Columbus Christian School News
November 16, 2018
A Note From Mrs. Donnell
Before long, Christmas will be upon us. When we speak of Christmas, we often do so in terms of the Incarnation—that moment in time when the Creator of the universe, the Almighty God, became flesh and lived among us.
Incarnational living isn’t just about Christmas, however. It’s a critical concept for any conscientious parent. The power of living lives worthy of the gospel to which we’ve been called, and representing with those lives what we want our children to become, is a lifelong, year-round endeavor.
“We Get What We Are”
Notre Dame researcher Christian Smith, who has performed over a decade’s worth of studies on the relationships between faith and youth and emerging adults in our culture, notes the power of living out what we say we believe for the next generation. His research shows, to a large extent, “we get what we are.” This means our current realities—not what we say, but how we live—shape and mold our children’s futures more than anything else we can do; maybe more than any other means of spiritual formation, apart from the work of the Holy Spirit.
Have you been a parent long enough to see yourself saying and doing things your parents did? Maybe even things you promised you’d never do, before you actually had kids? Maybe you’ve felt dread as you channeled your parents, or perhaps you had a sense of begrudging respect and pride, knowing that, despite your earlier promise to never raise kids like your parents, you realize they actually knew what they were doing all along? What you’re doing now, parenting like your parents did, is living out the power of modeling—of incarnational living.
In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul urges the church at Corinth to “be imitators of me.” Early on in my faith, I thought Paul’s admonition was prideful; now I realize he was just being a good parent, calling his spiritual children to live as he lived, because he was aligning his life with Jesus, and he knew the power of modeling.
Modeling Learning
I saw this power when I was working on my PhD, and I realized a modeling practice I would urge anyone with adolescent children to prayerfully consider. I realized working on my degree, and having homework every night I wasn’t out with a school event, was actually good for my girls. Our nightly routine became as follows: come home from work or school, have dinner together as a family (only a couple of times a week, because they were teenagers, after all), talk about our day, and then retreat to separate corners to do our work—Mom working on our family business, Dad working on his PhD studies, and the kids doing their homework. What did not happen a lot in my house, that reportedly happens in others, was my kids complaining about how much homework they had. I now believe our kids didn’t complain much, and spent that energy focused on getting their work done, because our family norm was that everyone worked after dinner. We modeled that for our kids.
I actually think it’s a good thing to bring your work home when your kids are in high school. If not work, perhaps you could spend time after dinner learning the guitar, or building something, or getting that seminary degree, or obtaining that extra certification for work, or learning that thing you’ve always wanted to learn, that thing you would really enjoy learning. Rather than binge-watching Netflix or playing Call of Duty, you could use the time your kids are working on their homework to work on things yourself. Doing so models a great work ethic and shows your kids that learning is for life. And, I think you’ll find it significantly reduces homework complaints and better prepares them to develop an independent work ethic in college.
For parents of younger kids, I think incarnational modeling looks like reading something you love, developing a culture of reading—again instead of Netflix or Call of Duty. I believe readers are made, rather than born. I’ve seen kids, including my own, who didn’t originally care much for reading become readers by watching their parents, sisters, and friends read habitually. Plus, you’ll become smarter in the process.
Modeling Loving Jesus
Most importantly, and more than anything else you could say or do, living lives as dedicated followers of Jesus Christ sets your children up for a lifetime of loving Jesus. I’m convinced that the large number of millennials leaving the church, reflected in stark statistics from the Pew Organization and Barna, are due in large part (though not universally) to the sad fact that their parents live only as nominal or cultural Christians, if at all.
If our heart’s cry is for our kids to love Jesus, the best thing we can do is to love Jesus ourselves. If we want our kids to have healthy marital and family relationships in their lives, then we need to do the hard work of modeling them in our lives. If our hearts yearn for our kids to raise their own in a vibrant church community, we need to not travel with baseball on Sundays; instead, we need to raise our kids in a vibrant church community. The research seems to show you will get what you are. And, if anything about that terrifies us, the best way to change our children’s future reality is to change our present one.
[Editor’s Note: We invite you to forward the link to this post, as well as others in the For Families section of the ACSI blog, as you seek to encourage your school families.]
About the Author
Jay Ferguson, JD, PhD, is the headmaster of Grace Community School, Tyler, Texas. He practiced law for 10 years and, in 2002, joined Grace as development director before assuming the headmaster role in 2003. He’s written extensively on Christian education and training children, including his weekly blog, The Head and the Heart. He can be reached via email at jferguson@gracetyler.org.
Blessings,
Mrs. Donnell
eLearning Day Survey
Veteran's Day Combined Chapel
Pastor Hirt served in the US navy and was a missionary to Nepal.
CCS Annual Tradition For Elementary Students
Completely memorized by December 7.
Recite during Christmas program on December 20.
Come shop at the Book Fair - Now through Tuesday, Nov. 20th
Pajamas, Popcorn & Movie Day!
Bean the 4th grade turtle has a new cape
- From Student Council -
PEACE Fearlessly
This month our CCS MS/HS will be learning what it looks like to show PEACE fearlessly. Please join us in encouraging your student(s) when they demonstrate this "focus-fruit" at home!
We are excited to see how the Holy Spirit will transform the hearts and minds of these young fruit-bearers!
Congratulations, LEGO Robotics team!
First Place in Core Values
Thank you, PTF and Volunteers!
PTF has a private Facebook page
Join the private PTF page to stay up to date on behind-the-scenes happenings at CCS.
