May 8th had special meaning for the seniors from Greater Atlanta Christian School. It was their official last day of classes, and the administration wanted them to have a special memory-moment. One of GAC's end of year traditions includes a Senior Walk-through of the Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School and High School buildings, ending with a buffet of donuts.  A campus parade was a way to have that experience under social distancing provisions.

The ELC Prize Wagon has been on the move since school went to online learning at Greater Atlanta Christian School.  Every week, teacher Lisa Chase, the Environmental Learning Center (ELC) specialist, has used her car to deliver prizes to her K4-5th grade students spanning from Braselton to Alpharetta, Atlanta, Peachtree Corners, Norcross and nearly every edge of the 13 counties the school draws its students. 

Perhaps one of most difficult things to gauge with students is their mental well-being. Even without a worldwide medical crisis requiring schools to shut down suddenly, many factors can cause stress and anxiety in children. And having to look for those signs through a computer screen can make the challenge that much more difficult for school professionals.

It’s National Teacher Appreciation Week, and teachers from Greater Atlanta Christian School will receive virtual, hand-delivered, and mailed surprises throughout the week. Teachers and staff will be surprised daily with a special treat at their home, including blue-light blocking glasses, hand-decorated cookies, River Street Sweets bear-claws, hand “clappers,” student-created thank you videos, and special delivery appreciation yard signs.

During these days of virtual education, Greater Atlanta Christian School’s pre-school teachers brought some reality to their annual Fairy Tale Day.  GAC’s pre-school classes had a Saturday morning Zoom Fairy Tale story time complete with Frozen's Queen Elsa and Princess Anna of Arendelle.  Afterwards K3 Teacher, Alicia Wood, made special deliveries of Fairy Tale goody bags, carefully assembled and safely presented to each of her students. 

Last week, the GAC seniors received a special delivery, via a unique delivery system: a GAC mini-bus.  With a ring of the doorbell, the surprise of a graduation yard sign and carefully wrapped package with the cap and gown appeared on doorsteps throughout the multiple counties represented by the 172 seniors. 

The Coronovirus-19 pandemic is not something any of us wished or planned for, and its potential to disrupt our lives is already felt. As a community, we are pulling together to make the most of this time. Even so, things at home look, feel, and run a little differently. We’ve put together a few helpful tips for you to implement at home. Reply to this email and let us know which ones you are implementing and how they’ve worked for you. If you have pictures, share them with us on social with #GACfamilychallenge.

Our elementary school students win the prize for “cheerful” giving, that’s for sure. While working and playing and even fundraising, they enjoy themselves! Since 1982, GAC has raised money for the American Heart Association, led by GAC P.E. teacher Kristy Shelton. This year, students raised over $41K to fight our nation’s number one cause of death: heart disease.

“Music embodies the words we can’t express. It comforts us during our deepest tragedies and fuels us during our greatest triumphs. More importantly, it unites us. Black History Month is not just for African Americans. The music you will hear today is woven into all of our lives” shared Simone Roberts, GAC’s Student Leader of Unity, who then proceeded to further describe the reason for the day’s special chapel assembly.