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Merry Christmas - Give the Gift of Reading and Start a New Family Tradition!

It’s that time of year again. Christmas is officially here, even though the advertisements for the “best” gifts were around before Halloween costumes were available. 

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! It seems so simple, to wish happiness and joy into someone’s life. And it should be, as the hustle and bustle of the Christmas holidays draw near, one can't help but feel a sense of love and compassion. 

As I begin to focus on the upcoming Christmas holiday, I can’t help take time to reflect on this past semester.  During this time of reflection, I think of how God uses the meek and the humble to fulfill His mighty plans.

Each semester our kindergarten through second grade students participate in a program called Musical Explorers. Musical Explorers was developed in partnership with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute to expose children to different genres of music and well as encourage a love for music. 

Calvary’s Lower school starts each day with the three pledges. We stand together; we salute together, and we pledge together. The students then go about their days in different ways. But at some point in the morning, each class has a quiet time of devotion, as a group, and individually.  Sometimes it is teacher led, other times it is student led. It is a time in which we show our commitment to our faith.

Commitment is a big buzzword in sports today. Coaches are asking and demanding commitment, players want to be committed, and the general sports world demands commitment year round if you want to be serious and get better-Got to be Committed! 

Admittedly, fall is a busy time of year. For seniors the decision of where to apply to college weighs heavy on their hearts. Unfortunately, college acceptances are not as easy as deciding where you want to go and then filling out the application. Most colleges and universities have different deadlines and different admission application processes. So, really what does that all mean?

Here at Calvary we have a very unique and distinct opportunity to be able to showcase who we truly are.  People have many qualities that describe who they are, but it is our goal and mission to be able to ensure that one of those qualities is "a follower of Christ."

This fall brought a new sport to Calvary Day School students. A big thank you to Mark Cribbs for heading up the new Clay Target Team. While the team started late in the season they were able to have their first scrimmage this past weekend. With challenging wind conditions and only four team practices the team scored 411 to BC's 453. The team will be competing in the GISA Clay Target League next year and is off to a great start. 

As a sports fan, I’ve seen the February 23rd, 1985 YouTube video of Indiana University Coach Bobby Knight’s famous meltdown on a nationally-televised game against Purdue University. That was one of the biggest reactions from a coach that I’ve ever seen.

The Lady Cavs Volleyball team joined St. Vincent’s Academy during their annual Pink Night on October 2nd.

The students of the Senior Class of 2018 are eagerly applying to colleges. My inbox has been staying full for weeks as students are filling it up with requests for counselor recommendations. I probably should track numbers of apps per year, but this year seems like a record number of early applications.

The Sports World seems to be the epicenter of discussion on a daily basis, not just because it is an everyday occurence to check highlights and stats but for the passion it has stirred to the top of the headlines.

Calvary Day School has exciting news! One of our local Chick-Fil-A stores, along with Coca-Cola, has selected Calvary to partner with them in creating a Leadership Academy here in Savannah.

The 4th grade did a great job on their program today! You can watch it again here.

Once again this fall we dealt with a Hurricane in the Savannah area. As I count our blessings, which for most of us were just tree limbs, some flooding, and power outages. In the grand scheme of things, no life-altering situations faced our Calvary family that others are facing in the days and months to come.

I recently read a blog post on “Rules for my Son,” by Aaron Conrad. He consolidated his favorite rules from the book Rules for My Unborn Son by Walker Lamond. The book is a collection of traditional, humorous, and urbane fatherly advice for boys. 

Savannah’s Independent Schools College Fair for upperclassmen will be held Thursday, September 7th at the Savannah Trade Center. Many colleges and universities will be in attendance from all over the country, including smaller, private, Northern schools. This provides our students with a fantastic opportunity to receive information from schools of interest and to search out new schools and the opportunities that they may provide.

Classes are back into full swing, and students are learning and practicing all sorts of new material. In my math classes this year, students are getting the exciting new opportunity to use IXL. This software is an interactive website where students are given problems and then are given real time feedback as to whether their answer was correct or incorrect. So far, I have seen great success with this program.

As believers, the most important practice for us is to begin every endeavor with prayer. We should pray before a trip, pray before a meeting, pray before a meal, and as is our practice here at Calvary Day School, pray before we begin a new year of school. Each year we gather outside of our chapel to lift up our students and staff to the Lord as we begin a new year of school.

This has been a difficult week for me, honestly, a challenging year. Last year, I started the year as a mom of two senior boys, excitedly anticipating their graduations. Matt’s collegiate graduation was a wonderful and exciting time for our family, and Ryan’s high school graduation was also a fantastic and exciting time.

