Welcome Back! We hope that every ESK student, family, teacher and administrator had a safe, healthy and restful Thanksgiving Break. The activity around the halls of ESK will continue at fevered pace over the next few weeks. Keep an eye on Headlines each week to keep up with the latest happenings around both the Lower and Middle Schools!

DECEMBER EVENTS AT ESK

12/5            Middle School Concert and String Band Performance - 6:00 p.m.

12/6            Spelling Bee - 2:00 p.m.

12/7            Winterfest - 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

12/10          Lower School (2nd-5th) Christmas Program - 6:00 p.m.

12/12          PA Christmas Open House - 9:00-11:00 a.m.

12/13          K/1st Grade Christmas Program - 8:45 a.m.

12/17          MS Evening Prayer and Carol Service - 6:00 p.m.

Dance Team Ready for Debut

The Kindergarten through Fifth Grade members of the ESK Dance Team are prepared to make their debut this Monday, December 9 at halftime for both the varsity girls' and varsity boys' basketball games against Concord Christian. The team has been practicing hard and coaches Cayla Wilson and Pansie Evans have the girls ready to go!

Calling for Gala Volunteers!

Want to get involved? Contact Alice Smith (smith@esknoxville.org) to learn more about volunteer opportunities for the 10th Annual Saints' Gala. A variety of roles are available. She would love to have you!

We'd love your help finding items for the auction too! If you have connections with shops, restaurants, or businesses, access to a vacation home or special experience, please let us know!

Spelling Bee

Join us tomorrow (December 2) at 2 p.m. in the Kline Gymnasium for the school wide Spelling Bee. Individual class spelling bees have taken place to determine the participants for this year's event.  Join us Friday at 2 p.m. in the Kline Gymnasium if you can take the suspense!

Fantasy of Trees

A big thank you goes out to Lower School art teacher Marie Gibson and Middle School art teacher Philip Hoffman for their hard work that went into ESK's submission for this year's Fantasy of Trees event. The tree truly was a piece of art.

Eighth Grade Farewell Ads

Information regarding the purchase of Eighth Grade Farewell ads for the yearbook was emailed to Eighth Grade parents prior to Fall Break. Please remember the first deadline for submission is Friday, December 20, with the final deadline on Friday, January 10. For additional info or with questions, please contact Director of Communications Melissa Callahan via email at callahan@esknoxville.org.

For all the latest on all ESK sports, be sure to check out the athletics update section of Headlines. Click here to read all about this week's competition and to see pictures from all the action.   

Music News

ESK Christmas Programs

Lower School Christmas Program: Please mark your calendars for this festive event to be held on Tuesday, Dec. 10th at 6 p.m. at St. John's Cathedral downtown.  Our students in Grades 2-5 will present a beautiful evening of traditional Christmas carols in the sanctuary, with a cookie and punch reception to follow in the Great Hall.  Students should wear dressy holiday clothes- no jeans or sweatshirts please. 

Kindergarten and First Grade will hold their program at ESK on Friday, Dec. 13th at 8:45 a.m. in Googe Hall.  Children will present a variety of Christmas carols and secular holiday favorites for their families. Students may wear holiday clothes. 

Middle School Evening Prayer and Carol Service will be presented on Tuesday, Dec. 17th at 6 p.m. at Church of the Ascension on Northshore.  Students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grade chorus will present an evening of Christmas music in the lovely setting at Ascension Church.  The Chorus will be accompanied by piano, flute and violin.  All are invited to attend this beautiful evening worship.  A reception will follow. 

Please contact Dr. Sousa at sousa@esknoxville.org with any questions regarding our Christmas programs.  Thank you! Families are not asked to bring cookies this year for the post-concert receptions.

Student News

ESK Brownie Troop 20450 Participates in Operation Christmas Child

Members of ESK Troop 20450 have completed their first service project of the year by packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child is a mission project of the Christian organization, Samaritan's Purse, with the goal of spreading God's love to needy children around the world.

The girls shopped for small items such as toys, school supplies, basic hygiene items, and hard candies to include in their shoeboxes. They also filled out an "All About Me" page sharing with their box recipient what life is like in the United States. OCC delivers boxes to countries throughout the world.

Prior to packing the boxes, troop leaders Kimberly Stapleton and Greg Rainey conducted an exercise with the members demonstrating the discrepancies of wealth and resources in the world. The girls soon realized that they are fortunate to live in a land of abundance. As a result, they were eager to bring joy to a child in need somewhere in the world.

The boxes are being delivered to an authorized site during OCC's national collection week. While this is the first of several service projects, the girls have earned numerous badges so far, exploring topics such as their senses, being their best self, and making new friends.

Nutcracker on Ice

Be sure to head down to the Ice Chalet this week and check out ESK Middle School students Casey and Molly Majors in the production of Nutcracker on Ice. Casey plays the character of Toy while Molly is Elf. The show runs through December 7 with performances nightly at 7 p.m. along with a matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets range from $12-$15. The sisters have a combined 13 years of experience in this production.

Please let us know if you or anyone in your family has trouble receiving Headlines! We will send it to anyone who wants to receive it.