Whitefield Academy News

The varsity boys soccer team overcame an early one goal deficit to handily defeat Eagles Landing Christian by putting three in the net before the half and two more in the net during the second half. Combining to lead the Pack Attack and finishing with goals were midfielders Josh Orr (9th) and Stephen Hellier (9th); as well as wingers William Hellier (10th) and Kerry Martin (11th). Kerry had two goals on the night, both were blasts from outside the 18. Stephen’s goal was initiated by a corner cross from William and assisted by a screen on the ELCA keeper by Daniel Justice (10th). Holding the strong defensive line through most of the match were Jay DeShong (12th), Jakob Burkett (9th), Aaron Harges (10th), and JB Cantrell (11th).

The Whitefield WolfPack Marching Band participated in the Eighth Annual Creekview Classic Marching Band Competition this past Saturday, October 24. The band performed their halftime show in front of a panel of nine professional judges.

Twenty-eight bands participated in the Creekview event, and the competition was stiff. The only private school to participate, Whitefield received “Awards of Excellence” across the spectrum, earning high marks in these categories: color guard, drum line, drum major, music, and marching/general effect.

Whitefield also received first place in Class A for Kennedy Papantonis’ outstanding auxiliary baton routine.

“The marching band has a long tradition of competing at the highest level offered. This is the 11th

consecutive year that we have received high awards in all possible categories,” said Stacy Quiros, marching band director. “It is especially notable because we were the only band that had Middle School students participating. We were very happy to be part of the competition and I am proud of every member of the band.”

In an article entitled, How Technology Is Changing The Way Children Think And Focus, published in Psychology Today, Dr. Jim Taylor noted that technology is shaping the way that children think in ways that are “obvious and subtle, deliberate and unintentional, and advantageous and detrimental” He further noted that because technology is a rapidly changing force, we do not have the “benefit of historical hindsight nor the time to ponder or examine the value and cost of these advancements in terms of how it influences our children’s ability to think.”

In the article, Taylor comments that reading trains the human mind to be focused and imaginative, and shapes the brain’s chemistry to enhance critical thinking skills. For this reason, the Lower School leadership and faculty place a high priority on reading and are determined to build a firm foundation in reading from the beginning. Here are just a few of the programs in place in the Lower School which are integral to the development of a child’s mind, but also happen to be a whole lot of fun.

I Love To Read Week

This week celebrates reading, simply for the joy of reading. A week of activities culminates in the Red Wagon I Love to Read parade. For the entire month, students learn about the books that are represented by each class in the Lower School. The parade books selected this year had been nominated for the Georgia Children’s Picture Book Award. There are also visiting illustrators, writers, and entertainers who address the children during the week. This year Arthur Atsma (illusionist), Cathy Kaemmerlen (storyteller), Sarah Gare (storyteller), and Mike Curato (author and illustrator) visited. The art department and parents help students create floats that best represent the spirit of their class books.

Model Readers:

Each month, teachers select two model readers from their classrooms based on established criteria.

While the criteria may vary from grade to grade depending on child development, the purpose of the program is to instruct children in a wide-range of skills, from understanding proper pronunciation, spelling, and vocabulary, to nurturing creativity and imagination. The beauty of this program is that anyone can be a model reader; it does not require a student to be the best or fastest reader, only to model an enthusiasm for reading. A Model Reader Wall of Fame is posted in the Lower School library to spotlight these students each month.

Mystery Readers

PreK4 and second grade parents read to their children in their classrooms. They arrive unannounced and surprise the students for a wonderful time of reading and sharing. Some parents dress in a costume that reflects a character in the book and others bring treats that coincide with a theme of the book. The students never know what surprise awaits them when a mom or dad arrives, but they are always excited to see the mystery reader.

Reading Buddy Program

Older students earn the right to read to younger students in this program. Reading Buddies share their favorite read-aloud books. This builds a child's public speaking skills and reading fluency. Partnering younger students with older students also cultivates “buddy” relationships among students and classrooms that unite the Lower School community.

“Reading habits begin very young as children listen to stories on their parents’ laps,” said Jeannie Brostrand, Lower School principal. “In the Lower School, we encourage children to develop a love for all aspects of reading. We want them to love various genres and love reading both non-fiction and fiction books. We want them to see books as a source for answers. We also love to help children find the pure pleasure of reading. As they become invested in the characters and develop a love for literature, they learn to spot themes, plot twists, and characterization. Reading opens an incredible world to our Lower School students, and we love it!”

