Falling into November

 

As we quickly fall into the month of November, I pause to reflect on all the JOY and blessings we have already experienced so far this school year. The list is a long one, but if I had to name the first few that come to my mind, my list would include having your precious Jr. Cougars here with us live and in person, being together under one roof in our elementary abode with our beloved elementary dream team, God's safety and protection on all of us, and of course elementary chapel. Chapel with our Jr. Cougars is perhaps what I missed the most during our months of quarantine. Although it was a blessing and I had a blast working with Mrs. Palladino to create our "Elementary Chapel in the Clouds" videos, nothing beats being able to worship and praise the Lord together and hearing all of our littles and bigs singing His praises together first thing in the morning! There is no better way to start the day! This year we have had the blessing of sitting under the teaching of Pastor Brian Fuller (dad of fifth grade Jr. Cougar Cade Fuller :) not only one time but two times, and he really knows how to get and keep our Jr. Cougars engaged and active while he is teaching them God's Word! In fact, during one of his chapels, Pastor Fuller taught us the four main ideas of the Bible with motions. He shared that in the simplest of terms, the Bible can be explained this way: CREATION, FALL, THE CROSS, NEW CREATION. Be sure to ask your Jr. Cougar for a demonstration with words and actions! :) 

Online Scholastic Book Fair 

CCS invites you to shop our Online Scholastic Book Fair and support our school! The book fair runs for 14 days from November 2-15. It will feature a virtual fair walkthrough so you and your Jr. Cougars can experience the magic of the school book fair shopping experience: browse titles by grade, meet popular authors, and much more! All purchases will ship directly to students’ homes and will benefit our school directly (25% back in rewards!). Don’t miss these two weeks of events, fun, and books. The Scholastic Homepage Link is LINK TO ONLINE SCHOLASTIC BOOKFAIR

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As we look forward to the quickly approaching holiday season, we are excited to bring you good news and great JOY! This year, under the leadership of our high school National Honor Society, our all-school holiday giving project will be for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. It is our hope that these special gifts and the message of the gospel will fill the hearts of the children receiving them with the love, JOY, and salvation of Jesus! This week a letter, as well as a brochure that had all the necessary details about the special giving opportunity for our CCS family, was sent home with your Jr. Cougar. Please complete and return the form to me (Mrs. Brenner) as soon as possible indicating how many shoeboxes your family would like to pack. Upon receiving this paper from you, the number of shoeboxes you are requesting will be sent home with your child/children listed on the form within 2 days.

The boxes are due back at CCS by Thursday, November 19.

A special message from the National Honor Society:

This project is sponsored by our school's National Honor Society (NHS), and a reward will be given to the class with the most boxes donated per child. This reward is... SHADY MAPLE DONUTS for the entire class.

Our Jr. Cougars will be learning even more about this special giving project at our elementary chapel, which is being led by representatives from our National Honor Society, this Thursday, 11/5, at 8:20 am in our high school gym.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and generous support of this special giving opportunity during the most wonderful time of the year!

Appearance Code Reminder

And just like that, it is the month of November! We are falling into cooler and even colder weather around our CCS campus and beyond it too. This is just a reminder that between November 1 and April 1, Jr. Cougars should not wear shorts to school unless the temperature forecast for Morgantown is 60 degrees or above. In addition to no shorts, please be sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather for daily outdoor recess. Please be sure that all Jr. Cougars have coats, hats, gloves, and scarves to keep them warm and snuggly while they are enJOYing the outdoors, fresh air, and burning off bundles of their energy! :)

November 5 Elementary Chapel led by NHS

November 16 Picture Retakes

November 19 Operation Christmas Child Boxes Due

November 19       Elementary Chapel led by Pastor Derek Ryder

November 23 End of Trimester 1

November 24 & 25 Parent/Teacher Conferences

November 25 No School for Students  

November 26-30 Thanksgiving Break

December 3                                   Elementary Chapel

December 8 Instrumental Recital

December 9                                    Trimester 1 Report Cards

December 16 Choir Concerts

December 17                                  Elementary Chapel

December 23-January 3 Christmas Break

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!

Soon and Very Soon...Back to school!

Soon and Very Soon...Back to school!

As we prepare for the new 2020/21 school year, perhaps one of the first thoughts we have is what supplies "we" need for a smooth, solid, and super start. Back to School shopping trips with each of my own children still fill my momma's heart with JOY! It is a special time I look forward to every new school year, but for me, it now includes items like carpets for dorm rooms, extra boxes of toothpaste, laundry detergent, ambiance lighting, jumbo boxes of granola bars, and of course coffee, coffee, coffee, just to name a few. (This year I am blessed to have a senior-in-college son and a sophomore-in-college daughter.:)  Even more this year than past years, due to the circumstances surrounding us in the world, at the top of our lists are hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes and then, of course, traditional items like pencils, markers, glue, and scissors.  I'll get back to material supplies, but perhaps always and this year more than ever, at the top of our lists should be the spiritual supplies to help ensure that our littles and bigs and we are equipped with the full "Armor of God." 

