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Choir students in blue dresses perform on stage with patriotic projection screen backdrop

Honoring Our Heroes: Veterans Day Celebration 2025

Today, our Christian Unified community gathered to honor the men and women who have bravely served our nation in the U.S. Armed Forces. Beginning with our tiniest TK students presenting gifts to the attending veterans, the morning was filled with gratitude and patriotism as students, staff, and families came together to recognize those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.

The celebration featured excellent performances from our CHS Patriot Marching Band, CHS Concert Choir, and Junior High Choir, and our keynote speaker, Ben Peterson, veteran and founder of Engage Your Destiny, challenged us all to live lives of service rooted in gratitude to God and country.

We took time to recognize our own CUSSD staff veterans, and Superintendent Bob Ruhlman reminded us in closing, “We are blessed to live in a country where we can worship freely and honor those who defend that freedom.” Today and every day, we say thank you to all who have served. Go Patriots—and God bless our heroes! 🇺🇸

Graphics slide with list of CUSSD staff veterans and Veterans Day Celebration 2025 logo
Program schedule slide showing keynote speaker Ben Peterson and featured musical performers
Kindergarten students hold handmade thank you cards decorated with red and blue handprints
Young students lined up together presenting thank you cards with patriotic hand designs
Student in red shirt holding thank you card with handprint and patriotic message
Elementary students in school uniform smiling while displaying thank you cards
Woman walking hand in hand with young students past audience seating area during celebration
Child reaching up to hand thank you card to seated veteran during gift presentation
Superintendent Bob Ruhlman holding thank you card with young student during greeting
Superintendent crouching to greet veteran and young student at audience seating
Man in dark blazer kneeling beside students showing off handmade thank you card
Veteran in military hat with young students holding patriotic thank you cards
CHS Patriot Marching Band members on stage in red and white uniforms with drums
Drummer in red band uniform striking bass drum during marching band performance
CHS Patriot Marching Band full ensemble in formation on stage playing instruments
Marching band trumpet players in red and white uniforms performing during program
Marching band members in full dress uniforms standing on stage with large bass drum
Choir singing patriotic selection with patriotic lyrics displayed on screen behind them
Audience members standing to listen to choir performance during program activities
Marching band performing instrumental arrangement with prominent drum in front view
Keynote speaker Ben Peterson addressing seated and standing audience from stage podium
CHS Concert Choir in blue robes singing on stage at Veterans Day Celebration event
Conductor directing CHS Concert Choir with animated hand gesture during performance
Choir members in blue robes singing patriotic song with confident stage presence
Violinist performing instrumental solo on stage with patriotic backdrop lighting
CHS Concert Choir in flowing blue robes during emotionally powerful musical performance
Conductor raising hand expressively leading choir through climactic patriotic selection
Speaker in dark suit addressing audience from wooden podium with patriotic backdrop
Keynote speaker in light blazer speaking from stage with choir members behind him
Audience members of all ages standing and listening intently to keynote speech
Woman in white blazer and red scarf speaking closing remarks from stage podium
Two adult men standing in audience watching speaker with expressions of pride
Large video screen on stage displaying Veterans Day Celebration banner and patriotic art
Keynote speaker positioned at wooden podium with patriotic graphics on screen behind
Audience members seated throughout auditorium watching performances together
Mixed group of students and families watching Veterans Day Celebration program
Teenage students seated in audience wearing Christian High School apparel
Designated seating section for veteran guests with family members enjoying celebration
Diverse audience of veterans, students, and family members attending program
Two teens in patriotic apparel standing to watch program from audience seating area
Young musician in blue band uniform playing trumpet as part of marching band
Student appearing on stage participating in or watching program performance
Male adults standing in audience seating area observing celebration activities
Veteran in reserved seating watching Veterans Day Celebration with pride
CHS Concert Choir in blue robes singing stirring patriotic musical arrangement
Veteran guests and female staff member seated in front rows together watching program
Marching band members across stage in red and white uniforms holding instruments
CHS Patriot Marching Band performing full musical composition during celebration
Woman in white jacket speaking from wooden podium during closing remarks segment
Band member in red uniform greeting and embracing staff member in celebratory moment
Student posing with male staff member for photo during post-program celebration
Audience member holding up printed program from Veterans Day Celebration 2025
Back

LIPSYNC 2025

Lipsync will be streamed on the evening of Friday, September 26.
Start time is based on a variety of factors.

