The Whitefield Academy Magazine Spring 2023

The Whitefield Academy Magazine

SPRING 2023

Made in e Image of God

Head of School

Kevin Bracher, Ph.D.

Managing Editor

Brian Kennerly, Ed.D.

Graphic Designer

Mike Logan

Contributing Photographers

Paul Ward, Brent Rivers Photography, and Whitefield Academy teachers, parents, and students

Contributing Writers

Carmen Crawford, Kerri Dobo, Catherine Hawkins, Heather Karvis, Diana Keough, Jonathan McClellan, Lindsey McClellan, Jennifer Bryon Owen, Danny Ryan, Nathan Stevens, Lynn Sumlin, Alyson Taylor, and Tiffany Turner,

Board of Trustees

Jeannie Brostrand

John Browne

Kevin T. Byrne - Board Treasurer

Chris Herschend - Board Chair

Byron Johnson

Peter D. Kantor, Jr. - Board Vice-Chair

Joe Knight (‘07)

Aaron Messner

Antony Sanacory

Chris Scott

Erika Davies-Venn

Terena Washington

Allyson Watson

Jeanne Watson - Board Secretary

Leadership Team

Kevin Bracher, Ph.D. - Head of School

Maryellen Berry - Lower School Principal

Joi Calloway - Assistant to the Head of School

Allison Duncanson - Director of Christian Life and Diversity

Karen Gilbert - Director of Human Resources

Heather Karvis - Middle School Principal

Brian Kennerly, Ed.D. - Assistant Head of External Affairs

Lauren Race - Director of Development

Danny Ryan - Athletic Director

Mike Shaheen - Director of Student Leadership

Nathan Stevens - Assistant Head of Academic Affairs

Tony Stokes - Director of Finance

Jennifer Woods - Upper School Principal

Whitefield Academy, a Christ-centered college preparatory school, exists to bolster Christian families in rearing young people who go on to college and life with a passion for learning, for others ahead of self, and for the living and active Jesus.

Prologue

As we entered the 2022-2023 school year, our faculty and students were eager to reflect our yearlong theme of Imago Dei on the first day of school. Knowing that we are made in the image of God, and that He is always present to guide and help us achieve the final vision He has for us, enables both students and staff at Whitefield to be capable of achieving more than they ever thought possible.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

School Verse selected by the Class of 2023

Head of School from the

Dear Whitefield Community,

We are experiencing yet another amazing school year at Whitefield Academy as we see the hand of God steadily at work in and through the lives of people. I have enjoyed connecting with our students, families, faculty, and staff as we journey together in pursuing excellence in education that is centered on Jesus Christ. Foundational to this endeavor is understanding each person in light of God creating him or her in His image. That’s why Imago Dei has been an overarching theme for us this year, as we look at the dignity and worth of each person, created in God’s image, and the implications of this truth in all that we do.

As image bearers, our students are examining who God is to better understand their own identity. Their hearts, souls, minds, and strength are being fed as they strive to love God and love others, even ahead of themselves. They are deepening their relationships with God and with others as they encounter the living and active Jesus every day. It’s within this context that the Bible comes alive, and our students are best able to develop a relationship with this world that instills a “passion for learning” that carries students through college and beyond.

Meeting people in history becomes more interesting as students notice the great impact they have had on the unfolding of this world. Solving complex problems become more enjoyable as students notice the order of this world. Scientific discoveries are more fascinating as each one provides deeper understanding of the One who created us and this world. Connecting with characters in literature becomes more profound as students recognize the human struggle of living in a world that is created good, fallen in sin that has been conquered by Christ, and yet to be fully restored. Physical challenges that develop strength take on additional relevance as they mirror spiritual development. Artistic creativity provides added beauty as it displays the beauty of the ultimate Creator. The endless list of implications for the Imago Dei provides all of us an opportunity to rejoice and give glory to God as we watch our students and alumni, a widely diverse group of individuals, as they continue to impress us with their energy, commitment, and accomplishments in “running the race marked out for them.”

As you explore this issue of the Whitefield magazine, I hope you will draw the same encouragement and inspiration as we do from the daily interactions with our alumni, students, and community here at Whitefield. May we all continue to mature, master new skills, and journey toward lives continually transformed by Christ, reflecting the image of God in each of us.

In service to Him,

Kevin Bracher, Ph.D. Head of School, Whitefield Academy

WHITEFIELD’S UPDATED EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FRAMEWORK

by Alyson Taylor

here and how does learning best take place? Over the last several years, as Whitefield faculty and staff grappled with the educational upheaval created by COVID-19, many of our traditional trips and experiences had to be canceled or significantly modified. These interruptions allowed us to pause and re-evaluate: what is the purpose of grade-level trips? What experiential learning opportunities do we offer, and why? If we seek to educate the “whole student,” provide opportunities for students to learn through experience, and strive for alignment and consistency across grade levels, how can we best intentionally structure our efforts? Whitefield’s new framework for experiential learning spans all grades from PreK to 12th grade, incorporating the hands-on experiences of J-Term in the Upper School, building in dedicated grade-specific trips and retreats for 5th through 12th grade, and introducing new capstone projects in the Lower School.

The student experience in the Lower School has always included many opportunities for hands-on learning and discovery. Through the new grade-level capstone projects, students will engage with one overarching real-world topic of study throughout the year. All components of the curriculum build into the topic, including math, reading, science, social studies, faith integration, and a thematic field trip. From “PreK Pizzaiolis” to 3rd grade spelunking, Lower School capstone projects are a meaningful way for students to engage in experiential learning!

Left - 4th Grade Trip to Jekyll Island

Right - 1st Grade Trip to Georgia Aquarium

In the past, Middle School grade-level trips were reserved for 5th grade Space Camp and the 8th grade Washington D.C. trip. Now, each grade has a retreat designed to bolster the students spiritually or academically and provide students and advisors a space to grow deeper relationships and class cohesion. The structure of 5th and 6th grade has also changed slightly to reflect the similarities of these two young groups of learners.

In the Upper School, grade levels also engage in class experiences, from spiritual retreats to service projects.

January Term (J-Term) provides Upper School students a week-long deep dive into the experiential study as students use the first week in January to explore academic and non-academic topics of interest and nourish their passion for learning. A walk around campus during J-Term may find students practicing fly-fishing in the Quad, developing their grilling skills by smoking meats, studying the symbolism in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, and more!

These updates to the Whitefield experience speak to what we believe as educators: that we teach the “whole student,” designed in the image of God, intentionally building up an academic foundation by providing opportunities for students to gain understanding and wisdom at a deeper level through experiential learning.

Left - 6th Grade Retreat to Pigeon Forge, TN Center - 5th Grade “Space Camp” Trip to Huntsville, AL Right - 7th Grade Trip to Savannah, GA

Left - 10th Grade Retreat to Camp Woodlands Right - J-Term Appalachia Trip to Paintsville, KY

Planning for Success

Whitefield fifth and sixth graders explore executive functioning

by Heather Karvis

hitefield Academy’s fifth and sixth grade model continues to grow and refine, seeking to honor Christ as we foster in our students a passion for learning, for others ahead of self, and for the living and active Jesus. These three passions of our mission statement serve as pillars for studentfocused commitments that help us operationalize our work as we seek to meet the unique needs of our fifth and sixth grade learners. One of the overarching commitments we make as a team is to build relationships with each child rooted in the love of Christ, recognizing and affirming every individual as an image bearer, created in the image of God. We firmly believe that the Lord’s purposeful design of each unique child presents us with an opportunity to pour into the hearts and minds of our students. While many see the middle school years as difficult and challenging, we welcome them as God-given gifts and opportunities.

One of the ways we seek to know the image bearers in our care is through understanding how they learn. Recent brain-based research shows us that children, between the ages of 10 and 16 experience intense synaptic pruning of their brains, second only to their toddler years. During this pruning process, the brain gets rid of the synapses that are

As our children move through the currents of adolescence, we believe that equipping them with executive functioning skills is crucial for harnessing their passions and guiding their learning.

William McEver (‘30) using his Middle School Planner to organize his day and after-school activities

no longer used in order to optimize efficiency and create bandwidth for newfound passions and interests. This research can also explain why our children often answer our inquiries with “I don’t know.” Sometimes they really do not know (despite our typical impatience with that response), as over 50 percent of their brains will be pruned in these middle school and teen years! This miracle of synaptic pruning is very much part of honoring the beauty of the Lord’s purposeful design of our students.

Pairing our firm belief of the children in our care as image bearers with our research-based knowledge of the dynamic adolescent brain, the fifth and sixth grade teams equip our students with skills necessary for supporting the pruning process and then strengthening those skills as they grow to allow for lifelong, positive impact. Daniel Siegel, author of Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain to adolescence as a beautiful and powerful waterfall. He writes, “You cannot stop a waterfall, but you can learn to direct its course and harness its power.” As our children move through the currents of adolescence, we believe that equipping them with executive functioning skills is crucial for harnessing their passions and guiding their learning.

Many people often ask what exactly is executive functioning? Executive functioning (EF) is defined as “the brain-based, cognitive processes that help us to regulate our behavior, make decisions, and set and achieve goals.” EF skills

can include, but are not limited to, organization, task initiation, planning, time management, selfregulation, working memory, and metacognition. Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child likens executive functioning to an air traffic control system at a busy airport. In the brain, EF skills allow us to “be able to focus, hold, and work with information in mind, filter distractions, and switch

develop. Continued research in this field shows us that intentional efforts to foster EF skills in our children directly correlates to their future success both personally and professionally.

