INTERMOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL BLOG
Meet Miss Matuszak!
Learn more about Miss Matuszak, ICS new prekindergarten teacher for our three day program!
Meet Miss Matuszak!
What's your new ICS title and position?
I am the new prekindergarten teacher (three day program)!
Where are you from? If you're not originally from UT, how did you end up here?
Miss Matuszak (second from right) and family
I was born in Iceland and have lived in a few different states, one other country, and an American territory due to my father being in the military. I have lived in Colorado for the past four years but have decided to make the move to Utah to be closer to my family.
Where do you go to Church?
I don’t have a church yet, but am looking forward to getting plugged into one soon!
What is something most people don't know about you?
Because I come across as rather quiet upon first meeting, most people don’t know that I have a pretty loud personality. I also enjoy playing competitive board games, though winning isn’t that important to me.
What are you looking forward to most in your new role at ICS?
I am looking forward to working in a Christian community. Most of all, I am looking forward to getting to know each of the kids individually as I work alongside the parents to aide the students’ growth.
Tell us about your family!
Family is incredibly important to me, and I am very close with mine. My dad is a helicopter pilot and my mom is working on her masters degree. They are both super cool, and I am so proud of them. My sister, Kala, is studying zoology at Liberty University, and though we are complete opposites, we cherish every moment we spend together now that we see less of each other than we used to. My brother, Noi, will be a senior at ICS this year, and I am excited to be a part of his life more before he graduates and moves on to big things!
What else would you like the ICS community to know about you?
I absolutely love books and pretty much anything to do with them. In fact, stories in general are incredibly fascinating to me, and though I prefer to read, I do enjoy watching movies and shows as well. Bringing up any story with me may result in an analytical discussion with lots of opinions on my part. I also enjoy knitting and playing board games, as well as small hikes and walks in nature.
Welcome to ICS, Miss Matuszak! Your ICS community is looking forward to getting to know you more this fall. We’ll see you soon!
Meet Mrs. Huebner!
Learn more about Mrs. Huebner, ICS new elementary aide for second grade!
Meet Mrs. Huebner!
What's your new ICS title and position?
I am the new elementary aide for the 2nd grade class.
Where are you from? If you're not originally from UT, how did you end up here?
I am originally from Texas, born and raised. I went to college at Biola University in California where they have mission trips to Utah during spring break. I was a part of these trips for three years, then became a children’s ministry intern at a church in Utah during the summer of 2003. The Lord had put on my heart from the very beginning that I wanted to move here when I graduated, and then He provided a way for that to come to fruition.
Where do you go to Church?
My family and I have been attending Salt Lake Ev Free for over 10 years now.
What is something most people don't know about you?
I love to travel, and some of my most memorable times have been overseas. When I was 17, I traveled with my family to Israel, and it has deeply influenced how I read the Bible ever since.
What are you looking forward to most in your new role at ICS?
I’m looking forward to being part of the community and meeting the students I will be working with!
Tell us about your family!
I’m married to Toby who is my better half in every way! You may think that’s cliche until you meet him. We have four kids ranging in ages from 8-14, one Australian shepherd and two cats. It’s a raucous party!
What else would you like the ICS community to know about you?
I love coffee and reading classics. I am always game to go on a road trip with my family. This year we finally completed visiting Utah’s Mighty Five national parks.
Welcome to ICS, Mrs. Huebner! Your ICS community is looking forward to getting to know you more this fall. We’ll see you soon!
Meet Mrs. Roach!
Learn more about Mrs. Roach, ICS new second grade teacher!
Meet Mrs. Roach!
What's your new ICS title and position?
I am very excited to be the new second grade teacher at ICS!
Where are you from? If you're not originally from UT, how did you end up here?
I was born in Tennessee, but have lived in a total of eight states in the U.S.A and one country internationally. We are now moving down to Utah (from Idaho) because my husband is a Delta pilot and has been based in Salt Lake City (SLC). We love all of the outdoor activities like backpacking, skiing, and rock climbing and think that SLC will be a perfect fit for us!
Where do you go to Church?
We haven’t officially moved down to SLC yet, but when we do, we will be attending the Wasatch Hills Seventh Day Adventist Church.
What is something most people don't know about you?
