FPD Magazine Winter 2014 by FPD Communications

FPD magazine FIRST PRESBYTERIAN DAY SCHOOL

Winter 2014

Welcome to the

Digital Age

FPD implements 1-to-1 Initiative

Inside: Downtown Campus Growing - FPD Goes Global - Leap Forward with Gymnastics

From the

Headmaster Dear FPD Friends and Family, FPD Magazine First Presbyterian Day School 5671 Calvin Drive Macon, Georgia 31210 Phone: (478) 477-6505 www.fpdmacon.org Administration and Staff Gregg Thompson, Headmaster Dr. Barry E. Shealy, Assistant Headmaster Joseph Childs, High School Principal Molly Pearson ’87, Middle School Principal Wade Putnal, Lower School Principal Kris Cutright, Instructional Support Director Charles Parrish, Chief Financial Officer Chris Childers, Facilities Director Cheri Frame ’89, Enrollment Director Jennifer Barfield, Advancement Director Greg Moore ’84, Athletic Director Brad Thompson, College Counselor Andrew Strickland, Fine Arts Director David Bass, Technology Director Beth Burnsed ‘00, Communications Director 2013-2014 Board of Trustees Mrs. Tammy Beall Mr. Rick H. Bonfim Mr. Paul Cable Mrs. Lara Carlton Mrs. Saynor Foshee’86, Chair Mr. Henry Hicks Mrs. Tracy Jones Mrs. Patti Martin The Rev. Chip Miller, Ex Officio Mr. Wynne Pearson ‘96 Mr. Steven Rumford ‘99 Mr. Charles Scurry Mr. Jay Strickland ’81 Mr. Gregg Thompson, Ex Officio Design: Tyler Shores Writing: Beth Burnsed, Chandler Lee, Susan Douglas, Dr. Barry Shealy, Greg Moore Printer: iMedia Photography: Cal Powell, Dabe Shores, Tyler Shores, Andrew Brooks, Beth Burnsed FPD Magazine is published by the First Presbyterian Day School Communications Office. Contents may be re-printed with permission of the school. For questions or comments, e-mail: beth.burnsed@fpdmacon.org

A couple of weeks ago I had an encouraging conversation with one of our parents. She commented on how appreciative she and her husband were for the experiences their children were having. She stated their children had very different extra-curricular and academic interests; they were so pleased at how both were being appropriately stretched and challenged academically and had both connected with amazing opportunities in the arts, athletics and club activities. Their appreciation was not simply that their children were happy; it went deeper than that, their unique interests and talents were supported by their peers and celebrated by the student body as a whole. God is good! At our core we desire that we glorify our Creator God by honoring Him with our best. As parents, teachers and peers, we want to recognize and encourage the unique and special design He has in each of us. To see and hear of our student body faithfully living out of that pursuit is a testimony of this wonderful place we call ‘the Day School.’ It is wonderful to hear of individual and team accomplishments as each strives to perfect their skills and challenge one another to achieve great things. A huge joy is to see our students and families value, appreciate and feel a part of shared accomplishments. God has blessed FPD with a very talented staff to lead, challenge and support reaching for the stars. He has also given us a staff that encourages and embraces the various programs that often ‘compete’ for participants, supporting a mindset of what’s best for each student. What a blessing to have students investing in their God given gifts and parents who encourage and support and cheer on all involved. It’s a blessing to be part of the FPD community and be part of God’s plan to see individual students educated and equipped with their specific abilities to change the world for His glory. Because He is faithful,

Gregg Thompson

CONTENTS 4

Technology for Every Student

Reaching Up, Reaching Out

FPD Implements 1-to-1 initiative

FPD’s students serve the community at home and abroad

FPD Goes Global

International Student Program brings diversity, culture to school family

14 10

FPD Downtown Campus Grows FPD Downtown offers option for families

Paid in Full

Phase I of the Investing In Our Future Campaign complete

Leaping Forward

Vikings take to the mat in preparation for a new gymnastics team

CONNECT WITH FPD

WWW.FPDMACON.ORG

ON THE COVER Lenovo tablet used by FPD’s faculty and students.

TECHNOLOGY Story by Beth Burnsed

for every student

t First Presbyterian Day School, using the most effective instructional tools and practices has always been a priority, Technology in the hands of our master teachers opens educational doors and opportunities previously unavailable. In order for FPD’s students to enter the digital world, they must have the proper skill set along with an awareness of the issues a technology-driven society faces. With this in mind, First Presbyterian Day School’s faculty and staff carefully and prayerfully developed a 1-to-1 Initiative beginning in 2010. The goal: to equip each student with advanced technological access in order to enhance their educational opportunities and prepare them to impact the world for God’s glory in a digital age. After two years of research, review, discussion, and training, FPD implemented the 1-to-1 Initiative at the beginning of the 2013-2014 academic year. The program entails an expansive rollout of iPads, Lenovo X230 tablets, and educational software that provides better student to teacher connectivity, increased learning opportunities, and avenues to impart 21st century skills and address 21st century issues. “We are very pleased with the progress of the 1-to-1 Initiative,” said Gregg Thompson, FPD Headmaster. “It is an extensive undertaking, one of the largest the school has ever taken. We give thanks to the Lord for His guidance during our review process and know that He allowed us to make the best decision for our students.”

“QUOTE” Through the 1-to-1 Initiative, each student in fifth grade through twelfth grade has a school supplied Lenovo tablet equipped with the latest software and connectivity systems. Students study E-texts, stream educational videos, experience virtual field trips, and read online journals. They add images, videos, graphs, and audio clips directly to their notes in Microsoft OneNote and collaborate digitally to complete projects. With DyKnow, a classroom management software, students and teachers are effectively and efficiently connected. While in the classroom, students and teachers view notes and slides simultaneously on the class SMART Board and on their “Technology is second nature to many of individual tablets. Likewise, teachers can these young minds. The iPads build on that.” digitally log on and view each student’s - Wade Putnal, work to assist as needed in a timely Lower School Principal manner. This connectivity allows for participation and discussion rather than that curriculum. Technology is second nature to many of dictation and transcription. these young minds. The iPads build on that.” “From chalkboards to SMART Boards and now the power of interactive digital content and shared notebooks, it is exciting to see the tools available to support our students as they engage content and develop 21st century knowledge,” said Dr. Barry Shealy, FPD’s Assistant Headmaster and Curriculum Director. “We want students to learn to use the technology tools they will use in college and beyond. We also want students to recognize and address issues that our technological society faces.” While fifth grade through twelfth grade students are logging in to personal tablets, students in 3K through fourth grade are busy operating classroom iPads. The iPads are equipped with apps that supplement their lessons in a way that is fun and engaging. In fourth grade, students go through tablet training in the elementary tablet lab. In the lab, Mrs. Laurie Colter, Elementary Instructional Technology Specialist, prepares the students to transition to the Lenovo tablets in fifth grade. “We already had a solid curriculum,” says Wade Putnal, Lower School Principal. “The iPads allow us to enhance

Keeping teachers and faculty abreast on the latest technology is as key to the success of the 1-to-1 Initiative as training the students. FPD’s faculty and staff meet regularly to discuss technology opportunities, collaborate on creative ideas, and answer questions. To supplement these efforts, a team from the University of Georgia’s Educational Technology Training Center visits the school to educate the faculty on emerging technology and programs. FPD’s staff is committed to remaining at forefront of educational technology, ensuring our students have the information and tools they need to be successful. In order change the world for God’s glory, it is imperative that FPD’s students are equipped with the proper digital knowledge and understand how to approach our technology driven society with a biblical worldview. As parents and teachers, it is our job to prepare them.

Technology In The Classroom Using technology to enhance education

Anna Hooper – First Grade

Anna Hooper’s first grade class has the joy of learning through iPad technology. During center time, the young students rotate between various activities, one of them being an iPad center. “A favorite game is Hungry Fish,” says Hooper. “The goal of the game is to solve addition and subtraction problems in order to provide food for a fish that grows each time the student answers correctly.” Other apps include a story-telling program called Storia and a spelling game called Rocket Speller. The iPads are engaging and interactive, teaching lessons as well as improving fine motor skills.

