The Knightly News: September 18, 2025

Contents

Featured Items

Movie Night
for K-12 Families
September 19 

Homecoming
Week Events
September 23 – 26

College Fair
for Rhetoric School
September 24

Let Us Pray  

Dear Lord, We pray for our 2025 graduates who are stepping into a new season on a college campus this year. Help them adjust to their new academic and social setting. Surround them with friends who will challenge them to walk more closely with you and guide them to a church where they can serve you while at college. Help each student to work hard, to study well, and to use his/her time to develop skills and gifts for your purposes. As they encounter new challenges, help them love you with their whole heart. As they hear different philosophies, help them love you with their whole mind. As the enemy prowls around tempting them with all manner of worldliness, help them love you with all their strength. Give each one the courage to follow you and glorify you where you’ve placed them. Amen.

School-Wide Information

Important Dates

Friday, September 19 – Movie Night – Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and watch a movie, Finding Dory, under the stars. Popcorn is provided.

    • When: 7:00 p.m. (Gates Open); 7:45 p.m. (Movie Starts)
    • Where: Grades 3-5 Playground

Friday, September 26 – Homecoming Events – Make plans now to come early and stay late for our Homecoming festivities! Wear your best blue and gold and bring the whole family. New this year is a Kids Zone for our littlest fans. We will also feature several food trucks and our annual Alumni Tent.

    • 3:00 p.m. – Gold Volleyball vs. Logic School Faculty and Staff Volleyball Match
      • 4:30-6:30 p.m. Cream and Sugar Food Truck
    • 5:00 p.m. – Varsity Volleyball vs. Heritage Leadership Academy
      • 6:00-9:00 p.m. Kids Zone, Alumni Tent, and Food Trucks OPEN!
    • 7:00 p.m. – Varsity Football vs. John Paul II High School
      • *Shuttles to our offsite parking at Bethel Baptist Church (1111 W. Chatham St.) will operating from 6:00-10:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 1 – Worship Night – Let’s worship together at our first student-led worship night of this school year! All K-12 students and parents are invited to attend. Students will also share their testimonies.
    • Where: Theater

Health & Safety

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Board of Directors Update – Thank you, Corporation, for participating in the 2025 Board Election. We appreciate you and pray for unity for all of us in the CCS community. The  Board is grateful for Martin Van Cleeff’s six years of service. We are excited to welcome Kyle Barthelson and continue serving alongside Todd Bovenizer. Please pray with us for God’s wisdom to guide us as we serve. 
 
CCS Annual Christmas Card Art Contest – Submissions Due October 24 – All K-12 students are invited to participate. Students will submit fully colored 5×7 sized designs focused on the theme: “Peace on Earth.” The winner’s art will be featured on this year’s school Christmas card, and he or she will also receive $25 to the Spirit Store. Click here for details.
 
Beginning after Fall Break – Collections for Senior Service Practicum (SSP) – Set aside ANY cold weather items (blankets, coats, hats, gloves/mittens of all sizes, new socks), and new or gently used backpacks that you wish to give away for our “Coats for the Cold” collection for our annual trip to Tennessee. These items should be gently used and freshly laundered then bagged. Walmart gift cards are also greatly appreciated for purchases being made for those we serve. Deliver your items, beginning after fall break, to these collection zones:
    • Grades K-5: Mr. Shane Tharrington’s security desk
    • Grades 6-12: Mrs. Diane Hillsgrove’s office
Registration for This Year’s 25th Annual CCS Golf Classic Is Open! – 

If you would like to volunteer or have any questions, contact Ellen Wentz.

Yearbook Ads – Do you have a business you would like to advertise to the entire CCS community? Consider purchasing a yearbook ad! Funds go to support Community Development within our school.  Contact: Ellen Wentz.

    • Yearbook Ad (full-color) – Due by Thursday, October 23
      • Full-Page Ad – $350
      • Half-Page Ad – $250
      • Quarter-Page Ad – $150

Lower School (K-5)

Important Dates

TOMORROW – Friday, September 19 – Kindergarten Assembly – The Kindergarten classes will take the stage to present songs and a sound-off from their Patriotic Unit. The children are excited to welcome family and friends by sharing all that they have learned.

    • When: 10:30 a.m.
    • Where: Theater

TOMORROW – Friday, September 19 – 4th Grade Wild Boy Day (On-Campus Experience) – After reading My Side of the Mountain, students will enjoy eating wilderness foods as did Sam in the story.

Friday, September 26 – Homecoming – CCS Spirit Wear for K-5 – Refer to the Non-Uniform Day guidelines (click here) and on the Portal.

Friday, September 26 – Kindergarten Walking Tour to Downtown Cary – As part of their Community Helpers unit, Kindergarten students will visit downtown Cary’s library, police station, fire station, and a bakery as they learn about living in community with one another.

Thursday, October 2 – First Grade Space Camp – First graders will be blasting into space for astronaut training by participating in a variety of hands-on activities, reinforcing their learning of the handiwork of God through the Solar System.

Thursday, October 2 – Fifth Grade Field Trip – The Fifth Grade will be heading to the Fort Fisher Aquarium for a chance to see (and maybe even touch!) many of the amazing ocean animals they have been studying during their ocean unit. They will have a picnic lunch at the beach along with some time to pray, reflect, and enjoy the beauty of their surroundings. Lastly, they will tour the NC Battleship before heading back to school.  

