Crossville Christian School

In observance of the 4th of July holiday, the office of CCS will be closed on Friday, July 3.  We will reopen on Monday, July 6 at 8:00 a.m.

Don’t forget:  If your child is attending the second session of the Camp Excel Summer Program, it begins bright and early on Monday, July 6 at 8:00 a.m.  The daily classes end at 3:00 p.m. with Fridays being Fun Days.  Camp Excel ends on Friday, July 24.

If you haven’t paid book fees for the upcoming school year, please do that as soon as possible.

Have a great rest of the summer - stay safe and healthy!

In Christ,

Julia Palumbo, Headmaster

I always think of July 4th as the half-way point between school being out for the summer and beginning again; and, we’re almost there!

Hopefully, everyone is enjoying the summer break with plenty of family time either here in Crossville or on the road somewhere.  I have already enjoyed seeing family and friends in Louisville, Kentucky, and attending the Association of Classical and Christian Schools Conference in Atlanta.  I am always inspired by the plenary speakers and seminars of the conference.  The people participating in the conference are truly at the heartbeat of classical and Christian education, and our numbers are growing world-wide.  The seminars are available on audio CD and I purchased several of them.  Hopefully, the teachers will be listening to many of them.

Ms. Anita and I are alternating weeks in the office during the summer months.  This gives us a chance to enjoy some time off doing the things that the teachers, students, and families are doing.  We will both be back on Monday, August 3, to prepare for the new school year.  Teachers will probably be filtering back into their rooms to get things ready that week as well.

Our enrollment has continued to grow during the summer months and more classes are nearing capacity.  We have three classes that are totally full, but we’re offering waiting lists to parents who hope to have their children attend CCS.

Book Fees were due on June 15, and some of those still need to be paid.  Next week our July session of Camp Excel begins.  Some students will be returning, having been to the June session; and some will be joining us as new summer schoolers.  That session will end on July 24.

In closing let me say that the board, faculty, and staff wish for you a safe completion of our summer break, and we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, August 12, if not sooner!

Love in Christ,

Julia Palumbo, Headmaster

Dear CCS Parents:

This Friday, May 22, is the last student day of school.  Students can be dropped off at the regular time but need to be picked up by 10:00 a.m.  Parents and students may also just stop by to pick up report cards.  Remember, if your survey from the Board of Directors has not been returned, your child/children will not receive their report card.  Also, if any monies are owed, you will need to see Ms. Anita about that before the report card will be given out.

There are two important papers coming home with the report cards.  One is next year’s school calendar; the other one is a reminder that book fees need to be paid by June 15.  We order books during the summer so that they will be here when school starts.  The bills for those books begin arriving shortly after the books are delivered.

Either Ms. Anita or I will be at the school during the summer.  Also, our Camp Excel will be running June 1-19 and July 6-24.  Our hours will be 8:00-3:00.

Warren Ingram, one of our board members, is planning a “work day” to do some projects around the school (painting, tile repair, etc.).  We hope that some of you will have time to help us.  We’ll let you know about a date for this.

I hope all of you have a wonderful, safe summer.

In Christ,

Julia Palumbo, Headmaster

The months have flown by and now we’re staring at the last days of the 2008-2009 school year.  So many things have happened to make it a special year for all of us at CCS.  Hopefully, you and your child/children have made some wonderful memories by participating in those special activities!

Recently we received our “Picturing America” award from the National Endowment for the Humanities.  “Picturing America” introduces citizens of every age to our nation’s history and culture by bringing great works of American art into classrooms.  Mr. Buechel, our art teacher, is very excited about the opportunity of sharing these works of art with the students next year.  They will be used in all of the classrooms as teachers find ways to incorporate them into their curriculum.

Registration for next year is continuing with 59 students enrolled at this time.  We are still accepting students for next year and for the two-session Camp Excel in June and July.

The month of May will be very busy.  We have Grandparents’ Day on Wednesday, May 6.  We hope many grandparents will take this opportunity to have lunch with their grandchildren and experience Martha’s great cooking.

