Meet Coach Heckman!

Meet Coach Heckman!

What’s your new ICS position?

​I am the new High School Cross Country Head Coach.

Where are you from?

My husband and I are from Nashville, TN.  We moved our family out here 6 years ago, following my husband's job in Lehi.

Where do you go to church?

Our family attends Prince of Peace Lutheran in Taylorsville, and Good News Lutheran in Lehi.

Tell us about your family!

My husband, Tom, is the Head of Treasury for Atlas Renewable Energy, an international solar company.  We have 4 children: Elizabeth and Katherine, our 21 year old twins who attend Lee University in Cleveland, TN, and NAU in Flagstaff, AZ, respectively.  Both have been running since middle school, and Elizabeth runs on the Lee University cross country and track teams. Our nine year old daughter, Tyler, loves horses and riding. Our eight year old son, Walker, loves hiking and exploring, and enjoys horseback riding as well.  Both attend Prince of Peace Lutheran School in Taylorsville.  I have a Masters in Music Composition, and I write, arrange, and teach music when I'm not coaching running.  Our family truly enjoys being outdoors in God's creation.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I'm fairly level-headed in an emergency, but unexpected questions from my children, especially when they were younger, tend to throw me off or fluster me! They have stories of parent fails when I couldn't think of a good explanation fast enough for their little brains.

What are you looking forward to most in your new role at ICS?

​I am looking forward to seeing how each of the athletes develop over the season, as young athletes as well as young Christians. It's fun to look back and see where you've come from to where you are now, and reflect on all of the challenges that brought you there.

What else would you like for the ICS community to know about you? Fun fact?

I couldn't come up with anything; my brain is still in summer mode and that's a lot of work to think of an answer to apparently!

Meet Coach Lusk!

Meet Coach Lusk!

What’s your new ICS position?

I am the new High School Girls Basketball Coach.

Where are you from?

I am originally from Jackson, Missouri. I went to college in Rolla, Missouri and met my husband Braden. After college, we lived in Cleveland, Ohio; Hutchinson, Kansas; Lexington, Kentucky; and returned to Rolla, Missouri in 2016. In 2018, Braden accepted a position at Dyno Nobel which is headquartered in Salt Lake City.  We made the move to Utah in 2020.

Where do you go to church?

My family attends Grace Lutheran in Sandy, UT.

Tell us about your family!

As mentioned above, my husband is Braden and he works for Dyno Nobel which is an explosives manufacturer.  Braden has a PhD in Mining Engineering with an emphasis in explosives engineering.  We have been married for 21 years.  We have been blessed with two amazing daughters Kendrick and Gillian.  Kendrick and Gillian both attend ICS.  Kendrick will be a freshman this year, and Gillian will be in 7th grade.   The final member of our family is our 10 year old goldendoodle, Thunder, who thinks he is just one of the kids.

What are you most passionate about?

As a current stay-at-home mom, most people don't know that I have a BS in Civil Engineering and a PhD in Mining Engineering. I am also a registered Professional Engineer in Kentucky.  I am a big supporter of STEM education. 

What are you looking forward to most in your new role at ICS?

I am so excited to be a part of the ICS Athletics Team!  I am most looking forward to getting to know the girls basketball players and hope to share with them some of the life lessons/skills I learned from basketball, such as mental toughness, being a good teammate and strong competitor, setting and achieving goals, and having fun playing sports. Most importantly, I want to help the players enjoy and utilize the gifts and abilities that God has given them.  I look forward to seeing how we come together as a team and use these gifts to glorify God.

What else would you like for the ICS community to know about you? Fun fact?

My family loves boating and the lake! We boat on Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri.

Meet Coach Peek!

Meet Coach Peek!

What’s your new ICS position?

I am the new Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach.

Where are you from?

We moved out here from Colorado in 2018 because this is where Jesus wanted us to be and he made that VERY clear to us!

Where do you go to church?

We are involved at The Point Church where I serve as a fill-in preacher and help lead the men's group.

Tell us about your family!

My wife Tara and I have 5 kids: AJ, Vivy, Shaya, Arie, and Emmet; and 2 dogs, Jovie and Roo.

What are you most passionate about?

I work full-time in the printed packaging industry and host the world's largest packaging podcast along with having a decent TikTok following @packagingpastor. I have also given a TED talk!

What are you looking forward to most in your new role at ICS?

