Frederickson Campus Blog
Honoring 2025’s Salutatorian and Valedictorian
June 11, 2025
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)
Even When...
June 04, 2025
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
Concluding the School Year with Gratitude and Joy
May 27, 2025
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.
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Farewell, Elementary School
May 20, 2025
Cascade Christian Schools has really made a huge impact on both my life and my faith. Whether spontaneously praying with you during reading or coming over to help you personally, the staff at CCS are here to make sure you feel known and valued. I came to CCS in second grade during 2020, not really knowing what to expect. It was hard to start out the year online, but my teacher, Mrs. Vilhauer, taught us well and made personal connections with us. Making friends was easy, even for a once shy second grader like me. Over the years, I have made so many memories and friends. There was one time when we all got to eat Goldfish crackers in fourth grade, and another time when we surprised Mrs. Peterson with flowers on Principal’s Day in sixth grade. I will miss you in the adventures ahead, Puyallup Elementary!
“The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” —Psalm 126:3 (NIV)
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