Good News Fall 2011 by Christ Episcopal School

The Good News November | 2011

In This Issue: 1

From the Headmaster

From Fr. Tom

From the Headmaster... Christian Formation at CES

Idea of an Episcopal School The Joy of Worship 4&5 Campus Clips

his edition of The Good News is dedicated to the Christian Formation program at Christ Episcopal School. Within this publication, you will find various articles discussing the Christian Education curriculum in each academic division, our approach to Chapel, Eucharist, and Worship, and how adjunct programs such as athletics and community service complement our overall approach to religious education.

Christian Education CES Athletics Service Learning

Art at the Park -2012 CESPA News

he school’s responsibility to provide a strong and relevant spiritual foundation for its students began the day CES was founded. The school was actually started as an outreach program for Christ Church in Covington. With a commitment to academic excellence as the driving force for the school’s founders, the development of a Christian education program in the tradition of Episcopal pedagogy and spirituality was a natural outgrowth of an academic program which stressed inquiry and self-expression.

T T

oday, twenty-seven years after the school began, the relationship between Christ Church and Christ School remains fundamental, essential, and synergistic, as one institution adds life to the other. The Church’s leadership is directly involved with the governance and economic life of the school. The Church guides our Christian Education program, providing direction and training for the teachers who serve as instructors. The Church also provides the inspiration and leadership for our chapel and worship programs, which afford the school its most visible expression of its Christian identity. We are grateful to the clergy of Christ Church, Rev. Tom Blackmon, Rector, and Rev. Winston Rice and Rev. Anne Maxwell, Associate Rectors, for their dedication and service to the students of Christ Episcopal School.

Mark Your Calendars! AATP 2012 will host “Under the Sea” April 20 th & 21 st, 2012. See page 7 for more information.

n page three of this issue, please find the article entitled “The Idea of an Episcopal School.” The six values enumerated in the article speak to those unique qualities which distinguish schools embracing the Episcopal tradition. The thoughts below each “idea” describe how those values are manifested at Christ Episcopal School. I hope you will find a few moments to read that brief article and the others in this edition, and to give some consideration to the Episcopal identity of the school and to understand the importance of Christian formation at CES. John Morvant, Headmaster

Godly Play ... Forming Children in Faith at the Lower School and ECC The culture of today is an exciting, dynamic one, but not without its challenges! The context in which we try today to shape our children’s moral and spiritual formation is harder, more complex, and problematic then even a decade ago. Parents remain the most important faith teachers in their own kids’ lives, but church and school play vital roles as well. Especially an Episcopal parish school like Christ School. Of course what is most important is what our children already have from birth onward: connection to a loving God. We don’t give that to them, we can’t, but it is there. It comes from God. At Christ School, what we seek to do is nurture in every child a desire for God and the capacity to know God as real, gracious, and accessible. This means that curriculum matters and how we teach matters – in faith formation every bit as much as it does in reading, history, or science. This is why we use Godly Play with our kids for seven years from pre-K through grade five, trying to help about 100 key biblical stories really get inside them before the hormones take hold. In Godly Play, all the senses and the imagination of the child are engaged to help them experience God’s presence and learn God’s story. The educational goal is to help children learn that freedom is not the capacity to act on every impulse but the ability to know who you are, whose you are (God’s!), where you are going, and what moral and spiritual tools you need to make sound choices for the journey. We aim to build in children the capacity and skill to self-direct in positive, healthy and holy ways. Information is certainly shared and learned, but Godly Play is not information-centered. Its focus is relationship-centered – knowing God, not just knowing about God. In many respects, teaching Godly Play is like teaching arithmetic, language arts, or physical science. Children don’t learn all they need to learn about grammar or multiplication in one year. One year builds upon another. There is both repetition and new material, and of course the children themselves are growing and changing. Perceptions evolve and understanding deepens. Complexity is added. The learning process is like a spiral rather than a flat line, and the same holds true with faith formation. In Godly Play, we use 64 “core” stories and another 40 or so secondary stories, as well as various combination stories for the older children. If every child hears the core stories once each year for seven years, that is not too often. Their responses will evolve and their understanding will deepen. To sum up then: what is at stake for our kids in worship and faith formation at Christ Episcopal School? Just this: when we proclaim to them the familiar words of Jesus from John’s gospel, “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me,” we aren’t just reciting a bit of Scripture. We are not giving them new data. We are giving voice and expression to the stirrings of their young hearts and minds. They already know God. What they need is the name of God. What we try to do in our Christian Formation classes and in our worship, ever so patiently and persistently, is help them discover God’s name. God creates. God is light. God is love. God forgives. God is the Good Shepherd. God feels. God is breath. God suffers. God calls us into relationship. It is essentially a process of inviting them, helping them, to fall in love with God. As Christians – children, youth, and adults – we recognize this love in expressions of joy and justice, forgiveness and grace, hospitality and compassion. And Love is so very close to children, who are themselves so rich in love. Only by honoring and nurturing that first, fundamental Love relationship with God can we truly guide our children into a more mature commitment of faith: to live with grace and peace with others, all as creatures made in God’s own image.

