After years of competition in Class 1A and 2A levels, CCES Athletics has now entered Class 3A for the 2024–2025 season. Last year, the South Carolina High School League updated classification placements of all schools, basing its reclassification on school enrollment count, district additions, and the 3.0 multiplier. This formula, which counts every student from outside his or her league-assigned attendance zone as three, originally reassigned CCES to 4A, making us the only school to jump three classifications. Due to this being such a drastic jump, CCES appealed the reclassification and proposed a move to 3A, an appeal that the South Carolina High School League’s executive committee unanimously approved. 

While the move has its unknowns, there is, ultimately, an exciting energy buzzing around campus. “Our program is approaching it more as an opportunity than a challenge,” said Molly Miller, Director of Athletics. “Although there will be new competition and new schools, our approach and high standards as an overall athletic program haven't changed, we’re going to continue to operate under the standard of excellence we’ve established.” While meeting with other 3A Athletic Directors, she noted that everyone has been very welcoming and excited for CCES Athletics to be joining this region and class. 

Some sports, like lacrosse and swimming, who already play in larger classifications won’t feel the impact as much as others. However, football, volleyball, cross country, basketball, and baseball will see greater changes. Head Football Coach, Quin Hatfield, explained that his coaching staff and team are embracing this change and the unknowns that come with it. He sees the main challenge as the roster size differential between teams; where the Cavaliers dress 28 guys, other teams may dress up to 60 on gameday. To counteract this challenge, Coach Hatfield is putting more emphasis on building depth and being more intentional with getting guys more reps so they're better prepared. Overall, he stated that “the team is really excited for the opportunity to play in bigger stadiums and in front of bigger crowds, with different and stronger opponents.”

In addition to football, our cross country teams will also see adjustments this fall season. "Class 3A will be very competitive for boys' cross country, but Class A was competitive as well," said Charlie Woodward, Boys Cross Country Head Coach. He explained that “while there may be some minor adjustments to race planning based on what we learn about our competition during the season, the broader plan won't be different than usual.” He is excited about his team's upcoming races against new competitors and anticipates that athletes and teams in larger classifications will receive more attention.

While the transition to Class 3A certainly brings new challenges, our athletes and coaches are excited to face new competitors and showcase their abilities on a larger stage. While each team may make minor adjustments, the CCES Athletics program’s commitment to excellence remains unchanged. Here's to a successful and dynamic year ahead in Class 3A.

CCES is pleased to announce that six seniors have qualified as National Merit Semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Competition. Congratulations to Andrew Cai, Sierra Kremenliev, Natalia Lopez, Olivia Lu, Eliza Roy and Mitchell Wolken. These Semifinalists will now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,800 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring. 

Last October, high school juniors Nationwide entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Competition by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as the initial screening of program entrants. The 16,000 Semifinalists represent less than one percent of the U.S. high school seniors and include the highest scoring entrants in each state. To become a Finalist and to be considered for National Merit Scholarships, a student must present an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student's earlier performance on the qualifying PSAT.    

When you think about what the college process entails—crafting application essays, financial aid concerns, waiting to hear if you were admitted to your “dream” school—these potentially stressful situations don’t exactly put a smile on your face. However, you can still find room for joy this fall by following these easy and efficient tips.

Say Thank You. We’ve all heard that expressing gratitude can improve our lives. Specifically, saying “thank you” in a handwritten note (sure, an email or a text is fine too) to someone who has positively impacted you is one of the easiest and most effective happiness hacks. Thank your parents for taking you on a college tour, your teacher for writing your recommendation letter, or your friend for listening to you when you started to spiral about the “what ifs” ahead. If this isn’t a regular practice, it might feel a bit awkward. Blame it on a classroom assignment and send the note anyway! Studies show that this experience improves your happiness immediately, and the positive effects last well beyond the few minutes it takes to write and deliver a note—up to six weeks of increased happiness!

Find the Joy. If you happen to be scrolling through social media instead of studying (shhh… I won’t tell anyone), check out the #romanticizeyourlife posts. It is possible to make seemingly mundane activities feel a little bit special! Need to work on your college essay? Find a cozy spot in the house, light a candle, and turn on some instrumental music. Time for a college budget talk with your parents? Plan to chat over donuts on a Saturday morning to add some sweetness to the stress. Contemplating the pros and cons of colleges on your list? Take a walk around the neighborhood and record a voice note on your phone as you ponder out loud.

