CPS Weekly Update
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
From Headmaster Mr. Brent Johnson

Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done,
In sending His Beloved Son.

This twelfth-century carol provides sound advice for Christians during the Advent season. The time from Thanksgiving to Christmas is incredibly hectic with the lights, trees, wreaths, and other decorations to put up, parties and family gatherings to plan for, and presents to purchase for a wide list of people. And let’s not forget about the tests to study for, concerts church events to attend, and the all-important Christmas cookies to bake. It is very easy to get lost in the craziness of the Christmas season and lose track of the real reason for the celebration. I am reminded of Psalm 46:10 which reads, “Be still, and know that I am God.” It is important for us to take time during this season of Advent while we prepare everything else for Christmas to take time to prepare ourselves for Christmas. Thank you to those of you who took the time to attend our Middle and Upper School Christmas Concerts; the young men and women in our Fine Arts Department did a wonderful job of helping us prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate the real reason for Christmas.

As the Upper School Choir sang so beautifully,

Still, still, still
One can hear the falling snow…

Sleep, sleep, sleep
'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth
The night is peaceful all around you
Close your eyes
Let sleep surround you
Sleep, sleep, sleep
'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth

I pray that everyone in the Concordia Prep Community takes time this Christmas season to consider the wonderful sacrifice our good God has done by sending his Beloved Son.

Merry Christmas,

Brent Johnson
Christmas Fine Arts Festivals
Congratulations to our Upper and Middle School Fine Arts Students, Ms. Staehr, Mr. Mercer, Ms. Bainbridge, Mrs. Barth, Ms. Weldon, and Mrs. Heilman for a job well done at both the Upper and Middle School Fine Arts Festivals this past week.

Ms. Bainbridge has shared some photos from both nights: Fine Arts Festivals
Friday Dress Down and Christmas Chapel
This Friday, December 15, students may wear their favorite ugly Christmas sweaters, Christmas t-shirts, red and green, Santa hats, reindeer antlers, etc., for this year's Christmas dressdown for SGA. Price is $1.

Friday we will have a special Christmas Chapel at 8:49 am. Parents are welcome to join us. The bands will be playing Christmas music.
Baby Shower For Jesus Collection
T his Friday is the last day to bring in donations of baby items for the Lutheran Mission Society. We need more stuff! Please help those in need to care for the most vulnerable among us, babies, to be received by The Lutheran Mission Society for their Compassion Centers next week. Please follow the link for a list of needed items, and donate as generously as you are able. Thank you for sharing your shower of blessings with those in need. Let’s Stuff the LMS Truck with love, prayers, and gifts!

Middle School Schedule - December 18-21
Middle School students will dismiss at Noon each day from December 18-21, operating on an altered class schedule. Please note - there is no EDP and no lunch sold on these days. Middle School students who take Upper School level classes will complete Semester Exams per the schedule provided here.

Upper School Exam Schedule - December 18-21
All Upper School students, as well as Middle School students who take upper school level World Language and Geometry classes, will complete Semester One Exams according to the schedule below. Please see the exam schedule for details, inclement weather policies, etc., here. Specific locations will be posted each morning across from the Main Office. Please check each day. There is a Noon Dismissal each day. Lunches are NOT sold on Noon Dismissal days. Christmas Break begins at 12:00 p.m. on December 21, 2017, and school resumes on January 3, 2018.
Inclement Weather Reminder
In the event of inclement weather, CPS will post updates regarding school delays and cancellations in the following places:

  • CPS Facebook page. OnCampus, and school website
  • 410-825-2323 *500
  • www.schoolsout.com (search for Concordia Preparatory School and sign up to have closing or delay information sent to your e-mail address or phone)
  • Listen to WBAL radio or watch WBAL TV for an announcement regarding CPS

Next week for upper school exams, if Concordia Prep is delayed 1 or 2 hours, the schedule will begin at 11:00 and end at 2:50. If exam days are lost to inclement weather, the order of the schedule will be followed on the next day(s) that school meets .

