December 2025
Volume X • Issue II
friends of veritas academy
Dear Friends,
During this Christmas season, we joyfully reflect on a semester filled with learning, growth, and hope. As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we invite our entire community—families, grandparents, alumni, and friends—to rejoice with us in what God has been doing at Veritas Academy.
-Your Veritas Family
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A Look Back!
Merry Christmas, Friends!
On Friday, December 12, we enjoyed gathering under the canopy of oaks in our Grammar School Courtyard to worship and celebrate our Savior's birth before beginning Christmas Break. Below is a recording of the annual Christmas Charge given by Head of School, Cameron Cook. Cameron put a fun and festive spin on this year's charge by writing and reading an original poem with inspiration for all of us to "walk down our Portrait & Path... to see what it shows us to live and give back...".
Veritas Robotics' First LEGO League Qualifier Tournament
Recently, twenty-one SL students proudly represented Veritas at the First LEGO League Qualifier Tournament at Anderson High School, competing among 23 middle school teams. Our 7th-Grade team earned 2nd place in the Innovation Project, placed 8th in Robot Performance, and ranked in the top five for technical merit—a remarkable achievement in such a large field. The 8th-Grade team placed 11th in Robot Performance and received the tournament's Engineering Excellence Award, the single award given to one team out of all 23 for outstanding robot design, an innovative project solution, and exemplary core values. Our 5th- and 6th-Grade teams both delivered their best runs of the season, showing tremendous growth and teamwork.
SR Common Arts Soap Box Derby Debut
This semester our SR Common Arts students focused on fundamentals of woodworking, including whittling, basic joinery, and simple construction techniques. They wrapped up the semester by building soapbox derby cars. Students were fully responsible for all phases of the project, including engineering and design, construction, testing, and all finish work.
It was a joy to share the fruits of their labor with the Veritas community by racing their cars down the carpool loop during our Very Veritas Christmas celebration! Our winning driver was Sam Hammonds in the Red Bull Racer, built by Sam Hammonds, Brayden Nelson, and Mason Wiechman!
Honoring Veterans Day
Veritas Veterans Day Ceremony
World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed in June 1919, but the fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
Veterans Day is observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls, in order to preserve the historical significance of the date and help focus attention on the importance of Veterans Day—a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
At our Veritas Veterans' Program, Mr. Adam Gengler shared some thoughts for us about service (Adam Gengler - 2025 Veteran Address) and Mr. Bert Cruise taught us about The 13 Folds of the United States Flag, with the help of Junior Andrew Morgan and Sophomore Henry Monson.
Second Annual Veterans Day Poetry Contest
Additionally, Veritas Academy hosted its second annual Veterans Day Poetry Contest. The contest was open to our 8th graders, and this year's winner was Charlotte Aman, who read her poem at our Veterans Program. We are grateful to have the opportunity to celebrate and honor our veterans. We will always be thankful for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good of the United States of America. Below you will find the wonderful words submitted by some of our 8th graders.
- " For America" — Charlotte Aman
- "A Prayer for the Veterans" — Emilie Deaton
- "The Price of Freedom" — Laura Ensley
- "Veterans Day Poem" — Annie Wilson
- "America" — Eden Karnes
" For America" — Charlotte Aman
"A Prayer for the Veterans" — Emilie Deaton
"The Price of Freedom" — Laura Ensley
"Veterans Day Poem" — Annie Wilson
"America" — Eden Karnes
Veritas Accepted as an Official Mu Alpha Theta Chapter
We are thrilled to announce that we have been officially accepted as a chapter of Mu Alpha Theta, the national mathematics honor society. This distinction recognizes exceptional achievement in mathematics and provides students with opportunities for national recognition, scholarships, competitions, and enrichment. We are especially grateful to Mrs. Lisa Collins (SR Math Teacher) for her vision and leadership in bringing this opportunity to life, as well as to our Math Department Head, Mr. Jaime Brugueras, for his support. We look forward to seeing our students flourish through this prestigious program.
Fall Roundup and the Launch of Carpe Unitas
Our Veritas community gathered for another wonderful Fall Roundup in early October for a fun-filled evening in the Meadow with treats, booths, photo ops, and the beloved tradition of the cakewalk. Defender Dads kept the grills going, and our School of Rhetoric students served generously as they raised funds to support class trips. The night was a joyful celebration made possible by the dedication of our students, families, faculty, and staff.
