Concord Campus News

August 21st, 2026

Leadership Update

Lorna Keeton


Lion Nation,


Campus remains bustling with activity as students and staff settle into a new school year. We are also celebrating and giving thanks for an amazing high school retreat last week.


Our 9th - 12th students had the opportunity to worship, be discipled, and have no shortage of FUN! We are grateful for the ways lives were impacted for Christ and for the memories made that will last a lifetime.


Additionally, we are thrilled to announce the opening of our University Model High School! This educational offering affords high school students the best of classroom instruction along with independent learning at home. For more information click HERE.


Our Lion Volunteer Connection needs YOU! LVC is a parent-led organization dedicated to supporting our amazing teachers and staff through fun and engaging events throughout the school year. Click HERE to learn more about how you can get involved and make an impact!


A Homecoming T-shirt Design Contest is also underway for Upper School students. The deadline to submit a design is August 28th.


Don’t miss your chance to show off your creativity and help design this year’s special 30th anniversary Homecoming shirt! You can learn more about the contest below in the Lion Volunteer Connection section of the newsletter.


Be sure to join us tomorrow, August 22nd, for our home football season opener as our Lions take on the CAK Warriors with kick-off at 11:00am!


Our Second Harvest Food Drive also runs through gametime tomorrow. Help us reach our goal of supporting families in need by bringing 5 cans of food to the game. Any fan of any age who brings five cans will receive FREE admission to the game!


We hope to see you there as we pack the Den, cheer on our team, and serve our community together.


GO LIONS!


Lorna Keeton

Director of Marketing & Alumni Affairs

Upcoming CCS Events & News

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.*

 

Don’t Miss School Updates & Alerts!

Please take a moment to review your notification settings in the Blackbaud Parent Portal.


To ensure you receive timely school announcements, schedule updates, and urgent alerts:


  1. Log in to your portal and click your name in the top right corner, then select Settings.
  2. Select Notifications from the left menu.
  3. Confirm that your email address and cell phone number are listed correctly, and check the boxes for how you’d like to receive notifications (email and/or text).
  4. Important: Look for the top line labeled Messages and ensure you have checked the box for email, text, or both so announcements reach you.


*There is no app for families to download this year. You must take the above steps to receive these important alerts!

Our school calendar can be found HERE!

🦁 Second Harvest Food Drive 🏈


Today and tomorrow are the last days to donate!


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


➡️ Any CCS or CAK fan of any age who brings 5 cans of food to the big game TOMORROW gets FREE admission! 🙌


We are excited for the 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 in our community. ❤️


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


"Growing Up in Grace" is a helpful guide and resource for families, and you can access it by scanning the QR code above or clicking HERE!


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

🦁 Kinders Greet Seniors! ❤️


The Class of 2039 had the sweetest moment on the field with the Class of 2027. 🫶


From hugs and smiles to lots of high fives, this special tradition was enjoyed by all! 🙌


We LOVE watching our youngest Lions celebrate our seniors. What a sweet reminder that once a Lion, always a Lion! 🦁

5th & 6th Grade Academy and Upper Middle School Happenings

📣 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


Don't miss 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! 🫶

**MAPS Testing**

RESCHEDULED 5th - 8th MAPS testing will be September 8th - 10th (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.

🦁 Charting the Future was a smashing success!


With 300 attendees and 24 college and other representatives on hand to provide valuable insight and resources, it was a fantastic offering for our 9th - 12th grade students and families.


This interactive event was designed to better equip our students as they prepare for their future. 📚 🏫


Breakout sessions included:


📖 The Anxious Generation

🏃 Pursuing Athletics in College

🎨 Pursuing the Arts in College

💰 FAFSA Clinic


A huge "Thank You!" to everyone who helped make this event so great! 👏

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

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!

Athletic Accolades & Updates

🏈 Football Season Opener

The first football game of the season is TOMORROW, and we can’t wait to cheer our Lions on as they take on the CAK Warriors!


Kickoff is at 11:00 AM in the Lion’s Den. BE THERE & BE LOUD! 📣


Can't make it to the game? Tune in to WBIR to watch the action on the field. 🙌


Athletic Team Stores

Our team stores are open. Check them out HERE.


Support our student athletes by sporting custom swag and attire!



Booster Passes & Banners

It's that time again! Booster passes HERE and banners HERE are now available for purchase. See graphics for details.


MS Baseball Tryouts

WHO: 6th - 8th grades

WHEN: September 12th 9AM-12PM

WHERE: Knoxville Christian School

11549 Snyder Road

Fill out Google form HERE. Come prepared to play!

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! 👏

🦁 Pride of the Den🥁


Our marching band has been hard at work this summer on 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 at tomorrow's football game and throughout the year! 👏

International Program Updates

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

Storehouse Happenings

CCS Storehouse

The Storehouse will be open the week of August 24th the following days/times:


Monday, 8/24: 7:30AM - 10:30AM and 3:00PM - 4:00PM

Tuesday, 8/25: 7:30AM - 10:30AM

Wednesday, 8/26: 7:30AM - 2:00PM

Thursday, 8/27: 7:30AM - 10:30AM and 3:00PM - 4:00PM

Friday, 8/28: 7:30AM - 10:30AM


We have new apparel available and are looking forward to special 30th Anniversary merchandise that will be arriving soon.


Make sure to stop in and shop with us!

Lion Volunteer Connection

Lion Volunteer Connection is 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 for our upcoming events, 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.


Homecoming T-Shirt Design Contest is open for Upper School students, and the deadline to submit a design is August 28th! See above graphic for details.


