VOICE
THE MAGAZINE OF CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL • 2023-24 • ISSUE 1
Drone photography compliments of Rhett Davis, Open Hand Images
Features
Departments
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A DECADE OF GIVING Since 2013, God has led our community on an amazing journey - one decade and more than $28 million dollars generously given.
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STUDENT TAKEOVER Senior Caroline Parrish shares how CCS has incorporated our core values through the middle and upper school discipleship groups.
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SOUND DESIGN WORKSHOP: MUSIC AND THE ART OF FOLEY AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS Upper school musicians and music faculty traveled to Orlando to participate in a sound design workshop at Universal Studios.
Send story ideas to laura.goodyear@charchrist.com Send alumni news to alumni@charchrist.com Send address changes to margaret.jackson@charchrist.com
ACADEMICS ATHLETICS FINE ARTS EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT COMMUNITY
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DEVELOPMENT CLASS NOTES ANNUAL REPORT SCRAPBOOK
“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” - Philippians 1:6 Dear Charlotte Christian Community, As we celebrated Homecoming a few months ago, I visited with many alumni and friends prior to the football game. It is always a blessing to hear how the Lord is working in and through the lives of our graduates. As the game started, I made my way to my typical seat at the top of the bleachers. During halftime we had the traditional presentation of the homecoming court and as our revered announcer, Jim Moore, read the bios of the students, I was interested in the Bible verses the students choose as their favorite and life verse. There were the typical verses that you almost would expect including Philippians 4:13, Proverbs 3:5-6, Colossians 3:23 and Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Then there were a few that made me consider the context of those particular verses such as Jeremiah 29:13, Luke 1:38 and John 13:17, “Jesus replied, You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Jesus said these words to His disciples as He washed their feet merely hours before He would be crucified. Finally, there were several verses that had me going to my Bible and read more to understand why the students would choose them: • “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” - Isaiah 40:31 • “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” - 2 Corinthians 3:17 • “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you, nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6 • “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” - Isaiah 58:11 It was a true blessing to hear and then read these verses that clearly showed our students biblical literacy, understanding and personal relationship with the One True God. Though it was just minutes on a busy night, these verses quickly reminded me of the real reason for all that we do at Charlotte Christian. God Bless,
Barry Giller Head of School
ORCHESTRA CHRISTMAS CONCERT
e d a c A De g n i v i of G 2013-2023
“Over the past 10 years it has been exciting to be part of campus projects and we have been busy! We have had so much construction take place and are grateful for God’s provision for our school.” - Todd Woolery (‘92), President of CCIS Construction Consultants & former Board of Trustees member 2
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“Since 2013, God has led the CCS community on an amazing journey. One decade and more than $28 million dollars raised. The generosity of the CCS community has allowed us to transform our campus, attract and retain the best faculty and staff, enhance our course offerings and most importantly, teach a biblical worldview that grounds our students for years beyond Charlotte Christian.”
- Barry Giller, Head of School
FROM 2013-2023, OUR CAMPUS HAS ADDED FIVE AMAZING NEW BUILDINGS.
HENDRICK CENTER FOR ARTS AND SCIENCE
CENTER FOR WORSHIP AND PERFORMING ARTS
As part of phase 1 of our master campus plan, the Hendrick Center for Arts and Science opened for the 2014-15 school year and was the first building on campus to offer instructional space for all grade levels. The more than 20,000 square foot building now houses the lower school STEM lab, media center, technology lab, and music classroom; middle school Spanish classroom; orchestra studio; three visual arts studios; an upper school math and science classroom; and offices for our academic staff along with the school’s receptionist. The Hendrick Center serves as the main entrance to the CCS campus and houses the admissions team to welcome prospective families.
In the fall of 2017, the Center for Worship and Performing Arts was completed in phase 1 of our master campus plan. This twostory, 20,515 square-foot building holds the Alkire Auditorium which is capable of hosting full-scale theatrical productions and weekly chapels as well as various assemblies and annual school events, including band, choir, and orchestra concerts. The stateof-the-art facility includes a scene shop, a black box theatre and dressing rooms. A window-lined art gallery is on one side of the building and features original work from our JK-grade 12 artists.
“The lower school has enjoyed new spaces in the Hendrick Center for Arts and Science and a big highlight for our students - the two new playgrounds! But more importantly, we are building a foundation in the hearts and minds of our youngest students.” - Tiffany Ivey, Third Grade Teacher
“Remember our plays used to be in the gym! We are so grateful for the support for the Center for Worship and Performing Arts. As our space grows, so has our fine arts program to include digital arts, music, theatre and visual arts. Students have the opportunity to identify their God-given artistic gifts and are introduced to industry standards to develop their craft.” - Claire Hilton (‘11), Director of Theatre
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ATHLETIC COMPLEX FOR LACROSSE, SOCCER & TENNIS PROGRAMS In 2021 we completed phase 2 of our master campus plan with the opening of the new athletic complex on the northern part of campus that includes the Harvick Field House with locker rooms for the soccer and tennis programs, bathrooms, a concession stand and a trainer’s room. In addition to the field house, the area also includes eight tennis courts; Guy Field, an artificial turf field for the soccer and lacrosse programs; a loop road to connect these facilities with the main campus; and additional parking areas.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING Opening for the 2022-23 school year, the two-story Middle School Building houses more than 23,000 square feet including the Good Family Innovation Suite of three rooms with a dedicated robotics room, a STEM fabrication lab and a flexible use classroom. The building also provides open space for student and staff collaboration, dedicated learning space for electives such as eSports, RoboKnights and MidKnights Knews and the lower and middle school administration offices.
“We are truly grateful for the thousands of donors that have made all of this possible,” shared Head of School Barry Giller. “Our campus has undergone a lot of change in the past decade but our mission will always remain the same, to impact the culture for Christ.”
