SCA high school students are headed to State Mock Trial competition in Atlanta!
Sherwood Christian Academy’s first mock trial team finished the Region competition in February in first place and were named “champions” of the District Mock Trial Competition on March 4. The team and their coaches are headed to the Georgia State High School Mock Trial Competition at the Gwinnett County Justice and Administration Building in Atlanta on March 18-19.
The SCA team is comprised of witnesses, and plaintiff and defense teams: Hannah Albano, Henry Anderson, Kinsley Bynum, Kuba Cecil, Arabella Davidson, Connor Mathis, Will Moorhead, Mary Grace Piper, Cooper Powers, Ellie Jane Wright, Brody Brown, and Devin Sheppard. SCA’s School Sponsor is High School Guidance Counselor James Byrd. Students Malachi Jones and Rebekah NeSmith participated as Courtroom Sketch Artists at Region competition. Albany attorneys Sandra Satchell and Alfreda Sheppard are volunteer attorney coaches.
“This is SCA’s first year with a Mock Trial Team,” said James Byrd. “We were so excited to be a part of the competition put on by the State Bar of Georgia! Our team began practice later in the school year, but even with a truncated practice schedule, our students and attorney coaches put together a fierce and highly competitive team! None of this would have been possible without some incredibly bright and motivated students!”
We are excited to announce that Mr. Jonathan Dyal has accepted the position of High School/Middle School Principal at Sherwood Christian Academy beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. Mr. Dyal will begin his duties at SCA this July. He has served in education eleven years and has been an administrator for five of those years. He has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and will be completing his Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership this summer. Mr. Dyal has served as a math and social studies teacher, coach of multiple sports, athletic director, and most recently as assistant principal at Lee County Middle School West.
Mr. Dyal has been married to his wife Claire for almost eleven years. Jonathan and Claire have five children (Iris 9, David 6, Camille 4, Adah 3, and Reynolds 1). Iris and David will join their dad at SCA next year as they enter second and fourth grades. The Dyals spent two years serving on mission at Kyiv Christian Academy in Kyiv, Ukraine 2015-2017. Their time in Ukraine deepened their passion for foreign missions and their desire to share Christ’s love with lost and hopeless people they encountered there. We are thankful God has brought their heart for missions abroad to SCA. The Dyals prayer for their family is to focus on things that are of eternal value, to glorify God in all they do, know and love God deeply, and to let that love for God drive their love for others.
What do app designs, artificial intelligence, and teamwork have in common? One thing – Sherwood Christian Academy’s Introduction to Digital Technology class.
Ninth grade students in Mrs. Vicki Davis’ Introduction to Digital Technology class designed an app about digital ethics and safety as it relates to artificial intelligence using the Figma web and app design tool.
Designed like a business project, the app project was peer-led with students taking various roles such as project manager, researcher, production manager, and graphic designers.
Freshman Kyra Bevel, project manager of the app design project, put her leadership skills to the test as she took the lead on the app this semester.
“One skill that I learned while working on this project was a leadership technique,” said Kyra. “I learned that when you lead, you must encourage others. When people think they are unimportant, they don’t feel like they are needed, so they don’t feel the need to work and contribute to a bigger cause. Being a leader requires many qualities, but the most important one is encouragement.”
Project Assistant Manager Olivia Keith contributed to the app this semester by writing copy, providing graphic design and videography, editing, and extending positive advice when deemed necessary. Her education went beyond design and the project — she learned more about operating as a team.
“By collaborating as a team to successfully achieve the final app through Figma, I grasped the true meaning of effective communication,” said Olivia. “Being up-front about work, specific tasks, and skill sets were vital to the progression of this project. Ensuring each individual person worked on their task and were able to execute their expected job was honestly the main struggle. Engaging those in a work-stimulated environment could discourage some, however, providing support for those in need was prioritized for the benefit of us all as a whole.”