Basketball is the only sport ever invented with the sole intent of bringing people to a saving knowledge of Jesus. I love coaching the game I've grown to love because it can reach young men some incredible life lessons and bring them closer in vertical relationship to God and horizontal relationships with their teammates, coaches, and students.

What else would you like for the ICS community to know about you? Fun fact?

In 1982, my mom entered me into the the Santa Clara County Baby Pageant and I took second. The judges said I was 100% healthy and only 98% beautiful. Good things Jesus loves me 100%! Oh yeah, I have 2 hip hop songs on iTunes and I'm working on making an EP with a friend of mine as well. Stay tuned! I'm so excited to serve the ICS community, go win some basketball games, and teach people about Jesus through basketball!

Meet Coach Hubbard!

Meet Coach Hubbard!

What’s your new ICS position?

I am the new Girl’s High School Volleyball Coach.

Where are you from?

I was actually born in Salt Lake, but was raised and married in Nampa, Idaho before moving back to Salt Lake to work for a commercial building contractor in 1989.

Where do you go to church?

Rosewood Lane Church of the Nazarene in Layton, UT.

Tell us about your family!

My wife, Diane, and I are retired and are coming up on our 46th Anniversary! We have two sons, two daughters, and six grandchildren.

What are you most passionate about?

I love spending time with my family and helping with construction/maintenance projects at our Church. I also never turn down an opportunity to go on a river float trip.

What are you looking forward to most in your new role at ICS?

I am looking forward to developing a volleyball program for middle school thru high school, that is competitive year in/year out, reflects the values of ICS, and allows student athletes the opportunity to discover their unique talents and abilities, as well as become strong lifetime disciples (on and off the volleyball court).

What else would you like for the ICS community to know about you? Fun fact?

I enjoy camping, driving in the backcountry, photography, and woodworking (though that has been more of a work than a hobby). Fun fact? I am somewhat of a real-life Mike Wazowski. I ran a pre-install door shop for 5 years before retiring.

Meet Mrs. Parker!

Meet Mrs. Parker!

What’s your new ICS title and position?

I am the new elementary librarian & teacher's aide!

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Michigan, where I still have lots of family. I've lived in South Carolina, Indiana, and Colorado. Our family moved to Utah in 2017 to be a part of Gospel Hope Church, where my husband is one of the pastors.

Where do you go to church?

Gospel Hope Church

Tell us about your family!

My husband Matt (familiar to the ICS family) and I have been married 18 years! We have an energetic red-headed son named Timothy who will attend ICS as a 1st grader this fall.

What is something most people don’t know about?

I really enjoy singing, am an avid sports fan (Michigan Wolverines Football especially), and I like to go camping and hiking with family and friends.

What are you most passionate about?

After a few years away, I'm excited to be back working in a school setting. I'm really thankful to teach children at a Christian school where we can weave God and His truth into everything we do and everything we teach.

What are you looking forward to most in your new role at ICS?

My husband worked at ICS in a couple of roles and raved about the team and the community. I'm looking forward to getting to experience it all for myself and with our son!

Meet Mrs. Harp!

What’s your new ICS title and position?

I will be a full-time pre-k teacher.

Where are you from? 

I’m originally from Iowa. Utah is the fifth state I have lived in since being married. I have also lived in San Antonio, TX, Mandeville, LA, and various Chicago, IL areas. We moved to Utah back in 2006 when my husband’s company transferred him here for a project with Intermountain Healthcare.

Where do you go to church?

Our home church is South Mountain Community Church in Draper.

Tell us about your family!

Mike and I met in college and have been married 30 years! We have four crazy, amazing, growing and grown-up kids. Their names are Emily (28), Steven (26), Shelby (20 and attends CCU in Lakewood, CO) and Nate (17 and a senior this year). 

What is something most people don’t know about?

I love to sing and dance in my kitchen! My hobbies include singing, reading, journaling and studying my Bible. I also love the outdoors here in Utah and love getting up in the mountains! I enjoy spending time hiking, exploring and camping.

What are you most passionate about?

Having taught the 4 and 5 year old age group for 18 years, I am passionate about sharing the love of Jesus with them and exploring this beautiful world God has made! It also brings me joy to see them excited about learning something new.

What are you looking forward to most in your new role at ICS?

I love the mission statement here at ICS and how faith is infused in all that is done here. I am looking forward to working with an age group I love alongside other teachers and families who love the Lord in this community. I am excited to begin a new season of adventure and growth!

