Upper School Teacher of the Week
The Upper School Teacher of the Week is …Mr. Michael Peters.
His peers shared:
It has been a joy working with Coach Peters over the past year. He makes learning fun with both humor and knowledge.
Coach Peters has done well establishing relationships with students across a number of different grade levels.
Coach Peters teaches the Bible boldly and clearly to our students and is a great rope-holder to our faculty!
Congrats Coach Peters!

Upper School Rope Holder of the Week...
This week's Upper School Rope-Holder is ... Blake Mauldin.
His peers shared:
Mr. Mauldin is an amazing teacher. Not only does he take on the role of music teacher/director, he assists in a huge way with the theater department.
Mr. Mauldin works to grow multiple programs at NCS - Band, US and MS Choir, and Rock Band. He never misses a beat (literally!)
He carries the rope for himself and for others and does everything with joy!
Congrats Mr. Mauldin!

Take a Titan 2 School
Thanks to Channel 2, MTSU, and Hattie B's for sponsoring "Take a Titan 2 School" and for picking Madden Sanders as this weeks' recipient!
The 5th Graders had an Amazing Morning with Malik Willis and Hattie B's provided an amazing lunch for them!
MTSU Dean of the College of Education, Neporcha Cone and Malik joined in this group photo!

September 19th Construction Update
More construction progress being made in the area between the US and LS Buildings.
HUGE MACHINERY!
Homecoming Dress Up Day 4
Homecoming Dress Up Day 4 Theme was Soccer Moms and BBQ Dads.
The Girls Soccer Team went all out! Seniors remain in the lead!

The Upper School Teacher of the Week
This week's Upper School Rope-Holder is...Ms.Rachel Bartlett!
In addition to showing her Eagle spirit by dressing for today’s Homecoming Theme, her peers shared:
Ms. Bartlett has added an AP class and a Senior Girls Bible class to her work load this year. She prepares her students for difficult material and is always available when needed.
Ms. Bartlett never fails to exceed the expectations placed upon her. She handles many things gracefully and without complaint.
Ms. Bartlett is a valuable member of our community.
Congratulations Ms. Bartlett!!!

The Upper School Teacher of the Week
The Upper School Teacher of the Week is ... Ms. Katie Sholl.
Her peers shared:
Ms. Sholl is a leader among our teachers. She is part of the "Training Trio," spending extra time supporting other teachers while managing her own load of AP classes.
Ms. Sholl has rigorous expectations for students while making classes enjoyable.
Congratulations Ms. Sholl!

Change is in the air...
Check out some of the recent changes underway on the NCS Grounds in preparation for the NEW EVENT CENTER...


Upper School Teacher of the Week...August 24th
This weeks Upper School Teacher of the Week is… Mr. Jim Carlucci.
His Peers shared:
Mr. Carlucci has taken on more than a full load of classes to help a coworker and to keep our kids on track for the year.
Mr. Carlucci is always willing to go the extra mile and he does it without complaint. He just jumps in and helps. He is the epitome of Christian service.
We are so blessed to have him on our campus.
Congratulations to this weeks Rope-Holder, Mr. Carlucci!

Upper School Teacher of the Week August 17th
This year the Upper School Teacher of the Week Award will be known as the “Rope-Holder”. Recipients will be awarded a graduation cord to wear for the week.
The first Upper School Faculty/Staff Member of the week for the 2023-2024 school year is… Mrs. Janet King.
Her Peers shared:
Janet King is the definition of perseverance. She has worked endless hours over the Summer and the start of the school year to train two new Counselors and make the class schedule for each US student (not an easy task).
Mrs. King puts the needs of others first and she is always available to answer students questions. She is devoted spiritually and is a great example of a Christ-like woman. I am very fortunate to work with Mrs. King and look to her as a positive example in my life.
Congrats Mrs. Janet King!

SALT
The 2023-2024 SALT (Student Ambassador Leadership Team) assembled this weekend for a retreat to kickoff the new school year.
We look forward to watching them lead this year!

Gary Van Atta joins NCS as Head Girls' Basketball Coach
We are excited to announce the hire of Coach Gary Van Atta as the new head coach of the high school girls’ basketball program.
Coach Van Atta has 44 years coaching experience at the high school, junior college, and four-year collegiate (NAIA, D-1, and D-II) levels. He spent the last 7 years as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Montevallo (Montevallo, AL) where he had coached earlier in his career. During his UM career, Coach Van Atta compiled an overall record of 244-161, the winningest coach in program history. His career also includes Head Women’s Basketball Coach positions at UT Martin and at his alma mater, Trevecca Nazarene University.
At the conclusion of the 2022-2023 season, Van Atta ranked 12th among active NCAA Division-II head coaches with 565 wins and was the winningest active coach in the state of Alabama.
Coach Van Atta is known as a great teacher of the game and is well-known throughout the basketball community. In addition to coaching, he will work in our Fitness department, teaching high school Strength Training.
Van Atta shared, “I am excited for this next chapter. I love basketball and I will continue to teach and grow the game.”
Coach Van Atta joins Katie Beth Allen and Mariah King who will continue in their roles as assistant coaches.
Track and Field State Champion, James Warmbrod
Congratulations to James Warmbrod IV, STATE CHAMPION in the 400 Meter Dash with a time of 49.13!
James also placed 3rd in the State 200 Meter Dash with a time of 21.97 and 6th in the State 100 Meter Dash with a time of 10.94!
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Faculty/Staff Excellence Award Winner
The Administration is pleased to recognize Bill Miller as the Faculty/Staff Excellence Award Winner for the past 9 weeks. This information was shared:
Sarge goes above and beyond to create an environment where we feel safe.
Mr. Miller is such an asset to our community. He not only makes the safety of our children a top priority he also has a calm, reassuring presence.
Sarge shows quiet confidence, vocational capability and Godly character. He is well-connected and stays current with local news and reports so that he can be proactive. He is a man of character of integrity, but more than that is a man who loves God and values the Christian education that NCS provides.
We are so fortunate to have Sergeant Miller on our campus and a part of our NCS family.
Congratulations Mr. Bill Miller!

Upper School Excellence Award Winner
The Upper School faculty, staff and administration is pleased to recognize Cathy Phung as the Upper School Excellence Award Winner for the past 9 weeks. This information was shared:
Cathy is such a bright light at NCS. You can always count on her to greet you in the hallways and give you the biggest smile. She is determined to always do her best and will do the right thing even when no one is watching. She is involved in everything here and she perfectly represents the mission of NCS. The way she encourages those around her and her wellness to go the extra mile is inspiring.
Congratulations Cathy Phung!

Middle School Excellence Award Winner
The Middle School faculty, staff and administration is pleased to recognize Eli Adams as the Middle School Excellence Award Winner for the past 9 weeks. Several Teachers submitted statements to explain his bright light in our hallways:
Eli daily gives his best in all that he does. He is always quick with a polite, kind word. He is inspiring!
Eli is one of the most respectful, attentive, and kind students we have in the middle school. He cares about his peers and is diligent in all he does.
Eli is very creative and a great artist as well.
Eli is incredibly thorough in all his work and continually strives for excellence.
Eli is a true example of what authentic and dynamic leaders look like.
Congratulations Eli Adams!

Lower School Excellence Award Winner
The Lower School faculty, staff and administration is pleased to recognize Eliza Melton as the Lower School Excellence Award Winner for the past 9 weeks. Several Teachers submitted statements regarding her performance and positive attitude:
Eliza is full of positive energy all day, every day.
Elisa is a ray of sunshine. She always has a positive attitude and a sweet spirit. She is encouraging to her classmates.
I love having Eliza in Spanish class. She is always ready to work and will volunteer to help whenever needed.
When I think about our student pledge Eliza is all of these things!
Congratulations Eliza Melton!

