It’s Gonna Be a GREAT Year!!!!

Here we are in 2020 and it has started out with a “BANG” at CCS!!  I hope you are as excited about this year as I am.

IMAGINE TOMORROW

We had a great event here Monday night as we unveiled the plans for “The Sandy Butler Annex.”  Special thanks goes to the CCS faculty and staff for providing the desserts. This campaign will provide a wonderful opportunity for CCS to grow and provide a Christ-centered education for more students.  We hope you will join us in the adventure.   Please go to www.ccsky.org/imagine-tomorrow for more information on the project and how you can support this campaign.  To date we have received $197,451.00 in donations and pledges!!  We pray that God will lead us through to the finish line. Thank you in advance for your support with our Imagine Tomorrow Capital Campaign.

CHRISTMAS OFFERING THANK YOUS

Every year CCS family and friends contribute to a Teacher Christmas Bonus.  This is such a blessing to a number of people who make great financial sacrifices to work at Calvary Christian School. For me personally, this offering was a blessing because it helped me with increased travel expenses as I help my parents during my father’s illness.  Thank you.

Below are a few ways the Christmas Bonus impacted our staff.  Thank you!

• The Christmas bonus this year has blessed us by allowing us to be able to visit our “kids” and grandkids for two days out of town, to help them with their first home purchase and move! Thank you!
• I was able to use my bonus to pay down medical bills.
• The additional bonus while always a blessing, couldn’t have come at a better time. My son has lost his job suddenly and we will use this to help them as they transition between jobs.
• Getting the Christmas bonus has been such a blessing to our family, especially this year. We literally had a specific need in our house that was the exact amount extra in my check over Christmas break.  What a blessing!  Thank you so much!
• The Teacher’s Christmas Offering is a wonderful blessing to me.  It is a special gift of encouragement and it is very appreciated.
• I’m very thankful to the school families for the Christmas bonus offering!  I appreciate your generosity and the blessing it provides to my family!
• Every year, this bonus blesses me and my family! I put the bonus towards a family trip every year, so many memories are made with my family!
• I am greatly blessed each year by the Christmas bonus. This year it has helped me pay off some medical bills and some of it will also go towards my mission trip to Mexico for this summer. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
• This loving gift has allowed my wife and I extra flexibility to bless others during the holidays.
• I am eternally grateful for the Christmas Bonus!  This gift has blessed me to be able to visit my parents over the Christmas break in Florida.  I do not get to see them or spend much time with them due to the long distance, so the memories made during this time are beyond words.  I thank God for using wonderful people to bless others-especially me and my family!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
• This bonus enables me to provide the little extras for my children.  It helps our family with athletic fees and youth group trips.  Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve and still provide for my children.
• Our parents are truly a blessing to this school and their support of us above and beyond their tuition is very much appreciated!
• This year, in particular, will help our son go on a Boy Scout trip in New Mexico. It is a ten-day hike in the desert.
• We are taking our family to the holy land this summer.  The Christmas bonus will help us pay for a portion of our trip.  Thank you so much!
• I am so thankful for the opportunity to receive a bonus. With that extra money we were able to pay a bill off before Christmas and not have to be concerned with it over the Holidays. We had originally set up a payment plan, with this money we were able to go ahead and just pay it off in full. Thank you for such a wonderful Blessing.
• Thank you so much for giving money for the Christmas bonus.  It helped to defray the cost of an unexpected car problem.  I so appreciate it!
• This year I was able to bless my mom with tickets to see the Lion King on Broadway through the Christmas bonus!
• When you say words like “Thank You or I appreciate YOU SO MUCH, sometimes it can sound so insufficient, especially when we are talking about people that took their hard earned money that they didn’t have to and gave it to us so that we would have a Christmas Bonus! It was such a BLESSING…from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU!!!
• Thank you for the generous gift. We will be using it to help fund our anniversary trip this summer.
• Every year, it is such a wonderful blessing to receive the Christmas bonus.  I really appreciate the thoughtfulness and generosity of everyone who gives to this gift.  I feel so blessed to be part of the CCS community.
• We have had some additional doctor’s bills and the Christmas bonus has helped us get these paid down.  Thanks so much.
• I’m encouraged to know that we are thought of during the very busy holiday season.
• We were able to get a head start on reimbursing emergency savings fund!
• The monetary gift is such a blessing!! My husband and I are saving for a new bedroom suit, so the money will go towards buying a new mattress/bedding. I am incredibly grateful for the generosity of our families! Thank you so much!
• The bonus is such a help and blessing to me personally as I spend lots of money throughout the year on new material, educational helps, and motivational rewards.  It is so much appreciated to offset these costs.
• I am so thankful for the generous bonus! Not only does it provide some extra for me to be able to treat my family over the Christmas break, but it also greatly encourages me that my efforts are seen and appreciated.
• This years Christmas bonus was a true blessing because it really helped out with my college tuition. Thank you so much.
• Your generosity in giving allowed my family to enjoy a special outing together, and wonderful memories were made.

