Champion Christian School Continues to Expand Financial Aid Opportunities for Next Year’s Enrollment by D. Merle Skinner, Executive Director

M any people are amazed to find out that the existing student population of Champion Christian School is not wealthy! In fact, although we have a percentage of the population that are paying full tuition, 75% receive some type of financial aid to be able to attend CCS. Over 50% of the population received full financial aid. It is the goal of the Board of Directors to help find ways for everyone who is interested, regardless of their socio- economic status, to be able to receive a Christian education here. We feel strongly that families need to carry a realistic responsibility in that process, and then it is up to the Center and the Christian community to help with the rest. Last year, we funded over $225,000 worth of aid to deserving families who significantly sacrificed to do their part. We are committed to find ways to expand those options as the student body continues to grow.  

            Are you a family who is interested, but afraid of the financial commitment? Check out the following pages of this newsletter to see the exciting ways that we are partnering with families to equip their students to understand and follow God’s plan for their lives in this very different post Christian culture. We can’t make that free, but as we all know, some of the best things in life require sacrifice. Our financial aid office, headed by Mrs. Amanda Wingrove, will work with you to do everything we can to help determine ways for your child and family to be able to attend CCS if you decide that is what you would want for your family. They are warm, friendly, and very compassionate to your cause. Come prepared to work, and we’ll all find a way.

    

Are you a gifted giver? Call-a-thon 2008 by Roy P. Laux, President Board of Directors          

       T he Bible describes that through the Holy Spirit each believer has been given unique spiritual gifts that we are to use to facilitate the work of the Lord. Many of us feel we have a hard time understanding our individual gifts or talents and feel that compared to some great evangelist or great prayer warrior that our abilities are very small. Well, here is some great news! Each of us during the month of March has the opportunity to develop and expand our spiritual giftedness by being a cheerful giver.

 

     

March is the annual call-a-thon to help support the many programs at the Christian Family & Children’s Center. Never has there been a more vital time for you to reach out and use your God given resources. Every day we see lives being changed for Christ here at the Center, every day we are part of the battles our students and their families wage to develop Christ-like qualities in a world that has little use for God.

     The cost of doing so are tremendous, financially and emotionally, and for God centered places like the Center to not only survive but to thrive and influence the lives of our students and the many others we touch- your support is critical.

            One very important way you can help is to make a generous gift to our 2008 Call-a-thon when one of our students or staff call you in the next few weeks. Please prayerfully consider how you may use your God given gifts to help support the Center and its programs and how blessed we, and you will be as a result of your generosity.

            Of course, if you are not able to give at this time, we understand! We don’t want to call you if you would rather we wouldn’t. Please take a few minutes to complete the form below to send in with your gift. Please note on the form if you have an address change, a new e-mail address, or would prefer to be removed from our mailing list. Check the appropriate line if you would like us not to call you.Thank you so much and may God bless you!!

Champion Christian School Update

Preschool

Mrs. Kelly Imel and Mrs. Linda Perry

  P reschool has had a wonderful year. Our programs are still growing. We have added many new students since the first of the year and still have a few more openings. The students have been learning about themselves and each other in the All About Me, Family, Friends and Community Units. State Police Officer Sam Grimm and three firemen, Jerry and Max Gales and Dave, visited our classroom to talk about safety. In September Nancy Culver, Postmaster at the Indian Head Post Office, welcomed us for a field trip. We joined the Elementary school on their field trip to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and plan to join them again at the end of the year trip to Sight and Sound in Lancaster to see the production, ‘Daniel’.

           We continue to explore the wonderful world that God created in our Farms, Seasons, Colors, and Shapes and Sizes Units. The Millers welcomed us as we visited the Triple J Farm and learned about farm life raising cows and horses. In October we made our annual trip to the visit Betty Cairn at the Meade Pumpkin Farm. God’s word is always present in our class but we were even more aware of it during our Bible, Obedience, Christmas and Thanksgiving Units.

