16 minute read
School Spotlight
Mount Paran Christian School Faith and the Pursuit of Excellence
By Donna J. Neale
Driving through the gated entrance of Mount Paran Christian School (MPCS), the wooded campus resembles that of an Ivy League college, with its numerous brick buildings, playing fields and walking paths. It is stretched over 68-acres, carefully structured around an historic log home and six-acre lake. As a fully accredited, private, non-denominational Christian school, MPCS unites with home and church to provide an exemplary education in a faith-filled environment.
The school’s mission revolves around four core values: to be Christcentered, learning focused, community oriented and pursuers of excellence. “Everything we do is within the context of faith,” said Tiffany Westbrook, director of marketing and communications. “Whether in the classroom, on the stage or on the playing field, Christ is preeminent and His Word is lived-out.”
Westbrook elaborates, “Faculty infuse Christian values on a daily basis. Biblical integration happens throughout all academic classes to bolster faith and student discipleship.” Students participate in Bible classes, worship, community outreach, mission trips and weekly student-to-student mentoring. The school involves parents, too. Family Serve Day brings the whole family out to 40-plus ministry-partner locations in need, while scheduled ParentEd. talks come alongside parents at every stage as they raise their kids. Bus transportation and financial assistance options offer practical support as well.
Knowing that each individual is gifted differently, MPCS directs equal attention to providing world-class academic, athletic and arts instruction and facilities.
Academically, MPCS seeks to grow faith and intellect together. With small class sizes, teachers come to know each child deeply to personalize learning strategies suited to individual strengths. The college-preparatory curriculum offered is purposeful and rigorous, integrating technology across all subjects. Every student has access to STEAM classes, accelerated programs for gifted learners (including AP and Honors courses) and instructional support for all types of learners. Teachers are state-certified, degreed and/or have advanced discipline degrees.
Over time, MPCS has built a formidable arsenal of athletic facilities to accommodate the school’s 64 teams playing 15 different sports. Additions have included tennis courts and batting cages, along with a football stadium, baseball/softball complex, rubber track, fitness center and two gyms. Coaches emphasize giving glory to God through humility, integrity, passion, relentless effort and a commitment to excellence.
The school also owns the Murray Arts Center, a state-of-the-art performance center that boasts a 577-seat theater, dance studios, rehearsal spaces, classrooms and recording studios outfitted with cutting-edge technology. All students benefit from the creative environment, and older students can take advantage of intensive programs in the arts to shape their careers.
MPCS’s programs—academic, athletic and artistic—allow students to cultivate their God-given gifts, inspire them to reach their full potential and prepare them to be both servants and leaders in their community. N
THE SPECIFICS Grades: PreK (age 3)-12th grade Contact: 1275 Stanley Road, Student/Teacher Ratio: 12:1 Kennesaw, GA 30152 Tuition: $4,010-$20,319 770-578-0182 Location: Kennesaw Web: mtparanschool.com
THE INSIDE SCOOP ON YOUR NEW CITY
By Kevin Forest Moreau
If you’re looking for a new city to call home, there are many reasons why Atlanta should be at the top of your list. And if you’ve already made the move, congratulations! Either way, there’s a lot to learn about this great city and its surrounding metropolitan area. On the pages that follow, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about this capital city of the Southeast, from its top-flight arts scene to its stellar attractions, entertainment options and rising status as the Hollywood of the South.
BUSINESS
Atlanta serves as global headquarters to one of the nation’s highest concentrations of Fortune 500 companies, among them CocaCola, The Home Depot, Delta Air Lines, Southern Co. and UPS. On the other end of the spectrum, it’s also a hotbed for tech startups: MailChimp, Kabbage and Scoutmob
The World of Coca-Cola is a museum dedicated to the history of Coca-Cola.
all started here. The Atlanta Tech Village is the nation’s fourth largest tech hub, with more than 300 startups. Atlanta also enjoys a robust media industry: WarnerMedia, which includes CNN, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network and other properties, is headquartered here, as is The Weather Channel.
