S am's Spotlight
Let's celebrate as a CCS family!

Fall 2017
Blessings, CCS families!  The purpose of "Sam's Spotlight" is to communicate the noteworthy accomplishments of our students and staff, so we can celebrate as a CCS family.  

If you have praiseworthy news items to share with the Cincinnati Christian Schools family that involve either CCS students and/or staff, please email 
Leah Murphy 
at  leah.murphy@cincinnatichristian.org.

SPECIAL THANKS to Rachel Porter for editing each issue!
 
Continuing to Smile    

Mark Valentine was a senior at CCS when his life was tragically taken in a car
accident on December 26, 2015. For his birthday this year, which was September 22, his family wanted to reach out to the CCS community with a special message.  On behalf of their son, Mark's parents requested that students at CCS  do a good deed to help someone, show  kindness, or make a difference on this day. Mark loved to laugh and make people  happy, and his family wants his name to live on by bringing joy to others. Though a horrible tragedy, Mark's passing has encouraged others to make a powerful change. 
 
A Commended Student    

 Senior Kirby Anderson has been named a Commended Student by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. He was in the top 3.3 percent of students who took the PSAT last year. Congratulations on your hard work, Kirby! 
 
Chick-Fil-A Leader Academy Kick-Off

 Under the guidance of Mrs. Shari Parker, the Chik-fil-A Leader Academy held their kickoff event at the senior high campus on September 19. Students packed and labeled 100 meals for Feeding Children Everywhere. Great job, students! 
 
Spirit Week!    

 It's the week leading to Homecoming when students dress up every day in costumes representing their favorite holiday, a safari, or a specific era. Grade levels compete each other, boys gag while stuffing marshmallows in their mouths, and some students even shave their head. It may sound like complete chaos, but to see classes united with each other in order to achieve victory together was inspiring to witness and hilarious to watch. From performing the iconic Kevin Bacon dance in the film Footloose to acting out the whole nativity scene, students put their time and energy into preparing performances worthy of winning first place. This being said, there can only be one winning class at the end of Spirit Week, and this year it was the Senior class! Congratulations, Class of 2018, on your 3-year winning streak of Spirit Week Championships! 
 
In Higher Places  

  Recent graduate, Jailah Long, is thriving at Hampton university in Hampton, Virginia. She is majoring in Aviation Management in the college of Engineering, and she is on both the women's Division 1 soccer team and track team. Throughout this year, she has received several scholarships, including the Undergraduate Merit scholarship, the Chamber Orchestra scholarship, and the William R. Harvey Leadership Institute Fellow scholarship. Congraulations, Jailah! What incredible achievements! 

 
 Endless Efforts 

T he entire CCS Boys Golf team competed in the Division III Sectionals at Walden Pond Golf Course on September 26. Aidan Boyd and Austin Whitton qualified to play in the Division III Boys District Golf Tournament at the Glenview Golf Course on October 4, 2017, for an opportunity to advance to the State Championship. Though they did not advance, they played very well. 


 
See You At The Pole     

  On September 27, a group of our student body, teachers, and families gathered at the flagpole in front of the school in a fellowship of prayer. In regards to the event, Shelly Hauer said, "We are blessed to be at a school where we are able to pray every day, throughout the day.  Not all schools have that privilege. Therefore, on "See You At The Pole," we gather in unity with those students at other schools where prayer is not a privilege they can partake in freely.  This year, the junior high students led the way, praying for victims of the hurricane, our nation, our school, and our families. We praise God for these young CCS student leaders and for the power of prayer." 
 
A Published Visitor

On October 5, published author Brian Wells visited both the elementary and the Junior/Senior high school to speak to us about his experiences in writing and the movie industry. According to his bio, 
"In the  past decade his work has included movies, specials and series for NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox and Hallmark Channel. He also oversaw creative development as Executive Producer on 15 movies for television including Return to Nim's Island, The Watsons Go to Birmingham and Dear Dumb Diary. In 2016, Brian's first novel, The League and the Lantern became one of the most successful children's novels by a debut author in Kickstarter history, going on to receive a rare perfect 10 review from the Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize in Fiction." Brian gave an entertaining talk, signed a number of books for CCS students, and provided very helpful writing tips and advice to students in the novel-writing club. Brian's visit was a great experience for students and teachers at CCS!
 
"I'm Awed Only By The Magnitude of What I Do Not Know..."     

During the fall, students walk around with scripts in their hands, spend time after school acting like someone else, and spend late nights rehearsing. This year's fall play was The Curious Savage, and it opened the weekend of October 13. The students involved did a lovely job with the quirky, yet heartfelt production. This was Mrs. Perry's first experience directing at Cincinnati Christian, and she seamlessly carried on the legacy of CCS Theatre. Mrs. Perry enjoyed the opportunity immensely. Theatre is very challenging and demands a great deal from those committed to it, but the final product redeems the sometimes ugly, tiring, overwhelming process.  
 
The Fastest of Them All     

The Miami Valley Conference held a meet for both senior high and junior high cross country runners. Aidan Bonn won the Junior high Miami Valley Conference Championship.  He was the fastest Junior high boy runner in our conference!  Congratulations, Aidan! 
 
Prepping Young  

On October 16, firemen of Fairfield visited the first graders at the elementary campus. They learned about fire safety and how to properly exit their houses in the unfortunate event of a fire. Thank you so much to the Fairfield City Fire Department for taking time out of your day to teach our children! 
 
 
 
If you have praiseworthy news items to share with the Cincinnati Christian Schools family that involve either CCS students and/or staff, please email it to
Leah Murphy at leah.murphy@cincinnatichristian.org.