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Distinctively CHA
Archives - April 2021
Longevity
April 26, 2021
Next year is CHA’s 50th anniversary. The 50th year in Scripture is known as the “Year of Jubilee.” It is a celebration of remembrance. Last Thursday evening, CHA hosted its fourth Heritage Dinner at Hidden Trails Country Club. We were blessed to have several alumni present. One of them was Jennifer Hendrickson, who was a member of CHA’s first graduating class of 1977. Her mother, Naomi Hendrickson, was also in attendance. The greatest gift for a teacher is when a student returns and remembers what your impact has meant in his/her personal life. Mr. Holmes was Jennifer’s teacher. Mr. Holmes, CHA’s Ambassador, has been at CHA for 48 years. Holding hands and all smiles, these three represent God’s faithfulness to CHA and the longevity of relationships within the CHA family. The Hendrickson’s continued investment in CHA for over 43 years is a testament to God’s grace.
Alumni are a critical part of CHA’s community. One of the indicators of a Christian school's strength and influence is the percentage of alumni who enroll their children. We have been blessed to have a significant number of alumni children each year. Our alumni serve on our Board of Trustees, as homeroom moms, on parent boards, and as faculty/staff members. Their longevity in the school creates a family atmosphere and provides a rich tradition. As we prepare for our 50th anniversary, would you please pray that God will sustain our longevity in our community for generations to come? If you are an alumnus and have not updated your personal information with us recently, please contact us at sdemoss@cha.org.
Thank you for being a part of CHA’s family—for a lifetime.
And the Winner Is
April 19, 2021
Last Friday night was Christian Heritage Academy’s Junior-Senior Banquet. The event was hosted by the junior class and the purpose was to give honor to the graduating seniors. The event was held at the Petroleum Club. The view was spectacular from the 35th floor but it was even more breathtaking seeing our young ladies and men dressed to the nines. The theme was “A Night at the Crusadees.” Cross Looney and Gracie Teehee announced the winning seniors for various awards. Award winners were chosen by their peers.
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As the evening was ending, I asked a young lady who does not attend CHA but came as a date with one of our young men, “What did you think about the evening?” She replied, “It is different. It is not at all like public school.” I told her that the purpose was to honor the senior class. She replied, “It was very, very honoring. It was so nice.” I was again reminded about the privilege that it is to attend CHA and to teach at CHA. All of us are winners. God has given us a special opportunity to attend a school where Christ is exalted, education is excellent, and character is exemplary. Thank you for raising young men and women to value holiness. We are honored to partner with you in the endeavor of training Christian leaders who will influence every sphere of society with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is the victor!
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”—1 Cor. 15:57
Legacy
April 12, 2021
CHA has a rich legacy of tradition. From the Christmas and Easter programs to unique field trips and secondary retreats at each grade level, CHA is intentional about building community and memories. The third-grade Presidential Tea is one of the highlights for any CHA alumnus. Mr. Kyle Smith and Mr. Justin Skalla did an outstanding job capturing the essence of it on this brief video. The students research and write a report over a U.S. President or First Lady. This interdisciplinary unit incorporates speech and art as well. Students re-create the presidential china plate for their dignitary for whom they represent. They prepare a short speech and dress up as their representative. Parents graciously give their time and resources to prepare food for the tea. Mrs. Champion and Mrs. Harden spend hours reviewing reports, practicing the presentations, and preparing for the event. The Presidential Tea is much more than an event. It is an educational experience that studies the legacy of our country’s servant leaders. Our students analyze the accomplishments and failures of these men and women. They study the lessons learned from their life and celebrate how God has used these leaders in our nation.
Webster’s 1828 defines legacy as “a bequest; a particular thing, or a certain sum of money given by last will or testament.” At Christian Heritage Academy, our students study the rich legacy of faith that many of our founding fathers had. Our students learn to reason from the Biblical principles from which our nation was founded. Legacy is predicated upon one having the foresight to write down their desires in a last will or testament. Many of our nation’s leaders left diaries and journals which revealed their faith in the One True God. These key individuals are studied as examples of how God uses common men and women to do uncommon things.
Last week, our faculty and staff had the opportunity to hear from WatersEdge Ministry about how to leave a legacy for their families through establishing a financial trust along with a will and testament. Representatives Mrs. Julie Stanley, a current parent, and Mr. Terry Davidson, an alumni parent, shared valuable information about estate planning. WatersEdge Ministry offers these services free of charge for anyone interested. Several of our employees have utilized these services to secure their estates. If you would like more information on these services, please contact me at sdemoss@cha.org or 405-672-1787 ext. 233 for more information or sign up on their website.
If you would like to learn more about the legacy of CHA by attending our final Heritage Dinner, please use this link. At our last dinner, we were blessed to receive over $106,000 towards the Ralph Bullard Training Facility’s goal of $2.1 million. Mr. Bullard’s legacy continues to capture the hearts and minds of our constituents. It reminds me of Proverbs 13:22: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” What legacy will you leave? May they be blessed.