Shock the Senses. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you might start to feel overwhelmed by your to-do list or by the uncertainty of the months ahead. When you find yourself unable to focus or gain perspective, it’s time to take a break. The quickest way to reset your stress is to find something that changes your sensory perception. Step outside for a few minutes and savor the difference in temperature, the change in sounds, or the transition to natural light. Find your pet and give them a (forced?) cuddle. Head to the kitchen to make your favorite snack, and take the time to actually enjoy it without attempting to multitask. If you feel like you need something a bit more extreme, take a moment and cool off—literally. Stand in front of the open refrigerator to feel the cold air on your face or dunk your face in ice water. As your body adjusts to the dip in temperature, your mind resets from your worries.

Like most things in life, the college application process is a season, and it too shall pass. However the best part of these happiness hacks is that they don’t expire when this process is over. Find which tips work for you and bring this knowledge to your new college home. By cultivating these habits now, you'll be better equipped to handle the challenges and joys that lie ahead in your college journey and beyond. Embrace the process, and remember that your well-being is just as important as the outcome.

It was our joy to welcome the Right Reverend Daniel Richards to be with us all day on Thursday, September 5. Bishop Richards, the ninth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina, preached at all four chapel services and asked God’s blessing on all the Cavaliers. In his homilies, in addition to talking with us about what a crosier is (a shepherd’s staff), and what a miter is (a bishop’s hat, which is shaped like a rising flame, representing the presence of the Spirit), the Bishop invited us to consider that Jesus did not wear a t-shirt identifying himself as the Son of God. The Bishop then asked us to think about how people knew who he was. In turn, in the same way, the Bishop invited us to consider how we show people who we are. How do we walk into a room? What is the energy we bring? How do we help this world be just a little bit more the way God wants the world to be? Meanwhile we, of course, get to answer that question every day, and many times a day. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Bishop Richards grew up in Mississippi, moved west to Arizona, and has since live in California, Michigan, and elsewhere. When he was elected bishop, it was then, in a sense, a return to the South for Bishop Richards.

The Bishop and his wife Amy have two young-adult daughters and a son who is a student at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia.

This was the first of what will now be annual visits with us by Bishop Richards. We already look forward to his return!

Family. Family is a word we are lucky to use at Christ Church to describe the relationships our students have with one another. But what does this mean? As freshmen, in the class of 2028, we have four years to achieve this goal of making close relationships with one another. As we begin to grow and change together, it is important to realize how valuable connections are. So, what better way to start this than with a retreat as a grade with whitewater rafting, a break from our phones, and time to have good conversations with both close friends and those who we don’t know as well?

On Monday, August 26th around 8:30 am, I arrived at the chapel with my bags packed for Lake Logan and Nantahala Outdoors Center. Walking in the chapel doors, I could hear and feel all the energy from my peers and our chaperones. Once everyone had arrived, we had a brief discussion about the trip and were reminded that the purpose was not only to have fun but also to branch out and make new connections.

Finally, Mrs. Bouldin dismissed us to our charter buses and we began loading our bags. The bus ride lasted around two hours and thirty minutes. Most of us spent this time talking with friends, listening to music, and even resting before our action-packed day. When we arrived at Nantahala Outdoors Center, where we would be whitewater rafting, we had a quick lunch and then headed to get trained and geared up for the experience. Once we had our helmets, lifejackets, and oars; we got on a large blue bus and rode up to the starting point. The trip down the river consisted of laughter, plunging into cold water during calm points, and the adrenaline-seeking 15ft set of rapids at the very end of the ride. Once our adventure came to an end, we thanked our guides and changed back into clothes for our drive to Lake Logan Episcopal Center.

When we arrived, my friends and I grabbed our bags and started a small trek up a hill to our cabins. Once both boys and girls were settled, we enjoyed chicken alfredo and headed outside to a beautiful field with the mountains surrounding it. Following a modified Chapel service outdoors, we were treated to smores and some free time to enjoy the activities offered. After a night of needed rest, we woke up and had breakfast, did some bonding activities, played tetherball, card games, and were able to canoe and swim in the lake.

Before we left Lake Logan, we gathered in a small chapel. Mr. Clark and Mrs. Bouldin had a quick discussion with the grade about the retreat and gave us time to reflect. Prior to the trip, Mr. Clark mentioned how valuable the times in between the big events were going to be, and he was right. The times when I was most deeply connecting with my peers were the times when there wasn’t a planned activity happening. The little things were the ones that mattered the most. Then, our class of 2028 president, Nehemiah Lomax came up to the front of the room. He said, “I love each and every one of you so much, and can tell this is going to be a great four years.” This statement is a good example of what it means to be a family, and there could not have been a better way to end the trip. After this experience, I think that if we continue to love each other, realize that we are in many ways more alike than we are different, and become more open to growing together, we can reach that goal and become something incredibly valuable.

