heritage messenger - spring 2015

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Messenger SPRING 2015 Dr. Kent Brantly The Heritage alumnus is the first-ever Ebola virus patient to have received treatment in the U.S. His miraculous recovery became a platform to share his faith and his compassion for those still suffering from the deadly disease.

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Telling the story of the academic, athletic, fine art and spiritual life of the Heritage Christian School community.

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M A G A Z I N E

Messenger

Messenger

SPRING 2015

Dr. Kent BrantlyThe Heritage alumnus is the first-ever Ebola virus patient to have received treatment in the U.S. His miraculous recovery became a platform to share his faith and his compassion for those still suffering from the deadly disease.

The Messenger staff would like to thank talented Studio 13 photographer and Heritage parent, Lesle Lane, for her creativity and expertise that have helped to bring stories to life in this issue. Her generosity has made her beautiful photos a gift to the publication and to the school.

To learn more about her commercial or portrait services, visit www.studio13online.com or call (317) 923-1122.

MESSENGER STAFFLisa Abbott, Editor and Lead Writer Gary Roebbelen, Executive Editor

Bri Salm, Designer

STAFF & FACULTY CONTRIBUTORSKirsten Gibbs, writing

Melissa Lawler, photographyJeff McMaster, PhD, writing

Lauren Schneider, photography

Cover Photo Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse International Relief

©Samaritan’s Purse 2014

Welcome to the newly designed Messenger!

2

DEPARTMENTS

6 STUDENT LIFE

8 ACADEMICS Dr. Jeff McMaster, Director of Secondary Curriculum, on Heritage Christian School’s pattern of academic excellence

9 DISCIPLESHIP Kirsten Gibbs, Director of Discipleship, on the new Young Life chapter in the high school

10 TEACHER PROFILE How long-time teacher Cathy Bartemus wraps music instruction in big fun

12 FINE ARTS

14 ALUMNI Alumni Relations Coordinator, Al Leinbach, on what has… and hasn’t changed at Heritage over the past 50 years/Save the date for Homecoming 2015/Connect with the Alumni Association

18 CEO PERSPECTIVE A conversation with Jeff Freeman about the strategic plan and vision for the future of Heritage Christian School

22 ATHLETICS

24 PARENT-TEACHER FELLOWSHIP How the Parent-Teacher Fellowship is connecting parents, faculty and staff

26 OUR HERITAGE

FEATURES

3 PRESERVED FOR A PURPOSE The remarkable, unfolding story of Ebola survivor and Heritage alumnus, Dr. Kent Brantly by Lisa Abbott, Editor

16 FROM A PLACE OF STRENGTH How hard work and a strong team helped Heritage student Grey Tomlin find academic fortitude by Lisa Abbott, Editor

10 18

THROW BACK THROW BACK

26 27

Photos from the earliest days at Heritage Christian School come from historical school yearbooks. The first yearbook was created in 1967 and it includes many priceless memories.

Here are just a few snapshots from the inaugural publication.

BACK

SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGERSPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

CONTENTS

2

is visage has graced the cover of Time. He and other Ebola fighters were named the magazine’s “Person of the Year.”

His story made the front page of USA Today and he has appeared in countless media outlets across the globe. He made history when he became the first person to be treated for Ebola Virus Disease in the United States.

But Dr. Kent Brantly (HCS ’99) would rather focus on the thousands in West Africa whose nameless faces portray the horrors of the Ebola virus and the healthcare workers who selflessly treat them. He gives voice to their suffering with a deep sense of knowing, because he understands the disease intimately. He has both cared for its victims and faced near death at its hand. Here is the remarkable story of this Heritage alumnus whom God continues to use in unforeseen ways.

THE MISSIONBrantly, his wife, Amber and their two small children moved to Monrovia, Liberia in October of 2013, working as medical missionaries on a two-year assignment with Samaritan’s Purse. Ebola wasn’t on their radar. They didn’t even hear about the outbreak in Guinea until the end of March.

The epidemic spread to Liberia and Brantly and the medical team at the ELWA (Eternal Love Winning Africa) Hospital were ready when the first Ebola patient arrived in June. Brantly treated patients in the general clinic and in the Ebola treatment center, where he and the team followed strict international codes to

avoid contamination. As the number of Ebola patients increased steadily over the next two months, Brantly took on the role of medical director for the Samaritan’s Purse Ebola Consolidated Case Management Center.

Each patient received medical care and compassion, says Brantly. “Through our protective gear, we spoke to each patient, calling them by name and touching them. We wanted them to know they were valuable, that they were loved, and that we were there to serve them,” he told Time. “I was able to sit with patients and hold their hand, sing to them, pray with them,” he told the Indy Star, “and give them some respect and dignity amid the tragedy they were experiencing. I was able to show them compassion, and that was why we were there.”

THE DIAGNOSISOn July 20, Brantly took Amber and their children to the airport to return to the States for a family wedding in Texas. He poured himself into his work. On July 23, he woke up feeling under the weather. His condition declined rapidly. He was diagnosed with Ebola Virus Disease. “Even with the bad news, I felt calm, he told Time. “I never shed a tear when I called my wife and said, ‘Amber, my test is positive. I have Ebola.’ Though the rest of my family wept, I felt strangely at peace. God blessed me with that peace that surpasses understanding.” In the nine days that followed his grim diagnosis, he grew sicker and weaker from the disease that claims 90 percent of its victims. He and his family prepared for the worst.

3SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

FOR A PURPOSE

KENT BRANTLY

The remarkable, unfolding story of Ebola survivor and Heritage alumnus Dr. Kent Brantly

by Lisa Abbott

H

Photo courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse International R

elief ©Sam

aritan’s Purse 2014

“It was the words of scripture set to music that brought me the greatest comfort in the darkest times of my illness,” Brantly remembers. “Those songs reminded me that nothing can separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. They reminded me that like Job, even if this is my last breath, I ought to cry out ‘Hallelujah.’ They reminded me that God has done great things in my life and I ought to give Him thanks. I identified with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and with Job. I just wanted to be faithful so that God might be glorified in my life or in my death.” He had no idea then that people around the world were praying for him, including the Heritage Christian School family of which he had once been a part.

Through the care of the missionary team, a plasma donation from a 14-year old survivor whom Brantly had treated and with a dose of the experimental drug, ZMapp, his condition improved. He was airlifted to Emory University Hospital, where he made a complete and miraculous recovery. The world watched intently as Brantly left the hospital with a clean bill of health and reunited with his family.