Ephesians 6:13-18

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all of this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." 

After armoring your children and yourselves, "body, mind, and spirit" in the Lord, it is time to print your CCS supply list, grab your mask and wallet, and let the shopping JOY and fun begin! I also want to make you aware that in the past week we have added a few new, additional, and necessary items to the elementary supply lists to aid in the protection and safety of our students. These items include:

-ART BOXES/BINS for ALL Elementary Grades - (From Mr. Parris)  I need to add to our K-8 Parent Supply lists.  Please, parents, can you purchase one of those plastic boxes/bins for your students' art supplies?  We have purchased a plethora of art supplies for this year.  Normally we spend around $2,500 - $3,000 on art supplies; this year we are closing in on $15,000.  This is to help stop the spread of COVID.  PLEASE help us by purchasing an Art Supply Box/Bin with your regular school supplies.  

Please have them no bigger than 9x6.  Walmart has these plastic bins, and they are about $1.

Also, please make sure the bins latch.  We do not want art supplies all over the floor :)

-USB COMPUTER MOUSE to use with school Chromebook for Grades 3 - 5

-ANTIBACTERIAL WIPES  Recently many of you have been reaching out and sharing that it is nearly impossible to purchase antibacterial wipes. We hear you, and we too are having a difficult time as well! That being said, we first want to reassure you that we have an abundant supply of wipes leftover from last year to begin the new school year. We also have ample safe and sanitary cleaning solution and paper towels to assist us in maintaining the highest level of cleanliness and sanitation possible. If you are unable to find or purchase antibacterial wipes for the start of school, we understand! (and in the words of Mr. Parris, "don't freak out." :)  We would just encourage you to keep on the lookout throughout the school year and send containers of wipes to school as they become more available. Sending in one container at a time is it is just fine. :) Thank you so much for your care, support,  and help with keeping our school clean, sanitized, and safe and our littles and bigs happy and healthy!

You can use the link below for quick and easy access to the supply lists. Happy Back to School Shopping! Whoop! Whoop!

LINKS to Elementary Supply Lists

Back to School Night Open House

In keeping with CCS tradition, we are having our annual Back to School Night on Thursday evening, August 27. This year it will be open-house style from 5-8 pm.  We cannot wait to welcome our CCS families and especially our Jr. Cougars to campus to visit, drop off supplies, and safely fellowship together inside and outside our buildings including our beloved elementary abode and creative and cool classrooms. Stay tuned, as we get to this special evening for the links to the short and sweet informational faculty videos that will be shared to welcome and guide you as you prepare for the much anticipated, exciting, and sure to be blessed and filled with JOY first day of school 2020/21! Whoop! Whoop!

 Wrapping up I pray in the words of Romans 15:13:

"May the God of hope fill you with all JOY and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." 

Looking forward to seeing you soon and very soon! Blessings and JOY to you and yours!

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!

The latest episode of our Jr. Cougars: What's Up Chronicles is ready for your viewing pleasure so get some popcorn and a cozy blanket and enJOY! Ha! In it you will see a special feature starring my puppy Daisy JOY, but she also has a sidekick that wanted to steal the show. :)   I wanted to be sure to give him the props he deserves because he too is a cutie and a loving JOY!  The big ole' golden retriever you see blocking the action and me at times is my beloved big dog, Samson! His best trick is always being by my side ready to protect me! Be sure to watch to see both my fur babies Samson and Daisy JOY!  

Jr. Cougars: What's Up Chronicles - Episode 2

Last Sunday when I was watching our church service online the children's Pastor and worship team led us in the song linked below. Even though there aren't any little ones in my home anymore, I was up dancing and singing to it. I was up praising the Lord and smiling with JOY! 

The lyrics of the song can be found in multiple places in the Bible.

Here are a few:

Psalm 23:4 

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me..."

Psalm 62:1-2

"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. 

He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."

Verses 5-6

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my HOPE comes from Him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."

Verses 11-12

"One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard:

that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUo7eK1KB0Q

Are you dancing yet??? :)

I hope you have a blessed Sunday with the Lord and each other! I am praying for a super start tho this first week of distance learning for all of our precious Jr. Cougars and their dear families, as well as all beloved CCS faculty and staff!  Blessings, JOY, Hope, and Peace to you!

Psalm 28:7

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for JOY and I will give thanks to Him in song." 

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!

Hopefully you have heard by now either from the email from Mr. Parris yesterday or from the media at some point, that we are unable to return to school as we have known it until after 4/6. That being said, everyone at CCS has been hard at work getting ready to begin distance learning and instruction this Monday, 3/30. Unlike this past week, in which it was optional for students to participate, beginning on Monday, 3/30 it is expected and required that CCS students will actively engage in the assignments, activities, and Zoom classes their teachers have been creating and preparing for them.  That being said, we are all in a learning curve, so please know we are in this together and we are here to support in any way we can. Please be sure to reach out to us with questions and concerns so we can assist, help, guide, encourage, and cheer for you and your Jr.Cougars in this new phase of school in the clouds. Whoop! Whoop! :) We all long for this to go as smoothly as possible for all of us and most of all for our Jr. Cougars to know that they are loved by God and us and for them to continue learning, growing, and having fun!

