North Hills Happenings
Nov 5- Vision Banquet Nov 11- Veteran's Day, No School
Nov. 12- Parent / teacher Conferences
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The Making of an Elite Christian School:
A Message from Matt Mitchell, our Head of School
For many years, Christian school administrators have said "We want to provide a good education, and we want to be Christ-centered." Dr. Bruce Lockerbie, a worldclass author and speaker, suggests that such a statement is short sighted. Instead, he urges, we must provide an excellent education because we are Christ-centered. Too often, Christian schools are afraid to focus too intently on the educational aspect of their schools for fear that they will lose their biblical focus. However, as the saying goes, it is important that we are not so "heavenly minded that we're no earthly good!." I am thankful that NHCS is an institution that recognizes the need to be excellent in education because it is a school that bears the name of Christ.
As a new school year is well under way, tremendous things are happening in the educational program at NHCS. We are not simply making NHCS a stronger ministry, but we are creating that strengthened ministry by creating a stronger educational institution. As Dr. Lockerbie's comments highlight, this is the very substance of our institutional purpose.
This month, we launch a new instructional approach to technology in the elementary school. In the past, we provided students with "chunks" of technology instruction in a standalone class. Our K - 8 children are about to begin experiencing a significant departure from that approach.
For the past year, our teachers, Curriculum Coordinator, and Technology Director have been hard at work updating our school's technology curriculum standards. Beginning this week, students in grades K - 8 will begin making regular trips to the computer lab where they will learn technology "through" their core classes rather than "in addition to" them. Mr. Houghton, the director of our technology program, will staff the lab. Classroom teachers will remain with students in the lab and, while Mr. Houghton assists with technology instruction, the classroom teacher will provide core academic instruction that goes hand and hand with the use of technology.
With the introduction of our cutting edge tablet PC program this year, our high school students are also benefiting from improvements in the educational program at NHCS. The fiber optic network for the city of Salisbury is not quite ready for NHCS to access it, so we are in a waiting pattern for increased bandwidth. Once we are able to gain access, however, we will add an outstanding interactive classroom learning software to our tablet PC program. This program is the very thing that "sold" us on tablet PC's and caused us to desire implementation at NHCS. So, the best is yet to come!
Meanwhile, Dr. Luckadoo, Mrs. Pullen, and our teachers continue to review and update our science curriculum, and improvements will be implemented next year. Further, Mrs. Pullen is making more regular classroom visits than ever before, which is providing our teachers with needed support, insight, guidance, and mentoring. We have the strongest faculty we have had in decades, to boot!
As we continue along on our journey towards providing the most elite academic and co-curricular programs we can provide, may we keep our eyes on that which must drive our engine: becoming an excellent Christian School that honors God.
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Dedicated upper school
honors program launched
This year, North Hills Christian School launched a dedicated honors program for exceptional middle and high school students. Currently, these offerings are available to students in grades 6 - 10, and the program will be expanded through grade 12 next year. "This is a rigorous course of study which is designed to foster higher order thinking skills," noted Associate Head of School, Leslie Pullen. "We are excited to expand the opportunities NHCS can provide for gifted students," she said.
Matt Mitchell, NHCS Head of School remarked, "This is a first step towards introducing some classical elements to our upper school program. Within a few years, students who participate [in this honors program] will be offered courses in logic, rhetoric, and biblical apologetics. Further, we hope to replace honors high school Bible, history, and literature courses with a single three-credit humanities course that fully integrates these three disciplines. In turn, NHCS will offer a unique opportunity to probe deeply into the rich cultural heritage of the West." Mitchell went on to say that all of these changes will be eye-catching for the nation's most prestigious colleges and universities.
Students must meet specific standardized testing and classroom achievement criteria in order to qualify for the school's honors courses, and they are offered the option of taking honors classes for individual subjects even if they choose standard courses in other subject areas. |
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Athletic program takes off:
A shared vision for excellence
The story of how Chris Fowler came to NHCS is an illustration of divine providence.
