The end of every school year is brimming with celebration––primarily for a productive year of learning and for anticipation of a glorious summer, of course, but also for new beginnings and poignant endings, the milestones that make up a life. The end of the 2022 school year brings us one of those milestones, this time in the form of a celebration for the long and faithful careers of two of RCLS’s best: Mrs. Suzanne Lagerwaard, Principal, and Mrs. Karen Holtan, 2nd grade teacher.
Bobcat Blog
Christmas shopping lately?
‘Tis the season, as they say, so we know RCLS parents have a few children’s gifts to think about.
We’re here to help!
Here you'll find assembled a "list of lists," dozens of ideas for gifts, games, or books your kids––or perhaps the Ronald McDonald House––would love for Christmas.
At RCLS, where our mission is to shape kids who are Grounded in Grace, Formed in Faith, and Committed to Learning for Life, service is a core value. The generosity that our students practice is fostered through a traditional weekly chapel collection as well as through special projects, such as when our Chapel Families packed student-donated items into 68 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes last week. Service is not an afterthought or even an “add on” to education at RCLS. Instead, it underlies and is integrated into the curriculum, designed to shape not just minds, but hearts, as well. Our 8th graders are leaders in this effort. Read how they direct our service each year.
The story below was first published on March 21, 2019 under the title "Mission Possible: Building a Legacy." Three weeks later, at the age of 50, Andrea Hanson was diagnosed with colon cancer, and she and Brian and their kids set out on a 2 1/2-year battle for healing. They set out on their journey with two goals. They wanted to do "this" well––that is, whatever "this" turned out to be. Andrea wanted to honor Jesus. Also, Brian and Andrea wanted to keep life as normal as they could for their kids, all the while fighting to extend her life as long as possible. Andrea hoped to be able to launch Joshua and Elizabeth into adulthood.
Earlier this week, RCLS held what is a unique ceremony in our area: a graduation for our 8th-grade class. Each year on the day after Memorial Day, we mark the end of the foundational years of education and bless a class of 8th-grade graduates as they progress on to the next stage of life and learning: high school!
This year, we’ve celebrated 20 graduates, a smaller class than we typically have, but an enduring (and endearing) group of kids, nonetheless. We welcome you to applaud them with us.
Last week, RCLS celebrated the retirements of four of its faculty and staff. These are people who have made RCLS what it is: a happy, healthy place to spend a childhood––or career, as the case may be.