2023 Classic Magazine

classic THE MAGAZINE OF COVENANT DAY SCHOOL | 2023 The Vision Issue: Transforming Hearts and Minds

2022-2023 Student Art

GALLERY Grades listed reflect the year the artwork was created

ETHAN CHIN

K AT M C N U LT Y

T R E Y K O C Y LO W S K Y

ELIZABETH HETHERINGTON

8th Grade

11th Grade

7th Grade

5th Grade

contents

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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

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VISIONING OUR FUTURE

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33 YEARS OF SERVICE & LOVE

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H E A RT S & H A N D S

D E X T E R PAY

AV E R Y M C C A L L

EMMA ROSSER

GRACIE LESNETT

7th Grade

9th Grade

4th Grade

8th Grade

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MONUMENTS & MEMORIES

20 B U I L D I N G S O M E T H I N G B E T T E R

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BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

22 A LU M N I S P O T L I G H T S

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ALL FOR HIM

24 T H E L I O N S D E N

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PURSUING EXCELLENCE IN THE A RT S

26 2022 - 2023 I M PA C T R E P O RT

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FROM THE

Head of School Dear CDS Community,

Welcome to this edition of the Classic! For 35 years, Covenant Day School’s mission has been to assist Christian families by providing an education marked by a biblical worldview and academic excellence so that students are equipped to be salt and light for God’s glory. This mission drives all we do and is why we exist as a school.

Last year, the Board of Trustees appointed an ad hoc strategic planning committee that included school staff members, trustees, and parents. The committee was tasked to review our mission, vision, and core values and then to create a framework for guiding the future of CDS. Our refined core values remain consistent with the heart of Covenant Day from its founding.

These values highlight our commitment to biblical truth, Christ-centered community, and wisdom for kingdom living. The new strategic goals and vision tagline introduced during this process will guide us as we seek to transform hearts and minds for the glory of Jesus Christ into the future.

In addition to our strategic planning work, we also named a new associate head of school. After a months-long search that included local and national candidates, Jason Klohr became our new associate head of school! For 23 years, Jason has served at Covenant Day, first as a teacher and then as our middle school principal. Jason’s many strengths make him a great asset in the associate head of school role.

As you read the stories in this edition of the Classic, please join us in praying for God’s continued leadership of our work, for His name to be glorified, and for our students and families to be served well in an excellent and distinctly Christian school environment.

Blessings,

Mark Helmer Head of School

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VISIONING

our future In 2023, Head of School Mark Helmer and the Board of Trustees introduced a new vision tagline and vision pillars that reinforce our refined mission and core values and point us to the future of Covenant Day School.

transforming hearts and minds for the glory of Jesus Christ by fostering:

EXCELLENCE MENTORSHIP PARTNERSHIP DISCIPLESHIP SERVICE

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Assistant of 23 years, Ginny Joyce

celebrating Sherry Dixon

33 YEARS OF SERVICE & LOVE 8

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Last class, 2022-2023

Q: What brought you to Covenant Day? I was a senior at Covenant College, graduating with an elementary education degree, and interviewed on campus with Barrett Mosbacker, the founding head of school at CDS. Later, I was flown to Charlotte for a second interview with Barrett Mosbacker, some church elders, and CDS board members. I was offered a job to teach second grade and accepted the offer!

Q: What is the biggest difference and similarity between CDS then and now?

The most obvious difference would be the growth. There has been tremendous growth in the number of buildings on campus and the number of faculty, staff, and students. Watching how many additional things came to the school over the years was amazing. The students had more and more opportunities to grow in the creativity, gifts, and talents that God has given them, and the whole school has benefitted. The biggest similarity between CDS then and now is the passion the administration, faculty, and staff have for education, the purposeful intent to teach the students how to learn, grow, and reach their academic, social, emotional, and spiritual potential, and the strong desire to see the students know and love God and grow in relationship with Him so they might be salt and light. Many things have changed, but this passion remains for those who work at CDS. Q: What kept you at CDS? CDS is not perfect, but I knew from the beginning of my first year that I would spend my entire career at CDS if it was God’s will. I couldn’t, and still can’t, imagine teaching anywhere else. That is not to say it hasn’t ever been challenging, but the relationships with my colleagues kept me at CDS. I have a lot of friends in education around the country, and without a doubt, I know there is something special about the teachers at CDS. The way the faculty ministers to each other, prays for each other, encourages each other, and supports each other when a faculty member is walking a challenging path is truly remarkable, and I will always cherish those memories. I was also blessed with excellent assistants during my teaching years, especially Mrs. Joyce, whom I worked with for 23 years.