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY MINIMUMS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

GradeTOEFL JrTOEFLiTEPDuolingo
6700NA3NA
7750NA3NA
8800503.380-85
985050-603.385-90
10NA60-703.590-95
11NA70+3.895+

research links & INformation

Web Research Links:

Grolier Online (includes Encyclopedia Americana)
User ID: christianhs
Password: patriot

EBSCO Host Research Databases – Full-text Periodical and Reference Articles Online
User ID: christianhs
Password: patriot2019!

SIRS Knowledge Source – Periodical articles online
User ID: CA3906
Password: PATRIOT

San Diego County Library Website
Enter library card number; enter last four digits or phone number for PIN or, for newer users, make your own PIN.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

SCHOOL-WIDE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

We expect our students to be:

Influential Christians who:

  • Accept the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior.
  • Apply Biblical principles as the foundation for moral and spiritual living.
  • Develop and maintain an informed Biblical worldview that shapes their lifestyle choices.
  • Demonstrate God’s love through acts of service and sharing the gospel.

Investigative Learners who:

  • Master a body of knowledge, vocabulary, and skills.
  • Understand, analyze, and order relationships among facts.
  • Assess their needs and apply appropriate strategies to learn concepts and skills.
  • Actively use the tools of learning throughout their lifetime.

Perceptive Thinkers who:

  • Identify, analyze, discriminate, prioritize, and apply information.
  • Have the ability to solve problems by thinking independently and logically.
  • Make responsible and well-reasoned decisions.
  • Actively seek and apply absolute truths.

Effective Communicators who:

  • Demonstrate the ability to accurately understand, interpret, and exchange information.
  • Communicate with eloquence, creativity, and persuasion in writing and in speech.
  • Develop and utilize artistic expression.
  • Proclaim and defend the gospel with wisdom, wit, and respect.

Quality Producers who:

  • Demonstrate a growing knowledge of curriculum.
  • Develop their God-given talents and abilities.
  • Display standards of excellence in all pursuits.
  • Work well with others toward a common goal.

Responsible Citizens who:

  • Respect and submit to authority.
  • Actively protect and promote freedom and democracy.
  • Enjoy God’s creation and live as good stewards within it.
  • Recognize and contribute to meeting the needs of others.    

School Governance

Christian Unified Schools of San Diego (CUSSD) is an outreach of and sponsored by Shadow Mountain Community Church (SMCC). The thirteen-member governing board of directors is composed of SMCC members who have been elected by its membership at the annual meeting. The school is a separate 501(c) 3 organization, which is supported and protected by the overarching policies of SMCC.

CORE VALUES

TEACHING STUDENTS TO ATTAIN THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IN GOD

Christian Education from the Word of God, subject to God’s sovereign and providential purpose, brings students to their full stature in Christ. Genesis 1:1, 26-28; Isaiah 54:13-17; Revelation 4:11

TEACHING STUDENTS SELF-GOVERNMENT UNDER GOD

Christian Education internalizes and applies Biblical principles for the government of home, school, and nation thereby framing the proper response of students to God. Romans 3:23; John 3:16; John 16:13 

TEACHING STUDENTS TO COMMIT THEMSELVES FULLY TO GOD

Christian Education challenges students spiritually, morally, socially, physically, and academically to consider how they govern themselves, their habits of work and scholarship, their insight and knowledge of God’s providence, and their character development in light of each student’s commitment of faith in Christ. Mark 12:30, 33 

TEACHING STUDENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS, FACULTY, AND THE LOCAL CHURCH

Christian Education is a cooperative effort between parents, faculty, and the local church to develop the spiritual, environmental, and intellectual culture necessary for sound learning. Parents authorize both school and church to inspire, cultivate, consecrate, and instruct their children. By necessity, every teacher who teaches from a Biblical philosophy of schooling must exemplify the excellent teaching gifts and qualities of character and scholarship worthy of a wholehearted commitment to Christ. All teachers must represent the spirit and discipline of their calling and embody the very goals they teach their students. Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Galatians 6:6; James 3:1. 