HISTORY
Vestiges of Atlanta’s dramatic history can be found all over the city. The Atlanta History Center traces the city’s past on 33-acres containing two museums, six gardens and two historic plantations. It also runs the Margaret Mitchell House in Midtown, where the author once lived and where she wrote much of “Gone With the Wind.” The Marietta Gone With the Wind
Museum features an impressive collection of memorabilia related to the book and movie. You can take a walk into history at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, a 2,965-acre Civil War site in Cobb County. Ebenezer Baptist Church and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site are civil rights landmarks, and you can learn more at the Center for Civil and Human Rights. The Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville showcases art and artifacts from and about the American West.
EDUCATION
The city is home to a wealth of notable independent schools, including Holy Spirit Preparatory School, High Meadows School, Pace Academy and Woodward Academy, the largest private school in the continental United States. In addition, several public school systems boast magnet schools and innovative charter schools.
The area is also home to more than 40 colleges and universities, including such nationally recognized institutions as Agnes Scott College, Emory University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University and Oglethorpe University. The Savannah College of Art and Design and Macon-based Mercer University both maintain campuses in Atlanta. The city is also the location of several distinguished historically black colleges, including Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Morris Brown College and Spelman College.
HEALTHCARE
Atlanta is well known for its hospitals and healthcare institutions. The Centers for Disease The Georgia Institute of Technology’s Tech Tower was completed in 1888 and was the campus’ first structure.
MARTA is one of Atlanta’s main modes of public transportation.
Control and Prevention (CDC) heads a list of locally based organizations and research facilities that includes the American Cancer Society, the Emory University School of Medicine and Morehouse School of Medicine. Grady Memorial Hospital is renowned as one of the best trauma and burn centers in the nation, while Northside Hospital delivers more babies per year than any other community hospital in the country.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is regarded as one of the nation’s premier pediatric hospitals. The Shepherd Center, one of the nation’s leading catastrophic-care hospitals for patients with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries and degenerative disorders, is headquartered here. Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, part of Piedmont Healthcare, has been recognized on U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Hospitals” list.
TRANSPORTATION
Originally founded as a railroad stop called Terminus, Atlanta is still a major rail center. But its modern status as a major transportation hub is largely due to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, consistently ranked as the world’s busiest. On the ground, four major interstates (285, 20, 75 and 85) conduct drivers in all directions. Of course, that also results in traffic congestion—a reality for any metropolis of Atlanta’s size—but the city also boasts a number of public-transportation options, including MARTA, the area’s main rail and bus
THE CITY BOASTS A NUMBER OF PUBLIC-TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, INCLUDING MARTA, THE AREA’S MAIN RAIL AND BUS SERVICE; COBBLINC; GWINNETT COUNTY TRANSIT AND XPRESS, A COMMUTER BUS SERVICE.
Legoland Discovery Center is a favorite for big and little kids alike, with costumes and toys of all kinds provided for play.
service; CobbLINC; Gwinnett County Transit and Xpress, a commuter bus service. The Atlanta BeltLine, a multi-use trail and park space encircling the city, provides a scenic option for pedestrians, cyclists and inline skaters.
FAMILY FUN
Atlanta is a magical place for children. The Center for Puppetry Arts displays hundreds of fascinating puppets from around the world, with an entire wing dedicated to the work of Jim Henson. The Children’s Museum of Atlanta offers fun, informative exhibits for youngsters and preteens. The Legoland Discovery Center is an interactive playground filled with the worldfamous building blocks, designed to delight and inspire children ages 3 through 10. Six Flags Over Georgia offers roller coasters, water rides and other thrills. Interactive Neighborhood for Kids in Gainesville lets children role-play and climb aboard a real vintage fire truck and airplane. The Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville makes learning about science fun with hands-on exhibits and galleries as well as a planetarium and observatory.
HOLLYWOOD OF THE SOUTH
If you’ve seen a movie lately, chances are it was filmed right here: Last year nearly 400 productions were shot in the area, making Atlanta the No. 2 filming location for motion pictures in the world. Television shows, including “The Walking Dead” and “Stranger Things,” are part of the action as well. Several major production studios are located in the metro area, including Tyler Perry Studios and EUE/Screen Gems in Atlanta, Trillith Studios in Fayetteville and Three Rings Studios in Covington, a $100 million development for the production of music and video games as well as movies and TV.
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Atlanta is the arts capital of the Southeast. The Tony Award-winning Alliance Theatre stages thought-provoking and crowdpleasing works, some of which have gone on to Broadway. The thriving theater scene also includes such acclaimed companies as Theatrical Outfit, 7 Stages and True Colors. The Atlanta Ballet, Atlanta Opera and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra are all worldclass performing arts institutions. Venues including Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park, the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, the Fox Theatre, the Ferst Center for the Arts, the Rialto Center for the The Rialto Center For The Arts
Feel the excitement at the Fernbank Museum.
