CHA Magazine - Spring/Summer 2018

NEW WEBSITE

EAST COAST TRIP

BLUE CREW

Meet CHA’s New & Improved Website

Reflections From Pastor Todd

CHA’s Parent Ambassador Group

CHAMagazine Official Magazine of Chapel Hill Academy

Spring/Summer 2018

THEATRICAL ARTS

Passion for Christ.

Education for life.

Published for Families and Friends of Chapel Hill Academy

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear Friends, Summer is upon us, and we can look back and be very grateful for another memorable school year at Chapel Hill Academy. The Lord continues to bless us with wonderful staff and families who are committed to Christian education and value investing into the hearts and minds of our future generations. Each year, our students show great strides in their learning and love for the Lord. I am often reminded of this each week at chapel when our 6th-8th grade Worship Team leads students and teachers in worship. Their love for God and desire to serve is inspirational; with hands raised, we praise our Lord and Savior together. These moments are truly special as we see God at work in young lives!

Our little ones captivated the hearts of teachers and parents this year in the study and application of Micah 6:8. Each month, elementary teachers gathered with their students to proactively teach and celebrate progress in character development through acting justly, loving mercy, and by walking humbly with our God. Numerous examples of respect, compassion, kindness, encouragement, and forgiveness were recognized by teachers in even our youngest students who have demonstrated growth in character and spiritual development.

Christian education does not simply happen. These examples reflect an intentional process that is inspired by God and implemented by those He has called to serve. In this edition of CHA Magazine, may you be touched and blessed by the intentionality of this ministry in areas of faith, community, and engagement. We must actively strive toward developing faith and love for Christ. We must seek opportunities to engage in the responsibilities of intentional Christian living as an overflow of the love shown to us. We must also extend our reach to our brothers and sisters in Christ and to those who need Jesus. These values are what unite us in faith and ground us in our work. Let us celebrate this year together and look with anticipation to what is yet to come!

Serving God together,

Kassie Grosz, Ed. S. The fifth Head of School of Chapel Hill Academy 952-949-9014 | groszk@chapel-hill.org 2 | CHA Magazine

CHAMagazine Spring/Summer 2018

CHA Rummage Sale 04 Opportunities abound with our 2nd annual rummage sale.

Chaplain’s Corner 05 Intentional parenting from Pastor Todd Kardell.

Meet CHA’s New Website 06 Designed to meet the needs of both prospective and current families.

Chapel Hill Academy Gala 07 Recap from the 2018 Chapel Hill Academy Gala.

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My East Coast Experience 09 Reflections from Pastor Todd’s East Coast trip.

CHA and Hope Academy Partner Together 10 Students share experiences between schools.

School Programs 12 Updates from Fine Arts, Theatrical Arts, and STEM.

Cougar Athletics 14 Recap of our past athletic seasons and events.

Meet Our Newest Corporate Partners 17 It has been an exciting year introducing new partners.

Admissions and Community 18 Sharing our experiences with others is making a difference.

on the cover:

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18 All photos in this publication have been taken by CHA parents, staff, or alumni unless otherwise noted.

Olivia Wilson and Caroline Wilhite performing in CHA’s first-ever Musical Theatre Showcase

Passion for Christ. Education for life.

cha rummage sale Commons Area Set-up, Donation Collection, Pricing June 11 - June 13

Pre-Sale for Volunteers June 13, 3-5pm Sale Dates for Public June 14, 8am-6pm June 15, 8am-3pm June 16, 8am-12pm

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chaplain’s corner

I

n Whatever You Do, Do It Unto The Lord

As a parent of four children and one more on the way, I have often thought that one of the most overlooked aspects of parenting is the parental discipline of intentionality. Ultimately, my desire as a follower of Jesus is that all parts of my life are intentionally aimed at serving God, worshiping God and growing in my relationship with God.

Due to the fact that parenting children is a large part of my life, I am often challenged by whether I am seizing every opportunity to grow my children’s faith and character.

This conviction of seeking to be intentional in all things has reconstructed how we do family, no moment is to be wasted. It hasn’t meant that we necessarily reorganize our lives, it simply means that how we approach the things we already do looks different. Meals have very intentional talking points, car rides have an objective, tv times are no longer passive but instructional, preparation for playing in a sporting event has a prayerful purpose.

