October 23, 2016
Through the Fire
If you attended Sunday School or VBS as a child, you likely know the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  This classic Old Testament story from the Book of Daniel involves three unfortunate, but faithful, men being forced into a fiery furnace by a Babylonian king. But rather than being burned alive, they come out unscathed.  It’s a fascinating story of God’s power and faithfulness, but well before King Nebuchadnezzar tried to make toast out of these fellas, God was revealing himself to them in the midst of trouble.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s story starts   in  the very first chapter and verse of Daniel where the aforementioned evil king comes over from Babylon (modern day Iraq) and invades Jerusalem.  Along with the gold and goblets he steals from their temple, he also takes a handful of the smartest, healthiest young men as slaves, which is how Daniel and the three amigos end up in Babylon.  When they arrive, they refuse to eat the king’s food, which includes meat that their religion viewed as unclean.  The slavemaster in charge of them reluctantly agrees to allow them to eat only vegetables for ten days, but if they weren’t healthy after that time, they would be forced to eat the meat.  After the vegetarian trial period was over, they were even healthier than when they began.  When we read past this portion of Daniel’s account to the more colorful “walking through fire” portion, I think we miss a powerful lesson about God’s faithfulness.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were faithful servants of God, minding their own business in Jerusalem when they are snatched from their homeland and taken as slaves.  If there was anyone who had a legitimate gripe with God, it was surely these three.  But instead of complaining, Daniel tells us that they were faithful in the midst of their difficulty.  And God honored their faithfulness by nourishing and protecting them from physical harm long before they ever saw that fiery furnace, but pay close attention to how He did that.  He didn’t deliver them FROM slavery; He blessed them IN slavery.

Compared to the faithful of Biblical times, it is clear the comforts of modernity have softened the faithful of 2016.  It doesn’t take more than a dead battery or a botched Starbucks order to knock us off our pious perch, wondering where God is in the midst of our “trouble.”  I think we can do better; I know I can.  John 16:33 says this:

            “In this life you will have trouble but take heart, I have overcome the world.” 

Whatever difficulty you find yourself in, God has not forsaken you.  Like our friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, He may be choosing to bless you in the midst of discomfort rather than delivering you from it.  He can do that - He’s God.  If that is your story, and it has surely been mine at times, let’s agree together to remain faithful to the One who was first faithful to us.  Whether our troubles involve fire or Frapuccinos , we can be confident we serve a God who cares about the concerns of our heart.

Blessings,
 
Jim R. Callis
Head of School
Dates to Remember
Tuesday, November 1: Blue & White Tip Off Night; Main Campus
Friday, November 4: White Out Night; 3rd - 5th Spirit Night; North Campus
Monday, November 7 - Friday, November 11: Scholastic Book Fair
Tuesday, November 8: Election Day; 9:00 a.m. start for LS and MS
Thursday, November 10: Open House, Main Campus; 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, November 12: Open House, North Campus; 9:00 a.m.
Development
Annual Fund Update: The Home Stretch 
With 8 days remaining, we are closing in on the 2016-2017 Annual Fund goal of $400,000 and 100 percent family participation.  But we’re not there yet!  We need every member of our community to answer the call to give.  If you have not already done so, please spend time this afternoon with your family and decide what level of commitment is best for you.  As of Friday, pledges or gifts were received from nearly 90 percent of our Academy families, with many classes and grade levels reporting a perfect 100 percent!

If you have not already done so, please take a moment to turn in your pledge card.  There are several ways to make your pledge:
  • Return your pledge card by mail, dropping it off at the front desk, or placing it inside your child’s backpack.  If you need a pledge card, they are available at the front desk, or we will happily send one home in your child’s backpack.  Just ask!
  • Inform the Development Office of your pledge by emailing Sharon McGehee or texting 678-770-8708.
  • Make a payment online by clicking here.
A gift to the Annual Fund is the most impactful way you can support our school.  Questions?  Please contact Sharon McGehee, Director of Development, at sharon.mcgehee@mtbethelchristian.org , or contact the Development Office at 678-202-4056.
Georgia GOAL Update
GOAL tax credit applications for 2017 are up to 69!  This is wonderful news for our deserving students seeking need-based financial assistance.  Thank you to everyone who has signed on to partner with MBCA through GOAL.  Incurring NO additional costs, you can direct thousands of dollars to MBCA for scholarship assistance.

Please take a minute to visit goalscholarship.org and complete the short form that will allow you to allocate a portion of YOUR state income tax to Mt. Bethel Christian Academy. 

  • If you are a tax-paying Georgian, you can participate in this free program.  You do NOT have to be a MBCA parent, so tell your friends!
  • Individuals filing jointly can claim up to $2,500.
  • Owners of S-Corps, LLCs and Partnerships can contribute up to $10,000.
If you have questions, please contact the Development Office at 678-202-4056 or email Alison Stephens.
Admission
Help Us Spread the Word!
It's that time of year when we reach out to the community to spread the word about the wonderful work we do here at MBCA and encourage prospective families to come visit our campus.  The admission season is open for the 2017-2018 school year, Open Houses are scheduled and we are actively seeking new students.

