One More (Exciting) Thing!!

My last post talked about some new things coming in the 2012-2013 school year.  We are working feverishly on plans for these additions.  However, there was one thing that I did not have the freedom to share at the time, but has now been approved.  We are VERY EXCITED to announce that Calvary Christian School will be starting a 3-YEAR OLD PRESCHOOL in the Fall of 2012!!  Space will be limited, especially this first year, so if you are interested or you know someone who is interested, please contact our Elementary Principal, Mrs. Tonya Burns for more information.  You may also contact the school office for an application.  Spread the word about this new opportunity.

I also want to give you an update on the Annual Campaign and Bowlarama.  Combined, we are right at $50,000!!  You really came through on the Bowlarama.  Our goal was $15,000.  We received over $17,000!!  We are very excited with the way God is working.  Thank you for being a part of HIS blessing.

One other reminder . . . re-enrollment.  After today, there are only 3 days left until open enrollment begins on March 1st.  Some classes are filling up fast.  I envision waiting lists for some grades by the first few days in March.  We have  had several well-attended open houses and we have been getting numerous requests for enrollment packets.  This is wonderful news.  However, to insure your child’s spot for next year, you need to re-enroll now.  Remember also, the re-enrollment price increases for all re-enrollments received after 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 29th.

Occasionally, I receive information from outside sources that may be beneficial to our families.  I know that some of our school families have utilized the Camp Ernst YMCA summer camps in the past.  If you are interested this year, they have some deals.  You can find the information at www.myYcamp.org or by calling their office at 859-586-6181 and ask for Molly Staley.

As third quarter winds down and the VERY busy fourth quarter begins, I pray that God continues to keep CCS and its plans in the center of His will and that He continues to bless each of our students and their families.

Exciting Plans for the 2012-2013 School Year at CCS

Well, the 2012-2013 school year has been in the planning for a couple of months now and I think it is time that we begin to roll out some of these exciting plans.  There are still some details to work out, but I am thrilled with the direction we are moving.

First, in the elementary school we are looking at some expansion.  It looks like, from re-enrollment numbers and the number of inquiries we have had from potential students (two WELL-ATTENDED open houses) that we will be hiring a couple of new teachers.  We are committed to not allowing our class sizes to exceed the limits set by school policy.  So, with the strong re-enrollment and the addition of new students we will be adding a second class at some grade levels.  It is important, if you plan on re-enrolling, that you do so before March 1st.  Aside from the increase in re-enrollment fee, there will be new students seeking those vacant seats.

In the middle school we are introducing some new 9-week courses that will be taught during the third period class time.  Every middle school student will take mini-courses in Creative Writing, Art, Bible (elective), Spanish and French.  We believe this will give our middle school students a more well-rounded education and introduce them to some subjects that they might not have otherwise had the opportunity to take.  It will also better prepare them for the foreign language requirements of high school.

In the high school we are adding a number of courses that will only further strengthen our college-prep education.  Our freshmen will have the option of taking either Spanish or French as their foreign language. We plan on expanding the French program up to Advanced Placement French by adding a level each year over the next 4 years. We have expanded our offering of classical electives.  We currently offer Latin I and Latin II.  In the fall we will be adding New Testament Greek and Logic & Ethics to the Classical Core.  Additionally, to better prepare our advanced math students we are creating an Honors Pre-Calculus class for those juniors in the honors math program.

In the Fine Arts area, at both the middle and high school levels we are combining choir with drama into a Performing Arts class, which will greatly enhance the dramatic and musical offerings.  Mr. Settles will also be teaching a new elective available to students who wish to learn more about the art and theory of leading praise and worship.

As we hammer out the details of these educational enhancements, I hope you are planning to re-enroll for the 2012-2013 school year.  The final day to re-enroll and insure your child has a spot next year is only 2 weeks away.  Plan to join with us as we work together to make Calvary Christian School even greater.