“The footprint of our campus has grown exponentially since my time as a parent and a coach. Just in the past 10 years we have had so many new athletic facilities. This growth translates to Charlotte Christian’s success on the field and prepares student-athletes for opportunities at the next level.” - Bryant Young, CCS Parent, Varsity Football Coach & NFL Hall of Fame
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“We love our new Middle School Building and the space that allows students in the middle to try new and creative things. The middle school cultivates a place of belonging through grade level experiences, team building and our house system.” - Brooke Morgan, Middle School Principal
AT A GLANCE SINCE 2013
222,307 student service hours read by our 180,034 books Reading Knights
3,900 professional development hours
150 professional artists education 45 parent guest speakers championships and 16 state 203 college signees
square feet of Good Family
students during 13 school Winterim
seniors graduated earning
competitive 9 current robotics teams
Suite dedicated to 2,202 Innovation middle school creative electives than $51 million in college 1,098 more scholarships
countries visited by upper
UPPER SCHOOL BUILDING The 30,000 square foot two-story Upper School Building opened for the 2023-24 school year. It includes 15 classrooms and four science labs of innovative spaces and opportunities for new and creative programming. The science wing includes laboratories, a robotics practice field and flexible use space with room for students to collaborate. A designated outdoor classroom, exterior biology planting area and butterfly garden are available for all content areas to facilitate unique experiences for students. A digital media and broadcasting suite on the first floor includes a classroom as well as individual and collaboration workspace, an editing room and a green screen for KnightsKnews. The offices of Diversity and Belonging and Spiritual Life are easily accessed and help facilitate engagement and spiritual and real-world conversations.
In addition to the new facilities added to campus, Charlotte Christian has been blessed with recognition and success in completing campus initiatives. • Rolled out an all-inclusive dining program starting the 2013-14 school year. • Created Diversity and Belonging office in 2021. • Installed BluePoint emergency alert system in the fall of 2022 as the first school in the state of North Carolina. • Recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2022-2025 for innovatively integrating Apple products into our instructional environment to support our curriculum and academic initiatives.
“Our awesome new building really completes our upper school experience. While in upper school, we explore our passions and the world around us through our Winterim program, leadership opportunities and the variety of cocurricular activities.” - Senior Parrish Robinson, Head Prefect 2023-24 ISSUE 1 n
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t n e d u t S r e v o e k a T Edition Our CCS Student Takeover gives seniors an opportunity to share about life as Knight on both the CCS instagram account and blog on the school’s website. Beza Collins and Caroline Parrish have taken over for the 2023-24 school year. Scan QR codes to see their monthly takeovers on Instagram and check out their new blog.
Student Discipleship Groups:
Fostering Spiritual Growth and Community By Senior Caroline Parrish 5
CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Love God. Show Kindness. Seek Truth. These are three of the five core values that Charlotte Christian has implemented in their students’ everyday academic and social lives. In and out of the classroom, these values build the foundation and character that this community represents. One of the many ways that Charlotte Christian has incorporated teachings of loving God, showing kindness, and seeking the truth is through the middle school and upper school discipleship groups. This blend of grade levels has enabled students to connect with God’s word and build cross-division relationships outside the classroom environment. Upper School Spiritual Life Director Jeremey Cummings and Middle School Spiritual Life Director Rian Berger established two Bible studyfocused groups: Dodgeball & Discipleship and Supergirl Devotionals. “The vision for the middle school discipleship groups was to give the students an informal discipleship opportunity outside the classroom,” said Mr. Berger. Both groups are comprised of middle school students led by their upper school peers. Supergirl Devotionals studied crucial aspects of the Bible by analyzing the book of James. The middle school girls loved hanging out together, and adding the upper school leaders into the mix. One of the upper school students who gracefully helps lead Supergirl Devotionals is junior Maisie Macholz. When speaking to Maisie about her experience, she expressed immense joy regarding the middle school students she has been able to get to know during this process. “Through spending time with them, walking alongside them in their faith, and sharing the gospel, I aim to demonstrate the transformative power of God’s love. When younger students see the joy and fulfillment that my faith brings to my life, it may inspire curiosity and a desire to explore their relationship with God,” she said. Eighth grader Carson Scerri had many positive remarks about Dodgeball & Discipleship. “Dodgeball was a great incentive for people to come to discipleship groups. I definitely learned more about Peter since we studied the disciples. I thought it was great having the high schoolers work with us because usually we don’t see them,” he shared. Connecting through a common interest, like dodgeball, helped them dial in during devotionals that were short and sweet but filled with great information. Next semester, upper school students will lead lessons about biblical prophets. These discipleship groups have enabled middle and upper school students to build long-lasting relationships that have bloomed on the premise of God’s word.
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KNIGHTS HEADLINES
SOUND DESIGN
MUSIC & THE ART OF FOLEY
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In November, our upper school musicians and music faculty traveled to Orlando to participate in the Sound Design Workshop: Music and the Art of Foley at Universal Studios. This unique hands on workshop was designed by renowned composer and music educator Robert W. Smith to allow orchestra, band and choir students to experience life as working movie musicians performing original underscores, performing voice overs, creating Foley sound effects, and selecting digital sound effects for a scene from Illiumination’s animated movie Despicable Me. In the weeks leading up to the workshop, our students learned and rehearsed the film score so they were ready to perform and record the score in a real soundstage with high-end recording microphones, a producer, multiple audio and video engineers. The professional production team led our students step by step through the recording and audio engineering process to record the score, voice overs, and Foley sound effects that were paired with movie footage. They learned about Foley sound effects that are tailor-made sounds that are created and recorded live in the post-production process to enhance films, TV shows and video games. “I had never experienced voice-over acting before and it was very challenging. I learned that you can use lots of objects to make sound effects like crinkling paper to emulate a crackling fire.”