Habitat for Humanity Build
NCS participated in its first Habitat for Humanity build on May 6th and 7th.
Generously sponsored by Thrivent Financial, a group of thirteen faculty, staff and students worked alongside future first-time homeowners to frame two homes during the weekend.
Leaders from Habitat and Thrivent met with the students several times before the build, explaining why Habitat exists, why this work matters, and why it is important to serve.
Senior Jack McIntosh (pictured below) said, "It was so much fun working with my friends, doing something we've never done, to bless a deserving family. It made me feel great!" NCS is planning to participate in another Habitat build next year.
Upper School Teacher of the Week...Ms. Rachel Bartlett
The Upper School Teacher of the Week is ... Ms. Rachel Bartlett.
Her Peers shared: I have heard countless alumni complement Ms. Bartlett and tell her they are doing well in college because of what she taught them in high school.
She seeks new ways to engage her students and structures her lessons so everyone's needs are met.
We are lucky to have her as part of our math department. Congrats Ms. Bartlett!
2023 Auction
The 28th Annual NCS Auction was held this past Saturday with the theme Evening Under the Stars.
Guests were treated to beautiful decorations, a great catered meal, photo booth, rousing Online and live auction and a Writers' in the Round.
It was a great night of fun!
Emma Sharlow
Congratulations to NCS Junior, Emma Sharlow, First place winner in the 2023 District 7 Congressional Art Competition sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives and District 7 Congressman Mark Green.
This competition recognizes one student in each Congressional District across the Country.
Emma's work "Typography Matthew 10:7" will be hung in the US Capital building for one year. By placing first, she has been invited to attend the special reception in Washington, D.C. and also qualifies for a number of scholarship opportunities.
Congratulations on this accomplishment Emma!
Five 2023 Senior Girls Records
Shout out to these 5 LADY EAGLES: Millie Boone, Charley Harper, Julia Belle Sisemore, Grayson Bonds, Ava Pomeroy.
During their high school years, all participated in both Basketball and Soccer and accrued many RECORDS in those sports. Julia Belle and Ava also added a State Track Appearance to the list.
Congrats to all!
2023 Spring National Honor Society Inductees
We are proud to present the 2023 Spring Inductees into the National Honor Society: Seniors - Millie Boone, Mitchell Frankum, Jr. Juniors - Lauren Agee, Jenna Baggett, Charlie Brothers, Ainsley Dancer, Mayz Delavergne, Margret Dobbs, Zeke Eckert, Hailee Elizer, Jacob Ellis, Bowen Grohovsky, Ariana Guy, Raelyn Heightman, McKenzie Jennette, Hannah Johnson, Raegan Johnson, Aubrey Kimbro, Zoja King, Reagan Locke, Wyatt Martin, Kate McClary, Damon Mos, Kailey Nichols, Bridgett Page, Megan Parker, Ty Petty, Cathy Phung, Anna Pierce, Bailey Reagan, Walter Reisinger, JT Robbins, Jaelynn Simmons, Brandon Smith, Daniel Whitaker, Neely Woodard .

Senior Class Easter egg hunt
Today the Senior Class participated in the Annual Easter egg hunt. They had a BLAST!
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NCS Middle and Upper School Art Show Award Winners
Congrats to the students who received Top Awards in the Middle and Upper School Art Show. Upper School Awards include Most Awarded:
Art 1 - Abby Hurley
Art 2 - Ansley Petty
Art 3 - Megan Parker
Art 4 - John Draper
Principals Award - Megan Parker (Clown)
Best in Show Faculty - Bridgett Page (Truck)
Best in Show Overall - Ansley Petty (Airplane)
Art Show
There is a lot of excitement in the NCS Visual Arts Department over the upcoming High School and Middle School Art show which is Sunday, April 2nd from 2:00 - 4:00.
The reception and awards ceremony is at 2:30.
The Upper School Teacher of the Week
The Upper School Teacher of the Week is.. Mrs. Amy Payne.
Her Peers shared: Mrs. Payne works every day to ensure her students have time to meet with her and master the content. The classes she teaches are not easy and students are challenged, but supported through her efforts. She pushes students to reach their full potential.
We are blessed to have her in our Math Department.
Congratulations Mrs. Payne!

Mrs. Julie Littrell, Faculty Excellence Award Winner
Congratulations to Mrs. Julie Littrell, Faculty Excellence Award Winner for the past 9 weeks!
Her Peers shared: Julie always goes above and beyond! She is an amazing teammate.
She gives so much of her time and energy to the drama department, helping with the plays. She works to provide the best experience for her students each day. She has a servant heart.
Julie's blood bleeds NCS orange and blue. She is an incredible Kindergarten teacher. She truly loves NCS and we love her!
Congratulations Mrs. Julie Littrell!

Cutler Stubblefield, Upper School Excellence Award Winner
Congratulations to Cutler Stubblefield, Upper School Excellence Award Winner!
Teachers shared the following: Cutler is always willing to help other students understand the material, always polite and respectful to both students and teachers.
He is one of the most positive students I have taught.
His kindness is infectious and I know it makes those around him have a better day. Cutler never misses an opportunity to say a kind word, lend a hand, or go the extra mile.
Congratulations Cutler!
Will Gibbs, Middle School Excellence Award Winner
Congratulations to Will Gibbs, Middle School Excellence Award winner for the past 9 weeks!
Several teachers submitted statements to explain the bright light Will exhibits in our hallways: He has been a calm, kind, and solid presence in and out of the classroom. I've been impressed with his self-control, honesty, and desire to do the right thing no matter the situation. Will is a natural leader! Will has a constant smile on his face. He shows leadership in the classroom by his quiet spirit and respectful behavior. We love having him as part of our NCS middle school!
Congrats Will!

Knox Brim, Lower School Excellence Award Winner
Congratulations to Knox Brim, Lower School Excellence Award winner for the past 9 weeks!
Characteristics used to describe Knox include Mature, Respectful, Kind, Encouraging, and Mindful.
His Teachers shared: Knox is extremely respectful and kind to all. He is on task all the time, ready to learn, and ready to do his work. I can always count on him to listen and participate. He is kind to his peers and to his teachers. He is a great addition to the theatre family. Knox is a pleasure to have in class - he brings me joy every day! Congratulations Knox!
Charley Harper
Congratulations to Charley Harper for being chosen the Bellevue Exchange Club Student of the Month.
Charley is joined by Terry Scott, Karen Whelan and Stephanie Harper.

BCAT District All Academic Team
Congratulations to Charley Harper, Whitley Miller, Grayson Bonds, Millie Boone, Reese Dugger, Ava Pomeroy, Julia Belle Sisemore for being selected to the Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee District All Academic Team.
To qualify for this award, they maintained a 3.5 GPA or higher for their academic career.
They are truly Scholar-Athletes!
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Optimist Club Essay Contest Winners
Three NCS Students were winners in the Bellevue Optimist Club Essay Contest and were recognized in a ceremony last night.
Ava Rudolph (8th Grade) received 3rd place. Kathryn Rogers (12th Grade - not pictured) received 2nd place.
Charley Harper (12th Grade) received 1st place.
Congrats to Ava, Kathryn and Charley!

Middle School Small Groups
Middle school small groups went to the lower school and preschool this morning and taught Bible lessons as part of Christian Emphasis Week.
They did many things including putting on skits, singing songs, and coloring together!
Christian Emphasis Week begins today
Christian Emphasis Week begins today at NCS.
Campus Minister, Jeff Palk, introduced the Theme: Jesus is King in a special Upper School Chapel.
Small groups were encouraged to sit together and many groups had a special prayer at the conclusion of Chapel.
Can't wait to see what this week brings.


The Upper School Teacher of the Week...
The Upper School Teacher of the Week is ... Coach John Pierce.
His Peers shared:
I have only heard good things about Coach Pierce as both a Coach and Teacher.
Coach Pierce has been a great addition to both the Bible Department and Basketball program. His daily interactions with students on campus is excellent.
Coach's Basketball players respect him and agree to the high standards he has set for the program.
We are blessed that NCS students have the opportunity to learn from Coach Pierce.
Congratulations Coach Pierce!

National Merit Finalist...Brett Posavac
Nashville Christian School is excited to announce Brett Posavac has been named a National Merit Finalist.
The nationwide pool of finalists represents less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest scoring entrants in each state.
Brett plans to attend Belmont University and study Pre-med.
Congratulations to Brett Posavac!

Donovan Smith
Congratulations to Donovan Smith for being selected to represent NCS as the Scholar-Athlete, Middle Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
This award recognizes Donovan's outstanding Academic Achievement, School and Community Leadership and Football Performance.
Donovan is pictured with Steve Hutchinson and Kelly Holcomb.
Congratulations Donovan!

The Upper School Teacher of the Week is...Mrs. Nicole Arnold
The Upper School Teacher of the Week is ... Mrs. Nicole Arnold!
Her Peers shared:
Mrs. Arnold has proven she has a long-term commitment to NCS. She is a "fan in the stands" and a leader on stage.
She takes on a number of roles on campus including being a Dual Instructor and working with the theater department.
Mrs. Arnold put a lot of work and research into the Harlem Renaissance cross-cultural unit which several classes participate in. We are grateful for all her hard work!
Congratulations Mrs. Arnold!
State Wrestling Results
Thanks go out to Jaden Potts and Peyton Woodard for setting the benchmark for future NCS Wrestlers to follow.
Jaden finished Runner-Up in the 220 weight class and Peyton finished 5th in the 195 weight class.
Their dedication and hard work showed in their State Performance. Congrats!

