Sceptresummer17

THE SCEPTRE Volume 26, Number 3

Summer 2017

A Publication of Christ the King School, Nashville, TN • A Primary Education Ministry of Christ the King Parish

• Student Accomplishments • End of the Year Events • Spring Play

A MESSAGE FROM MRS. WOODMAN Dear Families and Friends, The Class of 2017 received accolades in many areas of school life at the conclusion of their time at Christ the King, affirming their excellence as the student leaders of our school. Ten students maintained superior GPA and test scores throughout middle school earning them the President’s Award for Educational Excellence. An additional six earned the President’s Award for Educational Achievement for growth, commitment and intellectual development in their academics. There were even nine students who maintained Honor Roll or Principal’s List status every quarter since starting third grade.

Emily Phan, who attended CKS since kindergarten, received the 2017 National Junior Honor Society Outstanding Achievement Award. This prestigious new award, providing college scholarship money, was bestowed upon five hundred U.S. students. Emily was the only recipient from Tennessee. We are very proud of her accomplishments!

This well-rounded class of eighth graders was recognized for extra-curricular distinction, too. Congratulations were extended to Ian Jones, recipient of the Alice Valiquette Christian Citizenship Award for his outstanding character, kindness, and good citizenship. Madison Schletzer was honored with the Knights of Columbus Service Scholarship for her exceptional commitment to the service of others. The Jim Derrick Sportsmanship Award, which recognizes a young man and woman each year for superior sportsmanship, leadership, and integrity, was presented to Marilee Hulse and Grey Wilder.

Keeping the pace with their eighth grade exemplars, students in lower grades have distinguished themselves in various curricular areas. Our school once again had five state level award winners in the 2017 Zaner-Bloser Handwriting Contest out of 250,000 entries. Emerson Darr’s entry was selected by judges as one of nine national semi-finalists. Good handwriting has been shown to correlate to higher achievement in both reading and math. This year’s school spelling bee winners are Colleen Alvis in the lower school and Henry Zenor in the middle school.

This is Henry’s second year to win and he will once again represent our school in the regional spelling bee next spring. Two of our seventh grade students placed in the Regional History Bee held in Nashville in February. Steven Vanden Noven and Seth Robertson were both National Finals Qualifiers for History Bee. A focus on science and engineering was highlighted in our annual STEM Fair in April with forty-seven entries this year. Among the winning entries were projects on using banana peels to create biofuel, the usefulness of trash, biodiversity in the Crieve Hall neighborhood, amount of heat produced by different light rays, and a comparison of baking processes for cookies. To keep that curiosity aroused, Mrs. Weis, science teacher, and Mrs. Darke, lab volunteer, are hosting a mini science camp this summer to pique interest in the upcoming solar eclipse.

Additionally, a group of teachers and parents met this summer to plan a school-wide solar eclipse celebration for the celestial event on August 21.

Our students rounded out their academics this year with service to others. Each class chose a project that incorporated one or more of the Catholic Social Justice Principles. First grade “walked for diabetes.” Second grade wrote pen pal letters to parish shut-ins. A Soles for Souls shoe collection was sponsored by sixth grade. Seventh grade partnered with the Knights of Columbus to assist with the Mur-ci Homes Christmas party. After each project students do written reflections of how they helped others and what they learned about their faith through their participation. The student body collected $787 for our twin parishes during Lent through our Change for Haiti initiative. Last fall they collected $255 for Catholic schools in Baton Rouge, Louisiana who suffered damage from flooding. Donations to St. Vincent de Paul Society through the school Mass contributions totaled approximately $2500. This steady, recurrent message of service and giving throughout their grade school years develops CKS students into young men and women who see a connection between their learning, their actions, and their faith. It is this confluence of experiences that prepares them to be the leaders in our parishes and communities of the future that we hope for them to be. Thank you, CKS families and friends, for supporting this mission.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Sherry Woodman Principal

On the cover: Emerson Darr recognized by Zaner-Bloser

CKS HAPPENINGS Zaner-Bloser Handwriting Awards: Out of the eight School-Level Winners of the Zaner-Bloser Handwriting Contest, Christ the King School once again had StateLevel Winners whose entries were sent to compete at the National level. Congratulations to all of our winners, and to the State-Level winners: Emerson Darr, also National semi-finalist, (2nd grade), Hudson Hickey (4th grade), Kate Miller (5th grade), Faith Geshwiler, 3rd year running, (6th grade), and Marilee Hulse (8th grade) pictured at left. Our School-Level Winners were: Eva Solinsky (Kdg), Sarah Jane Rodgers (1st grade), Emerson Darr (2nd grade), Ellie Schulz, 2nd year running, (3rd grade), Hudson Hickey (4th grade), Kate Miller (5th grade), Faith Geshwiler (6th grade), Susanna Donnelly (7th grade), Marilee Hulse (8th grade).

We are once again putting together our Corporate Sponsorship Program for the 2017-2018 school year. Becoming a CKS sponsor is a great way to support the school while showcasing your family or business. Through various marketing and advertising platforms, your company or name will be visible at Christ the King Church and School events, our online auction, other fundraisers and printed and online communications.

Christ the King is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.

For more information on CKS sponsorship packages and how you can support this program, contact our Director of Development, Anna Beth Godfrey at annabeth.godfrey@cks-nashville.org or (615) 777-8975.

