The Latest from North Hills Christian School: November, 2012

Imagine...

a SCHOOL of EXCELLENCE

- Moving towards classical schooling

- AP & Honors Courses

- Latin & Spanish for grades 1-12

- High school tablet PC Program

Eagles Are Back in Town:

The 2012 NHCS Homecoming

This year, the North Hills Christian School homecoming will be on December 14th. The event will take place in the Helen Kelley Smith Gymnasium on the campus of North Hills. Current students and alumni alike will be celebrated and recognized in a night of fun and tradition.

For our alumni: The night will begin at 6:00 pm with a reception for alumni and faculty. All former NHCS basketball players are invited to participate in the Homecoming festivities. Varsity girls' will take on the alumni girls' team at 6:30 p.m. This will be followed by the varsity boys' alumni game at 7:00 p.m. Please contact Charissa Duncan at cduncan@northhillschristian.com or by phone at (704) 636-3005 ext. 212 to sign up.

For seniors, homecoming representatives, and their families: As always, all young men who appear on the homecoming court will be expected to wear suits. All young women who appear on the court must plan to wear a dress. Concerning dresses: There is no theme or particular color required, but the usual female dress codes apply - every dress must have straps (clear straps are acceptable), stay above the natural bra line in the back, be at least knee length, and show no cleavage. Slits in dresses must not come above the knee. All dresses must be approved by the North Hills Honor Council. Members of the Honor Council will be in the girls' locker room between 3:00 and 3:30 pm starting next Monday, November 26.

If you have any questions regarding the 2012 homecoming, please contact either of North Hills' student activities prefects:

Caitlin Harrison (charrison@northhillschristian.com)

Michael Jones (mjones@northhillschristian.com)

Official event invitation and schedule

The Class of 2002 Ten Years Later

How time flies... Recently, former NHCS teacher Robin Powell got the chance to attend the ten-year reunion of the graduating North Hills class of 2002. The gathering was held at a local Salisbury restaurant, and while not all members of the class were able to attend, six classmates met together to share their experiences and accomplishments from the past ten years. Powell wrote to North Hills' head administrator, Matt Mitchell, and described to him what an uplifting experience the reunion turned out to be.

"What a blessing!" Powell writes. "These young adults are representing the vision for NHCS graduates in the world today... Four class members are happily married and were accomanied by their spouses. This is just the beginning; one of the couples actually met at North Hills, two of the couples met at the Christian university they attended, and the last couple met through Campus Crusade. What a wonderful testimony to the foundation provided at North Hills."

Powell goes on to describe how the students' ties with their families have remained strong, and how all of them have made significant accomplishments since their graduation, both corporate and personal: "Two of the graduates are already parents, and two are currently expecting. How time flies!"

Many classmates at North Hills often reflect on how strange it will be to reunite and see one another with spouses, children, careers, homes, and everything else that comes with the passage of time. May God go with us wherever our futures take us, and may we never forget all that our school has done to help us on our way. God bless you, North Hills.

NHCS Senior Returns Lost Class Ring to Owner After 32 Years

By Mark Wineka, Salisbury Post

SPENCER - As usual, young Adam Broyles was dirt fishing. It was a hot July afternoon in 2011, and Broyles had left the house to walk his dog, Oreo. Adam's instincts for treasure hunting - he says it's fair to call it an obsession - steered them to an old dump in the woods not far from the house. Read the whole story from the Post

North Hills Appreciates Pastors

Monday, November 5 was a well-known occasion in the faith community: Pastor Appreciation Day. This year, North Hills went all-out to show gratitude to the pastors of NHCS family and friends. The gymnasium was transformed into a massive lunch hall with seasonally decorated tables, and upon their arrival, the pastors were greeted with music by Hills Worship, the North Hills praise band. Further entertainment was provided by students from pre-k, elementary, and middle school; each grade level had a different way to say thank you to their church leaders. After a word from the school administrator, Matt Mitchell, a complimentary lunch from Olive Garden was served to all the honorary guests. Over seventy pastors attended the event.

To all pastors, preachers, priests, and reverends: Thank you for all you do to further God's kingdom and lead His disciples. We appreciate you!

Spiritual Emphasis Week

October 15-19 was an important week for North Hills students. This year, the whole school highlighed Spiritual Emphasis week more than ever before. A small student committee was responsible for creating posters to advertise for "S.E.W" before it arrived, and several seniors helped organize an event for Friday the 19th: an optional, student-led lunch fast and prayer meeting after school hours. The same day, worship leaders from Word of Life Bible Institute led a chapel service for students. Kirk Blankenship, Associate Pastor at Meadowview Presbyterian Church in Lexington, NC, was the featured speaker for the week. In addition to the standard Tuesday chapel, students had a chapel service every day, during which Pastor Blankenship spoke on what it means to be a spiritual leader. Although the week has passed, S.E.W. posters have stayed up in some areas of the school, reminding students that for the disciples of Christ, Spiritual Emphasis Week never really ends.

Stories From the High School Retreat:

Bonding, Worship, and Ropes Courses

This year, the entire high school of North Hills packed up their sleeping bags and bibles and headed to Camp Walter Johnson, a Salvation Army retreat and conference center in Denton, North Carolina. The stay was overnight (Thursday, October 11 into Friday, October 12). While at camp, students enjoyed hilarious team-building challenges, including a high ropes course (which many students agreed looked like a pirate ship) and a towering rock wall. Even the putt-putt course was formidable enough for some. The students stayed together in classic cabin bunk bed style, and gathered for a worship service around a roaring bonfire - complete with acoustic guitar, testimony, and s'mores.

This is what students have said about the 2012 NHCS High School Retreat:

"The group activities were incredibly entertaining. It's always nice be in a new environment with classmates, to have fun and to learn more about them. It was so refreshing to see how the people I know, or don't know very well, being supportive and enthusiastic when it came to encouraging their peers. It was a fun bonding experience that I will look back on fondly."

Kelsey Greaves, junior

"I definitely enjoyed the retreat this year. It was just a great chance to relax and hang out with friends. I'm really sad that it was my last high school retreat but it was a great retreat to end my high school career with."

Abby Cody, senior

"I think that this year's retreat was our best one yet! We got to bond a lot with the younger students and everyone was equally included. The ropes course and the team building exercises were my favorite activities."

Candace-Craig Lyerly, junior

"I fully enjoyed the retreat this year. The best thing that happened was probably that I made new friends."

Brittany Hogan, freshman

Many North Hills high schoolers are already campaigning for the addition of a Spring retreat because they feel unified and refreshed by the Fall retreat, and would love nothing more than to experience it all again. Though this may not happen, students can agree that from now on, all high school events will benefit from this newly rekindled spirit of unity.

Basketball Court Renovation

While in the process of taking a picture for the yearbook, Leslie Hunsucker and her students noticed that the NHCS outside basketball court looked a little...well, used. With the help of some paint and a donated graphic from Graphic Signs in Rockwell, the backboard and goal got another chance to look their best. Kristen Trivette, a junior at NHCS, designed the graphic for the backboard. The backboard and pole were repainted before the graphic was applied. From the Graphic Signs site: "Graphic Signs will help you promote your cause with custom designed eye-catching banners, prints, magnets, and more! Your promotions will stand out, whether you need them for indoors or out." Thank you, Graphic Signs!

Visit the Graphic Signs website

Middle School Junior Civitans Bless Teachers

Who says middle schoolers can't be sweet? On October 8, the NHCS Middle School Junior Civitan spent their afternoon cleaning the car windows of teachers. The students left a note on each car saying it was just a small way that they could serve them in return for all they do. Good work, guys!

Athletic Announcements