TEACHING STUDENTS TO THINK, LEARN, AND LIVE AS EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE

Christian Education enlightens the understanding, corrects the temperament, forms the habits and manners, and prepares students for useful service. From a Christian worldview of presuppositions consistent with absolute Biblical truth, students learn to discern right action and thinking from which they then exercise a proper role in their families, the Body of Christ, and as citizens of the United States of America. Romans 12:1-2; I Timothy 4:15.

STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

GENERAL PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

Because we believe God’s Word is the primary source of truth and meaning, Christian Unified Schools of San Diego (CUSSD) seeks to operate based on Biblical principles. From God’s Word, perspective from the past, context for the present, and direction for the future is established.

Christian Unified Schools of San Diego believes that Jesus Christ is the Truth (John 14:6) and in Him as revealed in God’s Word, lives can be sanctified (John 17:17) and set apart to glorify God (I Corinthians 6:20). In accordance with the Articles of Faith and Practice, CUSSD seeks to integrate faith with life and learning from a Biblical point of view by providing a coherent academic foundation within a consistent method of thinking, which includes the concepts that all people are:

  • Made in the image of God – physical and spiritual beings: creative, independent, thinking, and capable of having a relationship with God and others
  • Fallen and sinful
  • Redeemable – saved by Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection 
  • Valuable – unique, having purpose and free will, able to pursue interests and love
  • Flesh and blood – who possess physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and social strengths and weaknesses

Our goal is to train students in the arts and sciences and to nurture them in the faith of Christ so that they are challenged to think well and live well and do both for the glory of God and in service to others. The Mission, Vision, Core Values, and Expected School-wide Learning Objectives reflect this philosophy.

ADMINISTRATION PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

The administration is responsible for upholding the philosophy and foundational statements, provide a carefully developed curriculum, professionally support and serve the teachers, and work to ensure a God-honoring school where like-minded parents can expect their student to receive a quality Christian college preparatory, liberal arts education.

TEACHER PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

The teachers are instruments of God in the redeeming and shaping process. As detailed in the Staff Code of Ethics, they model Christian behavior and strive to instill knowledge and the tools of learning in the student. The teachers are vital to the establishment of the spiritual and professional quality of the school. They are to be called by God to teach, train, discipline, and serve. They are to have a clear Christian testimony, be growing in their Christian faith, and be life-long learners. They are to model, integrate, and include a Biblical worldview and Great Commission perspective in lessons, activities, and assessments. They are to be professionally prepared and appropriately qualified.

They are charged to:

  • Support the school’s philosophy, foundational statements, and school-wide policies
  • Maintain professional conduct
  • Possess and utilize effective classroom management skills
  • Use developmentally appropriate, sufficiently challenging instructional strategies
  • Be well-prepared for class
  • Communicate clearly and effectively
  • Assess learning accurately
  • Reflect and improve continually
  • Demonstrate God’s character instructionally and relationally

CURRICULUM PHILOSOPHY STATEMENTS

General Curricular Statement:

The curriculum is designed to produce rational, reasoning, and responsible Christian citizens with a Biblical worldview as the foundations for thinking, doing, and being. With knowledge that God is the Giver of all Wisdom, Christian Unified Schools of San Diego seeks to:

  • Incorporate a Biblical worldview into each unit, grade, class, and program in a purposeful, intentional, and pro-active manner
  • Instill the Tools of Learning incrementally by building on concepts one step at a time in ascending order
  • Articulate, integrate, and align the content into the various disciplines and within each level
  • Provide a balance of quality academic, arts, athletic, leadership, and service opportunities
  • Meet educational needs so that the students will:
    • Have firm convictions based on a foundation of Biblical truth, sound thinking, and practical purpose
    • Be prepared to further their education
    • Become skilled, life-long, self-directed learners who have a body of knowledge and skills
    • Be able to develop facts into logical arguments to solve problems
    • Be able to convey their critical thinking ability clearly, eloquently, and persuasively
    • Live well in two kingdoms simultaneously
    • Contribute to and influence the culture in which they live as salt and light
    • Lead with integrity
    • Serve with love

The Curriculum is rigorously developed, thoroughly documented, well-executed, and Biblically integrated. It is structured to provide interrelated disciplines. It incorporates the general philosophy, school-wide learning results, measurable objectives, instructional strategies, adequate resources, and appropriate assessments throughout. It is driven by policies and procedures. It includes a Biblical worldview and a Great Commission perspective.

