Welcome to the 2026-27 School Year!
Dear Spartan Families,
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! Whether your family has been part of Calvary Christian School for many years or you are joining us for the first time, we are grateful that God has brought you into our school community. A new school year always brings excitement; new teachers, new friendships, new opportunities, and new ways for our students to grow. With that being said, our mission goes far beyond preparing students academically. We desire to help students know God, understand His truth and character, develop a biblical worldview, and become equipped to serve Him faithfully wherever He leads them.
This year brings several exciting additions to our school. We are launching a new entrepreneurship course that will encourage students to think creatively, solve problems, and develop the skills needed to turn ideas into meaningful action. We are also adding a new missions course designed to help students better understand God’s heart for the nations and consider how they can participate in the Great Commission. Students will also benefit from our new computer lab, which will provide additional opportunities to strengthen skills and support learning across multiple subject areas. This fall, we will also install a new flagpole area in front of the school which will include a beautiful walking path that will enhance our campus while providing another visible reminder of our gratitude for the freedoms God has given us.
We are also excited to welcome our Urbana families that will be joining us through our newest bus route that will meet at Life Net Christian Fellowship in Urbana. Our daily Urbana route extends access to Calvary families and becomes our second in-house route, joining the Marysville route which launched last year.
Another important focus this year will be completing our ACSI accreditation process. The ACSI accreditation team will visit Calvary next spring, marking the culmination of an intensive, multi-year process of self-evaluation, documentation, reflection, and improvement. Accreditation is about much more than earning a designation. It requires our entire team to examine every area of our school; from academics and spiritual formation to governance, student services, safety, and organizational effectiveness. The process helps us identify what we are doing well, recognize areas where we can grow, and establish clear plans for continued improvement. It is demanding work, but it ultimately makes us a stronger school and improves the experience we provide for our students and families. We are also excited to begin our first year as a Colson Fellows Academic Affiliate. We are one of only 30 Christian schools in America that have launched a Colson Fellows Academic Affiliate! Our inaugural class includes 15 dedicated staff and school parents who have committed themselves to significant spiritual formation, biblical worldview development, and personal growth. This investment will strengthen not only those involved but also the students, families, and colleagues they influence. We believe that spiritually healthy and biblically grounded adults are essential to forming spiritually healthy and biblically grounded students.
Over the past year, I have also been blessed with the opportunity to coach and support Christian schools across the country through the Herzog Institute. While I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the work of other schools, one of the greatest benefits has been what I have been able to bring home to CCS. This work has allowed us to build relationships, exchange ideas, and learn alongside some of the strongest Christian schools and leaders in the country. Those experiences challenge us to keep growing while also helping us recognize just how special the CCS community truly is. It can be easy to assume that what we experience at Calvary is normal. The reality is that a school community marked by dedicated teachers, a healthy staff culture, strong enrollment, supportive families, spiritual unity, and a shared commitment to the mission is more the exception than the rule. What God has built here is a tremendous blessing. That does not mean we are perfect or that our work is finished, but it does mean we should be grateful for the flourishing community God has entrusted to us.
We do not take that blessing, or the responsibility that accompanies it, for granted. Christian education is most effective when the home, church, and school work together. Thank you for trusting us to partner with you in the education and spiritual formation of your children. As we begin this year, my prayer is that our students will grow in wisdom, character, courage, and faith. I pray that every lesson, relationship, challenge, and success will help point them toward Christ and prepare them for the purposes God has for their lives.
Thank you for being part of the Calvary Christian family. We are excited to see what God will do in and through our students, families, and staff this year.
Welcome back!
1 Tim 4.12
Ryan Hyde
Head of School
The Frontline: A Call to Calvary Dads
Scripture is clear, God has called fathers and guardians to be the first defenders of truth in their homes. The words of Deuteronomy 6: 6-7 remind us of this weighty responsibility:
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
Likewise, Proverbs 22:6 gives us both direction and encouragement:
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
These verses tell us what it means to lead our families spiritually. But here’s the question: How are we doing in living them out?
Why Fathers Matter on the Frontline
When it comes to the spiritual development of our children, the home is obviously the key ingredient. Research and experience alike tell us that the hours children spend in different environments shape who they are becoming. Consider this stat on waking hours from birth until age 18…
- Hours at church: 2,500
- Hours at school: 17,000
- Hours at home: 84,620
The message is clear — home is the frontline. Fathers and guardians are called to lead, to disciple, and to defend truth in their homes every single day.
Yet, it can be hard to pass on or defend what we don’t fully understand ourselves. That’s why we’re launching a new group called The Frontline, a place for CCS dads and guardians to grow in faith, strengthen their understanding, and step boldly into spiritual leadership.
What is The Frontline?
The Frontline is not a group for experts or professional apologists (though they’re welcome too). It’s a community of ordinary CCS dads who want to be intentional about raising kids who love and follow Jesus.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Led by: Ryan Hyde, CCS Head of School
- Meeting Dates (2025-26): November 18, January 20, February 17, and March 17
- Time & Place: 7:00–8:00 PM @ Calvary
- Commitment: You don’t have to attend every session, but we encourage you to prioritize them.
- Reading: We’ll be working through Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. (Free on library apps like Libby and Hoopla, or available for purchase on Amazon.)
- Format: Each meeting will include guided discussion, prayer, and practical encouragement. We’ll share what’s working in our homes, celebrate victories, and learn from one another.
Why Join?
Our goal isn’t only to learn from C.S. Lewis, but also from one another. Together we will:
- Strengthen our faith.
- Grow in confidence to defend truth.
- Build routines that help shape our children’s walk with Christ.
- Encourage one another in the unique challenges of fatherhood.
