McAlder Blog

The beginning of a new school year always brings a special kind of excitement: the fresh notebooks and sharpened pencils, the chatter filling classrooms, the laughter on the playground, and the joy of welcoming our students and families back into our school community. But even more than that, it is a time for us to pause and remember the calling God has placed on each of our lives.

Our district-wide spiritual theme this year is “Called for a Purpose.” As a staff, we spent time reflecting on what that means for us—not only as teachers, but also as Christ-followers walking in God’s purpose.

In preparation for this school year, our team asked two important questions together:

What seeds has God planted in me?

What kind of soil do I want to cultivate this year?

These questions helped us look beyond lesson plans and classroom decorations, reminding us that God is the true gardener of our lives. His Word tells us in Ephesians 3:17 that we are to be “rooted and established in love.” Just as seeds need healthy soil to grow, we also want our classrooms to be places where love, grace, and encouragement are the foundation. Our prayer is that every child feels deeply known, valued, and celebrated as the image bearers of Christ.  

As a symbol of this reflection, each staff member planted a flower bulb and prayed over our students, our families, and the year ahead. Just as bulbs lie hidden for a time before bursting forth into life, we trust that God is at work in unseen ways, preparing each of us to grow in His timing. While we wait in anticipation for these bulbs to bloom into a beautiful garden of flowers in the spring, we also wait expectantly for the ways God will cause growth in our students and in our school community throughout the year.

I'm thrilled to partner with the McAlder staff, families, and community as your principal, and I can't wait to see all that God will do IN and THROUGH each of us this school year.  

For Christ and His Kingdom,  

Wendy Blocher, M.Ed. 

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)