Corey Jones BBall Tournament - Dec. 19th & 20th

 All Times are Central Times

GIRLS BRACKET




BOYS BRACKET



Cougar Running Club Starts Jan. 25th

The GCA Running Club will be back in action for 2012!

Practice begins Wednesday, January 25th

Homecoming News.......



GCA Homcoming T-Shirts

are on sale NOW!

All shirts are $15.00

Order are due

Wednesday, December 14th

Spirit Week - January 4th - 6th 

Wednesday, January 4th - PJ Day

Thursday, January 5th - Nerd Day

Friday, January 6th - GCA Spirit Day

**  Jr Pro Teams will scrimmage against each other & Black Out Pep Rally

Spirit & Food Items for Sale each day:

Hot Chocolate - .50

Popcorn - .50

Baked Goods - .50

Doughnuts - $1.00

Spirit Links - .10  (Classes will compete for icecream party)

Friday Spirit Items:

Tattoos - .50

Bead Necklace - .50

Eye Blacks - $1.00

Glow Sticks - $1.00

Pom Poms - $1.00

January Basketball Practice Schedule

Jr Pro Scrimmage - Dec. 13th

There will be Jr Pro Scrimmages for boys and girls teams this coming Tuesday, Dec. 13th.  There is no charge to come watch and light refreshments will be available in the concession stand.

Gym Schedule for Tuesday, Dec. 13th

Varsity boys practice - 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Varsity girls practice - 2:20 - 3:50 p.m.

Jr Pro girls scrimmage - 4:00 - 4:40 p.m.

Jr Pro boys scrimmage 4:45 - 5:30 p.m.

Varsity Baseball Meeting...Tues. @ 9:30 a.m.

Ken Bailey will hold a varsity baseball informational meeting in the I-aud, on Tuesday, Dec. 12th, at 9:30 a.m. for any 8th-12th grade boys wanting to play baseball.

Middle School Baseball Meeting - Dec. 12th

On Monday, December 12th, at 3:15, in the gym, a brief meeting will be held for parents of boys ages 10-14 wanting to play baseball. We are planning to have a team that will compete against a few recreational teams as well as some schools with similar teams.
We need to determine the interest from the boys so we know how to complete the game
schedule. Assistant Varsity Coach, Don Tibbedeaux will be explaining his ideas for this
new program. The season workouts will not begin until February 2nd, but there will be
some pre-season workouts for anyone interested starting January 16th.
See Coach Murr with any questions.

GCA Homecoming Week - Jan. 4th - 6th

GCA Homcoming Week

has been set for

Jan. 4 - 6, 2012. 

The theme this year is "Courageous" and more details about Spirit Week, T-Shirts, etc. will be posted soon!

Samaritan's Purse Christmas Project

Again this year, students in middle and high school have been given the opportunity to save lives and ease suffering throughout the world in the Name of Jesus through the Samaritan's Purse Christmas Catalog. Students may bring in loose change and dollar amounts daily through Friday, December 16th during homeroom. On Friday, each class will total the money they have collected and thumb through their copy of the Christmas Catalog to "spend" their money on neccessities for people living in some of the darkest corners of the eath. Some examples are: feeding a hungry baby for a week for only $9, shoes and clothing for a child for only $25 , a week's worth of milk for a chid for only $5, and a starter supply of a dozen baby chicks for only $14. They may also "buy" fun items such as sports equipment for only $8, or a Jesus Loves Me melody lamb for only $4. Parents are encouraged to participate as well - just send your donation to school with your child and it will become part of their homeroom collection amount!

To see a copy of the Christmas Gift Catalog online visit:
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

2011 Winter Festival - Best Ever!!

Many thanks to our awesome 2011 Winter Festival committee for making this year's Winter Festival the best ever! All the new kids activites and games, the excellent student art show, the wonderful (huge) silent auction, the live auction, the cool GCA general store, the creative t-shirt, and the great food all came together to raise over $42,000 for GCA.