The Upper School Teacher of the Week
The Upper School Teacher of the Week is... Coach Mike McPherson.
His Peers shared:
Coach McPherson's commitment to the school extends beyond the classroom. While watching sports in person is great, hearing his play-by-play commentary makes the game even better. Families and friends have come to rely on his one-of-a-kind color commentary!
Our freshman appreciate the wit and humor Coach brings to the classroom. We are privileged to have him at NCS.
Coach Mike is a legend!
Gregory Williams
Alum Spotlight - Gregory Williams - NCS class of 2016
Gregory will be attending the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in the Fall.
He graduated magna cum laude from UAB with a degree in Biomedical Science.
Gregory has helped publish 3 scientific papers on colorectal cancer and hopes to pursue a specialty in Hematology/ Oncology.
Congrats to Gregory on his accomplishments thus far; we look forward to more great things to come!

Upper School Teacher of the Week
The Upper School Teacher of the week is... Mr. Ian Harris
His Peers shared:
Mr. Harris works diligently and never complains. He models servant leadership daily.
He has worked hard from day one stepping on the NCS campus. He has taken time to get to know the students and find various methods for teaching them math. He spends so much time coaching and mentoring the high school and middle school wrestling teams.
He has spent countless hours coming up with new projects for his physics class to help them not only understand the material but to put it into practice. Congrats Mr. Harris!
Upper School Teacher of the Week
The Upper School Teacher of the Week is... Ms. Stephanie Harper.
Her Peers shared:
Ms. Harper was my mentor during my first year at NCS and continues to be a mentor to me.
She is quick to help with any problem or question and offers endless aid when it comes to teaching students to be better writers.
Her students love her, and she holds them to a rigorous academic standard.
She is a leader, a sounding board, and a friend.
We are blessed to have her on our team. Congrats Ms. Harper!
NCS Alum, Tollie Boone
NCS Alum, Tollie BooNE joins the Creative Team for the Off-Broadway run of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof this Spring
NCS Alum Tollie Boone is a senior lighting design student at Samford University.
This spring, Tollie is headed to New York City to design the lighting for the Off-Broadway return of Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, at the Theatre at St. Clements, Feb. 24-March 3. She will be joining Samford’s assistant professor of theatrical design, Christian Specht.
The opportunity came about through Specht’s connections in the industry. “I knew if I got the contract, that I wanted to figure out how to bring Tollie along as an assistant lighting designer,” said Specht. “This is such a great opportunity for Tollie to gain real world experience while accomplishing her senior capstone.” He praised her work, “Tollie has an eye for design. She can see what lighting ideas and moments can do to create an atmosphere.”
This opportunity is allowing Boone to realize her goal to design lighting on Broadway. “When I was younger, I wanted to be on the stage but as I’ve grown in the technical world, my dream is to design lights for Broadway shows.” She is looking forward to “meeting people in the field and to feel the energy and excitement of the professional setting.
Tollie enjoys lighting design and notes, “Lighting has always been fascinating to me. I am also an artist and I enjoy painting. With lighting it’s very similar to painting but in more of an abstract sense. With lighting I am able to create a world with color through light and shadow to help encourage a story and its setting. I still get excited when I design in new spaces because it challenges my limits.”
Excerpt from original Article published January 10, 2023 by Ashley Smith, Marketing and Communication Manager, Samford University.
Upper School Transition Breakfast
8th Grade Students and Parents were out bright and early this morning for the Upper School Transition Breakfast. Thanks to everyone for coming!
January 22nd Preview Day
It may be gloomy outside but the sun is shining inside NCS at todays Preview Day.
Thanks to all the families who visited. We loved meeting you!
2023 Seniors vs Faculty Basketball Game
2023 Seniors vs Faculty Basketball Game. Faculty WINS 58 to Seniors 42. Congrats to the Faculty!
Upper School Teacher of the Week...Cristin Bryan
The Upper School Teacher of the Week is ... Ms. Cristin Bryan!
Her Peers shared:
Ms. Bryan always stops whatever she is doing to help others and lend a hand. She will do whatever it takes to solve problems and supports her students academically and personally.
She consistently seeks new ways to engage her students in learning. She takes the time to develop relationships with them, and they know she cares. Our students are so lucky to have her pouring into their academic and spiritual lives!
Congrats Ms. Bryan!
Coming Home Court
NCS "Coming Home" Celebration included the Presentation of the Court and crowning of the King...Donovan Smith!

Hall of Fame Inductees
Congratulations to the Winter and Spring Hall of Fame Inductees from the Classes of 2000-2009
Brandon Hodge - class of 2000 - Wrestling
Josh Belcher, class of 2001 – Basketball & Baseball
Jeff Bolander - class of 2001 - Football & Soccer
Ryan Harris, class of 2001 – Football & Basketball
Justin Lowry, class of 2001 - Basketball & Baseball
Meredith McGinnis, class of 2001 - Volleyball & Basketball
Lauren Evan La Rue Kuet, class of 2002 - Basketball
James Meadows, class of 2002 – Football & Wrestling
April Piper, class of 2002 – Basketball & Track and Field
Chris Coleman, class of 2003 – Football
Matthew Pace, class of 2003 - Football & Basketball
Ashley Womack Say, class of 2003 - Basketball & Track and Field
David Anderson, class of 2004 – Basketball
Brandon Bridges, class of 2004 - Wrestling
Grant Sandler, class of 2004 - Bowling
Ashley Ingram Skinner, class of 2004 – Basketball
Jay Skinner, class of 2004 – Basketball
Amanda Stinnett, class of 2004 - Cheerleading & Bowling
Chris Walker - class of 2004 - Basketball
Haley Light Breedlove, class of 2006 – Cheerleading & Softball
Andy Givens, class of 2006 – Basketball
Jessica Womack Grogan, class of 2006 – Basketball
Holly Lewis Haynes, class of 2006 – Basketball
Eric Vick, class of 2006 –Track and Field
Brittni Walker, class of 2006 –Basketball & Track and Field
Davis Fleming, class of 2007 - Golf
Russell Frazier, class of 2007 - Basketball
Cassie Hutcherson Hardy, class of 2007- Softball
Alex Jenkins, class of 2007 - Bowling
Wesley McDowell, class of 2007 - Baseball
Kathryn Surber, class of 2007 - Basketball
Caden Anderson, class of 2008 – Basketball
Woody Hartley, class of 2009 - Baseball
US Teacher of the Week
Congrats to Mrs. Katherine Lee, Upper School Teacher of the Week.
Her peers shared:
Mrs. Lee works with the freshman and sophomore classes with patience and grace.
Not only is she helpful with students around campus, she is also readily available to answer questions all while setting up programs across campus.
She interacts with each student compassionately and responds to her colleagues with similar kindness and helpfulness.
We are lucky she is part of our NCS family.
Congrats Mrs. Lee!
Excellence Chapel
Today was a very special day at NCS with Excellence Chapel where Grades K4 - 12th gathered together. Songs were sung, a lesson was given including a visual of Large and Small, and awards were given out to Excellence Award Winners for the second nine weeks.
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Innovative Models of Mitosis
Mrs. Moores' 7th and 9th Grade Students made Models of Mitosis from Oreos and Sprinkles. Who Knew!
YES: Youth Equipped to Succeed
NCS was blessed today to have 2 Former College and Professional Football Players, Keith Davis (USC and New York Giants) and Jamar Reid (UTEP and Seattle Seahawks) speak to the Lower, Middle and Upper School students and faculty in three assembles.
They are part of YES:Youth Equipped to Succeed which has the goal of "Growing value and vision in youth by combating isolation and imparting hope."
The message they shared was excellent…
Art-Driven Leadership Project
Ms. Donna Torrez pulled out all the stops today as she taught an Art-Driven Leadership Class to Faculty and Staff Members as a part of Personal Development.
Each person was tasked with painting an Eagle (of course!) and a surprising amount of talent was shown.
Credit is given to Ms. Torrez for her fantastic Teaching skills!


Pre-K Christmas Program
Family and Friends gathered to celebrate the Christmas Story as portrayed by the Pre-K class. Adorable!