Throughout one’s time in high school, there are many ways for students to be involved, but how many students truly take the opportunity to tackle leadership roles that take them out of their comfort zone? When we take a closer look at the people who impact our world in a positive manner, those people are leaders in some capacity.

There's a new addition to Calvary this year, and her name is Sandy Hunt. Sandy Hunt is Calvary's new middle school science and Medical Magnet teacher and director of Calvary's new STEM program. She has been teaching for the past thirteen years, most recently at Bible Baptist School before joining CDS. She has a passion for science and the Lord.

Mrs. Herndon's Physical Science class is studying the scientific method. Students are learning how scientists ask questions, form hypotheses, devise tests, analyze their results, and draw conclusions. We put the scientific method into practice and asked the question:,"Will a paper airplane with wing flaps fly farther than one without wing flaps?"

As another school year begins, I am very excited to welcome back all of our Calvary families and look forward to building relationships with the incredible number of new families as well. I know that the beginning of a school year feels different to almost every family. Some are excited about the possibilities, while some are anxious because of all the “new” they will experience. For me, I am thrilled to get the year started and build relationships with our middle school students, staff, and families.

My whole life changed when I made my first appearance on the campus of Calvary Day School. I was entering the eighth grade for the 2011-2012 school year. I spent my previous years attending public schools, but I felt that I was not being challenged or pushed to reach my full potential. My family and I were praying for a change. I spent countless hours researching and touring schools all over Savannah, but Calvary was the school that stood out.

As we begin a new school year, we get a chance to see many changes taking place. From new faces in the halls to new paint on the walls, things are looking good! The excitement of a new school year permeates throughout the hallways into the classrooms and sneaks right into each student and teacher. This is when you can literally “feel” the energy of the school. The first few weeks of school set the tone for the year, and this year is going to be great!

We live in a fast-paced world. If we’re honest...too fast. With new technology constantly changing, and world information doubling every nine months, multitasking is no longer a luxury but a survival skill. Add marriage, kids, and mortgage payments to the equation, and our world can seem positively frightening.

On July 24th, 2017 my wife and I spent the night in our bed for the first night in 46 days. We noticed water seeping up through our hardwood floors in the center of our house at the beginning of the summer. That under the foundation leak lead to the discovery of black mold between the vapor barrier under our floors and slab. At that point, we packed our 2-year-old son and moved in with my parents.

1. The HEARING or sound of summer workouts always brings a buzz of excitement. Your senses are heightened and really kick into high gear when the GHSA “Dead Week” ends after the 4th of July week. Yes, basketball and football have been going at it since June, but the workouts seem to be louder. Coach Logan Daves has the weightroom ringing with music, weights pounding, and players challenging each other to achieve a new personal best with each lift. After the back-to-back state championships,

How do you measure success? In the business world, income is the measuring stick of choice. In sports, the score is often the indicator for success. Personally, I think of results and production when measuring success. At Calvary Day School, success is measured in faith foremost but also in academic rigor. If I were to choose an alumni to serve as a measuring stick for current students, Theodore Carellas would be one of my top choices.

Love is an intense feeling of deep affection. It cannot be staged, and it is not an emotion that can be faked. Love is something that everyone on this earth wants to receive and most want to give. Romans 12:9 states “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

65 Years. Not many people can say they have committed to something for that amount of time. Here at Calvary, two Lower School teachers have combined for 65 years of service to the Day School.

Careers involving the knowledge and use of technology are rapidly growing throughout the world. In fact, U.S. News and World Report states that, “tech jobs will grow faster than the average for all jobs at a rate of 12 percent this decade.” In the same report they also state, “U.S. News’ nine Best Technology Jobs of 2016 are also high-paying jobs that boast low unemployment rates.” With these facts in mind, we have been trying to build in more

The U.S. Department of Education recognizes public and private schools around the nation each year, awarding them a National Blue Ribbon honor. There are two categories of Blue Ribbon School distinction, exemplary high performing schools and exemplary improving schools. According to the National Blue Ribbon website, “The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private K-12 schools that are either academically superior in their state or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.”

Fourteen years. Over three quarters of my life, I have been a Cavalier. From Mrs. Catharine Thomas’s Pre-Kindergarten class in C building to walking across the stage in the Worship Center on May 21st, Calvary has been my second home.

Powerade has this slogan on their advertisement, “Just a kid from_______, everyone's story begins somewhere.”  Well I have thought a lot about that recently. It’s a great statement that makes you appreciate what I feel is humble beginnings. Or you can look at it as greatness can come from anywhere. “Just a Kid from Calvary, everyone’s story begins somewhere.” As I watched a busy Spring unfold,

When we walked into our first day of kindergarten at Calvary Day School, we were not given pencils. We were not given crayons. We were not given paper. Instead, we were given an adorable, purple-clad teddy bear.

