Wednesday, September 21, 2022

All Things New

 


New to our beloved Elementary Dream Team!
(Continued from our last Elementary Blog!!!)


Continued from our last elementary blog, we are so excited and blessed to welcome to our beloved Elementary Dream Team our new school counselor and our new librarian! We can't wait to see how the Lord is going to shine in and through them and all they do to love, support, encourage, and teach our precious Jr. Cougars! We've already seen them in action and know they are bright additions to all of the beaming rays of sunshine on our team.


Mrs. Getz
Librarian

Hi I'm Kelly, a former graduate of CCS.  I graduated with my degree from West Chester University in Business Management and spent several years in the corporate world.  For the past 5 years, I've been a stay-at-home mother to my two wonderful daughters, one being an incoming Kindergartener.  This has brought me back around to CCS. I felt God calling me to work and serve where my children will be attending and I feel blessed that I get to be a part of my children and their friends' education.  I'm excited to be walking the same halls I did as a student many years ago.



Mrs. Yoder
CCS School Counselor

My name is Stephanie Yoder, CCS's first-ever full-time K-12 School Counselor.  I am thrilled to be here supporting our students and families.  I am a graduate of EMU who has spent the last 26 years working with students in various roles.  I have taught Learning Support, Social/Emotional learning, and most recently was the Student Assistance Specialist in ELANCO offering support groups and individual check-ins.  When I am not at work, I can be found cheering on CCS's sports teams (Coach Yoder is my husband and my daughter, Chloe, is a senior), walking briskly for exercise, swimming, reading, playing games with family and friends, exploring nature, or traveling our beautiful world.  This photo is of Chloe and me on a recent trip to Germany.



Elementary Chapel this Friday at 8:10 am in the Gym!

                        




At the end of the year last year I shared with our precious Jr. Cougars how the Lord had called me to be BOLD for Him! To stretch and grow me in this area He was blessing me and giving me the gift of a lifetime and lifelong dream come true mission trip to Kenya! This past summer from July 1st through 13th, along with a team of brothers and sisters from Hopewell Church and Branchlife Church, I had the JOY, honor, and privilege of traveling to Ol Kalau, Kenya on a short-term mission trip caring for littles and bigs and playing with them lots and lots too, in three children's homes that are part of Living Love Ministries. I promised our Jr. Cougars that at the start of the school year I would share with them all about what God did in, through, for, and with me on the trip during one of our elementary chapels.  Not to mention show them a few of the many pictures I took while was there too. :) So this Friday at 8:10 am in the gym, our elementary chapel is featuring my adventures with Jesus in Kenya! You are welcome to join us! (Please be sure to sign in at the main office in the high school with Mrs. Nace before heading down to the gym. :)



NEW this school year...

CCS Parent Gathering 

In an effort to help parents get to know us and each other a bit better our school planning a CCS Parent Gathering is on Wednesday, 10/5. It will be a combination meet and greet and ice cream social for our CCS grown-ups! (Free 😁 ice cream and no littles or bigs around to have to share it with or clean up after! )

The schedule for this time of sweet treats and cool connections is as follows:

6:30-7 pm - ES Meet and Greet

7-7:30 - Ice Cream Social for all parents PS through Grade 12

7:30-8 pm - MS/HS Meet and Greet 

So save the date, watch your email, and RSVP to spend an evening getting to know us and your CCS family!                                        



Attendance and Pre-Planned Absence Procedures

When starting a new school year there are many procedures and details to learn about the day-to-day operations and especially if you are new to CCS. So below are a few noteworthy ;) mentions about absences both preplanned and unexpected.  

Notifying the School of Absences

-It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to contact the school office with the reason for the absence as soon as possible on any day a student is absent.  Messages can be left on office voice mail at any time.  A staff person in the CCS office will call for information regarding an absent student for whom no information has been received.

