Student Life:  Extra Curricular Activities

 

A full array of extracurricular activities provides opportunities for students to develop leadership, teamwork skills and commitment. Athletics: Interscholastic competition is available to middle and high school students in a variety of sports. National Honor Society & National Junior Honor Society: Membership in local chapters is an honor bestowed upon a student. Selection for membership is by a faculty council and is based on outstanding scholarship, character, leadership and service. Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities. Delta Epsilon Phi: Sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of German. To be a member, students must earn an “A” in three semesters of German while maintaining an overall GPA of 3.0. Student Leadership: Each high school class will elect a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, chaplain or class representative. Grades 6-8 will have class representatives. Scholars Bowl: Interscholastic academic competition with local Christian schools. Student representatives will be required to attend training sessions after school. Technology Club: Various activities to enhance the learning experience through technology resources. Available for students in grades 5-12.

SPELLING BEE GCA participates in the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition. The GCA winner competes in the Knox County Spelling Bee. The Knox County winner goes to the Southern Appalachian Regional Bee, and that winner competes in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Students in grades 5-8 can try out for the GCA Spelling Bee by taking a written test. The top ten qualify for the school bee, which is an oral contest. The spelling coordinator and coach is Mr. Scott Firebaugh. Firebaugh has experience on all levels, including four trips to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Pictured is Jennifer Edwards, winner of the 2008 GCA Spelling Bee. Jennifer, a sixth grader, spelled all ten of her words correctly, including "galjoen" and "rejoneador." Emily Randles, 8th grade, came in second by getting eight of her words right. She created a buzz in the crowd after spelling "weissnichtwo" correctly.

SCHOLARS BOWL The GCA Scholars’ Bowl team competes in at least two tournaments each year. The East Tennessee Public Television tournament is in the fall and the matches are broadcast in the winter. Forty-six teams are competing this year, with the top two teams going to a national tournament. In the spring GCA competes in a smaller one-day tournament for Christian Schools at King’s Academy. GCA has won the high school division the last three years. The GCA Scholars Bowl is coached by Dr. Peni Hirt and Mr. Scott Firebaugh.  A full array of extracurricular activities provides opportunities for students to develop leadership, teamwork skills and commitment.