THE SPOTLIGHTAlmost immediately, he stepped into a global media spotlight. Interview requests poured in. He seized the opportunities to share Christ and build awareness about the horrible disease from which God had healed him. In an interview with National Public Radio, he shared, “When we can get to that point where we feel the same sense of empathy and compassion for people who are suffering, even though we don’t know them; I think that’s what Jesus is talking about when He says ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” He told Time, “I chose a career in medicine because I wanted a tangible skill with which to serve people, and so my role as a physician is my attempt to do that.”

Brantly has met privately with the President of the United States and testified on Capitol Hill about the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. He has urged the United States and the international community to intervene with supplies and personnel to treat those still suffering. When other fellow Americans contracted Ebola, Brantly voluntarily donated his plasma, hoping to aid their recovery.

THE CALLINGTo understand the back story of Brantly’s narrative, one needn’t look far to discover that his sense of compassion and his interest in medicine were nurtured from an early age. His Christian family, his close-knit community at Southeastern Church of Christ in Indy and the Heritage family played big roles. “I had many spiritual mentors in my family, my church community and at Heritage,” he says. “I grew up in a Christian home with parents who taught me to love the Lord. My parents were faithful Christians who set an example for me of always trying to live as a disciple of Jesus wherever you are. I grew up with an expectation that I would serve God with my life. I gave my life to Christ and was baptized by my grandfather when I was nine years old. I continued to learn to walk with the Lord as I grew up – and hopefully am continuing to grow even today.”

Brantly’s family was focused on missions in many forms. “I had two sets of uncles and aunts who were missionaries in Africa during my childhood – Bob and Joan Dixon worked in Nigeria and Frank and Lou Ann Black were medical missionaries in Tanzania,” he says. “Many other family members served as mentors as I saw them live out the life of a disciple in many different life circumstances – teachers, nurses, stay-at-home moms, school administrators, accountants, etc.”

As a high school student at Heritage Christian School, Brantly’s faith flourished. “Coming to Heritage as a junior in high school was a time of great growth for me,” he says. “I was challenged by teachers like Mr. Terry, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Birkel, Mrs. Board and others who challenged me to excel in what I did, for the glory of God.” Brantly was honored with the distinguished Spiritual Leader Award during his senior year at Heritage.

Erik Smith, former Heritage high school teacher and soccer coach, remembers Brantly well. “In every arena, he was a very hard worker and a person of integrity. Kent was highly respected by others for his character, maturity, and positive attitude,” Smith says. “Even back in high school, his humility and servant’s heart were evident. He genuinely cared for others and put their needs before his own, so it was not surprising to me that he was willing to sacrifice so much to travel to Africa and work with Ebola patients. That’s just the kind of person he is.”

Heritage teacher Dan Ambrose adds, “Kent was one of the most mature high school students I have ever worked with. He was friendly to all other students around him, and while able to relax and be fun-loving, he was also a serious, deep thinker. He seemed to have a deep love and respect for the Bible and, even more, his Lord.”

4

KENT BRANTLY

SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

Teacher Dave Watt recalls, “He came into class smiling every day, and was friendly with everyone in the class. I remember him talking about his desire to be a doctor during his senior year of high school. He was not shy about talking about his faith in Christ back then, as well.”

After graduation, Brantly headed for Abilene Christian University. “I earned a degree in Biblical Text,” he says. “During that process, through short-term mission trips and summer internship programs, I began to sense God’s calling on my life to be a missionary. For me, medicine was a tool I would be able to use in service to others as I followed God’s call on my life.” On a church-sponsored medical mission trip to Central America, he met his future wife, Amber, then a pre-nursing student. The couple married in 2008 and began to pursue their mutual calling to full-time medical missions.

It’s a calling that Brantly says he’ll never regret following. Even while facing the disease, he told Kent Smith, an elder at the Southside Church of Christ in Fort Worth, Texas, that “God’s going to deliver me from this but even if he doesn’t, I have lived my life for him and I have no regrets.”

His experience has deepened and strengthened his walk with Christ. “I’ve seen the power of intercessory prayer, and the importance of praying for others in those times when they probably can’t pray for themselves. I hope this will help me to pray better for others,” he says.

“Through my experience with Ebola, both as a physician and as a patient, I was faced with the mortality of man over and over; and I learned in a new way what it means that God will provide what we need to be faithful to Him in all circumstances,” Brantly explains. “When you are facing death, your own death, the idea that nothing can separate us from the love of God; neither death nor life nor anything in heaven or earth; that idea takes on new meaning, and you recognize that nothing else matters when you are safe in the love of God.”

THE FUTUREIn the end, Brantly’s incredible account is not solely about his experience with Ebola Virus Disease nor even his miraculous treatment and recovery from it. His story ultimately is one of the God he knows and serves. “This is not about me,” he told an audience at Abilene Christian University. “This is about our great, loving, compassionate God who has called us to love our neighbors. This is about the more than 3,800 people who have died from Ebola disease in West Africa.”

It’s for the growing number of Ebola victims that Brantly continues to advocate.“I think every day about going back, but I feel like I’ve been given a platform through my experiences to be a voice here in this country for people in West Africa,” he shared in an interview with National Public Radio. “If I were in West Africa right now, I’d be treating 25 or 50 patients a day. Hopefully through my activities here, I can have an impact that will benefit thousands of people.”

So, will the Brantlys ever return to the mission field? “I’ll probably get tired of talking about my experience some day, but I went to Liberia because I long felt it was my vocation to spend my career as medical missionary,” Brantly told Time. “Deep in the core of my heart, I still think that’s my calling. I don’t want to go on with life and forget this.”

5SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

KENT BRANTLY

Special thanks to Dr. Kent and Mrs. Amber Brantly for the

great privilege of sharing their unfolding story of God’s

faithfulness in their lives. It has been a joy to chronicle

Dr. Brantly’s journey and to know that Heritage Christian

School played a small part in it. We’re also very grateful

to Dr. James and Mrs. Jan Brantly for their enthusiastic

support in the process of writing this important story. They

generously shared the family photos that personalize the

story for our Heritage community. It’s with tremendous

pleasure that we share this touching narrative with our

Messenger readers.

"Kent prepared himself to be a lifetime medical missionary. His heart is in Africa."