Music Tour 2022

By Shanna Hafemann, ICS music faculty

Before August 2022, the last time I was in a school, I was a student. A nervous wreck, I entered ICS on my first day, a teacher. I handed out the syllabus to my first class and shakingly asked if there were any questions. Several hands shot up, and the question was asked, as if no other questions mattered, “Is there going to be a Tour this year?” All other hands went down.

ICS Music Tour is a long standing, dearly cherished, highly anticipated tradition at ICS. I remember answering that student with an emphatic “yes!” all the while having no idea what “Music Tour” actually meant. So I started my research. I spent a handful of class periods discussing with students their most memorable moments and their favorite traditions. I attended several meetings trying to understand the financial and schedule constraints. I looked up prior year’s plans and yet I still struggled to find a way to clearly define what ICS’s annual Music Tour actually was. So, with the little bit of knowledge I had acquired, a phenomenal co-planner, Amy Florell, and the tiniest bit of hope, we created something, having no idea if it would live up to the expectations of this beloved tradition.

This year, Tour was designed with two priorities in mind: service and connection. The first two days of Tour were spent serving our local community. Sunday we performed for the Rescue Mission and Valley Behavioral Health, where we were able to hold an intimate, sensory-friendly concert for those who might struggle to attend a larger event. On Monday, we hosted a music therapy program where our own pre-kindergarteners and a group of individuals with various disabilities were invited to attend (pictured above). As we researched and planned the event, we discovered that there was much we did not know or understand about people living with disabilities and their families. The biggest insight we gained is that their community is grossly undeserved. Many people misunderstand or are unsure of how to interact around people with disabilities and many facilities and families lack the resources and knowledge to adequately accommodate them. As we held our event, I looked around and observed my students connecting, including, and empowering other human beings using something they loved, music. As one of my students so eloquently summarized the experience, “On Tours in the past, we would always have to leave the people we made connections with and wait a year to show love to them again. That was so painful. We don’t have to do that anymore, because the people we connected with this week are right here in our own hometown.” This community is one that I hope to continue to serve through Music Tour and other ICS music events. 

The second two days were used to explore how we could use music to connect with each other, with ourselves, and with God. We played several games that pushed us out of our comfort zone, including a musical TikTok challenge. Needless to say, I have some incriminating evidence for how hilarious these students can be. We took time to worship together and allowed a couple of local pastors to speak into our lives. But even with all these special moments, there is still one I have yet to let you in on. I challenged the kids to get vulnerable, to get honest, and to get creative in a songwriting session. Imagine with me. You are in a large cabin with big glass windows and vaulted ceilings. The snow is falling outside and a tea kettle is heating on the stove. In one corner, a girl is humming and pauses to write out a lyric. A young man is strumming the guitar on a couch, while a piano is being learned in another corner. Someone else is editing loops on their laptop, while others retreat to a secluded place to write or sing out their thoughts. The last evening, several students were brave enough to perform their work. During many of the songs, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. In just a few phrases and with a whole lot of vulnerability, we were able to glorify our God, empathize with our peers, and understand one another on a deeper level.

So, I survived my first Music Tour. How fortunate I am to lead this amazing group of students. After all this, I still can’t describe to you what it means to experience an ICS Music Tour. However, I can define why ICS’s Music Tour is so unique. Music is the tool we use, the commonality we each hold, both with our peers and our audiences. Tour is the journey God takes us on as we take the time to serve His beloved, lean into those around us, and learn what next steps He calls us to faithfully walk with Him.

Meet Mr. Christiansen!

Meet Mr. Christiansen!

What's your new ICS title and position?

I am the new high school math teacher!

Where are you from? If you're not originally from UT, how did you end up here?

I was born in Alaska, but moved to Utah when I was 4 and grew up here, attending ICS from Preschool through 12th grade.

Where do you go to Church?

I am currently attending South Mountain Community Church in South Jordan.

Tell us about your family!

I am married to my wife Leah (15 years) and have 2 daughters, Marlow (10 years old) and Bobbie (8 years old).  We also have two dogs, Miko (Border Collie/Australian Shepherd Mix) and Nala (Lab Mix).  We love to camp, hike, rock climb, ski, play basketball and softball, and hang out with friends and family.

What is something most people don't know about you? OR What are you most passionate about?

