THE MAGAZINE OF LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
FA L L 2 02 1
MISSION Legacy Christian Academy develops strong leaders with biblical convictions who are equipped to succeed in college and beyond. We accomplish this mission through a balanced approach that honors and upholds:
> Challenging academics > Robust fine arts > Competitive athletics > Positive mentoring relationships > Covenant partnerships with Christian families
VISION Legacy Christian Academy will be the school of choice for committed Christian families in North Texas who desire the best Christcentered education for their children.
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LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Board of Trustees Brad Brenneman, Chair Brett Bingham Dr. Kenneth Chapman, Jr. Patrick Droesch, Vice-Chair Nicole Franks Nick Johnson Lisa Liberis Jeff Owens Dorothy Smith Trent Wood
Head of School Bill McGee Dusty Tresnak EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Development Team Shannon Nelson CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER
Geoff Giauque SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Shannon Culley DONOR AND VOLUNTEER RELATIONS COORDINATOR
Alicia Ingram ADVANCEMENT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
THANK YOU to all our photographers for your time, talents, and the memories you capture for us, including... Rick Baze Photography, Expressions by Wendy, Giggles Photography, Toni Margolis, Natalie Roberson Photography, and Vanessa Corral Photography
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ON THE COVER: Eighth-grade volleyball players Allie Watson, Logan Burns, and Naomi George enjoy being together both on and off the court. LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
impact THE MAGAZINE OF LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Contents
To view our new Primacy of Scripture video, scan the QR code above. Impact, the magazine of Legacy Christian Academy, is published twice per year. We encourage readers to submit feedback, story ideas, and photos to communications@legacyca.com. It is the policy of LCA to maintain a school environment that is free from discrimination and to conduct its educational practices, admissions program, financial aid policies, hiring, and other school-administrative programs on the basis of an individual’s qualifications and abilities. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (unless it is required as a bona fide occupational qualification), sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law, unless a particular status protected by federal, state, or local laws contradict the deeply held religious convictions of LCA.
April Rodriguez: Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant
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Message from Board Chair: Brad Brenneman
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2020-2021 Revenue and Expenses
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Message from the Annual Fund Chairs: John and SheriLynn Alcala
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Stronger Together
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Under Construction: The HUB
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Teaching Truth
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IGNITE: Lighting a Fire for Middle Schoolers
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Build a House; Leave a Legacy
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TJ Tomeny Legacy Classic: Good Times for a Cause
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Chapel: Devotion in All Divisions
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Sweet Success
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Alumni Spotlight: Handmade by Halee
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Alumni Spotlight: Morgan Made
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LCA Alumni: College Move-In Edition
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Sporting Clays - Right on Target
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Reimagining the LCA Booster Club
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Welcome to the Board: Mrs. Franks
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A Last Word from the Head of School
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WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT
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LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
APRIL RODRIGUEZ, beloved theater and choir teacher, colleague, friend, and mentor, went home to be with Jesus on September 27, 2021. Her impact at Legacy will endure long past her 34 years on this earth, and one thing is undisputed: During her too-short life, she served her Savior well, and always with a smile that brightened any room. Mrs. Rodriguez joined the staff at
Above her desk sat a quote from Frances Clark: “There’s music
LCA just four years ago. With her
in EVERY CHILD. The Teacher’s job is TO FIND IT and
unmatched kindness, loving spirit,
NURTURE IT.”
uncompromising dedication to her students, friends, and church, and her positive, ambitious attitude, she was in a league of her own. She
She did exactly that — she was a compassionate mentor who lifted her students’ spirits and boosted their confidence, and always showed and shared her love for the Lord.
was a natural leader who went out
As a colleague, Mrs. Rodriguez was a team player who made
of her way to build confidence in her
the impossible possible. She was diligent and tenacious, had
students and a continual source of support and encouragement
a creative mind like no other, and displayed an indefatigable
to them. Whether it was her ever-present smile, that sneaky grin
work ethic. She was never afraid to take on another project
that appeared when she was planning something, or simply the gentle words she poured into her students, Mrs. Rodriguez was a bucket-filler through and through. The walls of her classroom were covered with quotes and Bible verses to motivate and inspire her students. The first thing
or to help in any way. As a friend, she was loyal, supportive, thoughtful, and caring. Mrs. Rodriguez loved all of her people deeply, and with all of her heart. The last message Mrs. Rodriguez wrote on her bulletin board seems almost prophetic: “Serve God with great gusto. You know God is done with you when you are looking at him.”
they saw when they walked into the room was a powerful
She is certainly looking at Him now as her influence at
message: “The world needs who God created you to be.”
Legacy continues on in the lives of those she touched.
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WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT
APRIL RODRIGUEZ
Let your steadfast love comfort me - Psalm 119:76
I wish I knew you better. Your kids’ tears are a testament of your love and a life well lived. We dearly love you and miss you! – Brooke Axsom
Your life was an impact to many. Especially mine. I miss you. I love you. Thank you for everything. – Micah Domen
Thank you for always making people laugh & smile. And always bringing laughter to every room you were in. You will be dearly missed.
Thank you for being the best Vocal Arts teacher. You will be missed. – Cason
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Even now declares the Lord return to me with all your heart - Joel 2:12 – Kate Le
You are the best music teacher we have ever had. See you soon. – Jonah
Her smile brightened every day and gave me something to look forward to! – Carney
She was the most positive person I’ve ever met. I loved your ability to make others’ day better with your presence alone. I know your livin’ life to the fullest in Heaven. – Hannah
We love you , Mrs. Rodriguez. She was funny. She was kind. She had a amazing personality. We miss you. – Rachel
I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm. - Jeremiah 29:11 LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
DEAR FELLOW LEGACY FAMILIES, On behalf of all of our Trustees, I extend our heartfelt THANK YOU for answering the call to support the vision espoused by our founding families more than 20 twenty years ago — that LCA is and would always be the school of choice for committed Christian families in North Texas who seek the best Christ-centered education for their children. It has been a privilege for Leanne and me to be a part of the Legacy community for 13 years, forming lifelong friendships for ourselves and also for our children. We’ve been blessed to have had two of them graduate — Abbi, Class of 2017, and Jonathan, Class of 2020 — and our youngest, Matt, is a senior in the class of 2022. Over the years, we’ve experienced firsthand what LCA does best: Through an outstanding academic program and genuine, meaningful personal relationships, the school inspires and equips humble, curious, confident, serviceminded followers of Christ to excel in college and beyond. This Annual Report on Philanthropy recognizes and celebrates those who have played an integral role in LCA’s growth and development. We, the Board of Trustees, realize that nothing our school accomplishes would be possible without the generosity and spirit of our Legacy families, alumni, faculty and staff, grandparents, and friends who support Annual and Capital giving and serve faithfully and sacrificially in a myriad of other ways. This show of community has been uniquely vital over the past two years, as it has enabled us to invest significant resources in additional tuition assistance, faculty support, and safety equipment to ensure that we can fulfill our mission during the coronavirus pandemic. It also provides our Board with vital encouragement and momentum as we pursue key priorities to continue to enable LCA to further achieve our mission in our growing community. Despite the global epidemic, Legacy Christian Academy is thriving. Our Head of School, faculty and staff, and members of the Board are all deeply committed to our mission, and I’m confident that Legacy Christian Academy will continue to flourish. In closing, I want again to say thank you, for your philanthropic support, your enthusiasm for our mission, your heart for the Lord’s work, and your commitment to our students and their education. We are very, very grateful. Sincerely,
Brad Brenneman Chairman, Board of Trustees
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ANNUAL REPORT 2020-2021
REVENUE INVESTMENT INCOME 1%
OTHER REVENUE 3% ANNUAL FUND 6%
TUITION & FEES Gross tuition income, application fees, curriculum/program-related fees
ANNUAL FUND Unrestricted annual philanthropic support
OTHER REVENUE Special restricted gifts
INVESTMENT INCOME Income generated on reserves
TUITION & FEES 90%
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LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
ANNUAL REPORT 2020-2021
EXPENSES SALARIES & BENEFITS 66%
SALARIES & BENEFITS Salaries and benefits for all LCA employees
PROPERTY & PLANT Buildings and grounds, capital expenses, depreciation, repairs and maintenance, utilities, and vehicle expenses
INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS All academic and cocurricular department and division expenses, athletics, fine arts, the libraries, college counseling and advising
GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE Head of School’s office, insurance, development, admissions, marketing and communications, publication expenses, supplies, postage, and other school administrative costs
TECHNOLOGY 1%
INTEREST ON DEBT Interest expense on all debt service
INTEREST ON DEBT 2% PROPERTY & PLANT 14% GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE 4%
(includes depreciation)
INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS 8%
FINANCIAL AID (INDEXED TUITION) Need-based financial aid
TECHNOLOGY Technology equipment, software and hardware license renewals
FINANCIAL AID 5% (Indexed Tuition)
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LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
MESSAGE FROM THE ANNUAL FUND CHAIRS
DEAR FELLOW EAGLES, The year 2021 has been unlike any other. Now, we are deeply humbled to serve as your Stronger Together Fund Chairs, and we are grateful to align ourselves and partner with countless others who have a passion for Christian Education. Ephesians 3:20 tell us, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” This year we believe that the Lord has immeasurably more for our children and Legacy Christian Academy. We wholeheartedly believe that LCA is working in partnership with us to raise up generations of leaders with strong biblical convictions who will positively impact the world. When we received the invitation to chair LCA’s fundraising efforts, we were beyond humbled and at the same time nervous. One thing we have learned is that when the Lord asks you to do something, you need childlike faith to follow His voice. We truly felt this was a nudge from the Lord to step out in faith, to lead this effort, to partner with who we believe are the greatest families in the world at LCA, and to be advocates for our school and its vision. One of the biggest questions I think we have received up to this point has been, “What is the Stronger Together Fund?” The Stronger Together Fund has a dual purpose: to keep our community together, no matter the circumstances, and to benefit LCA as a school. Last year, the Stronger Together Fund met so many needs, such as the following: • Over $1.2 million in indexed tuition funding, providing Christian education to Christian families that otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford a Christian education. • A $400,000+ library renovation providing a collaborative educational space to 730+ Lower and Middle School students. • Significant investments in our Faculty Development Fund to enhance teacher benefits, assist in the recruitment of excellent teachers, and provide integral professional training.
Isn’t it mind-blowing what can happen when each family does something in unity? Here is the truth, fellow LCA families, we need you to partner with us. Today, we are asking you to contribute to the Stronger Together Fund. You may make a gift of any amount. If you are particularly passionate about a specific LCA program or initiative, you may make a designated donation. The heart of the Stronger Together Fund is “Every Gift from Every Family Every Year.” Our goal is 100% participation. Matthew 6:19-21 says it best. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” It is a blessing to partner with you to support God’s mission in Christian education here at Legacy. Our prayer as your Stronger Together Fund chairs is that we leave our legacy not only for the class of 2021-22 but for generations to come! In Christ,
• Continued investments in our campus security measures, including increased monitoring capabilities. • Expanded technology investments, including new student devices. • Facility enhancements and renovation investments to modernize spaces.
John and Sherilynn Alcala Annual Fund Chairs 2021-2022
• Special projects in the realms of academics, athletics, and fine arts.
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STRONGER TOGETHER LCA ANNUAL FUND ENHANCEMENTS 14
LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
ANNUAL REPORT 2020-2021
ANNUAL FUND DONORS/PARTICIPATION $1,350,296.04 45%
$1,400,000 $1,200,000
$1,081,015.18
$1,000,000
65%
$900,000
$892,100.11
PARTICIPATION
$850,000
PARTICIPATION
35% PARTICIPATION
$800,000 $750,000 $700,000
$657,150.40
$600,000
49%
$550,000
PARTICIPATION
$500,000 $250,000 $150,000 $100,000
2017-18 TOTAL
2018-19 TOTAL
2019-20 TOTAL
2020-21 TOTAL
LEADERSHIP ANNUAL GIVING LEVELS GIVING LEVEL
# OF DONORS
Soaring Eagles: $50,000
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Benefactors: $25,000 - $49,999
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Partners: $10,000 - $24,999
15
Fellows: $5,000 - $9,999
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Founders: $2,000 - $4,999
44
Members: $1,000 - $1,999
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“Thank you to our generous donors for their continued support.” LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
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ANNUAL REPORT 2020-2021
ANNUAL FUND ENHANCEMENTS Culture of Philanthropy - Giving in Unity WHY WE GIVE
We are thankful for the opportunity to sow back into Legacy because it has poured SO much into our boys. This place feels like family and we love the thought of taking care of our family in some way, shape, and form. Giving back to the place that gives our entire family more than we imagined is a blessing. - Trent and Karleigh Wood / Board of Trustees (Trent), LCA Parents, PAC ’21
WHY WE GIVE
What are our dreams for our children? If my sons achieve every measure of “success” in this world but don’t know the Lord Jesus, they have and are nothing (Matthew 16:26). My dream for my children--both for my own sons and for the students entrusted to me, whom I think of as my own too--is that here at Legacy, they would be formed into the best version of themselves: spiritually, academically, physically, emotionally, and socially. Seeing my children not as they are today but as who they can become: this is vision. This is a dream worth investing in. - Paige Drygas / Upper School English Teacher, LCA Parent
Eighth-grade students are excited to get to put these new iPads to use in their Digital Art Class.
