FALL 2020
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The 2020 Classroom Lions in the Community Meet our Principals Clay & Creativity
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The Classic is published twice a year for the Covenant Day community.
2020-2021 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Don Moseley (Chairman), John Vonder (Vice Chairman), Grant Jordan (Treasurer), Leslie Lindner (Secretary), Danny Church, Kevin DeYoung, Josh Grissom, Land Hite, Caroline Kelly, Yolanda Lindsay, Jared Olshefski, Rich Protasewich, Anne Rogers, Derek Wells, Mark Davis (ex officio)
HEAD OF SCHOOL Mark Davis
EDITOR/DESIGNER, CLASSIC
Megan Fair, mfair@covenantday.org
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Mark Davis, Katherine Hetherington
SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to the faculty, staff, parents, alumni, students, grandparents, alumni parents, and friends who shared their stories and photos for this publication.
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Daryl Tutton, Katie Spata, David Johnson
CDS MISSION STATEMENT
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.
STUDENT ARTWORK
VISIT US ONLINE
www.covenantday.org /whoweare (Our Values) /golions (Athletics) /arts (Arts) /give (Make a Gift) /publications (Classic Archives) /alumni (Class Notes) /videos (Classic Videos)
COVER PHOTO
Covenant Day adds new Introduction to Engineering elective course for high school students. Visit www.covenantday.org/videos to see articles with the play icon come to life!
Artists (left to right, top to bottom): Julia Mace (9), Kimmie Curcio (12), Sara Carter (12), Olivia Meuth (12), Sydney Couzen (9), Zach Wolfe (9), Will Fitch (11), Ellie Heberton (11)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Look into the 2020 Classroom (see page 8)
FEATURES
Page 12 | Competing at Home
DEPARTMENTS 2 From the Head of School 4 Classic Features 10 Arts 12 Athletics 14 Alumni News & Class Notes Page 11 | Clay & Creativity
Page 6 | Getting to Know Our Principals
FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear CDS Community, Welcome to this edition of the Classic. I trust you will find the following pages filled with stories of God’s faithfulness to our school. We live in tumultuous times. A global health pandemic and national unrest over various issues are part and parcel of our day. Yet, despite the confusion, hurt, and anger that many are feeling, there is still that voice of God calling each of us to Him and His truth. As Christians, we can be tempted to fall into the fray of different entanglements. And yet, we know there is no temptation from which our God can’t deliver us. In the world of turmoil and sin, let us all turn to the strength of God’s Word for our answers to a world gone awry. Let us all remember to pray, trusting in God’s daily provision to the degree that not a hair falls from our head that He does not oversee. These pages tell stories of God’s faithfulness to His people at CDS and beyond. They are stories of His children, seeking to do His will according to His purposes. They are stories of our community seeking to learn and know about Jesus, our Savior. Parents, take some time with your children and share the pages of this edition with them. Remind them that God is working in their lives through His Spirit. Share with them your own stories of God’s faithfulness to you and your family throughout the years. We learn and grow through times like these—moments of challenge and sometimes persecution. Through it all, we see Jesus shining through every ray of hope and cloud of difficulty. Blessings to you and your families today and tomorrow,
Mark Davis Head of School
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he journey that brought Omari Hill, Covenant Day’s new chaplain and Bible teacher, to Covenant Day was filled with life-changing experiences. These experiences have allowed him to make an immediate impact on the lives of many of our students. Born in New York City and raised in the Bronx, Omari became a Christ follower at the age of 11, an experience he describes as a lifechanging one. After graduating high school, Omari spent some time at NYU before moving to Texas to attend The Criswell College. While at Criswell, Omari became involved in Park Cities Presbyterian Church. Through the relationships made there, Omari learned about Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, which became his next stop after graduation. While in seminary, Omari and his wife began attending Christ Central, a multi-ethnic church of reformed faith. After graduation, he continued to dive into the Christ Central community as he transitioned to his new job of starting an RUF campus ministry at UNCCharlotte. Omari spent three years connecting with young adults as he helped establish a strong foundation for RUF on UNC-Charlotte’s campus, building off of his desire for college students to be impacted and changed by Christ. When the opportunity came to return to New York to serve as the assistant pastor and community group director at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Omari knew it was the right time to return home. During his time in New York, he continued to develop and grow his passion, working closely pastoring adults and young adults in his role at Redeemer and later, Resurrection Brooklyn. He also served as a chaplain at Pratt Institute and was involved in the Coalition for Christian Outreach campus ministry. Several years into his time in NYC, he got a call from Pastor Howard Brown of Christ Central asking him to consider returning to Charlotte to serve as assistant pastor. Omari believed the timing was right for his family, and he, along with his wife and three children, made the move back to the South and began to dig even deeper into the Charlotte community. During this time, his passion for interacting with and impacting students and young adults continued to grow. When he learned about the opportunity at Covenant Day, Omari knew it would allow him to continue to serve and pastor youth in a real and tangible way.