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

Spiritual & Student Life Office

This school year's spiritual emphasis theme is "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

Thursday, August 27th

  • 5th - 6th Academy: 9:55AM -10:55AM; Speaker: Jason Jennings / Family Groups
  • Upper School: 9:00AM - 10:00AM; Speaker: Jason Jennings / Family Groups

Church's Corner

Worship at FBC

Looking for a place to worship? We'd love to have you join us at First Baptist Concord.


This Sunday, Pastor John Mark will continue our sermon series, “Believe,” as we journey through the book of John.


All are welcome with service times at:

🕗 8:00 AM

🕤 9:15 AM

🕚 11:00 AM


We can’t wait to worship with you and grow together in faith!


Embers | A Rise865 Podcast

Join the Rise865 Preaching Team weekly as they talk about the Sunday sermon, ministry, and how people are inspiring others to follow Jesus across the 865!


Click HERE to listen, learn more, and don't forget to

like, subscribe, and review!


Wednesday Nights

  • August 19th: Midweek Kick-Off

Concord Christian Preschool

Littlest Lion Happenings

CCP August newsletter is HERE. Be sure to read it over carefully to avoid missing important announcements and news!



Keeping Up With KidzConnect

After School Care Enrollment

Registration is open for KidzConnect After-School Care for the 2026/27 school year. Registration can be found HERE.


Be sure to read the KidzConnect newsletter HERE!

Our University Model High School is OPEN!

This educational offering affords high school students the best of both worlds. For more information and program highlights click HERE!


Important Dates to Remember

  • August 27, 2026 - Orientation, K-8th Co-op, Meet the Teacher (Missions Training) 6:00 p.m.
  • September 4, 2026 - 1st day of K-8th Co-op
  • September 15, 2026 - Picture Day (must be registered)
  • September 18, 2026 - No School (FBC Missions Conference)
  • May 22, 2027 - Class of 2027 Graduation


A Note to Our Families

We kindly ask that if you have any concerns or if we did not meet your expectations, please reach out to Angela Keathley directly by email or phone. CCS is happily opening its doors to welcome homeschool students as part of their program, and we are committed to making this a positive experience for everyone. Your feedback will be invaluable as we grow together.


Umbrella/Tuition Payments

We apologize for the delay in sending out our billing statements. Please know that no payment is late—this delay is entirely on our end due to some set-up and connection issues. Your first payment will be due on September 15th. We appreciate your grace as we get everything in order.


School Picture Day – September 15th

Homeschool students may have their photos taken between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Arrival & Security

  • Please enter through the Gathering Space (the weekday entrance).
  • All parents must go through security. Have your driver’s license ready.

Forms

  • Please complete a separate form HERE for each student before picture day.
  • Students must be registered in order to have their photos taken.
  • These photos are for your use only. Homeschool umbrella students will not be in the CCS yearbook. With the number of students we have, the cost rises A LOT. Therefore we are pursuing other options.


Seniors

If you plan to participate in graduation, you must have a formal graduation photo.


The make-up day for senior portraits will be 7:30 a.m. on 9/15/26 in the Chapel. Please make sure your senior is on time so that this can be completed before the start of school. Girls should wear a camisole shirt underneath their school uniform that can easily be adjusted for the formal drape photo. Boys should wear a plain white shirt underneath their uniform for their formal tux photo. 


There is a $35 sitting fee that can be paid at the time of portraits with a card or cash.


Annual Counselor Meeting Requirement - 9th - 12th students ONLY

All high school students and their parents are required to meet with the high school counselor once per year.

To schedule your appointment, please contact Ashley Tipton using the below information:

Set up an Appointment: Academic Planning

Register for University Model HS: Registration


Educational Freedom Scholarship Information

We are an umbrella program registered with the State of Tennessee as a Category IV non-public school and are also a University Model High School. Because of this classification, we cannot accept Educational Freedom Scholarships (EFS)—those are reserved for Category I, II, and III schools. A Category IV umbrella program will never be eligible to use EFS. We are beginning the accreditation process to become a Category II for the Upper Middle school, which will allow us to accept EFS funding in the future. We are NOT eligible at this time.


Sports Eligibility

K - 7(8) students, please watch the newsletter for sporting opportunities High school students, because we are regulated by TSSAA, only students who are registered in our UMS program or paying full UMS tuition are eligible to try out and play sports for CCS.


Badges and Security

Only K - 8th Co-op and UMS students will have badge access to campus. However, badge access is limited, so we recommend that you always use the main entrance on Kingston Pike.


We welcome visitors on campus. Please note the following procedures:

  • All visitors 18 and older must present a government-issued ID upon their first visit.
  • All visitors must enter through the weekday entrance on the church side.
  • Upon entering, check in with the attendant at the desk to receive an identification sticker.
  • This sticker must be visible at all times while on campus.
  • When leaving, return the sticker to the attendant at the entrance where you entered.


Blackbaud System

Our Learning Management System is called Blackbaud. If you have not received your invite to set up your Blackbaud account and your Tuition Management account, please let Mrs. Keathley know.


If you are experiencing difficulty logging into your Blackbaud account, please complete this form HERE. Our team will get back to you as soon as possible.


Remember to check your spam or junk folder, as our replies may occasionally be filtered there.


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 the form HERE.
  2. I’ll email your personalized card.
  3. Print it or save it to your phone for easy access


Parking Pass Application

To apply for a parking pass, please complete the application form HERE.


After submitting the form, please email the following documents to me:

  • A copy of your valid driver's license
  • A copy of your current auto insurance card

Once both the application and documents are received, your parking pass will be processed.


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


Transcript Request Form

To request that your official transcript be sent to a college or university click HERE. Please allow 3 business days for your request to be processed.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6