Father Tom Blackmon, Rector

Christ Church and School

“ . . . freedom is not the capacity to act on every impulse but the ability to know who you are, whose you are (God’s!), where you are going, and what moral and spiritual tools you need to make sound choices for the journey.” The Good News, Fall 2011

The Idea of an Episcopal School*

An Episcopal School is a concrete expression of the The unity of an Episcopal School is based on regular Church’s care for young people and their families. At worship, gracious and respectful community, and Christ Episcopal School, children come first. Each child is special, a unique child tradition rooted in Holy Scripture and the Creeds. At Christ of God. Our goal is to prepare our children for living in God’s world, with all their Episcopal, religious and spiritual formation is integrated into all aspects of the rights, and privileges, duties and responsibilities. educational experience. We are a community that honors, celebrates, and worships An Episcopal School values reason as a way to true God as the center of life. An Episcopal School values freedom and diversity of understanding. At Christ Episcopal, intellectual curiosity is prized, belief. At Christ Episcopal, we model acceptance of self and others as unique, and students are challenged to think independently and critically, to act creatively and collaboratively. We are life-long learners with a strong Christian ethic and divinely appointed creations. We honor values that unite people rather than those that divide. We encourage reverence for each other’s beliefs, and we strive to treat all morality, preparing to become involved and responsible citizens. An Episcopal School has a concern for the well-being of with charity, kindness, and respect.

An Episcopal School is founded on love. Love for students as society.Christ Episcopal students learn that they do not exist apart from unique children of God is the hallmark of Christ Episcopal School. Our faculty, society, and they are called to respond to the needs of others. We are called to act justly and to call others to do so. We are challenged to imitate Christ and to instill imbued with the spirit of humanity and profound purpose, pledge to act out of love, to teach love, to model love, and to love one another in our school. peace, at school and in the world. *Adapted from the National Association of Episcopal Schools

The Joy of Worship ...

As the weather cools a bit, we are settling into the comforting routines of our regular worship here at Christ Episcopal School. In all of these endeavors, our goal is to worship God with joy, to encourage active participation by all of our students, faculty and parents, and to teach about the love of Jesus. At the ECC, Mrs. Gardner continues her simple, meaningful services in our venerated Chapel. The children learn about God’s love and the value of worshiping as a community. It’s such a beautiful place to be and a wonderful way to ground ourselves. I can think of few things as peaceful and prayerful as sitting on the floor of our historic chapel with the children, hearing the message, singing the songs, and learning to trust the structure of ordered worship. At the CBC we have four weekly Chapel services. Our Lower School and Middle School students meet at the outdoor chapel, a place with its own unique beauty, and the High School students meet outside of their building. We use a consistent format each week which includes our school prayer and The Lord’s Prayer along with a homily, usually from one of the clergy. It’s a fun experience where we sing and clap-and sometimes even dance-in the spirit of praise and thanksgiving. Our talented musicians, Mrs. Marr and Mrs. Carter, provide guidance and have recently debuted our very own Christ Episcopal School Chapel Band. The group is made up entirely of students who are volunteering their time and talents to provide an entirely new component to our musical worship. We also celebrate the many accomplishments of our students at Chapel, including birthdays and acts of kindness and caring. Many of our parents and young siblings join us regularly or just pop in on occasion. Stop in one morning. It’s an inspiring way to start the day. We also look forward to our many opportunities to celebrate the Holy Eucharist as a school community. The Eucharist, also called the Mass, is the central act of worship in the Episcopal Church and one which welcomes all baptized Christians. It provides us all an opportunity to share in the bread and the wine at “God’s Table”. I always enjoy seeing our older students take on the responsibilities in the servicecarrying the cross and the torches, reading scripture, and bringing up the gifts. We also look forward to those special events which help define who we are as a school community: our Grandparents Day service, the quiet beauty of Lessons and Carols, and the bittersweet Seventh Grade Commencement at the close of the year. In all of our worship, we strive to give each person and the school community an opportunity for adoration and contemplation of God. We purposefully set aside this time to invite God’s presence and nurture the spiritual lives of all members of our Christ Episcopal School Community into deeper experience of His love and grace. Gayle Croxton, Christian Formation Director 3

