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I would like to bet you a crisp fiver—if I were the kind of teacher who made bets—that you could walk into my classroom on any given day, ask “Would anyone like to volunteer to read aloud for us?,” and then see hands go up all over the classroom. Once the words, “Would any one…
Cary Christian School is not a college prep school. Wait, what? Now, before any of you begin to question the robustness and efficacy of our academic program here at Cary Christian School, let me explain. A plethora of college prep schools exist here in the Triangle area. Each of these institutions, through the implementation of…
At first glance you probably did a double take when you read the title. You may have said “Did he mean to put those words together in that sentence?” There is no doubt that this is a tremendous undertaking. My children were educated in a classical school, so I am very aware of the concept…
Something magical happens when our ladies and gentlemen arrive at school for Snowball, Protocol, and even Hoedown. As they trade their uniforms for formalwear (or western wear), they step into a tradition even older than Cary Christian School. Historically, dances were anticipated as a central social event. They fostered a sense of community, offering participants…
In half a dozen classrooms they gather then,—here to follow the love song of Dido, here to listen to the tale of Troy divine; there to wander among the stars, there to wander among men and nations,—and elsewhere other well-worn ways of knowing this queer world. Nothing new, no time-saving devices, simply old time-glorified methods…
Photo: Girls Varsity Tennis facing adversity drill (bear crawl and reverse bear crawl) “I want your child to fail. I actually want your child to fail a lot.” Those were some of the first words I spoke to an audience of parents who heard me speak for the first time. Without context or explanation…
A teacher was telling me about her class’s enthusiasm for learning. She said, “I announced it was time to classify a sentence, and the students responded with, ‘Yay!!!’ and ‘Hooray!’” New teachers to our school remark how extraordinary it is that the students genuinely love being in school and enjoy learning. It is my experience…
Partnership, by definition, is the relationship between two parties working toward a common interest. Merriam-Webster describes partnership as a business relationship. The teacher-parent partnership that Cary Christian School has nurtured for twenty-five years can be compared to a construction business. This partnership is a representation of a team of builders, hand-picked by a single, reigning…
Why can’t we just have all students sitting in front of computers, learning information through the internet? Surely it’s more efficient. There would be no teachers to pay and more students could be taught at once. Well, I can personally attest that that sounds like a terrible idea, especially for the younger students. In elementary…
Since the beginning of the classical Christian Education movement, Latin has been a distinctive of schools that seek to study God’s Word and the great tradition of learning in the West. As Dorothy Sayers claimed in her seminal essay “The Lost Tools of Learning,” “a rudimentary knowledge of Latin cuts down the labor and pains…
In 1994 a small group of Christian families, troubled by the fact that there were no Christian schools in Cary, decided they needed a better option for educating their children. Eager to provide an education that was both Christian and academically robust, they began meeting together to discuss the formation of a new school. Like…
Cary Christian School’s class of 2019 graduated on May 16. This year our salutatorian was Matthew Stikeleather and our valedictorian was Zoe Vestal. One of the highlights of every CCS graduation is the privilege of hearing the wise and eloquent words delivered by our valedictorian and salutatorian, and this year was no exception…
Family & friends! This is your mid-week motivational message from me to you, just to lift your spirits during these difficult days. POINT 2 PONDER: “STRUCTURE IS A WAY OF ORGANIZING YOUR LIFE SO THAT IT MAKES SENSE TO YOU.” Well, here we are, weeks into house hibernation, and this loosey-goosey lifestyle has me constantly…
In my last post, I discussed the value of winning. Now, I would like to talk about the value of competition. The simple fact is one cannot win if one will not compete. To compete, or to engage in the battle, reminds me of a scene from one of my favorite movies, Top Gun. In…
As a teacher, I sometimes feel like I have the opportunity to be an observer of human nature. Like a tourist in an anthropological zoo, I have a front row seat into the natural habitat of the American teenager. It is certainly an interesting show. One thing I’ve noticed is that people will make a…
Most students spend no more than thirteen years at CCS, after which it’s time to go on to college and a career. For some, that career involves a return to their alma mater to teach. This year, five of our alumni are teaching and serving the next generation of students here at CCS. You can…
