Powerful First PTSO Meeting

I stayed late at work today to attend the first PTSO meeting of the year. The highlight of the evening was going to be the Chili Cook Off supper prior to the meting. I was looking forward to the opportunity to visit and fellowship with the faculty and families. It was to be the single bright spot in my “business as usual” day.

Well, nothing could have been further from the truth. Yes, the chili cook of was a smashing success and tons of people came to enjoy one another’s company. But the story does not end there! Throughout the entire evening, the Lord presented me with precious snapshots of what makes Unity Christian School a diamond in the rough, a gleaming testament of the power of Christ’s love in action.

The PTSO leaders gave sacrificially of their time to make sure that everything was ready for the meal and when it was over, they quietly remained behind to help make sure that the room was left better than it was found. Their positions are entirely voluntary and still they serve because they want to do whatever they can in supporting the faculty in their ministry of teaching – and is it ever a ministry!

Parents are such an incalculable asset at UCS because of the extra mile they will go to provide their children with a loving, Christ-centered learning environment. It struck me tonight when one of the officers encouraged other parents to pray about how they might be part of the plan to fulfill the improvements and hopes they have for the school. Anyone can want things to be better or different, but it’s a devoted few that will take those desires and turn them into an action plan for completion.

God has blessed Unity with its first middle school football team this year and it has generated a feeling of excitement and anticipation amongst the students and families unlike anything I’ve seen while I’ve been at UCS. But beyond the thrill of new uniforms and new cheers emanates a growing school spirit that is anchored in the Christ-honoring leadership provided by godly coaches. As we watched the team’s video and listened to Casting Crown’s “All Because of Jesus” soundtrack playing in the background, I was reminded of what a beautiful and radically different message is being lived out in every facet of Unity Christian. Where else in our community are children going to truly learn that their efforts in the classroom and actions on the field can glorify our Savior just as boldly as the praise they sing on Sunday? Amidst the spiritual warfare that is being waged against our youth, I cannot imagine trying to raise a child without such Christian brothers and sisters as my partners!


As the meeting continued so did God’s work to soften my heart to hear Him. After winning a prize drawing, one staff member refused to accept it and asked that another name be drawn so that one of the teachers could receive what was (in this individual’s mind) more rightful theirs. How blessed I am to work in such a selfless and supportive environment. As one teacher put it following the meeting, whatever decreases an employee of UCS may have to take in financial compensation he gets back many times over through the professional support and personal affirmation given so freely and liberally here at Unity. We are a tight-knit family of faith and it impacts the way we do our jobs and the attitude with which we do it.

The best example of what I saw tonight comes not surprisingly and perhaps most fittingly from one of Unity’s first graders. He had been downstairs with the other children but was missing mom so one of the workers brought him to her. After some brief consoling, he began to recover and dry his eyes. It’s what happens next that made a big impression on me. Turning around to survey the room, he caught a glimpse of his Kindergarten teacher and with a spark of excitement in his eye immediately began making his way to greet her. The two hugged and shared a private exchange of whispers with smiles all around. Whatever had been upsetting before was completely washed away by the familiar loving kindness of his former teacher. Later in the evening when it was time to go home, he and his mom walked passed his new first grade teacher who had won a drawing prize earlier. As the pupil approached his new teacher of ten days, he exclaimed with joy in his voice, “I’m so glad YOU won the prize!” I wish each of you could have heard the pride and happiness in that small voice. What a testament to the powerful bond that teachers and students share at UCS!

I came away tonight with so much more than I had anticipated! You might think that after working at UCS for over three years that I’d be used to the wonderful and unexpected ways God continues to work in the school and its family, but it’s not so. I must constantly remind myself that the Holy Spirit is and will continue to be as creative with the hearts and souls of others as he is with my own. As Mr. Getchell always says, “We might not know how the Lord will provide but we can know that He will provide.”

Page Thomas
Communications Coordinator

National Day of Prayer

One of the great things about Unity Christian School is that a very detailed operating constitution has been established. The operating constitution includes the school mission and vision statements, Christian education philosophy, core values and operating principles. You may be asking how the UCS operating constitution relates to an essay on the National Day of Prayer. The reason is at UCS, prayer is a core value.

When the National Day of Prayer comes around each year it gives us a reason to celebrate school-wide prayer during a school day that is already marked with prayers of students, teachers, administrators, parents, and countless other UCS prayer warriors. Each and every day is opened with prayer and devotion in home room. Additionally, faculty and staff have daily prayer and devotion and the administrative team has devotion and prayer every Thursday morning from 8:30-9:30. In fact, UCS would not be what it was today if it wasn’t for the fervent prayers of all those who love and support the school.

During the National Day of Prayer students, faculty, and administration led the school in a moment of prayer at the beginning of each hour of the school day. The following schedule outlines the specific area of prayer each hour:

8:00am - Praise to the Lord for His Blessings and Goodness
9:00am - Prayer for classmates and all schools located in Rome/Floyd County
10:00am - Prayer for faculty, staff, and administration
11:00am - Prayer for state/local officials, safety personnel (Sheriff, Police, EMS, Firemen)
12:00pm - Prayer for President Bush, Congress and Federal Employees
1:00pm - Prayer for leaders of other countries
2:00pm - Prayer for missionaries in the USA and foreign countries
3:00pm - Prayer for military personnel

What a blessing it is to live in a country where the open prayer to God is a freedom enjoyed by all.

Glenn Getchell,
Headmaster

UCS Claims Another Spelling Bee Championship

Unity Christian School eighth grader Wendy Bristow claimed UCS' second independent school spelling bee championship in just over two months Thursday morning when she won a competition featuring middle schoolers from UCS, Darlington School, St. Mary's School and Berry College Middle School. In addition to Wendy's first-place finish, her eighth-grade classmate, Jasmine Paxton, finished third.