The Good News, Fall, 2011

Campus Clips.....

For the first time CES had a math club participate in the 17th Annual St. Paul’s Math Tournament September 24th. With 23 other schools and 386 students participating, our very own Becca McCubbin placed 3rd in Geometry for Division II schools. Congratulations to the team and to Becca.

It’s a pirate’s life for our sixth graders who donned the seafarer garb for Pirate Day. which took place the last school day of September.

September 8th CES participated in Black and Gold Day to celebrate the Saints first game of the season. Students donated a dollar to sport Saints apparel. Proceeds went to fund the St. Tammany Children’s Museum. The event was sponsored by the Junior League of Greater Covington. TS Lee brought cooler weather our first day back after Labor Day. This was a great oportunity for Ms. Siporski’s 3rd Grade art class to get their artistic inspiration from our beautiful campus. Last issue we previewed the construction of our new gym floor. Here is a glimpse of the final product during the opening school Eucharist. The student response has been a phenomenal sense of pride in the gym. We encourage everyone to stop by and see it.

Ms. Gardner and the children at the Early Childhood Campus wore PJs to join in reading Llama Llama Red Pajama . Children brought their sleeping buddies to October 6th’s Read for the Record, a Junior League of Greater Covington sponsored event attempting to break a world reading record.

The Good News, Fall 2011

Ms. Elter’s second grade had a “camp in” for Cowboy/Cowgirl day in September. They made s’mores and participated in other western oriented activites including reading the book On the Range. Our first ever Varsity cheer squad was on hand for the year’s first home Flag Football game October 3rd. The cheerleaders took a post game pose to show off their CES spirit.

Annual Fund is offcially underway. In 2011-2012 we are asking all CES parents, grandparents and alumni to STAND TOGETHER to celebrate each student. Every gift counts, no matter how large or small. Your gift makes a difference!

Pre-K learned all about fire saftey from the local fire department. They tried on equipment, climbed into the driver’s seat of the truck and learned what to do in an emergency.

The Roaming Roman Reporter is a staple character in the new CES News Broadacst. The Broadcast can be found on the CES website under News and News Broadcast.

October 21st was Grandparent’s Day at both campuses. Grandparents attended a prayer service, with prayers and songs led by students. Students welcomed their grandparents into their classrooms to meet their teachers and show off specially prepared activities.

Service learning is a huge part of student development at CES. In mid-October students visited Christwood to share stories and read with residents.

Kindergarten celebrated fish fest October 14th with various fish related activities. Patrick Berrigan was on hand to disect a fish so students could see the various organs and parts of the fish.

The Good News, Fall, 2011

Christian Education...

Middle School and High School

CES Athletics ...

A Culture of Servant Leadership

I believe that the sports programs here at CES should be viewed as an extension of the school. This means that athletics must then reflect and extend the mission, goals and philosophy of Christ Episcopal School. The following is a mission statement that fits within our overall school goals: The mission of CES Athletics is to: teach character through sport, build confidence, Five main themes are interwoven throughout the lessons at each develop social skills, sports skills and physical fitness and to level: cultivate a culture of servant leadership. 1. Empathy and communication Christian Education for Grades 5-8 consists of a combination of character education and Christian Education lessons. The character education material being used for Grades 5, 6 & 8 is titled Second Step. The goals of the program are to decrease aggression, violence, bullying and substance abuse and to increase school success.