I hope these short notes encourage you by letting you see the impact you have on this faculty and staff.  Thank you again for thinking of us.

I hope you have a HAPPY 2020!!

Wrapping Up 2019 and Running into 2020

It is hard to believe that 2019 is almost complete.  If you’re like me, I look back on this year reflecting on some great moments and some very difficult times. Whether it was a care-free vacation on the beach in Florida with my wife this summer, a memorable fall sports season at CCS, Thanksgiving with our son and daughter-in-law in Disney World or receiving a phone call that my Dad has cancer, He has remained consistent and is walking beside me, behind me and in front of me.  That is the JOY we sing to the world; that is what we TELL from the mountain; this is what CAME on the midnight clear; this is why merry gentlemen can REST, because regardless of what touches our life, good or bad, Christ is with us.  This is the reason we celebrate! God saw fit to love us and send His Son to show us how to love, how to treat others, how to obey God, die as a substitute to pay the penalty for our sin, to provide for our adoption as children of God and rose again to give us hope for an everlasting future when this temporary stint on Earth is over.  I hope that you take the time over Christmas break to celebrate all that Christ has done for you.  WE ARE LOVED AND WE ARE NOT ALONE.  This is the story of Christmas.

This is also the season for giving.  Much of our time during the Christmas season is spent planning, purchasing, wrapping, hiding and giving gifts.  The CCS family is all about giving. Parents make sacrifices GIVING their children a Christ-centered education.   Friends of CCS GIVE to the Annual Campaign, allowing us to meet the needs of our students and families.  People GIVE to special projects (the new bus, the STEM lab refurbishment, etc.).  People GIVE to be a blessing to others (Teacher Christmas Gift or Class Trip Scholarship Fund). Parents GIVE their time by volunteering, providing opportunities for us to offering extras (Christmas boutique, concessions, etc.).  As we come to the end of the school year, here are a few opportunities to give:

• a general donation to the Annual Campaign – tax-deductible
• a donation to the STEM lab refurbishment (we’ve collected almost $33,000, we need $17,000 more; we plan on making these improvements this summer) – tax-deductible
• a donation to the Teacher Christmas Gift – tax-deductible
• a donation of your time as a volunteer for concessions for the upcoming sports season (email our Athletic Director Jeremy Leach if interested, to chose your date(s)) – priceless

Thank you for your continued support for CCS.  I feel like a broken-record at times, but we could not do what we do without you.  Your prayers, encouraging words and financial contributions make all of this possible.  As we wrap up 2019, we are already imagining what 2020 will look like!!

From my family to yours, I pray that you have a restful break and wonderful celebration of God’s love for us with your family and friends.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Ready . . . Break!

Here we are, mid-November, racing toward Thanksgiving and staring at Christmas Break just a few weeks later.  These upcoming days can often be a challenge during this time of year.  Students are tired, it gets darker earlier, and everyone is looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas Break.  Even though we may be tempted, this isn’t the time to lessen our motivation.   As we seek to not only challenge students academically, we want to encourage them to respond to each other and circumstances in a godly way, there is never time to relax in this endeavor.  Thank you for trusting and supporting CCS as we seek to honor God in the education of your children.

Last year was a phenomenal giving year.  Not only did we exceed our Annual Campaign goal of $135,000 by over $9,000, but we also raised an additional $120,000 for the new school bus.  This served as a very visible reminder to  me of God’s faithfulness.  Thank you for your generous support of Calvary Christian School.  You made a difference in 2018-2019.

