Field Trips
Written by: Noah Kidder
Mrs. Anna’s Fifth & Sixth Graders are going to the Renaissance festival in Hammond on November 14th! This day of fun will feature a Jousting reenactment on the picturesque fair grounds that resemble a historic 16th century English village. Students will be able to visit different booths and possibly participate in other events reminiscent of that era. Mrs. Anna and her class will be joined by a few chaperones to help her keep track of her class of commoners – including our very own principal.
Kindergarten is set to travel to Breaux Bridge for their field trip on November 15th. Mrs. Darlene tells us, “Mr. Cliff has been a collector of antiques over the past few years. We will travel together as a class to enjoy a blast from the past. He will help take the kids on an adventure highlighting how far man has come over the years. From washing our clothes on a washboard to an actual working washing machine. The kids will get to experience a simpler lifestyle than what they are used to today. Mr. Cliff has volunteered his time and his wisdom in order for us to enjoy his museum. Mr. Cliff has grandkids and so enjoys having little ones spend time with him. Once we have enjoyed our walk down memory lane or gain new insight on how much our world has changed, we will be enjoying a picnic at Moncus Park. Pack a lunch, grab a bottle of water and get ready to have a good time!”
Chaperones will be needed for this trip so be on the lookout for more information and for the permission slips which should be going in folders soon.
Mrs. Christi’s First Graders will enjoy a day at Zoosiana on November 18th, where they will see many of the animals they have been learning about in their Science class. This is a fitting field trip since that class is all about Zoology: Land Animals of the 6th Day! What a wonderful way to train up our children in the Word by pointing to the Creator of the animals they’re learning about – and their origins! Mrs. Christi said she would love help from the parents to chaperone, so if you’d like to join them in this fun day, please see Mrs. Christi! And, don’t forget to turn your permission slip in by November 8th so your First Grader doesn’t miss out!
November 21st looks like it’ll be a field trip day for nearly half the school as both Mrs. Katie’s Third & Fourth Graders and Mr. Jordan and Ms. Belle’s Seventh through Twelfth Graders have field trips!
Mrs. Katie’s class will be going South for their trip to Rip Van Winkle Gardens. They’ll enjoy a garden tour, a tour of the Bayless mansion, and will be learning of lake peigneur and the salt mine disaster. They’ll also have lunch together before they return! Mrs. Katie says they do need parents to help chaperone, and siblings are invited to come along for this fun trip, so if you’re interested in helping out or bringing along siblings please see Mrs. Katie for more information! To join on this field trip, her students must have their permission slips signed and turned in by Friday, November 8th!
And last but not least, the Seventh through Twelfth Graders will embark on an exciting adventure – heading North to Kisatchie National Forest. Each year we head to Kisatchie for this thrilling field trip. We go hiking on trails with Mr. Scott Nealy – and sometimes get lost. We find cool things along the way like animals, insects, and beautiful views. Just beware of Maxwell… he lurks in the shadows marking rocks, trees, and other things on the pathways. The only way to avoid Maxwell’s wrath is to give him snickers. Thankfully nobody has been taken by Maxwell yet, but there is always the next hike! So get those forms and money turned in by November 6th to join the hike — and remember to bring snickers!
UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
Written by: Aaron Alexander
Exciting news for the month of November, we will be having three special events this month. We will now start with the events in chronological order. Coming up first with Spirit Week. Spirit week will be the first week of November, with special events for each day of the week. It is as follows:
- Monday: Cartoon character day! Each student will have the chance to dress up as their favorite cartoon character!
- Tuesday: Twin Tuesday! This fun day each student can pick a partner or group of people to be twins with!
- Wednesday: Anything but a Backpack Day! CCA students will be allowed to bring their school belongings in anything but a backpack!
- Thursday: Theme Thursday! The classes have picked their themes – so now to see who wins the day!
- Friday: Spirit Day! The final day of this exciting week every member of CCA is invited to show their school spirit! Dress as the School mascot or just showcase your school colors!
This thrilling week will be through November 4th to November 8th, and I hope everyone’s ready. There is a Facebook post on CCA’s Friends and Parents page if you are looking for help with costumes or apparel!
Next up, on November 22nd, we will be dismissing early at 11:30 am! Following dismissal, there will be a Thanksgiving feast! All are invited to join the feast – students, parents, and staff! Hope to see you there!
And last, we have Thanksgiving Break beginning after the Feast on Novemeber 22 and continuing through the next week (11/25-11/29)! School will start up again on Monday, December 2 and I’ll be back with more school events then!