Lisa Spear – Middle School Geography

Lisa Spear’s class doesn’t just read about the world, they actually travel to other continents through virtual field trips. “We are studying Africa and Asia. With tablet technology, we are able to go to those places and view first hand what they are like,” says Spear. “We’ve never been able to do that before. The students are more engaged when they can actually see videos and hear the dialect on their own personal computers.”

Andrew Berndt – High School Math

With the advent of the tablet computers, Andrew Berndt decided to “flip” his classroom. Flipping the classroom is a method of teaching in which the students review lessons at home and work math problems in the classroom. “I use Moodle to give the students video lectures to watch at home so we can use the classroom setting to complete worksheets,” says Berndt. “They enjoy this format because they have more access to me, the teacher, when they are working problems instead of trying to work them at home alone.”

Why it works Top 5 Benefits of the 1-to-1 Initiative Top 5 Benefits of the 1-to-1 Initiative

1. Access to content

Students have access to online learning resources that amplify their lessons. These include online journals, etexts, and streaming video from educational networks such as The Discovery Channel, The History Channel, and Screenvue.

2. Critically engaged learning

Technology improves instruction by allowing for lesson discussion rather that basic dictation. Interactive media, educational software application, and classroom connection allow teachers to collaborate with students.

3. Meaningful & Creative Expression

The tablets provide both standard productivity tools as well as those for developing oral, visual, collaborative and multimedia composition skills using both keypad and stylus.

4. Connection to the teacher

Digital notebooks in the classroom are shared. Teachers can review the notes, homework, and quizzes of their students and provide feedback in a timely manner. Teachers also have access to classroom tablet monitoring capabilities to better oversee the classroom.

5. 21st century skills and issues

Students gain vital technology skill sets as well as critical thinking abilities to operate in a digital world. Our digital society introduces students to new issues. By introducing technology in a classroom setting, we are also able to address those issues in an educational manner and prepare the students to approach them with a Biblical worldview.

Reaching Up, Reaching Out

FPD’s students serve the community at home and abroad

ommunity service is embedded in First Presbyterian Day School’s curriculum. Each high school student must complete 120 hours of service before graduation. Projects include local outreach opportunities at youth camps, food banks and shelters as well as global projects that entail extended stays in communities around the world. By participating in these projects, students soon learn they receive more than they give when they serve others. We asked some of our eleventh and twelfth graders:

“What community service experience impacted you the most?” Tucker Braddy, 12th grade

Allie Ballard, 11th grade

In the Summer of 2013, a few students traveled to Freeport, Bahamas to paint and repair the Resource Center, a facility used to teach people who live there a certain craft. The most gratifying portion of the project was visiting the village and talking to the poorest people I have ever seen in my life about what their lives are like. Their situation was really terrible, but they were still kind and talkative. This inspired me to live my life a bit differently, to be thankful for what I have and not be materialistic.

I volunteered at a fall festival at Camp Grace this past year. Camp Grace is a camp for kids in Middle Georgia who have broken homes and a hard life. When the kids arrive at camp, all of their burdens are washed away and they have the biggest smiles on their faces. I will always remember one boy who was about eight years old. I was working at the make-up booth when this sweet little boy walked over with a huge smile on his face. He started talking and when we asked if he was having fun, he responded, “Camp Grace is like heaven!”

Students serving in Freeport, Bahamas

This is why I love working on service projects with our school. Although I am there to help others, they usually end up helping me by showing me that the meaning of life is much more than I realize.

Ru Yi Maron, 11th grade

Noah Lefholz, 12th grade

During the summer, Project Lead took a service trip to Atlanta. There, we spent several days helping with assorted ministries. The part I remember the most was a trip into a very poor neighborhood. It was a typical rundown sprawl of small homes, simply tucked behind a much better maintained stretch of road. You would have difficulty seeing it from the street.

Once I started going to service projects and helping others, I saw the positive effect it had not only on the people I served, but also on me. The most influential trip I went on was to the Bahamas in the Summer of 2013. At their Resource Center, we repaired buildings, painted walls, taught the women how to craft different things, and cut the grass. Everyone was so thankful for the things we were doing that I just wanted to keep helping them.

We brought a large assortment of lunches with us to give to the children. After lunch, we brought out a Frisbee, and kids led us to an old soccer field where we taught them how to play Ultimate Frisbee. The result was an hour long game that seemed to make the children extremely happy. While playing a game for an hour may have seemed small, it allowed us to brighten the lives of the kids.

It’s true that when you are in the service of others, you are in the service of the Lord. You can feel the Spirit when you serve others and that makes it worth it. I’m thankful that FPD has implemented the community service program and am glad that I had the opportunity to serve others.

Anna Smith, 12th grade The spring of 2013 changed my life forever. I was a member of an eleven person team that went to an orphanage in Acapulco, Mexico called Casa Hogar. While there, our team helped build new dorms for the kids and led Vacation Bible School. It was the joyful faces of the kids that made me realize how dear this place was to my heart. On the last night of the trip, we took a tour of the kids’ rooms, and I felt my heart break. Each child slept on nothing more than a strip of cloth and springs.

“Although I am there to help others, they usually end up helping me by showing me the meaning of life is much more than I realize.” - Allie Ballard

Our team felt like God put it in our hearts to raise money for new mattresses for the children of Casa Hogar. Through various fund-raisers, we have collected $1,400 to put toward new mattresses for the children. We are not stopping and hope to raise around $12,000.

Anna Smith, 12th grade student, serving in Atlanta

Allie Ballard, 11th grade student, with two children during Atlanta service project

FPD GOES GLOBAL International Student Program brings diversity, culture to school family

You might call it a modern-day, Macon “melting pot.” Some of the brightest and best young people from faraway lands on the other side of the globe have now traveled to Macon to join the family here at First Presbyterian Day School. This fall, our school welcomed nine international students to the main campus. These students have made the long journey from places like China and Vietnam to enroll as full-time high school students in an American school. They range in age from 15-18, and have left behind parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, and many friends, for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live and learn in another culture. “We are so blessed to have them here,” said Cheri Frame, Director of Enrollment. “They bring a whole new dimension to our growing, diverse student population.”

By Susan Douglas

One of the reasons these international young people chose FPD is to learn and develop their skills in conversational English. Another of their goals is to fully immerse themselves in the home-life and culture of an American family. They have enjoyed football and basketball games, tailgating, going to the movies, eating at Chick-fil-A, and some even made a trip to the “Buck-aRama” recently in Perry. They are enrolled in typical high school classes, involved in extra-curricular activities, and fully participate in the life of the school.

“

I am so happy to be at FPD and to be in America,” Harry said. “I really love it here.”

Say“Hello” (Chinese)

nǐ hǎo “knee - how”

(Vietnamese)

xin chào “seen - chow”

Above: Rev. Chip Miller and ESL teacher, Hannah Oesch. Right: Hannah Oesch assists international students with their studies. Opposite page: International Students with Tracey Elliott, Program Coordinator.

