November/December 2012

GPCS Varsity Basketball Season Begins!

GPCS Varsity Girls Team will be coached by Mr. Keith Dawson. The GPCS Varsity Boys Team will be coached by Pastor Travis Bush. All the home games will be played at the XL Sports World in Saco. Hope you can come to a game or two and support the home team!


Home games in December are:

Dec. 8– Saturday at Seacoast. Girls @ 2:00pm & Boys @ 3:30pm.

Dec. 14– Friday home with Acadia Christian. Girls @ 5:00pm & Boys @ 6:30pm.

Dec. 19-Wednesday at Pine Tree Academy. Girls @ 5:00pm & Boys @ 6:30pm.

Dec. 20– Thursday home with Islesboro. Girls @ 5:00pm & Boys @ 6:30pm.


Complete game schedule is on our web site at gpcs.net under Athletics.

GPCS Christmas Concert

GPCS Choruses invite you to the Annual GPCS Christmas Concert.  The concert will be held at First Baptist Church of South Portland on Monday, December 17 at 7:00pm.  It is a wonderful evening of Christmas music sung by many GPCS students.  Hope you will again make this a family tradition this season.

GPCS Global Citizens

Dear Friend of the School,


A group of 20 high school students from Greater Portland Christian School in South Portland will be traveling in April with Education First. These members of the Global Citizen club are already studying and preparing.

What are we learning? The cultures of Italy and of France — languages, history, art, music, food — as we prepare for the journey.

Where are we going? 

Rome: The Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel

Florence: the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Gates of Paradise

Paris: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame

April 2013: Rome, Florence, and Paris

How you can help:

• Sponsor one student’s full trip: $2,976

• Sponsor one or more days of the trip: $372/day

• Sponsor one or more hours of a student’s trip: $16/hour


All donations are tax deductible.

Thank you for your help!

Greater Portland Christian School

Global Citizen Club

GPCS Athletics

GPCS Athletics are offering Basketball Gear.  Orders are due Monday, December 3.  An order form will be posted separately on Facebook or you can contact the office at gpcs1973@yahoo.com or 207-767-5123.

Alumni Update

• David Kelly (class of 2005) and his wife had their first baby.
• Lauren Ward (class of 2003) is engaged.
• Matthew Hilbelink (class of 1999) and his wife are expecting another child.
• Stephanie Babirak (class of 2007) member of Vuvuzela had a new album release The Hollow Choir

 

GPCS Homecoming 2012

Thank you to all of you who came and participated in the events of GPCS Homecoming 2012.  Alumni were invited to a reception Friday night at The Lost Coin Cafe and to a day of soccer on Saturday.  The last game of the day on Saturday was GPCS Alumni vs GPCS Varsity.  Once again this year, GPCS Alumni won a close game!  Congratulations and see you and hopefully more of you next year! 

GPCS Alumni Serving in Churches of the Greater Portland Area:

Greater Portland Christian School is humbled to have several alumni serving in area churches.  I would like to share with a few that I know of.  Please let me know if there are more to add to the list below.  GPCS strives to help prepare students for a God-glorifying life.  He alone is to be praised.

• Herb Blake (class of 1983): Pastor of Living Hope Assembly of God Church & Director of Friendship House, Portland
• Ken MacLeod (class of 1994)- Pastor of Community of Grace Church, Cape Elizabeth
• Kristin Bickford Leahy (class of 2000)- Youth Leader with Lifechurch, Gorham
• David DeRienzo (class of 2000)- Pastor at Second Parish OPC, Portland
• Stephen Prescott (class of 2003)- Associate Pastor of The Rock Church, Scarborough

Alumni News:

David Libby (class of 1988) has written and published a book.  "Hunting Whitetail From On High" can be found on Amazon.com.

Kimberly Theriault Mycyk (Class of 2001) and her husband had a baby girl.

Andy Simpson (class of 2008) and his wife are expecting their first child.

Carlie Marters Nichols (class of 2001) and her husband are expecting child #3.


GPCS Development Director Resigns:

Dear G.P.C.S. Families:


Unfortunately, this week we have been informed by Andrew Ferreira, our Development Director, that due to personal circumstances he will not be able to continue his employment with GPCS. His last day will be October 19th. Andrew has agreed to help complete some development projects he is working on prior to his last day.

We wish Andrew the best in whatever direction God leads him. He has been a valuable member of the GPCS staff and he will be greatly missed.

The board is currently discussing what the next steps will be to find a new development director. Any development questions should be directed to Keith Dawson. The development committee will continue to meet and work on the ongoing tasks of development.

