PARENT VIDEO SERIES
EAST COAST TRIP PARENTS OF PRAYER
CHAMagazine Encouraging CHA Families
Eighth Grade Capstone Experience
Official Magazine of Chapel Hill Academy
Covering Our School In Prayer
Spring 2017
DID YOU KNOW? Passion for Christ. Education for life. Published for Families and Friends of Chapel Hill Academy
FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear Friends, After just four years as Head of School, the development I have seen among our school, students, and staff is remarkable and attributed to the sovereign hand of God. He has instrumentally provided opportunities to enhance the experiences students receive in this time of faith formation and academic development. It is a humbling opportunity and a great blessing to be part of God’s glorious plan to prepare our students for the path He has uniquely designed for them. This year, what stands out most to me is the peaceful presence of the Holy Spirit. God is at work among the CHA community through students, teachers, parents, and alumni. Earlier this year, we communicated a need for spiritual mentors to meet in small groups with our middle school students at the end of chapel each week. Immediately, many stepped forward, committing their time and their hearts to mentor. Among those, a CHA alum who is not a parent but felt the Lord stirring his heart to invest in the lives of our youth. The community heart of service touches all grade-levels and abounds within the entire CHA ministry. We are blessed by the vast array of time, talents, and treasure our school community has provided. I have also watched our students deepen their commitment to Christ through public demonstrations of faith. Many have taken the step this year to trust Jesus and ask Him to be their Lord and Savior! Children in primary grades are developing a heart for Jesus through prayer and service. Our worship team, student-led chapels, classroom prayer, and individuals involved in mission work have made a lasting imprint on the hearts of their peers, teachers, and parents. These beliefs and experiences are at the core of why we do what we do each day and why we are committed to Christian school ministry. The eternal impact for each student is immeasurable, and for those they encounter, a great blessing. Together we strive, by His grace, to build the Kingdom for His glory! Our focus is steadfast on Jesus while our work is committed to excellence. Growing spiritually, building exceptional academics, and developing Christian leaders are the means of honoring Him through perseverance and devotion to our calling. This is what CHA is all about! Therefore, it is with great delight that I present the Spring 2017 CHA Magazine which exemplifies the thriving mission and vision of Chapel Hill Academy! With utmost love, gratefulness, and reverence for our Father, I pray God’s very best for you.
Kassie Grosz, Ed. S. The fifth Head of School of Chapel Hill Academy 952-949-9014 groszk@chapel-hill.org
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CHAMagazine Spring 2017
Biggest Baddest CHA Rally 04 Parents and students gather for a fun night expressing their CHA spirit.
Chaplain’s Corner 05 An inside view from Pastor Todd Kardell.
Page 7
CHA Golf Classic 06 Golfers hit the course at Deer Run Golf Club to support CHA.
Chapel Hill Academy Gala 07 Recap from the 2017 Chapel Hill Academy Gala.
Parent Video Series 08 New video series provides support and encouragement to CHA families.
Junior Kindergarten 09 Junior K students experience and learn about Dr. Seuss.
Did You Know... 10 CHA fifth grade students earn recognition for their hard work.
Sixth Grade Retreat 11 CHA students share about their winter retreat experience.
Page 8
STEM Program 13 A look back at this year’s program.
Eighth Grade East Coast Trip 14 Pastor Todd Kardell shares about the trip from his perspective.
Middle School 15 Mrs. Freitas shares highlights from our middle school.
Music Program 16 It has been a busy season in the vocal music department.
Did You Know... 17 Someone is praying over our students every week.
Alumni News 19 Page 11
See what is happening in the lives of CHA Alumni.
Athletics 20 Highlights from the season.
Did You Know… 21 CHA families and students serving in the community.
Corporate Partner Program 22 Learn how the CPP benefits our family of families.
Christian Education 23 Learn what the research says about Christian education.
on the cover:
Page 14 All photos in this publication have been taken by CHA parents, staff, or alumni unless otherwise noted.
Eighth graders, CJ Velgersdyk and Taylor Scott on their capstone class trip to the East Coast.
