated like a pair of tweezers. Once again, after completing the design and construction phases, our students were interviewed by a panel of judges regarding how the team went about solving this particular challenge. When the judges had completed their reviews and interviews of all of the teams, the Silverdale STEAM Team took home third place in the International Christian STEM Competition!

Dr. Walter said of the experience, “It was a close competition, as very few points separated third place from first place. We were privileged to spend a day in Phoenix visiting the Arizona Science Center before flying home. This opportunity allowed our four students to use and develop their 21st century skills of problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, teamwork, creativity, and communicating in a real-life situation. Our students represented SBA well. It was an honor to participate in this event with such a great group of students.”

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under the

2023

Gala

March 10, 2023 Our Annual Gala went “Under the Big Top” in the upper gym on campus on Friday, March 10, 2023! The night was nothing short of an absolute circus – in all the best ways – raising money for a great cause! Gala chairs Jarrett and Leigh Ann Millsaps helped bring experience, fresh perspectives, and a team of volunteers to an event where, for the first time, we introduced a bid-style live auction that was a huge hit.

Whether it was exorbitantly overpriced eggs or the chance to legally pull the fire alarm during a school day, auctioneers Marc Gravitt and David Karnes brought plenty of energy!

We are ever grateful for the individual and business partnerships that helped set the stage for a rewarding event.

Over $195,000 raised for our Need–Based Financial Aid Fund and paying down the debt of the Silverdale Center. All for His Glory!

Gala chairs, Jarrett and Leigh Ann Millsaps

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Thank you to our premier partners:

Mickey & Londie Wallin

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PRESCHOOL Our Preschool sees and realizes the importance of our students’ social and emotional growth. In a post-COVID world, we noticed many of our students struggled in this area. Our staff quickly sprung into action, enlisting our counseling team on campus, engaging in parental conversations, and attending professional development offerings on this topic. Through this multi-faceted approach, we made progress by improving our curriculum and daily activities to ensure students were developing these skills to successfully manage everyday life in their little worlds.

More than ever, our teachers and staff perfected the art of slowing down and listening earnestly to what students were trying to communicate – their fears through their tears. Through prayer and reflection, fears were relieved, tears were wiped, and connections were made.

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“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it” – Proverbs 22:6

Our teachers model kind and gracious behaviors, promoting our students’ social and emotional growth.

Exposing students to emotional literacy gives them the ability to talk about their own emotions and feelings, as well as the feelings of others.

Introducing the children to the outdoors enhances their mental well-being while growing their faith in our Creator, as they see the world changing around them.

Our Silverdale community is unique in nature, promoting the security that comes from building a family within a family. Many students enter preschool and remain at SBA through high school graduation, which we’ve coined the “diapers to diplomas” journey.

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Engaging Hearts and Minds 7236 Bonny Oaks Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37421

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423.892.2319

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www.silverdaleba.org