Jan BrantlyAssociated Press

Photo courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse International R

elief ©Sam

aritan’s Purse 2014

We couldn’t be more proud of our robotics teams! All five of them, from grades 5-12, have qualified to compete at the World Championships in April. They’ll be part of the prestigious event with over 400 robotics teams from across the world.

These students rocked in state competition, too. Here are some of their state achievements that led to the World Championship invitations:

○ 6th grade: Middle School Design award and 3rd place in the Teamwork Challenge

○ 7th grade: 4th place in the Teamwork Challenge

○ 8th grade: 2nd place in Teamwork Challenge, State Champions in Programming Skills and State Champions in Robotic Skills

○ High school: 5th place in Programming Skills

Heritage parents Suzanne Nutt, Doug Allen, Kathy and Paul Meyers and Stacy and Dennis Wimer lead the teams, with the help of faculty advisors Lisa Foster and Pat Rosebrock.

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HERITAGE ROBOTICS TEAMS HEAD FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Indianapolis Mayor, Greg Ballard, has championed school-sponsored VEX Robotics teams in Indianapolis. He visited our campus in January to recognize our Robotics program and present an award to our 8th grade team.

STUDENT LIFE

STUDENTSMaking an Impact on Campus and Beyond

MISSIONARY CLUB

The Heritage Missionary Club collected winter coats for refugees in Ukraine and also for international refugees living right here in Indianapolis. At Christmastime, the kids visited refugees’ homes in Indy to bring them gifts and share the Gospel.

OPEN HOUSES

Heritage faculty, staff and students have all rolled out the red (or shall we say, Heritage blue) carpet to welcome prospective families at our open houses. This year several hundred visitors took campus tours, met teachers and experienced some of Heritage life.

INTERNSHIPS

Heritage juniors and seniors spent a week as interns at locations across the city–and the world. The experience is designed to give students a firsthand look at careers or ministries they may be interested in pursuing.

GRANDPARENTS DAY

Heritage students from Prep-Kindergarten through 12th grade hosted their grandparents on campus for our annual Grandparents Day. Guests attended chapel with their grandchildren, spent time with them in their classrooms, met their teachers and even wrote messages to them on some of our hallway walls.

SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER 7

ACADEMICS

8

7343

60

8146

60

8048

61

7350

61

7351

61

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

% o

f To

tal A

P S

tud

ents

% of Total AP Students with Scores 3+

Heritage Indiana Global

Jeff McMaster, PhDDirector of Secondary Curriculum

ow does one define academic excellence? Is it found in a variety of individual successes, or is it measured in

the performance of the group? Academic excellence – like excellence in anything – is not sudden or fleeting, appearing quickly with very little effort or appearing briefly and then disappearing. Rather, it is something that is intentionally grown and maintained over time by cultivating students and developing an environment. The academic program at Heritage Christian School is just such a program, one that has demonstrated a pattern of excellence over many years and is reflected in both individual accomplishments and recognized standards of measurement.

The vast array of individual accomplishments can be seen in the successes of Heritage Christian students during their time in high school. Over the last several years, Heritage Christian School has produced over 30 National Merit Scholarship Qualifiers, several Indiana Academic All-Stars,

a couple of perfect ACT scores and over $25 million in scholarship offers. The last few graduating classes contain BEPKO scholars, Lilly scholars, an IU Wells scholar, and 115 AP scholars. Clearly, there is a pattern of academic achievement among Heritage Christian students.

There is also a pattern of excellence in the overall academic program. One of those standards of measurement that reflects this is the recent release of the College Board’s Advanced Placement Five-Year Summary for 2010-2014. This is a report of the academic performance of Heritage high school students on AP exams over the last five years. It compares our students with average AP exam scores in the state of Indiana, as well as the performance of all AP students globally. With the understanding that AP exams are scored on a scale of 1-5, and a score of 3 or better is generally considered to be passing (or, sufficient to receive college credit), the report reveals that Heritage Christian School consistently, over many years, has a much higher percentage of students receiving a passing score than both Indiana students as a whole, and all students globally.

This fact is even more significant with the knowledge that annually, 65-75 percent of Heritage students take AP exams, which means this level of performance is a reflection of the majority of students, not simply a few elite high-achievers. Not only is there a pattern of academic excellence among

OF EXCELLENCE

SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

*Source: CollegeBoard

H

9

Kirsten Gibbs Director of Discipleship

t Heritage Christian School, discipleship has always been a key component of the unique education we offer. We

have a strong foundation of student discipleship that began when our school was founded 50 years ago.

Our efforts to teach, mentor and train students for life and ministry are evidenced in the classroom, in our extra-curricular opportunities and athletics. Teachers, coaches and staff build relationships with students and disciple them to glorify God, love others, live with integrity and pursue excellence. As we continue to advance our outstanding, Christ-focused educational environment, we continually assess and build our discipleship efforts.

With this goal in mind, a number of Heritage parents had a deep desire to add a Young Life chapter to the school’s many existing discipleship platforms. Young Life is known for

building authentic relationships with students that encourage students to understand and live out their faith in Jesus Christ.

While the chapter is not funded or staffed by Heritage Christian School, the Young Life parent committee and Heritage leadership worked together to pursue this possibility. After months of praying and planning together, and as a result of the parent committee generating the necessary funds to move forward, we are excited to expand our discipleship efforts through the addition of a new Young Life chapter in the high school. A trained and Young Life-sponsored staff member and other Young Life volunteers are leading Young Life group gatherings and Bible studies and building mentoring relationships with our high school students to encourage them in their faith in Christ.

For more information about Young Life, visit www.younglife.org. If you have questions about Heritage Christian's Young Life chapter or about discipleship at Heritage Christian School, contact Kirsten Gibbs, Director of Discipleship, at [email protected].

students, there is also a pattern of academic excellence reflected in the educational program of Heritage Christian as a whole.

So, then, how does one define academic excellence? It is defined as a pattern of high academic achievement, both

individually and collectively, that occurs over time. As a school whose primary mission is to glorify God, disciple students, and pursue excellence, Heritage Christian School does indeed reflect academic excellence!