Arts, Spivey Hall and Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, among others, host big-name concert tours and high-caliber national theatrical productions. The High Museum of Art, the Southeast’s leading art museum, hosts high-profile permanent and rotating exhibits year-round.
ATTRACTIONS
Atlanta is chock full of exciting things to see and do. The Georgia Aquarium is the world’s largest, with hundreds of species on display, including dolphins and sea lions. The World of Coca-Cola is a colorful interactive shrine to America’s favorite beverage, and Centennial Olympic Park, with its dancing Fountain of Rings, commemorates the 1996 Atlanta Games. The Atlanta Botanical Garden in Midtown is home to 30 gorgeous acres of themed gardens and an elevated walkway that lets visitors stroll amongst the treetops. Jaw-dropping dinosaur skeletons greet visitors to The Fernbank Museum of Natural History, which spotlights the natural world with engaging exhibits and IMAX films. Stone Mountain Park boasts 3,200 scenic acres of golf, hiking trails, rides and more, with colossal Stone Mountain as the centerpiece.
SPORTS
If you’re a sports fanatic, you’re in the right place. The Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks and the Atlanta United FC draw thousands of fans each year. Minor league sports include baseball, hockey and lacrosse, and the city hosts the PGA’s Tour Championship and the Truist Atlanta Open tennis tournament. The South loves college football, and the city is home to the sport’s Hall of Fame. And we don’t just watch sports here, we play: The Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA) is the world’s largest recreational tennis league, and 60,000 runners trek down Peachtree every July 4 in the world’s largest 10K, the AJC Peachtree Road Race.
SHOPPING
For shopaholics, Atlanta offers options to satisfy every desire. Cumberland Mall, Sugarloaf Mills, Lenox Square, Mall of Georgia and Phipps Plaza offer hundreds of shops, food courts, movie theaters and more. Buckhead is the destination for high-end retail, with glitzy outposts from Hermes, Canali, Christian Louboutin and more. Atlantic Station, a mixed-use development in Midtown, is home to such retailers as H&M, Target and Dillard’s. The nearby VirginiaHighland neighborhood is stuffed with artsy clothing and home-décor boutiques, while Little Five Points buzzes with funky record shops and thrift stores. In Alpharetta, shoppers at Avalon browse stores like Free People and West Elm, while outside the city, North Georgia Premium Outlets and Tanger Outlets present name brands at bargain prices.
DINING
From hot dogs to haute cuisine, Atlanta is a foodie’s dream. The Varsity is the world’s largest drive-in, famous for chilidogs and onion rings. Paschal’s is world famous for authentic soul food, while Fatt Matt’s Rib Shack is the place for mouthwatering BBQ. Pittypat’s Porch serves upscale Southern fare in an ambiance reminiscent of Tara, and Mary Mac’s Tearoom has been officially designated “Atlanta’s Dining Room” for dishes like fried green tomatoes and chicken and dumplings. The city is also a mecca for trendsetting cuisine, led by restaurants like Bacchanalia and Aria.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home to the Atlanta Falcons, hosts many other events throughout the year.
The 1842 Inn is a quaint bed and breakfast in Macon, built by the city's former mayor, John Gresham.
