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Augustine Christian Academy...in Thy light, we see light. Psalm 36:9

The Augustine ForumThe Newsmagazine of Augustine Christian AcademyFall/Winter 2012

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2 Letter From the Administrator

On the Cover

Griffin House leaders Amy Schatzmann, Stephen Spencer, Mrs. Deleise Brewer, Nik Stophel, Anthony Conroy, and Connor Raines

Top: Griffin House members serve at Oasis Adult Day Services.Middle: James Keel volunteers with Dragon House at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.Bottom: Simon Cheeseman builds a frame with a volunteer from Home Depot during the Wheel-a-thon.

Dear Friends of ACA,

A distinctive of Augustine Christian Academy is the development of character in our students. We believe that the development of godly character and

responsibility in both public and private arenas is the key to lifelong success. ACA seeks to instill a sense of honor and obligation to the family, the church, and the community by creating outlets for that expression.

One way we achieve this is through training our students for service — service to our Great King and service to His children. While we know that God is love, we learn more and more how His examples of giving to His creation fill the Scriptures. As Matthew 20:28 tells us, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” What does it mean to serve, and how do we teach and train this attribute in the next generation?

Through the competition of the four Houses at ACA, students regularly earn points for donated hours of community service. These acts of service are as varied as the many students. We believe this program fits our students, who are blessed in many ways, not the least of which is the privilege of attending a private school, and have the capacity to share their lives with others. As I Corinthians reminds us, “To those of whom much is given, much is required.”

Our fall fundraiser went a step further and involved the entire junior and senior high in our first-ever Serve-a-thon. The students went to four different agencies and gave a day of service. One group visited an Alzheimer’s facility, where they did gardening work, played games, and sang for the clients. Another group of students sorted and packaged food at a food bank distribution center, while a third group wrote cards and made holiday packages for U.S. service members. The fourth group of students completed cleaning projects at a center for special-needs children.

Not only did the students enjoy their projects, but many also returned to school with a new vision for service. It was humbling to hear the praise spoken by the supervisors at each of the four facilities. All said, “You can come back anytime.” They marveled at the fine students, at how hard they worked, and how well they led one another.

The elementary classes also raised funds for ACA by soliciting donations for their Wheel-a-thon. We are very proud and grateful for the diligent service of all of the students and their families. In addition to the joyful enthusiasm, $42,500 has been raised for the school. May we continue to inspire one another to love and good works.

Through love serve one another,

Larry J. EhrlichLarry J. Ehrlich, D. Phil.

What does it mean to serve, and how do we teach and train this attribute in the

next generation?

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Upcoming Events

White ChristmasDecember 6-9, 2012ACA

Fundraising BanquetFriday, February 22, 20137:00 p.m.Renaissance Hotel

Little TheaterMarch 9 and May 3, 20137:00 p.m.ACA

Israel TripMarch 2013

Disney’s The Little MermaidApril 11-14, 2013ACA

The Augustine Forumpublished semiannually by Augustine Christian Academy

Contributors: Toni Ahrens, Deleise Brewer, Kirk Brewer, Vicki Cheeseman, Gary Conroy, Becki Davis, Larry Ehrlich, Denise Knorr and

Sweeter Still Photography, Sammi Main, Lorretta Miller, Tina Nettles, Brina Osborne, Kirk Post,

Judy Schwenk, and the ACA Yearbook Staff

Cover Photo: Patti SchatzmannFaculty Advisor: Deleise BrewerProofreader: Vicki Cheeseman

Editor: Karen AspensonMentor and Liaison: Andrew Johnson

For the glory of the Lord

Augustine Christian Academy is a 501(c)(3) corporation. All contributions are tax deductible

in compliance with IRS statutes.

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Farewell

This year has been a difficult one. ACA said good-bye to two of our finest.

Mrs. Marie Barlow taught science for several years at Augustine and was deeply loved by her students. She was a hands-on teacher who invested her time in the students’ lives by getting to know them personally, and she was adept at relating to the students on their level. Marie passed away on June 24 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Mr. Chuck Stophel served on the Board of Governors and filled countless volunteer roles, especially in performing arts. He was a driving force in getting the first edition of The Augustine Forum off the ground.

His sons, Nik and Asher, are in 12th and 6th grades, respectively. His oldest son, Cres, is an ACA alumnus (2010). Chuck passed

away on June 28 after a long, difficult battle with cancer.

Both Mrs. Barlow and Mr. Stophel will be greatly missed.

Marie Barlow1966 - 2012

Chuck Stophel1967 - 2012

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2 Faculty Spotlight

Faculty Spotlight: Deleise BrewerKirk Brewer, ACA Faculty

What do troubleshooting network computer problems, teaching the meaning of archetypal literary symbols, and

trying to figure out what candy bar sells best in the lunchroom vending machine have in common? If you don’t immediately see the connection, that’s OK. Most people don’t. But if you know Augustine Christian Academy faculty member Deleise Brewer — resident tech advisor, literature teacher, and snack food marketing guru — then the answer is obvious.

Mrs. Brewer currently teaches literature and yearbook at ACA, leads Griffin House, coordinates school technology, and serves as senior class sponsor. She began teaching full time in 2007, but has been associated with ACA since 2000 when her oldest son, Jared, began as a freshman in high school. Back then, Mrs. Brewer was a stay-at-home mom who also had two younger children in elementary school, and she just knew that her schedule was sure to lighten up with this new schedule change. However, when her son wanted to play basketball for ACA, and Brewer found out the sports program needed volunteers or the teams couldn’t play, things changed again.

