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Frederickson Campus Blog

Women’s History Month

March 04, 2026
By Courtney Petersen, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives

March is a beautiful opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions women have made throughout history. It is also a time to reflect on the women who are faithfully walking in the callings God has placed on their lives and impacting the world around them.

In the Old Testament, we see the powerful example of Esther, a woman of great courage who became queen and risked her life to save the Jewish people. Her story reminds us of bravery, obedience, and standing firm against injustice.

In the New Testament, Mary Magdalene’s story is one of redemption and purpose. Once rejected and broken, she was restored and chosen by Jesus. She witnessed the crucifixion and the burial, and she was the first to witness the resurrection. Jesus entrusted her with the most important message of all. Her life reminds us that we are defined not by our worst moments but by God’s grace. She represents faith, leadership, and unwavering devotion as a woman of God!

In our community, we also have women shining in various God-given roles. Below are some highlights of Cascade Christian female leaders making an impact today.

 

Leader of the Future: Mila M., Fifth Grade Student at McAlder Campus

Mila was chosen as Mayor for McAlder Campus’s BizTown. She spoke confidently in front of her peers, helped keep the town running smoothly, and showed strong leadership every step of the way. BizTown, a program by Junior Achievement, is a hands-on educational simulation where fifth grade students operate a mock city, manage businesses, and learn real-world financial and career skills.

Mayor Mila rocked it! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leading for Purpose: Anniah Smith, Cascade Christian Class of 2022

Anniah is currently attending Pepperdine University, majoring in Political Science with a minor in English. She serves in leadership as a writer for Pepperdine Graphic Media and as a college organization president focused on civic engagement and public service. Some of her course highlights include Constitutional Law and Women, Power, and Leadership. We love seeing an alumna step confidently into leadership and live out her convictions while seeking to make a positive impact in God's world. 

 

 

Leading God’s Children: Haley (Zepernick) Barnett, Cascade Christian Class of 2013

Haley recently welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. Motherhood is a powerful leadership calling and balancing act: giving care, nurturing life, multitasking, adapting, showing empathy, and demonstrating incredible strength. We celebrate the beauty of women who lead both in their homes and beyond. We can’t wait to see how God uses this little one to impact the future!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leading for the Future: Mrs. Hertzog, High School Teacher

Mrs. Hertzog, one of our high school English teachers at CCS, pours into students every single day. She mentors, encourages, and prays for her students, and she creates a classroom environment where they feel seen and challenged to grow. On top of that, she balances teaching with being a wonderful mom to her own children who attend CCS. This photo shows Mrs. Hertzog with 2025 senior Grant J., who chose her as his Impact Teacher, a true reflection of the difference she makes. 

 

It’s such a gift to pause and reflect on the women around us, past and present, who are faithfully walking in their God-given callings. Whether standing for what is right, faithfully serving Jesus, raising children, mentoring students, or leading in their communities, God is using amazing women to build for His kingdom.

“Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 
—Esther 4:14 (NKJV)

RightNow Media Women’s Resource:

What the Women Saw: https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/content/details/388292

CCS Mother-Son Event

Tickets are on sale now for a Mother-Son night you won’t soon forget. Join us for a Neon 80s dance, some nerf games, and “totally tubular” fun.

Friday, March 6, at CCS McAlder Campus, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. 

Called to Honor and Serve

February 25, 2026
By Trevor Duplissey, Bible/Spiritual Life

“Jesus changes everything.” Those of us who have encountered his grace know this to be so, so true. While I first came to faith as a young kid, I have been blessed (though it didn’t feel like it at the time) by moments where I came to the end of myself, cried out to Jesus, and was met with his patience, love, and kindness, which led to repentance. These encounters and experiences are, for many of us, what grab the headlines of our stories of faith—and that’s good and beautiful. But as we have been walking through the book of Ephesians this year at CCS, one thing that has stood out to me has been that we are not simply called to moments of encounter with Jesus—we are called to follow him. To “walk in a manner worthy of the calling,” (Ephesians 4:1). So yes, Jesus changes everything: not just our circumstances, but our conduct as well.

Our theme for the upcoming month of March, coming from Ephesians 5:21–6:9, is “Called to Honor and Serve.” This passage and theme are, admittedly, a challenge for many in our culture. In these passages, Paul, through a series of examples, is talking about how followers of Jesus are to conduct themselves in relationships, particularly when authority is a factor. The examples themselves deserve more conversation than can be offered here, but Paul’s throughline is clear: As followers of Jesus, our relationships and how we see people must change. When we hold positions of authority, we should use it to bless and to support. When we are under authority, we are called to serve as unto the Lord. While our cultural situations may be different than Paul’s original readers, the calling is the same. Whether we have authority or are under it, we are to honor and serve those around us.