"I grew acquainted with Mr. Fowler when he was area director for Young Life, but I did not know him well at that point," said Matt Mitchell, NHCS Head of School. "On the very same day when I knew that the athletic directing position would be vacant, an NHCS parent and board member text messaged me as I was walking out the door to a meeting at Port City Java. The text read, 'Chris Fowler would make an awesome AD.' Not five minutes later, I arrived at Port City for my scheduled meeting with members of our leadership team, and who was there? You guessed it! The rest is history," Mitchell added.
Coach Fowler was called to NHCS, indeed. He quickly caught the school's contagious vision for excellence in all things, including athletics! Fowler set out to the business of securing high quality coaches for each of the school's coaching vacancies.
Shortly after Fowler arrived, Coach Daniel Butner followed as soccer coach. Butner was named NSCAA/Adidas All American player and NC Gatorade player of the year in 2001. He received a full-ride soccer scholarship to UNC-Wilmington, a Division 1 School, and was UNC-W's first ever sophomore team captain. "He is arguably among the best soccer players to ever play in Rowan County," Fowler said. "He grew up playing for the Charlotte Soccer Club. Over the years, his teams won six state titles, a Southeastern Regional Title, and placed third at the national level," Fowler added. The NHCS middle school soccer team has gone undefeated this season.
Butner was followed by Coach David Cowger, Varsity and Junior Varsity girls' volleyball coach. Cowger has been senior pastor at World Hope Worship Center for seven years. Previously, he served as youth pastor for eighteen years. In high school, Cowger played Club football, basketball, track, and ran Cross Country. While attending Southeastern University, he participated in Club Team Volleyball, and his team was Club champ for three years. He also played Club team football and baseball. He has more than twenty-seven years of coaching experience.
Perhaps the highest profile athletic department recruitment for the year was Jason Causby, former Varsity Men's basketball coach at Salisbury High School. Causby coached at Salisbury High School for seven years, and has coached AAU and at Concord High School. Coach Causby's impressive career record is 108 wins against 52 losses. His varsity teams have been runner up for the public school NC state championship for five of the last six years. He has regularly been named NC District 11, Central Carolina Conference, and Rowan County Coach of the Year. Causby served on the NHCS school board last year, and is a former NHCS student. His two oldest children attend the school, as well. "Coach Causby was an answer to prayer," said Mitchell. "Prior to his arrival, we were blessed with four new very talented athletes who will play on team Coach Causby will lead. These boys came to the school thinking they would be taking a 'step backwards' athletically in order to make gains in their academic studies. So, when Coach Causby agreed to take the position, we were elated to be able to provide them with both." Coach Causby will lead the "Blue" Varsity Men's Basketball team this year.
Most recently, NHCS has welcomed Lakai Brice and John Kriminger to the Varsity basketball coaching ranks.
Coach Kriminger is no stranger to NHCS. Last year, he served as assistant coach for the Varisty Boys' basketball team, and he has previously coached our middle school teams. This year, he will serve as Head Coach for our "Gold" Varsity Boys' basketball team, which will continue to compete in the Mid-State Christian Conference.
Coach Brice will lead this year's Varsity Lady Eagles' basketball team. Brice earned her undergraduate degree in physical education from Catawba College, where she played basketball and then served as Assistant Basketball Coach. As a student athlete, Brice was a three time MVP, three time all conference, and two time all-region player. She has also been Assistant Coach at Salisbury High School and Head Coach of an AAU team. Notably, Brice played basketball professionally in France.
Coach Nikki Eagle will return to coaching at NHCS as she takes on the middle school girls' basketball team. Assistant Athletic Director, Chris Price, will continue coaching the middle school boys basketball team. Coach Joshua Houghton, an avid and lifelong runner, has provided outstanding talent as he coached both the middle and high school Cross Country.
Coach Adam Sproyles and Jamie Patterson will join us as elementary basketball coaches. Mr. Sproyles is the youth pastor at First United Methodist Church, and has assisted in coaching several non-NHCS teams. Coach Patterson is an NHCS parent who has been a lifelong athlete.
The recipe for the 2010-2011 athletic program includes a dynamic new athletic director, a passionate assistant athletic director, excellent coaches, planned conference realignments; continued facilities enhancements; and an enthusiastic booster club. For these reasons, 2010-2011 is sure to become a historic year in the NHCS athletic program.
