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Category: News

Photo of the Week: A Message to Donors

 

TCS kindergarten students say thank you to our donors.

The 2012 – 2013 Annual Fund Campaign is off to a great start thanks to our fantastic Faculty and Staff, Board of Trustees, and Parent Teacher Fellowship. All three groups are working towards 100% participation in this year’s Annual Fund, and they are well on their way! This year, your donations will be used to:

 

  • recruit and retain the best faculty and staff
  • enhance technology in our classrooms
  • increase financial assistance to families in need
  • provide professional growth and development for faculty and staff

Thank you to everyone who has already made a commitment to this year’s Annual Fund. We are very grateful for all you do to support The Christ School and her mission.

Click here to make your gift today. For more information about The Christ School Annual Fund and how your family can help, please contact Joanne Fleming in the Advancement Office.

 

Lions’ Sports News: September 12

TCS Athletics Weekly Lions’ Sports Update: September 12

Middle School Volleyball
The middle school volleyball teams are serving up some great matches

Monday, September 17
8th grade Match – 6:00 p.m.; Windermere Prep.
7th grade Match – 6:30 p.m.;MastersAcademy
6th grade Match Green Team – 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.; HOME
6th grade Match White Team – 4:00pm; HOME

Cross Country
Next meet on Tuesday, September 18, 4:30 p.m.; Trinity Prep.

Swimming
Next Meet
Tuesday, September 18, 5:30 p.m. warm-up, 6:00 p.m. start time; Trinity Prep.

Lower School Volleyball
Our 4th and 5th grade volleyball teams are awesome!
Check out these match times. Let’s Roar Ladies!

Saturday, September 15
5/4th grade Match Green Team – 10:00 a.m.;FaithChristianAcademy
5/4th grade Match Gold Team – 9:00 a.m.;FaithChristianAcademy

 Soccer
Our Soccer Lions have started their season.
Way to Roar TCS!!

Saturday, September 15
Boys 2nd/1st grade- 11:00 a.m.; Master’s Academy
Girls 2nd grade – 10:00 a.m.;TrottersPark #5

Swimming
Next Meet
Tuesday, September 18, 5:30 p.m. warm-up, 6:00 p.m. start time; Trinity Prep.

 Flag Football
Flag Football registration is open online.
Choose The Christ School as your team and say yes to a uniform if you need one.

Please check RenWeb for all athletic contests, announcements, forms and information.  Forms and information flyers can be found under Resource Documents. For all athletic questions please contact Coach Wiborg.

Ben Tanner School Pictures

School pictures are almost here! Grades 3-5 will have both group and individual pictures taken on Tuesday, September, 18th, and k-2 will occur on Wednesday, September. 19th. Middle School photos are scheduled for Thursday, September, 20th. Dress uniforms are required for pictures, so during picture week, each student should plan to wear a dress uniform on the assigned picture day instead of Monday.

In an effort to provide the best opportunity for photo ready students, lower school classes will not go to recess before their pictures, but will have time outside that afternoon. Eighth grade students may wear church (dressy) clothes. Girls who choose to wear a spaghetti strap dress must wear a jacket or sweater to class, but may remove it for pictures. They are welcome to change into a school uniform after pictures.

Group pictures will be taken in the sanctuary immediately following chapel with individual photos following in Allen Hall. We hope to have most classes completed before lunch and make-ups will be done on Friday. The photographer will be providing details on how to select and place your order using an on-line system.

TCS Parking Update

Parking on TCS’s designated floors of the county’s garage is becoming increasingly important as the city’s arts center nears completion. TCS is allocated the 5th and 6th floors of the parking garage during the week. Orange County spaces are on the 3rd and 4th floors and public parking, or city spaces, are found on the 2nd floor. The 1st floor is for county, public, tax collector, and some ADA parking.

It is important that we park on the 5th and 6th floors during normal working hours.

The 5th and 6th floors provide First Presbyterian and The Christ School with 300 parking spaces on Monday through Friday. After 7 p.m. on weekdays, and all day on Saturday and Sunday, we can use all levels of the garage unless there is a special event.

