Eagle Eye 12-11-2016

December 11, 2016

Childlike Faith
I don’t wear caps often, but once a year around this time I don a train conductor’s hat and do my best Tom Hanks impersonation as the conductor from the Polar Express. We transform a small space into a “train” and our kindergarten and first graders are treated to their own private ride through the famed Christmas tale. This, I must admit, is one of MANY perks of the job. Boys and girls, dressed in their warmest pajamas and clutching their boarding tickets, “ooh” and “aah” as the story is told. As they leave, I give each one a gift…a small bell. One by one, they hold it to their ears to see if they can hear. And of course, they do. I do, too. Do you?

Though there is nothing inherently religious about the Polar Express story, it does remind me of a passage from the book of Matthew. Matthew, the first book of the New Testament, contains five sermons. In the fourth, Jesus is trying to help His disciples who are struggling with the concept of the kingdom of heaven. They do not yet understand that heaven isn’t reserved for the most important, the most powerful, or even the most devout. Instead, Jesus tells them this:

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 (NIV)

The Polar Express story reminds us that it’s hard to maintain childlike faith. As we age and experience the cruel realities of a fallen world, inevitably, disbelief creeps in. That isn’t all bad and in fact, a healthy skepticism is probably necessary to be wise consumers, responsible parents, and good employees. But this concept, when applied to faith in God, is unhealthy and is partly responsible for why 66% of young people raised in Christian homes, walk away from their faith by their early twenties according to Barna Research Group. How do you ensure your child is one of the 34% that maintains a childlike faith in their Creator? For starters, enroll them in a school like Mt. Bethel who can partner with you to bolster and broaden what they are experiencing at home and at church. Even as I type this article, teenagers at our upper school are learning about the origins of faith in church history class alongside AP World History.

At Mt. Bethel, responsible discipleship is an integral part of the college prep experience and this week, I was blessed to receive confirmation that our mission matters. A student from our founding class, nineteen years ago, met with me to discuss her future career. She graduates this month with a masters degree from UGA, ready to teach middle school math. More importantly, ready and wanting to teach it in a faith-based school. Why? “My experience at Mt. Bethel shaped who I am and who I wanted to become. I want to be that person for my students.” she told me. In a world that increasingly strives to marginalize faith, being faithful matters. In fact, it may never have mattered more. So when you look into the wide eyes of your littlest ones this Christmas morning, be reminded…God delights in the faithful, both young and old. May He find us true to that calling this Christmas and always.

Blessings,

Jim R. Callis

Head of School

Dates to Remember

Friday, December 16: LS End of 2nd Quarter / MS & US End of 1st Semester

Friday, December 16: LS Chrismas Program @ 8:30 a.m.

Friday, December 16: LS & MS Early Release @ 11:45 a.m. No ASP

December 19 - January 1: Christmas Break

Tuesday, January 3: Re-enrollment Opens

January 3 - January 4: LS & MS Teacher Conferences

Tuesday, January 3: US Classes Resume

Thursday, January 5: LS & MS Classes Resume

Development

GOAL Update: Exciting news!
MBCA is just a few applications away from achieving our highest level of GOAL participation ever! PLEASE take a minute to visit the Georgia GOAL website to secure your 2017 tax credit. Roughly two weeks remain before all applications must be submitted to GOAL for 2017. GOAL must have your application by December 22.

As you visit with loved ones during this most special season of advent, please share with them the good news of GOAL and ask for their help. The application process takes less than five minutes and you do not have to be a MBCA family in order to participate. With no extra cost to you, you are simply reallocating a portion of YOUR state income tax to Mt. Bethel Christian Academy. Visit www.goalscholarship.org to apply today and help us offer financial assistance to more families than ever before.

If you are a tax-paying Georgian, you can participate in this free program. You do NOT have to be a current MBCA parent. Tell your friends and family!
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.

Corporate Matching Gifts
By taking advantage of your employer’s matching gift program, you can potentially double or triple your contribution to MBCA. Matching gift dollars are included in our Donor Recognition Giving Levels. Thousands of corporations offer a matching gift program to their employees and employee’s spouses. Please inquire with your HR department to see if your gift to MBCA is eligible for a match, or utilize the matching gift services provided on your company’s website. If you have any questions, please contact the Development Office at alison.stephens@mtbethelchristian.org .

Stock Gifts to Mt. Bethel Christian Academy
The simplest way to transfer stocks to MBCA is through a depository trust company (or DTC). For more information on how to make a stock gift, please contact Lane Sims, Business Manager, at lane.sims@mtbethelchristian.org or 678-202-4051. Please have the following information available: (1) the name and type of securities to be gifted (public, restricted, mutual fund, etc.), and (2) the number of shares. Please note it may not be possible to reach someone by phone during our Christmas break, which begins Monday, December 19. U.S. stock markets will be closed on December 26 in observance of Christmas, and again on Saturday, December 31.

