A Day With Dansby

Dansby and Levi

Living the Dream

Meeting Dansby Swanson

Five local youth baseball players got the opportunity of a lifetime when their coaches and association boards chose them as their park’s Wellstar Positive Athlete of the Year.

Their reward for being selected for the honor was getting an inside tour of Truist Park in September and spending an hour on the field with Atlanta Braves All-Star shortstop (and Kennesaw native) Dansby Swanson. He also autographed more than a few balls, hats and jerseys during his time with the future major leaguers.

Braves rookie sensation Vaughn Grissom made an unexpected appearance and talked with the kids while also signing some items for them.

Player selection for the event was based on attributes such as displaying great sportsmanship; encouraging fellow teammates and competitors; being respectful to coaches, parents and umpires; and taking pride in their park by keeping it neat and litter-free.

The Acworth and Kennesaw players and associations that participated were Levi Wheeler from Acworth Baseball, Lucas Smith and Christian Scragg (there was a tie among the board members who voted) from Kennesaw Baseball and Softball, Eli Furnish from Oregon Park Baseball and Patrick Layne from West Cobb Baseball.

Dansby and Patrick

Acworth Baseball Association

Levi Wheeler is 12, lives in Acworth and plays for the Bronco Cardinals. What was it like to meet Dansby Swanson? Love it.

What did you do during your time with him? Got to ask questions about him and had pictures taken.

What is something you learned from him? What a nice guy he is.

West Cobb Baseball Association

Patrick Layne is 14, lives in Marietta and plays for the West Cobb Cardinals. What was it like to meet Dansby Swanson? Really cool experience. He was very nice and humble.

What did you do during your time with him? Talk with Dansby and ask questions. He also autographed items for me.

What is something you learned from him? Dansby spoke about some infield drills and being a faith-based person.

Kennesaw Baseball Association

Lucas Smith and Christian Scragg are both 7 years old, live in Kennesaw and play for the Bananas and Kennesaw All-Stars.

LUCAS What was it like to meet Dansby Swanson? It was the coolest thing I have ever done!

What did you do during your time with him? It was interesting to hear all he had to say and all the advice he had to give. We got to talk a lot, and he signed a bunch of things.

What is something you learned from him? I learned to never get down on yourself, to never give up and to always try harder.

CHRISTIAN What was it like to meet Dansby Swanson? I was really excited to meet Dansby since he grew up playing at the same park I do (Adams Park). He was really nice and took the time to answer everyone’s questions.

What did you do during your time with him? I gave him some shirts and hats from Kennesaw Baseball. He also signed my jersey and a baseball for me. I asked him if he was excited to get Ozzie (Albies) back, and he said “Yes, he is like my little brother and always brings the energy.” We sat and listened to him answer questions everyone had.

What is something you learned from him? I asked what he thinks the most important drill is, and he said, “It’s really important to work on hops, and that baseball is a game of highs and lows and that we have to learn from the lows to appreciate the highs.”

Dansby and Lucas

Dansby and Christian

Help Us Honor Our Veterans

Lay Wreaths on Dec. 17

Georgia National Cemetery, 1080 Scott Hudgens Drive, Canton 9-11 a.m.

Only families with loved ones interred at GNC will place a single wreath on their gravesite.

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Public memorial ceremony followed by volunteers placing remaining wreaths.

A total of 22,000 will be placed. 7,700 wreaths still need to be purchased.

PHOTOS BY M.JAE PHOTOGRAPHY Students in K3-4th grade explore the interactive STEAM Courtyard during science class.

‘We Are God’s School’

Parents Feel ‘Something Different’ at North Cobb Christian

BY KATE HARTLEY

Perhaps it’s the prayer garden situated at the entrance to the campus as you drive in or the praise music playing in the lobby. Maybe it’s just the way everyone is authentically welcoming and kind. Whatever it is, there’s something tangible that parents say they feel when they first visit North Cobb Christian School (NCCS).

“It’s the comment we receive most often. Everyone says that they just ‘feel something different’ when they walk in this school. But that feeling is not us. It’s God working here,” said Todd Clingman, head of school since 2007.

“We are a Christian school first. Above being a private school, we are God’s school. Not because we are perfect or have all the answers. It’s because we put our faith and trust in the holy, infallible Word of God. That’s why we’re here.”

The school’s firm commitment to providing faith-based education is increasingly appealing to families looking for a foundation of Christian values for their children. In fact, enrollment is at an all-time high. Like most private schools, NCCS saw a bump in enrollment during 2020. Those families have stayed, and more have come.

“During 2020, most private schools saw a jump in enrollment, as families sought out school options during that uncertain season. We honestly didn’t know if those families were ‘renting’ us for a year and would then leave, but they stayed,” Clingman said. “Families may have originally come during the pandemic, but now they are staying for our school culture, which hinges on an unwavering commitment to faith in Jesus Christ and to biblical truth.”

Parents aren’t the only ones noting this difference. An independent school consulting firm recently reported that, “the strength of NCCS is their Christian mission. Of all the schools we have worked with nationally and globally, NCCS’s Christian mission is the strongest we have seen.”

So how, exactly, does this Christian mission play out in students’ lives? At NCCS, the school calendar is punctuated with intentional