Puyallup Elementary Blog

At Puyallup Elementary, we believe leadership is not something students suddenly learn in high school: it is a skill that can be nurtured and developed early. This year, we launched a Sixth Grade Student Leadership Program designed to give our oldest elementary students meaningful opportunities to serve, lead, and positively impact our school community.

Our sixth graders begin their leadership journey by completing an application to participate in the program. This process encourages students to think about their strengths, interests, and how they can best contribute to the school. It also reinforces the importance of responsibility and commitment when taking on a leadership role.

Once selected, students are given the opportunity to serve in a variety of roles across campus. These leadership positions allow them to develop confidence, responsibility, and a heart for serving others. Some of the roles our sixth graders can fill include:

• Morning Greeters who welcome students and families with a friendly smile as they arrive at school
• Crossing Guards who ensure students safely cross campus areas during busy times
• Cougar Announcements Team members who help deliver daily announcements to keep our community informed
• Chapel Leaders who assist in leading chapels, prayer, and other elements of our school chapels
• Peer Tutors who support younger students in the classroom by offering encouragement and academic help
• Lost and Found Helpers who work to reconnect students with items that have been misplaced

These opportunities allow our students to practice leadership in real and practical ways. They learn that leadership is not just about being in charge but about serving others, showing responsibility, and being a positive example for younger students.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this program has been watching our sixth graders grow in confidence and maturity. They take pride in their roles and understand that younger students are watching and learning from their example.

We are incredibly proud of the students who have stepped forward this year to serve with dedication and responsibility. Their willingness to lead reflects the strong character and community spirit we value at Puyallup Elementary.

By investing in leadership at this stage, we are helping our students develop skills that will serve them far beyond elementary school. More importantly, we are encouraging them to use their gifts to make a difference in the lives of others.

Our sixth graders have truly shown what responsible leadership looks like, and we are grateful for the positive impact they continue to have on our school community. 

And in honor of National Poetry Month…

A Gentle Whisper 
By Grace Harvey

A gentle wind whispers through the daisies

Lay down lay down

Your fear

Lay down lay down

That’s the only thing you hear

A mighty storm approaches the horizon

You hear the whisper again

Slow down slow down

It’s okay to take a while

Slow down slow down

Take time to smile

A gale rips through your hair

You hear the whisper again

You’re safe you’re safe

I’m here my child

You’re safe you’re safe

I died to save you, my love for you is wild

To Read 
By Isabel Sherwood

To read is to live a thousand lives and die a thousand deaths. To love with the lovers and weep with the grievers. To conquer with the courageous and bleed out with the wounded. To see the wonders of a thousand worlds; to hear the melody of a thousand stories. To see the most disgraceful of the wicked; to hear a thousand cries of anguish from the innocent. But to stop reading is to be torn from life, and to never read is to never live at all. 

There are seasons when you get to watch God’s faithfulness unfold in real time. This has been one of those years at Cascade Christian Schools.

When we, the CCS Board of Trustees, began the process of searching for our next superintendent, we carried a deep sense of responsibility and an even deeper sense of dependence on the Lord’s guidance. We didn’t take our task lightly. We prayed. We listened. We trusted that God had already prepared the right leader for this next chapter.

First, I want to honor Dr. Friesen for his faithful service. Stepping into leadership is one thing; stewarding leadership with grace and steadiness is another. Dr. Friesen has done that. He led well, he cared deeply, and he will leave a legacy of integrity that has strengthened this school. We are profoundly grateful for him.

And then God opened the door to Robb Warfield, a leader whose experience, heart for Christian education, and vision for what’s ahead got our entire board excited. His arrival isn’t just a hire—it’s a provision from the God we serve.

On a personal note, this year also gave me an unexpected gift. As a dad with kids walking these hallways, I had the privilege of co-teaching a Biblical Perspectives on Work, Finance, and Leadership course at the high school with Petrona Kasemeier. Standing in front of students, including some of my daughter Natalie’s classmates, and exploring what Scripture says about vocation, finances, stewardship, and purpose reminded me why our schools exist: Beyond education, our classes are about preparing students for a Christ-centered life well after their years at CCS.

Psalm 37:23 (ESV) says, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way.” This year, I’ve watched that truth play out across our schools in a search guided by prayer, a transition handled with dignity, and a classroom where faith and life collided.

Thanks be to God for another amazing year at CCS!

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This week, we have three thoughtful poems written by McAlder Elementary students. Thank you to this week’s featured poets for using creativity to impact our community!