Cumberlite 2019 Winter

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Enhanced Learning Opportunities Several years ago, GCA class of 1980 alumni, Yung and Carmen Lau proposed the idea of an educational program that would provide support and enrichment to academically excelling students. 2018-2019 GCA Scholars Their proposal led to the creation of GCA Scholars. Juniors and seniors with a GPA of 3.7 or higher are invited to participate. Students in the program are provided with information on the importance of standardized testing along with test preparation opportunities. Enrichment activities take place through field trips, as well as job shadowing and seminars from professionals in fields of interest. This year, students have connected with professionals for job shadowing opportunities and listened to presentations from a marine biologist and former CIA operative/lawyer. They have attended field trips to the High Museum of Art, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Aleyra Gonzalez, a senior in the second year of the program, believes that GCA Scholars “provides students with experiences that put them ahead of others in college,” and is extremely appreciative of the enhanced academic opportunities and high academic expectations that sets GCA apart from other schools. Another way that GCA strives to provide enhanced educational opportunities is through international study tours. Initiated in 2004, the program allows students a first-hand chance to experience the world around them. The trip 2018 European Study Tour Participants in the Netherlands exposes students to learning more about the culture and religion of each area, while providing them the opportunity to visit major historic landmarks, museums, and areas of natural beauty. Past tours have gone to England, Spain, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The 2019 tour will visit England, Scotland, and Wales. As the sponsor of the tours, principal Greg Gerard notes that “When each tour is finished, students have broadened their understanding of culture and language and have an appreciation for the differences that make the world such a culturally rich place to live.” 6 CUMBERLITE WINTER 2019
Sports Basketball Jaguars preparing for the winning shot GCA offers both interscholastic sports and intramurals. The interscholastic sports program includes girls’ volleyball in the fall, girls’ and boys’ basketball in the winter, and girls’ and boys’ soccer in the spring. This year, GCA’s soccer teams are a part of the Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association (GICAA). For girls’ and boys’ basketball, GCA plays other SDA schools in the Atlanta and Chattanooga area as well as local Christian private Soccer schools. The school intramural program runs throughout the year and includes flag football, soccer, floor hockey, volleyball, basketball and softball. All students are invited to participate in intramurals, along with GCA staff. Intramurals are scheduled most evenings during recreation. The focus of GCA’s sports program is sportsmanship. Our desire is for students to not only grow spiritually and mentally, but also physically. ~Coach Robbie Peterson, Contributor Gymnastics 2018-2019 GCA Boys’ Soccer Team Being a part of GCA’s gymnastics team, Acroflyers, not only takes physical endurance, it also takes trust and mental strength. At the beginning of each year, an arduous four days of tryouts takes place. Many students who attend are inexperienced, so the first several days consist of teaching and practicing skills in preparation for the final testing day. Every candidate demonstrates their skills in areas such as two-highs, elevators, strength, and flexibility. After the tryouts, the coaches sit down and discuss who would fit best on the team based on their effort and performance. Once the team of roughly 30 is picked, gymnastics continues throughout the entire school year. GCA Acroflyers Acroflyers typically perform for five to six elementary schools, both locally and in the Atlanta or Chattanooga area. Several performances also take place at GCA during Parents’ Weekend, Alumni Weekend, and Academy Days. The biggest performance of the year is the national Acrofest. This year it was hosted by Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas. The team spent Thursday and Friday learning new skills, bonding as a team, and meeting other gymnasts and teams from around the United States and Puerto Rico. The grand finale of the week was Saturday night. All teams performed their showcase routines and cheered each other on. Although Acrofest is the biggest performance, Acroflyer’s most important show is the Home Show at GCA. All of the practices and shows performed lead up to the Home Show, which features all the routines and skills learned throughout the year. ~ Sarah Fisher, ’19, Contributor “My focus was about basketball, but as my final year of high school came around I realized something…GCA provided much more than basketball not being played on Sabbath. GCA taught me how to be a leader, face my fears, and that life is so much more than just basketball.” ~ Jeff Simmons, ’13 Contributor CUMBERLITE WINTER 2019 7
Page 1 and 2: Winter 2019 THE CUMBERLITE What We
Page 3 and 4: Doug and Candace Nesmith Doug Nesmi
Page 5: Spiritual Growth Community Service
Page 9 and 10: 2018 Concert Band that we teach our
Page 11 and 12: Four years of boarding school with
Page 13 and 14: Adam Johnson, ’10, graduated with
Page 15 and 16: “Consider it pure joy, my brother

Cumberlite 2019 Winter

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