D E C E MB E R 201 4
A Christmas UPDATE
THE GIFT OF SONG By Dr. Erik Buxton, Director of Choral Activities
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ing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Psalm 96:1-2
Cantabile, Pisgah’s upper school chorus, recently sang at a church where a 95-year-old parishioner had recently lost her 93-year-old sister. You know these kinds of sisters. The ones, who after outliving their respective husbands, move in together. They were very close and both sang in choirs as kids and as adults, until they could not sing anymore. The surviving sister heard that the chorus would be singing at her church’s services, and although she had not attended since the death of her sister, she decided to make the return for the special program.
I noted that she wept throughout the service, I expect for many reasons. She told me afterward that she was glad she came. As a former educator, she was reminded of the hope that resides “in the hearts and on the faces of those beautiful children.” She went on to say that her mind was flooded with memories of herself and her sister singing in their high school choir “oh so many years ago.” She said that this would be the first Christmas in more than ninety years that she will not see her sister on Christmas day. She offered thanks to me for bringing, “these beautiful children to lift the spirits of an old lady at Christmastime.” I promise you, our students were the greater beneficiaries of that experience. As artists, we often perform for the joy of entertaining, but sometimes we are able to use our gifts to truly lift someone, and we do not always know who that is and how it will happen. As you weather the torrent of holiday hustle and Christmas cheer, keep your heart attuned to opportunities to be a blessing to those in your path; you may never know how gigantically a small act can impact others.
A Christmas UPDATE
DECEMBER 2014
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he Christmas season provides many opportunities for us to gather with family and friends to celebrate and reflect on our many blessings. We are grateful for the wonderful Pisgah holiday traditions we celebrate together: Thankful Friday, Christmas concerts and plays, classroom parties, Doughnuts with Santa and our All-School Christmas Service. Thank you for sharing these special times with us and we hope you enjoy seeing photos from these events throughout this newsletter. As we look ahead to 2015, we look forward to the opening of the new Geier Hall Upper School, and we also have other exciting news to share in the pages that follow.
D. J. and William Chanco enjoy Pisgah’s annual Doughnuts with Santa.
The All-School Christmas Service included a memorable moment when sixth grader Andrew Provost gave the gift he won to kindergartener Griffin Sauls.
Alaina Vernon and Poppy Brown eagerly await the beginning of the All-School Christmas Service.
Mission Statement The mission of Mount Pisgah Christian School is to provide an outstanding college-preparatory education grounded in Christian faith and values.
Pisgah Preschool students delighted family and friends with their annual Christmas performance.
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Januar y
ll 24, 2015 • 11am-1pm Geier Ha
Pastor Steve Wood, Dr. Ben Carson and Head of School John Marshall
PISGAH HOSTS GEORGIA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE FEATURING DR. BEN CARSON
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ationally-recognized neurosurgeon and author Dr. Ben Carson delivered the keynote address as Mount Pisgah Christian School hosted the annual conference of the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA). Carson is often cited as a potential GOP candidate for the 2016 presidential campaign. More than 1,600 educators gathered for the conference and participated in peer-led workshops. New York Times best-selling author Paul Tough was also a featured speaker. According to Pisgah Head of School John Marshall, “Both speakers delivered messages of hope and relevance for those of us working and parenting in independent schools. They spoke to the importance of adults providing children a caring buffer to the harsher aspects of life through secure attachments in early childhood. We heard that parents and teachers have the responsibility to love and nurture, especially in preparing infants and young children emotionally, socially and cognitively for the more independent years to come later in childhood.” “I was extremely proud of our faculty and staff,” Marshall added. “Numerous Pisgah teachers and administrators led break-out sessions for their colleagues across Georgia. My favorite part of the day was seeing every teacher and staff member dressed in Pisgah Red T-shirts, serving and helping our campus guests. It was inspiring to see the smiling faces and willing hands of our faculty and staff, knowing that they were just being the servant leaders that they are every single day. Being helpful comes naturally to Pisgah’s employees; it is in our school’s DNA. In my 25 years in independent education, I have never been part of a school so completely grounded in service, and I am grateful to be here.” Mount Pisgah Christian School will host the GISA conference again in 2015.