There is no more perfect example of this than Jesus himself. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul says that Jesus, “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,” (Philippians 2:6–8, ESV). Jesus is fully God, possessing tremendous power and authority, and yet he humbles himself and becomes obedient to serve. Whatever situation you find yourself in today, the example of Jesus is for you and is worth following. Are you in authority? Follow his lead and use that authority to bless and to serve. Are you under authority? Honor those in authority and serve as unto the Lord. In either case, this will likely feel costly from time to time. In those cases as well, Jesus meets us knowing better than we do about the pain that can come along with serving others.

How might the culture of our community, churches, families, nation, and world change if we as followers of Jesus truly submitted to our calling to honor and serve? The good news is that we can all make a choice today, in this specific way, to begin to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling.” Who can you honor today? Who can you serve today?

May we be a community that honors and serves in a way that looks a lot like Jesus! 

IMPACT Auction 2026!

February 18, 2026
By Morgan Utley, Annual Fund and Alumni Lead

The CCS community is in full swing preparing for the 2026 IMPACT Auction on Saturday, March 21, at Hotel Murano!

Our annual district-wide auction presents a special opportunity for the community to rally together to give items, experiences, and gifts that will tangibly translate into helping CCS students.  

This year’s auction proceeds serve a dual purpose of supporting CCS students that depend on Variable Tuition assistance, while also supporting the completion of Phase 1 of the Fields of Dreams sports complex. This dual case beautifully represents our February spiritual theme focus: Called to Walk in Love and Light.

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,” (Ephesians 5:8, ESV).

It’s incredible to think that every time someone asks their favorite local business if they’d like to give a gift certificate toward the auction, they’re actually helping students stay at the school they love. Similarly, it’s amazing to realize that every time someone donates their Airbnb, they’re helping light the fields for CCS student-athletes who are using their gifts to glorify God.  

The CCS Advancement Team has such a special seat where we get to see the district-wide body work together to give the most incredibly thoughtful items, baskets, getaways, experiences, services, and gifts. YOUR creativity is unmatched! Last year, we had…

  • Two CCHS mothers donate three-course private dinner experiences with menus representing their country of origin!
  • Kindergartners from McAlder Elementary professionally bind a cookbook filled with their recipes and illustrations!
  • A Puyallup Elementary grandfather donate his boat for an afternoon on American Lake with “Grandpa” as their personal captain!
  • A Frederickson Elementary father donate personal ski lessons and a special mountain getaway at his family’s cabin!
  • An early learning center mother donate the ultimate swim lessons experience from her children’s swim school!  
  • A junior high student’s grandfather donate an entire she shed, making auction history!
  • CCS alumni parents donate a platinum level 1 gym membership for a year to their family-owned gym!

The IMPACT Auction would not be possible without the love poured out from our incredible CCS families. Thank you for sharing your time, talents, and treasures. Every time you do, CCS students experience God’s love!  

If you’d like to give to the 2026 IMPACT Auction, please complete the online procurement form and deliver your item to your school office by Friday, February 20.

Midpoint Milestones and Community Celebrations

February 11, 2026
By Annie Pichot, Principal

As we step into the second half of the school year, I am filled with gratitude for the growth, joy, and momentum we continue to see on our Frederickson Campus. February has arrived with full calendars, chilly mornings, and so many reminders that God is faithfully at work in the hearts of our community.  

This time of year naturally invites reflection. Our students have worked hard to close out the first semester, and we are proud of the perseverance and progress we continue to see in classrooms each day. With opportunities like our winter Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) testing and Honors Chapel celebrations, we have been able to recognize and celebrate both the academic growth and character development of our students. At Frederickson, learning is not just about knowledge; it is about shaping hearts and minds for a kingdom purpose.

Our spiritual theme this month, “Called to Walk in Love and Light,” has been especially meaningful. We have been reminding students that walking in love looks like choosing kindness, patience, and compassion, even when it is difficult. Walking in light means living with integrity and doing what is right, even when no one is watching. These truths are woven into our chapels, classroom conversations, and daily interactions, helping students understand that faith is not something we turn on and off but instead something we live out each day.

February also brings beautiful moments of community connection. From Valentine’s Day traditions and Read Across America celebrations, to family events like ice skating night and Grandparent’s Day, our campus continues to be a place where relationships matter. We are especially grateful for our parent community. Their generosity and servant-hearted involvement bless our teachers and students in countless ways.

I continue to be encouraged by the joy I see in our hallways, the growth I witness in our classrooms, and the faith being nurtured in our students. Thank you for partnering with us, praying for and with us, and trusting us with your children each and every day. It is a gift to walk alongside your family as we do life, learning, and faith together.

May we all continue to walk in love and light by reflecting Christ in all we do. 

 

 

Recent Posts

3/4/26 - By Courtney Petersen, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives
2/25/26 - By Trevor Duplissey, Bible/Spiritual Life
2/18/26 - By Morgan Utley, Annual Fund and Alumni Lead
2/11/26 - By Annie Pichot, Principal
2/4/26 - By CCS Student Directors Matthew Dewey and Joeli Kramer

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