“They told me that the students wouldn’t be able to have a team if someone didn’t help get things organized, so I decided to jump in,” Mrs. Brewer says. And jump in she did. She started arranging refs, stocking and running the concessions, coordinating gym

schedules, and even coaching a team or two in a pinch. Brewer soon had her whole family (husband, brother, sister-in-law,

children, nieces, and nephews included) involved, and basketball games became the Friday night activity of choice for Augustine families. As a volunteer, she ran a successful fundraising effort for new team uniforms and warm-ups, talked local businesses into posting banners in the gym, and even managed to procure

an electronic scoreboard. [Note: ACA does not have a basketball program at this time because we no longer have access to the gymnasium we used to lease.]

Mrs. Brewer’s energy and enthusiasm caught the attention of the administration, which was looking for someone to help promote the school, so they asked her if she’d be willing to help. “I work for people, not causes,” she explains. “So, while I’d studied public relations in college, I never could get too enthused about it before. But I knew the people at Augustine and knew what it was about, so I jumped in.”

In a short time, the same things that happened with the sports program started happening again. During Mrs. Brewer’s tenure promoting ACA, her contagious enthusiasm, ability to juggle multiple tasks, and knack for making personal connections

helped the school make some major improvements. She acquired donations for remodeling the building, helped increase student enrollment by 40%, and even landed a well-known local radio personality as commencement speaker. She also wore herself out.

“I came to the place where I knew I needed to take a break or I was going to collapse, so I called it quits for a while,” she explained. For most people “calling it quits” means relaxing more, maybe taking a vacation, sleeping in perhaps, but not for Mrs. Brewer. She went back to college.

“I decided I needed to finish the degree I’d started before I got married and had kids. I thought about finishing in public relations or journalism, but I wasn’t sure.” So she went back to Northeastern

Deleise Brewer

Mrs. Brewer’s energy and enthusiasm caught the attention of the

administration ...

“I fell in love with the students ...”

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Faculty SpotlightState University, and earned a degree in general studies (now called liberal arts). “Honestly, it was the quickest way to get my degree,” she says with a laugh. “I worried that it wasn’t specialized enough.” Providentially, that was not a problem.

Armed with a degree that gave her broad-based knowledge of education, psychology, social studies, history, and English (which fits quite well into the philosophy of classical education), Mrs. Brewer returned to ACA and began substitute teaching some history classes. “I fell in love with the students,” she explains. “I knew teaching was what I was called to do.” After a semester of teaching “whatever was needed,” she was offered a full-time teaching position.

“I taught six different subjects to students ranging from sixth grade to senior high,” she says. “It was grueling, and I swear I met myself coming and going, but I loved it.”

Over the next couple of years, Mrs. Brewer’s yearbook class published the school’s first full-color yearbook, she developed the course Christianity in Literature (designed to help students see the recurring Christian archetypes in multiple literary genres), and she and her yearbook team managed to purchase the vending machines that reside in the school cafeteria so that they could fund yearbook accounts. Clearly, her multitasking and liberal arts mindset served her students and the school well.

And then there’s Mrs. Brewer’s role in ACA technology. “When we got the Mac lab, I volunteered to help coordinate it, but I honestly didn’t know what I was doing,” she explains. Initially she was just going to schedule classes in the lab, assist students with any problems, and serve as a contact person for the teachers. “It sort of grew from there,” she says, deadpan.

Mrs. Brewer found that she was a natural on the technology front, and she quickly saw how using it benefited her students, which got her excited. (The attentive reader should be able to predict by now what happens when she gets excited.) Mrs. Brewer became more versed in how to use technology, and “ jumped in” to share ideas and strategies with other teachers. Her energy and enthusiasm did what it evidently cannot help from doing and spread to other faculty and to students. Soon, demand was high enough that ACA bought a new lab full of computers, moving the initial ones to teachers’ desks. A few Macbooks, projectors, iPads, and iPad rolling carts later, Mrs. Brewer now finds herself supervising several student tech aids, helping make technology policy, training faculty and students, and still meeting herself coming and going.

Mrs. Brewer found that she was a natural on the technology front, and she quickly saw how using it benefited her

students ...

Events

Mock Presidential Election

The entire Grammar School participated in a mock presidential election in November. The candidates were

members of the 5th grade class. These 5th graders made campaign posters, gave speeches, and served at the poll in Mrs. Ahrens’ classroom.

Jacob Rippy was elected president, and Jaden Fashing was elected vice president. The students enjoyed this special day while learning about our nation’s election process.

New Family Picnic

Our Grammar School picnic for new ACA families was held at Leake Park. The party was scheduled to start at

4:00 p.m., which was the same time that rain was forecast. Though the event was on the edge of the cloud cover, the kids did not let the weather dampen their fun. They played tennis, football, and many other activities. The attendance was better than expected for the rainy day, and everyone enjoyed meeting and relaxing together. We extend our sincere appreciation to Mrs. Michelle Leidy, who organized and planned the event.

Simon Cheeseman and Beau Aspenson cast their ballots as the older students supervise on election day.