With this research helping guide our work, one of our fifth and sixth grade model core commitments is to identify, design, integrate, and measure developmentally

and sixth grade teams spent the 2021-22 school year researching, designing, and aligning an ageappropriate EF curriculum plan that we implemented this school year for our students. We are excited to share below the outcomes of our collaborative journey and efforts to build and scaffold this unique learning opportunity for Whitefield Academy’s fifth and sixth grade learners.

IDENTIFY

Eden Gulledge, Director of the Academic Enrichment Center (AEC) at Whitefield, spearheaded the discussion around executive functioning with her team of student success coaches, Allie Campbell, Michael Chasteen, and Glenda Pickett to research and determine the areas of executive functioning most needed for our students. This research consisted of collecting data from our fifth and sixth grade students, fifth and sixth grade faculty observations, brain-based research, educational data, and professional development

conferences and workshops, including the Cliff Valley Institute.

Operating parallel to the AEC team’s research, Fifth Grade Chair Amelia Carmichael and Sixth Grade Chair Andrea Unsicker led their teams of teachers in identifying the changes and needs required for structures and a schedule that would maximize student learning in these areas of EF skills. This team also identified the need for faculty training in these areas to decentralize the teaching and learning. We desire for the integration of EF skills to be part of the fabric of our curriculums, classrooms, and daily rhythms, not just a check the box class that students receive without application, repetition, or consistency.

We also engaged the expertise and knowledge of our current fourth grade team and administrative members of the Lower School to help us identify the needs of our students in the transition from Lower School to Middle School. Strengthening this collaboration between the Lower School and Middle School teams has allowed for continual partnership in which we have shared the fifth and sixth grade EF plans with our Lower School team for review and refinement. At the same time, our Lower School teachers know the EF skills with which their students will soon engage; thus, they can intentionally prepare and introduce them to these important skills.

These dedicated teams synthesized their efforts and as a result of their incredibly thoughtful and thorough work, we identified the following three EF skills to serve as the

foundation for our fifth and sixth grade students: time management, planning, and task initiation.

DESIGN

The design phase of our EF curriculum work consisted of Gulledge and her team developing a program for every fifth grade student to engage in during the first 9-weeks of school. This program clearly defines the goals, tools, and activities associated with each weekly lesson. Examples of goals include, but not limited to, navigating the building and lunchroom, recording assignments in the planner, reading and understanding directions, reading a rubric, and organizing a locker. With each goal, our teachers share tools with the students to help them achieve the goals. For instance, our students use a “Viewing My Time” circle divided into quadrants in their planners to help them see the time a teacher anticipates they should need to complete an assignment in comparison with the time it actually takes the student to complete the assignment. Students also use tools like timers, personalized fifth and sixth grade planners, backwards planning worksheets, locker diagrams and instructions, and study skills sheets. Finally, the students actively engage in their learning by practicing skills like chunking, calendering, adjusting schedules to increase flexibility, role playing self-advocacy conversations with teachers, and teaching others. At the end of the 9-weeks, each student teaches a group of teachers and peers about a particular skill in which he/she exhibits competency, thus, empowering the student to own his/her learning.

Emerson Gallacher (‘30) and Zoie Watkins (‘30) practice “self advocacy” as they seek additional help from 5th grade teacher Mrs. Fawcett (‘06)

INTEGRATE

In order to integrate this 9-week course for fifth graders as well as embed these EF skills in every fifth and sixth grade classroom, we had to implement a structure that enhanced student learning in small groups, and we had to maximize teacher training. The intentionality behind these goals resulted in the fifth grade EF group sessions consisting of only five to seven students per teacher, and the fifth and sixth grade teachers participating in multiple EF training sessions with Gulledge and the AEC team. These teacher training sessions were titled “The Intentional Classroom.” The purpose of these sessions served to “equip the teachers to support students in the development of executive functioning skills in areas of time management, task initiation, and planning, while simultaneously broadening and increasing the skill development throughout the year.”

Teachers worked collaboratively to strengthen the student experience by developing structures, routines, and procedures that seek to consistently use the same vocabulary and rhythms to help students grasp and practice these important EF skills. Language such as “usable time,” “viewing my time circles,” “backwards planning,” “chunking,” and “calendaring” can be heard in every fifth and sixth grade classroom. Students learn binder systems, note-taking frameworks such as the Cornell note taking method and the outlining note taking method, a variety of study skills, and planning frameworks.

MEASURE

During the course of the 9-week curriculum in fifth grade, our teachers and AEC staff meet weekly to discuss the lessons and student learning. These weekly meetings allow the team purposeful time to reflect and refine. The fifth grade student presentations at the end of the 9-week curriculum allow the students to show us what they know. At the same time, we are developing tools that help us track the EF skillsets of our students throughout their middle school years. Finally, we are working in partnership with the Upper School administration to determine the appropriate scaffolding of EF skills as our eighth graders enter the ninth grade. We know that the Upper School will inherit a different kind of learner, equipped with EF skills to allow for an increased depth of learning and

curiosity. The next few years of data collection and synthesis will prove pivotal in measuring the impact of this intentionally designed EF work in the fifth and sixth grade model.

Throughout this entire process, students have come to appreciate the intentional time to develop these executive functioning skills. They recognize the value of exploring the good, perfect, and pleasing plan that the Lord had in mind when He created the world and man. We serve a God of order, and His entire plan from the beginning was to bring redemption to mankind, as Jesus came to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). As we root the integration of EF skills in the Lord’s word, we have the privilege of watching our students transform from young learners into confident students.

Daniel Stone (‘30), Alice Faulkner (‘30), and Cece Boughner (‘30) utilize “task initiation” to work together to understand different types of written direction

IMAGO DEI

Whitefield Academy’s focus for the 2022-23 school year is Imago Dei. The translation of this Latin phrase is the “Image of God,” meaning that Whitefield’s prayer for the year is that students come to see that no matter who they are, they were created in the image of God. As students learn more about who God is, they will begin to understand more of what it means to be created in the image of God. The truths of this theme permeate every program across campus, and prayerfully, trickle into even the smallest of interactions between members of the community. From student retreats and chapel messages to parent programming and community events, the theme of the Imago Dei should flow through every touchpoint with students and parents.

During the summer, the Whitefield Christian Life team redesigned one of the former Lower School Mods to create the Christian Life Cottage. This new space functions as a host to nearly all Christian Life programming, in addition to various other events on campus. The space is broken into three rooms: a large gathering room, a meeting space, and a room designated specifically for the Upper School Student Worship Team. From Two or More and PACK Parenting to Chapel Breakouts home to programming that provides spiritual formation opportunities to the entire Whitefield campus.

BACK TO SCHOOL CHAPEL

Our annual All-School Back to School Chapel started the year off on August 26 by focusing on our community centered on Christ. Per tradition, seniors and kindergarten students processed in the chapel in the Athletic Center together. We also got to hear about many of the exciting service projects that were getting ready to happen during our 6th annual Great Day of Service. What an amazing way to begin the year together – worship, service, and prayer!

GREAT DAY OF SERVICE

More than a thousand members of the Whitefield community came together on Saturday, August 27 for the 6th annual Great Day of Service! The morning began in the Amphitheater with Chick-fil-A biscuits and a time of worship, followed by volunteers spreading out across various locations around the Atlanta area to serve others with their time and skills. We planted flowers, painted, created care packages for soldiers, and so, so much more! What a blessing it is to share the love of God with others in our community and act out our calling of “others ahead of self.”

FLAVORS OF FALL

During our Flavors of Fall concert series, our band, chorus, and orchestra all performed concerts that wowed our community. Thank you to all of our talented students for using your gifts to glorify Him in a beautiful way!

NIGHT OF WORSHIP

Whitefield’s 3rd annual Night of Worship was held on October 13 in the Amphitheater. With hundreds of community members in attendance, several Atlanta-based musicians led an evening of worship through song and prayer. It was a beautiful event as families dined on Chick-fil-A and spent time in fellowship while the sun set behind the trees.

I LOVE TO READ WEEK

Lower School students had a blast engaging in many different I Love To Read Week events! Students experienced a story walk as they read from story boards placed around campus and participated in the annual I Love To Read Week parade. On October 21, students had the opportunity to meet author and illustrator Janet Stevens! Thank you to all the teachers and parent volunteers who made this week possible.

CHOOL

Middle School students enjoyed an evening of games, fellowship, and good food at the Middle School Carnival! Thank you to the WPA for sponsoring this annual event.

RANDPARENTS

The Lower School welcomed many grandparents to campus for a fun-filled morning of student performances, class visits, art showcases, pictures, and treats.

PASSION FOR LEARNING DAY

honored to welcome Dr. Jeff Zweerink, Senior Research Scholar with Reasons to Believe and Ph.D. Astrophysicist. Our students were encouraged to dive into a deep discussion with Dr. Zweerink about life outside of earth and how we navigate that as Christians. In addition to that discussion, Dr. Zweerink presented on artificial intelligence, and challenged our students to think about how they may use it in their everyday lives, and how it should reach its limitations in our world. This presentation was an excellent way to challenge our students by encouraging them to think deeper about science and to look at it through a Christian lens. There was even time for students to ask Dr. Zweerink questions. Later that day, students worked together in their advisory groups to create a structure to house an egg. They were instructed to drop this egg in its structure from the third story of Founders Hall onto a concrete patio. Our students enjoyed working together and witnessing which structures protected the eggs. Families were then invited later that evening to hear from Dr. Zweerink and dive into a deeper discussion.

