Classic

SPRING 2014

INSIDE: > Exploring Robotics > Aquaponics: Here & Abroad > Arts & Athletics > The Master Plan

Board of Trustees, 2013-2014 Jody Billiard, Chairman Larry Kirkman, Vice Chairman Don Moseley, Treasurer Beth McKnight, Secretary Carolyn Airing Danny Church Rennie Faulkner Beth Glover Greg Love Melissa Roper Mike Ross Roger Wilkerson

Mission Statement

Head of School Mark Davis

Editor/Designer, Classic Megan Holt

To assist the Christian family by providing an education marked by a biblical worldview, academic excellence, and affordability, so that students are equipped to be salt and light for God’s glory.

Contributing Writers

Charlie Bedell, Bess Blackburn, Mark Davis, Haley Everson, Lindsey Fisher, Janet Grimmer-Kempf, Mariah Harrelson, Bill Hawks, Kelly Keesling, Caroline McKissick, Dawn Poulterer, Jamie Welfare

Vision Statement

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Covenant Day School is committed to becoming an exceptional, Christ-centered, college-preparatory school. We will create an environment which develops lifelong learners, critical thinkers and problem solvers who will be actively engaged in the world as ambassadors for Christ. Our appraised, innovative academic courses and comprehensive extra-curricular offerings will be taught through the lens of truth found in the historic Christian faith by godly faculty and staff who are skilled educators and dedicated mentors. Graduates will be prepared for matriculation into leading colleges and universities in order to live out their callings on the global stage. Our distinctive sense of family, with a diverse community of students, families, friends, donors and alumni, will undergird these efforts necessary to bring excellence to every aspect of Covenant Day School, a ministry of Christ Covenant Church, for God’s glory.

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Core Values

Photographers

Thank you to the faculty, staff, parents, alumni, students, and friends who shared their photos for this publication

Cover Artwork

Rachael Boyce, 7th grade

Special Thanks to:

The entire CDS community who contributed to this publication

Megan Holt, mholt@covenantday.org

http://photos.covenantday.org/

Christlikeness

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A reflection of the work of Christ, loving in thought and deed, serving God and others

CDS QUICK LINKS

A pursuit of biblical truth so as to develop the knowledge and discernment that guides our judgment and decisions in all areas of life

Linda Glass, lglass@covenantday.org

Annual Report: www.covenantday.org/publications Athletics: www.covenantday.org/golions ENEWS: www.covenantday.org/cdsenews Fine Arts: www.covenantday.org/finearts Give Online: www.covenantday.org/give Magazines: www.covenantday.org/publications

Truth

Integrity

An insistence on biblical principles that develop character, integrity, and moral excellence

CDS alumnus brings aquaponics technology to Nicaragua (read more on page 18).

FEATURES 4 The Master Plan 6 Learning as a Hobby: Exploring Robotics

at CDS 9 Helping Haiti: Journal Excerpts from Haiti 15 A Passion for Visual Arts: At Home and

Abroad 17 On the Move: On and Off the Track 18 Creating Impact Abroad After Graduation

in this ISSUE ARE YOU A CDS ALUM? Staying connected is easy! Visit www.covenantday.org/alumni to complete the Alumni Update Form!

DEPARTMENTS 2 From the Head of School 12 Classic News Briefs 14 Fine Arts 16 Athletics 20 Alumni News

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

the portrait of a

GRADUATE Welcome to the spring edition of the Classic. This particular issue has a theme which we trust will connect you with multiple facets of the portrait of Covenant Day students as they are called to learn well, serve others, and love God throughout their lives.

It was February 2013 when the Covenant Day faculty and staff gathered to consider our long-term hopes and aspirations for our students. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary provides multiple definitions for “portrait,” with origins stemming from the Old French word “portraire” or “to portray.” The primary reference is to that of a likeness of a person created by a painter or photographer. The second definition suggests a portrait is “a detailed description of something THE DESIRES SPOKEN OF THAT or someone.” Yes, we spent the better part of DAY FOR EACH STUDENT a day discussing character descriptors of our students. The desires spoken of that day for REVOLVED AROUND GOD’S each student revolved around God’s Word and His grace being engraved on the hearts, minds, WORD AND HIS GRACE BEING bodies, and souls of the youth at Covenant Day. ENGRAVED ON THE HEARTS, We understood the significance of a deep and abiding faith in order to carry out the Lord’s will MINDS, BODIES, AND SOULS OF and a trust that God’s sanctifying work would THE YOUTH AT COVENANT DAY. be impressed upon the students. Furthermore, the faculty embraced the significance of their own personal callings, to lead our students to growing in their understanding of the person of Christ and how He has called each student to live for Him in every area of life. Let’s consider, for a moment, how these hopes for our students can unfold.

Four sophomore students at Covenant Day occasionally join me for lunch in my office. The young men gather around my desk with their lunches and proceed to ask me a battery of questions. How did you come to faith? How does your faith influence your thinking? From your experience, how do different places in the United States and world express the Christian 2

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faith differently? How can we as students faithfully address the issues of our day (e.g., marriage, sexuality, genuine faith, culture, race, our legal system, etc.)? “Energetic,” “bold,” “bright,” “inquisitive,” “concerned,” “genuine,” “eager,” and “faithful” are words I would use to describe these young men—great adjectives to use in the portrait of a student. I take great joy in witnessing how the Lord is carving His purposes into their passions and interests.

And this is one small example of what our teachers see developing in our students’ lives every day.

