FROM YOUR ADMINISTRATOR
Wow! This year is flying by. I can’t believe it is already April and Graduation is right around the corner! I am so excited for the 2026 CRCS Graduates and their families. This marks a milestone in their lives that will be remembered and talked about for years to come.
Consider joining us for the High School Graduation on May 14 at 7 p.m. at Trussville First Baptist or our Kindergarten Graduation May 19 at 6:30 at the CPC Sanctuary.
There are several things coming up so read the Newsletter carefully. You do not want to miss anything.
Jenny
A REMINDER ABOUT RECORDKEEPING
By this time, you should have filed your students’ grades for quarters 1, 2, and 3 for this school year. By June 15 you should complete a Quarter 4 report as well as an End-of-Year summary report. We often have families who forget either the 4th quarter or the End-of -Year report. Both are required. The EOY form is the one that you promote your student to the next grade!
If you have missed an earlier quarter, submit it today.
If your student is graduating this year, the deadline to turn in the Quarter 4 and EOY report is Thursday, April 30 so that we will have time to review this information for all graduates.
If you have any questions, contact the school office office@crossroadschristian.us.
Returning Family Registration Opens on May 1, 2026
If you plan to return to Crossroads next year, you must complete the Returning Family Registration once it opens. The deadline is June 15. All returning families must re-register. Please do not wait. We need to know our numbers going into June as we open to new families.
Tuition for the current school year ends in May; tuition for the school year 2026-2027 begins in June. We do have year-round tuition. Tuition is $40 per month per family. Tuition commitment for the current year must be fulfilled before re-registering.
If you are NOT returning to Crossroads for the 2025-2026 school year, we need to know so we can prepare required paperwork.
New Family Registration opens May 1, 2026
Considering joining Crossroad for the 2026-2027 school year? Look at our website https://crossroadschristian.us/ and read our Parental Requirements and Doctrinal Beliefs. If CRCS seems like a good fit for your family, complete a New Family Registration which can be found on the website. Even if you have been enrolled elsewhere, and are returning to Crossroads, use the New Family registration. We still need to interview you and complete paperwork. We will begin New Family interviews sometime in late May or June and will contact everyone by phone to schedule this. There is a $35 registration fee due at interview time, and then your New Family tuition begins in August.
Preschool Family Registration
If your oldest child is not older than 6 years old before December 31, 2026, you do not have to enroll in a church school… yet, unless they have been enrolled elsewhere. So, we do provide the Preschool Family option for those of you who want to affiliate with Crossroads before it’s time to enroll officially. You can participate in field trips for a one-time fee of $40 per year. If your student is in K5 or 1st grade and you wish to participate in Co-op, you must join as a New Family and pay full tuition.
If your child is 6 years old, you do have to notify your school district that you are “opting out” of enrolling in a school until your child turns 7 years old.
Important Dual Enrollment Information
If you have a student taking Dual Enrollment, you will need to report those grades on your quarterly submission. We understand you will not have a grade when you turn in the first quarter, but you still need to report what course your student is taking. In the comment section on the grade submission report, put the course along with the number. i.e. English 101; Math 112. Also note that it is a Dual Enrollment course, and that you will give the grade at the end of the semester…either quarter 2 or quarter 4. Then in May/June, when you turn in your End of the Year form, make sure you have the Dual Enrollment course/s listed with the credit earned.
ACT TESTING
If your student takes the ACT test WITH WRITING, please let us know in the office. When the writing portion is taken, the test scores come back MUCH LATER than the normal scoring. We do not know to be looking for it and it is easily missed. If you let us know when they are taking it, then we will be able to keep looking until it comes in.
SENIORS
Graduating Seniors/Parents, make sure you have submitted your pictures for the PowerPoint by Friday, April 10. You can scan your pictures and submit via email as an attachment to office@crossroadschristian.us. We will not be able to accept late submissions. If we do not receive them, your student’s pictures will not be in the PowerPoint that will play before graduation as well as be on the recording of the ceremony.
Make sure you have also turned in your Yearbook form as well.
HOMESCHOOLING 101
Tuesday, May 5, Thursday, June 18, Saturday, July 11
10 a.m.
