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March 19, 2024

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Private Schools In the News

The new school year brings new faces, expansions and more to area private schools. Check it out.

With the 2018-19 school year looming, area private schools have lots of new to report. From additions to faculty and service projects, the following independent schools give the latest scoop:

NEW FACES

Battle Ground Academy (150 Franklin Road, Franklin and 336 Ernest Rice Lane, Franklin) names Patrick Snead as head of middle school. Jared Street  is new head boys' basketball coach and Molly Machleit is the newly-created director of cheerleading. 

Ezell-Harding Christian School (574 Bell Road, Antioch) announces Mrs. Charity Vinson as the new lower school principal. Fayla Junior is the new Lady Eagles soccer coach. Mark Rayburn is new head basketball coach.  

Father Ryan High School (700 Norwood Drive, Nashville) names Ann Mullins (’03) as associate director of athletics. 

Lipscomb Academy (3901 and 4517 Granny White Pike, Nashville) expands its fine arts program to include a dance program led by Kari Smith. Smith also takes on the position of the high school’s theater director. In addition, Suzanne Craig is the new coordinator of the school’s theater. 

Currey Ingram Academy (6544 Murray Lane, Brentwood) adds Hope Link, Ph.D., as the new director of college counseling. 

Donelson Christian Academy (300 Danyacrest Drive, Nashville) is now a Project ADAM Heart Safe School. This certification comes when a school has taken all the necessary steps to safeguard students’ health, including making sure that AEDs are available and accessible. It also ensures a team of CPR/AED-trained staff is ready to act in an emergency. The school also adds Paul Wade as the new head football coach. 

Middle Tennessee Christian School (100 E. MTCS Road, Murfreesboro) elementary school is now an integrated learning environment. Children make real-world connections between and among all content areas through active learning. The school also has a new elementary principal, Melanie Maxwell, Ph.D. 

Providence Christian Academy (410 Dejarnette Lane, Murfreesboro) adds new coaches to the school: Tyler Clem, high school soccer; Damien Brown, assistant coach for high school basketball; and Aimie Markham, middle school cheer coach. 

EXPANSIONS AND ARTS

Christ Presbyterian Academy (2323-A Old Hickory Blvd., Nashville) launches the Lower School Dance Company, joining the Middle and Upper School Dance Companies. There are now classes for lower school students in ballet, beginning dance and jazz/hip-hop during its after-school programs. 

Franklin Road Christian School (3124 Franklin Road, Murfreesboro) opens a new expansion this fall that includes a science lab, band room, commons area, library, offices, three practice rooms, 10 classrooms and more.

Lancaster Christian Academy's (LCA) (3721 Manson Pike) is now open. The Early Learning Center for ages 6 weeks – kindergarten offers a magnet program and technology center. Also, LCA’s main campus (150 Soccer Way, Smyrna) now has a professional development program for juniors and seniors. Students leave campus each day to shadow and intern at companies in the community. 

Mt. Juliet Christian Academy (735 N. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet) now offers agricultural courses as part of its curriculum. 

St. Bernard Academy (2304 Bernard Ave., Nashville) has an expanded arts program. Students can learn on guitars, ukuleles, recorders and a variety of percussion instruments in addition to receiving vocal instruction. SmartTVs and iPads are available in a new music classroom. St. Bernard also  introduces a drama activity, which culminates with a play in the spring. 

St. Cecilia Academy (4210 Harding Pike, Nashville) broke ground on a new fine arts center and plans to open the 9,500-square-foot facility in January 2019. It will be home to a new visual art studio, a full-sized dance studio, gallery space, kiln room, photography dark room, art storage space and more. 

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