Pastor Todd Kardell, Chaplain

Often, we have fallen victim to the compartmentalization of our lives. Sometimes we do it just to survive, but one of the negative outcomes of this mindset is we tend to compartmentalize our faith as well. One of the worst things we can do for our kids is to minimize our faith to an hour on Sunday or a 15-minute devotional time. For faith to stick with the next generation we need to help them identify its place in every aspect of life.

The best learning is accomplished when lessons are combined with hands-on experiences and are sprinkled in throughout the spontaneity of a day.

Colossians 3:23 says, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. (NIV) This passage is an extreme reminder for me to be intentional in all that the Lord has entrusted me with and called me to do.

This is why I am so grateful to serve at a school that strives to be intentional in integrating our faith in all aspects of school life. It does not matter if you are in math, music, physical education or in chapel, there are adults present who deeply love Jesus and are seeking to include that faith commitment within their content area.

No matter how menial or mundane the task may seem, there is nothing that is beneath putting our whole heart into as though we are doing it unto the Lord! Our kids notice purpose and passion, then translate that into a definition of what holds value in our lives.

We attempt to show our purpose and passion in all that we do at Chapel Hill. Are we perfect in this execution?

Certainly not, but even that imperfection points to our true passion.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (NIV) Talk about being intentional in all things. Even our struggles and weakness can point back to Christ.

In what ways are you explicitly intentional in integrating faith within the little things of your family life? In what areas could you consider being more intentional within your family life?

Partnership with parents is at the core of our CHA mission statement, the simple power of mutual intentionality can speak volumes to our kids. The more places that our students can witness intentional Christ-centered faithful living, the more they will notice the fruits of those efforts and the worthiness of Christ.

May your children, our students recognize the true purpose and passion of our partnership and may it be ever so clear that it all points to Jesus!

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new cha website

T

his spring we were excited to launch the new CHA website! The new website features a responsive design and is geared towards both prospective families seeking information about Chapel Hill Academy and also towards current families.

Upon visiting the site, guests are welcomed with hi-res images of student life, CHA facts, testimonials, admissions video, and links to schedule a tour.

Current families have their own special place, the Parent’s Corner, to find important and relevant information for those currently enrolled at CHA. The Parent’s Corner features quick access to both the school and athletic calendars, links to subscribe to the calendars on your smartphone or device, important forms and information, a social media feed, chapel podcasts, links to CHA classroom wear vendors & spirit wear store, and more.

Be sure to check out the new website at chapel-hill.org!

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hat an amazing display of God’s heart! said a parent as the evening wound down on March 10, 2018. The Gala was a special time to gather together as we listened and learned all that God is doing this year in and through our student’s hearts. As we celebrated seventeen years of coming together to continue the legacy of faith – God was faithful in supporting additional scholarships at CHA. The money raised will support many new families who will attend CHA in 2018-2019.

Thank you for being a part of what God is doing and being faithful to support CHA. A special thank you to Thor Benson (emcee), Nick and Abbie Johnson (parent speakers), and Emily Johnson (Gala Chair).

Interested in joining the Gala Committee? Email us at gala@chapel-hill.org

SAVE THE DATE: 18TH ANNUAL CHA GALA MARCH 16, 2019 THE OUTPOST CENTER

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my east coast experience

I

t was just over a year ago that I joined the CHA 8th graders for the annual East Coast trip for the first time. I remember being excited and uncertain all at the same time.

The experience of traveling with a large number of middle school students in a bus halfway across the country can leave one with some, well, let’s just say “apprehensions.”

But after ordering the oddest looking inflatable travel pillow I could find, I embarked on a journey that ended up exceeding expectations.

I remember being provided the opportunity to engage in conversations with students that otherwise would not have been available. I remember watching students reflect on history, sacrifice, the role of faith in social action, and consider what their personal story in history might look like.

Now that I have a trip under my belt, I expect nothing but great things to be part of the experience of our 2018 graduating class as well. This trip clearly provides memories, bonding, and laughter, but it also challenges our students to consider what it means to be difference-makers in our world.

Our theme last year was, “One Life.” We have one life to use here on earth to proclaim the glory of our God. We have one life to utilize the gifts and talents that we have been given to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16) so that others may want what we have—a life transforming relationship with Jesus.

