FEBRUARY22,2013

THE WOODLANDS

C H R I S T I A N

A C A D E M Y

THEWOODLANDSCHRISTIANACADEMY

5800ACADEMYWAY.THEWOODLANDS,TEXAS77384.936-273-2555.WWW.TWCA.NET

Head of School Notes -- by Julie Ambler

In all of our endeavors at Woodlands Christian, we regularly seek professional expertise and desire to follow best practices. Campus safety is no exception. In addition to other ongoing improvements, we have contracted with local law enforcement officers to be visible on our campus. Please don’t be alarmed if you occasionally see a patrol car in our parking lot or a uniformed officer patrolling our campus during the school day. We are simply following the recommendations of security experts. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Over the next 60 days, we will be working with a marketing research firm to help us identify and reach Christian families in our area who have school age children and need to know about Woodlands Christian. As a first step, our consultants will be on campus next week to interview a sample of students, faculty and parents to learn more about the distinctives of our school. Next, they will survey the greater community to obtain external perceptions of our school and to assist us in fine-tuning our messaging so we can attract more wonderful families, like yours!

Thanks to the generosity of many families, we have raised 70% of the gifts and pledges necessary to construct our next permanent classroom building. As soon as we raise the final $1,050,000 in gifts and pledges we will break ground. Our goal is to begin construction as soon as possible this spring so that our 1st – 8th graders can move into this new building next year.  We also want to avoid rising construction costs.  The addition of this building will enable our school to increase enrollment and positively impact the lives of many more students in future years. If we have not met, please email me at jambler@twca.net so we can arrange a time for Judy Duroy and me to share the vision for our campus and the specifics of this next project. Alternatively, you can review the available meeting times with Marthel Cano at the front desk and sign up there. As always, it is a pleasure to serve your family at Woodlands Christian. Thank you for trusting us with the education of your children.

Lower School News

FEBRUARY 22, 2013

Let’s Get Growing!

Students Enjoy Track Meet

Our lower school garden is about to begin sprouting again, and we want to help you and your child grow some sprouts of your own at home! At chapel this week, Mr. Roach shared with us about Growums, a fundraiser/ family science event for the lower school garden through our Junior Master Gardener program. Growums are themed garden kits that allow children to grow a complete garden and encourages them to eat healthy foods. The garden kits include pizza, taco, salad, stir-fry, herb, and ratatouille. Each kit contains a self-watering tray, eight seed-starting pellets, four different types of seeds and eight character plant identification tags.

There is also an online component! Each seed is represented by a lovable Growums character. The characters come to life and teach

children and families step-by-step (from seed to harvest) how to grow their own gardens through online, interactive video lessons. Every 7-10 days the Growums characters email a reminder that another video lesson is ready. Each kit costs $10. You may order your kit

from any lower school student. All proceeds will go toward improving our lower school garden. For more information about the Growums program, click here. Let’s get growing!

Coach Daysha Sanford took 61 students in the 3rd-5th grades to a lower school track meet at Northland Christian School on Tuesday, February 19. Students competed in the long jump, softball throw, relays and individual races. It was great fun for our lower school Warriors!

Got box tops? The deadline to submit Box Tops For Education is

here! Please turn in your Box Tops For Education by Friday, February 22.

Thanks for your support!

Warrior Camp is a FUNTASTIC Christian summer day camp for kids ages 5-11. Join

Coaches Daysha and Nate Sanford and their awesome staff for one week or all summer of the most fun you've ever had - Warrior

Camp! This camp is open to everyone, not just Woodlands Christian students so invite

your friends to attend with you! Click here for more details.

Upper School News

FEBRUARY 22, 2013

Geology Gets Real

Students Advance To State Speech Meet

The geology class recently completed a simulation game entitled Gushers and Dusters in which some of the students ran banks, some ran drilling companies and some were geologists with oil and gas companies. The students had real-life experiences as they had to procure funds via loans from the banks, make deals with drillers or oil companies and then hoped for a gusher as they drilled on certain land sites for which they had acquired leases. Almost all groups encountered at

least one duster, but drilling was overall very successful with every business finishing the game with a net profit. The oil and gas unit wrapped up with Mr. Loren Regier speaking to the classes about careers in the geosciences (see photo below left). When asked what surprised them the most about the game, the students replied it was the paperwork involved with business, and the stress it induced. Playing with even fake money made many of them quite nervous!

Article and photos submitted by Pam Masau.

Several high school students recently competed in the TAPPS regional speech competition held at Cypress Christian School. Students participating in the competition were as follows: Wyatt Wheeler,

Paulette Garza, Rachel Horton, Baylee Rubich, and Skye Weisner (see photo below). Advancing to the final round of the regional competition were Baylee Rubich in poetry and solo acting, and Skye Weisner in prose and solo acting. Students qualifying for the TAPPS state speech competition are as follows: Baylee Rubich in solo acting and Skye Wiesner in prose. The TAPPS state speech competition will be held April 6-7 at Concordia University in Austin, Texas. Congratulations to all of our students who represented The Woodlands Christian Academy so professionally! Submitted by Susie King

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT NEWS

FEBRUARY 22, 2013

WHITE OUT - Wear WHITE to the game on Friday!

SILENT NIGHT - Join our student section for Silent Night!Please hold your cheers and applause until the Warriors score 10 points!

Playoff T-Shirts Now Available In The Armory!

$20 each adult sizes

x-small - xx-large

Please note - Booster Club membershipadmission does not apply for playoff games.