Additionally, just as all FPD students take Bible courses as part of their curriculum, the international students are also taking Introduction to the Bible and Christianity - being taught by Rev. Chip Miller, pastor of First Presbyterian Church. The class format allows for discussion of biblical narrative and principles at an introductory level as many of our international students have very little Bible knowledge. To assist and support the students academically, FPD was pleased to hire Hannah Oesch as a certified ESL (English as a Second Language) instructor. She works closely with the FPD faculty, offering tutorial services to the young people and serving as an interpreter when needed. Another new staff member, Tracey Elliott, is overall coordinator for the program, sometimes filling the role of “mom” to many of the students. She works closely with several organizations to bring some of these students to Macon. Harry, a sophomore from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, says Macon is “calm and quiet” compared to his home city of 7.5 million people. He likes photography and riding a motorcycle. “I am so happy to be at FPD and to be in America,” Harry said. “I really love it here.” FPD’s program was first discussed about five years ago, with a consortium of other schools investigating similar models. It has grown from two students in the past two years, to the current nine enrolled students. The future looks bright as the school partners with these students to

bring a different perspective and culture into the classroom. Gregg Thompson, FPD Headmaster, is excited about the growth of the project. “The continuing interest in the program and the welcome of our FPD families as hosts has allowed our school to more fully meet the needs of the international students. This gives us a solid foundation for future opportunities,” he said. Over the next few years, FPD will continue expanding our international program. Recently, Dr. Barry Shealy, Assistant Headmaster, visited China to develop key relationships with some of their high schools. These relationships lay the foundation for a future full of possibilities.

Above: International student, Tia Ouyang

Building Bridges at The Wall Assistant Headmaster Dr. Barry Shealy travels to China.

By Dr. Barry Shealy

n December, I joined administrators from Wesleyan College on a visit to schools in two cities in China. FPD parent and Wesleyan Admissions Director Steve Farr regularly travels internationally to recruit students and establish relationships between Wesleyan and other educational organizations. For this trip, Dr. Bob Veto, Stratford’s Headmaster, and I joined Steve Farr and Dr. Vivia Fowler, Wesleyan Provost. In making the trip, I hoped to gain a better understanding of Chinese education and culture so that we could better serve our international students. Second, I hoped to increase awareness of FPD in China to support our own recruitment of international students. Third, I hoped to explore the possibility of establishing sister-school relationships that might help all of our students and faculty increase our understanding of the world we live in. In Shanghai, we were guests of the China Welfare Institute – a humanitarian organization founded by Wesleyan grad, Soong Ching Ling. The school includes a multicultural division that provides English-Mandarin bilingual education for students in kindergarten through seventh grade. The teacher of the second grade class I visited was from Florida and we studied action verbs with a fun reading of The Gingerbread Man.

A sister-school relationship would include exchange of information and projects where our students could communicate and make connections with students in China.

We also visited two top high schools in Shanghai and Guangzhou. The high schools we visited were all higher tier schools. We were treated to presentations of student scientific research, tours led by students, and a news broadcast about our visit filmed and produced by students while we were there. Due to the size of the cities, transportation options, and the way students are selected for schools, all of the schools are boarding schools. Schools have classes or reading/reciting sessions from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a break for lunch. After an hour off for dinner and recreation, students in middle and high school return for study sessions that can last from 8:30 p.m. to as late as 11 p.m. depending on the school. A sister-school relationship would include exchange of information and projects where our students could communicate and make connections with students in China. It could also include short-term trips for our students and faculty to China and reciprocal visits from their schools. We will begin study and discussions to see what activities we want to pursue that would benefit our students and families as well as provide benefit to the schools in China. We hope that these types of international relationships will continue to help FPD “educate and equip students to change the world for God’s glory.”

VIKING ROBOTICS With a multitude of wires and bolts, hours of computer programming, and a wealth of ingenuity, FPD’s Robotics Teams are astounding the competition. “Robotics brings together every aspect of academics,” says Carole Myers, who oversees the elementary, middle, and high school robotics teams. “I first saw the concept at a convention and knew robotics needed to be implemented in every educational curriculum.” The robotics teams spend countless hours designing fully functional, complex robots that must complete specific tasks, called missions, issued by the FIRST Organization. FIRST stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology”. FIRST’s goal is to show students of every age that science, technology, and problem solving are not only fun and rewarding, but also proven paths to successful careers and a bright future. Elementary & Middle School Robotics Team

High School Robotics Team

FPD’s elementary and middle school students compete in the FIRST Lego League. The FIRST Lego League presents teams with an annual challenge based on real world issues. This year the challenge was called Nature’s Fury and revolved around implementing solutions for communities to “prepare, stay safe, and rebuild” when facing natural disasters. The students are judged not only on the success of their robots, but also their ability to develop products or processes that are not currently available. Members of the FPD team developed a lightening strike prediction model as well as an emergency pet care kit.

FPD’s high school students compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge. Much like a sports competition, teams compete head to head in regional, state, and national competitions. The teams are judged based on the performance of their robots in a series of challenges.

Their designs led them to win “Best Mechanical Design” at the Region Tournament in December. They progress to the state competition in February.

This year the FPD high school team won first place in their regional competition and will go to the state competition in February.

This is the first year FPD’s Robotics Teams at both levels will compete at the state competition. Go Vikings! 13

FPD DOWNTOWN

CAMPUS GROWS

pening its doors in August 2011, FPD Downtown is growing into a vibrant part of the Macon community. Housed in the colorfully decorated rooms of First Presbyterian Church’s preschool and Sunday school wing, the campus provides a welcoming and engaging environment for young minds. “With a beautiful facility and an advanced, Christcentered education,” said Wade Putnal, Lower School Principal, “it’s one of downtown’s best kept secrets.” The downtown campus currently hosts students from 3K – Kindergarten with plans to extend to first grade in the 2014-2015 school year and continue to expand up to fifth grade in future years. FPD Downtown’s curriculum mirrors that at the main campus, with access to the same technology and learning opportunities. On a typical school day, students can be found writing on Smart Boards, practicing penmanship in their handwriting journals, and learning through interactive games on their iPads. Teachers from FPD’s Main Campus regularly visit

the downtown classes to teach Spanish, music, and science. “One of the best parts about our campus,” says Jean O’Dillon, FPD Downtown Extended Day Director, “is our ability to provide a biblically-founded, wellrounded education for the children of parents who work downtown. We have many parents who are employed by the Medical Center of Central Georgia, Mercer, Coliseum Hospital, Geico, and other area businesses. By choosing our campus, they are just minutes away from their children during the school day.” Students at the downtown campus enjoy field trips to some of Macon’s treasures such as the Grand Opera House’s Grand Kids programs, the Hay House’s Hay Days, and the Washington Library’s puppet shows. Amanda’s Bakery is also a favorite. The bakery occasionally prepares undecorated cupcakes for the children to decorate. FPD Downtown is well positioned to provide a solid, Christ-centered education for the children of parents who live or work downtown. After school programs are available for enrolled students until . 6 p.m. and early drop off is available beginning at 7:30 a.m. Childcare is also an option on school holidays and during the summer.

For more information about FPD Downtown, contact Cheri Frame, Director of Enrollment at (478) 477-4774.

Interview with Allison Lucas, Kindergarten Teacher at FPD Downtown What are some of the joys you experience as a teacher at FPD? Watching children learn to read and develop skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. What do you think is so special about FPD’s Downtown Campus? We love to take the children on field trips to the many historic buildings in the downtown area. We are able to participate in the Cherry Blossom activities and go to the Grand Opera House’s Grand Kids series. Do you have a particular teacher who inspired you? When I was in second grade, I had a wonderful teacher – Mrs. Toot Mixon, the mother of our elementary school principal, Mrs. Wade Putnal. Final comments for any parent considering FPD’s Downtown Campus? Come visit and let us show you what we have to offer. We are excited to be a growing part of FPD.

Student life at the downtown campus.

Phase I of FPD’s Investing in Our Future Campaign is Complete

o God’s glory, Phase I of FPD’s Investing in Our Future Campaign wrapped up Summer 2013 with support exceeding $3 million. The result – a beautiful 20,000 square foot addition to the Clark Fine Arts Center, a 1,200 square foot addition to the Middlebrooks Athletic Center weight room, and initial funding for the development of a new multi-purpose athletic field. “We are thrilled to see Phase I of our campaign come to completion,” said Jennifer Barfield, Advancement Director. “God has blessed us with many wonderful friends, families, and alumni who continue to support our ongoing efforts to grow and enhance FPD.” The cornerstone of the campaign, the addition to the Clark Fine Arts Center, opened its doors August 2013. The facility expansion provides much needed additional space for the fine arts program. New rooms on the first floor were added for elementary music, dance and art as well as storage space and set building space for theatrical productions. The second floor houses the state-of-the-art Mac Lab, high school chorus room, and the Center for Student Success, which provides instructional support for elementary, middle, and high school students. Also on the second floor is a beautiful art gallery for display of two-dimensional and threedimensional art.

