McAlder Campus Blog
He Is Making Us New!
September 09, 2026
Welcome back, Cascade Christian community!
It was such a gift to spend last school year walking through the book of Ephesians together as we considered what it means to be Called for a Purpose. This year, our spiritual theme takes us to another of Paul’s letters and to a simple but profound promise:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” —2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
The headline here is fairly obvious: when we are in Christ—when we put our trust in Jesus—we are made new.
Maybe you’ve heard or read this verse countless times, or maybe it’s brand new to you. Either way, you might be finding yourself asking, “That sounds great, but what does it actually mean?”
While the complete answer to that question certainly deserves more space than we can take up here, one thing we can say for sure is that being made new means transformation.
Think about some of the experiences in life that change us: starting at a new school, taking the first steps into adulthood, getting married, having kids. Each of these experiences can change us in profound ways, but none of them can (or should) transform us entirely. With that in mind, consider this: if those life experiences shape us, how much more should encountering Jesus radically change every single thing about us? Paul seems to be suggesting that an encounter with Jesus ought to result in transformation so profound that we should say, “new creation!”
Being made new in Christ is not simply about believing the right things and then waiting around to go to Heaven. Life with Christ is a life in which he is continuously transforming us and inviting us to participate in the new creation work he is already doing in us, the people around us, and throughout the world.
This year, we are excited to explore some of the different ways Scripture describes that transformation. We will talk about a new heart and a new identity. A new mind and a new way of abiding in Christ. A new power and a new way to live. A new mission, a new hope, and ultimately the promise of a new creation.
In other words, “made new” is not merely something that happened once in the past. It describes the life into which Jesus is inviting us.
But there is another important part of this theme: being made new is not just about us.
God does not transform us simply so that we can feel better about ourselves. We are not made new so that we can check a religious box or add “Christian” to the list of things that describe us.
From the beginning, God’s desire was to partner with human beings as his image bearers—for us to reflect his character and goodness into the world he created. Sin fractures that purpose. It separates us from God, but it also separates us from the fullness of what we were created to be.
And then comes Jesus.
Because of the perfect life and sacrificial death of Christ, we are reconciled to God. We are invited into joyful relationship with him, and from that place of security and belonging, we are sent back into the world to live as the people God created us to be. We are made new, and then we are invited to participate in what God is doing.
That happens in big ways, but perhaps even more often it happens in ordinary ones. In our families. In our classrooms. On our playgrounds. In our offices. In conversations with friends. In how we treat the person who frustrates us. In how we respond when someone needs compassion, forgiveness, truth, or hope.
Everywhere we go, we have the opportunity to live as people who have encountered the good news of Jesus and are being transformed by it.
Please join us in praying for our community this year: that our spiritual theme would go beyond a talking point or a program but would become a starting point for real impact and transformation for students, staff, families, and our community at large as we come to a deeper understanding of what it means to be made new in Christ.
As you and your family get back into the rhythms of the school year, our prayer is that you experience peace that comes from a joyful reliance on the Lord and the miraculously good news of the gospel—that we have security in the work of Jesus, and that he is making us new!
A New Year at McAlder
September 02, 2026
Welcome to a new school year, McAlder families!
Our spiritual theme for this year is “Made New,” and it feels fitting that our campus has been experiencing a little “made new” of its own. Fresh paint, polished floors, and new turf on our playground await our students and their families! We are so thankful for God’s timely provision and our community’s generosity. These improvements are a beautiful reminder of what can happen when people come together to invest in something they believe in. Thank you for your support.
Our McAlder Campus is ready for students, and our teachers and staff are ready too! Last week we spent time growing in professional development, connecting with one another, and praying and preparing for the year ahead. Our teachers invested time in learning new ways to challenge and encourage students and ensure that each student has access to an enriching education. I’m so proud of the heart and dedication our teachers have shown and continue to show both in and out of the classroom. We are truly blessed with the best staff.
As we transition into another school year, my prayer is that our theme “Made New” would change our perspective on the work Christ is doing in our hearts. I am reminded that God’s work in our lives often looks much like the changes we have watched take place around our campus. Renewal doesn’t always happen all at once. Sometimes it happens slowly, quietly, and little by little. God shapes our character, changes our hearts, and draws us closer to him as we learn to follow him more faithfully. What may seem like small changes in the moment become something beautiful over time.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” —2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV
Being “made new” is not simply about a fresh start or a new calendar. It is about the continual work Christ is doing in and through us as he shapes us into the people he has called us to be.