Community Presbyterian Church – Back Building
Do you have friends or family who are thinking about homeschooling next year?
Crossroads offers a FREE seminar to share information with those who are investigating this educational option. This seminar lasts about 1-1/2 hours and covers Alabama state law, how church schools fit in, some of the specifics about Crossroads Christian School, curricula choices, and a little bit on recordkeeping.
Attending does not obligate anyone to homeschool, or to join Crossroads. We want to get out the word about homeschooling, but since we do not have a lot of 1-hour blocks of time to talk individually with families.
HOW TO HOMESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Tuesday, May 5, 1 p.m.
Community Presbyterian Church – Back Building
Questions about whether you are prepared to teach your children all the way through high school? A lot of families do, so we’ll try to answer those questions at this seminar in May, and then again in August (date TBA). As homeschoolers, you actually have a great deal of latitude in how you educate, but it does help to plan ahead of time.
This seminar is to introduce you to new ideas, ways of doing things, and options for navigating high school to individualize instruction for your students. We also cover some of the nuts and bolts about high school: how to determine credits if you’re designing your own courses, Alabama state diploma requirements, dual enrollment courses at local community colleges, vocational education. If you have students going into 8th grade and above, please join us for this free seminar.
Contact the school office to let us know you plan to attend. office@crossroadschristian.us
The Crossroads Yearbook is the perfect way to remember all the special moments of the 2025-2026 school year! Our dedicated yearbook team works hard to capture memories that you will treasure for years to come. Don’t miss out on this keepsake – order your yearbook today for just $45. Go to Cheddar Up and look for the Yearbook collection. Don’t wait!
PHOTOS PLEASE
Hello CRCS Families,
We need your help!
Our Yearbook Staff is working hard to create a lasting memory of this school year. They are transforming the photos you submit into a keepsake that will capture special moments and celebrate our students’ experiences.
To make this yearbook as complete as possible, we are looking for specific photos of your students, including:
- Participation in individual sports
- Individual arts (such as dance, acting outside of CRCS, drawing, etc.)
- Field trips
- Family vacations or educational experiences
- Home activities—pictures of your student engaged in everyday learning and fun at home
Thank you for helping us make this year’s yearbook truly special!
*NOTE Deadline to submit photos is Monday, April 13. After that date we will only be accepting activities that happen in May (May Day, Pancake Cookoff, Graduations and CC Flyers end of year).
Stanford Achievement Test
Tuesday through Friday, April 21-24, 2026
SIGN UP HAS CLOSED
10:00 am-12:00 pm | Grades 3, 4, 5, 6
1-3 pm | Grades 7, 8
Tues-Wed 1-4 pm | Grades 9-12
See email that will go out for details.
ASVAB
(Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)
SIGN UP HAS CLOSED
Tuesday April 7, 12:30 – 4 pm
See email for details
Yearbook Student Portrait Photo Submitted by You
If you choose to submit your own photo of your student for the student portrait section of the yearbook, please send it to the office email. Here is how:
First, take a picture of your student from the chest up. Then send it to the office email with your student’s name.
If you submit more than one student photo, make it clear which name goes with each photo by sending one email per student. We will upload it to the yearbook.
NOTE: We have had issues distinguishing student portrait pictures in the mass uploads for regular yearbook photo submissions. So please do not submit them there.
Deadline to submit portraits is Monday, April 13. After that date your student’s picture will not be in the student section of the yearbook
Saturday, May 2
8:30-11:30 a.m.
Admission $7 Kids 3 and under Free
St. Clair County Arena
Hosted by the Kiwanis Club of St Clair County West
You do not want to miss this event! Imagine walking around to several booths and eating unlimited pancakes that have been designed with creativity and cooked on the spot! A morning of fun and community, all for one reason; TO HELP CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. Your admission price will go directly to fund many projects to help the children of St. Clair County. What a great way to spend a Saturday Morning!
We still need teams! Email me at the office for a registration packet!
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO WIN!
USED BOOK SALE
Saturday July 11, 9 am to 1 pm
Set up on Friday July 10, 2-4 pm AND Saturday July 11, 8-9 am
CPC-Back Building
Put it on your calendar and make plans to sell and buy. Details will be in May newsletter.