The Methodology uses researched, best practices to incorporate knowledge with application through differentiated instruction aligned to cognitive development. It provides a dynamic, rich, creative learning environment. It incorporates high-yield instructional strategies, technology, and activities to promote wisdom and understanding, essential skills and content knowledge, and critical and higher level thinking ability.

The Goal is to provide for the educational needs of individual students while motivating them to attain to the best of their God-given ability within the framework of character development. We seek to prepare students to live life from a Biblical worldview with strong moral and spiritual values. We hope to see students who continue learning, leading, and serving with integrity and purpose. We desire that students glorify God by loving God and others with their whole hearts, minds, and souls.

PARENTAL PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

The parents and the church are the institutions charged with the education of children. Therefore, the parents are ultimately responsible for the physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, and social development of their child. The parents, by entrusting their students to the school, understand and support the philosophy, foundational statements, and school-wide policies. They strive to reinforce the school’s values as ascribed in the Parental Agreement. They participate in activities, and they provide for the success of their student.

STUDENT PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

The students are uniquely created in the image of God and in need of discipleship to use their talents to full potential as they grow in grace, knowledge, and wisdom of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18). Students are to be prepared, principled, and creative life-long learners and well-educated, purposeful, Godly leaders and servants. They are to submit to the authority structure set in place by God not only while students but also as adults. They are to abide by the school-wide standards as outlined in the Student Agreement and handbook and strive to attain the Expected School-Wide Learning Results by becoming:

Influential Christians who:

  • Accept the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior.
  • Apply Biblical principles as the foundation for moral and spiritual living.
  • Develop and maintain an informed Biblical worldview that shapes their lifestyle choices.
  • Demonstrate God’s love through acts of service and sharing the gospel.

Investigative Learners who:

  • Master a body of knowledge, vocabulary, and skills.
  • Understand, analyze, and order relationships among facts.
  • Assess their needs and apply appropriate strategies to learn concepts and skills.
  • Actively use the tools of learning throughout their lifetime.

Perceptive Thinkers who:

  • Identify, analyze, discriminate, prioritize, and apply information.
  • Have the ability to solve problems by thinking independently and logically.
  • Make responsible and well-reasoned decisions.
  • Actively seek and apply absolute truths.

Effective Communicators who:

  • Demonstrate the ability to accurately understand, interpret, and exchange information.
  • Communicate with eloquence, creativity, and persuasion in writing and in speech.
  • Develop and utilize artistic expression.
  • Proclaim and defend the gospel with wisdom, wit, and respect.

Quality Producers who:

  • Demonstrate a growing knowledge of curriculum.
  • Develop their God-given talents and abilities.
  • Display standards of excellence in all pursuits.
  • Work well with others toward a common goal.

Responsible Citizens who:

  • Respect and submit to authority.
  • Actively protect and promote freedom and democracy.
  • Enjoy God’s creation and live as good stewards within it.
  • Recognize and contribute to meeting the needs of others.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

  • The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired, inerrant, plenary, and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe.  For purposes of CUSSD’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, Shadow Mountain Community Church is CUSSD’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
  • We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  • We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through the shedding of His blood, His bodily resurrection on the third day, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, His personal, pre-millennial return to rapture His Church before the Tribulation, and His glorious appearing to set up His Millennial Kingdom.   
  • We believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith, apart from works, by the merit of the shed blood of Christ, and that the born-again believer is eternally secure in Christ.
  • We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
  • We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
  • We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • We believe in the individual priesthood of the believer.
  • We believe life begins at conception.
  • We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning— the uniting of one biological man and one biological woman in a single, exclusive union as delineated in Scripture (Gen. 2:18-25.) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a biological man and a biological woman who are married to each other (1 Cor. 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4.) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
  • We believe that the Scripture dictates standards of sexual behavior. The unique roles of the male and female are clearly defined in Scripture. Any promiscuity, homosexuality, gender identity issues, or other deviations from Biblical principles is a sin that is offensive to God (Matt. 5:18-19; I Cor. 6: 9-10, 19-20; Eph. 5:3-5; 1 Thess. 4:3-8).