BETWEEN the LIONS
YOUR SOURCE FOR ACA NEWS
February 13, 2025
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Dear Asheville Christian Academy Family,
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” – Psalm 127:1
In times of challenge, we often hear the phrase “build back better and stronger.” But what does that truly mean? We recognize that rebuilding is more than just restoring walls, roofs, and classrooms—it is an opportunity to strengthen the very foundation of who we are as a school community.
As we continue with the reconstruction of our physical campus, we do so with a deep understanding that our responsibility extends beyond bricks and mortar. Our calling is to build in a way that reflects the goodness and faithfulness of God, ensuring that every step forward strengthens both our school’s mission and the spiritual health of our community.
To build back better means not settling for what was, but pressing forward with excellence. Colossians 3:23 reminds us, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Every classroom we restore, every facility we improve, and every decision we make must serve the higher purpose of equipping students with both knowledge and faith.
Building back stronger means more than reinforcing our buildings—it means reinforcing our hearts. This season of rebuilding has deepened our trust in God and made us lean into His provision while standing together as a united body of believers.
It means ensuring that every aspect of Asheville Christian Academy—academics, athletics, fine arts is rooted in Christ and stronger than before. It means fostering a culture where students, families, faculty, and staff flourish in both faith and fellowship.
We are not simply rebuilding; we are renewing. We are not just restoring; we are growing. And we do this with the confidence that, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
Together in Christ,
Jason Putnam
William Jason Putnam
Interim Head of School
Upcoming Events.
Calendar navigation: hover cursor or tap phone to view event details. Use arrows to view next month.
Featured Events:
February 17
Reminder - No School Monday, February 17 due to President’s Day.
Friday, February 14 will be a Noon Dismissal.
All School News
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Spring 2025 School Calendar Change Reminders
Just a quick reminder of the changes to this school year’s calendar.
Monday, March 31 is now a full day of school.
Friday, May 23 is now a NOON DISMISSAL (in order to prepare for honoring our graduating seniors at Baccalaureate that evening). This is a new addition!
May 27-30 were added to the end of the school year to reclaim some of our lost days. These will all be Noon Dismissal days.
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Carline Reminders
As a reminder, afternoon carline will end by 3:20 pm. If you arrive after this point, you will need to park and walk in to pick up your child from AfterCare. As a courtesy to you, you will not be charged for AfterCare if your child has been picked up by 3:30 pm.
Please remember to follow the instructions of all parking attendants during morning and afternoon carline. Thank you for helping us keep your children safe!
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Habitat Dress Down day February 18th!
Our next Habitat for Humanity Dress Down Day is Tuesday, February 18th. Subscribing students and faculty can wear jeans and an ACA t-shirt. Others can bring $5 to their classroom/first period teacher the day of the dress down to participate for that day only. Future dress down Tuesday dates are as follows:
March 18
April 1
April 15
April 29
May 13
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Swannanoa Community Clean-Up Opportunities
Looking for ways to continue helping the community clean up from Helene? Join FANS every Saturday through the end of March to help clean up Swannanoa!
Each week will have a different focus area for cleanup. Meet at 9:00 am in the Swannanoa Ingles Parking Lot (near the Ingles sign).
Please bring gloves. All other equipment will be provided. See the Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa - FANS Facebook page for more details. -
2025 Summer Camps
Summer Camps will be happening at ACA this summer! Watch your emails for details to be shared by February 15!
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Invite Friends, Family Neighbors!
Evening Open House on Thursday, March 20 (6:00 - 8:00 pm).
Invite your mission-fit friends and extended family who are interested in ACA! Click the link below to send an email invitation. Just enter your friend, neighbor, or family member’s email and hit send!
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ACA Sibling Applications
Applications for the 2025-2026 school year are now open!
Current ACA families that intent to enroll new children for next year should go ahead and complete a sibling application as we will begin placing new students in classes beginning in March.
In order to avoid application errors, please follow the instructions attached below to complete a sibling application.
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Reminder of Financial Aid Deadlines
Reminder:
All families planning to apply for Variable Tuition (financial aid) through ACA must also apply for the NC Opportunity Scholarship.
NC Opp. Scholarship applications are now being accepted. We encourage families to apply during the month of February. Families must apply each year to be considered for this scholarship.
We also encourage you to apply for Variable Tuition through FACTS during this timeframe.
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Save the Date!