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LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
ANNUAL REPORT 2020-2021
ANNUAL FUND ENHANCEMENTS WHY WE GIVE
We are delighted that our grandchildren are able to attend Legacy Christian Academy. The Christian-based education that our grandchildren are receiving at Legacy Christian is invaluable to their development into the responsible adults we hope they will become. Supporting the Stronger Together Fund is a way for us to make a minor repayment to the school and give forward to future generations of Legacy Christian students. - Terry and Mary Jones / LCA Grandparents
WHY I GIVE
It is a privilege to have the opportunity to support Legacy Christian Academy, not only prayerfully, but financially as a member of the Parent Alumni Club. This past spring as my daughter prepared to complete graduate school, seven years after walking the secret hallway at LCA for the last time, I felt this overwhelming desire to give. The teachers, coaches, and faculty who loved my girl like their very own, for all the years she attended LCA, will always have a special place in my heart. By giving to the Stronger Together Fund, in some small way, I am giving to them and to the next generation, just as those that came before me did for my student.” - Raney Payne, PAC ’14
People $1.2 million in Indexed Tuition funds Students from various socioeconomic backgrounds were able to benefit from a Christian education. CAMPUS IMPACT
“Believing firmly that we have the best Christian education for students, I am so grateful for how Indexed Tuition comes alongside Christian parents who want a great education for their children but cannot afford it. The accessibility that Indexed Tuition provides for more Christian parents blesses our entire community as we watch seeds planted and impacted for Christ.” - Jenny Brady / Senior Director of Community Engagement, LCA Parent
CAMPUS IMPACT
“When my son and I moved to Frisco three years ago, I was a single mom, starting over after leaving a terrible domestic violence marriage. I knew no one in the area and had no idea of where I would send my son to school. Until one day at church, a lady mentioned I should look at Legacy Christian Academy because of their strong biblical teaching and excellent academics! I remember smiling at her and saying I’d love to send him there, but I was a single mother and told her I simply couldn’t afford LCA. She then told me about the Indexed Tuition Program. From day one, my son and I were welcomed with open arms at LCA. The entire staff, teachers, and principals have been amazing helping us rebuild our lives and finding our place in the community. Legacy Christian Academy has been a God-sent blessing! You can truly see the goodness of God on this campus!” - Anonymous LCA Parent
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ANNUAL REPORT 2020-2021
ANNUAL FUND ENHANCEMENTS
Plant $400k+ investment in the South Campus library renovation, “The Hub.” Providing a collaborative educational space for 730+ Lower School and Middle School Students. CAMPUS IMPACT
“I am so grateful for the generosity of our community to make possible the South Campus Library renovations for our Lower School and Middle School students this year. This renovation will enlarge, refresh, and equip our Library to continue to serve as a centerpiece for enhanced services for all Lower and Middle School students. The scope of this project has enabled Legacy to think creatively on how to best leverage our resources to impact student learning and joy. The newly designed space will be called The Hub: Reading and Discovery Center.” - Daniel Townsley / Chief Academic Officer
CAMPUS IMPACT
“This renovation will allow us to serve more than 700 students on the entire South Campus. The modernized space, flexible seating, bright lighting, and vibrant colors will encourage students to collaborate, make new discoveries, and most importantly, grow their love of literacy. I am thrilled for our Pre-K3 through 8th grade students to have so much technology to use, such as 3D printers, 3D pens, green screens for creative videos, and two 48” TVs that will work with our virtual reality equipment. The kids are going to love coming to The Hub and we can’t wait to serve them here! - Ericka Hamilton / Director of Library & Technology Services, PAC ’18, PAC ’20
Ericka Hamilton can’t wait to open The Hub once renovations are completed!
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ANNUAL REPORT 2020-2021
ANNUAL FUND ENHANCEMENTS WHY WE GIVE
The Stronger Together Fund has benefited our school in so many ways. Not only does it support our deserving faculty but it also allows our school to provide cutting edge educational facilities. We appreciate how Legacy continues to evolve to meet the needs of our children and our growing school community. The library is a space Riley loves and the updates will allow for more access to the library as well as more interactive learning opportunities. We are excited for The Hub and blessed that we can support LCA! - Ronnie and Berkley Berry / LCA Parents
CAMPUS IMPACT
“Albert Einstein said, ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge.’ When I read it takes my mind out of being so serious, and I start using my imagination to think outside of the box. Reading takes me out of real life and grows my brain at the same time. I always want to learn more. I want all kids at LCA to have that same experience, and that is why I donated to the new library.” - Maddox Mannetti / 4th Grade Student, South Campus Library Donor
Faculty Development Significant investments in the Faculty Development Fund to enhance teacher benefits, assist in the recruitment of excellent teachers, and provide integral professional training. CAMPUS IMPACT
“The Faculty Development Fund provides opportunities for families to invest in our teaching faculty and consequently impact our students through the instruction teachers provide. Funds may be utilized to send teachers to cutting-edge conferences, to secure 3rd-party training on campus, to provide technology resources, etc. May God richly bless you for providing above and beyond for our teachers.” - Kevin Mosley / Associate Head of School, PAC ’18, PAC ’20
Faculty and staff recently attended the CESA Symposium in Atlanta, GA.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2020-2021
ANNUAL FUND ENHANCEMENTS Benevolence CAMPUS IMPACT
“We were recipients of the benevolence fund three years ago. My 2-year-old son broke his femur the night before school started, and our world turned upside down. He was placed in what was pretty much a body cast, and his daycare refused to care for him in that condition. Overnight, we were faced with massive hospital bills and the need for in-home care. It was so overwhelming that I feared I would have to quit my job at Legacy to care for him. But God used the Legacy family to care for us in a mighty way. LCA families provided meals during his entire recovery. An LCA mom arranged for in-home care, and the Benevolence Fund helped us to cover the expenses. I didn’t have to quit LCA...instead, it was LCA that got my family through that incredibly rough time.” - Kristin Stone / Upper School History Teacher, LCA Parent
Expanded technology investments including new student devices CAMPUS IMPACT
“Thanks to the Stronger Together Fund, we have added smart board technologies for both campuses, almost 150 new iPads for Lower and Middle schools, WiFi enhancements for both campuses, and more powerful servers for network infrastructure.” - Bill Dyer / Senior Director of Campus Operations, PAC ’14, PAC ’16
The new Promethean smart board has been a valuable addition in Señora Allen’s second-grade class.
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LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
ANNUAL REPORT 2020-2021
ANNUAL FUND ENHANCEMENTS Facility enhancement and renovation investments to modernize spaces TESTIMONY
We have had such an overwhelmingly positive reaction to our beautiful South Campus Reception enhancements! Following the recent renovations, the area received a furniture remodel just after the start of the school year that is warm, welcoming, and functional. Not a day goes by that we don’t receive compliments from parents, grandparents, and visitors. The South Campus Reception area is the perfect place to welcome everyone to LCA and a fantastic work environment that I am so grateful for! - Brooke Levassar / Assistant Director of Admissions, LCA Parent, PAC ’21
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ANNUAL REPORT 2020-2021
ANNUAL FUND ENHANCEMENTS Special projects in the realms of academics, athletics, and fine arts. TESTIMONY
Thank you to each person that contributed to the Stronger Together Fund! Your generosity has blessed our student-athletes and is making Eagle Athletics the best we can be! Our football team has received Coach Comm headsets and they allow for communication for offensive plays and defensive alignments quickly and effectively. Our boys and girls basketball programs have benefitted from the new Dr. Dish shooting machine. It allows players to work on their shooting form without chasing the ball after each attempt. Several of our basketball players were able to get over 10,000 shots this summer by using The Dish. Coach Johnson and Coach Meger have seen tremendous improvement in shooting already. - Lynn Dupree / Senior Director of Athletics and Activities
TESTIMONY
Due to generous donations to the Stronger Together Fund, the middle school fine arts department now offers Digital Design to our 8th grade students. The South Campus stage is being refurbished for our musical and theatrical kids AND the upper school fine arts hall is getting some home turf bling! - Chris Keyes / Senior Director of Fine Arts and Dean of the School of Fine Arts, PAC ’18
TESTIMONY
I have been in Spanish Immersion since Kindergarten. I love to learn Spanish. I enjoy our day of work, I enjoy learning new words that go on our word wall, and I really enjoyed Mrs. Gordon coming to our class to read a book in Spanish. I like it when other people want to learn Spanish too. - Katherine Kalb / 2nd Grade Spanish Immersion Student
TESTIMONY
I am so thankful for the support we get for our Spanish Immersion classes through the Stronger Together Fund. One of my favorite things to do is read books with our students. It’s amazing to see how much their vocabulary has improved. Because of the books we were blessed with, our students were able to participate in a book club. Our librarians were amazed at how often books were being checked out and how much the students were able to share about their books in Spanish. We celebrated the success of students’ achievements with a big book club lunch party with the teachers. We are so thankful for all of the support! - Esther Pewterbaugh / Director of Spanish Immersion Program, LCA Parent
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Under Construction:
THE HUB by: Bethany McMillon Last spring, LCA revealed plans to renovate the Lower School library. The renderings made the children exclaim with delight: “I can’t wait to sit on the new couches with my friends! They look so soft!” said Barrett Maynard (’35), his 4-year-old body bouncing in the old wooden chair. The announcement was met with enthusiasm from the youngest Preschool patrons to LCA grandparents, and if you’ve stepped foot onto the Lower School campus any time since July, you too could probably feel the excitement. Beginning in November 2019, the library team worked closely with the facilities, development, and marketing teams to design a space to serve as a hub of learning and literacy, which is how the teams came up with the new name: The HUB. The new space will feature brighter lighting, raised ceilings, dynamic collaborative space, new technology, expanded reading collections, and an updated and vibrant color scheme — “It’s beautiful! Green is my favorite color!” said Vivi Hermes (’34), as she marveled at the flexible seating in the renderings— and outdoor light will now filter in by way of additional windows.
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LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Bookshelves will line the walls and feature selections for students from Pre-K to Middle School. “Studying in the new space will be so comfortable,” Everley Ross (’29) told her mom, imagining herself curled up with a book in one of the new reading nooks. In conjunction with the Spanish
Pictured above is the library space pre-renovation.
Immersion program, Spanish books will be incorporated into the books sorted
This fall, tiny learners sneak peaks
who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1)
by nonfiction topic and genre. Built-
around the corner of the soon-to-be
are among the verses written and prayed.
in storage will house the maker-space
HUB to check out the work of the
and technology tools, such as custom-
construction crews as they install
designed mobile tables for the 3D printer
drywall, run new electric cables, and
and poster makers. All the furniture, the
paint. Middle School students eagerly
Promethean smart board (an interactive
ask the library team for updates.
display screen), and several freestanding bookcases will be entirely mobile to maximize flexibility, including the use
Teachers check and double-check the timeline for our anticipated Grand Opening, in December.
“With the merger of the Middle School Cre8 Lab and the Lower School library, we will now serve about seven hundred students,” says Ericka Hamilton, Director of Library and Tech Services. “At any particular moment during the day, you may find an eighth-grader using the 3D printer for a science project, a teacher
of virtual reality and a green screen; The
In September, before the paint and
printing a poster for a history lesson, a
HUB will be a transformed multipurpose
wall-coverings were installed, the
third-grader looking for the next book in
learning space.
advancement team hosted a wall-signing
the series she’s immersed in, and a class
for all South Campus students and
of Pre-K children listening to a book on
Library Renovation Fund donors.
our story dots.”
Soon, under the painted walls, the
The HUB will continue to center on
scrawled names of Preschool girls and
learning and literacy, with the addition
boys will forever mix with the confident
of creativity and collaboration in every
signatures and blessings of Lower and
After a pandemic-related pause in planning and scheduling, in July 2021 the first sledgehammer was wielded to
activity.