On October 28, Whitefield Academy was

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

The Upper School drama team performed the musical Beauty and the Beast to five sold-out crowds! From the acting and singing to the costume and set design, many people came together on-stage and off-stage to make this an absolutely magical production. Thank you for sharing your theatrical talents with the Whitefield community!

COOKIES AND CAROLS

The Middle School and Upper School students in chorus, band, and orchestra continued the Whitefield tradition of ushering in the Christmas season with beautiful music in the Cookies & Carols concert series. The students glorified God with their musical talents. What a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

An Unplanned Encounter

DANIEL JUSTICE (‘17) AND JEREMIAH COWAN (‘14) CROSS PATHS ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL

by Lindsey McClellan

Daniel Justice (‘17) and Jeremiah Cowan (‘14) have always loved adventure. Being able to hike the Appalachian Trail has always been on their bucket lists. When Daniel decided to hike the Appalachian Trail from North to South, he started in Maine and little did he know one of his former classmates and fellow Eagle Scout from Whitefield’s Troop 554, Jeremiah Cowan (‘14), was also on the trail, hiking from South to North, starting in Georgia. They had not seen each other since upper school Boy Scouts and passed each other on the trail.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOTIVATION (FOR HIKING THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL)?

Daniel

I hiked the Georgia section of the trail when I was in Boy Scouts. On one of those trips I met a thru-hiker named Moto. He talked to us about his journey and shared his stories. That really made me want to see the whole trail.

Jeremiah

The reason for hiking the trail is multi-faceted. In high school, I was a part of Troop 554 at Whitefield Academy. A Scoutmaster named Mr. Howard had thru-hiked the trail and inspired me to one day hike the trail. I went on to get my Eagle Scout Award and swore I would thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Nine years later, I completed my thru-hike of the AT on October 17, 2022.

DID IT LIVE UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS IN TERMS OF YOUR PERSONAL OR SPIRITUAL GROWTH?

Daniel

I think it’s hard to evaluate my growth while still in the middle of it. It has been an awesome experience, but I am not sure that I really went into it with any expectations for growth, more of just an attitude of seeing what happens. It has been fascinating to see where the trail has taken me and what God has taught me. I think I need more time to reflect on it once I am not in the constant routine of waking up and walking 12 hours.

Jeremiah

It completely surprised and exceeded my expectations in every way. The trail is so much more than I could have imagined it to be. The blood, sweat,

tears, sleepless nights, cold, wetness, and fatigue are all part of it. But more important, it is the present-mindedness and peace that drew me closer to my walk with Jesus and my own personal goals. Having this time to reflect and quite literally walk with Jesus is invaluable. This experience has forever changed me in all of the best ways.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF?

Daniel

I think the coolest thing all thru-hikers learn is how much strain, mental, and physical stress you can endure. The highs on the trail are way more exciting and rewarding than I would have expected. But, likewise, the lows are far more difficult than most other life experiences. Being able to hike through a knee injury on days when it’s raining and behind my friends was really difficult. But, I was able to push through and keep hiking.

Jeremiah

I’ve learned that I’m capable - mind and body. I can endure great things through commitment and trust. The body and mind are incredible machines. Push them to the limits, and anything is possible.

Daniel Justice (‘17) [left] reconnecting with Jeremiah Cowan (‘14) [right]

Daniel Justice (‘17) at the Appalachian Trail head in Damascus, VA

Jeremiah Cowan (‘14) at the summit of Mount Katahdin

from the Athletic Director

One of the comments that I receive over and over as we welcome teams and prospective families to Whitefield Academy is how impressed they are with our athletic facilities and campus. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead at a school that puts an emphasis on giving our student-athletes the very best opportunity possible to maximize the abilities and talents that God has given them.

Over the past few years, Whitefield has invested generously in improving and adding to our athletic facilities to allow for more optimal practice space, better training, and quicker recovery. We have hundreds of student-athletes who train daily in the weight room and a similar number who are seen, evaluated, and treated by our sports medicine staff each week during the season. As Whitefield has continued to expand, we have outgrown many of the original spaces and developed a need to expand in those areas to continue to serve our athletes well. Pictures featured on the next page will give you a glimpse of those two newly-renovated spaces that will allow more athletes and students to access these vital resources daily.

Not only have the weight room and athletic training room been renovated, but we have also redone both indoor court surfaces, the turf and the track, along with the 10 tennis courts.

Furthermore, over the course of the last three years, we have created a new wrestling mod, built a new indoor hitting facility for softball and baseball, added new LED lighting to the athletic center, and built new competition fields to allow for more efficient practices in the fall and spring seasons.

I am excited to continue to see the growth and development of Whitefield athletics as the Lord continues to provide an opportunity for our young men and women to grow in their walk with Him as He shapes and molds them through the incredible platform of athletics!

Danny Ryan Athletic Director

New WolfPack Sports Medicine Facility

Merce Relaford (‘23) exercises in our new weight room

New wrestling facility

SWAT member, Makenzie Hamlin (‘26) utilizes our new Sports Medicine Facility to treat Joelle Walker (‘26)

New and enhanced weight training room

Parker Shim (‘26) recovers in our new ice bath

ATHLETIC RECAP

Football:

Our football team had a record of 6-5 for the 2022 football season. It was the Pack’s first year in a new region which put us up against some strong teams! The Pack went on a huge 4-0 streak at the beginning of the season, scoring a total of 147 points in the first four games. The Pack had many players named to the All-Region team which are listed below:

1st Team All-Region Offense

Merce Relaford (‘23) - RB, Ian Weihe (‘24) - WR, Hines Harmon (‘24) - OL

1st Team All-Region Defense

Conlon Walker (‘23) - LB, Bo Thompson (‘24) - OLB, Ian Geffrard (‘23) - DL, Jonathan Cassady (‘25) - DB, Ayden Duncanson (‘23) - ATH, Diego Lopez (‘24) - P, Kaden McKeown (‘23) - LS

2nd Team All-Region Defense

Harrison Rowe (‘24) - DL, Wyman Shaheen (‘24) - DB, Mac Wotton (‘24) - DB

All-Region Honorable Mention

Taylor Craig (‘24) - LB

Caleb LaVallee (‘23) was named Region Player of the Year!

The Middle School football team had a phenomenal season and finished as Metro10 champions! They finished the season 8-1 with the only loss coming early in the season to Mount Paran with a score of 0-7.

The 5th/6th football team finished their season 5-2 with huge wins over Mount Bethel!

Cross Country:

After winning the region championship, the boys and girls put on an impressive performance at the state meet. The boys placed 2nd and the girls placed 4th!

With the best combined finish in the history of Whitefield’s Cross Country program, both the boys and the girls teams stood “on the podium” and brought home championship trophies from the GHSA 1A Division 1 State Cross Country meet in Carrollton, GA on November 4.

The boys finished a close 2nd to a surprising Armuchee team from Rome. As a result, the boys brought home a 2nd place trophy and each of the seven runners on the team received an individual team medal for their performances.

In the boys’ race Taylor Wade (‘23) finished 2nd in an exciting photo finish to rival Luke Churchwell of Bleckley Country who beat him by only .05 of a second! Andrew Rothwell (‘24) also won an individual medal by finishing in the top 10 with an 8th place finish.

The girls then finished the day by accomplishing something that no other Whitefield girls’ team has ever done. They finished 4th as a team, won a trophy at the state championships, and were awarded team medals for each of the seven runners on the team.

Congratulations to the cross country team for these outstanding performances - two races, two State Meet trophies, two top ten individual medals, and 14 individual team medals!

Taylor Wade (‘23) and Andrew Rothwell (‘24) were both selected to the All-County team for their performance this season. Taylor Wade (‘23) was also selected as the County Runner of the Year!

The Middle School cross country team competed in a total of seven meets this season. At the Metro10 meet, the Pack had strong performances from the young runners and ended up finishing 7th at the meet.

Softball

The varsity softball team had a strong season as they finished the season 8-12. The team made huge improvement this year after a 2-16 season last year!

Many of our players were named to the All-Region team after the season. This list included:

Cece Springfield (‘26) - Offensive Player of the Year AND 1st Team All Region Annabelle Gallacher (‘26) - 1st Team All Region

Ella Handler (‘23) - 1st Team All Region

Elizabeth Morris (‘24) - 2nd Team All Region

Amelia Johnson (‘25) - 2nd Team All Region

Zoey Arrington (‘23) - 2nd Team All Region

The Middle School team finished their season 3-8 this year, and we are excited to see what next year brings!

Volleyball

The varsity volleyball team had their best season in Whitefield history finishing the year 19-7. The Pack was in an extremely competitive region this year, with six of the top 10 teams in the state coming from our region. Due to this, the Pack did not make it to the playoffs, but we can’t wait to see what they accomplish next year!

The JV team finished the year 11-8! We are excited to see these players move through the volleyball program!

