Vol. 28 • No. 2
The Sceptre
A Publication of Christ the King School, Nashville, TN
Community
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Winter/Spring 2019
A Primary Education Ministry of Christ the King Parish
Knowledge
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Service
2019 Distinguished Graduate • CKS Happenings
A Letter from the Principal
Dear Families and Friends,
Christ the King students have ushered in 2019 with a new initiative, #CKSCaresForCreation. A faith rally during Catholic Schools Week gave students an opportunity to celebrate God’s gifts and hear from experts about the Pope’s encyclical, Laudato Si. A faculty environmental committee has planned themes for each month that include recycling, reducing waste, and protecting air and water resources. Each family received a tree to plant in March after students heard a presentation about planting and care from Tom Solinsky of Sound Forest. During Lent students are encouraged to sign the Earth Pledge and take the Plastic Challenge to reduce their reliance on single use containers. Teachers are weaving environmental education into the curriculum in other creative ways. Our National Junior Honor Society and Girl Scout troops have also helped to spread the word. We hope this initiative empowers CKS Raiders to make an impact on the world by making a minimal impact on the planet. Our graduates continue to impact our community in positive ways every day. This year Paul Davis (‘77) and Lucy Davis Blair (‘74) have both been honored for their legacy in the Catholic community. Both are children of Bob and Margie Davis, whose belief in Catholic education led them to send their children to Christ the King. That was the springboard for a lifetime career in education for Paul, now principal of Father Ryan High School, where he has touched thousands of lives with compassion, honor, and dignity. Mr. Davis was celebrated as Christ the King’s NCEA Distinguished Graduate for 2019. When receiving his award, Mr. Davis shared his CKS memories and encouraged students to believe in themselves, know they are loved, walk in the footsteps of Christ, and be thankful for the education they receive. Lucy Blair was recently honored at Father Ryan High School’s Legacy Gala along with her husband, Marty, for their charity and service in the diocese. We applaud both of these alumni and thank them for being role models for today’s students. Current Raiders are also shining. Our forensic team has garnered the Carolyn Baker Award twice this season. Sixth grade student Colleen Alvis advanced to the state competition and placed 6th in the National Geography Bee. Four of our middle school teams received honorable mention for Toshiba’s ExploraVision Awards, placing them in the top 10% nationwide. Our first year in the Science Olympiad competition was a big success with nineteen of twenty-one students earning medals and the whole team growing in knowledge and teamwork. Wherever they go in life, Christ the King students are prepared to learn, serve, lead, and succeed. They are living examples of our mission. Sincerely, Mrs. Sherry Woodman Principal
Development Office News! In March we hosted A Crown Affair 2019 benefiting Christ the King School. A Crown Affair is the largest fundraising event of the year, and over $75,000 was raised. Of those proceeds, over $4,000 is allocated for the Graduate School Tuition Reimbursement Fund available to school faculty. This fund provides financial assistance to teachers enrolled in graduate school programs. The auction had many exciting offerings including vacations to Colorado and Florida, special dinners with Father Dexter, and a VIP package for a Nashville Predators game. Thank you to our guests, our auction donors, our sponsors, and most especially to our dedicated co-chairs, Sabrina O’Malley and Deana Cavanaugh for their heroic efforts in planning and executing a very successful event!
The 2018-2019 Annual Fund is underway at Christ the King School. Many parents, alumni and parishioners have joined together to make their annual financial commitment to the school. Thank you! As we work towards our goal of $170,000, please consider a gift to the Annual Fund. The Annual Fund supports the operating budget of the school and allows us to keep tuition as low as possible for our families. Last year, the Annual Fund provided over $500 per student towards the cost of their Catholic education. This year, Annual Fund proceeds will support strategic plan initiatives for academic support programs, parent education, and keeping tuition affordable for families, including but not limited to updates to facilities, an enhanced science program, updated student technology and parent communication through a new student information system. To make your gift today, visit www.ctk.org/donate or call Development Director Jennifer Harris at 615-777-8975.
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CKS Development Director Ms. Jennifer Harris is originally from Indiana, has 6 brothers and sisters; 14 nieces and nephews. She graduated from Indiana University, having moved to Nashville in December of 2015. Before joining us at Christ the King, Ms. Harris worked at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage as Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations. She has spent her entire career in the non-profit field. She has one son, 14-yr-old Jackson, 8th grader at St. Edward. Her hobbies include sewing, cooking, being in nature and giving back to her community.
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DISTINGUISHED Graduate 2019
Admiring the new granddaughter
On the Cover: Paul Davis CKS ‘77, receives the 2019 NCEA Distinguished Graduate Award from Christ the King School.
A large gathering of the Davis family and friends
Below: Students receive their trees to plant.
