SPOTLIGHTSFirst Presbyterian Day School
“Our purpose is to educate and equip students to change the world for God’s glory”
Their mission statement is a purposeful and powerful one. So much so that merely reading it is inspirational, “To educate and equip students to change the world for God’s glory.” It is a bold mission statement to have and First Presbyterian Day School, or FPD as they are known in the community, takes it very seriously. In fact, FPD believes it is their reason for existing. The School is an independent college preparatory Christ-centered day school located in Middle Georgia. The School serves over 994 students, from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, and provides a demanding Christ-centered academic educational program for the college bound student.
While pursuing their purpose, First Presbyterian Day School holds securely to their core values, values they say they will not compromise. These values include seeking to glorify God in everything they do and say, teaching a biblical word life view, supporting families, pursuing excellence, maintaining integrity, and a continual commitment to advancing God’s kingdom in all their pursuits.
FPD was chartered in 1970, after fifteen years of study by members of the First Presbyterian Church, who recognized a need for a school to provide elementary and secondary education from a Christian, biblical world life view. The initial facilities, consisting of ten acres of land and an Elementary School building were funded by a capital funds drive within the membership of the church.
An independent Board of Trustees was established in 1969, and given authority to govern the School under a charter issued by the state of Georgia. The School opened with 205 students in grades 5K–8. In 37 years it has grown to its present enrollment of 994 students in grades pre-kindergarten through grade 12, having graduated its first class of 33 students in 1975. Since that time an additional 17 acres have been acquired; and since the school’s first alumni in 1975, more than 2000 young people have graduated from the School.
FPD’s Elementary School children are busy every day learning Everyday Mathematics, writing and publishing stories, learning computer applications, exploring their creative talents through acting, painting, singing and/or playing instruments and worshipping God through each of the disciplines. “Every child has a unique place in our School, and we enjoy finding the talents each child possesses,” says Gayle Putnal, Elementary School Principal. In 2003, the elementary school was chosen as a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
Middle School is an exciting and active time at FPD. They offer a fine arts program where students are encouraged to sing, act, produce, create, and construct. Students have the opportunity to compete in a variety of genres from math team, Model UN, spelling bees, geography bees, science projects, chess club, and word challenges. Community service is encouraged through their Junior Beta club, Y-club, and student advisory programs. Through such course offerings as technical theatre, creative communications, reading rejuvenation, problem-solving, and computer applications, students are given the opportunity to discover and develop their talents outside of the core areas. Middle School Principal Molly Pearson believes in the mission of FPD, and she states that “one way we work toward this in the Middle School is through establishing healthy relationships in a Christ-like manner.”
FPD is well established as one of the premier institutions of learning in Middle Georgia. FPD students consistently score above the state and national averages on standardized testing including the SAT. This college prep school has an excellent reputation for placing students in a variety of colleges and universities, including Ivey League colleges, where they continue to excel. FPD contributes this to having an outstanding faculty, superb facilities, and a dedicated student body. FPD believes that it is its students that make the school special. In keeping with the mission, the school directs the talents, gifts, and ambition of their students toward academic achievement and preparation for becoming a contributing member of society. At the high school level, the Vikings have one of the finest athletic programs in the Georgia Independent School Association which is evidenced by their winning the GISA Athletic Excellence Award in 2002 and 2003. Many students take advantage of opportunities to develop their artistic and literary skills in the John Clarke fine arts facility.
This year, FPD completed a $7.5 million dollar expansion to their academic facilities. This was made possible through gifts from the FPD family. The expansion allowed the School to increase its curricular offerings as well as provide state-of-the-art technologically advanced classrooms and labs. A new high school has been built, the Middle School has received a renovation and the classroom sizes of their elementary school were expanded by 25%. Every middle and high school classroom is equipped with an interactive white board “Smart Board,” and soon, all of the elementary classrooms will be as well.
First Presbyterian Day School believes that by fulfilling their mission they can bring to fruition their goal of being the most respected Christian school in the nation. Such a bold goal demands that the leaders of FPD continually improve on everything they do, and they constantly work to do just that. Never wavering from its purpose and values, the School seeks to develop the mind of each student and to mold his/her character as well. Headmaster Gregg Thompson states, “We unite with parents in their efforts to challenge their children to take responsibility for independent learning and thinking, to develop Godly discernment and the resolve to make tough decisions for what is right and good, and to grow in maturity toward accepting responsibility for their actions.” FPD believes that tomorrow’s leaders will posses not only bright minds, but sound characters. First Presbyterian Day School graduates are more than equipped to be the leaders of tomorrow and to work toward changing the world, for God’s glory. —By Mari Beth Buckroth
First Presbyterian Day School
5671 Calvin Dr
Macon, GA 31210
(478) 477-6505