2. Bullying prevention 3. Emotional management 4. Problem solving, decision making and goal setting 5. Substance abuse prevention. In Grade 7 we are using the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. These lessons cover the best-selling material developed by Stephen and Sean Covey. The curriculum involves learning the principles behind the 7 habits. The skills developed are universal and include: time management, prioritizing, goal setting and developing a personal mission statement. The Christian Education component is covered using a variety of resources. Grades 6, 7 & 8 are viewing a series of videos that are Bible-based: the students watch a short video clip, read relevant Bible verses, and then discuss the scripture as it relates to the video/ lesson. The Bible is our main resource and the students have become increasingly proficient finding and reading scripture. We are always working on becoming better people and staying true to the overall principles of Christ Episcopal School. On the upper school level, our purpose and mission in Christian Education is to demonstrate what it means to imitate Christ by teaching, guiding, and encouraging students to know how God is at work in their hearts and daily lives. We are attempting to build a culture that empowers our high school students to see their self worth in Christ, and then, through their presence, demeanor, speech, and actions, lead younger students to know their own relationship with God.

Using this broad mission statement as an overarching guide we can identify outcomes that we want to reach with our sports programs. The following are known as the Four C’s, within which our youth sports program should strive for excellence: 1.Competence: sports skills, physical fitness, etc. 2.Confidence: mental and emotional skills that affect selfworth. 3.Connection: social and emotional skills that affect relationships and disposition with others. 4.Character: alignment of everyday behavior to individual/ community goals and values. These outcomes provide a guideline within which we can teach and develop our young athletes. A focus on the process of reaching excellence within these 4 areas will foster the overall development of CES athletes and will allow for the natural attainment of secondary goals, such as winning. We have the opportunity and responsibility to create an exciting athletic department that mirrors the history of high achievement that Christ Episcopal has always embodied. We must be vigilant as we move forward so that we are modeling athletic excellence within the boundaries of our Christian heritage. I have no doubt that with the resources available we can make this happen. Thanks for the opportunity to teach your children.

Middle School Christian Ed. Director Doug Saylor & High School Christian Ed. Director Daniel Ciufi

Doug Saylor. Athletic Director

Service Learning ...

“Respect Others. See God in Everyone. Reach Out to Everyone.”

Community outreach is an integral component of the Episcopal tradition, and, thus, community service and service learning are essential elements of Christian Formation at CES. Our Middle School program, in particular, stresses the relationship between what we are about in the classroom with how we serve in the community. The goals of our service programs, which augment the goals of the Christian education curriculum , are to assist our students to recognize and appreciate the blessings God has bestowed upon them, and to develop in them an understanding of their responsibility to recognize and respond to the needs of others. It is the obligation of the school to provide the opportunity and tools with which to do this. Our Middle School students engage in a variety of service activities, partnering with a number of organizations in Covington. Among them are Christwood Retirement Community, the Covington Food Bank, Caritas, Covington Head Start, and the LSU Coastal Roots program. Our Upper School students are required to fulfill twenty hours of community service annually, with five of those hours spent in service on one of the school’s campuses. Juniors and seniors must serve a minimum of ten hours in one place, in direct, face-to-face service with a disadvantaged member of the community.

The Good News, Fall 2011

Art at the Park - 2012

CESPA News ...

Come join the excitement at the Christwood campus and ring in the 26th Annual Art At The Park! Our theme is “AATP ~ UNDER THE SEA!” Plans are well underway to making this Treasure of Fun an unforgettable event. On April 20th, we will start out the day with the much anticipated annual Fun Run and Box Parade. The student “box creations” are so creative you won’t want to miss them. After the Box Parade, we are thrilled to announce the addition of our AATP Student Talent Show. Since this is a newly added event at AATP lots more details will follow. The fun doesn’t stop there…

It’s hard to believe we are approaching the holiday season. It feels like we just started back to school. As school began, we had a tremendous turnout at our coffees, which gave parents an opportunity to learn what to expect for the coming school year. The Back to School Social was a wonderful night. It was so nice to meet all of our new families and see old friends.

That evening, the Opening Night Party showcasing Calypso music and a fun dance band to follow, a GRAND 26th silent auction and a few of our local artists painting live during the party for your enjoyment and silent bidding!!!

Our fundraiser to kick off the year was a huge success. Innisbrook profits for the school exceeded over $12,000. Way to go, CES!!

The cuisine will again be provided by Chef John Besh Restaurant Group/Chef Jared Tees and promises to be fabulous!

Grandparents’ Day took place at the end of October. It was a delightful day for the students and grandparents to spend together. A great big thank you goes out to all of the volunteers who worked so hard on making it such a huge success.