PISGAH JOINS CESA
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ount Pisgah Christian School has applied for membership to the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA). This ecumenical Christian organization is committed to the centrality of the Christian faith. CESA schools demand quality, commitment, rigor and the highest standard of excellence in every facet of the school. CESA therefore works in conjunction with schools to enable growth, provide resources for improvement and to hold accountable all schools who strive for programmatic distinction and excellence, for the glory of God.
SAIS PRESIDENT TO BE BACCALAUREATE SPEAKER
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isgah is pleased to announce that Steve Robinson, current president of the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), will be the keynote speaker at the 2015 Baccalaureate service. Much like our graduating seniors, Mr. Robinson is about to begin an exciting new chapter in his life. After many years of distinguished service to SAIS and its member schools, he and his wife, Rhonda, will soon relocate to Honduras, where Steve will serve as Superintendent of Schools for the Episcopal Diocese. “I have been fortunate to travel the world, as a student of schools and education systems, and I can honestly say that I have not encountered a group of schools that have such an opportunity to change their nation as these seven bilingual and four specialized schools of the Honduras Diocese,” said Steve. “Rhonda and I are honored to be called to serve with our colleagues there.” We look forward to hearing more about this important work in the mission field when Steve addresses our graduates this spring. Pisgah is a proud member of the Southern Association of Independent Schools.
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A Christmas UPDATE
DECEMBER 2014
A REASON TO GIVE THANKS By Leah Dixon, 4th and 5th Grade Teacher
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hankful Friday is my favorite lower school tradition. Students and their special invited guests gather with classmates for a morning of fellowship and service. They started the morning in their classrooms spending time together, sharing a class devotional and in service. This year, each student and guest wrote letters of appreciation to military service members. The entire group then gathered in South Hall to give thanks, sang Christmas songs with the lower school chorus and donated their Operation Christmas Child (OCC) boxes.
Hosting family members in their classrooms is always a special treat for students, including William Aliff, who shares a book with his grandmother Nancy Thomas.
Hunter Grube shares his shoebox and helps make a difference through Operation Christmas Child.
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I have been attending Thankful Friday for many years, and it has always been the event that I have found to be the most special. The pure joy exhibited by our students while delivering their OCC boxes showcases the loving spirit of our lower school students and their families. Thankful Friday is an opportunity to gather with our Pisgah family, give back to others and give thanks for our many blessings. I look forward to this event each year, for the wonderful way it expresses the love that is clearly evident in our school community.
Jahari and Joyce Simmons enjoy time together during Thankful Friday.
SUE HANSEN NAMED NEW ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL
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n Dec. 1, Sue Hansen began her appointment as Assistant Head of School for Finance and Operations. Hansen’s appointment marked the culmination of a five-month national search to identify a seasoned educational professional to oversee Pisgah’s finances, human resources, facilities, grounds, campus security, food service, capital projects and information technology operations. “The school received more than 80 applications for this position. Sue Hansen brings an unmatched wealth of experience and knowledge of private education to Pisgah,” said Head of School John Marshall. “With the opening of our new upper school, Geier Hall, we are entering an exciting phase of growth. Sue’s leadership, work ethic, business skills and genuine heart for our Christian mission make her an ideal professional to join our leadership team.” Hansen has nearly 13 years of administrative, teaching and coaching experience. Most recently, she served as Chief Financial Officer and V.P. of Finance at Marist School, where she also taught accounting and coached cross country. Hansen previously held the position of V.P. of Finance and Operations for Brebeuf Jesuit High School in Indianapolis. She worked for the U.S. Air Force accounting and finance department in Germany and has also worked in corporate finance. She graduated from Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business and has her Indiana Certified Public Accountant’s license. Hansen is an accomplished speaker for the National Business Officers Association and serves as an adjunct accounting professor for Oglethorpe University. A strong believer in giving back to the local community, Hansen serves as Board Chair for Sophia Academy and Chief Financial Officer for the new Christo Rey School, both in Atlanta. In 1996, she founded Camp Awareness, a program for children with autism.