Middle School students and the Scriptures
“We’re so looking forward to opening
chosen and written carefully by families.
back up to our learning community,”
In both English and Spanish, the LCA
says Bethany McMillon, Lower School
community penciled requests to God for
librarian, as she moves from one class to
his favor on the new space. “For every
the next to host a story-time and reading
house is built by someone, but the builder
activity. “The kids missed the books
of all things is God” (Hebrews 3:4) and
like they missed their friends over the
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those
summer.”
begin demolition. Down came the walls of the previously packed storage closets
Bethany McMillon currently serves as the Lower School Librarian and previously
and outdated ceiling tiles were removed.
taught the K-4 LCA Online Academy and 5th Grade Latin. She adores her
The entrance was inset and relocated
husband, Jerry, and their growing-too-fast-son, William (’25). In addition to
around the corner so that the doors can
teaching, Bethany loves reading, writing, coffee, ice cream and cheering at
open without blocking the hallway.
football games until she’s hoarse. (Go Eagles! Sic ‘em Bears!)
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T E A C H I NG
Truth Biblical education is at the heart of Legacy Christian Academy. Every day, in every grade, our core value of primacy of scripture is ever present. Sometimes the messages are bold, as in Bible class, and sometimes the messages are more subtle, like learning about character traits. One thing is clear, however: The truth of the Bible is woven throughout the fabric of every piece of the Legacy quilt.
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TEACHING TRUTH THE LITTLEST EAGLES, in our Pre-K 3 classes, are greeted every morning by warm hugs and big smiles from their adoring teachers. They enter the classroom and, after getting settled, start their day joyfully singing, “This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Worship gets the children moving and excited. And their teachers demonstrate the importance of lessons such as serving and caring for others.
Mrs. Cooper incorporates hands-on learning with Marshmallow the hedgehog.
Mrs. Schuller spends quality time with her little Eagles.
ACROSS THE HALL IN MRS. COOPER’S PRE-K 4 CLASS, the kids are learning about the letter H and are continuing their
IN MRS. BUTLER’S KINDERGARTEN CLASS, students are
lesson on the five senses. Marshmallow the Hedgehog (notice
reading The Recess Queen. In this book, the main character,
the H) is in class today to help the children learn about touch.
Mean Jean the Recess Queen, isn’t very kind. Mrs. Butler
“How many eyes did God give us to see?” Mrs. Cooper asks. “How
is curious: “What if we saw a friend that was alone on the
many ears did he give us to hear?” When Marshmallow joins the fun, the kids get to touch her (exploring the senses of touch and sight), and Mrs. Cooper marvels: “Isn’t it neat how God made this
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Mrs. Butler reads The Recess Queen to her Kindergarten class.
playground? What could we do to help that friend? What would Jesus want us to do, and how does he want us to act in the way we treat others?” The book provides good lessons in how to be kind and show good character. The memory verse for the month
defense for the hedgehog to curl into a ball with its quills?” The
is about kindness, which also pairs with the theme for chapel,
kids look on with the eyes that God gave them to appreciate His
so the fruit of the spirit of kindness will be reinforced not only
creation in the hedgehog.
throughout the day, but also throughout the month.
LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
TEACHING TRUTH She’s dedicated to her profession as a Christian educator: She wonders aloud, “Would I be convicted of being a Christian teacher if someone was taking me to court? At the end of every school day, if you came into my classroom and you couldn’t convict me of that, then I haven’t done my job and I simply shouldn’t be here. I know He sent me with a purpose and a plan. It’s a high and holy calling that we have. It’s a privilege to be in this school and to teach the faith.”
Mrs. Atkins’s first-grade class is full of eager learners. OVER IN MRS. ATKINS’S FIRST-GRADE CLASS, the teacher is busy praising honorable character traits in her students and living out her will to teach God’s love for them. One of her favorite Bible verses is 3 John 1:4 — “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth.” Her priority as an educator, she says, is to let her students know that God loves them, how much He loves them, and that she loves them. Teaching the curriculum is an important part of the day, but if the lesson veers off track and naturally turns to one of God’s love, she’s excited to embrace that change. Being able to teach God’s love through the curriculum and seeing her children grow from the beginning of the year to the end of it, she says, is what she loves most about being a Christian educator.
MRS. SNIDER’S CLASS SECOND-GRADE CLASS is making textto-Bible connections as they read A Bad Case of Stripes. In this story, Camilla loves lima beans but she worries what others will think of her. She just wants to be like everyone else. One of her students remarks “That’s like Daniel, when we read about Daniel in the lion’s den. He stood up when nobody else would.” As the class listens attentively, Mrs. Snider is teaching the students to look at situations through a biblical worldview lens — even in second grade.
Mrs. Snider shares lessons in A Bad Case of Stripes with her 2nd graders. MISS TAYLOR IS HERSELF a Legacy graduate (Class of ’16), and now teaches third grade in the very classrooms in which she used to sit as a student. Her students are completing a study of David and Jonathan, who was David’s best friend but also King Saul’s son. Their discussion incorporates life lessons as Miss Taylor poses this question: “How do you become somebody’s best friend?”
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TEACHING TRUTH Students throw out answers — “You get to know them.” “You spend time with them.” “You talk to them.” Miss Taylor then points out that this is the same way they grow in their relationship with the Lord. After the discussion, students pull out their Bible journals and reflect on what they learned. Ashlynn McNeely likes to summarize the story before she writes out her life lesson. In this instance, she says, “I learned that you can be like David and trust God in many deadly battles.” Ashlynn may not be facing deadly battles in the same way as David had to, but Miss Taylor applies the lesson to challenges they may face, such as temptation and
Mrs. Buffington finds plenty of opportunities to incorporate scripture into her fourth-grade math class.
using hurtful words. And what about specials? Students in our Lower School get to attend art, music, Spanish, PE, and science classes, and they’re exposed to the Bible in all of those classes as well.
COACH JOHNSON USES BIBLICAL LESSONS every day in PE; the class begins by reciting the verse of the month and then the students pray together. Once the physical activity gets going, it’s easy for Coach Johnson to find opportunities to emphasize honorable character. One example she gives is in dodgeball. If a player gets hit, the individual should be out of the game. Often it’s up to that player to demonstrate integrity and leave, as not everyone notices what’s happened. “You know you’re showing integrity,” the coach tells her students, “when you do the right thing even when nobody is watching, because you get a chance to honor God with your honesty. It’s an awesome thing, to be able to honor God in that way.”
Coach Johnson loves to help her students find ways to glorify God with their actions. Miss Taylor reviews Ashlynn McNeely’s entry in her Bible journal. A FOURTH-GRADE MATH CLASSROOM may seem like an unlikely place for biblical integration, but, says Mrs. Buffington, “there are plenty of opportunities to encourage our students in their knowledge and relationship with the Lord. With the Bible as the center of the math we teach, we recognize and acknowledge God as the author of order and patterns in our world. The love and excitement of learning,” she says, “is enhanced with the treasures of Scripture woven into lessons. We ultimately want to point our children to a personal relationship with Christ.”
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IN THE LOWER SCHOOL SCIENCE LAB, Mrs. Walsh tells her students that what they’re learning about is what God has created. When discussing the five senses, for example, she talks about how God gave us the sense of touch so that we can use it to discover his world. “Our sense of touch keeps us safe in many ways,” she says. “We have a heavenly father who loves us and there are so many fun and pleasing things to touch in this world — which is why it’s so hard to keep your hands off everything!”
Mrs. Watts works with one of her fifth-grade students. “God always has your next assignment,” she says, “and nothing gets to you that has not gone through Him.” Her words help her students to manage anxieties and pressures, which seem to mount quickly in Middle School.
MRS. LOE FINDS abundant opportunities to convey biblical principles to her students in sixth-grade English. Even when studying grammar, she points out that God created the spoken word and the written word, and both are meant to be used in such a way that people can understand what we’re saying and writing. “When you ignore the rules of the written word,” she says, “you’re going to confuse somebody. So, for example, you
Mrs. Walsh is molding fossils and helping this fourth-grade science class learn about the senses God has given them.
can’t share scripture if you’re not doing it well.” Mrs. Loe says being a Christian educator is a treat because she
Students giggle as they acknowledge how difficult it is not to
witnesses her students mature even after they’ve left her class,
touch all of the things that God gave us.
and she loves to share in the things that God does in their lives.
They learn how God made the world and how He holds it all together. Mrs. Walsh wants to be sure that her students make the connection between science and faith from a young age. MRS. WATTS GUIDES her fifth-grade math students by teaching their spirit, mind, and body. A lot of what happens in her class, she says, is sowing the seeds of God’s word in their everyday lives. “Every day is an assignment from the Lord,” she tells the fifthgraders. “Every task you get, no matter how big or how small, is an assignment from the Lord.” She is busily planting little seeds in her students, encouraging them to be faithful in the tasks they’re given, and explaining that those tasks then build to other tasks.
Mrs. Loe enjoys working with her students and watching them grow in their faith.
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TEACHING TRUTH DOWN THE HALL IN MRS. THOMAS’S SEVENTH-GRADE HISTORY CLASS, the teacher’s goal is to expose her students to the ideas that have shaped our nation that come from a biblical worldview. Our founders, even though not all of them were Christian, relied on scripture to create our founding documents and our government systems. When the class studies such documents as the preamble to the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, Mrs. Thomas points out that “every human bears the image of God, and that’s reflected in those documents.” History is His story — God’s story of redemption, she says, and it’s important to study and understand how His story came to be, and how it impacts the world around us and the culture of our country.
Mrs. Thomas challenges her students to understand how His story has impacted history.
A Divine Moment Every Monday the Legacy Middle Schoolers, as part of their community time, have dedicated time alone with their Bibles and their journals. It is time to reflect and to appreciate the Lord’s presence in their lives. On one of those days, In Ms. Tullos’s fifth-grade class, a moment happened that can only be described as divine.
Joshua, seated unassumingly at his desk, shared his prayer aloud.
The class was working in their journals just like every other Monday. Toward the end of the period one day, there was some time left over and Ms. Tullos asked the class if anyone had a prayer they would like to share. Joshua Harmon (’29) raised his hand to share his journal entry. What happened next had a profound impact on everyone in the class and it has become a defining moment for Ms. Tullos as well.
time?” So, he stood, and he read it again. The class sat in awe. Ms. Tullos
“Dear God, I pray that you would fill me with wisdom, with your word, and with the Holy Spirit so that when people challenge me I can tell them what is right and true with confidence and understanding of The Word. If it’ll be your will, God, Amen.” Ms. Tullos was struck. “Joshua, can you read that again, but stand this asked him to pray the prayer over the class, and so he did. He was gentle with the message yet firm in his conviction. The class collectively felt the weight of the moment. Ms. Tullos, as a pastor for over 20 years and now a Christian educator, knew she needed to take hold of this moment and give it the time and attention that it clearly deserved. Joshua was saying “God, would you help me be ready to answer for why I believe in you.” Ms. Tullos says, “Joshua is very sensitive to the Holy Spirit, but on this day, he was in touch with Jesus and listening enough to hear the prayer. The presence of God was very real for us because we all just wanted to hear it again.” Ms. Tullos likened it to the story about when the Lord calls Samuel (1 Samuel 3) and, as a child, he was open and willing to hear God’s word. “This child’s prayer was so timely,” she says, “with all of the challenges currently in the world; the pandemic, the US leaving Afghanistan, and so many other things, the Lord spoke through Joshua and he delivered His message to the class.” The moment was truly divine.
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TEACHING TRUTH BEFORE HER EIGHTH-GRADERS even enter the classroom,
Mrs. Guthmann wants students to remember two things from
Mrs. Guthmann is praying big things for them. She walks
her class; first, that the Bible is truth, and, second, that science
around the empty room, faced with a sea of chairs, and begins
only provides evidence that demands a verdict. “The Bible is
to pray over them. She pictures the students who will be sitting
the most attacked book ever,” she says. “People want to try to
in those chairs over the next five periods and thinks to herself,
prove the science wrong, and they have never been able to do
What if just one of those students goes out and reaches five
it. The Bible is always truth, so if one of those things, the Bible
people for the cause of Christ? And then she envisions that
or science, is going to be wrong, it’s always science. The Bible is
happening all over her room. “Imagine,” she says, “what that would do for the Kingdom.”
irrefutable truth, which makes it stronger than fact. When you know that, everything must be measured against it.” Middle Schoolers also get the opportunity to participate in fine arts in the form of studio and digital art, worship and vocal arts, band, and theater production. IN HIS ART CLASS, FOR EXAMPLE, MR. HERNANDEZ starts by explaining to his students that God is the ultimate creator. “God has created everything we know,” he says, “and because we’re made in His image, we’re also able to create, but at a much smaller scale.” He turns each project into a little devotional and challenges his students: “How do you showcase Christ in what you’re doing?” He encourages them to appreciate their own artwork because, he tells them, “that’s how God has made you to create things. God has given you specific giftings — things you’re good at. You might not be good at watercolor, for example, but your gift is in graphite.”