I know some of you like to save your giving for the end of the calendar year.   Currently you have the option to give to several efforts, such as:

• Teacher’s Christmas Offering
• Remodeled STEM labs – This project will cost $50,000 — we have collected $26,768.28 to date. We plan to complete this project this summer.
• The Annual Campaign (the school will use those funds where they are most needed)

If you have any questions about your tax-deductible donation, please email rachel.cornell@ccsky.org.

On Sunday mornings our church has been working through the book of Ruth.  About 7 years ago I read a book on Ruth by John Piper entitled A Sweet and Bitter Providence.  As I read the book, I was struck by all that Naomi had to endure, to put her in place to be the great great grandmother of King David.   The tragic events of chapter 1 were necessary for the events of chapter 4.  It reminds me to view my difficulties and struggles as part of larger plan that God is walking me through to put me where He wants me to be.  It’s not easy, but it is necessary.  It also pushes me to be thankful in all things. (I Thessalonians 5:18)

We covet your prayers as we wrap up 2019 and run full-steam ahead into 2020.

It’s Important to Start Strong

Here we are at the end of the first quarter and it’s been a good one.  In the NFL the first quarter is very important.  67% of teams who score first, win the game.  (I know that from experience, my Chicago Bears gave up 17 unanswered points yesterday to start the game . . . and lost.) So coming out of the gates strong, is important.  CCS has come out of the gates strong in the 2019-2020 school year!!

Our sports teams are doing great.  The volleyball team has had some great wins and set a school record in consecutive points scored . . . 22!!  Senior night is this Thursday.  We hope to see you here at CCS supporting our five seniors.  The cross-country team is performing well with almost every runner breaking a personnel record and bringing home a lot of “hardware”.  Our boy’s and girl’s soccer teams are both wrapping great seasons as they begin district play this week.  Our boy’s team finished the regular season 12-4-1, outscoring their opponents 91 to 20 on the season.  Our girls finished the season 8-10, struggling with numerous injuries, but have won their last 5 games and haven’t given up a goal in their last 4.  They are heading into districts playing some very good soccer.  Come out to Campbell County this week and support our soccer teams in their District games.  Check out the athletic schedule on the CCS App for all of our game times.

We had our first Elementary concert and Grandparent’s Day last Thursday and Friday and our performing arts programs did not disappoint.   We had over 300 grandparents in the building for this special day.  Our Elementary students knocked it out of the park on Thursday night and repeated that performance on Friday for our grandparents.  Middle School Performing Arts gave us a peak at their fall performance leaving us looking forward to HONK JR. on November 8^th.

Our Annual Campaign is off and running this year.  Our goal is $135,000, the same as last year.  We are currently at $28,833.28.  Our special project we are collecting for this year is the remodeling of our STEM labs (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).  The cost of remodeling both of these rooms and providing state-of-the-art equipment is right at $50,000.  We’ve been able to collect about  $20,228.28 so far (about $10,000 last year and $10,000 so far this year).  This is a project that will benefit our current students and MANY more students for years to come.  Our plan is to complete these renovations in the summer of 2020.  Please consider supporting these two important campaigns.

I want to invite all of our parents, grandparents and friends who have served or are serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard to join us on Monday, November 11^th at 10:00 am for our Veteran’s Day program.  We want to honor you for your service and thank you for you sacrifices in protecting our freedoms.  There will be music, a slide show and a short presentation on what it means to be a Veteran.

Please continue to pray that God’s hand will be on CCS as we move forward.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE:  This is information I normally would not share publicly.  However, I feel I need to share it with you because it may affect my office time at CCS this year.  You have been very supportive of my USAF reserve commitment to the Pentagon.  I am going to ask you for a little more support.  My parents live in Ripley, Tennessee. I am their oldest of two children and the only male.  About three weeks ago my dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  We are currently waiting for biopsy and scan results to find out the stage, spread, prognosis and treatment plan.  However, pancreatic cancer is not very forgiving.  This situation may necessitate me being out of the office occasionally in Tennessee to help my mom and dad with his care.  They have no other family near them (my younger sister lives 500+ miles the other direction).  I will do my best to utilize weekends only for these trips, but there may be the occasional trip that extends into the school week.  I will be able to continue to work via on-line connectivity.  I covet your prayers for my mom and dad.  They are strong people of faith.  They have been married for 57 years.  They have adopted the attitude of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo in Daniel 3:16-18, which reminds us to trust God regardless of the outcome.  Thank you for your prayers, we are trusting in God’s perfect plan.

