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April 2021
A monthly publication to share school related accomplishments of
students, faculty, staff, & alumni of Prince Avenue Christian School.
Discipleship
Prince Collects Over 9,400 Items
for Brave Like Wyatt Food Drive
Pictured: Nick Hatcher (center) with his varsity baseball teammates
who helped to load donated pantry items for Brave Like Wyatt.
The Prince Avenue Christian School Beta Club was excited to support Brave Like Wyatt’s food drive for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s “Feed the Heart” pantry. The Prince community donated over 9,400 items that will help families who have children with extended hospital stays.

Brave Like Wyatt is a non-profit organization begun by a Prince family in memory of their son Wyatt. Prince senior Nick Hatcher is Wyatt’s older brother and helped to initiate the PACS food drive. Nick’s mother Jessica Hatcher says that they are overwhelmed by the support of Prince. “The response has been amazing. We have so many items that the hospital will be able to begin free pantry programs in other departments.”

Thank you to the Prince community for your generosity.
Academics
Hardin Named 2021 STAR Student
Prince Avenue senior Camille Hardin has been named the 2020-2021 STAR Student for Prince Avenue Christian School, scoring the highest on one sitting of the SAT test this year. She selected media specialist Danny Delgado as her STAR Teacher.

Camille is the daughter of Chris and Nicki Hardin and has attended Prince for 14 years. Camille has a grade point average of 4.36, has been on the PACS Headmaster’s Honor Roll every semester, and has earned the Wolverine Gold Academian Award for highest grade point average in her class each year of high school. She is a member of the National Honors Society, Beta Club, and Interact Club. She is also a member of the Prince Band, Pep Band, and Jazz Band and has been active in PACS athletics as a Varsity Cheerleader. Camille volunteers in the Prince lower school Undercover Book Club. She attends Prince Avenue Baptist Church where she volunteers in the nursery.
Prince Writing Team Awarded Superior Ratings in ACSI Writing Festival
The Prince Avenue Christian School Writing Team recently competed in the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Creative Writing Festival. The team of twenty-four 4th–6th graders, coached by Prince Media Specialist Danny Delgado, met twice a week during the spring semester for a writing master class with Prince alumna and published children’s author Mez Blume (’06). The team covered a multitude of writing skills and topics and submitted their final products for adjudication.

Of the twenty-four stories, there were sixteen “excellent” ratings and seven “superior” ratings six of which were nominated for “Notable Superior”, meaning these stories are eligible for final review and consideration to be placed in the ACSI Competition Anthology. This amount of superior ratings is the highest number for all of the competing schools in the region to include the states of Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina.

The Writing Team has compiled all of their stories into a published anthology titled If You Give a Wolverine a Pen. The team enjoyed a Book Launch party in which each writer was recognized for his or her accomplishments and presented with a personal copy of the book. The book will also be available to check out in the PACS Media Center.
Lower School Students
Honored for Academic Achievement
Prince students were recognized during this week’s Lower School Chapel for being named to the Fourth and Fifth-Grade Principal’s Honor Roll and the Head of School’s List.
 
To be named to the Principal’s Honor Roll, a fourth or fifth-grade student must maintain averages and receive report card grades of 90 or above in each academic subject for the quarter. To achieve the Head of School’s List, fourth and fifth-graders must maintain averages and report card grades of 95 or above in each of the academic subjects.
 