Q: How do parents best support their child’s teachers?

Knowing that parents are praying for us as teachers and praying for our students in the classroom is a huge blessing. Notes or emails of encouragement letting your child’s teacher know the progress you’ve seen in your child, the excitement your child has for something they have learned, or even just a little funny thing that happened means everything to a teacher. I always kept a file of handwritten notes or printed emails to look back on when I felt low or defeated as a teacher.

Those notes were the things to put wind back into my sails when I needed it most.

Q: How has the Lord blessed you in this role?

I have had the opportunity to work alongside so many wonderful colleagues, many of whom are dear friends. An outstanding administration has supported me throughout my years at CDS, and getting to know so many incredible families over the years has been such a blessing. I feel most blessed to have gotten to know and teach the children who have come through my classroom over the past 33 years.

Q: What’s next?

I may have retired from teaching, but I didn’t go very far! I am now working in the children’s ministry at Christ Covenant Church.

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HEARTS & HANDS “Charlotte YoungLives has loved partnering with the CDS kindergarteners’ blanket project the last few years. We love that the students not only make the blankets but pray for our young moms, dads, and their babies. When we give the moms their blankets, it is a tangible way to show the love of Jesus and remind them that there is a community who is there to support them as they raise their children.” - Rachel Baxter

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FROM KINDERGARTEN TEACHER

amy townsend

Each year, Covenant Day kindergarten students come together at Christmas to make blankets as gifts for people in need. In recent years, these blankets have been gifted to Charlotte YoungLives, a local ministry serving teen moms and their children.

Covenant Day is all about integrating faith and learning. This service project is one of those beautifully integrated experiences for our children.

We start by introducing Advent in December, and we watch a film about a little boy, the son of an innkeeper, who builds a manger as a practical gift for visitors who come to his father in need. There’s a line in the movie: ‘When you give a gift to one of God’s children, it’s like giving a gift to God himself.’ We talk with the children about how even a child can give a meaningful gift to Jesus.

All this learning builds up to a moment when our kindergarteners come with a parent or grandparent for an event on campus. The event usually takes place in the days before we dismiss for Christmas break. We call it a birthday party for Jesus, and what we’re doing to celebrate Jesus’ birthday is giving a gift to one of these children He has made.

The blankets have gone to other organizations in the past–one year, they went to an adult home–but I think we’ll continue to embrace this beautiful connection with Charlotte YoungLives. For our students, it’s a connection that they can understand. Real babies are being born right now who we can bless with swaddling clothes, just like baby Jesus was blessed and wrapped in swaddling clothes when He was born. This act of service teaches our children how we can share God’s love. It’s the same love that propelled Him to send His son, Jesus. As we’re filled with that love, we get to pour it into the world. And this is one way little five- and six-year-olds can do it. They can cut with the scissors and tie knots with their hands.

Before the event, students pick out a sweet piece of fuzzy fabric for the blanket. At the event, the children and their parents work together to cut the fabric and create a fringe on the blanket that they can tie together with a little knot. The children also make a card to go with the blanket.

They tear paper (with their little fine motor skills!) to create a collage of the Nativity scene with straw and a baby in the manger and a star in the sky above. Their art and name are on the card, and they write a Christmas blessing in their own handwriting on the back.

It’s hard work. Cutting the fabric is hard. Learning how to tie is hard.

It’s a bit frustrating for the children. The job takes a bit longer than they wish it would. And that’s good. We want to stretch them. Service isn’t always comfortable, but it’s important, and they know there’s a beautiful blanket prepared for a child in need on the other side of it.

CDS is connected with Charlotte YoungLives through Rachel Baxter, a Covenant Day parent and Christ Covenant Church member who works for Charlotte YoungLives. At the Christmas event, she stands up and tells the parents about why we’re doing this project and what will come of it, and she invites them to learn more about the Charlotte YoungLives ministry. At the end of the event, we gather all the finished blankets and beautiful cards together and put our hands on them and pray for the babies and the mommies that they’ll receive the gift as a gift of love and know it’s the love of Jesus coming to them through the hands of our children.

