Vol. 29 • No. 2
The Sceptre
A Publication of Christ the King School, Nashville, TN
Community
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Winter/Spring 2020
A Primary Education Ministry of Christ the King Parish
Knowledge
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Service
2020 Distinguished Graduate • CKS Happenings
A Letter from the Principal
Dear Families and Friends,
Recently, new members of the National Junior Honor Society were inducted in an evening ceremony at Christ the King. The occasion was a solemn, candlelight service enhanced by classical music performed by eighth grade member Hailey Wondem. NJHS students conducted the entire program, exhibiting the scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship, and character that are hallmarks of the organization. As new members were pinned and recited the NJHS pledge, my pride in their growth and accomplishments could not have been greater. These students exemplify the values that our curriculum instills beginning in the earliest grades. Service to God and the community is the outgrowth of a Catholic education that encourages students to be always thinking, always growing. A strong academic foundation and opportunities to experience leadership prepare students to be compassionate servant leaders. I can’t think of a better role model for our students than this year’s NCEA Distinguished Graduate, Dave Kuhlman (CKS Class of ‘53). An engineer by profession, Dave served our parish as a Eucharistic Minister and lector for close to five decades, coached school sports, and was a Parish Council member for multiple terms. Most recently and most familiar to the current school community, Dave led Christ the King’s Haiti Twin Parish Program for the past twelve years. Parishioners might recognize Dave as the man with the buckets and picket signs after Mass. He has been a committed and inspiring leader, whom I admire greatly. An annual social justice project in which students grow in faith and service is “Change for Haiti” during Lent. This year students learned about fellow students in our twin parish of Our Lady of Sorrow, whose newly built 7th and 8th grade classrooms do not have chairs. These students, some of whom walk a mile or more to school each day, must carry a chair from home to use at school and carry it home at the end of the day, every day. In unity with these students, CKS students participated in a “Chair March,” carrying their chairs to a morning assembly about Haiti and around the campus. They have been collecting “Change for Chairs” in classroom jars and school Mass contributions, and praying for their counterparts in Pilette, Haiti. The funds raised will help purchase seventy-five wooden desks for our twin school. Recently, second grade students enjoyed a downtown field trip, which included a bank tour. During the visit, they learned to write a check and cash it with the teller. Each student received $1.41 (one dollar, one quarter, one dime, one nickel, one penny). Upon returning to school, the teacher observed students putting their money in the Change for Haiti collection jar. What kind hearts these students have developed at a very young age! Serving God by serving others with loving hearts is essential to our mission of excellence at Christ the King. The above are but a few examples. Each school day presents teachable moments for guiding students on their own journey of faith, academics, love, and service. We are blessed to have a community of staff, parents, and parish who join together in this shared mission. Sincerely, Mrs. Sherry Woodman Principal The 2019-2020 Annual Fund is underway at Christ the King School. Due to the strong love and support of our community we are currently closing in on our goal of $170,000. Many parents, alumni and parishioners have already joined together to make their annual financial commitment to the school. Thank you so much for your support! As we approach the end of our fiscal year, please consider a gift to the Annual Fund before June 30. All proceeds directly benefit our operating budget and the students of Christ the King School. For example, in the past year we purchased three touch screen interactive panels for classrooms, a new technology cart of chromebooks for our elementary wing, made additional security upgrades, and expanded services for exceptional learners. If you would like to make a gift you can mail a check to the school or visit www.ctk.org/donate and select CTK School – Annual Giving under ministry. Please contact Development Director Jennifer Harris at jennifer.harris@ cks-nashville.org or call 615-777-8975 for questions or more information. Christ the King School continues to pray for the safety of our students and families throughout these challenging times and we are so appreciative of your continued love and support to our school and students!
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DISTINGUISHED Graduate 2020
Fellow Haiti group members
On the Cover: Dave Kuhlman CKS ‘53, receives the 2020 NCEA Distinguished Graduate Award from Christ the King School.
Dave’s family and friends gathered to celebrate
Below: Senator Bill Frist, Miss Osborne and Mrs. Tracy Frist get their hands painted for “Touch the Dog.” See page 7 for more on the story.