Story by Beth Burnsed

“We are so blessed to be working out of this new facility,” says Mindy Krejci, FPD Elementary Music Teacher. “The space and equipment allow us to effectively develop our young musical talent.” Phase II of the Investing in Our Future Campaign is also well underway and includes the George Peake & Ann Peake Cross Country Trail, fully funded and opened in October 2013. The Peakes along with FPD parents, faculty, friends, and alumni unveiled the trail on October 19, complete with the family friendly Day School Dash 5K and 1 mile fun run. Other Phase II projects include the Dick Frame Track Project, the Johnson Stadium Renovation Project, and completion of a new multi-purpose field primarilly for lacrosse.

“God continues to provide the resources we need to move FPD forward on a solid foundation,” said Gregg Thompson, FPD Headmaster. “We are grateful for the many supporters who provided these resources for students to grow and thrive.” For more information about the Investing in Our FutureCampaign, contact FPD’s Advancement Office at (478) 477-6505 ext. 190.

Fine Art Gallery

Dance Practice Room

Chorus Room

Mac Lab

NEW STADIUM

A fresh battlefield for the Vikings

Story by Chandler Lee

FPD was forced to call an audible in the spring of 2013.

Fast-forward four months after torrential rains and construction delays and FPD was ready for opening night against George Walton on August 30.

The press box that had seen many Viking football and track and field memories was demolished in the blink of an eye, blown away by a severe thunderstorm that hit the central Georgia area.

George S. Johnson Stadium had a new look, but retained its precious traditions.

Clean up crews arrived minutes after the storm had passed, assessing the damage and clearing the way for school to begin the next day. But the question remained – what was FPD to do in order to establish a press box for the upcoming football season? The answer was a simple one for Athletic Director and head football coach Greg Moore: rebuild it and make it better. “A lot was happening in a very short period of time,” Moore said. “The number of people that worked so well together to make everything come together as quick as it did was exciting.”

“I think we’ve done a nice job in the stadium of honoring George S. Johnson and his service to the school,” Moore said. “There’s quite a bit of history here and we are pleased with how things turned out with Johnson Stadium as the central hub for a good bit of it.” The home side and the visiting sides were swapped and new stainless steel grandstands stood in the place of concrete bleachers that had stood for decades. Accompanied by the fresh look of the new grandstands are complete fold-down chairs, black in color, and on top of it all – a new press box, incorporated with the newest sound technology for Viking fans to enjoy a game on a Friday night or a track meet during the spring. But FPD didn’t stop there.

C s a

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Coupled with the opportunity to add a new facelift to its stadium, the FPD Board of Trustees and Administration all joined forces to name the actual playing surface. “We were excited to be dedicating the field to Austin (Childers) to serve as a reminder of what our studentathletes stand for,” Moore said. Moore announced the decision to a small group at Pine Pointe Hospice Care on May 21 with Austin in attendance. On August 30th, over three thousand fans packed the stands and lined the fences at George S. Johnson Stadium to officially dedicate Austin Childers Field. A

new scoreboard honoring Austin was also erected. Childers, a 2009 graduate who continues to battle a rare form of mitochondrial disease, was in attendance. A state-of-the-art track and field scoreboard commemorating Dick Frame has been added and plans are in place for further renovations as the school continues to grow. “Not a lot of schools house their own stadiums, so that’s something we don’t take lightly,” Moore said. “We have a lot going on at our school now and having that stadium be a marquee part of our athletic facilities is important.”

Leaping Forward

Story by Beth Burnsed

Vikings take to the mat in preparation for a new gymnastics season

Left to Right: Coach Chelsea Wegesin, Janie Beeland, Emily Jones, Caroline Radcliff, Meredith Hunnicutt, Coach Sarah Nixon

With great joy and thankfulness, First Presbyterian Day School is honored to introduce the inaugural Viking Gymnastics Team. Members of the team are Caroline Radcliff (9th), Emily Jones (9th), Janie Beeland (10th), and Meredith Hunnicutt (11th). Each student athlete has been an active gymnast for years. Now they join together as a cohesive unit, representing the school they love in a sport they adore. FPD began conversations regarding a gymnastics program two years ago. In the fall of 2013, Chelsea Wegesin was selected as head coach and Sara Nixon as assistant coach. Coach Chelsea Wegesin, a graduate of Berry College, trained in gymnastics since she was two years old and participated in competitive gymnastics while in high school. When not in the gym, Wegesin enjoys Ultimate Frisbee, wake surfing, and reading. She also serves as

FPD’s seventh grade English teacher. Coach Sarah Nixon attended Columbia International University. She has participated in gymnastics since she was seven years old and has coached for ten years. Nixon holds a degree in Bible and Youth Ministry and teaches high school Bible. After the selection of the coaches, all that remained unfilled was a location for practices and training. That is where Macon’s The Gym Nest came to the rescue. The gymnastics training school agreed to partner with FPD for equipment and facility usage. On January 13, 2014, the Viking Gymnastics Team hosted their first practice. “We are excited that we can offer another athletic opportunity for our students. We are fortunate to have Coach Wegesin and Coach Nixon on board working with our girls,” said Greg Moore, FPD Athletic Director, “and thankful for The Gym Nest in their partnership with us.”

The first season of competition begins in February and runs through the end of the GHSA season in April. Spectators are welcome to attend the meets, which take place at host schools. FPD gymnasts will show their prowess in all four events – vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise. “I am very thankful to God for this opportunity,” says Coach Wegesin. “The team has a lot of talent and it is a joy to work with them. They will represent our school well.” “It is great to represent FPD,” says team member Hunnicutt, “I not only get to glorify God, but represent my school as well. Gymnastics has always been something I strive to work hard at, so it is great to experience it with my classmates and coaches.” For more information on the FPD gymnastics program and ways to support, contact Wegesin at chelsea.wegesin@fpdmacon.org.

2014 Gymnastics Schedule DAY

DATE

LOCATION

Saturday

Feb. 15

Sequoya HS

Saturday

Mar. 15

Jones Co. HS

Friday

Mar. 21

Dunwoody HS

Tuesday

Mar. 25

Lovett School

Tuesday

Apr. 8

Lovett School

SPORTS RECAP FOOTBALL (6-5, 5-2 Region 7A) The Vikings advanced to the GHSA Class-A State Playoffs for a third consecutive season and fell to Calvary Day 42-35 in its first round game. After an 0-2 start to the season, the Red & Black rattled off key wins, including victories over Pace Academy, Wilkinson County and GMC. Twelve Vikings were named to the All-Middle Georgia Team, highlighted First-Team selection Will Black (Sr.). Sophomore O’Showen Williams and senior Martin Wilson also picked up Second-Team honors. Black, Williams and senior defensive lineman Caleb Samuel were recognized at the state level too, earning spots on the Georgia Sportswriters Association All-State Team. FPD won five straight from October 4 to November 5 and will look to replace a strong graduating senior class. The future looks bright for the Vikings, who will return sophomore quarterback Will McCormick and sophomore running back Reggie Gantt. SOFTBALL (23-10, 5-3 Region 7A) The Lady Vikings advanced to the GHSA Class A Elite Eight for the first time in school history after winning its first round playoff series against Athens Christian in two games. FPD’s deep postseason run ended in the Final Four with a loss to Prince Avenue. FPD was led on the mound all year by freshman pitcher Carli Sutton (20-8). For their efforts, eight softball players were named AllMiddle Georgia by The Macon Telegraph, highlighted by First-Team members Courtney Lawrence and Carli Sutton. Junior Sumner Carlton joined Lawrence and Sutton on the Second-Team while Caitlin Collins, Mary Micah Lee, Lizzie Reed, Maggie Renfroe and Emily Rutledge were named as honorable mentions. The Vikings graduate two seniors, Mary Micah Lee and Caitlin Collins and will look to advance to the state championship next season. WRESTLING The FPD wrestling team has been busy on the mat all winter competing in top tournaments throughout the state. The Vikings traveled to wrestle in the Prep Slam at Holy Innocents in Atlanta, which features some of the top