One of my favorite Bible stories is found in Luke 18:35-43. It is the story of the blind man who cries out to Jesus to have mercy on him. What I find fascinating is that when they brought the man to Him, Jesus could obviously see that the man was blind, yet He still asks him, “What do you…
“Education is teaching our children to desire the right things,” Plato asserted millennia ago. Classical Christian educators, faculty, and parents herald this idea, yet struggle to identify the “right things.” As college applications and standardized tests loom over the Upper School, it’s easy to buy in to the cultural norm that tells us these are…
As a four-year-old in preschool, our third daughter, Bentley, already believed she could “pass” over the parts of life she hoped to avoid. One day, the PE teacher led the students outside to play soccer when he noticed Bentley sitting against the wall of the school, contentedly watching. He approached her and said, “Bentley, it…
“Dear Lord: please help my son to make all A’s, ace the SAT, pass his AP exams with flying colors, and get accepted into a prestigious university. Amen.” What do you think of a prayer like this? Would you pray it for your son or daughter? Some might find it to be asking too much.…
“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” – James 3:1 Both the most important responsibility and the greatest privilege we have been given as teachers is to present everything we teach from a biblical worldview. Our hearts long to praise…
We are one year into our CCS journey, and we are so thankful for the community we have found here. How can that be after only one year? Well, I’m glad you asked! Let me explain. My husband and I both went to Christian schools growing up. (In fact, we met in high school and…
Recently, I attended a workshop at the national conference of the Association of Classical Christian Schools entitled “Raising Sturdy Children.” The name of the workshop intrigued me, and the speaker, Keith McCurdy, did not disappoint. His workshop inspired me so much that I feel compelled to share the highlights with you here. I will not…
“Jim, NASA is sending over the final De-Orbit Guidance Targets for the first space shuttle mission this morning. Run them in our flight simulator and validate they are good to go for flight. NASA wants IBM’s assurance on these targets before we fly. Document the simulation set-up, procedures, and results in a white paper and…
Good Evening CCS Board, administration, faculty and staff, parents and families, students, and to you, the class of 2019. In Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, the return of Sauron was possible because the creatures and men who peopled Middle Earth had forgotten the great evil and destruction that he brought…
Cary Christian School’s class of 2019 graduated on May 16. This year our salutatorian was Matthew Stikeleather and our valedictorian was Zoe Vestal. One of the highlights of every CCS graduation is the privilege of hearing the wise and eloquent words delivered by our valedictorian and salutatorian, and this year was no exception…
I teach logic to eighth graders. If ever there seemed to be a fallacious statement, wouldn’t that be it? But really, what better time to teach students how to argue well and effectively than when they are in the “Pert Stage”? If ever there is something fourteen-year-olds as a group can do well, it’s argue!…
“Try to exclude the possibility of suffering,” wrote C.S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain, “and you find that you have excluded life itself.” Man has always suffered, and we have always tried to cope. The urge to understand suffering is what’s behind one of humanity’s richest literary traditions: tragedy. Whenever we see the term…
“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.” – Romans 12:6 For my entire life, I’ve been surrounded by the arts. My mom started teaching me piano almost as soon as I could walk, and I spent most of my childhood listening to her teach students from upstairs.…
What do China, Washington, D.C., and Cary, North Carolina, have in common? All three places have played a prominent role in the life of CCS alumna Lauren Greenwood. Lauren recently took a few moments away from her job in the U.S. Senate to share where God has led her over the past eight years and…
“The thesis is there to prove that we are no longer just students, absorbing information from other people. In the thesis project, we find our own sources and reach our own conclusions…we truly have to create something.” This, according to one of my students last year, was the highlight of Cary Christian School’s senior thesis…
If someone asked you to define classical, Christian education, what would you say? I think most of us could provide a fairly decent definition of Christian education; well, at least I would hope so. But I fear that many of us would struggle to define classical education. Subsequently, our own children, the ones receiving this…