2025 Sporting Clays Tournament
Friday, May 2
at Biltmore Sporting Clays Club
Registration will open on March 17th. More details coming soon!
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Spirit Store Update
The Spirit Store is now open for business!
Store hours during the school year:
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
7:45-8:30am & 2:45-3:30pm
You may also once again turn in your gently used uniforms for store credit upstairs in the upper school outside the elevator. Everything you need is there. Simply follow the instructions posted the wall. You may do this anytime the school is open all year round. Click here for the credit form, if you want to complete it before you turn your uniforms in. Direct any questions to thespiritstore@ashevillechristian.org.
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From the School Nurse
Please remember our school policy regarding illness. Students who are ill should not come to school. A student with any of the following symptoms must be kept home from school and may return only when symptom-free for 24 hours: vomiting, diarrhea, or a temperature of 100.0 or higher.
Also, any student with contagious symptoms such as frequent coughing or sneezing, eye discharge or cloudy nasal discharge should not attend school.
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Did you know?
Our ACA Library has a parenting and Christian living section that is open to ACA parents. We have an excellent selection of books, CDs, and DVDs that you are welcome to check out, and we are continuing to add resources!
Stop by the Library during school hours and check out resources with Mrs. Hutzler or one of the library volunteers.
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Inclement Weather Policy
Please remember that all future school cancellation days will be asynchronous learning days. Teachers will either email or post assignments to Teams or RenWeb by 10:00 am. This allows us to move our curriculum forward without having to add days to the calendar.
For details on how to access information about school delays and cancellations, please click below.
PTF Corner
(Parent Teacher Fellowship)
If on a mobile device, swipe or use the arrows underneath the descriptions to scroll through volunteer opportunities.
Thank you SO much for those who have so quickly responded to our requests for volunteers! Your help has been invaluable. We will have more opportunities in the days, weeks, and months ahead. Please stay tuned for sign-ups via text or email as they come available!
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![PTF Circle Logo]()
Get Involved, Stay Connected, Build Community
We believe that PTF is a great way to get involved, stay connected and build community. We invite every parent (or even grandparent) to join PTF with all of the activities we help with throughout the year. If you would like more information about how to get involved, click on the following link. We look forward to meeting you!
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![Volunteers]()
Volunteer at Parenting Together Events
As part of the Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF), we have the opportunity to help our teachers and staff by setting up and volunteering in their place at the Parenting Together events this year. This is a fun way to meet other parents by serving together and greeting other parents as they arrive for the events. You will only need to arrive an hour before the start time of the event to help set up, greet and check-in parents, and serve snacks. You will NOT miss any of the event.
Thank you for your willingness to help!
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![graphic]()
Shop 'n' Give
Last year, your qualified purchases with our affiliated retailers through the Shop-n-Give Affinity Programs benefitted ACA last year in cash back and products valued at $14,800!
You can support ACA through Shop ’n’ Give programs!
Some of our participating partners are Ingles, Lands’ End, Publix, Harris Teeter, and Box Tops. For more information on how to participate, please visit the PTF section of the ACA website.
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![Come Pray With Us]()
Moms in Prayer
Please join us every Monday morning after drop-off for Moms in Prayer.
Contact Amanda O’Brien (acwskier@yahoo.com) for more information about the meeting locations during our time at the temporary school locations.
Athletics & Fine Arts
Athletic News
Congratulations Winter Athletes!
Swim Team Recognitions:
Ezekiel Herzog- All conference in 100 breaststroke.
Molly Goforth - All conference in the 200 Free and 500 Free.
Emma Kjar- All conference in the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke.
State Swim Meet
Molly Goforth - Runner Up in the 200 freestyle, State Champ in the 500 freestyle.
Emma Kjar - 3rd in the 200 IM, Runner Up in the 100 breaststroke.
Basketball Team Recognitions:
Girls Basketball All Conference
Lauren Bass
Ansley Fuchs
Sara Larios - Co Conference Player of the Year
Boys Basketball All Conference
Ian Bailey
Liviu Anton
Gabe Erbeck
Upcoming Games
Stay Up-to-Date on all athletic games by checking out the Tandem calendar.
Varsity Women’s Basketball play in the next round of the State Playoffs tonight, February 13 at Gaston Christian.
Varsity Men’s Basketball will host the State Quarterfinals at ACA on Saturday, February 15. Time TBD.
