CHS Blog

A great quote that speaks to me in my role as Coach and Athletic Director is from Billy Graham, “A coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in an entire lifetime.” When reflecting on my high school and college experience as an athlete, my coaches, teammates and all the hundreds of competitions through the years are a part of almost every memory. It’s true, my coaches had a great influence on me, positively and negatively.

I attended a public high school in New Jersey and truly valued my experiences being a part of very competitive athletic programs.  My coaches gave me many great character-building experiences, but they were not because of Godly values, they were simply about being a “good person” or a “better teammate” or “being successful”. I also learned character traits I didn’t want to emulate. While all my coaches had my respect, it wasn’t always because they earned it, but because I grew up in a Godly home with parents who reinforced that we are to “be like Christ”, no matter our circumstances.

Playing basketball at Messiah College was my first experience having Godly coaches who inspired me and my teammates because of their love for God. The values they taught translated with a greater depth for me because living my life dedicated to being a follower of Jesus, was above all other things. Success was not just winning the game, but striving to win, because God desires us to be excellent in everything we do and to do it the right way (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Loving our teammates and coaches wasn’t because we were supposed to, but because God commands us to ”love others as ourselves” (Matthew 22:39). My coach and his wife hosted a player's Bible study because they knew life was bigger than practice and games. Athletics took on a greater love for me than ever before.

Throughout the past 20+ years, I’ve been involved in athletics professionally. I’ve worked in public and Christian schools and at all levels. The value and joy found in the relationships with other coaches and the athletes I’ve mentored bring special memories. However, there is a greater depth to those relationships when I’m able to coach while also sharing how much God loves each of us, enough that he died. There is no greater message to share!

At CHS, we (coaches) get to mentor, coach, and share God with our athletes through words and actions in every practice, every game, in the hallways and simply when we are together. This upcoming spring season, many of my seniors have played for me since they were in 6th grade. One of these players, when she was in middle school,  often grew anxious during games. When those moments arose, we had a verse for the season, and she would say it even while still on the court. Over the years,  coaching my players has provided a foundation of trust and respect.  Now there are many days when I’m sitting in my office and a player comes in and says, “Coach, can I ask you about something?” I’m blessed to be one of those people for them, as we look together for God’s will in life’s moments.  Our coaches at CHS not only love their sport, but love having a role in the lives of their athletes and, in turn, our athletes are blessed to have Godly coaches.

Now as we enter into the 2024 Spring athletic season, I pray for more opportunities for our teams to grow together, not only in our athletic skill, but in character development through teamwork. Let’s end this year strong!

This is Coach Katie Levis’s second year in her role as Athletic Director.  Prior to that, she was a classroom teacher at CHS for 4 years, as well as being a Varsity Coach.  Coach Levis has been a coach at the middle, high school and college level and helped start the first lacrosse team at her high school in NJ. This season her team will be focusing on Philippians 3:12-14 and what it means to ""Forget what is behind and press on toward the goal."

Your Christian Heritage PTL is not like some PTL’s you may have heard about. First, every parent/guardian with children enrolled at Christian Heritage School is automatically part of this fellowship group. There are no membership fees or sign-up requirements. Second, we don’t pin a gigantic flower to your lapel at your first meeting or event, so everyone will know to come up and ask you to help out. We welcome you if you can come to meetings or not, volunteer or not. All are welcome at our table. 

Joining the PTL is a wonderful way to meet people at CHS. I immediately felt welcome and included when we first started here. People were so kind, answered any questions I had, and gave me what I call “Good to know!” general information. The PTL leadership try to be there for families, answer questions, and help wherever we can. However, we also learn a lot from our CHS families! Some really helpful ideas have come from new families and finding out how they are navigating everything. (Literally….please click here to see our parking lot video!) My advice, don’t be shy! We love to hear your ideas and feedback. It makes us a stronger and more successful PTL. If you have little children and need to bring them to our meetings, they are welcome. We have had many babies, toddlers and preschoolers in our midst, and they always bring a smile (and for many of us, memories of when our babies were that small.) 

I am very blessed to be a part of the PTL Leadership Team. They are an amazing and dedicated group of people. They are Katie Dineson, Carla Ruiz, Gina Barone and John Naeher as our school partner.  We view our role as one of service, as a mission. Service to God through our service to our school community. Showing our children what it means to serve and to value the fellowship of our community. What a blessing that is for all of us. Getting to see students enjoying events, using the panini machines for the high school, learning through our gift of scientist presentations, etc. The students get to see kindness in action when the PTL Unsung Hero award is given to a staff member that may not get the limelight every day but whose heart, hard work, and contributions are valued more than they may realize. The children (and teachers/staff), aware that we are all in for them, means so much. Knowing they can suggest ideas or tell us about a need somewhere and that we will follow it through. Families know that there is another place for their voice to be heard because at the end of the day we always want to improve and do better for our community.

This is not something that is just available to people that might not work outside the home. We have people that work full time and part time too. You do not have to give 100 hours, or even ten hours to be a part of this mission. You can cover the bouncy house for 15 minutes at an event if that works for you! Every dedication of time is valued and appreciated. (Especially time spent at the bouncy house!) Sometimes people’s schedules are tough and they ask for other ways they can help. We have those available too. The important thing is knowing that you are a part of the PTL no matter what. That your contribution, whatever it is, makes a difference. 