Middle School students swarmed the campus for the annual Middle School Carnival, held Saturday night, October 24. Eighth-grade boys headed straight to the football field when the carnival began - all determined to win the traditional eighth-grade flag football game. Other students fanned out to enjoy several inflatables including a 35 ft. slide, a wrecking ball game, hamster ball, and a bungee ball game, which paired students against one another in a tug-of-war.

Set up like a fair, the carnival also had a midway area, decorated with tents and lights. Students lined up for face-painting, provided by Upper School students, a basketball game, and a skeet ball game. Students earned tickets at each game. High ticket holders (1000 tickets) turned them in for exciting prizes such as a free dress day, principal for the day and a pizza lunch with friends. There were also great prize choices, donated by parents, for others.

When hungry, students hit the concession stand for traditional carnival foods such as corn-dogs, popcorn, and funnel cakes. They also lined up for an opportunity to win delicious baked goods, at one of the most popular events of the carnival, a cake walk.

Senior William Easterwood took over the WolfPack press box to provide up-beat music and necessary announcements throughout the event.

Middle School parents Felicia Jones and Carrie Easterwood organized the event

through the Whitefield Parents Association. Middle School teachers and parents served as volunteers, along with some Upper School students, all manning the inflatables, midway games, and concession stand.

“Carrie and I have been doing this for the last three years,” said Jones. “I love watching the kids have so much fun. It is especially fun to see the fifth-grade students pull up for the first time and see all the inflatables. Everyone pitches in and makes it a wonderful night!”

The varsity cross-country teams finished up their regular season with a strong showing at the Westminster Invitational and the Last Chance Invitational in Carrollton. The WolfPack placed second at the Westminster meet with Zach Justice (9th) leading the boys followed by Kerry Martin (12th) and Nicholas Harris (10th).

Matthew Cofield (10th) made a major breakthrough, trimming 1 minute and 20 seconds off his best time. Senior Kalen Tavassolli (12th) also set a personal record on the course. Kate Taylor led the girls, placing 21st out of 107 runners.

This past Saturday, the boys team traveled to Carrollton for the Last Chance Invitational, to race on a track that is considered the hardest cross-country course in the state. This is the same course the runners will complete if they make the 2015 GHSA state cross-country championships.

This race was a good warm-up for the state competition, allowing the teams to discern the course and plan a winning strategy. Kerry Martin (12th), gave the best performance, finishing in the top 28%, followed by Zach and Sean Morris (9th). The junior varsity boys team was led by Luke Petersen (9th).

Today, the WolfPack competes in the Georgia area 6A Private School Cross-Country Championships at the fast and fun course at Dellinger Park in Cartersville.

Over 150 Whitefield students participated in the annual Flavors of Fall concert held on Thursday, October 29, in the Louise Owens Theater. The concert featured performances by the Middle School chorus, Orchestra 1 and 2, Band 1, the Whitefield WolfPack Marching Band, and the Whitefield Jazz Band.

Led by Patricia Stone, orchestra director, and Stacy Quiros, band director and fine arts director, the instrumental groups played music ranging from classical greats such as Canon in D by Georg Philipp Telemann to Motown and Big Band favorites like My Girl, I Want You Back, Moon River, and St. Louis Blues. The Middle School chorus, directed by Millie Turek, sang songs of poetry and the season, many whose lyrics were written by teenagers.

“It’s always amazing to me to see the vast number of students at Whitefield who are gifted in the arts,” said Quiros. “Hearing the wide variety of genres from each group was also really fun.”

A reception was held in the lobby of Morris Hall following the concert.

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The Whitefield Academy Dramatic Society earned first place in the GHSA One-Act Play Competition held on Saturday, October 31. Winning the title for the second consecutive year, Whitefield performed a shortened version of the Broadway musical Thoroughly Modern Millie. The competition was hosted by Whitefield and held in the Louise Owens Theater.

In addition to earning first place as a cast, individual Whitefield students earned top spots in the competition. Ruthie Evans won Best Actress for her role as the title character, “Millie,” and Alex Eaton was named to the “All Star Cast.”