Reindeer Games and Gingerbread Houses
The Upper School Boys enjoyed playing Reindeer Games, hosted by Coach Brothers; while the Girls decorated Gingerbread Houses within their small groups!


Fine Arts Christmas Concert
Last evening, the Fine Arts department presented "At the Movies" a Christmas Concert featuring the Concert Band, MS Choir, String Ensemble and Chamber Choir.
Great Job by the Performers, Mr. Mauldin and Ms. Stefaniak!



Upper School Christmas Art
Ms. Torrez shared the Upper School Art Students Talents and Wintry scenes so everyone could enjoy!



Upper School Teacher of the Week
This weeks Upper School Teacher of the Week is ... Ms. Katie Sholl.
Her peers shared: She is a very helpful coworker. She spends her planning time and lunch helping her AP students prepare for their tests. She maintains high expectations in her classroom and pushes her students to think on their own. It is clear she means a lot to her students.
Congratulations Ms. Sholl!

12 Days of Christmas Chapel
Today we celebrated the season with an All School Chapel including songs, scriptures, candles and even a visit from Dr. Santa who led the group in a rousing rendition of "The 12 Days of Christmas".



Elf Jr Fine Arts Production
Four performances of Elf Jr were performed between December 2nd - 4th. The actors did an OUTSTANDING job!
The Upper School Teacher of the Week...
The Upper School Teacher of the Week is ... Courtney Richardson!
Her peers shared: I have many sophomores who are so complimentary of Mrs. Richardson.
She is always prepared and stays late every day to ensure she gives high-quality lessons.
Her students talk about how kind she is and that they can tell by her actions and how she treats them that she genuinely cares about them.
Congrats Mrs. Richardson!

Praise and Thanksgiving
NCS Students and Families gathered together today for a Praise and Thanksgiving assembly followed by lunch. It was truly a joyful and blessed occasion.


Golf Practice Facility Check Presentation Ceremony
PGA Touring Pro Brandt Snedeker (The Snedeker Foundation) and TN Golf Foundation contributed $55,000 to NCS to construct a golf practice facility on the campus that will be used in a collaborative effort with NCS and the Tennessee School for the Blind. It was an amazing day with almost 50 people gathering for the Dedication and Check Presentation Ceremony.



Upper School Teacher of the Week
The Upper School Teacher of the Week is…Coach Andrew Shaw.
His peers shared: I appreciate Coach Shaw's attention to detail for the defense each week on Friday nights. The defense consistently performs extremely well under his leadership. I appreciate his hard work and dedication to both the strength program and the football team.
Congrats Coach Shaw!

Veterans Day at NCS
Veterans Day events at NCS included: the NCS Chamber Choir sang the National Anthem and a selection of songs at the Veterans Breakfast held at the Bellevue Y; the Toddler Room in the Preschool made over 60 cards and Mrs. Kalina (Active Military) is delivering them to her post; and second and third graders welcomed Marine Corps veterans Jack Spence and Tom Seals to speak to the classes.
Thank you to all veterans for your service and sacrifice.


A.F. Bridges Contributor of the Year
Congratulations to the AF Bridges Contributor of the Year award recipient: Nashville Ready Mix.
A big thanks from Nashville Christian School to Steve "Frog" Meadows and the entire Nashville Ready Mix family.




Upper School Teacher of the Week
The Upper School Teacher of the Week is… Dr. Jeff Vore.
His peers shared:
Dr. Vore continues to spread joy wherever he is! He is respectful and kind to all of our students, and they love him! He is a man who easily and naturally shares his faith every day.
Dr. Vore consistently has a great rapport with his students. He attends events, supports students, and prays with them daily. He is a model of a Christian man for our students to follow.
Thank you, Dr. Vore, for all you do!

November 22nd Preview Day
Thanks to the many families who shared part of their Sunday afternoon with Administrators, Teachers, Staff and Coaches learning about ALL THINGS NCS.


Mrs. Sharon Bartlett - Upper School Teacher of the Week
This weeks Upper School Teacher of the Week is...Mrs. Sharon Bartlett.
One of her peers shared - Mrs. Bartlett is always available to students before and after school to make sure they stay on track and understand the content. We are lucky to have her!
Congrats Mrs. Bartlett!
NCS Career Day
Over 35 different careers, across a wide variety of industries, were represented yesterday during NCS Career Day.
Thanks to everyone who took time to invest in our students!



SALT Members meet with Burke Nihill
NCS SALT (Student Ambassador Leadership Team) Members met with Burke Nihill, CEO of the Tennessee Titans, to discuss leadership characteristics and what it means to be a leader.

Upper School Teacher of the Week
The Upper School Teacher of the week is...Coach Dustin Patton.
His peers shared - Coach Patton is always willing to offer a helping hand and encouragement to both students and co-workers alike. And another stated - Jesus gave us an example of servant leadership, and I love how Dustin follows his example as a coach, teacher, and co-worker. Congrats Coach Patton!

Wrestling Practice Facility Ribbon Cutting
This morning, the dream of a NCS Wrestling Practice Facility was realized with an Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Many family members, friends, teachers, and staff gathered with the Wrestling team and coaches to officially thank those who supported this effort. We look forward to following the progress of this team in the coming months.



Upper School Fall Retreat
The Upper School Fall Retreat 2022 is in the books!
The theme was Pray More, Worry Less.
They spent the weekend exploring the Lords Prayer.

Landscaping Club
Members of the Upper School Landscaping Club spent time this morning sprucing up several areas of the school. NICE WORK!
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National Merit Scholar Semifinalist - Brett Posavac
Brett Posavac has been named one of only 16,000 Nationwide Semifinalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program.
This program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
Brett will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for one of 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 Million which will be offered next spring.
Congratulations Brett!

Jeff Palk reenacts Matthew 5-7
Campus Minister, Jeff Palk, reenacts Matthew 5-7 during Upper School Chapel today. It was very powerful!


All Region Soccer Team
Emily Campos and Ava Pomeroy were selected to the All Region Girls Soccer Team. Well-deserved!

Upper School Teacher of the Week
Each week, a Teacher in the Upper School receives “Teacher of the Week”. This award is given based on nominations made by their peers. Mr. Bishop announces the winner at the weekly Upper School Faculty Meeting and awards the recipient with a “Gold” Necklace with $ Emblem to honor the occasion.
Hendrick Shelton, shown here wearing his award, is the most recent recipient.
Comments included in the Nomination - Mr. Shelton consistently exemplifies to our students that hard work and dedication will deliver great results. A student added, Mr. Shelton is a very talented teacher and he makes learning fun!
Congrats to the newest Teacher of the Week - Hendrick Shelton
And a Big SHOUT OUT to the prior Teachers of the Week:
September 29th - Donna Torrez - Comments with Nomination - Homecoming week has been very successful. It is a great reminder of how hard Donna works with the students for this week and how much time she puts into making this week special for everyone.
September 22nd - Andrew Atkins - Comments with Nomination - Mr. Atkins runs programs that are essential and add value to our school. He works with the E-Sports, Broadcasting, and Yearbook programs while maintaining a full class load.
September 15th - Abbie Moroney - Comments with Nomination - I appreciate Abbie's initiative to create the sustainability class and to making our campus “greener”. The recycling collection is appreciated. I can't wait to see all her students do this year.
September 8th - Catherine Lowe - Comments with Nomination - Catherine is an incredibly creative and talented teacher. She is conscientious to plan lessons that contain rigor and are differentiated. She is a humble, godly example of a truly gifted educator.
September 1st - Colin Wright - Comments with Nomination - Colin's work with the senior activities and his enthusiasm for building relationships are great examples of our school community. I see him every morning and between every class period outside his door greeting students and having genuine conversations.
August 25th - Jeff Palk - Comments with Nomination - Jeff has worked so hard to develop small groups and chapel into important focal points of student life. He clearly cares about the students and the Christian culture of the school!
Excellence Chapel
At 8:00AM on October 5th, Grades K-12 gathered together for Chapel. It is SO Special to be together in one place.


Excellence Award Recipients
Congratulations to the 4 Excellence Award Recipients for the 1st 9 Weeks!
The Presentation of Certificates was made during the October 5th Excellence Chapel.
Callie Grimenstein - Lower School, Several Teachers shared - Callie is a bright ray of sunshine into whatever room she enters. She notices her classmates in a way that is far beyond her years. Although she was a new student to NCS last year, she jumped right in with her friendly and bubbly personality. She always works hard and does it with a smile on her face.