This of course would not have been possible without all our sponors and the support of many of our local businesses as well as all the dedicated volunteers including classroom moms, supportive teachers, creative and helpful students and of course you - the parents and students that came out and shared your time, resources and money!  WOW...What an excited time!!

Congratulations & Thank You to the following students that sold the most raffle tickets:

Jack Tuten - K3 & K4

Tommy Young - K5-5th

Carly Godwin - 6th - 8th

Brent Warr - 9th - 12th

Congratulations to the 2011 Raffle Winners:
Benelli Shotgun - Steve Gowan
Louis Vuitton Luggage - Shalonda Sanders
$1000.00 Cash - Marvin Thomas

Thank you to the following Sponsors:
Bainbridge Family Dentistry

Bishops Jewelers
Brentwood Plantation
Cedars Farm Plantation
Dairy Queen
Danimer Scientific
Decatur Auto Parts
Elberta Crate & Box
First Port City Bank
First State Bank
Godwin’s
Inland
Live 101.9
Park Avenue Bank
Southern Triad Construction
Southwest GA Farm Credit
Carlee Dollar’s Family

Coca-Cola for GCA

The GCA Athletes are raising money to support our athletic teams. Please consider helping us by doing something you are probably going to do anyway.....purchase your favorite Coke products through GCA. Orders must be turned in on or before Monday, December 12th.   Pick up day is Wednesday, December 14th @ 1:30 p.m. in front of the Chapel.

First Semester Exam Schedule - MS & HS

Auction Items for 2011 Winter Festival

WF Raffle Tickets Due Monday, Nov. 28th



2011 Winter Festival Raffle Tickets are due
Monday, November 28th. 
Drawing will take place Tuesday evening, Nov. 29th



Winter Festival Tuesday Night - Nov. 29th

GCA Celebrates Grandparents' Day & Veterans' Day

GCA's 3rd Annual Grandparents Day was a huge success with over 300 in attendance!  This year we wanted to do something a little different and decided to host Grandparents' Day on November 11th and honor our Veterans with a special program.  Everyone enjoyed an amazing day starting with wonderful goodies prepared by Lisa McLendon; classroom visits; a heartwarming 
performance called "United We Stand" presented by the entire elementary school; a special video presentation honoring our veterans; Foundation comments by Dr. Mallory McRae; and beautiful performances by the middle and high school choir, praise band, and strings program. Many thanks to the GCA Foundation and GCA's awesome Faculty and Staff for another great event!!

9th Graders Support Samaritan's Purse

Mrs. Harris' 9th Grade Geography class recently went shopping
and purchased enough items to fill seven (7)
Christmas Boxes for Samaritan's Purse.

GCA Inducts 9 into National Honor Society

Grace Christian Academy's National Honor Society inducted 9 new members at an Induction Ceremony on November 21, 2011. NHS officers performed the Induction Ritual recognizing the candidates for academic, character, and conduct excellence. Officers for the group include President Christina Greene, Vice President Mary Ann Adams, Secretary Abbey Smith, Treasurer Stephanie Mills, Reporter Kyle Harris, and Project Chairmen Beth Hodges and Bryce McQuaid.

Congratulations to the following new members of GCA's NHS: Kendi Castoro, Zyreese Guy, Rachel Harrell, Ben Holden, Tyler Jones, Melissa Mills, Casie Pichard, Daniel Ray, and Jim Whitehead. Other standing members include - Ashton Anderson, Lauren Carraway, Katie Harrell, Emma Heard, Jocelyn Jacobs, Alex McLendon, Kishan Patel and Caylin Walsingham.

Inland Classic This Weekend

Jr. Pro Boys BBall Meeting Thursday

Jr. Pro Boys Parents meeting on Thursday at 3:20 in the gym (4th-6th)

Grace Cougars Open with Win

Grace Christian Academy opened up their basketball season Tuesday night at home against Abbeville Christian from Alabama. The boys led by a narrow margin the entire game and finished 64 to 54. The Cougars were led by eighth grader, Jack McRae, with his career high 26 points. Transfer, Phillip Bowen, had a double double with 18 points and 10 assist. Tyler Jones had 9 and Bo Bailey added 7 points for the Cougars.  Abbeville was led by Chip White with 22 points.