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- Freshman Magnus Ibbetson
CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
“We are so proud of the musicianship, courage, professionalism and character our students displayed both during the workshop and over the course of the trip,” said Director of Fine Arts Leslie Niessner. “We have already seen God’s hand in blessing their experience with growth that we know will continue to blossom in years to come.” “The entire Sound Design: Music and the Art of Foley workshop, from the preparation through to the final performance, was a very rewarding experience for our students,” shared Orchestra Director Jessica Taylor. “Our students were challenged with new music during rehearsals to work up the tempo as required to record. Then to see it all come together as they performed on the sound stage at Universal Studios with full support of professional audio engineers, producers and equipment was an experience we won’t soon forget. This program allowed for our students to be exposed to music careers and opportunities that they have not experienced before and it has broadened how music can impact their lives. We were able to take the experience from the classroom to a professional stage, and our students were able to shine!”
“There are a lot of moving pieces that make movies and video clips so realistic between all the people involved, the different sounds from Foley art, and the perfect timing it takes. I learned how much work and time it takes to make one scene or sound in a movie or video, and truly how much fun it is!”
- Freshman Kendyl Meisel
“We saw what it would really be like to produce music at a high level with one of the most prominent production companies in the industry and I loved seeing exactly what voice actors and recording engineers do to create voice-overs and really bring animated movies alive.”
- Freshman Andre Cox
“Watching my peers try voice acting revealed some hidden talents I hadn’t seen before and they might not have known they had either. I went into the workshop with some assumptions that recording sound effects was easy, but I left with a greater appreciation for the timing, editing and acting ability required.”
- Sophomore Evie Thompson
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ACADEMIC SPOTLIGHT
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2024 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Senior Alex Joe was named a Commended Student in the 2024 National Merit®️ Scholarship Program. Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers who entered the competition by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit®️ Scholarship Qualifying Test.
COLLEGE BOARD NATIONAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM AWARDEES Micah Gilbert, Dominique Kay, Jewel Lewis, Isabella Long, Eva Nieto, Annabella Salamone, Ryland Tafoya, Emma Taylor were selected as College Board National Recognition Program awardees based on their academic achievements in school, outstanding performance on the PSAT or AP exam and their application they each submitted last spring.
AP SCHOLARS 70 Charlotte Christian students and recent graduates earned Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar distinctions based on AP exams taken in May of 2023.
AP GOLD SCHOOL College Board announced that Charlotte Christian School has been named to the Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) School Honor Roll, earning a Gold level distinction. The AP® School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening access. In the inaugural year for the award, Charlotte Christian was recognized based on the number of seniors from the class of 2023 who took an AP exam and the scores that they earned - 75% of our seniors took at least one AP exam during their upper school career and 69% of our seniors scored a three or higher on at least one AP exam.
2023 SPELLING BEE Seventh grader Alex Jooste won the school Spelling Bee and eighth grader Jed Holdcroft was the runner-up. Students who won classroom bees competed in the third through eighth grade spelling bee in December. Alex will move on to compete in the regional spelling bee.
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GRCA YOUNG AUTHOR’S COMPETITION Fifth graders Anne Holland-Meyer and Abigail Walker won at the county level for their writing entries in the GCRA (Greater Cabarrus Reading Association) Young Author’s competition. They will move on to compete at the state level.
READING KNIGHTS Congratulations to 458 lower school students who participated in the first quarter Reading Knights program. 90% of the lower school participated during the first quarter with students reading 4,014 books and 10 classes having 100% participation! The group was recognized before a varsity football game.
EIGHTH GRADE SCIENCE FAIR Eighth grade students participated in the annual middle school science fair before Christmas break displaying their creative ideas, innovations, experiments and problem-solving skills. Students presented their projects to judges, classmates and parents in the Lamb/Johnson Gym. Judging was conducted by retired STEM professionals, AP STEM seniors, faculty and staff. Students who placed at this event will compete at the regional level at UNC-Charlotte in February. CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE WINNERS: Behavioral and Social Sciences Category: 1st Place: Wils Weymann 2nd Place: Margaret Gignac 3rd Place: Morgan Thomas Chemistry Category: 1st Place: Alexa Kate Jordan 2nd Place: Halle Potter 3rd Place: Julia Uher Earth and Environmental Science Category: 1st Place: Sophia Kozlow Life Science Category: 1st Place: Sydney Ross-Hubbard 2nd Place: Grace Werhane 3rd Place: Brendan Clarke Physics and Mathematics Category: 1st Place: Emily Pena 2nd Place: AJ Estramonte 3rd Place: Jed Holdcroft
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ATHLETIC SPOTLIGHT
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VARSITY GIRLS’ TENNIS SUCCESS There were lots of firsts this season for the varsity girls’ tennis team under the leadership of Coach Gary Brown. The team advanced to the state semifinals for the first time in program history. Junior Sophia Harris and sophomore Anne Carlton were both awarded All-State recognition - the first time in school history that girls tennis had two players recognized in a season. Sophia was also named First Team All-Conference and Player of the Year. Anne was also named First Team All-Conference with freshman teammate Elle Johnson earning Second Team All-Conference.
VARSITY BOYS’ SOCCER CO-CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS For the first time in more than 20 years, the varsity boys’ soccer team won a share of the conference championship. The captains shared about their phenomenal season: “Not many people believed in us going into the season, but all of us knew how special this group could be if we came together and that’s exactly what we did. I wouldn’t trade how great this season was with my teammates for anything.” - Captain Senior Nick Rosen “The soccer team’s accomplishments were a product of all the work that was put in during the offseason to move to the next level as a program. We proved a lot of people wrong.” - Captain Junior Andrew Boythe
FALL SEASON MILESTONES: Cross Country After breaking her record last year, sophomore Kate Willette broke her 5k record again with a time of 18:29. Sophomore Andrew Caswell is the first Charlotte Christian male all-conference runner since 2001.