Thank you so much for the financial support and resources you provided MBCA this year. May this Christmas season be filled with blessings for you and your family, as you are a blessing to us.

Admission

Plan Now for Re-enrollment
When to re-enroll : Re-enrollment for the 2017-2018 school year will begin on Tuesday, January 3 . When re-enrolling for the next grade, there is no need to re-apply. Your child is already a student here and will automatically be promoted to the next grade upon receipt of your re-enrollment contract and a tuition deposit equal to 10% of full tuition. This procedure also applies to students moving to the upper school campus for 9th grade. Families with multiple children enrolled will sign a contract and submit a deposit for each sibling. The deadline to secure your child's placement for next year is January 31.

How to re-enroll : On January 3, each family will receive an email with instructions on how to re-enroll electronically. You will be prompted to sign into your My Backpack account, click on Enrollment/Re-enrollment, review and update your family profile, sign and submit your 2017-2018 re-enrollment contract(s), and remit payment. Plan now (before Christmas) for this important investment in your child’s future!

Re-enrollment Exceptions - If any of the following conditions apply, please conference with the appropriate teacher or administrator before attempting to re-enroll:

Your child may be repeating a grade (Teacher)
You are in arrears in your financial obligation to the school (Business Office)
You are not planning to re-enroll for the 2017-2018 school year (Admission Director)
Any other extenuating circumstances that may preclude your re-enrollment (Admission Director)

Now Accepting New Applications for 2017-2018
Applications are now being accepted for new students for the 2017-2018 school year. Siblings of current students applying for the first time will also need to submit an application and schedule a shadow day. Students applying to Junior Kindergarten through 5th grade will be assessed for admission on March 4, 2017. New applicants interested in 6th through 12th grade will need to register to take the SSAT (school code is 5260). The SSAT is administered monthly at our upper school campus.

For more information, contact Jackie Grasty, Director of Admission for grades JK- 8th or Cal Boyd , Director of Admission for the Upper School.

MBCA Siblings
For our current families, if you will be applying a sibling for admission for the next school year (a rising Junior Kindergartner, Kindergartner or unenrolled sibling), please go to our Admission page on our website to begin the application process. Siblings of current students applying for the first time will need to submit an application and schedule a shadow day. We love seeing brothers and sisters join the MBCA family!

Financial Aid
For families anticipating a need for financial aid next year, the deadline to apply is Friday, February 24. Plan accordingly, as your completed 2016 Federal Tax Return must be submitted before a request for aid can be considered. The Parent Statement of Need will also need to be submitted to Jackie Grasty, Director of Admission. If you've received financial aid this school year and will need assistance again next year, please note that you must reapply. Link here to begin the application for financial aid. For more information, contact Jackie Grasty .

Main Campus Open House
4385 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta
January 11 at 10:00 a.m.

Mark your calendars for the first open house of the New Year on January 11 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
January 12 at 9:00 a.m.

If you missed our Open House at the North Campus, be sure to mark your calendar for January 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.

Did you know...
Tours of the main campus are conducted every Wednesday at 10 a.m. No appointment necessary!

Save the Date

MS Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

Tuesday, December 13 / 7:15 - 7:45 a.m.

Middle School students can wear their Ugly Christmas Sweater to Tuesday morning's FCA meeting. Prizes will be given out for the 'best" sweater. Middle school students also get to wear their sweater all day during school.

Come Meet Chippy the Elf

Thursday, December 15

Main Campus Lawn

Chippy the Elf on the Shelf is excited to tell you all about the MBCA Spring Fling 2017. Come out and meet him and drink hot cocoa after school on the main campus front lawn. Don't forget your camera!

Miracle at Midnight

Friday, December 16 @ 8:30 a.m.

Third through fifth grade will present a Christmas musical entitled “Miracle at Midnight ” on December 16 at 8:30 a.m.

Seating
Seating will be available for parents on the main level of the Sanctuary. Students in grades 3-5 will be performing on the stage. Students in grades JK-2 will need to remain with their class while sitting in the balcony.

Lower School Dress Code for the Day
All LS students can wear their “Christmas Best” this day. Please consult the dress code in the handbook for dress lengths and shoe requirements. If tops are worn with leggings, they should be no shorter than 3 inches above the knee.