YOUNG LIFE

142 133 143 113 128

202 204 229 196 228

104 108 114 82 94

73.2 81.2 79.7 72.6 73.4

35.177 38,488 41,512 42,354 44,390

54,673 60,690 66,385 68,030 72,958

15,274 17,756 19,775 20,977 22,671

43.4 46.1 47.6 49.5 51.1

1,855,310 1,982,133 2,106,843 2,225,625 2,342,710

3,236,335 3,475,395 3,714,079 3,955,410 4,177,281

1,116,959 1,193,662 1,295,051 1,354,800 1,435,431

60.2 60.2 61.5 60.9 61.3

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Heritage

IndianaG

lobal

Total AP StudentsNumber of Exams

AP Students w/ Scores 3+% Total AP Students w/ Scores 3+

Total AP StudentsNumber of Exams

AP Students w/ Scores 3+% Total AP Students w/ Scores 3+

Total AP StudentsNumber of Exams

AP Students w/ Scores 3+% Total AP Students w/ Scores 3+

DISCIPLESHIP

*Source: CollegeBoard

High School Discipleship in Action

A

magine a colorful, spacious classroom at Heri-tage Christian School, where sun spills through

big windows. Conga drums, xylophones, key-boards and a well-used guitar adorn the room. No need here for desks and chairs that typify other elementary school rooms.

Fourth graders cluster in circles on the floor, cre-ating and clapping out rhythms and rhymes. Third graders crouch and jump, slink and glide around the room to the sounds of Mussorgsky’s concerto. Throughout the week, Heritage prep-K through sixth grade students experience exceptional music instruction here, all wrapped up in big fun.

Welcome to the wonderful, musical world of Heritage Elementary Music Teacher and Music Department Head, Cathy Bartemus. For 35 years, she has carefully orchestrated each component of her music classes to make learning experiential and meaningful for her young students.

Don’t be surprised to find her seated on the floor with the kids, singing, clapping and moving right along with them. Her hands-on approach resonates

with her students. As she puts it, God has given her the gift of “kid speak.”

She prays that music becomes a conduit for spiritu-al truth. “When kids come into my classroom,” she says, “I want them to see God; to see His hand in the creativity, order and beauty of music. It’s all for His glory.” She often references Habakkuk 2:14: “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

Bartemus credits long-time, former Heritage principal, Mary Jane English, for helping to shape her perspective on teaching. “She always wanted us to keep Jesus in front of the kids,” she shares. Bartemus keeps a photograph of her and English thumb-tacked to her bulletin board, in memory of her mentor and friend. “Mary Jane emphasized that the uniqueness of our faith rests in Jesus,” she recalls.

For Bartemus, her love for Jesus and her love for music make a great combination. “I love teaching at Heritage,” she concludes. “I’m convinced that this is exactly what God wants me to do.”

TEACHER PROFILE

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BARTEMUS

™SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

Making Music Magical

Photos courtesy of Lesle Lane for Studio 13 Photography

by Lisa Abbott

I

I want them to see God; to see His hand in the creativity, order and beauty of music. It’s all for His glory.

From musical and dramatic productions to

choir, band and orchestra concerts and the arts

fair, the fine arts flourish year-round at Heritage.

Here are just a few highlights from the

2014-2015 school year.

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Through their financial support, Fine Arts Patrons help to promote and further develop the fine arts at Heritage Christian School.

Through fundraising efforts, a $25,000 upgrade to the Cafetorium lighting system this year has enhanced the experience for our patrons.

Join the Patron program and help us reach our goal to purchase additional needed equipment, like new stage curtains.

Find out how you can become a Patron at www.heritagechristian.net or designate your gift on the attached envelope.

THE FINE ARTS

FINE ARTS

SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

l Leinbach holds the distinction of being the longest-serving employee at Heritage Christian School. For

49 of the school's 50-year history, he has at different times been a teacher, principal, coach, athletic director, guidance counselor, mentor and friend. He has seen nearly every single commencement ceremony (save one) and has known or had contact with all of the school's 3,069 graduates. Many of them stay in touch with Leinbach as Facebook friends. For the past several years, Leinbach has filled his current role as Alumni Relations Coordinator. He says he feels privileged to serve in this role, as an ambassador to our alumni.

Leinbach also is the school's resident historian. Every square inch of space in his office is decked out with Heritage memorabilia, pictures and “stuff,” including two denim-upholstered chairs embroidered with the words "Heritage Christian Alumni." Seated in one of them, Leinbach talked with us about what has...and what hasn't changed at Heritage Christian School over the past 50 years or so:

"The foundational philosophy for the school from the founders, Walter and Don Best, was exactly what our mission statement says today: that we are here to glorify God, disciple students and pursue excellence in education with the Bible as our foundation and Jesus Christ as our focus.

That has been the mission of Heritage from the beginning, even though it wasn't written down at first. That has been the guiding foundational principle of the leadership at all levels; to pursue this mission.

The things that have changed are the externals: growth in our curriculum, including the expansion of the Fine Arts programs; our Athletic programs, that have grown from two sports (boys' basketball and cheerleading) to 18 IHSAA-sponsored sports. And of course, the facilities have just been awesome. They're now some of the best in the country for a Christian or private school. The dress code has undergone numerous revisions over the years. But the mission has always been and always will be the same. God has graciously provided from the beginning, since the time we met in the basements of two churches, Devington Baptist and Victory Baptist; to our move to this campus over Christmas in 1966; until now. It's amazing to see what God has done here. Whenever I drive onto campus, I'm always reminded of the miracles God has performed here since day one."

Leinbach is part of the rich, 50-year spiritual and educational tradition of Heritage Christian School. Read more about the school's beginnings and its contemporary ministry in the fall 2015 edition of The Messenger.

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ALUMNI

BACKAlumni Relations Coordinator Al Leinbach reflects on Heritage history

SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

A

Photo courtesy of Lesle Lane for Studio 13 Photography

ALUMNI

October 2 -3, 2015

Make plans now to be part of a very special alumni weekend!Join fellow alumni for our 50th anniversary homecomingfestivities that include:

○ Eagles varsity football action (home game against Lapel High School) Fri., Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. ○ Alumni on-campus tailgating ○ Alumni reserved section at the game ○ Alumni reunions ○ Alumni campus tours – Oct. 3 ○ Alumni soccer game – Oct. 2 at 10 PM ○ Alumni baseball event – Oct. 3 at 11 AM ○ Much more!

Look for more details to come via email, on our website (www.heritagechristian.net) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/HeritageChristianEagles).

Have questions? Email us at [email protected].

We’re excited to welcome back many alumni to our beautiful campus for homecoming. We hope that you’ll be one of them!

15SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

THE DATE For Homecoming 2015 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Calling All Heritage Alumni

Would you like to stay connected with Heritage Christian School

and fellow alumni?

Would you like to receive communications from our

alumni office?

Would you like to be involved with Heritage alumni future

events and projects?