           We are looking forward to the rest of the school year! In the coming weeks we are going to discover our Five Senses, How to Stay Healthy, more about Jesus as a boy and a man as well as other exciting units. We want to thank all those who have helped with organizing parties and the Secret Reader program. We would also like to thank all those who have supported us in other ways such as cutting, cleaning, decorating, bringing in snacks, etc. We are truly thankful for all that God has provided.

Elementary

Mrs. Belinda Lane, Principal

Mrs. Bev Pletcher, Mrs. Ann Mathews, Mrs. Kathy Foor

T he students have been working hard on this year’s science projects. The younger students are sharing what they learned in class about weather. They are planning to demonstrate how clouds are formed. Students in second through fourth grade complete individual reports, make a display and share about the topic of their choice. They also choose and explain a related Bible verse. The students are very excited about all they have learned and love to tell us all about it.

           We have also been preparing for our annual Elementary Speech Meet. Students memorize and recite a poem, folktale or Bible verse. Several will go on to our ACSI District Speech Meet in April. We also plan to visit, sing and recite our selections at a local personal

 care home as an opportunity in celebration of God’s love for Valentines’ Day.

           Ms. Ann’s Kindergarten students are all reading and anxious to move on to first grade. Mrs. Pletcher’s students love to play ‘Around the World’ with their many math facts. Mrs. Foor’s reading class is busy with their production of “The Chronicles of Narnia.” Mrs. Lane’s science class has been studying the properties of light and sound. They have enjoyed all the demonstrations and experiments, and eagerly ask questions. As we look to the future, it is affirming to see and hear our students get excited about learning. Thank you for your prayers and support.

Middle School

Mrs. Sharon Pasquarette, Principal

Mr. Dean Pizer, Mr. Tim Sprinkle, Miss Jen Pizer

A s always, Middle School is reeling with activity in every way. With the turn of the year, we see many events still before us by the end of May. We have had a wonderful first half of the school year. In sports, we enjoyed soccer and are now in the steep of basketball season. It has been a delightful time of friendships and learning as we travel from school to school and host our fellow Christian schools here at home.

This spring we are traveling to both the Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio and The Creation Museum in Northern Kentucky. We would love for parents and grandparents to accompany us on this trip. Watch Principals’ Notes for details. I am assuring parents that attend that they will get at least four hours of sleep that night!!

           Achievement tests will be administered during the last week of March. Upcoming academic events are numerous. We are participating in the local Courier Spelling Bee in March. Our wonderful science fair will be held in April. Speech Meet is coming up, both in-house and competitions beyond with ACSI events. We are currently waiting on the results of January’s Creative Writing competition. The local Mountain Laurel Chamber of Commerce ‘Student of the Month’ for December was sixth grader Jon Tobias. Sponsored by the Donegal Dairy Queen, Jon received a plaque and a savings bond. We will be participating in our PA Cleanways event in March. Students continue to earn community service project hours. If you need help or know someone who does, please call the Center and we will find one of our middle school or high school students to assist the need. Outdoor work, elderly or child care, etc. are all ways our students can become community minded.

           Blessings to our readers. Please keep the middle school students in your prayers.

High School

Mrs. Gloria Kerin, Principal,

Miss Clyntell Black, Mrs. Rachel Brant

T his has been an interesting and busy school year for our high school students. We are finished with the first semester final exams and as we take stock of the year so far, we are thankful for the progress and effort that our high school has made.

Basketball for both boys and girls began in December. We have quite a few new players on both teams and they bring a new enthusiasm for the game. The girls team is coached by Ms. Jen Pizer and the boys are coached by Randy Pletcher and Dave Reed. Both teams have busy schedules in the Tri County Christian League and are working hard at teamwork.     

           The Christmas concert in which the high school choir participated was wonderful. It was held at the town hall building in Ligonier this year which made the event particularly special with the town center's decorations. Students participated in the "March for Life" trip to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 22nd . They showed their support for the right of the unborn children who are aborted in our country "legally". This was the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. While at the March our students met with legislators.