So how can you help?  Our best and most effective marketing tool is you...word of mouth!  Tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers about MBCA; encourage them to come take a look at our campuses; if you have preschoolers or a church affiliation, drop off brochures to their offices (brochures are available in the Admission Office or reception desk); visit Great Schools website and post a review; and with Halloween night on the horizon, pick up a yard sign at the reception desk and place it strategically to let your community know that we have Open Houses coming up.  To reserve one or more yard signs, CLICK HERE .  Use caution when placing yard signs so you don't inadvertently infringe upon someone's private property.

Thank you for helping us continue to minister to the community and give others the opportunity to receive an exceptional Christ-centered education. 
Main Campus Open House
4385 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta
November 10 at 10:00 a.m.

Mark your calendars for the first open house at our Main Campus for junior kindergarten through 8th grade.  We hope you can join us, and please be sure to spread the news to friends and neighbors as well! Questions?  Contact  Jackie Grasty , Director of Admission.   

Upper School Open House
2509 Post Oak Tritt Road, Marietta
November 12 at 9:00 a.m.

If you missed the first Open House at the North Campus, be sure to mark your calendar for November 12 to visit the fully renovated Upper School campus.  We hope you can join us, and please be sure to spread the news to friends and neighbors as well!  Questions?  Contact  Cal Boyd , Upper School Director of Admission. 
Save the Date
Winter Wonderland Scholastic Book Fair
November 7-11
Book Fair is just around the corner!  You can be a part of this fun and festive event in many ways.  Please consider volunteering to set up on November 3 and 4, working sales November 7-11 or helping with take down November 11.  If none of these are right for you, we could use several volunteers to bring in food and drinks during our hours of service.  We would love any and all the help we can get.  Please click the links below to volunteer to bring food and/or work the Book Fair.  Thank you for your support every year!  The Book Fair could not happen without the support and help of our amazing parents!
Thanksgiving Feast
Thursday, November 17
Friday, November 18

MBCA invites you to join your children for our traditional Thanksgiving Feast on Thursday, November 17 and Friday, November 18.  We will be serving roast turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, dressing & gravy, cranberry sauce, fruit medley and pumpkin pie.  Classes will be served according to the schedule below:
Thursday, November 17
Friday, November 18
Announcements
Fall Madness at Studio 7
View your child's volleyball or Band & Choir concert photos at Studio 7.

Middle School & Upper School Volleyball

Middle School Band & Choir Concert
2016 Christmas Card Contest
This year's Christmas card theme is God is love, light of the world.  Students are to create an original design in a stain glass format.  This contest is open to all MBCA students.  Deadline is Friday, October 28.  Please submit all designs to the front desk or homeroom teacher.

View our short video for instructions.
Shoe Donation Drive
Sponsored by Girls Run Club
Broken in, too small, frayed laces...we know you have a pair of old shoes cluttering your closet.   MBCA Girls Run Club wants your old shoes!  

We will be collecting used shoes during the week of October 24 to donate to Soles4Souls, a charity that distributes gently worn shoes to over 125 countries.  They have an immediate need to help those in Haiti, devastated by Hurricane Matthew.   Look for donation bins in the front lobby.

For more information contact MaryHadley Ozburn.
Friday Morning Breakfast
Come early and join your classmates for breakfast.  All profits go towards the 8th grade mission trip.   We start selling no later than 7:30 a.m.  Tables will either be outside or in the main foyer of DeVore Hall.  Students should be sure to finish their breakfast before going to class.

We will offer:
Chick-fil-A Biscuits - $3 each
Chick-fil-A Minis - $3 per box
Donuts - $1 each (glazed and chocolate glazed)
NEW - Gluten Free Scone from Cherry on Top Delights Bakery - $3 each

Questions?  Contact Nancy Ostergard or Paige Valentine 678-907-0779.
Uniform Update
Beginning November 6 when Daylight Savings Time ends, boys in JK-8th grade will no longer be required to start wearing long pants.  Please be aware that Lower School students will go out for recess if the temperature is above 32 degrees, so dress your MBCA student appropriately.
Class News
Jr. Kindergarten & Kindergarten
Our JK and kindergarten classes have been learning all about apples, pumpkins, and Fall the past few weeks.  The classes went on a field trip to the Art Barn on Friday.  While they were there, they read a story, rode on a hayride, and were able to pet several different animals, such as a donkey, horse, and a goat.  What a fun thing to do in the Fall! 
Third Grade
Congratulations to Mrs. Kramer's 3rd grade class for reaching 100% participation in the Annual Fund.  As a reward, they were able to wear their favorite sports team attire.
Fourth Grade
This week, 4th grade students followed up their visit to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to see the Chihuly exhibit with an experimental and exciting project!  Chihuly works primarily in glass, but our 4th graders colored plastic plates with sharpies, then heated them with heat guns to create their own version of Chihuly’s “Persians”!  Our ultimate goal will be to string them together and create a spectacular chandelier for our lobby!
Fourth graders were also on another adventure in Skype land!  Mrs. Smallwood’s homeroom class discovered new friends in East Lansing, Michigan this week.  The students asked great questions like the following: Do you live east of the Mississippi River?  Do you live in the Central time zone?  Does your state border a Great Lake?