Q&A with Omari Hill
Why did you decide to transition to Covenant Day? What are some of your goals and priorities while at I always have had a passion for helping young adults Covenant Day? find their place in the world. The next generation is often searching for meaning and significance and a desire to connect to something bigger than themselves and make a difference. They have a desire, even if they can’t put their finger on it, to live in a world that is enchanted and not stripped of possibility. Yet we live in a world that can be crushing, often creating disparity, anxiety, and depression in our youth. As a pastor, I’ve always desired to walk alongside young people and serving as chaplain gives me the opportunity to do that.
How have you been encouraged by our students?
I have seen so much courage in many of our students already. It reminds me that the Spirit is here and that God is truly among us. I have been encouraged by the support and love our students show for one another. I have also been inspired by their service from our senior chaplains and worship leadership team to the Beta Club and students serving each other in the classroom. WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG
I want our high school community to continue to develop a heart, not just a mind, for God as they come to know the true joy of our salvation. I want to prioritize the emotional health of our students. In addition to teaching doctrine in my junior Bible class, I have encouraged students to take part in certain practices that they can always carry with them: devotions, journaling, the importance of slowing down, and meditating on scripture.
How does the role of chaplain impact students?
I seek to remind students that the longest journey one takes is from the head to the heart. I strive to keep our students aware of that journey and encourage them to remain committed to it. We want our chapels to impact the whole person where students not only hear scripture but are impacted and changed by drama and music. I want our students to understand that salvation is total, it’s not just intellect or sacred things over here; it’s everything.
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FEATURES
LIONS IN THE
community
“When you get involved in helping your neighbors, it gets really messy. If you’re ever going to see the blessing and change, you have to be able to endure the mess. At the end of the day, not only do the lives of the people you’re ministering to get changed, but also your own heart.” CARON LYE
At a moments notice, her guest bedroom can be transformed into a warm and safe place for a child who needs a cozy bed and loving home. Caron Lye, CDS academic resources therapist and parent, has served in multiple roles with Safe Families over the past two years including host family, family coach, family friend, and ministry lead at her church. Safe Families is a movement within the church as a whole, designed to keep children out of the foster care system. When parents are experiencing some kind of crisis, host families temporarily welcome children into their homes, giving parents the opportunity to take essential steps toward stability. “There are situations that occur all the time where parents need support,” Caron shared. “Take, for example, a single mom who has three kids and one is in the hospital for a serious illness. Who is going to take care of the other children? They need the church to come around and love them and care for them.” Caron’s involvement was inspired by watching the way her own mother loved a young teenager who needed a home. When Caron was a senior, a girl in her youth group who was pregnant and didn’t have good family support, moved into her home. Decades later, Caron is still close to that friend and her now 24-year-old. “My mom had to do it organically and any support she got, she had to ask for,” Caron shared. “With Safe Families, there is a wonderful circle of support and so many ways to get involved to support not only the child but the host families as well.” The Lye family has made a lasting and memorable impact on children in need of a temporary home as well as their parents, but this experience has also changed Caron and her family. “It has given us perspective on how difficult life is for some people and not by their own choosing,” she shared. “Many of these families work incredibly hard with multiple jobs with little or no support, and they’re not getting much financially in return. They love their children deeply, and they’re doing everything they can in their power to make the situation better for their children.” Caron has been humbled as she places control in the Lord’s hands, knowing that He is the one who will ultimately make change happen. She continues to live out the calling of loving your neighbor well. “You can’t live in community if you stay in your home and don’t reach out to others,” she said. “When you get involved in helping your neighbors, it gets really messy. If you’re ever going to see the blessing and change, you have to be able to endure the mess. At the end of the day, not only do the lives of the people you’re ministering to get changed, but also your own heart.”
