Contents
Featured Items
Lower School
Christmas Concerts
December 17-18
2025-26
Re-Enrollment
is Open!
Early Release
for K-12
December 19
A Prayer for Advent
Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!’ Amen. – Henri J.M. Nouwen
Capital Campaign
– WHERE BEAUTY CONFRONTS PURPOSE –
We only have $240,000 to go now!
As you evaluate year-end giving, please consider Cary Christian School.
School-Wide Information
– IMPORTANT DATES –
Saturday, December 14 – Upper School Band Christmas Concert – Plan to stay for the entire hour to hear both the Logic School and Rhetoric School band. There will be many soloists.
- Where: Gym
- When: 1:00 p.m.
- Call Times (for tuning and warmup): Logic School – 11:30 a.m., Rhetoric School – 12:00 p.m.
- Student Attire: All black with band polo
Saturday, December 14 – Rhetoric School Concert Choir Christmas Concert – Come! In Grace and Glory – A Praise and Worship Christmas – The Choral Arts Department would like to cordially invite all CCS families, friends, and neighbors to attend our annual Christmas Concert. You will not want to miss this exciting Christmas cantata created by Sue C. Smith, David Moffitt and Travis Cottrell. Come! In Grace and Glory is an incredible celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through powerful praise and worship. This program features a variety of Christmas classics and original music that tells the story of Christ from the manger to the cross and beyond through witness and song. Admission is free, but you will want to arrive early for the best seating possible. Questions or additional information, contact Mr. James Baker.
- Where: Theater
- When: 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Ordering Opens Monday, December 16 – My Hot Lunchbox Menu Changes for Second Semester – With the New Year will come a NEW My Hot Lunchbox menu! We moved some favorites to new days, and we have added Panda Express to Thursday. Check out the menu for Panda Express and place orders for next semester.
Thursday, December 19 – Early Release Day – There is no After-School Care and no lunch. Students need to bring a healthy snack and water bottle.
Dismissal Times:
- 12:15 p.m. Rhetoric School (9-12) – Final Exam Schedule
- 12:15 p.m. Logic School (6-8) and Lower School (K-5)
Thursday, December 19 – Lost & Found – This will be our last Lost & Found of 2024…but don’t wait until the last minute – start looking NOW for any misplaced items. Each week, campus-wide items are consolidated in the K-2 stairwell. If you cannot find your belongings in the hallway or gym bins, check the K-2 stairwell anytime. On December 19, families may look for lost items between 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. under the West Canopy (the side of the building closest to the baseball field). Any unclaimed items will be donated or discarded. If you have any questions, contact Ellen Wentz.
Thursday, December 19 – Annual CCS Alumni Basketball Game – This year’s Varsity Boys Basketball team will play against CCS Basketball Alumni. All CCS families are invited to come watch this fun annual event!
- Where: Gym
- When: 6:00 p.m.
Friday, December 20 – Friday, January 3, 2025 – Christmas Break – School Closed
– ANNOUNCEMENTS –
This Side of the Oak Tree – This week’s e-newsletter topic is Tuition, Stability, and Community.
Driver’s Ed Interest Survey – If your child needs Driver’s Ed in the next few months, this is for you! We are working with parents who wish to create a special class at I Drive Hand Over Hand Driving School RTP location that would align with CCS Spring Break. Students must be age-eligible: 14-1/2 years old by mid-March 2025. Class start date is to be determined. IDHOHDS is offering CCS students a deeply discounted price of $400. That price covers the required 30 hours of classroom training and the 16 hours of Behind-the-Wheel. Ten or more students would need to commit to the class to move forward, so this is simply assessing interest level. Email Mrs. Rhoades soon if you’re interested.
CCS Annual Christmas Card Contest Winners and Honorable Mentions – Congratulations to this year’s winners: Noah Ju, Libby Arnett, Grace Kolev, and Rose Gilliland! All four designs were used to create the 2024 school Christmas card. Enjoy this slideshow, click here, featuring their entries, along with the submissions selected for Honorable Mention. Thank you to all of our participants. If you have not had your artwork returned to you and you would like it back, stop by the Lower School front desk.
SAVE THE DATE! – 2025-26 Tuition Assistance Application Opens on January 3 (8:00 a.m.) – To learn more about the program and process, click here.
SAVE THE DATE! – Monday, January 27 – Parent Enrichment Event – Keith McCurdy – Mark your calendar for an incredible opportunity to hear and learn from a national speaker, family counselor, and advocate for classical Christian education. Keith McCurdy understands the challenges of raising kids in today’s culture. Admission is free. Registration to reserve seats will open on Monday, January 6. Visit the Live Sturdy website and listen to the BaseCamp Live podcast to get acquainted with Keith.
Topic: Raising Sturdy Kids
Where: Gym
When: 6:30-8:00 p.m. (Doors will open at 6:00 p.m.)
Lower School (K-5th)
– IMPORTANT DATES –
Week of December 9 – Spelling Bee Week – Grades 3-5 – A classroom spelling bee has been held this week in each of the 3-5 classrooms. The top three winners from each classroom will move on to compete in the Grammar School Spelling Bee in late January.
Christmas Concerts – Our Lower School students are looking forward to sharing the sounds of Christmas with family and friends. Please join us in the theater for a Christmas Concert followed by a reception and time of fellowship. Students will have an early dismissal following the reception. Dress uniform and dress shoes are required.
Tuesday, December 17 (Theater):
- Kindergarten – 8:30 a.m.
- First Grade – 10:30 a.m.
- Second Grade – 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 18 (Theater):
- Third Grade – 8:30 a.m.
- Fourth Grade – 10:30 a.m.
- Fifth Grade – 12:30 p.m.