Recognizing those in history who have used their “one life” to make a difference is both inspirational and convicting.

How will we choose to use our “one life?” On this trip our students will be asked to consider a question such as this. I am excited to see how God will use this experience to further shape our students into who and what He is calling them to be.

Please join us in prayer as we seek to develop godly world-changers from Jr. Kindergarten through an 8th grade graduation trip!

Pastor Todd

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suburban to urban friendships:

I

n early December, CHA prepared for the Christmas season with festive decorations, programs, and parties.

With great anticipation, our elementary students prepared to celebrate the birth of Jesus and the annual Christmas musical. This year, however, brought a bit more excitement to CHA—especially for 2nd graders as they eagerly looked forward to performing for their new pen-pal friends visiting from Hope Academy!

Reaching out to connect CHA and Hope Academy has been a wonderful blessing for children in both schools. With less than 20 miles between us, our brothers and sisters in Christ at Hope Academy have experiences and perspectives that enrich our students’ learning and understanding of people, places, and the immense love of God. Last fall, Miss Manteuffel’s 2nd graders kicked off a sweet friendship with Hope Academy by connecting with Mr. Morrow’s 2nd grade class. As part of their writing development, students exchanged letters with their special friends and shared about their families, interests, and love for God. Not only have their writing and communication skills blossomed, but their understanding of similarities and differences in God’s world has been greatly enriched.

The partnership with Hope Academy continued to grow through a Christmas book program. CHA primary grade students bought new books for Hope Kindergarteners as gifts at Christmas time. CHA students, across four grade levels, collected nearly 200 books! Just before Christmas, Chapel Hill Academy 8th graders visited Hope Academy to deliver the books and read to the Kindergarteners. Both CHA and HA students were blessed and found a great connection in Christ!

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"It is fun to share our lives and our feelings with another person through writing." Caden "It is a cool way to get to know different people - in the same state - with a different culture." Toby "It's pretty cool that we get to learn different things about people who are our age." August "My favorite part has been when our pen pals came to our Christmas program and we got to meet them." Allie & Ela Chapel Hill Academy 2nd Grade Students

We are so grateful for our partnership with Chapel Hill Academy! As a CHA alum, it's been so encouraging to see that the heart of the school hasn't changed. The staff clearly love God, love their students, and want to inspire students to extend this love to their Hope Academy 'neighbors.'

I love the creativity students and staff have shown in thinking about how to bless our families, from building friendships through the pen pal program, to buying books for our students at Christmas, to donating the proceeds of their art auction.

The longer I'm at Hope, the more I'm struck by the similarities and differences between our students.

We all need Jesus, and want our students to love him. We all think a Christian education is so important to that end. Most families at Hope Academy are near or below poverty, and many don't know Christ. Thank you for making His love come alive in so many creative ways!

Jamie Olson, Development & External Relations Manager Hope Academy

enriching faith and learning

The Hope Academy pen pal program has been a wonderful part of Allie’s second grade year. She has written and received multiple letters from her pen pal, Rayna, and has had the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with her at a Christmas party.

Our family loves to hear Allie talk about Rayna and we have prayed for Rayna many times. It has been a blessing for Allie to discover that her friend Rayna may not live in the same area or share all the same experiences, but they do share a love for Christ and have so much in common that they have become friends. We are excited to watch their friendship grow in third grade!

Lisa Mauer, Chapel Hill Academy Parent

Hello all!

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for the fabulous time we had at Chapel Hill. You all made it so fun for our students. The play was magnificent! I don't take lightly all the time you put in to make the craft run smoothly for the kids, and even had some awesome “ice-breaker” style games for the shy ones. The treats were thoroughly enjoyed by everyone, and I had a couple kids say this was the best day ever. Hah! Thanks so much for the extreme generosity and gratitude you extended to me! I'm so thankful you even gave me a little something! Wow! Thanks for making our kids feel part of your community!

With a thankful heart, Scott Watkins, Hope Academy 2nd Grade Teacher

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program updates FINE ARTS Spring has brought many fabulous music and theatre performances here at CHA! Spring Sing - 5th and 6th grade students are preparing for their Spring Sing Choral Concert & Art Show on May 17 at 7 pm. They will sing songs representing a wide range of music genres. From jazz to classical, pop to gospel, the students are expanding their musical horizons as we explore many types of music!

