charlotte christian school
Dear Charlotte Christian Community, Throughout the Old Testament God commands His people to pause and remember the past. As Joshua led the Israelites through the Jordan River prior to the conquest of the promised land, God told Joshua to have each of the 12 tribes to select a man who then would choose a memorial stone. These stones were to serve as a reminder to future generations of God’s grace, mercy, and power. This particular story ends with these powerful words, “so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” (Joshua 4:24) Like the Israelites, I think it is essential for our community to look back and recognize God’s hand moving on our campus. Over the last five years, we have watched our school grow in size, constructed new beautiful facilities, revamped the curriculum, and added amazing and wonderful new programs. Many people have diligently worked to enable these changes, but we know none of it is possible without God’s blessing. I am beyond thankful for the unique seat that I have had during this time, and I appreciate the unwavering support the community has shown my leadership. Part of this document is to highlight much of what we have accomplished together as a community. However, we cannot simply live looking back, we must also be aware of the present. Joshua and the people knew that once they crossed the Jordan River, a battle was ahead. Our battle today is not like Joshua’s, conquering cities like Jericho, rather our battle is for the hearts and minds of students. We fully recognize our mission is counter-cultural, yet we embrace the battle knowing that God is in our midst. We celebrate the past, recognize the present, and eagerly anticipate the future. The second part of this document highlights aspects of our new strategic plan. After countless meetings, diligent data review, and lots of prayer we know that our future is bright. I am thrilled for where God is leading Charlotte Christian, and I am thrilled to share this plan knowing that we will continue to have the opportunity to impact the culture for Christ. God Bless,
Barry Giller Head of School
2020 Strategic Vision Recap
Over a five-period, Charlotte Christian completed or partially completed 61 of 64 objectives (95%).

EMPLOYEES
Retain, train, and recruit employees who embody the school’s mission with evident passion for their faith, Christian education, and their grade level/discipline.
HIGHLIGHTS: • Increased professional development opportunities for employees on and off campus to help train and develop their passions for Christian education. A group of teachers traveled to Haiti to host a week-long professional development for Haitian teachers. Others attended events such as the Google Certified Innovator Energizer event, the National Science Conference, Teaching Fellows Institute, Advanced Placement Institutes and AP readers and various conferences. • Encouraged employees to pursue advanced degree work. Currently eight faculty members are pursuing doctorate or master’s degrees. Three employees recently received their doctorate degrees. Dr. Theresa Kasay, director of academics, holds her EdD in Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Supervision with an additional specialization in Superintendency from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Dr. Dean Hardy, upper school Bible teacher, received his Doctor of Theology degree from the University of South Africa. Dr. Kaylah Holland, middle school technology facilitator, received her Doctorate in Education in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership with a concentration in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Memphis. • The Bible committee developed an intentional plan for training all faculty members on classroom Biblical integration. The committee works closely with Bible teachers from each division to ensure that engaging teaching tools are shared for faculty to best integrate the Bible into each subject.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Intentionally disciple students to a closer relationship with Jesus Christ and equip them to integrate Biblical truth and learning into their daily lives in order to impact the culture for Christ.
HIGHLIGHTS: • Implemented age-appropriate approaches to providing faith development for students. A few examples include fifth graders reading through Lee Strobel’s Case for Christ to learn more about the miracles, ministry and existence of Jesus; middle school students learning how to make their faith their own with a curricular approach to chapels and the addition of small group curriculum; and upper school digging deep into the Old and New Testaments, world religions and apologetics. • Employed a spiritual life director in each division. The three spiritual life directors work together deliver a weekly e-mail every Thursday to update our families on chapel speakers and their topics. • Developed a comprehensive missions program that includes offering more mission opportunities within the school year. The J-Term program in the upper school currently offers several international mission trips to Africa, Dominican Republic and Haiti as well as local experiences.
ACADEMICS
Offer a rigorous and unified (JK-12) college preparatory curriculum that challenges students of multiple academic abilities and talents.