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Golf In the program’s first year of existence, the varsity girls’ golf team won the conference championship with a total of 274. Sophomore Chloe Scofield was the medalist and seventh grader Elyn Aldrich finished in third place.
Football In addition to his CISAA recognitions, senior Micah Gilbert broke the school record with more than 1,000 receiving yards in a season, and the most receiving yards in a career, finishing with 2,141.
FALL & WINTER ATHLETIC SIGNINGS Eight student-athletes from the class of 2024 committed during first semester to participate in college athletics. Fall Signees - Baseball Winter Signees - Football Drew Beard James Madison University Micah Gilbert University of Notre Dame Nic Harris Elon University Gavin Major Wofford College DJ Layton University of Southern Mississippi Tripp Woody University of Iowa Bryce Young University of Notre Dame Fall Signees - Wrestling Tre Wilfong NC State University
ALL-CONFERENCE & ALL-STATE HONOREES Congratulations to the following student-athletes on earning CISAA All-Conference and NCISAA All-State recognition for fall sports. ALL-CONFERENCE Cheerleading: First Team Zoe Huff Sophia LeRoux Piper Rozsak Second Team Hadley Burmeister Darcy Howard Cate Spaeth
Cross Country: First Team Kate Willette Second Team Andrew Caswell Football: First Team Micah Gilbert* Cross Killen Gavin Major LJ Porter Tripp Woody Bryce Young
Second Team Tate Estep Jack Gullickson Corban Hall Ryan Henley Will Slater Christian Vann
Soccer: First Team Andrew Boythe Nick Rosen
Golf: First Team Elyn Aldrich Chloe Scofield**
Tennis: First Team Anne Carlton Sophia Harris**
Second Team Caden Rice
Second Team Ellee Johnson
ALL-STATE Cross Country: Kate Willette Football: Micah Gilbert Cross Killen Tripp Woody Bryce Young
Soccer: Andrew Boythe Tennis: Anne Carlton Sophia Harris
Golf: Chloe Scofield *Defensive Player of the Year **CISAA Player of the Year
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FINE ARTS SPOTLIGHT
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2023 NCAIS HONOR BAND PARTICIPANTS Nine middle and upper school band students were nominated to represent Charlotte Christian at the 2023 NCAIS Honor Band at UNC Charlotte. These students attended a twoday intensive clinic this fall where they learned new skills, attended masterclasses taught by the UNCC music faculty, and performed with band students from other independent schools in a concert showing a culmination of their work.
FESTIVAL IN THE PARK CCS participated in the annual Festival in the Park which continues to celebrate Charlotte’s rich art scene. More than 80 pieces were submitted of two-dimensional artwork from students in all grade levels utilizing various mediums and techniques. Scan the QR code to see their artwork.
NCTC ONE ACT PLAY FESTIVAL Our upper school ACT 1 team performed Macbeth at the annual regional North Carolina Theatre Conference one act play festival. Under the direction of Ms. Claire Hilton, the ACT 1 cast told the story of Macbeth using the original Shakespearian language paired with punk-rock costumes and scenery, authentic fight choreography, live music, intentional dance choreography, and bold character choices that showed mastery of the characters and story. They were awarded the following recognitions: Superior Rating, Excellence in Execution of Fight Choreography, and Excellence in Collaborative Acting (Hannah Roddy, Julia Silva, and Kathryn Taylor).
MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSICAL - ELF THE MUSICAL JR. Middle school students kicked off the 2023-24 mainstage season with a hilarious holiday favorite, Elf The Musical JR. to sold out audiences. Amid all the humor and silliness, the story of Buddy the Elf and his lack of inhibition reminds us of the power we each have to impact the world for good and the capacity we have to shine the love and light of Jesus where joy and hope may have dimmed. The middle school student’s vocal and dancing abilities were highlighted in showstoppers such as “Sparklejollytwinklejingley” and their growing acting skills shone through the clever dialogue and larger than life characters.
SCHOLASTIC PATRIOTIC ART COMPETITION Sophomore Dailey Schenck won first place and was awarded a $1,000 cash prize in the Carolinas Freedom Foundation annual Patriotic Art Competition and Exhibition. Her artwork was chosen from among dozens of regional submissions and was showcased in a touring exhibit with a collection of works that champion those who serve our country in the emergency and armed forces.
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
TERRY EFIRD
20 Years of Financial Stewardship After 20 years of diligent service to Charlotte Christian School, Chief Financial Officer Terry Efird retired in December 2023. His expert and unwavering leadership led the school to unprecedented financial growth and sustainability. Behind the scenes, Mr. Efird assured that the school remained focused on God’s calling but also that we were faithful and wise stewards of the many blessings He has given us as a school community.
THE EARLY YEARS Mr. Lew Semones was chairman of the finance committee in 2003 and saw an opportunity for the school when he learned about Terry Efird’s retirement from Bank of America after a 26 year career. Mr. Efird was currently serving on the CCS finance committee and agreed to come on board and lead Charlotte Christian’s business office and help during a pivotal time in the school’s history. “In a world often characterized by the pursuit of power and prestige, Terry’s ‘second career’ is what we should all aspire to,” shared Mr. Semones. “It was marked by humility, selflessness, and a genuine commitment to the wellbeing of future Christian leaders. He showed us that true leadership is not about how high we climb, but about how many we lift up with us.”
