Claiborne Christian School

Erin Thompson, our new 4th-grade teacher, recently attended the BJU conference during our summer trip for educators. This unforgettable experience provided her with invaluable insights that are sure to inspire both her teaching and her students. We are excited to see how she incorporates what she learned into the classroom this year.

Erin stated, "During the BJU conference, I experienced a complete shift in my perspective on teaching from a biblical standpoint. I have learned that Christian education is much more than just integrating the Bible into all subjects. Rather, God's Word serves as the foundation for the curriculum itself.

Defending the Christian faith (apologetics) was the focus of many seminar sessions at BJU. One verse that was referenced frequently throughout the week was 1 Peter 3:15, which calls us as Christians to be ready to give an account for the hope we have in Christ Jesus. The ability to answer questions with evidence rooted in scripture has greatly influenced my approach as an educator. In turn, this will shape my lessons, my classroom, and my students."

Some of our teachers and administrators attended the Louisiana Teacher Leader Summit in New Orleans. This event celebrated Louisiana’s historic education progress and set the stage for the next chapter of success. Educators across the state met to discuss academic achievement for students and ways to foster student growth. #growth

Congratulations to those listed below for exemplifying the Crusader Way by utilizing the gifts and talents entrusted to them by the Lord. Class C District 1: Coach of the Year: Chris Winstead & Josh Uchtmann Player of the Year: Allie Wainwright 1st team All-District: MVP - Parker Bearden Rylan Davis Aiden Joyner Cade Wallace Bella Rollins Mallory Haney Elizabeth Murphy Carly Fulford 2nd team All-District: Parker Woodcock Carter Wilks Carter Mulhearn Kinley Riser Honorable Mention: Seth Wainwright Jackson King Tre Boyd

**FLASHBACK** Mrs. Parker's 4th Grade class participated in "Teach the Teacher Day." Students were tasked with creating lesson plans and presenting a lesson on a topic of their choice to both the teacher and their classmates. After the lesson, they were required to provide an assessment to the class. Allowing students to take on the roles of creators and leaders in the classroom offers significant benefits, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Our boys' basketball team has traveled to Harding University for an intensive basketball camp designed to enhance their skills for the upcoming season. While focusing on improving their basketball abilities, both coaches and players are also building relationships and fostering fellowship. This helps strengthen their walk with Christ and enables them to embody the Crusader Way in their daily lives.

As we wrap up another school year, our teachers took the time to come together for a heartfelt celebration and fellowship at the local Warehouse Restaurant. We are filled with gratitude for their dedication and hard work, and we want to shine a light on our CCS 2024-2025 School Year Teacher Award winners: - **Rookie of the Year** Casie Parker - **Crusader Way Award** Dreamer Jowers - **K4 Teacher of the Year** Brooke Hall - **Elementary Teacher of the Year** Angie Osbon - **Middle and High School Teacher of the Year** Amy Brooks Congratulations to all of our wonderful teachers! Your impact on our students is truly invaluable.

AR testing is available for students entering 2nd to 8th grade. New students should contact Mrs. Kaul before arriving, as she will need to set up their accounts.

Today we celebrated our kindergarteners for their remarkable growth in both knowledge and faith. It is a joy to celebrate their accomplishments!

Each school year we set aside one day for 5th graders to experience what 6th grade will be like before they transition into middle school. This day gives them a preview of what to expect including changing classes, meeting teachers, and spending time with current 6th graders. Having a mentor who has recently gone through the transition from elementary to middle school is always encouraging for them. Additionally, we organize competitive kickball teams consisting of both 5th and 6th graders to help build lasting friendships. Our 5th graders enjoyed their day and said this was the best day of the year!

The 2025 Great Gatsby Prom was an unforgettable celebration filled with energy and elegance. The students even enjoyed the lively river festival, which featured a giant rubber duck. The venue was filled with sparkling gold and black decorations, and laughter filled the air as classmates danced under twinkling lights. They truly know how to create lasting memories for everyone involved. Congratulations to our Prom King and Queen, Kaleb Gregory and Janie Ray!

Our third graders made habitat dioramas at the end of their study of ecosystems. Each diorama showed different environments like forests, deserts, and coral reefs. The students included small plants and animals to make their ecosystems realistic. They did an excellent job of showing what they learned about how different living things interact in their habitats.

**2025 CCS Golf Team** - We are incredibly proud of Jase Correro and Ciarra Russell for their hard work and dedication. Both athletes were selected to attend the Bayou Jamb. Jase was a finalist for Boys Player of the Year and has also won the district championship, while Ciarra has been recognized as the Overall Golf Athlete in the girls' division. We celebrate both of you—congratulations!

Our 5th-graders took an end-of-year extravaganza trip to Biloxi and back in just one day, packed with unforgettable experiences! Check out these amazing highlights: They got hands-on and dissected a shark! They caught plankton and explored them up close under a microscope! They embarked on a thrilling shrimping adventure out in the ocean! It was a day filled with excitement and memories!

Upcoming Events for the Month of May

Big news! The Lady Crusaders are heading to the State Softball Tournament! Congratulations 🥎

Reminder for Next Week:

In January, eighth graders began formally prepping for the English and reading sections of the ACT. The English section, a review of foundational grammar and writing skills, tests over things such as making subjects and verbs agree, forming properly-structured sentences, organizing a writing, and reducing wordiness in a text. The reading section tests comprehension and analyzation of fiction and nonfiction texts. Practicing for the ACT not only familiarizes students with the format of these tests, but also helps them build the endurance and speed needed to perform to their maximum potential. Because we use released ACT tests to practice, they get real experience with real tests, and they can learn from their mistakes. 8th grade students who earn scores of 18 and higher track their progress on our ACT board in the middle school hallway. Quite a few have already met (or exceeded) the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks of 18 for English and 22 for reading!

Senior Capstone Projects allow students to explore a topic of personal interest through in-depth research. This year, students have chosen a wide range of fascinating topics, including what makes a school shooter, the loss of creativity in adulthood, and how sight and sound influence taste. These projects challenge students to meet high academic expectations, combat procrastination, write substantial research papers, and deliver engaging presentations. Here are a few examples of powerful thesis statements students have developed: The fear of death, rooted in uncertainty, is often explored through psychological impacts and facts, but the hope of overcoming death can only be found through Christ. Abortion is wrong because it violates the sanctity of life, disregards God's commandment against killing, and also denies that life begins at conception. The Zodiac Killer Case is one of the most infamous cases due to its cryptic ciphers, coded messages, and the way he captivated law enforcement and the public for decades. Evidence surrounding the John F. Kennedy assassination, such as the angle of the shot, the makeshift trial, and the secrecy of the government, suggests that it was the work of more than just Lee Harvey Oswald. By examining players' impact, their dominance, and influence on the game, the greatest basketball player of all time (GOAT) can be determined.

Junior & Senior Prom 2025