 

 

 

 

Photos of the Week: TCS Middle School Students at Southwind Young Life Camp

Making friends across the grade levels
Getting to know Mr. Magee, TCS Math Teacher, outside the classroom

TCS Middle School students embarked on an overnight retreat at Southwind last week. This year’s theme, In His Image…Wonderfully Made, provided students an opportunity to worship, explore and share their God given gifts–and to enjoy time with old and new friends. Enjoy these photos taken by students during their time together.

Mary Crimmins, TCS Social Studies Teacher, with her Eighth Grade Advisory Group
Time for a game of volleyball

Eighth Grade Congrattie Orders Now Being Accepted

It is time to plan for every eighth grade family’s favorite part of the yearbook: The Eighth Grade Congratties! TCS’s yearbook staff would love to feature your graduate along with your priceless photos and personalized message in our 2012-13 yearbook! Congrattie ads are now being accepted with reduced prices for those who submit their order by October 3, 2012.

Congratties Parent Letter and Order Form

 

Carpool Safety Reminder

Saftey and security of your children, our students, is our top priority.  Please help us keep all of our students, faculty, and staff safe by adhering to the following: have students prepared to exit the car when you approach the Angel Wing;

wait for a patrol or staff person to open your car/van door(s), or use your auto-opener only when you see a patrol or staff person ready at the door of the vehicle;

if you choose to not enter the carpool line, please park your vehicle in a legal parking space and walk your student(s), at a minimum, to a safe location near the Angel Wing with line-of-sight to the entry doors to the school; and,

dropping off in active traffic lanes on Church Street is not endorsed by The Christ School. This is a hazard to your children and others around you.

Thank you for your help.

Photo of the Week: Creative Learning with iPads

Olivia, in Mrs. Fatizzi's first grade class, shares her iPad creation. This year, TCS students are learning with touchpad devices in the classroom and in the technology center.

Twenty iPads on a syncing cart are travelling throughout The Christ School classrooms. Our kindergarten and first grade students were introduced to the iPads last week beginning with Doodle Buddy, a simple drawing application. They found the drawing tools quickly and learned how to make individual creations.

First grade students worked with Letter School, an application that reinforces correct letter and comprehension skills. Soon, TCS second grade students will utilize the iPads to reinforce math facts and strengthen reading comprehension skills.

Students working in the technology center took their first STAR reading test of the year. They will be soon be learning and practicing keyboarding skills and creating presentations using PowerPoint and other software.

TCS Annual Fund: Ways to Give

The Christ School is launching our 2012-2013 Annual Fund campaign. To begin our efforts, we have three easy ways to give this year: Workplace Campaigns; Online Donations; and, Matching Gifts.

 

Workplace Giving Campaign
Many of us work for companies that run a Workplace Giving Campaign through Heart of Florida United Way. Did you know that you can designate The Christ School as the preferred recipient of your workplace donation? Simply write in The Christ School on your pledge card and your gift will be deducted from your paycheck and sent to us through United Way. We currently receive workplace gifts from Orange County and City of Orlando employees.

Donate Online
Give Online to make your tax-deductible donation today.

Matching Gifts
A number of companies offer a Matching Gift program. We currently receive matching gifts from GE Foundation, Prudential Foundation, Symantec Corporation and Oracle Corporation. Please check with your employer to see if they will match your gift to The Christ School.

For more information about The Christ School Annual Fund and how your family can make a difference, please contact Joanne Fleming, Director of Development & Special Projects, at 407-849-1665 or visit us online.

Lions’ Sports News: September 5, 2012

TCS Athletics Lions’ Sports Update

Middle School Volleyball
The middle school volleyball teams are roaring. Check out the match times this week and come cheer on your lions!

Monday, September 10
8th grade Match – 5:00 p.m.; Windermere Prep
7th grade Match – 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; The Masters Academy
6th grade Match Green Team – 4:00 p.m.; Home
6th grade Match White Team – 4:00 p.m.; Home

Lower School Volleyball
Our 4th and 5th grade volleyball teams are awesome!! Check out these match times. Let’s Roar Ladies!

