Fine Arts Center Campaign Magazine

GASTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOLCAPITAL CAMPAIGN

FAPrayerfully Supporting the ArtsI t is with great excitement that we share with you our plans to folding chairs and displacSe oCurAP.LE.Ean:d1at/h8let\"ic=tea1ms'-f0or\"weeks at build The Fine Arts Center at Gaston Christian School! This outstanding addition will complement the wonderful education a time. The Fine Arts Center will not only place an emphasis on the our students are receiving. One of our Ends Statements (things arts, it will allow our athletic teams to utilize the gymnasium to a greater extent as well.we aspire to achieve) says that “Students will excel spiritually, In the pages that follow, each of our areas of the arts will sharephysically, academically, and artistically according to their potential.” with you their vision for arts at Gaston Christian School. In a timeThe construction of this building will help us fulfill this End. when many schools are eliminating or diminishing the importance ofOver the past several years we have been deliberate to deliver our the arts in education, we will be taking an aggressive approach towardstudents a biblical worldview, college prep education that is enhanced expansion of the arts at Gaston Christian School. by our technology and athletic The construction of this building programs. While fine arts have been will cost approximately $2,500,000. We part of the program, it has not been a currently have a small portion of that point of emphasis. With the addition of amount pledged and a smaller amount our Fine Arts Center and the dedication already donated. We are currently of our parents, grandparents, friends waiting to hear from a foundation and faculty we hope to give our students that is interested in this project. Their a spectacular experience through visual gift would allow us to proceed with and performing arts. construction. However, we will still The Fine Arts Center will house a need many of you to participate in 625-seat auditorium with specifically funding for The Fine Arts Center. designed theater seating, enhanced There is an amazing story in the BookDr. Marc Stout audio equipment, and stage lighting to of Judges from the Old Testament. Dr. Laura EgelnHead of School make our drama productions, choral Gideon, a mighty warrior from the tribe Board Chair and instrumental performances and of Manasseh, was directed by the Lord programs worthy of the attention they to attack the Midianites, a huge army ofdeserve. We will also have a dedicated choral room, a band room, two countless men. As the story unfolds, God showed Gideon that heart classrooms, a costuming room and a dance room for our students. would defeat this mighty army by using just 300 warriors. In fact,This facility is a much needed addition to our growing program. The God caused Gideon to trim the number of warriors so that everyoneauditorium will also be used for weekly chapels, teacher in-service would clearly know that it was God who brought about the victory.training, baccalaureate, and Open House presentations. As we look at the construction of the Fine Arts Center, weWhat a blessing it will be to have facilities specifically designed want to ask for 300 warriors to join us, much like Gideon’s army,for the arts. Currently we have to convert the gymnasium, bring in by donating $1,000 each to fund this project. The need is clear, the2 FINE ARTS CENTER

Ctime is now, and you can help us make this a reality. Enclosed, please well. It has been said that “not everybody can give everything, butfind a pledge card for your consideration. Our hope is that we will everybody can give something.” Would you prayerfully consider yourreceive over 300 Gideon Gifts in the next two weeks. Will you join level of gift to the Fine Arts Center, fill out your pledge card, andin this effort? pray for our success? We look forward to see how God will bless our efforts. He alone will receive all the praise for the completion of this For some of you, this might be more than you can do at this time; new addition.if so, please know any size gift is most appreciated. For some, youmay want to give your gift over a period of time; this is possible as Thank you for your prayers and support. FINE ARTS CENTER 3

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FLOOR PLAN ORRTOHFESCSAORNOLINPROJECT TITLE:NEW BUILDING FOR: SEAL 4842 RAYMOND CATHEY PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER YMOENNGDINHEE. RCAT DATE: SEPT 2015 DRAWN BY: RHC CHECKED BY: RAY CATHEY REVISIONS: SHEETFINE ARTS CENTER 5GASTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL A AL N THIS DRAWING AND THE DESIGN SHOWN ARE THE1625 LOWELL-BETHESDA RD. RA P PROPERTY OF RAYMOND H. CATHEY, PE. THE LOWELL, NC HEY REPRODUCTION, COPYING OR USE OF THIS I DRAWING WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT IS PROHIBITED AND ANY INFRINGEMENT WILL BESHEET TITLE: SUBJECT TO LEGAL ACTION. P.O. BOX 819 13121 GRAYMIST DR. HARRISBURG, N.C. 28075 CHARLOTTE, N.C. 28215 FINE ARTS FACILITY & AUDITORIUM LICENSED CONTRACTORS, IN THEIR RESPECTIVE 704-201-8873 MAIN FLOOR PLAN TRADES, SHALL FOLLOW ALL OSHA SEFETY [email protected] GUIDELINES.

