Cathedral Christian School

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Cathedral Christian School
CCS Coat of Arms.jpg

Active 1976–2009
School type private
District N/A
Grades K-12
Colors Blue & Gold
Mascot Saints
Location 1401 Huffman Road, (map)
Birmingham

Cathedral Christian School ("CCS") was a private school founded in 1976 by Huffman Assembly of God ("Huffman Assembly"). CCS operated as a full K-12 school until 1998, and continued to offer grades K through 8 until its closure in 2009.

History

In 1974, Huffman Assembly embarked on a ambitious, long-range expansion program that included, in part, the construction of a new, Christian primary & secondary school. Prompted in part by a large scale shift in the secular curriculum of public schools over the previous decade, Huffman Assembly developed a parochial approach to restore "the civilizing effects of Christianity" to education. (Huie, p. 159.)

That year, the church secured land for its new school, a sixteen acre parcel located just two miles away situated between Huffman Road and Center Point Parkway. CCS opened in the fall of 1976, and initially operated on the campus of Huffman Assembly while the new school building was being constructed. The school launched with an accredited faculty that oversaw a student body of over 100 students, an athletic program, and a host of student activity offerings. The school's first principal was Huffman Assembly's Minister of Education, Claude Johnson. The president of the school board was Huffman Assembly Senior Pastor Dan Ronsisvalle.

The "Saints" was selected as the school mascot. The school colors were initially a Miami Dolphins-esque aqua green & orange scheme, however they were changed to blue and gold after the first year to distinguish the program from the green & orange palette of nearby Huffman High. The new CCS campus was open by the fall of 1977, and featured some twenty classrooms, a modern gymnasium/auditorium, and full-service cafeteria.

By 1986, Huffman Assembly completed construction on a new, $9 million church home, which adjoined the back of the existing CCS building. The new church building, which ushered in the change of the church name from Huffman Assembly to "Cathedral of the Cross," also provided a considerable expansion to the school campus, including a modern science lab, home economics department, music room, library, a dedicated auditorium, and additional classrooms.

The 1980s saw tremendous growth for CCS, as enrollment grew to over 400 at times, the school expanded both its educational courses and its athletic program. Enrollment began to decline by the mid 1990s, and in 1998, the school ceased offering grades 9-12, in favor of continuing with kindergarten through junior high classes. Ultimately, the decline in enrollment resulted in CCS's closure in 2009.

Athletics

CCS offered a full-range of varsity and junior varsity athletic programs for its junior high and high school classes, including football, track & field, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, women's volleyball, men's soccer, golf, and cheerleading. In certain years, CCS also provided athletic programs for elementary students through its "Little Saints" football, basketball, and cheerleading programs.

CCS competed in a variety of private school athletic leagues, including the National Fellowship of Christian Schools, the Alabama Christian Athletic Conference ("ACAC"), the Central Alabama Christian Athletic Association ("CACAA"), the North Alabama Christian Conference ("NACC"), and the Alabama Independent School Association ("AISA").

Acheivements

Football
  • 1990 State Runner-up, CACAA
  • 1989 State Champions, CACAA
  • 1984 State Runner-up, ACAC
  • 1983 State Runner-up, ACAC
  • 1982 State Runner-up, ACAC
  • 1981 State Runner-up, ACAC
Men's Basketball
  • 1992-93 Region Runner-up, AISA Class A, Area 3
  • 1979-80 State Runner-up, ACAC
Baseball
  • 1979 Third in state, ACAC

Leadership

School Board Presidents

Principals

  • Claude Johnson, 1976-?
  • Elwyn McSwain, ?-1982
  • Howard Drewitz, 1982-1984
  • Kathy Cottingham, 1984-1988
  • Arthur Cyphers, 1988-1992
  • Frank Battles, 1992-1993
  • Roy Hornsby, 1993-1996
  • David Sheram, 1996-1998
  • Mark Correll, 1998-2000
  • Greg Wooten, 2000-2004
  • Dianne Johnson, 2007-2009

Notable Alumni

  • David Lamb, author, veteran Alabama television news anchor, and radio personality, currently with WIAT-TV in Birmingham

Gallery

  • CCS Saints Mascot

    CCS Saints Mascot

  • CCS Coat of Arms

    CCS Coat of Arms

References

  • The Epistle, vv. I-XXXIV (vv. I, IV, VII, IX, XII-XV, and XVII-XXXIV are archived among the Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections at [1]).
  • Huie, William Bradford (1979) It's Me, O Lord. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson. ISBN 9780840751416
  • Dan Ronsisvalle Obituary (November 16, 2003), The Birmingham News
  • "Daniel Ronsisvalle," Prabook.com: the World Biographical Encyclopedia, [2]
  • AHSFHS.org, Past State Championship Games
  • Garrison, Greg (November 19, 2003) "Pioneer, Pastor Dan Ronsisvalle Dreamed Big", The Birmingham News
  • Original architectural drawing and submittal, Hord Architects, Memphis, TN
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