CHS Blog

Each season, as athletic director, I take time to step back and reflect — on our teams, our coaches, players, and the goals that were set. This fall, not only did every team rise to meet those goals, they exceeded them. 

At our Fall Awards Night, I shared a thought that has shaped much of my perspective this year:
“Learning to win is costly. Winning is hard. And once you’ve won, it becomes even harder to keep winning. Yet we continue to pursue victory because the reward is found in the journey — in honoring God with the gifts He’s given us, discovering what genuine teamwork looks like, facing adversity with courage, training both mind and body so we can trust the work we’ve invested, receiving faithful mentorship, and striving toward something greater than ourselves.”

This was our journey this fall…

Cross Country
The Boys Cross Country team capped off a strong season with a 3rd-place finish in the HVAL Invitational. Malachi Hayes earned First Team All-HVAL honors after placing 5th overall at the HVAL Championships.

Girls Soccer
Girls Soccer finished with an impressive 9–5–2 record, won their first-round HVAL playoff game, reached the semifinals, and returned to the NEPSAC Tournament for the first time since 2019.
Individual recognitions included:

• First Team HVAL: Jemi Ndjadi, Laura Landru, Luiza Ribeiro, Grace Flowers
• First Team All-NEPSAC: Jemi Ndjadi, Luiza Ribeiro
• NEPSAC Honorable Mention: McKenna Haggerty, Laura Landru

Boys Soccer
Boys Soccer also finished 9–5–2, their best record since 2019. They reached the HVAL Semifinals and competed in the NEPSAC Tournament for the first time in six years.
Individual recognitions included:

• First Team HVAL: Leighton Pelaccia, Esteban Sanclemente, Jack Allen, Eli Coburn
• First Team All-NEPSAC: Leighton Pelaccia, Esteban Sanclement
• NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Jack Allen, Eli Coburn

Girls Volleyball
Despite graduating many starters, Girls Volleyball returned with focus and determination, finishing 17–4, claiming their fifth straight HVAL Championship, and battling in a close five-set match in the NEPSAC Finals.
Individual recognitions included:

• First Team HVAL: Emma Beers, Ava Austin
• First Team All-NEPSAC: Emma Beers, Ava Austin
• NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Cheyenne Petion, Ava Sheckfee

Fall Highlights

• A Homecoming sweep over Wooster in Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, and Volleyball
• Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, and Volleyball all qualified for the NEPSAC Tournament — the second time in school history and the first time since 2019

The CHS athletic teams had an outstanding fall season, with incredible determination, character and sportsmanship. We are looking forward to a great winter season of basketball! Go Kingsmen!

Coach Katie Levis is in her fourth year as the Athletic Director at CHS and also serves as the Varsity Girls Lacrosse Coach. Before taking on these roles, she spent four years as a classroom teacher and contributed to the volleyball and basketball programs as a coach. With coaching experience spanning middle school, high school, and college levels, Coach Levis has also worked in athletic departments at previous schools.

Recently, I had the great joy of stepping back and watching as fourth and fifth-grade students respectfully shared their opinions, presented their research, and confidently addressed a packed room of peers and adults. It was the final session of Debate Club, and I couldn’t have been more proud of how much these courageous kids had grown over the past several weeks.

At Christian Heritage School, we believe that true education reaches beyond the classroom. Our goal is to nurture the whole child: academically, socially, spiritually, and emotionally. One of the most meaningful ways we do this is by giving students opportunities to learn in new environments, explore their interests, and grow through hands-on experiences. This begins with the “specials” woven into each school day and continues through a rich offering of extracurricular activities designed especially for our lower-school students.

Research has long shown that learning outside the classroom strengthens children’s social skills, emotional well-being, confidence, and creativity. This philosophy shapes our extracurricular programs. Students can choose from a growing menu of opportunities that allow them to explore new hobbies, strengthen existing passions, and develop character in a supportive, Christ-centered community. Taekwondo encourages discipline, respect, and focus. Strategic Games Club for grades K–2 fosters critical thinking and patience through games that challenge the mind. Our Science Club for grades 3–5 gives young explorers a chance to experiment, question, and discover the wonder of creation, and the Bee-Bots Coding Club introduces K–2 students to sequencing and problem-solving through playful robotics.

This year, we’re excited to introduce even more programs. Math Olympiad invites fourth and fifth-grade students into a nationally recognized problem-solving community where they can stretch their reasoning skills and learn to approach challenges with perseverance. The Spelling Bee offers students the chance to expand their vocabulary, strengthen their memory, and build confidence speaking in front of others. Our new Debate Club for 4th- and 5th-grade students teaches students how to listen carefully, articulate their ideas thoughtfully, and engage in respectful dialogue. And coming soon, our Baking and Books Club for K–1st graders will blend creativity in the kitchen with the joy of stories — nurturing both imagination and emerging literacy.

Whether students are building robots, solving math puzzles, stepping onto a debate stage, or discovering the beauty of music and art, we want to create a space for every student to steward their God-given gifts or challenge themselves by trying something new, growing in confidence and character in ways that will stay with them for life.
 

Beth Maree is our Lower School Principal.  She received a Bachelors of Education at the University of Pretoria in South Africa and majored in English, History and Special Education. Beth began her career teaching 4th Grade and then discovered her love for teenagers when she transitioned to a High School English teacher. She is also experienced in school leadership, leading an English Department, overseeing Student Academic Services, and finally serving on the Senior Leadership Team of a busy, all-girls school in South Africa. Beth is now our Lower School Principal at Christian Heritage School and loves every minute of it!   

CHS has two primary objectives in putting together our Veterans Day Program:  to have our Veterans feel welcome, honored and appreciated; and to reinforce with our students the reality that our freedom is not free but comes at the supreme sacrifice and cost to many families.

On Thursday, Nov. 6th, at 9:00am CHS will open its doors to veterans and their families, as we are honored to host them and say thank you!

Captain James Morgia, who recently had his 103rd birthday (yes, you read correctly 103!), sat down with us for an interview that we will show during our program in which he describes graduating from High School in Bridgeport in 1940, joining the reserves and eventually being called up to train for and eventually join the “D-Day” invasion of southern France on the second wave of forces that landed at Normandy to liberate Europe.  Jim gives great detail of his involvement in the subsequent march toward Germany, including his action during the “Battle of the Bulge”.  We also get a fun glimpse of his return to the states after the war as he helped his mom in their grocery store and the interview concludes with Jim singing for us “God Bless America.”  

This is an interview you won't want to miss. I felt so honored to be in Jim’s home and able to listen to him reminisce about that time period in his life and the incredible sense of patriotism and pride that exuded from his every word and expression.  Jim is an active and real life part of our American history. What a privilege to include him and his family in our Veterans program through this video interview.

In honoring and expressing gratitude to our veterans, I have noticed that, without exception, they convey their appreciation for our recognition. However, they also emphasize that the true gratitude and honor belong to their comrades who did not return home, as well as to the families who have endured the ultimate sacrifice by losing a loved one in the fight to preserve the freedoms we should hold dear, yet sometimes take for granted.

We are honored to have Kelly, the sister of Specialist William Maher III who lost his life in the service of preserving freedom on July 28th, 2003 in Iraq.  We are grateful to William's family for allowing us to recognize and bring attention to Bill’s service and his/their ultimate sacrifice.  This is a profoundly personal and deep family loss that is never forgotten and the void left is never complete again in this lifetime.  With full respect for the family we hope to in some small way come alongside this family, draw them into our community and bring Bill’s memory and sacrifice to light.

This summer, I had the opportunity to meet Bill's sister while she and her father were selling a bicycle that Bill had received when he was just eight years old. As I listened to the story about how they had kept the bicycle in the garage all these years, unable to part with this tangible reminder of Bill, I quickly understood that this was “not just a bicycle.”

For his family, the bicycle is a connection to Bill. For us, the bicycle can be a physical connection to the “cost of preserving freedom”, a symbol that I hope, particularly for our students, allows us to more deeply feel and connect with the real cost. Every young child gets a bicycle at some point in their life, often during what is typically a sweet and innocent age.  This bicycle helps bring the reality to life that these men and women that serve, and who in some cases make the ultimate sacrifice are our neighbors, cousins, friends, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, uncles, aunts, dads and moms, are not simply a number or statistic, but a cherished family. A family member that if they don’t come home will be forever missed, a part of us that can never be replaced.

I explained to Kelly that we wanted to use this bicycle for our program to bring these realities to life.  She was very touched, and I so appreciated her willingness to share as she briefly recalled Bill’s life, humor, service and sacrifice. When I invited Kelly to our program, she readily accepted our invitation and is so grateful for the chance to help honor her brother and bring his life and memory to our community.  We look forward to having Kelly on our campus.

We will conclude our program with what is quickly becoming a beloved tradition, approximately 50 men, students, alumni, parents and faculty singing “How Great thou Art”.  This is a tremendously special and powerful part of our program. There are more than a few of us at this point in the program that have a wet eye or two, because it’s very moving and impactful as the components of honor, gratitude, sacrifice, and ultimately praise to our Lord come together.

We hope you can join us, let CHS be a place that is known for its open expressions of thankfulness to all who have served and sacrificed for the nation.

God Bless America!

John Naeher is the Director of Student Life & Operations.  He started at CHS in the fall of 1981 and began his 43rd yr in the fall of 2023.  His daughters, Amanda 06', Alyssa 06' and Abigail 10' attended CHS from K-12.  John has had the privilege of coaching several teams, sponsoring many Senior Classes and been a part of building community at CHS throughout his career.  “CHS has been a rich part of my family for which I will always be grateful.”

My name is Eli Coburn and I am a Junior here at CHS. This past summer I had the opportunity to have a summer internship set up through our CHS Academic and College Counseling office at Medtronic. Medtronic is a global healthcare technology company that develops, manufactures, and distributes medical devices and therapies that is located in North Haven, CT.

During my internship at Medtronic, there were several challenges that I faced and different moments that taught me different traits about myself. I gained valuable exposure to working in a corporate setting, working on a team within a larger company, and more specific insights into the biomedical field. 

Throughout my internship, because the safety training would have taken up a significant portion of my time, I was not able to do as much hands-on work as I was expecting and hoping for the various tests that were being conducted at Medtronic. I did a lot of observing and asking questions rather than active work. It was still very interesting and educational to see how the tests were conducted and to have my questions answered about the reason and function of the tests. 

I was able to find ways to be helpful during various tests, especially one where another intern was dissecting arteries from sets of kidneys. I helped with the measuring and storing of the arteries, and it felt good to be able to help. I found my desire to be of assistance and my willingness to be flexible and adjustable to different tasks very useful during this internship. I think that these traits will be useful for me during my career, as well as eventually taking charge and doing more myself.