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&

MONUMENTS MEMORIES At Covenant Day, teachers value every opportunity to extend students’ learning outside the classroom. In February 2023, 66 of our school’s 8th graders traveled to Washington D.C. and inaugurated a new middle school tradition.

Interim Middle School Principal Donna Deans shared how this new annual trip augments the school’s curriculum and mission. “Our students study U.S. History in both 6th and 7th grade. The D.C. trip allows them to see and experience things they learn about in history classes.”

Chaperoned by nine CDS teachers and parents, the 4-day, 3-night trip included tours of the U.S. Capitol, the National Archives, the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, Arlington National Cemetery, the Holocaust Museum, the Museum of the Bible, and Mt. Vernon.

“Thanks to our partnership with ACTS (American Christian Tours), the tours communicated history through a biblical worldview and highlighted the ways scripture and faith were (and are) part of our country’s foundation,” said Donna. “The trip also showcased our country’s rich heritage of service and sacrifice. At Arlington National Cemetery, four of our students had the opportunity to participate in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It was a powerful experience. The students were incredibly respectful as they watched the wreath with our school name laid at the tomb. You could sense that it was an impactful moment for our students.”

History Teacher Matthew Broadus chaperoned on the trip. He highlighted how the trip gave him and other trip leaders unique opportunities to connect with students on a deeper level. He said, “On trips like these, students feel more comfortable and empowered to ask tough questions that engage their minds and souls. I believe we all returned from D.C. as wiser people and stronger Christ followers.”

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S T U D E N T S ’ T H O U G H T S O N ...

MUSEUM OF THE BIBLE

“Absolutely loved the walk through the Old Testament part and ‘ flying’ through D.C.” N AT I O N A L A R C H I V E S

“My favorite ex perience was probably seeing the Declaration of Independence. I thought it was so interesting to see the real one. I think that this was an amazing trip and an amazing ex perience ! I would definitely go back again !”

ARLINGTON

“It was incredibly moving because it showed the cost of freedom.”

M T. V E R N O N

“This was my favorite part of the whole trip !

It was super cool to see all the places and tour the whole estate ! It was beautiful.”

L AY I N G O F T H E W R E AT H

“It was awesome seeing our school participate in such an important ceremony.”

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

“I love books and want a librar y card to the reading room.”

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BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

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In 2023, Covenant Day’s middle school hosted its first annual J-Term (now called Winter Term). During the two-day winter term, students had the opportunity to attend hands-on sessions in a variety of extracurricular disciplines and settings.

The initiative was a labor of love, with middle school leadership and faculty organizing and facilitating activities as varied as cartooning, forensics, robotics, athletic training, and baking.

“We had an overwhelmingly positive uptake on this initiative by everyone involved,” said Jason Klohr, former middle school principal (current associate head of school). “We started with a committee that brainstormed ideas, and then we asked our teachers, ‘What are you passionate about outside the classroom? What would you like to teach for a day that doesn’t really connect with your class?’ We got a great response. We didn’t get to follow up on all of the ideas this year, but we had a great lineup of options for students.”

One of the full-day session options for students was a trip to the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Around 40 students went on this trip, which involved a zip-line engineering class in the morning and time in the afternoon to explore other activities at the center, including ropes courses, a 100-foot jump, rock climbing, and mountain biking. Science Teacher Caroline McDonald helped facilitate the outing. “My favorite part of the day was mountain biking with a group of students.

I love mountain biking, so it was fun to be able to share that with the students and show them one of my favorite trails at the Whitewater Center.”

Other sessions gave students the opportunity to explore one of their current hobbies or interests. “When we were asked

to come up with ideas for J-Term, I really tried to think of something that my 7th-grade son would enjoy,” said Christine Welchel, CDS parent and middle school administrative assistant. “My son kept begging me to hydrodip a pair of sneakers, and so I thought that would be something the students would enjoy as well. We offered two separate sessions of shoe design, and both sessions filled up. It was really special to work with the students as they designed some of the coolest sneakers I have ever seen!!”

Another full-day session gave students the opportunity to travel to the Appalachian Mountains to go skiing. Over 60 students attended, with skill levels varying from beginner to highly skilled. “It was so fun to see the students helping and teaching one another,” said Christine. “There was so much excitement throughout the day, especially from students who were still learning how to ski and sharing about all they had learned and accomplished!”

“The ski trip was really popular,” noted Associate Head of School Jason Klohr, “but some of the most popular sessions were surprising. You might not think that grilling or hair care would be that exciting for students, but they loved them!”