Our students are a canvas upon which our entire community contributes to their portraits. We trust in God’s grace for each of them, that their intellects will be formed in concert with the mind of Christ, that their hearts will be inclined toward building the church universal, that their pursuit of wisdom would be passionate and helpful to their neighbor, that they would speak boldly and well in their vocational and personal callings, that they would learn throughout their lives with purpose and wisdom, and that their lives would increasingly reflect their Savior.

We hope and pray for this, a portrait which ultimately brings honor and glory to God. Sincerely,

Mark Davis Head of School

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PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE

By God’s grace, Covenant Day School graduates:

FOLLOW CHRIST

Our graduates recognize their daily spiritual and intellectual lives are inseparable and complementary, with Christ at the center. The Bible is their foundation and guide as they pursue their unique callings with diligence, humility, and integrity.

SERVE OTHERS

Our graduates demonstrate a love for God, for the church as the body of Christ and for all people by affirming others as God’s image bearers. They participate and lead in their local and global communities, seeking to serve them selflessly and include others in achieving goals.

PURSUE WISDOM

Our graduates continue to pursue wisdom and knowledge throughout their lives. Intellectually curious, they articulate and apply a biblical worldview as they continue to develop abilities to discern, think critically, and solve problems creatively and independently.

COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY

Our graduates communicate confidently and effectively in written, spoken, mathematical, and technological languages.

LEARN PURPOSEFULLY

Our graduates have a passion for learning and the academic tools necessary to thrive as they purposefully take the next steps in their lives.

Their appreciation and wonder for the beauty and complexity of God’s creation informs their learning and development.

ENGAGE THE CULTURE

As ambassadors for Christ, our graduates are equipped to represent Him well collegiately in academics, athletics, and/or fine arts. They are prepared to be salt and light for God’s glory within and across cultures throughout their lives.

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THE

Master Plan

It is a pleasure for the Board of Trustees of Covenant Day School to present to our community a look into future hopes, dreams, and aspirations for our campus. In 2013, Covenant Day School, in conjunction with Christ Covenant Church, engaged the services of Little Diversified Architectural Consultants for the purpose of developing a master campus plan. We are excited to share the master campus plan results in this edition of the Classic.

As you view the master campus plan, it is important to note the plan allows for optimal growth in both the size of the student body (up to 1,100 students), as well as the overall development of our curricular and cocurricular programs. Planning for the advancement of a comprehensive, innovative education for future generations is a key component of the school’s vision and is a focal point for the master campus plan. Through prayerful deliberations, it became apparent to our board the most compelling need for our school is to provide excellent classroom spaces for all our students in grades TK-12. With this primary goal in mind, the board concluded that the three steps on the following page are essential:

1. Build a facility for a 450+ high school student body.

Our current high school facility, by town of Matthews permitting, allows for a maximum of 300 students, regardless of how large the facility may be. In other words, adding more buildings on the current high school side of the campus would not allow us to grow enrollment beyond the 300 student limit. The master campus plan shows a new high school academic facility directly across the street from our current high school—on a portion of our campus where there are no enrollment limits.

2.

Transition our middle school into the current high school building. Moving our middle school into the current high school building would provide larger classroom spaces, wider hallways, excellent science labs, guidance space, a media center, etc. for our middle school students. To assist with the growing need to develop our middle and high school P.E. and athletic programs, a fitness room will be added to this building.

3. Eliminate our modular classrooms. The master campus plan’s first phase for the lower school would result

in both the current middle school Building C and lower school Building B being utilized for all classroom instruction. Building C will have improvements made to the Harbor for theater/music program needs. Building C will also have improvements to the current Fireplace Room for dining hall needs during the school week.

Phase two would include the construction of a new, two story addition to Building C, thus moving all lower school students under one roof.

WARNER PARK

There are many other noteworthy campus improvements drawn on the master campus plan including a performing arts center, additional gymnasium space, a track, etc.

While certainly important, these projects are planned for future building phases.

We are very excited about the plan and moving forward into this next phase­­ —the planning stages of a $12-$14 million dollar building campaign for Covenant Day School to begin during the 2014-15 school year. We look forward to sharing with you more details about the first steps of the building process.

We hope you will find this time in Covenant Day School’s history as exciting as we do!

SITE KEY

School - Existing School - Proposed Church - Existing Church - Proposed

1 Worship Center 2 Community Life Center 3 Hospitality Room & Chapel 4 Meeting Rooms 5 Atrium 6 Christian Ed. 7 Multipurpose Gym/Christian Ed 8 Playground 9 Covered Walk 10 Shelter 11 Leadership Center 12 Chapel 13 Covenant Commons 14 Lower School/Dining 15 Lower School Addition 16 High School

17 Theater/Performing Arts 18 Gym/Athletics 19 Middle School 20 Middle School Gym 21 Dining and Arts Addition 22 Maintenance 23 Campus Outreach 24 Soar Fields 25 Fullwood/HWY 51 Signage 26 Covered Drop-Off 27 Wayfinding Signage 28 Campus Perimeter Design 29 Harbor Addition/Renovation 30 Fitness Room Addition 31 Track and Field/Stadium 32 Monroe Road Connection

FEATURES

Learning as a Hobby: Exploring Robotics at CDS

BY CHARLIE BEDELL ’14

In the back of Miss Debra Morris’ middle school classroom sits a table holding the “game field” for the Robotics Club at Covenant Day School. It has a field mat and Lego obstacles for Lego Mindstorms’ EV3 robot to overcome, based on a yearly mission decided by the Robotics Elective Board.

Through club members’ own creativity, robots are built and missions mastered leading up to the annual tournament testing the group’s skills. CDS student Aaron Harabedian can be seen at the forefront of this group, guiding the others in carrying on the tradition of our award-winning Robotics Club.