A reflection written in May 2018, a few days before graduation: One afternoon I was sitting at my kitchen table when my parents received a phone call that would change my life forever. There was an open spot in the seventh grade class at Cary Christian School, a private school they had enrolled me in…
We’ve all seen them. Maybe you’ve even posted a few yourself: memes and hashtags declaring the endless difficulties that plague our modern lives. Out of coffee! The struggle is real. The power went out for a whole hour! The struggle is real. You want a beach body, but you want tacos more? The struggle is…
When you think about it, what memories do you have related to music? What songs have impacted your life? I have many distinct memories associated with music. For example, my earliest musical memories are of singing “Jesus Loves Me” and “This Little Light of Mine” at church. As the daughter of a pastor…
When I was a child, I learned about God at church and in Sunday school. My parents talked about Jesus (“He’s the reason for the season!”), and my family always said a blessing before eating a meal. It was clear God was at church and at home. When I was at school, God’s name was…
“If I had to give up preaching and my other duties,” wrote Martin Luther, “there is no office I would rather have than that of school-teacher. For I know that next to the ministry it is the most useful, greatest, and best…Therefore let it be considered one of the highest virtues on earth faithfully to train the children of others…”
In order to honor our teachers’ desire to grow in their craft and their desire to prepare students for a life of learning, we are improving our teacher development program. It is our desire that the program function as a society where collegiality and friendship drives our efforts to learn. Leadership will participate in the…
We are all familiar with the curve around the bend of the school entrance drive. Rain, fog, frost, sunshine, and even the occasional white snowflakes adorn the awe-inspiring oak tree we see each day at CCS. Yes, morning and afternoon carpool afford us the opportunity to behold this giant beauty. What strong, sturdy branches stretch…
As I listen to parents, most seem convinced that Cary Christian School is a really good school. It offers children a degree of knowledge, a set of tools, and a code of conduct with which few schools can compete. All the same, most parents would still argue that we could and that we should be…
My intrigue with classical and Christian education began just over 25 years ago. Convinced that the modern approach to education was a failed experiment, I had started looking for a different answer when I stumbled across Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning. The argument in the book to use an ancient tool called the…
Last year the board launched a five-year strategic plan: Called to Cultivate. We would break the soil, remove hindrances, and nurture strength and beauty. We would prepare for growth and improvements in our classrooms, culture, and campus. Well, if I used the metaphor of cultivating to process my first six months in Cary, I would…
Scott Pechacek graduated from Cary Christian School in 2015 and now attends Barton College, where he plays golf. The following is a letter he wrote earlier this month. We are proud of all of our alumni who, like Scott, are pursuing excellence by cultivating the gifts God has given them. THANK YOU all for taking…
A reflection written in May, 2018, a few days before graduation: One question I was asked recently was, “What will you miss most about CCS?” This is a difficult question for me, because CCS is all I’ve ever known. I’ve been here since kindergarten, learning many concepts during my time here. There are many things…
To Whom it May Concern: My name is Kylie Anne Ragsdale, and I am from the Cary Christian School class of 2018. I came to Cary Christian in the 8th grade. In high school, I was on the board of the InterACT Club, and I lettered in three varsity sports. My goal in this letter…
Is your child an excellent student? How did you answer that question? If you’re like most, your mind immediately evaluated your children’s report card grades and arrived at a response. You probably answered in the affirmative if your child receives mostly high marks, A’s and B’s, and perhaps you answered in the negative if your…
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord…” (Jeremiah 29:11). This is the truth we clung to as doctors spat out words like “blind,” “disabled,” “malignant tumors,” and “developmental delay.” Our first child had been perfectly healthy and easy, but our newest baby girl had not been a normal newborn. She…
Cary Christian School’s class of 2018 graduated on May 17. This year our salutatorian was Marie Thompson and our valedictorian was Christy Dickman. One of the highlights of every CCS graduation is the privilege of hearing the wise and eloquent words delivered by our valedictorian and salutatorian, and this year was no exception. Thank you…