wrestlers in the southeast. FPD also hosted three meets throughout the year on January 7, 21 and 28, all against various middle Georgia public schools. The wrestling program continues to grow in numbers, led by senior Martin Wilson and nine freshmen. VOLLEYBALL (17-21-3) In just its second year as a varsity program, the FPD volleyball team qualified for the GHSA Class-A State Playoffs for a second consecutive season. The Lady Vikings finished second in the region, earning the right to host its first round playoff series against Paideia, eventually falling in three games. FPD will graduate four seniors from this years’ squad: Olivia Taylor, Lizzie Lisenby, Callie Wilson and Anna Smith. For her efforts, Taylor was placed on the All-Middle Georgia Team as an honorable mention. CROSS COUNTRY The FPD girls and boys cross country teams won the GHSA Area-1 Meet at the Georgia Children’s Home and advanced to the Class-A State Meet on November 9. At the state meet, the girls finished in fourth place, led by Jessica Smith’s eighth place finish at 20:19. The boys took sixth place at state, paced by Will Martin’s ninth place finish at 17:27. FPD graduates 12 seniors combined from both teams. Martin, a sophomore, was the lone Viking on the AllMiddle Georgia Boys Team while Savannah Phillips, Katie O’Quinn, Jessica Smith and Mckenzie Peterson made the girls’ squad. COMPETITION CHEERLEADING The FPD competition cheerleading team advanced to the GHSA Class-A State Finals for the second consecutive season after finishing in the Top-8 in its Sectional Competition. FPD will look to replace it’s two seniors (Marah Bond and Susanna Shell) going into next year’s competition schedule. BOYS BASKETBALL The boys basketball team has been in rebuilding mode through the course of the season.

At the time of print, the Vikings have been led in scoring by senior guard T.J. Sams (23.5 points per game) and senior Caleb Samuel (8.7 ppg). Key Viking victories include wins over Schley County and South Gwinnett at the GMC Shootout. SWIMMING The girls and boys swim teams finished the 2013-14 season, hosting the One Last Splash Meet at the Northside Pool in Macon with the boys taking first place and the girls posting a fourth place finish overall. The boys team won three meets throughout the course of the season. FPD placed first at the Georgia College meet on December 4 as well as taking a first place spot at a meet at the Northside Pool on January 4 before claiming the top spot at the last meet on January 24. Senior Gerald Johnson qualified for the GHSA State Meet on January 13, clocking in with a time of 5:17.39 in the 500-yard freestyle event. The Vikings’ senior class of Johnson, Conner Bridges, James Collins, Jake Peavy and Paul Young helped continue to build the FPD swim team into a strong program in the GHSA. The girls team placed second twice during the 2013-14 campaign, the first coming on December 4 at Georgia College and then on January 10 at the Northside Pool. The Lady Vikings were paced by seniors Mary Helen Douglas, Emily Goldin, Brenley Martinez and Elizabeth Smith. GIRLS BASKETBALL (14-7, 6-2 Region 7A) The girls basketball team has consistently been in the top-25 of the GHSA Class-A Power Ratings all season and will look to advance to the GHSA State Playoffs after just missing out a year ago. The Lady Vikings are led by the senior trio of Savannah Phillips, Caroline Stroud and Lizzie Lisenby. Key Lady Viking victories this season include Houston County, Hancock Central and Putnam County. FPD has also rattled off two four-game winning streaks over the course of the season to set up a possible postseason position.

GHSA

UPDATE

By Chandler Lee

The GHSA Reclassification Committee met Wednesday, December 3, to place member schools into Regions for the new 2014-16 cycle of interscholastic competition. The Vikings remained in their previously appointed Region 7-A for the new cycle, and they were joined by three other Macon private schools making their initial transition to the GHSA.

“We welcome our friends in Macon and look forward to the opportunity to renew some healthy rivalries locally.” - Greg Moore, Athletic Director Stratford, Tattnall, and Mount de Sales will join FPD in Subdivision A of Region 7, along with Twiggs County, Wilkinson County, and the Georgia Academy for the Blind. Subdivision B will be comprised of Aquinas, Lincoln County, GMC, Glascock County, Hancock, Taliaferro County, and Warren County. “We have enjoyed the competition in Region 7-A, so we’re glad to stay there and get a chance to build on those relationships,” FPD Athletic Director Greg Moore said to the Macon Telegraph. “At the same time, we welcome our friends in Macon and look forward to the opportunity to renew some healthy rivalries locally. Our region is tough, and it just got tougher -- that’s for sure.” The GHSA Executive Committee officially ratified the proposal for region placements at its January meeting in Macon.

Visit FPD’s sports website, www.fpdvikings.com, for updates all season long.

Charlotte’s Web was performed September 2527 in the Clark Fine Arts Center Auditorium by nearly fifty 3rd-5th grade students. The show was performed once for the elementary school and twice in the evening for families and the community.

FPD Theatre’s production of Elephant’s Graveyard was extremely successful in competition, winning the Runner-Up trophy for the area competition and All-Star Cast recognition for Carine Cerny in recognition of her outstanding portrayal of the Clown.

Rehearsals are also underway for the spring musical, SHREK. If you liked the movie, you will be blown away by the stage show with its amazing score, deeper look into the backstories of the characters, and its increased attention on the fairy tale creatures from the film. Performances will be March 6-8 at 7p.m.

EMPTY BOWLS C

FEED PLENTY

all them what you like – beautiful pieces of pottery, bowls for hot soup, or acts of kindness – but the bowls designed and created by First Presbyterian Day School’s art students are creative works that serve hundreds.

In early January, FPD’s fifth grade through twelfth grade art students designed, crafted, and sculpted over 250 bowls as part of Empty Bowls, a community service project that combines art with outreach.

“We are thrilled to join the Empty Bowls project,” said Nancy Butler, High School Art Teacher. “It’s creative, it’s fun, and it’s a wonderful way to give back.”

FPD’s Community Service Coordinator, Holly Scott agrees. “It is rare that a project comes along that combines multiple school programs and parent involvement,” says Scott. “Empty Bowls does that. The artwork is amazing and it’s a great way to raise awareness about hunger in our country and in our community.”

After being glazed and fired, the students’ creations were ready to be filled. That is where FPD’s dedicated parent volunteers joined in. This year, eighteen parents offered to chop, dice, mix and simmer to create a variety of delicious soups and stews. Another eighteen offered to make accompanying bread and crackers. The handcrafted bowls were paired with these homemade dishes and sold at a FPD home basketball game on January 31.

FPD’s Empty Bowls project, now in its third year, is part of a national program. Created by the Image Render Group, the Empty Bowls program began as a grassroots effort to raise both money and awareness in the fight to end hunger. Schools and community organizations across the world have adopted the program, allowing it to grow exponentially.

The project raised over $1000, which went to benefit Macon Outreach and Daybreak.

For more information about Empty Bowls visit

www.emptybowls.org.