Aaron had worked with his own Lego robots out of simple curiosity long before the club was started. “Learning is a hobby, especially when it comes to technology and science,” he said. With these interests, he became one of the founding members of the Robotics Club a few years ago, which includes lower and middle school students.

Now, as an eighth grader, Aaron is more of a mentor than a member. Skilled at programming the robots and maneuvering the challenges, he has taught the group invaluable skills for success after he goes to high school next year.

FIRST LEGO League tournaments are the highlight of club membership. Not only is the club able to gather with peers of similar interests, but the mission they have been working toward all year is finally put into action.

Apart from the final tournament, Aaron said that this year’s mission was the best yet. Students were given the task of creating an innovative solution for a community struck with a natural disaster. Covenant Day’s team researched the viability of providing accessible databases and training courses for scanning pet microchips in order for shelters to return lost pets after natural disasters. “It was cool interviewing people in the industry [of micro-chipping pets],” Aaron said. “It was something I was interested in.”

The group is not only passionate about their work, but they are also extremely successful. In the past few years alone, the club has won multiple awards, including First Place Robot Performance, Innovative Solution Award, Teamwork Award, and two presentation awards. Although Aaron has been an integral member of the Robotics Club, the entire club worked tirelessly to achieve these awards. Throughout its short history, the Robotics Club, which will expand to the high school next year, has encouraged the qualities that Covenant Day desires to give its students in an environment that is not only fun but is tackling real-life problems in our world.

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Forever Home

BY BESS BLACKBURN ’16

Many children around the world today are in need of a loving family and a home. For high school chemistry teacher Mr. Rusty Randles and his wife Kristin, adoption had always been more than a consideration; it was a certainty. Randles remarked, “Kristin and I actually discussed adoption before we ever got married. It was something God had been calling us both to individually.”

With this in mind, adoption for the Randles was not a matter of if, but when. In November of 2009, the Randles began the process of adoption, but the process was not easy. Mr. Randles commented that the process of adoption was, “extremely complex and arduous and at different times, Kristin and I wanted to quit, but we learned how to respond and support the other when they were at a low point.”

While there were some difficult times at home, there were also challenges abroad in adopting their son, Ruslan Randles. During this time, Russia decided to ban all adoptions to U.S. citizens. “The most difficult part of this is that we knew some families who were in the process to adopt some of the children in Ruslan’s orphanage (some had even met the children and were awaiting court dates) when this decree came down and their adoptions were halted,” Mr. Randles said. “The children, many of whom we had met and fallen in love with, were stuck in an orphanage instead of loving homes. We were very grateful to have brought Ruslan home before Russia closed but we were completely heartbroken for the children who had lost the opportunity to have a permanent home.”

close to her own age.” The Randles were blessed with another son, Constantine, in February 2013.

Constantine’s arrival has further shown Ruslan the permanence and unconditional love of his family.

Mr. Randles reflected that, “[adopting Ruslan] has given me a whole new outlook on my relationship with God. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 1:5 that we are God’s adopted children. People hear that and think ‘oh, that’s nice,’ but now having experienced adoption and all of the issues surrounding that, I can see myself so much more clearly as an adopted child.

I often don’t look at my adoption by God as a rescuing but as a ripping away from everything familiar and ingrained in me no matter how terrible those conditions are. So rather than showing appreciation, I reject His love and try to return to what is familiar: impermanence and earning love. I only hope that as I learn what it means to be loved as a son I can begin to grow and develop into the person He has called me to be.”

Documents were signed, three trips to Russia were made, prayers were answered, and the Randles were finally able to bring home Ruslan on Christmas Day of 2011. The Randles’ only child at the time, Cadence, was ecstatic about seeing her new younger brother.

Mr. Randles said that, “[Cadence] was excited the whole time and actually asked Santa for her brother for Christmas in 2011 instead of toys or stuffed animals. She is now thrilled to have a playmate very WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG

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The Monarch Butterfly Project Covenant Day’s Monarch Butterfly Project turned into a special research opportunity for second grade students. CDS second grade students are partnering with researchers at the University of Georgia as they aim to learn how the migration patterns of the monarch butterflies are affecting the spread of disease. Students captured and tagged the butterflies so that other researchers would know they passed through North Carolina. They then sent the information they gathered to scientists at UGA and Journey North. An additional aspect of the project included the creation of a brand new butterfly garden on campus. The garden consists of milkweed and other plants used to attract monarch butterflies. Mrs. Lisy McLeod and Mrs. Peggy Hawks, lead teachers of the Monarch Butterfly Project, recognize the unique opportunity this project gives students. “Through their research and caring for the butterfly garden, our kids get to see the hand of the Creator and recognize the importance of caring for the earth,” Mrs. McLeod said. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the butterfly garden, stop on by!

FEATURES

Helping Haiti

JOURNAL EXCERPTS FROM HAITI

A

t night we randomly heard mangos drop and loudly hit the tin roof where we slept, and we slept hard after tiring and satisfying days in Grand Goave. We were finally in Haiti! After months of planning and a couple of snow delays, we were excited to meet our new ministry partners and get a glimpse of life in the beautiful country of Haiti. We joined Mission of Hope International, an organization that has created and maintained many job opportunities, a medical clinic, two churches, and two of the healthiest schools in Haiti. We had the opportunity to witness, firsthand, lives being changed in tangible and intangible ways resulting from the work of MOHI. Our efforts focused on building relationships that crossed language barriers and cultural differences. We established an aquaponics system, painted a mural, planted Moringa trees, and spent time leading crafts and lessons in each classroom. We were spent, but we were full. Our hearts were thankful for both a sustainable investment as well as a relational one, both of which have been modeled out by Christ.