I want to thank those who have given so much extra to the Annual Campaign and Bowlarama.  You have given just over $40,000 to the school.  In the upcoming weeks I will begin to share with you the tangible improvements this has made to CCS.  It is never too late to give to this campaign and any amount is welcomed.  We have already seen God do miraculous things with our “little” faith.

I hope you had a great Valentine’s Day loving and being loved by those closest to you.  We all stand thankful for the ONE who loves us most.

Spirit Week 2012 . . . in the books!!

Well, come Monday morning, things at CCS will be “back to normal.”  We just completed our Spirit Week for 2011-2012 and it was fabulous.  Kudos to Jeff Bowers and his Red/Gold Officers (Nathan Garbig, Jenna Wright, John Moran and Zania Caudill) for putting together a wonderful week.

I want to congratulate our Boy’s and Girl’s Basketball Teams for providing some very exciting games in the Cougar Classic tournament.  Even though it was not part of the Cougar Classic, I also want to congratulate our Girl’s Basketball Team on their victory over the Scott High School Eagles last Thursday.  Also, congratulations to Nathan Garbig and Kirsten Larson on being selected as the 2012 Spirit King and Spirit Queen.  They were selected by their peers from a great group of nominees.  In my mind all of the nominees were well-deserving.  I am proud of them all.  I want to thank Traci and Steve Krumpelman for their long hours making Spirit Court a spectacular event.

Each day of Spirit Week there was a special school-wide emphasis.  Monday was a day of prayer; Tuesday was school unity; Wednesday was testimony (we heard testimonies from the Spirit Court nominees and student and faculty testimonies were given in class); Thursday was giving (more than 1,900 pounds of food was brought in by CCS families for Action Ministries!!) and Friday was gratefulness (by the way, thank you Jacob E., Nathan M., Jonathan H., Alex S., Olivia C., Ethan S., CJ, and Alex for your kind notes of encouragement to me).  I know others were given notes of encouragement, as well.

There were special activities in the gymnasium each afternoon.  I want to thank the teachers (elementary and secondary) for their flexibility and all of our students for their great school spirit.  Plus, the hallways and gym looked MARVELOUS!!  In case I forgot someone, thanks to everyone who made this year’s Spirit Week such a success.

After this week, all I can say is: “THIS IS . . .CALVARY!!!!”

I want to leave you with a few reminders.  First, if you can give to our Annual Campaign, it would be much appreciated.  We are currently at almost $28,000 pledged and given.  Thanks to those who have already participated.  Second, re-enrollment has begun.  I would encourage you to re-enroll early, to insure your child has a spot for the upcoming school year.  Finally, we have our last Open House this coming Saturday (February 11th) from 10 to 12.  Please let your friends, family and co-workers know about the great opportunity here at Calvary Christian School.

Now, it is time to watch the Super Bowl!!  Have a great week and thanks for your continued prayer and support for CCS.

2012-2013 School Uniform Information

Well, the Winter Ball is in the books and it was a great event.  The Student Council and their parents did a wonderful job transforming our cafeteria into a winter wonderland.  122 High School students and faculty members attended.  I think everyone who attended had a great time.

Regarding the upcoming uniform changes, I want to pass on some information.  Remember, all uniform changes will be phased in over the next few years.  The current uniform options may be worn through May 2015.  Schoolbelles has placed our old CCS logoed items on clearance in their store (in the Remke Plaza) until they are gone.

Items with the new logo will be available beginning in April from the Schoolbelles by calling 859-581-3111 or visiting www.schoolbelles.com.  The Calvary Christian School code is S1910.

The new items are currently available from Land’s End at www.landsend.com/school or at 1-800-469-2222.  The Calvary Christian School code is 900139908.  You can also visit the Land’s End section of participating Sears stores for sizing and ordering.

If you have ANY uniform questions, please feel free to contact us at the CCS school office at 859-356-9201.

I hope you have a great week preparing your children for Spirit Week.  I have already been preparing my costumes!!  I can’t wait to see what your children have put together.  Thank you for your continued support and prayers for Calvary Christian School.

