Bobcat Blog

Along with the pool, the lake, and summer vacations, we hope reading takes center stage for your child this summer. Most parents (and all teachers) recognize that summer reading is imperative to preventing "summer slide"––the loss of critical literacy skills. Even more, reading is not just for maintaining these skills, but also for promoting moral development and social/emotional well-being. Who of us does not recall being lost in the pages of a marvelous literary adventure as a child? Those instances were critical soul-shaping, empathy-producing, mind-growing moments for us. We'd like to help you create such moments for your own children. We're beginning those efforts with our online Summer Reading Fair. Need some more suggestions in addition to our recommended reading list? Take a look at this list of book series, and happy reading!

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.