THE TRANSITION YEARS Mrs. Shannon Edwards was hired as Charlotte Christian’s first human resources director in 2008 and worked closely with Mr. Efird. As a team they weathered the 2008 financial challenge, the resignation of a head of school, a year-long head of school search, and Mr. Efird served as interim head of school (200910). “Once I started, we immediately hit it off and were a tag team for the next 11 years. I brought a little gray to his black and white approach and he instilled in me the importance of financial stewardship and modeled true servant leadership. If you were not fortunate to work with him on a daily basis, you would have no idea how compassionate, empathetic, and funny he was. During his time as interim head of school, it was such a gift for the school to see him in this new role and to see how much he cared about CCS.”
THE BUILDING YEARS As the chief financial officer, Mr. Efird oversaw the facilities team and safety and security in addition to the business office. He served as Charlotte Christian’s lead manager working with Rodgers Builders over the past decade on seven distinct projects totaling $40 million. “Terry’s dedication and diligence have been the cornerstone of Rodgers’ successes on this campus, and his absence will be profoundly felt,” shared Mr. Will Myers, vice president of construction operations with Rodgers Builders. “His 16 CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
leadership style, blending compassion and professionalism, has set an unmatched standard. Reflecting on the past decade, it’s evident that Terry’s influence at Rodgers extends beyond the projects we’ve undertaken together.”
THE LAST DECADE Head of School Barry Giller and Mr. Efird worked together for 13.5 years and together they have achieved great success for Charlotte Christian. Mr. Efird was recognized by the Charlotte Business Journal in 2017 as the Charlotte Area Non-Profit CFO of the Year. But it wasn’t his success as a spreadsheet master or brilliant strategist that he sought after but rather fulfilling the mission behind the scenes. “He is a prayer warrior who spends countless hours working on how the school can be better positioned to further its impact on students’ lives. Though his days were filled with meetings and spreadsheets, Mr. Efird never lost sight of the school’s vital mission. His desire for every student to have a wonderful experience while a Knight and that they grow to know and love the Lord Jesus,” shared Head of School Barry Giller. “The story of Charlotte Christian would be incomplete if Mr. Efird and his dedication, commitment and passion were not included. We are grateful for his faithful service and commitment to excellence in Christian education.”
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Will Allen graduated from CCS in 2020 and is currently a senior at Appalachian State University majoring in electronic media/broadcasting. While an undergrad at App State he has compiled an impressive resume as a cinematographer. He was the student director of creative media for App State football for three years and has now transitioned to freelance cinematography. Will specializes in long lens slow motion work for sports and has worked for NFL Films, College Football Playoffs, ESPN, FOX Sports, NASCAR, NHL, MLS, SEC Network and other major companies. He is in his second season shooting ground slow motion action with NFL Films. During the 2022 and 2023 NFL seasons his work has been shown in the shows Inside The NFL which streams on The CW/Netflix, Hard Knocks In Season: The Arizona Cardinals which streams on Max, and Quarterback which streams on Netflix.
Will Allen
Class of 2020
During his high school years, he gathered filming experience as part of the Knights Knews broadcasting team and created highlight reels for the sports teams that piqued his interest in the field. “I started really devoting time to cinematography during my sophomore year at Charlotte Christian, with the help of many different teachers such as Chad Fair (US broadcasting teacher), Jason Estep (former varsity football head coach), Greg Simmons (late varsity baseball head coach) and Andy Ross (director of athletics). Through the teachings of Mr. Fair and the opportunities to cover sports given by Coach Estep, Coach Simmons and Mr. Ross, I fell in love with sports cinematography and haven’t stopped since. CCS taught me to do everything to the highest standard I can, and I do that every time I step onto a film set or a classroom.”
Emma VanDeVelde Nussbaum graduated from Charlotte Christian in 2015 and set off for college at UNC-Chapel Hill to study advertising and drama. After her freshman year, she transferred to Coastal Carolina University where she received a BFA in musical theater and a minor in marketing. She worked professionally as an actress during the summers in Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania as well as studied at the Academia Del Arte in Arezzo Italy in 2017.
Emma VanDeVelde Nussbaum
Class of 2015
After college graduation, she moved to Chicago, IL and signed with an agent and then the pandemic hit and the entire theater industry shut down. During a break from acting, she started a podcast called Narrow Way to Broadway (@ nwaybway) that discusses the intersection of faith and the arts. She has produced seven seasons of content and is now a full-time podcast producer for Moody Radio as well as a producer for Practicing the Way. She currently serves as the podcast producer for the Rule of Life podcast by Practicing the Way, creating nine seasons over the next three years. Each season focuses on one ancient spiritual practice (sabbath, prayer, fasting, etc.) and educates listeners on the value of incorporating these practices into their rule of life. This podcast is hosted by John Mark Comer and features Christian thinkers, writers and pastors. 2023-24 ISSUE 1 n
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COMMUNITY NJHS/NHS BAKE SALE In October, the middle school National Junior Honor Society and upper school National Honor Society hosted a bake sale during school to raise money for a friend in the midst of a cancer journey. Staff members started praying for Maria del Pilar Cayetano, a Johnson Group Facilities Services employee, when they found out she was undergoing treatment for cancer. When planning for Pink Day, a day when students and staff wear pink in support of cancer awareness, the National Honor Society groups decided to have a bake sale to raise money for Ms. Cayetano. The groups raised close to $4,000 and surprised her with a basket of care items and a check. Middle School Counselor Lauren Duncan and NJHS advisor said of the experience, “God reminds us that we do not always have to look very far to find someone who needs a little extra support, care and attention. When our students learned of Pilar’s needs they did not hesitate to put a plan into action, spread the word and make a difference.”
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The first semester schoolwide KnightsServe service project was to collect Operation Christmas Child (OCC) shoeboxes in partnership with Samaritan’s Purse. Students and families packed more than 1,459, boxes, surpassing the goal of 1,400! Our school community prayed over the boxes at the All-School Thanksgiving Chapel before they were delivered by our senior prefects to the Charlotte Samaritan’s Purse Warehouse. Middle and upper school students also had the opportunity to volunteer at the warehouse to help prepare shoeboxes to be shipped to children around the world.