 On Thursday, May 7, the K-5 students will report to the Cumberland Mountain State Park for field day activities and a cook-out.  We’ll be watching the weather closely on Tuesday to see if this event is a “go”.  If not, we have reserved Thursday, May 14, as a rain date.  Each class has been assigned something to bring; Joey Carlton and Jeff Hughes will be grilling the hotdogs and hamburgers for us.  Sally Nash and Becky McKinney will be directing the athletic competitions with the help of many parents.  If your schedule permits, plan on attending some or all of the day’s events.

Back by popular demand:  Ronald McDonald will be with us on Tuesday, May 12, with an all new show.  This is a program that is sponsored by the local owner of our McDonald’s restaurants.  When you’re at McDonald’s, let them know that we appreciate it!

Monday night, May 18, will be our Kindergarten Graduation and Awards Night.  More information about this will be coming home as the program gets closer.

The last day of school is Friday, May 22.  The students will be dismissed at 10:00 a.m.

I hope everyone is planning a lot of fun summer activities.  Enjoy it and stay safe!

Love in  Christ,

Mrs. Palumbo

It’s hard to believe that we’re heading into March.  But as I sat on my deck the other evening, I could almost smell the change of the seasons from winter to spring.  That doesn’t mean that we won’t have some more winter weather; it simply means that God is about to let us experience once again that wonderful season that is spring.  My favorite part of it is the renewal of everything - the trees, shrubs, flowers, and grass.  I love the return of the birds who have wintered south of here.  As Christians, we also should be in constant renewal.  We even see it in the changes that occur in our students over the span of a school year - they grow academically, socially, and spiritually.

There are still a lot of exciting things happening at CCS between now and the end of the school year.  On Tuesday, March 3, the PreK - 1st will be going to the Cumberland County Playhouse to see Seussical, the Musical.  I know our students will enjoy it.  Some of the actors have already visited school for an afternoon assembly.

Thursday, March 5, is our Dream Big Dinner and Auction.  This is our largest fundraising activity for the entire school year.  The food is good and the entertainment is always special.  However, the highlight of the evening is the silent and live bidding on auction items that have been donated throughout the community.  You might pick up an antique quilt, a hot tub, or even a year’s tuition/book fees to CCS.  I’ve watched the items come in and the quality is excellent this year.  It’s not too late to take part in this.  Tickets are available in the office until Tuesday, March 3, for $25.00 each.  It’s a bargain!

On Friday, March 6, spring pictures will be taken.  Proofs will be sent home so that you may order whatever you want.  Students may dress however parents want for these pictures - dressy, school uniform, or casual.

March 9 - 13 is career week at CCS.  People from various careers will be here to share information with the students.  We do this so that our students will see the possibilities that are available in the world of work.  We hope it helps them to think about what they would like to do in the future.  Although decisions change over time, information learned now may be important at some future date.

The grading period will end on Tuesday, March 17, with report cards coming home on Monday, March 23.

Unless we have some last minute bad weather, we will not have any days off in March.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES FOR CCS

Thursday, March 5          Dream Big Dinner and Auction

Thursday, April 2             PTF Spring Concert and Officer Election

April 6-9                            Iowa Testing

April 10 - 19                      Spring Break

Thursday, April 23          Pastor Appreciation

Wednesday, May 6          Grandparents’ Day

Thursday, May 7              Field Day (State Park)

Tuesday, May 12             Ronald McDonald visits

Thursday, May 14           Field Day (alternate date)

Monday, May 18             Awards and Kindergarten Graduation

Friday, May 22               Last day of school (dismiss at 10:00); this could change depending on dismissal of school for weather reasons

Sincerely in Christ,

Julia Palumbo, Headmaster

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas break.  The students seemed very happy to be back at school  yesterday.  The days right before the break were so hectic; so, I’m glad for the calmness that January usually brings.  That doesn’t mean that we don’t have a lot of activities planned for 2009!

This Thursday, January 8, will be our regular PTF meeting with a chili supper following.  The first and second grade classes are in charge of the program after a short business meeting.  We have quite a few reservations for that event.

Of course, the BIGGEST event of the second half of the school year is the Dream Big Dinner and Auction in March.  It’s always a wonderful evening of entertainment and silent/live auction items.

