THEWARRIOR {BLUE RIBBON DAY}
FALL 2012
tion. The U.S. Department of Education bestows this highest honor upon our K-12 unit school. Therefore, under one umbrella of Little Rock Christian Academy, our elementary school, middle school, and high school are we so recognized.� The Council of American Private Education (CAPE) tells us that blue ribbon awards for K-12 unit schools are rare. What a testimony to the vision and mission of our school, our board, our families and the daily focus of our teachers and students. We are grateful to God for the opportunity to shine for Him as an exemplary Blue Ribbon School. Dr. Arnold traveled to WashingSeptember 7, 2012 will go down as one of those mile- ton DC with Upper School Principal Joe Neff, Elemenstone days in the history of Little Rock Christian Acad- tary Principal Ann Chami, and faculty representative emy. On this date, Mr. Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary Laurie Biggs to accept the award on behalf of Little of Education, recognized 269 schools as a 2012 Na- Rock Christian Academy. tional Blue Ribbon School for overall academic excellence and student academic achievement. Little Rock Christian Academy was one of only two schools selected from Arkansas as an Exemplary High Performing School and joined Forest Park Elementary School in being the first schools from Little Rock chosen as Blue Ribbon Schools in the 30 year history of this program. Head of School, Dr. Gary Arnold, stated with great enthusiasm “receiving the 2012 National Blue Ribbon School designation is an enormous accomplishment and honor reflecting on the vision, commitment and hard work of so many over the history of Little Rock Christian Academy. We are elated as we know how blessed we are to have obtained this level of recogni-
Christian
Independent
Collegiate
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
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Where Are They Now? Emma Gist, Alumnus, Class of 2009
Emma Gist is one of the unique Warrior students who belonged to what we call “The Kindergarten Club.” She completed her (lower, middle and high school) education at Little Rock Christian Academy, eventually earning the prestigious award of National Merit Scholar. I attended Walnut Valley/Little Rock Christian Academy from Kindergarten through my senior year. At LRCA I felt both comfortable and challenged. Thirteen years in the same place gave me a definite sense of belonging, and the investments my teachers made in their work created what I think is the best environment for the pursuit of learning. -Emma Gist, Alumnus 2009
she lived in St. Petersburg, Russia, studying Russian language and literature at Smolny Institute, the Liberal Arts and Sciences branch of St. Petersburg State. I was ready for something completely different so I chose a new area of the country and a secular university. This was the best decision for me, but it was only successful because of how prepared I was as an LRCA graduate.
When asked how LRCA prepared her for college and After college, Emma the world, Emma responsed: plans to get a Master of Education or My education at LRCA was twofold. In thirteen years, I Teaching degree and gained not only the academic background needed to be a sucteach high school cessful student at the University of Chicago, but also a solid English. Teaching has been her dream job since she was spiritual foundation on which I continue to build my life. in elementary school. She added that all the teachers My experience at college has been a process of comparing she had over the years at Little Rock Christian Acadewhat I’m learning about the world to what I know to be my contributed to this decision, and she hopes to emutrue from scripture, and the more I learn the more I become late the passion they have for sharing knowledge. convinced of God’s sovereignty and love. God gave us science and literature and music and math when He gave us exisI hope, when I teach, to have Mrs. Boyd’s precision, Mrs. Walktence and there is so much we can learn about Him through er’s compassion, and Mr. Wesson’s playfulness. Like Erlo, I want the study of such disciplines. to be a forever student because there is always more to learn and more to be fascinated by. Everyone knows that Mr. Erlandson is Emma is currently attending the University of Chicago incredibly smart, but his true gift is in the way he encourages stuwhich has one of the largest representations of National dents to value and strengthen their own intelligence and curiosity. Merit scholars in the country. She is pursuing a Bache- Little Rock Christian is special because of its teachers, and its lor of Arts in Comparative Literature with her primary students would be lost without their love of teaching and their love field of study in Russian Literature, and secondary field of the Gospel. I am still every day seeking truth and appreciating American Theater. From June to December of 2011, its value.