In Middle School, the blue volleyball team finished the year 3-6 while the gold team finished 2-8. The blue team made it to the Metro10 playoffs, where they went 0-2 against Cornerstone Christian.

outside the classroom

2023 J-TERM REPORT

This past January marked the 5th year Upper School students at Whitefield Academy experienced learning and service outside the traditional walls of the Upper School. January Term, or J-Term, allows students to immerse themselves in mission-aligned courses of their choosing and engage with faculty and peers in deep exploration. This includes international and domestic travel, missions, local service, internships, and local experiences around the area. J-Term is a great opportunity for students to explore new interests and dive deeper into already established passions. Here’s a quick recap of some of their experiences!

ORLANDO NEW YORK CITY

Students were able to experience life behind the scenes at Disney by attending two classes with the Disney Education series. On day one, students attended a technology class at EPCOT that focused on how technology is used in the presidents show and the Ratatouille ride. The next day, the group traveled to Hollywood Studios for a physics class. In the class, students learned how Disney uses various materials in roller coasters and how different tracks require different ways of creating motion and finding ways to stop. The last two days of the trip were spent at Kennedy Space Center and Sea World learning about space travel and sea life. Students were able to see how math and science concepts were used in rides.

Twenty-two seniors traveled to New York City for the Christ and Culture trip to examine how believers engage with art and culture. Through museum trips, guest speakers, Broadway shows, and art installations, students considered how, because we are created in the image of God, the things we create reflect Him. The group met with guest speakers from Christie’s Auction House and Redeemer City to City as well as with the band, InfinitySong, who are believers who live in the city. Since the group consisted of seniors only, they were challenged to think through how they might carry what they have learned with them to college and what a passion for the living and active Jesus will look like away from life at Whitefield once they are on their own.

LONDON & PARIS

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Students experienced the sights and sounds of British theater as they took a tour of the Globe Theater, saw a West End show, and visited Shakespeare’s birthplace. Students took a walking tour of major historic sites in London and learned how to navigate the Tube. They experienced the Eurostar Chunnel crossing and arrived in Paris to the smells and tastes of freshly baked French pastries. They strolled the Champs Elysees, spent time at the Louvre and visited the haunts of artists like Monet and Renoir in the Marais. Students were fully immersed in European culture.

Whitefield Academy sent two teachers and 16 students on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Students partnered with Compassion International to run a 3-day Vacation Bible School for children ages 2-12 in San Pedro de Macoris. Through this trip, Whitefield students were able to share the love of Christ and serve children through Spanish songs, games, arts and crafts, and Bible lessons. Some of the highlights of the mission trip included the joyful spirits of the children as they welcomed us into their facility each day, the flexibility and collaboration of our students as they ran each VBS rotation, and a few Whitefield students getting to reconnect with children in the DR who they served on last year’s J-Term trip. We also had a beach day where seven Whitefield students got on a banana boat! Our morning and evening devotions were an important aspect of our time together as we saw students seeking to grow in their walk with Christ. It was an amazing experience!

by Catherine Hawkins

avannah (Ballew) Whitney (‘13) and Brian Whitney (‘11) were born and raised in the Atlanta area and are both Whitefield alumni. Although heading in two different directions after graduation (Savannah enrolled at Samford University while Brian went to the University of Alabama), they later reunited and were married in 2019.

Savannah and Brian always knew they wanted children and began praying that when the time was right, the Lord would provide. Savannah and Brian were overjoyed when they finally became pregnant with a baby girl, Marley Grace Whitney. Friends and family spent the next nine months praying, showering the couple and their unborn child with gifts, and generally preparing them and their home for the arrival of baby Marley. Time seemed to fly by for them as Savannah continued with her weekly check ups to be sure all progressed well with her and baby girl. Then at her 36-week appointment, her doctor discovered what appeared to be an aneurysm in Marley’s brain.

Due to this alarming finding, Savannah and Brian immediately met with a pediatric neurosurgeon to discuss a plan. The pediatric neurosurgeon explained that this aneurysm was a rare condition called “Vein of Galen Malformation” (VOGM). VOGM is a type of rare blood vessel abnormality inside the brain where misshapen arteries connect directly with the veins, instead of connecting with capillaries, which slows blood flow, causing a rush of high pressure blood into the veins. The surge of blood flow to the brain can quickly lead to heart failure, so they also met with a pediatric cardiologist to look at Marley’s heart in utero. The cardiologist discovered that Marley’s heart was enlarged, though thankfully still functioning properly at that time.

The doctors decided the safest plan was to continue to closely monitor and schedule a C-section delivery a few weeks later, with hopes of a surgery to fix the aneurysm a few months after birth. It soon became apparent God had different plans. Two days after receiving the diagnosis, and a whirlwind of appointments, Savannah’s

blood pressure rose dangerously high and a C-section was scheduled for the following morning. Sweet Marley entered the world on September 2, 2021 with a head of thick hair and weighing 4lbs and 12oz.

After delivery, Marley was quickly transferred to Children’s Hospital of Atlanta while Savannah was stuck recovering and separated from Brian and Marley for four days. It was a terrifying initial few days as it was quickly discovered that Marley’s “BNP” levels were rising. BNP levels go up when the heart cannot pump the way it should. Although her heart seemed to be functioning properly, test results are often an indicator of possible heart failure. Babies born with VOGM historically have a 66 percent chance to go into rapid heart failure, so such a result certainly caused concern. Brian immediately began researching options, realizing that Marley’s conditions might require her to undergo surgery, or even multiple surgeries, much sooner than expected. He had to find the best doctor for his baby and discovered Dr. Orbach, a surgeon in Boston, MA, who specializes in this rare condition. Finding such a qualified and understanding doctor was an answer to many prayers.

In the NICU, Marley’s condition seemed to change daily, sometimes seeming to improve, and then just as suddenly worsen. Through it all, the Whitneys remained steady and trusted God to see them through this trial. After a few weeks, the Atlanta NICU doctor expressed

Savannah (‘13) and Brian Whitney’s (‘11) journey of faith through parenthood

Marley Grace Whitney was born on September 2, 2021 weighing 4lbs and 12oz.

concern and decided to transfer Marley to Boston Children’s Hospital to be evaluated and closely examined by Dr. Orbach and his team. Marley was air flighted to Boston while Savannah and Brian rushed to meet her there.

After a week in Boston, Dr. Orbach was very pleased with Marley’s progress. After much anticipation, Savannah and Brian finally got to bring Marley home for the first time at one-month-old. The plan was to return to Boston Children’s Hospital a few months later for Marley’s first surgery. They enjoyed much needed time at home, meeting family members and adjusting to their new normal as they kept a close eye on Marley. After a month at home though, complications arose and an MRI revealed the need for surgery a few days later.

Marley had two brain surgeries in Boston over the next three weeks. It was a terrifying time, with moments they didn’t know if Marley would make it. Brian and Savannah say they don’t believe they would have made it through without all the prayer warriors from the Whitefield community. By God’s grace, they were able to leave Boston just in time for Marley to enjoy her first Christmas season at home.

Several months went by, and Marley seemed to be happy, healthy, and growing normally. Unfortunately, in February, it was discovered that her brain was swelling. It was then determined that she needed another surgery immediately, so the family had to pack up and head to Boston again. The latest surgery was the most risky and lasted almost 10 hours. The first 24 hours post-op were very scary, and the doctors were extremely concerned about complications. Everyone was praying for the next MRI, and that the results would bring good news that they could head home with little to no lasting issues. These prayers were answered and Marley was able to go home.

After months of uncertainty and heartache, Savannah shared “sometimes it is easy to get discouraged about the mountains ahead of us - the unknown of the future and the development milestones - but when I look back and see all that Marley has overcome and God’s faithfulness, it reminds me not to be fearful or overwhelmed. When Brian and I look back at the details, and at how Marley has been such an incredible light, and how grateful we

are for her life, we know that God is good. I would have never chosen this journey and I grieve my plans for normalcy, but through it all we have truly seen the goodness of God. We are exhausted and weary, but your prayers have carried us through this past year, and we could not be more grateful.”

Even though this is always going to be part of their story, the Whitney family is overjoyed to share that Marley just celebrated her first birthday. She is crawling, doing great in therapy, enjoying walks, pulling up on furniture, clapping, playing with friends, enjoying her favorite pesto pasta, and even saying “Mama” and “Dada.” Marley has the most contagious laugh and smile. To know her is to love her. God has big plans for Marley Whitney. The Whitney family hopes that Marley’s story will continue to inspire others in the future, as it has already inspired so many thus far.

“The Whitefield community, as usual, has been nothing short of amazing through the past year. From prayer to constant check-ins, the village of Whitefield has been there every step of the way.”

The entire Whitney family remains thankful for the longterm community they gained here at Whitefield and how God has been right there with them through it all.

Brian (‘11) and Savannah Whitney (‘13) with their daughter Marley

Academics Reflection

by Nathan Stevens

he passions articulated within Whitefield Academy’s mission statement provide a clear focus for the development of both students and faculty. Although the mission’s primary purpose is to provide a clear picture of a declared direction, building up faculty who themselves demonstrate a passion for learning, for others ahead of self, and for the living and active Jesus is foundational to supporting this growth in students. Creating an opportunity for faculty members to walk alongside one another in their desire to live coherent lives is, as Stephen Garber stated, “a gift.” The relational connections that come from learning and growing together towards the common calling of Christ-centered formation have been the foundation of the faculty culture of Whitefield Academy since the establishment of the school.