Eighth grader Evan Padilla helped pack shoeboxes. “It just feels really good to give back,” he said. “It was a good experience to go around and pick out what a child may want to get.”
THANKSGIVING CHAPEL The CCS community gathered to worship in Knights Stadium at our annual All-School Thanksgiving Chapel. Head of School Barry Giller spoke about God’s faithfulness over the last 10 years and how, since 2013, God has led our community on an amazing journey. In a decade, our enrollment has significantly grown and our campus has added five amazing new buildings. The community watched a Decade of Giving video celebrating the generosity of our CCS community and how God has blessed our school.
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Excitement and energy filled the air on a beautiful Friday night in September as old friends reunited and new memories were made at Homecoming 2023! Congratulations to seniors Karsen Betzold and Bryce Young who were crowned this year’s queen and king. At the pregame tailgate, more than 250 alumni and family members enjoyed a catered dinner while catching up with former classmates. Alumni also had an opportunity to tour the new Upper School Building before the football game. Members from the class of 1993 also gathered over the weekend to celebrate their 30th class reunion.
*Please reach out to Sara Reid, director of development, at sara.reid@charchrist.com Please reach out to Mr. Reid Fronk, director of alumni relations, at reid.fronk@charchrist.com if you would like to assist or plan next reunions. if youyear’s would like to plan or assist in next year’s reunions.
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DEVELOPMENT
UPPER SCHOOL GRAND OPENING &RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY Days before the start of the 2023-24 school year, CCS celebrated the grand opening of the new Upper School Building with a ribbon cutting ceremony to recognize the generosity and dedication of the entire school community that made the new building possible. The ceremony included school administrators, board members, donors, Rodgers Builders associates, LS3P Associates architects, current students and alumni. “It is a tremendous blessing to open the new Upper School Building,” said Head of School Barry Giller, “but what is so much more important are the relationships that will develop in these new classrooms and offices.” The Upper School Building showcases 30,000 square feet which includes 15 classrooms, four science labs, a dedicated broadcast room, a robotics practice field, a senior lounge, solar panel monitors and an outdoor classroom with a planting area and butterfly garden. The former locker commons area, now named Knights Hall, was renovated to include comfortable seating, study space and a monitor that displays community updates for students to utilize throughout the day and offices were built for the director of diversity and belonging and the director of spiritual life. “We were excited to celebrate the opening of our brand new state-of-the-art Charlotte Christian Upper School Building,” said Upper School Principal Shonn Brown. “This is a milestone that marks the culmination of years of dedication, hard work, and unwavering faith. Those of us who will have the opportunity to enjoy this space had many people before us praying and paving the way for such a time as this. We are profoundly grateful to everyone who has made this a reality.”
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Ladies’ Tennis Tournament The Ladies’ Tennis Tournament was hosted at our oncampus tennis complex for the second year in a row. More than 60 ladies participated in the round-robin tennis tournament with fun and competitive play for ladies of all skill levels and then they enjoyed a time of fellowship and lunch at the Harvick Field House. “This was my first time participating in the annual Ladies’ Tennis Tournament, and it did not disappoint,” said CCS parent Kelli Narveson. “From the warm greeting by the CCS team, to some fun competition with like-minded women, it only contributed to the love and appreciation that I have for this sweet school. I continue to be humbled by this community of people, and I’m just thankful that my family and I get to be a part of it.”
CLASS NOTES Send your alumni news to: alumni@charchrist.com Charlotte Christian School prints class notes to share updates regarding its alumni. We reserve the right to edit the notes based on space available in the publication as well as alignment with the school’s statement of faith and mission.
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Ashlyn Brown (’19) and Matt Mayers (’19) were married in March 2023. Both alums graduated from Auburn University in December 2022 and currently reside in Houston, Texas.
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Ashtyn Cole (’18) and Jacob Giller (’18) were married in August 2023. They graduated from Appalachian State University in 2022 and currently live in Charlotte. Lauren Wiggins (’18) and Reid Mayers (’18) were married in August 2023. Lauren graduated from Baylor University with a Masters in Accounting and works for KPMG. Reid graduated from Texas A&M with a Masters in Accounting and works for Ernst and Young. They currently reside in Houston, Texas.
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Emma Giller (’17) married Andrew Heath in May 2023. The couple met as graduate assistants at Cedarville University in 2021 and now live in Cedarville, Ohio and work full-time at the university. Hope Giller (‘17) married Will Keyton on July 8, 2023. Hope is in her third year teaching American History in the eighth grade at Charlotte Christian. The
couple is excited to share that they are expecting a baby in May 2024.
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Taylor Burch (’16) married Jordan Lifer on April 15, 2023. The wedding was held in Apex, North Carolina, and it included fellow CCS graduates Claire Burch (’19); Baxter Bradbury (’16); Luke Irwin (’16); Thomas Donnalley (’16); and Jonah Giller (’14) as part of the wedding party. Taylor’s cousin, Reese Goodyear (’36), served as the flower girl. The newlyweds live in Washington, D.C. where Taylor works as a senior data scientist and consultant for Guidehouse. Duncan Weller (’16) attended his white coat ceremony at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in September 2023. He is in his second year there and spends his free time… studying.
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CLASS NOTES
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Jonah (‘14) and Amelia Fritsche Giller (‘14) welcomed a daughter, Lydia Dove, on August 31, 2023.
that leads to Jesus. She was part of the group that just released a new series on the Sermon on the Mount in January 2024.
Wes Foskey (’13) and his wife, Cassidy, welcomed a baby girl in October 2023, Blakely June.