Saturday April 21st, offers all the food, fun, music, talent, and art activities that you and your family could possibly enjoy!

As the holiday season approaches we will have many wonderful events coming up: PK/Y4 Breakfast with Santa, Lessons and Carols, and the 1st Annual Mistletoe Market.

There are a wide variety of sponsorship opportunities available. If you have a business or would personally like to participate as a sponsor, please contact Beverly Crews McQuaid at bevcrew@aol.com, or go to our website, www. artatthepark.org for a sponsorship brochure. So, Come one ..Come all… STUDENTS, PARENTS, ALUMNI, and FRIENDS. We treasure you and your support!! Beverly Crews McQuaid AATP 2012 Chair

The Mistletoe Market will take place Thursday, Dec. 8th from 12 P.M.-5 P.M. and Friday, Dec. 9th from 8 A.M. - 1 P.M. in the Christ Episcopal School Gym. Vendors will be selling unique crafts, fresh holiday greens and poinsettias, handmade gifts, school themed items & apparel, jewelry, artwork, cookbooks, baked goods, gourmet meals-to-go and more! Come find a oneof-a-kind gift for that special person on your Christmas list. When we return from the holidays, Literary Week will take place in February. It is a week long event which brings much excitement. This year’s theme is HOOKED ON BOOKS.

Amy May AATP 2012 Co-Chair

Before you know it, AATP will be here in April. Many new plans are underway to ensure a fun-filled event for all.

1000 Name: ___________________ Address: ___________ ___________________ ___________________ Phone: _____________ Grade/Homeroom: ___________________

WINNER NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN

AATP Raffle Tickets now on sale!!

There are so many more activities happening which would be impossible without the ongoing support of our volunteers. It is truly what makes CES such a special place. Wishing everyone a peaceful holiday season.

1000

AATP 2012

1ST PRIZE: $5,000

(Cash or Tuition Credit*) 2ND PRIZE: Apple iPad 3RD PRIZE: 100 AATP Tickets (For Saturday)

Drawing: Friday, April 20 Ticket Price: $50.00

Sincerely, Erin Berrigan CESPA President

*Contingent on an accepted enrollment contract. Winner is responsible for all taxes.

Celebrate Each Student! Donate online now at www.christepiscopalschool.org 7

The Good News, Fall, 2011

80 Christwood Boulevard Covington, LA 70433

(985) 892-9156 Early Childhood Center (ECC) (985) 871-9902 Christwood Boulevard Campus (CBC) www.christepiscopalschool.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

2011-2012 Board of Trustees Anne Bailey Jeff Bell Rev’d Tom Blackmon, Rector Erika Briggs, Secretary Charlie Caplinger Bill Colomb John Dubreuil Bert Duvic Steve Croxton

Jill Giberga, Vice-Chair Chandra Gordon, Chair Matthew Holzhalb Sue Loustalot, CESPA Rep. Jim Miles, Treasurer John Morvant, Headmaster Billy Preau Matthew Wilson

Admission to Christ Episcopal School is open to all qualified students regardless of race, creed or ethnic background.

Yes, I’m a CES Alum! Here’s what I’m doing now:

Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: Email: CES Graduation Year: High School & Graduation Year: College & Graduation Year: What I’m Doing Now:

We really want to hear from you!!! Please cut this out and send it to Christ Episcopal School, 80 Christwood Blvd., Covington, LA 70433, attn: Alison Greffenius. Information may also be emailed to alumni@christepiscopalschool.org. or submitted online at www. christepiscopalschool.org/alumni. Check out CES on Facebook and “Like” us!

Upcoming Events: November 18 Parent/Teacher Conference Day (no school) November 21-25 Thanksgiving Holidays December 3 ECC Breakfast with Santa December 8 & 9 Middle School Play December 15 Mexican Posada December 16 Lessons & Carols 8:45 ECC/10:30 CBC December 16 Half Day School December 19 January 2 Christmas Holidays January 16 MLK Day (no school) January 16 AATP Sponsorship Deadline to be Listed on Invitation January 17 Pre-K to Instagator Ranch January 20 2012-2013 Contracts Out January 29 Episcopal School Sunday February 4 Christ Church Parish Party February 10 End of Second Trimester February 13 - 16 Literary Week February 16 2012-2013 Contracts Due February 17 Faculty Day (no school) February 20 - 24 Mardi Gras Holidays (no school)