4700 Turner Fellows
Class of 2019
Fall / Winter 2018
2018-19 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Eddie Alexander, Board Chair Roger Brown Rafael A . Calderon Laura Campbell Randy Chase Jay Dalton '88 Tobi Jane Frankfather Greg Hagood Daron Hall Patti Hudgins Kimberly Jackson Melanie Jackson Michael Lindseth '88 Steve Maggart
Mission Statement:
Ann McKinney
Franklin Road Academy provides a challenging educational experience in an inclusive Christian community with an unwavering commitment to develop leaders of integrity and purpose.
Dale Mitchell
John Mick Andrew Scarlett '97 Christy Smith Clif Tant '94
E X- O F F I C I O S Mr. Sean R. Casey Mr. Scott Jungmichel Mark Weeks, past Board Chair Mr. Charley Williamson
LEADERSHIP TEAM Sean Casey Head of School John Murray Dean of Academic Affairs Prentice Stabler Head of Upper School Ryan Harris Head of Middle School Rick West Head of Lower School Laura Turner
Director of Finance & Operations
Jill Johnson Director of Advancement Courtney Williamson Director of Admission
Kris Palmerton Director of Athletics Brandon Albright Director of Spiritual Life Brenda Huff
Director of the Center for Philanthropic Studies
WELCOME
W
“Discover your passion!” We often say this to our kids, and it is one of our hopes at Franklin Road Academy. We encourage students to discover their passions and develop a greater sense of purpose as they grow into young adults. We accomplish this through countless interactions over the course of an FRA student’s educational experience. Sometimes it takes place in the classroom, during an Interim Week experience, or
while volunteering for a service project, and it typically takes place with the support of one of our faculty members. Our mission is unique and best accomplished through the cultivation of a strong community where students are eager to take on challenges and feel supported by faculty members who are fully invested in their growth and development. As you read this current issue of the 4700 magazine, you will hear from a number of our students taking the lead across campus as they discover their passions and strive to make a difference in the world around them. You will also hear from our teachers who are committed to coming alongside our students in support of their efforts. Our students are learning to lead and make a difference because they have adults who inspire and encourage them to step out of their comfort zones. Whether in the DNA Lab, a world language class, up on a stage, or through student government, our students learn to take chances, and they learn to lead. This starts in our lower school and continues through the middle school years and on into upper school. Albert Einstein once famously said, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” We hope that, through the seeds we plant at FRA , students will discover the joy of pursuing a venture with passion, understand the satisfaction derived from taking on a challenge with enthusiasm, and demonstrate the grit and resilience to follow through until completion. I am blessed to be part of this great community and grateful for your ongoing support of FRA .
Sincerely,
SEAN R. CASEY
Contents DNA LAB
MS JA BIZ TOWN
F E AT U R E
1
1
DNA Lab
S TAT E & R E G I O N C H A M P I O N S
AT H L E T I C S
35
Fall Highlights
ACADEMICS
3
US World Languages
7
MS JA Biztown
11
LS Being a Writer
13
Senior Spotlight
7
FOOTLOOSE
35
ARTS
45
45
Fall Highlights
COPYRIGHTED 2019 BY FRANKLIN ROAD ACADEMY. Franklin Road Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, nationality, religion, or ethnic origin, or the administration of its educational and admission policies, scholarships, athletic, and other school-administered programs. Franklin Road Academy is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Southern Association of Independent Schools. The 4700 is a bi-annual publication of the communications office. EDITOR / Leah Davis Glenn. CREATIVE DIRECTOR / Courtney Williams. PHOTO CREDITS / Jessica McIntosh, Mike Straisinger, Kianush Dixon, Jill Johnson, Ross Bolen, Michelle Medes. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS / Stephanie Feyes, Michelle Nelson, Shannon LaCroix, Kaylee Gentry, Garrett Pave, Taylor Robinson, Paige Johnson, Avanda Lifsey, Shanera Williamson, Gail Bradford, Nina Dobbs, Georgie Goldthorpe, Sandy and Mark Weeks.
4700 FRA CONNECTIONS
F E AT U R E
19
TURNER FELLOWS
FRA Connections
53
SPIRITUAL & SERVICE LIFE
27
HOMECOMING
EVENTS
27
19
Turner Fellows
CLASS NOTES
62
53
Homecoming, Panther Night, All-Community Tailgate, Veterans Day, Grandparents Day, Service Saturday, Come See Santa
ALUMNI & COMMUNITY
62
Class Notes
65
Births, Weddings, In Memory
67
Event Highlights
71
In Memoriam: Mary Anderson
73
Donor Spotlight
DNA Lab BY
STEPHANIE FEYES,
upper school biology teacher/science department chair
Have you ever
opportunity to engage with on a
thought about the
regular basis. Gone are the days
science behind the
of middle and high school biology
idea of designer
programs focusing on fact-learning
babies? What
and repetition. Students need
about genetically
to be scientists. They need to
modified foods? Have you ever
engage with the content and be
wondered how insulin is generated
placed in scenarios where they are
for people with diabetes?
the researchers investigating their own questions, not bystanders just
Thanks to the generous donations made at last year’s Stars and
Math & Science Hall
Guitars event, our students can now investigate these questions and more in our brand new DNA laboratory space.
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hearing about a topic.
The addition of the DNA Lab, in our innovative Math and Science Hall, will open the door for our
Biotechnology
students to actively participate
Biotechnology, in its simplest
which is one of the fastest
form, is the manipulation of living
growing divisions of the science
things to create a product that is
and technology industry. The
beneficial for humans. Designer
knowledge and skills gained
babies, genetically modified foods
by the students who access
(GMOs), and recombinant DNA
our DNA Lab will help them
are just a few of the biotechnology
develop a strong understanding
topics FRA students now have the
of biotechnology and the impact
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in the field of biotechnology,
F E AT U R E
it has on society. A significant portion of the time spent in the DNA Lab will involve actual and simulated research that is being done in laboratories worldwide. These inquiry opportunities will provide our students with the unique experience of carrying out life-changing experiments in our very own school. Ultimately, it is our hope the content learned and skills developed in this new space will offer students an opportunity to develop a signature science experience during their time at FRA. If you ever want to know how crime scene investigators find genetic matches to evidence collected at a crime scene, just ask one of our DNA Lab scientists. They can show you how it is done!
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ACADEMICS
World Languages Cultural Competence Studying foreign or world languages today is substantially different from what it was 50 or even 20 years ago. While it still serves the cognitive functions and brain-expanding purposes of the classic academic discipline as much as ever, more and more people in today’s interconnected world recognize that intercultural, communicative competence is the chief aim in studying other languages and cultures. Verb charts and memorized dialogues are viewed as serving a larger purpose. In fact, now more than ever, the emphasis is on “using” rather than “studying” a language, on being “with others” rather than “learning about” others.
Immersion Experiences Elizabeth Day ̕18 highlights the memories of contact with native speakers, of hosting students from other cultures, of Spanish movie nights, and of cooking dishes that they had learned about in class. But the one experience that stands out most to her was the 12 days she spent in Guatemala as an exchange student. She and a friend stayed with a host family, went to classes with Guatemalan students, and lived not as tourists but as members of the community. “This was one of the biggest cultural shocks and adjustments I have ever experienced but was one of my most enriching experiences ever. During that trip, we lived in a house with a native speaking family, we sat in classes with other Guatemalan students, and
PICTURED / Reece Moore with Faces & Our Cultures student Marcela.
we explored the country led by native Guatemalan guides. These cultural experiences were some that cannot be taught in a classroom. By being fully immersed in a different culture, it fostered a greater appreciation and understanding of the areas that I had talked about for so many years in my classrooms.” This is what Byram and Wagner (2018) call “competence in culture” as opposed to “knowledge about culture.” When Reece Moore ̕21 was an eighth-grade sibling of Ansley ̕18, she experienced this first hand, as their family hosted a student as part of the Faces & Our Cultures program. Through this exchange, students from Guatemala spend eight weeks as FRA students, in classes, with families, perfecting their English and experiencing American culture, but they also share their own language and culture. This year, as a sophomore studying Spanish, Reece hosted Marcela. Life outside the “Brentwood bubble,” says Moore, is different. People have different backgrounds, Fall/ Winter 2018 | 4700
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languages, and cultures, and it is important to know how to live within those differences. "One of the primary missions of the World Language department at FRA is developing empathy, becoming more and more able to understand the joys and pains of others through understanding their language and culture," says Kris Climer, upper school French teacher and world language department chair. Joseph Papin ̕22 arrived in Nashville in September 2018, as his family relocated from Paris due to his father’s career with Nissan. Although his paternal grandmother is American and he had studied English in school, he had grown up in France and had attended French schools his entire life. Within several weeks, he had joined the AP French class, first as a comfortable French-speaking participant in an English immersion environment, then as a fullfledged student in the class. "Having Joseph in our class adds a lot because, in addition to the proficiency he brings, he is a living, authentic cultural reference for his classmates," says Climer. We can get beyond stereotypes to really know one another. 5
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The opportunities to “do language and culture” rather than just “studying language and culture” abound at FRA . The updated profile of an FRA graduate describes students who “engage globally,” who “value and learn from diverse people and cultures,” and who “demonstrate cross-cultural understanding.” These are the kinds of things happening in our world language classrooms and beyond the classroom walls. The students from China as part of the 3-W International program, the visiting Humphrey Fellows, the students from the Faces & Our Cultures program, and those from our Nissan program all offer the opportunity to interact with people who bring new languages and new perspectives to our community. Travel and engaging with others during Interim and mission trips allows us to expand our horizons and recognize what unites us and celebrate the differences and diversity. Effective communication and collaborative leadership, two other tenets of the profile of an FRA graduate, require the ability, as Ofelia García puts it, “to translanguage,” to
understand and use several languages and to be at ease in multiple cultures.