A Special “Thank You”

Last week I posted about communication regarding closings and delays. Besides those communication options mentioned in that post, we are adding a Renweb email to all families.  Additionally, some of the TV stations are slower at getting the notifications on the TV, however, they are pretty quickly added to the stations’ websites.  So there are several options, to insure that everyone gets notified promptly.

Recently many of you donated to our CCS Teacher Christmas Gift.  Words cannot express our thankfulness for your generosity.  However below are some emails (some words) I received from our teachers to be passed on to you.

• Please know how grateful we are that you gave a monetary gift to our 2011 Teachers’ Christmas gift!  Our CCS parents are selfless, loving and dependable, and we pray God’s richest blessings on you and your family for supporting us and the wonderful ministry of Calvary.  Thank you for always taking care of us as we minister to your dear children.  May God be pleased in all we do for the glory of His Son.
• I just wanted to thank you very much for your generosity in giving towards our Christmas bonus.  This money comes in very helpful right now for us!  My husband just accepted a Senior Pastor position outside of Elizabethtown, KY, so that means that until our house sells, we will be paying our mortgage as well as his rent.  This bonus was very timely, because the first month’s rent will be due on Thursday.  God is good, and He always provides!  Thank you for allowing yourself to be an instrument of His provision.
• I want to say thank you for the blessing of the Christmas bonus that was given.  It always seems to come at the right time when a bill needs to be paid, so thanks again for the kindness shown.  You are a blessing. 
• God’s provision and timing always amazes me and such was the case with our recent “Christmas Bonus”. His promise not only to provide for our needs but quite often our wants once again has proven true. Thanks to all of the leadership and parents of CCS and CBC. I feel loved and appreciated!!
• Thank you so much for the Christmas offering! Since I am getting married in less than 2 months, I have been working on making my apartment into more of a home. My fiancee and I have each been transporting laundry to and from her parents house (half an hour away) for the past year. We started praying and looking for a washer and dryer at the beginning of winter. Over Christmas break, a flier advertising a very affordable washer and dryer appeared above my mailbox at my apartment complex. The appliances were up and working in my apartment 3 days later because of the generous gifts of the Calvary family. I am so grateful to be surrounded by such a loving school and church family. Thank you!!
• We are always appreciative for the Christmas bonus each year. We seem to always have a need that must be met right at the time the bonus comes. We have been able to use the bonus to pay car insurance, help purchase a washer, and this year, it has gone to help cover some medical expenses.  God is so good and we are thankful for your willingness to share your blessings with us. It has been a joy and privilege to serve at CCS all these years.
• Thank you so very much for the Christmas bonus that was given to the staff and faculty of CCS.  We are all aware of the fact that teaching and ministering here at CCS is just that, a ministry.  Those of us who have chosen to do this, know going in, that our salaries will not be that of other area public educators.  We’re o.k. with that because we love this place and are dedicated to it.  However, times do get a little tight for all of us and the blessing of this Christmas bonus means so much.  Not just financially but knowing that people care enough about us to give a little extra. Once again, thank you so much.  May God bless your faithfulness to this ministry as well.
• We so appreciate the “extra mile” Calvary Baptist Church and our CCS families go in making us feel cared for and appreciated.  We felt the same way with the great insurance package you gave us a few months ago.  This gift will go toward some needed house repairs. Again, thank you for your generous expression of love.
• Since my husband is not working, the money put gas in our cars and bought groceries.  I know that is not memorable to most, but it was memorable to us.  The Lord provides our need just when we need Him most.
• Thank you so much for the gift of money from the church and school family. We appreciate it so much.  Since my husband was laid off he has never worked more than part-time. Yet the Lord provides for our needs, and each month we see all of them met. Thank you again for the extra for our heating bill at this time of the year.
• What a blessing it is to a teacher to receive such a generous, heartfelt gift.  I have worked in a few school settings and nothing compares to the generosity here at Calvary.  I feel so fortunate and blessed to be a part of the “teaching team” and to partner with the families in their child’s education.  I will be using the donations given to better my own classroom and update materials.  Thank you again for giving as it states in 2 Cor. 9:7 “…for God loves a cheerful giver”.
• God’s provision is no stranger to our household.  When we say “we can’t” God says, “HE Can” time and time again.  God’s Word is true and “HE IS FAITHFUL”.  My heart is stirred with emotion as I think of the many families who give over and over again.  They give through tuition, campaign giving, teachers’ birthdays, class Christmas gifts, and yet again the words I hear repeated from parents are “I wish it could have been more” or “It is worth the investment”.  Thank you families for making my job at CCS worth value beyond the dollar but for eternity.
• Thank you so much for your support of the ministry of Calvary Christian School.  Being an hourly employee, this extra money was a blessing because it came during the time I was off unpaid for two weeks for Christmas break.  I am a product of this great school, and I am thrilled to be back as a part of the team educating your children.
• Thank you for your generosity for the CCS staff Christmas bonus. It was a blessing to our family as we got some much-needed repairs on our van and even had a little left over for an evening out. What a blessing!
• Thank you so much for the offerings that you gave towards the teachers’ bonuses.  It was such a blessing to receive it.  I plan on using it to pay the remainder of mine and my daughter’s space camp balance.  Thanks again for your generosity!
• What a privilege it is to minister with the CCS family! The Christmas bonus was a blessing to receive.  Knowing that our families sacrifice to have their children at CCS, makes this offering even more appreciated.  It will be used to meet needs within our family.  Thank you so very much.