She served on the board and then as president for the Arc of Georgia, an organization committed to all people with developmental disabilities. She was also a member of the steering committee for Insight, an Enthusiastic Sobriety™ Program in Roswell, Ga., that helps children with addiction. In addition, she chaired the Finance and Policies Committee that was instrumental in the effort to make Dunwoody a city in 2010. Upon accepting the Assistant Head of School position, Hansen said, “I am excited to be joining the Pisgah family. The school’s board and leaders, in fact everyone I have met, is filled with the Spirit and is obviously mission-driven. Community members at-large speak so highly of their experience with Mount Pisgah Christian School. I am honored and ready to serve such a worthy mission. To say I am excited is an understatement!”
PISGAH FACULTY ATTEND PEOPLE OF COLOR CONFERENCE
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isgah teachers Wilson York, Heather Parker and Cera Marsh and Dean of Middle School B. J. Crane were four of the 3,800 participants at the 27th annual People of Color Conference in Indianapolis. Pisgah makes continuous efforts to foster understanding and acceptance of all people. For example, TAP (Teens Against Prejudice) is a newly-formed group led by Cera Marsh. The current leadership panel consists of 14 upper school students and will be expanded soon to include all grades 6 – 12.
The Independent School Advantage January 14, 10am, Golf Club of Georgia January 21, 10am, St. Ives Country Club 5
A Christmas UPDATE
DECEMBER 2014
TREY ARNETTE TO LEAD PISGAH OFFICE OF ADMISSION
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ead of Middle School Trey Arnette has agreed to join the Pisgah Admission team beginning in January 2015. Trey will remain as Head of the Middle School while simultaneously helping lead the school’s admission initiative at this exciting time in the life of the school. When Associate Admission Director Bill Williamson returned to the business world this fall, the School initiated a national search for his replacement co-chaired by Admission Director Tammy Mozingo and Trey. Before Thanksgiving, Tammy approached Head of School John Marshall about the possibility of Trey joining the team as its leader because she would like to have greater schedule flexibility in order to spend more time with her family. As many of you know, Trey was already partnering with the Admission Office to promote The Independent School Advantage, and it was an obvious decision to have him more involved in the admission efforts of the school. Trey enthusiastically agreed to take on this new role. This expansion of Trey’s administrative role would not be possible without the experienced leadership team in the Middle School. Dean of Students B. J. Crane, Guidance Counselor Jennifer Scott, Learning Strategist Marie Woods and Administrative Assistant Jolene Kellner will continue their instrumental leadership in the
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Middle. According to John Marshall, “Trey has put together an outstanding leadership team that will provide him the bandwidth to guide both departments. With Trey, I am reminded of the adage, if you want a challenging job done well, give it to a busy person. I know of few educators who have the capacity to accomplish what Trey has, and can.” Adds Tammy Mozingo, “I am thrilled to have an opportunity to partner with Trey at a remarkable time in the life of our school.” Both the admission office and middle school administration will be located on the same floor in the H Building, the new home of the Middle School. Since arriving at Pisgah in 2004, Trey has made an impact wearing many hats. He has taught Bible, Geography, Political Science, Theology of Pop Culture and on-level and Honors Economics, coached varsity soccer, led the Advancement Office during the successful PAC Campaign and since 2012, guided the Middle School as it added new programs and teachers and achieved its highest student retention in history. He will continue to teach Honors Economics and remain as head coach of the Men’s Varsity Soccer team. Said Trey, “I consider teaching and coaching a calling and will always be devoted to both.”
Geier Hall Dedication & Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting January 11, 2015 | 1:30pm
A NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS JOHN AND MARY ALDEN AND LARRY AND LORI PAYNE The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3
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s we think about the positive impact Mount Pisgah Christian School has had not only on our families but on all Pisgah families, we are moved by God’s provision for our school.