A COMMUNITY OF PRAYER There is no denying that 2020 has been a challenging year, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the unrest in our world. This summer, during her prayer time, CDS mom Cynthia Hailey, felt moved to pray for and with the Covenant Day community, and specifically to walk the grounds of the church and school campus on Saturday mornings. She reached out to others in our school community, and the response was encouraging and powerful. Beginning on a Saturday morning in July, people from our community began to show up to pray – couples, students, mothers with their students, and faculty and staff. “I believe people are turning to God and praying more than ever and this has given us the chance to come together as a school family to pray for one another,” Cynthia said. The group of prayer warriors join together week after week, encouraged by God’s promise in Matthew 18:19-20, “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” 4
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“My ministry to women and my role as a mom go hand in hand. They overlap.” ELIZABETH POPLIN Elizabeth and Dr. Barbara Peacock
Growing up, CDS mom Elizabeth Poplin had a front-row seat to lives changed by ministry and service. Watching how her dad, the sports information director at the University of Alabama and advisor to FCA, and her mom, a loving school teacher, served others made a lasting impact on her life. It played a significant role in shaping her into who she is today. Elizabeth’s passion for women’s ministry in Charlotte runs deep. She serves as the co-founder of Ember CLT, is on the advisory board for IF:Gathering, and is the founder and teacher for Awaken. Her desire for unity, especially among Christians, is evident in each area that she serves. In 2017, Elizabeth met a friend for coffee, and together they dreamed about what it would look like to gather women from across Charlotte to join together in worship. “There are more than 900 churches in Mecklenburg county alone, and I think of each church as a lighthouse,” she said. “Ember brings the light from hundreds of churches together for one beautiful, holy, and unified bonfire of worship.” Their dream has now turned into a movement that has impacted thousands of women in Charlotte. Ember has gathered nine times in nine different churches across the city. Her involvement as the founder and teacher for Awaken, a city-wide Bible study designed for mothers of children birth through high school, has not only fulfilled her own need for community but has brought women from over 50 churches together each week. “Being a mom is the hardest, best, and most beautiful thing I have ever done,” she said. “It is an exhausting privilege, and I need the Lord in this role like I need air. It was out of my own need for community, a love for mothers in our city, and a desire to see them awakened and strengthened in their faith that I founded Awaken.” Her ministry to women extends beyond Charlotte through her involvement on the advisory board with IF:Gathering, an international ministry that equips women with gospel-centered resources so that they may grow in their faith and disciple others. “Discipleship is a calling on our lives that simply requires us to find a friend, share our life, and teach that person to apply God’s word to all aspects of his or her life,” she said. “It is transformative.” Not only does Elizabeth lead and disciple women, but she has sought out mentors in her own life to encourage her, offer different perspectives, and help fill her up. This summer, David Johnson, Silent Images founder and CDS storytelling teacher, reached out to Elizabeth and her mentor, Dr. Barbara Peacock, about a new video project he was creating called The Mile. His idea came from a line in To Kill a Mockingbird, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. . . until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” So the two women walked. Elizabeth walked a mile on Beatties Ford Road, and her mentor walked in her neighborhood. They met back and shared their experiences in a conversation that lasted more than two hours. “Because of my parents’ love for people and for me, my upbringing was totally integrated,” Elizabeth shared. “This privilege and priceless gift has shaped my life immeasurably, but the gift of proximity and diverse, authentic relationships is something I must continually pursue.” Her desire for unity among God’s people and in her city is evident. “Unity within the body of Christ is mandated and is something we all must proactively seek and prioritize,” she said. For Elizabeth, it began with a simple prayer. She prayed for proximity to those who don’t look like her, authentic friendships, and courage. “He has answered again and again, and His answer is His extraordinary love for me as I run after unity within the body of Christ in Charlotte.” And while her leadership in the city demands a lot of time, she understands the importance of bringing her family in on the life change with her. “My boys, Jack and Luke, have never missed an Ember,” she shared. “My husband sneaks them in the balcony, and they watch a room full of women worship. They wait up for me that night as we all pile in the bed in our pajamas and talk about their favorite songs and take-a-ways.” Elizabeth believes that watching women pray, worship, and love one another will make her boys stronger men. “Parenting and ministry are not mutually exclusive, but rather creatively and intentionally fused,” she said. “Invite your children to the places you minister. It will shape them in ways you cannot imagine.” WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG
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FEATURES
GET TING TO KNOW OUR PRINCIPALS THEY HAVE A LOVE FOR LEARNING, PASSION FOR BIBLICAL INTEGRATION, AND DEEP APPRECIATION FOR OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
PRINCIPAL FUN FACTS
Mike Wiersma / Lower School Mike... has hiked and camped at Mount Whitney (14,505 feet) in California, the highest elevation in all contiguous 48 states, completed one full marathon and multiple half marathons, and visited almost half of the MLB stadiums in the U.S. with his family.
Jason Klohr / Middle School
Mike Freace / High School
Jason... fell off the basement stairs in his grandparent’s house and cracked his skull when he was two, was voted MVP of his soccer and baseball teams during his senior year of high school, and planned to go to law school, but the Lord directed him to Christian education, so he eventually switched majors in college and never looked back.