Crusader Classic Schedule
Friday 11/16
4:30 PM – Columbus Christian Elementary vs St. Peter’s Elementary
5:45 PM – Columbus Christian Junior High vs St. Peter’s Junior High
7:00 PM – Christian Academy of Madison Junior High vs White Creek Junior High
8:15 PM – Christian Academy of Madison Elementary vs St. Peter’s Elementary
Saturday 11/17
9:00 AM – St. Peter’s Elementary vs White Creek Elementary
10:15 AM – Columbus Christian Elementary vs Christian Academy of Madison Elementary
11:30 AM – Columbus Christian Junior High vs Christian Academy of Madison Junior High
12:45 PM – White Creek Junior High vs St. Peter’s Junior High
2:00 PM – Columbus Christian Elementary vs White Creek Elementary
3:15 PM – Columbus Christian Junior High vs White Creek Junior High
4:30 PM – White Creek Elementary vs Christian Academy of Madison Elementary
5:45 PM – St. Peter’s Junior High vs Christian Academy of Madison Junior High
- ATHLETIC THEME NIGHTS -
Athletic Parents - sign up for concessions and admissions
Concession Volunteers – An important function that helps fulfill the athletic programs financial need is the selling of concessions at all home athletic events. Parents will be asked to volunteer to work the concession booth for home athletic events on specifically assigned dates. Again, after rosters are set, a list will be published for parents to assist in this endeavor. All efforts will be made so that no parent works during his/her student’s game.
Parent Participation Requirement: Parents should sign up for to help 4 times per basketball season and 2 times during soccer and volleyball for set up, clean up, concession and/or admissions and 1 Track or Stadium date. For any parent that does not sign up they will be assigned times to work that are not during your students games. If you need to switch there will be a master list with contact information and you can switch with someone. If hours are not fulfilled by participating students there will be an additional $200.00 fee. Each event served is equivalent to $40.00. The binder is located in the office.
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Mortgage Match
Cookie Dough Fundraiser
Tim Shelton's Very Vintage Christmas - November 29th
Thursday, November 29th, 7pm - downtown at the Commons!
Free family-friendly concert, hosted by CCS to our community! Invite your family, friends and church to join us in welcoming in the season celebrating the birth of our Savior - Vintage style!
How's the transition going?
Black Friday / Small Business Saturday / Cyber Monday
Reduce your school tuition for 2019-20
If you do any of the following:
- purchase gas, food, clothing
- eat out
- shop Amazon.com
- shop on Black Friday / Small Business Saturday / Cyber Monday
- purchase gifts for Christmas, Birthdays, Anniversaries, etc.
- go on Vacations
- work on your car and purchase parts
- purchase materials or tools for big home improvement projects
It's really simple. All you do is purchase gift cards (called SCRIP cards) through CCS. Order through the office by Tuesday mornings or order SCRIP online...anytime! Call Tammy Harvey, Financial Secretary at (812) 372-3780 to get the enrollment code for ordering online. Start saving on next years tuition today!
Click here to learn more about the program.
Do you have pictures to share?
CCS Before School Care (K-12th grade)
CCS Before School Care (K-12th grade)
Before-School Care hours are 7:00 am - 7:30 am Monday-Friday. Mr. Brian Buterbaugh is volunteering his time as part of his ministry to the youth of CCS. Free-will donations may be paid to Mrs. Tammy Harvey in the main office.
Immunizations
Theresa Forkert RN
Bartholomew County Health Department
2675 Foxpointe Drive Suite B
Columbus, IN 47203
812-379-1555, Ext 1 (office)
Background Check Must Be On File
ParentsWeb - RenWeb School Management Software
Be the first to know when school is cancelled or delayed!
PICK-UP LINE CAR TAG
Be the first to know when school is cancelled or delayed!
IMPORTANT EVENTS:
Scholastic Book Fair
November 12-20
Cookie Fundraiser
Now through Tuesday, Nov. 27
Thanksgiving Break
November 21-23
Tim Shelton's A Very Vintage Christmas Concert
The Commons / Free concert hosted by CCS
Thursday, November 29
Doors Open at 6:00PM
Concert at 7:00PM
Winter Formal
Saturday, December 8
National Collection Week - November 12-19
Collection site: First Christian Church, Columbus
Why would I want to get involved with Operation Christmas Child?
- Helps you to be involved in fulfilling the Great Commission. Matthew 28:20
- Provides a hands-on missions project without the cost of a mission trip.
- Is fun for everyone!
- Emphasizes the power of prayer as each person who sends a shoebox gift depends on God to work a miracle through this simple act of kindness.
- Is a great family activity.
- Helps you learn and/or teach about giving.
- Teaches you to think globally, but also participate personally, by sending a shoebox gift to a child.
- Allows you to reach needy children in a personal way by including a letter and photo in your shoebox gift.
- Is a great activity for individuals and families
Looking for more information and get ideas? Visit the OCC webpage here. Check out information from Samaritan's Purse. How to pack your shoebox.
If you are interested in donating items for the FCC Preschool and Children's Ministry to pack use this wish list. To donate money for shipping, make checks out to Samaritan's Purse - shipping cost is $9.00 per box. Would you, your family or group like to volunteer during National Collection Week? Sign up here. Questions? Contact Christy Farrell.
Columbus Christian School Contact Info.
Email: info@columbus-christian.org
Website: http://www.whycolumbuschristian.com
Location: 3170 Indiana Ave. Columbus, IN 47201
Phone: (812) 372-3780
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/columbuschristianschool/
Twitter: @ccscrusader