When a suitable candidate has been found and hired, we will notify the GPCS family as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Kevin Frye
Board President
Keith Dawson
Head of School


GPCS Job Posting: Small, private Christian school in the Portland Maine area is hiring a full-time, year around development director.

Description- The Director of Development will oversee and grow the school’s annual fund, event-based strategies, major donor initiatives, capital funding efforts, public relations efforts, grant writing and recruitment programs of the school.

Contact Keith Dawson at 207-767-5123 or kdawson@gpcs.net
we can have this go out anytime tomorrow.
Keith

Thank you,
Keith Dawson
Head of School
Greater Portland Christian School
1338 Broadway, So Portland, ME 04106
207-767-5123 ext 205



GPCS Varsity Soccer:
The soccer season has ended.  The GPCS Varsity Boys Team ended with a record of 6-8 and ranked 10th with MPA.  The GPCS Varsity Girls Team ended with a record of 0-10 and ranked 7th with MPA.  Thank you for coming and cheering!

GPCS Basketball:

The GPCS Basketball Season 2012-13 opens on November 19.  Stay tuned for the game schedule. 

GPCS Drama Club:

Auditions were being held beginning Monday, October 15.  We plan on a performance this fall and will post the date soon. 

GPCS School Year 2012-2013 Begins...

On the first day of school for 2012-13, Greater Portland Christian School had enrolled 131 students. This includes 27 new students with 16 new families! We thank the Lord for each of you!


GPCS is also blessed with a couple of new teachers. Help us welcome Mrs. Nancy Jensen. She is teaching the Jr High Sciences. A warm welcome to Mr. William Wallace, too. He will be teaching High School Art.

GPCS is offering it’s first AP class. Miss Kate Donatelli will be teaching AP English to our seniors. Mrs. Joanna Martel is taking on new classes this year. She will be teaching High School History & Science.

Welcome!

Christian College Fair:

GPCS will host the Annual Christian College Fair on Friday, September 21. This event features representatives and materials from Christian college from around the United States and Canada. Admission is free and open to students, parents, youth leaders, in short, anyone with an interest in Christian college.


Some of the colleges that attend are: Baptist Bible College, Cedarville University, Eastern Nazarene College, Eastern University, Gordon College, New England Bible College, Messiah College, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Pensacola Christian College, etc.

GPCS encourages students and families of juniors and seniors to come and check out the opportunities. GPCS also provides “Guidelines for Preparing and Applying for College” which is found on our web site at www.gpcs.net under “Downloads”.

GPCS Fall Soccer Season Opens:

GPCS Varsity Boys & Varsity Girls first home games are Monday, September 18.  The teams are taking on Rangeley.  Girls begin at 4:00pm followed by the boys at 5:30pm.  Come and cheer!

The Chop Point Soccer Tournament for the Varsity Boys is September 14-15.  GPCS plays on Friday at 2:00pm with Highview and then on Saturday at 10:00am with Islesboro.  All alumni varsity boys soccer players are welcome to come and see if GPCS wins the "cup".

GPCS Homecoming 2012:

GPCS Homecoming 2012 will be Saturday, October 13. Mark your calendars and plan on attending a day full of soccer, fun, & fellowship.


The first soccer game of the day is our JV team taking on Grace Christian School at 10:00am. Then the Varsity games will follow. The GPCS Varsity Girls will play at noon and the GPCS Varsity Boys will play at 2:00pm. They are playing Buckfield.

After all these games comes a fun soccer game– The Alumni Soccer Match. Game time is 4:00pm.

The day will end with food at about 5:30pm.

Alumni With Kids Enrolled at GPCS:

The following alumni have their children enrolled at GPCS this year: Timothy (class of 1988) & Kate Chick, Nate & Betsy Fielding Daigle, Todd & Caryn Foss, Paul & Jennifer (class of 2001) Keenan Harrell, AJ (class of 2001) & Casey (class of 2002) Walter Holt, James (class of 1990) & Christine Jones, Mark & Sara (class of 2000)Ryder Labacz, Jon (class of 1985) & Angela Libby, Phil (class of 1991) & Tamra Longanecker, Kevin & Kimberly (class of 1990)  Verrier Mann, Michael & Alicia Willis, & Chris (class of 1991)& Faye Wilson.

Alumni News:

John Aiken (class of 2000) is the newly appointed Head Basketball Coach for Bellhaven University, Mississippi.

Andrew Simpson (class of 2008) got married this past August.

Amelia Gagnon Blankenberger (class of 2008) is now married.

Brad Bingham (class of 2004) and his wife had a baby girl.

Vicky Woodward (class of 2007) got married this past August.

Jamie Childs Purinton (class of 2005) and her husband are expecting their 2nd child.