Mrs. Guthmann happily welcomes her students into her room for another day of scientific exploration.
In Mr. Hernandez’s art class, students are challenged to find their God-given gifts in various media.
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TEACHING TRUTH
Mr. Weaver engages freshmen in his Ancienty World History and Theology class.
Once students graduate to the Upper School, every year
In addition, students take a biblical class that aligns with their
students will take a course dedicated to expanding their
designation in the Professional Schools Program, whether it be
biblical understanding and knowledge. The Upper School Bible
Faith and Science, Christian Perspective on the Arts, or Servant
curriculum is designed to take students on a faith journey that
Leadership. Seniors also have available to them an honors
will prepare them to understand and appreciate the faith of
elective course called The Christian Mind.
others while solidly defending their own with logic and reason.
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Biblical education takes place everywhere — on the court,
All freshmen take Ancient World History and Theology, where
in the band hall, on the stage, in the locker rooms. COACH
they gain a firm grasp of what’s happening in the Bible and
ROTHACKER ENCOURAGES THE GIRLS ON THE
understand its historical context. As sophomores, they take a
VOLLEYBALL TEAM to give everything they have as though
worldviews class. There, students study a historical overview of
working for the Lord. She teaches them to “think through the
philosophy and its foundation. They then take that knowledge to
lens of what God says about who they are,” she says, and to study
achieve a deeper appreciation of the Christian faith and apply it
their identity in Christ. The team has to work together cohesively
to various worldviews. The last stop for all Upper School students
to succeed, and the more interconnected and grounded in
is apologetics, in which they’re further equipped to defend their
themselves and in their faith they are off the court, the more
faith through discussion and reason.
unified and committed they can be on the court.
LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
TEACHING TRUTH
The volleyball teams circle up in prayer before hitting the court. ASK ANY FOOTBALL PLAYER AND HE’LL LIKELY TELL YOU THAT COACH SMITH is like another Bible teacher — with the locker room and the field as his classrooms. Coach Smith preaches to his players that they should jump into the game with both feet, and do the same thing with their faith. “We’re not going to be perfect,” he says. “Faith is not about being perfect. It’s about giving our all, because that’s what Jesus did. He gave his all for us.” Coach Smith is serious about his calling to shepherd his players into becoming young men. He lets them know, he says, that “being tough isn’t demeaning people. Love, though, love is tough, and Christ was love. This game of football, it mirrors life in a lot of ways and you develop love because you go through things together.” At Legacy, the Bible takes center stage. Its truth is taught in every grade and reinforced year after year. The repetition that transpires during the learning process is what gives the lessons staying power and enables our students to apply biblical concepts to real-life situations. Every day is an opportunity for students, from the youngest to the oldest, during their Legacy years and beyond, to challenge themselves to grow in their faith.
THAT’S TEACHING TRUTH. THAT’S THE LCA WAY.
The football teams begin and end every game in prayer.
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BIBLE TEACHERS
Anthony Glenn
WORLDVIEWS Anthony Glenn, who received a bachelor’s
degree in biblical studies from Criswell College, in Dallas, and earned a master’s in Christian apologetics from Biola University, has been instructing young minds in the classrooms of LCA for 12 years.
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It’s fair to say that Mr. Glenn has a firm handle on the Bible: He has taught seventh and eighth-grade Bible classes as well as theology and church history in the Upper School. For the last two years, he’s been entrenched in the subject of Worldviews with sophomores. As he leans into the lectern at the front of the class, glasses in his hand and the book The Consequences of Ideas at the ready, his students are eager to learn what he will impart. His classroom has a certain calmness to it, but the subject matter he covers is both intriguing and challenging. In many ways, his course is like a bootcamp in biblical thinking. Christian Worldviews, if well understood, answers all of the important questions we encounter throughout our lives. In Mr. Glenn’s class, students start with a historical overview of philosophy and its underpinnings. The philosophical foundation gives them a sense of its importance and is an essential building block to gain a deeper understanding of the Christian faith. Students then take what they’ve learned and apply it to various worldviews, such as Deism, Naturalism, Nihilism, Existentialism, and New Age. The content of the course engages students. It gets them thinking, and the questions they pose are not only relevant but also challenge their ability to discuss and debate. Mr. Glenn sets lofty goals for his students: He wants them to understand what it means to love God with their heart, soul, and mind; to identify their own worldview; and to respect the worldview of others. He’s attentive to the fact that after students leave the refuge of Legacy, they’ll be challenged in their faith in countless ways. He wants students to finish his class with confidence in their ability to identify their faith, to stay true to it, and to defend it intellectually. Mr. Glenn maintains an open-door policy. Students often come to him for help in a crisis, whether that be a crisis of faith or a social/emotional hurdle so common to adolescents. Relationships formed during a school year and that continue beyond are priceless, and their impact can be eternal. The teachings in Mr. Glenn’s Worldviews class resonate with students long after they’ve left his classroom.
Testimonial by:
Ryan Yasilli (’16) Mr. Glenn’s impact on my life has been immeasurable. In ninth grade I took Theology, which really laid the framework of how the church started and what the church and Christianity as a whole have come to now. The most important and life-changing class, though, was Mr. Glenn’s Worldviews, which I took in 10th grade. For me — and many other students — born and raised in Frisco, I grew up where 80 percent of the population has similar religious, political, and overall worldviews. Taking a class where you learn about all different types of worldviews challenges you and forces you to take a step back and really think about why you believe what you believe. Worldviews with Mr. Glenn stuck with me; what I gained from his class enabled me to help a lot of other people from all walks of life and different worldviews. My relationship with Mr. Glenn was awesome during my time in his class and I still keep in touch with him on a regular basis, which is special.
Anthony and Bonny Glenn have been married for 16 years. The couple have two sons, Max (’19) and Rhett (’25), who both entered Legacy in Kindergarten. They also have two very spoiled dogs, named Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly.
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BIBLE TEACHERS
Chris Keyes
CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE ARTS Chris Keyes joined the staff at Legacy Christian Academy in 2016. She’s now Senior Director of Fine Arts as well as the Dean of the School of Fine Arts in the Professional Schools Program. Mrs. Keyes is keenly aware of the tremendous advantages to developing competencies in the fine arts and how that integrates with other programs to foster a more interdisciplinary approach to learning and life as a whole.
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In the course Christian Perspective on the Arts, Mrs. Keyes uses the book Imagine, by Steve Turner, as the primary text. Her class is very collaborative, and with the book as the basis for in-depth discussions, students are able to find both historical and contemporary examples of art and how it intertwines with the Bible to offer a perspective that is both sensible and insightful into how faith can influence artists creatively. “Where do you see Christians in the arts today?” Mrs. Keyes asks her students. “If the only Christians you see in music are singing praise and worship in a church, the audience for that is people who are already part of that conversation. I mean, you see praise and worship music that’s created by Christians, sung for Christians, and enjoyed by Christians, but what does it say to the world at large?” She explains: “Believers should have a voice in what goes on in contemporary art culture, not just within the Christian world.” The class delves into the successes and challenges of various artists who have professed themselves to be Christian as well as those who live the fact that they’re believers through their work. The unit culminates with students selecting an artist they deem to be successful who is also a proud Christian. The class is rooted in discussion and debate while exploring the concept of Christianity and its involvement and influence on the arts. Mrs. Keyes says she enjoys the journey of being a Christian educator because she relishes spending her days with students and colleagues who have a common language, hope, and message. Mrs. Keyes met her husband, Upper School science teacher John Keyes, at Tennessee Temple University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music, and a lifelong partnership in both marriage and teaching was forged. The couple have two daughters, Shelby, and Cat (’18). They also have two cats, Bristow, after the Sydney Bristow character in Alias, and Bartlett, named for Jed Bartlett in The West Wing.
Testimonial by:
Ashlyn Braly (’22) When I started at Legacy, in seventh grade, I was a shy and scared kid. I had always been pretty good at choir, so I decided to join the class at school. When I got there, I met a teacher who I could tell cared so much about music and singing, but I had no idea then what an impact she would have on my life. I started as a 12-year-old girl who had become afraid to sing by herself, but Mrs. Keyes coached me and helped me to overcome a fear that seemed like an unmovable mountain. She taught me so much, not only about music but about confidence as well. Because of her influence, I blossomed as a person. I’m still in choir today, and it’s all because of Mrs. Keyes. She has always been a teacher who cares about her students’ well-being. I know she wants to see me succeed in life, and I’m really grateful for that. I hope everyone who joins the choir will see just how amazing Mrs. Keyes really is.
LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
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BIBLE TEACHERS
Doug Branch
FAITH AND SCIENCE Doug Branch has been an educator at Legacy for the past nine years, and he has opened every class period by reading scripture because, he says, “you can’t go wrong starting with the word of God.”
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Mr. Branch has vast expertise in teaching all manner of science, from AP Chemistry and biology to physics, but he now finds himself immersed in the Professional Schools Program, teaching to students in the schools of engineering and medicine as the resident expert in a course aptly called Faith and Science. Mr. Branch has been a scholar of both faith and science his entire life. He has a bachelor of science degree in sociology from Texas A&M University and a master’s in education administration from Texas A&M Commerce, making him an Aggie through and through. “Science is one of the areas that is commonly used to attack the Christian faith,” says Mr. Branch. When students move on to college (particularly secular colleges), they’ll inevitably be attacked with the knowledge of science versus the “mystical” faith of Christianity. He wants his students to go on to higher education not only knowledgeable but, more importantly, unwavering in their faith, and equipped to influence those around them. The skills that are reinforced in Mr. Branch’s class will be used again in college, from researching and reading, to posing thoughtprovoking questions, to presenting in front of an audience. Students in Faith and Science learn that science is valuable, but its value is to reveal the glory of God. Mr. Branch encourages his students to take science and use it to look at the Bible from a different perspective. His ultimate goal is for students to have an awe for God. He wants them to realize who God is, how great He is, how big He is, and how wondrous the universe He created is. He teaches them that science is not attacking their faith. The only thing that attacks their faith is the philosophy of science and its improper application. For the past 20 years, Mr. Branch has been director of Straight Arrow Camp, a Christian-emphasis, nonprofit summer camp located on Lake Texoma. He has been involved with the camp for more than 45 years and even attended some of its earliest events. He is currently president of its board of directors. Mr. Branch and his wife, Jan, have been married for 46 years. They have five children (fourth-grade teacher Mrs. Trousdale is one of their daughters) and 13 grandchildren, with another on the way.
Testimonial by:
Alex Frye (’19) When Mr. Branch comes to mind, there aren’t enough words to describe the massive impact he has had on my life. He was not only my chemistry and Faith and Science teacher, but he was also my mentor and softball coach for four years. In fact, he continues to influence me every day. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I fully surrendered to God and allowed His will to take over my life. Mr. Branch was the first teacher I told, and I’ll never forget how excited he was for me. He guided me through the process of not giving up when it was difficult and trusting God at all times. Mr. Branch taught me that my identity is found in the one true King and not in my grades, softball performance, or other worldly things. It’s now, being away from home, when I can see his mentorship influence me in my everyday life. I’m currently taking part in an internship outside of my comfort zone, where I face new challenges and interact with many people who have misconceptions about Christianity. Before I graduated Legacy, in the spring of 2019, I was afraid of how to navigate through life without being constantly surrounded by Christian students and teachers. Through Faith and Science, Mr. Branch taught me how to ask questions, defend my faith, and lead people to God. I can confidently say that he has prepared me for life after Legacy. I’ll be forever grateful for Mr. Branch and his wisdom, and I pray that one day I’ll be a mentor for someone as he has been for me.
LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
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Throughout his life, he has sought out educational opportunities to broaden his own understanding and knowledge while learning from the best biblical scholars in the world. He spent several summers with the Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics, and was even at Oxford in 2011, when they celebrated the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible. Mr. Littleton has held a variety of positions during his 13-year tenure at Legacy, and currently teaches apologetics to juniors. Bible Department Chair Will Weaver calls him the “anchor of the Bible program. He is unapologetic in his approach and has been instrumental in shaping what happens biblically at Legacy.” Parents who attend curriculum night hear Mr. Littleton say that he’s “trying to teach the
BIBLE TEACHERS
Ron Littleton
APOLOGETICS
Ron Littleton has spent 43 years in
Christian education. He has a bachelor of arts in English, philosophy, and Bible
hell out of” his students. Although some may initially be aghast to hear a Bible teacher using such a strong word, his aim is to get people’s attention and for them to realize the gravity of what’s being taught in his classroom. What he cares about is not simply where his students will be in four, six, or even 10 years — his passion for teaching lies in where they’re going to be in eternity. When students enter Mr. Littleton’s classroom, they’re in for a period of intensive instruction in defending their Christian faith. The door is locked as soon as class begins; this time is sacred and not to be disturbed. Mr. Littleton heeds his call to go to battle for his students’
from Tennessee Temple University
souls, helping to shape them through their
and a master’s degree from Liberty
hearts, their minds, and their bodies. His
University in Bible and apologetics.
goal first and foremost, he says, is that his students “may know Christ, the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering.” Although he is fully aware that the battle has already been won through Christ, it’s in Mr. Littleton’s hands to demonstrate that
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LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
message to his students and — more
impact on my life. His class taught me
Mr. Littleton has been married to
importantly — to get them to accept it.
how to defend and stay strong in my
his beloved wife, Kathy, for more
Mr. Littleton’s teaching has profound
faith as a believer. I know the work he
than 44 years. The couple have two
effects. Says Blake Snider ’10, who also
does at Legacy is making an impact
daughters, Michelle and JulieAnn;
had Mr. Littleton as his football coach,
that will last a lifetime for all his
four grandchildren; and a 1-year-old
“Coach Littleton has had a lasting
students.”