I also want to remind you that re-enrollment begins on February 1st.  You should have already received a re-enrollment packet.  I would encourage you to get the completed  forms returned promptly, to insure your child retains their slot.  Also, due to the poor weather this last weekend, we have moved our Open House to Saturday, January 28th from 10:00 to 12:00.  If you know anyone who may be interested in CCS for their children, please tell them about this Open House.  Once again, thank you for being a blessing to this faculty! Have a wonderful week.

Some Information About Snow Days and Snow Delays

Well, I was extremely nervous.  Last Friday was my first “snow day/snow delay” call.  I  stayed up till 12:30 am Thursday night and was up at 4:40 am on Friday watching the weather and pondering my decision.  Once the decision was made, I stayed up until I saw our two-hour delay on the networks.  It took almost an hour for it to show up on some of the networks.  In light of this, I want to give you some alternate information sights.

If other schools are closed or delayed and you are wondering about Calvary’s status, there are several places I will post the information.  As stated above, the first call I make is to the “school-closing service” that passes the info onto the networks and the local radio stations.  (This past Friday, it showed up on WKRC the quickest.)  Once I have contacted the networks, I contact CN2 on Insight (channel 2 on Insight cable).  Additionally, I will post information on the Calvary Christian School Facebook page. (Please make sure the post is from Bill Dickens.)  Finally, if you follow me on Twitter (bdickens63) I will be posting it there as well.

It is my goal to make the call as early as possible, giving each family the maximum amount of time to prepare.  I hope this provides enough options so as to avoid confusion in the future.  Enjoy your Monday off.

The State of the School

I thought I would take this opportunity, at the mid-year point to give a “State of the School” address.  I want to provide a snapshot of the financial condition of the school and inform you of some of our academic plans for the 2012-2013 school year.

As I began my work this year, we were facing a budget crunch.  Due to some fiscal events from last year, we were beginning this year with a budget deficit.  However, God has shown Himself to be faithful.  The good news is that we have been able to almost completely erase that sizeable deficit.  A combination of your faithfulness in making your tuition payments on time, some significant spending cuts and wise counsel from our school accountant and financial advisor at the church, have put us on firm footing.  I believe this bodes well for our future.