Kelsey Yarborough Castro (class of 2006) and her husband are expecting their 2nd child.  She and Luis are currently in training with Campus Harvest Academy of Student Evangelism in North Carolina.

Stephanie Nevers Allen (class of 2006) and her husband are expecting another child.  This means another grandchild for Steve Nevers & Cynthia King Nevers (class of 1984).

Jacquelyn Schabb Beal (class of 2008) and her husband had a baby girl.

Two Teachers Retiring this Year...

Mrs. Charlene Simpson:

We are working on a way to honor Mrs. Charlene Simpson. She is retiring after this school year. Charlene has taught for over 43 years, 10 in public education and 33 in private education with 28 years being at Greater Portland Christian School. Charlene's children graduated from GPCS and 3 of her grandchildren have graduated from GPCS. The fourth one will graduate from GPCS in a couple of weeks.


You can help us honor her by sending a card or note to her at GPCS, 1338 Broadway, South Portland, ME 04106. We are also collecting for a money tree. Send your cards and/or donations to GPCS by June 8, checks can be made out to Charlene Simpson.
If you have any questions, contact Connie Woodward at the school office by replying to this email or calling 207-767-5123. Thank you for helping us honor Charlene in a small way for her years of service and dedication.

Mrs. Lois Libby:

Plans are underway to honor Mrs. Lois Libby.  She is retiring after this school year.  Lois has taught for over 47 years, 10 in public education and 37 in private education.  Her 37 years were at GPCS.  Mrs. Libby taught German, music and chorus.  She brought to GPCS the tradition of Gilbert & Sullivan's. 

You all invited to join us on Saturday, June 16 to say "Thank you" at Grace Bible Church in Gorham.  The fellowship starts at 7:00pm.  Please bring a dessert, snack or drink to share.  If you can not make, send pictures or cards.  Details of the party can be found on Facebook on the event created by Jim Bauer.

Feel free to send a greeting to these teachers to GPCS, 1338 Broadway, South Portland, Maine 04106.

GPCS Events:

June 1: GPCS Graduation 2012 at Scarborough High School, 7:00pm.

June 2: "Anything Kids Sale"- Cancelled.  Please check back with us in the fall for our Yard Sale.

June 16: Farewell to Mrs. Lois Libby at Grace Bible Church, 7:00pm.

June 18- June 22: GPCS Basketball Camp

July: GPCS Summer Camp

Alumni Update:

Joseph DeRienzo (class of 2003) and his wife are expecting child number 5.

Congratulations to Ralphy Conant (class of 2001) on his marriage.

Megan Williams Stewart (class of 2003) and her husband are expecting.

Nick Walker (class of 2008) and his wife are expecting.

David DeRienzo (class of 2000) and his wife had a boy, Roman Michael DeRienzo.

David Kelly (class of 2005) and his wife are expecting.

Andy Foss (class of 2005) and his wife, Katie Nevers Foss (class of 2007) had a baby girl, Brynn Kimberly Foss.  Grandparents, Steve Nevers (class of 1984) and Cindy King Nevers (class of 1984) enjoying grandchild number 5.

Tiffany Tarbox (class of 2010) opened her new business, Tiffany's Tasty Treats.  Her business is located at 809 Portland Rd in Saco.  It is a lunch/dinner stand. 

Seth Whiting (class of 2007) began his new business, Prodigi.  Go to prodigipros.com to learn about it.  He is located in Nashville, TN.

Summer:

Have a great summer!  Yes, you can still enroll your kids in any of our summer camps.  Go to http://www.gpcs.net/ to get registration form. 

GPCS Alumni & Friends April Update

GPCS Graduation:

We are adding to our alumni! GPCS will be graduating; Jennie Barney, Lacey Borders, Suzane Gonzalez, Alex Martel, Madeline Minor, Ryan Murray, Ben Perkins, Jordan Peters, Than Peterson, Adam Simpson, Emilie Steinwachs, Haylee Sullivan, & Robyn Waugh. Graduation will be on June 1 at Scarborough High School at 7:00pm.

"Pirates of Penzance"

GPCS High School Chorus presents "The Pirates of Penzance" for the final weekend this Friday and Saturday! Show time is at 7:30pm. Come and enjoy!

GPCS Long Range Planning Committee:

At the last GPCS Association meeting, the association voted to give the go ahead to the Long Range Planning Committee to research options for our building. Some of the options the committee is looking at are: completion renovation of existing building, buying property and building a new school, buying a different building and make it into a school, or working with a developer to have them build a school and for GPCS to lease from them. Later this year, the Long Range Committee will bring to the GPCS Association their findings and then we will be ask to consider their recommendations. This is an exciting process! Please be in prayer.