This year’s Fall Roundup was especially meaningful as it marked the "public" launch of Carpe Unitas: A Place to Come Together. It was a joy to weave a long-standing Veritas tradition together with an exciting step forward in the growth and development of our campus facilities—honoring where we have been while looking ahead with hope and unity.
7th Grade Arms of Hope Recap
We are thrilled to share that our 7th Grade students represented Veritas beautifully during their mission trip to Arms of Hope. They once again welcomed our students as they stepped in whole-heartedly to serve single mothers and children transitioning out of homelessness, domestic violence, and other crisis situations, with humility, diligence, and the love of Christ.
Students and parents worked in eight teams across the campus, completing an impressive amount of hands-on service:
- Weed Eating Team – Hauled approximately 10 trailer loads of lawn debris.
- Tree Team (The Chain Saw Gang) – Cut down 10 trees and hauled off 15 pine trees.
- Painting Team – Painted 30+ Adirondack chairs, two large posts, and stained an entire playground enclosure.
- Bicycle Repair Team – Repaired 9 bicycles, including restoring one for a young boy named Isaiah, who was thrilled to ride his fixed bike to the fall festival.
- Windows Team – Washed 138 windows and power-washed large areas of campus.
- Warehouse Team – Inventoried 8,209 items and created a usable inventory list for staff.
- Equine Team – Cleaned 4 horse stalls and a full horse arena.
- Cleaning Team – Deep-cleaned two homes to prepare them for families moving in this week.
- We also celebrate the bold leadership of the eight students—four young men and four young women—who prayed out loud during our time together.
After a full day of work, our students served dinner to the resident families and then hosted a joyful fall festival for the moms and children. They worked hard, served joyfully, cleaned thoroughly, and worshiped passionately on the way home. We could not be prouder of their character, teamwork, and servant hearts.
Winter Alumni Reception
Friday, January 9 from 12:30-2:30pm | Lyceum
Calling all Alumni! Will you be home from college or in town this January? We are hosting our Winter Alumni reception on Friday, January 9, from 12:30-2:30pm in the Lyceum. Pizza, snacks, and drinks provided. Invite your fellow Veritas alum to come back and catch up!
Seeking Vintage House Shirts
With the hope of making t-shirt quilts with the first 12 years' worth of house shirts, our Dean of Student Life, Chloe Larson, is looking to fill in some of the gaps. If you have some old House shirts laying around, would you consider donating them? Bring old shirts to the alumni reception on Friday, January 9, send them with a sibling, or drop them by the second-floor desk when you're home for the holidays. Our campus is currently closed for Christmas Break but will re-open on Monday, January 5. Click the link below to see which shirts we're looking for. We only need one of each pictured!
Veritas Alumni Perform Together in College Production
At the end of November, three of our Veritas alumni continued their engagement in Fine Arts by acting in a production together. Gabrielle Wood (VA '24, Thesis Final Four), Josh Underwood (VA '23, Thesis Final Four, Veritas Valiant), and Finnley Smitheal (VA '25, Thesis Laureate) performed in The Book of Will at Hillsdale College.
Hillsdale College "is a small, Christian, classical liberal arts college in southern Michigan that operates independently of government funding. [Their] students come from nearly all over the United States and a dozen foreign countries. Drawn to the challenge of a Hillsdale education, they grow in heart and mind by studying timeless truths in a supportive community dedicated to the highest things."
We are so proud to see our students come back together even after their time at Veritas has concluded and continue in classical education!
In Case You Missed It:
New Alumni Coordinator: Brody Head
Brody (pictured with Head of School, Cameron Cook) and his brother Levi have been a part of the Veritas community since 2016. They began going to Veritas in 4th grade, and stayed all the way through high school, where they graduated in 2024. Brody is also the recipient of the Veritas Valiant award for his class. He is now back, working as the new Alumni Coordinator and as the SR Science Assistant. He’s excited to be working at Veritas and exploring the different roles of working in the education field. As the Alumni Coordinator and a recent alum himself, he’s looking forward to helping his old classmates and other graduating classes stay connected with the Veritas community.
SL Choir Brings Christmas Joy to Brookdale Beckett Meadows Retirement Community
As the room at Brookdale Beckett Meadows Retirement Community filled with residents and Veritas families, over 50 SL Choir students and several of our SR choir girls offered a program that told the story of Christ’s birth through scripture reading, narration, and Christmas carols. There was a beautiful spirit of Christmas in the air…a joy that comes from sharing Christ’s love through music.