What’s At Stake

We are eight days into the 2019-2020 school year.  Only 163 more days to go!!  I asked students on the first day coming through the door if they knew how to eat an elephant . . . one bite at a time.  The same is true of the school year, we take it one day at a time.

We are off to a fast start.  Our athletic teams have already posted big wins over Scott, Beechwood and Villa Madonna. We’ve had our first chapel services. We’ve had try-outs for Sounds of Praise and we are already looking forward to our Spring Musical,  “Hello Dolly.”  Our Middle and High School retreats are this week.  Please pray for life-changing experiences for our students. This first semester we have 22 different students enrolled in 62 college courses.  Putting them on schedule to earn 156 semester hours of college credit by December.  Our elementary students are learning and practicing the new routines of their teachers. They are also getting ready to start their intramural sports this week.  It has been a strong start to an exciting new year!!

Even though it is early in the school year, I have already observed three teachers in their classrooms. As I sat, listened and took notes, I was reminded of the importance of what takes place at Calvary Christian School. Yes, we celebrate test scores (ACT, Terra Nova, etc.).  Yes, we celebrate athletic achievement (we like to win too).  Yes we celebrate the artistic abilities of our students (musical performances, plays, etc.).  But most importantly, we celebrate God’s impact and presence as we study each subject.  It would be absurd to talk about the founding of our nation with no mention of the Revolution, the Declaration of Independence or our Founding Fathers.  It would be ludicrous to talk about complex calculus with no knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication or division.  It would be impossible to read with no concept of letters. That being said, any discussion of history, science, literature, math, human nature, etc. that excludes the Creator and Sustainer of life is at best incomplete and at worst inaccurate.  For example, at CCS we not only want our students to know the events of history, but also to understand how God has worked through human history to accomplish His will and how His work should change my thoughts, attitudes and actions.  We strive to provide a complete education.  If a student leaves CCS with a head-knowledge, but no inkling of how to live a Godly life, we have failed.  If we educate for college-readiness without instruction on Christ-like living, we have missed the mark.  Taking education to this next level is not easy . . . in fact it’s war.  Satan will fight hard against our efforts.  But “greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.”  Thank you for working with us to provide a complete education for your child.

Our Annual Campaign goal this year is the same as last years – $135,000.  We are currently right at $24,000.  One way to help us reach this goal is by participating in the Annual CCS Golf Outing.  You can sponsor a hole, golf or both.  This is our major fundraiser for the fall.  The major focus of our fundraising effort this year will be the redesign and refurbishing of our two STEM labs.  Our plan is to gut the rooms and replace all furniture/equipment making them modern, state-of –the-art labs.  Our goal for this project is $50,000.  Between funds received last year and so far this year, we are currently at about $14,000. Please consider helping us reach this goal.

As we head into the 2019-2020 school year there are two things you can do to help us.  First and most important, we covet your prayers and your support.   Your prayers on behalf of the school are essential for our success.  Second, your positive public comments in person and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. will serve to protect our public image, increase enrollment and strengthen the cause of Christ in Northern Kentucky.

Thanks again for all you do for CCS.   Lets make this year the best one yet!!

Summer Break??

We’ve exhaled from the 2018-2019 school year and we are now in the throes of preparing for the 2019-2020 school year.  I want to begin this post by reflecting on what a good year it was.  We were blessed both academically and financially.

Every year our juniors take the ACT here at CCS.  The national average of ALL students that take the ACT is right at 20.8.  The Kentucky state average runs about 20.2. The 2018-2019 CCS Junior Class averaged a 23.2 with 15 out of 37 students scoring 25 or higher.  The CCS class of 2019 received scholarship offers in excess of $1.3 million per year.  We are thrilled by the academic success and scholarship dollars awarded to last year’s junior and senior classes.  GREAT JOB!!

We experienced record financial giving to both the Annual Campaign ($141,053.24) and the Bus Fund ($121,000).  Additionally, we have already raised just over $17,000 of our $50,000 goal toward the renovation of our STEM labs that will occur next summer.   I talked about the STEM lab redesign last year, but the funding did not come in where we needed it, but it will be the major focus of our fundraising efforts this year.

I want to reiterate, a donation to the Annual Campaign helps to provide each Calvary Christian School student with the highest quality education founded in Christian values, while keeping tuition affordable.  Tuition dollars alone do not cover the full cost of educating our children. Monies in the Annual Campaign support short and long-term funding initiatives needed to enhance the overall school experience for our students.

