Spring Uniform Swap

Monday, April 14th–Wednesday, April 16th | PAAC Hallway

For many years, the Covenant community has enjoyed supporting one another with the recycling/reuse of outgrown uniforms. It is not necessary to contribute to benefit, but we encourage everyone to either participate or hand down outgrown uniforms directly to family and friends!

We are pleased to be planning for our Spring Uniform Swap that will be held April 14th-16th.

Please feel free to drop off your outgrown, good condition, clean, and folded uniform items in sturdy bags in the carlines.

Student Maker’s Market

Monday, April 14th | 3:30–5:30 pm | Small Gym

Friends and families are welcome to shop at CCA’s inaugural Student Maker’s Market on Monday, April 14th. More than 20 students will be selling handmade items. What a great opportunity to shop for birthdays, Mother’s Day, and more! 

Questions about the Student Maker’s Market can be directed to Amy Prichard: amy.prichard@ccamail.org.

Covenant Parent Connection Meeting

Friday, May 2nd | 8:15 am | CCA Cafeteria

Parents, please join us for the Covenant Parent Connection meeting to learn how you can support end-of-year activities and events. 

For questions about Covenant Parent Connection, please contact Andrea Bergstrom, Grammar School Principal, at andrea.bergstrom@ccamail.org.

Covenant Commentaries: Spiritual Discernment

Friday, May 2nd | 8:45 am | CCA Cafeteria

Our next Covenant Commentary, “Spiritual Discernment” will be held on Friday, May 2nd following the Covenant Parent Connection meeting at 8:45 am. 

Jason Lawrenz, CCA Chaplain, will discuss the crucial role of spiritual discernment in navigating public discourse, especially in today’s polarized and noisy world.  He encourages us to seek wisdom through prayer and Scripture, and to practice humility, ensuring that our words and the voices to which we give space in our minds reflect truth, love, and the character of Christ. This is an especially relevant topic to share with our children who might not be able to interpret public commentary accurately.

This session will be recorded for those who cannot attend.

If you have questions about Covenant Commentaries or would like to suggest topics for future Commentaries, please contact Nicole Wise Williams, Chief Advancement Officer, at nicole.williams@ccamail.org.

Teacher Appreciation Week

Monday, May 5th–Friday, May 9th

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5-9th. We have the best teachers and staff here at Covenant Christian Academy and we want them to feel CELEBRATED this May. We have an exciting week planned to express our appreciation and make them feel special: 

Monday: Notes of Encouragement*

Tuesday: Snacks & Drinks

Wednesday: Catered Lunch

Thursday: Breakfast Buffet

Friday: Grab-n-Go Dessert Bar

We are encouraging each family at CCA to sign up to bring something to take part in honoring our hard working teachers. If you are able to contribute, please sign up here. Donations can be dropped off on the particular day they are being consumed. 

*In addition to a week of snacks and drinks, we are going to honor each of the teachers and staff members with a personalized Note of Encouragement. We would love every family to contribute to this by clicking on the Teacher Appreciation Week Notes of Encouragement Form to share a few sentiments about specific teachers and staff. Because we need time to compile everyone’s comments, the last day to contribute to the Encouragement Notes will be Friday, April 18th. 

Thank you for partnering with us to give our teachers an outstanding week of appreciation.
~The Parent Connection Team

International Student Host Family Application

The International Student Host Family Program is now accepting applications for potential host families for the 2025-26 school year. For more information about the host family program, please reference the ISP Host Family Presentation. 

Click here to complete the Host Family Application Form. 

Following the submission of the application, a member of our team will reach out about scheduling a home site visit.  Feel free to reach out to Director of Admissions, Ryan Patrie, (ryan.patrie@ccamail.org) with any questions.

Grammar School History Fair

Wednesday, April 16th | 6:00–7:30 pm

On Wednesday, April 16th the Grammar School will hold its biennial History Fair. This is a required event for all students in grades 1-6. 

Mother-Son Cosmic Bowling

Saturday, May 3rd | 11:00 am–12:30 pm | Leo’s MetroBowl, Peabody

Moms and Sons, please mark your calendars for our annual Mother-Son Cosmic Bowling on Saturday, May 3rd from 11:00 am–12:30 pm. $17.50 per person to play. Click here to reserve your spot!

Invitations were sent home this week with all youngest boys!

Senior Thesis Symposium

Thursday, April 17th | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm | PAAC and Small Gym

The Senior Thesis Project at Covenant Christian Academy is the culmination of our students’ Classical Education. After writing a fifteen-page research essay on a topic of their choosing, each senior must present and defend his or her argument in front of the Upper School, along with a panel of faculty members and outside experts. The Thesis Project demands the scholarly depth, expert rhetoric, and personal confidence that are essential to our students’ success in collegiate studies and professional life. 

On Thursday, April 17th, all members of the CCA community are welcome and invited to attend the Senior Thesis Symposium. Consider spending a portion of the day with us. Be on the lookout for an email  to the community with a full list of presenters and their topics. 

Questions about Senior Thesis and Symposium Day may be directed to USLR Dean of Academics, Tracy Bennett at tracy.bennett@ccamail.org.