We’d love to hear from you!

Please email us at [email protected]

to get involved, to share ideas or just to stay in touch.

Photo courtesy of Lesle Lane for Studio 13 Photography

eet Heritage freshman Grey Tomlin. He’s an honor roll student, a Tae Kwon Do black belt and a stage actor at

both school and the Christian Youth Theater. An all-around pretty amazing young man by any standard.

What makes Tomlin even more exceptional is the hard work and self-discipline that have brought him to a place of strength and success. He hasn’t done it alone. The Heritage Educational Support Services (ESS) team and his family have been his teachers, mentors and biggest cheerleaders each step of the way.

Tomlin entered Heritage in Kindergarten with identified learning differences. His mom, Lesle Lane, says that the school welcomed him as the bright student that he was. He just happened to learn differently. “From the very beginning,” says Lane, “they stood by me and believed in Grey.”

As he moved into the fourth grade, Tomlin’s teacher suggested that the family look into ESS’ Hidden Treasures program. It was a great fit. The school developed an individualized plan for him that included twice weekly, one-on-one educational therapy sessions with then-ESS teacher Cheryle Cosgrove.

Like other ESS teachers, Cosgrove is accredited through the well-respected National Institute for Learning Development (NILD). She worked with Tomlin on everything from handwriting and math

to reading comprehension. She tapped into his learning style and found creative, proven ways to channel his strengths. She saw his potential and went above and beyond, says Lane, even hosting Tomlin for tutoring sessions at her home during the summer to help him retain his skills.

“Grey has inner strength; a fortitude that you have to have to be successful and get through this program, because it’s not easy,” says Cosgrove. “I knew that he had potential. I knew that he was a good thinker.”

Every evening, after her son had finished his traditional homework, Lane worked with him on the daily, challenging exercises that Cosgrove assigned, knowing that they could make all the difference. It wasn’t easy.

“Lesle determined for Grey to receive the help he needed,” shares ESS Director Julie Hight. “Grey responded with a willingness to work hard and take responsibility for his learning challenges.”

Heritage Elementary School Principal Brenda Klingerman says, “When I think of those two, I think of the ultimate mother/son team! Lesle has always been a perfect advocate for her son and Grey the ultimate hard worker and overcomer. God has blessed this mother/son duo as they have worked together for Grey’s education.”

Cosgrove adds, “To be successful in this program, you have to have a support system. Students who have an advocate like Lesle, one who is realistic and highly involved, will succeed. Her advocacy for Grey speaks to her own fortitude and perseverance.”

The team’s hard work paid off. By the middle of seventh grade, Tomlin’s ESS teachers knew that he was ready to graduate from the program with flying colors. This milestone was cause for

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How hard work and a strong team helped Grey Tomlin find academic fortitude

A PLACE OF STRENGTH

SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

MBy Lisa Abbott

Photo courtesy of Lesle Lane for Studio 13 Photography

17SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES

celebration. They brought balloons and cake to the high school library for a party in his honor. Tomlin’s former and current classroom teachers, the entire ESS team and his family gathered to commemorate the occasion. “The tears were flowing all around that day,” Lane remembers.

By the time he transitioned to high school this year, Tomlin had an arsenal of study and organizational skills to prepare him for its rigor. “Grey has embraced high school and his responsibilities with his studies,” says Lane. “He has taken full responsibility for his education.” Hight agrees enthusiastically. “Grey Tomlin is an independent, successful learner!” she says.

Tomlin’s former third grade teacher Marci Herbert, says, “I am thrilled to see how far Grey has come and I know it all stems from a determined, hard-working mind; a desire to please and succeed; and a strong will infused with the peace and confidence that only comes from a true relationship with Jesus Christ. It is overwhelming to see how God uses Grey to touch all who have been blessed to come alongside him. Grey is a remarkable young man who will humbly give God all the glory without so much as saying a word … simply look in his eyes and you’ll see Jesus shine through his smile!”

Looking back, Tomlin says that the years of hard work have paid off. To other students, he says of his experience with ESS, “It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to push you. But in the end, you’re going to turn out better for it.”

Lane says the investments in her son’s life and education have been worth it all. “Without Heritage and this program,” she says, “we certainly wouldn’t be sitting here with the success story we have.”

Former Heritage student Kelley Erb was known around campus as a young woman with a heart of gold and a love for learning. In honor of her memory, a new scholarship fund has generously been established by the Erb family to carry on Kelley’s legacy.

The Kelley Erb Scholarship Fund will provide five annual scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each, to help provide funds for students to receive Educational Support Services at Heritage Christian School. The scholarship is based on financial need for students who also meet the following criteria that exemplified Kelley’s life:

○ A heart to please God and serve Christ ○ A passion for learning ○ A strong work ethic toward education ○ Evidence/progress toward significant improvement in learning

For more information about the Kelley Erb Scholarship Fund or to apply for these funds, please contact Laura Valentine, Billing Coordinator, at [email protected].

In honor of her memory ERB

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES

NILD EDUCATIONAL THERAPYNational Institute for Learning Development is an individualized program designed for students with average to superior intelligence with learning differences. Programs include Hidden Treasures for elementary students and Student Achievement Training (SAT) for middle and high school students.

SEARCH AND TEACHAn early intervention program to meet the educational needs of young learners before they experience frustration with learning.

STAR READINGReading skill development in a small group setting. STAR focuses on specific reading activities addressing phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

HIGH ABILITYChallenging and enriching learning experiences through differentiated instruction with advanced content. Programs include Discovery for first grade and Explorers for second through sixth grades.

DIRECTED STUDIESFoundational skill building for middle school and high school students, including personal organization and study skills, through preparation and accountability in core classes.

ACADEMIC SKILLS CLASSIndividualized programming for students whose educational needs cannot be fully met in the traditional classroom.

TESTINGMultiple types of testing offered to evaluate and screen individual students.

WRITTEN INTERVENTION PLANS We offer accommodations through a Written Intervention Plan (WIP) for students with academic and/or medical needs.

18

A Conversation With Heritage

Christian School’s Chief Executive Officer,

JEFF FREEMAN

How are things going at Heritage?

I see God’s awesome blessings on Heritage each and every day. I can’t help but think that those blessings are somehow connected to our reconnecting to our mission. We know that God has a mighty purpose for Heritage; to disciple students with the Bible as the foundation and Christ as our focus. It’s really about creating a biblical worldview for our students. I’m so encouraged by what I see God doing here. I’m convinced that He has big plans for Heritage Christian.