The students’ hard work paid off and design professionals took notice. Adobe-owned Figma employees discovered the project when SCA Teacher and Instructional Technology Director Mrs. Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher on Twitter) tweeted about the students using the design tool to create their app. The Figma representatives scheduled a time to Zoom with the class and the students professionally presented their apps, shared their workflow, and provided feedback on Figma’s design tool with company employees on February 13.
This was more than just an assignment for some students. Brody Brown, project manager for the fall semester class and icon designer, said the project showed him three things about himself.
“This project lit a passion for graphic design in me,” said Brody. “I learned how to manage my time and better communicate with others.”
In addition to writing about artificial intelligence, they are using the artificial intelligence built into ChatGPT from Open.ai to write portions of the app as they do their research. All of the uses of ChatGPT are clearly cited in their app and quoted as a source and it is helping students more effectively understand artificial intelligence. While many are openly criticizing the use of tools like ChatGPT, this class is learning how to ethically use AI as a research partner in creating content.
Designing the app became more than a class project — it was a lesson in leadership, communication, professionalism, and refining the skills that God has placed in each of these ninth grade students.
If you’ve been around SCA since the mid 1990s, there’s a good chance you know James Byrd. You may know him from his years as a student then, or you know him now as a leader in academics and athletics. A 12-year student at SCA, Mr. Byrd graduated from SCA in 2006 and left Albany for the University of Mobile in Mobile, Alabama. After double majoring and graduating, he returned to Sherwood Christian Academy in 2011—but, this time, to lead from the front of the classroom. Many of his former teachers became his co-workers. In 2022, Mr. Byrd moved into the role of Guidance Counselor after 10 years of teaching high school history, where he can continue to impact the lives of juniors and seniors, as they make some of the most important decisions of their lives.
EDUCATION: BA in Political Science and BA in History from the University of Mobile Master’s in Secondary Education from Georgia SouthernUniversity
YEARS LEADING IN EDUCATION: I have been serving here at SCA for 11 years – 10 of those years in the classroom.
CAREER AWARDS: Two time STAR Teacher – 2021 and 2022 Two time GAPPS Coach of the Year – Track and Field – 2018 and 2022 Coach of Six State Championships at SCA: • 1 in Football (2015) • 2 in Track and Field (2018 & 2022) • 2 in Chess (2019 & 2021) • 1 in Cross Country (2018)
Photo by Dan Mingo.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT GUIDING SENIORS IN THEIR NEXT SEASON AFTER GRADUATION: I enjoy breaking down the process of what comes next after high school for seniors into small and much less stressful pieces. It can be easy to be overwhelmed as a senior when they begin to look at all that lies before them. I encourage our seniors to continue to move forward in God’s will – they don’t have to have all the answers yet, they just need to be willing to say, “Yes!” to what God will call them to as they continue to be faithful to Him.
FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN SWGA: My wife’s cooking! Was that the right answer? But public restaurants? Longhorns for a good steak or Los Vaqueros.
FAVORITE BOOKS:Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian and Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien are both very special to me. Although growing up, I read every single Hardy Boys book! I’m now looking forward to reading them with my son, Joshua one day.
FAVORITE MOMENT AS A STUDENT AT SCA: There are many special moments from my years here as a student, almost impossible to narrow down to just one! From four years of high school musical theater with Mrs. Terri Catt; running track and field and cross country in many Region and State Meets; being elected as the Student Council President and giving the morning announcements over the intercom each morning (I had a joke of the day that very few people would laugh at)… I obviously loved my time here because I came back!
It’s safe to say that Mr. James Byrd is woven into the history and future of Sherwood Christian Academy.
Coach Kenny Roberts has been selected by the Albany Herald as the “Coach of the Year” for his leadership in the Eagles’ State Championship winning year. Coach Roberts was Interim Football Head Coach for the 2022 football season.
Photo by Dan Mingo.
