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Viva España! Our Journey Through Sun, Culture, and Learning with CHS

June 12, 2025
By Debbie DeBlasi

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 Service Projects: Inspiring Change and Transforming Lives Through Service

May 15, 2025
By John Naeher

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.”

Kingsmen Café: There's No Place Like Home

January 06, 2025
By Lorna Tyrell

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. 

 

 

 

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Back-to-School: Balancing Big Feelings

August 21, 2023
By Nancy Fujii

The beginning of a school year can be challenging for kids. Summer break is over, and it's time to focus, follow a schedule, and get organized. While some students may be excited to see friends, meet new teachers, or learn new things, others can feel anxious. No parent wants to see their child struggle, but challenges can help them (and us) grow.

Balancing Big Feelings

Most people want to ensure children feel less anxious when they see they're in distress, so they rush to accommodate their discomfort. But rescuing children from stressful situations can worsen their anxiety as they learn to depend on you to remove their fear, which becomes a coping pattern and hinders their maturity. You won't always be there to relieve their distress, and their anxiety will deepen as they grow.

It's better to be empathetic, help them understand their anxiety, and encourage them to face their fear. You can say, "I know you're scared, and that's okay. I'm here, and I'm going to help you get through this." With time, they'll learn to handle challenging situations, and your child (and you) will become closer to God through your endurance.

". . . the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-4)

Stories Matter

Want to change how you feel about a situation? First, change how you think about it. Try thinking about how God helps us see the world differently.

As relational image-bearers of Christ, we all desire human connection. Those connections often happen in our shared stories, so talk with your child to express your interest in becoming part of their story.

If they had a challenging day, talk about it, and bear their burden. If they had a great day, celebrate, and encourage them.

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)

"stir up one another to love . . . meet regularly . . . encourage one another." (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Christian perseverance is a community endeavor. God calls us to love Him and love our neighbor. It's in mutual affection for one another and sharing our stories that we persevere and thrive.

Questions for your child could include:

  • Tell me a few things you liked and didn't like about your day. 
  • Who in your class can we pray for?
  • What happened at lunch today? 
  • Tell me one new thing you learned and what made you laugh today. 
  • What was the kindest thing you did for someone today?

Often kids are not facing academic and social demands at home, which can trigger behaviors in school that the teacher will see, but the parents won't. A teacher knows the challenges, successes, and friendships their students have. They are allies who genuinely want what's best for each student.

Good questions to ask teachers include:

  • How is my child doing? 
  • Do you have any concerns about their social or academic skills? 
  • Do they need my help with anything?
Parent Tips
  1. Create a routine to talk with your child about their feelings. 
  2. Kids can pick up on nervous energy, so be positive and calm, expressing faith, perseverance, and joy as your child begins the school year.
  3. Anticipate and trust what God has planned for your child.
  4. Don't put unrealistic expectations of perfection on your child.
  5. Most setbacks are healthy for maturity, so embrace them.
  6. Ensure your student gets proper sleep and eats breakfast before school.
  7. Try to avoid fixing every problem your child experiences. Sometimes kids want to talk about challenges to validate their feelings without someone trying to fix them. 
  8. Talk about changing friendships and how to have REAL (Respectful-Encouraging-Accepting-Loving) God-honoring relationships with others.
  9. Changing teen brains causes mixed thoughts and behaviors, so ask them about school experiences and challenges.
  10. If your child struggles with extreme behaviors about returning to school, talk to their teacher or the principal for guidance and next steps.
Abounding Grace

Parenting is a gradual process of letting go as our children mature. Wherever you are on your parenting journey, God’s grace is sufficient. We can’t be with our children 24/7, but God can. His care and presence are better than anything we can give them.

“God makes all grace abound, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

 

Nancy Fujii Bio/Work Experience

Nancy joined CHS in 2021 as a part-time K-12 Christian Counselor. Nancy counsels and teaches in a classroom, small group, and individual setting, helping students understand God and themselves through their identity in Christ. This school year, Nancy will teach a social-emotional Christlike character formation curriculum showing how our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and experiences shape us. Before joining CHS, Nancy co-founded the Family Peace Center, where she continues to serve in the local community helping families build God-centered relationships.
 

Recent Posts

6/12/25 - By Debbie DeBlasi
5/15/25 - By John Naeher
5/5/25 - By Beth Pelaccia
4/7/25 - By Karl Simon
3/27/25 - By Katy Culbertson

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