Bernedoodle named Zeke.
Testimonial by:
Dyllan Muller (’16) “Why are you a Christian?” was a question Mr. Littleton posited to our apologetics class one day during my junior year. My mind immediately started racing, trying to put together a case for Christianity from the pieces of evidence I’d gathered over my time at Legacy. I realized that I didn’t have a very good way to synthesize them into a convincing argument. That’s when Mr. Littleton told us how he would begin to answer that question. His answer was simple yet powerful. “Because it’s true,” he said. He then elaborated: He’d provide evidence for the truthfulness of Christianity over the course of the year, but the essence remained that simple. Mr. Littleton believed in Christianity because he believed it was true; he believed Christianity was the best explanation of the evidence. “Because it’s true” has stuck with me, even now, after seven years have passed since I first heard Mr. Littleton utter those words. This is the case only because of Mr. Littleton’s dedication to his students and his sincere desire that they love God with their hearts and minds and become convinced of the truthfulness and power of Christianity. There have been times when people and circumstances caused me to momentarily question my faith. “Why do I believe what I believe?” I would, and still sometimes do, ask myself. In these moments, I always return back to the tools Mr. Littleton equipped me with when I was 15 years old. I’m not afraid to go where the truth leads because, as
my eighth-grade Legacy science teacher, Mrs. Guthmann, would put it, “All truth is God’s truth.” I believe in Christianity for the sole reason that I believe it’s true, and I’m in good company. Mr. Littleton would often point to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:14, that “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” Mr. Littleton instilled in me a passion to ensure that I never had “useless” faith. Instead, because of Mr. Littleton, my goal is to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks [me] to give the reason for the hope that [I] have” (1 Peter 3:15). Through the study of powerful arguments for the existence of God and the historicity of the Resurrection, reading material from renowned apologists such as Drs. William Lane Craig and Peter Williams, and diving into God’s word daily, Mr. Littleton’s apologetics class equipped me with the tools I need to know the veracity of my faith and to defend it well. Mr. Littleton knows how to help students in their faith journey in the way they need it most and when they need it most. Being an apologist is a continual, lifelong process: It doesn’t stop in high school, and Mr. Littleton knows that — I’ve even had interactions with him after graduation from Legacy, when he’s provided me with new material and evidence to sharpen the tools in my apologetics toolbelt. To me, Mr. Littleton isn’t just a teacher I had the privilege of taking a class with for a year at Legacy. Mr. Littleton is someone who has been instrumental in enabling me to pursue God and defend him well in college and beyond.
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BIBLE TEACHERS
Ryan Martin
EIGHTH-GRADE BIBLE Ryan Martin is in his eighth year of teaching in LCA’s Middle School. He has the distinction of being the final formal Bible educator for all of our inquisitive Middle School students — the eighth-graders — before they join the ranks of the Upper School.
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Mr. Martin sets his sights on teaching students not only about what we actually believe as Christians, but also why we believe it. He wants them to mature past what he calls “Veggie Tales Christianity,” in which, on the surface, they instinctively respond that Jesus is always the answer and that everything is about God. He tries to dispel the myth that studying the Bible is superficial. He urges students to think deeply in his course, which is thoughtprovoking and requires attention to detail.
Testimonial by:
“My greatest challenge,” Martin says, “is that a lot of my students
Abby Abbink (’23)
understand an objection to Christianity or a good question about their faith but they’re just now at the age when they start to understand some of the beginnings of the answers.” Mr. Martin’s class provides the foundation on which students can integrate their childhood faith with intellect and reason. He wants them to develop an exalted view of the triune God and to be confident of that. He says he’s “excited to get to shepherd his students into a more substantial and grounded relationship with God.” In addition to teaching, Mr. Martin is a co-coordinator of Biblical Worldview. In that position, he partners with all of the other Middle School teachers to create consistency of curriculum, ensure quality of instruction, and see worldview integrated into other subjects. Mr. Martin earned a bachelor’s degree in business marketing from Abilene Christian University. He says the Bible teachers he had in college imparted valuable knowledge and, in many ways, kept him from heresy. It was their insistence on the word of God during his early years at ACU that paved the way for the defense of his faith. Ryan and Kristen Martin have been married for nine years. They recently expanded their family with the addition of son James,
I was in Mr. Martin’s class in both seventh and eighth grade, and he introduced us to the idea of apologetics. Before I was in his class, I had never learned how to produce an argument and reason for my beliefs and strong faith. Through his teaching, I learned how to, for the first time, apply my classes to my personal life, outside of school. Before I took Mr. Martin’s classes, my faith was based on how I was raised by my family. Learning apologetics equipped me to start developing personal beliefs and a personal relationship with God. I learned how to discern truth, facts, and logic. Mr. Martin is an influential, relatable, and memorable teacher. His teaching impacted me in a profound way, one in which he probably isn’t even aware.
born in October, who joined brother Judah (’34) and sister Elleanor, who is 3½.
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BIBLE TEACHERS
Will Weaver
ANCIENT WORLD HISTORY & THEOLOGY Will Weaver received a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Oklahoma and has only to complete his thesis to earn a master’s in history from UNT. He also holds a master’s of divinity, specializing in the New Testament and theology, from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Fort Worth. For five years, Mr. Weaver taught Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and has been a formal Christian educator for more than a decade. He joined the Legacy Bible Department just four years ago and is now its chair.
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Discipleship and teaching have always been Mr. Weaver’s passion. He first got involved in leading student ministry right out of high school and continued his commitment throughout college. Once he recognized that teaching in a formal classroom would afford him the opportunity to use his gifts and minister to students and parents five days a week, he knew that his true calling was in education. Mr. Weaver’s Ancient World History and Theology class is the first stop for all of our freshmen. The Bible teachers in the Upper School, Weaver says, are “the closers. They’re responsible for bringing the biblical education journey of the students to a culmination that prepares them to enter the real world with a solid defense of their faith.” In his class, the combination of theology and history provides the basis for students to build their biblical education. The Bible is actually used as the course text when the class begins studying ancient Western civilization. Mr. Weaver’s extensive knowledge of languages provides a framework for a richer educational experience by further establishing connections throughout the content. The primary course goal is for students to have a firm grasp of what’s happening in the Bible and understand it in its historical context. Armed with that knowledge, students are able to apply its principles to their own lives. Just ask Josh Wieber (’24): “Throughout my life,” says Josh, “I’ve known a lot about the stories and geography of the Bible, but in Mr. Weaver’s class I was able to see many things in a different light and was also able to explore new details and information about biblical leaders. I grew so much in a deeper knowledge of the Bible, it’s stories and its people, and I know I have a much deeper understanding and relationship with God as a result.” Mr. Weaver’s job doesn’t stop at teacher and department chair, he and eighthgrade Bible teacher Ryan Martin serve as the Biblical Worldview co-coordinators, which means they evaluate the biblical education of the school as a whole — a monumental task at a Christian school. Mr. Weaver is primed for this role: Over the last 10 years, he has drafted curriculum for more than a dozen courses for various educational institutions. He is also the director of LEAD Legacy. He and co-director Cheryl Crawford are
Testimonial by:
Presley Kate Pittard (’23) Mr. Weaver and his class have changed my perspective of the Bible and, ultimately, my relationship with Christ. Mr. Weaver’s class was not merely a Bible class or a history class; he taught about the Bible as a whole, cohesively aligning each event into God’s perfect story. Because of Mr. Weaver, I’m able to understand the background and context of events in the Bible, and that has proven to be incredibly important in my walk with Christ. Having Mr. Weaver as a freshman allowed me to practice what he’s instilled in me for my remaining time in high school. Because of this, I know that what he taught me will certainly carry with me through college. I count it as one of my greatest blessings to have had Mr. Weaver as my teacher; I wouldn’t be the person I am today without him.
responsible for oversight of the overall program, from creating the curriculum to managing the budget and assigning faculty and staff to manage more than 150 Legacy Upper School students who participate in this leadership track. Will and his wife, Traci — also a teacher — have been married 15 years and have two sons, Oliver (’32), who is in the Spanish Immersion program at Legacy, and Watson, who attends Pre-K 3. Will and Traci are actively involved in their church, Preston Ridge, and have been foreign missionaries in Texas for 14 years.
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BIBLE TEACHERS
Barrett Hardage
SERVANT LEADERSHIP AND THE CHRISTIAN MIND Barrett Hardage has been in Christian education for more than two decades and just started his 12th year of service at Legacy.
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Mr. Hardage is the only Bible teacher to manage two different courses: Servant Leadership and The Christian Mind, which is an honors-level elective only for seniors. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Southern Methodist University as well as a master’s in biblical studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. Mr. Hardage came to Legacy because he worked with his mentor teacher, who happens to be Legacy’s own Mr. Littleton, when they worked together at another Christian school. And that’s not his only Legacy connection, as Mr. Hall (Lower School assistant principal) was the first person to hire him out of college — albeit as a coach. Mr. Hardage is as at home in the classroom as he is on the football field. Coaching football enables him to help shape young men. “Athletics,” he says, “teaches you the same lessons as the classrooms, but in a different way. Culturally we liken it to war: It’s a battle. In sport, we see a band of brothers heading into battle another group, but in a socially acceptable way.” At Legacy, Mr. Hardage started out teaching American history in the Middle School. He then shifted over to the Upper School and took over Mr. Littleton’s Bible classes for a spell, along with teaching government and economics. He was then charged to develop the Servant Leadership course as part of the Professional Schools Program curriculum. His goal was to create a character study on the life of Jesus. “We can always point back to Jesus as the model for the character qualities we’re trying to develop in our students,” he says. He strives to maintain a balance between being practical yet academically rigorous while still providing an opportunity for relational growth in the students’ faith. In The Christian Mind, Mr. Hardage challenges his students to worship God with all of their minds. They explore how to think Christianly, and what exactly that means. Students discuss current cultural issues and do more of a practical apologetics regarding those topics. It’s sort of a “how-to” guide to defending their beliefs in the secular marketplace by using logic and reason, at the same time looking at topics from a moral perspective. The big message Mr. Hardage sends, he says, is that the students learn they’re “not trying to win arguments; they’re trying to win souls for Christ.” Barrett Hardage and his wife of 14 years, Janet, have two children, son Colt (’29) and daughter Bennet (’32). Regardless of the role he finds himself in — dad, coach, teacher, adviser, or mentor — Mr. Hardage believes that “all of life is about our calling and how
Testimonial by:
Josh Norris (’16) Coach Hardage was one of the most influential figures I’ve had in my life. My first instinct when thinking about the impact he’s had on my life is that it’s primarily from things outside the “classroom” (that is, other than what he said in front of the class, lecture-style). He knew me, pushed me to grow as a person, spoke into areas of my life I wanted to keep isolated, and lived out Jesus in front of me. I went to a college that represents the “high-academic, ultra-liberal” culture that’s supposed to appeal to the people farthest from God, most militant toward Christianity. When I was there I grew an incredibly life-giving and fruitful relationship with Jesus, and out of that devotion was moved to lead others to a relationship with Christ. During all four years, I was discipling people, including the church kids, the never-been-inchurch agnostics, the “grew-up Muslim,” and everyone in between. My personal relationship with Coach Hardage, along with the tools from his class, shaped me for the four years after Legacy. He always told me, “It’s not hard to be Christian in college; in fact, it’s simple: You just have to do it.” That simplicity was what changed things for me, because no matter what I “missed out” on in college, Jesus is just so much more.
we live out that calling for the Kingdom.”