If a high school student asked you to recommend a college where the Bible is faithfully taught, Christian moral principles are held in high esteem, and knowledge of God is understood to be the foundation of all knowledge, what would you suggest? A number of colleges may come to mind, but it is highly unlikely…
Cary Christian School is a three-part story! It has a beginning, a middle and an end. Don’t put the book down. Please read it all the way through. I know you will be blessed, as we have been! I sit here today two months away from the graduation of my first child from this amazing…
I enjoy having my students answer and write about very open-ended questions: What is virtue? What is a role-model? How can we engage in dialogue with those with whom we vehemently disagree? These can be deeply philosophical questions, but also ones with practical ramifications. The 9th grade engaged in one of these questions recently: Who…
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15) Today, there is a tremendous need for young people (and all Christians, for that matter)…
In this technology-driven world, children quickly become used to the instant gratification afforded by video games and television. According to a 2015 study from Microsoft Corp., people generally lose concentration after eight seconds, a second less than the proverbial non-focused goldfish. How does this affect Johnny and Jane and their apparent disdain for reading? Reading at…
Cary Christian School’s class of 2017 graduated on May 18. This year our salutatorian was Casey Fitzgerald and our valedictorian was Ryan Stikeleather. These two students exemplify the kind of young men and women that a classical Christian education strives to cultivate. I would like to begin by thanking some of the many people who have…
Shark Tank has made Mark Cuban a sort of Svengali on any number of matters these days, not the least of which are the future of higher education, finance and economics, and employment. On the topic of jobs, he has most recently spoken in an interview with Bloomberg’s Corey Johnson. In that interview, Cuban was…
As part of our history unit on immigration, fourth graders learn about what brought people to America and the rich heritage of our country. This unit integrates history with reading, writing, research, family traditions, and a biblical worldview. We see how God in his sovereignty has delivered families through trials and circumstances to bring them…
If you are the parent of a student in high school, I don’t have to tell you that college is expensive. Maybe you have spoken with your kids about paying for college themselves, or perhaps you have been putting money away since they were babies. Wherever you are on the spectrum, the burden of paying…
Find Community Finding a community in which you feel comfortable is one of the most important things you can do, not just in college but for the rest of your life. The friends you make in college have the potential to be your lifelong friends, and your college will do everything it can to help…
Wait?!? The students do what?!? That is the common response that I get when I explain the Senior Thesis here at CCS. When I describe the 16-20 page paper, with a minimum of 12 sources, written in the 6 Parts of Discourse, then delivered in a 5-8 minute speech to an audience comprised of about…
Did you love science class as a student? Or, did you find it tedious, difficult, or even just plain boring? I will admit, I did not always love science class as a student. I spent many an hour engaged in what felt like meaningless memorizing and busy work, but despite that, I continued to fall…
A recent study made the unsurprising observation that men open doors for women less frequently than they used to in years past. It used to be, of course, that opening a door for a lady, giving up one’s seat for her, and similar actions were considered signs of respect and chivalry, key aspects of how…
Many times as a parent and as an elementary educator, I have been asked the question, “Does penmanship really matter?” As I considered the question and developed an apologetic, I sought answers not only from God’s Word but also from the world of science. In this era of electronic communication, the use of handwriting is…
“The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard…
If you’re like me, you remember high school as a time when you were slightly involved in a few activities such as ladling soup at a shelter or swimming for the YMCA. Your week was busy, but it pales in comparison to the extreme involvement of your current high school (or middle school) student. You…
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of going to Cary Christian School and appreciated all of the love, help, and support offered by my teachers, advisors, and peers, but I did not truly appreciate the type of students this environment produced until I started college. Compared to what I have seen in my fellow college students,…