NOTES FROM THE CLASSROOM GMEA All State Band William Roddenberry – Trombone Carine Cerny – French Horn Nicholas Shealy – French Horn Matthew Wright – Tuba Andrew Cerny – Percussion John Drinkwater – Clarinet

Left to Right: William Roddenberry, Carine Cerny, Nicholas Shealy, Matthew Wright, Andrew Cerny, John Drinkwater

8th grade Orlando trip Eighth grade students and teachers traveled to Orlando for three days in November. Prior to the trip, students studied the Everglade ecosystem to learn about the wildlife and plants of this unique region. While in Orlando, they took an airboat ride through the swampy headwaters of the Everglades on Lake Tohopekaliga and viewed the wildlife they studied, everything from rare snails to bald eagles and of course gators! Students also spent a day at SeaWorld where they were given a behindthe-scenes tour of how staff care for the animals. To conclude the trip, they were entertained at a Mystery Dinner. During the dinner they had to work as a team to solve a murder mystery while enjoying a fine four-course meal. It was a great way to celebrate their final year in middle school and bond as a class.

Keeping The Kitchen Fire Free FPD 6th grade students Benjamin Hibbitts and Braxton Jones received second and third place in Macon-Bibb County’s fire prevention essay contest. Their writings dealt with how to prevent kitchen fires. The two were recognized at the Annual Fire Prevention Week Ceremony at the Macon Mall.

Letters to Peru Mrs. Clausenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third grade had the opportunity to participate in an Ingleside Baptist Church mission project to Peru. The class wrote letters in Spanish, gathered pencils, and prepared a video greeting in Spanish to send along with the team. The mission trip involves Vacation Bible School training for pastors in the country.

Clean, Green Campus Sixth grade teacher, Dianne Hattaway, and Elementary Science Teacher, Jenny Clausen, incorporated lessons in science with recycling initiatives. Students in 3K through 5th grade engaged in classroom and science lab lessons regarding waste reduction and recycling. Elementary students, by grade level, are responsible for keeping areas of campus litter free and nice. Middle School participants are recruiting students to join an Environmental Club. High School students carry out specific community service activities related to eco-consciousness. Part of the program includes the placement of green bins (pictured right) on campus to collect paper for recycling.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

A Note of Inspiration FPD Alumna Dottie Moody Clendenin

With a simple, unprompted performance by her father, First Presbyterian Day School alumna, Dottie Moody Clendenin fell in love with the piano. “One evening, my father pulled out an old piano in our basement and began playing,” says Clendenin. “Before then, we never knew he played the piano. From that point forward, I was hooked.” Clendenin’s father continued to foster her love for music by taking her to performances of the Macon Symphony Orchestra and the Macon Little Theater. She became enamored with all genres of music from Baroque to Broadway. Her passion soon turned in to a career and a ministry. “The Lord has given me a talent and the time that I can use to share His love,” says Clendenin. “I consider it such a blessing.”

On December 5, 2013, Dottie shared her testimony and her music with the middle and high school students at First Presbyterian Day School. During her speech she gave the students an analogy of ducks and eagles. “A duck is someone who always complains and puts others down,” Clendenin explained. “An eagle soars above everyone. I know ‘eagle’ is not a favored word at FPD, but be an eagle!” Clendenin is an eagle. She has an interminable drive to follow her dreams. She has produced two albums and has performed at venues all over the world. Most importantly, everywhere she goes, she uplifts those who listen to her message and encourages them to dream big. “God gives each of us talents,” Clendenin encourages. “Use them to change the world.”

Clendenin’s first CD is entitled “The Christmas Collection” and contains a variety of holiday favorites. Her second album, “Cool Beans”, was released in October and is a collection of timeless favorites. More information is available on her website, www.dottieplayspiano.com.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

A Pilot for the President FPD Alumnus Captain Phillips Jones

“

If you told me my senior year at FPD that I’d be flying Marine One, I would not have believed you,” claims FPP Alumnus, Captain Phillips Jones. That statement would probably be true for anyone. Yet, fourteen years later, that is exactly what Jones does on a daily basis. After graduating from FPD in 2000, Jones attended Samford University and considered going to law school. However, his long-time interest in aviation kept drawing him toward the skies. “I was always fascinated with aviation as a kid,” he states, “and it’s something that I still have not outgrown after making it my career.”

Jones decided to follow his heart and applied for an “Air Contract” commission with the Marine Corps in 2004.

“I joined the Marines for several reasons,” explains Jones. “First, I liked the idea of the work I would be doing. I thought it would be exciting and unique. More or less, I wanted to go on an adventure and get paid for it. Second, I felt like I had been given a lot, from my upbringing through FPD and Samford. I wanted to give back in some small measure of service. Third, I believed in the struggle our country was engaged in overseas.” Jones made it through Quantico’s grueling Officer Candidate School before progressing to flight school in the fall of 2005. Jones winged in the summer of 2007 and was fortunate enough to get his first choice in fleet aircraft, the CH-53E “Super Stallion.” He transferred to San Diego, California, where he was later deployed three times to Afghanistan in 2008, 2010, and 2012. “As one of a few Weapons and Tactics Instructors and most experienced flight leaders in 2012, I had the

opportunity to lead some large helicopter assaults with hundreds of operators and over twenty aircraft on a weekly basis,” remembers Jones. “It was probably the busiest and most worn out I’ve been in my life, but I’ll never forget the experiences I gained.” Upon returning from his last deployment, Jones and his wife, Lauren, decided it was time for a change. Instead of flying over battle zones, Jones would enter the next chapter of his life as a member of Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1)– as one of the elite pilots for the President. “The first time I landed on the south lawn of the White House is definitely an experience I will not forget,” recalls Jones. “There was a crowd of about three hundred gathered on the Ellipse just south of the White House, all waving with cameras flashing. It struck me how small the White House seems from the air, but how immaculate the house and grounds are once you’ve landed and wait for the President to walk out of the portico.” As a pilot of Marine One, Jones provides helicopter support to the President worldwide. Wherever the President goes, HMX-1 provides some type of helicopter package. This select team also supports the Vice President and visiting heads of state around the DC metropolitan area. “Flying over Washington DC at 200 feet in a helicopter makes the job,” beams Jones. “The chance to be around the President and travel the world with the executive entourage is pretty exciting.”

Outside of work, Jones and Lauren recently welcomed a baby boy, Walker Phillips Jones, in October 2013. In addition to enjoying time with their new baby, the couple is training to hike the first two hundred miles of the Appalachian Trail in the summer of 2015. “I have been incredibly blessed that Lauren said yes to marrying me,” says Jones with gratitude, “The hardest job in the military is being the spouse who is left behind during the deployments. I love her, and I’m amazed and thankful she’s stuck around.” From the love of his family to the opportunities he has had, Jones gives thanks to the Lord for everything. “I hope that I am bearing witness to Him in my daily life,” says Jones. “There’s no other reason that I returned from Afghanistan without a scratch other than His grace. I thank Him every day.”

Faculty

Spotlight

Matt Kitchell

irst Presbyterian Day School has selected Matt Kitchell as the Interim High School Principal for the 2014-2015 academic year. Kitchell will step into the new role in June 2014 as current principal, Joe Childs, returns to classroom teaching. “Months ago, Mr. Childs indicated to us that he would like to return to teaching full time,” said Gregg Thompson, Headmaster at First Presbyterian Day School. “Mr. Childs has done an excellent job. We are pleased that we were able to identify talent internally to continue moving our high school forward.”

As an FPD faculty member, what brings you joy? I love coming to work every day. My greatest joy has been watching the students graduate and come back, having found their own calling. Seeing the spiritual maturity they have developed and hearing how they make an impact on their communities is where it comes full circle.

In order to find out more about Mr. Kitchell, we asked him a few questions:

Currently you teach history. What era in history intrigues you the most? My passion is early American history, in particular the late 18th and 19th century. The ideas of democracy, republicanism, and liberty collide in spectacular fashion. Extraordinary people live in an extraordinary place during an extraordinary time.

When did you decide to become a teacher? After my first year teaching sixth grade at FPD, I knew I had found my calling. It was a crazy year and I was exhausted, but God showed me just how big He is as my life experiences merged with His will, and my job became a vocation.