HIGHLIGHTS: • Recreated the school’s approach to technology including one-to-one programs in both the MS (iPads) and US (MacBook Airs). Approximately 1,300 Apple devices have been purchased for the iKnights Technology Program that also includes iPad Minis, iPad Airs, iMacs, Apple TV and LEGO Robotics programming and the engineering program. • Developed an academic services center to assist students with diagnosed learning disabilities to help them succeed in the classroom. The Academic Services Program partners with more than 100 students and is overseen by the assistant director of academics and a team of six academic specialists. • Incorporated new curriculum and programs at all three division levels. Among the additions are lower school coding and multiple RoboKnight teams; middle school design squad, design think, and MidKnight News classes, peer counseling and RoboKnight teams; and upper school engineering, Current Events, Latin IV and AP Latin, and theatre tech classes. The annual J-Term week was created for upper school students, and the Knight Tank competition began to encourage members of the entire student body to team up with teachers to propose new programs.
CHRIST-CENTERED COMMUNITY
Foster an atmosphere of Christ-centered community that partners with parents and families in seeking a collective Biblical worldview.
HIGHLIGHTS: • Established an annual parent education program that offers more than 15 offerings for parents in all divisions. Ladies’ and men’s fellowship events, principal seminars, and the all-school ParentPop! series are just a few of the opportunities for parents to learn and grow together as a community. • Instituted a 16-member Alumni Cabinet that engages the school’s roughly 3,000 alumni in a variety of annual events including Homecoming, roadshow alumni dinners, networking events, etc. CCS Connect, a new communications platform, was launched as a way for alums to stay engaged with CCS events, network with fellow alumni, and connect for professional opportunities. Visit alumni.charlottechristian.com. • Created annual all-school chapels to bring the JK-grade 12 school community together to dedicate the new school year, praise God for all of his blessings during Thanksgiving and worship His faithfulness at Easter.
FINANCIAL
Prudently plan for the future by maintaining a financial plan that focuses on long term sustainability and growth including widening advancement opportunities featuring community support, fundraising, brand strengthening, and admissions.
HIGHLIGHTS: • Continued to steward all resources toward financial sustainability by creating a multi-year strategic financial plan. The school met the goal in June 2017 to have an operating cash reserve of 10% of our annual budget. • Created an endowment committee charged with establishing guidelines and growing the fund to plant seeds for the future. • Increased enrollment in the lower school by more than 60 students over the last five years. A fourth section of fifth grade was added starting the 2017-18 school year in order to meet the increased interest from prospective families.
FACILITIES
Maintain current and develop new facilities in accordance to the campus plan that serve the school’s three divisions while providing appropriate common area space for the wide array of cocurricular opportunities.
HIGHLIGHTS: • Developed a master campus plan with five phases to expand and renovate Charlotte Christian’s campus. • Built the Warner Field House, Hendrick Center for Arts and Science, and the Center for Worship and Performing Arts, adding 51,126 square feet, eliminating the cottages and creating 14 additional classrooms. • Renovated the Flenniken Dining Hall, Guy Gym, stadium field and track, parking lot, Bryte Little Efird MS/US Media Center, middle school creation space and middle school office.
CO-CURRICULAR
Offer a comprehensive co-curricular program in the arts, athletics, service, and leadership arenas that enables students to develop their God-given talents in a meaningful and Christhonoring manner.
HIGHLIGHTS: • Developed a leadership program (curricular and co-curricular) for middle and upper school students.
• The middle school Student Senate elective and club allows students to work on leadership skills through exercises, debates, interviews and discussions. The middle school chaplain program provides an opportunity for students to lead in spiritual life guiding small group discussions on a weekly basis.
• The upper school Prefect Student Government System allows seven student leaders to be mentored by a faculty member and charged with leading a committee of student volunteers in their area. • Increased number of on-campus varsity head coaches in the programs for cheerleading, dance, boys’ and girls’ swimming and track and field.
2025 Strategic Vision
Following a successful implementation of the school’s 2020 Vision Statement, Charlotte Christian has begun the next phase of school improvement with the launch of the 2025 Strategic Vision. Seven major initiatives, with specific and measurable objectives, combine to make up the 2025 Strategic Vision. On the following pages you will find a description of each initiative and a sampling of the objectives we seek to meet under each one.
