MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL WINGSPAN SUMMER 2012 / VOLUME VI / ISSUE 2 A BIANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS, ALUMNI, AND FRIENDS Celebrating 35 YEARS pg. 6 a community so complete… A CALLING SO Compelling… Eagles Exploring Preschool for Life pg.18 pg. 4 WINGSPAN | Summer 2012 1 CONTENTS Features What’s New Eagles for Life MPCS Branding 101 16 Career MPCS’ers 4 Logos and School Seal 10 Reflections Online Book Sales ON THE COVER: MPCS 35th Anniversary PK3 student Owen Collier with graduating 6 Compelled in their Callings Senior, Connor Claussen, who has been an Imagine Tomorrow Update Saying Goodbye and Hello 12 Eagle since he was also three years old. 16 4 24 10 15 Spiritual Life Athletics / Arts True U 14 A Year of Achievements 22 26 2011-12 Athletic Programs Service Day 15 Baseball: Coach Kyle Reese 24 Middle/High School Performances 26 Academics Awards and Record Growth Exploring Preschool 16 Sewell Cottage Makeover Re-accreditation On-Campus GISA Conference Lower School Principal 18 30 Our Favorite Things Eagle Monument 31 6 Middle School Service in Action 20 High School 21 PMI and High Q Alumni Class Notes 32 2012 Class Achievements 34 Like us on Facebook! 2 WINGSPAN | Summer 2012 WINGSPAN Summer 2012, Volume VI, Issue 2 Publisher Dr. David Tilley Editor David Lowery Graphic Designer Tiffany Westbrook Contributors Brenna Bitler Steve Bohlmann Eric Bradley Cary Brague John Braswell Shea Buehler Stephen Burton From the Headmaster Pam Copeland Deborah Davis Alecia Ethridge Theresa Gernatt Cindy Gibbs Sandy Hamilton Dear friends, Tiffany Hicks It was last spring that Stephen Burton, Director of Spiritual Life at MPCS, came to me and Mitch Jordan shared a thought he had while watching several of our high school students washing cars to raise Betty June Kauffman David Lowery money for a summer mission trip. He observed several other students who were uninvolved in Meagan Morgan the trip come by to lend moral, labor, and financial support to the mission group. He heard and Jennifer New Katy Rogers watched as our students interacted, and what has become the theme of our school year was Tawanna Rusk revealed to him. Steve Shelton Mount Paran Christian School: A community so complete students never want to leave… David Tilley Randi Terry a calling so compelling there is no way they can stay. Tiffany Westbrook This phrase may not have the same import to those who are casually involved with our school, but Photographers for those who call this campus home–students, parents, and staff–it resonates. To the 1216 students Coldwater Media Carrie Fisher and their families and the more than 200 staff members, it sums up the calling of this place. Jonah Fisher As you will read through the pages of this Wingspan, Mount Paran Christian School continues to Jake Richardson strive in its efforts to create a place that is so complete in our “Three A’s + faith”–academics, arts, Jamie Smith Penny Valiani athletics, and spiritual life (depicted below) that no student would ever choose to leave. There is Tiffany Westbrook no compromising of excellence on this campus as we seek to serve the total needs of the children WINGSPAN and young adults we are privileged to serve. But there is tension between the first and second is published biannually for the phrase. While we seek to provide a total experience for our students, we know they are called by families and friends of God to eventually move from this campus and translate the passion and intellect of a servant’s Mount Paran Christian School heart to a lost and dying world that needs the transforming grace of a faithful and loving Father. © Mount Paran Christian School Why do we do what we do? For thirty-five years, MPCS has been committed to academic 1275 Stanley Road, Kennesaw, Georgia 30152 770-578-0182 excellence in a Christ-centered environment. From its beginnings, this school has held that lofty www.mtparanschool.com notion and has worked steadily to see it realized. We do what we do to see the finale–the end of the commencement service when, for twenty-five years now, graduates are prayed for by a MPCS Mission Statement staff member of their choice and are sent out, commissioned, to do the work they have been Providing academic excellence in a prepared to do. There is nothing that quite defines the totality of that theme any better than Christ-centered environment, Mount Paran Christian School the commencement experience. These students have been prepared by classrooms, stage unites with home and church to prepare performances, athletic competitions, spiritual retreats, chapels, and by rubbing shoulders with servant-leaders to honor God, the good minds and hearts that define our