Mike... started playing the guitar in eighth grade, was the lead singer and guitarist in a band called The Unexpectables in high school, lived in over 30 houses throughout his life, and grew up as a missionary kid, spending many years living in Ireland.
MEET MIKE WIERSMA Whether it’s reading to a classroom, being a special guest during chapel, or helping out at carpool, our new lower school principal, Mike Wiersma, has quickly become a familiar face around campus! Mike joined the faculty this summer after spending time in California both as a teacher and administrator and, most recently, in Indiana, as a school administrator. Mike’s children attend Covenant Day, and he loves that all three of his boys can be at the same school. Not only was this an aspect that drew him to the school personally, but it also resonated professionally. “I love seeing a child’s education from TK – 12th grade taking place in one school and investing in one place for the duration of a child’s education,” Mike said. Additionally, Mike is inspired by Covenant Day’s willingness to think broadly about its impact in the community. “Even at the lower school level, the butterfly garden and outdoor learning center are unique and differentiate Covenant Day by expanding education beyond the classroom’s four walls, preparing students to flourish in the world, and be salt and light.” Moving to a new city isn’t easy, but the transition has been smooth because of the warm welcome the Wiersma family has received from the CDS community. Mike said he’s been encouraged in countless ways by faculty and staff who are always looking for ways to serve one another, and being around them has made him realize that Covenant Day is more than “just a school.” It’s a place where passionate stakeholders contribute to and carry out the mission of Covenant Day. 6
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MEET JASON KLOHR In 1999, Jason was looking for a Christian school in the south to escape Pennsylvania’s cold winters. He came across Covenant Day and was immediately attracted to the school’s culture, the servant-leadership he saw in the administrators, and the school’s mission and vision. The rest is history! Today, he serves as our middle school principal and director of advancement, but he’s had many roles over the years. When Jason first joined Covenant Day, he taught seventh grade American history, seventh grade Bible, and even middle school drama for a year. He also served as assistant principal for grades K - 9 before Covenant Day had a high school and coached boys middle school basketball. After 21 years of service, Jason says what first drew him to Covenant Day is still what makes the school a special place: the culture. He believes a significant part of it is the servant-leadership put in place years ago when the school first opened and, of course, the faculty, staff, students, and families who make up our school today. “We are beyond blessed to have such wonderful and supportive parents and students,” he said. “The support is the most encouraging part of the job.” It comes as no surprise that Jason’s favorite part about working at Covenant Day is the people. “I absolutely love the age of middle school students,” he said. “I have a passion for academic excellence with a Biblical worldview and building relationships with students. I also love the middle school team. I work with the greatest people on the planet.” When he’s not in the middle school, you can find Jason on a sports field—either cheering on his children or supporting his wife, Rachael, a CDS teacher and varsity field hockey coach. Personally, Jason loves to read, follow politics, hike, bike, workout, and run. He also enjoys movies and catching live concerts, especially bands from the ‘80s and ‘90s.
For more than 20 years, Jason has worked to create an environment for CDS middle school students that encourages fun, curiosity, a passion for learning, and above all, a love for Christ.
MEET MIKE FREACE Mike Freace, our new high school principal and assistant varsity soccer coach, joined the Covenant Day faculty this year after serving as the executive director for the Charlotte Eagles. He also brings more than twenty years of experience in the education field as both a teacher and administrator, which includes four years at the collegiate level. Although Mike is new as a faculty member, it was through his role as a parent that he initially became involved with Covenant Day. His three children attend Covenant Day, and his wife, Claire, teaches language arts in the middle school. Mike experienced Covenant Day’s supportive community as a parent, but now as a faculty member, he’s gained an even greater appreciation. “We are a school that talks a lot about community, but there’s actually support for what we talk about, and we do things to back it up,” he said. When he transitioned into his new role as the high school principal, he was blown away by how many people, both parents and faculty, reached out to welcome and encourage him with personal notes and phone calls. Mike says what he likes best about being part of the Covenant Day community is the people. He feels fortunate to work with faculty who are excellent at what they do and fun to work with. He also enjoys being around students and hearing their hearts for the school and their families. But above all, it’s the opportunity to establish a culture where faculty and students can grow and thrive that excites Mike most about his new role. When he’s not on the soccer field or in the high school, Mike enjoys golf with his sons, playing guitar, and doing yardwork which he finds relaxing. The Freace family stays busy but enjoys finding time just to be together, whether it’s dinner in their backyard with neighbors, playing games, watching a movie, or taking a trip to visit family. Mike also continues to stay involved with the Charlotte Eagles as a coach for a club team each spring. WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG
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FEATURES
“When teachers prompt students to really see their surroundings through the lens of a scientist or an explorer, they observe more deeply.” JENNY MERKEY
Curriculum Director & 2nd Grade Teacher
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A LOOK INTO THE
2020 CLASSROOM
Although learning may look a bit different this year, our teachers have gotten creative both inside and outside the classroom, providing students with valuable lessons with real-world applications.