Seven schools from around region 4A competed during the day-long event, performing plays in a variety of styles from dramas to comedies and musicals. The other schools which competed were King’s Ridge, Fellowship Christian, Mount Paran, North Cobb, Mount Pisgah, and St. Francis

“It was an honor to host the event this year,” said Kayla Marsh, “Parents from the Whitefield Arts Alliance helped plan most of the event and it was a truly enjoyable day of theater. A big thank you goes to Linda Thomas and all the volunteers who made the day a success. The visitors to Whitefield were very appreciative of the hospitality of the school and the beauty of our campus and facilities.

As the winning school in the region, the Whitefield Dramatic Society will now compete in the State One-Act Competition held on November 14 at Bleckley County High School in Cochran, GA. The full musical will be performed at the Louise Owens Theater on November 20 and 21. Look for the link to purchase tickets on our website soon. Break a leg, WolfPack!

First-grade students had the time of their lives on “Pet Day,” a day when students could bring their favorite pets to school to show them off to classmates. Students gathered on the black top behind the Lower School Office near the close of the school day and introduced their pets to the gathering crowd. Onlookers included their classmates, the PreK4 and kindergarten students, teachers, and parents.

Pet Day followed a study of animals and their classifications and habitats. The students formed a "show circle,” retrieved their pet from a parent, then talked about the pet’s classification, what it eats, and where it lives. Some of the students even coaxed their pets to perform tricks.

“This is our 14th year of celebrating Pet Day,” said Michelle Marriott, first-grade teacher. “We had all kinds of breeds this year. Jeannie Brostrand started this when the Lower School began, and my daughter was in the first grade. It has become a tradition. We've had everything from fish to a cow participate in past years!”

Whitefield learning has never been confined to the four walls of a classroom. Lower School and Middle School students recently boarded buses to enjoy fall field trips which enhanced learning through hands-on experiences.

First graders ventured to the Chattanooga Nature Center in Roswell, GA after a study on plants and animals. They hiked nature trails, learned what plants need to survive, and studied the various types of animals that live on the property. Following the Nature Center tour, the students enjoyed a picnic on the property.

Third graders enjoyed a trip to the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University. The

museum is one of the Southeast's premier ancient art museums with major collections from ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

"We enjoyed seeing their ancient Egypt displays as it directly correlated with our Biblical studies starting with Abraham and ending with Joseph," said Megan Beard, third-grade teacher. "They also had an exhibit that showcased many Roman artifacts. We study Ancient Rome in history and talk about the similarities and differences between the Roman gods and the one true God."

Second and fourth graders both visited the Cobb County Safety Village, a safety training facility built on an 8 acre site in Marietta. Students toured the facility, which provides hands-on training for firefighters and also fire safety training for community groups. The students learned about electrical safety, flood safety, stranger danger, how to safely leave a room when the house is on fire, and how to make and use an emergency preparedness kit.

Fifth-grade students visited New Echota State Park near Calhoun, Georgia. New Echota, once the capital of the Cherokee Nation, is now the site of a reconstructed American Indian village. One original Cherokee home exists on the site, along with several other buildings moved from other locations to recreate the village. Students visited New Echota after a study on the westward expansion of the United States in the 1800's and the Trail of Tears.

Congratulations to the varsity boys cross-country team which placed second at the regional championships! Zach Justice (9th) led the Pack with an eighth-place finish, followed closely by Kerry Martin (12th), finishing in ninth place. Kalen Tavassoli (12th), Luke McLemore (9th), and Nichols Harris (10th) followed Kerry in respective order. Kate Taylor (11th) led the varsity girls with an eighth-place finish followed by Ellie Richburg (9th) at 11th place and Adria Stevens (9th) at 17th place.

Sixteen Whitefield team members set seasonal records or personal bests (PRs) at the event, with senior Brooks Bynum, junior Michael Baldwin, and freshman Ellie Richburg lowering their PR’s by over one minute each.

Aiming for the lowest points, the JV boys obliterated the JV race, scoring only 19 points and outrunning Fellowship Christian, the next closest competitor, which had 55 points. In the JV race, Colson Gulledge (9th) took second place; Crawford Folk (9th) took third place; Jordan Johnson (9th) took fourth place; Brooks (12th) took sixth place; and Luke Peterson (9th) took ninth place.