You will see a PTL presence at most events. However, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes to prepare for those events. We believe that “many hands make light work” but it can be lots of fun and filled with laughter too.  We even “volunteered” for the morning drop-off to assist with traffic direction and, of course, bring a smile and some awesome dance moves to our community. Whether it is considered a PTL event or a CHS event, most of the time, the PTL crew will be nearby! Some of the events we sponsor with help from our PTL community are:

• The Dedication Picnic at the beginning of the year
• Silent Auction
• Pie Sale leading up to Thanksgiving
• Appreciation days for Teachers/Staff
• Veteran’s Day
• Teacher/Staff Christmas Breakfast
• Monthly Birthday Treats for Teachers/Staff
• Mother (Special Person) and Son Bowling
• Heritage Week Decorating
• Heritage Week Desserts
• Christmas Campus Decorating
• Father (Special Person) and Daughter Dance
• Mother’s Day Plant Sale
• Fellowship/Learning Event
• Food Truck Farewell Event – Year End
• Scientist Hands On Labs for K-5 Classes
• Grants to Middle School/Upper School
• PTL Scholarship Program
• K-5 Meet and Greet Café Mornings
• The PTL Spirit Wear Store - All funds made go to purchasing new gear to sell in the store or sponsor PTL events. The store does not receive funds from any other source.
• Available to meet new families for a cup of tea/coffee to introduce them to other families and make sure they are connected and feel welcome.
• ‘Back to School Meet and Greet’ days to welcome new friends and catch up with old friends
• Used Uniform Sale Program 

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

There is a lot of love and fun that goes into making our PTL successful. We are truly blessed, and to quote Dr. Dube, “We are different!”

Ways to connect with the PTL:

• Facebook: CHS Parent Teacher League
• Instagram: CHS.PTL
• Email: CHSPTL@chskingsmen.org

Deb DeBlasi has been involved in PTL for 12 years in both public and private schools, mostly in leadership or committee chair positions. She lives in Newtown with her husband, Rich, Son, Nicholas, and Yellow Labrador, Shelby.  They have been at CHS since Nicholas was in 7th Grade. 

I recently had the opportunity to watch a video of a rare scene. The video showed a crab molting out of its exoskeleton. It is rare for humans to observe this process because as the crab outgrows its outer shell and needs to cast it off, it enters an extremely vulnerable state as it struggles to remove the shell that it no longer needs and moves into a new phase with its larger exoskeleton. This process takes time and is usually performed in solitude at the bottom of the ocean.

As I watched the video, I couldn’t help but notice some similarities between the crab molting and the transition to life in middle school. It is a time of natural and necessary growth, it takes time and can be uncomfortable, and it requires removing what is outgrown in order to fully experience the new.

For parents and students who are preparing to make the transition to our middle school this year I have three words of encouragement as you begin this time of transition. The first is to be flexible. It isn’t always easy to shed the things we have outgrown and move into the new path ahead. For students, sixth grade will be a time where they are expected to be more independent.  For parents, encouraging and supporting your children as they take on greater ownership in their learning is important. Adjusting to these new expectations requires flexibility.

The second word of encouragement for students is to be patient in the process. Just as it takes time for the crab to shed its exoskeleton, it may take time to become familiar with their new schedule as well as new teachers and their own expectations. It may take time, but students will fall into their new routine, and they will enjoy the many opportunities in middle school including new friendships, retreats, sports, socials, and field trips.

The final word of encouragement for students is, like the crab in the middle of molting, there will be vulnerability. Please ask for help. All of the teachers in the middle school team are eager to help students and parents through this transition. Christian Heritage has a warm community of parents and a PTL who want to support parents and students and welcome you all to the middle school community.

This spring the Middle School Team is also preparing to welcome our rising sixth graders to our program. We recognize that this time of transition can bring many different emotions. As we partner with our fifth grade teachers to prepare transition events for the rising middle school students we hope to replace worry or fear with a sense of excitement for the upcoming transition.

In the coming months there will be four different events for rising sixth graders each with the purpose of building a sense of community in the middle school, answering questions the students may have and building relationships between the rising sixth graders, current middle school students, and their teachers.

The first event is the rising 5th grade parent meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 7:45a.m. in the CHS Barn.  It’s a chance to hear from faculty about expectations and have any questions answered.  Then, there will also be a lunch meeting when fifth graders join the sixth graders for a special question and answer time. The two classes meet together over pizza and the sixth grade students answer specific questions that the fifth graders may have regarding middle school.

Next, the fifth grade class has a visit to the middle school science lab for an experiment. This is a chance for the students to see the lab space where they will have Science class, but also have a chance to meet me and become more familiar with my role not only as their Sixth Grade Science teacher, but also as the Middle School Director.

Finally, students will receive a visit from current Sixth grade teachers to introduce themselves and deliver CHS goodie bags that contain a personal letter written by a current middle school student.

It is our hope as a middle school team that each student and family feel welcome and supported in the middle school community. May this time of molting be one where you don’t feel alone on the bottom of the ocean, but surrounded by a community who encourages you in your growth!

Terry Miller is an alumna of Christian Heritage School. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in education from Taylor University and her Master’s degree in education from Sacred Heart University.  She has taught middle school science at CHS for 18 years. This is her third year serving as Middle School Director where she works closely with students, parents and teachers to build the middle school community. She attends Calvary Evangelical Free Church with her husband Jeff and their three children: Ben, Sam and Kate.