When I was in the classroom, students would spend a few minutes every day saying something nice about another student in our opening or closing circle. My classroom was where students learned patience and kindness for each other. Building a culture of appreciation in the classroom was a priority.

We are so grateful for the teachers and staff that pour their lives into the students here at Calvary Day School. The Lord has truly blessed us with incredible individuals who not only care about offering the best education for our students but also make sure that their spiritual and emotional needs are met. They work tirelessly to help CDS students succeed in all they do. Remember to show your gratefulness to your student's teachers this week!

So, you probably heard about the attack on Google Users recently that has created a buzz in the IT world. Lots of new policies and safeguards are currently going into place in schools and businesses all over the country to stop this type of attack in the future. But what can you do to safeguard yourself from a phishing scam?

The Spring Band Concert was held last night with great performances from our middle school and high school students. Awards were given at the conclusion, congratulations to the following students.

The middle school Song and Stage presented their annual variety show on Tuesday. We have some amazing talent in our middle school students and we look forward to seeing how God is going to use them in the future.

Catie Thomas signs her letter of intent to play softball and basketball at LaGrange College

Twenty-five students in the Calvary chapters of the National Junior Honor Society and National Honor Society participated in Relay for Life. Relay for Life is a signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. It is a night full of fun, festivities, and education--all in an effort to raise awareness and money to keep fighting for a cure for cancer.

I have such fond memories of the Class of 2017, perhaps because my youngest son, Ryan, is in this class or perhaps just because they are a special group of young people. I only have a few days left to guide and direct your student and I want to give him/her excellent parting advice. Here is your Final Senior Checklist:

This past Tuesday, April 18, our senior medical magnet students had the privilege of taking a visit to Case Veterinary Hospital. It was an incredible opportunity for the seniors to get an inside look at what takes place on a daily basis in the life of a veterinarian. Dr. Carla Case-McCorvey, a graduate of Calvary, is now the owner of the hospital that has been open for over 100 years. The veterinary hospital has been

Calvary has many recognizable alumni in positions around Savannah, the State of Georgia, the United States, and around the world. We have doctors, lawyers, county commissioners, business owners, CPAs, and executives in many fields. But it is hard to name a Calvary Alumni who is more recognizable than 2003 graduate Cassady Lance Willard.

The National Honor Society inducted ten new members on April 18th. Congratulations to the inductees on this accomplishment!

It was the fall of 2000 and I was a recently divorced mother of a 3-year-old son.  We had just moved cross-country from Utah to Savannah.  When we arrived, we were fortunate that my mother owned a Christian child care center to meet my child care needs.  Sonshine Learning Center was a loving, nurturing environment for my son and his Meme was happy to watch over his development.

The National Junior Honor Society members spent the day at Savannah Country Day School on March 29th. They went to serve some pretty incredible students who were competing in the Special Olympics. Here is what some of them had to say about their experience.

Many college applications and the Common Application are asking questions that inquire about a student’s past behavioral record. The questions ask if a student has ever been suspended or expelled from any school. Another question that is often asked is if one has been convicted of a felony or have a case pending. These are tough questions, and if you find yourself in that situation, it is important to be 

You know how social media is, what is REAL news and what is fake news? With the emergence of the University of South Carolina’s basketball run to the Final 4, their Head Coach Frank Martin has received a lot of press. In one facebook video, whether it is from his Kansas State or South Carolina days, he was asked, “have kids changed?” His reaction was pretty precise. He said “No, kids have not changed, 

On Saturday, February 25, our high school math team, the Calvary Radicals, competed in the Georgia Southern Math Tournament. In our division, there were 102 students comprising 40 teams from around Georgia competing for trophies given to individuals and teams. Calvary Junior Victor Jiang won the first place individual award, scoring a 195 out of a possible 200 on the multiple-choice portion of the competition (one question shy of a perfect score!). 

Congratulations to our students who won and the literary competition on Friday!

Loyalty is one quality you need for a business to grow and flourish. Calvary Day School has many teachers and administrators that have been a part of the school since their childhood. The atmosphere at Calvary is one that you can never get enough of. At Calvary, you have more than just friends; you have a family, one that you will have the rest of your life.

Many of you are very familiar with the well-known reading program Accelerated Reader (AR). The students at Calvary participate in this program from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Loved or hated, this program seems misunderstood at times. AR is intended to encourage young children to read books that they can understand while increasing their reading level at an acceptable rate.

On Friday, February 17th, the junior class at Calvary will take the ASVAB, Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery assessment. This vocational measurement provides our students with the opportunity to learn more about their interests and how those interests correspond with college majors and possible career options. The results are presented to students in the FYI - Find Your Interests Work guide and is based on the theories of John Holland, the leading career theorist of our time.