The Smyrski Family shares with fourth graders about congenital heart defects. The interactive whiteboard displays a diagram of the heart and X-rays from their own son’s surgery. As a classical school, we understand the benefits of utilizing the timeless methods proposed by Dorothy Sayers and the Trivium. Though our approach is classical, it is not antiquated. …
Cary Christian School is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Over the years, we have developed a reputation in our community, and across the country, as a school known for excellence in academics with God’s word at the center. We are also known to have structured and disciplined classrooms, so as a teacher at Cary Christian School,…
“I hate math.” “I’m bad at math.” “I can’t do math.” These are all phrases that I’ve heard over the years from students, and these phrases are all now banned from my classroom. It is not because I’m not interested in hearing what my students have to say, nor is it because I think that…
“I believe God made me for a purpose. He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel his pleasure.” Ever since I can remember, Eric Liddell, the Scottish Olympic runner and Christian missionary, has been my personal hero. His perseverance, courage, and enduring joyfulness have inspired and guided my life in a multitude…
If you walked down the hallways of CCS this week, you probably noticed that something felt different. Ask any upper school student if they sensed a slight void among the student body. Thankfully, this change in the air was due to a good thing. CCS Seniors are away on their Senior Service Practicum (SSP) trip. While CCS…
What makes a woman fearful? Snakes, mice, bats, a potential assault…absolutely! But perhaps the daily, unsuspected assailant that strikes fear in many women is the fear of failing to measure up. If you’re a guy, this may come as a surprise. If you’re a woman you may be breathing a sigh of relief that someone…
During your time in high school, you’ll learn a whole bunch of facts. For example, there’s Newton’s Second Law of Motion, when and where the Edict of Worms was decreed (HINT: it was in Worms!), and when to use an Oxford comma. Looking back on my years in high school and college, one thing stands out…
After enrolling my sixth homeschooled child in middle school at CCS, I received an invitation to write this blog post. I assume that the eternal question of how and why to transition a homeschool child to a classroom setting is on a lot of people’s minds, and it should be. Statistics show that there are more…
Webster’s Dictionary defines a bully as someone who is a blustering, browbeating person that is especially and habitually cruel to others who are weaker or perceived to be weaker. It is a person who increases in joy and feels empowered when they cause another person pain and anguish. I bet you are thinking right now…
It’s that time of year when parents and teachers have opportunity to communicate and collaborate on their students’ academic progress. Here are five important components that are part of every great parent/teacher conference: Eyes – Have eyes on the information.Both parent and teacher should have good information and data with respect to performance on tests,…
As a second grade teacher at Cary Christian School, I have the privilege of teaching and guiding students toward their full academic potential. I share with my students that Jesus gave His life to show His love for us. May we also give our lives in service to Him as an expression of our love…
It happened every year in fifth grade, with every novel, without fail. Either the boys would moan, “Why do we have to read another GIRL book?!,” or the girls would groan, “Not another BOY novel!” Admittedly, at the outset, some books naturally seem to appeal more to boys than to girls, and vice versa; why…
If you are anything like me, being a parent is probably the most humbling part of your life. As a young father, I remember disciplining my children primarily because of how I wanted to be perceived by other parents around me. I felt despair when my children would act out in public, particularly when my…
Believe it or not, it is already time to think about back to school! The building is freshly painted, and the floors are shining. The teachers are busily arranging their rooms to ensure another successful year in the classroom. Now is also the time to evaluate your home study space – an important factor in…
Summer Fun, Part 1, by Maxine Geil, Kindergarten Teacher “How many more days until summer break?” This question is asked frequently around our house. We love our school and are so thankful for the opportunity to study and to learn new things each school year, but we are ready to embrace summer break and enjoy…
On a windy January day long ago, I walked along the Atlantic Ocean’s shore. Impressed by the expanse, I breathed in the cold, salty air. Seashells sat. I always look for what my son once called a “beauty keep,” something precious. I saw one. Impressed by the Lord, I bent down and picked it up,…