-If a parent/guardian does not contact the school to provide information about the absence, the absence will be considered unexcused.  If parents/guardians would like to request an excused absence, they need to notify the school within three days.  While notification does not automatically excuse the absence, no absence will be excused without notification.  If no notification occurs within 5 school days upon return to school, the absence will be identified as unexcused and will not be changed unless granted by the Head of School. 

-At the end of the school year, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to notify the school office by the last day of senior exams for students in 12th grade and by the last day of school for students in kindergarten through 11th grade to request excused absences.

Preplanned Absences

-Preplanned absences are to be requested for family events, educational trips,

DMV appointments, college visitations, graduation project, etc., and are to be submitted

to the school office at least five days in advance of the absence.  Forms for preplanned

absences are available from the school office or the school’s website.  Preplanned

absences are not to exceed five consecutive school days.  current families on the CCS website.

Preplanned Absence Form


October

  • October  3                     Picture Day (4-year-olds, Pre-K, and
                                          K - 11th grades)

  • October 5                      CCS Parent Gathering - Meet and Greet/Ice Cream Social

  • October  12                   PSAT 11   

  • October  14-15             BBQ & Auction (Friday full school day)


November

  • November 10               Height/Weight/Vision/Scoliosis

  • November 11               No School - Teacher In-service

  • November  15              Picture Day Retakes (Also 3-year-olds and 
                                            Seniors)

  • November  18              1st Trimester Ends 

  • November  21-22        Parent Teacher Conferences - No Classes

  • November  23-28        Thanksgiving 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!

Monday, August 22, 2022

From the Rays of the Sun to the Wheels of the Bus...




SCHOOL SUPPLY SHOPPING JOY!

The bright yellow summer sun will soon play second fiddle to the big yellow school bus every morning but with the little bit of summer left, you and your Jr. Cougar can have a school supply shopping date! Maybe you can start or end your date with a little fun in the sun too! :) Just click the link below to find our school supply lists for the 2022/23 school year! Whoop! Whoop! Please be aware that school supply lists are by grade, not class/teacher. ;) Happy Shopping JOY!





As the sun begins to set on Thursday, August 25th we will once again be opening our school doors for our annual "Back to School Night" Open House from 6-8 pm.  We cannot wait to welcome all of our CCS families, returning and new, and especially our Jr. Cougars to campus to visit, drop off supplies, and have fun and fellowship together. Our beloved elementary abodes and Dream Team will be bursting with JOY to meet and greet you as you visit and explore all our creative, cozy, and cool nooks and crannies. (And don't forget to look to the west as you are traveling through campus to see God's majesty in all its glory over the horizon; AKA the sunset.:) We are excited about all the gifts of this new school year that is sure to be filled with the Lord, love, and learning and of course lots and lots of fun and JOY too!  Whoop! Whoop!

 

New to our beloved Elementary Dream Team!

We are so excited and blessed to welcome to our beloved Elementary Dream Team three new teachers, a new support aide, and a new librarian! We can't wait to see how the Lord is going to shine in and through them and all they do to love, support, encourage, and teach our precious Jr. Cougars! We know they are going to be bright additions to all of the beaming rays of sunshine on our team


Mrs. Ryder
Grade 5B

Hi, my name is Leann Ryder, and I will be your fifth grade teacher this year! I enjoy spending time with
my family, reading, taking care of my flowers, and going to the beach. I am 39, and this will be my first
year having my own classroom. I am so excited to start this journey and can’t wait to help my
students continue growing into all that God has created them to be!

I attended Valley Forge Christian College in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, and received my
Bachelors of Science in Psychology. I have 13 years of experience working with students one on one
and in groups in reading and math. My kids attend Conestoga, so I really value our family-like, Christ-centered atmosphere here, and I look forward to be able to share Jesus freely with my students.