Looking Forward The challenges of the future may very well most depend on our ability to understand and empathize with others and to embrace them as fellow members of the human race. "It is my hope that their studies in French, Latin, or Spanish language and culture give our students experience in thinking like others, so that they may more readily commune with others, so that they may better love and serve others," says Climer. Byram, M., & Wagner, M. (2018) Making a difference: Language teaching for intercultural and international dialogue. Foreign Language Annals, 51(1), 140-151. Garcia, O. (2009). Bilingual Education in the 21st Century: A global perspective. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell 2009.
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BizTown
Fifth Grade JA Biztown Experience BY
MICHELLE NELSON, fifth grade teacher/chair
At FRA , we have the unique opportunity to immerse our students in a variety of experiential learning opportunities. We are blessed to have an active Junior Achievement branch in Nashville that hosts a program called JA Biztown. I bet you had no idea that in the 100 Oaks area five minutes from campus rests a kid-sized “town� with tiny sponsored businesses like a First Tennessee Bank, Dollar General, or UPS. Imagine being 10 years old and walking into a city that is made JUST FOR YOU! With our Profile of a Graduate in mind, we have added a financial literacy unit to our history programming that targets the six themes we would like our graduates to exemplify.
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Communicate Effectively Communicating effectively is a hallmark of successful adults. We ask our fifth graders to make great communication a habit as well! Students are given an opportunity to run for the mayor of Biztown, complete with speeches and an election. Students then prepare a resume and a job application and are then sent around our campus to “interview” with various members of the FRA staff for the “jobs” that are available. Eye contact, introductions, and speaking clearly are key components of their interview “score” that helps to place the students in job openings around Biztown. Our students leave the fifth grade hallway nervous and sweaty, but they return proud of all they have accomplished and far more confident in themselves and in their abilities.
Lead and Collaborate Once students are “hired,” we enter the planning phase of our financial literacy unit. Businesses, after all, need to make a profit! The “CEO” of the business leads meetings where the students must decide on pricing for their goods and services, apply for a bank loan, acquire insurance, and prepare advertisements
for their wares. The WFRA Television Station plans for broadcasts, UPS sells and delivers business supplies, and our “FRAstaurant” keeps us all full of popcorn and Sprite. EVERY STUDENT is a valued member of this JA Biztown community, and it takes everyone to make the tiny town economy flow!
Engage Globally Financial literacy requires knowledge of our global economy. As part of our curriculum, our English classes read a book by Gary Paulsen titled, Lawn Boy. This novel dives into the fundamentals of being an entrepreneur, understanding the stock market, and participating in the work force as the main character begins his own lawn mowing business. Students participate in a Visual Learning exercise called “Circle of Viewpoints” when Lawnboy encounters undocumented workers in the story. We are challenged to look globally at the positives and negatives of the impact of immigration in our economy and around the world. I am convinced that some of our students should be running for political office, as their solutions to this difficult issue sound better to me than any of our elected politicians.
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Think Critically and Creatively Earning your first paycheck is a milestone everyone remembers. At JA Biztown, students are taught to use a checkbook and register, make deposits, open a checking account, and endorse their checks. The bank requires balanced books from the businesses, and all our ducks must be in a row. So what do you DO with that paycheck? Thinking critically about how you might pay your bills AND afford that really cool item from Dollar General becomes real as students make decisions about how and where their money is spent. At the end of the day, did you get a wellness check-up or another soda? Did you adopt a pet or pay back your loan? Tiny town, BIG decisions!
Resilience and Grit “I can’t do this!” “No, you can’t do this YET.” The power of YET is the name of the game at JA Biztown. We make mistakes – A LOT of mistakes. Our checkbook doesn’t balance. The item we thought 9
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would sell for $3.50 isn’t moving off the shelf. No one is buying our newspaper. The popcorn burns. Mistakes. The BEST lesson about JA Biztown is the GRIT it takes to dig into our two-day onsite experience and become resilient. We bounce back and make that popcorn again, alter pricing, edit the newspaper, and try again, and again, and again. Henry Ford said, “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” Witnessing the growth that happens at JA Biztown each year is a privilege.
Live out Christian Principles “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” 1 TIMOTHY 4:12 More than 14 parents join us at our JA Biztown experience along with the five Junior Achievement staff members who run our program in the facility. Every year I stand back and watch as our students WOW the adults around them with their hearts for
The power of YET is the name of the game at JA Biztown.
the Lord and for each other. On campus, it can be easy to take our FRAmily for granted, but when we bring our children out into the broader community, everyone sees God’s light shine through their words and their deeds. We return to class and write thank you notes to the parents who attended. Students always have something personal and sweet to send to the parent who led their business. This small act of gratitude always reminds me that, though they are young, they are capable and strong, kind and smart, and honest and faithful. When these young people are running our global economy, may they always remember to live out His word in that “real world” we keep training them for. What a wonderful world it would be. Fall/ Winter 2018 | 4700
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Being A writer SHANNON LACROIX, second grade teacher BY
A foundation for Emerging Writers The lower school adopted the Being a Writer curriculum two years ago, and this curriculum is being implemented in classrooms from kindergarten through grade four. One main feature of the program is that the lessons are designed to motivate and excite emerging writers, allowing students to use their imaginations and build confidence as they write. Students are exposed to narrative, informative, and opinion writing genres, and the ability to draft, revise, discuss, edit, and publish writing pieces is practiced in each genre. The program is also based on the belief that learning develops further when the writing curriculum integrates social learning, which is evident through multiple opportunities for students to discuss and share observations about their writing. This program grows and develops lifelong writers who write for a purpose. 11
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developing lifelong writers who write for a purpose
Community & Getting Ready to Write This program focuses on the writing community over a seven-week period, during which students hear and discuss writing pieces as well as learn the importance of generating writing ideas. Students practice drawing stories, listing ideas, and writing sentences to spark ideas for their writing pieces. They also learn how to work with partners by practicing prompts such as, “I like your story because…” and “I found out…” These prompts help build a community where young writers feel comfortable expressing their ideas. Lessons are divided into three sections – Getting Ready to Write, Writing Time, and Sharing and Reflecting. During the Getting Ready to Write section, direct instruction takes place. Students discuss and listen to a provided read-aloud, look over a shared or modeled piece of writing, generate ideas for their writing pieces, and have at least 20 minutes to write independently.
Writing Time The second section is Writing Time. During independent writing, the teacher will confer with students to check in on their progress and ability to
apply the skills learned in the lesson. This conferring time is valuable because it allows the teacher to get to know his/her students as writers and monitor their progress and growth. Students are also provided with immediate feedback during conferences.
Sharing & Reflecting Finally, the Sharing and Reflecting time is an opportunity for students to meet back together to share writing pieces or reflect on the lesson. There are also days where students will be given the opportunity to share their pieces in the Author’s Chair, where students learn how to be good audience members and respect their peers’ writing pieces. This celebration takes place at the end of each unit. The Being a Writer curriculum is also paired with grammar skill practice lessons, when we cover conventions of grammar, punctuation, usage, and mechanics skills that are correlated to the writing lessons. The goal of Being a Writer is to truly develop and encourage a love for authentic writing by giving students a platform for their voices to be heard and their imagination to flourish.
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SENIOR SP OT L I G H T
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PAI G E S AMZ If I’m not in the classroom, you can find me… In the theatre, dance room, working on a service project, or doing homework. My biggest passion is… History and that passion began when… I started reading American Girl books. I loved reading the stories of girls throughout time and seeing the differences between eras. FRA has supported me academically and in the arts by… Allowing me to take numerous AP classes, and as a senior, conduct my own research project, something I thought was restricted to college. I have also had the opportunity to work with Nashville area arts professionals, and I have learned skills that have benefitted me both within and outside of the arts. I have learned what it takes to put on a theatre production, both onstage and behind the scenes and become more confident in myself and my public speaking abilities. FRA has allowed me to explore numerous passions, not limiting me to just one discipline. I feel prepared for my first year of college because… My FRA education has prepared me by not only teaching me critical thinking across a wide variety of disciplines, but also by showing me that creativity is not something restricted to the arts. I have seen how connections between subjects are not just limited to math and science or English and history. My teachers have taught me to look for the history of math through metaphor in a poem or helped me study biology in French class, and I will forever be grateful for this interdisciplinary approach to learning.