Baker Drumm - Middle School, One Teacher shared ... Baker is a very kind and hard-working student. He comes to class every day ready to learn and always does an outstanding job of contributing to class lectures. Several teachers commented that his house election speech is one to always be remembered.

Megan Parker - Upper School, One Teacher shared ... Megan is not only a fantastic student who works hard to do top-tier work, she goes out of her way to make other students feel welcome. Megan is a shining example of the kind of culture we want to have at NCS.

Abbie Moroney - Teacher, Comments from others include... Abbie has taken on many new responsibilities this year including planning a community garden for our school and creating the school's first sustainability class. Her goals for our campus are inspiring, and I look forward to what the future holds because of her willingness to serve. We are blessed to have Coach "Mo" in our high school.

Jr. Eagle Football Night
A number of Lower School Students enjoyed special events during the September 30th Home Football game including Cheerleading and Flag Football.


Dedication Ceremony
Tonight, Sept. 29th, the US Girls soccer team held a Dedication Ceremony for Leon Wright (Morgan) and Cindy Hemby (Amelia). A tree was planted and the team placed a memory plaque to honor the lives of these two. The dedication service was held between tonight's JV and Varsity Games.
Newest NCS Hall of Fame Inductees
The newest Inductees into the NCS Hall of Fame were announced during the Homecoming Celebration on September 23, 2022. They represent the Fall Sports from the 2000-2009 Graduating classes. Congratulations!
William Berg, class of 2008 – Football
Zach Bledsoe, class of 2008 – Football
Jeff Bolander, class of 2001 – Football
Haley Light Breedlove, class of 2006 – Cheerleading
Jennifer Yuchnitz Garner, class of 2004 – Volleyball
Michael Gray, class of 2009 – Football
Ryan Harris, class of 2001 – Football & Basketball
Holley Koob Willover, class of 2005 – Cross Country & Track
Luke Jerkins, class of 2005 – Football
Justin Lessard, class of 2002 – Football
Matthew Loveless, class of 2002 – Football
Meredith McGinnis, class of 2001 – Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, Track & Field
James Meadows, class of 2002 – Football
Matthew Pace, class of 2003 – Football, Basketball & Baseball
Matthew Pruitt, class of 2001 – Football
Anna Claire Raines, class of 2005 - Cross Country
Ashley Ingram Skinner, class of 2004 – Volleyball
Jake Tiesler, class of 2002 – Football
Jason Vanatta, class of 2005 – Football
Eric Vick, class of 2006 - Cross Country
US and Kindergarten PE classes
Coach Mariah King's Upper School PE Class helps Coach Richardson's Kindergarten PE class work on their Soccer skills today.
It doesn't get much better than this!

Homecoming Week: Dress Up Day 3
Theme: Costumes
In this case, a Picture truly is worth a thousand words.
PreK and LS Chapel
PreK Students and Parents joined the Lower School today for Chapel in the Main Gym.
The Students were adorable as they enjoyed interactive Songs with Dr. Fincher and a brief Bible Lesson from Mr. Palk.
Homecoming Week: Dress Up Day 2
Dress Theme for Today - Holidays
Freshmen: Show Green for St. Patrick's Day
Sophomores: Pink, Red and Hearts for Valentine's Day
Juniors: Stars and Stripes for 4th of July
Seniors: Santa and his Elves shout Christmas
Homecoming Week: Dress Up Day 1
Did we really look this in the early 2000's??? Sweatbands & Gold Chains seem to be the “uniform” of the day.

College Fair
On September 13th, a number of Upper School students attended the College Fair hosted by Lipscomb University.



Pep Rally September 9th
Upper School students enjoyed their first Pep Rally of the year in recognition of the Fall Sports.
The Rock Band kicked off the festivities, followed by a Tic-Tok challenge, Cheer Squad, introduction of the Teams, a prayer led by Coach Brothers, and ended with the student body participating in the Breakdown Chant.
IT was LOUD! A truly unforgettable experience.
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Outdoor Classroom Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
A Ribbon Cutting Celebration was held in the early morning on September 9th to acknowledge the many people who made the new Outdoor Classroom a reality.
The celebration included moments of reflection, giving thanks, visiting with friends, plus lots of coffee and donuts!
A beautiful morning in a Sweet, Sweet Place.




NCS Football Homecoming
Football Homecoming Game is Friday, September 23rd.
NCS Eagles face off against Davidson Academy.

Homecoming Dance Tickets on Sale Now
Homecoming Dance September 23rd, after the game.
Click here to order your tickets.