Here are a few important details as we prepare to launch into the coming week of distance learning and instruction: 

-In an effort to keep things moving forward, we are having another elementary materials pick up day. It will be this 

Monday, 3/30,  from NOON - 6 pm.

The procedures will be the same as they were this past Monday and Tuesday. If it is raining, the materials will be inside the entrance of the elementary building and if it is nice out they will be on the elementary porch. 

-First through fifth grade will be using google classroom as the platform for posting assignments and activities at the start of each week. All the special areas, which includes PE, art, music, Spanish, and guidance will be utilizing this platform as well. Please be sure to have your children check their google classrooms daily.  

-Preschool and kindergarten will be using email and the class websites as their platforms for the communication of assignments and activities. 

-Mondays will be the day each week that elementary teachers will host live ZOOM classes with their students. Stay tuned to the communication from your child's teacher for further information about the specific time and content.

-Some of you have inquired about future plans for field trips. At this point, the one certainty around field trips is that all field trips that were scheduled for April are now canceled. Further decisions about May and June field trips as well as rescheduling April field trips are on hold until after Easter. 

I hope this information can help you feel more prepared for the week ahead. It seems right now that we are trying to rebuild life while still being in the middle of it being taken apart. Thankfully we build our lives around Jesus therefore we cannot be shaken...listen here for a little encouragement:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYMjO9mL0Tw

Thank you for all you are doing to support and encourage your Jr. Cougars and us! We are blessed to be living, loving, working, and walking together! Please be in touch if you have any questions, concerns, or even just want to connect. Know that we continue to pray for all of our precious Jr. Cougars and you, their dear families!  

James 5:10-11

"Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion." 

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!

Happy Friday! It is hard to believe that the weekend is on our doorsteps already and then again in some ways, it has seemed like a really long week especially with spending our days without our beloved Jr. Cougars! We are all missing them and the JOY that they bring to us! As a way to connect with our Jr. Cougars and you, I am piloting a weekly news broadcast entitled Jr. Cougars: What's Up Chronicles! Here is the link to our first episode. I hope it helps us to feel more connected to each other, encourages hearts, and keeps you informed. I am thankful to my own babies for their loving assistance with this project and for their grace for my silliness!

Jr. Cougars: What's Up Chronicles - Episode 1

I was blessed and encouraged by this verse the other night. I pray you will be too. (I took the picture on a hike with my babies over the weekend. I am not a photographer but flowers bring me JOY always.) Sweet treasures from our loving Father and reminders of the new and eternal life because of Jesus!

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. For in just a very little while, He who is coming will come and not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back I will not be pleased with him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." Hebrews 10:36-39

Since music is my love language, here is a special song to encourage your hearts!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd6J6Wgnv4M

Blessings and prayers as we walk together with Him on this unknown to us and puzzling road.  I am thankful that we can rest on the Truth of God. He is faithful. We can trust Him. He is always there! 

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!

As I have been praying this weekend about all that is going on and really sad about the Jr. Cougar Musical having to be postponed, my heart has been heavy especially for our Jr. Cougars and how they might be feeling about the postponement and the possible unsettledness of the world around them. I was planning to share this with all of you to open our Jr. Musical on Friday night but now I thought this email could be a good reminder to them and in truth, a good reminder to me as I think about the next two weeks of quiet hallways and empty classrooms without them. 

As we prepared for our elementary chapel this past Wednesday, which we had planned to worship the Lord through the singing of the songs for the Jr. Cougar Musical for the whole chapel time, it was clear to me that we first needed to pause and acknowledge the anxiety and fear brewing around us which includes but is not limited to coronavirus. 

I sit in awe of God that at the start of this school year we chose to focus on the PEACE OF JESUS as our elementary theme this year and our current character trait that began earlier this week is PEACE!  As you can probably imagine this was our focus once again as began our chapel. During this time, the Jr. Cougars and I shared what kinds of life challenges and difficulties are currently causing our hearts to feel unsettled, stressed, anxious, and afraid. The list included tests, grades, sick family members, those facing cancer, those facing medical procedures, relationship stressors, and the virus to share a few. 

We also focused our time around these three verses:

Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Matthew 6:34

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

John 14:27

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give you peace as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." 

Because we have Jesus, the Prince of Peace, in our hearts we can be strong, we can have courage, we can face today, and can trust Him for our tomorrows!  

We then worshipped the Lord singing together:

No Longer Slaves - I am a Child of God

While I know we were all disappointed by the postponement of our Jr. Cougar Musical on Friday night, we also know that God's timing is perfect! I can't wait to see when and what He has planned for this special time together! I am certain the blessings will outnumber the disappointments!

Please know that we are and will be praying! We are also planning for the next two weeks and will be communicating with you as details develop and form. Please be in touch as you have questions, concerns, and prayer requests. Be blessed and hug your Jr. Cougars for me/us! I/we are going to miss them!!!

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!