On February 26, UCS third grader Abigail Sorrow won a spelling bee featuring students from UCS, Darlington, St. Mary's and Excel Christian (Cartersville). Abigail won that event despite competing against fourth and fifth graders.

Congratulations to Wendy and Jasmine, as well all the other competitors from UCS and the other schools, for their performance at this morning's spelling bee.

To see the Rome News-Tribune's coverage of the event, click here.

Update from Argentina

Twenty eight members of the Unity Christian School family are in Argentina this week as UCS celebrates Missions Emphasis Week. While others at UCS are learning about missions and serving in the community, these 28 people have gone to Argentina to share their faith through a dramatic dance performance entitled Spellbound. The following email message was sent to Mr. Getchell and Mr. Davis by Mr. Jolly, a teaching pastor at Three Rivers Church and a member of the UCS faculty who is a member of the traveling party.

Hello,

It’s evening, and Mr. Poston and I are preparing to leave for a speaking engagement in a Gypsy church out in the rural areas. It’s getting late, and we are all tired, but we have had two very good days of work.

The students have been in front of hundreds of kids at every level and have sowed the Gospel message well. I am proud of their attitude and discernment. They have displayed to me that they know the Gospel and care about it being communicated well. They have given effort both physically and emotionally to make that happen. UCS should be proud of them.

All are physically well, but a bit tired. After a good night’s sleep they will do the rounds again tomorrow culminating in a service at a final church where our translator Michael works and attends.

Pray for physical strength. Pray for patience in the heat. Pray for the Holy Spirit to make Christ known and lift the veil of unbelief from their eyes.

Mitch Jolly
Teaching Pastor
Three RiversCommunityChurch

Steel Drum Band Shares Joy of Christ, Music in Bainbridge

Unity Christian School's steel drum band made a trip to Bainbridge, Georgia last week. The group, directed by Mr. Bill King, made an excellent impression during its trip, sharing much more than music with their new fans in South Georgia. The band also had the opportunity to share their joy that comes from following Christ. Congratulations on a great trip, Mr. King.

See the following links to see articles about the group's trip to Bainbridge. One article also includes a video.

Steel Drum Band To Perform Thursday

Unity Christian Steel Drums Entertain (includes video)

Calypso Sounds Fill The Air

Ignorance Is No Defense

Former DeKalb County district attorney J. Tom Morgan, author of the book Ignorance is No Defense, will be visiting Unity Christian School on March 24th to talk with 8th – 12th graders about Georgia’s laws as well as teenagers’ rights in different real-life situations.

Mr. Morgan is a well-known prosecutor and defense lawyer in Georgia and has appeared on numerous television shows to discuss laws as they pertain to Georgia’s youth.

The upcoming visit was born out of a discussion topic on the law and legal procedures in a senior seminar at Unity. Homeroom teachers for the 8th through 12th grades have been reading and discussing Mr. Morgan’s book with their students in preparation for the trial lawyer’s visit. Mr. Morgan will address the students and faculty at 10 a.m. on Monday and lead a Q&A session afterwards. He will then give a talk open to any interested parents as well as the public at 7 p.m. at Unity Christian’s Upper Campus (2960 New Calhoun Hwy. NE). A reception for Mr. Morgan will follow.

For more information about the evening presentation or for directions to Unity’s Upper Campus, please call 706-292-0700. To learn more about J. Tom Morgan or his book go to www.ignoranceisnodefense.com.

Why should I send my child to UCS?

Why should I send my child to UCS?

WOW! A loaded question! As I toured a family that I know pretty well around our campus on a recent Visitors’ Day, I was asked this question. I took a deep breath and began to share…

Academics?

UCS has chosen curriculums that challenge and prepare students to succeed at the next level, an academic program that is competitive to any private or public school in our area. But is that the real reason?

Extracurricular Activities?

UCS offers students many opportunities to use their gifts in music, drama, art, and sports. But is that the real reason?

UCS teaches the Bible and students pray in class?

Sure, we set aside time each day for prayer and the study of God’s Word and for some that is enough to justify calling ourselves a Christian school, but that really isn’t the reason either. I know of Christian students and teachers in many public schools who meet regularly to study God’s Word and pray.

So what is the real reason?

In Deuteronomy, we are told to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength, and to commit ourselves wholeheartedly to this command. We are to repeat it again and again to our children. We are told to talk about it when we are at home and when we are away on a journey, when we are lying down and when we are getting up. UCS is intentional about teaching your child to incorporate Jesus into every aspect of his day and in every situation. Unlike in other schools, where your child may be asked to focus on academics for 8 hours of the school day and leave his spiritual growth for times other than school, UCS purposefully plans mission opportunities to help your child discover ways to take his faith beyond himself and into a world where others may not know Jesus. UCS is also intentional in choosing, training, and equipping teachers to take advantage of every opportunity to help your child relate his biblical beliefs to everything he does.

So why UCS?

Because you desire to place your child in an environment that is deliberate about partnering with you to help your child in growing to love God with all his heart.

1 Peter 3:15 says,

“…if you are about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.”

Every year about this time there is a buzz in the community about what is going on at Unity as many parents seek to evaluate where their own children should go to school the following year. As parents, many times you are Unity’s greatest advertisement. I encourage you to be ready to answer the same question that was asked of me. Of course, your answer may sound a lot different than mine. I encourage you to share your story about why you chose Unity. In doing so, you may be giving hope to someone who is in need.

God bless!

Mrs. Wisener

3rd Grade Teacher