During the 2021 school year, Whitefield Academy implemented a new growth and evaluation system focused on building up and supporting faculty as they identified growth goals to provide direction for their learning. A primary focus within this new structure is the importance of the “community” each faculty member will seek out as they engage in the learning

journey. It is in seeking coherence within a community that is the “gift” Garber is referencing. The Whitefield faculty continues to find this community personally challenging, and these relationships sharpen those who fully engage. Some of these collaborative learning experiences will be highlighted below. God has blessed Whitefield with faculty members who understand the value of growth within a Christ-centered community.

Collaboration for Growth Executive Functioning

The fruits of this collaboration are more fully addressed in “Planning for Success - Whitefield Fifth and Sixth Graders Explore Executive Functioning” featured earlier in this edition. The intentional partnership

between the Academic Enrichment Center (AEC) staff and the Middle School leadership team led to this significant programmatic addition. The AEC staff members engaged in several learning opportunities, including the SAIS Learning Difference Conference, The Hill Center training, and Executive Functioning Certified Tutoring training. Each of these experiences included multiple members of the AEC team, which led to significant results impacting students this year.

Collaboration for Growth Upper School Academic Day

One of the elements of our new growth/evaluation system is goal setting, in which faculty members are encouraged to set goals that will develop them as individuals and, in some way, positively impact

MS science teacher Stefan Moss with his class

our community. As a result of this process, two of our faculty members collaborated to create an academically focused half-day program for Upper School students in which they heard from Dr. Jeff Zweerink, Senior Research Scholar with Reasons to Believe and Ph.D. in Astrophysics, on the topic of Christianity and Science: Allies or Enemies? In addition to the student session, Dr. Zweerink offered an evening session for the entire community in which he tackled the question, Is There Life Out There? The collaboration between these two faculty members led to a fantastic experience that impacted the students and the broader community.

Collaboration for Growth Whitefield Academy & Covenant College: Training Educators

Grounded in the Truth of the Bible

The administration of Whitefield Academy approached Covenant College with the potential for a collaborative effort between two like-minded institutions to provide job-embedded training for students who desire to explore Christian education as a calling. Whitefield Academy is partnering with Covenant College to provide

educator training grounded in the Truth of the Bible. Covenant College was chosen as a partner because of its complementary mission and approach and its geographic proximity to Whitefield Academy. The Whitefield Faculty Fellows Program gives guidance, training, and experience to college graduates considering teaching from a biblical view as a career. The faculty fellows program provides an immersive Christian school experience at Whitefield Academy for prospective teachers and full tuition for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program at Covenant College.

Collaboration for Growth Lower School Capstone Experiences

The Lower School faculty engaged in grade-level collaborations to create year-long experiences for each grade level, including cross-curricular connections, service connections, and biblical throughline connections. Based on an agreed-upon theme, faculty built out experiences collaborating with the administrative team and researched resources to infuse into their curriculum. This intentional collaboration between teachers, associate

teachers, and administration has led to adjustments within the student experience that will help the students more clearly see the connections among the passions of our mission statement: for learning, for others ahead of self, and for the living and active Jesus.

Many more examples could have been shared that demonstrate the commitment of the Whitefield Academy faculty to “grow as friends who long for coherence across the whole of life” as a “gift” to the Lord, one another, and the students and families in their care. The Whitefield community continues to be blessed by a called and committed faculty who understand the need for personal growth and who sacrificially invest in the growth of the children in their care.

“…but to have friends who long for coherence across the whole of life is a gift; each one bringing unique but collaborative vocations to bear on our common calling…”

Stephen Garber in The Seamless Life

3rd grade teacher Heather Barnes (left) connects with 2nd grade teacher Mary Charles Kaish (right)

I was warned every benchmark in my sons lives was just another goodbye...

by Diana Keough

ver the summer, I said good-bye to my oldest son, Sean, his wife, Zee and their 2 year old daughter, Jali, waving hard and long as the cab pulled away from the curb, tears pooling in my eyes. I don’t know the next time I’ll see them. Sean and his family don’t get home much anymore, living in London as they do now. I suppose that’s the problem with children: they grow up, leave home and live their own lives.

As the mother of four boys, I’ve learned sons begin to leave their mothers very early on.

After my first son, Sean, was born, my oldest sister called to congratulate me and then said, “The trouble with having boys is that every significant benchmark in their life is just another goodbye.” I thought of her words as a hairline crack that made its way across my heart when I walked Sean into kindergarten, his first full day away from me, ever.

“Have a great day, bud,” I said as he ran in, giving me a brief wave without ever turning around. To this day, he doesn’t know that I sat in my car and cried for 30 minutes.

I recalled my sister’s words again when I dropped my second son, Bret at sleep away camp, helped my third son, Tom pack for a mission trip to Ecuador and watched my fourth son, Rob walk across the Whitefield stage to commemorate his graduation from fifth grade. Over the course of nine months, my sons’ lives were filled with significant milestones that took them further away from me.

I remembered her words again as my oldest graduated from college and moved to NYC, my second son left to study in Europe; my third son got his driver’s license and my youngest came downstairs one morning and was suddenly taller than me. Just like my youngest son’s jump in height, all of these benchmarks seemingly happened overnight.

As much as I want them to explore the world, learn to drive and yes, grow taller than me, I would be lying if I didn’t confess that a tiny part of me really missed snuggling with them every night or hearing them say, like Tommy did when he was three, “I want to marry you when I grow up, Mom.”

I also know, in order to maintain a relationship with my sons as they leave home, I have to let them go and be hands-off—no demands on their time, no expectations of visits home, no messages left on their cell phones or texts that hint, even slightly, that I miss them or —gasp—need them. Once they marry, it’s even more imperative that I duct tape my mouth shut.

Once, when I was having lunch with my friend, Kris, her phone kept ringing and she kept ignoring it.

Diana with sons Robby (‘15), Tommy (‘12), Bret (‘08), and Seanfrom left to right

“Do you need to get that?” I finally asked.

“Nah, it’s just the girls,” she said, referring to her two oldest daughters, sounding somewhat exasperated.

“They call. All. The. Time.”

As we continued our lunch, I realized she wasn’t exaggerating. Her two oldest daughters are grown and living on their own. But more often than not, her daughters’ numbers popped-up in Kris’ caller ID five or six times a day—just her girls wanting to discuss the minutiae of their day.

I can’t even imagine. But then again, if I’m honest, I’m not sure I want to.

Whenever I meet a man whose siblings are all brothers, I ask, “Do you still love your mother?” They always chuckle and answer, “Of course.” (Their wives usually corroborate their love for their moms).

When I ask, “How often do you call her?” most admit, “Not often enough.”

At this time, two of my four sons are married, which means I am well into the season of my life when my boys call every so often to just “check in,” their wives—bless them!—encouraging them to call me. I get it. And I understand it, having had to nudge their father to call his mother. It’s been that way since the beginning of time;

it’s even mentioned in the Bible and at most marriage ceremonies: a husband will leave his mother and father and cleave to his wife.

My boys will never know how often I look at the pictures of the four of them scattered around my house and long to have them back in my nest, dropping their laundry on the floor, wrestling, bickering, laughing and asking me what’s for dinner. The ghosts of their childhoods continuously haunt me, teasing a smile from my lips at every memory. It’s my little secret.

It’s not as though I want to go back or even have them living in my basement. It’s just that the quickness with which they move from wanting to kiss you constantly and tell you everything to not even calling can give a mom whiplash. Just as nothing prepares you for being a mother in the first place, nothing prepares you for saying goodbye in tiny, spread-over-time, painful increments.

So, on those rare occasions when my sons do call, I will regale them with tales of the robust, active, empty-nester life I am enjoying with their father and my friends; I will give them updates on my various writing projects and share some of my challenges of running a small business. As far as they’re concerned I am happy, busy and content, learning new things, traveling and not missing them much at all.

Diana Keough is an award-winning journalist and lives in Greensboro with her high school sweetheart. She is mom to Sean (who attended high school in Ohio), Bret (‘08), Tommy (‘12), and Robby (‘15).

My boys will never know how often I look at the pictures of the four of them scattered around my house and long to have them back in my nest, dropping their laundry on the floor, wrestling, bickering, laughing and asking me what’s for dinner.

The Keough brothers

hitefield Academy’s fine arts program inspires students to develop artistic skills, to reach their full creative potential, and to build the confidence for self-expression. A wealth of visual art, theater, vocal, and instrumental music opportunities are offered both in and outside the classroom. Through all of Whitefield’s fine arts classes, biblical truths are at the core of the curriculum.

Whitefield Fine Arts Reflection

by Lynn Sumlin

“There is inherent beauty all around us, and we, as artists, get to create more beauty. We get to be intentional in showing our creativity and our love of the Lord in our artwork,” explained Middle School art teacher Kim Machnick. “We encourage our students to integrate the idea of Imago Dei into their work by reflecting on what that truly means and how we represent ourselves as God’s image bearers through our artwork.”

Beginning in the Lower School, all students have exposure to music and visual arts as part of the curriculum. In music class, students sing, move, and play instruments. PreK students begin working on simple rhythmic patterns and steady beats in PreK and by the end of fourth grade they have the ability to read music and write simple melodies. Each grade’s curriculum intentionally builds upon the previous grades’ skill set to give Lower School students a robust

Middle School students created self-expressive pieces founded in their favorite Scripture passage. Students presented their finished pieces to the class, explaining their theme as it relates to their Bible verse and what elements of art and principles of design they incorporated into their overall composition.