Brave singers shared solos, duets, and ensemble pieces, filling the space with music that pointed to the true meaning of Christmas. We are so proud of our students for shining Christ’s light and blessing the Brookdale community with a truly memorable afternoon.
Speech and Debate: Holy Trinity Tournament
The 2025-2026 Veritas Speech & Debate team delivered an outstanding performance this semester at the Journey Tournament held at Holy Trinity. Competing against a field of public and private schools, Veritas students earned top placements in multiple events.
- In Lincoln Douglas Debate , Ezra Blythe won 2nd place, Canaan Tulbah placed 4th, and Natalie Scantlen earned 5th place.
- In Poetry Interpretation, Elizabeth Casady placed 4th, and Allison Prater took 6th place.
- In Prose Interpretation, Ezra Blythe won 3rd place, with Natalie Scantlen and Joel Regen placing 5th and 6th, respectively.
- In Extemporaneous Commentary, Ezra Blythe again excelled with a 2nd-place finish, followed by Caleb Vimont in 3rd and Canaan Tulbah in 5th.
In Case You Missed It:
One Act Play Wins State Championship
Under the direction of Neela Beddoe, our One Act Play (OAP) team has taken the TAPPS District Championship title for three years in a row, and this year claimed the title of State Champions for their play, Great Expectations. Veritas went up against seven other schools at the State OAP Championship level to compete for the title. This victory is what our students are calling a “3-2-1”—3rd at State two years ago, 2nd last year, and 1st this year.
In addition to this win, Senior Sawyer Marrs won Best Actor at State and District for the second year in a row, earning four consecutive Best Actor awards—a record-breaking achievement for any student in Veritas Academy history.
Additional awards include: Seniors Micah McGinty and Bliss Mohon receiving All-Star Cast, Sophomore Megan Williams receiving Honorable Mention Cast, and Junior Abby Magno and Freshman Emily Nix receiving All-Star Crew.
SL Tackle Football and SL Cheer
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Blue finished out their season with the STFC Gold playoff semifinal game at Saint Mary’s Hall against the first seed out of the South District, just falling short of advancing to the championship game with a final score of 32-40! We loved having our cheerleaders out to San Antonio to support our boys in blue! Finally, we want to recognize our Silver team on a winning record this season, finishing 5-2 overall.
SL Cross Country
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Our fearless cross country runners concluded their season at the CAPPS Championship meet at Brentwood Christian School. They took on this hilly course for the second time this season, finishing with 5 season best times or personal records, as well as 4 medals: Klara Szalay (7th) - 1st, Joshua Vimont (7th) - 6th, Betty Marrs (8th) - 14th, and Abigail Martinez (8th) - 15th. Overall this season, 10 of 12 SL runners set personal records in the 2 mile race. It was a special season marked by endurance: “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured.” (Hebrews 12:1b-2a)
SL Flag Football
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Congratulations to Silver on advancing to the CAPPS Championship game held at St. Michael’s Prep. They took down their Semifinal opponent Round Rock Christian 28-0. Highlights from Blue’s season include a come from behind victory over St. Theresa’s in September, and a 4OT win against Round Rock! Congratulations to these boys on a hard-fought football season!
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7/8 Volleyball Teams
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7/8 Volleyball teams made it to the CAPPS Championship tournament this semester. Silver had a stellar season and went into the tournament as the #1 ranked team. Blue already has a tournament championship under their belts, taking first at St. Andrew’s earlier this season.
5/6 Volleyball
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We had our largest crew ever come out for 5/6 Volleyball this year, with 28 athletes and 3 teams! They concluded their season at the CAPPS Championship tournament! Congratulations to our Black team on a great fight for a 3rd place finish overall!
SL Fall Championships
We are wishing an extra special congratulations to our 7/8 Silver Volleyball team as well as our 5/6 Silver Flag Football team, for their 1st place finishes in CAPPS 4A this fall! Both teams took on stiff competition at the championship games, taking their final wins of the season over Regents and St. Michael’s respectively!