In 1986, our school’s founders wanted to minister to the community by providing a Christ-centered education, and they had faith that God would provide the means for the school to get off the ground. Since that time, because of the dedication of so many people, Pisgah has expanded from a preschool of 70 students to a school that serves 962 students from preschool to 12th grade. This incredible growth over the last 28 years reminds us what can happen when faith is followed by action. Please turn your faith into action, and help us continue to build God’s kingdom, by making a commitment to Building for the Future. This campaign benefits every child at our school. Not only will your gift help provide Pisgah with a new Upper School, it will fund renovations to the H Building, the new home of the Middle School, and the Drummond Center to accommodate the Fine Arts Department and reduce school-wide debt. Finishing the Building for the Future campaign will also bring us one step closer to completing the campus master plan! This campaign is for your children and grandchildren, their children and generations to come. Through your generosity, we are witnessing an unprecedented opportunity for our community. When the final $233,013 is pledged to Building for the Future, Pisgah will secure grants totaling $2,250,000 from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation and an anonymous Atlanta foundation! This would be the most support ever received from outside funders in the history of our beloved school. If you have not yet supported Building for the Future, please consider making a meaningful gift or pledge by Dec. 31. Join us, in faith and action, and be a part of God’s work that is happening right now at Mount Pisgah Christian School. To make your commitment, please use the enclosed giving envelope, visit www.experiencepisgh.org/waystogive or contact Director of Advancement Melissa Santee at 678-336-3384 or msantee@mountpisgahschool.org. Mount Pisgah Christian School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, tax ID number 58-2424265. Donations qualify as charitable gifts for tax purposes.
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A Christmas UPDATE
DECEMBER 2014
Kindergarten teachers Jamie Cameron and Ashley Samalaki and Preschool Assistant Director Ali Weller
FACULTY FELLOWSHIP By Anita Stuart, Lower School Office Coordinator Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
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hristians everywhere are preparing to rejoice in the birth of the Savior, and the Pisgah faculty is certainly no exception. There are small groups of teachers and administrators who go above and beyond the call of duty to share the joy of Christian fellowship throughout the year. Participating in devotions and shared prayer is an important aspect of Christian community. According to Interim Head of Lower School Deborah Knoblock, “Devotions keep us focused on the reason why we are here - to expand the kingdom of God and share the good news of Jesus Christ with the families He brings us. Devotions help to bond us further together in relationship as brothers and sisters in Christ as we encourage one another through God’s word and personal testimony.”
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There are several groups of teachers and staff members from each division who gather weekly for a time of prayer and devotion. For example, Kindergarten Assistant Ashley Sakamaki plays a critical role in helping the Lower School staff to “bear one another’s burdens.” She regularly provides scripture references, praises, and written devotions for her coworkers. Additionally, Ashley organizes faculty members’ prayer requests and then sends them to the lower school team so they can pray for one another. “This role helps me to dive into the Word daily. I want to encourage others. I know that shared prayer will always bring us together and help us to put God first.” Ashley appreciates the fact that at Pisgah teachers and staff work so closely together to serve students, parents and the community as a whole. She adds, “Everyone here is willing to listen. People value and respect one another. God has shown me what it means to have a strong community with God at its center.” Pisgah’s faculty recognizes that working and serving in a Christian community which is surrounded by prayer is a rare privilege. As Ashley repeatedly notes, “We are blessed.”
WORLD LANGUAGE SURVEY RESULTS ARE IN! By Deborah Knoblock, Interim Head of Lower School
T PISGAH PASSAGES By Wilson York, Upper School History Teacher
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or this year’s Maymester, we are excited to unveil a new middle and upper schools travel program. Entitled “Pisgah Passages,” the program will provide students in grades 8-11 with interdisciplinary, capstone experiences at year’s end that will reflect their respective curricula in applied, real-world settings. The phrase “Pisgah Passages” is a comprehensive expression of the program’s objectives: 1. Passage in a literal sense: a journey from one place to another. The program celebrates the idea that there is no better way to learn about the world around us than to go and see it firsthand. 2. A way of marking the passage of another school year…to reflect on the many things learned and celebrate the relationships that have been created and solidified during the previous nine months. 3. A valuable component of our students’ passage into young adulthood, the program is also aimed at helping students develop independent living skills as they navigate the challenges of travel. These include keeping up with their belongings, maintaining a schedule, being an agreeable part of a group and simply rolling with the usual punches that arise during a trip. This year, 8th graders will travel to Washington, D. C., 9th graders will tour the Southeast, 10th graders will visit New York City and 11th graders will travel to Europe. We believe that Pisgah Passages will become an integral and beloved component of the middle and upper schools curriculum, and we hope that all Pisgah families will prayerfully consider participation.