GPCS Summer Camps:

This summer GPCS is offering two camps.  One is a Basketball Camp directed by Mr. Keith Dawson.  The dates for the camp are June 18-22.  The other GPCS camp is our Summer Camp directed by Mrs. Nancy Strout and Mrs. Jeannie Fillmore.  The dates for this camp are July 2- July 27.  Go to www.gpcs.net to get information and registration forms for both camps.  Space fills quickly.

GPCS Alumni Updates:

Russell MacDougall(class of 2008) & Elisabeth Mason MacDougall (class of 2003) had a baby girl March 29.

Alex Sahadak (class of 2006) is engaged to be married.

Jennifer Lewis Alves (class of 2005) and her husband had a baby girl.

GPCS March Update

Mrs. June Conant...

GPCS honors and celebrates the life of Mrs. June Conant. She was a faithful volunteer at GPCS from elementary art, cleaning, etc. She also started what we call "God's Store". June would pick up day old food from the grocery store and share with the faculty. I can not tell you all the stories of faculty families being blessed by this store during tough times. GPCS continues to be blessed by this ministry because June enlisted another to continue. Our prayers are with Rob Conant (class of 1990), Ronnie & Christina Littlefield Conant (class of 1994) & Ralphy Conant (class of 2001).

Enrolling Now:
GPCS is currently enrolling for school year 2012-13. We would love to have your students check us out. GPCS has about 14% alumni children attending. Join us!

GPCS Baseball

GPCS will have a baseball team this Spring. Coaches are Mr. Adam Howard (GPCS High School English Teacher) and his brother- Mr. Steve Howard. Game schedule is below. Come and catch the GPCS Baseball Team in action.
Thursday, April 12 at Wayndflete- 4:00pm
Monday, April 30 at Rangeley- 4:00pm
Wednesday, May 2 at Traip- 4:00pm
Thursday, May 24 at Valley- 4:00pm
Tuesday, May 29 at Forest Hills- 2:00pm & 4:00pm

GPCS Events:

GPCS High School Chorus presents; "Pirates of Penzance" this year on April 27, 28 and May 4 & 5. The performance will begin at 7:30pm. This is Mrs. Lois Libby's final Gilbert & Sullivan as a GPCS High School Music Teacher.

GPCS Elementary Musical is May 17 & 18. The show is "Famous Kids of the Bible".

GPCS Graduation 2012 will be Friday, June 1. We hope the ceremony will be at Scarborough High School.

GPCS Summer Offerings:

It is now time to sign up for any of the various Summer Camps offered by GPCS. Go to the web site at www.gpcs.net, click on Summer Camp to see your options. Summer Camps does fill quickly so do not delay.

Alumni News:

Matthew Foss (class of 2000) is engaged to Rachel Carlson (class of 2001).

Katie Osgood Catanese (class of 2004) had a baby boy March 8. The boys name is Caleb David Catanese.

Matthew Taylor (class of 2003) and his wife had a baby girl, Abigail

Craig Courbron's (class of 1990) son, Ryan qualified for the Maine State Geography Bee.

David DeRienzo (class of 2000) will begin a pastor internship at Second Parish OPC in Portland, ME.

Kimberly Theriault Mycyk (class of 2001) and her husband are expecting.

GPCS Varsity Basketball

The GPCS Varsity Girls Basketball Team made it into the MPA Basketball Tournament this year! The team ended the season ranked 7th with a 8-9 record. At the MPA Tournament, GPCS took on the 2nd ranked team, Rangeley. The game was held Monday, February 20 at 11:30am. The girls lost 65-43. Thank you to all the girls for representing GPCS! Thank you to all our fans who can to cheer on our team. GPCS had elementary parents, high school parents, faculty, and alumni at the Augusta Civic Center. Alumni spotted were: James Jones (class of 1990), Meghan Murray (class of 2006), Geoffrey Taylor (class of 2006), Megan Waugh (class of 2008), Jacob Thibeault (class of 2008), & Jacob Rudolph (class of 2011).

GPCS Open House 2012
GPCS will host an Open House on Saturday, March 17 from 10:00am-Noon. GPCS offers Prek- grade 12. We invite all of you to come and check out your Alma mater from the point of view of parent. Currently our student population is about 14% alumni children. We would love to have more!