Most people don’t know that I secretly love adrenaline filled activities. I have many fears, but I always find it empowering to overcome them!
What are you looking forward to most in your new role at ICS?
I am looking forward to meeting my new students and getting to know them! I can’t wait to see what Jesus has in store for us in second grade!
Tell us about your family!
My husband and I will be celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversary in July. We love traveling together, and this past year we visited a total of 14 countries! It’s just the two of us for now, but we are looking to grow our family with a puppy soon!
What else would you like the ICS community to know about you?
You will quickly learn that a few of my favorite things include being outside, traveling to new places, taking care of my plants, eating sour candies, watching football, and most importantly, spending time with Jesus. I can't wait to meet everyone and get to know you all!
Welcome to ICS, Mrs. Roach! Your ICS community is looking forward to getting to know you more this fall. We’ll see you soon!
Building Leaders on and off the Green: Noah Hillaker Wins the 2023 Lester Taylor Leadership Golf Award
Noah Hilliker, a sophomore at Intermountain Christian School, has been awarded the esteemed 2023 Lester Taylor Leadership “Leading by Example” Golf Award.
Building Leaders on and off the Green: Noah Hillaker Wins the 2023 Lester Taylor Leadership Golf Award
Noah Hillaker, a sophomore at Intermountain Christian School, has been awarded the esteemed 2023 Lester Taylor Leadership “Leading by Example” Golf Award.
Noah Hillaker
Dr. Lester Taylor, DDS, a successful dentist in Southern California loved the game of golf. He thrived on competitions by playing on the Hacienda golf traveling team playing in matches all over Southern California. He often spoke about the parallels to hard work and life that the game teaches. In fact, Dr. Taylor had 7-holes-in-one during his life-time.
Dr. Taylor grew up in Spanish Fork, Utah. His parents had limited means; but he worked hard to be a contributor to his family and to the community. Throughout his life, Dr. Taylor mentioned many times that he wanted to support golf for junior players and schools someday. To this end, the family wanted to grant his wishes to support junior golf and started the Lester Taylor Memorial “Leadership-Leading by Example” Award in 2021.
“Noah is an outstanding athlete and young man who excels in sports, school and as a leader,” said Coach Douglas C. Taylor, son of Dr. Lester Taylor.
Coach Douglas is ICS’s Golf Head Coach. The Lions took 3rd place in Region 22 of Utah’s 1A schools this year. Also, Noah competed in the individual competition of the Utah State-Wide 1A Championship in Richfield, Utah and came in 14th place out of a vast field of excellent golfers from all over Utah.
Noah Hillaker with Coach Taylor
Noah not only received the Lester Taylor Leadership award, but also the MVP Award for Lions’ Varsity Golf Team during the 2023 season.
“It was clear who the next recipient should be because of Noah’s outstanding leadership skills and being such a great example among his peers both in the community, school and the golf course. Congrats, Noah!,” said Coach Taylor.
Preparing the Next Generation for Success: The Importance of STEM Education in 2023
It is nearly impossible to consider education in 2023 and not mention STEM. STEM careers are at an all time high, showing the value of garnering an interest in STEM during the early years of education…
Preparing the Next Generation for Success: The Importance of STEM Education in 2023
By Mrs. Pethtel, ICS K-5th grade STEM teacher
It is nearly impossible to consider education in 2023 and not mention STEM. STEM careers are at an all time high, showing the value of garnering an interest in STEM during the early years of education.
Seventh grade tests the weight of their personally designed and constructed bridges in ABC’s of STEM class.
What is STEM? STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Intermountain Christian School promotes STEM in the classrooms, showing God’s world in an interactive and engaging way. The disciplines of STEM are included in the ICS curriculum. Students learn teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking while in the STEM classroom. At ICS, Bible stories and biblical truths are woven through the daily teaching and planned STEM activities.
When considering a career in STEM, the opportunities are vast. Psychologists, pilots, engineers, financial advisors, IT managers, health care professionals and more all have careers that are rooted in STEM education. STEM occupations are projected to grow 10.8% between 2021-2031. This is according to iD Tech, an industrial leader of tech camps for teens and kids. Preparing our students for their future careers through the lens of the Bible is an integral part of the ICS STEM program. Learning to think biblically about the challenges that face our world is an important hallmark of the STEM platform.