Peter and the Star Catcher - NCS Theatre Production
NCS Theatre will present Peter and the Star Catcher October 1 - 3.
Homecoming T-Shirts - On Sale Now
Prices range from $15.50 - $22.50 and there are several Short Sleeve and Long Sleeve options.
The Deadline to order is Friday, Sept. 9th at 3:00 PM.
Click here to place your order!
The Revlon Girl - Upcoming Theatre Performance
The Revlon Girl
NCS Theater Performance
Saturday, September 3rd @ 4:00 PM
Reservations are not required and there is no cost to attend the performance.
Donations to the Skylar Rose Foundation are encouraged and will be accepted at the door. All funds raised will go directly to the foundation to provide resources to families affected by infant loss.
Due to difficult concepts addressed, this show is considered PG-13 with strong caution. If you have any questions about the presentation or fundraiser, please contact Mrs. Arnold.
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Track Training Area Ribbon Cutting
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to officially open the Track Training Area was a fun and successful event! As the guests arrived, we had our track coaching staff and some of our male and female track and field student-athletes demonstrated how we plan to utilize the area. There were sprinters coming out of the starting blocks, hurdlers hurdling, jumpers jumping, and warm-up drills being executed. Those in attendance were board members, Head of School Connie Jo Shelton, development team members, school administrators, donors, parents, and family members. Several spoke and shared their gratitude for all that helped to make this vision a reality. NCS Chief Development Officer Jeff Fincher said, "We are really excited to provide this much-needed training space for our men's and women's track teams. And we are exceedingly grateful to our donors who brought this one-of-a-kind facility to fruition. Those supporters are proof that it is our people who truly make this a unique and special place." Food was prepared by Debbie Seigenthaler and there was a time for great fellowship after the ribbon was cut. It was a great evening for NCS Athletics!
Fall 2021 Hall of Fame Inductees
At this year’s Homecoming game on October 8th, we were excited to have our alumni family back on campus. At halftime, we had the honor of inducting several more of our Hall of Fame Athletes. The alumni athletes are the cornerstone of the Nashville Christian School athletic program. We were excited to celebrate many of the athletes from the 90’s in a special induction ceremony. See those most recently inducted below:
Mark Smith - Golf
Scott Moss - Football, Baseball
Tim Cooper - Football, Track & Field
Jay Harris - Football, Baseball
Jeremy Moore - Football, Basketball
Chris Amonette - Basketball, Football
Byron Page - Football, Baseball
Brandon Shanks - Football
Jody Duncan - Wrestling, Football
Stephen Elizer - Football, Baseball
Chris McCall - Football, Basketball
Jon Parsons - Football
Shane Sanders - Football
Brad Shanks - Football
Brent Morris - Football
Patrick Moss - Football, Basketball, Baseball
Kerry Byrum - Football
Winston Gaffron - Football
Michael Perkins - Football
Craig Bedore - Golf
Justin Graff - Football
Mike Mundy - Football
Ryan Perkins - Football, Track
Drew Tyner - Football, Basketball
Josh Vanatta - Football
Our next induction ceremony will be on January 14th between the boys and girls basketball games vs. DCA. Stay tuned for more details on that event!
NCS Hosts First X-Country Meet in 50 Years
This year, we are celebrating 50 years of Nashville Christian School, but in that 50 years, we have never hosted a cross country meet…until now! On Tuesday, August 17th, our athletic dept hosted our first dual cross country meet for middle school with Providence Christian Academy. Our campus provides a great two-mile course, though definitely challenging with several hills. Eighth grader Sawyer Binkley was the individual winner with a time of 13:10.
Our goal is to host additional cross country events, and our next host meet with be August 24th with Goodpasture. Special thanks to the many parents and student volunteers who helped make it successful, and to Varsity Cross Country Coach Colin Wright who ran in to the finish with the final runner, encouraging him all along the way. We are NC!
3rd Quarter Excellence Awards 2021
Congratulations to all of our Excellence Awards winners for the third quarter! You are all so deserving, and we are proud of you!
Elementary - Tyler Irwin (2nd Grade)
Middle School - Isaac Simpler (7th Grade)
High School - Adam Harper (12th Grade)
Faculty/Staff - Carroll Boatman (School Nurse)
Introducing the Eagle Lecture Series!
We recently began a new program to bring some of our alumni back to campus to speak to our students about their experiences and successes. In March, we invited Ray West, a graduate from the class of 1984, to speak with our seniors on the topic of, “The Perfect College Student. In his time at Nashville Christian School, Mr. West made three trips to the State Finals in track and participated in the State Wrestling Tournament twice while also being a part of a successful football team. Currently, Mr. West owns his own financial firm, Rayburn West Financial, after being an original founder of Pinnacle Bank and working in other financial institutions. It was great for our seniors to hear insight from Mr. West about his success over the past 30 years in the financial industry. He shared tips for our seniors that they can use during their college years to set themselves up for success in their careers. We will have more alumni on campus in the near future and look forward to the information that they will share with our students.
NCS Celebrates Black History Month
We were excited to once again celebrate Black History Month at Nashville Christian School and teach our students about the achievements of Black Americans and their central role in U.S. history.
One Black History Month activity the preschool did was learn about Astronaut Ron McNair, then counted down a balloon rocket launch! They used apples to demonstrate how we may look different on the outside, but we are the same on the inside. They loved reading about Wilma Rudolph and running on the track.
Elementary students did lots of projects and activities. Fifth grade did a research project on prominent figures in Black history and created banner research pages as the hallway display. Second grade took quotes from famous Black people throughout history and created a “voices of freedom” quilt. The students took their quotes and illustrated them to create a quilt square and put their squares together to create the quilt.
Josh Barnett’s middle school Bible class completed projects on notable people and their lives and contributions. Mr. Barnett also shares a devotional each morning with our middle school, and in February, he spoke about notable Black people who were influenced by the Bible including Frederick Douglass with Psalm 137, and Thomas Andrew Dorsey with Isaiah 41:13.
Seventh and eighth graders presented their projects on a historic Black American in history class. Students were also asked to write a short reflection about their project and Black History Month.
"Black History Month is a very important month that represents the discrimination and unfairness that African Americans have faced. This month doesn't only represent the hardships, but celebrates what people have overcome and are still fighting to overcome. In school we were told to pick a person who has done a lot for Black history or is a role model for other activists and people who are brought down by the color of their skin. People should be reminded to be accepting of everyone." - Addie Latham, 8th Grade
"I think that Black History Month is important because we have to remember what they [African Americans] went through. For my project, I intentionally chose Malcolm X because I had heard his name, but never really knew who has was. It was really interesting to learn about him and the Nation of Islam. Even though I am Christian, it is still important to recognize other religions and their beliefs." - Jack Ferrier, 8th Grade
Ms. Sholl’s high school history classes did group research projects about different topics involving Black history like “Impact of the Black Athlete” or the “Harlem Renaissance.” They then shared them with each other on Google Classroom for discussion.
In World History, high school students studied many African Americans who made large impacts on America. Through this, they did research on certain individuals and then used that information to create Google Slide presentations that they presented to class.
Frozen JR. Cast Wins Big at the Junior Theater Festival
Each year, our fine arts department takes a group of students to the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta. Groups perform a 10 to 15-minute selection from one MTI Broadway Junior®️ musical for adjudication, participate in workshops, and watch performances by their peers and other theater professionals. The Junior Theater Festival was an online extravaganza this year during the weekend of January 15 - 17. Leading up to the JTF weekend, the performers and technical track participants enjoyed a week of special guest presenters who spoke with them about different aspects of the technical side of theater. Special thanks to our presenters: Will Brandstetter, Libby Servais, Hendrick Shelton, Maggie Shivers, Diana DeGarmo, Nan O’Toole, and Elizabeth Talaba!
During the JTF event, Aubrey Page and Hailee Elizer joined other students across the country online to sing the Star Spangled Banner. Other students attended workshops, played online games with other schools, participated in the in-house Tech Olympics, took part in a Hamilton dance workshop and a diversity workshop, attended the online award ceremony, and enjoyed some reflection time together.
The main event for the weekend was when our cast had their recorded Frozen, JR performance presented and adjudicated. They did an incredible job, and we are excited to announce they won the Excellence in Music award! Congratulations also to Hailee Elizer for winning an award for Outstanding Student Music Direction and Sam McWright for winning the Outstanding Student Choreography award! Special thanks to Mike King and NEON media group for videoing the performance.
Excellence Awards - 2nd Quarter 2020-2021
Congratulations to the second-quarter Excellence Award Winners! These awards are given to one faculty or staff member, one elementary student, one middle school student, and one high school student each quarter. The faculty/staff award is given in recognition of outstanding professionalism, high expectations and leadership. The student awards are in recognition of character, work ethic, and excellence in the classroom. Click on the video below to hear what faculty, staff and students had to say about these special people!
Excellence Awards - January 2021 from Nashville Christian on Vimeo.
Christmas at NCS
Though it hasn't always been easy or fun having school in a pandemic, the Christmas season brought some joy to the halls of NCS. Faculty, staff and students all came together to celebrate. Mrs Shelton visited classrooms to read The Polar Express, middle school had their traditional house games, students learned about Christmas traditions in other countries, and held class parties.
Though it looked a little different, we were still able to hold our annual Christmas programs. The kindergarten classes sang their hearts out at the Kindergarten Christmas program. 1st through 5th graders hosted Christmas caroling and a prayer walk throughout the campus. Parents went from place to place where they encountered either a group of students singing, or a staff member to lead them in specific prayers for different parts of the school. The middle school and high school choral groups and bands held a Christmas concert in the main gym, and one student under quarantine played her instrument with the group via video feed.