Saturday, September 8
5/4th grade Match Green Team – 9:00 a.m.; Faith Christian Academy
5/4th grade Match Gold Team – 10:00 a.m.; Faith Christian Academy

Cross Country
It is time to put that practice to the test. TCS Cross Country opens the season with their first meet on Tuesday, September 11, 4:30 p.m. at Trinity Prep.

Flag Football
Flag Football registration is open online. Choose The Christ School as your team and say yes to a uniform if you need one.

Please note there are no middle school team practices on September 6 and September 7 due to the Middle School Retreat. Have fun lions!!

Swimming
Our Swim Team is ready to hit the pool with their first meet of the fall season.
Monday, September 10, 5:30 p.m. warm-up, 6:00 p.m. meet; Lake Highland Prep.

Please check RenWeb for all athletic contests, announcements, forms and information. Forms and information flyers can be found under Resource Documents. For all athletic questions please contact Coach Wiborg.

TCS Alumni Spotlight: Montana Marshall, Chloe Beemer, and Natalie Woodall

TCS Alumni and Boone HS students Montana Marshall, Chloe Beemer, and Natalie Woodall have advanced in Boone’s cheer program. Montana is now a varsity cheerleader and Chloe and Natalie are on Junior Varsity. Too, for the second year, Montana and Chloe are participating in an on-campus internship. Both are working as bank employees in the Teacher’s Credit Union branch on campus. We are proud of our graduates!

Back-to-School Means Peace: A Note from Guidance

One Thing

by: Kristy Ryan, Guidance Counselor

I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. ~Jeremiah 32:39

Back-to-school does not have to mean back-to-stress. School begins and instantly the once wide-open space on our calendars is crowded and our pace accelerates. Focus on the Family has kicked off a new campaign titled “Today, I will…” with ideas on how to make a difference each day by doing one simple thing.

TCS Open House in Pictures

TCS welcomed parents to Open House as we began our 17th year.
(left to right) Cindy Carnes and Stacy Dalton.
Jose and Heidi Arias
Jose and Heidi Arias
Rich Magee outlines middle school academics in his class.

 

Sarah assists at Lions' Sports Night. "I love it so much, maybe I'll even play in college."
Mrs. Schwalk shares her class plans for the year with parents.

 

Charles Cook, TCS Board Chair, shares his TCS experience with TCS families and friends.

A Letter from Head of School, Jason Powell, Ed.D.

TCS Family,

I want to thank our parents who attended Open House last Thursday. It was an informative evening, and I hope that as you returned home at the end of the night, you did so knowing that your child’s teacher will truly know your child this school year and the resulting relationship between teacher and child will result in an enriching academic experience.

During Open House, I was honored to listen to TCS Board Chair and Cross Country and Track and Field Coach, Charles Cook reflect on his family’s TCS journey. It is our honor to partner with Charles and each TCS family to provide your children with an academic experience that is Christ-centered and uncompromising.

Our priorities this year include improving communication between school and home and further sharing the TCS story to the broader community we serve.  I have never been so proud of a faculty and staff as I am this year. I am certain we have the right team to get God’s work accomplished. Already, TCS faculty has procedures in place to keep RenWeb current and the available downloadable mobile application provides parent access to student information anywhere at anytime.

Please remember to watch for informational sessions this fall to discuss our Curriculum Framework. We are bringing together the five core elements—the academic structure—behind our Curriculum Framework (pedagogy, design, reflection, measurement, and communication) to thoughtfully and meaningfully articulate why TCS students and graduates perform with distinction here and at the next academic level.

Thank you again for your participation in our Parent Survey. Our priorities emerge from your responses. We have a lot planned for this school year. Please pray for us as we partner together to further fulfill The Christ School’s mission.

Lastly, to celebrate a wonderful first two weeks of school and the upcoming football season, we are having a special uniform day on this Friday, August 31.  Students, faculty, and staff may wear jeans if they also wear their favorite TCS shirt or football team shirt on Friday.  Please plan to show your team spirit as we celebrate the excitement of the beginning of a great year!