Engineering for Good From Zooming with guest engineers to learning about skills that engineers need for various jobs, every aspect of the high school Introduction to Engineering class involves hands-on learning. However, students aren’t just acquiring skills to be used at a future job after college; they’re using what they learn in class to make an impact today. The engineering elective, which has been around for a few years, is now a part of the Restoration and Sustainability Program. The new integrated class design makes it possible for students to use their skills to design and build projects that assist with our Restoration and Sustainability initiatives. Valeria Willing, Introduction to Engineering teacher, shared that discussions are underway for a future indoor/outdoor interactive science learning center for the lower school. She said that if the project is successful, the long-term goal is to use some of those plans to construct a learning center for Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, a community that ContainIt students have supported since 2015.
Learning Outdoors Kindergarten at Covenant Day is all about discovery! Whether it’s practicing letters, phonics, math, science, or creating beautiful artwork, kindergarten teachers are continually encouraging students to discover new things and through the process asking, “What does this tell us or show us about God?” Recently, one of our kindergarten classes spent some time in the butterfly garden exploring the five senses and asking each other what they see, hear, feel, taste (maybe not that one!), smell, and touch. Spending time in God’s creation has always been an integral part of how kindergartners discover new things, and this year, the importance of outdoor learning has become even more evident. Setting the foundation of learning in the early years is an exciting time and our kindergarten teachers are passionate about igniting the spark for lifelong learning.
CREATE: The Egg Drop Experiment Thinking outside the box or, in a recent project, the “shell” is what the middle school CREATE classes are all about! Students faced a challenge: design a container that can hold a single raw egg and survive a fall from the top of a building. The result? Some eggs survived, and others did not. However, like every CREATE project, the most important question isn’t “Did it work?” but “How can we make it better?” After analyzing why some designs worked better than others, students applied the experiment to a real-world problem. They discussed how Amazon and other stores ship items without the product inside breaking during shipping. While each project is a lot of fun, CREATE class teachers have a larger vision. Life science teacher and science department chair, Amanda Wasielewski, said, “By the end of the year, we hope that students realize that while our projects can be really fun, there is a lot of planning, practice, and tweaking to make projects successful.” WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG
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ARTS
The Show Goes On!
As they prepared for their evening ahead, cast members dressed in their beautiful costumes, made finishing touches on their hair and make-up, and put on their masks before stepping into Wonderland. This year’s middle school musical, Alice in Wonderland Jr., brought guests a unique and memorable experience. Countless hours went into the 53-minute performance as students spent the months prior rehearsing their lines, mastering exaggerated facial expressions, building and painting sets, assisting with choreography, and even directing scenes. “This year, due to masks, students had to rely on older theater techniques dating back to the Ancient Greek with over exaggerated facial expressions and big expressive movements,” Theater Director Michael Eubanks said. “We also had to implement other modifications this year, including a smaller cast size. Our theater students definitely rose to the high demands of this show with positive attitudes, flexibility, overwhelming joy, and smiling eyes.” Alice in Wonderland Jr. was the first show that Michael had the opportunity to direct at Covenant Day, and although 10
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adjusting to the modifications in this historic show required some creativity on his part, he was continually encouraged by the students, their passion for theater, and their undeniable talent. “We share a passion for the performing arts and to experience that from the view of a middle schooler is just amazing,” he said. “Then there’s that first time in every performance where they did so well it gives you chills. That’s always a special moment.” In this unique and unpredictable year, Alice in Wonderland Jr. had many underlying lessons that can encourage our students, parents, and grandparents. “The story of Alice in Wonderland Jr. so curiously brought us back to the question, ‘Whoooo are Youuuuu?’ It gave us the opportunity to remind our students that they can be at peace knowing their identity lies in Christ, and that they are unconditionally loved by Him just as they are,” Fine Arts Director Sherie-Beth Wilson said. “In a year where many things seem to be spinning out of control, it is a powerful message to be able to remind our children that God is sovereign and that His love for us is everlasting. So when the story asks, ‘Who are You?’ our students can confidently answer ‘Lord, we are yours!’” WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG
Clay & Creativity Since Sarah Murray, our new middle school art teacher, joined the Covenant Day faculty this year, our five pottery wheels in the high school art studio have been getting a lot of use! Sarah also teaches Art 2/3 alongside Katie Spata, our high school art teacher. Students are split into two groups and spend a semester in 2D with Katie and a semester in 3D with Sarah. The small student-teacher ratio and the ability to meet four times a week, has already given students the opportunity to make real progress and gain experience with various materials.