Several SCA varsity athletes were honored in the Albany Herald for the 2022 high school football season and named to the Albany Herald’s “All-Albany Football Team”:
First Team Offense | Easton Enfinger
Second Team Offense | Tripp Roberts
Second Team Offense | Jude Peavy
Second Team Offense | William Price
Second Team Defense | Maddox Powers
Congratulations to Coach Roberts and the entire SCA varsity football team for a great season and this special recognition!
SCA Athletic Director Jay Flynt recognized Coach Roberts and these athletes this morning in front of their peers.
Congratulations to SCA’s Head Track Coach James Byrd for being awarded the Georgia Track & Field/Cross Country Association “Girls GAPPS Head Coach of the Year” on January 20, 2023!
Coach Byrd serves as cross country head coach, track head coach, and guidance counselor at SCA. The 2021-2022 SCA Girls Track Team won the GAPPS State Championship last season!
Sherwood Christian Academy’s varsity football team are the 2022 GAPPS 8-Man Football Division I-AA State Champions! The Sherwood Christian Academy Eagles won their second state championship in a nail-biting game against the Unity Christian Lions tonight at Legacy Field with a final score of 43-40 on November 25, 2022! The last four minutes of the game was a back-and-forth between Sherwood and Unity, and both teams played well. The Eagles scored in the last 12 seconds to secure their win. SCA won our first state championship in 2014.
The game was broadcast live on the radio with commentary from Alex Kendrick and Jim McBride. Fireworks signaled each touchdown and a fireworks show was displayed after the referees declared the Eagles the winners.
In a pre-game interview for the radio broadcast before the State Championship game, Varsity Football Coach Kenny Roberts said, “These guys have put in the time in the summer and in the weight room. They’ve put in a lot of very hot days working in full pads and working through a rough sport [and physically taxing] like football. These guys have gotten better all year long. Their character has remained strong. So for them to have the chance to play for a state championship and be able to play at home in front of their family and friends…I’m really excited for them!”
Photos by SCA student and yearbook staff member Ashley Flynt.
This was Coach Roberts’ first year to lead varsity football, and he attributed some of his players’ wins to their steadiness and strong character.
“These athletes are so mature and business-like. They have goals for their games, but it’s their character – they want to do well. Their mind and heart is ready before they come into the locker room. Once they get out there in that battle when they’re competing and they’re having someone who is coming at them just as hard as they are… they remain steady in the things that we worked on. They don’t get frustrated or angry. They just remain steady,” Coach Roberts said.
Video of State Championship celebration by Tommy McBride.
“If we remain steady in what we’ve worked at, we can trust the Lord with the results because we have walked out in obedience in the way that we’re supposed to be doing these things and we can trust Him with how it ends,” Coach Roberts said.
We are so proud of each one of these Eagle athletes who have competed with excellence this season!
Jim McBride and Alex Kendrick provided live commentary of the State Championship game on Albany’s Talk Radio 1590 and 99.3 WALG.Halftime Radio Show – Listen to Alex Kendrick and Jim McBride interview Coach Kenny Roberts about SCA’s varsity football achievementsas heard on Albany’s Talk Radio 1590 and 99.3 WALG, 11/25/22.
Sherwood Christian Academy junior and senior students spent the majority of Wednesday, November 16 providing community service in the Albany area during SCA’s Community Service Day. Their goal: to be a light and share Christmas cheer! This was accomplished through Operation Christmas Child shoebox organization and setting up the Christmas display at Thronateeska Heritage Center.
One group of students helped the Operation Christmas Child organization at The Hope Center on Pine Avenue. They greeted donors who pulled up with trailers and trucks to drop off shoebox gifts, unloaded boxes, organized and packed the shoeboxes, and then spent time praying over the shoebox gifts with the donors.
Each Operation Christmas Child shoebox was filled with toys, toiletries, and supplies for a child in need across the globe. SCA elementary families filled and donated 124 shoeboxes, and our juniors and seniors had the opportunity to unload, organize, and pray over them at the OCC distribution center.
“We appreciate their willingness and joyfulness in serving so that the boxes will get to children who need them,” OCC Central Drop-off Team Leader Connie Thomas said.