However to keep up with the rising costs and to prevent us from getting into the situation we began this year with, there will be some modest increases for next year.  There will be a tuition increase of 3%, which for most students is less than $18.00 a month.  This will help us provide a modest raise for our faculty members and still keep our tuition well-below other comparable private schools in the area. Our curriculum fee has needed some attention for many years.  This fee covers textbooks, fuel for field trips, entrance fees for most field trips, standardized testing materials and scoring, classroom supplies and other smaller miscellaneous expenses related to academics which may arise during the year.  This once-a-year fee has not covered these expenses adequately for years.  So this year that fee will increase from $225.00 to $275.00.  This will help us off-set these constantly rising costs.  Our re-enrollment fees will remain the same.

There will be a new once-a-year $50.00 fee that will be charged per family, NOT per student, per family.  This fee will cover a new service we will be using for tuition management.  It will give both the school and families more freedom in payment option.  It will allow families the added option of paying all tuition and fees (including sports fees, etc.) on-line by bank account withdrawal, debit card or credit card.  It will also give each family 24-hour on-line access to their account information.  As we move into this information age, this is a step that CCS must make.  This year, it will PROBABLY appear as a separate fee.  In future years it will, most likely, be added to the re-enrollment fee.

I also want to give you a quick update on our fundraising and what some of those funds will be used for.  Our Christmas Offering for faculty Christmas bonuses came in a little lower than previous years, this very well could be due to the Annual Campaign.  So we will need to adjust for that.  Having never done an Annual Campaign at Calvary Christian School, we really had no idea what to expect.  We researched other schools and sought advice from the some trusted educational institutions.  We set our goal at $100,000 (some local schools have goals that are in the millions).  We felt this amount was attainable.  As of today, we are right at 25% of our goal, with just under $25,000 pledged and given.  I don’t know whether we will meet our goal, but I am thankful to all those who have prayerfully considered giving,  those who have felt led to give and those who will give before the school year ends.  I trust God to provide the funds we need.

These Annual Campaign funds will be used for a variety of items, benefitting the whole school.  Here are some of the things we are planning to do with these funds: augment the Christmas offering to provide a bonus for our faculty and staff, purchase mulch for both playgrounds (required by law and insurance), acquire science tables and chairs for the Middle School Science and Math classroom, install small awnings to the upper and lower front entrance doors (this will alleviate some of our water problems), purchase a 9’ by 9’ electronic screen for the cafeteria and get a smaller, matching table to be used as a ticket/information booth in the front lobby.  Some funds will be set aside so we can begin to take care of some long needed repairs to the facility.

In addition to the new resources mentioned above, we are excited about some of our academic plans for next year.  First, I have formed a Parent Academic Advisory Committee.  These parents will serve as a sounding board for the administration, provide input on academic issues and serve, as needed, as liaisons to the larger school family on academic plans.  Second, we will be revamping the Middle School elective schedule to provide our Middle School students with a more well-rounded introduction to subjects as they enter into High School, to include Middle School Art, Bible electives, Creative Writing, and Spanish and French (new course offerings).  Third, we are looking at creating a number of after-school clubs for our elementary students, opening their minds and igniting their interests.  Finally, we are strengthening the Senior Bible curriculum with a number of challenging books that our seniors will take with them upon graduation.  These new books are Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper, Crazy Love by Francis Chan, Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley, Christian Atheist: Believing in God But Living As If He Doesn’t Exist by Craig Groeschel and Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung.  These coupled with focused Bible study and memorization and Dave Ramsey’s Foundations in Personal Finance make for an excellent Senior Bible experience.

I know talking about rising costs can be discouraging.  However, as I have tried to be open with you on the state our school, I hope you are excited to be part of the Calvary family.  We hold dearly the trust you have placed in us to provide the best possible Christ-centered, college-prep education and environment for your child.  I look forward to finishing this year with strong re-enrollment and the growth that God has in store for us next year.  Please continue to pray for wisdom as we forge ahead.  May we not run ahead or lag behind, may we not turn to the left or the right.  May we keep our feet firmly on the path God has ordained for Calvary Christian School.

