Player/Parent Clean Up Day!

Many, many thanks to the girls volleyball and basketball teams, a few of the boys basketball team and all the parents that showed up to work yesterday at the West Bainbridge Middle School gym!  It was amazing how many people (50-60) came and how much was accomplished in just two hours.  Cougar Power!!!

Head of School, Rob Starner, Kaitlyn Holcombe and
Joey Lee worked on the volleyball equipment!

Pooja Patel, Mary Glenn Warr, Kate McRae, Ella Harrell,
Caroline Wells, Lainey McRae and Emellia Woodrum take a  cleaning break!

Christie Whitaker working hard on the bleachers

Gracie Williams, Gracie Sellars, Haley Scott, Emma Benedict
and several others worked hard on cleaning the bleachers.

Julie Willis Joins the GCA Team!

The GCA Board of Directors and Administrators are excited to announce another addition to the GCA faculty this year.  

Julie Willis will be joining our team as our new fifth grade teacher.

Julie has 30 years of experience as an elementary and middle school teacher.  She has a BA from Valdosta State University and a Masters in Education from Troy State.  She is certified K through 8th grade.

Welcome Julie!!!

GCA Workday - Saturday, July 23rd

GCA's workday is scheduled for Saturday, July 23rd from 8:00 - 12 Noon.  Please come help us get ready for a great year!!

GCA Volleyball teams working hard!

GCA's JV and Varsity teams have been working hard the past several weeks getting ready for their season!

Go Cougars!!

GCA Students Swim well at State

Congratulations to Thad and Christie Whitaker and Timothy and Christina Longs for competing at the State GRPA swim meeting on July 16th.

Great job Cougars!!

2016-17 High School Summer Reading

The assignments and work pages for these books can be found under the admissions tab 

on the GCA Website - www.gcacougars.org.  

2016-2017 Middle School Summer Ready

2016-2017 Supply List

Starner Named New GCA Head of School

The Board of Directors are pleased to announce the selection of Rob Starner as the new Headmaster of Grace Christian Academy.  Rob comes to us with 23 years of experience in Christian education where he has served schools in Florida and Georgia as Elementary Principal, Director of Schools, and Head of School.  He has a B.A.in Psychology from Clearwater Christian College and a M.S. ED. in Counselor Education from the University of Southern Maine  He is a certified ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) Administrator and serves as an ACSI District Representative. Rob is married to Joella and they have two grown children and four children that are of middle and high school age. 

Rob will join the rest of the GCA administrative team in early July.  Joan Shiver, who has graciously held GCA together this past year as the Interim Head of School and Guidance Counselor, will now be able to focus on Guidance and Accreditation.  Dr. Carol Widner will continue doing an amazing job as our Lower School Principal and Mrs. Warr will remain our Director of Development. 

Grace Christian Academy continues the tradition of providing an excellent education grounded in traditional Christian principles!

Smith and Barber Join GCA Faculty

Kathy Smith

The GCA Board of Directors and Administrators are excited to announce the addition of two new faculty members for the 2016-2017 school year. Kathy Smith will be joining the GCA team as our new first grade teacher and Lisa Barber will be coming on as our new fourth grade teacher.

Kathy Smith has 24 years of experience in 1st grade and 4th grade and comes to us from West Bainbridge Elementary.  She has an A.A. in Pyschology from Bainbridge State College, a B.S. degree in Elementary Education from Valdosta State University, and a M.A. degree in Reaching Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University.  She is a member of the First United Methodist Church of Bainbridge.

Lisa Barber

Lisa Barber has 28 years of experience in numerous grades and comes to us from John Johnson Elementary.  She has a B.S. Degree and a M.A. Degree in Early Childhood from Troy University.  She also has a Gifted Endorsement. She is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bainbridge.

We are so excited to have these fine ladies joining the GCA Team!!!

           

          

Five GCA Faculty and Staff Members Retire.

The GCA Faculty and Staff honored and celebrated each of these wonderful ladies during the year-end luncheon on May 27th.  They have all given so much of their time, love, and hard work to our school over the years and they will be greatly missed.  

Many, many thanks to Joyce McCook, Kelley Harrell, Rachel Worsley, Sherry Morgan and Delrose Betts!

Class of 2016...Sweet 16

Grace Christian Academy Class of 2016

Salutatorian Ansley Stuart & Valedictorian Jack McRae

Ansley Stuart passes the Benaiah Medallion to rising
Senior Class President, Sarah Castoro

Graduation Address - Mr. Charles Kelly
 Florida State University Football Defensive Coordinator

Special Music - "Proof of Your Love"

Special Music - "For Good"

Kelsey, Perra and Hannah getting ready to receive their diploma's

Ryan and Blake Holley in line to receive their diploma's

Michael, Ansley, Brad, Grace and
 Annabelle are ready for their diplomas

Last but not least..........
 Dakota and Noah are ready to walk across the stage!

It's Official!!

Excited and ready to celebrate!!