Congratulated by Mrs. Woodman
Joined by fellow members of the CKS Class of 1977
Fellow Fr. Ryan Faculty and Staff
Paul, Bobby and Teresa Davis
Want to Stay Connected with CKS? cksraiders.org @cks_nashville
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Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Congratulated by friends from Fr. Ryan
Paul gives his take on Catholic Education
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Contents 4 5 6 8
NJHS 4 Geography Bee 4 CCHD Youth Art Show Winners Science Olympiad 5 ExploraVision 5 Science Quiz Bowl CSW / Faith Rally 7 Alumni Updates 7 CKS Cares for Creation Dates to Remember 6
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If you’re receiving multiple copies of The Sceptre, or your Raider no longer resides at your address, please help us to update our alumni database by sending your corrected information to Jeanette Neuhoff Vogt ‘76 at jeanette.vogt@cks-nashville.org, or call 615-777-8976.
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STUDENT Accomplishments
National Junior Honor Society: New members inducted 2/25/19 - Joseph Brackman, Benjamin Bradley, Aidan Carr, Carly Cavanaugh, Nicoletta Chiames, Alexandra Crews, Isabella Gavigan, Sanjeeth George, Alex Junghans, McKay McGuinness, Sean Meffe, Caroline Meyer, Kate Miller, Kailey Nicholson, Maggie Niesen, Kira Stell, Sullivan Strobel, Gabrielle Tiburcio, Sophie Vanden Noven, Rachael Wehby, Hailey Wondem. Current members - Kylie Armstrong, Mark Bryant, DJ Clark, Grace Darke, Faith Geshwiler, Grace Holland, Henry Hill, Bridgette Lux, Joey Maffei, Stephanie Meyer ‘17, Gussie Miller ‘18, Joe Mugnano, T.J. Nicholson ‘15, Arin Nipp, Joseph Numnum, Maylin Ortiz-Andrade, Bailey Patterson, Wyatt Reeves, Emma Rehse, Lily Rohling, Venn Stany, Ann Gailor Strobel.
GEOGRAPHY Bee
(Above) The school geography bee participants; top three school competitors - Colleen Alvis, Sanjeeth George and Daniel Jipster; 6th grader, Colleen Alvis earned 6th place in the state GeoBee! She displayed amazing sportsmanship as she high-fived her competition on stage and kept smiling. Competing as the only female in the top ten and as one of the younger competitors was not an easy task. CCHD Youth Art Show: Winning 1st place for 7th-9th grades: Kate Miller and Gabrielle Tiburcio with their painting “The Weight of Racism.” Winning 3rd place for 7th-9th grades: DJ Clark, Henry Hill and Venn Stany with their mosaic “Healing Cross.” Honorable Mentions: Kylie Armstrong, Sophia Emmanuel, Maylin Ortiz-Andrade; Cai Hayes; Kira Stell; Isabella Gavigan, Caroline Meyer; McKay McGuinness, Hailey Wondem; Faith Geshwiler, Bridgette Lux; Carly Cavanaugh, Maggie Niesen, Rachael Wehby; Nicoletta Chiames; Alex Junghans, Joe Mugnano.
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Science Olympiad, ExploraVision & Quiz Bowl
by Brian Knoop, Middle School Science Teacher In the Fall of 2018, the seed was planted to the parents and the recruiting began for students in grades 6-8 to become part of a Science Olympiad Program at CKS for the 2018-19 School year. That seed now has begun to show growth as the first season of Science Olympiad came to a close with the Regional Tournament that was held at Tennessee State University on March 2. This year’s team was composed of twenty-one students in a combination of 9 eighth grade students, 10 seventh grade students, and 2 sixth grade students. These students began practices back in November and have been practicing at least one day a week leading up to the Regional Tournament in March where they competed in twenty-three different science and engineering events against nine other teams from the area. The Raiders brought home medals in fifteen of the twenty-three events. The foundation has been laid by a hard-working group of twenty-one students. Great job Raiders!
ExploraVision is sponsored by the NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) and Toshiba. The competition is open to students in grades K-12, engaging this generation in real-world problem solving with a strong emphasis on STEM. ExploraVision challenges students to envision and communicate new technology 20 years in the future through collaborative brainstorming and research of current science and technology. ExploraVision is a science competition that goes beyond the typical student science competition and into what it takes to bring ideas to reality. Students work in groups of 2–4 to simulate real research and development. The student teams pick a current technology, research it, envision what it might look like in 20 years, and describe the development steps, pros & cons, and obstacles. The Honorable Mention award placed four teams from CKS among the top 10% of all ExploraVision projects submitted to the competition this year. HM Winners were: Audrey Rose Hulse, Hudson Hickey, Harrison Skinner, and Parker Causey; Hailey Wondem, Nicoletta Chiames, Maggie Niesen and Kira Stell; Sam Strobel, Wyatt Reeves and Henry Hill; Sophia Emmanuel and Sophie Vanden Noven. Quiz Bowl: Ten students were eligible to participate in the quiz bowl and three students - Marley Rohling, Joe Dennis and Leon Balinski qualified for the 2019 Science World Fair Championship in Atlanta on June 7-8.