Announcements

Middle School Night of the Arts

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who came out to MS Night of the Arts. The musical performances as well as the art show were amazing! Our middle-schoolers have been working so hard this semester, and we are so proud of their artistic accomplishments. From their creative ideas to master craftsmanship; from their helpful attitudes to peer encouragements; and from taking on challenges with courage to executing them with grace; it has been a true blessing to witness what our students can do with the support of the Mt. Bethel community. We hope you enjoyed the evening, and we thank you again for supporting the Arts!

X-drenaline Spirit Event on Conference Day

January 4, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Calling All Lower School & Middle School Parents:

Does your child have the Christmas break blues because they miss seeing their friends? No worries, we have the answer for you! Come JUMP at X-Drenaline, Wednesday, January 4 starting at 12 p.m. You are welcome to stay for 1 hour, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 hours, whatever suits your schedule. This is not a drop off event, you must accompany your child. The cost is $14 per hour plus socks, and the price includes all access! For every hour you jump, the school earns $8. All proceeds directly benefit the 8th Grade Mission Fundraiser. We need your support to make this event successful!!

Thank you,

8th Grade Fundraising Team

Adjusted LS Carpool & Walk-Up Schedule for Early Release

Friday, December 16
Carpool and walk-up times for early release are:

Walk up for JK/Kindergarten & 1st, 11:35 a.m. from hallway
Walk up for 2-3 grade, 11:35 a.m. from library
Walk up for 4-5 grade 11:40 a.m. from library
Carpool starts at 11:40-11:45 a.m.

Publix Partners

Reminder
Take the sting out of those high December grocery bills by knowing that a percentage of each transaction made using a Publix Partners card is allocated to Mt. Bethel Christian Academy. Don’t forget to swipe the green Publix Partners card (available at the MBCA reception desk) on your key ring every time you shop at Publix! Don't want to put loyalty cards on your key ring? There are apps for that. Visit your app store to download a loyalty/reward card app, such as Key Ring , and save your cards to your phone.

Lost & Found
In the Main Lobby
December 12 – 16
Has your child lost a water bottle, a fleece jacket, a shoe, etc? Please take a moment Monday, December 12 through Friday, December 16 to look through the items in the Academy lobby. All lost and found items not claimed by Friday will be donated.

Studio 7

Fall Madness

Still haven't seen your child's school photo or photos from sporting events? Don't worry, you can link here to view all things MBCA! Studio 7's Fall Madness sale is still on with $5 digital images. They also can make books, collages, posters, Fatheads, you name it! Perfect idea for holiday gifts.

Chick-fil-A Breakfast

At the North Campus

The Upper School will be selling Chick-fil-A biscuits and calendars at the North Campus on Friday mornings from 7:30 – 8:10 a.m . All profits go toward the Upper School Mission Trips.

We will offer:

$3 - Chick-fil-A Biscuits

$7 - Chick-fil-A 2017 Cow Calendar with coupon card which includes 12 FREE food and drink coupons. *Makes for great Christmas gifts, teacher gifts and stocking stuffers!*

Friday Morning Breakfast

At the Main Campus
Come early and join your classmates for breakfast. All profits go toward 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:
$3 - Chick-fil-A Biscuits
$3 - Chick-fil-A Minis box
$1 - Donuts (glazed and chocolate glazed)
NEW $3 - Gluten Free Scone from Cherry on Top Delights Bakery

Questions? Contact Nancy Ostergard or Paige Valentine 678-907-0779.

Class News

Junior Kindergarten

Inspiration by Henri Mattise

Our Jr. Kindergarten class was inspired by the French artist, Henri Mattise and his painting of the Woman with the Hat this week. They made paper cut outs like he did in later works of art and glued them on their hats.

Kindergarten & First Grade

Polar Express Day

Kindergartners and first graders rode the Polar Express Friday! The children listened to Conductor Callis read the story while in a “railroad car”. This is an annual tradition that the children enjoy. They wore their warmest pajamas all day and had hot chocolate, cookies, and received a bell. The students then participated in different academic activities in their classrooms related to The Polar Express story by Chris Van Allsburg. It was a magical day!

Second Grade
Lessons and Carols Christmas Chapel
Mrs. Black’s 2nd grade class traveled up to the Upper School campus on Thursday to participate in the Upper School Lessons and Carols Christmas Chapel. Mrs. Black’s class recited Luke 2:8-14 and joined the Upper School students in hearty renditions of Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Come All Ye Faithful, and Joy to the World. Upper School Student Ambassadors hosted Mrs. Black’s students for chapel and shared lunch with them afterward. The visit to the Upper School was a blessing and joy to both the Upper School students and to Mrs. Black’s class.

