Contents
Featured Items
All-School Service
Shoebox Project
November 22
Thanksgiving Pies
for Faculty & Staff
November 26
Rhetoric School
Drama Production
December 5-7
A Prayer for Opportunities to Serve: Operation Christmas Child, Senior Service Practicum and the SSP Winter Collection
Praise you, Father God, for revealing several amazing opportunities for our CCS community to serve people in need. Ignite our enthusiasm for service to others. Go before us and make a way for an abundance of resources and donations. Make a way, Lord, for every single gift to go directly to the person who needs it most. Allow our gifts to transmit HOPE and JOY to children! Through service and times of fellowship, please bless our students’ hearts and relationships as they serve together, K-12, side-by-side. Lord, may our feeble efforts be bolstered by your power to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in our community and around the world!
Capital Campaign
– WHERE BEAUTY CONFRONTS PURPOSE –
$294k to go!
Thanks to the generosity of many donors, we are close to meeting the $4 million fundraising goal to establish an endowment, add parking, and install synthetic turf on our main field. Learn more about the campaign and how you can donate to bring the goal to completion!
School-Wide Information
– IMPORTANT DATES –
TOMORROW! – Friday, November 15 – Operation Christmas Child – Donations are due! Click here to contribute $20/student. Collections for toys are still happening via Lower School teachers and Upper School collection boxes. Help us reach our goal of packing 800 shoeboxes! Enjoy watching this video that provides an overview of this international ministry.
TOMORROW! – Friday, November 15 – Collections for Senior Service Practicum (SSP) – This is the last day to donate ANY cold weather items (blankets, coats, hats, gloves/mittens of all sizes, new socks) 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.
UPDATE: Lowes and Home Depot gift cards are needed as the community is now in need of building supplies.
Thank you for your generosity and support. Please pray for our students and adults as we prepare for our time in Eastern Tennessee.
Deliver your items to these collection zones:
- Grades K-5: Mr. Shane Tharrington’s security desk
- Grades 6-12: Mrs. Diane Hillsgrove’s office
Friday, November 22 – Lost & Found (8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)– Families may look for lost items under the West Canopy (the side of the building closest to the baseball field). Any unclaimed items will be donated or discarded. Each week, campus-wide items are consolidated in the K-2 stairwell. If you cannot find your belongings in the hallway or gym bins, please check the K-2 stairwell throughout the month. If you have any questions, contact Ellen Wentz.
Tuesday, November 26 – Thanksgiving Pies – It’s time to get ready for Pie Day! CCS has a wonderful tradition at Thanksgiving. Initiated 17 years ago by a 6th grade student, she blessed her teachers with homemade pies before Thanksgiving. Parents, students, grandparents alike… Let’s continue this tradition and get to baking to thank all of our teachers who pour so much love into our students throughout the year. If you would like to bake a pie or volunteer, sign up through ParentSquare! Boxes will be passed out during morning carpool on Thursday, November 21, Friday, November 22, and Monday, November 25. Deliver your homemade, baked pie through any carpool line on Tuesday, November 26 in the box that was provided. If you have any questions, contact Megan Ganzert.
Tuesday, November 26 – Early Release Day/CCS Spirit Wear Day – On Early Release Days, there is no After School Care and no lunch. Please bring a healthy snack and a water bottle.
Dismissal Times:
- 11:45 a.m. Rhetoric School (9-11)
- Seniors are on SSP. (No Classes.)
- 12:15 p.m. Logic School (6-8) and Lower School (K-5)
Wednesday – Friday, November 27-29 – Thanksgiving Break – School is closed.
– ANNOUNCEMENTS –
2025-26 Academic Calendar – Next school year’s calendar for the academic year is published on the Portals and can be downloaded from this link.
SAVE THE DATE! – December 5-7 – Jane Eyre – Rhetoric School Fall Drama Production – Join us for this captivating, atmospheric retelling of the Charlotte Bronte classic. Don’t miss this unforgettable performance!
Tickets are on sale, click here.
- When: December 5-7
- Evening shows – 7:00 p.m., Saturday matinee – 1:00 p.m.
- Where: Theater
- When: 7:00 p.m.
- Where: Theater
- When: 7:00 p.m.
