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C O B B ’ S FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E
MARCH 2021
TAMPA, FL
PERMIT #2118
PAID
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ourtownmonthly.com
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5410 Brookstone Drive O 770.628.0651
Acworth, GA 30101 www.brookstonevet.com F 770.628.0653
Feature Photographer
ABOUT THE COVER
ENROLLING NOW
P
hotographer Jordan Mason is the Visual Communications Specialist
at Mount Paran Christian School, the largest private Christian school
2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR
in Cobb county. MPCS serves small classes of students in pre-K3
through grade 12. The school, situated on a picturesque 68-acre cam-
pus adjacent to Kennesaw Mountain, is preparing the next generation of
Success Gateway Academy is a hybrid servant-leaders by developing young people to become Christ-centered,
homeschool program for middle and high learning-focused, community-oriented pursuers of excellence. On the
cover, MPCS students Scarlett Murton (PK4), VJ Ray (grade 8), Gabriana
school students who learn differently because Carisma (grade 11), and Eli Cottingham (grade 3) are pictured near the
of social, sensory, academic, or attention future location of the Murray Innovation Center - a 23,000+ square foot
challenges. We meet daily from 8:30-1:30 at addition to the current Dozier Hall high school building. The new space
will provide state-of-the-art innovative learning spaces, from a dedicat-
the Youth Center at Due West United ed space for a robotics field for
Methodist Church. Call 770.626.2558 or visit the State-championship-winning
www.sgacademy.org for more information. Eagle Robotics teams; to new
science labs; a digital lab; a mak-
erspace; a fabrication lab; a colle-
"Every student can learn, just not on the giate-style, technology-rich class-
same day or in the same way". GEORGE EVANS room; and a permanent home
for the Roost café, a coffee shop
that is operated entirely by the
high school entrepreneurship
class. A virtual ground-breaking
ceremony was held in February,
with plans for the new building
#EDUCATETHEEXCEPTIONAL to open in the spring semester of
2022.
Our Town PAGE 5
In This Issue Feature Photographer
About the Cover & Photographer ....................5
M A R C H 2 0 21 Home Renovations are Making
Pandemic Living Easier.......check out the
LifeStyle Report for our list of your top-notch
local home improvement specialists ................9
Cover Story: Preparing Servant-Leaders is at
the core of Mount Paran Christian School.......11
9
“Vaca” in the U.S.A. by OTM’s Travel
LifeStyle Report Expert, Heather Meliski .................................13
Pandemic Home Renovations
Justin says Goodbye to Three Local
Legends in Talkin’ Sports ............................14
Jordan Keane of Stretch Society shared
with us why stretching is essential to living a
long and healthy life ......................................18
Cobb’s Rising Stars! ................................21
11 Forget About Pampering, these facials are
all about RESULTS by Eliana Ocheseanu........24
Cover Story
Mount Paran Christian School
Our Town’s Kimberly Watkins-Swenk
14
shares why the future going digital is good for
you AND your wallet .....................................28
“Americans are expected to move in
Talkin’ Sports record numbers this year”, learn why with
The Loss of Three Real Estate expert Deborah Ratchford.......... 31
Local Legends
Spring is Springing and K-9 Coach has
13
tips to keep our furry friends safe..................32
Travel
Vaca in the USA
Spring Pets
Spring Safety Tips 32
PAGE 6 Our Town
MPCS Eli in Class: Eli Cottingham,
PREPARING SERVANT-LEADERS a third-grader at Mount Paran
Christian School, loves that the school
offers a variety of activities and social
and academic clubs to enrich
IS AT THE CORE OF his school experience.
MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
A
t Mount Paran Christian School, the mission to unite with home and church to prepare
servant leaders to honor God, love others, and walk in Truth is carried out through
exemplary instruction for the school’s 1,190 students in grades pre-K3 through 12. Pre-
paring servant-leaders in the classroom, on the ball field, on the stage, and for our community
is achieved through four core values. MPCS is Christ-Centered, Learning Focused, Community
Oriented, and Pursuers of Excellence. Four families share what being a part of the Mount Paran
Christian School community means to their children, through the lens of the school’s core values.