Congratulations to these young scholars on their hard work and dedication in academics.
Fine Arts
Fine Arts Presents Spring Musical
For the spring high school production, the Prince Avenue Christian School Fine Arts Department presented the musical Fiddler on the Roof. Audiences enjoyed well-known songs such as “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” and “Matchmaker". Set in the little Russian village of Anatevka in the early 1900s, Fiddler on the Roof tells the story of Tevye, the Dairyman (senior Finn McGinnis), His wife, Golde (senior Emma Allen), and their five daughters (sophomore Lily Smith, sophomore Claire Gann, sophomore Kaylor Jones, senior Lauren Lavender, and junior Rinne Furlow).
Prince Literary Team Wins Region Title
Pictured Left to Right:
Back – Kaylor Jones, Claire Gann, Gracie Bahnsen, & Natalie Schroeder
Front – Finn McGinnis, Walker Johnson, Emma Allen, & Hendley Jones
Prince Avenue Christian School recently earned the title of Region Champions in the Georgia High School Association Region Literary Meet competition. The event was hosted on campus in the Prince Avenue Baptist Church building. Prince competed against Athens Academy, Athens Christian School, and George Walton Academy to win the Region title.

This year’s Prince Literary Team included many talented students who worked diligently throughout the school year to prepare. Senior Finn McGinnis performed Boys Solo, and senior Walker Johnson performed International Extemporaneous Speaking. Both placed second in their events.

The following competitors placed first in their events and advanced to state competition to be held at Georgia Military College: Senior Emma Allen – Girls Solo, Emma Allen and sophomores Claire Gann and Kaylor Jones – Girls Trio, freshman Natalie Schroeder – Dramatic Interpretation, sophomore Cooper Capps – Comedic Interpretation, seniors Walker Johnson and Hendley Jones – Duo Interpretation, and Hendley Jones – Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking.
Band Students Make School History
with Acceptance in District Honor Band
Pictured Left to Right:
Seated: Claire Bradford, Meredith Hale, Jenifer Dunn, Lyndsay McCall, & Carly Land
Standing: Gabe Jackson, Ethan West, Evan Webb, Andrew Gilmore,
Preston Mitchell, & Caleb Murray
Eleven Prince Band students have been named to the 2021 Georgia Music Educators Association District Honor Band. This number of Prince students to be accepted into this prestigious ensemble is a new school record.

Six of these musicians (Claire, Jenifer, Lyndsay, Carly, Preston, and Caleb) are assigned first chair, meaning they had the highest score of any student on their respective instrument. Students competed against schools from throughout northeast Georgia and will perform with their respective honor bands in March (middle school) and April (high school).

Congratulations to these students for their accomplishments in Fine Arts.
Middle School Students Named to All-State Band
Pictured Left to Right: Preston Mitchell, Carly Land, Claire Bradford,
Lyndsay McCall, & Jenifer Dunn
Five band students from Prince Avenue Christian School have been named to the 2021 Georgia Music Educators Association Middle School All-State Band. Making All-State Band is the highest honor available to band students in Georgia. Those students are Preston Mitchell – trumpet, Carly Land – euphonium, Claire Bradford – tuba, Lyndsay McCall – tenor saxophone, and Jenifer Dunn – flute.

Five students in All-State Band is a new Prince record and is also the highest number of All-State students from any middle school in northeast Georgia.
Congratulations to these students on their excellence in Fine Arts.
Jazz Band Evaluation
The Prince Jazz Band received a Superior rating from every judge in the Georgia Music Educators Association District Jazz Performance Evaluation held at Jackson County High School. "Superior" is the highest rating possible, and this is the eighth consecutive year that the Prince Jazz Band has earned this prestigious distinction.
Athletics
Prince Holds Championship Ring Ceremony –
Recognized by State House of Representatives
Pictured Left to Right: High School Principal Daniel Head, Head Coach Greg Vandagriff, State Representative Houston Gaines, Head of School Seth Hathaway,
& Athletic Director Richard Ricketts
Prince Avenue Christian School held a Football State Championship Ring Ceremony in which players, coaches, and cheerleaders were presented with championship rings or pendants.

State Representative Houston Gaines attended the ceremony and read House Resolution 497 in which the members of the Georgia House of Representatives congratulated “the Prince Avenue Christian football team for a historic season and for winning the GHSA Single A Private Varsity Football State Championship.”