- Lower School Siblings:
- In advance of the event day, email the teacher of the sibling who will be attending the event.
- In the Parent Portal, submit a Student Attendance entry.
- Before attending the assembly, stop by the sibling’s classroom for pick-up. At the conclusion of the assembly, walk the sibling back to his/her classroom.
- Upper School Siblings:
- In advance of the event day, email all of the sibling’s teachers whose classes are impacted by the absence/tardy/late arrival. This is considered a Planned Absence, so teachers can respond with expectations for missed work.
- In the Parent Portal, submit a Student Attendance entry.(Plan for dismissal 10 minutes before the Assembly; return 5 minutes afterwards. Each assembly generally lasts 30 minutes.)
Monday, December 16 & Thursday, December 19 – Lower School Christmas Spirit Days – To celebrate the Christmas season, our students can enjoy some fun dress-down days together!
- Monday, December 16 – Christmas Socks or Crazy Socks with Daily Uniform
- Thursday, December 19 – Christmas Outfit Day (wear red and green, Christmas sweaters or dresses, Christmas pajamas, or any fun Christmas attire)
Thursday, December 18 – First Grade Field Trip – We will be going on a field trip to The Willows of Raleigh Senior Living to sing and pass out Christmas cards to spread Christmas cheer to the residents!
Upper School (6th-12th)
- 9th grade: Mrs. Baker (Room 214)
- 10th grade: Mr. Terhune (Room 212)
- 11th grade: Mr. Adams (Room 216)
- 12th grade: Mrs. Clarkson (Room 202)
- Logic School:
- Wednesday, December 18 – Christmas Sweater Day or Christmas Sweatshirt (with CCS daily uniform pants/shorts/skirts)
- Thursday, December 19 – Christmas Outfit Day (wear red and green, Christmas sweaters or dresses, or any fun Christmas attire!)
- Rhetoric School:
- Thursday, December 12 – Christmas Pajamas Day
- Friday, December 13 – Christmas Character Day
- Monday, December 16 – Christmas Sweater Day
- Tuesday, December 17 – Independent Study Day to prepare for Grades 9-12 Final Exams – Students who choose to come on campus for Teacher “Office Hours” should wear any CCS spirit wear top and pants (jeans/sweatpants/joggers) that follow the Non-Uniform/CCS Spirit Wear Day Guidelines.
Note: The CCS Daily Uniform attire is required for Semester Final Exams on Wednesday, December 18, and Thursday, December 19.
- What to bring: Students will need to bring a snack, water bottle, calculator, and a book to read if they finish early.
- Attire: CCS Daily Uniform
- Final Exam Schedule
- Wednesday, December 18:
- 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Science Exam
- 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – History Exam
- Wednesday, December 18:
- Thursday, December 19:
- 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Math Exam
- 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Literature Exam
- Thursday, December 19:
Thursday, December 19 – Sixth Grade Field Trip – Students will travel to Sunrise Senior Living to spread Christmas cheer by singing hymns and Christmas songs.
– ANNOUNCEMENTS –
SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, January 25 – Rhetoric School Snow Ball Dance – Signups begin on Wednesday, January 8. Get ready for this long-standing tradition by reviewing the dance information for planning your attire.
College Counseling
– IMPORTANT DATES –
Monday, December 16 – Alumni Luncheon for 2021-2024 Graduates – This will be held in the Commons Area during lunch. Alumni are encouraged to RSVP here. Parents of alumni, please share this information with them.
SAVE THE DATE! – Wednesday, January 8 – Juniors and Parents of Juniors – 2nd College Counseling Meeting – This is the final, grade-wide meeting this year. Ms. Smith will cover important action items for Juniors. All Juniors and parents (at least one parent) must attend.
- Where: Theater
- When: 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Seniors – A few notes for you:
- Update your Scoir account as you hear back from colleges. Send Ms. Smith copies of any scholarship offers as you receive them, so she may enter your information into Scoir.
- Students applying to colleges with a regular decision of January 1-6, move the college to applied in Scoir by December 19 at noon. That way Ms. Smith will be able to send your documents. Email Ms. Smith to be sure your documents are sent on time.
- FAFSA has opened. Seniors and parents should complete this as soon as possible.
Co-Curriculars
Blakey Prize in Fine Art– This is an exclusive ACCS art competition with work due in April. Visit the contest website for information and to look at past winners. Let Mrs. Blanchard know if this is something you might be interested in submitting artwork for as there are guidelines. CCS can only enter two pieces. If we have more than two works to submit, administration will vote on the entries to represent CCS.
LAST DEADLINE! Friday, December 20 – Scholastic Art and Writing Competition – Click here to enter the contest.
Wednesday, January 1 – Entries Due for Constitution Week Poster Contest – Daughters of the American Revolution – Turn in entries to Mrs. Blondin or Mrs. Blanchard before then. Click here for contest information. Email questions to Mrs. Blanchard or Mrs. Rushing (DAR member/organizer). There is no age limit for this contest.
Friday, January 17 – Entries Due for 2025 NCDOT Aviation Art Contest – This year’s theme is “Women with Wings.” Learn more on the NCDOT Division of Aviation’s art contest website.
– UPPER SCHOOL ATHLETICS –
Coaching Needs – We are currently looking for head coaches to lead programs for the following sports:
- Varsity Boys Tennis (Spring) – Position Filled!
- Varsity Girls Volleyball (Fall)
- Varsity Girls Tennis (Fall)
- Varsity Cross Country (Fall)
- Blue (MS) Girls Volleyball (Fall)
- Gold Girls (MS) Field Hockey (Fall)
For more information, contact Jeff Poore, Athletic Director.
