CK Campus
W h e r e t h e c o m m u n i t y c o m e s t o g e t h e r
MPUS
MPUS
CK CAC CK CAChrist the King operates as
a family, hiring former
When students leave Christ the King
High School (CTK), whether for the
summer or graduation, many do not
stay away from the CTK family for
long, as the campus is known for hiring
students and alumni to work at their
several summer camps and programs,
and as faculty members.
The CK Campus is one of the largest local
employers with close to 300 employees,
a majority of whom reside locally. In
addition to the employees living locally,
more than half of them are connected in
one way or another to the campus; either
as alumni themselves or their children
attend/attended the high school, charter
school, daycare, or preschool.
Many of the campus’ employees have
their children participate in the CK
Kids Programs on campus for afterschool,
tutoring, summer camp and
extracurricular activities. It provides
parents with a convenient solution
to today’s childcare struggles that
many working families face. It allows
employees to have the peace of mind
that their child is safe, close by, having
fun while growing both academically
and socially.
The mission of the CK Kids Program
is to provide quality programs that are
convenient with the needs of today’s busy
families in mind and the CK Campus
employees have benefited greatly from
these programs for over 30 years. Many
families, not just its’ employees, consider
the CK Campus a second home.
As a true example of the family/
community atmosphere fostered by
the CK Campus, over 45 percent
of the Christ the King
and current students
Father Frank Specek (’88) and Deacon Paul Norman (’77)
celebrating Communion Mass at CTK.
Tracey Cleckley, Class of ’16, coaching at the CK Royal’s
Basketball Camp.
James Coleman, Class of ’13,
came back to CTK teach at the
CK Royal’s Basketball Camp.
High School faculty
and staff is
T o g e t h e c e
r �� n e m a �� e a d i f f e r e comprised of alumni. Even the Campus
Minister, Father Frank Specek (Class of
’88) as well as the Deacon, Paul Norman
(Class of ‘77) are alumni of CTK.
In addition to the large full time staff,
employment numbers increase in the
summer months. Summertime is a
time for CTK
students to gain
valuable work
experience all
while giving
back to the
place that has
given them so
much.
Every summer
the CK Campus
hires around 90
students, 50 of
which are usually alumni who are home
from college for the summer and looking
for work opportunities. Approximately
40 of the students are employed through
a Summer Youth Employment Program
through New York City. This is CK’s
third year participating in the program.
The students don’t take these
employment opportunities just for the
money. These jobs not only benefit
the students financially, they receive
valuable work experience, learning
experiences outside
of the classroom and real life skills that
they can take with them beyond their
years at CTK.
Current students often work the CK
Royal’s Basketball Camp. The camp
director Joseph Arbitello is an alumnus
of Christ the King High School and
has been the CTK
Men’s varsity
coach since 2008.
95 percent of the
players in the
CTK Basketball
Program spend
their summer
at CK. While
working there,
they get the chance
to reconnect
with their peers,
work with children teaching them the
fundamentals of the game, just as past
players have taught them. Many alumni
describe coming back to CK to work as
coming home.
During the camps, the students enjoy
watching the kids learn and improve
their skills from summer to summer as
many campers return to the program
each year. The councilors get the chance
to remember how they were at that
age. Councilors’ easily relate to the
campers and able to
share their experiences and stress the
importance of academics and behavior. It
is not just about basketball other factors
contribute the success of the Christ the
King High School athletes. The student
workers are not only assisting in the
day to day camp activities but are role
models to possible future Royals.
James Coleman, who attended CTK
between 2009-2013 and won back-toback
city championships and a state
championship at CTK, attended the
summer basketball camp as a kid and
still holds fond memories of his time
there.
One memory in particular that sticks
out to him is when he was playing
a game during the camp and it was
coming down to the game’s final seconds
and all the other campers came to the
court to watch. With only a few seconds
remaining he was fouled and as per
camp rules if you are fouled near the
end of a game you get one shot; make it
and your team wins, miss and the game
continues. James missed his foul shot,
but his best friend on the other team
was then fouled and made the shot to
win the game.
“You don’t remember the wins, you
always remember the bad losses,”
Coleman said.
As a counselor, James can share his
story with campers and connect to
them, which ultimately contribute to the
success of the camp and fostering the
family-like atmosphere at CTK.
Photos courtesy of Christ the
King High School
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