Secondly, as silly as it sounds, going to several meetings across the two weeks was very helpful for me. It was good for me to get some exposure to corporate life, which I’ve learned involves many meetings! Wherever I end up in the future, it is likely that I will have to go to meetings, so getting some early experience with them was very rewarding for me. 

Throughout the internship, getting exposure to different aspects of having a job was one of the most rewarding parts of the summer seminar. In one of the team meetings that I attended, one of my colleagues was explaining to the team how she had been assigned to a project with very little prior information. There were several very expensive pieces of equipment with little records about them, no labels, and the person who had worked with this equipment previously had left the company. This showed me the importance of communication and documenting your research, as this project was lacking them and therefore very difficult to complete. It is very important to document what you do so that you or others can go back and look at your research at a later point. Good communication is crucial for a functioning company, as demonstrated here.

Although different from what I was expecting, the internship this past summer was a great experience for me. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to gain this experience and this exposure to work life. It has helped me a lot when thinking about my future and what type of job and field I may be interested in the future. I had a lot of fun and am very glad that I decided to do the summer seminar internship program offered through our Academic and College Counseling office this year.
 

Many of you likely visited the ocean or sea this summer. But none of you visited one without water. Our theme verse for this year is Habakkuk 2:14: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” In this verse, the prophet Habakkuk envisions the glory of the Lord filling the earth, just as waters cover the sea. The Hebrew word for glory is kabod (כָּבוֹד), meaning “weight” or “heaviness.” Throughout Scripture, God’s glory is experienced as a real presence with weight. During times of revival, people often describe feeling this heaviness. But what exactly is the glory of the Lord? That question takes us to the heart of who God is. The glory of God is central to his character. A clear answer emerges in Exodus. Moses asks God to show him his glory (Exodus 33:18). How does God respond?

“And the Lord said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion” (Exodus 33:19).

The glory of God is his goodness, mercy, and compassion—his goodness, mercy, and compassion toward sinners like you and me. This is an amazing truth! After this, the Lord speaks to Moses again. He tells Moses that his glory is about to pass by him.

“There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by” (Exodus 33:21-22).

How does God reveal his glory to Moses when he passes by?

“And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” (Exodus 34:6-7a)

The Lord is compassionate and gracious. He is slow to anger. The Lord abounds in love and faithfulness. This is how God reveals his glory to Moses, and this is how he reveals his glory to us! The glory of God is heavy. The glory of God is weighty. But it is heavy with compassion!  It is heavy with grace! It is heavy with love! And that is the kind of weight we need! But is there a place in the Bible where God reveals his glory even more clearly? Is there a place where it is revealed even more clearly than it is revealed to Moses? Yes. In Jesus Christ. We see the glory of God in Jesus Christ. The writer to the Hebrews tells us that “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” (Hebrews 1:3). The Apostle John tells us that “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

And this brings us back to the vision of Habakkuk. The prophet desires to see the whole earth filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord. Completely filled—as the waters cover the sea! This verse is the spiritual vision for Christian Heritage School this year. That our hallways would be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord! That our classrooms would be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord! That our chapels would be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord! That Christian Heritage would be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea! But our hope is that it would not stay within these four walls! But that it would go out into our community. As we go out in local service trips to show the love of Christ and share the gospel. And beyond that, may it go out into the world! As we go out on mission trips to show the love of Christ and share the gospel in other parts of the earth.

This vision has driven new spiritual life initiatives at Christian Heritage this year. One of these is the formation of a Spiritual Life Council, a group of students who will lead and plan various spiritual activities for the school. Their responsibilities include organizing events such as worship nights, evangelism groups, and gatherings like “See You at the Pole.” Additionally, a “Chapel Overflow Room” will be available for students who wish to continue worshiping or praying after chapel services conclude. In the spring, the school will host Spiritual Renewal Week, where we will pray that the Lord would pour out spiritual renewal upon our campus. As the psalmist writes, “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:6). This is our spiritual vision for this year. I am looking forward to seeing what God will do. “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14).

-Pastor Vin

Pastor Vin serves as the Chaplain of CHS. He is happily married to Nicole and is blessed to be the father of his three sons: Vinny, Timmy, and Lucas. In addition to his role at CHS, Vin is the Teaching Pastor of his church. In his free time, he enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, working out, studying theology, hiking, playing video games, learning about history, and spending time with his family. Vin is a CHS graduate and is grateful for the opportunity to return to this incredible community. 
 

When the opportunity came up for our family to travel to Spain with CHS, we could not pass it up. It is our son’s senior year and a chance to travel with the CHS group was something we had been looking forward to for quite a while. We left school all excited about the journey ahead. We traveled overnight and arrived early in the morning in Madrid and hit the ground running.  We loaded up the vans and headed for Toledo, which is one of the oldest cities in Spain. While having some free time to grab lunch, we quickly realized that not a lot of people spoke English, so Google Translate and high school Spanish became our friends. It was exciting in many stores as they tried a few words in English, then we tried some words in Spanish and we had success. (Amazing how that works when you really want to shop or eat!)  It was so cool to see the students using their Spanish to communicate, try local cuisine and really immerse themselves in the beautiful Spanish culture. After lunch, our wonderful tour guide took us to a beautiful, gothic church with over 700 stained-glass windows.  We toured the Jewish section of town where, occasionally, you would see tiles in the cement walls and ground with Jewish symbols.  We rode a zip line called Fly Toledo which went over a large gorge after a lot of walking, enjoyed our first gelatos of the trip, had dinner, then some of us went to a local rooftop restaurant to watch the sunset. It was amazing looking over as the cathedrals and historic buildings there all started to light up. 

On Friday we were in Cordoba. We went into the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, which was brimming with history. The cathedral is officially known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. We learned from our guide the history of Spain and how the building was originally a Mosque, but when the Christians took over Spain, a cathedral was built inside the Mosque. The outside walls are still the walls of the original Mosque, but the church was consecrated as a Christian cathedral so it can no longer be used as a Mosque. Cordoba is a beautiful town with stone walls and cobblestone streets.  In the evening, we attended a horse and flamenco show at The Caballerizas Reales (Royal Stables). As we left the show, we ran into one of the Holy Week processions with solemn music and a large float with statues of the crucifixion.  It was quite emotional to see this very large float with statues of the crucifixion moving slowly through the street with so many people silently watching.  These are moments that were completely unexpected and there were many of them. Even while strolling back to our hotel, we noticed a sweet smell in the air and we realized we were walking under trees with fragrant orange blossoms. It was a smell some of us immediately recognized because we had purchased this very scent while in one of the quaint little shops during the day.

Saturday we were off to Seville. As we drove through the beautiful countryside, we would see huge black metal cutouts of bulls on some of the hillsides. We googled it while on the ride and found out they were originally an advertisement for the Osborne Group in 1956. Now they have become a national symbol of Spain. Some are 14 meters tall; some are 7 meters tall and there are 92 of them on hilltops and roads throughout Spain.  We arrived in Seville, and then were off to a tour of another beautiful cathedral. The craftsmanship of these cathedrals is absolutely breathtaking. You could spend hours just looking at the beautiful level of detail in every part of the cathedral. Everywhere we looked we wanted to take a picture to try and capture the beauty. There were statues of soldiers carrying a coffin in this church. At first, I didn’t understand what significance that had. It is not something normally seen in a church setting like that. We were told the coffin contained the remains of Christopher Columbus. In each church there were so many stories about the history of Spain and how the specific cathedrals were impacted during the shifting times of control throughout history.

One evening, as we were waiting for our reservation for dinner, we sat overlooking the beautiful water and parrots started flying overhead and one landed in a nearby tree. It was like a scene out of the movie Rio and we could not believe we were seeing this in real life. Dinner was an open-air restaurant overlooking the water and part of the city. It was a beautiful place to watch the sunset while dining and discussing the adventures of the day. On the walk back to the hotel we had to stop for Churros of course. A sweet ending to the day!

Sunday, we attended part of a Palm Sunday mass at a small but gorgeous local church. It was so beautiful to see the processional of palms as the congregation walked around the outside of the building. We then went to the Royal Alcazar Palace which had beautiful gardens to stroll through with ponds, fountains, and flowers. Then it was off to a theatre to see a Flamenco Dance Show. After the show, I immediately looked up how many calories you burn doing flamenco for future reference – not enough for more gelato… too bad. Seville was very crowded because of Holy Week celebrations and parade processions. Getting around was a challenge but we were all up for it! It was awe inspiring to see the huge, somber processionals with thousands of people walking dressed in traditional dress from the medieval times. The tradition is a form of Penitence and include small children to older adults.  They are called the Nazarenes of Spain. There were huge religious statues on floats with people solemnly carrying them through the city with incense as they went along. There were many people in traditional costumes carrying huge crucifixes through the procession. The processionals go on for many hours and people carry the floats for 7-8 or even 13 hours through winding streets with thousands and thousands of people in the crowds along the streets. Some floats have over 100 people carrying them. They are that big and heavy.  

Monday we were off to El Caminito Del Rey for a hike along very high cliffs with narrow wooden walkways actually pinned to the steep walls of a narrow gorge in El Chorro. There were some regular hiking trails that led to the wooden mountain walkways. The views were spectacular but a little intimidating. There is a suspension bridge that goes across the gorge that we walked over and then like a beautiful mirage, stairs leading us back to the regular earthbound trails! Whew, we made it! That evening the adults stayed at a hotel overlooking the mountains and the water. The rooms were built into stone relics.  It was a very quaint place to stay. The area was very rural with the beautiful mountains and the water flowing below. The students and some chaperones stayed about a mile or so away at a B and B and the boys all got to stay in a yurt on the property.

Tuesday, the students had a full day of horseback riding and electric mountain biking. The adults headed off to Málaga to check into the B & B and have some free time. 

Wednesday, we were up early to meet for a 7-mile bike tour along the coast in Málaga. It was beautiful and thankfully flat ground to bike on! Especially after the student’s busy day the day before. Later we had a tour of a fortress and then a cathedral tour where we hiked up a tower and got to take pictures of the beautiful city and then watch a virtual reality show of the cathedral in old times. We had some free time and then we went on a beautiful sunset cruise. What a beautiful way to end the day. 

Thursday, we headed back to Madrid. It was about a 5-hour ride which gave everyone time to talk, catch up, play trivia games, sleep or sing, depending on which van you were in! We arrived in Madrid, checked into our hotel and met for our final dinner of our wonderful journey. 

Friday, we met for breakfast and headed to the airport for our trip home having built deeper friendships and reflecting on so many special memories. 