The Big Broadcast is a musical revue/variety show that takes place each spring in the Lower School. The boys pictured above were “alley cats” in the Aristocats section and also dazzled the audience with their dancing and singing ability in the song “Stray Cat Strut.”

1st grade students are enjoying learning new skills in music as they play the xylophones.

musical experience. Lower School students perform throughout the year in various programs including the school’s annual Christmas programs and the beloved Big Broadcast in the spring.

As students move to Middle School, the exposure to fine arts expands with opportunities to participate in band, orchestra, chorus, and theater as well as continuing in visual arts. In Middle School visual arts classes, there is a purposeful progression of building upon the fundamentals of the elements of art and the principles of design. Students learn about the creative intention and process of their work as they dive deeper into these foundational principles with more challenging projects. As students progress, they gain a deeper understanding of how to purposefully and creatively incorporate the elements and principles into their pieces as well as the thoughtful process behind how

and why they are putting together their compositions. In eighth grade, students create a digital slide portfolio for every large project. The digital portfolio provides an opportunity for students to show their mastery of the creative process, being intentional with their artwork as well as learning to create on a different platform.

In Upper School, students are able to focus more deeply on their area of passion or expand their learning through over 20 varied fine arts classes in music, theater, and visual arts. One of the Upper School offerings is advanced digital art & graphic design. In this class, students are exposed to the differences between digital art and graphic design and have the ability to focus on projects based on their personal interests such as architecture, video, game design, vehicle graphics, clothing and accessories, and others. Woven into this curriculum is

exposure to marketing concepts, including new product concept, name, brand, affiliated design and description creation, product competitive research, branding philosophies and study (what makes brands successful) among others. Exposure to marketing concepts has proven beneficial to students being able to articulate their desired paths in college that may not include traditional fine arts.

At Whitefield Academy, we believe God has gifted all of His children with an ability to offer praise to their heavenly Father through artistic talents. It is our desire to help each Whitefield student discover, develop, and display these unique talents through fine arts and prepare them for further artistic study at the college level, in professional endeavors, and, most importantly, a life-long appreciation and enjoyment of the arts.

Senior Charlie Dew designed the poster for the Annual Student Art Show in spring 2022.

Retro 80’s 3D compositions created in Advanced Digital and Graphic Arts

Edward Lee’s (‘20) passion fires his challenging and interesting life

by Jennifer Bryon Owen

eaving his home in Seoul, Korea, to attend high school in the United States, wasn’t an entirely new adventure for Edward Lee (‘20). Atlanta wasn’t a new town. Business trips had introduced his father, a former fighter jet pilot in the Korean Air Force, to the city. Christianity wasn’t an unknown religion. Edward and his family were Christians. Studying in America wasn’t new. He lived in Pennsylvania as a fifth grader to study English. Being goal-oriented and challenging himself wasn’t new to Edward either. “In Pennsylvania, I learned to be more independent and improved my English,” says Edward, who continued studying English with the goal of returning to the United States.

During his eighth-grade year, Edward’s family decided it was time. “We’d been thinking about it a long time,” says Edward. “It was just a matter of the right time and the right school.”

His father found the right school by touring possibilities during those business trips. “He fell in love with Whitefield’s Christ-centered education, rigorous academics, and beautiful campus,” says Edward. “We only applied to Whitefield. If I got in, it was God’s plan for me to continue my academics in the U.S.”

Moving to another country alone wasn’t easy. “I was still young but had to learn to take care of myself,” says Edward. “The biggest obstacle was the language and the culture. Thankfully, the Whitefield community was welcoming and helped me a lot in adjusting, especially the Woods.”

The “Woods” was the family of Jen Woods, now Whitefield’s Upper School principal. Even as Whitefield prepared throughout the summer for Edward to enroll, emails circulated saying he needed a host home, a requirement for enrollment. Two weeks before his plane was to land, Woods knew he still needed a home. After getting a sense of responsibility involved from Whitefield’s admissions director, she consulted Edward and her husband, Josh. She and her husband volunteered.

“My family doesn’t do this ever,” says Woods, acknowledging their limited experience serving as a host family. “We felt the Lord nudging us to say yes to a

one-year commitment.” One year turned into four and Edward became a family member. Woods hopes it is for life.

Edward fit in immediately, washing the dishes his first night. “He was good with my girls right away when he could have found them annoying. He was a super, special, unique kid,” explains Woods.

She saw him mature as teenagers do. While he was confident in social settings and new experiences, she saw that confidence grow. “He was a dedicated, social student who knew how to take breaks and have fun. He tried new things. He had played saxophone for years but didn’t know about marching bands because they don’t exist in Korea.”

Whitefield’s band camp was held before Edward arrived, but that didn’t stop him from joining the marching band. “He was not afraid to step out,” says Woods. “It was rough at first, but he was determined not to give up.”

As a peer tutor, Edward helped one younger student with math all four years. “Informally, he tutored tons of students,” says Woods, whose home became their study venue. “He didn’t keep his knowledge, skills, and passion to himself. He liked to see others learn.”

Edward Lee (‘20) with US Principal Jen Woods before his junior prom

Edward’s move to the United States revealed to him his passion for learning. “I wanted to push myself outside my comfort zone. Whitefield was a great place to foster that passion,” explains Edward.

Reflecting on Edward’s passion for learning, Woods recalls “what made him a special student was that he was really curious. It wasn’t all about the grade. The grades resulted from his ability and hard work but also from him being curious and passionate about learning.”

Seeing Edward’s abilities and eagerness, Whitefield’s faculty were determined to foster his quest. Upper School teacher Christopher McDonald’s wakeup call most mornings in his AP Chemistry class was Edward’s hearty greeting, “Hey, Mr. McDonald!”

“Even before my coffee had kicked in, Edward was ready to engage,” says McDonald. “This was one of his defining traits—he was all in. In his classroom work, he was disciplined and meticulous. He asked questions that pushed our thinking a little deeper and made topics a little clearer.”

While Edward spoke and understood English, he was less confident writing it. He found supportive teachers. “I went to office hours multiple times to look over my essays. They were kind and gave me great advice.”

It wasn’t unusual for Edward to try new things. When chosen by his classmates to represent them in the Poetry Out Loud competition, Edward saw it as a way to gain confidence in public speaking.

Steve Hellier taught Edward’s AP Calculus BC class, which is similar to first-year college calculus. Edward started at Whitefield in the normal advanced trackGeometry as a freshman, Algebra 2 as a sophomore, Precalculus as a junior, and Calculus as a senior. When Edward was taking Algebra 2 as a sophomore, his teacher told Hellier that Edward was way beyond all the other students.

“What was unique about him was that Edward didn’t promote it,” says Hellier. “He just had a much better understanding and was just going through the class, solving problems. So instead of making him take Precalculus, we put him into Calculus BC, normally a senior subject, his junior year. He skipped an entire required class.”

“There were two things about that,” says Hellier. “He didn’t try to force it. He was just doing what he was being asked to do, but his understanding and his desire to learn were so evident that it was just clear we needed to advance him faster than all the other students at the school. He took an online Multivariable Calculus class through Stanford University his senior year, making him one of the few Whitefield students who had Multivariable Calculus in high school.”

Edward’s ability to think through problems critically was the best Hellier had seen in his 27 plus years of teaching. “To be honest, I really couldn’t challenge him. I wish I could say I could. He was such a brilliant young man. But his greatest feature is his character. He’s such a humble, friendly, honest, all-around quality young man. He made good decisions about his life.”

Edward dining out with Anna Lynn (‘30) and Halle Woods (‘32) after being accepted to Georgia Tech

Whitefield had numerous activities that aligned with Edward’s passion for math and science. He applied what he learned in class to projects on the Robotics Team, where he discovered he also enjoyed collaborating with others. “From this, I knew that I wanted to become an engineer,” says Edward.

Like thousands of students worldwide in 2020, Edward was disappointed that he did not get to participate in the fun and activities normally associated with senior year and graduation ceremonies. He did however graduate and return to Korea, where he began online classes with Georgia Tech.

His original plan had been to go into the military after his freshman year in college. Instead, he used his COVID-induced return to Korea to fulfill his military obligation. “It was the best decision to go into the military. I was there during the peak of COVID, and by the time I was discharged, things were back to normal.”

In typical Edward style, he viewed his 18 months of military service as a learning experience. Following five weeks of basic training, he was stationed at a General Outpost in Gangwon province, where his main duty was monitoring high-tech cameras for any abnormalities along the fence on the southern part of the DMZ.

“I take pride in myself for defending against our nation’s biggest enemy, North Korea,” says Edward.

The hardest part for Edward was being isolated with the same 80 people. “I am an extrovert who likes meeting people, so I missed the busy city life,” says Edward. “However, I made life-long friendships. We were close because we relied on each other for emotional support.”

Using his days of military leave at the end of his active duty, Edward took more online courses from Georgia Tech before returning to Atlanta to begin classes in person. He was drawn to Georgia Tech by the strong academics, where he is studying mechanical engineering.

“My plan after college is to get a job at Boeing or an aerospace industry. Korea launched a homegrown space rocket last year. I want to be part of that space program and continue to strengthen Korea’s space power,” says Edward. “I love both the US and Korea, and trust in the Lord that He will guide me in that decision.”