           Something the staff and students look forward to each year is the CCHS speech meet. Students memorize published works such as poems and speeches and recite in front of their peers and teachers. Our annual mission trip is coming up in March. This year the students will minister to the needs of people in a community of Appalachia in eastern Kentucky. Please pray for the team.

Bring a Friend Day at Champion Christian School is Friday, April 11^th. Come and see what Champion is all about! Call to register.

Capital improvements at the Center

I t takes a good bit of work to manage two different program facilities, a garage facility, athletic complex and 52 acres of property. Many projects are only able to be accomplished with the help of our wonderful donors and volunteers. Some of the newest projects are: the South Campus bathrooms got a much needed renovation which included newly plastered walls, ceramic floor tile, new sinks, refurbished cabinets, and much more. We are finalizing work on a greenhouse at North Campus for this winter’s science classes. We’re also working on placing donated storage trailers on our property at North. We are nearly finished with the scoreboard and signs at the Harr field, as well as the new concession stand, which has two bathrooms, storage, network access, electric and water to sell food and snacks. Thanks to all of you that helped in any way! We are always looking for additional helpers. Let someone know if you’d be willing to help tackle one of our ongoing projects!

Our next work day is Saturday, May 3^rd, but everyone is welcome any time!

Center hosts Stem Cell Speaker

H ave you been hearing things about Stem Cell research and are not sure what to make of the recent scientific advancements? Wondering what all of the fuss is about? Here is your chance to learn more about this hotly debated topic. Come find out how scientific advances are consistent with Biblical truth. Monday, April 21^st from 7:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M., Mr. Michael Ciccocioppo from the PA Pro-Life Federation will be our guest speaker. The cost is $5. This will be held in the South Campus multi-purpose room in Indian Head.

Annual Golf Benefit

G olfers, mark your calendars now to be at MiddleCreek Golf Course in Rockwood, PA on Saturday, September 13^th for our 20^th annual outing! Can you believe that we have been having this event for that many years? MiddleCreek is under new management this year and we are working to make this our best event ever. Look for additional information on www.champion.org/development/fundraisers/golf

Center's Annual Charity Benefit Auction Friday, April 18

Y ou will be blessed if you come for dinner and a fun evening of bidding on over 100 great items to help support the Center! Dinner and preview of items begins at 4:30 P.M. Bidding starts at 6:00 P.M. Tickets are $6. Click on the following link to find out more about this exciting event www.champion.org/auction. Items can be bid on at this site by following the instructions. You will see new items being posted to this site every week. Bookmark it for future reference! Please note: NEW SITE! We will be holding the auction at the North Campus in Donegal off Route 31.

Do we have your email address?

B ecause of the cost of postage and producing mailings we are unable to communicate with you very often. Do you have an email address? Could we have it? We are working on communicating via email and the web to make sure that the many things that are happening at the Center get into people’s hands in a timely way. Please send your email address to barb_skinner@champion.org and we will add it to the database! If we have your email, but you are not getting things from us periodically there are a couple of things you should do. Please add info@champion.org to your address books and spam filters so that we don’t get caught as spam. Also, please contact us so that we might be able to work with your mail provider to help.

Chamber Business Fair

T he Mountain Laurel Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Business Fair at North Campus on Tuesday, April 29 from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. Many local businesses will be on hand sharing about what they do and are all about. We will also be sponsoring a Red Cross Blood Drive that night which will benefit the Center’s tuition scholarship fund. Come and see what the mountain businesses have to offer! Lots of FREE Goodies...

bring the whole family!

Educational Improvement Tax Credit

I f you are a business that pays corporate taxes you may be eligible to participate. Take money off your taxes and help a great cause at the same time! Look at: www.champion.org/development/eitc

 

UPCOMING EVENTS...

Saturday, June 21 Center Yard Sale open to community vendors. Held at North Campus in Donegal, this year outside space will be available to vendors. Contact Amanda 724-593-9200 ext. 102 if you would be interested in participating. Donations of items will be accepted June 9^th on.

Look for summer programs for adults and children...such as summer preschool, Kindersoccer, sewing class, SAT preparation, computer classes, and much more!!

www.champion.org/summercamps