- Miss Dawn Poulterer, CDS Counselor

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FEATURES

I had no idea what to expect going into this trip. I had never been to Haiti before, and no one on the team had ever been to Mission of Hope International. I heard that MOHI was a school, but I still didn’t know what that was going to look like. Once we were there, I appreciated how well many of the students spoke English and how hard many of them worked on their education.

The older students that we were partnered with knew what they wanted to do when they graduated, and they all worked very hard in school to make sure that they reached those dreams.

One thing that I noticed was how simply the Haitians live. They don’t have running water to wash their hands, cars to drive to the store, or air conditioning to cool off in the 90-degree winter weather. However, I did not hear a single complaint from any of the Haitian students or adults. It struck me subconsciously with a whisper in my head, “Why do you constantly complain when you have everything materially that so many people in the world lack?” I have always known to be grateful for the life that I have, but facing the Haitian life, I now see why. I should be grateful in the way that the Haitians are grateful for the little things that come their way, whether it’s a bowl of rice or a sip from a bottle of water. The Haitians, whether they know it or not, reminded me of what it looks like to be humble, full of unadulterated joy, and how to live a simple life and contented life. They reminded me of what is truly important in life and what things I should focus much less on in my own life.

- Lindsey Fisher, CDS Senior

When we went to the school for the first time, and I was overwhelmed not only by the cuteness of the preschoolers, but also by their big hearts. They fought for our attention, and I struggled to keep them engaged with their teacher whom I was quite enthralled by. Her enthusiasm and teaching style was refreshing. She sang songs with the kids and taught them to write the letter “u” before rice and beans were passed out as a snack to those who had brought a container.

After lunch that day, we met our high school counterparts, which I was nervous about. It was awkward for the first two minutes meeting with Asmithe, a Haitian girl I was paired with, but then she started to teach me the Creole alphabet and eventually words. She laughed at my inability to pronounce the “u” sound. In an hour, these high schoolers whom we thought wouldn’t want us there, became our friends.

The fact that they taught us instead of insisting that we knew the better way meant a lot to them.

- Jamie Welfare, CDS Senior 10

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My favorite activity that we did while we were in Haiti was spending time with high school students at MOHI. We even got to take those ten students with us to a waterfall one day. This was really cool for them because none of them had ever been there before. Even though none of them knew how to swim, they seemed to have a great time watching us swim and cheering us on as we jumped off cliffs into the water. We also got to stop at a hotel for lunch with them on the way back.

Something that was really put into perspective for me while I was on this trip was when we were talking to one of the guys about the earthquake that happened in 2010. He was pretty quiet about it at first, but then he opened up about it more. He told us where he was when it happened, what he saw, and what they did afterward. He said that it was terrifying and that seeing so many people die was not something that he wanted to see again. After hearing about that, I felt pretty ashamed because I remember the day that I heard about the earthquake (I was in 7th grade in Mr. Eppley’s science class). Along with I’m sure most people, I felt really bad about what happened at first and prayed for the people in Haiti, but then I just went on with my life and kind of forgot about it. Meanwhile, so many people in Haiti were hurt and dying. They were living a nightmare that I can’t even imagine having to deal with. Most of the people my age there have had to deal with so many different types of trauma in their lives. I was so impressed by how well they cope with all of life’s challenges.

- Caroline McKissick, CDS Junior

- 2014 Haiti Team STUDENTS Lindsey Fisher, Caroline McKissick, Jamie Welfare, Eva Buchanan-Cates, Stephanie Perez, Haley Everson, Henny Rau, Zach Johnson, Mark Melton, Grayson Cole TEACHERS & NURSE Patti Collins, Dawn Poulterer, Tim Blumenstein, Rusty Randles, Joe Rego, Annie Melton (nurse)

The last full day we had in Haiti was my favorite. I was privileged to be able to work in the clinic all day. The nurse’s name is Leah; she has been with MOHI for several months. She is from Florida, but her heart is definitely in Haiti. We worked hard the entire day to see patients non-stop from 8 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon—a total of more than 30. There were many beautiful moments when Leah really connected with a patient and made some kind of progress or when a baby would giggle as Leah tried to determine its weight. One little girl sat in my lap and played with me while her mother was being seen, and then, in a very matter-of-fact way, told her mother that she would be sleeping in the clinic that night. Her attitude made me laugh. There were also low points in the clinic: when babies had fevers due to malnutrition, when a teenage boy lay on the floor in a fit of seizure because his mom had not yet received his prescription, and when a sweet old lady’s blood pressure was so high that her veins had begun to twist. In these moments, I saw Leah’s heart break, and I knew exactly why a woman in her early twenties would move to Haiti and care for the poorest of poor.

Leah’s love, strength, and courage encouraged me so much while I was in Haiti, and it still does today. I want to lead a life with as much meaning as hers. I want to feel what she feels every day —the good, bad, and ugly—because that is what matters. I want to have a life with meaning, a life that makes a difference, and Haiti taught me how to do that. My heart continues to break every day for the wonderful people I met there, and I pray that God will use me to serve others the way He is using Leah right now.

- Haley Everson, CDS Senior WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG

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CDS NEWS (1) Students Finish Strong at the Pineville Arts Festival

CDS art students had a strong showing at the 2013 Pineville Art Festival. Ben Billiard (3rd) took first place in the third through fifth grade division, while Eli Kibler (6th) finished second and Landon Myers (3rd) received an honorable mention. In the high school division, Josh Biggerstaff (12th) took second place and Mary Kate Roper (11th) received an honorable mention. Katherine Neil (6th) received an honorable mention in the middle school division.