MPCS Scarlett Hugs: MPCS pre-K4 student that the school our children attend, as well as the faculty and staff that
Scarlett Murton, pictured with friends, third from
left, says “loving others and being a good friend have a huge impact on their lives, have the same values and ideals as our
to everyone around me” is an important part of family. We also wanted them to be surrounded by administrators, teach-
her day at preschool.
ers, and coaches that would point them to Christ on a daily basis.
Community Oriented
The Murton Family, OTM: VJ, what do you love about attending MPCS?
Preschool VJ: The people! I know my teachers and coaches care about me and
Luke and Ashley Murton, want what is best for me, both now and for my future. I enjoy learning.
Scarlett (pre-K4) and Natalee The teachers and hands-on projects make the classes fun. Of course, I
(third grade) also like spending time with my friends and playing many sports with my
teammates.
OTM: How does MPCS incorporate the core value of
“Community Oriented” into the day-to-day? OTM: What do you think it means to be “Pursuers of Excellence”?
Ashley: MPCS always has events happening to en- VJ: Working hard to be your best self by challenging your-
courage community within the school. This includes self academically, athletically, and spiritually. It seems like
sports games, theatre productions, holiday events, every staff member, teacher, [or] coach knows every stu-
chapel, etc. However, my favorite event is once a year dent, and they all have a genuine personal interest in our
- “Family Serve Day.” Every student signs up with their success.
family to serve their community.
Christ-Centered - The Carisma Family, High School
OTM: What do you think makes MPCS different Jimmy and Dianette Carisma, Gabriana (eleventh grade)
or special? and Adam (ninth grade)
Scarlett: My teachers talk to me about Jesus! I love
seeing my teachers and playing with my friends. I real- OTM: Why did you choose MPCS?
ly like going to chapel and eating Dianette: Mount Paran Christian School exemplifies
lunch with my class. Enrichment is also really fun! everything that we value and is important to us for our
children’s education. We researched and visited many
Learning Focused - The Metzger-Cottingham schools, yet we kept coming back to Mount Paran be-
MPCS VJ Ray (Photo credit TCPics): MPCS middle school
Family, Lower School basketball standout VJ Ray’s family says that “the broad ath- cause of the profound peace and comfort we felt. It’s evi-
Makia Metzger and Britt Cottingham, Eli (third grade) letics program at MPCS has allowed [VJ and his sister] many dent that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is truly at the
chances to develop both their capacity to work as a team and
and Will (eighth grade) individual abilities, including accountability, how to deal with core of why the school exists.
adversity, and competitiveness.”
OTM: How does MPCS incorporate the core value of “Learning Focused” into the day- OTM: What do you think it means to be “Christ-Centered”?
to-day experience? GC: Christ-Centered means that all the aspects of my school day were
Britt: As an educator, I was able to see how MPCS made strong academ- chosen and planned thoughtfully to glorify Christ. This idea is evident
ics a daily focus for my children in terms of approaching each child as an every day at MPCS, whether it be a history class, my visual arts class, or
individual, to better address their strengths and weaknesses. the way a teacher talks to their students. Everything is viewed with Christ
at the center.
OTM: Eli, what makes you excited to go to school?
Eli: l’m eager to learn, and it’s a good way to connect with my friends. OTM: What do you think makes MPCS
I like math because it is important, and I think God gave me the abil- different or special?
ity to do it well. I love going to school because the teachers are nice GC: I am not just another student. The
and teach in a fun way. Also, the schedule is balanced with fun and faculty truly cares for each and every one
learning. of us. It’s evident in their speech, in their
availability to help after class, and when
Pursuers of Excellence - The Ray Family, Middle School we pray for one another before class. It’s
Vince and Shelley Ray, VJ (eighth grade) and Landry (fifth grade) absolutely wonderful to feel loved.
MPCS Gabriana, World Vision Ignite, with sponsor child: Gabriana
OTM: Why did you choose MPCS? Carisma, a junior at MPCS, feels it is “a blessing” to attend the school,
where she is participating in the Ignite leadership development partner-
Shelley: With classes and extracurricular activities, kids spend more ship between MPCS and World Vision, working with students in Rwanda.
time at school than they do at home, so we felt that it was important
Our Town PAGE 11
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