I am pretty passionate about making math a good experience for my students. The subject has gotten a bad rap over the years and so I try to work hard to make sure students enjoy learning it regardless of what kind of skills they enter the classroom with.

What are you looking forward to most in your new role at ICS?

I am most looking for to connecting with my students and getting reconnected in the ICS community. I've been away from ICS for a long time now, but still know that the community atmosphere at the school is great and deepens the learning environment for the students and the work environment for the faculty and staff.

What else would you like the ICS community to know about you?

I kind of gave you some of this info in question 4, but I guess you could also add one more fun fact.  I was born in the Alaskan town of North Pole. It's basically Christmas all year round up there with candy cane street lights and a permanent Santa's Village. It's also one of the few cities in the U.S. that the postal service sends the Santa letters to that kids randomly drop in the mail around Christmas.

Meet Mrs. Skinner!

Meet Mrs. Skinner!

What's your new ICS title and position?

I am excited to be teaching 2nd grade at ICS this year! 

Where are you from? If you're not originally from UT, how did you end up here?

Originally, I am from West Virginia, but have called Utah home for the past 7 years. My husband and I moved here in 2015 to be involved with church planting in the valley. 

Where do you go to Church?

We attend Gospel Grace Church in Salt Lake City.

Tell us about your family!

Joe and I have been married for 8 years and have an adorable labradoodle pup named London. Some hobbies we enjoy doing together are playing disc golf, hiking, and climbing, but we are always up for learning a new sport or trying an outdoor activity. London loves to tag along, too! 

What is something most people don't know about you? OR What are you most passionate about?

One thing I am passionate about is nature! I love learning about the creation around us and how our world works. It always points me back to what an amazing Creator our God is and anchors my faith in His steadfast love and unfailing care. I am so excited to be in awe of God and His world together with my class of 2nd graders this year!

Meet Miss Reed!

Meet Miss Reed!

What's your new ICS title and position?

Middle School Science Teacher (aka Mad Scientist Extraordinaire)

Where are you from? If you're not originally from UT, how did you end up here?

I'm originally from Idaho, but I've been in Salt Lake for 12 years now (and counting!). I came to Salt Lake to complete my undergraduate training at the University of Utah.

Where do you go to Church?

I've been going to Gospel Grace Church for the last 5 years.

What is something most people don't know about you? OR What are you most passionate about?

My friends are my Salt Lake family and I couldn't ask for anyone better! God has been really good with providing me with great friends who love and support me. My passions are caring about people, seeing them grow and sharing truth. I love hiking when I'm outdoors or baking when I'm inside. I also love reading and writing fiction.

What are you looking forward to most in your new role at ICS?

 I can't wait to enjoy God's creation by encouraging exploration, experimentation, and excitement about science with the middle schoolers! 

Meet Mrs. Gunther!

Meet Mrs. Gunther!

What's your new ICS title and position?

I am the new kindergarten teacher!

Where are you from? If you're not originally from UT, how did you end up here?

I am originally from Michigan and have lived there my whole life! I grew up hunting in the Rockies with my dad and always wanted to live out West after college. As we neared our college graduation, my husband and I began looking for jobs out West. I had some friends at Gospel Grace Church, and the Lord brought us to Salt Lake! I love the area and am so excited to continue exploring Utah! 

Where do you go to Church?

My husband and I are members at Gospel Grace Church. 

Tell us about your family!

I am the oldest of three girls. My sisters are my best friends and I love every second we spend together. I got married on January 1, 2022. My husband and I met my second week of college in South Carolina. We love exploring new places, hanging with friends, and watching our favorite shows with our kitty, Draper. 

What is something most people don't know about you? OR What are you most passionate about?

I am passionate about people and family. I think relationships are one of God’s greatest gifts to us. 

What are you looking forward to most in your new role at ICS?

I am looking forward to meeting all of my new little friends, building friendships with my coworkers, and growing as an educator! 

What else would you like the ICS community to know about you?

I love hunting, singing, making music, planting flowers, trying new coffee shops, and running to Taco Bell!

Meet Mrs. Guy!

Meet Mrs. Guy!

What's your new ICS title and position?

I will be starting my 4th year teaching as a 1st grade teacher and also co-coaching middle school cross country.

Where are you from? If you're not originally from UT, how did you end up here?

