“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."    

Luke 2:10-11

The Visit of the Wise Men

Matthew 2

7"Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, 'Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.' 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”

For as many times as I have heard and read the account of the events that surrounded the birth of our Savior, this year the passage about the Wise Men diligently searching for Jesus caused me to pause and be still with their journey to our newborn King. While they were ordered by and obeyed King Herod to go and look for the child, the Wise Men knew, because of their dream, that God had a plan, so they followed the star in”blind” faith and trust and searched for the child. Upon finding Jesus they fell down and worshiped Him and then offered their gifts and treasures.

The events of this story parallel what a kindergarten student shared with me this morning when I went into her classroom to read a Christmas story. She said that the other night she prayed and asked Jesus to be her Savior. She followed heart and the light of Jesus in “blind” faith and trust much like the Wise Men did. Just like the Wise Men she gave Jesus a treasured gift; her heart. This little girl shared this precious moment with me with JOY that can only come from Jesus, and that JOY was/is definitely contagious! ;) Different from the Wise Men for us now though, we don’t have to search, because Jesus is always right there/here with us.  

Wishing you a

Merry, “Blind,” and Wise Christmas

filled with Jesus JOY!

Jr. Cougars Spanish Club Coming Soon!

Hola! Mrs. Nafziger will be leading a Jr. Cougars Spanish Club on Wednesdays once we return from Christmas break. Whoop! Whoop!  It will begin on Wednesday, January 11, and run for the months of January through April.  It will include songs, snack, games, stories, and technology that will grow a student's understanding of the Spanish language and culture. 

The club will meet from 2:45 - 3:30 pm on the first, second, and third Wednesdays of the month. (With the exception of January and April.) The club is beginning on the second Wednesday of January, and in April there will only be two meetings because of Easter break on April 12.  There will be a field trip to Mrs. Nafziger's farm in April during one of the meetings, so on that day the time will be longer.  The farm trip will probably be on April 19, which will be the last meeting. (More information will be shared as the date approaches.)   The cost for the Jr. Cougars Spanish Club is $20 per student.

Please contact Mrs. Brenner if your Jr. Cougar is interested in participating in the Jr. Cougar Spanish Club! 

Double Chapels, Double Blessing,

Double Praise, Double Thanks!

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

 to which indeed you were called in one body. 

And be thankful."   

Colossians  3:15

Our favorite CCS Jr. Cougar together time is happening two times this week! Double chapel in a week calls for double the Whoop Whoops! This Wednesday, 11/16/16, we have an ALL SCHOOL/ALL COUGARS chapel together in the gym at 8:20 am. Mr. Parris and Mr. Greenly will be sharing about our school-wide Missions Projects for this special season of being thankful and giving. All are welcome to join us!

Then, this Friday, 11/18/16, at 8:30 am, in the Multipurpose Room in the high school we will be gathering together for our elementary Jr. Cougar chapel. Whoop! Whoop! Mrs. Greenly and her fantabulous (fantastic and fabulous) fifth grade class will be leading us through the topic of being thankful. We welcome you to join us in this special time of worshiping and praising God, of learning about and loving Him and each other!

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”  Matthew 18:20

As seen in the Cougar Update:

Book Your Meeting! Monday afternoon and evening, November 21 (3:20 - 8:20) and Tuesday, November 22 (8:20 - 4:00) are the scheduled days/times for this year’s parent/teacher conferences. We are using an online scheduling tool called Meet the Teacher again this year. This site allows parents to log on and book appointments with their children’s teachers. Complete instructions were sent home with the Cougar Update and are also available on our website under the Resources > Current Families tab. Sign ups will close at midnight on Friday, November 18. If you have any trouble using the online scheduler, please contact Mrs. Lodge at ginnie.lodge@conestogachristian.net. She will be glad to help you in any way possible. If you do not have easy access to the internet, we will work out a solution for you.

https://conestogachristian.meettheteacher.com/

I will also be available to meet with parents during conference times. Should you be interested in connecting with me in the form of a conference, please email me directly at: 
susan.brenner@conestogachristian.net


                                    Attendance Reporting

This is just a reminder about the policy for reporting student absences. While we appreciate the emails we receive to communicate with our team, it is important that you first call the attendance line so that the office, and especially Mrs. Nace, has this important and necessary information for our record keeping and also for safety and security purposes. 