The Cougars will host the Inland Classic November 18th and 19th held at Perry Memorial Gymnasium. Grace will play at 6:30 and 8:15 in the first round against Enterprise Preparatory Academy on Friday.

1st Graders Enjoy Applin Farms

The 1st Grade classes from GCA visited Aplin's Pumpkin Patch in Slocomb, AL on October 25th.  The students were able to enjoy a wagaon ride to the pumpkin patch where they got to pick their own pumpkin and sunflower.  They visited the animals in the petting barn and learned about farm life in their interactive barn.  After a picnic lunch, they had a fun trip through the corn maze!! 

2011 Basketball Schedule

Harris Named to GISA All-State Soccer Team

Congratulations to
Senior Kyle Harris
for being named to the GISA 2011 All-State Boys Soccer Team.  Kyle was presented his plaque during the high school chapel meeting on Monday, November 7th.

Way to Go Kyle!!

Cougars For A Cure

The GCA Cheerleaders will be hosting a Pink-Out on Friday, December 2nd at GCA's home baskeball games.  All proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society.  They are asking everyone to attend the game wearing their Cougar for a Cure t-shirt or a pink shirt.

The Cougar for a Cure t-shirt order form has been sent home with your child.  The shirts will be 15.00 and all orders need to be in by Friday, November 11th.  The day of the game, the cheerleaders will be selling Breast Cancer Ribbon Tattoos, and Pink Beads.
A Pep Rally will also be held on Dec. 2nd to honor family members of our students that are cancer survivors or are fighting the disease now.

Byne Tournament Schedule for Nov. 9th & 12th

November Basketball Schedule

Jr. Pro Basketball News & Schedule

There will be a Girls Jr. Pro Basketball meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 8th at 3:30 in room 211 (Mrs. Sloan's room). All players and parents should attend.

2011-12 Jr. Pro Basketball Schedule below.............

Fall 2011 Book Fair Totals

This year the Fall Book Fair total came to $4,514.42.

Here is what GCA receives from Scholastic:

• Total Earned from Sales     $2,109.54
• Home Page Created                  $25.00
• Teacher Sneak Peek                  $25.00
• Webinar Participation              $25.00
• Family Night Event                 $100.00
• Additional Bonus                     $210.95

                     Total                      $2,495.49

Accreditation:
We are required to spend $6 per student on books.  Based on 293 students, we will need to purchase $1,758 in books.  We will meet this requirement without touching the budget!  Plus, we will be able to purchase additional books with our remaining credit.

Welcome Back Mrs. Bardin

Grace would like to welcome back Becky Bardin to the faculty.  Mrs. Bardin, after taking a sabbatical, has returned to the classroom taking over the Spanish I class and Choir!

Health Class learns Emergency Procedures

 

American Heart Association Instructor, Eddie Duke lectured Mrs. Henderson 9th grade Health class, Thursday, Oct. 27th, on Medical Emergency Procedures. Mr. Duke taught the students how to recognized medical emergencies and to be familiar with first aid procedures. They learned life-saving procedures like the abdominal thrust, rescue breathing, and immediate care along with how to remain calm, think clearly, and make quick decisions.   Many thanks to Mr. Duke for his time and knowledge!!

Baseball News

Grace has named Ken Bailey the new head baseball coach for the Cougars.  Ken is an avid fan of the game and brings with him a great deal of experience from playing baseball in high school and in college.  After college, he spent three years with the Cleveland Indians Organization before coaching for seven season with the city leagues. Schedules for both conference and non-conference games are ready to be finalized and Coach Bailey is excited about getting started with the team!

Also new this year, GCA plans to begin a middle school baseball program. Don Tibbedeaux, who assisted the varsity team last year, will head this new program.  Coach T has many years of experience coaching baseball and football.  Spring workouts with this team will be open to 4th - 8th grade boys.