Second Quarter Survey Results

I hope you all have had a blessed Christmas as you celebrated the birth of our Savior. I also hope it was a time enjoyed with family and friends as you reflected on God’s faithfulness to you in 2011. This was a special Christmas for me, as I got to spend time with my family, WITHOUT the dread of packing for a desert deployment!! As we approach the beginning of 2012 and the 3rd quarter of the school year, I am excited to see what God has in store for us.

I want to take a few minutes and review the results of the Second Quarter Survey. “Thank You” to those who took the time to complete the survey and share your comments. There were several areas covered by this survey: Parent/Teacher Conferences, the Annual Campaign, PTCA Movie Night, the potential Calvary Golf Fundraiser, a Three Year-Old Preschool program, Elementary After-school Clubs, and General Satisfaction with Calvary Christian School. Below are the summaries:

Parent/Teacher Conferences

We received very good responses regarding our Parent/Teacher conferences. 80% of those responding stated that the conferences were “Excellent.” The other 20% stated that they were “Average.” Some of the concerns ranged from difficulty in getting to all teachers to scheduling conflicts between Elementary and Middle and High schools to an incorrect email address on the school’s webpage, preventing a conference from taking place. We will continue to look at these conferences and correct the problems and refine the process as best we can.

The Annual Campaign

The results of the questions regarding the annual campaign were split with about 50% participating or planning on participating in the campaign. Many stated that their inability to participate was due to tough economic times. I appreciate your honesty and willingness to share. I thank those who have participated, will participate, or would like to participate but are unable. A few of the comments dealt with recognition for those who are giving. We had planned two forms of recognition: a banquet to say “Thank You” and a list to be included in the graduation program. I believe the banquet is the right thing to do. We are thankful to those who have given, many sacrificially, and feel that a banquet is an appropriate way to say “thanks.”

Some quoted the passage from the Sermon on the Mount about the “right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing,” which I assume is related to listing the names of those giving in the graduation program. The force of this passage is on the person giving and their motivation. This then would apply to any form of recognition: A/B honor rolls, Valedictorian/Salutatorian, etc. If we do something for the recognition of men, we have received our reward. Thus this passage is related to the giver’s motivation, not those who may do the recognition. We all get recognized for the jobs that we do, often in public. As we prepared this campaign we looked at several institutions which recognize donors by name, including Christian institutions such as Cedarville University, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Answers in Genesis.

Because I believe that CCS families have given because they believe in the mission and ministry of CCS and not to receive recognition, I will continue to look at this campaign and refine it as we move along. I will reconsider the listing of the names in the graduation program.

PTCA Movie Night

73 people expressed an interest in attending. Cars 2 was the big winner with 41 votes. Night at the Museum came in second, but there were some comments wondering about some questionable content. Beauty and the Beast and Little Mermaid came in a distant 3rd and 4th respectively. Watch for more information from the PTCA regarding this upcoming family event.

Calvary Golf Fundraiser

When asked about your interest in participating in a Calvary Golf Fundraiser only about 10 people stated they were definitely interested. Thirty people expressed some interest. Therefore, we will need to look at this to see if this is the type of event in which to invest our efforts.

Three Year-old Preschool Program

This is a program CCS has considered creating. A few of our existing CCS families expressed an interest in this program. Additionally, there has also been a significant amount of interest expressed from outside. This may become an exciting opportunity for Calvary Christian to expand its influence in our community.

Elementary After-School Clubs

Significant interest was expressed for three of the elementary after-school clubs mentioned; a Lego Club, an Odyssey of the Mind Club and a Reading Club. The success of these types of clubs will hinge on parental involvement. As we look at the potential of some of these, please consider your availability and willingness to help lead one of these clubs.

General Satisfaction

This is the question that I was most interested in, not just the responses, but also the comments. I was pleased with what I found. Out of 110 responses, 90 would “Recommend highly” CCS to a friend. 19 would “Recommend somewhat” CCS to a friend and only 1 would “Not Recommend at all.” Many of the comments praised teachers for their hard work in changing the lives of students. Many of the comments praised both the atmosphere at CCS and the educational standards.

