As we prepare for the Christmas holiday, I stand amazed at all that has taken place over the first semester at Jupiter Christian School.  From the first day of school when students "walked the red carpet" welcomed by our Cheerleaders, we have been blessed with an outstanding first half of the school year and the energy on campus is contagious.  With a current enrollment of 688, we have student numbers not seen at JCS since 1998.  So much more than just numbers, these are families unified in our mission who desire to partner with Jupiter Christian School in Christian education for their children.  Our talented team of 21st Century educators and staff continue to work collaboratively to provide excellence in all we do at JCS.  As a community, we recognize that all of these blessings come from our God who we celebrate this advent season as Emmanuel, God with us!  This President's Newsletter provides a quick look at the exciting events of the first semester.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors, faculty, staff, and administration at Jupiter Christian School, Merry Christmas!

On November 11, the Jupiter Christian School community gathered for a star studded night at the 2017 Hollywood Gala & Auction.  This outstanding evening was the culmination of countless hours of work by the auction committee chair Amanda Baughman and fellow committee members Maria Galluzzo, Jenn Freites, Stephanie Marburger, Deborah Tylke, and Candi Kutsukos.  The Gala Auction, held at the Grand Wyndham Harbourside Place, provided an evening of fellowship for school parents and friends of JCS.  The event raised over $183,000, with approximately $25,000 allocated towards security updates on campus and the remaining net going to support instructional technology and capital projects.  The administration thanks the Gala Auction Sponsors and many volunteers who made the evening a night to remember!

I would like to specifically thank The Ram Group and the Baughman Family for the many ways they supported the Gala Auction.  The Ram Group provided our Gala Auction programs as well as the 2016-17 Annual Report for JCS.  Many of our live auction items were donated by the Ram Group/Baughman Family.  We are blessed to have The Ram Group as a partner as we educate students in a nurturing community to excel in life and engage the world.

Several of our Fall Sports Teams made impressive state play-off appearances.  The Varsity Volleyball team won historic District and Regional Championships!  Congratulations to Coach Skelton and the girl's volleyball team on a highly successful season.  Varsity Football also took District and Regional titles and finished in state semi-final competition.  Congratulations to Girls Varsity Cross County who were District Champions this season and to our Boys Varsity Cross Country who completed the season as District Runner-up.  Congratulations to Cross County runners for placing in Districts: Mia Taylor 1st, Kemper Reback 2nd Patrick Young 2nd, Noah Winters 4th.  The Varsity Swim sent all of their swimmers to the Regional Meet after impressive finishes at Districts.

This fall three student athletes signed letters of intent to play sports for their respective colleges:

• Rachel Bryan (St. Thomas) - Volleyball
  
• Emma Shaddix (Florida Southern) - Volleyball
• Bryan Wiyang Teoh – signed to receive a full scholarship to play golf at UCLA.
  

The 2017 ESE Christmas Classic was held December 2nd at Quail Creek Plantation.  Committee Chair Tom Pledger, Jr.  and committee members DeAnna Pledger, Brent and Michelle Hood, Jeannie VanBoven, Kristina Vazquez, Judie Gibson, Chelsea Gunn, and Darlaine Sisk coordinated a time of family fellowship and fun.  The Christmas Classic set a record for number of attendees with over 55 teams participating in the clay shoot.  The Christmas Classic raised over $70,000, with each net dollar raised going directly to support our Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program. 

The ESE Program provides services that support learning opportunities for all exceptional students. Specially designed instruction is delivered to provide support and differentiation to students that have learning differences as well as students who are gifted. Jupiter Christian School recognizes that each student learns differently, and offers programs that support and enrich students across the learning spectrum.  A special thanks to our title sponsor Cox and Company and all our other sponsors who supported the Christmas Classic.  Thanks to our JCS families and friends for joining us and supporting this important event!