Easter Cantata – Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, and 4th Grade students performed their Cantata for the CHA Easter Chapel on March 23. As the Kindergarten students narrated the Easter account, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders joined them as they sang through the rousing telling of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. The service concluded in a joyous rendition of “Christ Arose.”

THEATRE Theatre Showcase – On April 26, 7th and 8th grade students in Intro to Drama and Musical Theatre classes performed in this inaugural season of the CHA Theatre program. Select students from Intro to Drama performed their Fractured Fairy Tale scenes and the Musical Theatre students showcased their revue of Disney songs. The audience was treated to thrilling renditions of songs from Disney favorites like Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, The Little Mermaid, High School Musical and many more. It was an exhilarating evening of one showstopper after another!

BAND Three CHA students participated in the All State Honors Middle School Band. Katie Nykanen, Alto sax; Sophia Sorci-Heles, Clarinet; and Daniel Bozanich, French Horn were selected by audition to be in the band. Mary Goheen guest directed the band as they presented a Grand Concert in the auditorium of Kasson-Mantorville High School.

Congratulations, again, to the three students that were selected to be in the band this year.

THEATRICAL ARTS This spring, the 8th grade class had its fill of theatrical arts! Not only did they act on stage in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but students also attended a live performance of The Diary of Anne Frank at Park Square Theatre.

On April 27, students performed an adapted version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Whether it was memorizing lines, composing music, or moving boxes as stage crew, each student had an important role in the production. To prepare, students immersed themselves in the play through reading, writing, analysis, and Socratic Seminar. Discussions included topics such as “biblical love vs.

Shakespearean love” and “obeying and disobeying parents.” Overall, the play was a success, and the

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audience enjoyed Shakespeare’s witty banter and comedic wordplay.

On May 4, the eighth graders traveled to Park Square Theatre in St. Paul to watch a live performance of The Diary of Anne Frank. In both language arts and history, students have been studying WWII and reading The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom as a way to gain insight into the tragic events surrounding the Holocaust. Viewing this play helped students better understand what life was like for Jews in hiding at this time.

Our prayer is that both experiences help ignite a passion and desire for using creativity (and the medium of theater specifically) to glorify and honor God in the future.

STEM Middle school students at Chapel Hill Academy continue to explore science and technology while incorporating math and engineering in the STEM classroom. The seventh graders completed life science units studying the human body. During their classwork, the students explored new medical innovations and the value of prosthetics for amputees. After discovering how muscles, bones, ligament and tendons work together, the seventh graders formed groups and with an in depth analysis of movement, designed an arm that could perform three different functions. The students had to overcome specific design failures during their testing of the devices. Positive outcomes allowed for their prosthetic arms to pick up a purse, pick up a cup and write on the board.

The eighth graders have completed their chemistry unit and are now delving into the basics of physics.

Currently they are building paper roller coasters, using key physical properties of motion including speed, acceleration, friction, kinetic and potential energy to create a fun and safe ride. During this project, they will have to problem solve using their knowledge to devise their amusement park ride to move at 25 m/s. Part of their project also includes building a model that would entice others to want to hop on. The students are using twists, turns, and an occasional inversion as they create their adventure ride. Once they complete their rollercoaster, they will learn about machines and create their own version of a Ferris wheel that can move utilizing prior knowledge of electricity and motors.

Sixth grade students once again completed a unit in coding and electricity. Applying their knowledge, they built a Christmas Nativity scene which including a manger that was 9 ft x 6 ft x 3 ft.

The students designed each piece and learned how to use carpentry tools such as electric drills, electric saws, hammers and paintbrushes. They also understood the importance of safety rules! A highlight of this unit allowed our community to drive by Chapel Hill Academy, Tune in to Christmas music, watch the festive lights as a reminder of the birth of our Savior.

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athletics

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e wrapped up another exciting season of basketball at Chapel Hill in March! Each season we get the opportunity to watch our students grow in skills and character as they participate with their teammates. We had 8 basketball teams this year for boys and girls in grades 4-8. Our teams competed in the South Side Youth Organization, which is made up of about 20 private schools in the metro area.

The competition challenged many of our teams this season as they prepared for tournaments. A highlight of the season was the 7th grade girls taking 2nd place in the highest girls division of the SSYO league. Many of our teams had success on the court this season. Almost every CHA team made into at least the 2nd round of tournament play this year.