Over the summer, besides the normal hiring of needed personnel, ordering textbooks and materials, painting walls, waxing floors, cleaning carpets, preparing for In-Service and Orientation, updating manuals and handbooks, etc.; we have several other major projects we are working on.  We are replacing the last of the 40+ year-old HVAC units in the elementary classrooms.  We are building three walls to create additional rooms that are more conducive to learning.  We are creating an outdoor learning environment that can be utilized by classes or for lunches on good weather days.  We are already excited about the upcoming school year and all that God will do at CCS in the lives of our students, families and staff!!

Each year brings new faces to CCS.  I’m excited to introduce you to our new faculty and staff members.

• Tanya Copher – Intervention and Elementary Music
• April Faris – Kindergarten Assistant
• Sara Ishmael – Nurse
• Sara Krieger – 1^stGrade
• Patty Martin (returning) – Elementary Spanish
• Lauren Richerson – Cougar Store Manager
• Melanie Ryan – Middle School Math

As you get a chance, please welcome these people to the CCS team.

We will also institute a new CCS Honor Code next year.  In fact, it will serve as our theme for the school year: “I will honor God, my family, my peers and my school with my head, my heart and my hands, all the time.” This is easy to memorize and will serve as the filter for all we do and say.  I am excited to see how God uses this Honor Code to transform the way we think and act.

Please enjoy the rest of your summer.  We look forward to your return to CCS in about 2 months!!

SPRING BREAK!!!!

SPRING BREAK is one day away. . . . enjoy every minute of it!!  . . . And get ready for the fast and furious days that lead to the end of the school year.

FUN RUN RESULTS

I can’t thank you enough for your support of the CCS Fun Run!!  If all of our pledges come in, we will collect just over $46,000!!  That is $6,000 over our original goal.  This will allow us to replace the old HVAC units in the elementary and give us a good start on the STEM lab renovation.  Your support for CCS this year has been “jaw-dropping.”  Picture this during the 2019-2020 school year, our students will travel on a brand-new school bus, our elementary students will be educated in rooms with reliable heating/cooling and our students will explore the field of science in up-to-date STEM labs.  Thank you for your support!

STEM LABS

The STEM lab renovation will cost around $39,000. A CCS alumnus has challenged our alumni with a $5,000 matching offer.  If you are an alum and want to participate in this matching opportunity, please click here! If this challenge is successful, it will put us over halfway to our goal. Once again, this renovation will benefit CCS students for years to come. When I watch home improvement shows, the best part, or the part that looks like the most fun is the demolition.   How fun would it be to come into CCS and demolish a couple of aging science labs?? If you are interested in helping us do this, watch for a future announcement.  We might need some help in June!!

 CCS HONOR CODE

In February, I attended the West Point Society Ethics and Leadership Seminar with three of our students. The faculty breakouts talked about the culture of our schools and how all constituencies play a role in defining that culture.  During the breakouts, they mentioned the West Point Honor Code:  “A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those that do.” This code is memorized and followed by all cadets.  It is a guiding principle for the actions of the cadets and the response of faculty and administration.  It is part of the DNA of the institution.

I began to think about the value of a CCS Honor Code.  I thought about how students, faculty and staff could memorize the code and how it could be utilized on a daily basis.  Obviously, our code would need to be much more comprehensive, due to our desire to embrace the spiritual.  It would also need to be something that could be easily memorized by our youngest students and at the same time impactful for our older students.  Without further ado, I present to you the CCS Honor Code:

“I will honor God, my family, my peers, and my school with my head, my heart, and my hands, all the time.”

 I believe the CCS Honor Code, if followed by all of our school family, could help us continue to craft the CCS culture that everyone desires.

I envision that the CCS Honor Code will be displayed in prominent locations throughout the school, be talked about in class, and be memorized by our students, faculty and staff.  It will also be added to our foundational documents and our marketing materials.  It will be the subject of the message in the first chapel service of every year.  In fact, it will be our theme for the 2019-2020 school year.