The Teacher Award of Excellence was awarded this year to Athletic Director/PE Teacher, Mark Vance. The award is given based on votes of fellow teachers for excellence in teaching. Coach Vance has been on the faculty of Christ the King School since 1998, and we are lucky to have him on staff (pictured above with some of the 8th grade girls from his championship basketball team).

The Alice Valiquette Citizenship Award: An award created in honor of CKS former principal Mrs. Valiquette, is given annually to one student who displays qualities of good citizenship throughout the year and their name is placed on a plaque which hangs in the hall of the school. This year’s winner is Ian Jones, 8th grade.

Class level recipients: PreK-Mary Kate Eller; K-Anne Formosa; 1st-Iris Casey; 2nd-Madison Hunter; 3rd-Ellie Schulz; 4th-Matty Gomez; 5th-Alex Crews; 6th-Wyatt Reeves; 7th-Ben Lisle; 8th-Ian Jones. www.cksraiders.org

BABY RAIDERS Meredith Hassell Causseaux (‘02) and Jourdan Causseaux are happy to announce the birth of their baby boy, a rainbow of hope, Pierce Oliver Causseaux. Born on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 5:07pm weighing in at 7lbs 11.5oz and 19.5 inches long. Meredith and Jourdan are currently residing in Athens, Alabama where she is the Volunteer Coordinator for Southern Care Hospice and her husband is the Micronutrients Marketing Manager for Agri-AFC. They are both enjoying their new home and roles as new parents. Pierce is the grandson of former CKS Kindergarten teacher, Marilyn Hassell.

Kristen Vogt Whitney (‘02) and Joseph Whitney were blessed with baby Olivia Neuhoff Whitney 8 weeks early on April 14, 2017 at 8:05am, weighing a petite 3lbs 2 oz and 15 inches long. Baby Olivia is the granddaughter of Jeanette Neuhoff Vogt (‘76), CKS Director of Advancement.

CKS Development Director, Anna Beth Godfrey and husband Stephen, welcomed James Gray Godfrey on April 26, 2017, weighing in at 9lb 5 oz and 19 inches long. Big brother, Tommy, baby James, mom and dad are doing well.

(Left to right) Pierce Oliver Causseaux, Olivia Neuhoff Whitney, and James Gray Godfrey.

Do you have news to share? Let us know! Email Jeanette Neuhoff Vogt, Class of 1976, at jeanette.vogt@ctk.org with any news or events. We would love to hear what our alumni are doing!

2017 NJHS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Advisers nominate NJHS members who have demonstrated excellence in the five pillars of NJHS: scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship. The award recognizes 500 exceptional NJHS students nationwide with a $500 award.

It is placed in a college savings account to be managed by OppenheimerFunds (OFI Private Investments) as part of the New Mexico Education Trust Board’s 529 college savings plan—The Education Plan. Emily was selected from thousands of applicants and was the only recipient from the State of Tennessee. Congratulations to Emily!

(Above) Emily Phan receives the award, presented by Vice Principal, Don Boehm.

www.cksraiders.org

STUDENT NEWS The Debbie Oldham “Mrs. O” Memorial Scholarship:

Thanks to the generosity of Chuck and Pam Curran, and Danny Oldham, a new scholarship was created to be given to a deserving rising 1st or 2nd grader. The first recipient of this award is Drew Riggan, rising 2nd grader. We are so pleased Mrs. Oldham is being remembered with this scholarship.(Pictured at left with Danny Oldham and Chuck Curran, and at right with Mrs. Stephanie Wyatt, first grade teacher)

Second Grade Play:

The 2nd grade performed a play for practically the whole school the last week of school. Short, but sweet!

Honor Graduates: Honor Graduates were presented at the

Academic Banquet: Brooke Cullison, Sam Deckbar, Marilee Hulse, Stephanie Meyer, Benjamin Sutton, Maggie Wehby, and Lilly Wilder achieved Honor Roll (all A’s & B’s) every quarter from 3rd through 8th grade. Emily Phan and Grey Wilder achieved Principal’s List (all A’s) every quarter 3rd through 8th grade. (Grey pictured at left receiving his award.)

www.cksraiders.org

SACRAMENTS 2017

www.cksraiders.org

SPRING PLAY

The Kings’ Players performed A Midsummer Night’s Dream in April, under the direction of Lina Wellborn, Chris Hofstetter, and set design by Julie Stell.

www.cksraiders.org

DATES TO REMEMBER July 17-21 Vacation Bible School 25 80th Anniversary of First Mass at CTK August 2 5:00p New Student Buddy Party 3 5:00p New PreK Student Picnic 7 9:00a-12:00p Registration Day/ Open House 8 5:00p New K Student Picnic 10 First Day of School - Full Day; Half Day for all Kindergarteners/Half Day for 1st half of PreK 11 First Full Day for all Kindergarteners;

Half Day for 2nd half of PreK 14 First Full Day for all PreK 23 6:00p H&S Back to School Night September 4 Labor Day - NO SCHOOL 9 CTK Community Festival 18 Diocesan Professional Dev. - NO SCHOOL 26 80th Anniversary of the Opening Day of Christ the King School October 6 Professional Development - NO SCHOOL 9-13 Fall Break - NO SCHOOL 22 Parent/Teacher Conferences 23 P/T Conference Holiday - NO SCHOOL

The 8th graders “passed the torch” of leadership to the 7th graders at the last Mass for the school year.