Upcoming GPCS Events:
March 17- Open House 10:00am-Noon
March 28- GPCS Bowlathon
April 27, 28 & May 4 & 5- "Pirates of Penzance" 7:30pm
June 1: GPCS Graduation

Alumni News:

Herb Blake (class of 1983) is the new director of Friendship House. Friendship House mission is "To express the love of God through Christ to the poor and disadvantaged by providing a safe home where hope and healing are extended to those who are broken spiritually, emotionally or physically." You can find out more about Friendship House (located in South Portland, ME) at www.friendshiphomes.org.

Jacquelyn Schabb Beal (class of 2008) was married. Congratulations!

Nicholas Walker (class of 2008) was married. Congratulations!

Timothy York (class of 2000) and his wife had a baby boy. Congratulations!

Kristin Bickford Leahy (class of 2000) was Chapel speaker for elementary students at GPCS last month.

GPCS January Alumni Update

GPCS Alumni Help a New School Family

GPCS is pleased to welcome the Bolland family to Maine and to GPCS. They moved to Maine from California. Andrew & Linda closed on their new home on December 23. They are new to Maine and did not know anyone. The GPCS community is awesome and several came to help them unload their stuff from the moving truck. Many thanks to Amanda Sarver (class of 2005), Roger Sarver, Lynn Sarver, David Hasbrouck (class of 2005), Luke Theriault (class of 2009), Tim Swartz, Tim Woodward, Connie Woodward, Tophe Woodward, Scott Webber, & Kate Webber. I also want to thank the families that helped to put together a Christmas dinner; Susan Austin, Paulette Diby, Judy Frye, Connie Woodward, & Lynn Sarver. Thank you to Peter & Caryn Hasbrouck for opening their home to the Bolland’s on Christmas.

Upcoming GPCS Events

January 30: GPCS Prayer Meeting 6:00pm
March 17: GPCS Open House
April 27, 28 and May 4 & 5: GPCS Chorus presents "Pirates of Penzance"
May 10 & 11: GPCS Elementary Musical
June 1: GPCS Graduation at South Portland Church of the Nazarene 7:00pm

GPCS Alumni News:

Casey Eastwood (class of 2006) passed her RN exam.
Alicia Ruiz (class of 2010) is engaged.
Amber Dinsmore Bare (class of 2005) is married.
Laura Osgood Huddy (class of 2001) had a baby boy in November.
Brad Bingham (class of 2004) and his wife are expecting. Due in June.
Robby Conant (class of 1990) is engaged.

GPCS Shares Christ's Love this Christmas...

GPCS community had many opportunities to share Christ’s love this past Christmas. I will share with you a few of the stories.

Grades 4 & 5 were able to give a $145 Hannaford gift card (with the help of the South Portland Hannaford) and caring cards to the Calkins family. They were recently burned out of their home in South Portland. May they know the love of Jesus as they rebuild their lives and home. Thank you for sharing His love in this way to our neighbors in the school community.
Grades 1, 2 & 3 went caroling. The classes visited Mrs. Deborah Will (former school employee) and Mrs. Joan Bakker (school neighbor). Both of these ladies are widows and greatly appreciated being remembered.
GPCS grades 6, 7, & 8 collected can and dry goods for the Root Cellar. The classes also had some fun with the food collected. Each grade made a sculpture with the food items and added Christmas decorations. Mrs. Martel was then enlisted to judge. Overall, grade eight won. With the help of Mrs. Davol, the Root Cellar received all the food collected along with a $75 donation. The Root Cellar was going to distribute the food the next morning.

GPCS High School Decorating Contest

GPCS High School held a decorating contest for Christmas. The classes were to decorate their doors and entry into their homerooms. The decorating was judge by Mr. Andrew Ferreira and Mrs. Connie Woodward. Grade 9 won with the seniors close behind.

GPCS Art Work Published
GPCS Elementary students submit art work to Current Publications. Business then pick student art work for their advertisements. This is a fun project for the December edition of Current. Current serves the communities of Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth & South Portland. This year the following students had their art work chosen; Christian Patterson (Walgreen’s), Clayton Libby (Pat’s Pizza), Ben Hatch (Ace Hardware, Scarborough), Alicestasia Derrick (First Stop, Gorham) & Kaeley Brann (Noyes, Hall & Allen). Congratulations!

Snuggly goes to Haiti

This year Snuggly travel to Haiti with the Vocal’s over Christmas break. The Vocal’s went to Haiti as part of Child Hope International. Child Hope International is a Christian Organization that exists to provide orphaned, abandoned, and needy children with physical, educational, spiritual, and personal care through homes, programs, and ministries that are centered on the love and knowledge of Christ Jesus.
If you do not know, Snuggly is the teddy bear of first grade. Each year the first grade students send him on an adventure. When he gets back, the students learn about his trip. Then they write and publish a book. Chrissa took awesome pictures which will be in the book!