(2) Volleyball Sets School Records

CDS Volleyball had one of its best seasons in school history, finishing with a perfect 8-0 record in the Metrolina Athletic Conference and 14-2 overall. In August, Covenant Day made school history by defeating nine-time defending state champion, Charlotte Latin and state runner-up Charlotte Country Day School. Covenant Day advanced to the NCISAA 3A State Championships and finished as state runner-up.

This relatively young volleyball team is excited about next year, eager to continue the winning tradition they have started.

1 Ben Billiard took first place in the third through fifth division at the Pineville Arts Festival.

(3) Theater Students Take the Stage

With their first Blumey Awards appearance under their belt, CDS high school theater students eagerly hit the stage again to perform their rendition of The Curious Savage at the 2013 North Carolina Theatre Conference High School Play Festival. The Festival is a statewide celebration of outstanding student achievement in theater. The Festival was one of eight regional Festivals held across the state, which featured approximately 3,000 students from 94 schools.

The following CDS students were recognized for their excellent performance: Grace Foltz (Excellence in Cameo Acting), Ellen Goodling (Excellence in Student Design & Production - Properties), and Hannah Tutton and Caroline Wray (Excellence in Student Design & Production - Technical Elements).

(4) Students Win Highest Honors in WordWright Challenge

CDS tied for fourth overall and first in Charlotte in the WordWright Challenge, a national competition for high school students requiring close reading and analysis of prose and poetry. Nearly 600 schools from across the country and more than 69,000 students participated.

CDS seniors Cameron Church and Katie Fowler were two of only 32 nationwide to earn perfect scores, while seniors Charlie Bedell, Samantha Choi, Caroline Fields, Grace Foltz, Anne Fuller, Emily Jarrett, Allison Kaika, Annie Pearson, and Jessica Sharp received individual honors. The students were supervised by Miss Kari Cope.

2 CDS Volleyball claimed MAC tournament and regular season championship titles.

3 Theater students performed The Curious Savage at the 2013 NCTC High School Play Festival.

(5) Moms in Prayer

For more than 20 years, CDS moms have joined together weekly to pray for students and our school. The mission of the global organization, Moms in Prayer International, is to impact children and schools worldwide for Christ by gathering mothers to pray. To learn more, visit www.covenantday.org/cdsparent. Join us when you can!

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4 CDS students finished strong at this year’s WordWright Challenge.

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(6) Middle School Students Spend a Day Serving

Twice a year, Covenant Day Middle School students participate in Doulos Service Day. In December, sixth grade students volunteered at Samaritan’s Feet. Seventh grade students purchased and wrapped Christmas gifts for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department’s Christmas Project, which helps youth and teens throughout Mecklenburg County. Eighth grade students served at Samaritan’s Purse by inspecting and preparing Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.

(7) Peer-Tutoring in Action in the CDS High School

6 CDS 7th grade students shopped and wrapped gifts for the CMPD Christmas Project.

Looking for some homework help? Just call the CDS Geek Squad! With a desire to improve the academic atmosphere at CDS, the student council created the Geek Squad, a peer-tutoring program. The Geek Squad is available before school and is a quick-stop, homework assistance program. All CDS students can now receive assistance in almost every subject.

(8) CDS Spirit!

The third week in January is a favorite for CDS students! Students took a break from their typical dress code and got creative for a week full of crazy dress up days and activities. Some of our favorite dress up days were Cozy Snow Day, Bling Bling Metallic Day, Proud to Be an American Day, and Duck Dynasty Day. The eventful week culminated with a schoolwide pep rally in the high school gym.

7 The CDS Geek Squad improves the academic atmosphere through peer-tutoring.

(9) CDS Students Receive Gold Key Awards

Five Covenant Day students received regional awards in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition sponsored by The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. This year’s award winners include: Alexis Klohr (8th): Honorable Mention in Ceramics for “Cascades of Color” Georgia Kibler (8th): Gold Key Award in Sculpture for “Strider” Michael Bose (8th): Gold Key in Acrylic Painting for “Sip of Paradise” and Honorable Mention in Oil Painting for “Blossoming” Evan Stewart (12th): Honorable Mention in Film & Animation for “Brazil Tour 2013” Anna Schoeck (11th): Gold Key in Writing for “This Was Life”

8 8th grade students dressed up for Spirit Week’s Bling Bling Day!

(10) CDS Gala: Celebrating 25 Years

Covenant Day School hosted a gala this year to help kick off the school’s 25th anniversary. More than 400 people attended the gala, which included a live and silent auction, a gourmet dinner, and great entertainment.

With your generosity, this year’s gala raised more than $179,000. These proceeds will help fund the Rice Diversity Endowment Scholarship. This endowed scholarship was created in 2008 through a series of gifts from Mr. and Mrs. Garry Rice along with matching gifts from Duke Energy, to provide financial aid to minority students with proven financial needs.

Consistent with Covenant Day’s vision and values, this initiative presents a significant opportunity to invest in enhancing the diversity of our school community. CDS hopes to award our first scholarship in the 20142015 school year to a mission-appropriate minority high school student.

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9 8th grade students Georgia Kibler, Alexis Klohr, and Michael Bose took home Scholastic Art Awards.

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FINE ARTS

Q +A

Join us as we go behind the scenes of this year’s musicals, Cinderella and Curtains. Middle school theater students share their experience performing one of America’s favorite fairy tales, and high school students give us a backstage pass to their special performance.

us what really goes on was your favorite part of you tell us about the Q Tell behind the scenes.

Q What Curtains?