Cary Christian School’s class of 2016 graduated on May 19. One of the highlights of every CCS graduation is the privilege of hearing the wise and eloquent words delivered by our valedictorian and salutatorian. This year our salutatorian was Evangeline Liauw and our valedictorian was Brandon Padgett. These two students exemplify the kind of young…
Imagine walking down the grocery store aisle looking for snack options for your kids. Boxes with colorful characters vie for your attention. Words like “natural,” “good source of fiber,” and “fortified with vitamins and minerals” lure you to buy their particular product. What do you believe? Which one do you buy? Let’s look at some…
When folks ask, “Do you have a Prom?” the answer is “No, we have Protocol…” Why does this catch their attention? Maybe it is because we are bold enough to do something different from what the world is doing. We are proud of our event and the apologetic behind it. Protocol gives the opportunity to…
“You are now entering the Mission Field,” reads the sign in the church parking lot. I am sure this idea had intrigued and challenged many more than me. It raises the question, “Am I serving in a mission field?” Cary Christian School (CCS) offers many opportunities to serve both internally and externally in ways you may…
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” – James 1:12 The fourth quarter of 2015-2016 has come. Teachers, staff, parents, and students can see the end of duties assigned to them, and…
It’s Friday afternoon. Anxious to escape an exhausting week of tests, quizzes, projects, and reading assignments, you open your locker with reflexes honed from years of experience and quickly block the books and papers that tumble out before they hit the floor. Thoughtlessly tossing items into your backpack, you race out the door only to…
“What does my child need to know to be ready for kindergarten?” “My child can read, so will he be bored?” These are a couple of the questions I have been asked repeatedly over the years as a kindergarten teacher. Now, while these are good questions, there are better ones to ask when researching schools…
Setting aside time for devotions can be challenging in today’s busy culture. How many times have you and I come to the end of our day and realized that we didn’t make time to pray or open our Bible? We go to bed, vowing that tomorrow will be different. And yet, the next day we…
In late August of 1837, Ralph Waldo Emerson delivered an address entitled “The American Scholar” at The First Parish in Cambridge, MA, calling for America to declare literary independence from England and the European literary tradition. In “The American Scholar” Emerson criticizes American society for having come to think of itself-the whole society, that is-as…
“Science brings men nearer to God.” – Louis Pasteur Some of the fastest growing and highest paid careers with the greatest projected demand require specialized training and/or degrees in science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics (STEM). Thus, the demand for STEM enrichment programs has exploded. One of the biggest challenges for students entering STEM programs is…
The only proper way to begin this post is to share with you all that many CCS graduates are doing incredible things today, and I am very humbled to share with you where I have been the past four years, as well as where God has placed me for this season of life! My career…
When our first son was born, we lived by the promise, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). In the blink of an eye, Scott had graduated from college and married his precious, Christ-loving wife, Stephanie. How thrilled we…
Looking back over the last twenty-two years or more, many memories flood my mind. There was a small group of single-minded parents desiring to open a Christian school in Cary, North Carolina. There was no private school in Cary, only a church with a preschool and a kindergarten program tucked away in their basement! We…
The SSP trip is seen as the capstone of a Christian and classical education at CCS. It was proposed in 2004 as the brainchild of a full-time missionary dad, a founding board member, and a wise superintendent who together wanted to capture the essence of a Christian worldview with feet and hands! SSP allows seniors…
I’ll admit it, I’m a perfectionist. I enjoy the thrill of seeing that “A” on the top of any assignment I have submitted or assessment I have completed. And there’s this feeling of sadness that accompanies letter grades less than an “A.” Why? What makes me feel this way? Well, sure, an “A” represents excellence…
Emily Ficken could be described as an engaging, vivacious kindergartner. Her easy smile and desire to learn made her an active student whom both teachers and students liked. Emily graduated Cary Christian School (CCS) in 2011 and received a degree in Elementary Education at North Carolina State University with a concentration in STEM (science, technology,…