This is about taking our place on the frontline of our children’s spiritual formation. The church and the school play important roles, but God has entrusted the greatest influence to the home. Let’s rise to the challenge, together. Fathers/Guardians can register in the school app by clicking the tile “Spiritual Formation>The Frontline". Sign up before 11/15!
Pause and See the Growth: A Challenge to Every Parent
As the school year draws to a close, it's easy to get swept up in the whirlwind of final tests, field days, and end-of-year ceremonies. But in the midst of the chaos, we want to offer you a simple but meaningful challenge: take time to notice how your child has grown this year… and tell them!
From the first day of school last August to now, your child has changed. Not just in shoe size or reading level, but in heart, character, and resilience. These changes are worth discussing and celebrating!
We encourage every parent in the Calvary Christian School family to set aside intentional time this week to have a one-on-one conversation with your child about the growth you've seen in them. If you aren't sure where to start on an intentional conversation like that, you can use the prompts below to help:
- Academic Growth - Have they taken more ownership of their learning? Improved in a difficult subject? Learned how to ask better questions or manage their time more effectively?
- Spiritual Maturity – Have they shown a deeper understanding of God’s Word? Asked hard questions? Made a decision to live more obediently or love more sacrificially?
- Character Development - Have you seen new levels of responsibility, kindness, perseverance, or humility? Have they handled a tough situation better than they might have a year ago?
- Relational Strengths - Have they become a better friend, peacemaker, or teammate? Have they navigated conflict in a more Christlike way?
- Resilience and Grit - Have they pushed through something hard without giving up? Faced failure and gotten back up? Trusted God when it wasn’t easy?
As parents, it’s tempting to always look ahead; what’s next, what’s not yet done, what still needs work. But the gospel reminds us to be people who give thanks, who mark the moments of God’s faithfulness. Your child is not the same person they were nine months ago and that’s a testimony of God's sanctifying work in them.
“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 1:6
Why It Matters
When you name the good you see in your child, you’re not just building their confidence, you’re reminding them that their growth matters more than grades or achievements. You’re showing them what it means to “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
And as you speak these truths over your child, you model the love of our Heavenly Father, who delights in our growth and rejoices over every step we take toward maturity in Christ.
How can I start that conversation?
If you’re not sure how to take that first step, here’s a conversation starter!
“I’ve been thinking about how much you’ve grown since school started in August. Can I share a few things I’ve noticed and appreciated about you this year?” Bring a journal. Grab ice cream. Take a walk. Let it be natural, but make it meaningful.
It’s a joy to play a role in our students' growth, and we’re thankful God has called us to this work, and we’re grateful for parents like you!
So pause. Look back. And thank God for the good work He’s doing. We have much to be thankful for!
Hope & A Future
Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
The Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) recently released a new report called the "2025 Hope and A Future" report. This report (authored by Brad Wilcox, Professor of Sociology and Director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia) examines the current state of the American dream, particularly in Ohio. It’s an interesting read and one we wanted to share with you all (link below). The report reveals the negative effects the collapse of the family unit and a decline in marriage have had in Ohio and across America. There’s also an interesting “Family Structure Index” which gives a ranking to all 50 states according to the health of their family culture.
A summary of Wilcox’s report is that he highlights a decline in belief in the American dream, with only one in three U.S. adults feeling it still holds true, (a decrease from half in 2012). This decline is attributed not only to economic factors but also to the deteriorating state of the American family.
In Ohio, the report notes significant challenges: the state ranks third in deaths of despair (suicide, drug overdoses, alcohol poisoning), 15th in child poverty with 17% of children living below the poverty line, and falls in the bottom quintile for hope. Additionally, Ohio stands 29th on the Family Structure Index, which assesses marriage rates, family stability, and fertility.
The report emphasizes the strong correlation between family stability and positive outcomes in education, poverty reduction, child well-being, public safety, and economic mobility. It also raises concerns about declining fertility rates and their potential impact on Ohio's demographic future.
To address these issues, the report suggests a series of public policies and civic measures aimed at strengthening marriage and family life across Ohio. These recommendations are directed towards the legislature, businesses, churches, and families, with the goal of ensuring that every Ohioan has the opportunity to achieve a "better, richer, and happier life" as envisioned in the American dream.
This is another interesting data set which reinforces something we already know…the family unit is very important! While it’s not a surprise to see data supporting the fact that a life aligned with God’s word is good (and leads to more desirable outcomes!), it’s a stark reminder of the consequences of a life that isn’t. Our mission here is to support that key role our families have, so we want to leave you with some practical steps to keep leading intentionally in your home!
1. Family Devotions: Set aside time each day to read Scripture together, discuss its meaning, and pray as a family. This could be a morning ritual, during dinner, or before bedtime. Our staff have added monthly devotional plans your family can use in the Calvary app if you aren’t sure where to start. You’ll be able to find annual plans and monthly devotional plans that we recommend.
2. Model Prayer: Pray regularly with your children! Not just in times of need, but in moments of gratitude and joy. Let them hear you pray for them, their futures, and God’s guidance in their lives.
3. Intentional Conversations: Use everyday moments to point back to God’s truth. Whether it’s discussing a challenge at school or talking about current events, lead the conversation towards a biblical perspective.
4. Church Involvement: Regular church attendance as a family is crucial. Show your children the importance of being part of a community of believers and serve together in your church. From time to time, we’ll hear frustrations about church, which may include serving with challenging people, disagreements over a church policy, or differences in preferred style of worship. The main point here is that the church has been established by God as His way for us to be connected and further our walk with Him. It’s simply our job to be obedient to scripture!
5. Personal Growth: The most powerful way to disciple your children is to live out your own faith authentically. Children will see this!
View the CCV “Hope & A Future” report here → Family Structure Index | CCV