Miss Groff 
Elementary Art and Spanish

My name is Josie Groff and this is my first year at Conestoga Christian School where I will be teaching Elementary Art and Spanish. I have my Associate’s Degree in Early Care and Education from HACC and have a passion for Art and Spanish, hence why I am teaching both subjects! In the past, I have helped in an orphanage in Guatemala, worked as a camp counselor at Woodcrest Retreat, trained with YWAM Lancaster, and did mission work in Mexico, and worked as an aide at Kraybill Mennonite School. Camping, hiking, reading, and playing guitar and ukulele are some of my hobbies as well as basically anything else outdoorsy or creative! I’ve lived in Lancaster County all of my life and attend Weaverland Church with my family. I am elated to start at Conestoga Christian School and share my gifts and passions with everyone here!

Miss Jones
Grade 2B

I am so excited to start the school year and get to know everyone! I recently moved back to Pennsylvania after finishing my degree in Virginia at Liberty University. I actually went to CCS when I was in elementary school so it is awesome to see God's faithfulness in bringing me back here to teach!

When I am not teaching, I love to draw and paint, so I can't wait to use these hobbies in the classroom. I played field hockey at Liberty University and hope to use what I learned from my time on the team at CCS.

I am prayerful about this year and the students and that God's hand will be at work in the classroom!

Mrs. Zink
Grade 4

This is my first year at Conestoga Christian school and I am so excited to be working with the children and families. I received my Bachelor's degree 3in Elementary Education from Liberty University and am now in my last year for my Master's Degree at Grand Canyon University. I have a wonderful husband who is a volunteer fireman in New Holland, 3 dogs, Beau, Thatcher, and Pierce, and 3 boys, Aden, Mason, and Easton.

When I'm not at school I enjoy reading books, helping out at the firehouse, coaching soccer, and watching my boys play sports. 


Mrs. Baez
Elementary Aide


Hello CCS Families, my name is Sasha-Marie Baez. I have the pleasure of assisting in the third and fourth grade class for the 2022-2023 school year. I’m excited to watch and take part in our children’s learning and growing in such a God-fearing, loving environment.

Prior to the pandemic, I worked at Penn State Health as an outpatient pediatric nurse. I’m fortunate that I still get to utilize my nursing skills on the weekends attending home births. One thing that is always constant and true is my love of children. Thank you for allowing me to be part of their journey.

Stay tuned to our next elementary blog to read all about our new librarian, Mrs. Getz!



Over the years we have been so very blessed by our partnership with our families and specifically with the gift of parents (and even some grandparents:) who volunteer and serve as elementary lunch supervisors. In addition to the fun, food, and fellowship you experience with the Jr. Cougars you also give the precious gift of time to our beloved elementary dream team! Our precious Jr. Cougars dine with delight in their classrooms which are equipped, with microwaves for quick 1-minute heat-ups. (Our super lunch supervisors assist Jr. Cougars with this process.) We have two lunch periods for your serving pleasure! :) Grades 3, 4, and 5 feast from 11:25-11:55 am, and kindergarten and grades 1 & 2 munch their lunches from 12:05-12:35 pm. 

Keep an eye on your email for the Jr. Cougar Lunch Supervisor Sign-Up! Thank you for taking the time to consider adding sparkle to our elementary lunches by serving and supporting our beloved elementary dream team and our precious Jr. Cougars in this unique and special way! 



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!




Thursday, July 21, 2022

Sizzlin' Summer JOY!





Splish Splashin' JOY!
It's almost time for your Jr. Cougars (and you :) to join us 
for our Jr. Cougar Slip and Slide 
on Tuesday, August 2nd from 1 -3 pm! 
Whoop! Whoop!
(Raindate is Thursday, 8/4, same time, same place! :) 
 It is our annual favorite, funtastic summer event!
 Be sure to bring your towel, sunscreen, and smile 
to have a splish splashin', great time with friends old and new!


SCHOOL SUPPLY SHOPPING JOY!