This trip went by so fast. It was a great experience for many reasons.  We saw a lot and really got to experience many parts of Spanish culture. We certainly saw a different view of Holy Week then we see here in the United States. Some people commented that it changed their view of Holy Week forever. I know that it changed mine. It has always been a special time of reflection for me. Seeing the rituals that have been followed for hundreds of years, the reverence the Spanish culture has for Holy Week, really touched my heart and my celebrations of Holy Week will likely be different going forward. 

I have to thank John Naeher and Paula Greer for planning this trip. The amount of work, heart and talent that it takes to have so many moving pieces is a gargantuan undertaking.  They never missed a beat. Mr. Naeher is a combination of everyone’s favorite Uncle and Willy Wonka. How many times did I turn around to see him with Cliff bars for the kids/adults to snack on, bags of Tootsie Roll Pops, Twizzlers, Frozen Treats when it was a hot day. Then he would have fun awards at some of the dinners with prizes. Cowboy hats for all the students to wear to the horse show. As someone who is usually the planner of the family trip, I had a deep appreciation for what went into it. The other special part of this trip was really getting to know some of the other parents and students better. Students we had seen at school for years, in plays, playing sports, passing in the hallways at school, but had never really gotten to know. We got to have many conversations about all different topics, we laughed, enjoyed meals together, had GELATO and more GELATO,  and were sure in our knowledge that if we were ever on the Amazing Race show, trying to navigate Seville during Holy Week was really great training.

Debbie DeBlasi, PTL President

CHS encourages service to the community and particularly to the most vulnerable.

In the spirit of James 1:26-27 “look after orphans and widows in their distress” and Philippians 2:3-4 “look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

We work to reinforce in our students' servant leadership and a desire to think of, serve and help others.

CHS has been sending students out on projects for many years in groups as large as 40 and as small as 5.  Projects have included a wide range of work; those as simple as yard clean-ups and assisting a non-profit with organizing supplies etc., to a full “mini-home makeover,” including construction of a handicap ramp, roof repair, painting and landscaping.  

The Lord has allowed us to participate in the lives of several special and sweet families over the last 15 years with this program.  Beginning with Donna in Lake Wales, Florida, who was a single mom raising her severely handicapped daughter, Laurie, 20 yrs old, was in a wheelchair and non-verbal, requiring full 24-hr care.  Our senior class could not relieve this care burden. However, they were able to take care of the many things around the house that Donna had been forced to let go.  The seniors painted, landscaped and in 10 hrs completed a beautiful makeover.  At the end of the day, we took a photo of the class with Donna and her daughter in front of the newly beautified house. We presented a copy to Donna before we left, just as a little reminder of the kids who wanted to bless her.  I needed to stop back at the house a few days later to finish some minor details.  Donna invited me into the house for some water, at which time I saw the 8 x 10 photo of our seniors with Donna on the living room wall in the center of many family photos on display. Donna had immediately added our photo to her wall of special family photos. We had become “family.”

Leaving Donna’s home, I was struck by the impact our kids could have on someone’s life with even a small investment of care and love in action through tangible work that they would likely not be able to do or afford to have done.

This began a 15-year-running investment in families' lives.  I’ve been so grateful to the families that the Lord has brought onto our path and the manner in which our students have answered the call and challenge.  

All of our projects have been special and meaningful, but possibly the most impacting project came when we had the chance to meet a relatively young family in Florida.  Garrett and his wife were in the midst of life raising two teenage children when illness struck Garrett, leaving him blind and wheelchair-bound.  This illness causes significant hardship and financial strain, as we can only imagine.  When I met this couple, their small house was in major disrepair and the yard had been severely neglected.  I found out later that they had been praying for help and were at a point of heavy depression and not having any idea of how to take care of their home.  As I began to let them know what we wanted to do, Christine just began to weep and thank us even before a paintbrush had been applied or a shovel put on the ground.  The idea that they were remembered and thought of was overwhelming to her. At the end of a long day of work, on a variety of levels throughout the yard and house, we finished and wanted to say a quick goodbye.  When offered some encouragement to the family, Garrett grabbed me to say, “Of course, you know that I’m blind, and I cannot see the work that your group has done. However, I can feel the joy it has brought my wife and children and I want to say thank you to your kids.”  Naturally, I brought the class over, assembled them in front of him while he sat in his wheelchair on the deck that we had just built, let him know they were there so he could say whatever he had in mind.  He touched my arm and said no, “Please have them come to me one at a time so that I can hold their hand and thank them individually”. Well, you can only imagine that as the 35 of us went through this heartfelt act of appreciation there was not a dry eye in the group.  A special day and moment in time that I’m sure none of us will forget!

This spring we had the blessing of being able to send multiple groups out to encourage and provide support.  We had a group go to the Hopeline Pregnancy Center, provide clean-up work at Twin Brooks Park, worked on prep for an historic school house project, sent a small group to Mrs. Simon’s (our Marketing Director) mom's house to help with work on her porch, returned to a widow in Stratford who we helped last year for follow-up work and sent two large groups of kids to two local families in Seymour, both of whom are facing very difficult challenges.

For the first family, we did a mini-home makeover for an 87 yr.old widow who lost her husband 6 months ago and is living in a house that they had built together 60 years ago.  The kids were able to paint, landscape, restore a small garden fountain area and provide her with a renewed pride in her home and property.  She kept walking around the house saying “I can’t believe this, nothing like this ever happens for me”. The neighbors came out to admire the work and express their support. Just a great day!

In the case of the second family, the mom is facing chemotherapy and sadly lost her husband two years ago to cancer and is now raising their teenage twins on her own.  When I met with her, she could not have been more positive and sweet in spite of the overwhelming challenges she's facing.  In our discussion she mentioned she loved to garden and really enjoyed flowers.  She believed we were just coming to help clean up her yard and cut back brush, but while she was away (she was actually getting chemotherapy treatment) the kids with a few adults built a beautiful garden with a sitting and potting spot for her.  Her daughter arrived home first and sent her a text, “Mom, you are going to love what they have done.” She texted me after she got home to express her overwhelming joy at what was created…she could not believe it. She kept saying, “it’s so beautiful”. We pray that as she and her kids sit out there and enjoy this space that it not only brings them joy but that it reminds them of the love of the Lord and His care of them.

John Naeher is the Director of Student Life & Operations.  He started at CHS in the fall of 1981 and began his 43rd yr in the fall of 2023.  His daughters, Amanda 06', Alyssa 06' and Abigail 10' attended CHS from K-12.  John has had the privilege of coaching several teams, sponsoring many Senior Classes and been a part of building community at CHS throughout his career.  “CHS has been a rich part of my family for which I will always be grateful.”

This past winter, on a particularly slushy morning where the start of school was just postponed, I received a text from a faculty member who had just broken the joyous news to her children that CHS was going to have a late start day. The response from one of the students warmed my heart on that classic Connecticut winter morning- “WHAT? NO! ARE MODS CANCELED?”

This fall, we launched our Mods program. In an earlier blog post, I described the various learning modalities (mods) that go into teaching well-rounded students. We don’t learn things in the best way for us, we learn things in the best way they should be taught. Imagine only watching cooking videos and never getting your hands dirty with egg yolk and flour. Visualize reading about your favorite sport instead of playing it. Have you ever had someone explain a movie scene only to say, “You know what, you should just watch it.” Our brain works in various ways, and the best way to learn about one topic might not be the best way to learn about other topics.

Fast-forward from last fall to today. CHS is wrapping up our first year of Mods, during which students were able to select monthly activities that took them out of the classroom and got them involved and engaged in other activities. Among lots of other things, students played futsal, learned about different cultures through food, took instrumental lessons, baked new and delicious recipes, participated in bible studies, or learned wilderness survival skills (and you can survive anything as long as you have access to a propane griddle, indoor plumbing, paper towels, and Dorito’s).

Mods gave our students opportunities for choice, agency, socialization, learning something new, and fun! I could bore you with education studies and doctoral thesis, but cutting to the chase, all of those things listed above are in the secret sauce for a good and meaningful educational experience.

We are so pleased with the little ways that our kids have embraced these new opportunities this year, and look forward to continuing and expanding on this program in years to come! 

Mr. Karl Simon is beginning his 23nd year in Christian Educational Administration and his fourth year at CHS. He enjoys reading, woodworking, watching the Patriots and Red Sox, and arguing with students who think the Yankees are better. He also coaches at CHS, where he enjoys spending time with kids outside the classroom on windy sidelines and on long car rides to away games. Mr. Simon feels serving as principal of the CHS Upper School is a great privilege, and he enjoys his relationships with his colleagues, students, and families.

Our thoughts are powerful.  A thought about a situation can determine our attitude, which can influence our entire day.  I often say with our thoughts, we find what we are looking for.  The Bible has a lot to say about our thoughts; and our thoughts greatly influence our perspective.  Over the last 15 years, while working as a social worker in a variety of capacities, I have interacted with lots of different people on both an individual and relational level.  And God is a relational God.  One of the key metanarratives of scripture is God’s deep love for us.  

I attended Christian Heritage in High School.  I remember a moment in my room (the most sacred space for any teenager).  I was feeling overwhelmed by some social situations.  So, I got on my knees and prayed a simple prayer; “God, re-order my loves”.  I have come back to that prayer many times.  When I am overwhelmed by a situation or a relationship, I can center my thoughts and ask God to “re-order my loves” so that, out of an overflow of love for God, I can understand my identity and security in Christ and love others.  First, we must love the Lord and out of that love for God we have a correct ordering or view of ourselves and others.  Relationships with others are so important but they cannot be more important than our relationship with God and, without a proper ordering, we will look to others to fulfill and satisfy only what God can.

The question is “How do we practically do this through the counseling office at Christian Heritage School?”

In lower school, I have been facilitating small groups.  All lower school students will participate in a group.  From kindergarten to second grade, we focus on “Getting Along in School.” These groups include three sessions: Following Group Rules, Playing Well With Others and Listening To Others.  We talk about the importance of rules and practice treating others with kindness and respect.  Students learn and discuss skills in playing well with others; that friends can be like traffic lights and send off signals when feeling happy, sad or mad.  We also talk about listening and the importance of listening to others.  The third to fifth grade students engage in groups about Friendship.  In the small group sessions we talk about friendship qualities; what makes a good friend, qualities the students already have and qualities each would like to work on.  We talk about communication in friendship and, through role-play, practice verbal and non-verbal communication skills.  We also talk about how to solve friendship problems.  Within our group discussions and learning we highlight the greatest commandment outlined in Matthew 22:37, “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”  The ordering of these loves is crucial.  It has been a joy to work with the lower school groups; students are excited to attend groups and participate.  