“We are very academic at CDS,” said Jason. “J-Term was a chance for students to experience that we’re salt and light anywhere, not just in the classroom. There are so many things to learn outside of the classroom that you might not be able to experience without something like this. I loved all of it. It was awesome watching the students learn and have so much fun doing it.”

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all for HIM

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In the 2022-2023 season, Covenant Day’s varsity football and varsity field hockey teams made school history by winning in playoffs and progressing to their North Carolina state championships. While neither won games at the championship level, for both it was a giant leap forward that demonstrated our players’ hard work and discipline.

“One of the highlights of our season was the game against Metrolina,” said Football Coach Pete McSparin. “Going into the game, we knew we were the best we’d ever been, but we’d never won against them before, and it was obvious they had improved over the last year. It was a tight game. We lost our starting running back, and sophomore Tucker Collins stepped in. We ended up winning 2625. Another turning point was our win against High Point. Their team had destroyed us in past years, but we finished that game at 44-0. We were in shock. In that moment, it really sunk in that our hard work was paying off.”

Covenant Day’s football team made it to the playoffs once before, but in 2022, they made school history by progressing and winning in the final round. “We played Trinity Christian in the final round, and it was a nail-biter!” said Pete. “In the fourth quarter, the last fourth-quarter drive, Tyler Dennison made the game-winning interception. It was a surreal moment–the kids rushed the field.

We were going to the NCISAA State Championship. It was a huge leap forward for our team. We’d never won a playoff game before.

We felt invincible.”

Players Tyler Dennison and Will Andrews said that the win against Metrolina and the semifinal game were significant highlights for them. “Experiencing this as a sophomore, I felt like we have a bright future ahead,” said Tyler. “I appreciated the senior leadership and how they carried us through the season. Brandon Montgerard and Alex Koulovatos helped me learn the position I was playing and encouraged me when I failed. Being part of this team has taught me to work hard for the things I want, accept challenges, and learn from failure.” Will added that it was inspiring to make it to the championship. “It showed that commitment to a process yields positive results,” he said.

“The championship didn’t go how we wanted it to,” said Pete, “but we had a great year. The season was our best overall finishing record and the best regular season record in Covenant Day’s history. Now we can take what we’ve learned into the future and keep improving and transforming.”

In response to a question about his coaching, Pete said, “I like a culture where everybody’s working and giving me their best effort. If you’re not giving me your best effort, then you’re never going to be as good as you can be. I don’t judge players based on where they’re at. I say if you give me your heart and your effort, then I can see where you’re going to be. They don’t always see it, and so they don’t always believe right away. But once they start to see the changes in their body and what they can achieve, they start to believe. That culture of growth goes hand in hand with our school’s mission of transforming hearts and minds for the glory of Jesus Christ. If you

follow the Lord’s work inside you, you will be different than when you started. Even players proclaiming to be Christians already, they’re not done yet. I’m not done yet. We’re all still growing and transforming. We’re just trying to grow good, strong Christian husbands and fathers and using football to teach those life lessons in ways they may not get in the classroom.”

For seniors on the field hockey team, making it to the championship was an especially rewarding achievement. Josie Mae Gruendel started playing when Covenant Day’s field hockey program was brand new. “I started playing hockey in 6th grade, and Coach Klohr was one of my first coaches,” said Josie. “We made it to the playoffs in my freshman, sophomore, and junior years of high school, but this year we had a whole different mindset. There were 12 seniors on the team, and we knew this would be our last time playing together. From the beginning of the season, we told ourselves every day at practice that we would make it to the state championship.

The season had highs and lows, but we ultimately accomplished our goal. Although we didn’t win in the championship game, we were all so proud of what we achieved.”

Emily Eaton joined the team as a freshman. “It felt amazing to be part of a team where the momentum toward a championship season grew stronger each year,” she said. “And Coach Klohr has been an amazing mentor.”

Sharing about the team, Coach Rachael Klohr said, “They were historymakers from freshman year all the way through. The first time they beat a conference team is an example. Our conference is traditionally known as the strongest in the state. Latin, Providence Day, and Country Day are incredibly strong teams. And then we come along, and we’re getting walloped by them. In 2022, everything just came together. I really can’t describe it in words. It gets me emotional because I love the girls so much. Watching them grow spiritually, emotionally, and physically on and off the field was such a blessing as a coach. They were a gritty, competitive group. There was a desire there–a love for the game, for each other, and for why we were playing. Our program verse is Acts 4:32–one in heart and mind. Together, we have the common purpose of worshiping through our sport. The championship didn’t fall our way, but it was an amazing experience to have gotten to that level.”