A new school year usually means a few new school supplies too! If you have been doing any shopping lately, you probably have seen school supplies to the max in the seasonal aisles in stores since before the fourth of July! Don't be fooled! There is still a lot of summer blessings and JOY to be had, but just in case you want to dream about what's to come and cooler days :) you can click the link below to find our school supply lists for the 2022/23 school year! Whoop! Whoop! Pllease be aware that school supply lists are by grade and not by class/teacher. ;) Happy Shopping JOY!




New School Year, New Grade, New Class and Teacher! 

Along with a few new school supplies in the new school year comes a new class and a new teacher. New class/teacher assignments for our Jr. Cougars will be emailed to parents during the second week of August! Stayed tuned for more Jr. Cougar school JOY in your email! :)


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!


Wednesday, February 2, 2022





We are counting down the days to our Winter Wonderland Jr. Cougar Carnival happening this Saturday, 2/5 from 9:30 -11:30 am in the gym!!! Whoop! Whoop! Excitement, enthusiasm, and energetic eagerness fill our hearts with jolly, jovial JOY as we eagerly anticipate all the fabulous fun and heart-filling fellowship to be had playing games, jumping in the bounce house, picking prizes, eating snacks, and much more too! 

Admission is FREE so be sure to share the love (the Lord's and ours 💓 :) and invite some of your beloved family and friends to join in the JOY with us! Tickets for fun and games will be available for purchase at the door with CASH or CHECK ONLY 💸. (We are going old school 🏫.:)

We can't wait to see 👁 you on Saturday so we can play all day (or at least for a couple of hours ☺) and melt our hearts together💕 as we frolic from the frost into our cozy Jr. Cougar Carnival!




For we are his workmanship, 
created in Christ Jesus for good works, 
which God prepared beforehand, 
that we should walk in them.
 Ephesians 2:10

On Thursday, 2/3 from 8:15 - 9:00 am in the gym, our Jr. Cougars will be led in worship through music and singing in our elementary chapel by our newly formed Middle School Worship Team under the direction of Mr. Elllis. Whoop! Whoop! They will also be led worship through learning and the Word by our CCS High School National Honor Society. The high school students in the National Honor Society will be sharing with our Jr. Cougars the JOY that comes by being the hands and feet of Jesus and blessing His children that have needs greater than our own. Your Jr. Cougars and families will have the opportunity to fill a baby bottle with change, dollars, and/or checks and return them to CCS on Friday, February 11th. (Our hope and goal is for each baby bottle to be filled with the blessing of $5.) The baby bottles will then be returned to Mercy Ministries Of Reading to help mommas and babies in need.

"Truly, I say to you,
 as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers (and sisters), 
you did to me." 
Matthew 25:40




Continuous Enrollment at CCS!

Please click on the link for information about the 2022-23 school year and Continuous Enrollment.  It is important to let Michelle Parris in the admissions office know if your plans have changed for the 2022-23 school year. Her email is michelle.parris@conestogachristian.net.




February

  • February 2                MS/HS Open House

  • February 5               ES Winter Carnival 

  • February 9                Elementary Open House

  • February 10              Pastors Luncheon

  • February 11             Baby Bottles DUE for Mercy Ministries of Reading

  • February 14             Valentine's Day

  • February 16              Preschool Open House

  • February 21             No School - Presidents Day

  • February 22              Instrumental Recital

March

  • March 3                     2nd Trimester Ends 

  • March 4                    No School - Teacher In-service







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!


Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Jr. Cougars Go and Grow...in Jesus with JOY!

  


Elementary Chapel +The Great Commission +
Anchored Ministries + Christmas TOYS
"Growing in Jesus with JOY!"

Elementary chapel is one of my favorite JOYS of our days, weeks, and school year as the elementary principal here at CCS. I am so blessed, encouraged, humbled, and inspired when I hear our precious Jr. Cougars worshipping the Lord and singing His praises together and this year is no different! To add to all the JOYS that elementary chapel holds, with lots of prayer and the help of other elementary dream members, not only did the Lord lay before me the focus verses and theme (see above:)  for this year but also the vision to have Jr. Cougar chapel small groups. 