The students handled hundreds of shoeboxes and spent time decorating lids to make plain white boxes more joyful with Christmas themes. Their prayer was that each shoebox gift they touched would minister to a child across the world with the light of Jesus.
Students over at the Thronateeska Heritage Center also unloaded and organized items for Christmas as they unearthed a large collection from the storage area and arranged each item in the museum area for display. The work the group did in a few hours saved the Thronateeska team days, possibly weeks of work.
Lead Educator at Thronateeska Heritage Center Alyssa Watrous said, “Having the Sherwood Christian Academy students come out and help has been the best help because there are thousands of Santas. When you walk in the storage area, it was really hard to move around and we were ready to get this exhibit out.”
Alyssa attributed how quickly the work was being done with the students’ great communication with each other.
“We’ve shared with them what we wanted them to do and they’ve shown amazing communication skills that have helped clear this storage area. We’ve already gone through half of it in the span of 20 minutes and saved us so much time,” she said.
By the end of the afternoon, the students put the finishing touches on arranging Thronateeska’s upcoming Christmas display of vintage and festive holiday decorations in the History Museum and the Georgia Museum of Surveying and Mapping in anticipation of the center’s holiday events in December.
We’re proud of our juniors and seniors and the difference they’re making in our community!
Bravo! Bravo! One Act Fine Arts students won the GAPPS region and state championships for their original play Berlin. The play was written in 2020 by SCA ’21 graduate Ashlynn Dapper and High School Fine Arts Director Brydon Fox, and it was featured as the annual fine arts play with packed out crowds at their performances in April 2021.
The play is based on a fictional story about loved ones separated by the Berlin Wall in the 1960s. The plot: The Berlin Wall goes up in 1961 Germany – separating families, friends and loved ones forever. They must stay connected by any means possible. Will a wall keep them apart? Who will risk it all for the life they’ve always dreamed of?
Berlin was shortened to fit within the length of one act for the One Act competition this year. Even with the shortened length, it still required 17 set changes!
“This was my first time competing at One Act competition, so it was a learning process figuring out how to cut the original script to under 55 minutes,” Fine Arts Director Brydon Fox said. “There were lots of conversations about the best ending for the show for this performance setting. In the end, everything came together!”
SCA’s One Act team was up to the challenge! After offering a free public performance at SCA, they crushed region competition where they won by one point, and then won the state championship on Monday, November 7. Ashlynn Dapper attended the state competition and witnessed her play win first place!
Connor Mathis was awarded “Outstanding Performer” at the region competition. Three SCA Fine Arts actors received individual awards during the state competition.
Fox said, “The competition was tough, but each performance of Berlin from rehearsals to region to state kept getting better and better! We have so many talented students. So proud of our Outstanding Actors who won medals at state – Hannah Albano, Connor Mathis, and Caleb Kendrick.”
ONE ACT BERLIN CAST:
David Albano Hannah Albano Asher Bailey Benjamin Brooks Kennedy Daniels Caleb Kendrick Connor Mathis Colton Mathis Addison Mingo Mary Grace Piper Lydia Sancinito Sophi Scardino Caden Thomas
Kyra Bevel – Lights
Congratulations to the One Act team for an outstanding year!
Announcing the SCA 2022 Homecoming Court! Congratulations to these students!
SENIORS:
Pictured from left to right: Arabella Davidson, Nic Patton, Charis Beck, Hudson Carter, Avery Baker, Graham Anderson
FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES, & JUNIORS:
Pictured from left to right: Olivia Keith (Freshman), Colton Mathis (Freshman), Lydia Sancinito (Sophomore), Vance Carter (Sophomore), Sarah Fedrick (Junior), Emerson Montgomery (Junior)
The Homecoming Court will be presented during halftime at SCA’s Homecoming football game on Friday, October 28, at 7:30 pm at SCA. The 2022 Homecoming King and Queen will be selected from this group of seniors and announced at the homecoming game.