Passion for Christ. Education for life. Spring | 3
biggest baddest rally
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t was a sea of blue and gold as families entered the school for the Biggest, Baddest CHA Rally! This wellattended event was filled with food, fun, fellowship, and family! While parents enjoyed a time of fellowship in the Commons, students made the rounds to their choice of activities in the gym. Our youngest Cougar fans lined up for face painting and bracelet making, while older students competed in basketball contests, including an 8 foot dunk contest won by Will Schleicher. A fun addition to this year’s event was a water bottle flipping contest. Top contestants, Max Schmidt and Sam Widdifield, squared off at center court and demonstrated their impressive skills.
A competitive Limbo contest brought families together for the start of the Pep Rally. Thor Benson, the evening’s emcee, partnered with Max, the Cougar, to get the crowd moving. The Cougar Spirit Award went to Jaxson and Ela Narvaez and parents for their creative attire that evening. One of the highlights of the rally came when Ron Johnson, kindergarten dad, rocked the “Hot Shot” contest by nailing a half court basket in just one shot...BOOM! Cougar parents, along with some good spirited CHA staff, gave the student athletes a lively battle in the Parent vs. Kid Basketball games. While the students had a slight edge in the skill category, the parent team stole the show with their style and enthusiasm. Thankfully, no ambulances were needed for the old folks! Thanks to everyone who joined us for the evening and a special thanks to our volunteers who made the event so much fun! 4 | CHA Magazine
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chaplain’s corner
he ability to see progress in an individual’s spiritual life is often a very difficult thing to measure. There have been moments in ministry in which God has been gracious and allowed me to see Jesus bring about a dramatic change in someone’s life over a very short time. There have also been seasons in which identifying growth within someone required watching for small and simple indicators of progress. Spiritual development is difficult work whether we are striving for something better in our own lives or pouring into someone else’s life. I admit that there have also been times in ministry where I needed to go home and paint a wall once in a while, simply so that I could see instant fruit and progress from my work. But God has proven to be faithful over and over again in His plans for growth regardless of my desired timeline. God has never failed to fulfill his promise of James 4:8 - if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. It is rare, in the moments of life that require us to depend on our faith and our relationship with God to determine what our next steps should be, that those times be resolved by a multiple choice answer. Life is complex, God is complex and bigger than anything our simple minds can comprehend. It is this big God that we desire to lean into at Chapel Hill Academy. We strive to deepen our students understanding of the character of God and at the same time we are working to deepen their faith, to deepen their ability to trust, and to deepen their desire to obey this infinitely good, glorious, and loving God that we speak of.
Simple answers are often only good for simple questions. If our students are going to embrace the enormity of a God that is better than anything we can comprehend, we need to be willing to let them ask some big questions that don’t always have easy answers. Despite the challenges of effectively collecting data and measuring faith development, it has been a joy to witness the small and big areas of growth within our students over this past year. Each day is a new adventure in understanding the story of God past, present and future and how we each fit within that story. As we see our students embrace these truths, we continue to pray that the foundation being established will equip them to navigate a complicated world and an unpredictable life with an eternally faithful God. The rate of surrendering more of one’s life to Jesus may come at different speeds and look different from student to student, but we unashamedly continue to speak of Jesus as the only one worth fully surrendering to. The pursuit of surrender may begin in kindergarten or 8th grade but the direction of that pursuit is always aimed at our eternal Savior. Please join us in praying that our students will surrender more each day and that the deepening of their faith will not just be seen as something to be done for their years at Chapel Hill Academy but something they desire to pursue for a lifetime. Pastor Todd Kardell, Chaplain
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cha golf classic
Monday, May 15, 2017 Deer Run Golf Club Victoria, MN
Participants enjoyed a beautiful day at Deer Run Golf Club. The day began with a buffet lunch, open driving range, and a putting contest. Throughout the course there were contests such as closest to the pin, longest drive and longest putt. The day wrapped up with a silent auction and a fantastic chicken and steak dinner. Thank you to all our participants and 2017 Golf Classic sponsors: ProRes Group, Sam Hennemann - State Farm, and Foss Swim School! 6 | CHA Magazine
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he 16th Annual Chapel Hill Academy Gala was a pure delight. We are grateful beyond words for those who participated in any capacity through donations, giving of their time, and joining us for the evening. The Gala planning committee is comprised of several parent volunteers across all grades represented at our school and a large team of staff support. Every year our objective is to create an evening that fosters community amongst one another and reminds us all why we partner with Chapel Hill Academy. This year’s objective was generously met as we came together to raise money for the scholarship fund that enables a myriad of families to become an integral part of the CHA family of families. Thank you for helping to make this year so very successful and one we will not soon forget. We are eager to see what next year brings and we wholeheartedly appreciate each one of you. Thank you sincerelyThe CHA Gala Committee
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parent video series At Chapel Hill Academy we are always seeking new ways for parent and school partnerships to take place. Recently, we have launched a Parent Video Series designed to provide simple concepts that parents can utilize to further develop godly attributes within their children. At Chapel Hill Academy, we strive to assist children in developing spiritually, academically, emotionally, and socially. We understand that this is always best accomplished in partnership with parents. Our theme for these initial videos is: “Raising Encouragers and Building Resilience.� The videos are only a few minutes in length and are released approximately every two weeks during the school year. We pray these short video moments will be both encouraging and helpful for families as we work together in the development of the next generation of Christ followers!