Whitefield’s Emily Little (8th) easily won the girls JV race, posting a time which qualified her as national elite based on the national elite silver standard. Emily was one of two runners qualifying for national elite status at this meet. Annie Edwards took third place in the girls JV race. Also running in the JV meet were eighth graders Komichael Johnson and Sier Teasly, who posted noteworthy times for their first varsity level 5K experience.

Saturday, November 7, the varsity boys team heads back to Carrollton, GA, for the competitive GHSA state championship meet to try and capture the championship title! We’re excited to see the WolfPack RUN!

The Whitefield community honored the men and women of the military at the Sixth Annual Veterans Day Chapel, held Friday, November 6, in the Athletic Center. Students from all three schools participated in the event. Boy Scout Troop 554 led the presentation of colors; the Middle School Chorus and Lower School Chorale sang the Star Spangled Banner and the Armed Forces Medley, respectively, and the concert band provided the instrumental music.

Before the chapel, guests milled around the gym mezzanine, looking at a Wall of Honor which displayed the names, service years, and branches of the military of Whitefield family members. Guests and students settled into their seats in the bleachers, and then stood as veterans, many in their uniforms, filed to their seats. Dr. Bracher opened the service with a special thanks to the veterans, acknowledging the debt of gratitude owed to each of them.

The keynote speaker was Captain Joe Ludwikowski, a retired naval aviator with over 25 years of service. Ludwikowski participated in numerous operations against Soviet naval forces throughout the Atlantic and Mediterranean and served as a mission commander, accumulating over 3,000 flight hours. He also held numerous staff assignments, including deputy assistant chief of naval personnel in Washington, D.C.

Today Ludwikowski serves as the executive director of the military ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with military personnel across the United States. He is also a senior fellow with the Severn Leadership Group which provides leadership mentoring to company officers stationed at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Ludwokowski encouraged students to talk to the many veterans in the audience, men and women who “have served each of you, and have much wisdom to share.” Ludwikowski also shared why students should care about veterans.

“John 15:13 says, ‘Greater love has no man than this; to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,” said Ludwikowski. “Jesus gave his life for you, and following in his footsteps, veterans lay their lives on the line every day for each of you. They need our support.”

He also shared about the military personnel he speaks with each week, who are discouraged and struggling as a result of the pressures of a military life.

“These men and women need Jesus more than anything, and those of you who know Him, are in His army,” he said. “You need to share the love of God with veterans today, and let them know that Jesus loves them and has a plan for their lives.”

During the remainder of the service Sydney Wingate, Upper School student body president, read a portion of the President’s Proclamation declaring Veteran’s Day, and seventh grader Lilly David recited a poem. Attendees also sang two patriotic songs, My Country Tis of Thee, and God Bless America, before the service was closed in prayer. After the service, veterans were welcomed at a reception in the Barnett Gathering Room.

The JV boys soccer team got the upper hand in a rematch versus Pinecrest, beating them 2-1, thanks to a goal scored by Kerry Martin (11th) and a penalty kick by William Hellier (10th) in the first 20 minutes of play. The Pack held the shutout until the final two minutes with consistent defensive play by Austin Sumter (9th) and Hunter Bilotti (9th).

The WolfPack offense gained an impressive 531 yards of total offense, scoring 51 points in a season-ending victory over Strong Rock. The victory was made perfect by the celebration of senior night, with seniors from cheerleading, cross-country, football, sports medicine, and volleyball recognized before the game and during halftime.

This game marked the highest Pack scoring output in several seasons and represented a fine ending to a challenging season for Whitefield. Cameron Jenkins (12th) opened the scoring binge in the first quarter, scoring the first of his five touchdowns on a two-yard run. Cameron scored two more touchdowns and along with Dequavious Belle’s (10th) fumble return for a touchdown and William Hellier’s (11th) field goal, the Pack ended the first half with a 30-7 lead.

The Pack picked up where it left off in the first half as quarterback Luke Persons (10th) hit Austin Sumter (10th) on a 22-yard touchdown pass early in the second half. Cameron added two more touchdowns during the half, including an impressive 52-yard touchdown run. In addition to his five touchdowns, Cameron gained 237 rushing yards in the game. Luke completed 11 passes for 261 yards. His favorite target for the night was Coby Gregory (11th) who led all receivers with five catches for 106 yards. Dequavious and Will Brogan (12th) each had two long receptions totaling 74 and 60 yards, respectively. The offensive line comprised of T.J. Carter (12th), Coleman Miller (10th), Jack Lewis (10th), Conner Caffrey (12th) and Ty McLemore (12th) played one of its best games of the year, opening holes for the running attack and allowing Luke time to survey the field and complete a number of long pass attempts.