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Ignite: LIGHTING A FIRE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS By: Libba Tullos The first spark flew during a June brainstorming session with our Middle School spiritual formation team. Once Dr. Bell began speaking, I could tell that she was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
She kicked off our time together with a “State of the Union”–type address, which went something like this: “Due to COVID, our students have missed out on summer camps. Many have not been to church in person for long periods of time. No one is meeting for spiritual-emphasis retreats. Is there anything we can do for them? Is there a way for us to bring everyone together from the start and create an experience where our students can have some life breathed into them?” It was at that moment that I knew why we were invited to the meeting. I uttered a soft “Thank you, God” and then sat in rapt attention. I watched as, one by one, my coworkers walked to the white board in Dr. Bell’s office and wrote down their thoughts and ideas. Our aim was clear: Start off the school year in an unprecedented and exhilarating way, to fill
Coach Braden Smith cheers on a couple of competitors for Foster house.
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the cups of students who were desperate
for connection after the isolation we all endured during the pandemic. After a couple of hours of asking questions, throwing out ideas, and praying, we landed on this theme: “Ignite.” We laid out a conference for the first two days of school that would challenge, encourage, and equip our students to grow in their faith. We planned activities and worship to be fun and engaging, simultaneously offering our students a way to experience a spiritual awakening. The weeks, days, and minutes before the first day of school — and Ignite — felt a
With giant glow sabers in hand, the Middle Schoolers were ready to kick off the Ignite conference in the LPAC.
bit like waiting for Christmas morning. Finally, the day arrived. The Middle
paper; He was an explanation to me, but
The second day of the conference was
Schoolers trekked over to the Upper
I realized He wanted me to experience
equally as important as it laid the
School campus with anticipation and excitement for what was to come. As they entered the dimly lit Legacy Performing Arts Center, each student was handed a
who He is. Jesus was and is inviting me
framework for the unveiling of the
to Come and See. Jesus is inviting you to
highly anticipated house system for
a come-and-see relationship with him.”
Middle School. Students began building relationships and camaraderie right
bucket hat and a giant glow saber. Our
His message resonated with our Middle
students were stunned to see what had
from the start with the first few team
School students, who were given the
been created behind the scenes for them
competitions.
opportunity to invite Jesus to be their
and appreciated being loved and thought of in this way. They were captivated by the opening: a black-lit drumline playing dynamic and riveting rhythms and bold beats. After
Lord and Savior and to enter into a growing-closer relationship with him this year.
“This was the best first day ever!” exclaimed one student. “I’ve never experienced a start to school
Beyond the message, Ignite enabled
quite like this before,” said another.
all students to start the academic year
The Ignite conference accomplished the
as a unified community. Everyone was
goal of uniting the Middle School and
welcomed. Everyone had a place to
affirming students’ passions for the Lord.
by an inspiring and relatable biblical
belong. Ignite, in many ways, leveled the
It prepared them to conquer the academic
teaching from our speaker, Pastor Tyler
playing field. Middle School students felt
year together with a positive mindset, all
Heidelberg. He cited John 1 and spoke
seen, heard, and appreciated.
the while feeling loved and celebrated.
the drumline concluded its invigorating performance, the Middle School worship team took the stage, followed
of Jesus’ invitation to come and see. You could have heard a pin drop as Pastor Tyler leaned toward our students: “I
Libba Tullos is currently a 5th-grade teacher at Legacy. She has been inspiring and
went to a private school growing up and
encouraging leaders from all walks of life for over 18 years. Her love for people and
I felt like I always heard about who God was,” he said. “I knew about Him on
for the Lord is contagious and mediocre is not in her vocabulary. Libba has two beautiful daughters, McKenzie (’23) and Berkley (’26).
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Build a House;
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Leave a Legacy
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THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HOUSE SYSTEM Our Middle School students were in for some surprises when they returned to campus in August. First, they experienced Ignite, a two-day conference whose aim was to get them excited about the academic year and to encourage growth in their walk with God. That was followed by the eagerly anticipated launch of the LCA House System, an initiative distinctive to Legacy’s Middle School.
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THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HOUSE SYSTEM
The house system has been a work in progress for a while. The Middle School team learned about the concept several years ago, when a group of teachers heard about it at a conference. Then Lana Snear, our Middle School guidance counselor, met with students who had experienced the system firsthand, and was impressed by the impact that it had on their lives. The students told her they were able to relate to one another in new ways and also gained valuable leadership skills. After the isolation and challenges brought on by the pandemic, students
(l to r) Mrs. Buhl, Mrs. Thomas, and Mrs. Keathley are proud new members of Elliot house.
needed to be connected more than ever before, so the race was on to get
Devising the house system was no
value, and purpose among the Middle School student body as a whole. The
this system up and running as soon as
small feat. The committee began by
possible. A committee of eight Middle
determining the ideal number of houses,
team collaborated to design and
School teachers and staff became the
their names, and, most importantly,
implement a point system that would
driving force.
how they could instill connection,
embolden students to participate with
Cooper Johnson (’26) smiles in his new ten Boom tee.
WHY ARE CONNECTION, VALUE, AND PURPOSE IMPORTANT TO MIDDLE SCHOOLERS? CONNECTION. Students have a sense of security when they feel connected to other people. Whether that’s another student or an adult, feeling connected and known helps them to feel more rooted in their identity. In the halls of the Middle School, students are encouraged to “knowtice” one another — not just to know their names, but to know about them and who they are. VALUE. In Middle School, students start to question their worth. Some may feel they only have value because they’re good at sports or because they’re high achievers academically. The house system plays to every student’s unique, God-given abilities and enables all to excel in how they were made and to be appreciated for that.
PURPOSE. The house system helps students realize that they all contribute in some form or fashion, and that God has a plan for their lives. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare, and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Once students discover their purpose, they learn to embrace it.
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THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HOUSE SYSTEM a goal in mind: the coveted House Cup. House points are everywhere to be had, from heated athletic competitions like dodgeball, to showing spirit at pep rallies and from demonstrating a heart of service, to excelling in the classroom, as well as good old-fashioned participation in the form of showing up at a school event in your house shirt. The next big task: house sorting. The team knew they needed to find a way to configure all of the grades and to make the unveiling exhilarating. And what better place for some excitement than the football field? As they headed outside, each student received a sealed envelope — and were told not to open it — inside of which was a colored paper that held their
Students tear into their envelopes to find out which house they will call home.
designated house. Gathered together in their respective houses, faculty and staff teams charged out as each house was introduced. Faculty proudly sported their brightly colored house T-shirts; some took their house pride to new heights with face paint and nifty accessories. Led by a flag bearer, the house teams positioned themselves at each of the four corners of the field, and once the students were given the all-clear to open their envelopes, papers went flying and students started running to their new houses. Students were given their new house T-shirts and the fun was under way! Their first task was to come up with a house chant — a battle cry to unify and motivate the new members. It was fascinating to watch the new teams in
(l to r) Mrs. Bales, Coach Thrash, Mrs. Cleckler, and Mrs. Jennings are happy to be in Foster house.
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THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HOUSE SYSTEM
action as leaders emerged even from the
palpable. There’s a change in the feeling
achieve and push themselves outside of
seemingly most timid of students. They
of the Middle School,” she says. “I
their comfort zones. All teachers have
were already beginning to recognize
see students reaching outside of their
in their classroom a jar for each house,
their value as individual members of a
bubble and there’s a sense of belonging
so that they can award house points
that I’ve never seen before.” The house
as they’re earned, which is another
system is stretching both students and
great incentive for students. “It’s been
teachers to interact in brand-new ways.
interesting to see the competitiveness
unified team. Although the house system is still in its infancy, Dr. Snear is already encouraged
develop among the teachers,” Dr. Snear
by its success. “The connectedness
The teachers realize the potential of
says. “These teachers are seriously
between and among the houses is
house points to motivate students to
competitive.”
Jayden Davis (’28) is pumped to get into the competition representing Lewis house!
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THE FOUR HOUSES Students are placed in one of four houses for the entirety of their Middle School years. The houses are named for the following heroes of faith: Andrew Foster, C. S. Lewis, Corrie ten Boom, and Jim Elliot. Within each house, students are assigned to a squad of same-gender, same-grade-level peers who meet once a week to discuss challenging topics, current struggles, and any needs. In addition, within each house older squads are paired with younger squads to create a family (for example, eighth-grade boys with sixth-grade boys) to promote leadership and mentorship.
ANDREW FOSTER
CORRIE TEN BOOM
The Middle School chose Andrew
The Middle School chose Corrie ten
Foster because he demonstrated the
Boom because of her courage in
quality of obedience by accepting the
the face of the worst evil to befall
call to evangelize through education.
humankind.
Andrew Foster (1925–1987), who lost
Cornelia Arnolda Johanna ten Boom
his hearing at age 11, was a missionary
was a Dutch watchmaker. During
to the deaf in several countries in
World War II, Corrie and her family
Africa until his death. In 1954, he became the first African American to
helped Jews escape the Gestapo by hiding them in their home; she
earn a bachelor’s degree, in education, from Gallaudet University and
believed her actions were following the will of God. Arrested, she was
then got a master’s degree, also in education, from Eastern Michigan
sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. She became a writer, and
University. He soon earned a second master’s, this time in Christian
her most famous book, written after her release, is The Hiding Place,
mission, from Seattle Pacific Christian College (now called Seattle Pacific
which tells the story of her family’s efforts to aid Jews and how she found
University). He founded Christian Mission for the Deaf African in 1956,
and shared hope in God while imprisoned.
and eventually set out for Accra, Ghana, where he established the first school for the deaf on the entire continent of Africa.
C. S. LEWIS
JIM ELLIOT
C. S. Lewis, known as “The Apostle to
Philip James Elliot was an American
the Skeptics,” is famous for his fiction
Christian missionary and martyr
(Chronicles of Narnia, for example)
who died trying to evangelize the
and his Christian apologetics, such as
Huaorani people of Ecuador. Even as
Miracles and The Problem of Pain. In
a youngster, Jim knew he was called
2000, his apologetic Mere Christianity
to share the gospel with unreached
was voted best book of the 20th
peoples. He earned a Bible degree
century by Christianity Today. Lewis also taught English literature at both
from Wheaton College, then studied linguistics and Bible translation at
Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
Camp Wycliffe. He arrived in Ecuador in 1954 and began preaching to the
The Middle School chose C. S. Lewis as a professor, as a writer of fiction,
Quechua, with hopes of making contact with the Huaorani. Two years
and because he was one of the most influential Christian apologists of
later his team was ready, but on meeting them, Elliot and his companions
his time.
were slain by a group of Huaorani warriors. The Middle School chose Jim Elliot because he believed his work for God was more important than his life.
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LCA HIGHLIGHTS
The TJ Tomeny Legacy Classic:
Golf and Good Times for a Cause The TJ Tomeny Legacy Classic took place August 17 at Stonebridge Ranch Country Club. In its 15th year, the sold-out golf tournament saw more than 20 teams come together on a glorious morning for food, fellowship, and fun with a competitive round of golf. For some teams, fashion was the raison d’être; others came in wearing their game faces, ready to conquer the links.
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Legacy partnered with Leaderboard to add some excitement to the 13th
once again, went to a women’s team, though the team composed of
hole — one of the longest. There, golfers could purchase a shot out of
their husbands gave them a run for their money!
an air cannon, which would catapult their ball 150 yards, much closer
The tournament is named for Thomas Joseph (TJ) Tomeny, who
to the hole. One golfer even channeled Al Pacino’s famed Scarface line,
exemplified the traits Legacy seeks to instill in its students. TJ — a
“Say hello to my little friend!” as he took hold of the air cannon.
gifted athlete — was known for his Christ-like character, perseverance,
Though lightning and rain meant the tournament had to end a little
academic excellence, and, most of all, a great attitude. It honors his
early, that didn’t dampen the golfers’ experience. The three top-scoring
memory and his many God-given talents on the fields of competition.
teams were honored and individuals earned a host of other awards, such
All proceeds from the TJ Tomeny Legacy Classic go directly to benefit
as Longest Drive and Hole in One. The coveted Best-Dressed award,
the Stronger Together Fund at LCA.
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CHAPEL: DEVOTION IN ALL DIVISIONS by: Madi Bixler ’14
One way in which LCA accomplishes its mission of developing strong leaders with biblical convictions is through chapel. Biblical truth is at the core of LCA’s foundation. We believe
This way, each student can relate to someone like themselves
the Bible is inspired by God, inerrant, and authoritative. The
during the chapel year.”
primacy of scripture is taught both inside and outside of the classroom. One of the ways LCA accomplishes the mission of developing strong biblical leaders is through chapel. Chapel at LCA looks a little different across grade levels, but each school’s chapel program is designed to foster and support
Apologetics and learning to defend our faith are important aspects of the Upper School curriculum. These truths are being taught in depth in the classroom; chapel, on the other hand, enables students to explore their personal walk with Christ.
every student’s faith journey, and to instill a love of God that
Advisory groups, a component of the Upper School
will last a lifetime.
chapel program, are a place to have fellowship and grow
Upper School
once a week in any conversation of the group’s choosing. “Last
relationships. Each teacher leads a small group of students
How do we develop a deeper faith? It’s a simple but powerful question that Upper School chapel asks its students. This year, the theme in Upper School chapel centers on loving God with heart, mind, and soul, as well as loving others as
week,” Mr. Hardage says, “my advisory and I talked about mental health and its importance.” Advisory provides students the ability to learn from their teachers and coaches and to share wisdom with one another.