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{ ADVANCEMENT } Greetings! Isn’t it so nice to have the crisp fall air and wonderful colors that come with Autumn in Arkansas? I always look forward to this time of year, the holiday seasons, and the time it brings with family and friends, not to mention all the great home cooked treats! This time of year also signals the year-end push for non-profits around the country to communicate with their constituency regarding tax-wise year-end contributions. Recently, you received a communication from Dr. Arnold regarding this very topic. I want to say thank you to those who have stepped up and helped us close the gap which is already considerably less than the $350,000 he mentioned. Your support is so valued! I also want to take this specific opportunity to join with Dr. Arnold and ask all of our families to consider making Little Rock Christian a giving option for 2012. As I’ve personally witnessed over the past 12 years, what makes Little Rock Christian so special is our community of supporters joining with us to push the bar higher for the glory of Christ. Now may be the perfect time for all of us to contemplate gifts of appreciated stock, cash, or many other possibilities. Below are a few options for your consideration along with some examples of how they work. Please recognize the value we place on your partnership in this year-end endeavor. Let your heart guide the amount and the length of your commitment. Every blessing we receive will be cherished. So, thanks in advance! Please feel free to call me if you have any questions, at 501-868-9822. Thank you.
Jason Carson Director of Admissions/Advancement
{ WAYSTOGIVE } Here are some of the ways you can make a 2012 yearend contribution to Little Rock Christian: Gifts of Cash: This is the simplest way to gain a charitable deduction for 2012 and support your Warriors! Make sure you drop off or postmark your envelope by December 31st. Tax laws allow for gifts to be received in the first couple days of 2013 if correctly postmarked. Gifts of Stock: So far this year most have seen an uptick in stock and mutual fund performance. Giving appreciated stock offers you a two-fold tax saving opportunity. First, you avoid paying any capital gains tax on the increase in value of your stock. In addition, you receive a tax deduction for the full fair market value of the stock. For income tax purposes the value of such gifts may be deducted up to 30% of adjusted gross income with an additional five-year carry forward. This can also be a good option to contribute and still hang on to your cash savings.
Here’s an example. If you purchased stock for $1,000 and it’s now worth $10,000, an outright gift of that stock to us would result in a charitable deduction of $10,000. In addition, you permanently avoid paying capital gains tax on the $9,000 of appreciation. Gifts of Life Insurance: If you own a life insurance policy that is no longer needed, consider it as a prime giving asset in 2012. To receive a charitable deduction, name Little Rock Christian as both the owner and beneficiary of the policy. If the policy has a cash value, you can take a charitable deduction approximately equal to the cash value or the adjusted basis. Additionally, any premiums that you continue to pay on the policy will become tax deductible each year! To view more giving options or to see if your company supports matching gifts, please visit: www.littlerockchristian.com/giving
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{ ATHLETICS } The Little Rock Christian campus is bursting with activity after the academic day ends. Student athletes are seen running the cross country trails; blocking, spiking and killing on the volleyball courts; shooting and rebounding on the basketball courts; and working intensely in the weight room, on warrior field and on the baseball and softball fields. Even off campus, the tennis and golf teams have been improving their skills. Our athletic Warriors have honored God this fall through focus on four core values called the 4C’s: Christ-Centered, Competitive, Committed and Character.
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Since2008 LRCA HasEarned
30 9 10 29 32 27 21 2
AcademicState Championships
State Championships
FallSeasonHighlights:
{ {
Cross Country
Girls- Conference Champs 5A State Champs Boys- Conference Champs 5A State Champs
& &
Conference Champs
Volleyball & 5A State Runner-Up
Jr. High Conference Champs
{ Golf{
Football
Jr. High Conference Champs Girls- 3rd in Conference Boys- Conference Champs
{
Tennis
Girls- Conference Champs 5A State Runner-Up Boys- 2nd in Conference
&
State RunnerUp Individual StateChampions Athletic Scholarships
Conference Championships
Warrior Boys Golf
Warrior Cross Country
Warrior Girls Tennis
Warrior Volleyball
Sports {10Boys/11Girls}
All Americans
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{ FINE ARTS } Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” The Fine Arts Department at Little Rock Christian Academy presents, “A Radio Broadcast of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol,” a multi-faceted performance hosted by our students. Our production will include drama, choir, instrumental music, choreography and student art work. The show will be centered around a 1940’s live radio broadcast. Bring the whole family to this LRCA Fine Arts Christmas production at Robinson Center Music The following students made the High School All-Region Mixed ChoHall on December 1st at 7pm. rus and have been given the opportunity to audition for All-State Choir: Three students from Little Rock Christian Academy’s Tiffany Akridge, Caroline Chalupka, Timothy Elliff, Elliot Warrior Band were selected to perform at pregame and Jones, Emily Jones, and Grace Wilson half time of the BCS National Championship in Miami. The following ladies made the High School All Region Girls’ Chorus: Katie Dreher, Suzanna Gibbs, and Jessica Quilao LRCA is developing a growing digital arts program, with a new Mac computer lab. This year, students can take digital Maddie Gregg photography, illustration, and Geoffrey Flemmons Josie Schaffner media classes as well as adWarrior Band also received several awards at their recent invitational competition: Band received an overall “excellent” rating; Joise Schaffner -drum major, Color vanced graphic design. Our Guard (Pom Squad & Flags) and the Drum Line all received “superior” ratings. desire is to equip students for their future careers while training them to think creatively from a Biblical standpoint. Of the 14 seniors in graphic design who graduated last year, 10 of them have already been hired by companies and colleges to use their design skills. Warrior Pom Squad Warrior Band
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NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS
DUKE TIP RECIPIENTS
This fall, two seniors, Tanner Woodruff and Everett Mansur, received the coveted title of National Merit Semifinalists. About 1.5 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered this year’s National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT/ NMSQT® last fall. These academically gifted students will now be considered for advancement to the Finalist level of the competition based upon a detailed scholarship application which includes submitting academic records, school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, honors and awards. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm their earlier performance on the qualifying test.