staff. They realize their calling is so compelling it is love others, and walk in Truth. time to live out the Truths that they have been taught. MPCS Vision Statement So, when it all boils down, our calling is to prepare our students for theirs. May God continue to Mount Paran Christian School will become the exemplary Christian bless us in this effort. school in the Atlanta area as defined by the development of Christ-centered servant-leaders and quality academic preparation. WINGSPAN | Summer 2012 3 Features EAGLES for Life Family. A word used by staff, students, parents, and alumni to describe Mount Written by Brenna Bitler Paran Christian School. But how does a school become a family? What creates Out of the 98 graduating seniors, look closely at these this unique bond between teachers 16 students who have strolled and students, families and staff, and the halls of MPCS since they F were preschoolers. They are the families with other families? children who truly have grown up at Mount Paran Christian School. They traveled with the school from the “old” campus to the “new,” and recognize that while the buildings may have changed, the heart of MPCS never has. Senior Madeline Mulkey describes her MPCS experience: “I have always been supported by an entire community of believers at Mount Paran, not just my family. I’ve always felt at home here, which gave me the best possible learning environment. I’ve literally grown up with the people in my class, so I practically have a second family.” From the 2012 graduating class, a record 16 students began their careers at MPCS in 1998, 1999, and 2000, and have Another senior, Emily Cameron, shares that same sentiment when describing the school as her become eagles for life. Pictured back row: Austin Watt, Josh “second family” and the students who have been here since preschool as her “brothers and sisters.” Wilson, Connor Claussen, Caroline Halpin, Anthony Reyna, Katie McCaulay, Cam Skinner, Madeline Mulkey, Rachel Athens, Tyler And senior Cam Skinner explains, “Since I’ve been around some of the senior class for over 10 years, a Crace, Jeff Pearson. Front row: Connor Elsbree, Karly Stroup, community starts to develop, and when you have bonds like that, it can be difficult to break them.” Logan Rusk, Emily Cameron, and J.T. Vinson. 4 WINGSPAN | Summer 2012 Above: 2012 Seniors who began their career at MPCS in PreK 3. It is clear from this group of 16 seniors, that their family’s commitment to Christian education has made a lasting impact on their lives and played a part in their development as young adults. While at Below: Mrs. Brown’s 1998 PK4 Class – seniors are Tyler Crace, Caroline Halpin, Madeline Mulkey, Anthony Reyna, and Austin Watt. MPCS, these students have traveled to England to study literature, flown to distant countries to share God’s love, battled together on the football, soccer, and softball fields, performed on the stage to bring Left: Mrs. O’Brien’s 1999 Kindergarten Class – seniors are Austin Watt, Cam Skinner, Logan Rusk, Karly Stroup, Caroline Halpin, glory to God, ministered to each other in Bible studies, held a few cram sessions for AP exams, shared Josh Wilson, and Connor Claussen. joy and sadness with teachers who love them, and laughed together while waiting in the Commons. These moments matter. These moments build memories that last. “MPCS has truly shaped me into the person I am today. I’ve learned to stand up for my faith and always I have felt God’s be loving and generous,” says Logan Rusk. Karly Stroup presence in every agrees explaining, “I don’t know who I would be if I hadn’t gone to MPCS. The spiritual impact will always step at MPCS. have an effect on me. The friends I have grown up with — Connor Claussen, Class of 2012 talk together often, and we hold each other accountable.” The students have been immersed in the love of Christ and His teachings throughout their schooling. Katie Macaulay remembers, “From the young age of five, MPCS has taught me about Christ, from the life and story of Christ to the meaning of His word and how to defend it.” And Emily Cameron also feels that “the teachers, the students, the environment have all allowed me to continue to grow and be prepared for the world I’m getting ready to be thrown into.” The world of these graduates is now changing. They will not walk through familiar halls next year but will travel down new ones. They will be a light on the campus to which they journey. “I know I am ready to move on and have new opportunities to grow and learn in Christ,” says Madeline Mulkey. MPCS is a community that shares a love of and desire to grow in relationship with Christ. This connection shapes the decisions of our families and direction of our school.