ALL SCHOOL NEWS
Monday, March 29, 2004

SFCS teacher Ryan Godsey speaks to a group of residents at the Tsali Care Center. Several SFCS students also attended to sing to the residents.

The numbers of participants for the SFCS Cherokee Mission Trip is on the rise with fifty-one people having already signed up and paid their deposits. Many more students, teachers and parents have made verbal commitments and trip coordinator, Alvin Sell expects the group to eventually include eighty to eighty-five people.

The greatest need as preparations for the trip unfold is of course, prayer.

There is also a great need for financial support for SFCS students who are planning to attend. A group as large as the one scheduled to attend will need to raise more than $40,000 in funds.

SFCS Bible teacher, Ryan Godsey and his wife, Kindergarten teacher Andrea Godsey, will once again be giving of their summer time to help with the trip. “I look forward every year to the mission trip because it is a wonderful way for me to build relationships with our kids and help others in need at the same time,” said Mr. Godsey. “I think it is a great way for us to get ready for the upcoming school year,” he added. “I enjoy watching our young people give of themselves for the sake of others.”

Everyone is invited to contribute to this worthwhile ministry. Anyone wishing to contribute or receive information about the Cherokee Mission Trip can visit with or call Mr. Alvin Sell at 678.5172, Mrs. Kendell Sell at 678.5181 or Mrs. Andrea Culpepper at 678.5115.

The brains of SFCS Math Olympians were “computating” and reasoning, pencils were flying (so were some erasers), and the results were impressive. Congratulations to the following students who brought home ribbons of achievement from the ACSI Math Olympics held on Friday, March 19.

Computation
3rd Place: Sam Schiferl, 5th Grade	2nd Place: Devon Thurman, 6th Grade	4th Place: Ian Rose, 8th Grade
Reasoning
5th Place: Christopher Cassidy, 3rd Grade	4th Place: Justin Furgurson, 4th Grade	2nd Place: John Absher, 6th Grade	2nd Place: Andrew Schwendler, 8th Grade

Shannon Forest Christian School (SFCS) is proud to announce three faculty members who have been selected for inclusion in the 8th edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2004. All teachers in this publication are recommended by former SFCS students for having a significant impact on their lives. Only high school and college students who have been honored for academic excellence themselves in Who’s Who Among American High School Students and The National Dean’s List, are invited to nominate one teacher from their entire academic experience for this honor. Only 5% of our nation’s teachers are awarded this recognition.

Brian Jamison

Mr. Brian Jameson has been teaching at SFCS for eleven years. Jameson teaches History to Upper School students and is also the coordinator of the highlight of the year for Middle and Upper School students – WINDY GAP! No one quite knows what to expect from Jameson as he pours his heart and soul into this memorable, annual event. It is not a stretch to say that many lives have been changed during this wonderful spiritual retreat.

Jameson is also the SFCS volunteer coordinator for an activity that allows juniors and seniors to assist in the annual Greenville Special Olympic Games. Each student is assigned to a special needs child during the games. It is always a touching experience for all of the students. Jameson appreciates the fact that students in the past – 1998, 2002 and currently in 2004, have considered him a teacher worthy of receiving this honor. “Making a difference in a student’s life, that’s what really matters,” said Jameson.

Jameson earned a Bachelors of Arts degree from Clemson University with a double major in History and Secondary Education. He also has a Masters of Education in Secondary Education - Social Studies from Converse College and is finishing up a Masters of Arts in History from Clemson University. Jameson is also a member of the Phi Alpha Theta National History honor fraternity.

Harry Pohl

Mr. Harry Pohl has taught at SFCS for six years. Prior to arriving at Shannon, he taught at Anderson College, Greenville Tech and Clemson University. Teaching in the public school system and in several adult education courses is also included in his 37 years of teaching experiences. Since coming to SFCS, Pohl has taught all levels of Calculus, Statistics, Algebra and Physics just to name a few courses! He also helps students prepare for the SAT/ACTs and coaches the Junior Varsity, Varsity and Mathcounts Math Teams. Pohl loves teaching in a Christian environment because it allows him to teach the entire person. “I can talk to students about faith or a Biblical passage without having to be concerned about offending someone,” said Pohl. “There is a feeling of sharing faith, caring and concern for each other that is not prevalent in other schools.” Pohl’s favorite SFCS teaching moment was actually a whole year during which a group of students gave him back the joy of teaching. Instead of just pushing numbers, Pohl found a more fulfilling goal. “At SFCS, students as individual Christian learners, their growth in faith and academics are now my primary goals,” said Pohl.

