ON CAMPUS

CORE VALUE: CommunityORIENTED

amily. It is one of the first words that come F to mind when thinking of Mount Paran

Christian School. Being community oriented is one of the MPCS four core values. We are a school that strives to know each student and love them as they mature and grow into their faith. One high school student said in an anonymous survey, “[The MPCS community] is LIKE A SECOND FAMILY, WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR YOU, AND WILL BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED THEM MOST.” We were meant to live in community and do life together. At MPCS, we nurture community through relationships, service to others, and family connections.

In James K. A. Smith’s book On the Road with Saint Augustine, he describes authentic community and mentions the true friend is one who has realized what you’re called to be and is willing to let you be uncomfortable as you wrestle with that calling. This beautifully describes the role of faculty, staff, and coaches on campus who develop relationships with students and who help young people learn who they are in order to carry the name of

Jesus as they enter the world.

Laura Gardner, parent of two recent MPCS graduates, shares her thoughts about the role of community: “At every stage, from preschool to high school, MPCS has provided our children with the support they have needed to reach their full potential academically, spiritually, and socially.” MPCS is a family

BY JASON BEARD, ASSISTANT HEAD OF HIGH SCHOOL

that nurtures the whole child so they can best understand what it means to flourish and cause others to flourish.

Ours is a community that serves and loves one another. Jesus said that people will know we are His disciples by our love for one another. Another high school student reflected on what MPCS family represents to them: “The community shows me love and support. I like knowing that they really care and will always try to help you.”

We strive to create an environment in which students feel known and loved by faculty and then are challenged to show that same love for neighboring communities. Whether it is a Family Serve Day, a Serve Saturday, students collecting funds for cancer research, or one of our many high school service clubs in action, our students are using their experience at MPCS by imitating the model of Jesus as servant-leaders. In reflecting on her children’s experiences at MPCS, Pam Keller said, “I am thankful that SO MANY AT MPCS HAVE TRULY KNOWN THE HEARTS OF MY CHILDREN AND HAVE TAKEN TIME TO PRAY WITH THEM, SHARE WISDOM, LISTEN, AND CONNECT.”

From Friday night tailgates and football games, to spiritual retreats, parent education seminars, service together, or a note of encouragement from a teacher, Mount Paran Christian School is a family that loves well.

W 2020 Homecoming Queen, Maggie Epps

COMMUNITY IN LIGHTS

BY AMBER IRIZARRY, COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Mount Paran Christian School is community oriented, through relationships, service to others, and family connections. This school — well-known for its warm and welcoming atmosphere — is described most often as a “family.” Even the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic have not stalled our determination to continue the long-standing tradition of building community. Though the school has made many changes this academic year, togetherness remains.

Such was the case on a late-October evening, as the Parent Teacher Fellowship presented its first-ever MPCS Family Drive-In Laser Light Show. Under a nearly full moon and crisp breezes — remnants of Tropical Storm Zeta that had passed through the area — the Eagle nation packed the Murray Arts Center parking lot in anticipation of an evening of fun. In a tailgate-style, physically-distanced setting, attendees were treated to a dazzling light show set to popular tunes. Friends were able to park nearby and enjoy the show together safely. While the annual PTF fall EagleFest was missed, the Drive-In Laser Light Show was a shining example of flexibility, innovation, and determination.

“...COVID-19 HAS NOT STALLED OUR DETERMINATION TO THE LONG-STANDING TRADITION OF BUILDING COMMUNITY.” Reimaging Community in a Pandemic

The PTF will assist with an additional new program to campus during the holidays: an MPCS Family Christmas, with more than 20 gradelevel Christmas trees on display for a lighted holiday tour across school grounds to include a preschool live nativity and culminating with the lighting of the “great tree” and sharing of the Christmas story. This sort of innovative reimagining of events provides much-needed time together for our school families, especially new families who have had very limited opportunities to be present on-campus this year.

From rethinking devotions, chapel, and parent meetings, to new family welcome events and other large gatherings, every special event and activity on campus has been revisited and reimagined for a school year in the COVID-era. Technology has made parent Zoom meetings, physically-distanced chapels, and remote viewing of arts and athletics events possible. Donuts with Dads and the Head of School breakfast have turned into curbside coffee and welcome wagon events.

While we all look forward to the future, and the chance to bring back much-loved traditions, such as the fall pre-game family tailgates or the annual homecoming dance, the current world situation has encouraged MPCS to continue to innovate. Hopefully, many of these reimagined enhancements are here to stay!

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STAFF PROFILE:

MRS. TINA BAKER

Though she would never say it herself, Tina Baker is a “rock star” in the MPCS community. Interestingly, her maiden name was Tina Turner, eliciting a curious reaction when first meeting people. Originally from Miami, Mrs. Baker attended Florida International University, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Elementary BY MICKIE ROBERTS, LOWER AND MIDDLE SCHOOL REGISTRART Education. While in college, she worked as a research assistant at Burger King Corporation, where she met her husband. Mrs. Baker continued her education at Nova Southeastern University, receiving a Masters degree in Elementary Education and an Education Specialist degree in Technology Management and Administration. After teaching in several elementary schools, Mrs. Baker began her career at MPCS as a first-grade teacher in 2009. A love for teaching and learning is reflected in Mrs. Baker’s impressive résumé: Teacher Support Specialist, Gifted In-Field Endorsement, Independent School Leadership Certification, and Georgia Independent School Association Master Teacher. She has received core training in the Project Lead the Way® Launch as both a classroom and lead teacher. Currently, Mrs. Baker is a Directed Studies Individualized Support teacher for first and fifth graders and the assistant coach for lower and middle school robotics. In December 2019, she organized the FIRST® Lego® League tournament, hosted at MPCS in collaboration with middle school robotics head coach Randi Terry and the high school robotics teams. She has also overseen biannual lower school STEAM days. Mrs. Baker’s love of the outdoors resulted in a lower school Daffodil Project and the MPCS Bluebird Trail. With her expertise in teacher support and curriculum, coupled with tech savviness, Mrs. Baker was instrumental to the success of the sudden transition to Virtual Learning the last few months of the 2019-2020 school year. From creating virtual classroom webpages to helping with Zoom meetings and developing a standard for how teachers would use Google, Mrs. Baker was an invaluable resource during the COVID-19 crisis. To manage it all, she says, “Every member of the lower “...EXPERTISE IN TEACHER SUPPORT AND CURRICULUM, school team played a vital role into the transition to Virtual COUPLED WITH TECH-SAVVINESS...” Learning. From the leadership and direction from Lower School Head Dr. Davis, to the flexibility and willingness of the teachers to create an engaging Virtual Learning environment, the entire lower school staff united upon a collaborative effort to enable the continuation of learning with minimal disruption.” Above all, Mrs. Baker’s selfless heart and joy for teaching shine through in all she does, demonstrating why she is indeed a “rock star.” W