The Honor Chapel at CCES is an annual tradition that sets the tone for the school year and helps build a foundation for a life that exemplifies integrity and honesty. Thursday, August 29th, all Middle and Upper School students and faculty signed the CCES Honor Code, which states:

“As a member of the Christ Church Episcopal School community, I will not lie, cheat, or steal, and I will assume my obligation to encourage others to uphold this Honor Code.”

The Honor Code is an integral part of education at CCES, setting the rules and principles that guide all interactions at school. In signing the Honor Code, students are pledging to act in a manner that is trustworthy and honorable – a promise to both themselves as well as their peers, teachers, and friends. Any violations of the Honor Code are taken seriously and can result in various sanctions.

Skylyr Yearby ’25, Chair of the Honor Council, delivered the homily, saying “The honor code principles follow us outside these school walls, they are standards we should be upholding wherever we go.”

“It's easy to be tempted or procrastinate on your work, but true honor lies in overcoming these obstacles. By approaching not just our schoolwork, but our everyday lives with integrity, determination, and commitment, we not only achieve academic success but also develop the necessary qualities that make us successful. I hope you leave here today with a renewed sense of value, for not only our honor code, but for yourself and the excellence inside of you.”

This year’s Honor Council members are Elliott Jeray ’25, John Walter Whisenhunt ’25, Eliza Roy ’25, Samuel Levy ’26, Dodson Kramer ’26, Margaret Swent ’27, and Ben Brownlee ’28.

The Honor Council faculty advisors are Marion Nelson (US English Instructor), Elizabeth Jarrett (Director of Service and Experiential Learning), Sean Vick (US Science and Math Instructor), Charlie Woodward (US History Instructor), and Sina Shuey (US Math Instructor).

Once the Honor Council was commissioned, Senior Chaplain, Father Wallace Adams-Riley, then charged the Student Council to serve as the liaison between the student body and the administration and faculty. These student leaders enhance student life by planning a diverse selection of activities such as Homecoming and school dances as well as organizing service opportunities.

This year’s Student Council members are Tucker Hendrix ’25, Hutch Lyman ’25, Ava Pitts ’25, Jake Iskandar ’25, Carson Bowers ’25, Raushan Graywal ’25, Andrew Cai ’25, Addy Claire Jones ’25, Gibson McDonald ’25, Bo Lowrance ’26, Powers McKissick ’26, Molly Reed ’26, James Bowie ’26, Katy Cox ’26, Amelia Koch ’26, Bates Mann ’26, Chap Montgomery ’27, Kamryn Ladson ’27, Grace Harrell ’27, Kendall Foster ’27, Dewey Henderson ’27, Jeremiah Knuckles ’27, Sophia Mahfood ’27, Nehemiah Lomax ’28, Josh Butler ’28, Jack Koch ’28, Hill Glenn ’28, Mary Eleanor Gouch ’28, Joshua Ricca ’28, and SJ Teague ’28.

The Student Council faculty advisors are Hagen Carmichael (Achievement Center Learning Specialist), Matt Jacobssen (US English Instructor), and Amy Lysek (US Science Instructor).

Many thanks to all of our students and faculty members who help to create a strong school community by pledging to choose the “harder right over the easier wrong”.    

There are a lot of reasons for excitement as another school year begins – being reunited with friends and teachers, new classes, and campus buzzing with activity after school each day. A new school year can also bring a variety of both expected and unexpected challenges and stressors for students to manage. At Christ Church Episcopal School, all of the administration, faculty, teachers, and coaches assist students in walking through these experiences and finding ways to grow.

This important part of the CCES experience is led by the calm and grounded Gena Adams-Riley (parent of CCES alumnus, Nelson ’24, Upper School student, Fin ’28, and wife to Senior Chaplain, Father Wallace). Gena works tirelessly to provide students and faculty with tools to increase stress resilience and emotional intelligence. Her work empowers students and everyone on campus to approach any situation with intention and compassion, enabling them to be kinder to themselves and those around them.

A primary goal of the work Gena (aka Mrs. G) does with students is to increase self-awareness and belonging, and she does this in a number of ways, while adjusting to make things age appropriate for each division. In the Lower School, she focuses on strengthening students' “attention-muscle and kindness-muscle” – through movement and stillness, paying attention to the body and the breath. With Middle School students, her work is integrated through PE and advisory, with a focus on the still quiet place inside each Middle School student accessing their built-in self-awareness, self-regulation, self-compassion, and belonging. In the Upper School, Gena works with students to enhance performance in academics, athletics, and the arts through stress resilience as they manage academic pressure, the college admission process, performance on the field and the stage, and the social landscape.