junior kindergarten
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n March 2nd, the birthday of Dr. Seuss, the Junior Kindergarten area looked like the Cat in the Hat himself had paid a visit and forgot to return with his Dynamic Industrial Renovating Tractormajigger (that is the name of his special cleaning-up machine for those of you a bit rusty in your Seuss-i-can). But not to worry, Junior Kindergarten students “always pick up all of their play things!”
The morning began with the students planting make-believe “truffula trees,” and talking about the Lorax who “speaks for the trees,” and our privilege and responsibility to care for God’s amazing creation. After counting and dividing the truffula trees into groups of ten, the students discovered that they had planted sixty trees all together. What would a celebration of Dr. Seuss be without red and white patterned hats? Each student constructed his or her own hat and wrote his or her own name on it, beginning with a capital letter, followed by lowercase letters. Junior Kindergarten students have worked hard all year long to achieve this goal to prepare them for Kindergarten and they are ready! The day’s activities also included constructing Cat in the Hat masks complete with pipe cleaner whiskers and felt ears, playing a rousing round of Dr. Seuss book bingo, and a Cat in the Hat memory game. Perhaps the most fun art project happened in the afternoon when, after reading the book One Fish, Two Fish, the students and teachers got all gooey-sticky-messy when they painted fish bowls with corn syrup and blue food coloring. Afterwards our room smelled like a wonderful pancake breakfast! Enjoying the lyrical language of many different Dr. Seuss books throughout the week was definitely a highlight of our celebration for both students and teachers. If you have not had the opportunity to hear Mrs. Singer recite the Cat in the Hat book from memory you should, “because it is fun, and fun is good.” The students learned that Dr. Seuss was one of the first children’s literature authors to believe that learning to read ought to be enjoyable for children. “A person’s a person no matter how small.” They also learned that many of Dr. Seuss’s books have important messages for his readers included in them. They were surprised to learn that Dr. Seuss was not a real medical doctor, nor was his real name Dr. Seuss. His given name was Theodore Geisel and he wrote and illustrated 44 books during his lifetime. At the end of our super Seussical day we thanked God for blessing Dr. Seuss with such an amazing gift for language and blessing us with the opportunity to enjoy so many of his wonderful books. Spring | 9
did you know... CHA fifth grade students: Amanda Grein, Graceanne Jones and Luca Bredenberg were chosen as winners of this year’s Arbor Day Poster Contest. The contest is conducted by the City of Chanhassen and it’s Environmental Commission. Mayor Denny Laufenburger and the City Council invited students and their families to the April 24th council meeting to recognize their winning posters and present them with awards in honor of their efforts.
sixth grade retreat Written by Garrett Lyles and Justin Erickson
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his past February, the sixth grade class enjoyed a 3-day winter retreat to Covenant Pines in McGregor, Minnesota. We had a blast, and even though there wasn't much snow, we still had a lot of fun. The cabins were nice and cozy and made us feel like we were at home. We also got to spend a lot of time with our friends and God.
