by our love
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35
The By Our Love Project is an annual school-wide, cross-curricular project based on John 13:35; which reminds us that we will be recognized as Christ-followers by our love for others by noticing a need and helping to authentically address that need in a meaningful way. This project allows students to put their faith into action by loving others.
2022-2023 By Our Love Project
What is the need?
A Buddy Bench for the Monroe County United Ministries, The Nest Preschool, and our CCCS playground expansion to foster friendships on the playground, created through a plastic cap recycling program.
How will we help?
This project focuses on recycling old bottle caps and bringing them together to create something new - a buddy bench. The buddy bench then serves as an agent of unifying and building peaceful friendships. The essence of By Our Love is outward, not just inward, so not only will we be collecting caps for a buddy bench at our new playground, but also for the early learning center at Monroe County United Ministries and the playground at The Nest preschool, which serves families who are experiencing homelessness. These organizations are a wonderful example of churches and organizations coming together in peace to meet needs.
Final Project Summary
During these two weeks, classes learned about recycling, caring for the earth and other people, and about Monroe County United Ministries. Each classroom spent time over the two weeks cleaning and sorting the plastic caps that were collected throughout the year into 55 gallon bags that were then weighed and transported to the company that will make the benches - Green Tree Plastics. We collected over 750lbs of plastic for the benches!
Quick Links:
2021-2022 By Our Love Project
What is the need?
We believe that every student at CCCS is impacted by cancer at some level. Cancer can feel big and scary. As Christians, we are called to love and care for the sick. Seeking to understand cancer and knowing those who have fought it takes the power away from cancer and empowers our students to fight alongside those they love with care, compassion, and prayer.
How will we help?
Students will engage in multiple learning experiences to understand cancer and cancer treatments. They will make comfort items (chemo caps and lymphedema pillows) to share with the Olcott Cancer Navigation team. This team supports patients from diagnosis to survivorship. They will deliver the items to the Navigators to be distributed to the cancer patients and caretakers they work with.
Final Project Summary
To give students an understanding of the science of cancer, students harvested their own cheek cells to view under a microscope in STEAM class. They were fascinated at this building block that God designed and how T-cells help us fight cancer! The students also met with Nurse Navigators from the Olcott Cancer Support Team Center to hear firsthand from survivors of cancer about their journey and how we can support those battling cancer. The 2022 By Our Love project wrapped up by delivering over 70 lymphedema pillows and knitted hats to the Cancer Support Community of South Central Indiana. Thank you to the Nurse Navigators from Olcott Center, Sherwood Oaks Church "Piecemakers" and City Church "Sew Good to Give" groups for their help teaching the children about cancer care and practical ways to help show our love for others!
Quick Links:
Herald Times Online Article about CCCS 2022 By Our Love Project
Olcott Nurse Navigators - https://www.facebook.com/olcottcenter
Cancer Support Community South Central Indiana: https://cancersupportindy.org/programs/bloomington/
2020-2021 By Our Love Project
What is the need?
In brainstorming ways in which we could show Christ’s love, the topic of homelessness came up for our 6th graders. Food insecurity is very much connected with homelessness. There are people in our community experiencing food insecurity. This means we have neighbors who don’t know where or when they will have their next meal.
How will we help?
As a school, we will raise funds and canned food donations for Backpack Buddies, a program run by Community Kitchen, an organization chosen by the 6th-grade class. By raising funds and food donations for a local organization already addressing food insecurity, we can help make a tangible difference and put our faith into action.
Final Project Summary
The 2020-2021 project focused on food insecurity. CCCS teachers taught their classrooms about food insecurity and nutrition, as well as how to identify organizations that support vulnerable individuals in our community.
The students partnered with Backpack Buddies, a program of the Community Kitchen for children facing food insecurity. Students collected over 1,000lbs of food and over $200 through the months of April and May to be delivered by bus to their facility!
Quick Links:
Food Security Indiana Map - https://map.feedingamerica.org/county/2017/overall/indiana
Community Kitchen Mon. Co.(backpack buddies)- https://www.monroecommunitykitchen.com/our-programs/
Donation list: https://www.monroecommunitykitchen.com/donation-information/