In 2014, Heritage leadership introduced a strategic plan for the future of the school, called Vision 2017. Why was it important to create it?

I’m a big believer in having a plan. There’s an old adage that failing to plan is planning to fail. God has blessed Heritage for the past 50 years. We’ve served the Lord and glorified God for 50 years. But I think that God has a plan to expand that reach even more.

The Vision 2017 strategic plan includes five different areas: academic, discipleship, people, advancement and financial. Can you share your thoughts about each one? First, how about academics?

We’ve always been blessed with strong academics. You can see the results at all levels; whether that’s with our graduating senior scholastic awards, our overall high GPAs or scholarships attained or National Merit Scholar award winners. We see great achievement in standardized testing throughout all grades. We’re pursuing excellence in education at all levels.

We know that education is changing and we need to respond to those changes. We need to make sure that our course offerings are robust and covering the topics that we need to fully prepare students. We are working to enhance our Advanced Placement course opportunities. We’re revamping our high school Bible curriculum, adding more dual credit courses, piloting new on-line course offerings and adding a few new summer courses. We’re also currently working with several Christian universities to be able to strategically expand opportunities for our students.

The way we deliver education is changing. We’re not changing our core values, just some of the methods that we use. That’s where technology comes in. Our commitment to iPads at the high school, middle school and elementary level is growing and expanding. Training our faculty is so important, so most of our In-Services have been centered on technology training for our staff. We’ve made a commitment to Moodle as our organizational learning system. Technology is a tool that we want to continue to leverage.

What about discipleship?

Discipleship is a distinctive that sets us apart as a school. While we have great academics at HCS, we are also equally all about discipling our students. We define discipleship as teaching, mentoring and training our students to be lifelong followers of Christ. That’s missional. It cuts to the core of who we are.

We are in the midst of a school-wide initiative to advance what we’re doing in discipleship. We want to do three things: First, we want to be able to improve upon the good things that we already are doing. Secondly, we want to integrate a little bit better what we do. Within various age groups, there can be a real progression

SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

Photo courtesy of Lesle Lane for Studio 13 Photography

19

CEO PERSPECTIVE

in discipleship. We want to be able to integrate that K-12, in a way that’s age appropriate. The third thing is to communicate our approach to discipleship effectively, both internally and also externally. We want people to know how we’re distinctive. I’m convinced that in our culture today, if children don’t have a biblical worldview of life, of God’s purpose for their lives, of a life that is Christ focused, by default they are going to get a worldview that’s non-biblical and not Christ focused; a worldview that comes from someplace else. A worldview that’s not based on truth. It might even be a worldview where truth is just relative and meaningless. That’s dangerous. That motivates me even more to tell our story of how Heritage is distinctive.

What role do people play in the strategic plan?

Sometimes we can think too much in terms of balance sheets and income statements and financial things, but what’s really most important is people. They are our most valuable assets. Certainly, that involves our own faculty and staff. To that end, we are looking for ways to enhance the value proposition for our faithful servants who work here at Heritage. That’s a crucial thing; to be able to retain and attract the best and brightest committed Christians, to be able to deliver the kind of education that our

families expect and deserve. One of things we’re looking at with our comprehensive fundraising campaign is to be able to increase salaries. Improving the value proposition for our employees is vitally, vitally important to securing our future and moving Heritage forward.

The other thing that comes to mind is our desire to expand diversity within our Heritage community. We want to expand diversity ethnically, racially and socio-economically. We want to make a Christian education affordable for more families. We’re making some strides there. We currently have a minority population at Heritage that’s approaching 20 percent. That’s up significantly from where it has been. As we seek to enrich our community in terms of diversity, we need to do that in our employee base as well.

We’ve defined advancement as expanding our reach. How does that play out at Heritage?

Expanding our reach in terms of enrollment is a significant strategy for us. We are addressing the decline we’ve seen in enrollment and we’re at a place where we’ve stabilized it, but now we need to do the kinds of things that will add to our enrollment.

DREAM

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL VISION 2017

Heritage Christian School will be

a light that shines in the darkness,

a premier institution increasingly

recognized as a model and

benchmark of relevant 21st century

Christian education, transforming

lives and reaching the world for Christ.

MISSION

We will glorify God through the discipleship of students and the pursuit of excellence in education with the Bible as our foundation and Jesus Christ as our focus.

Glorify • Disciple • Pursue

VISION

We will provide an outstanding Christ-focused educational environment where, working with Christian families and churches, students will be thoroughly prepared to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives.

• Prepare the next generation of leaders to impact our world for Christ

DISCIPLESHIP

Teach: We will teach for Biblical knowledge the facts and doctrines of the Bible and principles of Christian living.

Mentor: We will mentor for transformation by modeling the Christian lifestyle, building relationships and cultivating character.

Train: We will train for service by using spiritual gifts, sharing the Gospel and providing ministry opportunities.

TEACH, MENTOR, TRAIN

Refine and elevate culture of discipleship

•Continue commitment to

integrate biblical worldview into educational

experience, emphasizing Christian character

ACADEMIC

DISCIPLESHIP

PEOPLEADVANCEMENT

FINANCIAL

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

Enhance quality and increase quantity of academic offerings,

opportunities and resourceswith a focus on critical

thinking and college prep•

Be intentional and innovative in use of technology as a tool to enhance

academics

CONNECT, ENRICH, DEVELOP

Attract and retain the highest quality, mission-minded

faculty and staff •

Enrich racial, ethnic and socio-economic diversity in our school community

SECURE OUR FUTURE

Improve HCS value proposition, affirm mission

and execute Vision 2017 strategy•

Strengthen culture of donor discipleship and launch

major fundraising initiative

EXPAND OUR REACH

Grow admissions and marketing practices to increase new student enrollment and

retain existing students•

Expand presence to further impact both internal and

external communities

DREAM

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL VISION 2017

Heritage Christian School will be

a light that shines in the darkness,

a premier institution increasingly

recognized as a model and

benchmark of relevant 21st century

Christian education, transforming

lives and reaching the world for Christ.

MISSION

We will glorify God through the discipleship of students and the pursuit of excellence in education with the Bible as our foundation and Jesus Christ as our focus.

Glorify • Disciple • Pursue

VISION

We will provide an outstanding Christ-focused educational environment where, working with Christian families and churches, students will be thoroughly prepared to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives.