As you may suspect, counseling looks a little different for Upper School students. I have had the opportunity to work with several different faculty to build what different levels of school counseling support could look like, from brief check-ins with students to brainstorming what small groups could look like as well as professional development opportunities from a social and emotional perspective.  

I am excited about this opportunity at Christian Heritage. My prayer is that I can come alongside students and faculty members and continue to equip and strengthen all the good that is already taking place here, and keep Christ at the forefront of everything we do.

Katy Culbertson is the school counselor at CHS.  She holds a BSW (Bachelors in Social Work) from Gordon College and a MSW (Masters of Social Work) from Southern Connecticut State University.  She is a LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) in the State of Connecticut.  She has 15 years of experience in the Social Work field working with children and families.  
 

Can you imagine graduating from high school with the confidence that you not only know what you believe, but also know how to effectively share it?  At Christian Heritage School we train teenagers to know and love the Word of God, apply it to their lives, and preach it winsomely to a world that needs it. Our hope is that they will be able to start living out the Great Commission long before they become adults. Most of the best preachers we can think of started formal training as adults. Imagine what the church could look like if we were to equip teenagers to read the Bible and share it with others.  

To this end, we teach our students how to preach starting in 6th grade. Each year, students are taught the basics of exegesis and how to understand the Bible in context.  They are taught how to write a sermon that is Biblically accurate and applicable to the students in their classes. Each year we build on the fundamentals of preaching that they have been taught. By the time they are in high school, they can effectively exegete and apply scripture in a way that brings the Word of God to life.

Sadly, in our culture, both teens and adults alike are afraid of public speaking. By training our students how to read the Bible in context and then giving them both the tools and the opportunity to communicate what they have learned, they are becoming speakers who boldly proclaim the name of Jesus. Not only are students able to preach in class, but they are also given the opportunity to preach in chapels, for both the lower and upper schools. What an encouragement it is to have our 3rd graders see an 8th grader preach a first-person narrative of the Christmas story. 

Our students are not only equipped but genuinely very good at preaching. Our Bible faculty is regularly amazed at the quality of preaching that is coming from students: 8th graders who can modernize a parable that will bring you to tears, a 9th grader who exegetes a passage in a way that brings to life what you’ve never noticed before, or an 11th grader who gets choked up sharing all that God has done in his life.  

It is a privilege to teach students the Word of God, but my greatest joy at CHS has been helping students find their voice and preach!

Mrs. Jennie Higenyi is our Upper School Bible Department Head.  She received a Bachelors of Psychology and Pastoral Ministry from Nyack College, and a Masters of Divinity and a Masters of Preaching from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.  Jennie has worked as both an Associate Pastor and a Preaching Pastor, and began her teaching career as a Professor of Pastoral Ministry.  She has lived as a Missionary both in Italy and in Africa. This is her fourteenth year working at CHS, and she teaches 7th, 8th, and 11th grade Bible, and 12th grade Syracuse University Presentational Speaking. 

An exciting change to our Lower School program over the last couple of years has been the increase in the number and variety of after-school clubs known as Kingsmen Clubs.  These after-school activities are offered to our Lower School students immediately following the school day in several locations on campus. Kingsmen Clubs offer a unique opportunity for elementary students to engage in activities outside the typical classroom setting. Research shows that children involved in extracurricular activities often perform better academically. These programs not only support academic growth, but can also foster important social, emotional, and physical development.

Clubs provide our students with an opportunity to explore topics such as Crafting, STEM, Coding, Martial Arts, Strategic Games and Sports in a safe after-school setting with classmates and students from other grades.  They are held in a structured setting and run by our exceptional teaching staff.

These clubs give children the chance to discover their interests, talents, or passions for possible future fields of study or extracurricular activities at the High School level.  Students are given an outlet and the chance to participate, create, and learn.  Clubs also provide for a strengthening of social skills.  These environments are often less competitive than the classroom, giving students a chance to develop a strong sense of identity outside their academic achievements. Important skills such as teamwork, collaboration, problem-solving are all reinforced when a child participates in a club. Many times students are engaging with a teacher and other students they might not otherwise interact with on a daily basis.  This gives students the chance to feel connected to others with similar interests and skills. These newly forged relationships only help to strengthen us as a community.

Our Kingsmen Clubs offer a range of benefits to parents and students alike. From supporting academic achievement to promoting physical health and emotional growth, these programs help students develop into well-rounded individuals. It’s no wonder that our after-school clubs have become an important part of the elementary school experience here at CHS.

Lilian Mogle is the lower school principal at CHS.  She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Connecticut and an M.S. in Early Childhood Education from Southern Ct. State University.  She has over 30 years of experience in the classroom.
 

School Spirit Week is rapidly approaching. This Friday and Saturday, students in grades 6-12 will be excitedly prepping their hallway area with their “Theme” related decorations.  Lots of lights, posters, streamers and anything else that can make the hallway feel like their personal invitation into the worlds of…  

The Class of 2025 will usher you into their “Super Mario/Nintendo” gaming center in the lobby; the Lower School kids will be sure to walk in with wonder and excitement on Monday as they come into the transformed space.  Walk a little further into the building and the Class of 2026 will welcome you into the land of “Narnia”. Followed by the Class of 2027, who will encourage you to play a quick game of “Subway Surfers” - good luck competing with them. Next, you may find Sebastian or Ariel under the water's surface as the Class of 2028 search for the “Little Mermaid”.  As you head down another hall, the Middle School area will be a visual panorama of a mix of the “Minions”, “Phineas and Ferb”, and shopping at the “Mall”.

School Spirit Week is an opportunity for the CHS community to come together in a fun, lighthearted manner that is intended to tap into the joy, creativity and excitement of our students.  We all recognize how busy schedules are, how much pressure exists in the daily responsibilities for students with their academic loads, athletic, drama, co-curricular involvement and simply life in our fast-paced culture.  School Spirit Week is intended to be a break from the norm, a healthy diversion from the typical day-to-day routine.

Students and faculty alike are encouraged to participate in the dressdown themes for the week. On Monday, we hope to see your best “Hallway Theme” look, followed on Tuesday as you come in as your favorite “Superhero or Villain”.  Wednesday you’ll be able to dress in the style of your favorite “Holiday”, then Throwback Thursday, which may be my personal favorite  - pick your era and represent!  Naturally, Friday is Blue and White day with the added, “anything but a backpack” for all of your school supplies!

Christian Heritage School is a serious place with a serious mission.  Our Faculty, Administration and Staff take the responsibility that you have entrusted to us with your children with great care and intentionality.  Our hope is that School Spirit Week helps each student feel just a little more connected, a little more part of this community and simply has a fun, lighthearted change of pace for the week while forging ahead with their school programs.

We know that as students share events and activities like this with their classmates and their teachers, relationships are strengthened and in some cases, initiated.  This significantly contributes to the class community and our special school community.

As our community strengthens, so does student commitment, achievement and success, enabling us to better accomplish the core CHS goals in their lives.  

Yes, CHS School Spirit Week is about fun, but it is also about so much more…

John Naeher is the Director of Student Life & Operations.  He started at CHS in the fall of 1981 and began his 43rd yr in the fall of 2023.  His daughters, Amanda 06', Alyssa 06' and Abigail 10' attended CHS from K-12.  John has had the privilege of coaching several teams, sponsoring many Senior Classes and been a part of building community at CHS throughout his career.  “CHS has been a rich part of my family for which I will always be grateful.”

Beyond the Music: Developing Leaders Who Worship in Spirit and Truth

All throughout scripture, praise is both commanded and modeled as a way of giving glory to God. Psalm 95:1-2 says, "Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." It is no secret that God created humanity to worship Him, and on the student worship team, exalting Christ is our greatest priority. Through the worship team at Christian Heritage, students grow in theological literacy, they cultivate creativity, and they learn how to lead themselves and others in adoration to the Father.

Through music, we strive to proclaim the truth of God with biblical accuracy. As Matt Boswell writes, “It is (our) responsibility to shepherd the congregation into the green pastures of God-centered, gospel-centered songs and away from the arid plains of theological vacuity, meditations on human experience, and emotional frenzy”[1]. As students craft worship sets and prepare to play, sing, and lead, they are challenged to consider the words and messages of each song. When selecting music, some questions we ask ourselves are: What gospel truth is being conveyed in this song? Is this song more about me and my feelings than it is about Christ and His holiness? Are there any words or phrases in this song that might be confusing or easily misinterpreted? On this team, students understand that in order to grow as worship leaders, they must become students of scripture. 

One morning, as the team was preparing to rehearse, a student started playing a riff on the bass that mimicked a tune from an oldies song. Another student darted over to the drums and started tapping along. Others began singing in harmony, and quickly the rehearsal space was echoing to the sound of Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me”. There is an impulse inside all of us to create. This is because God, the creator of all things, made mankind in His image (Gen 1:27; John 1:3). On the worship team, we encourage creativity by fostering an environment where permission is given to experiment, try new ideas, and learn from each other. Just last week, a middle school student had the idea to merge two songs together, flowing without pause from one chorus to another, treating two different songs as one. The same day, a high schooler saw a creative opportunity to let the voices minister without instruments. Unrehearsed, she signaled to the rest of the band to stop playing, and the room was overcome by the angelic sound of over one hundred voices lifted heavenward. Creativity inevitably draws us closer to our Creator, and we mirror His very nature when we make space for creative expression. 

One of the most well-known worshipers in the Bible was David. Throughout the Psalms he commands himself to praise and stirs up adoration to God. We see this in Psalm 103:1 when he says, “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name”. On the worship team, we recognize that in order to lead well, we must first know how to lead our own hearts in praise. We practice this by remembering His goodness and regularly reflecting upon what He has done and is doing in our lives. Cultivating a greater personal life of worship enables us to lead others well. 

Students also learn that leading is a privilege, and we stress the importance of preparation as a way to honor God and each other. Preparation on the worship team is both practical and spiritual. We work on how to prayerfully and strategically build worship sets. We discuss ways that each instrument and voice can support and strengthen different songs. We take time to rehearse our parts. And we practice how and when to lead a pastoral moment, whether it’s sharing a scripture or word of encouragement, giving context to a song, or leading a prayer. Psalm 33:3 instructs us to sing and play skillfully before the Lord. When we take time to plan and prepare, we give God our best, and we limit distractions that might hinder others’ ability to fully engage with the wonder of Christ. 

“Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things!” (Psalm 98:1). While we know that worship extends far beyond a musical experience, there is something undeniable that happens when we sing to Him. The life-changing power of God is released into our lives when we praise (Acts 16:25-26; 2 Chronicles 20:15-22), and our focus is shifted away from ourselves and onto something bigger. We cannot help but be reminded of who God is and what He has done when we sing. Through the worship team, students learn how the truth of the gospel, their creativity, and their affection for Jesus inform the way they lead themselves and others in praise. As we develop worshipers here at Christian Heritage, my prayer is that their lives would be shaped by the truth of Christ’s extravagant love; all glory belongs to Him. “Sing to the Lord, for He has done marvelous things!” 
 