Here are the procedures as stated in the Parent/Student Handbook:

If your student will be arriving after 8:10 a.m., leaving before 2:45 p.m., or will be absent for any reason, it is your responsibility to call the CCS attendance line, 610-286-0353 ext. 119, by 8:30 a.m., and leave any pertinent information. Pertinent information includes the reason for the absence, if your child will be absent all day, or, if it's a partial day absence, the approximate time you expect your child to arrive at school. If your child is marked absent and we have not received a call, your child's absence could be marked unexcused.

Late Arrivals

If your child arrives after 8:10 a.m., he/she must sign in at the office before being admitted into the elementary building.  

                           Dressing for the Weather

With the weather still bouncing back and forth between fall and winter, it is difficult to know how to dress your child for the temperatures each day. We have found that layers are best as our Jr. Cougars enJOY their time outside at recess daily. The layers should include a jacket/coat, and soon hats and gloves too. Just in case there are any questions about the appearance code in general, here is that link:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/2bdfd2_ff83ea305ddd409e9a86ff27ada81bb3.pdf

A New Face in 

As you may have already heard, our P.E. teacher, Mrs. Lauren Turner, is expecting the arrival of her first precious bundle of baby JOY in just a few short weeks. In preparation for this new addition and Mrs. Turner's maternity leave, Miss Amanda Thompson has been hired as the long-term substitute. While Mrs. Turner is planning to work as close to the arrival of baby Turner as possible, Ms. Thompson is prepared to jump into action as soon as she hears the whistle. Here is what Ms. Thompson asked me to share with you:

Hello, my name is Amanda Thompson.

I live in Elverson, PA, and graduated from Messiah College in 2015 with a degree in K-12 Health and Physical Education and a minor in Business Administration.

I attended Conestoga Christian School (CCS) from kindergarten through 12th grade and graduated in 2011. I was active on the middle school and high school girls’ volleyball, basketball, and soccer teams as well as other school activities such as IHL, school musical, worship team, and National Honor Society. Fun fact about myself - I was the first and only female at CCS to score over 1,000 points in basketball.

For the past two years I have assisted Lauren Turner with the high school girls’ varsity volleyball team and have been the head coach for the HS JV volleyball team.

This school has helped me grow throughout my childhood and is a huge reason why I am who I am today. I am glad that I now have the opportunity to show my appreciation for everything the teachers and the school have done for me and to give back to CCS by helping and furthering the current students’ development and knowledge.

Thank you for allowing CCS to partner with the Lord and you

to share this part of your child's journey

in growing spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.

GO Jr. COUGARS! Whoop! Whoop!

Jr. Cougar Running Club Fun Run

This past Tuesday evening was the perfect combination of cool fall temperatures, clear night sky, healthy exercise, fun, and fellowship as the Jr. Cougar Running Club, which was 25 members strong this year, celebrated the end of their season with their annual Fun Run. Not only did the team members successfully complete their personal goals for the night and season, but they took the time to show their love and gratitude to their head coach, Dr. Jeni Watson, and their assistant coach, Ms. Melanie Green, with cards and flowers. At the end of the race, the coaches rewarded their special runners with medals of completion for their well run race and season. Refreshments were on hand for all to enjoy at the snack stand that was run by members of the senior class.  As we have now crossed the finish line of this year's running season and we step forward into the journey ahead, may these runners and each one of us look to the Lord to lead us in our daily race of life. 

"let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."                                                                                                                      Hebrews 12:1-2

10/18/16

As we are journeying through this week, our senses are in tune to the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes leading up to our CCS 43rd Annual Chicken BBQ and Auction. Here are a few important highlights to assist you in planning the rest your week and weekend.