TCS Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF) Offers Fall Spirit Bible Study

What do we do when God interrupts our lives? Join TCS moms and friends for seven weeks of fellowship to study the word of God through Priscilla Shirer’s study Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted. We’ll discover that many times, like Jonah, we run! Shirer redefines interruption in this Bible study and shows how it can be God’s invitation to do something beyond our wildest dreams.

Join us on Tuesday mornings from 8:15 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. or on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. starting on September 12, 2012. Childcare is not available. Expense of study is $11.95 which covers the cost of the workbook. Please contact Jen Bostedo, 407-496-1812, by Friday, September 7, 2012 to register or for more information.

TCS Weather Related School Closure Policy

In conjunction with First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, The Christ School’s weather related school closure policy is to close school for weather related reasons whenever Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) determines that schools will be closed.

Whenever inclement weather threatens the closure of school, please monitor local television and radio stations for OCPS school closing announcements. When possible, we will communicate school closure with you by email, RenWeb, and our phone greeting will be updated.

Following a closure, we will work in conjunction with First Presbyterian Church of Orlando to determine when campus will reopen, and we will communicate reopening information with you through RenWeb, email, and voice messaging.

TCS Lions’ Sports Update: August 29, 2012

Thank you parents for joining us at Lions’ Sports Night. A schedule of TCS Middle and Lower School sports practice and game times is below. All information, forms, and schedules have been updated on RenWeb and can be found under Resource Documents.

Middle School
Volleyball
Our middle school volleyball teams are serving up some great matches. Check out match times this week and come cheer on your LIONS!
Tuesday, September 4
8th grade Match – 5:00 p.m. at Windermere Prep
7th grade Match – 5:30 p.m. at The Masters Academy
6th grade Match Green Team – 4:00 p.m. at HOME
6th grade Match White Team – 4:00p.m. and 5:00 p.m. at HOME
Wednesday, September 5
8th grade Match – 5:30 p.m. at Lake Highland Prep
 
Cross Country
Next practices are Thursday, August 30 and Tuesday, September 4, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Delaney Park.
 
Swimming
First practice will be held Friday, August 31, 4:15 – 5:30 p.m. at Lake Highland Prep.
 
Flag Football
Flag Football registration opens Saturday, September 1 online at www.acys.org.
Choose The Christ School as your team and say yes to a uniform if you need one.

Lower School
Volleyball
Our 4th and 5th grade volleyball teams are ready to open their season this weekend.
Check out these match times. Let’s Roar Ladies!
Saturday, September 1
5/4th grade Match Green Team – 11:00 a.m. at Faith Christian Academy
5/4th grade Match Gold Team – 12:00 p.m. at Faith Christian Academy

Tennis
Our TCS Tennis program begins next week at Fort Gatlin Tennis Center.
Registration Deadline is August 29.
Fall Session I
Tuesday, September 4 – 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 5 – 5:00 p.m.
 
Cheerleading
Registration forms are due August 29.

For all athletic questions please contact Coach Wiborg.

New Classroom Furniture Arrives

Thanks to the generosity of TCS families and friends at the 2012 Mane Event, we were able to purchase new classroom furniture.  The truck pulled up under the Angel Wing and a team of TCS dads unloaded all of the boxes and delivered them to classrooms.  What a glorious sight!  These desks and chairs replace sixteen year old furniture that The Christ School has had since the school opened in 1996.  Thank you to all of our parents, grandparents, and friends who supported of The Christ School by raising your paddle at the Mane Event!  The students and teachers will be thrilled with the new look in their classrooms.

Local Pastors Come to TCS Chapel

The Christ School hosted a number of local pastors for its’ Second Annual Pastors’ Chapel on June 1st.  Our visitors came from all over Orlando, representing eight different churches and six different faiths.  The pastors joined us for a daily chapel led by Mrs. Carrick’s second grade class who showed us how to have faith in times of worry.  Thank you to all TCS families who shared an invitation with your pastor and to those who joined us that morning for chapel.  A big thank you to our middle speakers Noah Chevalier, Cara Eakins, and Brianna Sanders!  The pastors truly enjoyed hearing from our students and seeing how they are confidently “standing strong” in their faith.