[1] Boswell, Matt, ed. Doxology & Theology: How the Gospel Forms the Worship Leader. Nashville, B&H Publishing Group, 2013. 233 pp.

Life Application Bible: New International Version (2011). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Chelsea serves as the Upper School Worship Team Coordinator. She is a CHS alum (2009) and earned her bachelor’s degree in Music Industry. Chelsea is married with two young children, and leads worship and writes music with her friends at Vox Church. Chelsea is passionate about seeing the beauty and glory of God displayed through creative expression. 

 

When I first stepped into the Café at Christian Heritage School, it was not yet a café.  It was 1981; I was a CHS student and Mrs. Wahlberg was the librarian and that space was her domain.  She had it neatly arranged with posters on the wall encouraging us to read just for fun. The books were all in their place on the shelving, and the tables were in clusters, allowing us to sit with large groups of friends. Mrs. Wahlberg knew that the small school I had just transferred from did not have a library, so she greeted me warmly and took extra time to show me how to find books and sign them out.  I spent the next five years creating many of my favorite memories in that room; some of them actually involved studying. Though if you know me, you would know that the memories I cherish the most are the ones where I was sitting beside my friends, talking, giggling, and sharing in one another’s lives. Ultimately, building relationships, some that would last for generations.

When I came to the end of my senior year, I stood in that library, wearing my blue cap and gown.  I had anticipated the excitement that my graduation would bring, but I was surprised that it was woven with hints of sadness.  Christian Heritage had become my home away from home and my heart hurt at the thought of leaving it.  That was forty-four years ago.  Since then, three of my daughters have attended and graduated from Christian Heritage, and although I spent some time away, I never quite left entirely.  That’s the way it is with “home”, isn’t it?

Our world has seen many changes in the last forty-four years, among them is a very different way of enjoying a cup of coffee.  Coffee shops have become a place to hang out with friends, a safe place to meet acquaintances. They’re a quiet place to study or write papers; a common ground to hash out relational issues or just to get to know someone better.  People go there to unwind after work, treating themselves to their favorite drink as a means of celebration or consolation.   In short, it has become less about the caffeine and more about community.   The Kingsmen Café is much the same, with one major difference: the community that we are striving to cultivate is a Christ-centered one.

The world’s view of community is often me-centered.  “How can you improve my life? Make me feel better? Bring me more income? Further my career?”  But throughout scripture Jesus commands us to love one another. He calls us to do life together, not for the good of ourselves, but for the good of our neighbors; ultimately to bring glory to our Father. I Peter 4: 8-11 says: Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.  If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength that God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever.  

This verse is the heart of what we hope to emulate when encouraging community in the cafe.  

If you were to wander into the Kingsmen Café at any given time you would be able to witness tables of students with a warm cup of coffee and open books, studying side by side.  Or you may see students huddled in the corner quizzing one another on their bible verse for an upcoming test.  If you are truly fortunate, you may be treated to the harmonizing sounds of the boy’s ensemble, practicing in the loft, their voices low and barely detectable, but beautiful nonetheless.  After school is another story; the excitement of the day's end is palpable and sometimes deafening.  This is the time that the younger students are given access to the café and are able to enjoy picking out their treat. They choose their snack, then count out their money and hand it over the counter to one of the women who work here.  You can see their faces light up in the process, delighted by their newly acquired independence.  Sometimes the older children in line will step in to help, much to the joy of the star-struck little ones. The laughter at that time of day is contagious.  The conversation is fluid; creating a continuous hum from 2:30 to 3:30.   Every thought that the students have had to hold in throughout the day seems to overflow once they reach their friends in the café.  In this room, it doesn’t matter if you’re five or one hundred and five; you’re welcome and you belong. 

I’m going to use this opportunity to make a pitch to all who are reading this.  Come check out our little café.  Stop in when you drop your student off and witness the beauty of our children gathered together around the tables.  Or bring a friend during the day and sit down for a cup of tea or coffee, letting them see for themselves the value of the God-centered community that you are investing in for the sake of your children.  It doesn’t matter how many years go by, that is one fundamental thing that has not, nor will ever change in our school.   

It is my prayer that one day, when your student has completed their time at CHS, they too will stand in the room that was once my library but is now their café, and think to themselves: “there’s no place like home.”

Lorna Tyrrell is the Kingsmen Café Manager.  She graduated from Christian Heritage in 1986 and went on to major in Early Childhood Education.  She taught preschool for many years before becoming a stay-at-home mom to daughters: Olivia, Rebekah, Mary and Naomi.  Lorna began a career in baking in 2013, learning her new craft of cake art at a local bakery.  She has continued this passion while helping at the Kingsmen Café; stepping into the Manager position 2 years ago.  When she's not baking or creating coffee, she can be found soaking up the joy that her six grandchildren bring. 

Art is personal. It showcases skills and communicates an idea. Students will never be asked to display a test, but an art project will always be on display for others to see. This can be daunting for some, even students in Honors Art. To eliminate the paralyzing fear of imperfection, students are encouraged to adopt the mindset of process over product.

On the first day of class, I showed the students a photo of an artwork and asked them what they thought of it. Most students' initial reactions were what I expected them to be– not impressed. After I shared the story behind the artwork the students' opinions changed. The lesson was: Not everything you create in your lifetime will be wall-worthy, but that doesn’t mean the time you spent creating those things was meaningless. Students were excited to handle the original artwork, a Pablo Picasso, during our time with the traveling collection of Christian Thomas Lee.

Students often assume that they need to be a talented artist to enroll in Honors Art. While Honors Art does require some foundational skills, students have quickly learned that engagement is the key to success, not innate talent.

The Honors Art curriculum encourages students to build on and combine foundational skills learned in their introductory courses. Students are given significant creative freedom and are asked to wrestle with thought-provoking prompts. This year’s students are being asked questions like “How can I visually communicate parts of my identity?” and “If Jesus were here today who might he be hanging out with and what might he be doing?”. These are difficult questions to answer on a canvas, but CHS students do one thing exceptionally well in my classes: encourage.

I like to believe “all together now” is a phrase that captures the spirit of the art room. Brainstorming, praising, suggesting, and questioning are ongoing during class. Students are challenged to critique (and receive critique) each other's projects in a kind and respectful manner– a skill every adult needs in the working world. During our first critique of the year (an altered self-portrait) I heard a few variations of my favorite phrase: “This turned out better than I thought it would” and “This was not as scary as I thought it would be”, enforcing my belief that by adopting the mindset of process over product, the product will ultimately be more successful because of the work it took to get there.

Honors Art students will display their work in a special exhibit at this year’s K-12 art show. It is my hope that the intentionality of each student’s work will be evident to the public. Everything done in the art room is for the glory of God and is a reflection of our innate desire to create, given by and inspired by God’s love for creation.
 

Mrs. Olivia Olson is the upper school art teacher at CHS. She earned her BFA in Studio Art from Asbury University. She has been teaching at CHS since 2020 and is a CHS alum. Her favorite part of her position is the privilege of getting to know and witnessing growth in her students throughout their entire middle and high school careers.

Leading well is hard.

Throughout the years, I’ve come to realize this more and more. Within the many different roles I’ve had, it is tempting to think, “I could do it better.”  However, when we take on a leadership role, it’s actually one of the hardest things to do well. You can’t lead if others don’t follow, it can be very lonely and when you're on the outside, decisions seem as if they are very clear, but in the midst, it can be very muddy.

About 5 years ago, I was coaching some teams at CHS and realized that my captains struggled with knowing how to lead well, and I knew we were not the only team facing this. Chappy (Mark Persson, CHS Chaplan) and I were talking about this one day in my 4th grade classroom. As it turns out, he was drawing the same conclusions with other student communities. Out of this need, came the beginnings of the vision for what is known as the Leadership Cohort.

The Leadership Cohort is a group of students who have a desire to learn to lead well in many different areas of school and life. It is the hope of the Cohort to help students grow into leaders wherever they are placed. They work to lead out of their giftedness while understanding that the Bible provides the guidebook. Many people equate leading with a position, but the reality is we are called to lead wherever we are placed in many different ways. Matthew 20:26 and 28 says, “...But whoever would be great among you must be your servant….” and “...even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.”

The Leadership Cohort believes that in learning to lead, students need to be poured into and given opportunities to live it out.

The first is the need to be discipled. Having adult mentors pour into students with a focus on leading from a biblical perspective is imperative for growth. Students need to have a safe place to ask questions, reason through making decisions and especially learn how to engage in conflict with forgiveness and restoration as the goal. We do this through morning meetings and lunch meetings with small groups.

The second is a need to serve. This year, the group has partnered in places all around the school to provide support and leadership. This included working with the student government to assist in providing the school with excellent and engaging activities. The idea was NOT to create MORE but to create BETTER. We do so many great activities at the school, why not join in with what we are already doing.

The final focus is to lead in community. Getting out of our comfort zones, building new relationships, and gaining new experiences help our students to grow and learn new things about themselves and others. Incorporated into this is a retreat involving activities that might be uncomfortable, such as hiking, swimming, or rafting. It also includes solitude, teaching by our leaders and worship. When we are challenged physically, emotionally and spiritually, it gives us an opportunity to be vulnerable before God and others, creating space to grow as God would have us.

This vision never fully matches reality. But in many ways, reality is much sweeter. If we expect perfect leaders, we get self-righteousness. What we are working to develop are repentant leaders. Because, when we fall and get back up by God’s grace, we rise more humble and more bold than before.  

Leading well is hard, but working to lead well is well worth it.

This is Coach Katie Levis’s third year in her role as Athletic Director, and she is also the Varsity Girls Lacrosse Coach. Prior to that, she was a classroom teacher at CHS for 4 years, as well as coaching in the volleyball and basketball programs.  Coach Levis has coaching experience at the middle, high school and college level along with working in an athletic department at previous schools. 

Excitement has been building since the Homecoming Reveal of our 2025 Spring Musical, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. The students are now busy learning songs, monologues and even tap dances in preparation for their upcoming auditions. Once the cast is announced over the Thanksgiving break, we will be off and running. The students will begin to dig into their characters in rehearsals, music will be learned, lighting and sets will be designed, set building will begin, costumes will be chosen and props and set pieces will be secured. The groundwork for the theater magic begins!

To the OUTSIDE world, one would think that January - March it is all about preparing for opening night, but on the INSIDE, it is so much more. It is…..