QsideCan production and technology of musicals at CDS? It can be kind of crazy behind the The song “Show People” is my that’s not a bad thing! A favorite song to sing. It is very ATherescenes,arebutquick Many people do not realize the changes, props, much a Broadway-type song. The A real work on these productions stage crew whispering frantically, chorus is great, and the notes are is behind the scenes. Supporters and nervousness. For me, it’s kind of easy to hit, so we can belt it out! fun to be a part of it!

Holden Cantrell (12th) as Johnny in Curtains Cole Bertram (8th) as Coachman/Father/Dessert Chef in Cinderella

Q Dancing with Cinderella at the last show. We both had worked Aso hard on getting the dance right.

What was your favorite moment of Cinderella?

of the Theater Department have helped us procure sound and lighting equipment such as a stateWhat would it mean for CDS to of-the-art light board and wireless perform Curtains at the Blumeys? mic systems.

Q year when we went to the Blumeys, a lot of people thought, A“WhoLast are they?” It was exciting to put

ourselves out there. This opportunity allows prospective students to see Waltzing isn’t very easy if you have we have a good theater program. never done it before!

Evan Bertram (11th) as Georgia in Curtains Harrison Chase (8th) as The Prince in Cinderella

Q

What was the most rewarding part about being a part of the cast of Cinderella?

really enjoyed getting to know and making new friends.

ATheIpeople most rewarding part was seeing

was your favorite part Q What about being in the Curtains cast?

This is my first musical production at CDS, and it has been great! I’ve Aenjoyed the dancing and singing.

Mrs. Charlene Thomas, CDS Theater Director

What goes into pulling off Qlevel? musical productions of this There are a lot of logistics such as designing the program, acquiring Aperforming rights, designing and

building the set, marketing, ticket sales, and costuming. We were also able to offer ticket sales online this year, which was exciting.

Mrs. Charlene Thomas, CDS Theater Director

Being out of my comfort zone has allowed me to get a feel of what For more information about Covenant the whole cast come together as everyone has been talking about for Day’s Theater Department, visit so long! friends, not just cast members. www.covenantday.org/finearts.

Michael Bose (8th) as The King in Cinderella

Cameron Church (12th) as Bobby in Curtains

Cinderella Cast - CDS Middle School 14

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Curtains Cast - CDS High School WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG

A Passion for Visual Arts: At Home and Abroad

BY MARIAH HARRELSON, ‘15

“Visual art is mimicking God’s creativity by striving to create pieces that are pleasing to look at and also have meaning behind them,” according to Covenant Day junior Joe Yardley.

The arts are about unique perspective—capturing the infinite beauty of God’s creation on a small square of canvas. While pursuing his passion for mission trips to Trinidad, Ethiopia, and Uganda, Joe uncovered a new perspective on what the expression of true beauty is.

Reflecting on a medical mission trip to Ethiopia in the seventh grade, Joe remarked that “my understanding of the world, wealth, and poverty was renovated for good.” On every trip since, his understanding has expanded about the universal need for only one thing—Christ. Not only is the ability of the African people to love so well unbelievable, but it is also inspirational, urging others with greater means to do so to their best ability. This past summer while ministering to former street boys in an orphanage, Joe used his artistic abilities to teach Sunday school lessons, which were carried with him back to America.

“One project we did was a lesson about how we’re like caterpillars that are going to become butterflies, and how God loves us just the way we are—but He’s not finished with us yet.

This has inspired some butterfly pieces I have done this year.”

These artistic masterpieces and accomplishments are not few in number, including first place in the high school division at the Pineville Art Festival (2012), an honorable mention in the Carolina’s Freedom Center “Patriotism” Art Competition (2013), artwork displayed in the lobby of the Government Center, and several ribbons in CDS ArtFests. Drawing additional inspiration from the support of his family, one of Joe’s most recent works of art is in memory of his beloved grandmother who passed away recently, expressing thanks for his loved ones and capturing her memory eternally.

Beyond the halls of Covenant Day School, Joe hopes to take his passion for art and missions with him throughout the many phases of his life. He is excited to continue to learn to create masterpieces that are stunningly beautiful. Although he hopes to return to Africa to minister to the street boys, his perspective has led him to realize that everyday life is a mission field right here in Matthews!

WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG

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ATHLETICS

CDS Joins Charlotte Independent Schools Athletic Association After nearly ten years, Covenant Day School will be leaving the Metrolina Athletic Conference to join the Charlotte Independent Schools Athletic Association with competition slated for the 20142015 school year. As a member of CISAA, Covenant Day will have the opportunity to compete with area independent schools in division 3A. Covenant Day will be the sixth member school to join the CISAA. Current membership includes Cannon School, Charlotte Christian School, Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte Latin School, and Providence Day School. CDS middle school teams will compete in the Greater Charlotte Middle School Athletic Association (GCMSAA).

CDS CONFERENCE HISTORY SPAA

Southern Piedmont Athletic Association

2004-2005

MAC

Metrolina Athletic Conference

2005-2014

CISAA

Charlotte Independent Schools Athletic Association

Covenant Day leaves the Metrolina Athletic Conference with a strong 2014 record, including three Wachovia Cups, ten state championship titles, eight state runner-up titles, and more than 45 conference titles. This past fall season, Covenant Day claimed every conference title, with volleyball advancing to the state championship game for the first time in school history.

“We look forward to competing in our new athletic conference with local member schools,” Athletic Director Mark Jones said.

Covenant Day School Adds Lacrosse If you have been over to Warner Park recently, you may have noticed something new. This spring, Covenant Day welcomed its first boys lacrosse team to its athletic offerings. The CDS JV Boys Lacrosse team kicked off its season on Saturday, March 8 at Charlotte Christian School.