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CATHOLIC Schools Week
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK: Highlights from the week included celebrating the Parish, Community, Vocations and Volunteers, Parents, Students, Teachers and Staff; Distinguished Graduate, the annual 8th vs Faculty Basketball Game, a Faith Rally with John Angotti, and coming to school in pajamas.
Faith Rally
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Alumni Updates
Weddings
Carrie (Rohling) ‘92 and Raza Hussain were married in December of 2017.
The Bridenstines
Kim (Connor) ‘87 and Bob Szemethy were married October 6, 2018. Shaina Elise Rose Geig and Matthew McKenzie ‘98 were married February 2, 2019 at Crystal Port Sandpiper in Miramar Beach, Fl.
Carrie & Raza Hussain
Baby Raiders
Finley Grant to Sydney and Will Bridenstine ‘01, born July 5, 2018, joining 3-yr-old brother, Oliver.
Kim & Bob Szemethy
Matthew & Shaina McKenzie
Hayden Paige Burnett
Iris Margaret to Catherine (Clepper) ‘97 and Frank Edwards, granddaughter of Mike ‘66 and Anne (Metzger) Clepper ‘67, born September 24, 2018. Penny Frances to Britt and Philip Davis ‘04, born December 3, 2018. Hayden Paige to Kristin (Schletzer) and Jimmy Burnett, born December 20, 2018. Indy Augustine to Allison and Chase Stejskal ‘00, born February 18, 2019.
Lillian Parker Vines Iris Margaret Clepper Indy Augustine Stejskal
Penny Frances Davis
Lillian Parker to Jessica (Calabrigo) ‘02 and Aaron Vines, born February 25, 2019.
In Memoriam
John Alexander Barnes ‘95 Stephen Joseph Burns ‘70 Michael Cobb ‘68 Michael Sean Glennon ‘70 Elizabeth “Betty” Ryan Howington Grimm ‘61 Mark Joseph Rohling ‘61 Dennis J. Wieck ‘69
Marty and Lucy (Davis) Blair ‘74 were honored for their service to the Catholic community at the Father Ryan Gala in February.
#CKSCaresForCreation
Many alumni were inducted into the World Languages Honor Society at Father Ryan High School. Spanish: Jill Tinsey ‘17 and Grey Wilder ‘17. Latin (pictured): Brooke Cullison ‘17, Emily Phan ‘17, Madison Schletzer ‘17, Joseph Wehby ‘16, and Maggie Wehby ‘17. French: Ian Jones ‘17. Chinese: Sam Deckbar ‘17.
Along with a renewed effort for recyclying this school year, our students were given trees to plant on March 25th for the 250K Tree Day. CKS truly cares for creation and our students are doing their part to help save the planet.
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NON-PROFIT ORG.
The Sceptre
U. S. Postage
Christ the King Church 3001 Belmont Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37212 www.cksraiders.org
NASHVILLE, TENN. PERMIT NO. 2987
PAID
Serving the Families of Christ the King, Cathedral, Holy Family, Holy Name, Saint Ignatius, Saint Patrick, and Saint Phillip
DATES TO REMEMBER April 8 Iowa Assessments 10 Collector’s Fair 12 1:00p Guitar Gig 14 Palm Sunday 16-18 STEM Fair 18 Holy Thursday; 2:00p 8th Grade Living Stations 19 Good Friday - NO SCHOOL 21 Easter Sunday
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Easter Monday - NO SCHOOL 6:00p First Communion Banner Making Party 8:15a Spring Concert 4th Quarter Interim Reports; 7:00p Drama Spring Play The Tempest 11:00a First Communion 8th Grade Trip Begins
May 2 5th Grade to Biztown 3 8th Grade Trip Ends 6-10 Teacher Appreciation Week 7 8:15a May Crowning; 6:30p Confirmation 9 6:30p Gathering in the Grotto 10 PreK/Kdg Field/Fun Day 12 Mother’s Day 14-16 6th-8th Final Exams 16 6:00p Academic Banquet
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1st-8th Field Day Ministries Fair 8:15a Spelling Bee 8:15a EOY Awards 10:30a 8th Grade Dismissal 6:30p Graduation Last Day of School
12:00p Dismissal
Every family received a tree for our #CKSCaresForCreation initiative