Forty- nine 7th grade students were chosen for the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP), a nonprofit organization which identifies academically talented 7th graders based on standardized test scores.
“These two young men are great examples of students who apply themselves to academic excellence and positively impact others in their activities outside the classroom. We are very proud of them.” -- Mr. Joe Neff, LRCA Upper School Principal
{ ELEMENTARY } Our fifth grade students recently donated over 700 pounds of food to the Arkansas Foodbank. The students had the opportunity to see people from agencies shopping for the canned goods they brought to the Foodbank. Fifth grade teacher, Jamie Murphy, commented, “It was just an amazing field trip, and I saw the true hearts of my students.”
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(in alphabetical order) Madeline Bennett, Victoria Best, Ben Blocker, Harrison Booth, James Brantly, William Chamblee, Hannah Cheatham, Alec Daril, Grace Ann Dickey, Ellen Wren Dillard, Emma Farnsworth, Carly Faulk, Ann Floyd, Carson French, Jon David Fuller, Logan Gasaway, Maya Griffin, Laurel Harkins, Caleb Henry, Raley Ivester, Ina Kim, Samantha Landers, Davis Lee, Cole Lemley, Reagan Leverett, Spencer Ligon, Kate Martin, Connor McNeely, Emma Minden, Jacob Molleston, Erin Montgomery, Anders Nowell, Rebecah Ortega, Witt Parkinson, Win Phillips, Nicholas Powell, Madison Price, Thomas Proctor, John Ricard, Riley Scott, Carson Swede, Austin Tayes, William Walther, Thomas Wheelis, Athen Wilkerson, Andrew Wingfield, Isabella Wisinger, Andrew Wood, Jamie Zakovec
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WARRIOR
INFORMATION
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.. School Students Teachers QUICK FACTS
51 496 Elementary 29 418 Middle 57 526 High 137 1,440 Total Student to Teacher Ratio: 11to1
HISTORICALTIMELINE:
1977 1989 1996 1997 2001 2002 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013
First students attended Walnut Valley Moved to Breckenridge Village First graduating class of LRCA; enrollment 575 20 year anniversary; moved to Hwy 10 in modular buildings Name changed to Little Rock Christian Academy 25th anniversary; 1025 enrolled 30th anniversary; Dr. Gary Arnold, named new Head of School “For Such a Time as This” historical groundbreaking New High School building Warrior Field gets artificial turf; baseball and softball fields built Blue Ribbon School Award Coming... Warrior Hall
IMPORTANTDATES: Nov 19-23 Dec 1
Thanksgiving Holiday Fine Arts Christmas performance Robinson Auditorium 13-19 HS/8th grade exams 20-Jan 2 Christmas Holiday Jan 3-16 J-Term for HS 18 Now I Lay Me Down to Read Day-Elementary 21 MLK Day- no school Feb 9 HS Semi- Formal 11-15 Staff Appreciation Week 15 Professional Development- no school 18 President’s Day- no school 23 Talent Show 27-Mar 8 Boosterthon Mar 18-22 Spring Break- no school 29 Good Friday- no school
CONTACTUS:
Department
Admissions Alumni Relations/Giving Athletics/Warrior Club Billing College Guidance Elementary Fine Arts Council High School Learner Services Main Line Middle School PTF Registrar/Records Technology
Direct Lines 410-1462 975-3430 975-3432 975-3435 975-3441 410-1465 580-2499 975-3416 975-3458 868-9822 975-3425 680-2039 975-3436 975-3442
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Bring the whole family to this LRCA Fine Arts Christmas production Little Rock Christian Academy 19010 Cantrell Road Little Rock, AR 72223