Les Misérables, let alone sing “Castle on a Cloud,” and I will forever cherish those memories. Really, it was history and theatre combined — how much more amazing can it get?! My biggest accomplishment during my time at FRA has been… It’s impossible for me to pick just one. My time at FRA has afforded me numerous opportunities for amazing accomplishments; for example, recently I was Assistant Choreographer for Footloose. It was amazing to go through the choreography process and seeing my choreography onstage during a performance was something I’ll never forget.
FunFacts How long have you attended FRA? 11 years Describe yourself in three words. Inquisitive, Dedicated, Supportive What is your favorite thing to eat in the cafeteria? Thanksgiving Dinner (especially pie)
The person who has taught me most at FRA is… Mr. Zachary Virgin. His class taught me to think critically, not only about the immediate topic, but about how that topic relates to the wider realm of history. He welcomed questions and showed us that there is never one side to an argument. His class opened my eyes to a wide variety of perspectives and taught me that, while you may not agree with a person or persons, you can try to understand the reasoning behind their motivations. My most memorable experience/moment at FRA is… Playing Little Cosette in Les Misérables my freshman year. I never thought that I would have the opportunity to be in the musical to end all musicals, Fall/ Winter 2018 | 4700
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J AC K AR S TA If I’m not in the classroom, you can find me… Playing football, basketball, or baseball. My most memorable experience/moment at FRA is… A tie between going to the state championship in basketball my sophomore year and beating Notre Dame in football in Chattanooga my senior year. To have all of our fellow students come out and support us made it very special. FRA has supported me academically and athletically by…. Having teachers and coaches who don’t just want to teach you new concepts, but actually care about you as a person and want the best for you. My dream job would be to… Run my own real estate company. My biggest accomplishment during my time at FRA has been (and why)… Being involved in National Honor Society and Honor Council. Before I came to FRA , I didn’t feel like I was given the opportunity to do these things, and these accomplishments make me work harder every day. One thing I have learned about myself while at FRA... Is the true meaning of being a man. Football taught me during our Wisdom Wednesdays that a real man isn’t about how much money you have, how athletic you are, or how many girls you get. It is about having real relationships with people and being willing to put yourself out there. I love FRA because… There are many reasons why I love FRA - this school pushes students to get out of their comfort zone, there are so many activities to get involved in, and the teachers care deeply about our success in the classroom and life.
FunFacts How long have you attended FRA? Three years Describe yourself in three words. Meticulous, Dedicated, Kind If you could be a teacher for a day, what would you teach? I would teach religion, specifically the life of Jesus, because faith is a big part of my life, and I feel like I could make an impact on students' lives.
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T YMO N MI TCH EL L If I’m not in the classroom, you can find me… Working out in the weight room or training on the field. My most memorable experience/moment at FRA is… Definitely beating Notre Dame in football my senior year. We made a 20-point comeback and were the first FRA team to make it past the quarterfinals in years. At FRA, I am involved in… Football, Basketball, and Best Buddies. FRA has supported me academically and athletically by… Teachers always being available when you need extra help, and coaches being there when I need help navigating the recruiting process. My dream job would be to… Play in the NFL. After graduation, I plan to… Attend the University of Georgia and play football and study business. The person who has taught me most at FRA is… Coach Ferguson because he has taught me a lot of lessons about life outside of football and about what it takes to be a man. My biggest accomplishment during my time at FRA has been… Receiving a scholarship to Georgia because playing football in college has always been a dream of mine. One thing I have learned about myself during my time at FRA has been… The people in an environment are what make it special not just the look on the outside.
FunFacts How long have you attended FRA? Eight years Describe yourself in three words. Funny, Tenacious, Perceptive What is your favorite thing to eat in the cafeteria? Chicken Tenders and Fries
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AN G EL I NA CH A N
If I’m not in the classroom, you can find me… Out on the golf course, practicing piano at home, playing bass in the band room, or listening to music while studying. My biggest passion is… Research! and that passion began when… I took the twoyear AP Capstone course. It was a new course and it was the first time I had been exposed to research, along with how to analyze other scholarly works and synthesize it with my own. Through this course, I’ve found that I enjoy the pursuit of diving deep into different topics and even making new discoveries through my own experiments! This year, our assignment is a project focusing on one research question, which we attempt to answer with both existing research but also a study of our own making. I’m very excited about it because I will be mixing research and music, another one my passions, in my study. My dream job would be to… Work in intelligence in the Navy after I graduate from the Naval Academy—I have always been in awe of the government intelligence sector, and being a part of it would be a dream come true! After graduation, I plan to… Attend the Naval
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Academy and play golf for the team there. After taking the AP Capstone course, I have decided to change my major to Operations Research, which uses mathematics to find solutions to large-scale problems in the real world. At FRA, I am involved in… Golf as the team captain, Jazz Ensemble as vice president, and National Honor Society as secretary. In addition, I’m involved in Science Olympiad, Mu Alpha Theta, service club, philosophy club, and writing center tutoring. As for the arts, I participate in the two variety shows of the year, Cocoa & Carols and Evening with the Arts, where I typically perform in two acts, a piano solo and a band (playing keyboard or bass guitar). Additionally, I have played piano as background music for several school open houses. This past fall, I played bass guitar in the live band for the fall musical, Footloose. The person who has taught me most at FRA is… One of my best friends, Tashinga. We became friends freshman year, and although he likely doesn’t realize it, he’s influenced me to strive to be a more sanguine and confident person. We frequently go to each other for advice, and he always urges me to go outside of the box and become comfortable with trying new things, such as speaking out more in class discussions or talking to people I haven’t met before.
By way of example and guidance, Tashinga has taught me to have a brighter outlook even when under stress and to act outside my comfort zone. My most memorable experience/moment at FRA is… Being a part of Science Olympiad. Sophomore year and junior year, I’ve participated in several events, including Tower Building, Rocks and Minerals, Hydrogeology, Experimental Design, and Astronomy. My favorite events were Rocks and Minerals, which I competed in individually, and Tower Building, a team event. It gave me the chance to work with who would become one of my best friends, Cathleen! Sophomore year, we built several variations of the tower together after school, and after weeks of hard work, we won third place. However, junior year was most indelible—we built even more towers, experimenting with designs derived from electric towers and lighter, more glueabsorbing woods, and it all led to us winning first place! Through Science Olympiad, I was able to pursue sciences outside of the classroom, and I got the chance to become best friends with Cathleen through common interests!
FunFacts How long have you attended FRA? Since sixth grade, so six years! Describe yourself in three words. Compassionate, Tenacious, Workaholic What is your hidden talent? I’m great at sleeping anytime, anywhere—if given the opportunity to sleep limitlessly, I can sleep up to 16 hours!
My biggest accomplishment during my time at FRA has been (and why)… Winning the state championship as an individual and as a team my senior year. Last year, we won the team championship, and we were hoping to improve even more this year to defend our championship. The state championship was two days (18 holes per day), and after the first day, I felt extremely distraught because I played terribly—it seemed like I let my team, my school, and myself down. However, regardless of how I played that day, I was still showered with positivity from my coaches, team, parents, and everyone else. The confidence they shared with me propelled me to play astronomically the second day; I improved 14 strokes, and combined with the team’s consistency, we won the championship by 30 strokes! This year’s state championship was very memorable to me, not only because I managed a dramatic comeback, but also because of the way our team trusted and depended on each other. I love FRA because… We are a FRAmily! As a small community, we get the chance to become friends with everyone and grow together just as a family does. Because we are all comfortable with each other, we can voice our opinions, be heard, and make a real difference both within and beyond our community.
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At FRA, we challenge and encourage our students to discover and pursue their passions, coming alongside them to help bring those passions to life. Our students are creative, empathetic, and driven, and they use those qualities to make our school and our community better places for their classmates and those who will be coming through FRA after them. Here are four students who have been supported by FRA in connecting them to their passions and community.