Renee Drach (7th) constructs and codes a robot in LEGO® robotics class.
ICS focuses on the pillars of thinking biblically and critically, honing in problem solving skills and working as a team throughout the STEM program. We hope to launch our students into God’s world with an understanding of who He is and the ability to thrive in what He made them to be! The future is bright!
More STEM at ICS
May 2023 Students of the Month
Congratulations to ICS’s May 2023 Students of the Month!
May 2023 Students of the Month
Congratulations to Oliver Vargas (4th), the May ICS Elementary Student of the Month!
Oliver has shown much compassion, kindness, and self control as he lives out Mrs. Lee's "Deep Hope" to bear the Fruit of the Spirit wherever students go! He has faced challenges and projects with a growth mindset and a respectful attitude to learn. He is creative, attentive, and caring, especially in looking out for others. In the classroom and at recess, he is a humble leader and a patient listener. Keep it up, Oliver!
Congratulations to Gillian Lusk (7th), the May ICS Middle School Student of the Month!
Gillian is a servant worker who is looking for ways to help those around her. She is engaged and enthusiastic in the classroom and seeks ways to help her classmates understand the concepts they are learning together. Gillian is a cheerful and kind presence in the middle school hallways.
Congratulations to Coy White (9th), the May ICS High School Student of the Month!
Coy has worked extra hard academically this year, even going the extra mile on an end-of-year project by creating his own fundraiser for an organization he researched. He was a valuable member of the baseball and basketball teams this year, consistently exemplifying commitment to hardwork and Christian character to his teammates.
May 2023 Employee Spotlight - Mrs. Buckley
Congratulations, Mrs. Buckley, the ICS May 2023 Employee Spotlight!
May 2023 Employee Spotlight
Congratulations, Mrs. Buckley, ICS director of curriculum and instruction!
How long have you been at ICS and what do you do?
I have had the pleasure of working at ICS for the past 20 years. Currently, I am the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, but I have also served as a guidance counselor, board member, principal and dean of academics.
What brought you to ICS?
Initially what brought me to ICS was the desire to have my children attend an excellent Christian school. The summer my husband and I enrolled our kids, ICS was looking for a part-time guidance counselor. I applied for the job, fell in love with the mission of ICS professionally, and my children and I started on the same day!
What is one encouraging thing that has happened at school recently that you'd like to share?
Our faculty has been working hard this year bringing the key concepts of Teaching for Transformation to our classrooms. The FLEx projects have been amazing and I am so proud of the ways our teachers are encouraging students to do "real work meeting real needs for real people." Just this week a group from TfT was here to evaluate our teachers on their progress...I am so proud of all that they have accomplished this year! Our teachers have done an exemplary job!
What is your deep hope for your students and/or our school this year?
My deep hope for ICS is to be a school where learners are challenged, every day, to see their part in God's great story. My deep hope for our faculty is that we may see our own part in that story first; to know deeply how much He cares for, equips and calls us to His purpose so that we may then share that truth with our students.
Concluding 13 Years at ICS: Embracing the Future with Confidence and Hope
As the light at the end of the tunnel gets closer every day, the real challenge is to not rush the next few months-to not take for granted the…
Concluding 13 years at ICS: Embracing the Future with Confidence and Hope
By Natalie Russell, ICS senior
Wise words from Billy Joel have been ringing in my ears as the countdown to graduation has begun, “slow down you crazy child… Vienna waits for you.”
Natalie in Kindergarten at ICS
As the light at the end of the tunnel gets closer every day, the real challenge is to not rush the next few months-to not take for granted the English classes when we read outloud, the study sessions, the walk up the hill from the parking lot in the early morning, the smiling face at the top of the stairs, the laughs shared in the middle of class, or the little moments with the precious people who may not always be a part of my life. There is nothing I can do to stop the clock from ticking, so I have chosen instead to live in the moment and to not let the days pass without adequate enjoyment. The reality is that a year from now -even six months from now- things will look very different from the present. This is a very intimidating reality.