Pohl holds a Bachelor of Science and Mathematics from Florida Atlantic University, a Masters of Education from Clemson, with a concentration in math, and has earned over 51 hours towards his Doctorate in Math from courses taken through Clemson University, U.S.C. and The Citadel. He has been married to wife, Ellen for 36 years and they have two grown sons, Erik and Matthew.

Alvin Sell

Mr. Alvin Sell has been a teacher in the SFCS family for nine years. During that time he has taught Geography, World History, U.S. History, AP U.S. History and Bible. Sell also served as the school’s Athletic Director for a year and of course, has been a beloved coach for both basketball and cross country every year since he arrived at Shannon Forest. When asked what his favorite teaching moment was at SFCS, Sell answered, “My favorite moment was being honored by the Class of 2003, when they asked me to be their commencement speaker.” This kind of love and respect for a teacher is one that Sell has come to know over the years.

Sell received a Bachelors degree from Tennessee Temple University in Pastoral Studies in 1982. He then worked as a policeman until 1992. Sell returned to further his education at Winston-Salem State University and received a teaching certificate in Social Studies while working at UPS. Keep in mind this was done while supporting a wife and three children! He then pursued and earned a Master of Arts degree from Furman University in 1998. The Sell family, wife, Kendall, and children, John, Joe and Kari enjoy water and snow skiing, hiking, camping and just being together. “My sons and I enjoy working together doing construction work in our part-time business,” added Sell.

Scouting has long been a fun and exciting way for young people to learn, share and grow into responsible citizens. At Shannon Forest Christian School, Troop 14 as steadily been picking up new Scouts and has been growing into a vibrant, active group of youth who care about our school and our community. Troop 14 currently consists of three dens with plans to add two more due to recent growth. The Tiger Cubs are a group of 1st Grade boys led by Den Leader, Doug James and Assistant Leader, Erik Watson.

Boys in this den include: Alex Adams, Lee Gordon, Timothy Kirby, Brandon Johnson, Michael Roper, and Jacob Roggow.

2nd and 3rd Grade boys are members of the Wolf & Bear Scouts, led by Matthew Collom.

Boys in this den include: Brielen Beamon, Phillip Carter, Korey Collom, Kyle Collom, Rivers Hiller, Nicolas Poupore, Aaron Roggow, and Gregory Van Dyke.

The Webelos are made up of boys in 4th through 5th Grades and are led by Den Mother, Robin Heitman and Assistant Leaders Allen Bass and Paul Fraley.

This Den includes: Brittan Bass, Rhys Dalton, Adam Favors, Drew Fraley, Tyler Goewey, Peter Heitman, Stephen James, Thomas Spurgeon, and Brian Van Dyke.

This Den has been hard at work on their Webelos badge and other activity badges. They recently completed CPR instruction, learned to change a tire and were involved in a two-month service project to clean up trash on the SFCS Upper School Campus.

All of the den’s meetings are held in the SFCS Scout Hut on the Lower School Campus. Seven boys from the Webelos will be crossing over to Boy Scouts this summer. If you are interested in leading this group of young men in a Boy Scout Troop to be held at SFCS, please contact Robin Heitman. With the formation of a Boy Scout Troop, all levels of Scouting would be available to our students.

Every year, over a million boys and their parents team up to participate in the Pinewood Derby and this year all three of the SFCS Dens of Troop 14 were in on the action. On Thursday, March 25, the SFCS Gymnasium was alive with race action that has been a Scouting tradition since the first race was held back in 1953. The vehicles raced are small model cars carved out of a block of wood. They are gravity powered and must be raced on a regulation track. The top two speeds in each age group competed at the District Derby on Saturday, March 27, at Aldersgate Methodist Church.

The winners of the SFCS Derby were:
1st Grade
Jacob Roggow

2nd/3rd Grade
Brielen Beamon

4th/5th Grade
Rhys Dalton

Second top speeds:
1st Grade
Timothy Kirby

2nd /3rd Grade
Korey Collom

4th/5th Grade
Peter Heitman

All SFCS Seniors and Juniors will have a very special experience on Wednesday, March 31, as they travel to Furman University to assist in the annual Special Olympics event. Each student will be assigned to assist a special needs child during the games. They will leave school at 8:30 a.m. and return around 3:00 p.m.

	Mar 15, 2004 - "This Is Teacher Appreciation Week!"
	Home Page