Dave brought some CKS Memories
Joined by his family, also CKS Graduates
Fr. Dexter and friends share stories
The students applauded Dave Kuhlman
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Friends and family gathered to celebrate
Dave told a “secret” about Christ the King Church
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Contents 4 NJHS 4 Geography Bee 4 Change for Haiti 5 TN First Lady 5 ACA Update 5 The Frists & Touch the Dog 6 CSW/Faith Rally 7 Alumni Updates 7 CKS Rocking Quarantine 8 Dates to Remember 6
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Want to Stay Connected with CKS? cksraiders.org @cks_nashville
If you’re receiving multiple copies of The Sceptre, or your Raider no longer resides at your address, please help us to update our alumni database by sending your corrected information to Jeanette Neuhoff Vogt ‘76 at jeanette.vogt@cks-nashville.org, or call 615-777-8976.
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STUDENT Accomplishments
National Junior Honor Society: New members inducted 2/24/20 - Isabella Aldendifer, Colleen Alvis, Allen Bryan, Parker Causey, MaryEllen Chiasson-McMillan, Griffin Heile, Audrey Rose Hulse, Ryan Jones, Hank McNeill, Mark Mullins, Gracie Sevier, Wyatt Stany, Stella Thurman, Abigail Timmons. Current members - Joseph Brackman, Benjamin Bradley, Ellie Bryan ‘18, Aidan Carr, Carly Cavanaugh, Nicoletta Chiames, Alexandra Crews, Isabella Gavigan, Sanjeeth George, McKay McGuinness, Sean Meffe, Caroline Meyer, Kate Miller, Kailey Nicholson, Maggie Niesen, Venn Stany ‘19, Kira Stell, Sullivan Strobel, Gabrielle Tiburcio, Dylan Timmons ‘17, Rachael Wehby, Hailey Wondem.
GEOGRAPHY Bee The results are in! The National Geographic Society named Colleen Alvis, 7th grade, as one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2020 National Geographic GeoBee State Competition. The Regional Contest has been cancelled at this time, but we will stay tuned for the next step. This is the second level of the National Geographic GeoBee competition, which is now in its 32nd year. To determine each school champion, GeoBee competitions were held in schools throughout the state in the fourth through eighth grades. This year, an estimated 2.4 million students competed in the GeoBee, with 8,661 students becoming school champions. School champions also took an online qualifying test, which they submitted to the National Geographic Society. Up to 100 of the top-scoring students in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense Dependents Schools in the U.S. territories were invited to compete in the State GeoBees. The National Championship is scheduled for May 18-21, 2020, unless postponed.
Change for Haiti
We had a “Change for Haiti” assembly and since students are contributing coins torward chairs for the school in our sister parish, we held a Chair March in solidarity with our Haitian counterparts who must carry their chairs from home to sit in each day. CKS students learned that seventh and eighth grade students in Our Lady of Sorrow school in Pilette do not have desks in their newly constructed classrooms because there were no funds for them. The students walk to school, some a mile or more, and must bring a chair to and from school. Our students all carried their chairs to this assembly and then took a walk around the building to simulate the experience and build empathy.
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First Lady of Tennessee visits First Grade - Mrs. Maria Lee
The first grade had a special visitor before Spring Break. Mrs. Maria Lee, the First Lady of Tennessee, visited the first grade to read Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller for Read Across America Week. She also told the students about the Tennessee Kids Serve Summer Challenge, June 1 - August 1, promoting service among our state’s young citizens. Top participants are invited to a carnival celebration at the end of the challenge.
A Crown Affair Update
Development Office News! In March we hosted A Crown Affair 2020 benefiting Christ the King School. A Crown Affair is the largest fundraising event of the year, and over $120,000 was raised for a record year of the event! Of those proceeds, $30,000 is allocated for much needed new playground equipment! Our attendees really came together in the Bid Paddle Raise to help make this a reality! The auction had many exciting offerings including vacations to Colorado and Florida, special dinners with Father Dexter, and a Songwriter’s package in a renowned Nashville studio. Thank you to our guests, our auction donors, our sponsors, and most especially to our dedicated co-chairs, Sabrina O’Malley and Deana Cavanaugh for their heroic efforts in planning and executing a very successful event!