SERVICE HOUR REQUIREMENT

I previously mentioned DNA, we want service to others to be a part of the DNA of CCS.  So, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, each high school student will be required to accumulate 15 hours of service each school year.  This will be a graduation requirement.  For most of our students, this will be a matter of logging hours and submitting them, many of them already serve in their church or go on mission trips.  NJHS, NHS and Beta Club students already exceed this graduation requirement with the hours that are required for membership in these organizations.  This will be an opportunity for some of our students to begin to serve others.  This is a good thing.  Many other schools have this requirement.  There will be more information coming out before summer on this additional graduation requirement.

Thanks again for your love of CCS.  This school could not accomplish its mission without your support and prayers.  Once again, ENJOY SPRING BREAK!!

Trying to Stay in Front of It All

We are days away from the end of the 3^rd quarter.  Next week we will roll into play week, then the Cougar Fun Run Fundraiser, followed very quickly by Terra Nova Testing, Spring Break, class trips, prom, end of year activities and then May 17^th— THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!! We’re holding’ on as we try to stay out in front of things!!

Let me first begin with a couple of “housekeeping” items.  Please remember to be mindful. of the traffic signs while driving on campus.  In particular, cars exiting the lower lot have a yield sign.  We have had a couple of near-accidents as cars driving out of the lower lot have not yielded.  Please drive safely while on campus.

Secondly, please be mindful as to how you portray the school on social media.  I understand that not everyone appreciates our policies or decisions. I also realize that our greatest marketing platform is “word of mouth” from those associated with the school.  I also assume that families who have students here want CCS to grow and be successful.  However, it doesn’t help the school or the situation when we post negative comments about the school online.  Social media can be a wonderful platform to stay connected with people and promote the school.  It can also hurt feelings and create problems.  I would ask that you please consider the potential damage you can do to CCS, by criticizing the school and its policies, teachers and administration. If you have something you would like to talk to administration about, please schedule a meeting.  Thank you for protecting the reputation and standing of CCS in the public arena.

Finally, we have attempted to provide a safe environment for the use of the Chromebooks at CCS.  We have spent thousands of dollars on upgraded Internet filters and monitoring software.  However, we left YouTube accessible.  Unfortunately, with some recent content appearing on YouTube, we have decided to block YouTube while the Chromebooks are on the school’s domain. While this may prevent teachers having students access valuable content while on campus, we feel that this is the prudent thing to do.  However, students will have access to YouTube when they are on their home domain.  This will allow parents to set their own standards at home.  CCS will still receive notifications for inappropriate content being accessed (questionable Internet searches and pornographic, violent, gambling, etc.). Here is a link from ACSI regarding the latest “craze” being thrown at your children: ACSI Info Sheet on Momo Challenge.  Please continue to pray for wisdom for our faculty and staff, parents and students in dealing with access and content on the world wide web.

PLAY WEEK: Its time for the play!!  This year they are performing “Shrek the Musical”.  There will be three public showings:

• Friday, March 15 – 7 p.m.
• Saturday, March 16 – 7 p.m.
• Sunday, March 17 – 4 p.m.

Here is a link to purchase tickets: http://ccsky.org/shrek-the-musical.  There will also be “Character Breakfast” on Saturday morning, March 9^th from 9-11 a.m. in the CCS cafeteria.  Cast members from the play will perform a few songs and will do a meet and greet with all attendees.  There will also be coffee, juice and donuts.  You can sign-up for this breakfast in the school office.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, for your support toward the Bus Campaign.  The new bus has been ordered and should arrive this summer.  We had a few fencing companies provide us with estimates and expect to begin building the bus stalls shortly after school ends.  Additionally this summer we are planning to finish the replacement of the elementary HVAC units.  This will cost us around $40,000 to finish this project.

We strive to provide an excellent Christ-centered education to all of our students.  In an effort to enhance our STEM offerings, we are excited to announce our newest endeavor.  Calvary’s science labs are in desperate need of refurbishing.  They are the original labs built in the mid 1970’s. I have received estimates to completely gut and update our two existing labs.  The total cost is $39,000.  I am hoping to cover half of this cost from within the school budget.  The additional $19,500, I am hoping to raise through donations and grants.  If you so feel led and have the capabilities, please prayerfully consider helping us accomplish this project this summer.  Below is a short video explaining the project.

Please participate in the Cougar Fun Run!  All proceeds from this fundraising effort will go directly toward the HVAC replacements and the Science Lab renovation.