ACTIVITIES @ CRCS!
As always, if you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us via email, text, or phone.
Sallie Albus—Activities Director – (205) 863-9585
Courtney Wrenn—Schoolwide Events Coordinator – (205) 863-9931
Mary Beth Brown—Teen Events Coordinator – (205) 527-8394
Kristy Rosenow—Field Trip Coordinator – (205) 413-7336
Kaitlin Rich—Field Trip Coordinator – (205) 405-0243
Visit Cheddar Up for detailed information, registration, and deadlines for all activities.
Note the following guidelines/suggestions as you study the available activities and register via Cheddar Up.
- Find what activities fit your family.
- Follow the age and grade stipulations. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of your payment.
- Read all the notes in Cheddar Up. Some field trips require certain attire, a signed waiver, etc.
- Know that the Crossroads dress and behavior guidelines, as noted in the school handbook, also apply to field trips. Parents/guardians are responsible for their own children.
- Please know that we endeavor to locate enriching, educational, and enjoyable activities. However, we cannot always know from which perspective or philosophical background a topic may be presented. We encourage you to always discuss with your students what they have “learned.”
- Paying by credit card or e-check is the easiest way to make sure that your payment is made in a timely fashion. If you choose to pay by cash/check, make sure that the school office receives your funds no later than two weeks (in most cases) PRIOR to the date of the first item in your Cheddar Up order. The entire balance of the order is due at the same time. To avoid paying a large amount at once, you may want to distribute your Cheddar Up items across several orders.
- Remember that nominal fees will be added to each transaction as explained in Cheddar Up.
- Register by set deadlines.
- Cheddar Up purchases for activities and field trips are not transferable to other persons. Please do not advertise “tickets” on social media.
- Generally, CRCS does not issue refunds for activities and choosing the cash/check payment option assumes payment will be made and attendance will take place. Please do not take someone else’s spot.
SPRING SEMESTER @ a Glance
April
2-Spring Formal (Registration closed.)
7-First Responders (Registration closed.)
8-Fox 6 WBRC (Registration closed.)
10-Ballroom
17-Ballroom
May
1-May Day (Register by April 10th)
SCHOOLWIDE ACTIVITIES
REGISTER IN CHEDDAR UP!
May Day
@ Moody Park Pavilion
Join us at the Moody City Park for a fun day of family activities. There will be something for everyone!
Visit Cheddar Up for all the details.
Who: Crossroads Families
When: Friday, May 1, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Cost: $1 per family + 25 cents per game
Ballroom Dance Class
@ CPC GYM
Ballroom dancing not only teaches the skill of dancing but also etiquette. It helps promote confidence and self-esteem. It builds coordination, grace, poise, and good posture. And, of course, dancing is great exercise. Our lead instructor, Chris Bailey, has an exemplary record of teaching and performing. So, with all these positives, come “cut a rug” with your friends!
Who: 9th – 12th Grade CRCS Students who are at least 14 years old
When: Most Fridays (see dates below)
1:30 – 2:40 p.m.
Cost: $15 yearly registration fee per student AND $5 per lesson
Schedule (subject to change):
April 10, 17
Schedule (subject to change):
April 10, 17
FREE Play Event
The Deer, The Bird, and The Fox
Wednesday, April 1 at 9:15 a.m.
CPC Gym
NOTE DATE CHANGE
Hilary Cunningham (2022 CRCS grad and daughter of Karen Cunningham) will be graduating in May from Samford University as a Theater for Youth major. For her senior capstone, she has written and directed a script with puppets that she designed and built. She and other Samford TY students will be presenting her project at Crossroads on Wednesday, April 1 at 9:15. The story is about a deer, a bird, and a fox that lived in a small forest. Each woodland creature begins a journey that leads them to self discovery and ultimately to understanding the power of friendship. Come along as the storyteller weaves a tale that includes participation by the young audience as the three characters come to life. (The flyer for schools lists ages 5 and up but all ages are welcome.) The show will last approximately 25 minutes and there will be time for questions at the end.
No need to sign up, just come and enjoy.