…a community
…an extended family
…a sense of belonging
…a support system
…a confidence booster
…a creative outlet
…a challenge
…an education
…a place to succeed
…a safe space to take a risk
…a place to try something new
…a place to discover your best self
…a place to find some lifelong friends
…a place to build confidence that lasts a lifetime
…a place to be a part of something bigger than yourself
…a place to be part of a team where no one sits on the bench
And most important,
…a place to give our talents in praise to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

To us as directors, these inside moments far exceed the success of any theatrical performance in the spring. What a joy it is to observe young people stretch and discover how God has gifted each of them while surrounded by a community who loves them, and they can trust. 

In addition to those “ah-hah” moments of realizing they CAN do this, there are those life lessons that they will carry as they leave the halls of Christian Heritage. Through the years, we have received correspondence from cast and crew member who shared what they learned as being part of the Theater Program.  

Todd (Class of 1988): “Being exposed to such a high level of excellence in production really opened up my eyes to the world of music and video production and working with a large group of people.” 

Brian (Class of 1989): “Being part of the CHS musical taught me a lot about myself, mostly it taught me that my actions and ability to take something seriously effects other people. I personally matured a lot through the process.” 

Josh (Class of 1999): “I learned about how the collaboration of many people with different talents can come together to make something truly spectacular. The friendships you form, the things you will learn, you will take with you, and they will have an impact on the rest of your life. You will look back at what you were involved in, the thing you helped create, and these things will be remembered for generations to come.” 

Grace (Class of 2006): “Participating in theater at CHS stretched a creative muscle I never knew I had, allowing me to explore acting, singing, student directing/choreography, while building leadership skills in a community of friends that have stayed with me to this day. The courage and confidence I gained on that CHS stage continue to support me in my career as a professional communicator, public speaker and podcast host.” 

Bella (Class of 2022): “ I started as a cast member but soon learned that my passion was for behind the scenes. As Stage Manager, the lessons I learned about leadership and management are ones that I will continue to use for the rest of my life.” 

Christopher (Class of 2022): “CHS Theater has completely changed my life. It was a place where I received glimpses of eternal joy. The lifelong friendships that you create plays into the fact that CHS theater really is a family. It was so valuable to be in a program where Christ is at the center of it all. The memories that I have will stick with me forever.”

In March, when you come out to support our amazing students, when the Overture begins to play and the curtain peels back to reveal the start of the performance, when you hear the music and experience the laughter and joy, when you see the connections and you feel the tingles and goosebumps during curtain call, we pray you will have a little insight into the depths of what participation in the CHS musical is truly all about. We look forward to seeing you in March and covet your prayers for the 38th Spring Musical production at Christian Heritage School. 

ALL for His Glory!

Reminder: Spring musical auditions (Grade 8-12 only) are next week, November 18-20, 2024.  If your students are interested, please have them visit this link for information.

Mrs. Robin Hannibal serves as the Upper School Choral Director and a Co-Director of the Spring Musical. She received a Bachelor of Science in K-12 Music Education and a Masters of Science in School Counseling, both from Western CT State University. Robin started her career teaching high school music in Stamford and came to CHS in 1986. CHS has become a second family, and she is grateful for the years of being part of a community that loves Jesus, seeks excellence and serves one another. Her passion is for her students to know that in Jesus they are loved, cherished and chosen, and in her classroom, they are seen, valued and loved. “THEY are the reason I am here!”

Robin and her husband Don have 2 children, David (’07) and Rachel (’10). In their spare time they enjoy traveling and hiking National Parks.

“Sometimes we need to go old school,” was the comment that simultaneously made me smile and reminded me of Home Economics back in the day. My nostalgia came during an 11th grade Bible class. At Christian Heritage, our 11th graders take Bible class the first Semester and Life Calling the second. At the end of the Bible semester, we prepare them for what is ahead; college prep and home ec.  

The second semester begins with our academic counselor coming into the classroom and working through the Fuller Youth Institute curriculum by addressing the issues of identity, belonging, and purpose. Students then complete the YouScience aptitude test to identify their strengths and skills, and what direction that points to after graduation. This includes resumes, interviewing skills, as well as the college application process for our students who want to pursue college after graduation. 

Though the first half of the semester is classroom-heavy, the second half is very hands-on. Juniors brainstorm what they feel unprepared to handle after high school, and this list becomes the practical, interactive lessons we do together as a class.  

Students have gone on mini field trips and gotten dirty learning from Mr. Simon how to change a tire and the oil of a car, or how to bake a treat from Mrs. Stempien. These topics often take place outside of the classroom and also include things such as: how to sew a pillow or hem pants, what is a checking account and how I use it, how to cook a healthy meal without Ramen, or why would I separate my darks from my whites in the wash.  

What makes Life Calling such a unique class is this combination of all of the above.  Preparing juniors in a very holistic way for the future. At CHS we believe we all have a calling on our lives, and we are invited to discover together what God is calling our juniors to next.

Mrs. Jennie Higenyi is our Upper School Bible Department Head.  She received a Bachelors of Psychology and Pastoral Ministry from Nyack College, and a Masters of Divinity and a Masters of Preaching from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.  Jennie has worked as both an Associate Pastor and a Preaching Pastor, and began her teaching career as a Professor of Pastoral Ministry.  She has lived as a Missionary both in Italy and in Africa. This is her fourteenth year working at CHS, and she teaches 7th, 8th, and 11th grade Bible, and 12th grade Syracuse University Presentational Speaking. 

The digital age has revolutionized the way we work and access information in many positive ways. It has also revolutionized entertainment and how we spend our free time. With the click of a mouse, mousepad, or screen, a world of information and entertainment is available to us. All parents know the challenges of managing their child's appropriate use of devices, but in this blog, I would like to address the benefits of hands-on STEM electives in a world where we spend a lot (perhaps way too much) time interacting with two-dimensional screens.

Hands-on learning is a major part of all our upper school science classes at CHS, which all incorporate a lab component. However, recognizing the importance of STEM in our technological age, CHS offers Engineering Design with 3D Printing (ED3D) for high school students. Meeting twice per week, students are introduced to the engineering design process, which begins with defining a problem to solve, generating ideas and researching possible solutions, creating and building a prototype of the best solution, evaluating the prototype, and finally completing the final product.  

The class begins with an introduction to Computer-Aided Design (CAD) using Tinkercad, a solid modeling program for designing three-dimensional models. Tinkercad allows students to add three-dimensional forms to their ideas. Once student ideas are captured in Tinkercad, they can be exported for printing on CHS’s 3D printers. Once printed, student ideas can be evaluated for performance against design specifications. Often, the objects students intended to create have incorrect dimensions, feature placements, or other significant flaws. Thus, 3D printing helps our students to better understand how to transform things they see on their two-dimensional screens into the three-dimensional objects they intend to create.  

Each year, our ED3D students compete in a product fair for cash prizes, judged by our Grade 5 students. In preparation for the fair, students develop product marketing information in addition to designing and fabricating their products. Following the fair, students design and print projects of increasing complexity. Later in the class, students learn the challenges of takeoff and landing using a flight simulator. In the spring, students build, decorate, and race CO2 drag racers, which can reach speeds of 50 miles per hour. As a final design project, students, working as a team, design and fabricate rocket nose cones, which are attached to water bottle rockets for testing. Students learn about rocket altimetry and the principles of aerodynamic drag. A final project investigates the aerodynamics of flight where students build powered paper airplanes. 

But why should the high school students have all the hands-on engineering design learning and fun? That is a good question. Starting this year, CHS has created a new STEM class for all Grade 8 students. Introduction to Engineering meets once weekly and begins with an introduction to Tinkercad and 3D printing, where students fabricate projects of their own design. It continues with a brief introduction to the engineering disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, computer, software, optical, chemical, environmental, aerospace, and biomedical engineering. As with our high school class, students are introduced to the engineering design process and will participate in a product design fair in the spring. Additional projects will include building electrical devices using Snap Circuits, programming a robotic car, and building and testing CO2 drag racers with experiments to understand Newton’s Second Law of Motion (F = ma).  

Before my teaching career, I led the engineering group of a major semiconductor equipment manufacturer. As an engineer, I could not deny that creation requires a Creator. The Holy Spirit used science and engineering to lead me to God and faith in Jesus. It has been my pleasure to guide many CHS students into science, technology, and engineering careers. My love for science stems from an understanding that science reveals the greatness and majesty of our God, and I hope to pass that on to all our students. Our science classes and STEM electives at CHS are a good step in that direction.

Daniel Cote is the Science Department Chair at CHS. He teaches science, philosophy, and apologetics. He has a passion for encouraging students to consider science as a career and has been doing so at CHS since 2009. He is also a pastor and the founder of Multimedia Apologetics, an apologetics website ministry explaining and defending Christianity whose primary goal is evangelism. He greatly appreciates the opportunity to teach apologetics to CHS seniors. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maine, an MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Bridgeport, a Master of Ministry in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry in Theology and Apologetics from Liberty University. Dan is the author of Jesus Is God and Savior: How Prophecy, Science, and History Affirm the Truth of Christianity.  

CHS Students Experience Hands-On Traveling Art Collection

What do an original Picasso painting, King Edward VII’s pipe, and a page from Martin Luther’s Bible all share in common? They were on display here at CHS! Thanks to a generous American art collector, CHS was loaned several rare pieces of fine art and historical artifacts. It was the collector's wish that students engage fully with this collection, holding it in their hands and experiencing what it feels like to encounter a piece of history. The collection was on display for a week, giving classes and staff the opportunity to visit, and teachers also had the opportunity to incorporate these works into their lesson plans.

Pieces in the collection include original works by Picasso, Rembrandt, and Renoir. Artifacts include a page from Martin Luther's Bible, Princess Diana's bracelet, the pipe of King Edward VIII, a spoon made by Faberge for Czar Nicholas II, and Nixon's letter of pardon signed by President Ford.

Dr. Dube, our Head of School says, “These types of learning opportunities are very unique and special, but it is not just the providing of unique opportunities that is important, it is the message and lessons that are learned that are important.  For us, we are tying all things back to who our students are as young people created in God’s image, as called to have a personal relationship with Him, knowing that they are loved by Him, and that they have an incredible, unique call to make a difference in this world for Him."

"It is our prayer that students are inspired by what they see, but also that they come to believe more and more that they have been created with a unique and powerful call from God… they can be the next Picasso or President of the United States… that learning is as powerful, actually more powerful than the learning that happens simply learning about a painting or a portrait… so, it is the learning behind the learning that really matters.  It is how we use these types of things to shape not just what a person knows, but who they are, that matters… that’s what we do here at CHS.”

