A weekend of activities has been planned at Conestoga Christian School (CCS) on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17 and 18. Events will include a chicken barbecue, alumni activities and the school's 52nd annual auction. Community members are welcome to participate.

The event will begin with the chicken barbecue dinner on Oct. 17. Diners may purchase their chicken in a drive-through format from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., or they may choose to dine in the school gymnasium from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

"People can go to our school website and place an online order. You get an order number, and then you can just drive up to our front parking lot, and we will get your order ready for you," explained Elisha Hall, CCS events coordinator. "We have the dine-in option in case there are families who want to reconnect and come back and visit the school."

Also on Oct. 17, a gift certificate store will be open outside the school, and then it will move inside to the gymnasium at 4 p.m. There will also be homemade apple dumplings available for purchase. There will be a set price to purchase a pan with eight dumplings each.

After the barbecue, there will be an alumni celebration, with activities located behind the school. First up will be a student Powderpuff Football Championship, followed by an alumni soccer game. "We already have alumni signed up," Hall noted.

On Oct. 18, breakfast items and individual apple dumplings will be offered for sale at the Cougar Cafe. There will also be a Cougar Grounds coffee area offering hot coffee, cold brew, hot cider and hot chocolate.

The live auction on Oct. 18 will be held from 9 a.m. until the last item is sold. On the auction block will be handmade quilts, experiences and homemade jams and yogurt.

Also featured will be artwork, some made by the students themselves. Eighth-grader Ella Perechinsky created a painting for the auction that features a colorful sunset done in acrylics. The artwork also includes Psalm 19:1, which states, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork." "I drew it first with pencil, and then I went over it with paint," Ella noted.

In addition, each class at the school has designed a themed basket for the auction. Basket themes this year will include Date Night, Relaxation and Wellness, Backyard Fun, Fall Fun, Road Trip and A Hunting We Will Go. "Our class baskets are always a big hit," said Hall. "Each grade level comes up with a theme. The senior class always does a College Ready basket with sheets for a college dorm bed, a (coffee maker) and a microwave - things you need for your dorm room."

Each year, there is also a "paddle raise" during the auction for a special project. "This year's (special project) is to hopefully install a high-visibility digital sign in front of campus," Hall said, noting that sign will share event announcements, celebrate student accomplishments and keep families informed about events.

An online auction will be offered this year as well. Bidding will start on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 8 a.m. and run through Thursday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. Bidders can visit www.conestogachristian.net for more details and bidding access.

Proceeds from the weekend will be used to support the financial operations of the school, which offers  classes for students in preschool through 12th grade. The weekend's events will be held rain or shine. In the case of inclement weather, activities will be moved indoors.

The school is located at 2760 Main St. (Route 23), Morgantown. For complete details about the barbecue and auction and to order chicken in advance, visit http://www.conestogachristian.net/bbqauction.

Overflow parking and a shuttle service will be available at Conestoga Mennonite Church, which is located across the street from the school.