Jenna (’11) and Anthony Gill (’11) welcomed their fourth child this fall, a little girl named Aza. Jenna and Anthony and their family reside in the D.C. area. Anthony played basketball at the University of Virginia and now plays for the NBA’s Washington Wizards.
Chandler Schramm (‘13) joined Kittelson & Associates, a coast to coast connected group of people passionate about finding effective, sustainable and equitable transportation solutions for clients and communities. Chandler continues to enjoy living in Orlando, ringing with the community handbell ensemble Magic of Bronze, traveling to Contra dances across the East Coast, and riding as many roller coasters as possible.
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Ellie Montgomery (‘12) works at BibleProject on their engineering team, building tech products that help people experience the Bible as a unified story
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Akil Mitchell (’10) held a basketball camp at CCS this past summer. Akil played for the University of Virginia and currently plays in the G-League in Europe, New Zealand, Israel and Puerto Rico. He is also co-captain of Team Power in the BIG3 league.
09
Maggie Hood (’09) married Kyle Tye in November 2023 in beautiful lake Arrowhead, California, surrounded by a small group
of family and close friends. Kyle is a director and editor, and Maggie works in acting, producing and arts collaboration. The couple lives in Los Angeles, and they make a great team - both in life and in the film industry.
07
Preston Gordon (’07) and his family moved to Montrose, Colorado this past July 2023, where he is now serving as the lead pastor at All Saints Anglican Church. He and his wife, Deanna, celebrated 10 years of marriage this past fall, and they look forward to the many adventures down the road in Colorado with their two sons - Elliot (age 7) and Anderson (age 5). Jenny Morgan (’07) received Congressional honor for her work supporting negotiations with Israel and Egypt during the Israeli-Hamas crisis. Her efforts continue as she serves as a diplomat in the Middle East.
ALUMNI ALBUM
Ashlyn Brown & Matt Mayers (‘19)
Akil Mitchell (’10)
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Ashtyn Cole & Jacob Giller (‘18)
Maggie Hood Tye (’09)
Lauren Wiggins & Reid Mayers (’18)
Preston Gordon (’07)
Hope Giller Keyton (‘17)
Fran Pfrimmer Sutton (’05)
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Ashleigh Stufflebeam Pilotte (’05) and her husband, Mike, welcomed her third child this past year, Brooks Allan. Big brother Hayes (age 6) and big sister Austyn (age 4) are thrilled to have a little brother! Courtney Wood Samuelson (’05) received her PhD in teacher education and learning sciences from North Carolina State University in October 2023. She is now an assistant professor of education at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Fran Pfrimmer Sutton (’05) and her husband, Drew, welcomed her third child, George Walter, in August 2023. He joins big brothers John (’35) and Teddy (age 3).
04
Hadley Hayes Mann (’04) and her husband, Will, are expecting their third child in July 2024. Parents and big siblings, Francie (age 6) and Patton (age 2),
Emma Giller Heath (‘17)
Chris Carrara (’03)
Taylor Burch (’16)
cannot wait to meet the newest addition to their family.
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Chris Carrara (’03) and his wife, Emily, just welcomed a new baby to their family, Matteo Christopher, this past November 2023. He is the fourth Carrara baby and joins two big brothers and a big sister.
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Tressa Weber (’02) graduated from Logan University in August 2022 with a master’s degree in nutrition and human performance. She currently lives in Sterling, Kansas with her husband and three kids and is an assistant professor in the Health and Human Performance Department at Sterling College.
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Julie Apple Walker (’01) launched Japple Wellness LLC in November 2023. She expanded her fitness and nutrition coaching practice to include the areas of life, business and relational coaching. She’s excited to be able to serve her
Duncan Weller (’16)
Tressa Weber (’02)
clients in all areas of wellness, helping them create a healthy mind, body and spirit - www.japplewellness.com.
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Amanda Fletcher (’99) recently started a new position as the executive director of the Office of International Programs at Edmonds College in Washington. In January 2022, Amanda and her husband, Mike, welcomed their daughter to their family, Olive FletcherBowers.
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Ashley Philemon Mangione (’90) recently completed her Masters Professional Coach Certification, allowing her to continue working with those impacted by ADHD and weaknesses with executive functioning skills.
Jonah & Amelia Giller (‘14)
Julie Apple Walker (’01)
Chandler Schramm (‘13)
Ashley Philemon Mangione (‘90) 2023-24 ISSUE 1 n
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20222023 CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN ANNUAL REPORT
The financial results for Charlotte Christian School are audited on an annual basis by an external audit firm and presented to the board of trustees for review. A copy of the audited financial statements or the IRS 990 filing may be obtained by sending a written request to the address below. Questions on the financial data in this Annual Report or on other aspects of the financial operations of Charlotte Christian School may be directed to the chief financial officer. Charlotte Christian School Attention: Lee Allen, Chief Financial Officer 7301 Sardis Road Charlotte, NC 28270 lee.allen@charchrist.com
COMING SOON: NEW SOFTBALL FIELD
The softball field is being relocated and receiving an upfit to provide an improved fan and player experience. The field is being expanded to regulation size fast pitch dimensions with a sod-base; a 40-foot separation from the baseball field; enhanced dugouts with additional team and field storage; and better seating areas for spectator viewing. The construction is expected to be completed this winter.
2022-23 DESIGNATED GIVING
2022-23 OPERATING REVENUES
Other Fees/Revenues
5.0%
BLUEPOINT ALERT SOLUTIONS, a new emergency alert system, was installed to provide an increased level of security on campus with an immediate police or medical response. CCS is the first school in N.C. to install this system. SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Tuition (Net)
92.1%
was provided for the community through parent education events with bestselling author and counselor David Thomas and counselor and speaker Dr. Chinwé Williams. Faculty and the counseling teams benefited from new educational materials and attended brain science conferences.