Edward is passionate about playing and watching sports. He played baseball and tennis as well as served as manager of the basketball team while at Whitefield. He loves watching football and baseball, and while in the military, avidly followed the Atlanta Braves during the World Series. “Watching sports is my way of relieving stress.”

“Edward had a full Whitefield experience - athletics, arts, student life, and academics,” says Woods. “He was invested in maturing in his faith as well. He was a great mission fit.”

Edward is proud of what he was able to accomplish during his four years at Whitefield. “Entering Whitefield, I was nervous and not confident I would succeed. I worked super hard to achieve my goals and get into the college I wanted. Whitefield was a steppingstone for me to become a strong Christian and a hard worker.”

Edward enjoying a Georgia Tech football game

Edward served in the Korean military for 18 months during the peak of COVID-19

The Lemasters family’s journey to GXG

by Jonathan McClellan

hen their father Craig Lemasters took over as CEO of the Atlanta-based consulting firm, GXG, in 2016, his four children never dreamed they would one day be working for their dad.

At the time, Steven Lemasters (‘13), the oldest of the four children, was studying Mechanical Engineering at Vanderbilt University. David (‘14) was in his sophomore year at the University of Michigan pursuing a degree in International Studies, while his twin sister, Kerry Anna, (‘14), was at Pepperdine University pursuing a degree in Integrated Marketing Communications. Last, but not least, Corrie (‘21) the youngest of the siblings, was gearing up for a season chasing her tennis and academic dreams at Smith Sterns Academy in Hilton Head Island, SC. Corrie later returned to graduate from Whitefield.

While each would share the common ground of being Whitefield Academy alumni, it appeared they were destined to be miles away from each other as they each pursued their individual callings.

Fast forward six years to the present day and all four children are GXG employees. Steven and David work in the GXG “core” management consulting business helping get their corporate clients unstuck on hard strategic and operational business challenges. Kerry Anna is the founder of a burgeoning cookie gifting startup called Tower Treats, which is one of the portfolio companies of GXG Ventures. Corrie harnesses the chaos across all of the Lemasters family businesses as Chief of Staff.

It’s a unique situation to have four siblings working for their father. Perhaps more intriguing though is the way it came about: naturally, without coercion or the need to fulfill expectations. As each sibling shared their story, one thing became clear – working for dad is a blessing and working for GXG a grace gift.

“I joined GXG in 2019 after a few years at Deloitte Consulting,” said Steven. “The career path there is very linear and I wanted to help architect the growth of a smaller firm. At the time I had no idea that dream could be fulfilled working side-by-side with my favorite people, but here we are! I’m certain God is using our family enterprise in ways we can’t even yet imagine.”

Kerry Anna joined the following year, after three years at global PR firm, Weber Shandwick, in their New York office. She joined for similar reasons, with an added layer of entrepreneurial desire. “I remember being told all the time that I cared too much,” said Kerry Anna. “I want to do something I care about with people I care about. GXG also gave me the incredible opportunity to start a company at 24 years old!”

After a season of seminary, David left his position managing a 14-person team at Accenture focused on cloud computing sales after being captivated by the transformational aspect of GXG’s business model. “Being actively involved in a business as they transform and go from one place to another is a passion of mine and something I didn’t want to pass up. I absolutely love helping businesses get unstuck.”

“I just wanted to get in on the action,” joked Corrie who is the youngest sibling and last to join GXG in the early part of 2022. Still navigating her life after collegiate tennis, an opportunity to interface with senior executives and get a glimpse under the hood of a real business seemed like an invaluable opportunity while she charts the course for her future.

The Lemasters supporting sons David (left) and Steven (Right) at a Whitefield football game

Lemasters siblings from left to right - Steven (‘13), Kerry Anna (‘14), Corrie (‘21), and David (‘14)

Maybe that’s one of the most beautiful aspects of their story. Each of the Lemasters works for GXG because they want to. No doubt each had other options, each accomplished in their young careers. But one gets the sense God was nudging their hearts to something different, and Whitefield was there playing a small but influential role in the story.

“Whitefield was where I realized that faith in Christ doesn’t mean compromising on excellence. They go hand in hand,” said Steven. “The school encourages both. I will never forget Steve Hellier being one of the first people to open my eyes to the possibility that God could use me for something big. He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”

Kerry Anna echoed the sentiment. “Mrs. Gilbert, my guidance counselor and basketball coach, gave me the confidence to apply to my dream school, Pepperdine, which I thought was way out of reach. I’ll never forget how encouraging she was to pursue my dreams without fear or hesitation.”

“I think my passion for transformation in business can be traced back to the transformation I experienced in my life and saw in the lives of others during my time at Whitefield. They are without a doubt connected,” says David. “I definitely appreciate our ‘others first’ approach

to business here at GXG as it directly connects with Whitefield’s mission of putting others ahead of self.” Corrie gives a big smile. “Whitefield was instrumental in laying the foundation of my faith. I can look back and see the things I learned during my time at Whitefield really shaped the way I now see my faith. I learned the importance of leaning in. Engaging. It’s all worth it.”

The love each of the siblings have for one another is evident and perhaps the most beautiful aspect of this story. They may not see it, but it’s there ... the Gospel on full display. Their love is a tangible expression of Paul’s words to the Thessalonians to “encourage one another and build each other up.”

Maybe the siblings didn’t have plans of working directly with each other, but their heavenly Father in His infinite wisdom knew better. The story of the Lemasters’ family enterprise is an unfinished tale already ripe with Kingdom-sized lessons, perhaps the most powerful being that none of us should ever underestimate our Creator’s ability to guide our lives toward meaning and purpose. His plans are often a mystery to us, and the path is winding, but He does have a plan. These four siblings certainly buy that. Ask them what the future holds for their firm and you’ll see some sly smiles while the eldest brother speaks on their behalf, “Stay tuned. It just gets better from here.”

The Lemasters attending Kerry Anna’s (‘14) wedding

Legacy Society

The Whitefield Academy Legacy Society celebrates and honors families who have included Whitefield in their wills or through other estate plans.

Planned gifts are used to create a permanent endowment at Whitefield leaving a strong, Christian legacy for generations to come. There are many options that allow you to benefit from current income, capital gains and estate tax laws. These gifts can be done through bequests, IRA rollover, beneficiary designation, or a number of charitable trusts. Please consult your tax advisor for the plan that fits you best.

Your participation in the Legacy Society shows your commitment to Whitefield’s mission for generations and can be one of the most impactful gifts you make.

Members will be:

Invited to annual recognition events on campus

Listed in Whitefield Academy publications (unless anonymous giving is preferred)

Given a special Whitefield Legacy Society lapel pin

If you are interested in joining the Legacy Society or have included Whitefield in your will, please contact Paige Perdue, Associate Director of Development, at 678-305-3028 or pperdue@whitefieldacademy.com.

You may also visit us at www.whitefieldacademy.com/giving

Let’s congratulate our faculty and staff who transitioned into new positions this school year!

Patrick Campbell Upper School Dean of Students

Christy Cella Accounts Payable / Accounts Receivable Specialist

Christy Dixon Middle School Instructional Coach

Mike Fuller Donor Relations and Research Manager

Jessica Bassett Lower School Instructional Coach

Trevor Moore Upper School Instructional Coach

Heidi Shaw Lower School Associate Teacher

Jessica Starnes Lower School Art Teacher

Kim Krebs HR / Payroll Coordinator

to the

Josh Brewer Upper School History Teacher

Michael Chasteen Middle / Upper School Success Coach

Alan Corder Coordinator of Auxiliary Services

Carmen Crawford Associate Director of Admissions for Middle / Upper School

Eric Boyd Help Desk Technician

Alexis DeHart Bible Teacher

Ben DeSantis English Teacher

Robyn Feather Lower School Associate Teacher

Jennifer Foster Middle School History Teacher

John Crosland Upper School History Teacher

Erwin Harper Bus Driver

Alex Humphrey Athletic Administrative Assistant and Operations Coordinator

John Hunter Permanent Substitute / Sub Coordinator

Lyndsey Klempay 5th Grade Teacher

Page Gilliam Kindergarten Teacher

Courtney Ledford PE Teacher

Jamey Ledford Middle School History Teacher

Kristian Leone Faculty Fellow

Mike Logan Graphic Designer

Stephen Kraus Lower School Associate Teacher

Lucy McBride Theater Teacher

Janie Mitchell PE Teacher

Glenda Pickett Student Support Teacher

Everett Pollard Upper School Bible Teacher

Andria Lopez Spanish Teacher

Jenna Rodriguez Pena Lower School Associate Teacher

Julie Sabella Database Administrator

Heather Stafford Lower School Associate Teacher

Tony Stokes Director of Finance

Sheila Price Upper School Arts Teacher

Tiffany Turner Digital Marketing Manager

Timothy Turner Director of Safety and Security

Jan White Annual Giving and Events Manager

Kyle White Registrar / College Counseling Coordinator

Lynn Sumlin Fine Arts Coordinator

Teresa Wood Lower School Associate Teacher

Class of 2013

August 1, 1995 - August 13, 2022

Class of 2017

April 17, 1999 - January 19, 2023

Kristopher C. Martin

Kaitlyn M. Johnson

Alumni Class of 2002 20-Year Reunion

The class of 2002 celebrated their 20-year reunion this past fall and included the class of 2001 and 2003 for their reunion weekend.