Helen Keller & Will Graham

Our second graders had the awesome privilege to hear Will Graham speak this past Friday afternoon. They have been studying Helen Keller this week and this was a way to meet someone who is blind and how he deals with vision impairment. Will also shared his love for the Lord!

Fourth & Fifth Grade

Eagle Choir

The Fourth and Fifth Grade Eagle Choir were able to share the Christ of Christmas in song with the residents at Sterling Estates and with seniors at the East Cobb Senior Center in Marietta this past week. After the choir sang, they gave everyone a candy cane and visited with them, sharing the love of Christ. Everyone really enjoyed it! What a blessing to be able to share God’s gifts with others during this special time of year.

House Points
Fortes - 5,096

Veritas - 5,042

Servimus - 4,507

Integritas - 4,475
Fidelitas - 4,252

Humilitas - 4,249

Sports

Holiday Basketball Camp

Coach Boyd and several of the Varsity players are holding a Holiday Basketball Camp on Monday, December 19 through Thursday, December 22 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. for all boys and girls ages 6 – 14. Please look for the link on Schoology or view the flyer here. For more information, please email Coach Cal Boyd

Upper School

Varsity Boys' Basketball

The Varsity Boys’ basketball team was in action December 2 at home against Dawson Christian Academy. Such a great atmosphere with our Pep Band playing for the first time this year at a game. They did a great job with the National Anthem and were awesome all night! The game was like a boxing match. Back and forth with both teams playing extremely hard and tough. At half time, Mt Bethel was up 7, led by Matt Gilliland’s hot shooting. Matt has hit 11 threes in the past two games. Dawson Christian came out of half time very determined. They have a 6’6” 270-pound forward and a 6’5” 230-pound player who were very physical with our team. At one point, our player, Jordan Meka, was in a bear hug. In the 4th quarter down by 2, they battled to take the lead with about 5 minutes left. The boys ended up losing 65 – 62 in a hard fought game. This was not a region game, but a good game. JaVontae Kruger had 9 points, Jordan Meka had 12 points and 8 rebounds, Coleman Boyd chipped in 10 points and dished out 9 assists. They fall to 6-2 on the year.

After some confusion on the location of the games Tuesday night, the Varsity team finally had the tip off at 8:15 p.m. The boys were working on all cylinders! They looked very sharp, making some great plays in the 1st half. They scored a season high of 61 points in the first half! The score was 61 – 14, and their opponent, Greater Atlanta Adventist, is a solid team. They were 8 -3 coming into the game. They had 9 players score with 5 in double figures. Will Ross and Matt Gilliland each had 10 points, Jordan Meka and Coleman Boyd chipped in 13 a piece, and Jaquez Gilbert lead all scorers with 15 points. Luke Kirk played some good minutes scoring 8 points and JaVontae Kruger, Perry Schilllng and William Kolker each played well.

Varsity Girls' Basketball

The Girls were in action Tuesday night against Greater Atlanta Adventist. They came out ready to play and had a 28-1 lead after the first quarter. Alissa Barnes had 23 points. Lauren Schwartz had 16 points. Nadia Barnes added 8 points and Gracie Grogan had 7. Keegan Jones led the team in rebounds. The final score was 66-19.

JV Boys’ Basketball
The team faced a tough and physically mature team from Dawson Christian on December 2. The JV boys’ jumped out to an early lead, with David Deaderick and DJ Radtke providing solid defense in the first half, limiting Dawson to 17 points. Surprisingly, Dawson elected to play two varsity starters for three quarters in the JV game.

MBCA was led by Freshman David Deaderick with 12 points, while 8th graders William Kolker and DJ Radtke chipped in with 10 and 8 points respectively. Sophomore Perry Schilling added two 3’s and 7 rebounds, but in the end it was not enough. After taking a 24-17 halftime lead, the Eagles were worn down by the length and athleticism of Dawson’s varsity players, and fell 50-40.

After a scheduling mix up resulted in the JV boys' driving to Greater Atlanta Adventist, the Tuesday night games were finally played – a little late – at the Upper School. The team from GAA was very physical and shot well from outside. MBCA was able to match the outside shooting of GAA, with David Deaderick and William Kolker repeatedly knocking down outside shots, and Perry Schilling working around the basket. Although GAA made a concerted effort to take the ball out of William Kolker’s hands, his shooting performance was the difference – 8/9 from 3 pt range, and a total of 28 pts, which was enough to propel the JV Eagles to a 59-50 win over GAA.

Middle School

Basketball

On December 2, the A girls’ basketball team hosted Dawson Christian at the Upper School campus before the JV and Varsity games. The ladies were in control throughout winning 50 - 18.