- Where: Theater
This Side of the Oak Tree – This week’s e-newsletter topic is “Why Not Facebook?”
2024-25 Yearbooks Are on Sale for the Lowest Price – The CCS yearbook is on sale for $50.00. Order online before the price goes up to $55.00 on November 19.
– TECHNOLOGY TIPS –
Department Pages – Capital Campaign – Log into the Portal then click on Capital Campaign to learn what it encompasses and our progress toward its goals. The campaign webpage is linked here and explains how we are raising $4 million to establish an endowment, build a competition field, and add more paved parking spaces. Anyone inspired to give to the campaign can enter an online pledge, make a payment toward an existing pledge, give a one-time donation, or set up a recurring (monthly, for example) donation. (Gifts toward the capital campaign can also be received via check, appreciated stock transfers, and transfer of property ownership.)
Lower School (K-5th)
– IMPORTANT DATES –
Friday, November 15 – Third Grade Rock Day – Students will have the opportunity to discover more about God’s amazing creation by panning for rocks, cracking geodes, performing tests on a mystery rock, and traveling through the rock cycle.
Wednesday, November 20 – Fourth Grade Field Trip to the Planetarium – Fourth Graders will enjoy seeing the stars projected on the dome ceiling as they learn more about constellations and deep sky objects they have studied. The Planetarium offers a special way of being able to view the Carolina night skies. Students will also participate in a science lab demonstration about Magnificent Matter.
Wednesday, November 20 – Quarter 2 Midterm Reports for Grades 2-5 – These are available on the Parent Portal after 3:30 p.m.
Monday and Tuesday, November 25-26 – Fifth Grade Ocean Days –Students will present their Ocean Animal Research Projects and participate in ocean-themed crafts, games, and activities to celebrate what they have learned about God’s creation of our amazing oceans.
Upper School (6th-12th)
– IMPORTANT DATES –
- By tomorrow, this Friday, we are asking each student to donate $20 to help with supplies and shipping. Talk as a family about donating. Donating is easy through the Portal. (Click the Operation Christmas Child logo.) Funds will be used to purchase all of the supplies to be packed in all of the shoeboxes for our school, and for shipping.
- Each student is encouraged to bring a small toy to fit in the box. Drop your toy in the Upper School Collection Box in the Commons Area OR bring it on Packing Day for the box you’ll pack.
College Counseling
– ANNOUNCEMENTS –
Freshmen and Sophomores, if you missed the 9th and 10th Grade College Counseling Meeting last night, complete these action items:
Action items:
- Review the Powerpoint in your student portal under College Counseling, click your grade level, scroll down and click on College Resources.
- Complete the Assignment in your Scoir account by December 2.
Sophomores, Ms. Smith will meet with you during Mr. Terhune’s classes on November 21. Students need to bring their charged laptops.
Sophomores and Juniors, your PSAT results on your College Board Portal have been released today. If you did not meet a benchmark, Ms. Smith encourages you to hire a tutor in that area. Any questions, please reach out to her at [email protected].
Seniors – Before you leave for SSP, communicate with your parents about your college applications. It is recommended that you give your parents your email and college portal logins and passwords, since you will not have your phones with you on SSP. Parents should check for communication from colleges while you are gone. Parents, if something is needed, please call or email Ms. Smith.
Co-Curriculars
Scholastic Art and Writing Competition – This is open now! Create an account then upload your artwork or written pieces. Click here for more information and to enter the contest.
2025 NCDOT Aviation Art Contest with More Prizes – Entries must be received by Friday, January 17, 2025. This year’s theme is “Women with Wings.” Read more about the theme at the NCDOT Division of Aviation’s art contest website. (You can use color pencils this year, too.)
Constitution Week Poster Contest – Daughters of the American Revolution – Entries due by January 1 – You are welcome to 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). Read through the contest rules. There is no age limit for this contest, so parents, pull out your pencils and do some sketching, too!
– UPPER SCHOOL ATHLETICS –
NEW DATE! – Monday, December 2 – Winter Sports Picture Day
Coaching Needs – We are currently looking for head coaches to lead programs for the following sports:
- Varsity Track (Spring)
- Varsity Boys Tennis (Spring)
- Varsity Lacrosse (Spring)
- 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.