Homecoming Game & Alumni BBQ

Alumni and their families returned to campus on October 21, 2022, to attend the annual Homecoming football game and BBQ. This was a great evening full of delicious food, exciting football, and great friends.

Alumni Christmas Party

Our alumni Christmas party was held at Your 3rd Spot on the Westside. Alumni connected with fellow alumni and faculty during the Christmas season.

Annual Alumni Soccer Game

The third annual alumni soccer game was held at WolfPack Stadium over Christmas break. We had 28 alumni show up to play our current soccer guys.

Alumni Births

Anna-Louise (Wolfe) McMullin (‘01) and her husband, Matt, welcomed their twins, Eliza Stone and Hugh Randolph, on June 13, 2022.

William (‘17) and Natalie (Bell) Hellier (‘17) welcomed their daughter Jane on November 5th, 2022. They currently live in Norman, Oklahoma.

Avery (Thomas) Guldenschuh (‘11) and husband, Grant, gave birth to a baby girl, Palmer Katherine, in August 2022.

Lea (Babcock) Wallace (‘10) and husband, Jarryd, gave birth to a baby boy, Colton Dukes, in November 2022.

Katherine (Mims) Smith (‘09) and husband, Parker, welcomed their baby boy, Clayton Dowling, on October 3, 2022.

Shelby (Davidson) Flach (‘12) and husband, Philip, welcomed their baby girl, Scottie Evans, on October 31, 2022.

Matt Canada (‘09) and wife, Hala, gave birth to their baby boy, Jude Ronnie, in October 2022.

Sarah (MacPhail) Shires (‘07) and husband, Ben, welcome their baby girl, Carlyle Virginia, January 2023. She is named after great grandmothers and Aunt Carlyle (MacPhail) Burns (‘10).

Annie (Coppedge) Kariuki (‘04) and husband, Joshua, welcomed their baby girl, Neema Elizabeth, in November 2022.

Brooke (Butler) Griffin (‘09) and husband, Alex, welcome their baby girl, Kennedy Ann, on October 12, 2022.

Marley (Roos) Smith (‘09) and husband, Paul, gave birth to their baby girl, Nora Anne on August 27, 2022.

Alex Miltner (‘11) and wife, KayDee, welcomed their baby girl, Evangeline Rose, in August 2022.

Alumni Weddings

Alumni Engagements

Justin Brendel (‘14) married Mary Grace Heustess on August 6, 2022.

Maggie Heiskell (‘18) married Janson Slaughter on October 8, 2022.

Frances Hamilton (‘14) married Nathan Burkett on September 10, 2022.

Rebecca Carswell (‘14) married Andrew Beluk on October 9, 2022.

Jonathan Marshall (‘17) married Madeline Moore on June 25, 2022.

Chip Soud (‘17) married Cori Broxson on April 9, 2022.

Seth Baker (‘20) married Haley Perez on November 21, 2022.

Corrie Lemasters (‘21) is engaged to Sam Marshall.

Alice Fugate (‘14) is engaged to Nathan Brown.

Kyle Childree (‘12) proposed to his girlfriend, Amanda and they plan on getting married in the spring of 2024.

William Bell (‘15) is engaged to Anna Baker.

Joshua Patrick (‘21) Joshua Patrick (‘21) of Atlanta, GA, earned the distinction of Faculty Honors for Spring 2022 at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Scan the QR code below to read more!

Class Notes

Matt LeCraw (‘07) and Caroline Edwards (‘08) Matt and his family took a trip to the U.S. Capitol and was able to see fellow alumnus, Caroline Edwards (‘08) while she was on duty.

Donovan Pearce (‘19) Donovan attends Princeton University where he had an exciting opportunity this past semester. He participated in an orchestra on campus called Sinfonia Orchestra. During the final concert in April ‘22, the orchestra director gave him the opportunity to compose a piece which was performed by the orchestra. The piece was called Trajectory Overture, and it was inspired by the sounds of film and video music. He was especially honored to work on such a unique project and hear the ensemble be brought to life.

watch

Emily Sumlin (‘16), Merritt Enright (‘15) and Megan Schwarzkopf (‘15) all live in NYC and were able to meet up to

the Braves play the Mets in Citi Field.

Mary Kendrick (‘15) Mary is in her second year at American University School of Law.

Caroline Langella (‘13) Caroline works at Decoded Advertising in Los Angeles and just adopted a puppy named Goldie.

Annabelle Herschend (‘18) Annabelle lives in Dallas where she is working as an associate consultant at Capco.

Kristen

Kristen

Class Notes

Emily is a

Keri Quillin (‘19)

Keri was featured in a video showcasing what it is like to be a PepsiCo intern! Scan the QR code below to see her in action!

Matthew Sumlin (‘19)

Matthew will graduate this May from the University of Georgia and plans to go to graduate school to get a Doctorate in Physical Therapy.

Chip Soud (‘17)

All these alumni attended his wedding: Preston Bates (‘17), Griffin Combs (‘17), Ethan Powell (‘17), Aaron Harges (‘17), Daniel Keith (‘17), Joseph Schwartz (‘18), Devon Wade (‘20) and Lee Wickham (‘20).

Mason

Mason is a graduate student and catcher with Kennesaw State University, and was part of the 2022 baseball team who won the Asun Division 1 baseball conference and began its road to Omaha at the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional. The Owls played their host, No. 1 Southern Miss., No. 2 LSU, and No. 4 Army.

Fikse (‘15)

accepted a job at Disney as a Consumer Foresight Senior Analyst.

Emily Sumlin (‘16)

producer at SiriusXM and works on the Comedy Channel in New York City.

Jones (‘17)

Joseph Schwartz (‘18)

Joseph is working as a Sales District Leader at PepsiCo.

Stephanie (Serravezza) Moseley (‘06)

Stephanie is owner and lead planner of Stephanie Moseley Events. With a decade of diverse event planning experience and an exceptional attention to detail, Stephanie is delighted to provide world-class event planning services to the Atlanta area and beyond. From luxury weddings to high-end corporate and social events, her clients count on her to execute their events with elegance and grace.

Class Notes

Francesca (Pefianco) Price (‘08) Francesca and her husband, Jordan, moved to Athens, GA in 2021! Francesca is an Assistant Director at See.Spark.Go, a marketing and social media agency, and Jordan is the Director of Operations at Gibbs Capital, a commercial real estate firm. They have two sons, Leo (3) and Hank (1), and are expecting a baby girl in May!

Katie Kassis (‘14) Katie graduated from American University’s School of International Service with a Master of Arts in International Affairs: US Foreign Policy and National Security with a concentration in cybersecurity.

Faith Jones (‘20) Samford University Cheerleader reunited with Myles Redding (‘21) Mercer Football player following their game in November, 2022.

Chase Carroll (‘09) The Carrolls have moved back to Roswell, GA after serving in East Africa on the mission field for six years.

Mary Kate Eaton (‘18) Started a job as a nurse at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta on their Spinal Cord Injury unit.

Caroline Edwards (‘08) Caroline was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation’s second-highest civilian honor in January.

Peyton Golden (‘22)

Peyton ran the Weighted Angels 5k in Williamsburg and broke the Virginia state record for men 15-19 with a time of 15:03. He won the race and beat his coach too.

Class Notes

Thorne Winter V (‘10) and Preston Cook (‘10) Thorne, along with fellow 2010 alumnus Preston Cook, have launched a children’s cartoon series: The Adventures of Greybobby, which teaches Biblical truth in a fun way! They are releasing regular short devotional content via YouTube while producing 13 halfhour episodes for the first season of the television show. The show’s homepage can be found via the QR code below.

Hannah Faulk (‘12)

Kathryn Grace Faulk (‘15) and Maggie Faulk (‘17) Hannah lives in NYC where she is the Worship Director at C3NYC Church. She just produced an album called “Revival Days” where she contributed to the writing and vocals for some of the songs. Kathryn moved to Nashville TN, and works for Universal Music under Capitol Christian Music as a Project Manager on the Label Marketing team. Maggie is in grad school at Liberty University for counseling and currently lives in Nashville.

Zachary Russell (‘11)

Zachary completed the Leadville 100 run in August finishing 22nd overall in 21 hours and 25 minutes and his first Ironman 140.6 in Tempe, AZ November 2021. Recently, he moved to Aspen, CO to work as an assistant with ValleyOrtho.

Crawford Folk (‘19) Crawford accepted a job at Datadog as a Sales Development Representative. He will graduate from Clemson in May 2023.

Janae Montgomery (‘18)

In December 2022, Janae graduated from The University of Alabama with a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry. Prior to graduation, she completed and presented her research dissertation on “The Creation and Validation of the Doorknob Disclosure Measure” at the National Communication Association 108th Annual Convention. She is now working as a Medical Assistant at Cahaba Pain & Spine Care in Birmingham, AL.

Epilogue

Throughout Whitefield’s history, the theme of Imago Dei has been prevalent as a focal point of the school’s mission. Whether we are displaying ourselves as God’s image through chapel, retreats, prayer, or everyday life in the school, Whitefield’s mission has been, and will always be, to attempt to be a light to the world through being image bearers for Christ.

Whitefield Academy, a Christ-centered college preparatory school, exists to bolster Christian families in rearing young people who go on to college and life with a passion for learning, for others ahead of self, and for the living and active Jesus.