Jr Pro Basketball Starts in December

Jr. Pro Basketball season is set to start in December.  Dr. Mallory McRae will coach the boys and Beth Sloan will be coaching the girls.  All games will be played on Saturday during the month of January.  Tryouts for these teams will be announced soon and will be open to students in the 4th - 6th grade.

2011 Winter Festival - November 29th

Winter Festival Packets were sent home Wednesday, Oct. 26th.  Families should have received information on T-shirt orders, Raffle Tickets, General Store,

and Student Art Show.

Please call Cile @ 246-3825 if you did not receive your packet.

Coat Drive Ends Monday

GCA has collected 97 additional items this past week for the Farm Credit Coat Drive.  The 3rd Grade class put out a challenge last week to the school to bring in 59 more items and boy they really did their part.  As of Thursday, GCA had collected 146 items and Mrs. Butler's class only need 54 more items to meet our 200 item goal!! 

Take a minute this weekend to look through your closets and see what you might can donate as Monday is the final day!!  We can do it GCA!!!

Lady Cougars Headed to State

The Lady Cougars Volleyball team finished the season as Runner-ups of Region 5 and earned a bye into the second round of the GISA State Tournament hosted by Mount Vernon Presbyterian in Atlanta.  They will play the winner of a first round match-up between Christian Heritage School of Dalton and Providence Christian School of Savannah.  Their first match in the tournament will be Friday, October 28th @ 1:00 p.m.

Pictured:
Front Row - Lindsey Duke, Kelsey Harrell, Merianna Parker, Melissa Mills, Perra Harrell.
Back Row - Assistant Coach Amy Smith, Emillee Murr, Brandi Register, Emma Heard, Leah Smith, Cassie Pichard, Kendi Castoro and Coach Erwin Harrell.  Not pictured is Christy Colvin.

MS Volleyball Team Has Perfect Season

The Lady Cougar Middle School Volleyball Team completed their season this

past week with a perfect record of 9-0.

Congratulations Lady Cougars!!!!

Cougar Cheeleaders Win 1st

The past weekend the Cougar Cheerleaders won 1st place in their division at the Midwest Cheer and Dance Competition at Six Flags in Atlanta, GA.  They also received Best Overall in the Best Dance and Routine category.  Thirteen (13) squads from around the State competed in their division. 
Way to go girls!!!!!

Winburn - State 1st Place Winner



(L-R) GCA Teacher, Sara Jones; Mattie Winburn; & Principal Joan Shiver


Mattie Winburn was "officially" honored on October 8th as the Georgia First Place 5th Grade Winner in the 2010 Fair Bear Wrinting Competition sponsored by the Georgia National Fair.

Mattie along with the school were honored with checks and certificates.

Congratulations Mattie...we are so proud of you!!

Cross Country Team - Region Runner-up!!!

The GCA Boys' Cross Country Team finished as runner-up at the GISA Region 3AA Cross Country Meet at Green wood Plantation in Thomasville, GA on October 20th.  The team, led by Chase and Kyle Harris (2nd and 3rd overall) included season best performances by Anderson Bailey, Bryce McQuaid, Josh Carnes, Jackson Harrell, and Daniel Ray.  Also participating in the meet were region rivals, Brookwood, Crisp, Highland Christian, Randolph Southern, Southwest Georgia, Valwood, Westfield, and Westwood.  The Boys' Team from Brookwood School won the 2011 3AA Region Championship.  The top four teams from our region have earned the right to participate in the GISA State Championship Meet to be held on Saturday, October 29th at Wesleyan College in Macon, GA.

Participating in the Region Meet for the Lady Cougars were Abbey Smith and Beth Ann Hodges.

Donut's for Dad

Mrs. Sheffield and Mrs. Jones 4th & 5th grade students hosted their annual "Donut's for Dads" event this morning in the GCA  Dining Hall. 

Thank you Dads for all you do!!!!

2nd Grade Explore the world of Worms!

Mrs. Loeffler and Mrs. Straughn's 2nd grade students enjoyed exploring the "world of worms" last Friday. 

A great time was  had by all!!