I was born in Trujillo, Peru and moved to Gainesville, Florida in 2006. I graduated college in 2018. After, I started working as a 3rd grade teacher at a Christian school as well as running club and coaching for 2-8 grade. My now husband and I met in high school, and he went to school to be a doctor. During his last year in medical school, he applied to residency and got into the University of Utah. So we are so excited to be moving and I’m so excited to start this new adventure as a 1st grade teacher at ICS.

Tell us about your family!

My mom and dad are both from Peru and moved to the United States when I was very young. My father passed away when I was 8 years old, and my mom remarried and gave me 2 incredible siblings. The rest of my family lives in Peru. 

My husband’s name is Cameron Guy and he was born in North Carolina, but moved to Florida at 3 years old when his father started medical school. My husband and I got married on April 16th this year. We have known each other since high school and have been bestfriends since. We have a 3 year old cat named Luschka and hopefully getting another one soon! Cameron is going to the University of Utah to continue his pursuit of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. On June 16th, 2022 we packed up everything we owned and started our drive to Salt Lake City from Gainesville, FL. We are both super excited to start our new careers and journey as a family this year!

What is something most people don't know about you? OR What are you most passionate about?

Most people don’t know I am bilingual and can speak Spanish and English. Also, my 2 younger siblings are 11 years younger than me. 

What are you looking forward to most in your new role at ICS?

I am looking forward to meeting the community, my co-workers, and students.  I’m excited to create relationships in this incredible community that has already welcomed me with open arms. I am also very eager to learn all of the new curriculum, as I can continue to better myself as a teacher. 

What else would you like the ICS community to know about you?

• I ran 50 miles in 48 hours and I want to start trail running

• I’m on the process of visiting all the U.S. national parks by 50 years old (hopefully)

• I want to run a marathon by the end of the year and move forward to longer distances later on

• I’m currently reading the Bible for the second time, which I don’t think I even understood half of it the first time. This time around I’ve been starstruck by so many things in the first 6 books.

Meet Mr. Wittstock!

Meet Mr. Wittstock!

Q: What’s your new position at ICS?

My title is MS English/HS Government/HS Debate. I'll be teaching middle school English, high school government and economics (11th and 12th grade) and coaching the high school debate team.

Q: Where are you from? If you're not originally from UT, how did you end up here?

I am originally from the Chicago area in Illinois, but while I was in college much of my family moved to Utah. After graduation, I wanted to be near my family and was excited to see the opportunity at Intermountain Christian School!

Q: Tell us about your family!

My parents both grew up in Chicago but now live in Heber City full time. My brother is a sophomore at University of Utah studying marketing.

Q: What is something most people don't know about you? OR What are you most passionate about?

I am a huge NASA nerd and watch almost every space launch! I am also very passionate about running and being outdoors and participated in many ultramarathons during college. I know there are many ultramarathons out west as well and I look forward to training in the mountains!

Q: What are you looking forward to most in your new role at ICS?

I'm looking forward to so much at ICS! Most of all I'm looking forward to meeting the students and their families, learning more about the school, and helping others grow closer in their relationship with Christ as well as myself! I can tell from my visits that this school is a great place to be with so many people who love Jesus, and I can't wait to be a part of that.

Q: What else would you like the ICS community to know about you?

I love collecting full size flags and always pick one up if I see the opportunity!

Meet Mrs. Biel!

Meet Mrs. Biel!

Q: What’s your new position at ICS?

A: I am the new K-12 PE and health teacher

Q: Where are you from? If you're not originally from UT, how did you end up here?

A: I am from South Carolina originally. I moved to Utah in 2017 so my dad could be the pastor at Gospel Hope Church.

Q: Tell us about your family!

A: I have 3 siblings— older brother, older sister, and younger brother. My sister lives in Utah and just recently got engaged. My older brother lives in Alabama and got married last summer. So, I have a sister-in-law now! My younger brother lives in Hawaii and volunteers at a Christian non-profit called Surfing the Nations. My parents live in Utah and my dad is the lead pastor at Gospel Hope Church. I am engaged and will be getting married August 6, 2022! My family has a German shepherd named Bristol.

Q: What is something most people don't know about you? OR What are you most passionate about?

A: I have always loved sports and over the past few years I have enjoyed playing on a co-ed soccer team, playing sand volleyball, and getting outside whenever I can. 

Q: What are you looking forward to most in your new role at ICS?