Caroline’s Classroom Chronicles
Written by: Caroline Robertson
There were so many tremendously fun things going on in October, so let’s recap. Starting with Mrs. Darlene’s Kindergarten class, they continued to learn how to read and write, as well as preparing for Spirit Week. And we’re all grateful to have Mrs. Darlene back in the classroom after her absence due to an illness. Welcome back, Mrs. Darlene!
Next, Mrs. Christi’s First Grade class started the month of October with a fun competition where all the little kids did an apple boat racing competition, due to them learning about Christopher Columbus. They also learned about halve shapes. Later in the month they celebrated Micah’s, Otis’, and Salem’s birthdays.
In Mrs. Jessica’s Second Grade class, they have learned so many different fascinating things. In Geography they have learned about the many different states and capitals. History taught them about how the Gospel started spreading from Jerusalem. Then, in Science, they have learned and explored the facts about insects, specifically caterpillars, while hatching their own monarch butterfly. The distinct caterpillar they are learning about is called the Horn Caterpillar. Finally, they are also finishing up the book “Winnie the Pooh”.
Mrs. Katie’s class has also done many exciting things this past October. For example, since all the kids passed their Greek test they celebrated by eating classic Greek foods. They have also grown their own hydroponic gardens. This October they went on their nature walk, looking at all the different types of leaves and sticks, and journaling about them later.
In Ms. Anna’s 5th and 6th grade class, they had started the month of October with fun and exciting science experiments and learning the scientific method. The students also held an international fair, where they tried different kinds of food from all over the world. These kids picked their countries and got to write about them. In Math, they are learning fractions.
Next up, in 7th and 8th, they’ve just finished the classic book, “Till We Have Faces” by C.S Lewis in Mr. Jordan’s Humanities class, and begun the even more infamous book “The Magician’s Nephew”, a part of the Narnia series, also written by C.S Lewis. In Ms. Belle’s Physical Science class, they finished up their first module and completed a few experiments. To finish up the month, they all brought snacks and baked goods for their Grammar presentations for all the students to enjoy – and both Mr. Jordan and Ms. Belle benefited from these delicious treats!
Lastly, for the High Schoolers, our 9th and 10th grade students have many exciting things they are working on. One big thing that happened on October 30th was part one of the Humanities III Midterm, given to them by their teacher, Pastor Aaron Shamp. This test was on all the books this class has read so far. They also have been having a wonderful time in art, by working on their Casting Project, which is due mid November, where each student chose a reference image with a black and gray face on it, and had to cast it onto their bristol board. It’s a lot of hard work but with Miss Shirah’s help and motivation, they are getting through it. They’ve also been working on their biology paper assigned by Dr. Stan Brown, covering any ecology subject mentioned in Module 3. For Writing and Rhetoric, Ms. Belle has this class working on Descriptive Nature Essays with their final draft due November 1. And, if that’s not enough for these Freshmen and Sophomores, they have the amazing privilege of working on this newsletter that you are now reading!
It’s also CCA’s first year with Juniors and Seniors! They are up to many things – both in and out of school. Starting off, we have Ms. Shirah, leading her students with how to draw realistically by teaching them how to draw a realistic thumbnail. In Pastor Brandon’s Public Speaking class the students were required to write and record speeches on things, not only about themselves, but on subjects that related to their personal lives. This task was carried out on the 29th of October. Our final mention will be the 11th and 12th grade, How the World Runs class, taught by Mr. Jordan. This class has a year long project on either getting some form of a job, or starting a business. Everyone has something interesting they are working on, from starting apprenticeships with Electricians and Blacksmiths and Machinery to working at stables to tutoring and begininng their own businesses in nannying and jewelry making.
All of these classes have learned so many great new things and November is ramping up to be another month filled with activities, so check back next month to read all about them in our next newspaper.
Sports with Landon & Luke
As November begins, we’ll have cross-country on Tuesdays and Thursdays as per usual. Not much else for schoolwide organized sports, but our recesses have been quite eventful. So far, this year’s top picks are dodgeball, spikeball, and basketball, and the little kids are good at just chasing each other around and creating their own versions of Keep Away and Catch.
In P.E., Ms. Shirah has been doing her best this year to teach healthy habits and fitness. In the grades Kindergarten through 2nd grade, she is focusing on teaching important motor skills, such as throwing and catching. For the older kids, 3rd-6th grade, she is training them in endurance by playing fun games such as dodgeball! For 9th-10th graders, Ms. Shirah is coaching them on how to build muscle and endurance, as well as independently working out at home!
