Concord Campus News

August 14th, 2026

Important Reminders

*CCS communications will be shared through our primary communication channels of this weekly newsletter, Blackbaud, and our school's Facebook and Instagram accounts.*

Our school calendar can be found HERE!

🦁 Second Harvest Food Drive 🏈

We are excited to partner with CAK for the CCS vs. CAK Second Harvest Food Drive!

Dates for the food drive are August 17th–22nd!

Our goal is to collect 20,000 food items (approximately 10 items per each CCS/CCP/ Homeschool/Concord Sports participant).

Also, any CCS or CAK fan of any age who brings 5 cans of food to the game on Saturday, August 22nd, gets FREE admission (and cans count towards CCS total)! 🙌

This is more than a friendly competition. It’s an opportunity to support Second Harvest Food Bank, build school spirit, and unite students across every Concord program around a worthy mission of feeding the hungry. ❤️

LET'S DO THIS LIONS! 🏈 🥫

Concord is honored to work with Peak Wellness Centers, PLLC, a local counseling practice located at 11726 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37934.

This partnership helps to honor our commitment to support the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health of our students.



Peak Wellness Centers offers faith-based counseling services both in person and virtually for children, adolescents, and families. Their licensed professionals provide support in areas such as:

• Anxiety and stress management
• Behavioral and emotional concerns
• Family transitions and life changes
• Social skills and peer relationships

Families who are interested may contact Peak Wellness Centers via: Website HERE. Email: hello@peakwellnesscenters.org.

Phone: 865.643.8838.

🎉 Boots, Bows & BBQ

Join us on September 27th at Fox Den Country Club for an unforgettable evening of fellowship, fun, and fundraising. 🌟

Concord is proud to welcome special guest Josh Mancuso, "The College Mascot Guy", for a night you definitely won’t want to miss! Purchase your tickets HERE.

Concord Golf Tourney

Our annual golf tourney will be held on Monday, September 28th, at Fox Den! Register for the tourney HERE. ⛳

Parents In Prayer

Join us on the following Wednesdays this school year for Parents in Prayer:

-September 2nd

-October 14th

-November 11th

-December 2nd

-January 13th

-February 10th

-March 17th

-April 7th

-May 12th

*All gatherings will be held in the Prayer Room off of the Gathering Space from 8:15 - 8:45AM.

LOWER SCHOOL NEWS

Princess Bible Camp

👑 What a special summer camp for princesses! 🩷

These campers discovered that true beauty comes from loving God and sharing His love with others. 🫶

Throughout the week, they explored the lives of faithful women from the Bible through stories, fun crafts, and joyful songs.

📣 Calling All 5th-8th Grade CCS Dads! 🙌

We're excited to launch All Pro Dads this year!

All Pro Dads is a ministry that gives fathers and their children the opportunity to grow spiritually together through Bible study, meaningful conversations, and fun activities. 🙏

📅 When: First Friday of every month

🕖 Time: 7:00–7:45 AM

📍 Where: Fellowship Hall

⭐ First Meeting: September 4th

Thank you to CCS Dad, Kyle Ball, for leading this meaningful opportunity to strengthen families and encourage Christ-centered relationships.

We can't wait to see our Dads with their sons and daughters there! 🫶

CCS Pickleball Club

We’re excited to launch another brand-new club this year! The club will run for 5 weeks and is open to 7th–12th grade CCS and homeschool students.

Whether you’re a seasoned player or picking up a paddle for the first time, all skill levels are welcome! You can register your student(s) HERE. 🙌

See the graphic above for more details, and email Mrs. Orlando at sorlando@concordcs.org with any additional questions.

See you on the court, Lions! 🦁 🏓

**MAPS Testing**

5th - 8th students will have MAPS testing August 18th - 20th (Tues - Thurs) in the mornings. 

Testing Schedule:

• Reading – Tuesday
• Math – Wednesday
• Language – Thursday

Students need to bring a quiet activity and have it ready before testing begins.

Welcome new Upper School Assistant Principal, Chase Newsome!

Mr. Newsome has been part of the CCS family for the past five years, previously serving as a 6th grade History teacher.

He holds a Bachelor's degree in Bible & Theology and History from Johnson University and a Master's degree in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University.

When he's not at school, you'll find him coaching baseball or cheering on his favorite football and baseball teams. ⚾

Emergency Contacts & Medical Forms

We apologize for any confusion regarding the automated CCS Nurse Medical Form email sent out this week. We wanted to take a moment to clarify the instructions for completing these forms.

We understand that many families completed these forms last spring. However, some info may still be incomplete or may not have transferred correctly from RenWeb to Blackbaud.

Please note: Both parents must sign off on the form before it can be submitted.

HERE is a step-by-step PDF with detailed instructions for your reference.

Also, check to see that we have the most up-to-date Emergency Contact info for your student(s).

Lastly, be on the lookout for a Media Release form, which will be added to your Blackbaud account soon.