THE 1842 INN Georgia’s Historic Inns & Hotels i Discover Southern Charm and Luxurious Accommodations
By Tony Jenkins
Learning about Georgia’s history can be a relaxing and even romantic adventure. There are many hotels and inns throughout Georgia where history, luxury and Southern hospitality intersect. Encompassing both grandeur and quaint, elegant charm, here are just a few of Georgia’s historic hospitality venues. THE 1842 INN A quaint bed and breakfast in Macon, the 1842 Inn was a home built by the city's former mayor, John Gresham, in, well, you can guess the year. There are 19 guest rooms found within the main, Greek Revival-style antebellum house and the adjoining Victorian cottage, as well as four hospitality parlors. Antique paintings, oriental carpets, heart pine flooring
and 12-foot ceilings accentuate each room, and many include fireplaces and whirlpools. To bolster the relaxing and romantic vibe, there’s a 17-columned wrap-around veranda where you can sip on iced tea (or other beverages) while overlooking the courtyard. 1842inn.com
THE FITZPATRICK HOTEL After a fire decimated much of Washington, Georgia’s public square in 1895, brothers J.H. and T.M. Fitzpatrick returned to the city, located between Athens and Augusta, and began construction on what would become The Fitzpatrick Hotel. After opening in 1898, the historic hotel went through several ownership and name changes and was eventually closed in 1952. More than 50 years later, after the hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places, The Fitzpatrick was restored and reopened. By using old photos, original memorabilia and purchasing period antiques, the new owners retained the hotel’s original Victorian grandeur and charm, while including modernday conveniences like HDTVs and Wi-Fi access. thefitzpatrickhotel.com THE 1842 INN
(Above) The 1842 Inn offers a relaxing and romantic vibe. (Below Left) The Jekyll Island Club Hotel was founded as a private club in 1886 before reopening as a resort hotel in 1985.
JEKYLL ISLAND CLUB HOTEL People like J.P. Morgan, William Rockefeller, Joseph Pulitzer and William K. Vanderbilt played roles in the history of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, which was founded in 1886 as a private club that included members from some of the world's wealthiest families. Designated a historic landmark in 1978 and reopened as a resort hotel in 1985, it is now one of the top resorts in Georgia. In addition to a history tour, the hotel includes five restaurants, a pub, a swimming pool and a nearby private beach club, among other amenities. The location, on one of the state's four coastal barrier islands, provides a lush and unspoiled backdrop for the elegance and Victorian charm you'll find at every turn. Even if you don't stay the night, it's worth a visit for the architecture alone. jekyllclub.com
THE GASTONIAN What's better than one mansion? Two adjacent Regency-Italianate mansions have been turned into a four-diamond award-winning bed and breakfast in a charming residential area of Savannah. The two mansions that now make up The Gastonian were built in 1868 and exemplify the Southern charm one would expect from a history-laden city like Savannah. From the grand décor and period antiques to the fireplaces and tranquil gardens, The Gastonian was recognized by Conde Nast Traveler magazine as one of the finest places to stay in the world. It’s a great location, too: The Gastonian is in the Savannah historic district within walking distance of Forsyth Park, Colonial Park Cemetery and several of the city squares. gastonian.com THE PIEDMONT HOTEL When it opened in 1876, The Piedmont Hotel in Gainesville, was a three-story, 36-room, U-shaped structure owned and operated by Confederate Gen. James Longstreet. Throughout the years, Longstreet hosted several high-profile guests, including Gens. Joseph Johnston and Daniel Sickles, writer Joel Chandler Harris and President Woodrow Wilson, who’s daughter, Jessie, was born on the ground floor of the hotel. Today, it’s the only floor of the hotel that remains, after a last-minute decision saved it from being demolished with the rest of the hotel in 1918. However, it has been renovated and is headquarters of The Longstreet Society, open Tuesday through Saturday. Visitors can learn about the hotel’s history, including visits by a past president and the ghost that occupies the remaining structure. longstreetsociety.org
Only one floor of The Piedmont Hotel still exists, serving as headquarters of The Longstreet Society.
THE PIEDMONT HOTEL
Located in Atlanta's Midtown community, The Georgian Terrace opened in 1911 was saved from demolition in the 1980s.
THE GEORGIAN TERRACE Opening for business in 1911, The Georgian Terrace is located in Midtown directly across from another Atlanta landmark, the Fox Theatre. The elegant hotel has hosted an impressive guest list over the years, including Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Warren Harding, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Walt Disney and Charles Lindbergh. In 1939, the Terrace hosted the premiere gala for the movie “Gone With The Wind,” and stars like Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh were right at home amid the turreted corners, floor-to-ceiling windows, gorgeous chandeliers and wraparound verandas. In the 1970s, the hotel played host to musical acts such as Bruce Springsteen, Kiss and Billy Joel in its Electric Ballroom. After avoiding demolition in the 1980s by being listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it had a brief stint as an apartment building. In the early 1990s, The Georgian Terrace reopened as a luxury hotel and today is billed as “Atlanta’s Modern Classic.” The Southern charm remains, but is complemented by modern features, including award-wining fine dining at the Livingston Restaurant & Bar. thegeorgianterrace.com