Jesus has. “We’re focusing on the parables and teachings of
Worship is also an important part of Upper School chapel.
Jesus this year,” says Barrett Hardage, Upper School chapel
In the control booth of the LPAC, Sam Garner directs the
coordinator, Bible teacher, and coach. “More importantly,
music and Upper School worship team. During worship team
we’re encouraging students to draw conclusions from these
meetings, Mr. Garner leads the group through a book called
teachings, which are applicable – and relevant – to their lives.”
The Reset, by Jeremy Riddle, which is about the heart of
Upper School chapel speakers are individuals of different
worship. This small study encourages students to analyze their
races, religious backgrounds, and Christian denominations.
motives in leading worship. “Worship is between you and the
“Our goal with bringing in a variety of speakers,” Mr. Hardage says, “is to create connection points with the student body.
Lord,” Mr. Garner tells students. He reminds the team that their goal is to “give people a platform for worship.”
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CHAPEL: DEVOTION IN ALL DIVISIONS
Middle School “Middle School chapel is about helping our students claim their
After chapel, students meet with their home “squads,” which are
faith as their own,” says Libba Tullos. In Middle School, kids
teacher-led small groups by grade level. “We break down things
are at a “jumping-off point,” she says, when they’re old enough
students have heard in chapel and have fellowship with one
to create ownership of their love for the Lord, independent
another,” Ms. Tullos says.
from their parents’ faith. “I want our kids to want a relationship with God,” Ms. Tullos says with a smile. In chapel, kids are taught to Know God, Love God, and Obey God,
This year, Middle School began with Ignite, a two-day spiritualemphasis conference. Students were challenged, encouraged, and equipped to grow in their faith through teachings and worship
in that order. By the end of their Middle School chapel experience,
that ignite meaningful squad conversations. “So many of us have
students have learned to open the Bible for themselves, find
heard of God, but how many of us have heard God for ourselves?”
relevant teachings, and apply them to their own lives. Built on
Ms. Tullos asks the students. Building on the conference, Middle
strong biblical teaching and engaging worship, “Middle School chapel introduces students to Christ all the time,” Ms. Tullos says. With “head knowledge” of the Bible already being taught in class,
School chapel continues to encourage, teach, and bless students by fostering a deep love of Christ.
Middle School chapel encourages a “heart knowledge” of the Lord and his goodness. Middle School chapel hosts a variety of guest speakers, such as pastors of local churches and faculty members.
Lower School Our Lower School chapel is an experience that teaches young students “to corporately worship God,” says Kerri Thompson: “We want to teach kids what’s expected in church when they begin their faith journey.” Instead of hosting a children’s chapel that’s just loud games, she says, “we want to be respectful and honorable to the Lord.”
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Early Ed “We have fun, but we’re on holy ground,” she reminds her young students. In this way, Mrs. Thompson and the Lower School faculty prepare kids for the next step on their spiritual journeys. The Lower School chapel program centers on the theme “CHRIST in Me,” based on Galatians 2:20. Courage, Humility, Respect, Integrity, Seeker of God, and Teachability (“CHRIST”)
Early Education (Kindergarten and Pre-K) chapel captivates our youngest students’ attention for 20 minutes each week. With dancing, games, and stories, Early Ed chapel lays a foundation for biblical truth in young minds and hearts. The program helps to teach kids what church is like, and that this is a place where we learn about Jesus.
are character traits that students and teachers worked together
Bethany McMillon, coordinator of Early Education chapel,
to create as guidelines for their lives this year.
describes a typical chapel day: “We start off with singing upbeat
In August, says Mrs. Thompson, the children studied the book of Daniel. “We then identified Daniel’s admirable character traits, and the kids are accountable for showing these qualities, too.” Teachers quietly watch kids in the hallway and in class to look for fruits of their study. “If a child is recognized for exhibiting respect, for example, the individual will get a small reward,” she says, like a special pen. There are occasional big rewards, too — how about a popsicle party! During chapel, a lesson is taught from the main curriculum, “The Gospel Project” which walks young kids through the entire Bible. Later, there is discussion about ways to practice what the children learned from the lesson.
praise songs and dancing to worship God,” she says. Mrs. McMillon reminds little ones that we were created to worship God with our whole selves. “We teach a short Bible story, with lots of engagement and questions,” she says. Each month, Early Ed chapel focuses on one character trait, accompanied by a Bible verse and corresponding Bible stories centering on that trait. “For example,” she says, “our August traits were respect and obedience. We studied Jonah in one of our lessons.” After their Bible story, the kids get to play a game related to their lesson, keeping with chapel’s interactive approach. Even though the little ones are full of energy, Mrs. McMillon says, they learn important lessons: “We talk about making sure our choices honor God.”
The Lower School chapel program also celebrates “Mission’s Month,” during which the school partners with 25 Project, a nonprofit mission organization, and listens to upper schoolers talk about their mission trips and learn about being a missionary. Children in first through fourth grade also meet in prayer groups. These groups strive to teach kids in Lower School to care for one another and share prayer requests.
Madi Bixler (’14) attended the University of Texas at Dallas, graduating in 2017 with a BS in Supply Chain Management. She is a supply analyst and recently graduated with her Masters at UTD.
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LCA HIGHLIGHTS
Sweet Success by: Madi Bixler ’14
Senior Brynn Warren recently earned the highest score attainable on an Advanced Placement (AP) art portfolio.
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After spending a year in an AP Art course, students at all schools are invited to submit a portfolio to the AP board for a formal evaluation and score. Their body of work is ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. Brynn’s portfolio, featuring Candy Wrappers, Imagination, Gourds, and Ring Pop, received a 5, the top rating. In oil on canvas and mixed media, Brynn’s pieces — created during her junior year at LCA, under the direction of AP Art teacher Anne Blackburn — appeal to the “sweet” nostalgia of the snacks her audience, both children and adults, have eaten since they were young. “For children, they bring happiness as they think about their favorite candies,” Brynn says, “and for adults, who typically no longer eat candy, I want them to get a nostalgic feeling, remembering how excited they used to get when they were young.” “When viewers see my work,” Brynn says, smiling, “I want them to remember the joy they felt from eating these treats.” Her portfolio captures candy favorites such as M&M’s, Twix, Oreo’s, Ring Pops, and Milky Way. “I chose these snacks because I wanted to represent a variety that people from various backgrounds enjoy,” Brynn says. She employs carefully selected mediums to create a light,
“Although Brynn’s portfolio is whimsical,
food and how easily a child’s imagination
ethereal mood, and her work is filled with
she worked tirelessly on it,” says Mrs.
mixes with everyday activities”— she
bright colors.
Blackburn, “often getting up before dawn
laughs — “like eating,” she says. “In
or staying up late to add to her very
my piece with the Oreos and Legos
detailed pieces.”
[Imagination], I try to show how a child
“Brynn’s pieces are mostly paintings, but her work was classified as a drawing
carried the made-up lives of his Legos
portfolio,” says Mrs. Blackburn, “because
As the course progressed, Brynn shifted
into the dessert he was eating. I show
she explored line, mark-making, tonality,
her focus from nostalgic foods to how a
how a child’s imagination blended the
light, and value, and because painting is
child might interact with them. “I wanted
snack he was eating with the ongoing,
also applied drawing.”
to show how children play with their
made-up lives of his toys.”
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Alumna Spotlight
HANDMADE BY HALEE Halee Biggs (’18) Hi, y’all! My name is Halee Biggs and I graduated from LCA in
a fellow LCA alumna — set up my Instagram account, which
2018. I’m now a senior at the University of Oklahoma majoring
prompted me to create a website. Through both of these
in advertising. I’m a member of Chi Omega sorority and serve as
platforms, I’ve been able to grow this small hobby into a full-
secretary of its executive board as well as Chapter Chaplin.
time job, and what a blessing it’s been!
Although I loved keeping myself active in school and sorority
When I started
life, when COVID-19 hit, I went back home. While there, to keep
thinking about what I
myself occupied, I turned a small hobby into a business.
wanted for my brand,
It all began when I was embroidering and tie-dying clothing for my friends as something to pass the time. My bestie, Morgan —
“Hand-Stitched by Halee Ann,” I knew I wanted to create a faith-based business. The inspiration for my company came from Psalm 139:14, which reads, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” I have always clung to this verse; it’s always been a good reminder that God created us perfectly in His image. God knows everything about us, even the smallest details, and sees us as perfect creations — just like my handmade clothing. If you peek inside, the stitching can look chaotic and messy, but the external stitching is orderly and “perfectly imperfect.” As Christians, we’re called to love others as Christ loves us, even in our continual state of imperfection. Since 2019, we’ve had customers all over the United States — more than 1,000 products sold, in nine stores and multiple popup venues. With two employees and a wonderful mother to help with expansion, I sometimes sit in awe of the Lord’s faithfulness. Legacy taught me how to have a foundation of the Lord no matter what I do and to do all things for His glory. As I embark on my senior year, I look back at all the Lord has done and have no doubt He will keep providing through everything life throws at me. I’ve been blessed by my small business, and encourage others to take the steps to follow their passions: You never know where the Lord will lead you!
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Alumna Spotlight
MORGAN MADE Morgan McGlasson (’18) Hello, Legacy family! My
working out of my bedroom in my home in Frisco and out of my
name is Morgan McGlasson.
sorority house at the University of Oklahoma.
I’m a 2018 Legacy alumna, now a second-semester senior majoring in public relations at the University of Oklahoma. I’m very involved with my sorority, Chi Omega,
While enjoying my final semester at OU and experiencing all of my college “lasts,” I’ve been reminiscing about all of the opportunities I had by the grace of God and the fruitful foundation I was blessed to cultivate at my small private Christian school — Legacy Christian Academy.
serving as Chapter President and formerly as its New Member Educator. I also highly value the Christian community that I’ve found through OU’s on-campus ministry, Crossover. About a year and a half ago, I embarked on the journey of starting my own business. As my friends and family began picking up new hobbies and pastimes during the pandemic’s quarantine, I wanted to spend my time on something meaningful (and make some money while doing it!). Knowing my “type-A” personality, I was aware that an excessive amount of baking or binge-watching TV shows wasn’t going to cut it. My best friend since freshman year of high school and also an LCA ’18 graduate, Halee Biggs, had just launched her business and it was inspiring to watch her transform a passion into a side hustle. In May 2020, after days of brand brainstorming, watching how-to videos on YouTube, and incurring my first big “business” expenses, Morgan Made was born. Morgan Made is a company owned and operated by yours truly, designing and selling personalized iPhone cases. From collaborating with well-known Instagram influencers to being interviewed for a podcast called How’d She Do That? featuring successful female entrepreneurs, I’ve learned many lessons
LCA prepared me for college in more ways than I can put into words: from the logistical standpoint of entering college ahead of the game with dual-credit courses and solid study habits under my belt, to the intangible elements of Christian leadership skills and an unshakable, theologically supported faith. Upon graduation and returning to the great state of Texas, I
about the world of business and the importance of marketing,
plan to continue investing my time and efforts into Morgan
time management, networking, and hard work. As of today,
Made for as long as possible, while also working full time in the
I’ve made and sold more than 550 Morgan Made phone cases,
PR/marketing industry.
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3.
LCA ALUMNI:
COLLEGE MOVE-IN EDITION Our Class of 2021 took flight to their respective colleges and universities and are all moved into their “Dorm Sweet Dorms.” We are so excited to see what they will accomplish in this new chapter and are praying for each of them to have a great first semester!
4.
1. Dorm, sweet, dorm! Ava Levassar shows off her adorable dorm at Oklahoma State University. 2. Claire Cleveland is all smiles about her new setup at Baylor University. 3. Drew Davison is settled in and looking forward to basketball season at Duke University. 4. Ellis Davison feels right at home in her new “home” at the University of Georgia. 5. Nathan Frater is ready to suit up for his first football season at Ouachita Baptist University. 6. Hannah Burt poses with her family as she prepares to move in to her dorm at Texas A&M.
1.
5. 2.
6.
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1.
2.
LCA ALUMNI: COLLEGE MOVE-IN EDITION 7.
3.
4.
5.