We had daily worship time, and we sang many fun, interactive camp songs. Then one of the staff members would share a testimony that was touching and strengthened our walk with God. Before bed we would have a devotion led by one of the chaperones. Our discussions took us deeper into the devotion and we shared ideas of how we can display the topics that we discussed. There were many fun activities to do at camp. Some of them included gym time, where we played basketball, ping pong, crate staking, and floor hockey. We also played on the playground, which had a zip line and ended with us getting soaked. Another thing that got us soaked was playing broomball. Broomball is pretty much like hockey but slightly different. It was a lot of fun but the rink was starting to melt so it ended up getting us very wet. We had a craft where we made wood pendants; we even got to burn designs in them. There was an awesome cafĂŠ where we hung out with our friends and drank yummy hot cocoa. Everybody's favorite activity was probably blacklight dodgeball. It was a dark gym with black lights and vibrant, glowing dodgeballs. In another activity, one of the counselors led us through the woods by the lake for a nature walk (the ice on the lake was still slightly thin). This adventure was quite a "break-through." A counselor taught us how to "survive" in the wilderness during one of the activity sessions. We were shown two small instructional videos and then we were off into the woods. The whole class was broken up into six groups and our goal was to make a shelter and a fire. We made an A-frame and lean-tos for the forts. For the fire, we could roam the woods and find anything you thought would burn. One of the groups even found a dead pine tree. For materials, all we got was an egg carton, a newspaper, some dryer lint, a match, a tarp and twine for the fort. These activities really showed the amazing engineering and constructive minds in our class. Overall, the camp experience was great and all of the counselors were super nice. Even the food was great and almost all of us agreed that it was the best camp food that we had ever eaten. This trip was good for bonding with teachers and our friends. We grew closer to many people we were not as close with before and grew closer to God. From the calm Bible studies to the outrageous pillow fights (with someone's rock hard pillow) we all had an awesome time at Covenant Pines Bible Camp.
Spring | 11
stem program
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e have had an exciting first half of the year in STEM! We have built constellation projectors and designed and tested walls. Students have thought about what it means to be good stewards of God's creation through the study of water, learning about the needs of living creatures, and designing oil clean up kits. We have explored electricity and combined that knowledge with coding to design, build, and code a Christmas light show! As we move into the spring, younger students begin to plan, create, and test their own STEM projects. Primary students will learn about the engineering process by creating a better crayon box or designing a draft detector. Our intermediate grades explore aeronautics by constructing and testing a parachute. Life science is the theme for our fourth and fifth graders. Upper elementary will be choosing a life science based STEM project to complete. They will choose from projects such as building a spirometer, designing a plant self-watering system, or constructing a terrarium. STEM in the CHA Middle School enables students to explore science with unique opportunities. Seventh graders are currently studying the human body and dissected a pig heart. In groups of four, the students were able to see the blood vessels and chambers of the heart that they learned about during class discussions. They witnessed the intricate valves designed by God that allows the blood to flow with precision. The size of the left ventricle walls amazed students as they touched the thick walled chamber that sends blood to the entire body. They also saw the smoothness of the aorta and understood the perfect placement of the coronary arteries. In addition, students dissected chicken wings in order to comprehend how muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones work together. As they finish the human body unit, their final dissection will be the frog, highlighting how all the systems in a body function together. The eighth graders finished a solutions unit with the creation of a rainbow from acid and base testing. While working with acids and bases, the eighth graders learned how to read a pH scale and how to create and balance a neutralization process equation. During the chemistry study, students discovered how different chemicals react and form a variety of products. In the physics unit, students learned how forces correlate to machines. Later in the spring, they will design catapults using tools to construct a machine. For many, it is the first time they have used the principles of physics and knowledge of machines to build using hammers and drills. It is a privilege to observe God’s principles of science using mathematical concepts. Sixth graders enjoyed designing Lunar Rovers that can cross a rough surface. In the process, they learned the importance of design and the need to alter initial models. The class will conclude the year with the study of density. Students will design and build boats that float using milk jugs. They will use mathematical formulas of density and principles of weight to calculate the number of milk jugs needed to make their boat float with students aboard. The boats will be tested at Lake Ann before the end of the school year. Additionally, students will look at Archimedes' Principal and how it relates to Noah’s Ark. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Spring | 13
eighth grade east coast trip
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ince my arrival to Chapel Hill Academy this past fall, I have been hearing a tremendous amount about the 8th grade East Coast Trip. To see the student’s excitement and anticipation became quite contagious. In my experience, getting students out of their home territory for intentional learning opportunities provides a unique environment for growth that is difficult to replicate in a classroom. These extended periods of time not only provide excellent academic benefits but unique social benefits as well. Taking a journey together allows for deeper conversation and shared memories.