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F E AT U R E
ALPHA OMEGA BY
KAYLEE GENTRY ‘21
A
At FRA, there are different ways our students connect with each other throughout our campus. Through programs like Angel Buddies and Panther Pals, upper school, middle school, and lower school students have the opportunity to meet and connect during the school year. In the upper school specifically, senior and freshman girls have Senior Sisters as a way for our youngest upper school girls to connect with our oldest girls in a really fun way. However, there weren’t many other ways for upper school students to connect with each other. So, toward the end of my freshman year, I wanted to figure out how we, as a division, could connect all of the upper school grades. We have a tradition here called Alpha Omega (every upper school student participates in this), and I decided that we could all be even more connected through that club. I met with Coach Dawson on how my dream could become a reality, and in discussing it, we wanted to make a system where small groups could meet every so often but then still come together and be one. We decided to call this idea “Houses.” We created a house mission statement of what we wanted to accomplish, “The Upper School House system at FRA promotes relationships among students and faculty that are inspiring, encouraging, and nurturing in all aspects of school life; academics, citizenship, service, school spirit, and co-curricular. The vertical alignment of each house promotes leadership and ownership for upperclassmen while providing mentorship and guidance for underclassmen.” We wanted this to be able to bring a new tradition to the FRA community – one that will last for a long time. We had to make sure that this applied to everyone and gets the whole high school community involved. Each side, Alpha and Omega, would have eight houses with a corresponding house on each side. We decided that the houses should meet every other week, and this would each house time to bond, talk about ideas, and give students the chance to lead alongside a faculty advisor. Since the houses were going to be part of Alpha and Omega, we had to make sure the competition and the spirit stayed alive. So we created incentives that if everyone in the
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houses did a certain task like keeping a good grade point average throughout the whole house points were given, or if all students in the house were all “good citizens” and no one in the house got detentions, the house earned points. Also, if you went to support your friends in their games, activities, plays, and other things, you would receive points. We also wanted to emphasize and incorporate service into the house system. We wanted to encourage and help students to give back to the community, so houses get points for service projects. At the end of the year, after all the competitions and activities have concluded, house points would be added up and we would reward the houses with awards such as, “Best Overall House” and “Best House Spirit.” This is a good way to let everyone know at the end of the year that no matter what they did for their houses, it all pays off in the end. When all of the details of the house system were in place, we decided to keep the idea from everyone for as long as possible so that when roll-out day came, it would be more exciting and fun. On roll-out day, students had a scavenger hunt throughout the whole day, and, at the
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end, they met up with the people who were in their houses. Then, everyone walked into the gym as houses to make it a special moment for everyone. Each house has its own assigned color and matching shirt and flag – a way to give each house their own identities within Alpha and Omega. This experience has been amazing, and it has really taught me some very important life skills. I am so thankful I have a strong community here at FRA that supports me and my ideas and that makes it such an enjoyable experience. I would not have been able to do this without the support of the faculty and staff. This experience has also helped me grow my communication skills and my people skills. I am thankful that FRA has allowed me to make a new tradition for the community, and I cannot wait to see it grow in the coming years.
SPORTS BROADCASTING BY
GARRETT PAVE ‘20
From a young age, sports have always been a crucial part of my life and a passion that I still hold on to today. More specifically, though, I have always been interested in becoming a sports broadcaster and being able to talk about some of my favorite athletes. At Franklin Road Academy, I have had the opportunity for years now to learn more about sports broadcasting and what it takes to become one of the best in the business. It started with simple things like taking interactive programs in a classroom and eventually transitioned to an actual broadcast experience that gave me a feel for what it’s like to be a professional sports broadcaster.
F
The thing that stands out about FRA when it comes to things like this is that they don’t just sit you down in a classroom and lecture for a lengthy amount of time, but rather have you do handson work that will better prepare you for when you get out into the real world. So far, I have had the
opportunity to work on our school news show as the sports anchor, as well as announce all the middle school football games that occur on campus. On our school news show “Good Morning FRAmerica,” I got the on-camera exposure that is needed to better prepare me for my future. Honestly, how many kids get the chance to have their own school news show and talk about sports on a consistent basis? That’s been such a fun and informative activity that gave me the exposure of being in front of a camera, which not a lot people can get in high school. I believe one of the other things that has helped me with my journey in sports broadcasting is the fact that, when I’m being taught how to better my skills, I’m being taught by faculty who majored in or have a background in broadcasting. To be specific, Coach Zenner has been a crucial part of my success, and she has been a mentor to help guide me through the world of sports broadcasting. She was truly the first person who wanted to get engaged with my passion for sports broadcasting and has helped
tremendously to get me involved with hands-on work. Whether it was getting me in front of a camera, or recommending the colleges that would best suit me, Coach Zenner has always been willing to help. Thanks to her involvement with the subject, she also created the first ever broadcast class at FRA, in which I got to participate. Going into the class, I had the expectation that I would learn what it takes to be successful on camera, and then that would transition to some oncamera work. Without a doubt, the class lived up to my expectations, and it taught me a multitude of things, including how to speak off of a script and how to improvise if need be. With all the exposure and teaching that FRA has provided me with, my goal and plan for the future is to attend college and major in broadcast journalism and then hopefully get the opportunity to work my way up to becoming the best sports broadcaster I can possibly be. I can’t say it enough, FRA has truly embraced my passion for sports broadcasting, and in return, they have put me in a situation to succeed not only while in high school, but also when I get out into the real world and begin to pursue my passion professionally.
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JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION BY
TAYLOR ROBINSON ‘24
H
Hi, my name is Taylor, and I’m a seventh grader here at FRA. I’ve been here since furth grade, and I’m so blessed to be part of this community.
One big part of my life is living with type one diabetes. T1D, as we diabetics like to call it, is an auto immune disease that affects your pancreas’ ability to produce a medicine called insulin. My pancreas doesn’t make any insulin, and I receive synthetic insulin from an insulin pump that I wear around my waist. From diabetes, I have also been diagnosed with arthritis and alopecia. Although type one doesn’t have a cure, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, or JDRF, has been working nonstop to help find a cure. I became involved with JDRF as soon as I was diagnosed. At the time, I was living in Boston, and the Boston chapter couldn’t have supported me any better. As I continued my journey with T1D, I moved to Tampa and now I live here in Nashville. All chapters of JDRF I have been involved with have been such a pleasure to be
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part of, and I’m sure it’s the same all over the United States. With JDRF, you can attend walks, attend the annual charity gala, go to events, or even go speak in Washington D.C. in front of congress about this disease. FRA has always supported me and this organization, and I couldn’t be more thankful for this amazing school.
JDRF means the world to me. I couldn’t describe to you how much different my life would be without this organization in my life. Without it, I wouldn’t be sitting here today writing this article! JDRF gives me hope for the future, and hope that one day I will be able to say I had diabetes.
Over the years, FRA has become more and more involved with JDRF and my journey. This year Connor Moore, a sophomore with T1D, organized a team of faculty and students to walk in the annual mile walk JDRF puts on. It was an amazing event, and it was so exciting seeing so many people from FRA supporting this cause. When students come out and support my disease, I hope they take away the fact that I do have a disease that most likely won’t be cured for a very long time, but that doesn’t stop me from doing the things I do every single day.
It means even more to me that FRA supports me and this organization. I am beyond grateful for the support I have received from both FRA and JDRF. God has truly blessed me with such great support systems throughout my life, but FRA has really stuck out.
Currently, JDRF is planning for their charity gala in the spring. Every year, they organize a gala to raise money to find a cure for type one. I am a youth ambassador for the gala, so I go and help and act as one of the faces of youth with diabetes. I love participating in all these events to help support this organization, especially with FRA.
With diabetes I have learned not to take anything for granted and to live my life to the fullest because you never know when it can all be taken away. I have also learned to turn my disabilities into abilities by spreading positivity throughout my community. I really hope my story helps to inspire others who are currently battling something and for them to know that they will always have God when they feel like they’re alone.
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4680 BY
PAIGE JOHNSON ‘19
The average number of hours a student spends in a high school classroom is 4,680. The number of hours a friend of mine completed before taking his life is 1,755. January 21, 2016, will always be a day that sends shivers down my spine. I was a freshman, standing in the commons at FRA, and received the news that a close family friend had taken his life at only 16 years old. I did not believe that this was true, because this friend of mine, Eli, had always been one of the most well-liked, caring, fun-loving, good-natured, athletic people at his school, and he seemed to have everything going for him.