The Pack defense played well once again limiting Strong Rock to just two touchdowns and total offense of only 162 yards. Thomas Joiner (10th) led the defense with seven tackles and one sack. Seniors T.J., Cameron, and Ty also contributed mightily to the dominant defensive effort with four tackles each and Jordan Greer (12th) added an interception.

Go WolfPack!

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Whitefield eighth graders enjoyed a whirlwind tour of Washington D.C., taking in the sights and sounds of the nation’s capital on a four-day tour. Chaperoning the 62 students were Michael Bailey, Alyson Powell, Timothy Unsicker, Jennifer Pinkett-Smith, Matthew David, Jamie Heiskell, Linda Henninger, Sue Errera, Angela Crosby, Jason Bilotti, and Chris Herschend. The class boarded two buses in Atlanta early on a Thursday morning and arrived in D.C. at 10 p.m.

For three days the class visited a number of sights in D.C., including the nations’ capitol building, the Library of Congress, and museums such as the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, the Holocaust Museum, and the International Spy Museum where the students took on the role of spies while learning the history of espionage.

“The Spy Museum was super interesting. We got to crawl through the vents of the ceiling like spies and it was fun,” said Devin Wade. “There was also a James Bond room which was cool, especially if you had seen the movies.”

The students also visited a number of the nation’s monuments and memorials, including the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and the Washington Monument.

The Vietnam Memorial, the WWII Memorial, and other war memorials were also part of the tour. A particularly moving moment of the trip was the group’s visit to the Arlington National Cemetery where they watched the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and visited the Iwo Jima Statue.

“The Arlington National Cemetery was probably my favorite stop on the trip,” said Annie Edwards. “When you see it, it’s hard to believe the number of people who have died for our country. The tour guide kept saying ‘Freedom isn’t free,’ and the cemetery was proof of that.”

At the close of the trip, the eighth graders enjoyed a cruise on the Potomac River, complete with a delicious meal and dancing.

“The cruise was great because inside the ship there was really great music,” said Everett Sinclair, “but when you stepped out onto the deck, the view was incredible. You could see all the monuments on the shore and it was pretty cool.”

Anna Bracher added, “The cruise was so much fun. I just loved the whole trip because we saw so much and I got a lot closer to the people I roomed with.”

The Washington trip complements a study of U.S. history and civics in the classroom.

“We have taken this trip for the past four years and it is always a pleasure to watch students and their excitement as they see the history they have been learning in class come alive,” said Alyson Powell, Middle School history teacher and trip organizer.

The Middle School swim team is off to a great start after their first two meets, the Westminster Wildcat Invitational held this past weekend, and a quad meet held at Marist on Tuesday, November 10.

At the Westminster Invitational, diver Avery Fassnacht (7th) walked away with a third place finish, giving Whitefield their first score of the season. Amanda King (6th) added more to the board with a fifth place win in the 50m freestyle against 174 swimmers. Amanda also earned a 10th place finish (with a personal best time) in the 100m freestyle against 131 swimmers. Sophia Megathlin (7th) set a personal best shattering her last years’ time in the 100m freestyle by 18 seconds. This was the first swim meet for seventh graders Julia Keith, Maura Griffin, Abbie Wickham, and Lindsey Fry; and all have proven that hard work in practice pays off.

On Tuesday, November 10, the team swam in a quad meet against Landmark Christian, Cornerstone Christian, and Marist. Sophia came in second in the 100m breaststroke and fourth out of 29 in the 100m freestyle. Avery brought home a first place finish in the diving portion with a score 10 points higher than her score at the first meet. Amanda once again scored big with a second place finish in the 200m individual medley (two laps of each stroke) and a third place finish in the 100m butterfly, the hardest stroke in swimming.

Newcomers Abbie, Maura, Caroline, Lindsey, and Sebastian all turned in faster performances just three days after their first swim meet. Ally Berry (6th) swam for the first time, and shined in her first meet.