Summarizing her experience, Emily shared, “The most important thing that I’ve learned through CDS field hockey is that whatever I do on the field is for His glory. That includes putting 110% effort into every practice and game, looking for the good in my teammates, opponents, and umpires, and being a gracious winner and loser. It’s a privilege to use His gifts to play as worship, to seek His face, to draw others to Him, to reflect His greatness, and to play ALL FOR HIM.”

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pursuing

excellence in the arts

EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM Covenant Day’s rigorous academic curriculum fosters excellence with the goal of equipping students to be salt and light in the world. Classes covering digital arts give students the opportunity to apply timeless biblical truth to constantly evolving disciplines.

Our arts faculty aren’t just teachers, they’re ongoing practitioners in their fields, and their classes reflect that expertise.

This fall, we sat down with Zach Thompson to learn more about the school’s new Digital Music Production class and how it’s preparing students well for kingdom work.

Q: Can you share more about the new Digital Music Production class?

Sure! We’re teaching students about live sound production, recording, and editing. Live sound production covers how to run the sound for any kind of live event. What you need, how to get set up, what goes where, and how to problem solve. Problem-solving is important, because any time you’re working on a live event, there will be things that don’t go as planned. You have to learn to problem-solve quickly! For recording and editing, we’re teaching students everything from how to make a basic sound recording to editing and processing a full music album. We also cover video production—the basic principles of how to shoot video and edit footage.

Q: Why did the arts department decide to add this class?

The course material was coming up so much in other classes, it just made sense to have a class that was fully dedicated to it. Music production has evolved a lot in recent years. More and more of my time in music is spent on the production side these days, even though that wasn’t something that I was taught when I was studying. Every week, I’m learning something new about production, and as a department we wanted to have a class available for high school students that could teach them these skills.

Q: Do the students get a chance to apply what they’re learning in this class at school?

Yes—everything that I just mentioned is the technical side of the class, but there is also a practical, service side to the class. The students who are in the class help with the production of the high school chapels. They start by observing and over time will be doing it for themselves.

Q: How do you integrate biblical worldview in this class?

The most direct way is having students understand how and why we do certain technical things and what impact that can have to a worship service or a performance or a music recording. Technical excellence makes a big difference. But then beyond that technical excellence, there’s the creative side. If you don’t have creativity, there’s no point in having the technology. Being creative gets them thinking about the message in their work. What impact will it have? Are they using it as a source of light? Or are they using it as a source of negativity to bring other people down?

Other courses at Covenant Day that cover digital arts include Art of Communication, taught by David Johnson (owner of Charlotte video production company Silent Images), Digital Photography & Graphic Design, taught by Katie Spata, and Introduction of Digital Drawing in Middle School Art, taught by Sarah Murray.

This year is Zach’s tenth year of teaching, and his fifth at Covenant Day School. He teaches three classes in the high school (Digital Music Production, Choir, and Worship Leadership, which is the band that leads the high school chapel) and three classes in the middle school (7th grade choir, 8th grade choir, and 8th grade Worship Leadership, which leads the middle school chapel). He also serves as the music director for the middle school and high school musicals and leads a capella, which meets once a week for high school and 8th grade choir. Zach makes it a yearly goal to have an article published in music education journals. His articles have been published in the North Carolina Music Educators Journal and the Florida Music Director journal.

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EXCELLENCE ON THE STAGE “We have so much fun in the arts, but we also work incredibly hard. There’s an atmosphere of excellence that’s fostered by both the teachers and students. If we’re going to do what we love, we’re going to be the best at it that we can be.”

Senior Jack Wilder has been actively involved in Covenant Arts throughout his nine years at CDS. Beginning with band and choir in middle school, Jack soon branched into theater. Cast in supporting roles in both Tarzan and Frozen Jr in middle school, he went on to achieve more roles in high school productions. His most recent role was a gangster in Guys and Dolls. Jack shared that his experience in arts has played a major role in shaping the person he is today.

“The arts have helped me in more ways than I have time to share.