It is amazing to witness the pairing of our fifth graders leading our second graders, our fourth graders leading our first graders, and our third graders leading our kindergarteners in small groups and connecting together to discuss and share all that God is teaching and doing in and through them. 

In elementary chapel on Thursday we reviewed our "anchor verses" for the 2021/22 school with a focus on Jesus and the Great Commission.  As always, God's timing was perfect for this focus teaching because, Mr. Jack Greenly, our Director of Student Life, had the gift of a  plan for us to help to share love of Jesus in the world right here in our own community.
Mr. Greenly explained that working in partnership together with Anchored Ministries in Elverson, Jr. Cougars have the opportunity to bless and bring JOY to other littles and bigs just like them, with toys for Christmas! As the Lord leads your family, your Jr. Cougars can donate new, unwrapped toys to a child in the community that might not have any gifts under their tree on Christmas morning.


You can send in these new, unwrapped toys to school with your Jr. Cougars to give to their teachers between now and December 1st. Then on December 1st, during an all school chapel, Anchored Ministries will be here so we can share God's blessings with them of the toys from our Jr. Cougars, as well as the gift wrapping supplies donated by our middle school students, and gift cards donated high school students. (All parents are invited to attend this special chapel at 8:15 am in the gym.:) We can't wait to celebrate the love of Jesus and His gifts to us and to our local brothers and sisters during this special chapel and precious Christmas season.  




'Tis the season for cold and snow...
well almost! :)
But the Jr. Cougars still love to get up and go!
It's so much fun to get outside to run and play
each and every sunny day and maybe the cloudy ones too. 
As long as the temperature is not too much below the freezing mark of 32.
So please be sure they have lots of cold weather gear,
 like coats and hats and gloves 
to keep your littles (and bigs) warm and cozy and bundled with love!

No Shorts Please...

Just a gentle reminder that Jr. Cougars (and Cougars) should not wear shorts or or leggings with shorts between November 1 and April 1 unless the temperature in Morgantown is 60 degrees or higher. 

Modest shorts (5 inch inseam) or capri pants may be worn for the months of August, September, October, April, May, and June. In the other school months when the local (Morgantown) forecast is 60 degrees or higher students may wear shorts that meet CCS standards. 

This information as well as tons of other important information can be found in our CCS Parent/Student Handbook. 



RESCHEDULE!
Our Picture Retake Day has been RESCHEDULED for 
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16th.  
The NEW ID# is EVT83GQWX!



Hopefully you received your "Meet the Teacher" email about signing up for a conference with the teacher/s of your Jr. Cougar. This year conferences are Monday afternoon/evening, 11/22 and all day on Tuesday, 11/23. While person is recommended, we are offering a virtual alternative if that option is best for you. Please sign up as soon as possible and be sure include your conference style preference. We look forward to this sweet time with you praying, processing, and sharing in the journey of loving, teaching, and helping your fearfully and wonderfully made Jr. Cougar to grow and become all that the Lord has planned!


Sounds of the Season
Thursday, 12/16/2021
6:00 pm
Brick Lane Community Church

Mark your calendars for this oh so special and holy night celebrating the birth of Jesus our Lord and Savior with our precious Jr. Cougars worshipping Him and singing His praises of the season! This night definitley adds heavenly Jesus JOY and peace to celebrating Christmas on earth!




  • November 15 - PICTURE RETAKES - ID# is NEW!- EVT83GQWX! 
  • November 19 - End of Trimester 1 
  • November 22 -  Parent Teacher Conferences pm (Full day of classes for students)
  • November 23 - Parent Teacher Conferences all day (No classes for students)
  • November 24-29 - Thanksgiving Break
  • December 16 - Christmas Concert
  • December 17 - Last Day of School before Christmas Break
  • January 3 - Back to School Again!

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!