22 | Winter 2018 Athletics joins new conference and state classification The 2018-19 academic year marked some changes in athletics. As many know or will remember, the school has been a member of PACIS (Piedmont Athletic Conference of Independent Schools). Most recent members of that conference included GDS, Forsyth Country Day School, High Point Christian, and Wesleyan Christian Academy. The PACIS has restructured and is now known as PTAC, Piedmont Triad Athletic Conference, consisting of 7 schools: Caldwell Academy, Calvary Day School, Forsyth Country Day School, Greensboro Day School, High Point Christian Academy, Salem Academy, and Westchester Country Day School. This new conference will help decrease travel time for games and will decrease academic time missed due to early departures. Joining the new conference creates more balance and will allow all teams from middle school to varsity to be more competitive. Also new this year is a new state classification. The North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association (NCISAA) has created a 4th classification, the 4A. Most recently, GDS was a member of the 3A classification. Independent schools with more than 300 high school students moved into the 4A classification. GDS will compete for 4A state championships with the following schools: Providence Day School, Christ School, St. Mary’s, Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte Latin, North Raleigh Christian Academy, Ravenscroft School, Durham Academy, Cary Academy, Cannon School, Charlotte Christian, Metrolina Christian Academy, Wesleyan Christian Academy, Rabun Gap School, Covenant Day School, and Wake Christian Academy.