Whitefield is blessed to have such die-hard, dedicated swimmers. Their next meet is Saturday, November 14, at Central Aquatic Center against 10 other teams. Come support the WolfPack!

Leonidas and the Smyrna Revival

Over 30 Whitefield students performed at The Bean held in the Louise Owens Theater on Monday, November 9. A bi-annual event at Whitefield, The Bean has been a tradition since 2001, and was started to provide students with an opportunity to share their talents in a casual setting with no agenda other than an evening of entertainment.

“Whitefield has students that are involved in several groups such as the jazz band or orchestra, and we get to hear them play at various concerts throughout the year,” said Stacy Quiros, fine arts director. “That is always a treat. But I really love The Bean because it gives ALL students a chance to share ANY talent. I am continually amazed at how gifted these students are and it warms my heart to see them express themselves on stage.”

The Bean included numerous musical performances by violinists, pianists, guitarists, and trumpeters. Students also sang solos or duets accompanied by the piano or guitar (and even ukulele). Jared Jones performed a highly-engaging monologue entitled “I Am Awesome: A Message for All Women.” Ava Petro and Natalie Clark danced to Welcome to New York.

A vast array of musical genres was presented at The Bean, including classical music such as Beethoven’s Sonata no 14, and popular favorites such as Drops of Jupiter.

“It was really an amazing night and I wish everyone at Whitefield could have seen the show,” said Quiros. “The students really outdid themselves this year.”

Bean Participants

Shelby Fuller

(Crystallize - violin)

Ava Petro/Natalie Clark

(Welcome to New York - dance)

Carter Snyder

(Gypsy – guitar)

Sebastian Nandkeolyar

(My Heart Will Go On - trumpet)

Avery Fassnacht

(Thinking Out Loud - guitar/vocal)

Chloe Troutman

(Sanctuary – vocal performance)

Annie Edwards

(Close Your Eyes - guitar/vocal)

Gracen Chally

(Swallow Tail Jig – violin)

Ellery & Grant Young, Jack Van Dillen

(The Devil Went Down to Georgia)

Maddie Fry

(So Small – vocal)

Alex Healy/Brandon Carman

(I Knew You Were Trouble – vocal/piano)

Scott Hellier

(Rumba Toccata – piano)

Ella English

(Hello – vocal)

Ronny Berry/Patterson Hunter

(Uptown Funk - piano/clarinet)

Jake Moorer

(Renegades – guitar/vocal)

Jared Jones

(I Am Awesome: A Message for All Women - monologue)

Caroline Kern/ Ally Berry

(I’ve Got a Dream – vocal)

Tomi Oderinde

(Old Time Rock & Roll – vocal)

Slater Bemis

(Leave Out All the Rest - vocal)

Nathaniel Stone

(Allegro from Vivaldi’s Concerto in D Major, Op.3, No.9 – violin)

KaMarie Jones

(A Change Is Gon’Come – vocal)

Zachary Justice

(Riptide – ukulele/vocal)

Slater Bemis and Maddie Fry

(Sing – vocal duet)

Kaitlyn Johnson

(Beethoven’s Sonata No. 14, Op. 9, Movement 1 – piano)

Annie Edwards

(How to Save a Life – guitar/vocal)

Daniel Justice

(Close To the Light – guitar/vocal)

Christina Nicks

(Drops Of Jupiter – piano/vocal)

Leonidas and the Smyrna Revival Rock Band

Members: Michael Baldwin, Daniel Justice, Anna Kate Peterson, and Ethan Powell

(Feeling Good)

Whitefield fifth graders participated in the annual etiquette luncheon in the Barnett Gathering Room on Thursday, November 12. The 46 students dressed in church attire and sat down to a delicious meal prepared by fifth-grade moms, who also decorated each table beautifully. The students learned about acting courteously and reviewed table manners such as the use of napkins and silverware, how boys should seat a lady at dinner, and how to carry on polite conversation with the host and other guests.

"I like how we learned good manners to use in the future, such as how to properly hold your fork." said

Sidney McReynolds.

Toun Oderinde and Henry Hicks agreed that it was a special luncheon; each remarked that they appreciated that all the students learned to be respectful and kind to each other.

Danielle Trovato and Jetta Blackwood decided that the best thing about the luncheon was that the boys earned "that whenever the girls leave the boys have to stand up and then when we come back they help push in our chairs!"