Jupiter Christian School participated in the JTAA Christmas Parade on December 10, 2017.  Committee Chair Jennifer Spear and committee members Tamara Pilosi-Keith, Chelsea Gunn, Kim Nereau, and Darlaine Sisk provided the vision and leadership for our JCS Float, "12 Drummers Drumming."  JCS placed 2nd, Best Overall out of 97 entries, with over 60 parents and students marching with the float.  JCS remains committed to investing in our community and looks forward to continued community partnerships in the second semester.

A special thank you to Ray Spear for his carpentry work on the JCS Float. Also, thank you to Captain Tom Pledger Jr for contributing to the float build and cooking for our family picnic following the parade. Many of you may have noticed the new fence going up along Delaware Avenue, thank you to The Grassroots Corporation and the Spear Family for the installation of the fence.

This year's Upper School Christmas Program, "Christmas Through the Ages," was a wonderful showcase of the choral, instrumental, and theatrical talent of our Upper School students.  The Lower School Christmas Program, "Unspeakable Joy," showcased our talented Lower School students, choir, and band.  Both of these programs were held in the beautiful Eissey Theater. Our Fine Arts Academy,  led by Michelle Hoffman and faculty Susan Rush, Kayla Antolino, Claire Sites, and Krissie Schacht.  Well done! 

Our Preschool and Kindergarten students rounded out our Christmas performances with an outstanding program, "A Few of My Favorite Things," on Tuesday, December 19th.  The students sang their hearts out and parents enjoyed a time of fellowship in their classrooms following the performance.  Thank you to our Preschool and Kindergarten faculty team for their extra efforts to make this show a wonderful experience.

We are thankful for the Parent Teacher Partnership, who have supported the ministry of JCS in many significant ways this year.  The PTP has held several events in the first semester, including our Thankful breakfast, prayer meetings, our Principal's Honor Roll breakfast, used uniform sales, and so much more!  

This fall the PTP contributed significant funds to provide the furniture for the newly renovated Media Center.  I am personally deeply thankful for the support of our PTP board and volunteers who work tirelessly to see JCS reach excellence in our education and to provide opportunities for parents to build relationships.  Come out to the PTP Christmas Social tomorrow, Thursday, December 21, 2017 from 8:15-9:30 a.m. in the Media Center.

The first semester of the 2017-18 school year has included many other great events.  Our JCS Pep Band performed at our Homecoming Pep Rally. Our Fine Arts Academy performed at the Jupiter Tree Lighting ceremony at Harbourside Place and at The Gardens Mall.  Family Dinner Nights provided several opportunities to support JCS and build community.  This year several seniors are piloting the senior capstone, a rich experience which serves as the finishing piece of a student's intellectual, personal and spiritual journey  at Jupiter Christian School. It is an exciting opportunity for students to explore how one's desire to fulfill a certain purpose is both God-given and God-directed.  Growth, Accountability, and Prayer (GAP) small groups, weekly chapels including a student led worship team, and special guest speakers all foster the spiritual life on campus.  Our vibrant life in Christ is reflected in serving others with PROJECT SRV, mission trips, and students volunteering with our ministry partners.

This year JCS honored our veterans and those currently in military service with our 26th Annual Veterans Day Program! The day included performances by our JCS choirs and band as well as special keynote speaker Congressman Brian Mast. Congressman Mast was named the JCS Veteran of the Year and enjoyed time with fellow veterans following the program at our Veteran's Breakfast.

Jupiter Christian School has been teaching minds and reaching hearts for 54 years.  Thank you to so many JCS families and friends who have contributed to our Annual Giving Program this fall.  This year, the Board of Directors and Administration have worked diligently to develop an operating budget completely funded by tuition.  This means all gifts and donations to the Annual Giving Program go directly to strategic initiatives to move JCS forward.  It is not too late to make your year-end, tax deductible gift to the JCS Annual Fund. Your Annual Fund gift is an opportunity to invest in the students and the future of Jupiter Christian School.  May your family experience the Unspeakable Joy of Christmas this season!

Merry Christmas,

Dan Steinfield
President
Jupiter Christian School