In middle school, my choir teacher supported me and believed in my ability to sing like no one else did, which led me to pursue songwriting into high school. Acting has made me an overall better communicator in social settings. Performing in front of hundreds of people really built my confidence. The skills I learned in arts gave me the confidence to run for student body president and give a speech to my entire high school and teachers—not an easy task! Being involved in the arts is probably one of the best decisions I’ve made during my time at school. It’s helped shape who I am today.”

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BUILDING SOMETHING BETTER

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Elizabeth Ertel ‘20

In October 2022, a small group of faculty, students, and a class of 2020 alumna, Elizabeth Ertel, traveled to Belize for a vision trip.

They sought to meet the missionaries in Belize, hear about ways the Lord is moving in the community, and brainstorm ways the CDS Restoration & Sustainability group could partner with them.

One of the groups under R&S at CDS is called Restore 525. The group aims to partner with global communities to cultivate long-term hope through agricultural restoration and sustainable aquaponics. “525” comes from the story of the feeding of the 5000, in which Jesus took five loaves and two fish and turned it into food for 5000 people. CDS has the same goal for Restore 525–that God would take their small efforts and turn it into something much bigger than anything they could imagine.

Elizabeth was a part of the original Restore 525 team that started in 2017, when she was a sophomore, and she was involved with the team until she graduated in 2020. She loved seeing the group grow and develop over her three years in high school and seeing the Lord’s faithfulness with their efforts to bring restoration to communities. Elizabeth loves the mission of R&S, and she was honored to be involved in that mission as an alumna. She loves how R&S provides students an opportunity to be a part of building something bigger than themselves and to intentionally look for ways to be faithful to the talents, passions, and resources the Lord has given them.

In reflecting on the trip, she said, “It was so cool to see how Restore 525 is continuing to thrive at CDS and to spend time getting to know current student leaders on the team who have such a heart for the work the Lord is doing in their own and global communities. It was also so sweet to see the fruit of hard work my team put in years ago reflected in the vision that the current students have for Restore 525, and I’m so excited to see the ways that Restore 525, and all of R&S, continues to grow for years to come.” Elizabeth is now a senior at Covenant College and will graduate in May with a degree in Economics.

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“ We played with local kids ever y day (even hosting some kid clubs), and to see how happy our students were to play with these kids and the kids with our students was one of the highlights for me.”

CARRIE DIRKS, TEACHER CHAPERONE

“ The highlight of working at the school was getting to see the joy on the principal’s face as we revealed to her the new office and teacher workroom. Her immense gratitude really made us feel the impact of all that we had been working on that week.”

M A E B R A D L E Y, S T U D E N T

In June 2023, a group of 20 CDS students and staff and one parent traveled to Belize to serve, learn, and build relationships with the community in Camalote Village. This wasn’t the school’s first trip to Belize, and it won’t be their last, according to CDS Restoration & Sustainability Director Jonathan Chin. The school first connected with the Camalote community through High School Principal Mike Freace’s relationship with A Better Belize, a mission organization launched by Joey and Heather Barrs of Atlanta, Georgia.

With the help of A Better Belize, high school students who are part of the CDS Augustine Literacy project started tutoring Belize students virtually in 2022. At the same time, our Restore 525 group started looking at ways to partner and use what they’ve been working on to benefit the area.

Initially, Restore 525 considered setting up an aquaponics system in the village. After two investigative trips in the fall of 2022–one by staff and another by staff and a group of CDS seniors–Restore 525 decided instead to support the construction of a new kitchen at St. Jude, the elementary school in the village. “It’s this idea of a school adopting a school,” said Jonathan, “A lot of the kids there didn’t have any kind of nutrition in their diet, and the school did not have any kind of food preparation facility, which would have been the main source of food for a lot of the students.” Working closely with A Better Belize, our students came up with the idea of constructing a kitchen from a container sourced in Belize. The concept grew into a plan for a square compound composed of a kitchen, storage area, literacy center, and art room with a cafeteria in the center. Our students raised all of the funds for the kitchen and sourced 29 older, unused school computers to donate to the St. Jude literacy center.

Our team’s trip in June was an opportunity to kick off the kitchen project. During the stay, our student volunteers dug over 200 feet of 18-inch trenches to service the site, cut out windows and doors, cut and welded burglar bars for access points, constructed sink and shelving units for the kitchen, and cleaned, painted, and organized a storage area that became a teacher work room–something the school had never had before.