DRAMA DEPW e are most true to the image of God when we are creative. At the center of each human, the image of God awaits awakening. Thisawakening comes through the redemptive workcentered in Christ who thrusts us into a “newcreation” where we are released to reflect ourCreator’s image through acts of creativity. And so we create songs, paintings, dances, sculptures, poems, psalms, dramas, sym- phonies, and writings that point to the light of the dawn breaking over the shadowedLes Schofield hills of the hopeless.Drama Department Such ‘arts’ proper- ly flow from deepcommunion with God in the company of mentorswho train us to listen well and present clearly.The proposed Fine Arts Center would provide adedicated space where our students can awakenand focus on mastering this process for a worldawaiting the redemptive touch of God.6 FINE ARTS CENTER

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ART DEPAO ut of the countless attributes of God, in His Word, the very first glimpse we have of His character is that He is “creative.” Genesis 1:1 states, “In thebeginning, God c r e a t e d...” In addition to this fact,being the master creator of the universe, He hasgiven many people special gifts and talents. Amongthese are the abilities to sing, to play instruments,to act, and to paint and draw. These gifts are given from God with the purpose of glorifying Him and growing His kingdom. When students recognize God has gifted them with specific talents and abilities it boosts their self- esteem which has a direct effect on theirJill Overton overall countenanceArt Department and attitude. A positive mindsetyields a student ready to learn in other academicareas and to be productive. The new fine artsbuilding will be a place that is vital to the growthof individual students as it will be a place whichfosters and equips artists, musicians and actors. Itwill be a place which manifests the good gifts Godhas already placed within the students attendingGaston Christian School.8 FINE ARTS CENTER

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CHORAL DET hroughout the Book of Psalms we are repeatedly com- manded to “Sing to the Lord…” The choral program at Gaston Christian School gives students ample opportunity to follow that command. Additionally, involvement in amusic program has a positive impact on students’ academic achieve-ment and overall well-being. The Fine Arts program at GastonChristian has always been abundantly blessed with talent and passion.Specifically, Honors Ensemble is known throughout Gaston Countyfor their high caliber musical performances. Having our own choral facilities will better enable us to focus and develop our students’ God-given vocal instruments while continuing to nurture their love of music. Currently we rehearse in the second floor multi-purpose room of the Mid- dle/High School building. Since it is also one of our lunchrooms, choral students must move the tables, pick up trash, and bring out folding chairs every day before we can begin our rehearsal. A room designed for choral instruction will notKarla Pursley only diminish transition time before weChoral Department begin, but it will also greatly enhance our quality of sound during rehearsals.Our performances presently take place in the school’s gymnasi-um, which weakens and distorts our overall sound during concerts.Having an auditorium designed for the performing arts will allow stu-dents to experience a true concert environment with proper acous-tics, stage, and lighting. The new building will help students give theirbest performances, prepare them for future endeavors, and show thatGaston Christian truly values the fine arts.Please help us continue to build all of our Fine Arts programs bysupporting our new Fine Arts facility.10 FINE ARTS CENTER

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MUSIC DEPT he instrumental music program at Gaston Christian has grown tremendously in the past few years. The students work reallyhard to give their best. Although we havebeen blessed with our own rehearsal spacefor the past year, it is small and does notgive the students a true sense of how they sound. A band room would not only give us more space and better sound quality but would also give students a room that would be theirJohn Gunter own space.Band Instructor Developing a senseof ownership is essential to a healthyinstrumental program. The Fine Artscenter will allow students to experiencetheir performances on a stage designedspecifically for music and drama. If youare a patron of the arts, please considersupporting these young artists and this artsfacility.12 FINE ARTS CENTER

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DRAMA DEPE ight years ago, the Gaston Christian Players started with one class of twenty-one students working out of a multipurpose room that was shared with several other classes. I remember telling the cast of Little Women, the first production of the newlyformed Gaston Christian Players, “I know you don’t understand why I’mpushing you so hard in rehearsals, but when you step onto a real stageon opening night and when you hear the applause of your first audience,you’ll finally understand.”A few weeks later, as the curtain call music echoed throughout the gym, I stood in the sound booth proudly watching the beaming faces of young actors and technicians that glowed with the realization that hard work pays off, that dedication produces great results, and that passion can be ignited in even the humblest of beginnings. Today’s drama department has come a long way since that night--more than 45 students attend four theatre arts classes that work together to produce a three-show season each year on a self-sustaining budget. We’re proud of our students’ work, and we’reMaralie Medlin proud of what we’ve been able to accomplishDrama Department through the blessing of God and the support of our administrators, staff, and parents;however, we haven’t reached our full potential.We are still missing a vital resource that will enhance our programmingand our students’ learning potential: a performance space that can meetthe growing demands of our student body by allowing us to offer moretheatre arts classes, to produce higher quality work and to participate inregional competitions. Unquestionably, the Gaston Christian Players haveaccomplished great feats in eight years, but they’re ready for the next phasein which they can step out onto a new stage filled with new opportunitiesand challenges.14 FINE ARTS CENTER

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