We kicked off our annual spirit week with basketball games between parents/teachers and the 7th/8th grade teams. This is a game the 8th grade players look forward to every year. The parents are always a little hesitant at first, but everyone leaves with smiles on their faces as well as wonderful memories. The teachers also went on the court to show students their skills. It was an entertaining afternoon for the younger students as they watched and cheered! “Pack the Gym Nights� were also a success during spirit week. It is a highlight for our basketball players to have friends and family members come out to cheer for them. Grades 5-8 enjoyed home games that week complete with half-time games, prizes, and announcers. It was great to see the support of all the CHA families as they showed their school spirit and cheered for our teams!

Chapel Hill Academy has a high expectation for our players, coaches and parents to represent our school in a way that is honoring to God. Basketball has been a great teaching tool for our athletes, providing many life lessons as they play throughout the year.

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Each coach was asked to honor one player from their team to receive the “Cougar Award,” the award is given to the player showing great character, respect, and effort throughout the season. The following players received the “Cougar Award”: Trey Castilla, Avery Beckering, Jonah Garneau, Maya Johnson, Mason Farrell, Chloe Brunsberg, Bennett Beckering, and Sophie Hotchkiss.

We had our fifth year of basketball for 2nd and 3rd graders called “Hoopsters.” This was an in-house basketball skills program for boys and girls in 2nd and 3rd grade. The 5 weeks of skill development ended with a small tournament with another SSYO school. All teams did a great job working hard and encouraging one another.

Our track team participated in their 8th year of competition. We had another great group of kids in grades 5-8 training hard and learning about everything that track and field has to offer, thanks to the leadership of Coach Michael Widdifield.

We are grateful for the opportunity to offer a sports program at Chapel Hill Academy where students can compete with classmates and be encouraged by Christian coaches. Thank you to all who come together each year to keep our sports program strong!

corporate partner program PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER ATA CHANHASSEN FAMIL Y MARTIAL ARTS | PRAIRIE SCHOOL OF DANCE SEEDLINGS GIFTS AND BOOKS | YELLOW PARACHUTE LEARNING PARTNERS

Our Corporate Partner Program is growing! What a great year we have had together. A special welcome to our new 2019 partners - Crown College, Chick-fil-A, and Seedlings Gifts and Books!

This year our partners favorite ways to engage have been: • • • • •

Hosting a table at the SonRun Festival in September (and running in the 5K!) Attending the CHA Ladies Christmas Tea in November Collaborating and encouraging each other during our bi-annual Meet and Greet in February Donating to the annual CHA Gala in March Sponsoring a hole at the CHA Golf Classic in May

want your business/organization to partner with us? scan the qr code to request a partnership meeting!

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admissions and community YOU make a Difference!

God has been faithful in big ways this year and what makes the biggest difference? YOU! In 2018, we have seen more and more families come to Chapel Hill Academy thanks to you.

The number one way NEW families hear about CHA is word-of-mouth from our passionate CHA families - that’s you! We invite you during the months of June, July, and August to REFER a family to CHA and receive $250.00 tuition credit per student.

START SHARING THE PASSION! SCAN THE QR CODE TO SUBMIT YOUR REFERRAL FROM YOUR PHONE!

HELP US SHARE CHA WITH OUR COMMUNITY! City of Chanhassen 4th of July Parade July 4, 2:30-4:30 PM Volunteers Meet at CHA July 4, 1:00 PM 18 | CHA Magazine

Find your place in our family of families! What makes our community remarkable is the mark of the CHA Blue Crew.

BLUE CREW

Our deepest desire as a school community is for all students, parents, and staff to know Jesus and be known among each other.

The CHA Blue Crew is our Parent Ambassador Group that encourages parent involvement and student engagement and instills a sense of belonging to the CHA community.

From praying in the hallways to working as a volunteer team during school events, the CHA Blue crew exists to enhance the family experience, impact event awareness, and support family to family relationships with all potential and current families of CHA.

JOIN THE CHA BLUE CREW! SCAN THE QR CODE OR CONTACT US TO GET STARTED, ADMISSIONS@CHAPEL-HILL.ORG

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306 West 78th Street | Chanhassen, MN | 55317

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