CDS parent Jamie Lye, MD led a medical clinic in partnership with a local Belizean doctor. Our students learned how to take basic vitals like height and weight and how to fill out medical intake forms. Dr. Lye supplied medicines to be prescribed by the doctor and dispensed on the spot, and team members also had the opportunity to pray with people as they were leaving.

“This trip was a great opportunity for the students to be able to engage and serve in a community that is drastically different from the one they live in,” said Jonathan. “This was two worlds merged under the banner of Christ coming together to serve and encourage.

In R&S and all the high school, we’re passionate about building deep, long-term relationships in service. It’s not a transaction–it’s a genuine sense of connectedness with these partners that keeps us going.”

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“What a gift it is to be able to serve the Lord at the place that served me for so many years.”

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Abby Cotton ‘16

Abby (Olive) Cotton joined Covenant Day in 2012 as a freshman. After graduating in 2016, she attended Samford University, majored in English, and served in Young Life. She then went on to get her Masters in English at UNCC. She has returned to CDS to teach 10th grade American literature, coach middle school volleyball, and coach high school track and field.

While in graduate school, Abby heard that a job was opening up in American Literature at CDS, and she knew that she wanted her first year of teaching to be somewhere that would mentor her well in the profession as well as give her opportunities to invest in the spiritual lives of students.

Being an alumna has given her insight into some of the unique aspects of CDS and has helped her better know how to mentor her students. It is a high calling and great privilege to cultivate students from the other side of the classroom, and she hopes and prays that by having been at CDS before, she has insight and wisdom that will help her students as they grow and learn.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Julius Klohr ‘17

Julius Klohr graduated as a “lifer” in 2017 after attending CDS since kindergarten. After graduation, he attended Houghton University and earned his Bachelors in Intercultural Studies with a minor in Sports Ministry. Additionally, Julius played four and a half years of collegiate soccer at Houghton, earning multiple playing awards and serving as captain for three years. He then earned his Masters in Business Administration while serving as an assistant coach for the Houghton men’s soccer team. In the past year, he moved back to Charlotte, got married, started a full-time job with the Charlotte Eagles, and returned to coach varsity boys soccer and oversee the CDS boys soccer program.

Coaching soccer and being involved in sports ministry is part of his calling, and he couldn’t have been more excited to return to two organizations that played a vital role in shaping who he is today.

His favorite part of his role at CDS is being able to lead, mentor, and serve the team he coaches within a Christian environment. He views soccer as a tool to help develop young men and women on and off the field. Julius has seen how the Lord uses soccer to bring His people closer to Him, and he has a unique opportunity to be a part of the Lord’s work in the players’ lives.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

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Leah Rothrock ‘11

Leah (Villereal) Rothrock attended CDS from 5th grade to her graduation in 2011. She attended High Point University and got her Bachelors in Education and Masters in STEM Education. She taught middle school robotics in Union County Public Schools for three years and then worked in high school career development for three years.

Leah returned to CDS to teach middle school CREATE and coach junior varsity volleyball. The Lord opened a door for her at CDS when she wasn’t even looking. She sought a strong Christian community at work and was blessed to find that at CDS. Working alongside her former teachers and coaches has been a blessing as they had a large impact on her decision to pursue education. She is particularly grateful to work alongside Varsity Volleyball Coach Heather Mills, who taught her everything as a player and continues to teach her as a coach.

Lilly McKissick ‘20 and Ben Walton ‘20 announced their engagement in May. Carol Ann (Roberts) Ferguson ‘13 and her husband, Teron Ferguson, welcomed their beautiful daughter in June. Carol Ann and her class celebrated their ten year reunion this fall.

Campbell Myers ‘20 announced her engagement to former CDS student Caleb Beckstein in May.

What are folks up to these days?

EXCITING CAREERS. JOYFUL MARRIAGES. BEAUTIFUL BABIES. THERE’S SO MUCH TO CATCH UP ON.

Parker Toney ‘14 left the software industry to enter full-time ministry. He is now the Partnerships Director for North and South Carolina for a Christian international nonprofit, Water Mission, which seeks to end the global water crisis that currently leaves over two billion people without access to safe water.

READ ALUMNI NOTES Follow the QR code or visit covenantday.org/alumninotes

Years of alumni returned to CDS in August to play in an alumni volleyball game and an alumni soccer game.