Chicken Barbecue

As you know this Friday, 10/21/16, is our annual Chicken Barbecue. Be prepared to have your taste buds tickled and your bellies filled to the max!

Here are a few important details that you need to know about dismissal on this day:

-Our Preschool students enrolled in “Little Conestoga Preschool” will be dismissed at 11:00 am.

-All elementary students will be dismissed at 11:30 am.

-There is NO BUSING for students who usually take the school bus home if you are in the ELANCO or PEQUEA VALLEY school districts. Students who reside in those districts must have someone plan to pick them up in the car line for our 11:30 am dismissal time. (At 11:30 am bus riders will be dismissed first. Car riders will be dismissed once all buses have left the CCS parking lot.)

Service Day 2016

Before we feast on chicken, as a kickoff to our CCS 43rd Annual BBQ & Auction, this year we are adding a student service component to Friday morning before the barbecue. Our Cougars of all sizes will be out and about serving in a variety of ways throughout our campus and surrounding community during our CCS Service Day 2016. This day of service aligns with the vision for our school which is to provide a quality education while developing critical thinking skills, nurturing Christ-like character, and equipping students for a life of discipleship and SERVICE.

For more information about Service Day 2016 or to sponsor a Cougar of any size, the link is: www.conestogachristian.net/service-day-2016

Class Baskets

A definite highlight of our school Auction are the class baskets, and this year is no exception! First, let me personally say a great big THANK YOU to the parents who took the lead for each grade, Preschool through fifth, in communicating, organizing, collecting, and assembling this year's baskets! Another big THANK YOU  to everyone for your generous contributions to the baskets as well!  The baskets and YOU are awesome! The final steps in the basket process are the big moments of bidding on and selling them at the Auction. These exciting components in the class basket process are happening this Saturday, 10/22/16, beginning at 10:30 am. Please help your child to join with his/her teacher and class at about 10:25 am to present each basket and encourage bidders to raise their hands in support of our beloved CCS and all of our little and big kiddos!

After the basket fun you can head over for even more fun at the children’s area. Children can enjoy entertainment in the kids' area with activities, games and prizes, a train ride, and more all starting at 10 am. With the purchase of a $6 wristband, children are able to play all day in a fun, safe, supervised environment! (A maximum charge of $20 per family.) Popcorn is also available for $1.

Can’t wait to see you there!

Jr. Cougars Running Club    

             

“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”  

Hebrews  12:1

It is hard to believe that the Jr. Cougars Running Club is wrapping up the season over the next two weeks. To celebrate and share our successes, we are hosting a Jr. Cougar Fun Run “under the lights,” next Tuesday, 10/25/16, at 6:00 pm. ALL of our Jr. Cougars and their families are invited to walk, run, cheer, and have fun with us! Refreshments will be available for purchase.

Moms In Prayer

After having had Moms in Prayer meet for a couple of weeks, the women involved have decided to make a change to the schedule. The plan is to have MIP every other week, on the Fridays when there is not an Elementary Chapel. Since the next two months are a little tricky with days off and chapel, here are the dates that Moms in Prayer will be meeting: October 14 and 28, November 4, and December 16. Time and location remain the same: 8:30 am at the Allans’ house, 94 Overlook Rd. Morgantown. 

Thank you for allowing CCS to partner

with the Lord and you to share this part of your child's journey

in growing spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.

GO Jr. COUGARS! Whoop! Whoop!

"Before you speak,

Think and be smart, 

It's hard to fix

A wrinkled heart!"

Our school week ended last Friday with our first elementary chapel of the year. My heart overflowed with JOY at the sounds of our Jr. Cougars worshiping the Lord through singing!

We then went to God's Word together to reflect on how we can use our words and even our actions to "love one another" and "to encourage and build each other up."

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing."