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Board of Governors Notes

Sometimes, parents at our school wonder what the Board of Governors talks about and in what direction the school is

moving. We want to have a more open-door policy, and through The Augustine Forum we will regularly share some of the topics we discuss at our meetings to help facilitate communication. Some topics are confidential for a variety of reasons, but many are items in which we could use your prayers to gain wisdom and favor. Our goal is to embrace the vision to train young minds to think and reason from a Biblical worldview, and to do that in a safe, fun, and culturally rich Christian environment that is affordable.

At our last meeting, we started by reviewing the annual budget. We are very pleased to announce that the school is projected to have, for the fourth year in a row, a positive bank statement through careful planning, good enrollment, and generous gifts. We truly appreciate the sacrifice, commitment, and ministry that our teachers give, and we are working toward a goal to increase overall teacher salaries at some point in the future. We hope to create chaired positions so that supporters can help ACA keep the best teachers possible on staff. The annual school Christmas program is a time to show your appreciation with a financial gift for the teachers.

We are pleased to say the renovations in the Performing Arts Building are completed. We were able to do well over $40,000 in work for under $30,000 because of so much volunteer help. We met all city ADA and safety codes in the renovation process. Security has been greatly enhanced with new procedures, an alarm, mag lock, keypad, peep hole, and all new exterior and parking lot lights.

We also reviewed current school security and incident procedures, and will meet with the teachers and staff about new safety protocols for everyone’s benefit. We have implemented even greater fiscal accountability to protect the investment of all our families and supporters.

As a board, we are thankful to be able to volunteer and offer assistance to the administration in providing the best opportunities and environment for the students of ACA. The board can always use additional help, and we are looking for volunteers for a variety of committees. If you would like to serve in any way, please let the school know.

Sincerely,

Your Board of Governors

Gary Conroy (Chair), Gary Geppelt, Nathan Hostetler, Jerry McKelvey, Bryan Osborne, Mike Rieck, Stuart Spencer, and Monty Woods

Day to Day at ACA

These are my favorite things about being prefect of Dragon House:

• The feeling I experience when my House accomplishes or succeeds at something

• Getting to know the members of the House, especially the junior high students in my small group

• Having fun, playing games, and doing things with my House

• Playing with the elementary grades that our House is matched with this year

—David Ahrens, Dragon House Prefect

I love serving my House:• As a good example of diligence and

commitment• As a helper• As a friend

—Nuria Martinez-Keel, Pegasus House Prefect

David Ahrens carves a pumpkin with second graders Simon Cheeseman and Kersey Jones.

I love Griffin House and every member in it!My favorite thing about being prefect is that I am constantly gaining new leadership skills.

Serving as prefect has taught me to focus more on others than myself. Before being prefect, I had always gone to House time thinking about what I could get out of it; I now go to House time thinking of ways that I can impact others.

I always have looked up to my prefects: Elaine Bimba, Genesis King, Austin Turner, Caleb Weir, John Teegarden, and Rachel Knorr.

So far, I have thoroughly enjoyed being prefect. —Nik Stophel, Griffin House Prefect

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Day to Day at ACA

New classes offered 2012-2013Math Foundations (junior high)

Vocal Ensemble (8th - 12th grades)

Marine Biology (11th - 12th grades)

New TeachersMrs. Toni Ahrens — 2nd gradeMrs. Connie Perryman — 4th gradeMrs. Diane Bouma — 5th grade (Tuesday/Thursday)Mr. Michael Bates — GreekMrs. Linda Dimiceli — LatinMiss Ruthie Rogers (2004 ACA alumna) — various classes

We appreciate our volunteers!Yoana Solomon, Qwendy Davis, and Micah Dickens

Adaline Reece, Emma Aspenson, and Jordan Green perform as members of the new Vocal Ensemble class.

Hats off to Volunteers!

Volunteers perform many of our necessary tasks at ACA. Though this list is not complete, we would like to thank the

following parents who give of their time and talents.

Bernie Bloemker

• President of the Performing Arts Booster Club• Parent leader for Serve-a-thon fundraiser

Kris Dickens• Assistant to Grammar School teachers • Helper with holiday crafts, K4/K5• Handler of lunch orders on Fridays, K4/K5

Jane Fanning• Landscaper• Painter of Performing Arts sets

Michelle Leidy• Planner and organizer of Grammar School new family picnic• Homeroom mother, K4/K5 • Classroom helper, 3rd Grade• Creator of character trait posters for Chapel

Deborah Spencer• Organizer of prayer group (past several years)• Helper in the library every Wednesday • Coordinator of Moot Court

Tom Wilsterman• Chaperone for Junior High field trips (last four years)• Constructor of Performing Arts sets

Vickie Wilsterman• Past President and Vice President of the Performing Arts Booster Club• Makeup artist for Performing Arts• Chaperone for Junior High field trips (last four years)

Tanyala Woods• Organizer of Wheel-a-thon (last three years)• Assistant to art teacher for Grammar School classes• Facilitator of prayer group

Karen Aspenson• Bookkeeper for Serve-a-thon/Wheel-a-thon fundraiser• Editor of The Augustine Forum• Coordinator for Box Tops for Education and Campbell’s Soup Labels (last five years)

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2 Serve-a-thon

Cold, damp air met the students as they left ACA and began loading onto traditional yellow school buses.