While Skyping, the class had to also answer questions about their location.  The students in Michigan were shocked at our high temperatures this week!  Stay tuned for their next mystery location…
Eighth Grade
The eighth grade study of Newton’s Laws culminated in an exciting rocket construction and launch project.  Students researched rocket design concepts, designed and built rockets from recycled two liter bottles and then launched their water pressure powered rockets.  Many of the rockets carried a fragile payload of an “eggstronaut.”  Students were challenged to protect their “eggstronaut” throughout the flight.  Out of the twenty-one teams, six “eggstronauts” survived a rough reentry and unyielding landing!

Students are busy analyzing flight data including altitude, force at launch and more.  With these great minds at work, we expect a call from NASA any day!
Upper School
Upper School Spanish 3 and 4 students met their teachers Señora Robertson and Señora Horner at La Carreta in Marietta for supper on Saturday, October 15 to practice Spanish and enjoy authentic fare from Mexico, Puerto Rico, and other Latin American countries.  The requirement was that students could only speak and order in Spanish.  Everyone had a great time!   ¡Viva el español!
House Points 
Veritas: 2,220
Fortes: 2,206
Integritas: 1,988
Fidelitas:  1,964
Servimus:  1,920
Humilitas: 1,889
Sports
MBCA Parents:  
Our Mt. Bethel Varsity boys basketball team finished their inaugural season just one game short of the State Championship.  Our new season is around the corner and we need your support!!
 
Here’s how you can help:
 
BLUE /WHITE TIP OFF NIGHT
Tuesday, November 1
Main Campus 
Our basketball season begins with our 2nd annual Blue/White Tip-Off Night at the CAC oTuesday, November 1.  Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for a fast paced night of family fun events - a Parent vs. Faculty basketball game, skill contests for the younger MBCA students, a poster signing by our Varsity Players, and introductions of ALL MBCA basketball and cheerleading teams.  All proceeds from this event will go to our MBCA Athletic Association, for the benefit of all our sports programs.
 
HOME OPENER/WHITE OUT NIGHT: 3rd - 5th Grade Spirit Night
Friday, November 4
Upper School 
Right on the heels of Tip-Off Night, our middle school JV boys and Varsity  boys teams will make their season debut on Friday, November 4 at the Upper School gym against DEFENDING STATE CHAMPION, Cumberland Christian.  Game times are 4:00 p.m.,  5:30 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.  This game is a “WHITE OUT,” and we want all of our fans to order their Official MBCA White Out Spirit shirt online.
 
The shirts will be available until Tuesday, October 25, so order now and get your shirt!  Supplies are limit ed !
 
*We expect a really big crowd for this game.  Please expect to arrive at least one hour before Varsity tip-off to get a seat.
Upper School
Volleyball
Our Varsity volleyball team competed for the first region title in school history.  The ladies took on Johnson Ferry; they played hard and the crowd cheered in full force.  In the end, our ladies won the Region Championship in 3 straight sets!  Congratulations to the ladies and to Coach Vanderpol!  The scores were 25-20, 25-20, and 25-16.  The ladies will travel to Suwanee Sports Academy on Saturday, October 29 to participate in the State Tournament!  Their first game starts at  9:00 a.m .  As long as they win, they will keep playing, in which case, the second game starts at  2:00 p.m . and the State Championship will start at  5:00 p.m .  Please try to make plans to attend, if you are available!  

Middle School
Cross Country
The MS cross country teams ended the season on a high note.  The teams travelled to Liberty Hills Ranch in Milner, Georgia for the GICAA State Championship meet.  It was a great day to run, a nice venue, and a well hosted event.  There were 166 ladies participating on a packed start line.  It didn’t take long to see that there was not another team with five runners as fast as the MBCA girls.  They crossed the finish with scores from Addison Seaborn (4th), Caroline York, (8th), Madison Contrucci (11th), Maggie York (20th), and Lilla Kate Tucker (23rd).  The boys line was even more crowded with 240 running.  Results were much the same, as the boys ran extremely well.  Scores came from Andrew Herrmann (4th), Daniel Lathem (9th), Garrett Hauenstein (12th), Alex Garrot (19th), and Bryce Horton (20th).  Both teams have come away as the GICAA Middle School State Champions.  Congratulations to Coach Greene, Coach Quiza, Coach Hall, and all the runners for an incredible season. 
MBUMC News
Middle School SkyZone Lock-in
October 28 - October 29
Fellowship Hall | $60

Join MBUMC for a lock in at SkyZone!  They will meet in the Fellowship Hall at 8:30 p.m. on October 28 for check-in and games, then head to SkyZone for the night!  They will play, have pizza, snacks, drinks and enjoy a fun night!  Register  online .  
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“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.”  Hebrews 13:1 (NIV)
Main Campus
Junior Kindergarten - 8th Grade
4385 Lower Roswell Road
Marietta, GA  30068
North Campus
9th - 12th Grade
2509 Post Oak Tritt Road
Marietta, GA  30062
Phone: 770-971-0245
Fax: 770-971-3770