Communication is Important

It’s hard to believe that we are over halfway through the month of September.  By now on ParentsWeb you should see some grades appearing in each of your child’s classes.  Under lesson plans you should be able to see what activities your child is doing in class as well as when they have homework, quizzes, tests, and projects due.  I encourage you and your child to check ParentsWeb daily.  If you do not yet have access or are having trouble accessing ParentsWeb, please contact our Director of Technology, Ginnie Lodge, at virginia.lodge@conestogachristian.net  and she will assist you.

One of the keys to your child’s success is communication. With ParentsWeb we are trying to provide you with information that will enable you to work and communicate with your child for his/her success. However, if you have any questions or concerns about a class, please contact your child’s teacher before contacting me or Mr. Parris about a classroom concern or issue. If after talking with the teacher you still have a concern, then contact me.

One bit of advice someone gave me in the past is that, if I have a major concern about something, I should not email but instead should call or set up an appointment. Often, emotions or assumptions can be read into emails that were not intended by the one writing the email.  With conversation there is opportunity to hear tone of voice, see body language (if conferencing in person), ask questions, give feedback, and more quickly and easily resolve an issue.

Over the next month we have several things happening here at CCS. If you haven’t done so already, mark your calendars for the following events:

September 24 See You at the Pole

September 25 Picture Day

October 17 CCS Chicken Barbecue

October 18 CCS Country Auction

On September 24 at 7:30 a.m. students and teachers from all grades will gather in the gym to participate in the annual See-You-at-the-Pole event to pray for our world, nation, community, and school.  Parents, grandparents, pastors, and youth leaders are invited to join us.  While we do not have a flagpole outside of CCS, we do display it in our HS building as a recognition of the blessings God has given us as citizens of the United States. However, we also recognize that for Christians our ultimate and eternal citizenship is not of this world but is in His kingdom.

One exciting thing that happened last week was middle school chapel. I shared with our students about God’s instruction on grumbling and complaining. We looked at the nation of Israel and how they complained against Moses and learned that when we complain we are often, if not all the time, complaining about God because we don’t like the circumstances God has ordained for us. I gave the students a challenge to commit themselves not to complain for 24 hours and follow God’s instructions in Philippians 2:14-15: Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.  I then had them give me feedback via a survey as to how they did, how it affected them, and what they learned. Below are some of their responses:

Well I complained right after chapel and throughout the day. I guess I complained some more throughout the day and my classmates kept saying "Oh you just complained!!!" So it taught me that I complain A LOT!!

It made me realize that there are a lot of things in life that we complain about that don't really matter.

A lot more complaints stayed in my mind because I couldn't get them out.

It made me catch all the times I complained. It was a lot:) I know now that I need to try to complain less.

I learned to consider what I say and think about life.

I learned and realized that so often we complain without even thinking about it and also saw how much it can affect the mood of others.

A lot of things seem really bothersome at the time, but when we look back at it it wasn't really that bad. We complain a lot more than we think we do. It was hard not to complain and to restrain myself from doing it. I guess we are so used to naturally doing that, instead of looking for the positives. And one complaint usually leads to another.

Perhaps you and your family would want to try the challenge. I encourage you to discuss this experience with your middle school child(ren).

Cell Phone Policy

Periodically, I will send out policy reminders in my blog. Here is a policy reminder now that we are well into the school year. Please note that:

MS students must turn off their cell phones during the school day. Parents are not to call or text their student’s cell phone during the school day. With teacher permission, students may use their cell phones, but that use is restricted to the classroom.

After school starts we should not see and/or hear phones during the school day unless a student asks his/her teacher or a staff member for permission and it is granted.

Also, for safety's sake, students are expected not to use their phones when they are walking in the parking lot during dismissal.

If students are found using their phones during the day without permission, they will be asked to turn over their cell phones and they will be given to me.  When a teacher or staff member ask students for their phones, they are expected to honor the request without argument or complaint.  If students have an issue in regards to the phones, they should discuss the issue with me when they see me later that day.

Failure to follow these expectations will result in restricted phone use and/or availability while on campus. It may also result in a parent conference being required in order for a student to receive their phone back.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns regarding the school, please feel to contact me.

Randy Hepler