October was here, and it seemed that any moment the skies would bring the deluge the meteorologists had been promising. Griffin, Falcon, Pegasus, and Dragon Houses each had a separate destination, but one distinct goal — to fulfill their pledge to generous donors to the Augustine Christian Academy Serve-a-thon by working for various charities for a good portion of the day. The sponsors of each House, along with many adult volunteers, checked and rechecked their student rosters and supplies, made sure everyone knew where they were going, and gave the final thumbs-up to leave for an adventure for which none quite knew what to expect.

Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be

answered. Proverbs 21:13

From each charity, the House members received high praise in the form of notes and compliments. But in the impromptu assembly at the end of the day, when the four Houses returned to ACA, it was very apparent that the students had received far more than they gave. It was an exhausting but exhilarating day — one where the Gospel had been shared.

He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him. Proverbs 14:31

Sarah Smith plants flowers for Oasis Adult Day Services. Brice Johnson cleans for The Little Light House.

I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor. Psalm 140:12

Griffin HouseDeleise Brewer, Sponsor

Arriving at Oasis Adult Day Services around 9:15 a.m., Nik Stophel, Prefect of Griffin House, separated everyone into teams. An odd combination of items came off the bus: hymnals, rakes, gloves, guitars, and hoes, just to name a few. Work began without hesitation on the outside. Nik and Stephen Spencer had worked the previous summer for Jane Fanning, a landscape architect and parent of one of ACA’s students. In fact, Ms. Fanning showed up later and lent a much-needed hand (and a larger leaf blower) to the teams. These guys knew what to do and began to work feverishly to instruct the younger ones on all things gardening. As the work progressed, so did the cold, but the students didn’t give up. After several hours of hard work, the jobs were finished.

Inside was another story. Teams went into a large room filled with round tables, chairs, and people — people of all ages — people of all backgrounds — people of all races — and people with all types of needs — mentally, physically, and/or socially. Oasis is a day-care center that offers respite for caregivers and help to adults so that they can have an alternative to long-term-care facilities. It took awhile for the students to acclimate to their surroundings, but then energy began to fill the room. Girls painted women’s fingernails, some played cards, and others enjoyed board games. A group led by Mr. Kirk Brewer began playing the piano, guitar, and cello. Old hymns reverberated throughout the room, and the guests tapped their feet and tried to sing along. At one point, the bus driver even got in on the act, playing “Amazing Grace” as Griffin House members sang along.

For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress. Isaiah 25:4

Pegasus HouseLorretta Miller, Sponsor

The Pegasus House members chose The Little Light House as their charity. The day began with an instructional video helping our House understand who and what The Little Light House is — a Christian developmental center providing tuition-free educational, therapeutic services to children with special needs from birth to age six. After listening to a testimonial from a staff member, our Pegasus Prefect, Nuria Martinez-Keel, directed teams to get started on the work at hand. There was a long to-do list.

Raking mulch, painting, and cleaning up the playground were some of the outside duties. Some of the students were able to squeeze in playing with the staff’s children in-between doing some of their jobs. Folding shirts and cleaning windows were another team’s duties. Lunchtime brought the House back together. A quick game of soccer re-energized them, and back to work they went. The jobs on the to-do list were soon finished, and the students additionally gave some much-appreciated help to teachers in classrooms by organizing classroom supplies and books.

As the bus rolled back to the school, Wesley Ahrens led the students in a Pegasus House song that he composed. Among the students, there was a sense of relief at being finished with the projects accompanied by a sense of accomplishment and success.

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Serve-a-thon

But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God

abide in him? 1 John 3:17

Falcon HouseJessika Crow, Sponsor

Falcon House chose the Blue Star Mothers — Broken Arrow Chapter as their charity of choice. This organization, operated by mothers who have or have had children serving in the military, supports its members, troops serving everywhere in the world, and veterans here at home. The Prefect of Falcon House, Sarah McKelvey, organized House members into teams. Their task was to stuff stockings with goodies and a card. These will soon be sent to wounded warriors in hospitals. These particular men and women served in the armed forces and have been gravely wounded.

The Blue Star Mothers asked Falcon House to complete 500 stockings, but this group of kids was able to crank out 752. The stockings that were considered ready for shipment contained two packets of gum, two different kinds of crackers, three different kinds of candy bars, and a handwritten card (that the students also colored). Falcon House spent hours personalizing these cards with words of inspiration so that each recipient felt special and unique. Doing work that at times might seem monotonous did not damper the House members’ enthusiasm.

The group took a small break to eat pizza at Berean Baptist Church, which had opened its doors for the House project, but work resumed quickly thereafter.

The House members were overjoyed with the opportunity to have a part in serving those who have served us.

Cold, damp air met the students as they left ACA and began loading onto traditional yellow school buses.

October was here, and it seemed that any moment the skies would bring the deluge the meteorologists had been promising. Griffin, Falcon, Pegasus, and Dragon Houses each had a separate destination, but one distinct goal — to fulfill their pledge to generous donors to the Augustine Christian Academy Serve-a-thon by working for various charities for a good portion of the day. The sponsors of each House, along with many adult volunteers, checked and rechecked their student rosters and supplies, made sure everyone knew where they were going, and gave the final thumbs-up to leave for an adventure for which none quite knew what to expect.

Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be

answered. Proverbs 21:13

From each charity, the House members received high praise in the form of notes and compliments. But in the impromptu assembly at the end of the day, when the four Houses returned to ACA, it was very apparent that the students had received far more than they gave. It was an exhausting but exhilarating day — one where the Gospel had been shared.

He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him. Proverbs 14:31

Daxon Silvers-Chase, Ty Henson, and Kaitlynn Abbott sort canned goods for the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

Seth Collingsworth makes Christmas cards for the Blue Star Mothers — Broken Arrow Chapter.

And [John the Baptist] would answer and say to them, “Let the man with two tunics share with him who has

none, and let him who has food do likewise.” Luke 3:11

Dragon HouseSteve Beresh and Karen Swenson, Sponsors

At first, an overwhelmed feeling overtook the House members, looking at the thousands and thousands of goods that sat in the crates before us. The Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Dragon House’s charity, is tasked with receiving unwanted or dented canned goods and distributing them to various shelters and help centers across Oklahoma. A man soon entered and put the students’ minds to rest, as he quickly and efficiently taught them how to tackle sorting the contents of all the crates. Immediately, with the help of their Prefect, David Ahrens, they were put into groups of about seven people and began sorting the thousands of canned goods. Hard at work, the noise level rose as all the House members’ voices mixed with the clanking of cans and the stacking of boxes. Before long, the crates stood empty before them.

The employees were amazed at the students’ hard work and how quickly they finished their task — so impressed that they brought out more food for Dragon House to sort. Volunteering at the food bank was an extremely rewarding event to the Dragon House members. According to the leaders, seeing with their own eyes the amount of food that is necessary to help feed the poor helped them to better grasp the reality of poverty within their own city. They recognized that most of their families can easily replace a dented can or cardboard cereal box, but there are families and parents who are unable to provide for their children without the help that food banks offer.

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2 Wheel-a-thon

We would like to thank the nearly 500 donors who helped make our Wheel-a-thon a tremendous success!

Hula Hoop Contest!

Bubble Blowing Contest!

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Wheel-a-thon

We would like to thank the nearly 500 donors who helped make our Wheel-a-thon a tremendous success!

Pie Eating Contest!

Home Depot Construction Kits!

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2 Inside Look

These are a Few of My Favorite ThingsBrina Osborne, 3rd Grade Teacher

Last year, I walked into the Great Room and was applauded by several students. The applause wasn't just for me. It was

for whomever walked through those doors. I even left the room and entered a second time, but the students did not cheer again. Logan Turner explained to me that he thought of doing that to encourage our ACA family. What a lovely picture of Hebrews 12:1: "We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses." I felt cheered to run the race set before me.

Each Monday during Grammar School chapel, the precious little children lifting their hands and sincerely singing praises to our great God moves me emotionally. A few of the little girls hold onto each other, their arms around each others’ necks, during worship. I have to work to hold back the tears and can only imagine how happy our Father is to experience the praises and sweet voices of the children.

One of our snack machines has fun pictures of students and teachers for sale. Seniors Nik Stophel and David Ahrens came up with the idea to generate funds by placing their pictures in the empty slots. They sold wildly! Then, pictures of a few high school teachers showed up, even one of Mr. Post dressed as a pirate. Katie Osborne came up with the idea of making a trading card game where each teacher has a special power and is worth a certain number of points. Mr. Post's card is, of course, the trump card. I love being surrounded by students with such ingenuity and creativity!

At the beginning of this year, some of the music and drama classes were held in the Great Room. I had the awesome privilege of hearing lovely Show Choir voices and other singing. Even now, after school, Anthony Conroy practices his cello while Joe Bates practices his violin. Whether they play simple scales or rich classical melodies from the past, their music lifts my spirits.

I've been taking the Grammar School children outside in the mornings to play before school starts to stimulate their brains with movement. One of my parents, Jens Quilitzsch, sat with me and asked how he could pray for me or for my family. Wow! I've been hired to serve him by teaching his child, and he wants to pray for me! Amazing.

This year, I am learning Latin. I teach at a classical school, so, of course, I should know Latin! I am really enjoying it. Where else can you have the opportunity to audit a class and better yourself? Now I can keep up with my two children who are also studying Latin. I'll tell you a funny story about Latin at home. Katie had just received her iPad to use on her advanced classical diploma track. She needed help from her dad, the family computer expert, just after we had turned out the light in our bedroom. She dramatically marched into our dark room by the light of her iPad, singing, "Pater noster!" which is “our father” in Latin. We cracked up! Only in a classical school do you get to experience fun like that!

I hear stories from the high school students about their desire never to let a student sit alone. One student says, "I love him because he is one of God's children. It doesn't matter that he isn't cool. He's part of God's family." A female student was frustrated by the way some upper classmen were treating her and her friends. She and her friends discussed what they could do to stop that type of behavior and made plans to treat those younger than they are the way they would like to be treated.

Why do David Ahrens and Nik Stophel play with the third-graders? There are no perks for playing with them. It's certainly not the popular thing to do. But they do it. They've eaten lunch with the younger kids for quite a while now, and regularly interact with them before school starts. No one has asked them to do this — at least not anyone we can see. This excites me. There are young adults who are not self-centered, who give of themselves, who let the little children come unto them. Wow — and I get to rub shoulders with students like this! It's almost too much. I am overwhelmed by the joys and creativity that surround me.