T
The next couple of days at school, I saw smiling faces, and I wondered how many of my classmates were genuinely happy. Eli had always had a smile on the outside, too. Come to think of it, I wear a smile most days as well, and I began to
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question whether my smiling on the outside was truly authentic. Recently voted Most Likely to Succeed, a varsity cheer captain, student body secretary/treasurer, and a varsity cross country athlete, I am fiercely driven. My class schedule consists of multiple AP and honors classes, and I am an officer on the FRA Honor Council. Sometimes juggling all of these roles and responsibilities leaves me feeling drained and anxious. But I continue to smile. Feeling compelled to address the epidemic of anxiety and depression in young people, I began working with Mrs. Hammat, FRA’s Upper School Counselor, and gave a devotion at school regarding my newfound passion for mental health and suicide prevention. Following my presentation, I asked any upper school student who was interested to sign up if they wanted to join my peer-led mental health awareness and teen suicide prevention club. Only expecting about three or
four of my closest friends to stay, I was completely amazed as people flooded the stage. Eli did not even attend FRA, and this level of support and interest confirmed the need for my program, 4680. Each year, our club hosts events and activities for students during National Suicide Prevention Week, National Smile Day, Unity Day, and Mental Health Awareness Week. We organize professional speakers, plan devotions, create an annual wall of hope, post inspirational messages on student lockers and bathroom mirrors, utilize smile day snapchat filters, and post on social media to encourage and bring happiness and support to one another. We promote a message that high school is a fleeting time, and that, instead of pulling others down, we should build each other up as a community. Anxiety and depression are rampant among students on high school
and college campuses across the world, and recognition of this issue helps begin vital conversations. Because of 4680, FRA students are willing and comfortable to share their stories and feelings of anxiety and depression with others and ask for help in coping. It has been so well received that it has grown to become one of the largest clubs on campus with almost 100 members. When I initially approached Mrs. Hammat with the concept of some sort of program to address this epidemic, she welcomed it with open arms. Because of her support and guidance, as well as that of my peers, we were able to create what began as an awareness program into an action program that has created an atmosphere of trust and a culture of kindness and acceptance at FRA. Mrs. Hammat is always eager to take my vision and ideas and turn them into action. Whether she is helping write hundreds of inspirational
messages for every student or organizing meetings for the club, Mrs. Hammat is always providing inspiration and direction for our 4680 members and me. FRA provides students multiple opportunities to lead, and a hallmark of FRA’s school culture is the faculty/ student relationship. Students are encouraged to share their ideas and passions with faculty who then come alongside students to provide support and ensure their dreams become a reality. The flourishing numbers of 4680 members would not be where they are without the support of the upper school administration, including Mr. Stabler and Mr. Salato, and I continue to be amazed by the lengths to which FRA faculty will go for one student’s idea. They are constantly excited to announce new events to the student body and push for any sort of awareness we can create. Now that I am a senior, we are working on a
succession plan to ensure that 4680 continues to exist and grow. Eli’s suicide completely changed my view on life and made me want to invest in my friends, my classmates, and my school. In the short time since its founding, 4680 has not only helped students who suffer from anxiety and depression, but has also assisted their friends who don’t learn how to better provide support. I am so thankful to be part of a school community that supports and encourages me to pursue my ideas and make them a reality.
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Turner Fellows Sponsored by the Cal Turner Family Foundation, the Turner Fellowship program at Franklin Road Academy offers students who are committed to making a difference in the lives of others, the opportunity to serve with non-profit organizations within the Nashville community.
Community service, Philanthropy education, and Service learning
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SPIRITUAL & SERVICE LIFE
Class of 2019
STUDENT QUOTES Jack Arsta
Isabella Daniels
Charlotte Munn
“My time as a Turner Fellow this
“My experience this summer is
“My experience as a Turner
summer was amazing. It was
hard to put into words. I got a
Fellow taught me many lessons
a good feeling to know that I
chance to see what my potential
and opened my eyes further to
was making a difference in the
future could be, and it confirmed
poverty in Nashville. The people
community and in kids’ lives every
that it is working in Best Buddies.”
at the Martha O’Bryan Center
(BAREFOOT REPUBLIC)
(BEST BUDDIES)
were wonderful to work with and
day. It was hard work, but it was worth it because of the friends I made and the great experience I got out of it.”
Rachel Brown
(MARTHA O’BRYAN CENTER)
Morgan Davis
(THE NASHVILLE FOOD PROJECT)
“Over the summer, I got to gain experience in a professional
brightened my summer every day.”
Pablo Ramos SoSZNA
setting, learn about my role in
(PRESTON TAYLOR MINISTRIES)
(PRESTON TAYLOR MINISTRIES)
the community and how I can
“My time as a Turner Fellow was
“Being a Turner Fellow helped
contribute to those around me.
the most significant opportunity
me get out of my comfort zone
It was a great experience, and I
I have had to engage with the
and create strong relationships
loved working with the Nashville
Nashville community.”
with people from all different
Food Project to tackle the issues
backgrounds.”
involving hunger relief in Nashville.”
Peyton Christian
(FANNIE BATTLE DAY HOME FOR CHILDREN)
Price Jones
Lorena Silva
(BAREFOOT REPUBLIC)
“The Turner Fellowship was one of the best experiences of my life.
“I am so thankful that I was
(WEST NASHVILLE DREAM CENTER)
I was able to serve my community
chosen to work at Fannie Battle,
“The Turner Fellowship was an
and I feel so blessed to be part
amazing experience. I learned so
never knew possible.”
of this experience where I
much more about my community,
learned so much from all of my
my passions, and myself.”
and fulfill God’s calling in ways I
kindhearted co-workers and all of the amazing children.”
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support, and she experienced first-hand how children with some really difficult life challenges can grow, succeed, and thrive in a
KATIE LIFSEY BY
AVANDA LIFSEY, Katie's mother
loving, caring environment. She was so excited to be part of that, and she felt that she was truly making a difference in their lives every day.
First Steps One story that was very touching for her happened on a stormy afternoon. Katie was working with a class of four year olds, and the thunder was scary for them. My daughter, Katie, was blessed
interview, and I thought this multi-
to be selected for a Franklin Road
level process would be a great
Academy Turner Fellowship this
learning experience for her as
past summer, and little did we
she goes to college and into her
realize what an amazing impact
future. We had no idea that this
this blessing would have on her
job experience would be so
life and our family. She was placed
life changing.
at First Steps in Nashville, which is a preschool that educates and
Since I have been a teacher for
cares for children with special
years, Katie was often around
needs and medical conditions,
children in my classroom, and
alongside their typically-
she had babysitting experience
developing peers in an inclusive
as well. She has always loved
environment. First Steps also
children; they are drawn to her.
offers support to the families of
But caring for them on a daily
these children.
basis and seeing the challenges that some of these children faced
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As a former FRA teacher, I had
opened up a whole new level of
heard great things about the
love, concern, and compassion
Turner Fellowship program, so I
that was evident to us as the
really encouraged Katie to apply
summer progressed. She started
to be part of it. Honestly though, I
referring to them as “my kids.”
have to admit that I really wanted
She would delight in their
her to have a summer job and the
successes, and she developed a
college scholarship that comes
deeper understanding of child
with being a Turner Fellow. The
development. She came to
process of applying involved a
realize that every child craves
written application and a panel
unconditional love and adult
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She was able to comfort them by sharing a story as they were huddled around her until the storm passed. I couldn’t help but think what a blessing for her and for those children to share that moment. Our family came to know “Katie’s kids” through the stories she would share almost on a daily basis. She looked forward to going to work every day and was up and ready without any urging from me. As the summer progressed, she was part of a mission team headed to Uganda for 10 days. She missed “her First Step kids” and couldn’t wait to get back. Katie has always had a loving heart, but I literally watched it grow even bigger during her placement at First Steps. Nearing the end of the summer, she shared with me that she felt her life calling was going to be working with children who have challenges or have experienced trauma. Having spent time with Ugandan children who were orphaned due to war and being with her First Step
kids helped to reveal this calling.
drive their children to school, or
lead us to a future that glorifies
So now, she wants to be a child
pick them up from First Steps
him in the lives that we touch for
psychologist, and we are so
sometimes. She also wants to work
eternity. I am so thankful for the
excited that she has found
there again next summer and is
Turner Fellowship experience
her calling.
planning a Disney Day for them
that Katie had at FRA. It ended
over the next few months.
up being one of the best things
As the final week at First Step
What started as a summer job and
that she experienced in the eight
approached, her eyes would
a scholarship opportunity turned
years she has been here. I would
fill with tears when she talked
into finding a life calling. As I write
encourage every junior to apply.
about leaving them. She would
this, I’m reminded of Jeremiah
And who knows, your family may
predict what each of “her kids”
29:11 which says, “For I know the
be as blessed as ours has been by
would be and how their little
plans I have for you, declares the
the experience. We will forever
personalities would be revealed as
Lord, plans to prosper you and
be grateful for this experience.
they progressed to grade school.
not to harm you, plans to give you
Thanks FRA and the Turner
It was no surprise that some of
hope and a future.” I believe the
Fellowship Program!