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SL Sports Award Winners
Please join us in congratulating all of our SL Fall Athletes on their hard work and accomplishments! We want to specifically recognize our MVPs and Defender Heart award winners from this fall:
- Cheer MVP: Sam Reale
- Cheer Defender Heart: Eleanor Knapp
- Cross Country MVPs: Klara Szalay and Joshua Vimont
- Cross Country Defender Hearts: Coen Dobbs and Betty Marrs
- Football MVPs: Ben Alguire, Luke Clark, Wyatt Dregits, and Mason Larkam
- Football Defender Hearts: Braxton Baena, Bennett Draper, Press McNeely, and Walker Murphy
- 5/6 Volleyball MVPs: Bailey Nelson, Paisley Palmer, and Ellie Piatt
- 5/6 Volleyball Defender Hearts: Iris Beddoe, Savannah Nolen, and Capey Olschefskie
- 7/8 Volleyball MVPs: Leah Adams and Brooke Swanston
- 7/8 Volleyball Defender Hearts: Lillian Nespoli and Emery Roberts
Cross Country Recap
Our Cross Country runners had an outstanding performance this fall! They closed out their season with an extremely hot, afternoon race in Waco at the State Championship meet. Congratulations to senior Julia Rhodes on her Top 15 finish and Academic All-State honors and senior captain Caleb Eilers on a Top 50 finish as well. Earlier this season, Julia set the school record in both the 5k (22:13) and the 2 mile (12:43), and senior captain Bliss Mohon also notched a Top 10 2 mile performance (15:15) on the Veritas record board. All 7 of our men’s athletes improved on their previous state finishes this year, with senior Micah McGinty, sophomore Owen Krawzsenek, and freshman Walker McGehee all finishing in the Top 100. These athletes executed their race plan flawlessly, working together to maximize our team performance and finished 5 places apart!
Veritas Tops Thanksgiving Tip-off Classic
We are thrilled to present our Men’s Varsity Basketball team as the Thanksgiving Tip-Off Classic champions for the second year in a row! Junior captain, Perry Kinane. was the tournament MVP with an average of 19 points, shooting 50% from the 3 point line. He also collected 14 rebounds, 12 steals, and 10 assists over the 4 games. Freshman guard, Eli Clark, also led stat lines for the Defenders finishing the tournament with the top spot for rebounds (22) and steals (13). Senior captain, Isaac Karnes, also provided strong on-the-court leadership.
The Varsity girls are also coming off a big win, as they took down the New Braunfels Christian Wildcats 55-23. The Defenders were led by junior point guard, Matea Zimel, with 18 points, 8 steals, and 6 assists, as well as junior center, Cadence Henry, with 10 rebounds, 9 points, and 4 steals. Sophomore guard, Evie Vimont, has been a key addition to the team this season with well-rounded and constantly improving performances each game.
Autumn All-District Awards
Congratulations are also in order for our Fall Varsity Athletes from Football and Volleyball for these All-District Honors:
1st Team:
- Preston Cone (Freshman Quarterback)
- Daniel Copeland (Senior Defensive Back and 2nd Team Running Back)
- Jed Fuller (Senior Receiver AND Defensive Back)
- Luke Hagood (Sophomore Defensive AND Offensive Lineman)
- Austin Layne (Junior Defensive Back)
- Bailey McGehee (Senior Outside Hitter)
- Henry Olschefskie (Junior Kicker, 2nd Team Defensive Back, and Honorable Mention Receiver)
- William Russell (Junior Center AND Defensive Lineman)
- Bo Touba (Junior Running Back AND Linebacker)
2nd Team:
- Julia Rhodes (Senior Libero)
- Avery Roberts (Sophomore Setter)
Honorable Mention:
- Ezra Blythe (Junior Defensive Lineman)
- Jane Thomas (Junior Middle Blocker)
- Evie Vimont (Sophomore Outside Hitter)
We also want to recognize the following Academic All-State recipients. This is one of the highest honors our student-athletes can receive, as it requires them to demonstrate excellence both in the classroom and on the field or court:
- Daniel Copeland (Senior) - Football
- Austin Layne (Junior) - Football
- Jed Fuller (Senior) - Football
- Julia Rhodes (Senior) - Cross Country and Volleyball
- William Russell (Junior) - Football
Come Work at Veritas!
Would you or someone you know be interested in joining the team? A love of the Lord, a love of children, and support of our mission are a must! Please visit our Employment page to see a complete list of current openings and contact HR@VeritasAcademy.net for more details. (Most openings are part-time!)
Give to Veritas
Veritas is so blessed by those who feel called to donate to our school, and you can give any time using the link below! All donations are tax-deductible and help us fulfill and further the mission and ministry of the entire school. Should you have any questions, please reach out to Development@VeritasAcademy.net.
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