COLLEGE READINESS: Finally, as we look toward next year, I am excited to announce that we are planning to offer 9 dual credit classes taught on the CCS campus and 8 additional Advanced Placement courses, this will allow students to begin earning college credit as early as their sophomore year.  This is on top of online courses and courses taken off-campus for credit (click here for the CCS Parent/Student Handbook and information on our dual credit policy and procedures).  Dual credit courses not only provide a student with a head start in college, but the classes cost almost 1/10th of what you will pay for the same course their freshman year in college.  Additionally, we will also offer an ACT Prep Course.  Students taking the ACT Prep course this year have raised their subject and composite scores by an average of 3 points, with two months of class remaining.

As the weather warms up (in theory), I hope that the rebirth of nature in the form of buds, green grass and chirping birds reminds you of the love of God and the common bond that we have through His Son, Jesus Christ.

#ExposeCalvaryChristianSchool

Last weekend was an interesting few days for private and Christian schools.  The Covington Catholic incident reminds us that there are those out there who are less concerned with the truth and more concerned with their agenda.  We, as Christians, would be wise to remember a couple of things:

• Be careful not to judge or speak out with incomplete data.
• We need to be “as wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove.”
• For those of us who are the adults, be ready to intervene to protect our children (mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually).
• Remember that just because it is our right, exercising that right might be unwise at the moment.
• We all represent more than just ourselves (families, school, employer, church and God).
• Above all, be loving and respectful.

I think all of these were forgotten to some degree during last weekend’s event and the aftermath.

Another issue that arose concerned the wife of Vice President Mike Pence and her employment at a Christian school just outside of Washington, DC.  Because they took the biblical approach to family and marriage (identical to CCS), the Pence family was “beaten up” in the media. Numerous celebrities voiced invectives aimed at traditional Christian values and biblical truth.  The negative #ExposeChristianSchools began to trend on Twitter.

After thinking about this I decided they are right, let’s #ExposeChristianSchools.  In fact, let’s #ExposeCalvaryChristianSchool. Let’s talk about:

• the rigorous academic standards
• the 100% graduation rate
• the academic preparedness for college
• the multiple on and off campus dual credit options
• the myriad of colleges and universities our students attend (both Christian and secular)
• the safe and nurturing environment
• the numerous educational and extra-curricular opportunities
• the biblical truth infused into every class
• the loving teachers who strive to help all of their students succeed
• chapels, retreats, class trips, spirit week, play week, etc.
• the holistic approach to discipline that address both the behavior and the heart issue

I believe that the assault on Biblical truth will only get more intense in the coming years.  This only serves to steady our resolve and strengthen our argument for Christian education. Is Calvary Christian School perfect? Or, for that matter, is any Christian school perfect.  No. Are they seeking to educate students in wisdom and truth and to serve God with their whole hearts? ABSOLUTELY!!

Below are Calvary Christian School’s  Expected Student Outcomes.

Spiritual: We expect Calvary Christian School graduates to:

1. be fully devoted followers of Christ and active in His church.
2. love God and spend significant time reading the Bible and in prayer.
3. think Biblically when making decisions.
4. “do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.”
5. understand the Gospel and articulate and defend their faith.

Academic: We expect Calvary Christian School graduates to:

1. be able to think critically and articulate their thoughts in order to question, assess resolve, and articulate solutions to problems with a Christian understanding.
2. excel at math and science and appreciate literature, the arts and their heritage in a manner that is inclusive of a Biblical Worldview.
3. be academically prepared to attend the college of their choosing.
4. understand and utilize technology to its fullest extent and discern how to use it in a God-honoring way.
5. appreciate the importance of life-long learning as a way to glorify and love God.

Physical: We expect Calvary Christian School graduates to:

1. treat their bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
2. be gracious in winning and losing.
3. value hard work as pleasing to God.
4. be examples of moderation and self-control in all areas of life.
5. be a good steward of the world around them.

Social: We expect Calvary Christian School graduates to:

1. demonstrate the character of Christ in every area of life.
2. love and serve both Christians and non-Christians.
3. understand and appreciate other cultures and their place in God’s Kingdom
4. engage in appropriate social and righteous civic activities.
5. practice Great Commission living.

I am cognizant of the sacrifices you make to have your students at Calvary Christian School.  We seek to be frugal and judicious with those funds, while providing a safe and nurturing academic environment.  Thank you for coming alongside us. Now, get out there and #ExposeCalvaryChristianSchool. We will be hosting an Open House this Saturday from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., please share this event with your friends and family!

