High School Blog

This school year, our students have been walking through the book of Ephesians chapter by chapter. Now we enter the final section, where Paul describes the armor of God. It’s a powerful reminder that as followers of Jesus, we are loved, chosen, and called and that God equips us for the spiritual battles we face each day.

Just like athletes regularly practice in full gear and our theatre students rehearse in costumes before opening night, we need to practice using the armor God gives us. In our household, my husband Jake and I workout and train regularly, and a common question Jake gets is, “are you training for something?” His answer is usually, “Life!” Need to move the piano? Done. Late for a flight? We can run pretty fast if needed! Strength and preparation help us face challenges confidently. The same is true spiritually: We grow stronger when we regularly “train” in God’s truth.

Here’s the armor Paul describes (Ephesians 6:10–17):

The Belt of Truth reminds us that everything starts with knowing God’s truth. It holds the rest of the armor in place and gives us a steady foundation for making wise choices.

The Breastplate of Righteousness protects our hearts and guides not just our actions but also our attitudes. It’s about doing the right thing with the right spirit.

Shoes Fitted with the Gospel of Peace give us a firm footing and help us access peace with God through Jesus no matter what circumstances come.

The Shield of Faith teaches us to place our trust in God’s strength instead of our own. As Romans 8:28 reminds us, God is always working for the good of those who love Him.

The Helmet of Salvation guards our minds with the truth of who we are in Christ: secure, loved, and rescued.

The Sword of the Spirit (God’s Word) is our defense and our strength. Scripture helps us fight lies, but it also helps us honor and uplift others (just as a sword is used not only in battle but also in ceremonies of blessing and recognition!).

We learn from Jesus that we should respond to temptation with Scripture, and this highlights the importance of knowing and practicing God’s Word. On top of that, prayer keeps us connected to Him. In the RightNow media series, Engage about the armor of God, Jennifer Hicks adds, “Prayer is essential to victoriously engaging the enemy. In battle, prayer is the communication system that keeps the soldier connected to the Commander-in-Chief.” (You can check out the entire series here.)

As we enter this month’s chapels and take a deeper look at the armor of God, I want to encourage you and your family. Just like our students practice their sports skills, rehearse their lines in theatre, practice math problems, or train in their musical talents, this month is a chance to practice “wearing” our spiritual armor: to learn it, try it on, and make it part of daily life.

We’re excited to walk through this with our students and continue to help them grow strong, confident, and grounded in God’s truth. I am praying this month will be a meaningful time of learning how to “armor up” together! With the armor of God and a life rooted in prayer, we can face this world with His strength, His peace, and His confidence.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10–13, NIV)

RightNow Media Videos for this Month:

Kids:

https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/content/details/876183

https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/content/details/374938

Junior High, High School, and Adults:

https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/content/details/934953

Lastly, this week’s poem was written by junior high student Kylie Barns. Enjoy!

The Echo Between Years

The years unfold like dust and flame,

Each joy and wound without a name.

We learned to run before we knew,

How fast the world could vanish too.

The sky was wide, our hearts were small,

Yet dared to dream beyond it all.

And though we leave, we never go—

The child we were still hums below.

We are preparing to mail out our annual State of the School report, and we are eager to share how God has continued to move in and through our community this year. As we reflect on all He has done, we do so through the lens of our spiritual theme, Called for a Purpose. We believe each student, family, and staff member at CCS has been uniquely called by God, and this year’s story is one of faithfully walking in that calling together.

In this report, you will find updates on the Vision 2035 Goals that serve as the foundation of our district’s growth and direction:

• Student Experience
• Operations
• Community

Throughout each of these areas, we see evidence of God’s purpose unfolding. This year, we have officially reframed Vision 2030 as Vision 2035, which gives us a meaningful opportunity to restate our mission and purpose at Cascade Christian Schools. We are also celebrating many encouraging milestones: becoming a national leader in school safety and security; welcoming our two new Cougar mascots, Creed and C.C.; continued growth in MAP test scores; the addition of the “Big Cat” bus; and the many ways our community has come together to connect and grow. Each of these moments reminds us that when we pursue excellence with Christ at the center, He faithfully multiplies our efforts.

Our dedication to Jesus and our commitment to wisdom, integrity, excellence, and honor continue to shape who we are. CCS is not simply a school district; CCS is a Christ-centered community where students are formed, leaders are developed, and families are strengthened for God’s purposes.

You will receive the printed report in your mailbox soon, and we’ve got a digital version available for you to review online. If you have any questions after reading, we encourage you to reach out to your school leader.