A: I am most looking forward to working with every grade level and getting to know the whole student population. I can’t wait to build relationships with the students!

Q: Where do you go to Church?

A: I go to Gospel Grace Church downtown Salt Lake City, UT.

Q: What else would you like the ICS community to know about you?

A: I attended ICS for my senior year of high school so I can’t wait to be back as a teacher. In my spare time I enjoy getting outdoors whether that’s through hiking, going for walks, or playing sports with friends. 

I AM INSPIRED: CONNECTING TO THE REAL WORLD

The relational connection through language is the biggest reason I teach Spanish at ICS. This Spring, I was able to accompany many of my high school students to Ensenada, Mexico where we were able to make relational connections. ICS offers credits to students for field studies each year. Our group went to the impoverished communities near Tijuana to minister to orphanages, health clinics, and field worker families in joint efforts with several ministries already in operation there. 

At first, our students were shy and hesitant to use their Spanish but it didn’t take long until they were conversing about everything they could think of with every person they could talk to. The children at the orphanage where we were staying would come alive when our students spoke Spanish with them, even though many of them could converse in English. 

One of the days, we were playing VBS type games with some of the children from Central America who were stuck at the border with their families in one of the caravans. Words cannot describe the interactions that went on that afternoon of face painting, bean bag tossing, and coloring. My students were talking with kids who hadn’t seen a coloring book or toy for months. The tension in their watchful parents’ eyes relaxed just a little as our kids were able to love on them and speak to them in their own language.  

Many of my students came away from that trip with a determination to learn more of the language. They got to see first-hand the power of those connections. It’s no longer a boring class where confusing conjugations droll on one after another.The relational connection through language is the biggest reason I teach Spanish at ICS. This Spring, I was able to accompany many of my high school students to Ensenada, Mexico where we were able to make relational connections. ICS offers credits to students for field studies each year. Our group went to the impoverished communities near Tijuana to minister to orphanages, health clinics, and field worker families in joint efforts with several ministries already in operation there. 

At first, our students were shy and hesitant to use their Spanish but it didn’t take long until they were conversing about everything they could think of with every person they could talk to. The children at the orphanage where we were staying would come alive when our students spoke Spanish with them, even though many of them could converse in English. 

One of the days, we were playing VBS type games with some of the children from Central America who were stuck at the border with their families in one of the caravans. Words cannot describe the interactions that went on that afternoon of face painting, bean bag tossing, and coloring. My students were talking with kids who hadn’t seen a coloring book or toy for months. The tension in their watchful parents’ eyes relaxed just a little as our kids were able to love on them and speak to them in their own language.  

Many of my students came away from that trip with a determination to learn more of the language. They got to see first-hand the power of those connections. It’s no longer a boring class where confusing conjugations droll on one after another. Now the language has taken its own life and my hope is that these students will continue to learn, not only Spanish but many languages as they have learned that this is one more way to connect to others in God’s great world. 

Written by: Danielle Pimentel, 1st-12th Grade Spanish Teacher

FIND A NEED, MEET A NEED

{An account of courage on an ICS Field Study trip}

We walked along Mission Street. The dirty, graffitied concrete stared intensely back up at us, making us shift our eyes to the black, boarded up and barred storefronts also colored with layers of grime and graffiti.  It was oddly hot as we stepped onto the street and the past three days of pouring rain still did not clear the stench of urine from the air. People stood or sat along the streets, smoking, vacant, waiting. Even the yellow, red, and blue on the Chinese take-out store was sad, tired, and dim. I walked up to the student in front of the group and asked, “What is God saying to you?”  “I don’t know,” he responded. “We need to go to 17th Street.” 

The intersection of 17th and Mission was an open plaza where several bus stops converged. People sat or stood around the plaza, waiting for the bus, waiting to meet someone, waiting for something. Music came from a two-foot by three-foot speaker hooked to a phone held by what I guessed was a 70-year-old homeless man in a homemade wheelchair - an ancient furniture dolly attached to a chair that looked circa the 1940s. We looked around - find a need, meet a need ringing in our ears.  We had been given $10 as a group and told we had two hours to meet someone, get to know them, and see if there was a need we could meet with the money. With all of those people and so many potential overwhelming needs, who did God have for us and how could $10 be any help?