Teacher Highlight
Written by: Amelia Nealy
Mrs. Darlene Peterson is not only a wonderful teacher, but also a wife, sister, and friend. She has been married to Mr. Kevin Peterson for the past twenty years, and they’ve resided in Breaux Bridge ever since. A fun fact about Mrs. Darlene is that she has an identical twin sister, Arlene, who is also her best friend.
In addition to teaching, she’s also done medical billing for the past nineteen years and manages “Operation Christmas Child”, a Christmas program that spreads God’s Word to children around the world.
I met with Mrs. Darlene and asked her five questions about her teaching and here’s what she had to say:
Q: “What is your favorite thing about teaching?”
She answered that the students’ willingness to learn and their funny stories, as well as the stories they tell about God, encourage her each and every day. “So awesome because during (Bible) reading time they are just glued to what I am saying.”
Q: “Why did you choose to teach?”
She explained that several pastors had taught her about spiritual gifts, and after many friends telling her that teaching was her gift, she finally asked her pastor at the time if she could teach Sunday school. Years later, Pastor Brandon asked her if she would teach Kindergarten at CCA and she agreed.
Q: “How long have you been teaching?”
“Thirty years including Sunday school, but I’ve been here at CCA for seven years.”
Q: “What is your favorite subject?”
“Art,” she says as she points to her students’ drawings on the wall.
Q: “What is your favorite activity to do with the kids?”
Although she personally does not like manipulatives (blocks, shapes, etc, that help students understand parts of math) she says that they turn out to be the most fun part of the day, because of how excited her students get.
Mrs. Darlene’s enthusiasm and love for her students clearly shows. Her answers are examples of her love for the Lord, and her love for sharing His gospel with her students.
Student Showcase
The River
By: Caroline Robertson
The river was still, unlike any other river I’ve seen. It was silent, quiet as whispers and cold as a corpse. Fog drifted over it, giving it an eerie mysterious feeling, like the kinds you read of in a book. But the water still fascinated me, and even though the cold weather chilled me to the bone, I still walked forward. At the river’s edge, I dipped my hand into this water of stars, shivering even more at the temperature, but as it flowed out of my hands it sparkled and shined as if it were laced with glitter. The moon glistened along the waters and the stars danced in the ripples along the shore, reflecting light as it rushed toward my feet.
The waters twisted and twined along the dark rocky cliff edges in the great distance, pretty far from where I was standing. But if I stepped back far enough the river was a long silver ribbon, lying peacefully across the land. Its luminous waters were a trance, so even though I wanted to step back further I found myself nearer. Almost unconsciously, as if there was a rope wrapped around my waist tugging me forward, I inched closer and closer to the river. The serenity of the water and absence of people and the stillness of the tides were like an open book, just waiting to be dived in and explored. As the wind blew it drew me in, begging me to jump in. I followed its call. But then, suddenly, as I’m inches away from the waters, my toes nearly in, I hear a familiar voice calling me back. I escaped this hypnotic state and walked back home… never visiting the river again.
Student Editor Highlight
This month’s Student Editor is Kloey Walling. Kloey is the daughter of Steven and Jennifer Walling and a student in Ms. Belles’s 9th Grade class. This is her first year at CCA and she has shown diligence in her work. She’s gifted at writing, loves jiu-jitsu and her siblings, one of which, Rachel, goes to CCA as well. A fun fact about Kloey is that if she were to go anywhere, she would go to Rome or Greece for its beautiful architecture. Kloey has fit into our class like a puzzle piece and we are grateful to have her in our class and as our student editor this month.
Written by: Landon Rapinchuk
Her classmates say…
“Kloey is a freshman who loves God. Also, to pass the time, she enjoys reading and writing.” – Caroline Robertson
“Kloey is one of the nicest people in our class and tries to help when she can. She is a new student and doing better than most of the students that have been here for multiple years.” – Noah Kidder
“Chloe is an amazing friend, she is fun to talk to and very always willing to help.” – Amelia Nealy
Parsonage Wars:
The Battle of the Doors
November Contest
The Freshmen and Sophomores have officially declared war in the Christ Church Academy parsonage between Seventh through Twelfth grades. This month’s battle is to see who can decorate their designated classroom door the most creatively. This November, these classes will fight to win… a fight to the finish – no surrender! But, of course, fraternizing with the enemy will be allowed — because some of us have classes together! Battle Terms have been posted and we’ll report back with the Victors next month – as well as their next challenge!
Happy Birthday to…
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