3D students kicked off the school year learning how to make cylinders and bowls on the potter’s wheel. Currently, they are handbuilding Amphora style pieces, which reference ancient Greek work, using coil construction. Next, they’ll build asymmetrical vases from clay slabs. In the future, they’ll experiment with different materials, including plaster, wood, and found objects. But they’re not just making pretty pieces to sit on a shelf. They’re gaining valuable skills, sometimes missing in our ever-increasing digital world. “I think sculpture is an important skill for students to learn,” Sarah said. “As our world becomes more digital, everyone needs more time interacting with real items in real space. It takes significant problem-solving to work in 3D. Students need to make messes and get themselves into predicaments that require creative thinking to resolve.” Working with clay also provides many opportunities for biblical integration. God was the first sculptor when He created Adam from the dust of the ground. He is the potter, and we are the clay. There are many analogies, but Sarah’s most loved comes from Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Sarah’s favorite aspect of Art 2/3 has been learning from Katie and watching as she teaches her students. Teaching 3D in the high school has helped Sarah feel connected to the entire fine arts program and has given her firsthand information on how to best prepare middle school students for their high school art experience. WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG
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ATHLETICS
Competing at Home
“Runners were happy to have the opportunity to compete in an unusual season impacted by the pandemic. And although it was difficult to see their smiles behind their masks after the race, the light in their eyes and the excitement in their voices was undeniable.” SHERRY KAPELAR CDS Athletic Director
After months of practice, Covenant Day middle school cross country runners finally got the opportunity to hit the ground running in a race to be remembered at Warner Park. Historically, cross country teams have competed at McAlpine Park, but due to COVID limitations, the Lions needed to get creative if they were going to be able to host a race this year. A lot of hard work went into transforming Warner Park into a cross country course. Coaches Jim Parrish and John Yasenchok measured and created a 1k loop around Warner Park while Coach Parrish worked with Coach Payne Dinsbeer and the grounds crew to mark the 6-foot-wide course. Three laps around the course gave our middle school runners a new, and even challenging, 3k race. On Saturday, October 3, more than 60 middle school runners from Covenant Day, Holy Trinity, and Providence Day arrived at Warner Park. Due to physical distancing modifications, each race began in waves with the first group of boys starting at 10:00 a.m. and the second group two minutes later. When the boys’ race was completed and they left the park, the girls headed to the starting line, with the first group beginning at 11:00 a.m. and the second group two minutes later. “Creating a home course and racing on it provided a great source of pride in our cross country program,” Coach Parrish said. “It was a lot of work, but the athletes deserved an opportunity to race and represent the school. They ran extremely well; everything you try to teach as a coach, they executed. I am proud of my parents, team, and school.” While the race certainly wasn’t a typical cross country race, it was filled with the same school spirit and community that we have grown to love and expect. Parents served as check-in volunteers and course monitors, CDS parent Daryl Tutton and senior John Michael Salamone took photos to capture the historic race, and several of our varsity cross country runners volunteered to monitor the course, count laps, and encourage our middle school runners. “Coaches Parrish, Yasenchok, and Dinsbeer hosted an outstanding middle school cross country race at Warner Park. The weather was wonderful, the course was clearly marked, and it gave just enough challenge to our young runners,” Athletic Director Sherry Kapelar said. “Runners were happy to have the opportunity to compete in an unusual season impacted by the pandemic. And although it was difficult to see their smiles behind their masks after the race, the light in their eyes and the excitement in their voices was undeniable.” 12
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A Legacy of Perseverance
Meg Owsowski ‘16 & Erica VanDusen ‘16
Coach Turner
Over the years a lot has changed – the players, the records, the wins/losses, and the competition – but the commitment to perseverance has continued from season to season. After eight seasons of coaching girls varsity basketball, Coach Zach Turner recently announced that he is transitioning to serve as the middle school girls basketball coach. The lasting impact that he has made on our basketball program, student-athletes, and coaching staff is evident. In addition to helping his players develop their basketball skills, earn victories, and grow as a team, Coach Turner has always placed an emphasis on the importance of perseverance. “Through the good times and the bad times, you are always going to face some sort of adversity,” he said. “How you face it says a lot about you as a person.” Stories from Coach Turner and student-athletes are marked by not only perseverance but also a sense of fun and community. On the court, the girls worked hard, claiming five NCISAA playoff appearances since Coach Turner started coaching at Covenant Day in 2012. While all of his seasons bring valuable lessons and cherished memories, it was the 2016-2017 season that sticks out. That season gave Coach Turner many of his career highs including beating Durham Academy with seconds left on the clock, winning the Christmas Tournament, and finishing second in the conference. Every season his team worked hard, often sacrificing time with family over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. However, the time off the court has been just as impactful as the lessons learned on the court from team bus rides to post-game dinners to conversations around campus. His former players remember him as someone who not only cared for them as individuals but also trusted them to lead and make decisions. “Coach Turner cared about me more than just as a basketball player who helped him win games, but rather spoke to my gifts and talents and brought out leadership qualities and goals I did not know I had,” former player Erica VanDusen ’16 said. “After my basketball career ended at Wheaton College due to injuries, and we no longer had the game to talk about, Coach Turner still cared for my life and how I was doing. I know he will always be my biggest fan and in my corner, no matter what.” Former player Sarah Billiard ’17, who currently plays volleyball at the University of Virginia, shared that Coach Turner not only contributed to her growth as an athlete, but more importantly, he invested in her as a human being. “He had the perfect balance between tough love and grace,” she said. “He knew when to be firm and give constructive feedback, and when to support us through grace and compassion. Through the good times and the bad, he was there to both cheer us on and pray with us.”