The experience of merging history, recreation, learning, and mission together for our students was truly special. Whether it was praying around a national monument with gratefulness and hopefulness or praying for a restaurant server as we traveled, these students have been united by participating in the work of God together. I find great joy in knowing that there were many conversations centered around our faith, our call to live committed lives for Jesus, and our pursuit of understanding God’s faithfulness more fully from beginning to end. I have no doubt this trip made a lasting impact on each student and teacher. Thank you for covering us in prayer as we traveled. May God use each memory to further solidify our students’ understanding of His goodness and faithfulness. - Pastor Todd
14 | CHA Magazine
middle school
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rom acting on stage to spelling words like “propaedeutic,” winter has been an eventful time for middle school students at CHA.
This past January, the 8th grade class performed a shortened version of the famous Shakespeare play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as a capstone to their multi-part Shakespeare unit. Students auditioned for roles and were assigned lines to be memorized. This learning experience not only pushed some to step outside their comfort zones, but it also allowed the opportunity to approach a secular text from a biblical worldview through lively Socratic seminars and other meaningful learning opportunities. February was another exciting month. Middle school students had the chance to serve our local communities during our second annual service day, compete in the ACSI Spelling Bee, and participate in CHA’s Winter Olympics and all-school talent show. On February 1st, our entire middle school took time to serve the elderly, disabled, and homeless. Sixth grade students traveled to local nursing homes where they played games, conversed with the elderly, and shared their God-given talents and abilities by putting on talent shows. Seventh grade students went to Opportunity Partners to spend time with residents while attending their regularly scheduled classes. Finally, the eighth graders drove to Union Gospel Mission where they cleaned and helped prepare the evening meal. Our hope and prayer is that these experiences will ultimately ignite a fire in the hearts of our students that will then cause them to find tangible ways in which they can be the hands and feet of Jesus outside the walls of our school. On February 3rd, two class representatives from each grade level competed at the ACSI Spelling Bee in Farmington, Minnesota. Two students from CHA, Daniel Bozanich (6th grade) and Sarah Johnson (8th grade) took first and fifth places overall. Both students have been invited to the ACSI Regional Spelling Bee at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. The top winners from this bee were invited to attend the National Bee in Washington D.C. in May. Congratulations! On February 28th, our students had the privilege of taking part in a newly-returned tradition at Chapel Hill Academy: CHA’s Winter Olympics & Talent Show! Eighth grade students led their family group members to various locations around the school to compete in Winter Olympic games. Activities included the following: luge, curling, floor hockey, cross country skiing, javelin throwing, snowball bucket throwing, and scooter racing. What a blast! To conclude Winter Olympics, K-8 students shared their many talents with us in the auditorium. Talents included dancing, singing, water-bottle flipping, juggling, and much more. We look forward to continuing this tradition in the future! Though we have had a lot of fun in 2017, we know there is more to come. In May, sixth grade will build and launch boats made from wood and gallon-sized water jugs, seventh grade students will head to Camp Forest Springs for a leadership retreat/science camp, and eighth graders will experience a capstone trip to Washington D.C., Gettysburg, Philadelphia, and NYC. As the year comes to a close, we thank God for using our middle school programming to work in the hearts and lives of our students, staff, and families. All glory, honor, and praise goes to Him.
- Katelyn Freitas
Spring | 15
music program Springtime is a busy season in the vocal music department! LISTEN & CRITIQUE: Students have been studying critical listening with musical works. 1st–3rd grade students learned the instruments of the orchestra and their sounds. They studied Peter & the Wolf, The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, and Carnival of the Animals. Middle School students had the opportunity to survey a wide variety of music and learned how to formulate a balanced analysis and critique of the song’s characteristics, mechanics, function, and aesthetic. RECORDERS: 4th and 5th grade study recorders in the spring. This is a fantastic way of introducing accessible instruments to students and puts them on the fast track to music literacy! EASTER CHAPEL: For Easter Chapel, April 13th, K-4th grade students presented the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection through song, dance, and narration. At this all school event we worshipped God through the telling of the Easter story and displayed the tremendous talent of our young performers! FINE ARTS FESTIVAL: One week later, on April 20th and 21st , the 2017 CHA Fine Arts Festival took place. This event is a spectacular showcase of 5th-8th grade student talent featuring instrumental music, visual art, leading worship, and vocal music. All 5th and 6th grade students were featured on the first night, April 20th. Then, on April 21st, 7th and 8th grade students took center stage to display their many artistic and musical abilities. During the two nights of the festival there was student-led worship, instrumental solos, a recorder ensemble, choral singing, and an extensive display of students’ visual artwork. Did I mention that there was audience participation? In addition to student performances, there were interactive stations for family participation that followed each concert. 8th GRADE GRADUATION: As we recognize the tremendous achievements of our graduating 8th grade class, they will be featured in the singing of a class song of their choosing. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to work with these amazing young people and it will be a special time to commemorate their time at Chapel Hill Academy in song. 16 | CHA Magazine
did you know...