“Good luck today, girls. Make it a good race. Ready, 1-2-3 Go Lions!” Butterflies fill my stomach as I approach the start line. I spot a trash can out of the corner of my eye and for a moment, contemplate heading in that direction. “It will be okay,” I tell myself. I still feel like…
“Why are we learning a dead language, Mrs. Baker?” I smile and then take a moment to pause for a deep breath, because I have heard this same question repeated many times before. As I gaze around the classroom at the sweet, upturned faces eagerly awaiting my response, it becomes clear to me that the…
Are you looking to connect and build community within CCS? Check out Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF) at CCS! As PTF president, I often hear comments such as: “I would like to get involved at CCS but I don’t know how,” “I want to be involved, but I don’t want to be in charge,” or “Opportunities…
ACCS teacher certification is only available to ACCS accredited schools. Accredited by the ACCS since May of 2002, we are privileged to guide the professional training and development of our teachers as we certify them. The certification process is divided into three levels of accomplishment: provisional, permanent, and masters. All of our teachers are required…
Much heat and a little light have been shed abroad of late about the newest educational initiative called the Common Core. This latest in the assembly line of educational reform proposals has been hailed as the savior of the future of America by some and pilloried as a Marxist over-reach by others. The prevalence of…
Cary Christian School’s class of 2015 graduated on May 21st. One of the highlights of every CCS graduation is the privilege of hearing the wise and eloquent words delivered by our valedictorian and salutatorian. This year two students shared the title of salutatorian—Garrett Finnegan and Juliana Hoover. Our valedictorian was Jason Thompson. These three students…
A short stroll through any school hallway or a cursory look into any school classroom will quickly give one ample evidence that God doesn’t use cookie cutters in His creative act. A class of 20 students yields 20 different fingerprints, 20 different perspectives on the world and at least 20 different ways of eating an…
Every society educates its children. It may not always occur in classrooms or schools as we generally conceive of them, but every culture, every nation, every tribe, every group of people passes skills and concepts to the next generation in some form or another. At the center of this activity, wherever and however it may…
As was mentioned in part one of this series, Christianity has something unique to say about the world we inhabit. The Christian church’s unique ideas about the world are grounded in her unique ideas about the nature and work of the God who created it. Regarding God’s nature, the Scriptures describe God as a Trinity. …
A good bit has been said and written over the last twenty years espousing the concept of distinctively Christian education. The idea is essentially that if the God of Christianity exists (and He does), and if He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (and He is), then all things are best known and…
A recent article by Rick Newman, author of Rebounders: How Winners Pivot From Setback To Success, describes a panel discussion hosted by the McKinsey Global Institute that dealt with the question of “Automation, Jobs, and the Future of Work.” In the article, Newman highlights a common thread through the discussion that highlights what he calls the “uberskill that will…
If there is one thing we learn from observing the biblical narrative from start to finish, it’s this: God never really tells a story in a straight line. He loves unexpected twists, turns and ironies. He loves to confound the wisdom of the wise. He loves to do the big things with the little things.…
There are those nights as a parent when the monsters must be expelled and defeated. A shadow, a sound, an uneasy feeling takes up residence in the little one’s room and it’s time for Mom or Dad to go into action. The mission, should you choose to accept it, is to discern the location and…
Two thoughts from the Apostle Paul regarding the nature and the work of Jesus Christ (who He is and what He does) give us some profound insight into our nature and purpose (who we are and what we are created to do). In Colossians 1:16, while describing the preeminence of Christ, Paul says, “He is…
“Amo!” “Amas!” “Amat!” “Amamus!” “Amatis!” “Amant!” No, these are not incantations. This is a conjugation of the phrase “I love” in Latin. Students in classical and Christian schools around the country perform this chant and others like it as they learn a language that no one speaks anymore. What a waste of time, right? This…
“Human beings used to be …” he hesitated; the blood rushed to his cheeks. “Well, they used to be viviparous.” Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel Brave New World describes a future society where children are “decanted,” not born, and the concept of “father” and “mother” are unpleasant historical facts best forgotten. It may be easy to write this…