The second grading period ends this Friday, January 9; report cards will be going home on Thursday, January 15.  Although we do not schedule a conference time for this grading period, if you feel you need to speak with your child’s teacher concerning grades or behavior, don’t hesitate to contact the teacher.  Optional conferences will be held after the third grading period.

There will be no school on Monday, January 19, which is the observance date of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.

I hope that 2009 is off to a great start for all of you!

In Christ,

Julia Palumbo, Headmaster

It’s been a very busy three weeks, even with the three snow days!  We’re fast approaching dismissal at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 19, for the Christmas break.

If you attended the Living Christmas Tree, I hoped you enjoyed it as much as the choir enjoyed doing it.  The response this year was overwhelmingly great!  It was wonderful to see CCS students in Kathy Snow’s pre-concert choir; they did such a good job on their songs.

I had the pleasure on Monday of making gingerbread houses with our kindergarten students.  It was so much fun, taking me back to my classroom days.  Children enjoy this time of year so much.  Thanks to Ms. Jessica for letting me share the holiday with her students.

So, as you are making your final preparations for the BIG day, don’t forget that “Jesus is the reason for the season.”

My wish for all of the CCS family is the Merriest Christmas that you can possibly have, and a safe, healthy New Year in 2009.

Luke 2:  10-11, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

In His service,

Julia Palumbo, Headmaster

Believe me!  Two snow days were not part of the plan.  Hopefully, the other thirteen days before Christmas break will be uneventful, as far as weather goes.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving; I think we all needed the break.

Things to remember:

Grades 2-5 will attend the Nutcracker Ballet on Friday, December 5.  An information sheet went home about this before the Thanksgiving break.  Remember: students in those grades do not report to school first unless they need transportation to the playhouse.  This would be indicated on the permission slip.  Transportation from the playhouse can be arranged, but that should also have been indicated on the permission slip.  We will see the 9:00 a.m. performance and should be back at school by 11:45.  Students not returning to school will be marked half a day absent.

Saturday, December 6, is the Crossville Christmas Parade, and we have a float in it.  If you are riding on the float or walking beside it, you need to be at CCHS at 3:45 that day.  It looks as though the weather is going to cooperate at this point.  Keep your fingers crossed!  Walking students and parents will be handing out candy and CCS pencils (not throwing it from the float).

Sunday, December 7, is the opening day for the Festival of Trees at First National Bank from 11-2.  We have a tree in the festival decorated in CCS colors with Bible verses on the back of our logo ornaments.  There’s a nice snack buffet at the open house.

On Friday, December 12, Santa Claus is visiting CCS; this will be in the morning but a definite time is not known.

On Wednesday, December 17, CCS students will be caroling at Wyndridge and Cumberland Ridge.  Mrs. Gentry, our music teacher, will be directing the students in the Christmas songs that they have learned in her class.

Friday, December 19, will be our last day before the Christmas break; we will dismiss at 10:00 a.m.  School will begin again on Monday, January 5, 2009.

Classroom teachers are arranging their own parties.  Please watch for announcements from the individual classes for this information.

LAST CALL FOR LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE TICKETS:  If you still want tickets to the Living Christmas Tree at Central Baptist Church, please let me know.  Those dates are:  Saturday, December 13 at 2:00; Sunday, December 14 at 6:00; Monday, December 15 at 7:00.

Just in case I don’t have another opportunity, I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and a safe and healthy New Year in 2009.

In Christ,

Julia Palumbo, Headmaster 

As most of you know, CCS closes school for bad weather when the Cumberland County School System closes.  We also delay opening and dismiss early if they do.  The Knoxville TV stations (channels 10 and 6) will have these postings.  Also, the local radio stations will announce the closings, delays, and early dismissals.  Closing information can begin as early as 5:00 a.m.; depending on the weather and road conditions, closing decisions are sometimes made the previous night.  It is very important to listen for this information.

WBIR-TV 10 also offers another feature that you may want.  Along with showing school closings on wbir.com, they now offer free text alerts to any cell phone.  Students and parents may learn more and sign up by using this link:  http://www.wbir.com/news/mobile/text.aspx.  I don’t know if this is something that will interest you, but I thought I would pass along the information.

 Julia Palumbo, Headmaster