Shurabe Jennings and Natalya Byrd Alex Wilbins performs at Little Theater.Trenton Gabriel does the limbo while Alexandria Nellis and Cole Leidy wait in line. Jonah Dickens holds the limbo pole.

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Student ArtworkLEFT:

Courtney Skalnik, 7th grade

RIGHT: Rachel Wolf, 9th grade

LEFT: Finn Aspenson, 5th grade

RIGHT: Elise Culp, 5th grade

LEFT: Bethany Waller, 12th

grade

RIGHT: James Keel, 9th grade

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Aaron Bolerjack (2002) and his wife, Brittney, recently arrived back in the United States after serving in a coffee house ministry in Poland for the past two years. They will be home for several months and then will depart for London, England, to help establish a coffee house ministry there. While they are back in Oklahoma, Aaron is teaching a couple of classes at Southern Nazarene University.

Petra (Hodge) Russell (2003) and her husband, Ian, had their fourth child, Xerxes, in April 2012. He joins older siblings Lyric, age 5 1/2, Atticus, age 4 1/2, and Alaska, age 2. The Russells are currently living in Glenpool where Ian works as a Flexoprinter and Petra is a stay-at-home mom just beginning her homeschooling adventure.

After spending a year teaching English in China, Ruthie Rogers (2004) was glad to come home to Oklahoma. She is now part of the faculty at Augustine Christian Academy where she teaches several junior high classes and one high school class. She was relieved to discover that at least her 6th graders are shorter than she is.

Jason Harwood (2005) graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in aviation management air traffic control. He and his wife are living in Tulsa and expecting their first child next spring. Jason plans to continue his education by pursuing his master’s in physics.

Chandler (2006) and Heather Merrell welcomed Jackson Chandler Merrell into their family on July 12, 2012. Jackson weighed 8 lbs. 11 oz. The family lives in North Carolina where Chandler is serving in the U.S. Army.

Briana King (2008) graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2012 and is now working as an internal auditor for JRMB in Lawton, Okla.

Adam Jones (2010) and Kyla Bloemker (2010) were married on July 14, 2012, at The Bible Church of Owasso. Their wedding party included ACA alumni Michael Chorley, Creston Stophel, Philip Spencer, Joshua Hyman, Zachary Wilsterman, and Miriam Brennecke — all from the class of 2010 — and Torie Ferguson (2011). Mark Geppelt (2008) was an usher and Katelyn Karnuth (2010) was the guestbook attendant.

Alex Shambrook (2010) and Savannah Ryon (2010) were married on Sept. 15, 2012, in Broken Arrow.

Anna Tracy (2010) is in her junior year at the University of Oklahoma, majoring in multidisciplinary studies with an emphasis in music and English writing. She has begun her second term of service with AmeriCorps at the Center for Children & Families in Norman. Anna works for their Neighborhood Centers Dept. on the Youth Development staff.

Nathan Means (2011) is attending Oklahoma Baptist University where he plays defensive end for the OBU Bison football team. This is the first year OBU has had a football team since 1940, and Nathan is proud to be wearing number 29 as part of their new era in football.

Andrew Whitham (former student) is currently serving in the U.S. Marine Corp. He has been assigned to Quantico for “Embassy School” and will then be stationed at one of the many U.S. Embassies for a period of three years.

Alumni

Please send us your news and updated information.

We want to know what you are doing and where you

are living.

Thank you!

Alumni News

Kneeling left to right: Patrick Jones, Mark Geppelt, Kenneth Jones, Kale Bloemker, Bryce RobinsonStanding left to right: Torie Ferguson, Alicia Wilbins, Allie Klenk, Miriam Brennecke, Kelci Bloemker, Kyla & Adam Jones, Michael Chorley, Philip Spencer, Creston Stophel, Josh Hyman, Zach Wilsterman

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Faculty Favorites

Book Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas

Author Abraham Joshua Heschel

Vacation spot Israel

Hobby Grandkids

Movie Dune

Food Hamburgers, Coconut Macaroons

Dr. Larry Ehrlich, Administrator

Book I love mystery and suspense books—one does not stand out.

Author Agatha Christie, Margaret Daley, Colleen Coble

Vacation spot Walt Disney World, Florida. I have been there five times — four of them without kids!

Hobby Reading, 1000-piece puzzles, and trying to solve a Nancy Drew PC mystery. Right now, we are working on “Alibis in Ashes” and I think the TV reporter did it.

Movie You’ve Got Mail. I cry every time I see it. I really like the Bourne as well as the James Bond movies.

Food Salmon. I could eat that at least 2-3 times a week and never get tired of it.

Mrs. Rhonda Morgan, Science and

Math Teacher

Book The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. I just love how it puts a perspective on life and how one can affect others without even knowing it.

Author Nicholas Sparks. I must admit, I read a lot of “fluff” and am a sucker for cheesy, sappy love stories.

Vacation spot We do not typically vacation, but when we get the chance to get away, we visit family in Branson.

Hobby Definitely reading. I also enjoy singing.

Movie My number one, all-time favorite movie will always be The Little Mermaid. I am DEFINITELY looking forward to the spring musical!

Food Anything Italian

Miss Sammi Main, 1st Grade Teacher

These faculty members happily obliged when we asked them to share some of their favorite things. We hope that you will enjoy getting to know them better.