The Frists and Touch the Dog
Senator Bill and Tracy Frist brought their “Touch the Dog” project, a program that promotes social-emotional learning. Students explored emotions and traits connected to people and things they value. Each student transferred their feelings to Nickel, a ceramic dog, by placing their painted hand on him, giving him color and life. It was a beautiful metaphor for how we touch the lives of others in unique and meaningful ways. Other classes will have an opportunity to add their handprints to Nickel, when we return to school. The Frists brought a book as a gift to the second grade. Ironically, it was written by our former art teacher, Jessica Young, so CKS is familiar with the book. My Blue is Happy is a very fitting book to complement the program.
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CATHOLIC Schools Week
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK: Highlights from the week included celebrating the Parish, Community, Vocations and Volunteers, Our Nation, Parents, Students, Teachers and Staff; Distinguished Graduate, the annual 8th vs Faculty Game (this year, volleyball!), a Faith Rally with John Angotti, and coming to school in pajamas.
Faith Rally
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Weddings
Alumni Updates
The Yarbros
Mary Margaret (Hand) ‘10 and Captain Edward Scott Yarbro, Jr. were married July 6, 2019 at Cathedral of Saint Paul in Birmingham, AL, and is now living in Okinawa, Japan for the next 3 years.
Baby Raiders
Rose Christine to Lindsay and Luke Carter ‘00, and granddaughter of Diane Wehby Carter ‘71, born September 27, 2019. Charlotte Ann to Briana and Austin Vogt ‘05, and granddaughter of Jeanette Neuhoff Vogt ‘76, born November 5, 2019.
Joseph Evans Mondelli
Mary Margaret Yarbro Dunn Samuel Stoffer
Dunn Samuel to Madeline and Mitchell Stoffer ‘05, born December 11, 2019.
Charlotte & Joseph Mondelli
Micah Hayes to Emma Wilson ‘09, and big brother to 5-yr-old Elliot, born January 30, 2020.
Rose Christine Carter The Carters
Joseph Evans to Stephanie and Frank Mondelli, Jr. ‘00, big sister Charlotte ‘26, and future Raider Frankie, born February 14, 2020.
In Memoriam
The Stoffers
Helen Auerweck, mother of retired CKS teacher, Diane Auerweck Chuck Meriwether, father-in-law of Brittany Francescon Meriwether ‘98/faculty Clayton Walker ‘99 Mary Ann Wieck, parishioner and former longtime CKS librarian and secretary, parent and grandparent
Micah and Elliot
Diane Carter and Rose
(Below) The Tiburcio Family who was visiting their family in the Philippines when the Taal Volcano erupted took action to help and enlisted other school families to join in - Raiders in action living the mission. The Vogts
#CKSRaidersRock
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We are proud to recognize Phillip ‘49 and Sallie Holmes, Sr. Mr. & Mrs. Holmes put 7 children through CKS over a span of 22 years, had a short break of 4 years before beginning their 28-year streak as grandparents of 12 CKS students. Hard to believe 71 years ago Mr. Holmes had graduated CKS! Unless a new grandchild comes along to start, Rachel Beacom ‘22 will complete a 30-year run for the Holmes family.
In difficult circumstances, our Raiders shine! Due to the COVID-19 quarantine, our teachers, students and parents began learning and working from home on Monday, March 23rd. Parents, teachers, and students are working hard with the help of technology to complete their lessons, including music, art and PE at home and corresponding with teachers through their devices.
Jeanette Vogt & Charlotte
Charlotte and big brother Percy
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NON-PROFIT ORG.
U. S. Postage
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NASHVILLE, TENN. PERMIT NO. 2987
Christ the King Church 3001 Belmont Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37212 www.cksraiders.org
Serving the Families of Christ the King, Cathedral, Holy Family, Holy Name, Saint Ignatius, Saint Patrick, and Saint Phillip
DATES TO REMEMBER Due to the COVID-19 Stay at Home Orders, all events at CKS are tentative
April 5 Palm Sunday 9 Holy Thursday 10 Good Friday 12 Easter Sunday 13 Easter Monday 17 End of 4th Quarter Interim 19 3:00p Confirmation @ CPC 26 11:00a First Communion
May 4-8 14 21 22
8th Grade Trip 6:00p Academic Banquet 8:15a EOY Awards 10:30a 8th Grade Dismissal 6:30p Graduation Last Day of School
June 7 First Communion (rescheduled date if necessary)
12:00p Dismissal
Bishop Spalding came to games in January and prayed with teams