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arents of Prayer began 5 years ago with just a few moms seeing the need to lift up our school and children in prayer on a regular basis, on-site. Since then, the Lord has shown Himself faithful by growing the little group and answering so many of the prayers in beautiful ways.
The group prays for students in each grade level for one month of the year, beginning with Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten in September, all the way to the 8th graders through the month of May. Each week the prayers focus on a character trait of God with accompanying verses prayed. Every child is lifted up by name with scripture prayed over them. Additionally, all teachers and staff are regularly prayed for. The Lord’s hand is evident on Chapel Hill Academy as we have experienced so many answered prayers including His protection from a fire four years ago, Capital Campaign blessings and school building improvements, to providing amazing staff and leadership, protecting, and blessing families. All aspects of the school and events surrounding it are placed in the Lord’s hands, from the school Gala to the school board leadership and decision making. Parents of Prayer meet in the Conference Room every Friday morning that school is in session. We welcome all to join in; current Chapel Hill Academy parents, grandparents and even preschoolers are welcomed. We would be delighted to see Parents of Prayer grow to several groups as we come before the Lord with His precious gifts, our children! If you cannot join us in prayer at school, please keep the school and its people in your prayers regularly at home. We cherish your prayers! The Lord has faithfully led Chapel Hill Academy for 47 years and we trust He will continue to do the same for many more years to come.
Joan Jaeger, parent
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your support matters Please consider a financial gift to the ministry of Chapel Hill Academy. Your contribution will help us provide quality Christian education and inspire a passion for Christ in our students. With your partnership, we will continue to train and equip the next generation who will take up the mantle of Christian leadership in the future.
chapel-hill.org/give Thank you for your prayers and generous support of this ministry. May the Lord bless you and your family!
Shop Early and Save! 10-20% OFF EVERYTHING June 1st-30th 20 % Off Basic Uniform Items 10% Off School Logo Apparel Offer Valid In-Stores & Online
donaldsuniform.com
alumni news Congratulations… to Katie Claus, CHA 8th grade graduate of 2005, on the opening of her new Marriage and Family Counseling Center in Wayzata. Katie is a graduate of Bethel University and earned her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from St. Mary’s University, MN. Katie is passionate about relationships and provides faith-based counseling for clients facing a variety of concerns including grief, depression, anxiety, adoption, and attachment. www.lakeviewtherapycenter.com
Founding CHA Parent, Home With Jesus Our love and sympathy to the Peterson family on the death of their beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, Bob Peterson. Bob and his wife of 60 years, Lois, were founding parents of Chapel Hill Academy and served in a variety of capacities, including the School Board, to help established CHA. We are grateful for their many years of dedication and sacrificial giving to Christian Education at Chapel Hill Academy. Bob went home to be with Jesus on April 18, 2017. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years Lois; children Steve (Christine), Sheri (Greg) Carpenter, Rob (Jenny), Kurt (Rebecca); grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
Congratulations… to Stefan Schultz (CHA 8th grade graduate of 2013) who was awarded the Eagle Scout rank of honor! Stefan’s project was the reconstruction and expansion of the Prairie Lutheran Church flower gardens. Stefan is a senior at Southwest Christian High School and will be attending Minnesota State, Mankato in the fall. He plans to study music and Environmental Science or Sports Medicine.
Spring | 19
athletics
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asketball at Chapel Hill Academy wrapped up after a fantastic season with 9 boys and girls basketball teams in grades 4-8! All teams competed in the South Side Youth Organization, made up of 20 private schools in the metro area.