• Prepare the next generation of leaders to impact our world for Christ

DISCIPLESHIP

Teach: We will teach for Biblical knowledge the facts and doctrines of the Bible and principles of Christian living.

Mentor: We will mentor for transformation by modeling the Christian lifestyle, building relationships and cultivating character.

Train: We will train for service by using spiritual gifts, sharing the Gospel and providing ministry opportunities.

TEACH, MENTOR, TRAIN

Refine and elevate culture of discipleship

•Continue commitment to

integrate biblical worldview into educational

experience, emphasizing Christian character

ACADEMIC

DISCIPLESHIP

PEOPLEADVANCEMENT

FINANCIAL

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

Enhance quality and increase quantity of academic offerings,

opportunities and resourceswith a focus on critical

thinking and college prep•

Be intentional and innovative in use of technology as a tool to enhance

academics

CONNECT, ENRICH, DEVELOP

Attract and retain the highest quality, mission-minded

faculty and staff •

Enrich racial, ethnic and socio-economic diversity in our school community

SECURE OUR FUTURE

Improve HCS value proposition, affirm mission

and execute Vision 2017 strategy•

Strengthen culture of donor discipleship and launch

major fundraising initiative

EXPAND OUR REACH

Grow admissions and marketing practices to increase new student enrollment and

retain existing students•

Expand presence to further impact both internal and

external communities

2017

SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

We’ve had a major project, that’s still underway, to re-engineer our admissions practices, procedures and policies. That includes people, processes and the use of technology. We wanted to make the process more welcoming and easier to do business with us; to be more user-friendly. We recognize that impressions are formed about Heritage in so many different ways. Sometimes, it’s just electronically. What does our website look like? How does that integrate with admissions? What do our admissions forms look like? We’ve redesigned our application, without compromising our core values, reducing it by about 30 percent. We’ve streamlined the process while focusing on those core values, to make sure that there’s a right fit and connection.

We’ve also done some things system-wise and we’re in the process of making the whole admissions process more interactive. We’re taking a step further to enhance response times, in both automated and non-automated ways, while making sure that our approach is also high-touch. When someone inquires about Heritage, we’re gathering electronic information to first thank them for their inquiry and to find out what their interests are, so that we can get back with them with information about Heritage.

We’ve also revamped our Open Houses and the way we go about shadowing experiences for students. We’ve benchmarked other schools and taken best practices. We’ve made a greater commitment with Open Houses for faculty and staff to be here, leading tours and showing better what the Heritage experience is like. We want there to be more of a “wow” factor when they come to an Open House.

We have done a good job of re-establishing a Development department. Gary Roebbelen, our Director of Development, has formed a very professional, competent staff. We’re making great strides in advancement and you can see that in how we communicate, in the way we’re using social media, Twitter and Facebook.

Both Gary and I are heavily involved with a comprehensive fundraising campaign. We’re still in the early stages, in the “quiet phase” of this campaign, meeting with people before we go to a public stage. At the very root of that campaign is the mission of Heritage and the vision of the future for Christian education in our community. It’s a very important initiative for Heritage. There are many things in our strategic plan that a comprehensive campaign will help us attain.

The financial component also is important. What are your thoughts in this area?

We have been able to balance our budget, which is an important baseline. We’ve been able to reverse trends and come in under budget the last couple of years. For the first time in five years, at the end of the last fiscal year, we saw an increase in our net assets. Praise the Lord! Our financial position actually improved for the first time in the last five years. That speaks to so many areas of the school working

successfully to build that financial framework. We’re not where we need to be financially, yet. That’s one of the reasons why we’ve developed a comprehensive fundraising campaign; to meet our objectives and augment the other things that we’re doing. It’s so important for us to continue to move forward financially and really secure our future. It is a process and we are seeing progress. We’ve seen tremendous response from our donor community. Not just in the initial stages of the campaign, but also with all areas of giving, through the Worthy Servants fund and tax credit scholarship program, for example. As more people find out about this scholarship program, it’s such a win-win-win for our school, for students and for donors as well, in terms of tax credit and federal tax deductions. We still have a ways to go to have our cash reserves where they need to be. We have other things in the future that we’ll need to tackle, like some campus maintenance. But first things first, and we’re making good strides.

When you look at the future for Heritage Christian School, what are your dreams or aspirations?

I think in terms of things in the vein of the Prayer of Jabez. I see us being called by God to expand our reach, to have an even greater impact on families for Christ and preparing kids to make an impact on the world. Being relevant today is so important. We’re not going to change who we are or our mission, but how we do that is going to look different in the future. Casting that vision of being even more relevant as a Christian school in a secular world is both a challenge and objective and something that’s really exciting to me. What we do is needed and so important. The word transformational is not too big of a word to use to describe part of what we do at Heritage. Christ calls us not to be transformed by the patterns of the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. I think that a Christian school can and should and does play a big, big role in seeing and seeking transformation; of being different and being a light for Christ.

20

CEO PERSPECTIVE

SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

JOIN US FOR THE GRADUATIONOF THE CLASS OF 2015

AT EAST 91ST STREET CHRISTIAN CHURCH

NO RSVP REQUIRED

the value of Christian education?Your tax-deductible financial gift can help provide

grants for need-based students to access everything that Heritage Christian School has to offer.

What’s more, individual and corporate donors qualify for state and federal tax credits. It’s a win/win giving option. The actual cost of a $10,000 donation may

only be $1,500, depending on your tax bracket.

Want to learn more?

Visit our website: www.heritagechristian.net or contact Derek Todd, Development Manager, at

(317) 849-3441 or [email protected].

Sagamore Institute (SGO) is an Indiana state-certified scholarship granting organization that partners

with Heritage to make the grants possible.

Performances:

March 20th - 7 p.m. March 21st - 2 p.m. March 21st - 7 p.m.

Ticket price:

$6 in advance$8 at the door

ONLINE TICKET SALES RUN MARCH 1-19

¢15

$1.00

$$

$ 10,000 Gift*

5,000 Indiana Tax Credit

-3,500 Federal Deduction

$ 1,500 True Investment Cost

¢15

$1.00

$$

$ 10,000 Gift*

5,000 Indiana Tax Credit

-3,500 Federal Deduction

$ 1,500 True Investment Cost

*At 35% tax bracket.

Please consult your tax advisor for actual benefit based onindividual tax situations.

2014 HOPE For theKids Golf Outing As a result of the money raised, scholarships were awarded to 54 need-based Heritage students with learning differences, making it possible for them to benefit from ESS programs.