Christmas is always a time of service for our students at NCS, and this year was no exception. Middle school students partnered with The Ark in Pegram to provide stockings for the children in their Angel Tree program. The students went above and beyond to bless these children and pray over their stockings. The high school students partnered with Gower Elementary School to provide some fun Christmas spirit to young children. Through your donations, they were able to provide Christmas gifts for some students and families who are in need. The student government officers shopped for items and delivered the gifts to Gower. What wonderful reminders that we should give because God first gave to us!
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And we can't forget our preschool! They shared some songs and their telling of the Christmas story via video. You can't help but smile watching and listening to these precious little ones. Enjoy!
NCS Preschool Christmas 2020 from Nashville Christian on Vimeo.
Drive-Through Art Show
Our 5th grade students recently created self-portraits in art class. They worked very hard on these works of art, and they turned out amazing! The background of their self-portraits included a poem entitled, “I Am Me, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.” The self-portraits are a celebration of how the ultimate artist, God himself created each of them, fearfully and wonderfully. In order to share these portraits with families, we invited parents to a Drive-Through Art Show. The students held their masterpieces as families drove by to admire.
Fall Book Fair 2020
The Fall Book Fair was another great success and the Elementary Eagles had a blast dressing up all week. They kicked off book fair week with slippers and sweats.
Next was “Blast From the Past” day. Students came dressed in a variety of attire. We had everyone from Pocahontas to Princess Diana. Nancy Kerrigan could be seen skating through our halls and a few former presidents attended.
Wednesday was Decades Day to celebrate book week. Elementary eagles dressed like the 50s, 60s, 70s, or 80s depending on their grade. Everyone looked cool, groovy, far out, and totally tubular!
One of our favorites each year is Book Character Day. Students came dressed as their favorite book characters, and they were so creative! Some of them dressed up together or had props.
Showing our eagle pride is always a great way to celebrate the final day of Book Week. Thanks to everyone who participated! Go Eagles!
Nashville Christian Trains to Stop the Bleed®
At Nashville Christian School, the safety of our students is of the utmost importance, and we have made many additions and changes to our campus to ensure that safety. Today, we took another step towards providing the safest possible environment for our students by training with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Trauma team and the Stop the Bleed® program. In the wake of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary, it was discovered that many lives might have been saved if severe bleeding could have been controlled until help arrived. In response, surgeons from the American College of Surgeons formed a group with other experts in the field of emergency medical care and Stop the Bleed® was eventually born.
When a life-threatening injury occurs, a person can bleed to death in five minutes or less. With estimated emergency service response times at a minimum of six minutes in Nashville, knowing how to “stop the bleed” can save a person’s life! All faculty and staff at Nashville Christian took part in training today provided by Vanderbilt University Medical Center Trauma team. Everyone who participated learned how to use pressure, pack a wound, and apply a tourniquet.
Thanks to the Eagles Parent Association, Nashville Christian also became the first school in middle Tennessee to supply every classroom with a Stop the Bleed® kit. The kits include gauze, gloves, scissors, a tourniquet and other essential items. Now families can feel a little safer knowing that every staff member is trained to take life-saving steps in the event of severe injury, and every room is equipped with a trauma kit.
See Fox17’s live coverage of this morning’s training by clicking here (timestamp 2:44:45 and 3:27:02). Tune in to Fox17 news at 4:00pm and 5:00pm tonight to see the full story they did highlighting Nashville Christian School’s efforts. For more information about this training, go to stopthebleed.org.
Meet Our Pink Out Recipients!
NCS will be hosting our 11th Annual Hoops "4" Hope Pink Out on February 4th during our basketball game against Goodpasture. Funds raised during this event go to help someone in the NCS family who is battling breast cancer. This year, we have two NCS alumni as our beneficiaries, and we thought you might like to know a little more about these courageous women you will be helping. Here are their powerful stories:
Lindsay Loring King (class of '95)
In 2014, I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. I had a double mastectomy and went through chemotherapy. By the middle of 2015, I was in remission. There was no cancer showing anywhere in my body. I continued to go to my oncologist every 30- 60 days, and everything was great!
In October of 2017, I went to my oncologist for my routine appointment, and an ultrasound was done, which showed that the cancer had returned. It was in the same side and had also spread to lymph nodes. My oncologist was blown away because of the fact that I have no family history, my age is fairly young, and I had a double mastectomy and the strongest chemotherapy that I could have had in 2014-2015. I began treatment in 2018, and in February of 2019, a pet scan was done to see if anything had spread, and to determine if I would be a candidate for surgery. The pet scan showed that the tumors were all the same size, maybe a little smaller. My oncologist then submitted my case to the "tumor board,” a team of surgeons. They said that I was not a candidate at that time because of the size of the tumors. I started on new medications and then in 3-4 months they wanted to do another pet scan.
On June 13, 2019, I had another pet scan, and that was the time I got the news that no one wants to ever hear. My cancer had spread to both lungs. My cancer is not operable. I have stage 4, terminal metastatic breast cancer that is in my breast, lymph nodes and both lungs.
I will continue treatments for the rest of my life. I have four children, and that is why I fight every day.
Mallie Wilson (class of '11)
I graduated from NCS in 2011. I now work with a therapeutic foster care agency as a case manager, and I love it!
I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer July 3, 2019 and immediately started treatment. I have been going through chemo since then and now have my surgery scheduled for February 5th (lucky timing, right? lol). I will be having a double mastectomy with reconstruction.
I can remember cheering at these games when I was a student at NCS, but I never imagined I would be so personally impacted by breast cancer myself. I am so grateful to this school and all the things they do to help the community. Thank you so so much again for thinking of me! Y’all have no idea how much this helps!
We will have several opportunities for you to give a donation the night of the Pink Out. We will have a soup supper beginning at 5:00pm and continuing throughout the games until we run out. We only ask that if you choose to eat, please leave a donation in the bucket. We will also play the Heads or Tails game for an awesome prize during halftime of the girls game. Tokens will be sold for $10 for your chance to play. Last year the prize was a 32” TV! If you can't make it to the game, please consider making a donation to help these young women by clicking here.
If you would like to add a friend or family member’s name to the game program please email Ashley Page their information. We will have a section for survivors and those who have lost their courageous fight. Please also let me know if you are a survivor or know of a survivor that will be coming to the game. We would like to make sure to honor everyone!
If you would like to be a sponsor of this event, please contact Ashley Page at pagea@nashvillechristian.org or 356-5600 ext. 114. Any donations are greatly appreciated! Thank you for continued support!
100 Days of School and Still Going Strong
We recently celebrated our 100th day of school in the elementary grades (only 80 more to go – YAY!). Each class did something special to celebrate. Some students wore shirts with 100 things on them, some brought 100 small items to share, and kindergarten students followed tradition by dressing as 100-year-old people! The 5th graders actually celebrated their 1,000th day of school! 180 days per year for kindergarten through 4th grade and 100 days of 5th equals 1,000 days! To celebrate, they did lots of "grand" activities including dressing grandly in top hats, boas, bowties and fancy costume jewelry. As a special treat, Mrs. Shelton invited all of the students to a balloon party in her office, and the "Grand Finale" was spent with the grand fifth graders popping all 100 balloons.
One special activity we wanted to share with you was how some of our students reflected on the past 100 days. 4th grade teacher Shelley Greenlee asked her students to write one word that described their 100th day at NCS. Here’s what some of them had to say:
Family – Family is my one word. I chose family because this school treats everyone like family. I think of my friends as brothers and sisters. NCS makes me feel at home. The spirit of this school is amazing. NCS is home, family, sweet, calm, awesome, warm, nice, and cool, and I love it. – Bella Petty
Awesome – The only word I can use is AWESOME. I could do a million other words added to that, but awesome is the best word that fits how amazing the past 100 days have been. I loved the school the minute I stepped into this room. -Will Fiala
Fun – The whole class is fun, the whole grade is fun, even the whole school is fun. The high schoolers are so nice. Like if you say hi to them, they usually say hi to you or ask how your day is going. – Bekton Ost
Excellent – There are a million reasons why I chose this word, but the main reason is because it is just the best! Mrs. Greenlee has taught me sooooo much! I love my new school, and I always will. – Kingston Wells
Loving – I chose loving because the students at this school have stepped out of their way to make me feel like I belong here. – Eli Wells
Happy 100 days of school!
Warm up With a Good Book and Author Linda Ragsdale
It was such an honor to have author Linda Ragsdale on campus to read her book The Peace Dragon to all of our elementary students during “Warm up With a Good Book Day.” This is a special day each year when elementary students come to school in cozy pajamas and rotate through each elementary classroom for a read-aloud and fun activity. The fun goes on all day long, and the kids really enjoy learning new things and meeting amazing authors like Linda Ragsdale.
Mrs. Ragsdale is a survivor of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack. She had plans to teach a young friend named Naomi how to draw a dragon later that day. Naomi and her father were killed in the attack, and the dragon they planned to draw became the inspiration for Mrs. Ragsdale’s book The Peace Dragon. The dragon in the book spreads a message of peace and teaches children about the power of their words and the importance of accepting others with an open heart.
Mrs. Ragsdale came ready to entertain and inspire, and the kids were enamored with her bright purple hair and adorable dragon costume. As a special reminder, Mrs. Ragsdale left each class with their own paper dragon that they could name to watch over their class and remind them they always have the choice to speak words of peace and love instead of spewing fiery ones.
Our special thanks to Linda Ragsdale for making “Warm up With a Good Book Day” extra special, and for sharing her special message of peace with our students!
Learn more about the author and The Peace Project at thepeacedragon.com.
A Night to Shine at the Auction