Book The Scottish Chiefs by Jane Porter

Author Jane Austen

Vacation spot Vacation? Are you kidding me?

Hobby Puzzles and knitting

Movie Angel in My Pocket

Food Cheesecake or crème brûlée. It’s a tie, so how about crème brûlée cheesecake?

Mrs. Lisa Isgrigg, Music Teacher

Augustine Christian Academy is a small, independent, Christian classical school dedicated to training students to take the lead in their personal lives, in their educations, and in their communities.

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2 Post’s PostWe are delighted to introduce a new column by our principal, Mr. Kirk Post, who reads a great variety of books. In “Post’s Post,” he will review a book from his list of favorites. We hope that you will enjoy this charter column.

Drive

As a child, I loved great stories, but the effort it took for me to read competed with the desire of my hyperactive body

and brain to run around and act out any story I encountered. Consequently, I found myself believing that I just did not like to read. This aversion to the work of reading extended to other homework as well, so that by the time I was going into high school, I had fairly well settled on the idea that I would be a mediocre student at best. There was, however, one particular incident that changed that impression for me.

It came in the person of a new youth director who began to teach us apologetics: the art of defending the faith. He would challenge our beliefs with many of the common criticisms of the day, and then provide us with vibrant Bible lessons and great authors to study. We read some of the greatest apologists of the faith and couldn’t get enough. We were like starving beggars, devouring Scripture and consuming every good Christian author the youth director would suggest. We loved going to the Christian bookstore and finding more sources on our own. Suddenly, I found that reading was not an enemy, and that I actually loved to read and loved to study.

My grades in school took a sharp turn upward, and my confidence and leadership skills grew constantly. I HAD to know answers! I was daily encountering people who wanted to know about God, and I was the messenger. The youth minister’s program of evangelism for us created a hunger to learn and a motivation to study.

Recently, I asked our teachers to travel with me through Daniel Pink’s book, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. Surprisingly, I saw similarities between what is presented in this book and what the youth minister had done for me years

ago. The book summarizes three key elements in building lasting, intrinsic motivation in both students and workers. They are autonomy (having some choice in what I do and with whom I do it), mastery (having a high level of expectation for my work), and purpose (knowing that what I do benefits others and serves a higher calling beyond what benefits me personally). Whether he

knew it or not, my youth pastor was developing a group of highly motivated, skilled students of Scripture who were able to teach others also (II Timothy 2:2).

As the staff at ACA, we seek ways to develop all three aspects of intrinsic motivation into our work with our students. Our goal is to see students motivated by more than just earning a piece of paper in a nice padded cover. We desire to see students who know why God has placed them here and now, and who know and joyfully seek to fulfill His purpose for their lives.

Daniel Pink further reveals the pitfalls in attempting to use extrinsic awards to build lasting motivation. Small rewards are fine in motivating people to reach short, attainable goals, such as memorizing the names of the states or learning the latest list of Latin vocabulary. But for long-range and lofty

goals, it does just the opposite and takes the focus off the real and lasting goal and puts it on the temporary reward instead. Extrinsic rewards such as gold stars, public praise, cash awards, and special privileges tend to demand a greater reward for the same effort the next time around. This increases until the worker or student realizes the futility of his efforts and loses interest altogether. Intrinsic rewards, on the other hand, tend to create a strong sense of purpose that increases motivation, often beyond what is expected or demanded.

Although it is a secular work and his focus is primarily on the business world, Daniel Pink’s Drive does make interesting application to the world of education and strikes at the heart of human endeavor in any field. It turns conventional wisdom around and demonstrates through fascinating experiments and real-life applications what drives us to our best work.

I found that reading was not an enemy, and that I actually loved to read and

loved to study.

We desire to see students who know why God has placed them here and now, and who know and joyfully seek to fulfill His

purpose for their lives.

Visit our website at www.acatulsa.org to see our Recommended Reading Lists.

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Performing Arts

Performing Arts Building ImprovementsGary Conroy

“New and improved!” You see it all the time on store shelves, and we could now proudly place such a sign on

our renovated Performing Arts Building. The 3,400-square-foot building, located at the exit of the property, was previously leased to a daycare center and then to a small church, and it was originally the maintenance garage when the University of Oklahoma owned the property. With our desire to use the facility for classes, art, and dance, Mr. Post had the idea to add a wall to provide an additional classroom and closet.

We soon learned that any renovation making this building educationally rated for use would require us to bring the entire building up to current fire and ADA codes for a school. Our $2,500 wall quickly became a $40,000 project. We replaced the fire alarm system, added a layer of Sheetrock to the main hallway and classroom walls to create a one-hour fire-safe corridor, expanded and renovated the restrooms for handicap compliance, and so much more.

Through the help of many volunteers and hours of labor, we completed the improvements. ACA extends special thanks to our parents who lent their professional expertise. Mr. Dan Nettles and Mr. Jens Quilitzsch offered their construction expertise. Mr. Anthony Elliott provided electrical work, and Mr. David Miller and his crew of painters wrapped up the job with a nice coat. These gentlemen not only gave the school a great price, but they did excellent work.

While performing these renovations, a decision was made to add some beauty and functionality. ACA Board of Governors member Mr. Gary Geppelt secured a large amount of tile through a donor. Mr. Tom Wilsterman and his volunteer crew built a professional dance floor that was funded through the Performing Arts Booster Club. This elevated, floating floor provides the extra spring needed for students to safely practice dance and minimize injuries (pictured).