Finally, Spirit Week is coming up next week.  Our students have such a wonderful time during this week.  There is one change I want to make you aware of. We are ceasing to do Spirit Court.  We have listened to our students over the last few years. They have grown uncomfortable with trying to persuade others to vote for them for Spirit King or Spirit Queen.  Several faculty members, administration and parents have become uneasy with the potentially mixed-message this sends to our student body concerning humility. Therefore, we are doing away with Spirit Court during Spirit Week.  We also believe this will allow all of our students to truly enjoy Spirit Week without the added pressure of speeches and the added expense of dresses, suits and ties.

Stay warm and have a wonderful Spirit Week.

 

“Peace on Earth”

“For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” —Isaiah 9:6

We are reminded at this time of year that Christ came to bring peace . . . peace between man and God, peace among mankind and peace of mind and soul.

Jesus, the Prince of Peace came, lived, died and rose again to reconcile us to God.  He paid for our sins on Calvary’s cross.  If we trust Him for salvation, He provides us with abundant life here on earth AND eternal life when this earthly life is over. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, . . .” – Romans 5:1

In a setting, where you have 404 students, 66 employees and numerous parents and grandparents, there are multiple opportunities for conflict to arise.  But Jesus, the Prince of Peace came, so that we might live at peace with each other.  When we realize that all of us, parents, students and CCS faculty and staff want what is best for our students and the school as a whole, we can treat each other with patience, love and respect. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” – Romans 12:18

I mentioned in a previous blog post that I struggle with being a “glass half empty” kind of guy.  My flesh leads me to lean to the negative side.  However, Jesus, the Prince of Peace came, so that I (we) might have peace of mind.  When I doubt or worry, I am turning my back on the unfathomable peace that God provides and exhibiting a lack of faith in Him and His will.  May God give us all  a “peace that surpasses all understanding.” – Philippians 4:7

This Christmas season, lets be reminded of the peace that Jesus has provided for us.

Enrollment, Technology and Finance Updates

Enrollment is up this year to 404.  This represents a 14% growth in enrollment since the 2012-2013 school year.  This is encouraging on a couple levels.  First, it means that more students are receiving a Christian education.  Second, with a yearly retention rate of 93-95% it encourages us, as a school, that we are doing something right.  While we are not perfect, we are continually moving in the right direction.

This year in particular, we have added substantial technological opportunities to our program. We have bolstered the speed of our network and added robust Internet filter.  Our elementary classes have added technology in each classroom.  All of our 5th -12th grade students have been issued Chromebooks, which are utilized on a regular basis in the classroom and for homework.

The Annual Campaign and The Bus Fund are going well.  The Annual Campaign is currently at $58,462, which is 43% of our goal of $135,000.   This fund helps us to make needed facility and program improvements, such as the upgraded security cameras, the new HVAC systems in the elementary wing, a supplement to the athletic program budget, new carpeting in our classrooms and technology improvements.

Our Faculty and Staff Christmas Bonus Offering is at $5,825.  This fund helps us provide a small Christmas bonus for our faculty and staff.  We give part of the bonus prior to Christmas and then an added smaller bonus after Christmas if additional funds come in.  All funds received for this offering will be distributed to the faculty.

Τhe New Bus Fund is currently at $66,089 (including the Penny War results).  In addition to this, we will be receiving approximately $17,000 from the Calvary Baptist Church Thanksgiving Offering.  We will also receive approximately $12,000 from the PTCA this year.  With this additional $29,000, this gives us just over $95,000 toward the $121,000 goal.  This puts us at 79% of our goal.  Additionally, it looks like there will be another matching opportunity in January.  We are hoping to collect the rest of the needed funds by the end of February so we can make sure we have the bus in place by the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. On December 13^thduring the MS/HS concert, Walton-Verona School District has consented to loan us one of their new school buses, so that our school families can look at the type of bus we will be purchasing.  It will be displayed in front of the building for you to tour.

Thank you for the support you have given to these important campaigns.  Remember, there is still time to give this year to take advantage of the 2018 tax benefits.

I would ask one more thing of you as I finish this post. Please pray for CCS, its students, its families and its staff.  We all understand that our biggest battle is spiritual and your prayers give us strength for the fight.

Have a wonderful Christmas, focusing on the birth of Christ!