Frederickson Campus Blog
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
—Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
There’s a special kind of energy in the air this time of year as our Frederickson team is hard at work preparing to receive students for a brand-new school year, and I couldn’t be more excited about opening our doors to begin this new chapter together!
As a principal, I see the beginning of each school year not just as a fresh start, but as a divine opportunity. It’s more than new routines and endless possibilities of learning; it’s also a chance to speak life and purpose into young hearts. This year, my greatest joy will be helping our elementary students understand that they are chosen by God and intentionally created with a unique and meaningful purpose. As this year’s spiritual theme states, we are Called for a Purpose.
Likewise, Ephesians 2:10 reminds me of a truth I’m clinging to this year: We are God’s masterpiece, created and called to do the good things that He has planned in advance just for us. That means I’m not stepping into this role by chance, and neither are you. We are each equipped for this moment and can trust with great expectation that God has something wonderful in store for each one of us.
This year, my prayer for our campus is that it would be a place where God’s purpose comes alive in every classroom and every heart. I pray that we’d see each student through God’s eyes and seize each opportunity to build for His kingdom. I also pray for our Frederickson community, that you would know that you are part of something bigger. You’ve been placed here on purpose, for a purpose, and together we get to impact lives far beyond our own. May we grow in unity as we chase after all that God has for us this year.
Let this be a season marked by faith, courage, and a deep sense of calling for our campus, our community, and every individual who walks through our doors.
Back when The Lion King roared into theaters and a little start-up named Amazon was just getting off the ground, Cascade Christian Schools marked a milestone of its own: the first graduating class of 1994 crossed the stage, turned their tassels, and stepped into the future. Now, 31 years later, we proudly celebrate another remarkable group of students who have witnessed history and created memories unique to their generation. Congratulations to the Class of 2025—you’ve made it!
Two discerning leaders in this wonderful class of students were selected as valedictorian and salutatorian and
+received the honor of speaking at Commencement. We are so proud of all they have accomplished and would like to honor them here.
Alexandra Altomare, 2025’s salutatorian, completed her academic career at CCS with a 4.00 GPA. She demonstrated strong academic commitment by taking seven AP classes, one honors class, and one concurrent credit course. Beyond the classroom, Alexandra was an active member of the cheer team and served faithfully on the worship team for three years. She led with authenticity and heart, making a meaningful impact on her peers and the school community.
Alexandra’s AP English teacher, Mr. Ziesing, has shared this about her:
“Over the past two years, I have been blown away by Alexandra's humility: she is incredibly intelligent and yet entirely down-to-earth. It would be easy for her to become arrogant; instead, she consistently expresses humility in her learning. One of the clearest pictures of her has been her consistent dedication to a life with God. There is seldom a day when she does not have her Bible within palm's reach.”
Alec Schumacher, 2025’s valedictorian, concluded his academic career at Cascade Christian with a 4.00 GPA. Throughout high school, he pursued an ambitious academic path, completing two honors classes, five AP courses, one concurrent credit course, and enough dual enrollment coursework to earn his Associate of Science degree. In addition to his academic achievements, Alec served as the lead programmer and driver for the school’s robotics team. His contributions were instrumental in helping the team secure a championship title this year.
Alec’s math teacher, Mr. Manchester, says this about Alec:
“Alec is in a class of his own with regard to his excellence and consistency in academic achievement. He has shown a sincere love for STEM content and has reached great heights through countless classes, internships, robotics competitions, and much more while in high school. He has also been a great role model and leader among his classmates. He is uniquely gifted and will continue to accomplish even greater things beyond CCS.”
Once again, we congratulate the Class of 2025 for finishing high school at CCS. While the road ahead may be filled with occasional potholes or traffic, we know that God will equip each of you to face those challenges when they arise. God is with you, He is for you, and He will never forsake you. You can be still and trust Him; even when.
Verse chosen by the Class of 2025:
Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
—2 Timothy 2:22 (NASB)
As we wind down the final days of the 2024-25 school year, I find myself reflecting on the many ways in which we have been able to apply our spiritual theme of “Be Still” throughout the year. And, interestingly, we have had the opportunity to experience the second phrase of the theme, “even when,” to a greater degree than we may have liked and/or chosen.
We had the opportunity to be still, even when it took way longer than anticipated to receive approval from the City of Puyallup to place portable classrooms on Pioneer Campus for Puyallup Elementary.
We had the opportunity to be still, even when various athletic seasons ended sooner than we wanted them to.
We had the opportunity to be still, even when we didn’t perform as well as we had hoped on final academic assessments.
We had the opportunity to be still, even when we experienced extreme losses or hardships.
We had the opportunity to be still, even when we were tempted to be angry, frustrated, or doubtful.
The bottom line is that life can bring us many “even when” moments. However, when they do come, we can lean into God’s goodness, God’s peace, God’s strength, God’s comfort, and a long list of other attributes God equips us with for the moments we are experiencing. My prayer for us all is that we would continue to “Be Still” in whatever form is warranted as we experience all that life brings us and that we would maintain the confidence that God is faithful and will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
In His service and with deep gratitude,
Ken
As the school year draws to a close and I take time to reflect on all we've experienced together, my heart is filled with gratitude and joy. I'm reminded of these powerful verses from Psalms:
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
—Psalm 145:3–5 (NIV)
These words resonate deeply as I think back on the beautiful moments we've shared—moments that have truly reflected the goodness of God in our school community. I am so grateful for the fun memories, the laughter in the halls, the joys of learning, and the countless ways our students, teachers, staff, and parents have encouraged one another throughout the year.
It has been a privilege to witness our community come together in unity and purpose to raise up the next generation to know and proclaim the name of Jesus. One of the greatest blessings of being part of this school has been seeing our students grow not only academically but also spiritually. From spontaneous moments of prayer and heartfelt encouragement among students to celebrations of faith as children accepted Jesus into their hearts, these are the memories I will treasure most.
This year, we focused on the theme of being still and trusting God through change, uncertainty, and challenge. Time and again, I saw this truth lived out in real and powerful ways. The Lord is so faithful, and I continue to be amazed by how He is working in our lives and in our school.
As we prepare for the summer break, please know how deeply thankful I am for each of you and for the opportunity to lead and serve this great campus. Your partnership, prayers, and shared commitment to Christian education have been a source of strength and inspiration to me this year. Frederickson is a remarkable place to learn, to grow, and to be.
With only a few more weeks left to celebrate the end of the year, I look forward to seeing you at the following events as we give thanks for a year well spent and for all that God has done among us.
Friday, May 30 | CCS Night at the Rainiers
Monday, June 2 | Donuts with Dads | Gym | 9:00 a.m.
Friday, June 6 | End-of-Year Marketplace | Spirit Day: Color Wars | Early Dismissal
Monday, June 9 | Promotion Ceremonies | Kindergarten - 10:00 a.m. |Grade 6 - Noon
Tuesday, June 10 | Field Day | Grades 1-5
Wednesday, June 11 | Last Day of School: Honors Chapel | Grades 1 & 2 - 9:00 a.m. | Grades 3 & 5 - 9:45 a.m.