There’s an old saying that “the pen is mightier than the sword.” Our present environment of texting, Siri, and keyboards may very well soon make this phrase an anachronism. Who uses a pen anymore (or a sword, for that matter)? As we move further down the path of ubiquitous electronic technology, the use of and…
We all woke up this morning in comfortable beds, had a good breakfast, got into incredible works of transportational technology, and began our day. In addition, when our children came to school today, they most likely began the day with a prayer and reading of Scripture. At some point, they probably sang a hymn. As…
Having taught at Cary Christian School for fourteen years, I have had the pleasure of teaching, at one point or another, almost every graduate of CCS. As the number of alumni increases each year, and as I get to see them return for homecoming games, breaks and weekends, I love to hear their stories of…
The term “kindergarten” is a German word meaning “children’s garden” in reference to Friedrich Frobel’s philosophy of early childhood education. Frobel coined the term in 1840 to describe his methods, stating, “How does the gardener treat his plants? He studies their individual natures, and puts them into such circumstances of soil and atmosphere as to…
One of the highlights of every CCS graduation is the valedictorian’s and salutatorian’s speeches. This year our salutatorian was Polly Payne and our valedictorian was Lee Dickinson. These two students exemplify the kind of young men and women that a classical Christian education strives to cultivate. Seniors, today is the day. Today is the day when we…
Many high school students read about bacterial transformation in their biology textbooks, but most do not get a chance to actually make bacteria transform. That type of lab work is typically reserved for a university level microbiology course. However, sophomore biology students at CCS recently did just that. So, what is bacterial transformation and why…
Last year, MSNBC host and Tulane University political science professor Melissa Harris-Perry sparked a controversy when she remarked, “We have to break through our kind of private idea that kids belong to their parents, or kids belong to their families, and recognize that kids belong to whole communities.” Clarifying her comments a few days later,…
“Whether or not it draws on new scientific research, technology is a branch of moral philosophy, not of science.” — Paul Goodman, New Reformation Last school year, I found myself privileged to participate in a brutally honest conversation between a group of senior boys in my classroom. These young men were discussing how they felt they…
For today’s post, we feature the text of our 2013 Valedictorian speech, written and delivered by Ben Hoover. Ben’s words faithfully express the kind of eloquence and spiritual maturity we try to cultivate in our students at Cary Christian School. I never, not for one second, thought I could be standing here as valedictorian of…
In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey wrote that anyone who wants to succeed in an endeavor must “begin with the end in mind.” What then should be the ultimate end, or goal, of education? Today, the answer to this question is far from self-evident, but it is as consequential as ever. Theologian…
It has become commonplace and expected that schools that are worth their salt field some sort of athletics program. The reasoning for the inclusion of sports in the life of a school generally revolves around health and fitness, character development, and the like. This is all well and good, but are these good enough reasons…
While strolling down the K-2 hallway, you may hear singing or chanting, usually with lots of motion and very enthusiastic voices! Why are the students doing this? Shouldn’t learning be quiet so the students can listen to the teacher’s every captivating word? According to the Trivium, listening in the Grammar Stage may not be the…
This post features our 2012 valedictorian, Maggie Miller. The following is the speech she delivered at CCS’s graduation. When I started writing my speech, I began to write across the top, “Valedictorian Speech,” and realized that I couldn’t spell “Valedictorian.” Not the most promising start. So, I’m not the best public speaker, and I obviously can’t…
Reading actively requires some work on your part. It requires you to be alert and, if not well-rested, at least well-fed! To read actively means that you, the reader, are actively engaging with another human being, with voices from the past. Many of the words and even ideas in the books we read will be…
God approaches His people through story. Redemptive history is story unfolding and in the making. It is no wonder, then, why Jesus taught through story as well. Jesus’ words resonate through the Gospels as He unpacks the Kingdom of God through parable. And how many people missed these parables? How many did not understand Jesus’…