Congratulations to our Duke TIP State award winners!

Over 60% of our current 7th grade students were invited to participate in the Duke University Talent Identification Program, Duke TIP, which identifies academically promising 7th graders based on their standardized test scores in 6th grade. Candidates are then invited to take the SAT or the ACT which allows them greater insight into their academic abilities.  After sitting for the high school SAT or ACT, four of our students were awarded state recognition by Duke TIP by scoring at or above the national average of high school juniors or seniors on at least one part of the SAT or the ACT.  Congratulations to Sam Emsley, Caroline Kefauver, Jimmy Lane, and Haley Wass.

The Cutting Edge in Middle School Science

Middle School students in Mrs. Kuplen’s science class had a very exciting day in the lab this week.  Working with a partner to dissect a cow’s eye, students were asked to prepare the specimen and then draw and identify the different parts of the eye.  This hands-on experience gave the students a rich understanding of the science behind sight and a true appreciation of God’s work.

Fins on Fabric

Mrs. Kuplen’s sixth grade science class has been studying the three different types of fish and how the five different types of fins help them move.  To reinforce their studies, Mrs. Kuplen taught them how to make fish prints with tilapia and red snapper.  When they created these detailed prints of their fish, the students were able to see, feel, and understand the differences in the design of the fins.  In the meantime, they learned a little about teamwork, patience, and finding beauty in all God’s creatures.

Night of the Arts

 

Night of the Arts was a fantastic event celebrating the creativity of our talented TCS students. There was a variety of art displayed throughout the school, ranging from watercolor fish and paper mache bowls to clay lions and tin reliefs.   The third floor was filled with smiling faces as our young performers danced, sang, and played beautiful music for family and friends.  What a blessed night for the TCS community!

 

2012 Middle School Science Fair

Becca PulsiferThe Christ School’s 7th and 8th Grade students came together in Yowell Hall for the annual Science Fair.  Students in 7th grade were tasked with choosing topics related to life science and 8th grade students chose physical science topics.  Middle school science teacher Mrs. Kuplen said, “The students do everything on their own, from deciding their experiment to writing the hypothesis, procedure and research paper. This type of project involves so much more than just science. The science fair is a five month long adventure that involves math, language arts, research and art.”

There were many different topics chosen by our middle school scientists and Mrs. Kuplen was very impressed by their creativity and hard work.  “Each year the students surprise me with their projects. There are the practical experiments including; which toothpaste whitens your teeth the best, or which cookie sheet makes the best cookies. Then, there are the creative experiments including; which animal has a stronger sense of smell, or testing if a magnet can increase the growth of a plant due to the minimal amount of iron found in plants. Then, there are the unusual ones, including, which item, a lit match or magnet creates plasma better when microwaved, or which area on a roller coaster causes you to feel the g-forces the best. Over the many years I have been teaching the science fair I have seen several experiments, but each year the kids keep getting better and better.”

A BIG congratulations to the overall winner, Becca Pulsifer (8th Grade), for her project “Feel the G-Force.”  Mrs. Kuplen said Becca “not only tested two roller coasters for their g-forces, but then she constructed a model roller coaster to test the g-forces on that and compared the two. She had to transfer data from her accelerometer to a graph and use an old boy scout method of measuring to get the angle at which the roller coaster dropped to recreate her model. It was a very intricate and interesting project.”  Way to go, Becca!

Kudos to our 7th Grade winners:

1st place – Connor Eakins for “Rot or Not”

2nd place – Hallie Millard for “Hand Eye Hoops”

3rd place – Chloe Kranston for “Does Color Affect Eyesight?”

4th place – Sarah Berger for “Survival of the Senses”

 

Congrats to our 8th Grade winners:

1st place – Matthew Casler for “123 Levitate”

2nd place – Carly Dorr for “Stop, Drop and Roll”

3rd place – Danielle Towle for “Bouncing Balls from Big to Small”

4th place – Avery Reddeck for “Which Toothpaste Whitens the Most?”

Be Part of Something Special

View one parent’s reason for choosing The Christ School.