Highlights of the season included 4th grade girls taking 2nd place, 5th grade girls taking 1st place, as well as, the 7th/8th grade bronze boys team taking first place in the SSYO tournament. Many of our teams had success on the court this season and almost every CHA team made it into at least the 2nd round of tournament play this year. The annual Spirit Week was kicked off with basketball games between parents/teachers and the 7th/8th grade teams. This is a game that the 8th grade players look forward to every year. There was great participation from parents and staff, with moms dressed in tutus and “super hero” dads playing in the game against their children. “Pack the Gym Nights” were also a huge success during Spirit Week. Many fans came out and supported the Cougars; we truly packed the gym for the 5th-8th grade home games that week. Each night fans enjoyed games, prizes, and announcers. It was great to see the support of CHA families showing their school spirit and cheering for our teams! Chapel Hill Academy has the high expectation for our players, coaches, and parents to represent our school in a way that is honoring to God. Basketball has been a great teaching and learning vehicle for our athletes and provides many opportunities for life lessons. Each coach was asked to honor one player from their team who demonstrated great character, respect, and effort throughout the season to receive the “Cougar Award.“ The following players received the “Cougar Award” this year: Emily Wilson, Caden Winters, Nick Morland, Max Schmidt, Drew Hirsh, Mariah Reynolds, Marcus Banegas, Luca Bredenberg, Christian Scott, Ryleigh Paine, and Toni Banegas. Students in grades 2-3 also enjoyed another awesome year of “Hoopsters” basketball. This 5-week skill development program provides an opportunity for young students to begin learning the game of basketball and ended with a small tournament against another SSYO school. All teams did a great job working hard and encouraging one another. The CHA track team is in their 7th year of competition. Another great group of students, grades 4-8, trained hard and learned about all that track and field has to offer, thanks to the leadership of coaches Troy Reine and Michael Widdifield.
20 | CHA Magazine
did you know... CHA students and families delivered 302 pounds of food, diapers, and paper products to PROP during the month of March! On top of that, the donation was matched by Minnesota Food Share!
PROP serves over 1100 households/families in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen! The focus is really about the community helping out it’s neighbors. If you are interested, there are many volunteer opportunities at PROP and food donations are always welcome. Thanks to all from CHA who donated to the food drive!
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corporate partner program The CHA Corporate Partner Program (CPP) benefits our Family of Families in two primary ways: 1. Each Corporate Partner provides services or products that CHA families can use. 2. Resources and services provided by our Partners support various operational needs of our school. In addition, our Partners align with the mission of Chapel Hill Academy; they believe in our school, our students and families, and strive to glorify God in their work. As you go into the coming months, please support our Corporate Partners. They are here to help your family—a blessing for both you and CHA!
Want to become a CHA Corporate Partner? Contact Brian Wright, Director of Admissions & Advancement wrightb@chapel-hill.org, or 952.949.9014, ext. 118
22 | CHA Magazine
christian education Christian Education - What the research says… Earlier this year, one of CHA’s accrediting organizations, ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International), commissioned the Barna Group, one of the nation’s leading research firms, to explore trends shaping the landscape for private Christian education in the United States. The primary goal of this research was to clarify the decision-making process of parents as they respond to influences and information about schools for their children. Nearly 1600 parents were surveyed including current parents of students attending ASCI schools, parents of homeschooled students, and prospective parents with students attending public or charter schools.
Goals of Education When it comes to the purpose of education, Barna asked current and prospective parents to choose the top five purposes of education. The chart shown identifies the items parents selected and their level of importance. CHA’s focus on glorifying God, it’s Christ-centered education, and passion for inspiring the student’s spiritual development and academic excellence, match up well with parent expectations.
What Parents Want When choosing a school, parents place the highest priority on factors indicating what a school should be like. The research shows the highest factors include: 1. Safe environment 2. Quality teachers who really care about their students 3. Academic excellence 4. Character development Again, CHA excels in each of these areas!
Perceptions Across School Types
Download the full ACSI/Barna research report at www.acsi.org/researchbarna
The research also shows current parent perceptions are highest for private Christian schools compared to other school types (Private non-Christian, Catholic, Charter, Pubic) in the following areas: •
Focused on My Child’s Future
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Challenging
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Fosters Excellence
SPREAD THE WORD Does this research match-up with your CHA experience? If so, please tell others…your friends, family, neighbors, church members, Bible Study groups, and network. Have them contact Brian Wright, Director of Admissions & Advancement, wrightb@chapel-hill.org, or 952.949.9014, ext. 118 for a personal tour!
Chapel Hill Academy is doing important Kingdom work! We want ALL families who want to be here…for such a time as this!
Spring | 23
306 West 78th Street | Chanhassen, MN | 55317
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