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Fifth grade visits Camp Hanes
Written by Brittany Gaddis, 5th grade Student
Every year, fifth grade goes to Camp Hanes. This year, it was our turn to go, and it was a lot of fun! We caught some critters that were in the lake and in the creek. We got to look at some of them under a microscope, and it was cool. We also got to make lean-tos. We had to make a spot for a fire. The girls built one shelter and the boys built the other. We also played this game called "The Beast." We went to a campfire, too. They had a zipline and it was really fun! I loved Camp Hanes!
Written by Caroline Cody, 5th Grade Student
Every year at North Hills the fifth grade goes to a place called Camp Hanes. This year the fifth grade had so much fun. We did a bunch of cool things there. Many of the activities were group activities. One of the things we did was play games. Another thing we did was see if there was any pollution in the lake. We also found cool critters. We built a shelter and a campfire without fire to see if we could survive in the wild. We even did some impossible challenges and, at first, we didn't think we could do it, but we did. We had fun. The food was amazing, and we had the best trip ever! |
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Students honored for achievements -
Six inducted into National Honor Society
On September 16, 2010, six new students were honored when they were inducted into the David B. Davis chapter of the National Honor Society: Mary Boyd, Laura Butner, Savannah Daniel, Zachery Byerly, McKamie Harrison, and Carson Mann. NHCS students Caley Boggs and SaRang Park, current National Honor Society members, assisted with the induction service. Mrs. Paula Hemann, leader of an on-campus Precept Women's Bible Study and wife of NHCS Board member, was the guest speaker for the event.
The National Honor Society is a prestigious honor society built upon four pillars: scholarship, character, service, and leadership. Each candidate is evaluated in light of these criteria by the faculty of NHCS before they are inducted. All students must also earn a 3.5 Grade Point Average or better.
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High School students attend annual retreat
Written by Dana Salmon, NHCS Ninth Grader
Every year, the high school students of North Hills Christian School look forward to our annual retreat, a time of relaxation, growing in relationships with God and each other, and fun. This year's retreat was no exception.
On Monday morning, September 27th, a group of seventy eager high schoolers loaded three different buses to go to this year's destination. Lutheridge, a retreat center in Arden, NC, was a beautiful place to spend the retreat. It offered a marvelous view of the mountains and creation. Quaint cabins hosted the students and chaperones.
In addition to all of this, the retreat provides time for careful examination of the high school program at North Hills. At the retreat, Mr. Mitchell listens to all of the students' likes and dislikes of our school, and takes them all into account as he plans for the future of the school.
Team-building provides a special time for students to bond. The staff of Lutheridge planned a variety of enjoyable games in which the high schoolers could participate, including a game where all seventy students had to get in birthday order from January to December-without saying a word!
This year, David Edwards, our wonderful guitar teacher and man of God, came along to lead worship in song and Bible devotions. Students listened intently as the Word of God was brought in a relevant way. Mr. Edwards also had a game of his own, "Protect the Egg," in which students had to use the materials provided (foam, yarn, paper, string, etc.) to design a container for an egg which would keep it from breaking in drops of various height, one of which included being thrown against a tree from a second story of a building.
Every year, the high school retreat is a fantastic kick-off to the school year for all of the students and teachers in attendance. Ask any student who attended the retreat, this was a very refreshing and meaningful get-away!
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Presenting an extraordinary night of celebration - Vision Banquet 2010
Parents, grandparents, and friends of NHCS are invited to attend one of the most important celebrations of the school year - our annual Vision Banquet. The school's gymnasium will be transformed into a beautiful dining hall filled with round tables. Each table will be uniquely decorated with various dishes, color, creativity, and fun. It is sure to be an extraordinary night of student entertainment (kids in grades 1 - 12 will participate) and a nice night out with your NHCS family.
Featured guest speakers will include a special NHCS alumna, our Head of School, and NHCS students and faculty. Childcare and the dinner will be provided (tickets required, please call 704-636-3005, ext. 130, or visit the front desk to secure tickets by October 22, 2010). Childcare reservations are required, as well.
Donations to secure the future for NHCS will be requested, and typically range from as little as $5 to as much as $5,000 or more. Please come, enjoy, and give to the school's mission as you are able. Together, even the smallest gifts make a big difference, and all are appreciated!
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