It is that time of year when you are considering school options.  Whether your child is entering kindergarten or middle school, your decision is the same.  You want a school where your child is embraced and encouraged, where parental involvement is more than emails, it’s a partnership, and where a Christian education means being stretched academically and growing spiritually.

If this is what you are seeking, then consider The Christ School. With comfortable class sizes, spaces are limited so we invite you today to take a tour and see for yourself why our 8th grade graduates enter high school enrolling in honors, AP or IB classes and emerge as leaders in all areas. Learn why starting each day in Chapel roots your child’s values in Christ and how easy it is for downtown working parents to stay involved with only a short walk to campus to eat lunch, volunteer or to watch their child thrive in the popular After Care program.

You are invited anytime to meet the teachers, shadow classes, and listen to student conversations to see for yourself what makes The Christ School special and the right fit for your child.  Call Joanne Fleming at 407-849-1665 to schedule a private tour.

See You at the Pole

See You at the PoleTCS’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) gathered around the flag pole on 9/28/11 and prayed.  This is an internationally recognized practice that began in 1990 with a handful of students in Texas who wanted to pray at their public school and has grown to include schools all over.  Our student body then gathered on the green space and were led in scipture, prayer and song by the FCA, who are guided this year by Coach Scott Stuart and Coach Lisa Roman.See You at the Pole

TCS Receives Award

The Christ School is blessed by the continued generosity and support of The Chesley G. Magruder Foundation! 2011 marks the 16th consecutive year that The Christ School has been honored as an award recipient of The Foundation.  Thank you to The Foundation trustees who continue to believe in The Christ School mission and partner with us to educate the next generation of Christian leaders.  The Chesley G. Magruder Foundation remains the largest cumulative donor to TCS with awards totaling $345,000.00, including the 2011 award of $35,000.00.

Portrait of a TCS Graduate

There are distinctives that are unique to a TCS graduate, which they will take with them to high school, college and beyond.  TCS graduates are:

  • prepared to perform with distinction at the next academic level
  • equipped and motivated to be a life-long learner
  • committed to being others-oriented
  • confident and articulate in communication
  • devoted to glorifying God

The remarks recently spoken by one of our 2011 graduates of  The Christ School, Meghan Cotton, clearly affirm our school and its mission and bring this portrait to life.   Please enjoy them: 

My name is Meghan Cotton and I’m an 8th grader here at TCS.  I’ve been at this school since Kindergarten and at the Weekday School for 2 ½ years before that.  Most of my classmates can say the same.  I have been “surrounded by a cloud of witnesses to a life of faith” the whole time.  Whether in my home, my church, my school, or on the court, track or field, I’ve had the opportunity to learn, grow and compete in this Christian environment. 

Teachers, parents, pastors, friends and coaches have all helped me to keep my eyes focused on Jesus, the source of my faith, that I might run with perseverance the race that God has set before me.  This is not always easy.  Satan is everywhere to try to mess me up.  The sin of gossip can hurt feelings and test relationships; the pressure to perform well can lead to temptations; and the anger of unfairness makes me want to lash out in revenge.  These are all sins that convict me.

 But I know my God is a merciful God and by His grace I am forgiven.  He humbles me and provides me with perseverance to continue the race.  Other experiences have helped me to grow this year.  At our middle school retreat at Southwind I was reminded that everyone wants to “fit in”, but we need to accept each other for our differences.  Also, the hard economic times have shown me to be grateful for what I have, and I’ve been able to witness the generosity and compassion of others giving to those not as fortunate.  Some of my classmates and I just recently had the opportunity to serve those in the Dominican Republic who have so very little and they don’t even realize it.  They worship and sing praises to God who promises them so much more than shoes on their feet or a roof over their head.  The death of my grandmother has also shown me that those faithful unto death most certainly are given the crown of life.

 The race set out before me is not a sprint, but a marathon.  All these experiences and more are steps that God is using to help me get to the finish line.  He didn’t promise there wouldn’t be pot holes, but he placed some very special people on the sideline to help me around them.  For this I am thankful and feel prepared to finish my last lap here at TCS and start on my new course for Boone High School.