As someone who works and lives with middle schoolers, I spend a lot of time observing kids as they make the difficult transition from child to teen. One adolescent milestone is an increased focus on how they are perceived by their peers, which leads to new learning opportunities and challenges. This intense social awareness can cause kids to avoid experiences in which they might not succeed, but failure is vital to the learning process.

Christmastime is a season of giving. Family and friends spend hours searching for the perfect gifts, wrapping them beautifully, and awaiting the joy on recipients’ faces. From secular celebrations to church services, giving is at the heart of Christmas. And no one gives more wondrously, sacrificially, and lovingly than God Himself.

The Upper School students at LCA invested many months this semester into preparing LaFayette No. 1. This production was performed and received honors at several theatre competitions during the months of October and November before it was performed for our own community in December.

When I graduated from LCA in 2015, I had no idea what I wanted to do and what I hoped to accomplish throughout my collegiate career. In the midst of applying to several different undergraduate programs, I stumbled across Belmont University. After visiting a few times and applying to Belmont, I felt the Lord calling me to take a leap of faith and move to Nashville.

While many of us strive to make gratitude a big part of our everyday lives, the month of November provides a natural pause for all of us to reflect on all we have to be grateful for as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving.

The goal of IMPACT, LCA’s community service program, is to develop a daily lifestyle of service by providing opportunities for leadership outside of academics and athletics. This allows students’ spiritual gifts and talents to be used to impact our community for Christ. 

Dr. Nicole Pourchier has spent the past fifteen years teaching in various settings. After finishing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Auburn University, Nicole started her career teaching first and third grades in Gwinnett County. When her daughter Penelope was born, she began her doctorate program at Georgia State University and studied language and literacy education.

Amy McCaulley was born and raised in New Jersey. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Northeastern Bible College in New Jersey, she pursued a master’s degree in education from Cairn University outside of Philly. Amy is an avid reader and lifelong learner, which is something that she encourages all of the students to be as well.

The first Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) “Huddle” meeting of the year was held on October 3, and FCA will continue to meet on Wednesdays at 8 a.m. in the Barn. (See LCA family calendar for specific dates, and note that this Wednesday, October 17, at 8 a.m. FCA will meet in the US lunch room.) FCA is geared toward athletics, but it is open to all students from 6th–12th grade.

Another beautiful aspect in this story is how Mrs. Touchton shared with the children that, while someone blessed them in a big way with the tables, they can turn around and bless someone else with a card they make or time they give in helping to make someone’s day brighter or easier. While giving may vary from person to person, we can all show generosity to act on whatever God puts on our hearts to do for someone else who crosses our path. And sometimes the biggest blessing comes in giving to someone who could never repay you!

Rachel Ernst is excited to serve as the Upper School principal at LCA this year. She has a passion for Jesus, for education, for the professional development of teachers, and for establishing relationships with teachers, students, and parents.

This year LCA is privileged to have three alumna serving at LCA as teachers. We asked them a few questions about their time at LCA . . . then and now.

Mrs. Sherry Morris, LCA’s Upper School STEM teacher, directed a couple of fun, interactive projects for the students in her Middle School STEM classes this week.

The juniors and seniors of LCA attended a College and Career Fair on Thursday, September 20, held at Meridian Park.

Rachel Byers, a 2016 graduate of Loganville Christian Academy, is currently attending UGA and had the opportunity to do an internship with Governor Nathan Deal this past summer.

The “specials” teachers enjoyed adding a little extra inspiration and flare to their Pre-K to 2nd grade classes as they explored new things this week in LCA’s Lower School art, media center, and technology classes.

On Thursday, September 13, the senior Grad2Grad students were matched with the kindergarten students in a big reveal. The kindergarteners squealed and smiled as they were greeted by their seniors for the first time with fun signs and thoughtful gifts!

As a hands-on physics project, the students designed contraptions within certain size and mass restrictions to best protect their eggs during an “egg drop” that took place on Friday—from the top of the football stadium. Mr. Welsch said, “This was a fun way to challenge the kids to think and be creative. I think everyone enjoyed the project without thinking about it being physics. I’m trying to remove the stigma that physics often has.”

This year, Loganville Christian Academy is excited about our brand new Lower School chapel experience for PreK–5th grade called PowerHouse. LCA students will attend PowerHouse twice each month from 8:15–9:00 a.m. on Thursday mornings, and they may wear their PowerHouse T-shirts on those days.

In his fourteenth year at LCA, Mr. Mark Davis has stepped into a newly created position as the campus pastor.