Contributions
3.0%
FACULTY FELLOWS PROGRAM was created
2022-23 OPERATING EXPENSES Plant/Operations
27.3%
Instructional Costs
4.9%
Salaries/Benefits
General Admin.
3.2%
62.2%
Interest Expense
2.4%
NET ASSETS (at June 30)
based on a grant provided by the Truist Charitable Fund. Kai Young (‘17) was the inaugural fellow in the program that gives guidance, training and experience to college graduates that represent minority backgrounds who are considering a career in the field of education. OTHER PURCHASES • Document cameras for lower school classrooms • Monitor hub and mixers for Alkire Auditorium • Picture frames for displaying lower school artwork • Golf simulator • Run Rocket strength machine
TOTAL DEBT OUTSTANDING (at June 30)
2020-21
$39.9
2020-21
$20.0
2021-22
$42.3
2021-22
$20.0
2022-23
$43.1
2022-23
$19.7
MILLIONS
MILLIONS In December 2019 the school structured a long term debt package for $20 million at a weighted average rate of 2.7% to refinance existing debt and to support future campus construction activity. Interest only payments were made for three years. 2023-24 ISSUE 1 n
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2022-23 ANNUAL FUND GIVING CAMPUS UPGRADES
• Improved outdoor play areas for lower school students with new decking and artificial turf added to the lower school playground. After two years of building projects, the cottages were removed and the grass field area is back in action for recess games. • Installed additional digital display boards throughout campus to share student successes and community events. • Added awnings over the dining hall and lower school exits. • Launched a website redesign that features dynamic, engaging and mobile friendly pages, an interactive campus map and a Knights Parents’ Hub to provide our current families easy access for all important links and resources.
CLASSROOM UPGRADES
• Installed classroom furniture for four lower school sections. • New hydroponic garden tower installed in the lower school STEM classroom to teach students about greenhouses and the water cycle process. • Purchased two 3D printers for middle school innovation electives.
CO-CURRICULAR PURCHASES
Athletics • Replaced Swim Center pool heaters. • Installed new cement pads for shot put and discus. • Added lacrosse throw wall on side of Guy Gym. • Purchased a new media backdrop for athletics pictures. • Installed new backstop netting at the baseball field. • Finished installing logo padding in Guy Gym. Fine Arts • Continued band and orchestra inventory expansion with purchase of a French horn, baritone, ¼ bass, two alto saxophones and snare drum. • Improved chapel experience with addition of choral microphones to help amplify worship team sound as well as new bass amp and guitar amp purchase for UKnight Worship team. • Upper School Visual Arts Teacher Bryn Gillette attended Gathering of Artisans Conference, a professional development opportunity for Christian artists featuring time in the studio with master artist instructors. • Purchased 22 launch pad minis for digital music and media classes. • Commissioned a playwright and composer to write an original one act musical for ACT 1. 26 CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
Lower School
422
449
475
Middle School
295
288
293
Upper School
417
414
415
Total Enrollment
1,134
1,151
1,183
Retention
94%
95%
94%
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
Capital Improvements
$3,120,746
$3,177,114
$1,807,678
Annual Fund
$614,087
$587,201
$658,587
Endowment Gifts
$7,614
$101,379
$22,250
Financial Assistance
$48,422
$101,972
$93,085
Miscellaneous
$324,220
$811,304
$311,513
Total Cash Receipts
$4,115,090
$4,778,970
$2,893,113
CONTRIBUTIONS - CASH RECEIPTS
2022-23 CAPITAL GIVING MASTER CAMPUS PLAN
A new two-story Upper School Building opened in August 2023 with close to 30,000 square feet that includes 15 classrooms, four science labs including a broadcast room with a green screen and production office as well as office space for the director of diversity and belonging and the director of spiritual life. The project also provides a dedicated robotics practice field, a senior lounge, an outdoor classroom, solar panel monitors and planting area and butterfly garden. The $12.6 million project was constructed through the continued partnership with Rodgers Builders and LS3P.
24 HOUR GIVING DAY CHALLENGE
The fifth annual 24 Hour Giving Day Challenge was hosted on March 7, 2023 to fund multiple campus improvements, including reclaiming and beautifying the green space occupied by the learning cottages for the two years of construction. A record breaking $114,100 was given to this campaign thanks in part to a matching gift of $50,000 given by an anonymous donor.
2022 EMPLOYEE FIELD DAY
Employees enjoyed a fun day to kick off fall break. From the swag bag and donut truck to the friendly competition at Frankie’s Fun Park, the day fostered friendships and community.
2022-23 ANNUAL REPORT
ENROLLMENT TRENDS
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2
6
5
9
10
CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
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15
3
4
SCRAPBOOK
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1.
Thanksgiving Chapel
2.
Middle School Windy Gap
3.
American Airlines Aviation Tour
4.
Senior Powder Puff Football Game
5.
Lower School Super Hero Day
6.
Upper School Jersey Day
7.
Homecoming 2023
8.
Knightsest
9.
Lower School Spirit Day
10.
Middle School Neon Day
11.
Thanksgiving Chapel
12.
Middle School Deck the Halls
13.
Varsity Football Players in Carpool
14.
JK First Day of School
15.
Middle School Laser Cutter
16.
Gus, The Therapy Dog
17.
Lower School S.L.A.M. Week
18.
AP Scholars Lunch
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11
12
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7301 Sardis Road Charlotte, NC 28270 (704) 366-5657 Fax: (704) 366-5678
We are so appreciative to all who have already participated in our 2023-24 Annual Fund campaign. More than has already been raised for multiple campus initiatives. Please visit www.charlottechristian.com/givenow to make a gift or pledge.
$432,608
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