MOM’S NIGHT OUT
Hey homeschool moms! We would love for you to join us for a fun and relaxing Mom’s Night Out—special evenings planned just for you! It’s the perfect chance to step away from the daily routine, enjoy some sweet fellowship, meet other moms on the same journey, and be encouraged. Whether you’re new to homeschooling or have been at it for years, we all need a little time to laugh, connect, and recharge. We can’t wait to see you there!
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
6:30-8:30
Hey Crossroads moms! 🎉 Grab your comfy shoes and your competitive spirit and join us for a Game Night you won’t want to miss! We’ll be diving into fun Minute to Win It–style challenges led by the one and only Amanda Popwell. Get ready to laugh, cheer each other on, and maybe discover some hidden talents! It’s guaranteed to be a night to remember. Bring a snack to share and lots of energy—we’ll take care of the rest! 💛
Sign up on SignUpGenius so we will know how many to plan for!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0E48AAAB28A3F94-62571239-game
ELEMENTARY CHOIR
Registration is now closed. Please refer to choir emails and weekly calendar posts for rehearsal reminders. For questions or if you are not receiving updates, contact Jessica Gilbert at 205-240-4074 or masterpieces4him@gmail.com.
Additionally, please invite family and friends to our free concert on Thursday, April 16, at 6:30 PM at Grace Community Church at Deerfoot.
CO-OP
Co-op Calendar:
April 3 No Co-op (Good Friday)
April 17 Last day of spring co-op
—
CRCS Co-op Team
cccmasterminds@gmail.com
https://cccmasterminds.
Upper Room
Due to scheduling issues, our next Upper Room will be next Fall. We have had great meetings and look forward to getting together in the new school year.
KEY CLUB NEWS!
March was an incredible month for our club as we attended DCON and celebrated so many achievements together. We are so proud of how our club represented our school and community, and it is exciting to see all of our hard work pay off.
Club Honors:
J. Whit King Most Outstanding Club Award
Distinguished Club – Diamond Level
Club Membership Growth Recognition
Early Bird Recognition
Club Competitions:
1st Place – Club T-Shirt Design
3rd Place – Member Recruitment Digital Poster
1st Place – Oratorical Competition (William Rea)
Talent Competition Finalist – (Catherine Clyde & Juniper Self)
Individual Awards:
Robert M. Palys Heart of the District – Roark McKibben
Sandy Nininger Award – Juniper Self
George L. Price Service to Youth – Sallie Albus
Stanley T. Johnson Outstanding Club President – Juniper Self
Jared Rhea Outstanding Board Member – Roark McKibben
Congratulations to William Rea on being elected Division 7 Lieutenant Governor! We are excited to see the impact he will make in this leadership role.
As we move into April, we are looking forward to continuing that momentum through upcoming service projects and opportunities to get involved. Let’s keep showing up, serving well, and making a difference in our community.
Stay connected! Follow us on Facebook at CRCS Key Club and Instagram at crossroads_key_club
If you have any questions or need more info, please contact us!
Catherine Clyde, Student Editor
(205) 493-0160
catclyde36@gmail.com
Juniper Self, Key Club President
(205) 200-3258
juniperclaireself@gmail.com
Sallie Albus, Faculty Advisor
(205) 863-9585
smalbus7@gmail.com
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
April
10 – Key Club Meeting
24 – Key Club Meeting
May
1 – May Day
Please note that election openings for the 2026-2027 school year have now closed. Those that told Mrs. Jessica that they wanted to run will be the only ones allowed to run. We will have elections for the 2026-2027 school year on April 10th starting at 12:30. Please remember to get your hours to Mrs. Jessica as soon as possible.
Eta Sigma Alpha Honor Society
Eta Sigma Alpha is the first honor society established exclusively for homeschooled students in Grades 9-12. The purpose of Eta Sigma Alpha National Home School Honor Society is to recognize and encourage scholarship among homeschool students, while creating an energetic environment in which to forge relationships. The Sigma Zeta Chapter at Crossroads incorporates social, scholastic, and service aspects into our organization, staying active with fun game night hangouts and service projects planned for each semester. A candidate for membership must meet all of the requirements set forth at etasigmaalpha.com/membership as well as requirements described on the local chapter application. The most typical test used for admission is the ACT; the required score is a 26 or greater. More pathways are outlined on the website.