Carter Fawcett, a Whitefield fifth-grade teacher who is currently on maternity leave, also surprised the students with a visit. Everyone was excited to see her and meet her newborn son, Jack.

Whitefield Academy has named Angela Crosby, Whitefield dean of students, as head coach of the varsity girls basketball team. Timothy Unsicker, Upper School history teacher who has served as head coach for the past five years, initiated and enthusiastically endorsed the change which will allow him to complete his master’s degree. Unsicker will continue to serve the program as the assistant coach and help lead the team to another great season.

Crosby brings 17 years of experience as a college basketball coach to the WolfPack program, including assistant coach positions at the University of Florida, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Virginia Tech, and University of Memphis. During her time at these institutions, Crosby served as a coach, coordinated recruiting efforts, scouted opponents and assisted with the development of post players.

Crosby began her collegiate basketball career playing at Anderson Junior College, where she was named an All-American player. She next played as a forward guard for Appalachian State University

in Boone, N.C. a Division 1 university. Crosby earned her Bachelor of Science from Appalachian State, and secured her first assistant coaching job with the university upon graduation. As a player Crosby received multiple accolades including the 1994 Southern Conference Player of the Year award. Crosby scored 1,023 points and averaged 21.9 points per game during her college career. She was also named the Verizon Academic All American and SoCon Athlete of the Year.

Crosby took the time to answer a few questions about her love for basketball and coaching:

When did you start playing basketball?

My path to basketball was a true testament of God’s hand in my life! I was in a lunchroom line in ninth grade. At that time, I was the same height I am today, which is 6'1. The high school coach pulled me out of the line and asked me if I played basketball. I said “No, sir I have never played.” He told me to come to tryouts that afternoon to see what I could do. Needless to say, I'm still in love with the game!

What is one of the hardest lessons you’ve learned in life?

In the ninth grade, I had the hardest English teacher in the school! I slacked off and didn't work very hard in her class so I failed it and had to attend summer school. My mom and I went to the school to talk to the teacher about my final grade. She was very honest with me. She said "Angie, you have too much potential to not work hard in my class. Yes, you were a star on the basketball court but you were not a star in my class. If I had passed you, you would have thought that life is supposed to give you things. However, life doesn’t just give you things. You have to work for everything you get!” That teacher changed my life!

Describe your favorite moment of college basketball:

That’s hard to narrow down! But if I had to pick one, I would say it is this. During my senior year in college, my trainer told me I couldn't play because I had the flu. I told my coach if she believed in me to let me play and she did! I had my career high in points and we beat a very good ACC team that night! It was an amazing feeling!

What excites you about coaching the girls varsity basketball team at Whitefield?

I’m excited to coach at a school which excels in both academics and athletics. I have a strong desire to equip these young women, not only on the basketball court, but for life.

God allows me to use this sport that I love so much to impact young ladies on and off the court. There is so much discipline, dedication, commitment in this sport and I love to see the growth in my players as time goes by.

The varsity basketball team kicks off the 2015 - 2016 season on Tuesday, November 17 at Greater Atlanta Christian School at 6 p.m.

Varsity Swim Team Opens Season At Atlanta Kickoff Classic

The varsity swim team began its competitive season this past Saturday with Coach Tim Storsteen at the Third Annual Atlanta Kickoff Classic held at Washington Park. With more than 300 swimmers and 21 teams present from 6A to 1A schools, the Whitefield swimmers made their presence known. In her high school debut, freshman Emilie Grand’Pierre, came in sixth in the 100m freestyle with a time of 59.36 and second in the 100m breaststroke with a state qualifying time of 1:12.3. Her older sister, junior Audree Grand’Pierre came in fifth in the 50m freestyle with a 26.44 and second in the 100m backstroke with a 1:03.6. Both were state qualifying times. Sophomore Kaitlin Stewart had her best times in the 50m freestyle and 100m backstroke since she began competitive swimming last year. Sophomore Brooks Merkle placed fourth in the 200m individual medley with a 2:06.81 and first in the 100m breaststroke with a 1:01.81, qualifying him for state in both events as well. This is a tremendous accomplishment for any team given this type and level of competition but for our small Pack - it’s remarkable! Go Pack!

