Twelve years after their school’s debut, Alex Caudle, Kasey Rivers, and Matthew Spencer are themselves evidence of Triad Baptist Christian Academy’s mission to prepare lives for service through academics based on a biblical worldview.

Caudle, Rivers, and Spencer — the Academy’s first graduating class when they receive its first diplomas in May 2017 — say they will leave well prepared to take the next steps toward their dreams.

For Caudle, that’s training to be a youth pastor. For Rivers, it’s kinesiology studies to advance her goal to become a sports physical therapist. And for Spencer, it’s the liberal arts preparation to get him into law school and launch a career as an attorney.

“I’ve learned to believe in myself and to try my very best at everything to bring honor to myself and to the Lord,” Spencer says.

“As a sports therapist, I want to help others become leaders for Christ,” Rivers says. “At Triad Baptist Christian Academy I’ve learned how to stand up for myself and my faith to become a leader.”

Adds Caudle, “TBCA has helped me to grow mentally, socially, and most importantly, spiritually.”

Record enrollment

The three begin their senior years as the Academy celebrates several milestones in its 2016-2017 school year, including its highest enrollment in ever with 215 students in the Academy, 110 in the Preschool, and 60 in its after-school program.

Accreditation

Last spring, the Academy received accreditation by ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) and ADvancED (Southeastern U.S. secular accrediting body) for all but the 12th grade. That accreditation is expected once the team returns in late fall to review the 12th grade program now that it has begun.

Donna Mannon, the Academy’s director of education, says the accreditation opened the door to another new addition: the school’s first-ever National Honor Society chapter. She says the first induction ceremony is scheduled for November.

“I believe our enrollment has increased because we have achieved accreditation, we now have a complete high school, and because TBCA’s reputation in the community has continued to spread,” Mannon says.

“I was at a meeting today for area guidance counselors in public and private schools and was approached twice by a guidance counselor in a charter school in our area who said, ‘I hear such great things about your school.’ Also, I believe the verbal support our parents spread throughout the community has increased the school’s visibility.”

Transitional kindergarten

In another academic development, the Academy is offering a new transitional kindergarten class for children leaving preschool who aren’t quite ready for kindergarten class. The new program is led by teacher Meredith Wallace.

“Instead of forcing reading on them and possibly creating frustration, we give them an extra year to mature just a bit more in a learning environment more suited to their needs,” says Academics Director Rheanne Burkett. “Then when they hit kindergarten they are ready, confident to take on the monumental task of learning to read.”

New field, conference and sports

With the development of the new Rumburg Athletic Field on part of 92 acres Triad Baptist bought in 2014, Athletic Director Robbie Mansfield says that the Academy began its fall sports season by hosting its first high school soccer match, against the High Point Home Educators, on Aug. 23.

The 2016-2017 school year also represents the Academy’s first year as a member of the Carolina Athletic Association for Schools of Choice (CAASC) and its Greater Piedmont Athletic Conference. Competing against Triad Baptist Christian Academy are Greater Piedmont conference teams from Oak Ridge Military Academy, New Garden Friends, Noble Academy, Community Baptist, Hayworth Christian, and Oak Level Baptist Academy.

Mansfield says the change means Triad teams can now compete for conference championships and play in state tournaments. The new conference also adds varsity baseball and 7-on-7 co-ed flag football to the Academy’s sports program.

“It’s a very exciting step for us,” he says.

The walking track Triad cut through its land addition is currently being used by the cross-country team for practice, Mansfield adds, but next year, with some additional work, it will allow the Academy to host its first cross-country meet.