Is more always better? It depends, of course. More hot fudge and whipped cream? YES!  More traffic on the Merritt? No thanks. When it comes to learning, more is better. It just depends on what the “more” is.

Research identified various learning styles, or modalities, decades ago. You might identify as a visual learner, enjoying graphics and pictures, or you might feel you get more out of an audiobook than you do turning pages.

The truth is that we may have preferred learning methods, but science also shows that we shouldn’t learn everything in the same way. Depending on the content, we should experience all the different learning styles.

Yes, you might like learning through visualization, but is watching a soccer game more impactful than being on the field and playing? Will you get more from reading a script or from sitting in the front row listening to our performers belt out their lines? Do you get the same experience hearing about someone’s beach trip versus feeling the sand in your toes and smelling the fries from the boardwalk yourself?

Like muscles in our body, our brain needs to have all of the various modalities stretched, trained, and put to use.

At Christian Heritage School, we know and understand the importance of training the brain. Matthew 22:37 tells us we are to love the Lord with our hearts, souls, and minds. So, how do you train a brain? It's easy — with variation.

We design our elective programs to stimulate the contemplative student, the creative student, the competitive student, the engineer, and the musician. And here’s the secret- I just described one child. Our students aren’t simply right or left-brained, pigeonholed in one track or the other. In our development of the whole child, we provide opportunities to train in various modalities.

Walk our halls, and you will see a student working on 3D Engineering schematic and 2D drawing project.

Come to a sporting event, and you will see our athletes trade their uniforms in the fall for a prop and a costume in the winter.

Attend our art show and see our student's gifted eyes with their digital photography gallery and gifted ears with digital music playlists.

Listen to our students lead a class discussion on Wednesday, then lead our worship band on Thursday.

Peek into our science labs and see students testing a hypothesis, then follow those same students to Philosophy class as they discuss Heraclitus.

By the end of a school day, your student will have flexed various parts of their brain, exercised their socialization muscles, and possibly stretched past what they knew they excelled in into areas where they might feel as confident. Our job at CHS is to make sure our programming provides the well-rounded educational opportunities our students need to stimulate and grow their minds, as we have been called to do. 

This year our blog posts will be highlighting all of the various ways we do this, from community events to therapy dogs.  We will be hearing from our CHS experts on this subject in upcoming blog articles.  So stay tuned!
 

Mr. Karl Simon is beginning his 22nd year in Christian Educational Administration and his fourth year at CHS. He enjoys reading, woodworking, watching the Patriots and Red Sox, and arguing with students who think the Yankees are better. He also coaches at CHS, where he enjoys spending time with kids outside the classroom on windy sidelines and on long car rides to away games. Mr. Simon feels serving as principal of the CHS Upper School is a great privilege, and he enjoys his relationships with his colleagues, students, and families.

Luke’s Gospel tells us what Jesus came to do. “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).” But it also tells how He uniquely went about doing it. “The Son of Man came eating and drinking (Luke 7:34).”

Meals matter. Food sustains our bodies. And the people we eat with are usually the ones who sustain our soul. The word “companion” comes from the Latin words “bread” and “together”, because a friend is someone who breaks bread with us.

Jesus ate with everyone – the renegades and the religious; He ate with a few and with the masses, with His best friends and His betrayer.

Our theme this year is Come to the Table. While this is Jesus’ free invitation of grace to all, it is hard to RSVP “yes”.  Accepting this invitation comes with some stipulations. You have to acknowledge you are hungry for something that only God can satisfy. You also have to be okay being in the presence of your enemies at this table, because the grace of Jesus does not play favorites. And you have to eat what is served at the table.

We are going to journey through the book of Luke and stop each time Jesus sits down with someone for a meal. And we are going to learn about grace, humility, and the mission of God. And I pray that we will also live these out in greater measure. Come to the Table.

And we are going to practice this as a community right at the start of the year! On August 29th, we will kick off our first week of school with our annual Dedication Picnic. We share a meal and ask God to sustain us and empower us to learn and love in the year ahead. Then, on September 12-13, we’ll take the high school to HUME New England for our overnight retreat. Again, we will be sharing meals and marveling at the grace of Jesus offered to sinners like us. 

Mark Persson, aka “Chappy P,” is the Chaplain at CHS. He is married to Michelle, and they have three children: Karis (starting Kindergarten at CHS!), Micah, and Asher. Mark likes baking (read “eating”) bread, running, reading, and building forts with his kids. He is an elder at his church. And, he is blessed beyond belief to work alongside the incredible staff and faculty at CHS as they serve students and families!
 

Much has been made of the conflict between science and Christianity, but the reality is that many of the greatest scientists believed in a Creator and were Christians. As Paul Davies, an agnostic scientist, has noted, "The early scientists were all deeply religious, and they believe that in doing their science they were uncovering God's handiwork…." ¹ So in an authentic sense, by studying science, we grow in our understanding of the greatness, power, and love of our God because the universe He has made is spectacular and fills us with awe. As David writes in Psalm 19:1-2, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge." Moreover, when we consider the habitat God has crafted for human life here on Earth, God's love is made manifest in our lives. In my personal faith journey, as I have grown in my understanding of the laws of physics, the fine-tuning of the universe, and the mechanisms and processes of life, I have grown correspondingly in my love and reverence for God.
 

So, for our students, the study of science is the opportunity to engage in their own self-discovery of the greatness of our God revealed in all that he has made. But the study of science has many other benefits. It is a powerful tool for developing intellect and reasoning skills, and it is an engine of human advancement that has provided technology and many benefits, comfort, and longevity to our lives. At CHS, students study three main scientific disciplines: biology, chemistry, and physics. Many students take advantage of our dual enrollment college-level courses in physics and biology. Electives, including anatomy and physiology, astronomy, and engineering design with 3D printing, round out our offerings.
 

Our annual science and engineering fair has proven to be an excellent vehicle for allowing our students to engage in guided scientific exploration of their own. Students begin by finding an area of interest and formulating a hypothesis or design goal. They then proceed to complete their project over ten weeks. Along the way, students must meet milestones and produce experimental results, scientific conclusions, and a final report, culminating in a presentation to knowledgeable judges. Thus, our science fair is one of the best ways for our students to learn how science and engineering are conducted in the real world, how to explain their work, and how to make presentations. With the science fair, opportunities for developing essential life skills abound.
 

Since 2012, CHS has competed for cash, prizes, and scholarships at the Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair hosted each year in March by Quinnipiac University, where about 500 of the best projects statewide are judged by highly qualified judges with backgrounds in science, engineering, research, and academics. The results our students have achieved are awe-inspiring. Each year, our students have garnered significant cash awards ranging from $25 gift cards to $500 cash awards, numerous plaques, trophies, and medallions, and several large college scholarships. The University of New Haven awarded one scholarship to Taryn Marshall for $80,000 over four years. Students who entered their CHS science projects into other state and national competitions have also achieved notable results. Rachel Brooks entered her CHS junior science fair project into the Connecticut Junior Science and Humanities Symposium and was awarded first place. Amazing as it sounds, Rachel submitted her work to the prestigious medical journal Rheumatology (the official journal of the British Society for Rheumatology published by Oxford University Press), which published it on January 7, 2021!  Rachel went on to study at Princeton University. The following year, Benjamin Li, one of our brilliant Chinese exchange students, submitted his work to the Regeneron Science Talent Search and was named a Regeneron STS Scholar for 2022, an award given to only 300 students nationwide. Benjamin now studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
 

Our CHS Science Fair engages students in the hands-on study of God's glorious creation. It cultivates taking initiative, reasoning skills, and perseverance, all things that can be used to bring glory to our God. Moreover, it encourages our students to pursue careers in science and science-related fields, medicine, and the many engineering disciplines, all with the enthusiastic encouragement of their CHS science teachers along the way. To God be the glory!
 

1 "Faith and Reason," program transcript, PBS, accessed December 1, 2023, https://www.pbs.org/faithandreason/transcript/margaret-frame.html.

Daniel Cote is the Science Department Chair at CHS. He teaches science, philosophy, and apologetics. He has a passion for encouraging students to consider science as a career and has been doing so at CHS since 2009. He is also a pastor and the founder of Multimedia Apologetics, an apologetics website ministry explaining and defending Christianity whose primary goal is evangelism. He greatly appreciates the opportunity to teach apologetics to CHS seniors. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maine, an MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Bridgeport, a Master of Ministry in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry in Theology and Apologetics from Liberty University. Dan is the author of Jesus Is God and Savior: How Prophecy, Science, and History Affirm the Truth of Christianity.

While I was on a mission trip with our students in a small village in Mexico, I was struck by the overwhelming sense of community.  They didn’t talk about it, they didn’t strategize how to facilitate it, they simply lived it.  At midnight the night before we were leaving, about 30 young people showed up at the family's house that I was staying in, a 10’ x 20’ concrete block home, with music, a cake and joyful hearts to sing Happy Birthday to the girl who was just turning 16.  I found out later, it was a village tradition.  Coming together to “share life,” it was great!

CHS has enjoyed a vibrant community of families coming together to “share life.”  During my 40 plus years of working here at CHS, the common bond of seeking to raise children with a heart for the Lord, and preparing them well to do what the Lord has created them to do, has been strong.

Several of you have mentioned, “Hey, we saw you choked up as you closed the Veterans Day Program last week.”  The power of the moment was overwhelming in all the right ways.  As I looked out from the podium, sitting on the floor directly in front of me were some of our youngest students. Just 25 feet further back sat our guest, Navy veteran Mr. Carl Massaro, 98 yrs young.  As a 19 yr old, he landed on Okinawa in heavy fighting to preserve the freedom that allowed the men who were assembled just to my left (made of students, alumni, parents and staff) to sing the most beautiful rendition of “How Great Thou Art.”  What a special glimpse of community!

When my youngest daughter Abby was a senior at CHS, early that September, she asked to stop at Dunkin’ Donuts on the way to school for an iced coffee. Excited for the new year and wanting to do something fun for her, I of course, said yes. The same request came the following week.  Thinking I would like to do something special for her again, I said yes. The third week rolled around and as we were approaching Dunkin’ Donuts Abby looked over and said, “Dad, you know ‘it’s tradition.’ We really need to stop again.”  As I quickly did the math in my head (36 weeks left of school + 1 iced coffee a week = $$) and being the easy target that I am, I pulled into Dunkin’ Donuts… and you know the rest.  I share this because in Abby’s senior reflections on what was most special to her during her final year, she included, “…waking up super early every Tuesday for my father-daughter coffee date!”  I’ve always recognized that special moments and events were important, but as I read her reflection for the first time I was so struck by that obvious reality that the foundation of what we do at CHS is critical.  The academic preparation and the Biblical foundation are the reason we exist but we can help better achieve both those goals and objectives by supplementing with a rich community and times of coming together as we “share life.”  The moments and the experiences matter and will often be what is remembered.