he response has been tremendous! Nearly 80 lower school families completed the World Language Education Parent Survey. Open forums also generated valuable insight into what is meaningful to the community. The results are clear – exposure to a language other than English is a high priority at Pisgah. The contributions parents have made are essential to the steering process as we navigate Pisgah’s approach to world language instruction. We appreciate our parent community for taking the time to provide effectual and authentic insight! When asked to rate foreign language instruction in comparison to other subjects in terms of relevance, a second language was clearly of significant importance. Respondents also favored one language offering over multiple offerings, and they rated a conventional classroom teacher with mastery of one language as preferable to employing a web-based curriculum with the aid of a proctor. Spanish was the clear language of choice. Research of the best practices in meaningful world language education at an elementary level revealed that in order for students to develop competency in speaking, and begin to gain basic proficiency with reading and writing, a significant investment of time is required. Just as families demonstrate their values in how they use financial resources, the use of instructional time to align with Pisgah’s mission will require some intentional planning. We have set about taking a hard look at how to incorporate world language instruction in a balanced, yet meaningful way. As we transition into the second semester, we will begin a search for a dynamic, top-notch instructor to lead Spanish instruction in a manner that lays a foundation for future learning while promoting usable skills that build over time. The lively and vigorous contributions parents have devoted to this process have been critical. We are well on our way to having a Spanish program unlike anything we have ever had before. Muchas gracias!
PISGAH PASSAGES 8th Grade Trip - Washington D. C. (May 17 - 21) 9th Grade - Southern Road Trip (May 27 - June 1) 10th Grade - New York City (May 28 - June 1) 11th Grade - Europe (May 24 - June 1)
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A Christmas UPDATE
DECEMBER 2014
MERRY CHRISTMIX!
The Christmix elves are ready to greet the middle school students.
Trey Arnette helps kick off Christmix, a student-led initiative.
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iddle school students decided to mix things up a bit at lunch one day in December. It was a great strategy to help students meet someone new, share lunch with someone they didn’t normally spend time with and make a new friend or two.
Elves (student council and peer mediators) greeted students as they entered the Drum for lunch. Once students went through the cafeteria line, they were given a candy cane and a card with a table number. Each card had a conversation-starter question on the back to help kick off the “getting to know you” fun. Thank you to the talented middle school musicians who supplied the entertainment and to the elves who also served cookies at the end of lunch. What a great student initiative!
STRATEGIC PLANNING LAUNCHES IN 2015
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n the new year, Pisgah will initiate an inclusive school-wide planning process to update its existing strategic plan, Vision 2020, which was completed in 2010. According to trustee and steering committee co-chair, Joe Gaynor, “The school is enjoying unprecedented momentum on many fronts. John Marshall and the Board believe the time has come to assess progress on Vision 2020; to renew and define our dynamic course for the next several years.”
STRATEGIC PLANNING STEERING COMMITTEE Joe Gaynor, Co-Chair, Trustee and alumni parent Gray Vallely, Co-Chair, parent Doug Williams, Board Chair, parent Joe Gaynor
At the culmination of the last planning process the following vision and core values were set forth: MPCS is a community guided by biblical truth and wise stewardship; that develops Christian leaders who are prepared for college, the world and life. Pisgah inspires each community member to discover, explore and pursue God-given talents and purpose. The Pisgah Experience builds lasting relationships, enables service to others and encourages a lifelong love of learning. The essence of this vision is best described as College Prep, Life Ready.