the families asked her to babysit,
best way God prospers us is to
“My Turner Fellowship was one of the most beneficial experiences I have ever had, and it taught me so much about responsibility, hard work, care, and love. For me, it confirmed a calling that I feel God has placed on my life to work with children, helping them grow and develop mentally, physically, and emotionally. I am so thankful for the opportunity.” KATIE LIFSEY (FIRST STEPS)
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Last Spring, our daughter decided
The Bethlehem Centers of Nashville
NIA WILLIAMSON BY
SHANERA WILLIAMSON, Nia's mother
she wanted to apply for the Turner Fellowship. Before my husband and I actually knew all we needed and wanted to know about the program, Nia’s application was accepted, and she was chosen to be a Turner Fellow. I then found myself asking, “What is the Turner Fellowship again?” That was the beginning of an amazing journey of growth for our entire family. Nia was assigned to work at The Bethlehem Centers of Nashville. This non-profit family resource center connects children, youth, and seniors in North Nashville to special programs, which lead to healthier and more productive lives. The neighborhoods surrounding the Centers face tough economic challenges that negatively affect the most vulnerable – kids and the elderly. Nia specifically worked as a teacher’s aide in the Day Care Summer Program for kids in K-2nd grade. Nia is the youngest of our three daughters and has never had the role of being the “older sister.” In fact, before the fellowship, she had limited experience with small children. The first day Nia reported to her job, she was in for several surprises. Right away, she found out how much energy young kids have during the summer months. The physical effort to keep up with the kids made my teenager exhausted. In addition, she realized that she didn’t know
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much about the community or the
and specific skill set to support the
sees being involved in community
kids individually. Nia had a huge
kids at The Bethlehem Centers.
service as a normal part of life,
learning curve in order to put into
and we look forward to seeing
context who the kids are and how
She helped with creating different
how she will incorporate that into
she could serve The Bethlehem
activities for the kids, and she
her life in the future.
Centers effectively. Although we
observed learning challenges
drove through the area many times
and communicated to the adult
The Turner Foundation connects
before, and we even frequented
supervisors things that were
FRA juniors with specific non-profit
a hair salon just two blocks away
difficult for the kids to verbalize.
organizations to show students
from The Bethlehem Centers,
She used her own playful attitude
the value of service. For Nia, she
we did not know the people, the
and her love for art to help kids
was stretched in many ways and
community, and the circumstances
express themselves. She went from
grew personally, emotionally, and
that affect their lives. Everything
thinking she had nothing to offer
spiritually by getting out of her
was new. After the first day, Nia
to showing up with all of who she
comfort zone and entering into the
came home tired and uncertain
is and connecting with kids.
community of North Nashville. The
that she was the right girl for the
entire experience caused her to
job. The second, third, and fourth
We all thought Nia was there
see how much God was at work in
days were equally challenging. By
to serve, but in reality, it was a
her while He was using her to be
Friday of her first week, though,
mutually beneficial experience.
helpful in the lives of others.
Nia was actually sad for the
She received just as much as she
weekend because she would miss
gave at The Bethlehem Centers.
As her parents, we watched Nia
seeing the kids.
The exposure to an environment
try something new that seemed
different than her own helped
really hard at first. We also saw
Through her genuine relationship
Nia know people better and
her trust God with her feeling of
with the kids, Nia grew in her
care about them more. She also
inadequacy, and we felt the joy
understanding of the community
learned how vulnerable it is to
she experienced when she became
of North Nashville. My husband
initiate, be herself, and open
part of an organization that is
and I are both from other
herself up to new experiences and
doing good in the community. I’m
states, and we moved to Middle
new people. These are valuable
so glad we all found out what it
Tennessee over a decade ago
lessons she can take with her when
means to be a Turner Fellow.
because of a job transfer. We were
she graduates from FRA, goes to
unaware of any other community
college, and beyond. Now, she
except our own. Through Nia and her new experiences, we all learned more about the city and the people whose families have made Nashville their home for generations. Also, we learned of the economic disparity facing residents of North Nashville and how that affects the children who
“The Turner Fellowship encouraged me to seek discomfort in order to use my gifts in the way God has intended.” NIA WILLIAMSON (THE BETHLEHEM CENTERS OF NASHVILLE)
grow up in that community. Nia became excited to offer her time
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TUCKER SMITH "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” - MAHATMA GANDHI
The Salvation Army BY
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GAIL BRADFORD, Tucker's mother
If there is one phrase that sums
it, that all changed the day he
as his connection to the kids and
up Tucker's Turner Fellowship
walked into the gym full of kids
the Camp strengthened.
experience this summer I think
at The Salvation Army Summer
it's the title of one of his blog
Camp; the children quite literally
Before the summer began, Tucker
posts —"Exponential Growth."
welcomed Tucker with open arms.
understood that performing
The fellowship helped Tucker
As the summer progressed, you
acts of service often takes one
grow exponentially in his faith,
could see the growth in Tucker's
outside his/her usual environment,
his relationships with others,
commitment to the kids and staff.
working with people from entirely
and his desire to serve those in
He clearly began to understand
different backgrounds. He was up
need. It helped him "find himself.”
the significance of the Camp in
for the challenge, and throughout
these children's lives. He came to
the summer I saw him embrace
He was apprehensive going into
see the Camp as a place where
the children and eager to form
it, having never worked with
God's love is exhibited daily. On a
relationships with many of them.
young children before. As he puts
personal level, his faith deepened
These relationships, and those
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“I learned so much about myself and others through this experience. I came out of the internship with a greater love for service, and I want to serve kids more in the future, because I know how influential a good role model can be. I am so grateful to have been a Turner Fellow.� TUCKER SMITH (SALVATION ARMY)
with the staff at the Salvation
service can positively change the
responsibility to his community
Army, grew stronger as the
lives of many. Tucker's desire to
has prepared him for a meaningful
summer progressed. Tucker's view
continue community service and
and exemplary life of leadership. I
was that in a situation outside of
serve those in need deepened as
am grateful to FRA and the Turner
his comfort zone, he could truly
a result of the fellowship.
Family Foundation for providing
determine whether or not he could
Tucker opportunities to grow,
be a good leader. Leaders must be
Tucker will make a positive
exponentially, through his service
able to adapt to work with anyone,
difference in the lives of others
to others.
in any situation, to succeed and
through his love for community
help others. It is through this kind
service. It is said that community
of service that one can gain the
service is the truest expression of
experience necessary for
leadership. His understanding of
great leadership. Service provides an opportunity to leave a positive impact on the world. During the summer of 2016, Tucker led a project that would positively impact our community. For his Eagle Scout Project, he chose to renovate an adoption pen for puppies at the Williamson County Animal Shelter. The Turner Fellowship gave him an even sharper image, close up and personal, of how community
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SPORTS ACCOLADES FA L L 2 0 1 8
GOLF GIRLS TSSAA DIVISION II-A STATE CHAMPIONS; REGION CHAMPIONS
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AT H L E T I C S
GIRLS TEAM TSSAA Division II-A State Champions; Region Champions
INDIVIDUAL ANGELINA CHAN
PICTURED
Region Champion; State Champion; All-Mid-State
TZUNAMI POLITO
Region Runner Up; State Runner Up
EMILY WILSON
Region Tournament – 4th Place; State Tournament – 6th Place
ANGELINA CHAN JOSH HOLTSCHLAG BOYS TEAM TSSAA Division II-A State Tournament – 3rd Place
INDIVIDUAL JOSH HOLTSCHLAG
PICTURED
Region Champion; State Tournament – 3rd Place; All-Mid-State
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FOOTBALL
TYMON MITCHELL
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FOOTBALL INDIVIDUAL TYMON MITCHELL
PICTURED
Region Defensive Player of the Year; TnFCA All-State Team; Mr. Football Semifinalist
JACK NORRIS
Region Co-Kicker of the Year; TnFCA All-State Team
LANCE WILHOITE All-Region
RILEY SPEED All-Region
KEVIN DONNELL All-Region
WILL WHEELER All-Region
JACOB JACKSON All-Region
BROGAN WILSON All-Region
JACK ARSTA
2nd Team All-Region; Scholar Athlete Award
KINGSTON GARDNER JEFFREY VERCHER 2nd Team All-Region
VOLLEYBALL INDIVIDUAL SAMANTHA SHAFER
PICTURED
All-District
JESSIE HUDDLESTON
VOLLEYBALL
SAMANTHA SHAFER
2nd Team All-Region
All-District
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GIRLS SOCCER
SOCCER
ALYSSA MEKO
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INDIVIDUAL ALYSSA MEKO All-District
TAYLOR SMITH All-District
PICTURED
CROSS COUNTRY BOYS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM PICTURED
Region Runner Up; State Championships – 5th Place
INDIVIDUAL ANDREW COX PICTURED
Region Champion; State Champion
ETHAN RHODEN
All-Region; State Meet – 6th Place
ANDREW COX Fall/ Winter 2018 | 4700
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MS TENNIS
SLOANE KILLINGER
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MS SOCCER MIDDLE SCHOOL INDIVIDUAL
MS GIRLS TENNIS SLOANE KILLINGER PICTURED
ABBY DITTO & LELAND SOLESBY
#3 Singles – 1st Place
#2 Doubles – 1st Place
TEAM
MS BOYS SOCCER PICTURED
5/6 GRADE GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
MS BOYS TENNIS
HVAC Champions
HVAC Champions
STANLEY DAVIS
HVAC Championship – 4th Place Stanley Davis PICTURED Fall/ Winter 2018 | 4700
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COLLEGE SIGNINGS This fall, seniors Alexander Gales, Josh Holtschlag, and Samantha Shafer signed letters of intent to play at the collegiate level. Gales will pole vault at High Point University; Holtschlag has signed to play golf at Bucknell University; and Shafer will continue her volleyball career at the University of North Alabama.