Christmas Break
Christmas Break begins at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 21, 2017, and runs through Tuesday, January 2, 2018. Classes resume on Wednesday, January 3, 2018.
17th Annual Basket Bingo:
Friday, January 19, 2018
Mark your calendars for Friday, January 19 for the 17th Annual Basket Bingo at Tall Cedars, 2501 Putty Hill Ave., Parkville, MD 21234. Doors open at 6 pm, games start at 7 pm. The money raised will go to the Annual Fund. We need people willing to sponsor/buy baskets and to volunteer to be basket fillers! Most of these baskets are not very large and you can fill them with anything you would like!  Here is a link to the baskets to buy/sponsor and a link to ideas for fillers. If you are able to assist in sponsoring/buying a basket and/or filling one, please contact janeponton@concordiaprepschool.org.
Sports News
This Friday and Saturday is the CPS Christmas Classic Basketball Tournament:
Friday -
Game 1 - CPS Girls vs Southern MD Christian - 5:00 pm
Game 2 - Southern MD Christian vs Evander Childs (NY) - 6:30 pm
Game 3 - Oxon Hill vs CPS Boys - 8:00 pm
Saturday
Game 1 - CPS Boys vs Southern MD Christian - 12:00 pm
Game 2 - Woodlawn vs Evander Childs (NY) - 1:30 pm

All the schedules and scores for the winter sports teams are posted on the school website and on OnCampus.

Concordia Prep has hired Ms. Samantha Kress as the new cheerleader coach and Mr. Kevin Totaro as the new varsity men's lacrosse coach. Read their bios here
OnCampus
Thank you for your patience as we transition the school calendars, news, and sports schedules to OnCampus. The entire school calendar is now posted on OnCampus. All athletic schedules are posted on the school website, under the Parents and Students tab--middle school and upper school teams. All the team schedules are also posted on OnCampus, on the main calendar and also under "Scoreboard" that appears in the bar second from the top.

The Daily Announcements are posted under "Resources" on the top bar. They will be posted each day by early afternoon.

Also, it has come to our attention that not everyone has updated their profile so they may receive notifications. Here are the instructions:
How to get notified there’s an OnCampus message for you:
  • Log in
  • Select the (YourName) icon in the upper-right corner
  • Settings
  • Notifications
  • Add your Email and/or text #
Please contact Jane Ponton or Nate Konkel if you have questions or are having trouble navigating OnCampus.
Enrichments and Electives for Second Semester
Middle School: Enrichments for 2nd Semester—You have until the end of school on Friday, December 15 to request your enrichment classes for 2nd semester. To do this, go to your OnCampus home page, and you will see a Course Requests tab. Click on the Course Requests tab and Electives will show up with a drop down menu. Requests are not guaranteed due to student numbers. Any questions please see Ms. Bainbridge.

Upper School: Electives for 2nd Semester—You have until the end of school on Friday, December 15 to request your electives for 2nd semester. To do this, go to your OnCampus home page, and you will see a Course Requests tab. Click in the Course Requests tab and several departments will show up with the electives dropping down. Study Hall is under Other Electives. This is for electives only, full year classes can not be changed. Requests are not guaranteed due to student numbers. Any questions please see Ms. Bainbridge.

PSAT/NMSQT Scores
Attached is an announcement for parents of students who took the PSAT/NMSQT in October, grades 10 and 11.  Online Access

Class of 2018 College Acceptances
Class of 2018 - Congratulations on completing your college applications! Over the next several weeks and months, you will be hearing from them regarding acceptances. Seniors please share your college acceptance letters with Director of Guidance Mrs. Grill.

Broadway Trip: March 21
There are a limited number of seats left for the March 21 trip to Broadway. The one-day trip, which is open to middle school and upper school students, gives students the opportunity to participate in a Step by Step Workshop where they will learn choreography from a cast member of Hamilton and view a production of My Fair Lady. Contact Mrs. Joy Johnson or Ms. Martha Bainbride for more information.

Juniors and Seniors: A Day with an Engineer
This is an opportunity for upperclassmen interested in engineering to spend a day at a local science or engineering firm where you will get involved with hands-on activities such as project brainstorming, project design work, computer-aided design/drafting simulation, and field engineering tasks. The Day is February 21, 2018; however, applications are due no later than January 10. See Mrs. Grill for an application.

Seniors: First Financial Scholarship Program
First Financial Federal Credit Union will make available one, $3000 scholarship to a graduating senior from every area high school. Students must be a member in good standing at First Financial FCU. If not yet a member, visit www.firstfinancial.org for a membership application. Deadline for the Scholarship Packet is February 1, 2018. See Mrs. Grill for a scholarship application.
Important Dates:

Friday, December 15: CPS Christmas Chapel, Pizza for $1.50 per slice. Supports the football team.

Monday, December 18 to Thursday, December 21: Midterm Exams. Noon dismissal.

Friday, December 22 through Tuesday, January 2: School Closed for Christmas Break

Wednesday, January 3: Classes Resume, Blessing of the Rings

On Campus Login:
Please bookmark the link for OnCampus

Lunch Orders
Order lunches from Terri’s Cafe here: 

Yearbooks
2018 Yearbooks are now on sale. Go to  www.Jostensyearbooks.com  to order yours today.

Coca Cola Give Program
Concordia Prep is participating in the Coca Cola Give program.