While this is encouraging, I want 110 to “Recommend highly.” There were some comments regarding the strength of the academics in the High School. We are taking them seriously. I met 2 weeks ago with some “science-minded” parents to discuss how we can both dispel rumors and strengthen our program. We have a plan moving forward. I am excited for the future and am thankful for these parents and their concern for CCS.

One particular comment spoke negatively of the administrations “touting” of ACT scores as proof that CCS’s program was preparing our students for college. Recently I received my monthly bulletin from the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) which also is the parent organization for the National Honor Society and the National Junior Honor Society. In the lead article it stated that ACT and SAT scores were the only national standard for college preparation. We can all talk to individual graduates and ask them if they felt prepared, some will say “yes,” some will say “no.” Some will say they struggled in a subject, some will say they excelled and were even bored. I still believe that the only “scientific” measure are the standardized test scores that measure our students as compared to those around the nation with a standard set of questions asked and answered under similar, controlled conditions.

CCS does have room to improve and we are taking the necessary steps we need to take, within our budgetary restrictions. But I firmly believe that CCS offers a student an EXCELLENT education with great prospects for success at the next level. One current CCS parent stated that her student received the Presidential Scholarship at the University of Kentucky and that the education her child received at CCS greatly contributed to that opportunity.

In closing I would like to state that our school families can build us up or tear us down. People in the community listen to what you say. When you praise the school, we benefit, not only in strengthening our reputation, but also in new students. When you speak negatively of the school, you can destroy the reputation and damage our ability to accomplish our mission. Recently, there was a article published in a local community newspaper where some negative comments about CCS’s academics, athletics and faculty members were made and have now been printed and distributed to this local community. This may hurt our school. However, I also firmly believe that when we are doing what is right, we WILL be attacked. I want to thank those of you who seek to build up Calvary Christian School.

Thank you for participating in the survey. Thank you for reading this blog. Thank you for the support and encouragement you have given the administration and faculty. I hope you all have a blessed 2012.

Some Dangers Out There

I was tempted to write about my disappointment with the Bears loss to the Broncos.  However, I can’t help but like Tim Tebow, so I decided to go another direction.  In the past these blogs have dealt specifically with issues and events at Calvary Christian School.  However, I have come across some information provided from a seminar that Mr. Heyob (our High School Bible and History teacher) attended, that I believe will be beneficial to our school families.

We are all aware of the dangers of the use of alcohol and illegal drugs.  We also warn our children of the dangers present in the abuse and misuse of legal prescription medications.  However, there are a number of “legal” substances that are available to our children over the Internet (either at websites or through drug forums), at “Head” shops and even at the counter at some gas station mini-marts.  These substances are similar in their structure to Meth, Cocaine, Ecstasy and Marijuana.  In most cases they affect the central nervous system in the same way as these illegal substances.

These substances are relatively inexpensive, anywhere between $10 and $40 per purchase amount.  They provide the user with the following effects: confusion, loss of a sense of reality, elevated or depressed heart rate, impaired muscle control, visual distortions, hallucinations, anxiety, agitation, dizziness, etc.  Some of these “legal” highs come from substances that are not controlled by the Drug Enforcement Agency because they are “not for human consumption.”  They are marketed as incense, fertilizer, bath salts, scratch removers for cellphones, etc.

Some of these substances are: Mello Man, Cloud 99, M Shine, Ice Crystals, 6-APB, MXE, 4-Mec (also known as TNT), Naphyrone, Molly’s Ultra Plant Food, Spice, K2, Yucatan Fire, and Genie.  All of these substances are mind-altering and potentially physically harmful to the user. (The military has already “outlawed” many of these chemicals.)

I think the particular danger for Christian students is the confusion between what is right and what is legal.  These substances may be legal in most states, but that does not make them “OK” to use.  If the devil is a “prowling lion” who seeks to destroy me, I must be on guard at all times.  When I intentionally take in substances that are harmful to the body and hinder my self-control, I open myself to the evil that the devil intends for me.