Find out about the 2015 outing: call Susan Beck at (317) 849-3441

SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER 21

ATHLETICS

22 SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

eritage athletes train for and compete in our 18 IHSAA sports programs. They

experience the best of the best in middle school and high school athletics. But they receive so much more. Some of the most important life and spiritual lessons are learned on the fields, courts and tracks of competition. Our dedicated coaches play a huge role in discipling student athletes.

For the latest news about competition results and athletic awards, visit our website at www.hcsathletics.net or on Twitter at @HCS_Athletics.

SPORTS IN ACTION

ATHLETICS

23SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

○ Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country (Varsity/Junior Varsity)

○ Boys’ Football (Varsity/ Junior Varsity)

○ Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer (Varsity/ Junior Varsity)

○ Boys’ and Girls’ Tennis (Varsity/ Junior Varsity)

○ Girls’ Volleyball (Varsity/ Junior Varsity)

○ Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball (Varsity/ Junior Varsity/Freshman)

○ Boys’ and Girls’ Swimming/Diving (Varsity/ Junior Varsity)

○ Boys’ Baseball (Varsity/ Junior Varsity)

○ Girls’ Softball (Varsity/Junior Varsity)

○ Boys’ and Girls’ Golf (Varsity/ Junior Varsity)

○ Boys’ and Girls’ Track and Field (Varsity/ Junior Varsity)

Under the leadership of Michelle York, Athletic Director, we are proud to compete in the following IHSAA sports:

In addition to IHSAA sports, Heritage offers Boys’ and Girls’ Lacrosse and Cheerleading. We also offer club sports in 5th/6th grade Boys’ Football, 6th grade Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball, 5th/6th grade Boys’ and Girls’ Lacrosse.

H

Congratulations to Coach Rick Risinger and the Varsity Girls’ Basketball Team for their second consecutive State Championship in Class 2A. The Lady Eagles defeated Fort Wayne Canterbury at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse 73-53. It’s the program’s sixth state title and seventh appearance overall since joining the IHSAA.

24

n 1968, Heritage Christian School parents and teachers partnered to form the school’s Parent-Teacher Fellowship

(PTF). The parent-led group supports and encourages our employees in tangible ways throughout the year and cultivates community among faculty, staff and parents. They help to raise additional funds for projects that enhance our campus and our students' educational experience. They help to welcome new families and to reach out to our surrounding community. Most importantly, they undergird the school’s spiritual emphasis.

“One of the things that makes Heritage such a unique place of learning is the strong relationship that exists between our faculty and staff and our parents,” says Julie Davis, PTF President. “There’s a real sense of community here, knowing that we’re all committed to our kids’ educational and spiritual growth. PTF exists to support the entire Heritage family and to come alongside of our faculty and staff, encouraging them in their important roles in our students’ lives.”

FACULTY AND STAFF APPRECIATION

Faculty and staff look forward every year to the Worthy Servants brunch and a spring luncheon, catered events that are expressions of gratitude on behalf of the school and its families. Throughout the year, PTF looks for other ways to show appreciation to school employees, like sending each of them a birthday greeting, candy and balloon from the school’s Spiritual Lift store.

NEW PARENT PRAYER GROUPS AND MOMCOMM

The group knows that praying parents are part of a strong spiritual foundation for everything that happens at Heritage. This year, PTF organized men's and women's monthly prayer groups and "MomComm," a prayer and fellowship event especially for moms of students in grades 5-12.

2015 JOG-A-THON FUNDRAISER PTF has big plans for the annual Jog-a-thon fundraiser, which is scheduled for April 23, 2015. Here's how it works: Elementary school students contact family, friends and HCS supporters to sponsor them for a walk or jog around the school's track. The event typically garners $80,000-

Connecting Parents, Faculty and Staff

- TEACHER FELLOWSHIP

SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

PARENT-TEACHER FELLOWSHIP

I

25

$90,000 that is used for special projects not covered by the organization's annual budget. In the past, monies have gone toward playground upgrades, campus security enhancements, Cafetorium sound upgrades, the High School Commons and Cafe and more.

It's not too late to donate! Use the enclosed donation envelope to designate funds to Jog-a-Thon or visit www.heritagechristian.net for more information.

CHRIST TO OTHERS (C20)

PTF's work reaches even beyond the walls of Heritage Christian School. The group sponsors C2O, a huge, semi-annual carnival and concert for Heritage families and the Indianapolis community. It's designed to provide a fun family experience, show love to our neighbors and provide a forum for sharing Christ through music. In 2013, the campus welcomed over 3,300 guests for the event.

SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

PARENT-TEACHER FELLOWSHIP

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Plan to attend and invite friends to attend PTF's "Christ to Others" (C2O) event on Sept. 19, 2015. Look for more details to come in the months ahead!

EVENTS INCLUDE: ○ Family-friendly carnival and activities

○ Food trucks and vendors

○ Outdoor concert with a well-known Christian band

○ Fun and fellowship

Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available. Volunteer to make C20 an unforgettable event for our families and the Indianapolis community.

For information about sponsorships or to find out how you can help, contact Event Chair, Lisa VanderMeer, at [email protected].

OUR HERITAGE

26

Many photos from the earliest days at Heritage Christian School come from school yearbooks. The first one was created in 1967 and it includes many priceless memories.

Here are just a few snapshots from the inaugural Patriot.

50 YEARS

SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

OUR HERITAGE

27SPRING 2015 HERITAGE MESSENGER

Glorify God. Disciple Students. Pursue Excellence.

M A G A Z I N E

Messenger

Messenger

At Heritage, we help to prepare world changers.

Alumnus ('99) and world changer, Dr. Kent Brantly (pictured here), is just one of the many Heritage alumni who are making an impact. For 50 years and counting, Heritage has delivered

the kind of educational excellence and biblical teaching that prepares students for life and work.

We're now enrolling for the 2015-2016 school year and have openings in our new Preschool program and in Pre-K through grade 12.

Find out more about what makes Heritage Christian School distinctive. Contact Admissions today at (317) 849.3441 or [email protected] or visit us at www.heritagechristian.net.

www.heritagechristian.net [email protected]

Like us on FacebookFacebook.com/HeritageChristianEagles

Follow us on TwitterTwitter.com/hcsindy

Find us on LinkedinLinkedin.com/HeritageChristianSchool

6401 E. 75th St.Indianapolis, IN 46250