Sarah Billiard ‘17 WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG
The entire athletic department has been blessed by the leadership of Coach Turner over the past eight years, and thankfully, he’ll still be making an impact on our students as he continues to serve faithfully in his role as a middle school teacher and coach. COVENANT CLASSIC | 2020 13
ALUMNI NEWS
Alumnus Responds to COVID-19 Pandemic “CDS teachers helped me think critically about my faith, learn how to listen to the Lord’s call and take action in pursuit of that call.” CHRIS CHASE ‘13
In the field of medicine, you can never be sure what to expect. Each day brings something new. So when the COVID-19 pandemic worsened, training looked a whole lot different for Chris Chase ‘13, a medical student at Brody School of Medicine at ECU. Chris and his classmates had to leave the hospital setting due to a PPE shortage, but thankfully his learning never stopped. During his time away from the hospital, he was able to take the second part of the medical licensing board exam. Eventually, he returned to clinical rotations in the general hospital wards, ICU, surgery, pulmonology clinics, and acute psychiatric wards. Even amid a pandemic, Chris said he and his classmates were thrilled to return to the front lines where they could care for the community and prepare themselves to be better clinical decision-makers after graduation. COVID-19 changed a lot, but Chris says one thing that hasn’t changed is the spirit of healthcare professionals. “After rotating in so many different medical contexts both before and during the pandemic, I know that universally, the spirit of healthcare workers is unchanged in the face of adversity,” he said. “Everyone in healthcare signed up to live a life of service pandemic or not. The culture of medicine remains one of resilience, adaptability, and hope.” While Covenant Day equipped him academically, Chris says that it was the community that empowered him with the spiritual knowledge to walk confidently in faith, no matter the circumstances. He said, “CDS teachers helped me to think critically about my faith, learn how to listen to the Lord’s call, and take action in pursuit of that call.” Chris is currently applying and interviewing with internal medicine residency programs and looks forward to graduating in May of 2021. 14
COVENANT CLASSIC | 2020
WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
’13 Chris Chase is engaged to Kass Johnson. The couple plans to be married in May 2021.
Submit your Class Notes online at www.covenantday.org/alumni
’06 Lisa Baldwin Edgar, Adam, and siblings Luke and Eleanor welcomed Caleb Alexander Renwick Edgar on May 7.
’09 Ashley Shepherd and her husband welcomed their third child, Isaiah Rose (Izzy), on July 2.
’06 Christine Kindberg’s novel The Means That Make Us Strangers was selected as a finalist for the Christy Award, which is the Christian publishing industry’s most prestigious prize for fiction. This novel is also a finalist in the young adult category for the Selah Award.
’09 Troy Welty and Megan welcomed their second child, Deacon Gray Welty.
’06 Ana Moorefield Owen, Zachary, and their two older children recently welcomed a baby boy, Connor Thorsten, to their family.
’08 Doug Bishop married Amanda Frey on October 2. ’08 Katy Foltz returned to Wheaton College (her alma mater) to take the position as the Lab and Office Coordinator for the Geology and Environmental Science Department.
Edgar ‘06
Kindberg ‘06
Welty ‘09
Barcley ‘10
Chase ‘13
Osbourn ‘13
WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG
’13 Peter Saunders is engaged to Jelissia Butler, and they are planning a May wedding. They plan to reside in Charleston.
’09 Logan Groves and ’10 Madeline Hyatt Groves welcomed Davy Jane Groves on May 19.
’14 Julia Faulkner married Evan Norfleet in November, and she recently accepted a position with public policy think tank in Washington, D.C., called American Enterprise Institute (AEI).