Middle School Swimmers Eacrn Top Spots At Walker Invitational

The WolfPack Middle School swimmers attended the First Annual Walker School Invitational this past Saturday, November 14. A 6:30 p.m. start proved to be magic for the Whitefield swimmers who competed against 12 other teams. All Whitefield swimmers achieved best times in one or more events. Top finishers were Sophia Megathlin (7th), who placed eighth in the 100m freestyle and 10th in the 50m butterfly, and Amanda King (6th), who placed first in the 50m freestyle and second in the 50m backstroke. The 200m medley relay team of Maura Griffin (7th), Caroline Kern (6th), Lindsey Fry (7th), and Julia Keith (7th) placed 10th, and the 200m freestyle relay team of Sophia, Lindsey, Amanda, and Abbie Wickham (7th) placed seventh.

In a sport where hundredths of a second matter, swimmers cut some serious time on events. Abbie (4 seconds), Lindsey (7 seconds), Caroline Kern (1 second), and Maura (5 seconds) dropped time in the 100m freestyle. Amanda, Abbie, Lindsey, and Julia dropped time in the 50m freestyle. On a short sprint event like this, it is hard to cut time. Sophia cut a huge 5 seconds of her 50m butterfly. Kaleigh Golden (7th) swam the final leg of the 200m freestyle relay and had a personal best in her split. In the final event for Whitefield swimmers, Amanda and Julia had personal bests in the 50m backstroke.

On the boys' side, Sebastian Nandkeolyar (6th) cut over 3.5 seconds off his 50m breaststroke and Jack Van Dillen (6th) had a personal best in his 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke. All the practice time in the pool is paying off for the swimmers!

Second graders enjoyed an exciting visit with Bob Van Dillen, meteorologist and Whitefield parent of Sydney and Jack Van Dillen. Van Dillen shared the “inside scoop” of his profession after the class had completed a recent study of the weather.

The meteorologist showed the students websites he uses to predict the weather, as well as maps on atmospheric pressure. He and the students looked at changes in the atmospheric pressure over the upcoming week to predict movements of the jet stream, water vapor in the air, and cloud cover, then ultimately, the weather patterns for this week. He also explained El Niño years, and showed a video of an airplane flying into the eye of Hurricane Patricia, to show how weather information is sometimes gathered. Following the presentation, Van Dillen answered many questions about the weather!

Varsity Boys Soccer Team Beats Eagles LandingVarsity Boys Soccer Team Beats Eagles Landing

Whitefield WolfPack Marching Band Excels At CompetitionWhitefield WolfPack Marching Band Excels At Competition

Lower School Programs Instill Love Of ReadingLower School Programs Instill Love Of Reading

Middle School Students Enjoy Annual Middle School CarnivalMiddle School Students Enjoy Annual Middle School Carnival

Cross-Country Teams Close Out Season; Head To RegionalsCross-Country Teams Close Out Season; Head To Regionals

Middle School and Upper School Students Perform in Flavors of FallMiddle School and Upper School Students Perform in Flavors of Fall

Whitefield Dramatic Society Takes First Place At GHSA CompetitionWhitefield Dramatic Society Takes First Place At GHSA Competition

Lower School Students Enjoy Pet DayLower School Students Enjoy Pet Day

Off We Go! Fall Field Trips Enhance LearningOff We Go! Fall Field Trips Enhance Learning

Varsity Boys Cross-Country Team Places Second At RegionalsVarsity Boys Cross-Country Team Places Second At Regionals

Whitefield Honors Veterans At ChapelWhitefield Honors Veterans At Chapel

Junior Varsity Soccer Team Beats PinecrestJunior Varsity Soccer Team Beats Pinecrest

Pack Football Ends Season With Impressive VictoryPack Football Ends Season With Impressive Victory

Eighth Graders Tour Washington DCEighth Graders Tour Washington DC

Middle School Swim Team Starts Season With SuccessMiddle School Swim Team Starts Season With Success

Students Entertain At The BeanStudents Entertain At The Bean

Bean Participants

Fifth Graders Attend Etiquette BanquetFifth Graders Attend Etiquette Banquet

Angela Crosby Named Head Varsity Girls Basketball CoachAngela Crosby Named Head Varsity Girls Basketball Coach

Whitefield Swimmers Take Top SpotsWhitefield Swimmers Take Top Spots

Second Graders Study Weather PatternsSecond Graders Study Weather Patterns