Pisgah Core Values • Christ-Centered • Unity
• Academic Excellence
• Accountability
• Integrity
Gray Vallely
Jennifer Aliff, parent Karen Brunke, Trustee and parent Charles Buffington, Trustee Brad Dalton, Trustee and parent Sue Hansen, Assistant Head of School John Marshall, Head of School and parent Mary Ann Morris, Head of Upper School and alumni parent Susan Reilly, Director of College Counseling and alumni parent
Many of the school’s recent accomplishments were originally defined in Vision 2020: • • • •
Develop a Portrait of the Pisgah Graduate Hire educators who are strong Christian leaders with servant’s hearts Provide an outstanding college-preparatory education Invest in financial stability by balancing the annual budget and reducing long-term debt • Invest in new and existing facilities such as the PAC, an academic center, a cafeteria and a media center and enhance facilities for the Preschool and Lower School Stay tuned for more details this winter, as everyone in the community will have a role to play to help define the next chapter in the amazing transformation of Mount Pisgah Christian School. Praise be to God for His continued blessings on our school!
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DEAR MOUNT PISGAH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL FAMILY,
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arely, as a head of school do I write publicly about my family. However, this Christmas I am making an exception in order to recognize a career educator who had a profound impact on his middle son ... for more than 50 years.
My father, Dr. Stan Marshall, passed away in June at the age of 91. Dad was the youngest and only boy of six children. He was raised on a small farm outside Pittsburgh during the Depression, and his father cared for draft horses and took unskilled jobs to support the family. He was the first in his family to go to college and to earn a doctorate, which was in science education. Dad was a high school physics teacher, college professor and dean of a graduate school of education, started a school of science and math for the Ford Foundation in Turkey and eventually became a university president. Dad epitomized the life of characters portrayed by Horatio Alger, pursuing the American Dream through the powerful engine of formal education. Dad’s capacity for work, his equal treatment of every person and his resilience when dealing with life’s setbacks will forever motivate me to persevere, to try harder. He required us, his children, to make our own decisions starting at a very early age, and he did not protect us from making mistakes or shield us from the painful and often embarrassing consequences of missteps in judgment and action. Blessed with a steady moral compass, Dad nonetheless did not believe that dictating his morality to us would build our character; that was a task for each one of us and our Maker. Dad did set the example, but he trusted in God to mold HIS children. Dad did not “micro parent,” especially on big issues, even though there were plenty of times when we kids desperately hoped he would make the hard decisions for us. There are still times when I long for Dad to make the tough decisions. I want to delegate them to Dad or, better yet, to God: Please God, make this decision, solve this problem and relieve me of the responsibility to figure it out myself through prayer, submission, reflection and plain hard work. But as the divine architect of Stan Marshall’s parenting model, God wants His children to grow in wisdom through putting forth real effort, using our bodies, minds and hearts and praying for the discernment to meet the challenges of this broken world. Isn’t this what education in a Christian school ultimately should be all about? As we celebrate this Season’s gift of the Lord’s precious and only Son, brought to the earth to become the master teacher for all of mankind, let us remember that God expects us to do our part: to perform the heavy and sometimes painful lifting to draw closer to Him and wiser through Him.
Stan Marshall with his grandson Matthew
And as we strive to be all that we can be as parents, let us trust in God to help our children with their own heavy lifting. Let us rejoice in the arrival of the Christ child – King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And He shall reign forever and ever. Hallelujah! Give praise to the Almighty Father!
In His Service,
John D. Marshall Head of School
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A Christmas UPDATE
DECEMBER 2014
THE TOP TEN
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ccording to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), these are the primary reasons that families select independent schools:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
High academic standards Small classes Individual attention Excellent teachers Greater likelihood of a student completing bachelor’s or graduate degree 6. Education for the whole child 7. Inclusiveness 8. Community of parents who actively participate in their children’s education 9. Opportunity to choose a school with a mission 10. An education that will pay dividends for a lifetime Pisgah is a nurturing and challenging Christian college-prepartory school that prepares young people for the complexities and challenges of the 21st century. Please contact Admission Director Trey Arnette, or any of the division heads if you would like to discuss this top ten list (or any other priorities). Pisgah is a proud member of the National Association of Independent Schools.
Ninth graders Phoebe Jones and Lawton Nickles prepare to take the stage for the AllSchool Christmas Service.
The Gray family kicks off the Christmas season with Pisgah’s Doughnuts with Santa.
The Zeitlens enjoy the “Give Thanks” activity during Thankful Friday. .
9820 Nesbit Ferry Road • Johns Creek, Georgia 30022 (678) 336-3443 • experiencepisgah.org 12