Kitchell has served as a teacher and golf coach for First Presbyterian Day School for ten years. He graduated with a B.A. from Mercer University and an MEd from Walden University. He and his wife, April, have three children Catch (Second Grade), Kate (Pre-K), and Sarah (2 years).

Mindy Krejci

indy Krejci’s (pronounced Kray-chee) elementary music students get to play a multitude of instruments and sing to their heart’s content all under her watchful guidance. After a wonderful Christmas production, we caught up with Mrs. Krejci to get her opinion on leading FPD’s elementary music program. Education: High School – Metamora Township High School, Undergrad – Illinois State University, Graduate – Richmont Graduate University. At Home: Mindy’s husband Kyle is a lawyer in Macon who also holds a degree in Tuba Performance. Mindy just ran her first half marathon in November and is a huge Disney fan. As an FPD teacher, what brings you the most joy? Probably the most joy comes to me from my students. I love to get their perspective on life. And, I get so excited when they accomplish something--whether learning recorder or reading a rhythm pattern or performing on stage. The wonder, curiosity, and honesty of children is infectious. Plus, I get to talk to them about Jesus. Amazing!

Faculty

Spotlight

When did you decide you wanted to pursue a career in music education and why? I started playing piano when I was 10. From there, I picked up clarinet, some flute, guitar, and cello. In high school, I was involved in band, choir, and theatre. With such strong musical interests, and a “teaching gene” in my lineage, the adults in my life encouraged me to pursue music education. I thought I wanted to be a high school band director, and I focused on that avenue of music education in college. I graduated, taught middle school and high school in Florida for a year, and decided it was not for me. Very quickly, the Lord revealed that elementary was the right place for me. Any challenges as a music teacher? The biggest challenge is trying to figure out what to teach in the time I have with each class. There are so many rich, exciting areas to cover in music! What is your favorite instrument? Piano. It is the most versatile and the first instrument I learned to play. Mindy Krejci not only directs our elementary Christmas program, she also writes the entire program script. Her 2012 performance, “Children of Bethlehem”, was chosen for a book titled Holiday Concerts compiled by Denise Gagne and published by Themes & Variations.

HOMECOMING RECAP Homecoming 2013 was filled with many wonderful memories. From the pre-game body paint, cheerleading chants, and musical performances to the award ceremony and overall heart -warming school spirit in the cool fall air, it was difficult to find a dull moment on October 18th.

6 1 Body painted Vikings 2 Players rush into battle 3 Coach Moore looks on intensely 4 Cheerleaders rallying the crowd 5 Chorus prepares for a performance 6 Boys tennis team recognized

7 Homecoming court 8 Band marching onto the field

Distinguished Alumni Award Colonel Michael Smith graduated from FPD in 1985 and currently serves in the United States Army’s Medical Service Corps. He has served as the Command Surgeon, and later, Chief of Staff, for the US Army Military District of Washington. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal and the US Surgeon General’s Outstanding Service Medal. Mike and his wife Margaret currently live in Fredricksburg, Virginia with their two children, William and Luke.

FPD Service Award Lowry Tribble moved to Macon, Georgia at the age of four from Houston, Texas. He is a graduate from Lanier High School in Macon and is also a proud Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech. Lowry is the current President of the environmental consulting firm, Hodges, Harbin, Newberry & Tribble. Lowry’s involvement with the Day School began in 1982. He has served on the Board of Directors for 16 years. He was instrumental with the capital campaign that raised funds for the construction of the new high school building. Lowry and his wife, Susan, have 3 daughters – all of whom are FPD alumna.

Viking Strong A 28-point fourth quarter propelled the FPD football team to its third straight win, a 41-8 decision over the Hancock Central Bulldogs on Homecoming. “It was a great Homecoming,” Head Coach Greg Moore said. “The scoreboard reads 41-8, but the game was still undecided late. Our defense did a great job of getting us over the hump.” A close game at 13-8 in the fourth quarter, the Viking offense punched in a score and within a two-minute span, the defense forced the Bulldogs into committing three costly turnovers, all of which were returned for touchdowns. “I can’t say enough about how we played on defense,” Coach Moore said. “We were patient, hung in there, did what we were supposed to do and things fell into place for us.”

ALUMNI NOTES

Ed Cloaninger ‘89

Stephen Barnes Jr. ‘90

Amy Gaines ‘94 Moore

1977

Devra Brown ‘77, completed her LAST half marathon Thanksgiving Day in 2:24 in 22 degree weather! She is off to Australia to attend the Australian Open tennis tournament January 2014 thus completing the “Devra Slam”: attending US & French Open and Wimbledon.

1979

Amy Crews ’79 was named Director of University Advising Services at the University of North Alabama in June 2013. Amy had previously been an Associate Professor in the department of Biology and taught fulltime for 21 years at UNA. Amy has been Pre-Health Professions Advisor at UNA for 10 years now. Tracy Jones ’79 Johns accepted the Trauma Program Manager position at the Medical Center of Central Georgia (MCCG). Her research about ICU trauma patients was recently published in the Journal of Trauma Nursing and in 2012 she was named MCCG’s Rising Star Nurse Researcher.

1980

Chip Greene ’80 and wife Susie are now Bolingbroke residents having built a new house in early 2013. Their daughter, Ashton, graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in November with a bachelor of fine arts degree majoring in advertising. Their son, Jimmy, is a high school freshman and is home schooled through the Georgia Cyber Academy, an on-line Georgia public school.

1989

Ed Cloaninger ’89 and wife Deb moved to Wellesley, Massachusetts in 2009. Their 3 kids, Charlie (10), Bebe (8) and Lilly (7), have enjoyed the move and still

Mary Bowman ‘94 Hampton

Leslie Murphey ‘95 Browning

say “y’all.” Ed has been with Deloitte, an accounting firm, since graduating and has since been named the Leader for the International Tax Group for the New England area.

1990

Stephen N. Barnes, Jr. ‘90 celebrated the 10th year of his law firm, Barnes Business Law, as well as baby number four - Palmer Eddy Barnes.

1991

Stephanie Mitchell ’91 McDaniel and husband Chad moved this past summer from Suwanee to Peachtree Corners, Georgia. Stephanie is a 4th grade Teacher’s Assistant at Wesleyan School, which is where Chad also works and their children attend school (Betsy is in 7th grade, Stafford is in 4th grade, and Ginny Kate is in 2nd grade).

1994

Amy Gaines ‘94 Moore and husband Matt welcomed a son, Nick, last April. Scott Stamps ’94 and wife Maggie had their child Scarlett Rose Stamps on November 26. She weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces and everyone is doing well. Mary Bowman ’94 Hampton and her husband Dwight “D.” are beyond thrilled to announce the birth of their beautiful son Bowman Taylor Hampton on July 31, 2013. Mary is the Communications Director for Cox Communications’ Southeast Region, a 2012 Leadership Georgia graduate and an active member in the Macon-Bibb community. She and D. were married in November 2011 at First Baptist Church of Christ.

Will Robinson ‘95

Elizabeth Pickett ‘97 Schuessler

Josh ‘01 and Leslie Causey Glass, Betsy Phillips ‘00 Heather Newton McMahon, Ashley Waters Hatcher ‘96 Lane

Rob Wall ‘94 is Counsel with the law firm of Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC where he is a member of the Corporate Section and the Tax Practice Group. Recently, he co-authored “The Camel and the Eye of the Needle: Religion, Moral Exchange and Social Impacts” with Dr. Lucas F. Johnston. He lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with his wife Elizabeth and his sons Haywood (6) and Rustin (3). John Walker ‘94 married to Beth Whitley on May 19, 2012 at their family farm, Massee Place Farm.