Alumni sister duo and former CDS cheerleaders, Natalie Wallace ‘19 and Abigail (Wallace) Cerrato ‘15, returned to CDS to coach middle school cheerleading.

Josie Mae Gruendel ‘23 is playing Division I field hockey at William and Mary as a starting forward and mid-fielder.

Timmy Cotton ‘21 and the University of Lynchburg David Billiard ‘20 broke the Berry College and SAA baseball team won the NCAA DIII National Championship for the first time in program history. conference records in shot put and discus.

t was jaw-dropping,” exclaimed Jessica Crumpton, Covenant Day’s development director, as she reflected on the Race to Raise event in March 2022, “to see our community so excited about doing something together, to pour into our kids and support a need for our kids, teachers, and coaches, it’s powerful.”

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the lions den Want to show some extra spirit? You can now buy CDS swag online any day of the week! We’ve made it easier than ever to browse and purchase Covenant Day School clothes and accessories. Our new online store, the Lions Den, is your one-stop shop for CDS gear, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, polos, hats, hair bows, car magnets, and more!

Our top-selling items so far have been our League stadium crew sweatshirt and our lion hairbows! We plan to add new items regularly, so keep an eye on the website.

We have loved seeing all our students and faculty show their school spirit through their CDS gear! Lower school: every Friday is now Spirit Friday, so stock up on CDS t-shirts and sweatshirts to wear to school each week!

Visit the Lions Den at covenantday.org/store today.

C o v e n ant D a y. o r g

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2022-2023

impact report 2022-23 Donations Received Above and Beyond Business Partners Capital Improvements Financial Aid Endowments TOTAL

$721,183 $100,350 $89,500 $29,510 $20,350 $960,893

A Snapshot of Above and Beyond Contributions General

Security

Arts

•

• •

• • •

• •

AV system in the high school Student Commons Four new Academic Resources rooms Upgrades to middle school play area

•

Protective film on key areas Go-bags with emergency equipment in each classroom Intercom system upgrades

Athletics

Restoration & Sustainability

•

• • •

• • • •

New baseball, basketball, and volleyball uniforms New field hockey equipment New signage at Warner Park Coaches clinics Relayered gym floor

Vision trip to Belize Four new 3D printers Delivery of bakery container to South Dakota to support Pine Ridge Reservation through jobs, resources, and ministry

Sound equipment upgrades in Lions Theater New middle school kiln Classroom upgrades, including soundboard, amps, instruments, and portable stage

Middle school students enjoying the new play area

Operating Budget - $15,295,000 Operating Revenue Tuition* Donations and Endowments Church Direct Support Program Fees and Income

Operating Expenses 96% 2% 1% 1%

*Net of $1.8M in financial aid and other discounts, including multi-child, Christ Covenant Church member, prepaid, etc.

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Salaries and Benefits Operating Costs Debt Service Added to Reserves

72% 25% 3% <1%

LIONS

FUND

transforming hearts & minds

In 2023, we kicked off the Lions Fund with a historic Giving Day! The Lions Fund (an annual fund) directly supports our students, faculty, and staff by uniting our needs through a strategic framework born out of a community-wide effort outlined by the Board of Trustees and school administration. For this reason, the Lions Fund is a top philanthropic priority of the school as we seek to transform hearts and minds for the glory of Jesus Christ. Gifts to the Lions Fund unify our collective efforts and support every student at CDS by fostering excellence, mentorship, partnership, discipleship, and service. The Lions Fund has already impacted our community by providing new bleachers at Warner Park. We look forward to sharing how your gifts impact students, faculty, staff, and all areas of our school!

New bleachers at Warner Park provided by the Lions Fund

giving day 24 2023 335 310,025 HOURS

DONORS

DOLLARS RAISED

44

PERCENT MORE THAN EVER BEFORE

... we’re better together!

Leadership Circle

Business Partners

We have over 100 families who are a part of our Leadership Circle.

Members of this group make an annual gift of $1500 or more and are instrumental in helping to provide opportunities for our students. We hold a yearly leadership reception to celebrate their contributions.

We are so thankful for our Business Partners and are blessed to have doubled our numbers since last year.

Gifts given by these donors support the Lions Fund and create purposeful partnerships with local businesses.

Thank you for your generosity! The investments we make today, whether through our time, talents, or financial gifts, impact future generations of Covenant Day students.

C o v e n ant D a y. o r g

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800 Fullwood Lane Matthews, North Carolina 28105 (704) 847-2385