Our new officers are Tucker Brown (president) and William Rea (VP)
Honor Society Induction will be April 9 at 1 p.m.
Please contact Mary Beth Brown (hoganma23@gmail.com) with any questions or for more information.
Mary Beth Brown – 205-527-8394
We offer tutoring! If you are interested in learning more about our tutoring services, reach out to Mary Beth to get in contact with a student tutor.
Yearbook
Next Meeting: 3rd Friday
Friday, April 17, 2026
12:30 – 1:30
Advisors: Jenny Bartz or Trenity Whitfield
Sign up at the faculty meeting or contact the yearbook advisors:
Advisors: Jenny Bartz or Trenity Whitfield
4-H Club
2nd Tuesday of the month at 1 – 2 p.m.
January 13, February 10, March 10, and April 14.
This year we are offering a variety of learning experiences such as leadership, career exploration, healthy living, STEM, financial literacy, and teamwork! Youth will be able to build skills in a variety of areas and have the opportunity to showcase their acquired skills in contests and competitions. Older 4-H members will also have options of attending summer camp, joining our youth leadership council, attending leadership conferences, and more!
East Central Patriots
East Central Homeschool Organized Sports provides opportunities for homeschooled kids to participate in a variety of sports in a Christian atmosphere! Some of our sports have a firm foundation with longstanding success, while startup programs are constantly changing the climate here at East Central. Excitement is at an all-time high! East Central provides excellent instruction and competition to over 200 junior and senior high school athletes.
East Central is affiliated with the ACSC – Alabama Christian Sports Conference. For more information about the Conference, required forms, and a calendar of important events, visit their website. https://www.eastcentralpatriots.com/
East Central is a non-profit corporation exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Join us today! Need more information? Be sure to contact us. We are here to serve the Crossroads Community! For more information contact Dan Jett – Athletic Director 205-746-5917
Contact Information:
Feel free to contact us at the email addresses below, depending on the concern.
Office: office@crossroadschristian.us (General Communications)
Records: records@crossroadschristian.us (Records, Grades, Transcripts, etc.)
Accounting: accounting@crossroadschristian.us (Financial)
OFFICE HOURS: Crossroads office has regular office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 am to 3 pm. Call and leave a message, and we’ll return your phone call. E-mail is always a good way to get in touch with us, almost any time!
TUITION: All Crossroads families will receive a monthly email reminder (through QuickBooks Online) on the last day of each month about next month’s tuition. It is due by the 15th of each month. There is a link through the QuickBooks e-mail to pay tuition from your bank to the Crossroads bank and you can pay for more than one month at a time. School year 2025-26 began on June 1, 2025 for Returning Families. Tuition for New Families who joined over the summer begins in August. You always have the option of paying by cash or check at faculty meetings or in the office. And you can mail checks also. We do not accept credit cards. If you believe there is a discrepancy, please contact the office so we can verify. If you are not receiving the QuickBooks e-mail, please let us know that also.
TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS: If you need a transcript for any reason, the first step is to go to our website, and under records, fill out the transcript request form. Lori Booth, our registrar, will send your transcript where you have requested. She will also contact you if she has any questions. Feel free to contact her with any questions you may have as well. If we have to prepare a transcript from scratch, it may take up to two weeks to produce it, depending on work volume. So don’t wait until the last minute to make that transcript request, and remember we need your up-to-date records before we can do it!
WORK PERMITS: Under the current state law, work permits are no longer required for your teenager. If a 14YO or 15YO is working, he or she must provide an Eligibility to Work form to employers, which can be obtained from the Crossroads office. Students 16 years or older do not need anything from the school. For more information, check the Child Labor Law .
DRIVERS PERMIT and DRIVERS LICENSE: If your student plans to take the driver’s permit or driver’s license test, the student must provide proof of school enrollment. Contact the school office for a ALEA form 1-93 enrollment/exclusion form. Or, call and request that we mail it to you. These forms will also be available at faculty meetings.