PLEASE NOTE:  Due to our large senior class size, our dismissal time for grades 9-12 on Symposium Day will be 3:00 pm rather than 2:45 pm. Thank you for your understanding as we work to ensure that all seniors receive ample time to present their theses.

The Last Dance: Sophomore, Junior, Senior Prom

Friday, May 9th | 6:30 pm | Spinelli’s, 10 Newbury St, Peabody, MA

Students in Grades 10-12 – get your tickets for The Last Dance! Check email from Mr. Ingersoll for ticket link. 

Parents, friends, and family – grab your cameras and join us for an unforgettable Promenade at Spinelli’s located at 10 Newbury St, Peabody, MA. Witness the glamour and excitement as our students make their grand entrance, beginning at 6:30 pm sharp.

The Promenade is a fun CCA tradition where students are announced as they walk out in pairs or small groups and have their pictures taken. After all the groups have been announced, a large group picture will be taken.

Students should arrive for the Promenade at 6:15 pm. The prom is from 7:00–10:00 pm.

Personal Safety Seminar

For Female Rhetoric School Students

Friday, May 2nd | 3:00–5:00 pm

Director of Campus Safety, Mr. Ulrich, will host a two-hour personal safety seminar available to Rhetoric School-aged female students on Friday, May 2nd, 2025, from 3:00–5:00 pm. This will be an NRA Refuse to be a Victim curriculum taught by Mr. Ulrich and some assistants. This course will consist of a few basic self-defense techniques and tactical decision/role-playing scenarios, which will cover situations every college-bound young woman should have a plan in place to deal with: dating violence and stalking behaviors, situational awareness, and road rage.

If interested, please print, sign, and deliver this waiver to Mr. Ulrich before the close of business on Tuesday, April 29th.

Space is limited to 15 participants–sign up today!

Questions about the seminar can be directed to Mr. Ulrich at joshua.ulrich@ccamail.org.

Classical Roots Weekly Blog: The Long Wait 

Click here to read this week’s blog post, The Long Wait, and to subscribe to the Classical Roots Substack. Download the Substack app to be able to comment and ask questions. Help us spread the word by sharing this link with your friends. 

If you are interested in learning more about this program or getting involved, please contact Alex Miller at alex.miller@ccamail.org.

Grammar School Volleyball Clinic

This week, Covenant hosted a volleyball clinic that was a great success! A total of 23 girls from grades 5-7 participated, bringing positive and coachable attitudes. Throughout the week, they worked together to improve their volleyball skills, with guidance from varsity players and coaches. It was a fun and productive experience for all involved!

Discount on Welli Bins™ for CCA Community

Welli Bins Co. is the first company dedicated to making storage sustainable and to offering a full line of washable, durable and plant-based consumer products that are built to last. They’ve been featured on KonMari and earned the Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning & Organizing Award. 

Welli Bins™ Founder (and CCA Parent) Kathleen McIntyre is offering the CCA Community a 40% discount! Click here to read more about these versatile and sustainable bins and to shop for some of your own! Use code CCAT at checkout. 

Kelly Christensen, Grammar School Faculty, Sixth Grade

What is your role at Covenant and how long have you worked here? I teach 6th Grade ELA, History, and one section of Bible. This is my third year.

What has been your biggest learning experience here so far? My first (of many) big learning experiences at CCA was shortly after filling in for Mrs. Favini during her maternity leave.  Having most of my classroom teaching experience in high schools, I had a LOT to learn about keeping pre-school through 3rd grade kids engaged and somewhat orderly. The classroom teachers whose rooms I visited were very gracious to me!

What’s your favorite thing about working at Covenant?I love getting to know each of my students throughout the year, as well as learning from my colleagues.

Can you share a Bible verse or passage that has had a significant impact on your life or career? 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Hiking with friends and family, visiting with friends and neighbors, digging in the garden, watching Nate Bargatze stand-up, and sledding.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? I’d visit the Dales of England. The footage I see on BBC’s All Creatures Great and Small makes me wish I lived there when school was out for the summer. 

Describe one way you see God’s hand in Covenant’s mission or work. I see God’s hand at work in my students, their families, and the teachers I work with any time someone reflects the gospel. Seeing Christ through others reflects His work. 

What’s your favorite food? Italian

Who on the team inspires you the most, and why? (Just one?!) Rita Detweiler: she’s one of the most humble work horses I’ve ever met. And even though her to-do list is a mile long, she’s willing to stop in her tracks, drop what she’s doing, and help.  And let’s not forget the mittens. 

What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know? One year, I had the privilege of teaching 3 Sudanese students known as the “Lost Boys”. I learned a lot that year.

What’s your favorite CCA tradition or event? It’s hard to choose just one, but the Night of Fire comes to mind first.  Outdoor music played by a student-led band, under the night sky, surrounded by people chatting and laughing is pretty tough to beat.

What’s your favorite book, movie, or hobby? To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. 

How do you find balance between your faith, family, and work commitments? That’s a work in progress for me, but I think it’s helpful to ask if what I’m doing, at any given moment, is looking to please God or man. I think He cares about priorities, not perfection.