Every year, with the Air Force, I am required to go through very intense chemical warfare training.  I have deployed 5 times and never had to use that training.  However, I was ready with not only the required equipment, but also the knowledge.  It’s all about readiness.  I do not think we have any problems with these substances here at CCS.  However, I want us all to be ready.  I would encourage you, as a parent, to do a little research on these substances and talk to your child about them.

This will be the last post for a couple of weeks (Christmas Break). I hope and pray that all of you have a wonderful celebration of Christ’s birth and a restful Christmas vacation.  Remember, we have adjusted the return date to school to Tuesday, January 3rd.  See you then.

Sundry Items

I usually try to keep these blog posts thematic.  However, there are a few things I would like to touch on before the first half of the year ends.  So here we go.

First, we have spent a good portion of the beginning of this school year updating some of our manuals and handbooks, which had not been reviewed for some time.  We first updated the Crisis Response Manual.  We then updated the Faculty Handbook.  Currently, I am “neck-deep” in the Middle and High School Course Description Catalog.  Most recently we have completed the update to the Parent/Student Handbook.  You can view it online at www.ccsky.org, under the Admissions tab or you can pick up a copy in the office.   Some minor adjustments were made for consistency and clarification throughout the manual.  Many of the updates are changes you have already been made aware of (boy’s hair length, elementary discipline changes, bullying policy, etc.).  One of the major modifications is the updating of the Middle and High School Discipline Code.  We felt that it needed more detail and clarification.  In addition, we wanted to create a process that in its enforcement, balanced grace with discipline.  This new code will allow students time (on minor issues) to correct their actions and/or attitudes before major consequences occur.  All of the changes have been reviewed and approved by the CCS Executive Committee.  This new discipline code will take effect when we return from the Christmas break. I encourage you to check it out and review it with your child prior to the beginning of the second semester.  I will be explaining it to the students before the end of the calendar year.

Second, a school parent approached me with a “low-impact” way of raising some funds for the school, so I thought I would pass it along.  Yahoo has created a search engine called GoodSearch, which is more family friendly than Google.  Additionally, they have created GoodDining and GoodShop.  There is a GoodToolBar that can be downloaded.  “Calvary Christian School (Covington, KY)” has been set-up as a charity.  The school can earn money based on your Internet searches.  Additionally, items purchased through GoodDining and GoodShop earn the school anywhere from 1.5% to 7% of the purchase.  This one parent has already earned almost $50.00 for the school.  So I throw it out there to you as an opportunity to help CCS.

Finally, I want to be transparent here . . . fundraising makes me uncomfortable.  I take the responsibility seriously, but the phrase “duck out of water” comes to mind when I think about my role in insuring the school has funding.  With that said, I want to thank those of you who have committed to and have donated to our Annual Campaign.  Your generous gifts will allow us to keep our tuition one of the lowest in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area and still make the improvements to our programs and facilities we feel we need to make.  You will notice from the signs near the front drive and in the front foyer that we have about 20% of our goal pledged and/or donated at this time.  If you can help us out, with whatever amount, we would greatly appreciate it.  Remember, your donation is tax-deductible.

In closing, I was asked on Wednesday by a student to provide a quote for the yearbook on how the school year is going.  I haven’t formulated what I am going to say yet.  However, I don’t mind telling you that I entered this position almost 5 months ago with “fear and trepidation.”  I did not know what to expect.  I have been pleasantly surprised.  I had the opportunity to speak in the Middle and High School chapel last Wednesday.  I began by saying “thank you” to them.  From my perspective, it has been a good school year.  I told them that it had been so good, because of their efforts.  I want to expand that “thank you” to include our school families and the faculty and staff.  YOU have made the first half of this school year a success.  As we approach this Christmas season and the next semester, I will continue to trust in God’s Blessing and Providence over Calvary Christian School.

Oh, and one more thing, remember, Christmas break has been extended one day.  The first day back at school will be Tuesday, January 3rd.