December 2021
In this issue:

Student Leadership in the Arts
LaMurl Morris, Director of Fine Arts

GHSA Reclassification and Region Structures
Richard Ricketts, Director of Athletics
Student Leadership in the Arts
LaMurl Morris, Director of Fine Arts
The students at Prince Avenue Christian School are the next generation of leaders. How can we best prepare students for leadership in their families, churches, communities, our nation, and the world? In the fine arts department, we believe the best preparation for future leadership is to begin acquiring, developing, and refining those skills while in the loving and caring Prince community. As teachers and administrators, it is our desire to provide a safe environment for students to develop and sharpen their skills through our guidance, clear expectations, and thoughtful feedback.

There are many opportunities for leadership in the fine arts at Prince. Students can serve as an officer in one of the fine arts honors societies which are the National Art Honor Society, Tri-M Music Society, and the International Thespian Society. Officers and members are encouraged by their advisors and teachers to participate in chapter activities and to plan and execute various service projects. 
Another opportunity for leadership is in band and performing arts. Students have the opportunity to serve as section leaders, student directors, designers for sets and costumes, choreographers, and mentors to younger fine arts students. Often our high school band students will assist our younger Jazz Band and Pep Band students with music they are learning in those ensembles. Some of our high school band students will visit our middle school and 5th-grade band classes and play along with those students during class. Our performing arts students will teach choreography or assist with rehearsals for our middle school shows and Little Prince Players productions.
Leadership in the fine arts provides many valuable learning opportunities. Students learn to accept responsibility for their actions and that they must be flexible and consider others’ opinions and ideas. Motivating and guiding their peers and learning how to accept failure and celebrate success are other aspects of student leadership. Trust between the student and teacher is the foundation for developing leadership skills and for learning how to assess situations, projects, and performances. After we present concerts and productions and participate in service projects, students and teachers discuss and assess all the components of that event.
During the past few weeks, I have been reminded of the importance of student leadership. Mr. Fuller, our band director, has been away from school due to illness. Even in his absence, the band presented a beautiful Christmas concert and played at the state championship football game. Band officers have moved and set up equipment for the concert and game, communicated with other band members about schedules and plans, helped Mr. Marlow and me with administrative and clerical tasks, and assisted us in many other ways. I have watched art students set up displays and move precious artwork to and from the ceramics kiln. Performing arts students have been busy assisting with the lower school musical, middle school rehearsals, and preparations for The Sound of Music. 

I am grateful for our fine arts students and their investment in the department and our school community. As we work with these students on a daily basis, I am confident that our next generation of leaders from Prince Avenue Christian School will be well equipped to lead our future generations.
GHSA Reclassification and Region Structures
Richard Ricketts, Director of Athletics
If you are like me, you are ready for a few days to rest and unwind! This has been a very busy year, especially in athletics. Our fall seasons are all now finally done, and we are well into our winter sports. We had another great season on the fields and courts that included deep state playoff runs for cross-country, softball, volleyball, and football. We are very blessed to have great coaches and kids that are willing to put in the work necessary to succeed. Another challenge that kept us busy during the fall was the changes that came from the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) in regard to reclassification and region structures. Many have heard bits and pieces of what is going on in the GHSA, but most really do not completely understand.

In order to help everyone better understand, here is a brief history and update on where we have been and where we are headed athletically.

  • In the 1980s, PACS competed in the Georgia Christian Athletic Association (GCAA). This was a small league comprised of mostly small Christian schools across the state of Georgia.
  • In the early 1990s, PACS left the GCAA and joined the Independent Christian Schools of Georgia and Alabama (ICSGA). The move was made to provide more teams to compete against.
  • In the late 1990s, PACS began to look at better options for future athletic competition. The Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) and the GHSA were the two viable options.
  • In 2000, PACS joined the GHSA. Levels of competition, marketing, legitimacy, governance, and travel were the main reasons for making the move to the GHSA. This was a challenging move for a still very small PACS.
Athletics at Prince have experienced major growth and success since joining the GHSA in 2000. Our school has been forced to improve our work ethic, facilities, and coaching staff. The road has not been easy, but the challenges have made us better. Our membership in the GHSA has done exactly what we hoped it would do - make us keep working to better ourselves.

Changes in the GHSA over the last five to ten years have brought us new challenges. Some of these changes include the separation of public and private schools in Single-A in 2020-2021, reduced service areas, and private school multipliers for students out of our service area. Remaining in the GHSA is a unique decision for each member private school and many have opted to leave the GHSA. Just as we did in 2000, PACS considered the challenges and decided to continue our membership in the GHSA.

In August of 2022, we will begin the first of two years in a new reclassification cycle with the GHSA. Some major changes for PACS will include:

  • A definitive attendance zone: PACS now has a definitive service area that exactly mirrors the North Oconee High School service area.

  • Our participation in a new classification: PACS will compete in Class A, Division 1.

  • Completely new region alignment: PACS will be in Region 5-A, and it will include Social Circle High School, Jasper County High School, Oglethorpe County High School, and Stilwell Arts Academy.

Click HERE to see a complete list of GHSA Class A, Division 1 Schools and a complete breakdown of all the GHSA Regions.

The history of our athletic program has taught us that accepting challenges and facing them head-on leads to the improvement of our students and school. Our mission will not change. We will continue to push students to be followers of Christ by challenging them through academics, athletics, and fine arts. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” – II Timothy 1:7.

Merry Christmas and Go Wolverines!