It was definitely “A Night to Shine” at this year’s NCS Auction Fundraiser. Once again we sold out the event, and through the generosity of all who attended, we raised over $103,000! $51,000 of that total was raised in the last few minutes during the paddle raise. Those funds will specifically go towards a new bus, which will benefit all of our students with safe transportation to field trips, sporting events, and service opportunities.
Then entertainment for the night was extra special this year with performances by our students. A group of cast members from Annie performed two of their numbers from the show, “It’s a Hard Knock Life” and “Little Girls.” High school cast members of Shape of the Grave performed a powerful scene from their show about “Bloody Sunday” in Ireland 1972. The NCS Entertainers sang “Never Enough” from the popular movie The Greatest Showman. Our NCS Rock Band livened things up with “Natural Woman” and a “We Will Rock You/Beat It” compilation. Attendees got to know the fine arts faculty members through their performances as well. Kayce Green and Kevin Durham got the laughs with their rendition of “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better” and then summoned the tears with their performance of “Our Children.” Art teachers Donna Torrez and Emily Johnson painted live pieces alongside several students during the event, and all of their artwork was auctioned off at the end of the live auction. The finale was a great way to end with all the performers singing “Children Will Listen.”
NCS parent Katie Reasor said, “My favorite thing about the auction this year was the entertainment! I was so touched by the enthusiasm and the talent of all of the performers. There was such a variety - traditional choral music, pop pieces and even some drama! It was fun to see Kayce Green and Kevin Durham perform together, as well. It’s quite clear that they enjoy what they do! I think their enthusiasm for the arts is so apparent and has truly impacted and motivated their students.”
This year’s auction was my favorite one that I have ever been to! Seeing all of the different forms of artistic expression - theater, singing, painting - from all ages of students was amazing. I hope it’s replicated every year,” added Shelley McClary.
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Sporting Clay Tournament Success
The first NCS Sporting Clay Tournament at the Nashville Gun Club was a huge success! This event was a fundraiser for a new track and field training area on campus. This project design includes seven lanes at 50 meters long and an area for shot, discus, high jump, long jump and pole vault. Thanks to the support of all who participated in and sponsored the tournament, we raised more than $8,000!
There were 75 shooters who competed, with the winning team being Brassfield & Gorrie (Dan Martin, Clay Bright, Clay Bright IV, and Mark Martin). The winning score was 214! Our top individual shooter was Chad Williams who shot 49 out of 50 targets!
After a great morning of shooting, everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch provided by Martin’s Bar-B-Que. Special thanks to our Title Sponsor, Enterprise Solutions and the Nashville Gun Club. Their facility and staff were excellent. Other sponsors who supported this event were:
Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, BSN, Fox Channel 17, Friedman’s Army Supply, Gateway Tires, J. Alexander’s, Jessup Eye Care, Legend’s Bank, Martin’s Bar-B-Que, Maryland Farms Family Dentistry, Nashville Tent, Publix, PWC, Royal Range, SIG.org, Siteworks LLC, Sonic, Southbound Outfitters, Sports Clips, Sportsman Bar & Grill, Stonetree Mulch, Temple Hills Golf Club, William Yon Agency, and Zaxby’s.
And of course, we couldn’t do it without our volunteers. Thanks to Kim Bowker, Leah Bowker, Tony Marlin, Olivia Marlin, Bubba Norris , Brie Pritchard, and Michael Travis for all of their hard work to make this day happen. We hope you will make plans to join us next year!
Grandparents Day 2019
We often have a guest speaker for Grandparents’ Day, and this year we had the unique opportunity to hear from some extraordinary speakers - our students! School President Connie Jo Shelton first introduced our school’s mission statement, “ to be a Christian, authentic, dynamic school equipping students to be global leaders.” She then described how our students represent Generation Z. Gen Z is the newest generation to be named, and they were born between 1995 and 2015. They are currently between 4-24 years old (nearly 74 million in the U.S.). “If we focus on mainstream media, they would have us believe that there is not a lot of hope for our future. It seems that children today are referenced in a negative light, giving a sense of despair and negativity. I am here today to tell you that there is hope and our future is bright,” said Mrs. Shelton.
Students from each grade level (elementary, middle, and high school) took the stage and shared about their experiences serving their school, community, and even the world.
Elementary students talked about their regular visits to two local retirement homes where they sing for and visit with residents. They also shared about Valentines for Vets, Soles for Souls, and the canned food drive. Middle school students shared how they collect small Christmas gifts and fill stockings every year for needy children. Gage Smith, an eighth-grader at NCS told a personal story about his middle school basketball team taking food to the homeless living around the West Nashville Greenway. Our high school students also help feed the homeless every Thanksgiving, taking leftovers from the NCS Praise and Thanksgiving service to areas of need. Seniors Tanner Goodman, Abby Shivers, and Jordan Williams all were able to share their experiences on mission trips to New York and Mexico.
Following the assembly, students showed off their artwork to their grandparents and visited the photo booth to get a commemorative photo with their loved ones. Overall it was another great example of how NCS is truly a family, and our students are truly being equipped to become global leaders!
Grandparents Day 2018
It was so wonderful to see so many Nashville Christian Grandparents joining us on March 29th for our Grandparents’ Day celebration. We have been blessed many times over by our grandparents in the form of prayers, participation, volunteerism, and contributions, and we are grateful.
Everyone enjoyed visiting with their grandchildren, hearing their beautiful voices and seeing their incredible artwork! We were so blessed to hear an inspiring message from our speaker, Rudy Kalis. His reminded us how much words matter and to take advantage of the positive impact we can have on our children through the words we say. As Rudy reminded us from Isaiah 59:21 “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.
Spiritual Emphasis Week 2018
Last week, the entire campus has been participating in Spiritual Emphasis Week. Our theme verse was Luke 6:45 which says: "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." Through this verse we explored what it looks like to speak with good purpose, as well as how what is stored up in our hearts is what we reflect in our speech.
We had activities each morning including small groups, older students teaching lessons to younger students, special speakers, and a special campus-wide quiet time. On Monday evening, parents and staff gathered for a prayer walk and covered the campus and Nashville Christian students in prayer. After the prayer walk, Dr. Walter Surdacki from Lipscomb University joined us to talk about technology and social media usage, the dangers and opportunities presented to our students, and how that relates to our faith.
On Thursday morning, we had an all school chapel time in the gym to hear an inspirational message from Chris Nichols from Crosspoint church. On Friday evening, high school students finished the week by heading off to the Spring Spiritual Retreat. It was a great week of coming together to teach and learn and study God’s word as well as spending time alone reflecting on our theme. To get a student perspective, read junior Dominic Stephens' article about Spiritual Emphasis Week here.
NCS Talent Show - Late Night With Ellie
This year's Talent Show (Celebrate the Child) was hosted for the first time ever by 3rd grader Ellie Sheehan. Seasoned co-host, Coach Jeff Brothers, played Ed McMahon to her Johnny Carson and the two had great chemistry onstage.
But the highlights of the show were of course the stellar performances by Nashville Christian School students and parents. First grade represented with Jeremy Wells back on stage, this time with Brady Irwin and another crowd-pleasing dance performance. Andrew Jarosemich showed his smooth moves with his dance to Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal.
There were some great duos with a dance by fifth graders Isabella Jennings and Aubrey Hollahan, and the Webb brothers Champ and Gabe showing their skills on drums and base guitar. Freshman Aubrey Page and junior Anna Jones sang beautiful solos and then teamed up for a great duet of Carry Me Home. Seniors Seven Gross and Will Batty joined forces at the keyboard with It's Too Late, and fourth grader Finn Shaver also tickled the ivories with Waltzing With Elephants.
One of the unique things that makes the Nashville Christian School Talent Show special is seeing parents join their children on the stage. Sixth grader Taylor Dahl and freshman Briteynn Fuson both sang beautifully with accompanyment from their fathers. And of course everyone enjoyed seeing the Sheehan and Posavac families come together with a repeat performance by Horse Taco.
If you missed any of these great performances, it's not too late. You can see the show in its entirety below!
Nashville Christian School Talent Show 2018 "Late Night with Ellie" from patrick sheehan on Vimeo.
NCS Gives Big at the Annual Auction
It was another great year at the NCS Auction Fundraiser! The theme was “Festival of Trees,” and with the twinkle lights and carollers, everyone got into the giving spirit. Three of the live auction items this year were fully-decorated, themed Christmas trees donated by elementary families. The middle school contributed four themed gift baskets, including a Nashville themed basket with a football signed by the Tennessee Titans own Marcus Mariota. High schoolers donated gift cards for the auction’s “grab and go” Christmas tree where donors could pay full price and walk away with the gift card without haggling.
After a delicious dinner donated by Martin’s Bar-B-Que, it was time to begin the bidding on our live auction items. First up was the “Best of Live” drawing. Tickets for “Best of Live” could be purchased for $60, and the winner received any live auction item of their choice. This year’s winner was Tim Jarrell, and he selected a helmet signed by the entire 2017 football team. Some of the other items auctioned off during the live auction were beach vacations, a trip to Disney, a special Luke Bryan concert package, and box seating at a Predators game.
The silent auction was also a huge success with a variety of great selections including jewelry, spa packages, a chance to be principal for a day, and a guitar signed by Loretta Lynn.
The auction ended with a special “Paddle Raise” with all donations going towards increased security measures at the school. Our goal was $20,000 and in less than five minutes, 41 members of the NCS community raised their paddles and together they gave $22,000! Overall, funds raised at the annual auction were $67,000!
We want to extend a special thank you to all of our sponsors:
Gold Sponsors ($2500+): Hopkins-Page (alumni Kevin Hopkins and current and alumni grandparent Terry Page), Martins Bar-B-Que (current parents Patrick and Martha Martin), and Enterprise Solutions (alumni and alumni parent Mike Campbell)
Frankincense Sponsors ($1500+): Dr. Sharon Roth with Roth Wellness & Chiropractic and Laurie Metcalfe (current NCS grandparent) with Lagniappe Custom Jewelry
Myrrh Sponsor ($800+): Legends Bank
We would also like to thank the Auction Committee and all of our volunteers for your time and service. We could not have done it without you! We are NC