Generous Sponsors of the Northwest Christian Athletes

Junior Bryce Jones and Others Illustrate Why the Sutton Thanksgiving Food Drive Means So Much 

Northwest Christian launches annual campaign to share the love of Christ with students at three needy elementary schools
 and receives support from BHHS Legacy Foundation

Just as the NCS secondary grades were kicking off the annual funding drive to purchase turkeys for the the Thanksgiving meals that the school is assembling, the students received some exciting news.  Last Thursday night, of their own accord, members of our Student Council, led by junior Bryce Jones, made an appeal regarding this effort to the business men and women who make up the board of the BHHS Legacy Foundation.  The next morning, on Friday, Mr. Brown received phone calls from two different members of the Foundation board. According to those phone calls, the board was "overwhelmed"  by Bryce's presentation and deeply moved that a group of students would take on such a momentous effort.

In response to the presentation, the Foundation has agreed to provide Northwest Christian families with the opportunity to contribute to Legacy Connection (an Affiliate of BHHS Legacy Foundation) and be eligible for the Charitable Organization Tax Credit (formerly known as the Arizona Working Poor Tax Credit).  These donated funds will then be used to purchase turkeys and other Thanksgiving meal items. In addition, the Foundation will match, dollar for dollar, the amount that each NCS family gives to Legacy Connection until the $14,000 NCS total goal is met.  For example, this means that families giving up to the qualifying limit of the credit for married couples who file jointly--a $400 donation (or up to $200 for individuals)--will see their contributions doubled in terms of blessings to Arizona's neediest while also being eligible for the Arizona Working Poor Tax Credit.  Legacy Connection has also committed to matching gifts over the Arizona Working Poor Tax Credit until the NCS food drive goal is met.  (As Arizona donors you are eligible for the Working Poor Tax Credit, plus you can also participate in the Arizona Tax Credit programs for public and private schools).  You of course should also consult with your tax advisor.

"I am thrilled that for five years our students have provided these blessings for needy families," explains superintendent Geoff Brown.  "So much of scripture speaks to the Christian discipline of caring for the poor and we get the opportunity to coach our students through that within this project.  But more than that, what is happening is that our students' hearts are being shaped by the effort.  Students like Bryce are coming to a new understanding of who they are in Christ and what they are capable of accomplishing for His glory."  Across the campus, different stories are popping up and serving to encourage the school family tremendously.  These stories include... 

• The fourth grader who took $20 that she had saved, purchased candy bars at the store, sold them in her neighborhood, and earned $115 which she committed to the campaign.
• The group of preschool families who pitched in to purchase 100 Spanish/English Bibles to go into the 100 food boxes that the preschool is assembling.
• The high schooler who felt led to cash their paycheck from their part time job and give all of the earnings to the turkey drive.

."So many stories like these are starting to circulate," continues Mr. Brown.  "It is so fun to see the Lord moving the hearts of our kids to accomplish His designs."

BHHS LEGACY FOUNDATION WEBSITE 

You can also drop your donation off to the school office or mail it in to BHHS Legacy.  If you would like to do this, please download the tax credit form below:

NCS and Legacy Connection: Working Poor Tax Credit Form 

AZCAPE Honors Northwest Christian with Excellence in Education Award for "Program of the Year"  

The Kids Kingdom missions program wins top honors

The Arizona chapter of the Council for American Private Education (AZCAPE) annually recognizes outstanding private school programs and staff as part of their "Arizona Excellence in Private Education Awards".  On Monday, November 10th, Northwest Christian was excited to learn that its 'across-the-grades' work supporting the Kids Kingdom orphanage in Imuris, Sonora was recognized as "best in the state".  Over 200 nominations from private schools throughout the state were considered.  Other finalists included programs from Tesseract, the Summit School of Ahwatukee, Christ the King, and Green Fields Country Day School. 

The Kids Kingdom missions project is directed by the the school's 8th grade Bible teacher and Spiritual Formation Director Chris Gardiner and pulls together students from 2nd grade, 8th grade, and high school to minister to the needs of the 34 orphans presently living at the Mexican orphanage as well as children within the neighborhood in which the orphanage resides.  NCS students travel five to six times a year to the orphanage and work together to meet the spiritual and physical needs within the orphanage.  