In addition to her dedication to students, Gena serves the faculty and staff through the Mindful Teacher Program. She launched the fourth year of this yearlong program in August, which includes developing a regular, on-going mindfulness practice, one-to-one time with Gena, and three different daylong mindfulness retreats throughout the year.

Gena says, “Teaching teachers to access their own still quiet space grows their emotional intelligence.” She notes that teachers who are able to hold their own feelings and experiences are better equipped to walk alongside students through their worries and anxieties, feelings and experiences. As a result, her work with students and faculty is complimentary – growth in each benefits the other.

Paulette Unger, Upper School Science Teacher, joined the Mindful Teacher Program in 2022 and has continued one-to-one with Gena ever since. She says it has been a truly transformative experience. “The days are busy,” she says. “But with just ten mindful breaths, I am able to respond to my physical and emotional needs as well as the needs of others with more loving kindness.” Not only has she seen the impact of practicing mindfulness for herself but also in her students. “Mindful moments in the classroom reduce anxiety in students before taking a test,” she says. “It’s a true gift that I’ve brought into my classroom.”

Not only does Gena reach every grade level and division, she also loves working with CCES athletes. Our student-athletes welcome mindfulness and the on-the-spot tools that help them deal with the specific athletic stressors that come from performing at a high level, which, as they discover on their own, totally transfer to the classroom. Coaches also meet with her one-to-one to help not only their athletes, but also themselves in staying grounded, self-aware, and emotionally skillful on the sidelines.

Quin Hatfield, Head Football Coach and Assistant Director of Athletics, says regularly meeting with Gena over the last four years has helped him create an overall rhythm in life as a husband, father, and coach. “If something happens at practice, I do a better job of being more thoughtful before taking action and maintain a higher level of engagement with the team and individual players,” he says. Not only has he seen the impact of mindfulness practices in his own life, but in the lives of his players as well. He says that mindfulness practices, like stillness and visualization, “settles and resets the guys, helping them channel their nervous energy into preparedness for games.”

No matter who her students may be or what skills she might teach, the goal for Gena is the same – to help individuals build “muscles” for kindness and resilience. “Kindness towards others, something we greatly value here at CCES, is dependent on the kindness you have for yourself,” she says. In becoming more self-aware and growing our emotional intelligence, we go out into the world and live out our beloved CCES charge, “be swift to love and make haste to be kind.”

On August 19th, CCES students and faculty filled McCall Field House for Convocation. This annual ceremony kicks off the new school year, celebrates the Cavalier community, and reflects on the values and traditions that make it so special.

Dr. Angela Allen, Associate Head of School, opened Convocation with a warm welcome back to all students and faculty. She then challenged all in the Cavalier community to be curious and continue to ask beautiful questions of themselves throughout the year. “These kinds of questions might not have easy answers,” she said. “Such as ‘who do I aspire to be’ this year?’” Sisters, Preetibah ’31 and Preetiggah Sudhakar ’29, opened with prayer followed by The Star Spangled Banner, performed by the Blue Belles. The first grade class, guided by Pierce Misenheimer ’36 and Charlotte Simpson ’36, led the entire student body in the Pledge of Allegiance.

In his remarks, Head of School, David Padilla, expanded on the Forward Focused strategic plan which was introduced last year. He noted that “as a community, our spiritual roots demand that every member is seen, heard, and valued so that we can prepare balanced and well-rounded humans to thrive in a global world.” Lastly, Mr. Padilla encouraged the student body to “remain dedicated to another year of growing in kindness, knowledge, and wisdom.”

Following Mr. Padilla, the Faculty Staff Choir performed “For the Beauty of the Earth” and afterwards the Varsity and JV Cavalier Cheerleaders brought more school spirit with a routine of cheers, flips, dances, and stunts!

Student Body President, Tucker Hendrix ’25, shared how his experience serving in rural communities of the Dominican Republic this summer impacted his everyday perspective, teaching him that “being grateful for where we are in life lets us better appreciate one another.” He also challenged students to honor the memory of their beloved friend and classmate, Ace Pohl, who tragically passed away on April 21st, 2023. "I think we should all try and live like Ace," he remarked, "because Ace was a friend to all and just loved everyone." Hendrix ended his speech by quoting Psalm 139:14 and encouraging students to "have gratitude for our God, for this school, and for one another."

The Blue Belles closed Convocation with a performance of the CCES Alma Mater, followed by a blessing from Father Wallace Adams-Riley, Senior Chaplain. As students and faculty kick off this new school year, may we all “be swift to love and make haste to be kind.”

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