The B teams played host to Faith Lutheran (MAAC) in the CAC on December 6. The ladies had a nail biter throughout, and came away with an exciting 20 - 18 victory. The boys were in complete control from the tip winning 43 - 8.

All four MS teams were in action on December 7 against Galloway. The ladies were on the road. B girls had a close one, but pulled away in the end to win 16 - 11. The A girls were in control throughout and claimed a 35 - 12 victory. Both boys' teams hosted out of the US gym on the north campus. It was a very competitive B boys game with MBCA coming out on top by five, 26 - 21. The A boys jumped out early and did not look back winning 59 - 18.

All four MS teams were in action once again on December 8. The B teams hosted St. Martins from the CAC while the A teams traveled for their games. All four teams had nice wins. B girls 41 - 9, B boys 30 - 17, A girls 31 -20, A boys 49 - 7.

Swimming

Swim traveled all the way to Columbus, Georgia for the Calvary Christian Invitational. They had an excellent showing. There was a very limited number of swimmers - 5 boys & 11 girls. However, girls came in 1st place, boys came in 4th & our Combined Middle School Team took 3rd place overall. Top time droppers were Charlotte Morgan (-8.49 secs); Cassi Curasi (-5.02); Evie Papenhagen (-2.91); Wright Williams (-2.52); Nate Smith (-1.59) Kaitlyn Wood (-1.48) & Emaline Rault (-1.37)

Top 5 Finishes
1st Place: JV Boys 50 Fly- Nate Smith
1st Place: JV Boys 100 Free- Nate Smith
2nd Place: JV Girls 200 Medley Relay (Saena Cox, Lindsey Milligan, Olivia Bechtel, Maggie Minear)
2nd Place: JV Boys 100 IM- Nate Smith
2nd Place JV Girls 50 Breast- Saena Cox
3rd Place: JV Girls 50 Free- Su Lin Cox
3rd Place: JV Girls 200 Free Relay (Olivia Bechtel, Lindsey Milligan, Saena Cox, Maggie Minear)
4th Place: JV Boys 200 Medley Relay (Ayden Shaw, David Vicknair, Nate Smith, Sawyer Lanneau)
4th Place: JV Girls 100 IM- Lindsey Milligan
4th Place: JV Girls 50 Fly- Maggie Minear
4th Place: JV Girls 100 Free- Maggie Minear
4th Place: JV Girls 50 Breast- Lindsey Milligan
5th Place: JV Girls 200 Medley Relay (Kaitlyn Wood, Charlotte Morgan, Evie Papenhagen, Katie Morgan)
5th Place: JV Girls 100 IM- Olivia Bechtel
5th Place: JV Girls 50 Free- Olivia Bechtel
5th Place: JV Boys 50 Free- David Vicknair
5th Place: JV Girls 50 Fly- Evie Papenhagen

Top 10 Finishes
6th Place: V Girls 50 Free- Jordan Milligan
6th Place: V Girls 50 Back- Maggie Minear
6th Place: JV Girls 50 Breast- Evie Papenhagen
6th Place: JV Boys 200 Free Relay (David Vicknair, Wright Williams, Ayden Shaw, Nate Smith)
7th Place: V Girls 50 Free- Cassie Curasi
7th Place: JV Boys 100 Free- David Vicknair
7th Place: V Girls 100 Back- Jordan Milligan
7th Place: JV Girls 200 Free Relay (Evie Papenhagen, Maggie T, Katie Morgan, Emaline Rault)
8th Place: JV Girls 50 Free- Saena Cox
8th Place: V Girls 100 Free- Jordan Milligan
8th Place: JV Girls 100 Free- Saena Cox
9th Place: JV Girls 50 Breast- Charlotte Morgan
9th Place: JV Boys 50 Breast- Ayden Shaw
10th Place: JV Boys 50 Back- David Vicknair

Parker School Uniforms December Sale

Parker School Uniforms is having a holiday sale December 1 - 31. All merchandise is 25% off in-stores and online. Free shipping when you spend $100 or more.

Lands' End Promo

Lands' End is offering a free school logo now through December 31. Add MBCA's logo to polos, tees, blazers and more. Free shipping on orders $50 and over. Use promo code: LOGO & PIN: 3275.

MBUMC News

DNOW 2017 Registration is Open for All!

February 10-12

Students in grades 6-12 come together for the biggest event MBUMC has all year for Mt. Bethel Student Ministries. Students: sign up quickly to reserve your spot for crazy good music, a dynamic speaker, mission projects, and a deepening of your faith. Adults: they can’t do this without you. They are in need of Host Homes, volunteers for the weekend, donations, and much more. To register, volunteer, or contribute to DNOW 2017 go to mtbethel.org/event/dnow/.