Spring Sports Information
Click the button to find coaches, contact info, and Remind sign-up links for our 2025 spring sports teams.
Save the Date!
Athletic Physicals at ACA
May 14 at 3:00 pm
Rising 6th-12th Grades, $20 each
Fine Arts News
We are looking forward to our annual Gong Show, hosted by ACA’s chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society! The show will be at ACA on Saturday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m. What we most look forward to is seeing all of our ACA student body talent (and non-talents) on display!
If you are not familiar with the historic “Gong Show,” this is a comedic and satirical evening that promises laughter inspired by our middle and upper school students.
Please come to see the show and give your support! Admission is $3 per person. We’ll have wonderful grand prizes and many door prizes to give away! We will also have concessions snacks available for purchase. Come see our ACA talent on display as we enjoy a fun night together, hosted by some student MCs and mystery faculty judges, all in support of our Tri-M Music Honor Society student chapter!
Congratulations Scholastic Student Artists!
Congratulations to the following students who were recognized for their artwork in the regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
Chloe-Anne Lorton (12) - Honorable Mention
Nikki Innes (11) - Silver Key
Kenley Nix (11) - Honorable Mention
Lauren Ricco (11) - Silver Key & Honorable Mention
Sophie Ryburn (9) - 4 Silver Keys & an Honorable Mention
Scholastic Awards Artwork
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![Ablaze]()
Ablaze by Sophie Ryburn (Silver Key)
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![A Cat's Eye View]()
A Cat's Eye View by Lauren Ricco (Sliver Key)
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![Jellies]()
Take Care of the Water by Lauren Ricco (Honorable Mention)
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![Bike in the Desert]()
Journey to the end of the deserted desert by Sophie Ryburn (Honorable Mention)
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![two boys]()
No Vacancy by Kenley Nix (Honorable Mention)
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![Red Panda]()
Red Panda by Nikki Innes (Silver Key)
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![knight]()
Steel Unsheathed by Sophie Ryburn (Silver Key)
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![After School]()
The After School Dilemma by Sophie Ryburn (Silver Key)
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![Moved to Pieces]()
Moved to Pieces by Chloe Lorton (Honorable Mention)
Guidance News
College Rep Visits:
Catawba College: Mon, Feb 24, lunchtime in Student Union
High Point University: Mon, Feb 24, lunchtime in Student Union
Juniors & Sophomores
Mon, Feb. 24, 6:30-8:30 pm
Asheville Independent Schools College Fair at Christ School! 65+ colleges and universities from around the country represented. Sign up here: https://app.strivescan.com/registration
SENIORS
Keep Scoir updated as your college acceptances come in, make sure you check any emails from your schools, and complete the FAFSA. Let Guidance know how we can help.
8TH GRADERS, FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS:
Advising meetings: Course Request sheets are due, with all required signatures, on April 17. If you want to have a meeting with the Guidance department, use the link in your email. Rising juniors and seniors have priority on meetings through the week of Feb. 10th. Rising freshmen and sophomores will receive the meeting links the following week.
Dual College Credit
If you are currently in AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP Literature, AP US History, AP Psychology, or SIP Honors, you can register for dual credit through Colorado Christian University. These college credits will transfer to the vast majority of other universities.
Here is a link to the registration page: https://www.ccu.edu/academy/dual-credit/registration/
ALL FAMILIES:
Did you know that the Guidance Dept focuses on specific themes each year that are derived from our mission statement?
The ACA College Guidance Office, in conjunction with school administrators, faculty, and parents,
engages with students to explore their God-given abilities and dreams,
reviews the impact of their current choices on their future opportunities,
and presents essential information regarding college and career selection,
encouraging congruence between faith and life to be enabled to serve Christ in all areas.
Freshman Year: High School Transition and Initial Dreams
Sophomore Year: College and Career Orientation
Junior Year: College and Career In-depth Exploration
Senior Year: College Applications and Selection (or other plans)
Counseling Corner
The purpose of this “corner” of the BTL is to provide helpful links, resources, and information that we believe are encouraging and helpful as we navigate this time in the lives of our students. We will be working to develop a database of these articles and videos, so check back here regularly.
Resources:
Christian Counselors:
For our women and adolescent females: https://liftedupcounseling.com (Crystal Ficker has recently hired a new counselor, Niki Swann to increase services and availability).
Lower School News
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