Senior Checklist

🎓 Senior Checklist Reminder 🎓

This year’s Class of 2027 checklist reminders will be posted in Blackbaud and can be found in the student’s schedule under Class of 2027 Page-1 (0 Period).

The August checklist items are LIVE now! ✅ Students can find it in their assignments.

We HIGHLY encourage parents and students to log in ASAP and check this course regularly!

This page provides a monthly guide to help students know what they should be focusing on, along with helpful courses and portals covering different parts of the college and career process.

Achieving Academic Excellence

Summer STEM Offerings

Two of our science teachers, Anne Lengwin (Honors Biology) and Robin Fults (Duel Enrollment Chemistry) traveled to Texas for a week-long professional development this summer that focused on hands-on molecular modeling.

Throughout the training, they explored innovative strategies and interactive techniques that will help bring biology concepts to life for students.

We can't wait to see these new ideas in action as they inspire discovery and a deeper understanding of God's creation. 🧬

Criminal Justice I Seminar is a yearlong, discussion-based course in which 9th-12th grade students examine how law enforcement, courts, corrections, juvenile justice, and public-safety agencies work together.

Students will study topics including:

• Law enforcement, courts, and corrections
• Juvenile justice
• Ethics, integrity, and accountability
• Emergency response and public safety
• Officer wellness and resilience
• Leadership, teamwork, and community trust
• Criminal justice and public-safety careers

Schedule: Wednesdays, 2:30–4:00PM

Credit: 0.25 high school credit

Registration link is HERE!

Media, Misinformation & Influence is a yearlong 9th-12th grade social studies elective that helps students navigate news, social media, advertisements, political messaging, artificial intelligence, viral content, and competing claims.

Students will learn how to:

• Evaluate the credibility of sources
• Distinguish fact, opinion, assumption
• Identify misinformation and disinformation
• Recognize bias and persuasion techniques
• Understand social-media algorithms
• Analyze current events and competing claims
• Investigate information safely
• Form evidence-based conclusions

Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30–4:30PM

Credit: 0.5 elective credit

Registration link is HERE!

Week In Arts

🎭 Coming to a stage near you! CCS Theatre is looking forward to presenting...

🦁 Fall Production: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

🏴‍☠️ ⚓ Spring Production: The Pirates of Penzance

Get ready for adventure, imagination, and incredible performances from our talented cast and crew. Stay tuned for more information! 👏

🎵 Band Camp 2026 🥁

🦁 The Pride of the Den is back in action!

Our marching band has been hard at work this summer, and we can't wait for all to experience their new show, "Call to Courage." 🎷

These talented students have poured countless hours of effort and energy into every rehearsal to ensure they represent our school with excellence.

We are so proud of their commitment and can't wait to cheer them on this year! 👏

International Program Updates

We are so excited to welcome our new students from Costa Rica, China, and Germany! 🌎

Storehouse Happenings

Introducing Lion Volunteer Connection (formerly Concord Parent Connection), where we look forward to a renewed focus on connection and community versus membership this school year.

Similar to a PTO, LVC will be a parent-led organization dedicated to supporting teachers and staff through fun and engaging events (see above graphic for details)!

We need MANY parent volunteers, and you can register to help HERE.

Movie Night for preschool and lower school students and families is August 28th! The event is FREE, but please register HERE for planning purposes.

*Be sure to follow us on our Facebook page for more updates throughout the year!

Spiritual & Student Life Office

We are excited to announce this year's spiritual emphasis theme "Not To Us", based on the Bible verse "Not to us O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness." Psalm 115:1

Chapel Schedule

Week of August 17th

• 5^th - 6^th Academy: 9:55AM -10:55AM; Speaker: Jason Jennings (Kids Theatre)
• Upper School: 9:00AM - 10:00AM; Speaker: Jason Jennings (Worship Center)

Homeschool Happenings

Upcoming Dates to Remember

• May 22nd, 2027: Graduation

Parent ID Cards

Homeschool Parent ID Card. Did you know some businesses offer discounts for homeschoolers when you present this card?

To get yours, simply:

1. Complete https://forms.gle/gxd9g19YksiZNVYYA
2. I’ll email your personalized card.
3. Print it or save it to your phone for easy access!

Learner's Permit

When applying for a learner’s permit, students must submit the SF-1010 form. Please keep these key points in mind:

• The form is valid for 30 days after issuance.
• Allow adequate time for our staff to process your request.
• Once completed, the form will be sent via email to the address you provide.
• We do not fax the form directly to the driver’s license office.

To avoid delays, please ensure the form is submitted before the 30-day expiration.

Verification of Enrollment

Homeschool umbrella students may need to provide Verification of School Enrollment when participating in co-ops, extracurricular activities, or other programs requiring proof of enrollment in an approved educational program.

This document, issued by the overseeing homeschool umbrella or cover school, verifies the student’s enrollment status for purposes such as:

• Academic eligibility
• Student discounts
• Sports participation

**Request this verification in advance to ensure timely processing

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. Psalm 37:5