One highlight of the ceremony was when Dale Shedd, the “Voice of the Wolverines”, read each player’s name aloud. Students, coaches, faculty, staff, and parents enjoyed this very special time of celebration.
Archer and Armstrong
Sign to Play College Sports
Pictured Left to Right: Head Coach Greg Vandagriff, Alon Archer,
Karlee Armstrong, & Head Coach Richard Ricketts
Two Prince Avenue seniors signed to play sports at the college level. The Prince Class of 2021 now has a total of nine college signees.

Alon Archer signed to play football with Texas College in Tyler, Texas. Head Coach Greg Vandagriff describes Alon as a true team player. “When he came to our school, we told him what we needed to be successful, and he jumped in without reservation and helped make our defense and Special Teams better. We want to wish him the best in college and know that he will represent the Wolverine Nation well.”

Karlee Armstrong signed to play basketball with Berry College in Mt. Berry, Georgia. Head Coach Richard Ricketts explains that Karlee has been a significant factor in the team’s success over the last four years. “She has an incredible work ethic and attitude. Even though she has natural ability, she is a perfect example of how hard work and determination pay off. She will not only be remembered for being the all-time leading scorer in PACS women’s basketball history, but also one of the grittiest players we have had.”
Spring Sports Teams Compete
in First Round of GHSA State Tournaments
After a competitive spring season, the Prince Varsity Girls and Boys Tennis teams and Varsity Boys Soccer team competed in the first round of the GHSA Single-A Private State Tournament for their respective sports. These state appearances continue to show growth and improvement in the tennis and soccer programs at Prince.

Head Tennis Coach Elizabeth Sadler describes the tennis season as historic. "It was our first full season with a Varsity Boys Team. They placed 3rd in Region and were subsequently the first Prince boys' tennis team to make it to state playoffs. This season was also the highest our girls' team had ever placed in Region. They finished 2nd and hosted the first round of the state playoffs for the first time in program history!"
Campus Life
PTF Sponsors Mother-Son "PUTT-PUTT Classic"
Prince mothers and sons had a great time at the Mother-Son PUTT-PUTT Classic sponsored by the Prince PTF. Participants enjoyed putt-putt, dinner, snow cones, and a photo booth!
Faculty Staff
Sadler Receives Above and Beyond Award
Pictured Left to Right: Academic Dean Kendall Eley and Elizabeth Sadler
Prince Avenue Christian School high school English teacher Elizabeth Sadler recently received the Above and Beyond Award for the third quarter of school. The Above and Beyond Award recognizes teachers and staff members through a nomination and evaluation process conducted by members of the school’s Administrative Leadership Team. This individual is selected based on attitude and commitment, work performance, interpersonal skills, and personal traits.

Miss Sadler has been teaching at Prince for five years and has been in education for 12 years. When asked about teaching at Prince, Miss Sadler explains, “I love the close-knit community and how everything – from academics to sports to fine arts to student relationships – is centered around Christ.”

In addition to teaching Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment English classes, Miss Sadler also coaches the High School Academic Team and the Varsity Boys and Girls Tennis teams.
Alumni
Prince Alumnus Awarded Craftsman Degree
for Contributions to the Field of Photography
Phillip Blume (PACS Class of ’02, UGA ’06) of Blume Photography in Watkinsville has been honored with the Photographic Craftsman degree from Professional Photographers of America (PPA). The degree was presented to Blume by PPA president Gregory Daniel, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, F-ASP, at the association’s annual convention, Imaging USA, held virtually January 17, 2021.

This degree holds special significance within Blume’s larger career, even beyond his meeting the standards of artistic excellence set by PPA. During the 13 years Blume has professionally photographed clients and educated photographers around the world, he has inspired many to use their talents not only for personal success, but for the good of humanity.
View & Download PACS Pictures on SmugMug
Pictures of school events taken by the PACS
Marketing Department can be viewed & downloaded
for free at the school's SmugMug account.
Prince Avenue Christian School’s mission is to partner with Christian families
to provide scripturally based discipleship while pursuing excellence
in academics, fine arts, and athletics from a biblical worldview.