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GALES Gales is the reigning TSSAA Division II-A State Champion, vaulting an incredible 14'8. He also won the TSSAA Division II-A Region Championship, the Nashville City Meet, and the Montgomery ACA Invite during his outstanding junior campaign. He has attended FRA for eight years, and, in addition to track & field, he has been a member of the bowling team and is a member of FRA's chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He has also served on mission trips with his church to Boston, Massachusetts, and Mobile, Alabama.
HOLTSCHLAG Holtschlag is one of the most decorated golfers in FRA history, winning three TSSAA Division II-A Region Championships and two state runner up titles, and is the only player in the Division II era to finish in the top 10 all four years at the state tournament. He is a fourtime All-State golfer and holds the FRA 9-hole school record with a score of 30. He has also been a member of the varsity soccer and basketball teams, Club 4680, philosophy club, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and he is an FRA
student ambassador, member of the FRA deans list, and has been named to the American Junior Golf Association Transamerica Junior All-American Team Honor Roll. As a senior, Holtschlag was the TSSAA Division II-A State Runner Up as he led the very young Panther team to the state tournament, something he has done three times during his high school career.
SHAFER Shafer was a leader of the girls volleyball team during her two-year tenure at FRA, where she played on the varsity and junior varsity teams due to TSSAA regulations her first year. She is also a member of the FRA chapter of Best Buddies, the service club, Young Life, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes and has participated in the Special Olympics Flag Football State Championships and FRA's Empty Bowl initiative. She is also a member of the FRA deans list.
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ARTS
Fourth Grade Visual & Performing Arts | Our fourth grade students put their performing and visual arts talents on display in their annual show!
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Footloose | Our upper school students brought the story of Ren, Ariel, Chuck, Willard, and the rest of the residents in Bomont to life in this wonderful rendition of the popular 80s movie!
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First & Second Grade Christmas Musical | In their annual Christmas musical, our first and second graders always add a little pizzaz! This year our students performed Arrest These Merry Gentlemen, adding humor and fun while also telling the story of Jesus' birth.
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Cocoa & Carols | Middle and upper school students showcased their musical, instrumental, performance, and vocal talents in this holiday-filled production.
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Choral Christmas Concert | Our middle and upper school choirs always put on memorable performances, and the Christmas concert was no exception. From traditional favorites to modern hits, the choral concert is filled with sounds of the season.
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Kindergarten Christmas Devotion | In one of our sweeter Christmas traditions, our kindergarten students share the story of the birth of Jesus and sing Christmas songs, capturing the spirit of the real meaning of Christmas.
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EVENTS
HOMECOMING
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EVENTS
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HOMECOMING CONTINUED
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J R . PA N T H E R N I G H T
A L L- C O M M U N I T Y TA I L G AT E
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V E T E R A N S D AY
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G R A N D PA R E N T S D AY
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S E R V I C E S AT U R D AY
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C O M E S E E S A N TA
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GROUNDBREAKING WEICKER CENTER FOR STUDENT LIFE We were excited to break ground and start construction on the Weicker Center for Student Life, which is named in honor of beloved faculty member George Weicker, who passed away in 2016 after 34 years of service.
FRA campus life. The space will house a stunning dining facility for grades 5-12, dynamic classrooms, new athletic, fitness and wellness spaces, a Heart to Heart classroom, and new offices for admission and the director of security.
"George Weicker had an incredible impact on our community for more than three decades as a teacher, coach, role model, mentor, and friend, and I am grateful we are able to honor his commitment to our school in this way. This new space provides a top-notch facility for our students. Following the recent opening of the Scarlett Family Chapel, we eagerly anticipate the transformational impact this project will have across all aspects of campus life," said FRA Head of School Sean Casey.
"The Weicker Center's combination of dynamic academic areas, state-of-the-art wellness facilities, and purposefully-crafted common spaces is designed to build community. Whether sharing a meal, studying in small groups, enjoying a cup of coffee, or taking advantage of new athletic spaces, students and families will have a space that helps build fellowship and supports the school's commitment to provide one of the finest independent school educational experiences in the nation," said Casey.
The Weicker Center for Student Life, currently under construction in the heart of campus, is a 38,400-squarefoot, three-story structure that will serve as the hub for
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The Weicker Center will open in August in conjunction with the beginning of the 2019-20 school year.
A L U M N I U P D AT E S
ALUMNI
class notes
Rachel Shanks PICTURED / Rachel Shanks ‘13
ALUMNI & COMMUNITY
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Rachel Shanks ’13 is the creator of Wildflour Bakeshop. She has been making vanilla almond sugar cookies for five years and this spring became an official business operating under the cottage food law. She sells her delicious treats at Nolensville Farmers Market and pop up shops. Wildflour Bakeshop offers pop tarts, cinnamon rolls, and other cookies.
First Lieutenant Bo Korpman ’12 is based in Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. He is currently in the middle of his instructor pilot upgrade. “The challenges of instructing military pilots from all over the NATO alliance are both uniquely trying and supremely rewarding. This will be an awesome assignment over the next three years.”
Alex Brito ’13 started medical school at Vanderbilt University in the fall.
Wesley Holder 63
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Trevor Baskin PICTURED / Trevor Baskin ‘11 and Austin Baskin ’09
PICTURED / Wesley Holder III ‘94 with Barbara McCall and Renee Holder ‘84
Davis Looney Alyssa Gallas ’12 recently started a master’s program in the UK after two years as an English teacher with the TAPIF
PICTURED / Left to right: Davis Looney ’08 and Mike Street, Davis Looney teaching class
program in France.
Sam Payne ’85 is now Senior Attorney with the ERISA
Wesley Holder III ’94 graduated from the
long-term disability firm of Cody Allison & Associates, PLLC,
Nashville School of Law in May. He is an Assistant
in Nashville.
District Attorney in Davidson County.
Chad Stearns ’15 graduates from Embry-Riddle
Davis Looney ’08 is combining his passion
Aeronautical University in May and has accepted a position
for missions with his heart for college students by
as project manager with Boeing.
leading Campus Partnerships and Development for
Trevor Baskin ’11 graduated from Belmont College of
Filter of Hope.
Law in May and sworn in and admitted to the Tennessee Bar Association in November 2018. He is working for Podis & Podis Law Firm.
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BIRTHS Isla Evelyn Schutt was born July 9, 2018. Proud parents are Kristie and
Andrew Schutt (Kristie Koerner ’04) Charles Campbell Boyd V was born on February 1, 2019 to Jessica and Charles Boyd
(Jessica Bracken ’00)
IV
Jenny and Andrew Scarlett ’98 welcomed Brady Robert Scarlett on July 18, 2018.
WEDDINGS Sina Gangwisch Gregory ’05 and Brandon Gregory married on September 22, 2018.
PICTURED / Left to right, top to bottom: Brady Scarlett, Charles Campbell Boyd V, Schutt Family
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IN MEMORY Betty Ward (former faculty) FRA extends our prayers and sympathy to the family of Betty Ward who passed away on September 1, 2018. Mrs. Ward was a beloved member of the FRA faculty and was the long-term substitute teacher until 2000.
PICTURED / Sina Gangwisch Gregory & Brandon Gregory
Archives Collection We’re currently working on our 50th anniversary archives and need your help! Please share your old photos or videos and help us to tell our story.
CONTACT ABBY @
whartona@franklinroadacademy.com
ALUMNI, PARENTS OF ALUMNI, AND FORMER FACULTY
mark your calendars
ONE WEEKEND. FOUR EVENTS. COUNTLESS MEMORIES.
2019
02
May 2-4
thursday
03
friday
04
1 pm FRA Golf Classic
11 am Hall of Excellence Luncheon
To register as a player or sponsor visit the website.
Luncheon & award presentation will be followed by Innovation Lab, DNA Lab & campus tours.
5-7 pm Drinks & Hors D’Oeuvres All alumni are invited for drinks &
Hermitage Golf Course
honoring a distinguished alumni and a former faculty member
saturday hors d’oeuvres on the Turner Quad.