As the Director of Student Life and Operations, I have seen that community is often most richly built through common challenges and goals.  I am so grateful that CHS has always worked to embrace the lifestyle of service to others for the glory of our Lord.  Scripture is clear that we are built to serve.  I have been on many service projects and mission trips and, in these situations, I have often wished that the parents could get a glimpse of this experience.  For example, on a recent senior class trip we had the opportunity to do a service project in Florida. The Lord brought this family to our attention. They were young parents in their forties with two teenage children. The dad was quite ill and, as a result, was blind.  The family was facing many difficulties and we couldn’t address them all.  However, we could address the physical needs of yard work, building a wheelchair ramp and painting their house.  At the end of a very long day, close to dusk as the sun was setting, we completed the work and the family was brought back home for the reveal.  As the mom stood crying on the newly added front porch saying thank you to the kids, the husband grabbed my arm while sitting in his wheelchair.  He pulled me over to speak into my ear, saying, “I can’t see the work that the kids have done but I can feel the joy that it brings my wife.  Please bring the students over to me one at a time so I can thank each one individually.”  You can only imagine the scene as this gentleman reached out and grabbed the hand of each student to say thank you!!!  This was a very powerful moment!  I’m quite certain that the class was never so unified and never felt such a stronger sense of community with each other as they did at that moment with our newly adopted family.  

CHS intentionally works to create opportunities and special moments, such as Fall Festival, Veterans Day, Grandparents Day, School Spirit Week, service projects, special events and a number of social opportunities for the express purpose of building a stronger community to help us achieve our core goals. It is our desire to help our students become the person that God created and built them to be - one lesson, one class, one special event, one service project and one moment at a time!

We are so thankful that YOU are part of our community!

John Naeher is the Director of Student Life & Operations.  He started at CHS in the fall of 1981 and began his 43rd yr in the fall of 2023.  His daughters, Amanda 06', Alyssa 06' and Abigail 10' attended CHS from K-12.  John has had the privilege of coaching several teams, sponsoring many Senior Classes and been a part of building community at CHS throughout his career.  “CHS has been a rich part of my family for which I will always be grateful.”

These are the most beautiful things you will never see! 

These are pictures of just a portion of the new HVAC systems installed over the past couple years.  At over $1 million, what an awesome display of God’s people investing in a better future for the ministry and mission of Christian Heritage School. 

There is this great image painted for us in Deuteronomy 6 just before the nation of Israel is to cross the Jordan River into Canaan.  God gives this word. 

"It shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land which He swore to give your fathers  . . . to give you a land with great and splendid cities which you did not build and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn wells which you did not dig and vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant” 

When we stop and look around us, literally everything here at CHS is here because someone gave, built or donated. Given, sometimes at great sacrifice, always with a yearning to see what we witness every day.  Children, families, and teachers working and learning together were on their minds and hearts when they gave their prayerful support and generous donations.  They earnestly anticipated the impact for Christ through the mission of Christian Heritage School and did it all with gratitude. 

The core values on which this place was built change lives and matter for eternity.  Values like an unshakeable faith in God built on a foundation of prayer, a firm adherence to His Word and a deep love for kids.  There is a passion for this biblically based education secured by a sacred partnership with the home and church.  And, there is a pursuit of excellence, all of it delivered by gifted and godly teachers in a culture that sadly does not often value these things.  

As CHS begins its 47th year, it has been and continues to be my greatest joy to serve in various roles alongside incredibly talented teachers and other professionals as we take on this important purpose. 

In my role in development, I speak with parents, former parents and grandparents of CHS graduates, alumni and friends of CHS.  I will sometimes ask, “Why continue to be interested in us?  Why support the CHS mission?  Your generosity is an obvious sign of support meant to encourage and strengthen what is done here.  Why do you continue giving money to CHS, year after year?" 

Their responses reference a few common themes: 

• It’s our children, and our children’s children.  It’s our responsibility, our greatest joy and treasure to support a Godly heritage moving on through our legacy.  
• It is our call and duty to our world.  It does not get any more important than this; together we raise up Christian scholars in a world that desperately needs people sharing the love of Jesus Christ in action and in truth. 
• Because we are grateful.  We experience the unique and personal touch of Godly teachers who model daily an intimate relationship with, and love for, Jesus Christ.  Our children certainly learn to read and write and compete academically.  That is not unimportant, but it isn’t the full answer.  These teachers walk daily with the Lord and then teach children that the Bible is the Living Word of God.  We are grateful for that blessing.  

It is a privilege to take every opportunity to support the mission and ministry of this special place.  Please take a moment to reflect and share a gift that will literally touch lives for eternity. 

God bless you.

Bruce Stempien is the Director of Advancement. Bruce has been active at CHS in a variety of roles through their 45+ year history.  In the ‘80s, he set up the framework for the new high school and worked part time with college admissions for CHS graduating classes through the ‘90s.  In 2007, he assumed the role of Upper School Principal for 6 years and, in 2013, became the Director of Advancement.  As a team, Bruce and and his wife, Dianne, were involved in school musicals and a student singing group named Greater Love.  They enjoyed the experience as parents of a son and a daughter who attended CHS from Kindergarten through 12th grade.  They currently attend New Life Church. 

Like any new technology, artificial intelligence has brought new opportunities and ethical questions into our lives. Is it okay to click the automated email reply that says essentially what you would have said? Is it fine to let an algorithm clean up your grammar and syntax? How about letting your new car drive for you? None of these questions are going away, so we need to acknowledge their ubiquity and learn how to respond well to them. 

Schools everywhere are scrambling to respond to AI programs like ChatGPT, especially when it comes to academic accountability. Programs like these respond to prompts by gathering information from all over the internet and synthesizing it in a unique way that replicates human writing. At this point, the writing may be a little stiff—and some of it may be erroneous or irrelevant—but much of it is accurate and decently written. 

This makes plagiarism of various kinds easier for students, and much harder for teachers to detect (since each AI response is essentially a unique language event). When I reached out to my fellow AP Lang teachers on Facebook to share their strategies for managing this new challenge, I received about fifty thoughtful and varied responses! Clearly, there is no standard protocol for teachers right now, although there are many good practices.    

At CHS, we as educators are committed to learning more about AI, and, as always, we will set clear expectations with our students. It is not enough for us to say, “Don’t ever use AI!” Instead, we must teach students how and when to use these technologies. For example, ChatGPT might be a perfect resource for a student searching for a new book or research topic, but it should not be used as a writing aid for an essay draft. 

Since AI detection is much more challenging than traditional plagiarism, we will also be teaching students to authenticate their own writing (via citations, Google Doc drafts, accountability systems like Turnitin.com, etc.). Originality and academic accountability have always been important in the writing process, but now they will be even more central. 

As technologies like AI continue to evolve, we teachers at CHS are adapting to the challenges and opportunities they present. ChatGPT and other models of AI were just released for public use last school year, and we experienced some of our first student incidents with them in the final few months of school. So far this school year, we have had a full PD training session about AI, all upper school teachers have created ChatGPT accounts, and some teachers are already finding appropriate ways to incorporate AI into lessons and assignments. There is certainly more to learn, but we are well on our way.     

Helpful Link for Parents: https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/09/05/1079009/you-need-to-talk-to-your-kid-about-ai-here-are-6-things-you-should-say/

Benjamin J. Chase is the English department chair at Christian Heritage School, where he has been teaching since 2010. He is a Connecticut native with an MFA in Poetry from West Conn. His poems have appeared in many literary journals over the years, and his first book of poetry, Here to See It, was published by Kelsay Books in May 2022. He lives with his wife Cristina and son Levi in Monroe, where they attend Stepney Baptist Church.

UPCOMING TEST: Plan to Study

Fall Greetings CHS community:  For those who are new to Christian Heritage School, I pray you are beginning to feel a bit more settled into our community. Academic classes are into a good routine by now and homework has begun. A first test or quiz most likely has happened in your child’s class. As grades are beginning to be entered into the gradebook, some students may begin to feel a bit anxious or overwhelmed.

If your child indicates that they may feel unsettled or even expresses some anxiety about an upcoming test, it is key to think through strategies for good test preparation. It is most helpful for you as their parent or guardian to put things into perspective. Your child needs to know that it is important to do well in school, but a single test or quiz will not determine his or her future. There will be more opportunities. Your child also needs guidance in learning how to prepare for tests in ways that will reduce test anxiety.

Step 1: Put a plan in place (throughout the semester)

• Pre-read your textbook before class. (This especially pertains to the more advanced classes.)
• Read notes after class even on nights without homework. (Rewrite anything you might not understand.)
• Reach out to your teacher for extra help (schedule an appointment during their office hours)
• Prepare and review notes

Step 2: Put a plan in place (the week or two before the test)

• When a review sheet is provided, complete it (start on it the day you receive it!) and use it to study.
• Reach out to your teacher for help on any questions that you’re stuck on, and physically write out your answers and explanations for anything you did not understand.

Step 3: Put a plan in place (the 24 hours before the test)

• Get a good night’s sleep. Your ability to think clearly and to deal with possible test anxiety improves with good sleep.
• Eat something to help with focus and attention.
• Stay hydrated.
• Remember you have prepared, and now is not the time to worry.

Step 4: During the test!

Now is the time to SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW!  

• Be prepared to run into a few questions you aren’t sure about. Know that it’s going to happen, and don’t panic when it does.
• If you feel anxious, PRAY! Philippians 4:6 - “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
• Breathe deeply to calm your “fight or flight” response. (You learned about “box breathing”  in Chapel recently. Use this!)
• Focus on YOUR work. It doesn’t matter if others are working at a faster (or slower) pace. Take the time YOU need!
• Do your best, check over your work, and turn it in. You can learn from your results when you get them back, but you did your best.  It’s time to relax a bit!

By reviewing these pre-test strategies you may have discovered new ideas to help your child to add to what they already use.

One of the most important keys to success in test preparation is having the discipline to do what you know you should do, even when you don’t feel like doing it. Encourage your child to develop productive test preparation skills, a plan for dealing with anxiety during the test, and an ability to keep a proper perspective on this test in the grand scheme of things.

Kim Haggerty, an alum of CHS, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Wheaton College right outside of Chicago. She began her career in Special Education in the Westport School system; the Lord led her back to CHS to join the staff as an elementary teacher. Mrs. Haggerty is beginning her 9 th year in her current position directing the Student Academic Services program overseeing grades K-12. She is a part of a wonderful team who help support students and their families to assist in their development to reach their full potential as lifelong learners. She absolutely loves what she does and enjoys building relationships with CHS students and their families.