1. Move-in day was a success for Justin Zuniga at OSU. 2. Classmates from high school to college, Jack Dickerson, Jenna McGlasson, and Cade Howard smile for a photo during move-in day at the University of Oklahoma. 3. Julia Bryant is ready to take on her freshman year at the University of Arkansas! 4. Mother-son bonding with Jackson Redmon and his mom as he moves into Covenant College! 5. Logan Lawrence and Evan Eisenman snap a roomie photo at Baylor University.
6.
6. Madeline Kissling snaps a photo to commemorate her first day of school at Baylor. 7. Max Lowery poses for a picture with his new roommate during their move-in day at Notre Dame.
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4.
LCA ALUMNI: COLLEGE MOVE-IN EDITION 1.
2.
3. 5.
1. Sofia Cross is ready for life in the Big Apple as she moves into her dorm at Pace University. 2. Sophie Ratkovic found her “Sweet Home” at the University of Alabama. 3. With family by his side, Tyler Wood is ready to take on a new year in the classroom and on the football field at HardinSimmons University. 4. Roommates Sydney York and Sarah Siler join their suite-mates for a move-in day picture at Oklahoma State University. 5. Tanner Cox, Victor Freitas, and Gabe Goodwin pose for a picture during the University of North Texas’s move-in day. 6. Landry Ehmer is unpacked and ready to take freshman year by storm at Oklahoma State. 7. Livia Martinez shows off her beautiful new campus on the first day of class at William & Mary.
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6.
7.
LCA's Parent Alumni Club (PAC) invites all alumni parents to join us for special activities and programs to welcome PAC members back to campus. Alumni parents are members of Eagle Nation for life! We look forward to seeing you soon. SAVE THE DATE Family Worship Night | 12.10.21 & 4.14.22 Galentine’s Game Night |2.10.22 Eagle Mama Ministry | 2.25.22 & 4.22.22 TJ Tomeny Golf Classic | 5.10.22
To get involved or to learn more, contact development@legacyca.com LCA will always be your family’s nest! LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
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Sporting Clays
Right on Target by: Madi Bixler ’14
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LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Did you know that our school has a Sporting Clays team? WELL, WE DO! The 2020-2021 team was composed of 39 athletes, ranging from Grade 7 through Grade 12. Last year, after participating in nine tournaments, the team received an invitation to the DFW League Championship and the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) Texas State Championship. At the State competition, Harper Redmon (’26) and Brady Laramie (’22) took home first-place medals. Each competed in the American Skeet, American Trap, and Sporting Clays events. As a whole, the team brought home 14 medals over the course of the season, and Brady advanced to Nationals. Harper was delighted to earn first place as a seventh grader: “The best part about winning State,” she says happily, “was finally feeling like the hard work paid off!” Brady shot an almost perfect score (99/100) — among the top 5 of more than 400 participants — in Varsity Trap at the State competition, earning him the honor of All-State Member. “Brady missed only one target,” says Coach Mark Ansley. “Because of a tie with another contestant, they were forced into a shoot off. Brady hit fourteen out of fifteen targets, defeating his opponent by one.”
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SPORTING CLAYS – RIGHT ON TARGET Brady was ecstatic: “Winning first place was quite unexpected. It was my first time shooting twenty-five straight and fifty straight in a competition, so I was extremely happy with that. After I hit the last target, I was in shock. I felt a sense of excitement and accomplishment. All my hard work paid off. The best part is being one of just five athletes to earn a spot on the State Trap team and representing Texas at Nationals in Ohio. I’m so proud to have represented Legacy Christian Academy at the State and National Competition.” Coach Ansley guided the students through their State journey. “I’m extremely proud of both Harper and Brady for their accomplishments this year,” he says. “It shows what dedication and practice can do for a student. They’re sure to be future leaders on the team, and I can’t wait to see them progress even further.”
“All three competitions are scored by how many targets a contestant hits,” Coach Ansley explains. Targets are thrown from eight stations, in various directions. “For example, Brady scored a personal best in Skeet at the Nationals by hitting 189/200 targets. Trap shooting is like Skeet except that the clay targets are all shot from the same station and move away from the shooter.” Brady’s skilled performance at State earned him a spot in the
The final event of the competition is Sporting Clays. “I think of
Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) National Competition,
Sporting Clays as golf with a shotgun,” Brady says with a laugh.
one of largest shooting events in the country. In July, some 3,000
“The shooter is forced to analyze the target.” With 15 stations and
athletes came to Marengo, Ohio, to vie for the honors.
three or four sets of clays thrown in pairs from each, the difficulty
Brady competed in three events: Skeet, Trap, and Sporting Clays. “I
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level begins to increase.
knew that if I kept practicing and brought the right attitude,” Brady
“In regard to the focus and discipline needed to be successful,”
says, “I would be able to make it to the National competition.” And
says Brady, “after so much practice, this sport really becomes a
sure enough, he did.
mindset.”
LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
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One of the best ways to fund these additions to Legacy’s athletics program is through the newly revitalized Booster
Reimagining
THE LCA BOOSTER CLUB by: Madi Bixler ’14 Lynn Dupree, who was Upper School assistant principal at Legacy for four years, is now Senior Director of Athletics and Activities,
board is crucial to getting the revitalized program in place, Mr. Dupree has a bigger vision: “We want to get everyone involved,” he says. The group will begin expanding by developing subcommittees, says Mr. Cline. His goal is to get as many Legacy families involved as possible. “We don’t just want families of athletes — we want to lift the spirits of our athletes and of
and one of his primary responsibilities is to build a highly
our LCA community as well.”
functioning Booster Club.
The vision for the Booster Club is to go
Lynn Dupree
Tim Cline
Senior Director of Athletics and Activities
Booster Club President
Celebrating 40 years in Christian education, Mr. Dupree started his career as a varsity basketball coach and went into athletic administration. With an extensive background in fundraising and Booster Club management, it was clear that God perfectly positioned Mr. Dupree to take the reins of LCA’s
above and beyond to make Legacy better and events business for 25 years and
as a whole. The volunteer committee will
recently retired from Learfield, a collegiate
focus on increasing training, mentorship,
sports marketing company. Mr. Cline is
and ticket sales as it’s initial strategy.
eager to lead this initiative and has already
Their next focus is to build a robust
challenged LCA to think bigger. “What
membership program that will help
would we do if our checkbook wasn’t a
build community and engage supporters
problem?” Mr. Cline asks.
in strategic objectives.
“We have a beautiful gym for our athletics teams,” says Mr. Dupree, “but this was built when LCA had a much lower enrollment. My goal for the LCA Athletics Department is to enhance what we have and add more.” Mr. Dupree says he’d like to see our softball/baseball fields turfed, batting cages covered, lanes added to the track, a sports medicine clinic, and perhaps a new gym.
Mr. Dupree and Mr. Cline see the Booster Club as a way to thoughtfully engage students and parents in the joy of athletics. “We want our LCA Kindergarteners to aspire to be future Eagle athletes,” says Mr. Cline. The athletic program’s aim is to teach our athletes how to move forward in the midst of adversity and to stand firm in integrity. This is accomplished by producing God-fearing, self-disciplined
program. “I felt like I could help other
His goals may seem ambitious, but
men and women who understand serving,
coaches be successful and help grow
they’re based on reason. “We need to
sacrifice, humility, and teamwork.
programs,” Mr. Dupree says. Today,
develop our athletes so we can compete
Under the leadership of Mr. Dupree
at a different level,” he says. “To do that,
and Mr. Cline we can be sure that LCA’s
we need to grow and enhance our athletic
athletic program will keep moving
programs.” By developing LCA athletics
forward. The Bible encourages us to not
Mr. Cline, newly named LCA Booster Club
facilities, he says, we can provide better
be lukewarm, Mr. Dupree says. “Let’s
President, has been a part of the sports
resources for our athletes.
make this as big as we can,” says Mr. Cline.
with the help of Tim Cline — the father of three Legacy students — he’s enhancing the Booster Club.
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Club. First, Mr. Dupree introduced an advisory board. And although the
LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Welcome to the Board:
Mrs. Franks
Legacy Christian Academy is pleased to announce that Nicole Franks has joined the Board of Trustees. and an amazing future as the premier Pre-K–12 Christian school in Frisco, which as a covenant community we get to shape. It’s exciting to think about what a diploma from LCA will mean for students twenty years from now.” Mrs. Franks has been involved in education for more than two decades. Though her journey initially started in the classroom, she quickly transitioned to curriculum planning and was even awarded Curriculum Specialist of the Year in 2011. With her visionary skills, she soon carved out a niche for herself in product management and marketing. She has worked with both public and private schools to design and implement infrastructures for digital learning. Brad Brenneman, chairman of the Board of Trustees, says, “We’re grateful that Nicole has committed to serve LCA as a Trustee. She has significant experience and expertise as an educator and specifically as a curriculum expert working with leading publishers and schools around the world to design and innovate Mrs. Franks is the principal owner of The Strategy Workshop,
pedagogical methods to improve student learning. Her passion
a product and marketing management consulting firm that
for Christian education and covenant partnership, along with
influences the direction of education in both the United States
her professional experience and expertise, uniquely equips her to
and abroad. A native New Yorker, Mrs. Franks graduated
contribute valuable insight and experience to LCA’s Trustees.”
from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. She holds an MEd in reading and literacy from Benedictine University and earned her certification as a K–12 reading specialist.
Trustees,” says Head of School Bill McGee. “Nicole brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as an educator that will prove valuable to our school as we continue to mature
Mrs. Franks and her husband, Patrick, have two daughters: Siena
our academic programs. She has been on the cutting edge of
is in the Spanish Immersion Program at Legacy (Class of ’32),
innovation in education and I look forward to her lending her
and Sloane is a 2-year-old future Eagle. The couple chose LCA,
wisdom and counsel in this area.”
says Mrs. Franks, for the supportive community and its servant leadership value. “It’s through service that we exemplify Christ’s work,” she says.
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“I’m delighted to welcome Nicole Franks to our Board of
Mrs. Franks is a volunteer for Frisco Family Services and an instructor for its CHAMPS (Challenging Adult Minds for Personal Success) program. The Franks are members of St. Philips
“I’m most thankful to share my experience and support the Legacy
Episcopal Church and say they enjoy all the ways the community
community as a Trustee,” she says.” LCA has a proud history
makes a positive impact right here in our hometown.
LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
A LAST WORD FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL SO THEN, BROTHERS, STAND FIRM AND HOLD TO THE TRADITIONS THAT YOU WERE TAUGHT BY US, EITHER BY OUR SPOKEN WORD OR BY OUR LETTER. - 2 Thessalonians 2:15
DEAR FRIENDS, I hope you’ve enjoyed this issue of Impact, the semiannual magazine of Legacy Christian Academy. As I write this benediction, I
being tested like no other time in our history, we, the Elect,
do so with mixed emotions.
have a source of truth, wisdom, guidance, and comfort that is
I am still mourning the loss
not available to the lost — and that is God’s holy word revealed
of our dear middle school
to us in the Bible.
teacher, April Rodriguez, in whose memory we dedicate this issue. Her enthusiasm, positive spirit, servant’s heart, and unconditional love for her students, exemplified the best traits of the LCA faculty. Yet, my grief is tempered by the assurance that she is reaping the rewards of a life well lived in service to her Savior. I believe that she was greeted in Heaven with these words from Jesus, “Well done good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of your
Our common belief that Scripture is inerrant, trustworthy, reliable, and the final authority on matters of faith and practice gives our students a firm foundation upon which to grow, mature, and make sense of the world around them. Every day I witness teachers, coaches, and administrators who genuinely love their students and intentionally disciple them by teaching the fundamentals of our faith and pointing them to their true North Star: Jesus. By teaching all subjects from a biblical worldview, our students enjoy the safety, security, reassurance, and comfort that only our Blessed Redeemer can provide. As the classic hymn reminds us, “On Christ the solid rock I
master.” (Matthew 25:21). Despite the sadness we all share,
stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is
I continue to be filled with gratitude and hopefulness. I’m
sinking sand.”
grateful that we’ve been able to offer on-campus instruction this year with minimal restrictions and few disruptions. And I am hopeful that God will continue to bless us, protect us, and provide for us as we seek to glorify him in all our endeavors.
Thank you for supporting our essential mission. Faithfully yours,
There’s a common thread running through the articles you just read, and that’s our core value of Primacy of Scripture. This year’s schoolwide theme is appropriate during these
Bill McGee
tumultuous times. When civil society seems to be unraveling
Head of School
at the seams, when we’re surrounded by all sorts of conflicts, both within and outside the church, and when our faith is
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LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Mr. McGee proudly joins House Lewis as the Middle School embarks on their new House program this fall.
ON THE BACK: (back row left to right) First-graders Christian Kusi-Mensah, Caleb Kinser, Cash Elliott, (front row left to right) Mase McGee, and Maverick Free are having a great day on the playground!