’10 Leo Barcley and Jenna welcomed their second child, Macy Grace, on September 7. ’10 Ross Anthony recently married Alexa and they currently reside in Salt Lake City. Ross is a software engineer for the Department of Veteran Affairs.
’08 Mary Frances Roberts Behrendt, Ben, and older sister Eden welcomed John Liddell on September 8.
’13 Brianna Osbourn received her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from New York University with a specialization in the use of dance as a modality for individuals with cerebral palsy.
’14 Madison Hargette is engaged to John Shreve and is planning an August wedding. The couple will reside in Atlanta.
’11 Cullen Ross Jennings and Thomas welcomed Mary Charlotte on June 11.
’14 Todd Peterson married Emma Beightol on June 14. The couple currently resides in Fort Mill, SC.
’11 Jack Hill and ’12 Emily Hicks were married on September 6. The couple resides in Fort Collins, CO.
’15 Sarah Airing is engaged to ’15 Garrett Ford and are planning a May wedding.
’12 Heath McIntire married Kayla on May 9. They will reside in Charleston, SC.
Owen ‘06
Groves ‘10
Saunders ‘13
Behrendt ‘08
Anthony ‘11
Faulkner ‘14
Hargette ‘14
’15 Emily Colvin married ‘15 Michael Wilmot on August 15.
Bishop ‘08
Jennings ‘11
Peterson ‘14
Foltz ‘08
Hill ‘11
Airing & Ford ‘15
Shepherd ‘09
McIntire ‘12
Colvin & Wilmot ‘15
COVENANT CLASSIC | 2020
15
’15 Jessie Floyd and Connor Walker were married on July 10 in Franklin, TN, where they currently live.
’15 Katie Thomas is engaged to William Matthews and they are planning a September wedding in Birmingham, AL.
’15 Gracie Groves is engaged to Garrett Greer and working as a pediatric RN in Alabama.
’16 Abby Olive and ’16 Chris Cotton are engaged and planning a summer wedding.
’15 Chad Hunkler married Caitlin Wall in October. The couple lives in Winston Salem, NC.
’16 Caleb Keaton married Caroline Johnson on September 5 in Columbia, SC, where they currently reside.
’15 Caroline McKissick is engaged to Zach McDonald and they are planning an April wedding in Charlotte.
’16 Nate Saunders married Kati Robinson on September 26. The couple currently lives in Boone, NC.
’15 Sarah Poole is engaged to Josh Carter and they are planning a Charlotte wedding.
’16 Laura Snider and ’17 Jack Allen are engaged and planning a June wedding.
Floyd ‘15
Keaton ‘16
Groves ‘15
Hunkler ‘15
Saunders ‘16 Snider ‘16 & Allen ‘17
Barcley ‘17
McKissick ‘15
Billiard ‘17
’17 Maggie Barcley is engaged to Brad Assaraf and planning a summer wedding. ’17 Sarah Billiard and Drew Blakely are engaged and planning a summer wedding. ’17 Grace Hostak and ’17 Ethan Vigar are engaged and planning a fall wedding. ’17 Connor Mosack joined the JRM racing team. ’17 Katherine Stroud is engaged to Jacob Carter and is planning a January wedding. ’17 William Wallace is engaged to Katie Lapenna.
Poole ‘15
Thomas ‘15
Hostak & Vigar ‘17
Mosack ‘17
Olive & Cotton ‘16
Stroud ‘17
Wallace ‘17
Covenant Couples Throwback Photos
Congratulations to these recently engaged or married couples who met, and some who even started dating, at Covenant Day!
Abby Olive & Chris Cotton ‘16 16
Laura Snider ‘16 & Jack Allen ‘17
COVENANT CLASSIC | 2020
Emily Hicks ‘12 & Jack Hill ‘11
Sarah Airing & Garrett Ford ‘15
Emily Colvin & Michael Wilmot ‘15
Grace Hostak & Ethan Vigar ‘17
WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG
After practicing facial proportions and learning how to use oil paint, students in Art 2/3 were assigned a project where they had to choose 2-3 faces from people of different races to combine on one canvas. They looked at the artwork of local artist Eva Crawford and discussed the beauty of the various attributes of the Imago Dei. The class talked about how different races can have specific characteristics that are common to them. As they painted, students were stretched to focus on including attributes that they saw in the photo they were using rather than making assumptions about someone’s attributes. Sophomore Stella Manges, the artist of this piece, specifically chose these two photos because of their role in performing and their young deaths as well as the similarities in their facial structures despite their difference in race. WWW.COVENANTDAY.ORG
CLASSIC | 2019 17 ArtworkCOVENANT by Sophomore Stella Manges
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