7:30 pm Class Reunions 1979 • 1984 • 1989 • 1994 • 1999 • 2004 • 2009 • 2014
REGISTER ONLINE FranklinRoadAcademy.com/Alumni Fall/ Winter 2018 | 4700
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ALUMNI EVENTS
Homecoming Alumni Tailgate
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Legacy Breakfast FRA celebrated its 87 legacy students and their parents who are FRA alumni.
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12-Year Club Luncheon The Alumni Association honored 21 seniors who started FRA in first grade, kindergarten, or pre-kindergarten.
Senior Grill on Turner Quad The FRA Alumni Association hosted October’s senior lunch with a grill on Turner Quad. On hand to grill and serve were Tom Woodard ’79, Davis Looney ’08, Matt Nelson ’08, Clif Tant ’94, and Emily Canady Smeykal ’08.
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Alumni Basketball Tournament FIRST PLACE TEAM Flegel’s Jump Shot
Dalton Ponchillia, Chance Bouldin, Andy Smith
1ST
SECOND PLACE TEAM Team Salato
Matt Fortier, Brandon Albright, Hayden Copeland, Bill Whittemore THIRD PLACE TEAM The Hoosiers
Bud Cannon, Ted Bryant, Dalton Glenn BEST TEAM NAME Murph’s Home for Imaginary Friends
Will Tansil, Ro Stevens, Nick Murphy
2ND
3RD
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Mary Anderson IN MEMORIAM BY
NINA DOBBS & GEORGIE GOLDTHORPE
Choose joy! It’s a popular slogan. Simple words, but a challenge for most people. Mary Anderson was not one of those people. Anyone who met her knew that her smile and her bright personality were always at the forefront. She appeared content and happy and found joy in every day. It seems fitting that her middle
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name was Joy. When her parents chose that name, could they have imagined how well it would suit her joyful personality? What a blessing it was for all of us here at FRA to have had Mrs. Anderson in our lives. Her smiling face lit up classrooms, hallways, and theaters, and the impact she had on those she worked with will always be remembered.
Mrs. Anderson’s classroom was a favorite among students who will remember it as a place where everyone could feel successful. In response to the question “is this good?,” Mrs. Anderson would always say “it’s very successful,” and students would smile proudly. They will remember lessons where art was represented in so many mediums, from sculpture to painting to fiber arts. Mrs. Anderson always looked for ways to make art exciting and accessible to all. She spent countless hours prepping materials so that she could get the most out of the time she spent with her students and could often be found at school on the weekend celebrating student work by hanging it in the hallways, sometimes recruiting her family to help! The theater community here at FRA will remember Mrs. Anderson as an assistant director to the middle school musicals. She loved the theater as much as the art room. She had such great ideas for costumes and sets, but most of all had a gift for working with young actors. Always patient and kind, Mrs. Anderson dedicated so much time to providing a rewarding theater experience for our students. The faculty will remember Mary in so many ways. Her jovial spirit was infectious, as was her laugh, and she was such a good friend. She would regularly
share her passion for baking by leaving delicious treats in the teacher workroom, much to the delight of her lower school friends, a favorite of which was her frosted banana bread cake! At Christmastime, Mary would host an art party for the lower school staff, where they got to make a Christmas craft and share the joy of Christmas together, not as colleagues but as friends. Mary will be remembered as a person who always put in the extra effort it takes to make great memories. FRA parents will remember Mrs. Anderson as an exceptional teacher whose love for teaching was evident in the experiences she provided for their children, whether that be the art projects their children were so proud to bring home, after-school help sessions in preparation for the fourth grade art show, or keeping parents informed about play rehearsals. Mrs. Anderson cared about her students, and it shone through her work. Mary was so loved and is so missed. She was a daughter, a mother, a wife, a sister, a friend, a teacher, and a child of God. Mary’s joy was contagious, and her creativity and passion left a lasting mark on everyone who knew her. She chose to live her life joyfully and faithfully and is now at home with her Heavenly Father.
THE MARY ANDERSON COLLECTION In her memory, the lower school staff has given a collection of books to the library that celebrate art, illustration, and creativity. The Mary Anderson Collection will be housed in the lower school library. Mary loved picture books and had a degree in illustration. It is our hope that many children will enjoy these books and be able to remember Mrs. Anderson in this way.
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why I give Stacy & Mark Weeks PA R E N T S O F W O O D Y ’ 1 1 , C A S E Y ’ 1 2 , AND MAGGIE ’14
F
FRA is a special place.
We moved to Nashville in 2005 and began looking for a school for our family. We knew we wanted strong academics, a Christian environment, class sizes small enough that each faculty member could get to know our children, and a strong community of people. We found that at Franklin Road Academy.
At FRA , our children were able to express themselves in all areas of the school to see where they could grow and challenge themselves to be better. This was a safe place for them to do that with full support of the faculty and staff. Our children still talk about the faculty members who had a really positive impact on them and who were great Christian mentors through how they lived. This is especially meaningful.
are passionate about both. Independent schools strive to provide affordable tuition to as many families as possible. To do that, most independent schools set the tuition at a level that covers basic operating expenses of the school. It is important to support the annual fund as well as the capital campaign, if possible, because tuition does not cover new facilities like the new student center or renovated chapel. It also does not provide for new programming and spaces like the Innovation Lab and DNA Lab. These endeavors require funding through philanthropic support. With strong financial support, FRA is able to provide the quality of facilities needed to reflect the education our children are receiving. We are passionate about the Weicker Center for Student Life in particular because we see that as a space where students, families, faculty, and other members of our community can come together. The community environment is one of the special things about FRA , and we see that new facility taking it to an even greater level.
Our children have graduated, but we continue to make FRA a top philanthropic priority because we feel passionately about education and about the school. We strongly believe in the mission of FRA and the product it puts out. One of the best things we can do for the next generation is to provide them with an excellent education. We benefited from people before us giving to FRA so that our kids could have a full educational experience. And to us, helping the next generation of FRA students in that same way is very important.
Our hope for Franklin Road Academy is that it continues to produce graduates who are inspired and equipped to make the world a better place. FRA is better than it has ever been – the focus of academics remains strong, and the community continues after graduation. We hope parents, grandparents, and alumni feel that they can return and be part of the community, stay involved, and are gratified that they are part of a school that is thriving. We see the positive things our graduates are doing as they become adults and enter the workforce.
As parents of alumni and having been involved on the Board of Trustees, we also know the importance of the annual fund and the capital campaign, and we
The vision we have is that FRA is a place to be proud of, a place where positive energy is felt, a place where alumni can say without hesitation that FRA is “my school.”
The goal for our children was to gain a high-quality education and also have the opportunity to join athletic teams, participate in the arts, and be involved in philanthropic work because we knew those opportunities would allow them to build additional skillsets they would need throughout their lives.
The Peach Orchard Hill Society is laying the foundation for future generations of FRA students. We would like to recognize and celebrate alumni and friends who have made provisions for FRA in their estate plans. If you have made a gift plan in support of FRA, or if you would like to become a member of the Peach Orchard Hill Society, please contact Jill Johnson at 615-369-4656.
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YOUR INVESTMENT IN
T H E AN N UAL F UN D EN SUR E S ...
SMALL CLASS SIZES
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOR STUDENTS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
T HANK YOU Thank you to the 2018-19 donors to the Annual Fund, helping FRA fulfill its promise of providing a challenging education experience in an inclusive Christian environment.
WANT TO JOIN T HEM? Your support helps make FRA the extraordinary community our students love with the exceptional quality you have to come expect.
TO D ONAT E To make a donation, simply fill out and mail the attached envelope. You can also go to FranklinRoadAcademy.com and click on “Support.”
FranklinRoadAcademy.com
FRANKLIN ROAD ACADEMY 4700 Franklin Pike Nashville, TN 37220
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1093 Nashville, TN
SPRING 2019 COMMUNITY EVENTS
CAMPS
Student Art Showcase Thursday, April 4 - Friday, April 26 L.M. Crockett Library Highland Games Friday, April 5 - Saturday, April 6 Kennon Track & Field Charlotte’s Web - Upper School Drama Friday, April 26 - Sunday, April 28 Friday - 7 p.m.; Saturday - 2 & 7 p.m.; Sunday - 2 p.m. | Middle School Theater Service Saturday Saturday, April 27 | 9 - 11 a.m. | FRA Campus FRA Golf Classic Thursday, May 2 | 1 p.m. | Hermitage Golf Course
ENRICHMENTS
Hall of Excellence Friday, May 3 | 11 a.m. | Seabury Conference Center
AT H L E T I C S
Wine, Beer, & FRA Cheer Saturday, May 4 | 5 - 7 p.m. | Turner Quad
ACADEMICS
Lower School Musical Friday, May 10 8:30 a.m. Last Names M-Z; 10:30 a.m. Last Names A-L Middle School Theater
REGISTER TODAY! FRACamps.com
Jazz Café Saturday, May 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Turner Quad Visit our website for a complete list of events