A group of 25 eighth graders and six high schoolers had just returned from the orphanage the same weekend that the program was recognized.  On this particular trip, the students had been involved in leading a 'kids club' activity within the orphanage for both the residents and other children in the neighborhood, completed a fairly significant painting project, and distributed forty orange Home Depot "Homer" buckets full of basic cooking staples (flour, sugar, rice, etc.) to impoverished families within the community who attend the church associated with the orphanage.  On previous trips students have installed a computer network, constructed benches and church pews, done landscaping, built beds, served in a local soup kitchen, and been involved in helping Kids Kingdom build an actual church building in the neighboring community of Benjamin Hill.  "And," says Geoff Brown, "they play with a lot of kids.  A lot of kids!"  

9918 W. Happy Valley Prkwy

After a year of planning, Northwest Christian has launched a comprehensive, seven-year guidance strategy designed to help students discover and pursue their unique God-given purpose.  Within its first full year, counselor Brittney Meyer is already seeing the fruit of the effort as students and teachers work through the different components of the plan.  These components manifest differently within the different grade levels.  Most recently, sixth graders have been enjoying career visits from different individuals within varied professions who illuminate their jobs but also talk through how they discovered God's leading and will.  This week, the eighth graders will be spending a day at Northern Arizona University where they will learn about the college application process and how best to prepare for it as they move into high school.

Other opportunities that Northwest Christian students are enjoying as part of the Pursuing His Purpose effort include:

• The new "Lighthouse" partnership with test prep industry leader Princeton Review.  As part of this partnership, depending upon a student's GPA, a student can enroll in completely free Princeton Review courses--either in person or online.
• New curriculum presented within Bible classes.  Though the curriculum maps are still being finalized by secondary Bible teachers, students are working through different curricular pieces which speak to issues like discovering their spiritual gifts and how to discover God's plan for your life.
• Use of the Arizona CIS system.  Recently employed by the school, this new software resource allows for students to begin working through career interest surveys while developing individualized guidance plans that permit them to begin charting their course as early as middle school.
• On campus and off campus college visits.  Already this year, as part of a multi-year plan, students have visited University of Arizona, Grand Canyon University, and Northern Arizona University.  Over the course of their middle and high school years, students will visit every major state university, each of the state's Christian colleges, a sampling of junior colleges, and military recruiters.  Additionally, Mrs. Meyer has organized on-campus visits universities from across the United States.
• A strategic approach to standardized testing.  After time has been invested by a committee of Northwest Christian teachers, the school is beginning to adjust standardized testing strategies over the course of several years.  The multi-year process affords time for teachers to pull rigorous standards into their curriculum maps while more directly preparing students for success on high stakes tests in high school.
• Personalized guidance coaching.  Working with Mrs. Meyer and Mrs. Dennis, students continue to develop their high school four-year plans.  In addition, beginning in middle school, workshops are being presented which begin coaching students through guidance processes, understanding the college application process, pursuing scholarships, and the like.

For more information on this developing plan, you can can download the following:

Pursuing His Purpose Overview   

Below, sixth graders hear from Hannah Walworth, graduate of NCS, and RN at Phoenix Childrens Hospital in the Cardiac ICU unit.   

Generous Sponsors of Northwest Christian Athletes

Generous Sponsors of Northwest Christian Athletes

I Peter 3:18 

Big Boys on Campus

The Monthly NCS Men's Prayer Breakfast

NCHS Adventure Cru 

"The Rugged Maniac"

5K Obstacle Race 

Arizona Christian

 University

Grand Canyon University

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The new infant care program is underway and space is limited. A Tuesday and Thursday morning class for young three year olds has also just opened. The Mom's Day Out program for toddlers and the preschool program has several openings and spots will go quickly. We appreciate your referrals to family and friends. For more info, please contact Michelle Reddy at mreddy@ncsaz.org 

National League of Junior Cotillions

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF JUNIOR COTILLIONS for young men and women in sixth through eighth grade

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