Horizon Christian Academy’s 2008-2009 school year got off to a running start August 11. With a successful service week, logging over 2100 volunteer hours and 10 projects, already under their belt, the students at this K-12 Christian school have much to look forward to this year as they focus on further academic, physical, spiritual, emotional, and social growth. However, Horizon Christian Academy is also focusing on future growth as school leaders are looking for land to build a new school for high school and middle school grades.

Horizon Christian Academy was founded 9 years ago by Garin Berry, who says “we started with 13 students and now have over 300.” Berry, Managing Director at Horizon, stated they would like to find land that would enable the school to grow and to have a soccer and football field with hopes of participating in football in 2 years, as well as their own 400 seat capacity gymnasium and fine arts center.

At the current facility located at 2160 Freedom Parkway in Cumming, Horizon Christian Academy’s athletic offerings include: cross country; volleyball; boys and girls soccer; cheerleading; basketball (ICSGA 2008 A State Champs in varsity boys and girls); baseball; tennis; and golf. Complementary to athletics, the Fine Arts department produced both The Sound of Music and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe last year while also sending representatives to the state choir and band. This year's schedule includes High School Musical along with a Talent Show and One-Act Plays.

In addition to the growing athletic and fine arts programs to match the needs of the expanding student body, Horizon Christian Academy has also responded strongly to academic needs. After hiring Heather Marshall, former instructor at North Georgia's College of Education at NGCSU, as Elementary Principal and Director of Curriculum and Instruction, they have added an After School Enrichment program for elementary. Kindergarten through fifth grade students have opportunities for after school enrichment, including piano, soccer, karate, reading club, spelling bees, and creative dance.

HCA has also partnered with North Georgia College and State University in hosting a Post-Baccalaureate program as a community service for adults entering the education field seeking State Certification in Georgia. Additionally, they have added three AP classes for this school year to include Calculus, Chemistry, and World History in addition to their AP Literature course, which almost doubled the national average for passing the AP test last spring. Future plans include the addition of AP American History and AP Spanish along with AP Language. Furthermore, HCA is now offering students participation in the Odyssey of the Mind and DECA programs.

Horizon provides a Christ centered educational approach in a non-denominational environment, helping children set spiritual and academic goals by providing every student with individual performance plans. Parents can be assured of complete academic preparation from Kindergarten through college readiness as graduates attend University of Georgia and Georgia Tech on the HOPE scholarship as well have attended or been accepted to most state and private universities in Georgia and several outside the state.

For additional information about Horizon Christian Academy, visit www.horizonchristian.org or call (678) 947-3583.

Forsyth County Classifieds: Education, K-12, private schools