1.
Recruit, train, support and reward team members who embody the school’s mission with evident passion for their faith, Christian education and their job. • Offer targeted opportunities and increase resources allocated specifically for professional development. • Encourage and support teachers to pursue/maintain national board certification. • Provide both formal and informal opportunities for students, parents, and colleagues to express appreciation for CCS team members. • Hire team members whose education, church home, previous experiences, and/or demographics create greater diversity in each division and/or department.
2.
Intentionally disciple students to know Jesus Christ and equip them to effectively integrate Biblical truth and learning into their lives to impact the culture for Christ. • Create a task force to examine the service component of the school. The task force should specifically examine how service is recognized, create more all division or family service opportunities, offer an upper school service fair and consider the criteria for acceptable service hours. • Create a school-wide Biblical Worldview Day. • Pilot a program that includes training for team members to mentor and disciple students. • Create specific training and education for students who serve on the chapel worship team, attend a mission trip and/or lead small groups or Bible studies.
3.
Offer a rigorous and unified college preparatory curriculum that engages and supports all students. • Review the current curriculum, JK-12, and confirm that diverse representation is included in displays, assigned readings and instruction. • Increase elective offerings in both the middle and upper school, specifically in the areas of spiritual development, business, engineering, STEM, sociology, health care, cultural studies, and creative writing. • Design lessons and student training in each division on productive group project management including delegation, process, and intended outcomes. • Create a task force to examine the world languages curriculum - JK - 12 – in an effort to reflect a global education.
4.
Foster an atmosphere of Christcentered community among CCS constituents - students, faculty, parents, alumni, and alumni parents. • Develop a Knight-to-Knight Program, pairing older students with younger students in a mentoring relationship. • Create opportunities for faculty members to interact with new and prospective parents. • Continue to increase the engagement of all alumni and emphasize the reach of the alumni council specifically in the areas of networking and campus involvement. • Investigate the creation of a parent mentorship program - parents helping parents navigate the turbulent waters of parenting children in today’s culture.
5.
Maintain a strategic financial plan that ensures sustainability. • Conduct a comprehensive study of benefits offerings and present a plan to the board of trustees for adoption. • Manage the debt structure for the school to ensure that core debt service (principal and interest payments excluding principal pay downs related to pledge receivables) does not exceed 8% of the annual net tuition revenues, and will be less than 5% by 2025. • Grow and maintain cash reserves at the level of 20% of annual operating budget. • Increase the school’s endowment with a focus on planned giving.
6.
Maintain current and develop new facilities, while continuing to operate in an environment committed to the safety of our students, that serve the school’s three divisions, including appropriate space for the wide array of co-curricular opportunities. • Consider artificial turf for playground space and additional concrete on the hill near the stadium for cart access as well as an area for fans to watch athletic contests. • Re-design campus playgrounds to make areas more developmentally appropriate. • Create a community garden and work with Flik on using the garden to support the campus kitchen. • Open a campus coffee and/or smoothie shop to provide a casual meeting space.
7.
Offer a comprehensive co-curricular program that enables students to develop their God-given talents in a meaningful and Christ-honoring manner. • Create support for female athletics via opportunities to participate, improved facilities and mentorship programs. • Explore possibility of requiring upper school students to participate in one job shadow and one mission trip during upper school. • Hire additional fine arts teachers at all levels, creating opportunities for more students to participate. • Develop additional lower school athletic opportunities.
Mission Charlotte Christian School is a Christ-centered, college preparatory school, equipping and developing students to effectively integrate Biblical truth and learning into their daily lives and to impact the culture for Christ.
Vision Charlotte Christian will be the premier Christian school in the Southeast hallmarked by its intentional spiritual formation of students, rigorous as well as varied academic offerings, vibrant fine arts department, and a comprehensive, competitive athletic program. This vision will be actively supported by a passionate and talented faculty, an administration who models servant leadership, supportive parents, a visionary board of trustees, and a vigorous alumni base.
7301 Sardis Road Charlotte, NC 28270 www.charlottechristian.com