The student leading our group walked over to the music and we all followed. People were sitting and listening, a few were attempting to dance. Our group walked into the middle of the music and spontaneously started dancing. At first, people looked at us strangely, but then God showed up. People began to stand up and join us. They came off the busses and joined us or stopped for a quick dance before they boarded the bus. We clapped and cheered those dancing and encouraged those on the sidelines to dance.  The music went on and we continued to dance. We found out the homeless man in the homemade wheelchair was a dance instructor from Cuba and he stood up and gave some lessons. We met a man from Guatemala that had a daughter with the same name as a student in our group. He joined in the dance. We met a woman who was widowed two years ago and refused to speak her husband’s name because he was so abusive. She danced with us. A young woman in her 20s took over the music and we continued to dance. We met a Hispanic woman who was on drugs but danced with us. The music went on.  Another man in a wheelchair attempted to stand and dance with us. People were now standing, clapping, singing, and dancing. The joy and freedom that permeated the plaza created a tangible presence and people responded.  

The conversations we had after an hour and 15 minutes of dancing showed that money isn’t necessary to help the homeless.  People kept coming up to us and thanking us for the joy they experienced while dancing. God had brought the walls down and we were all people, regardless of our nationality, ethnicity, skin color, or living situation. The need was that the tired, sad, hot, and angry conditions be replaced with God’s joy. Find a need, meet a need. God wanted to give more than $10.  What He gave was Himself and it was priceless.

Written by Jacqueline Croswhite, HS English, Debate, Social Sciences, and International Program Coordinator

August 2022 Student of the Month

August 2022 Student of the Month

Congratulations to Makenna Stoddard (11th), the August ICS Upper School Student of the Month!

Makenna went above and beyond this summer in her eight weeks working for Camp ICS. She did a great job connecting with campers, jumping in to help whenever a problem came up, and was an indispensable help to her Lead Counselor. Her work ethic, kindness, and joy made her a great counselor this summer! Congrats, Makenna!

December 2021 Employee Spotlight

Mr. Begg, high school Bible teacher

How long have you been at ICS and what do you do?
This is my 9th year at ICS and I teach HS Bible.

What brought you to ICS?
I was exiting a full time ministry position with Young Life and beginning a new part time ministry position with Nexus International. My name was passed along to ICS, and they contacted me about a part time HS Bible teaching opportunity and I jumped on it!

What is one thing that has happened at school recently that you'd like to share?
There are always fun 'aha' moments with students as they learn different things about the Bible that they didn't know. A highlight would be going through the Bible with the class and discovering not only what God’s word says about following Christ, but where it says it as well.

What is your hope for your students and/or our school this year?
My hope for the students every year is that they fall more in love with Jesus each day.

January 2022 Employee Spotlight

Mrs. Combe, prekindergarten teacher

How long have you been at ICS and what do you do?
I've been at ICS for 16 years and I am the prekindergarten teacher.

What brought you to ICS?
I came to ICS to be a kindergarten classroom aide in 2005, when my youngest son Kyle was starting school. The following year I had the privilege of joining the ICS faculty and began teaching prekindergarten. God definitely led me to this position and I have so cherished my relationship with the children in the classroom, the parents, and the staff.

What is one thing that has happened at school recently that you'd like to share?
Being part of the Teaching for Transformation early adopters this year has been a fantastic learning experience. I’m super excited to see how this program impacts our already incredible school in the years to come.

What is your hope for your students and/or our school this year?
Teaching my little students that they are deeply loved by God and created for a purpose has been my passion for the last 16 years! I treasure every memory I’ve made here and am grateful for the friendships I’ve been blessed with.

February 2022 Employee Spotlight

Mrs. Pimentel, spanish teacher

How long have you been at ICS and what do you do?
Our family has been at ICS for fifteen years. We will have our sixth child graduate from ICS this spring. I have been teaching here for 6 years.

What brought you to ICS?
I love that ICS is a non-denominational school that strives to lead people to Jesus while maintaining strong academic rigor.

What is one thing that has happened at school recently that you'd like to share?
I have had the privilege of being an early adopter of the Teaching for Transformation training that our school is implementing. This training combines "best practices" in teaching with a Kingdom mindset. As an educator, it is exciting to see our school implementing evidence based teaching practices that will benefit our students and families. As a Christian, I get more space and support to frame everything that I teach with the good news of Jesus Christ.

What is your hope for your students and/or our school this year?
My hope for myself and my students is that we would remain in awe of God, framing all things with and responding to His love for us.