Warrior Swimmers Earn 1st Place Finishes At State MeetGirls’ Team Finishes In 2nd Place Overall

What an exciting finish to the swim season for our Warriors! The TAPPS state swim meet was held in San Antonio this past weekend. Our Warrior girls raced to a second place finish with 121 points! Hannah Bub was a three time state champ in the 200 individual medley (state record), 100 breaststroke and as part of the winning 200 medley relay. Teammates Jordan Hanigan, Hailey Hanigan and Katie Albertson shared in the gold for the 200 medley relay. This team also raced to a second place finish in the 200 freestyle relay as well. The excitement continued as Hailey Hanigan earned medals for the 500 freestyle (2nd) and 100

backstroke (3rd). Katie Albertson and Michelle McAden helped the team by scoring finishes in the 100 freestyle and 50 freestyle. The girls’ 400 freestyle relay team fought hard to earn points with their 4th place finish which helped to seal the 2nd place overall team standing! The Warrior boys’ team excelled in the water as well. Jeff Chen led the charge with an 8th place scoring finish in the 200 individual medley. All three relay teams placed 5th with Jeff Chen, Kyle Caddell, Logan Shearer and Austin Walls. Congratulations on an outstanding swim season! Submitted by Kathryn Bub

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT NEWS

FEBRUARY 22, 2013

Warrior Girls’ Varsity Basketball Team Season Ends

The Warrior girls’ varsity basketball team closed out their season on Monday, February 18 by playing a tie-breaker game to determine the final playoff spot in TAPPS 3A District 7. The team travelled to Pope John XXIII in Katy for the contest against St. Thomas Episcopal. Despite their best efforts, the team came away with a 62-51 loss. The 2013-2014 edition of the girls’ varsity basketball team looks to be strong as Haley Pounds, who is planning to play soccer in college next year, is the only starter who will not return next season.

Way to go Lady Warriors!

Margaret EcholsRiley FarraPaulette GarzaSarah MansfieldHaley PoundsMegan Powers

Alyssa RegierJessica RobinsonSydney VanderpoolKatie Van HornMorgan Young

Stacie Phillips, Head CoachRebecca Whitson, Assistant Coach

2012-2013 Girls’ Varsity Basketball Team

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT NEWS

FEBRUARY 22, 2013

Up to the minute schedule information for your favorite teams is just a click away!

Boys’ Varsity Basketball . Varsity Baseball

Varsity Softball . Varsity Track . Varsity Golf

MS Softball . MS Green Baseball . MS Track

Warrior Softball Team Places 2nd In Tournament

The Warrior softball team hosted their first annual softball tournament on February 14-15, 2013 (see photo at right). In a round robin tournament, the team played a total of six games in two days. The Warriors finished the tournament in second place with a 3-3 record. The team will face The John Cooper School in a home contest on Friday, February 22 at 4:00 p.m.

Article and photos submitted by John Ledbetter

Woodlands Christian Academy Tournament February 15‐16, 2013 

Warrior Track Season Begins

What a great first track meet of the season! At the St. Thomas track meet out of 17 teams (mostly 5A schools) our girls’ team finished in 3rd place overall and the boys finished in 5th place. Everyone has been working hard, and we have been creative for our workouts with all the rain! Highlights from the meet include: Luke Shearer -3200m run (gold medal) *new school record; Katy Adams -3200m run (silver) and 1600m run (bronze); Logan Shearer -300m hurdles (gold) and 800m run (bronze); Rachel Earle - high jump (gold) and 300m hurdles (gold); Boys 4x100m relay - Austin Walls, Jeff Chen, Luke Hudson, Raul Giorgi (bronze) Next up for Warrior track is the St. John’s Maverick Relays (March 1-2) where the team will compete against over 25 teams from the larger schools in the Houston area. Article and photo submitted by Tom Earle

All School News

FEBRUARY 22, 2013

The Woodlands Christian Academy

Auction & Gala The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Saturday, April 13 7:00 p.m.

Event Ticketsand Tables

on Sale Now!

Silent Auction!Bid Boards!

Live Auction!

Enjoy a delightful eveningof food, fun and fellowship!

Tickets for this festive evening are $150 each. Tables of 10 are

available at $1,500, $3,000 or $5,000. Invite friends, family or

colleagues and purchase a table for your group today!Click here to purchase

your table or individual tickets.

Individuals/couples who wish to be seated together are

encouraged to combine their ticket orders. Simply place the payments and a list of names of those desiring to sit together in one envelope and submit to the front office receptionist. We will gladly seat those who purchase individual tickets at tables based on availability. Unfortunately, we

cannot accommodate seating requests outside of those made by groups who purchase their

tickets together.

Catch The Auction Fever! The auction committee is actively seeking donations for the silent auction and bid boards. The success of our event is largely dependent upon the generous donations from our families, community members and business owners. No item is too large or too small! If you would like to donate an item or know of a business or individual who might be interested in supporting this event with a donation, please contact Laura Vanderpool at sydums@sbcglobal.net.

Youʼll Go Wild Over This Auction Item! We are excited to offer for bid an African safari! Antelope for Africa Safaris has donated a 10-day rifle hunt for two. If you are a hunter, you will not want to miss out on this opportunity to join outfitter and professional hunter Melville du Plessis on an exciting South African safari. You will hunt for

South African plains game as you experience nature in the true African bushveld. Airfare, accommodations, food and land travel are all included in this package. Donʼt miss out on this hunting experience of a lifetime!

Houston Rockets Rock The Bid Board! Calling all sports fans! This yearʼs bid board will feature four tickets to the final Houston Rockets home game of the 2012/2013 season. The high bidder and three of his/her

friends will enjoy watching the game from the 3rd row behind the Rocketsʼ bench. Two parking passes are also included! The game is April 14th at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy the Auction/Gala on Saturday and then the next evening you could be watching the Houston Rockets v. Sacramento Kings game from these premium seats!