Covenant Day’s first lacrosse team is comprised of 18 boys in grades 8-11. The lacrosse coaching staff includes Head Coach Stuart Lockhart and Assistant Coach Tyler McNeil. Coach Lockhart played lacrosse at Wingate from 2009-2013.

“Lacrosse has garnered significant interest within the CDS community,” said Middle School Athletic Director David Houseton. “We were excited to have the opportunity to add JV Lacrosse to our sports offering this year and look forward to strengthening the program in the future.”

Covenant Day now has more than forty athletic teams at the middle school, junior varsity, and varsity levels.

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On the Move: On and Off the Track

BY KELLY KEESLING

Ashley Jackson is an excellent example of what it looks like to be a wellrounded, versatile student. She does well in academics, runs, dances, sings in the youth praise band at her church, and tutors through Covenant Day School’s new Geek Squad. While these accomplishments are great for a resume, Ashley transcends them as a leader and an example, encouraging others to excel as well.

Ashley started running track her freshman year after her dad, who was a sprinter in high school, encouraged her to give it a try. Her success in her freshman year confirmed her decision. As a runner, Ashley’s favorite event is the 200m. “It’s not too short and not too long,” she said. “I like how you start in the curve and get to really open up and finish as strong as possible in the straightaway.” Her favorite track highlight was at last year’s MAC Championship where both Covenant Day’s boys’ and girls’ teams placed first, and several people qualified for the state tournament. However, the real moments came with the camaraderie, the personal records, and the goals achieved by many of her team members.

Because of her consistent testimony as a student-athlete, Ashley received the Christian Character Award by the CDS Track and Field team last year. “Ashley’s mere presence on the team gives permission to others to work hard because she works hard,” Coach Parrish said. “Her unselfishness and ‘team first’ attitude are a testimony to the life Jesus wants us to live.” This award is a particular honor because it is the only award given by the team and not the coach.

Ashley is also an active member of the Geek Squad, a service where 11th and 12th grade students provide free tutoring and homework assistance.

When Matthew McKnight told a group of students about his idea for the Geek Squad, Ashley was immediately interested. “I have always appreciated Matthew’s vision for helping and reaching out to the student body, and starting a tutoring system seemed really practical,” she said. “It had a lot of potential, and I was ready to help out wherever there was a need.”

Additionally, Ashley received the Timothy Award last year, an award voted on by the junior class.

This award is given to a student who sets an example of what it looks like to “live as God’s sons and daughters.” Coach Parrish summed up Ashley’s character well when he said, “Ashley Jackson is a true champion.

She is a living testimony to the redemptive power of the Holy Spirit in competitive athletics at Covenant Day.”

WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG

athletic ACCOLADES (2013-2014)

Conference Champions (Regular Season) > Volleyball Conference Champions (Tournament) > Volleyball > Girls Tennis > Boys Soccer > Boys Cross Country > Girls Cross Country NCISAA 3A State Champions > Volleyball (Runner-Up) NCISAA Invitational Cheer & Dance Championships > 1st Runner-Up - Large Varsity Division All-State Honors > Megan Embry (Volleyball) > Christina Goforth (Volleyball) > Cameron Echols (Cross Country) > Cameron Church (Boys Soccer)

(Pictured Ashley Jackson and Henny Rau.) COVENANT CLASSIC | 2014

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ALUMNI NEWS

Creating Impact Abroad After Graduation

BY BILL HAWKS, ’07

CDS Teacher Mr. Clifford Chin and Alumnus Brent McKnight

Covenant Day School is different. For one, it’s small. Teachers know every student’s name, and students like me even keep up with our teachers well after graduation. Prayer and mention of God isn’t offensive; it’s welcomed.

Classrooms are flexible, and sometimes classrooms aren’t rooms at all. Classrooms can be outside, on a mission trip, at Windy Gap, or even in a greenhouse.

But different isn’t good just for the sake of being different. Different is only good if it produces different results, different students, and makes a difference in the world. The difference that schools must aim for is that their institution would be a place not just for different information but one for transformation. Transformation is a change in character and habit, a desire that students turn from naturally sinful ways, in which knowledge is only useful for personal gain, and instead curiously pursue knowledge of God’s creation so they can leverage it to bring glory to God and possibly even transform others. How do we know when we have hit that mark?

Perhaps the mark has been hit when graduates exemplify academic excellence, a biblical worldview, and start to make a positive impact in the world after they have left Covenant Day. One example is Covenant Day alumnus, Brent McKnight ’12.

After his first year at UNC-Chapel Hill, Brent became Summer Intern with Bless Back Worldwide. By partnering with this organization, he was able to take the academic lessons he learned at CDS and pair those lessons with his spiritual calling to be salt and light for the world. Brent’s mission over the summer of 2013 was to bring an aquaponics system to the Bless Back Worldwide partner, El Puente, in Nicaragua, in hopes of making it part of a trade school. If successful, the system would be demonstrated to people in Nicaragua so they might be enterprising with growing their own vegetables and breeding their own fish in a symbiotic system.

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Aquaponics is something Brent learned about alongside Covenant Day teacher Mr. Clifford Chin in the school’s program, This Green Fish. Aquaponics technology – growing fish and vegetables in a symbiotic system – is being pursued by Covenant Day students as a possible way to help feed orphans in economically depressed regions of the world such as Haiti. The system also provides valuable learning opportunities in sciences that are valuable not just at Covenant Day, but to students abroad as well.

as a hotel owner looking to grow organic food for his guests, and a man from another social project, among others. Brent went on to say, “The purpose of the aquaponics system was to show El Puente that the technology works such that it might be integrated into science or business trade school curricula in the future, which may prove a useful way to provide for educational needs while also exposing people to spiritual hope through the gospel.”