Thursday, October 2 – Desert Day in Second Grade – Students will get an up-close look at some unique desert animals including the sand boa, leopard gecko, sandfish skink, knob tailed gecko, Russian tortoise, desert tarantula, and bull snake from BeWild Animal Rescue. Additionally, students will play desert-themed games like Bingo, enjoy a desert dessert, and make their own take-home booklet featuring plants and animals that live there.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

K-5 CO-CURRICULARS

Upper School (6-12)

Important Dates

Tuesday-Friday, September 23-26 – Rhetoric School – Homecoming Themed Attire and Activities – 
    • Tuesday – Tropical Day; lawn games on the field and ice cream at the pavilion during lunch
    • Wednesday – Dress Uniform for College Fair
    • Thursday – Decade Day: Freshmen: 70s, Sophomores: 80s, Juniors: 90s, Seniors: 00s; lawn games on the field and ice cream at the pavilion during lunch
    • Friday – CCS Blue (9th and 10th) and CCS Gold (11th and 12th); pep rally in the gym during 3rd Block
      • Contact Mr. Howell with any questions.
Thursday, September 25 – Grove City College Admissions Reception for Juniors and Seniors – Learn more about Grove City College and meet other prospective students and alums in your area. Refreshments will be served.
    • Where: Main Lobby
    • When: 6:30-8:00 p.m.
    • Attire: Non-formal. Dressy casual is suggested.
    • RSVP: Register by Monday, September 22.
Friday, September 26 – Logic School Homecoming – CCS Spirit Wear – Refer to the Non-Uniform Day guidelines (click here) and on the Portal.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Midpoint of Quarter 1 – As a reminder, Upper School does not issue midterm progress reports. Instead, grades are always available in the CCS Portal, providing a live and easily accessible view of your child’s progress. We ask you to review your child’s current progress together and to help him/her set personal goals for the remainder of the quarter. Encourage your child to take the initiative in communicating directly with teachers, especially regarding making up a missed assignment or strategies in order to improve their grade. 

    •  

Spirit Store – Open for Rhetoric Students – 

    • Where: Lobby
    • When: 12:20-1:00 p.m. (1st Wednesday of each month)
Fall and Winter Driver’s Ed Course Option – I Drive Hand Over Hand Driving School offers students a discounted rate of $400 exclusively for our school for any of their 30-hour Zoom Teen Driver Education courses, which include the 6-hour Behind-the-Wheel training. Register online: I Drive Hand Over Hand (under Teen Classes). Enter Cary Christian School for the CCS rate. 
    • Upcoming Sessions (5 Saturdays in a row): 
      • October 11 – November 8 (9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.), or 
      • December 6 – January 3 (9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) 
NOTE: This coincides in part with CCS Fall Break/CCS Winter Break. Classes are open to the public and not exclusively for CCS students. First come, first served. To enroll, students must be at least 14 years and 6 months old and under 18 years old by the first day of class. Proof of age with a Birth Certificate will be required. Email Lynanne Rhoades with questions.

College Counseling

Important Dates

Wednesday, September 24 – College Fair – 43 colleges have signed up! Parents are welcome. 

    • Where: Gym
    • When: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
      • Juniors and Seniors  – 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
      • Freshmen and Sophomores – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
    • Attire: Dress uniform is required for students.

Monday, September 29 – Paying for College Online Meeting – Bryan Dearolf CFP, ChFC, CKA, and CCFC, with Abundant Life Financial and a CCS Parent/Coach/Teacher will host a Zoom meeting on Paying for College with a focus on the FAFSA, Financial Aid,  and different strategies for paying for college. This is geared for 11th and 12th grade students and parents, but all Rhetoric School families are welcome to attend. 

    • Time: Sep 29, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
    • Join Zoom Meeting
    • Meeting ID: 958 8586 5596

ANNOUNCEMENTS

AP/Dual Enrollment Meeting Followup – If you missed the AP/Dual Enrollment meeting, the PowerPoint, AP Joining Codes, and CCU Dual Enrollment Course registration information can be found on the Student and Parent Portals. The deadline to register for AP Exam Onlys and CCU Dual Enrollment is November 1, 2025. 

Seniors – Sign up for an individual 30-minute College Counseling meeting with Ms. Smith.

SAVE THE DATE! – Thursday, October 23 (8:00 – 11:00 a.m.) – All Sophomores and Juniors will take the Digital Adaptive PSAT in school. All Freshmen will take a Digital Adaptive Practice PSAT in school to get familiar with the digital format. All students are required to bring a charged laptop. Per College Board, a personal Chromebook is not approved. More details will be communicated closer to the date. 

Co-Curriculars

ARTS

NC State Fair – Arts and Photography – CCS will be submitting student work in the K-12 school show.  Any students wishing to submit artwork on their own to the NC State Fair need to use the forms on this link for upcoming dates and requirements.

Blakey Prize in Fine Arts – An Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS) Student Competition – This is a wonderful competition featuring artwork from students across ACCS schools. Entries are not due until April, so there is plenty of time to plan and work. Categories are in drawing and painting. Express interest in learning about the requirements by emailing Mrs. Jess or Mrs. Blanchard and visiting the webpage.

UPPER SCHOOL ATHLETICS

Saturday, September 20 – Basketball Early Evaluations – 

    • Where: Gym
    • When:
      • Logic School Girls: 10:00-11:30 a.m.
      • Logic School Boys: 8:30-10:00 a.m.
      • Rhetoric School Girls: 12:00-2:00 p.m.

 Fall Sports Playoff Information – 

    • Gold – Soccer, Volleyball: CAMSC Playoffs: October 6–9
    • Varsity – Soccer, Tennis, Field Hockey, Volleyball: NCISAA Playoffs – begin October 14

Please note: These games fall during Fall Break. All Fall athletes are expected to be available.

Coaching Needs – We are currently looking for coaches to lead programs for the following sports:

    • Blue (Logic School) Boys Basketball (Winter) – Position Filled!

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