Sweet Sixteen - Class of 2016

2016 GCA Middle and High School Awards Program

Kiwanis:

 Presenter - Dr. Ray Chambers

8^th Grade – Lilah Widner

Teacher – Mary Lynn White

Senior – Jack McRae

Teacher – Sheri Dunn Ulm

Woodmen of the World:

 Presenter - Karen Cooper

8^th Grade Winner:  Lilah Widner

12^th Grade Winner:  Jack McRae

Dowdy Scholarship/STAR Student

Presenter - John A. Dowdy, Jr.

Student:  Jack McRae

Teacher:  Richard Cox

DAR Good Citizen

  Presenter - Janice Trawick

Senior - Jack McRae

Bainbridge State College Awards/Scholarships

  Presenter - Lauren Harrell

 Jack McRae, Ansley Stuart, Mattie Dunn and Carley Cranford

Rotary Club - Alfred A. Rogers Volunteer Service Scholarship

  Presenter - Rotary President, Theresa Hall

Senior - Kelsey Harrell

Bill Reynolds Leadership Scholarship

  Presenter - Mayor, Edward Reynolds

Senior - Jack McRae

Zell Miller Scholars

Lindsey Duke, Perra Harrell, Hannah Holden, Jack McRae, 

Noah Thomas, Dakota Vickers, Annabelle Smith, and Ansley Stuart.

University of Georgia Certificate of Merit

 Presenter - Joan Shiver

Juniors - Mikayla Buckhaulter and Harsimran Singh

Highest GPA in Middle & High School:

 6th grade - Jamie Chen; 7th grade - Emma Benedict;
8th grade - Lilah Widner; 9th grade Ruth Marie Carraway;
10th Grade - Abby Bodrey, 11th Grade - Mikayla Buckhaulter;
and senior - Jack McRae

Outstanding Academic Excellence (Middle School)

Middle school students that received the President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence are (Front L-R) Timothy Longs, Ella Harrell, Mary Glenn Warr, Brooke Phillips, Lainey McRae, Shelby Harper, Christie Whitaker, Jamie Chen, Gracie Williams, Isabella Barnett, Kaylee Widner, Cassidy Nix, and Veronica McConnell.

Middle Row - Wyatt Carpenter, Garyn King, Matthew Carnes, Avery Andrews, Haley Scott, Daniel Jones, Gracie Sellars, Callie Widner, Emma Benedict, and Abigail Anderson. Back Row - Garrett Donalson, Dani Parker, Spence Butler, Seth Parker, Jack Holden, Laura Posey, Emellia Woodrum, Caroline Wells, Hallie Jordan, and Lilah Widner.

Not Pictured:  Mikey Harrell and Kate McRae

Oustanding Academic Excellence (High School)

High School students that received the President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence are from left front, Branch Austinson, Jack McRae, Dakota Vickers, Mason Duke, Ruth Marie Carraway, Chasen Wood, Nicholas Hodges, Jared Duke, Manjote Singh, Parker Goodson, Jeremy Greene, and John York. Back Row - Carly Godwin, Collin Woodrum, Mattie Dunn, Kelsey Harrell, Lindsey Duke, Ansley Stuart, Annabelle Smith, Carley Cranford, Harsimran Singh, Miller Hayes, Juliann Amaya, Clay Wells, Pooja Patel, Eliza Butler, Breanna Pritchett, Abby Bodrey, Sam McRae, Sarah Castoro, Gabby Hardee, and Mikayla Buckhaulter.  

7th Grade Duke Tip

Avery Andrews, Emma Benedict, Rhiannon Brock, Matthew Carnes, 

Daniel Jones, Garyn King, Haley Scott, Gracie Sellars, and Callie Widner.

2016 Elementary Awards Program

Woodmen of the World Winners:

Presenter - Karen Cooper

5th Grade Winner - Ben York

Kiwanis:

 Presenter - Dr. Ray Chambers

Winner - Christopher Cooper

Teacher – Claire Dunlap

Duke Tip Award Winners:

Front Row - Ben York, Ethan Burke, Emily Grace Tuten, Zoie Spooner, Daisy Pelletier, Lollie Gay, Anisa Patel, and Hannah Wilson.  Back Row - Jay Lanier, Allie Lewis, Emma Harrell, Mallorie Jordan, Macy Goodman, Riley Palmer, Lucy Pelletier, and Christopher Cooper.

Christian Citizenship Award    

5th Grade Dunlap - Macy Goodman

5th Grade Harrell - Cheyenne Coggins

4th Grade - Ethan Burke

3rd Grade Butler - Emori Vickers

3rd Grade Loeffler - Kenton Jordan

2nd Grade - Luke boyett

1st Grade - Beau Adams

4th & 5th Grade - Outstanding Academic Excellence

4th & 5th Grade students that received the President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence (Front Row) – Ben York, Ethan Burke, Annabelle Adams, Emily Grace Tuten, Zoie Spooner, Daisy Pelletier, Lollie Gay, and Anisa Patel.  Back Row (standing) - Jay Lanier, Aaron Lipham, Allie Lewis, Emma Harrell, Christina Longs, Ella Williamson, Mallorie Jordan, Coby James Harper, Macy Goodman, Kassidy Widner, Riley Palmer, Cheyenne Coggins, Grace Elkins, Alida Jones, Lucy Pelletier, Christopher Cooper and Gage Sellars.