Mr. Chin and Brent have traveled together before on mission trips to Haiti. Mr. Chin believes aquaponics fits under the school’s mission because it is equipping students to be salt and light in the world. He says it gives them practical opportunities to utilize their gifts in a real way that makes a real difference today.

Mr. Chin said of Brent, “He is a unique student that teachers just love to teach. He is truly interested in learning things not just to get the Aquaponics: Week 3 grade but also to utilize his gifts and talents for the Lord. During classes and mission trips, Brent While in Nicaragua, Brent engaged with the locals would always ask challenging questions that took by playing worship music on his violin, helping thinking deeper than normal. It was more than just out with building and maintenance projects, and getting information for a test, it was to be applied sharing other insights from his education. He put later to make a difference.” into place training documents for the aquaponics system, among other curricula to be used for the El In the summer of 2013, Mr. Chin and Brent headed off Puente mission. Now back stateside and continuing to Nicaragua together to educate mission workers his education at UNC-Chapel Hill, Brent’s long-term and others involved with the launch of the El Puente goals are to complete his undergraduate degree Trade School. Mr. Chin was to stay for a week to help and explore many areas of interest before picking a with the setup, and Brent was to stay for multiple specific career path. weeks throughout the summer. The system they set up included zucchinis, cabbage, and tomatoes as its How is it that we measure the benefits of being a vegetables. Tilapia was chosen as the fish to live in different kind of school? Quite simply, it is about the the fish tank part of the system. difference our graduates make in the world. Have they been transformed into habitually pursuing With the aquaponics technology successfully in opportunities to share the love of God here, near, place, it became time for Brent to document how and far? Are they transforming others for the much difference the system could make in the world. glory of God? If Brent McKnight is any indication, Brent said, “I can’t say that this system in Nicaragua Covenant Day is doing well to provide more than just will solve hunger, but what it did for the El Puente information. Transformation started in classrooms at mission was to stir up interest in the community Covenant Day. Now Brent has created opportunities from others wanting to build similar systems for for transformation in Nicaragua. their own sustainable gardens.” Teachers from rural development schools and universities visited, as well WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG

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ALUMNI NEWS

Back on Campus: CDS Alumni Stay Connected Even after they graduate, Covenant Day School alumni still make their way back to campus to reconnect with their friends and teachers, walk the halls of the high school, and cheer on the CDS Lions! With eight graduating classes, CDS alumni have begun to create traditions that will be passed on to future generations. This year CDS alumni came back in record numbers to remember and reconnect at alumni events and our first class reunion.

For important dates, updates, and event details, visit www.covenantday.org/alumni.

Alumni from the classes of 2006 and 2007 caught up during Homecoming’s Alumni BBQ Dinner on September 27, 2013.

SAVE THE DATE for Covenant Day’s 2014 Homecoming festivities on 10/10/14! Enjoy our annual Alumni BBQ Dinner, reunite with friends, and watch the Lions in action!

Class of 2009 alumni are invited to their five-year high school reunion on Saturday, June 21!

CDS alumni reconnected with teachers and coaches at Homecoming before cheering on the Lions during the Homecoming Varsity Soccer Game.

Alumni kicked off their Thanksgiving Break with a varsity basketball game and faculty/alumni reception at halftime.

CDS Classes of 2006, 2007, and 2008 celebrated their five-year reunion on September 28,2013 at VBGB. This marked Covenant Day’s first high school reunion!

Alumnus Dave Batten with CDS Athletic Director Mark Jones

Alumni parents are invited to join us at our annual Alumni Parent Dinner in January!

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Make plans to join us for Alumni Night in November!

WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG

CLASS NOTES 2006

Nathan Makla landed his dream job in the heart of D.C. in January 2014. He is currently working for Koch Industries as a Federal Affairs Specialist for the Washington, D.C. office.

2007 Caroline Farish married Ryan Pickens on June 29, 2013.

Bill Hawks married Jordan Rouse on June 15, 2013, and they live in Charlotte, N.C. Bill is currently the Director of Business Development at Seed Spark.

2009 Teresa Theiling graduated from Appalachian State in December 2013 and was selected as the student commencement speaker for the College of Education and College of Arts and Sciences. She is currently employed by Watauga County School System in Boone.

Elizabeth Gaebe and Luke LaPlant got married in June 2013 and are both currently employed at engineering firms.

Brandon Wissbaum is currently working at WECT TV station on the production staff in Wilmington, N.C. Sarah Peterson Walton and her husband, Isaac, welcomed their first child, David, in May 2013.

2008 Brian Groves recently graduated from NCSU with a Masters in Aerospace Engineering and is now in charge of research and development for Controls Southeast, Inc., a local mechanical/chemical engineering company. Brian married Olivia Hyatt (’09) on February 1, 2014.

Halie York married Jesse Kawell in June of 2013 after graduating with her Masters in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Samford University. She is now working in Birmingham as a second grade teacher.

2010 Tyler Andrews and Kelly Brace are engaged to be married on June 8, 2014.

Ben Pugh is engaged to be married to Courtney Hall on September 6, 2014 in Charleston, S.C. They both currently reside in Raleigh, N.C. Jamie Grey married Jeffrey Ochs on November 2, 2013.

They are now living in Savannah, Georgia.

2011 Josh Glover has been selected as one of only two undergraduate students to serve as a UNC BSBA Fund Manager for the Kenan-Flagler Business School Real Estate Funds. All other managers are MBA students.

Submit your class notes online at www.covenantday.org/alumni.

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