I’m excited to step into another school year with you all. Thank you for trusting us with your children and for continuing to partner with us as we learn, grow, and follow Jesus together.
For Christ and His Kingdom,
Wendy Blocher, M.Ed.
The Super Six: CCS Seniors Earn Highest Honors
June 10, 2026
At CCS, we believe that a student’s education is about more than just earning good grades: It’s about becoming the person God has called you to be.
This year, the Class of 2026 recognizes six students (or as we like to call them, the “Super Six”) who have earned the distinction of Highest Honors, our most prestigious academic award.
We are proud to recognize Amelia Caldwell, Joeli Kramer, Brandon Ma, Peyton Metcalfe, Caleb Mitton, and Evangeline Zylstra with this award.
Earning Highest Honors is no small accomplishment. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.98 or higher while also completing at least 6.0 credits of Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment, or Concurrent Credit coursework, including a minimum of 3.0 AP credits. This achievement represents years of perseverance, discipline, and a commitment to pursuing the most rigorous academic opportunities available.
Yet, what makes these six students especially remarkable is that they did FAR more than excel in the classroom.
Collectively, these students embraced nearly every aspect of the CCS experience. They challenged themselves through dual enrollment coursework, and one student even earned an Associate of Arts degree in STEM through Liberty University. They participated in choir and band performances, cross-country races, soccer games, and cheer competitions. Through it all, they made time to serve on the worship team, lead others as class officers, and contribute to the Senior Mural. They also invested in their community through the National Honor Society (NHS), and one student served as the NHS president this year!
In short, these six students didn’t just attend CCS—they fully experienced it! Their accomplishments remind us of what makes Cascade Christian Schools unique. Students do not have to choose between academics, athletics, arts, leadership, service, and faith development. Here, they can pursue all of those opportunities while being known and valued, challenged, and encouraged along the way.
The accomplishments of these six seniors reflect years of hard work, determination, and dedication to step into opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. They have distinguished themselves not only through their academic achievements but also through their leadership, character, and spiritual growth.
As they prepare for the next chapter, they leave behind a legacy that will inspire future CCS students to dream bigger, work harder, and take full advantage of everything our schools have to offer.
Congratulations to our Super Six—Amelia Caldwell, Joeli Kramer, Brandon Ma, Peyton Metcalfe, Caleb Mitton, and Evangeline Zylstra. Thank you for setting such a strong example for future CCS graduates! We cannot wait to see how God continues to use your gifts and talents as you tackle future goals and aspirations.
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Not Goodbye, Just See You Around
June 03, 2026
As I put hands on my keyboard to write this blog, I do so with a great deal of mixed emotions. This is one more of the “last time” events I am experiencing this spring, since this is the final year-end blog I will write as superintendent. That realization gives a great deal of “weightiness” to the remaining words I will choose, because I want them to be as significant and profound as possible.
When my wife and I think about our time here at Cascade Christian, the words that come to mind quickly are: honored, humbled, and extremely grateful. We are honored and humbled to have been given the opportunity to serve for twelve years (way beyond the national average) at one of the country’s premier Christian schools. And we are extremely grateful for the amazing people God has allowed us the opportunity and privilege to serve with in our time here. To all of those amazing people, which certainly includes current and past parents, we want to say a deep, heartfelt thank-you! It is hard to find the words to adequately express just how truly grateful we are. From my four years as high school principal to the past eight years as superintendent, my wife and I have been made to feel extremely known and valued. It is somewhat ironic to me that what has mattered most to me—making others feel known and valued—is what we have experienced from this community at the highest possible level.
As we transition out of the roles of superintendent and superintendent’s wife to the roles of “Papa” and “Nana” to our two grandchildren who will be in second and third grades at the McAlder Campus next year, we don’t say goodbye: We say see you around. We will still be around, just in a different capacity, which is a much lighter one for us. We also want to leave you with this blessing from Numbers 6:24–26 (NIV): “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Our deep hope and prayer for you is that you will experience God’s richest blessings in the forms of peace, hope, joy, and love. If you have those things, you have everything you need.
With deep gratitude, in His service, and for the last time,
Ken and Karen