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Together we demonstrated on large, red, paper hearts how wrinkles in the paper hearts are like unkind and hurtful words and actions to our hearts. Just like the wrinkles and folds can be made a bit flatter and better, they are still in the paper, and it is forever changed. Words and actions that hurt our hearts or the hearts of others never totally go away. Even with time and healing, our hearts are forever changed. It takes courage to be encouraging in our words and actions, but with Jesus, and because of His love for us and His example to us, we can love, encourage, and build each other up.

Over this past week classes partnered  together to sign the paper hearts to symbolize our commitment to having the courage to love each other well in our words and actions!

Our next elementary chapel is on Friday, 10/7/16, at 8:30 am in the Multipurpose Room in the High School. All parents are invited to attend!

After chapel, the PTF wants to invite you to a Meet and Greet. During this time of fellowship together, you will connect with other parents and hear more about the PTF (Parent Teacher Fellowship), the events planned for this year, and volunteer opportunities available to you.  

Jr. Cougar Soccer Clinic 

Whoop! Whoop!

CCS is excited about a special opportunity for our Jr. Cougars to "Go For The Goal" at a Jr. Cougars Soccer Clinic being sponsored by our Varsity Soccer Team coaches and players!

Here are the specific details:

When: Thursday, 10/6/16, from 3-4 pm (Jr. Cougars who are participating will stay after school on this day. Parent pick up will be promptly at 4 pm in the parking lot in the back of the high school by the soccer field.)

Where: High School Soccer Field 

Who: Interested Jr. Cougars in Grades 1-5, Coach Yoder, Coach Murphy, and the high school Varsity Soccer Team.

Cost: $5.00

RSVP: Please reply by email to Mrs. Brenner at:

susan.brenner@conestogachristian.net 

by Tuesday, 10/4, and send in the money in an envelope labeled with  Jr. Cougars Soccer Clinic and your child's name and grade. (Payment can be made with cash or check to CCS by Thursday, 10/6.)

An added highlight to our Jr. Cougar Soccer Clinic will happen Friday night, 10/7/16, with Jr. Cougar Night at CCS sporting events. All Jr. Cougars who wear Cougar gear and/or CCS colors (maroon and gray) will get into all the evenings sporting events for FREE!  These events include:

5:00 pm	Soccer - CCAC East: Boys MS Game	vs. Dayspring Christian Academy @ Conestoga Christian School Game Field
5:00 pm	Volleyball - Girls JV Game	vs. West Shore Christian Academy @ Conestoga Christian School High School Gym
6:00 pm	Volleyball - Girls Varsity Game	vs. West Shore Christian Academy @ Conestoga Christian School
7:00 pm	Soccer - CCAC East :Boys Varsity Game	vs. Dayspring Christian Academy @ Conestoga Christian School Game Field

Jr. Cougars who participated in the soccer clinic on 10/6 will also get the honor of leading the high school Varsity Soccer team onto the game field at 7 pm as well as participate in a goal kick shoot out at half time.

We are looking forward to a skill stretching, high scoring, and roaring great time at the clinic on Thursday, 10/6, and enJOYing a winning, CCS family fun evening together on Friday, 10/7.  Whoop! Whoop! 

The Time Is Now...

to register for the the next sessions of Science Explorers!!! The topics and session dates are:

• Rock the World on 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, and 11/17
• Kitchen Chemistry on 1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 2/16, and 2/23  AND
• Outta This World on 3/16, 3/23, 3/30, 4/6, and 4/20.

If your child would like to enroll in any or all of the next 3 topics, please do so as soon as you can at:

https://scienceexplorers.com/registration/?z=19543&r=10&s=18&t=

Early registration will ensure that we have the enrollment  numbers to host Science Explorers at CCS and to be able to continue to explore, learn, and grow in how SCIENCE ROCKS!

BTW...we did have a blast of a great time at our kickoff assembly last Friday afternoon! Here are a few picture highlights:

    

Thank you for allowing CCS

to partner with the Lord and you

to share this part of your child's journey in growing

spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.

GO Jr. COUGARS! Whoop! Whoop!