1995

Will Robinson ’95, his wife Jenny, and their two boys, Judah 11, and Cyrus 6, recently moved to South Tamworth, New Hampshire, where Will has taken a job as director of The Community School. It is a small progressive private school and organic farm set on 350 acres of conservation land in the foothills of the White Mountains. Leslie Murphey ’95 Browning and husband, Ben, joyously announce the birth of their second son, Henry Read Browning. Leslie and Ben, along with his big brother Matthew (5), welcomed him into the world October 2, 2013. While Leslie’s full-time job is Mommy, she is also a Senior Manager with the consulting firm The North Highland Company based in Atlanta. The couple will celebrate nine years of marriage in April and live in Marietta, Georgia.

1996

Leslie Causey Glass, Heather Newton McMahon, Ashley Waters Hatcher ‘96 set aside time each October to celebrate birthdays.

Mike Newlin ‘00

1997

Elizabeth Pickett ’97 Schuessler After graduating from Covenant College, Elizabeth moved to Lima, Peru and served with a church there for two years. Upon returning to the United States, she moved to St. Louis to attend seminary and graduated with her M.Div. in 2007. She married Greg Schuessler in 2009, and their first child, James Andrew, was born on February 28, 2013.

1998

Amy Menefee ’98 Payne and her husband David are expecting their first child in June. She is editor-atlarge of “The Foundry”, the public policy blog of The Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.

2000

Mike Newlin ’00 and wife Lindsay, along with their children Joseph (4), Anna Paige (2), and Benjamin (6 months), live in Huntsville, Alabama. Mike is an electrical engineer working at Dynetics, a defense contractor. Joseph is in pre-K and Anna Paige is in 2K. Joseph is on a U5 soccer team and Mike is coaching.

2001

Josh ‘01 and Betsy Phillips ’00 Lane live in Augusta, Georgia where Josh is a pediatrician and Betsy stays at home with their 2 children, Ada (2) and Eli (6 months). Jenn Parker ‘01 McMiller and husband Andy welcomed their son, Parker, on May 28, 2013. Big sis Addison couldn’t be happier!

ALUMNI NOTES

Ashley Thigpin ‘02 Yoemans

2002

Jenn Parker ‘01 McMiller

John and Sarah Girardeau ‘02 Wright

John ’02 and Sarah Girardeau ‘02 Wright moved to Birmingham, Alabama in August of 2010 for John to start and grow his waste and recycling company, Matter Management. They have two children - G.W. Wright (6) and Lucy Kate Wright (2). Ashley Thigpin ‘02 Yeomans married Josh Yeomans in June 2013. Ashley and Josh are expecting their first child, a baby girl, in April 2014. Meg Gamble ‘02 King and her husband, Spencer, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Hattie Virginia. Hattie arrived at 1:13 a.m. on June 29, 2013, weighing 7 lbs and measuring 20 inches long. The Kings reside in Smyrna, Georgia.

2003

Justin ‘03 and Kendall Dressner ‘03 Lyles welcomed their first son into the world on March 21, 2013. His name is Ezekiel (Zeke) Aden and is the joy of their lives. Justin recently accepted a promotion with the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico in October 2013 and they moved there over Thanksgiving break.

2004

Kris Hattaway ‘04 got engaged on December 20, 2013 to Ben Vaughn of Forsyth, Georgia. They are busy making plans to be married in the fall of 2014. Kris has just started her fifth year as Director of Place at NewTown Macon. She is also leading Georgia Forward’s Young Gamechangers program this year

David ‘09, Elizabeth ‘98, and Denby’02

Meg Gamble ‘02 King

and is on the board of directors for both the Junior League of Macon and the Macon Rotary Club Audrey Califf ‘04 Trinidad married Jonathan Trinidad May 4, 2013 at Summerour Studio in Atlanta. The wedding was officiated by long-time family friend and FPD coach Reverend Joe McDaniel. FPD alumni involved were the bride’s sister, Faith Califf Jameson ‘99, matron of honor; Bethany Greene Liles ‘04, bridesmaid; and Eric Bevill ‘04, usher. The Trinidads live in San Francisco where Audrey is a Senior Communications Specialist for McKesson Corporation and Jonathan is an Associate for Harbert Management Corporation.

2007

Logan Faulk ’07 graduated in July with his Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree from Valdosta State University. He was a member of Beta Alpha Psi (a national honors accountancy society) and Sigma Alpha Pi (a leadership honors society). Logan is employed at McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co., LLC. Laura Sexton ’07 and Joey Tinsley were recently engaged! Laura is currently teaching special education at Veterans High School in Houston County. Caroline Wicker ’07 Jackson and husband Kelly completed internships with Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at Mississippi State University in May 2013. They moved to Jackson, Mississippi, in June to take jobs at First Presbyterian Church and for Kelly to earn his Master of Divinity at Reformed Theological Seminary.

Justin ‘03 and Kendall Dressner ‘03 Lyles

Audrey Califf ‘04

Kris Hattaway ‘04

Laura Sexton ‘07

Marissa McCraine ‘11

2009

David Baxter ‘09 married Jeanie Beth Daniell from St. Simons in October 2013. Matrons of honor were FPD alumnae- Elizabeth Baxter ’98 Bennett and Denby Baxter ’02 Heard. Rebecca Jeanne Joyce ‘09 graduated May 10, 2013, from the University of Georgia cum laude with a dual degree in Latin and Classical Culture and a degree in Foreign Language Education. Rebecca also received the top award for the Classics Department, “The Classics Prize.” She will be teaching Latin at Spalding County High School in Griffin, Georgia.

Logan Faulk ‘07

Devin Lavender ‘11

2011

Devin Lavender ’11 received his White Coat for induction into the UGA College of Pharmacy for Fall Semester 2013. Devin is a member of the class of 2017. He is one of the class’s 145 members selected from over 750 applicants to the UGA College of Pharmacy. Devin will also be marching with the University of Georgia Redcoat Band for his third season and is a current member of the Redcoat Derbies Select Band.

Class of ‘04 during Christmas break

Marissa McCranie ‘11 just completed the Disney College Program at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The College Program has three components: living, learning and earning. She worked as a Quick Service Food and Beverage Hostess in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. She will return to the University of Georgia this fall to continue pursuing her degree in Public Relations. Class of ‘93 celebrating 20 year reunion

If you are an alumni of FPD, we would love to hear from you! Let us know what’s going on in your life by sending an e-mail to Amy Kenney at amy.kenney@fpdmacon.org.

TODAY www.fpdmacon.org

Invitation to Alumni The Alumni Association is revitalizing the Alumni Board of Directors. The Alumni Board of Directors will engage alumni and further the mission of FPD through participation and communication. Anyone interested in being a part of this group should email Amy Kenney at amy.kenney@fpdmacon.org.

SAVE THE DATE March 6 - 8 Theater Performance - SHREK Musical 19 Mercer College Town Tour 20 Former Faculty and Staff Luncheon 24 - 28 Book Fair 28 Grandparents’ Day March 31 – April 4

Spring Break

George Peake and Ann Peake

April 11 21 22

Junior-Senior Prom FPD Golf Tournament Fine Arts Night

May 1 - 3 Spring Performance – The Lark 18 - 24 Graduation Activities

FOR CALENDAR UPDATES AND MORE INFORMATION: www.fpdvikings.com www.fpdmacon.org

Cross Country Trail

First Presbyterian Day School alumni, friends, and families participated in the unveiling of the George Peake and Ann Peake Cross Country Trail during Homecoming on October 19, 2013. The one mile course is set under the beautiful canopy of trees just south of the FPD soccer fields. The unveiling began with the inaugural 5K Day School Dash & Fun Run followed by family fun activities and a pancake breakfast. Over one hundred people participated in the activities, which will become an annual tradition. The trail is used on a regular basis for training by FPD’s cross country teams and we welcome FPD families and alumni to visit as well.

Viking Summer Camps Registration Opens March 2014

INFO ABOUT SUMMER CAMPS

www.fpdmacon.org

IN OUR EYES Photos from FPDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high school photography class Led by Stephanie Garrison

5671 Calvin Drive Macon, Georgia 31210 www.fpdmacon.org

“Educating and equipping students to change the world for God’s glory.”