Big Renovations at Cape Charles Christian School
Former Presbyterian Church sanctuary will become a multi-use event space for everything from conferences to weddings.
By TAMMY HOLLOWAY
Cape Charles Christian School
August 25, 2014
Cape Charles Christian School is beginning its sixth year with exciting physical, educational, and administrative changes. “If you have driven by the corner of Tazewell and Strawberry lately you have seen a lot of action taking place both inside and out,” said Gwen Coghill, CCCS Board member. From the outside additional parking sets the stage in the front of the school but the exciting part occurs when you open the doors of the sanctuary of the former Presbyterian Church of Cape Charles, built in 1925.
The renovation will bring new life to the former sanctuary while maintaining and respecting its historical bones. The space is being transformed into a multi-use event space that will serve as the school’s fellowship hall as well as host anything from wedding ceremonies to meetings and conferences. An exciting component to this project is the unveiling of the magnificent stained glass windows that have been shielded by a protective plexiglass for years. The school will launch a fundraising campaign this fall providing donors with a chance to dedicate a window in honor or memory of someone significant to them. “Take a drive by one evening and you too will witness this glorious site,” says CCCS Board Chair John Burdiss.
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The school is growing, and the talented and accredited teachers are enhancing the curriculum. The new headmaster is Holly Hubbard, born and raised on the shore, and who has been with the school since its inception. She notes that “It continues to be a privilege to be a part of such an incredibly talented and committed team of teachers, staff, families, and board of directors working together to create a school that allows us to focus on educating academically, physically, and spiritually.”
One of Hubbard’s goals is to guide the school through the accreditation process. But she also plans to continue to be hands-on in the classroom, coaching children in projects like Odyssey of the Mind, where a team of middle school students went to the state championships last spring. “Holly brings a wealth of teaching and administrative experience to CCCS and she’s been instrumental in seeing the school grow from an idea, to a vibrant institution in our community,” noted Chairman Burdiss.
Contact Cape Charles Christian School at 757-331-1717 or [email protected].
With school ready to start, I have to say it is a little bit sad not have any of my children going back to CCCS. My son and daughter were part of the first class at the Christian school, when it was housed by the generous folks at Trinity Methodist and Cape Charles Baptist. From its very beginnings, the school embodied the very best of our community, and I can’t tell you what a joy it was to once again see gaggles of kids traipsing through Cape Charles.
Now that my son Joey has moved on to Broadwater (he really wanted to play varsity sports), I am personally going to miss those mornings, watching him strap on his backpack, hop on his scooter, and go off to school in the same town where he grew up. He loves playing sports at BA, but I know he also misses the Christian school too.
I am so grateful for everything that CCCS did for our kids, the values they taught, and the sense of community that they have built; it has been a fruitful partnership with the citizens of Cape Charles, our Library and staff, and especially Arts Enter, which has been so gracious and helpful with classes, instruction and use of facilities.
Kate Tayloe, Valerie Travis, Dawn Lewis, Carrie Cabello, and Leslie Savage provided the best lower school experience one could wish for. Andrea Davis is no longer there, but she was also instrumental in laying the intellectual foundation for success. Thanks to Ms. Tayloe for showing my kids that, yes, reading can actually be fun. Holly Hubbard brought so much talent and passion to our upper school, teaching the required disciplines needed to excel in not just the upper school, but all through the educational experience.
There will also be a special place in our hearts for Christine Tankard who taught Joey math and science. I don’t know how many times I have heard him lament, “I wish Ms. Tankard was here to help me.” I would tell him to just remember what she showed him and he would be fine. Joey has always struggled with math, yet Ms. Tankard was always so patient with him. Not worried about the grade, she was always more concerned that he truly understood the concepts. In short, thanks to Ms. Tankard, he recently scored in 90th percentile in math when taking the standardized tests.
Not to forget Jenn Philpot who is a very special chapel director, as well as the folks who serve on the board, and who also deserve so much credit for CCCS’s success (special thanks to Celia Burge, John Burdiss, Kate Brown and of course, Berkley Rayfield).
It is so exciting to see the school continue to grow and prosper, and to keep making meaningful change in our community. My wife and I, although we don’t have children enrolled there, will always be there in spirit. Best of luck in the new school year!