Security is new and improved as well. We now have a new security system, door peepholes, crash bars, safety poles, and ADA ramps. We installed new security fencing, hung “no trespassing” signs, and added all new exterior and parking lot lighting.

We are excited about the new and improved Performing Arts Building. Your donations of time and money help to make these projects happen. Thank you!

The new elevated, floating floor is perfect for practicing dance routines.

Show choir members include, left to right, McKenzie Reece, Katie Osborne, Christy Mann, Alyssa Duntley, Kaitlynn Abbott, Taylor Ferguson,

Sofia Redden, Abby Cascairo, Katie Wilsterman, Elise Collingsworth, Natalie Clements, and Victoria Juarez.

April11-14,

2013

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2 Potpourri

ThanksgivingTina Nettles, ACA Parent

At least one of my two sons has attended Augustine Christian Academy every year since 2006, and we have been more

impressed with the school, its faculty, and its students as time has gone on. Every year that we’ve attended, the school has made huge improvements to everything they do, from their facilities to the curriculum to the extracurricular activities and so much more. The teachers and administrators have proven that their passion is to help young men and women become everything the Lord created them to be, both as a student body and as unique individuals.

If anything, ACA’s God-given vision grows larger and more far-reaching each year, yet somehow they still manage to consistently surpass their most ambitious goals and the families’ high expectations. Every year, I have been more impressed with ACA than the one before. How many organizations can you actually say that about?

Two years ago, my husband was laid off from his job, and we wondered how on earth we’d be able to keep our teens in the school that they had come to love. ACA not only granted us financial aid so that our children’s school lives would not be interrupted (as so many other areas of our lives were while their dad was unemployed), but when the school needed work done on the grounds, they hired my husband to complete several construction and maintenance projects for them. Those breaks from a discouragingly long, fruitless job search — during which my husband was invited to earn a temporary paycheck from ACA — were a blessing in more ways than one. The money helped us catch up on some bills, and the opportunity reminded him that the world could still benefit from his skills and knowledge in a time when he was feeling a little hopeless about our prospects.

There is nothing more rewarding in life than to see your children blossom — for them to sense God’s purpose in their lives, to embrace a Biblical worldview, to be part of something bigger than themselves. There is no greater testament to ACA’s excellence than the students themselves, who can’t wait for school on Monday, who enjoy the challenges in their school week, and who don’t want summer to come any sooner than necessary. My hat is off and thanksgiving is lifted up for the miracle in our lives that is Augustine Christian Academy.Mrs. Brennecke and her 5th grade students visit the Gilcrease Museum.

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@acatulsa

Learn more about our school at

www.ACATulsa.org

“Like” us on Facebook“St. Augustine Academy / Augustine

Christian Academy—Past, Present, Future”

and “Augustine Christian Academy”

The K4/K5 class celebrates Community Helper Day. Pictured are Nadia Smith, Jonah Dickens, Cole Leidy,

Trenton Gabriel, Yoana Solomon, and Alexandria Nellis.

The 2nd grade class spends a day at Livesay Orchards.

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GOOD NEWS

Liesl Krautter (11th grade), Mackenzie Moody (12th grade), and Mason Moody (10th grade) all completed the 15K Tulsa Run on October 27.

ACA parent Cathy Raines received 1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place prizes for her quilts at the Tulsa State Fair.

Seventh grader Courtney Skalnik has been cast in Tulsa Ballet’s The Nutcracker to be performed at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center in December.

Irish Dancer Abby Williams, 7th grade, placed 2nd in Open Championship U13 at the Oklahoma State Championships and Feis on September 15. She also placed 1st in U12 Open Championships at the Fort Smith Feis on November 10. She will be traveling to the Southern Region Oireachtas for competition on November 30 in New Orleans. This is where she will be ranked and given the opportunity to qualify for the North American Irish Dance Championships and World Championships.

The NOAH Junior High, Junior Varsity, and Varsity Volleyball Teams traveled to Springfield, Mo., in October for the National Christian & Homeschool Championships.

• Hannah Brennecke, 9th grade, is a member of the Junior High team that finished in 2nd place.

• Maranatha Hamilton, 10th grade, is a member of the Junior Varsity team that finished in 2nd place.

• The Varsity team finished in 6th place, with team members Amy Schatzmann (11th grade) and Sofia Redden (12th grade). Amy and Sofia were both awarded All-Tournament medals for their excellent play at Nationals. Additionally, Amy and Sofia were selected for the All-American team.

Potpourri

Congratulations to Gina Conroy, former ACA

creative writing teacher and mom to four ACA students, on the publication of her second novel. Digging Up Death is a quirky, fun mystery with a relevant spiritual message. More information on the book can be found at http://writerinterrupted.com/ginas-books/digging-up-death.

Sofia Redden and Amy Schatzmann play on the NOAH varsity volleyball team.

Abby Williams dances competitively.

Augustine Christian Academy...in Thy light, we see light. Psalm 36:9

6310 E. 30th StreetTulsa, OK 74114www.acatulsa.org918.832.4600

Non Profit Org.US Postage Paid

Tulsa, OKPermit No 1957

in �

y light, we see light Ps. 3

6:9

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The Augustine ForumFall/Winter 2012

Augustine Christian Academy