It has been a very strange feeling not being able to picture where I’m going to be next year. For the past thirteen years of my life I’ve been able to think, next year I’ll be in Miss Potter’s room or even, next year I’ll be upstairs or, next year I’ll have another locker down the hall. This time around though, I don’t know what life will look like next year. Who will my professors be? Who will my classmates be? Who will I sit next to at lunch? What will my commute from class to class look like? These questions have always been answered for me, but not anymore. In this realm of the unknown, there is a lack of security which leads to a lot of uncertainty, but there is also a sense of excitement of all the things that my life could be.
Natalie’s senior photo
ICS has given me a strong foundation in Christ and has prepared me to be a disciple in the world. I may not know what my future holds, but I do know the One who holds it, this I know for certain. Not only that, but I know that He who holds it has a specific plan for me: a prosperous plan, a plan of hope and not of harm (Jeremiah 29:11). Truthfully, this plan is without a doubt better than any one that I could have come up with on my own.
Natalie graduates from ICS this May and will go on to pursue a degree at Southern Utah University. She hopes to be an English teacher one day. The ICS community has enjoyed pouring into her these past 13 years and is excited to see what God has in store for her.
April 2023 Board Member Spotlight - Grace Kunde
Congratulations, Grace Kunde, the ICS April 2023 Board Member Spotlight!
April 2023 Board Member Spotlight
Congratulations, Grace Kunde, ICS board president!
How long have you been a part of the ICS community?
We became a part of the ICS community in fall of 2014 when Lorali started kindergarten. Carsten started the year after in preK.
What brought you to ICS (and Utah if you're not from here originally)?
Jeremy and I moved to Salt Lake City back in 2005 when he took a job with SkyWest airlines. After we had our two kids we knew that we wanted them to go to a private school. When Lorali was in preschool we started looking at our options in the Salt Lake Valley. We found ICS on the web and scheduled a time to check it out. After touring the school and meeting teachers, we were sold and haven’t looked back since!
Why did you choose Christian education for your family?
I went to a small Christian school for middle school which definitely was an influence, but more importantly, we felt strongly that we wanted our kids to be educated in a place that supported and encouraged their walk with Jesus. We also wanted them to be part of a bigger Christian community.
Why did you decide to be a part of the board at ICS?
As a mom who works full time I’m not usually able to pitch in for field trips, PTF, or other volunteer activities, so when Mr. Menning, our former head of school, approached me about joining the board, I felt led that this could be a place where I could contribute my talents and abilities in a positive way.
Can you share a story of how you've seen ICS accomplish its mission while you've served on the board?
I think I’ll answer more from the small ways we accomplish our mission through my view as a board member. The vision to equip and inspire students to thrive in God’s world is at the forefront every time we hire a new teacher as much as it was in the front or our minds as we worked through how best to handle school shut down during COVID. One of the most influential and gratifying ways I’ve been able to participate in the accomplishment of our mission was a year ago when we went through the search process to find a new head of school. Mr. Menning left big shoes to fill. The board spent much time and energy going through the process and prayerfully asked that God would lead us to the right person. We believe He answered our prayer in Mr. Pethel. I feel so fortunate to be part of the long-term legacy of what God is going to do with ICS in the future.
April 2023 Students of the Month
Congratulations to ICS’s April 2023 Students of the Month!
April 2023 Students of the Month
Congratulations to Marin Sorweid (preK), the April ICS Elementary Student of the Month!
Marin does a wonderful job living out Mrs. Saullo's “Deep Hope” for each of her students. She shows love to her classmates by always being inclusive of others. She exemplifies kindness each time she speaks to her teachers and her friends. She is caring in the way she approaches situations. On the playground she always does what she knows is expected of her, and in the classroom she never needs to be reminded to do her best, it just comes naturally.
Congratulations to Renee Drach (7th), the April ICS Middle School Student of the Month!
Renee is a servant worker who is always ready to lend a helping hand. She routinely tidies up the Bible classroom without being asked to do so, and offers to help her classmates in math in a gentle and kind way. Renee is an excellent student with a desire to learn which shows in her continuous curiosity.
Congratulations to Evie Harter (11th), the April ICS High School Student of the Month!
Evie is a true leader among her peers, and her joy overflows daily, especially when she helps lead worship during chapel band. She was an important asset to the Theater Department's recent performance of Godspell.
She continued to work hard and gave her all through Region and State Debate tournaments, and juggled soccer practice too—all while keeping her positive attitude. Congrats, Evie!
Balancing Academics and Athletics: 5 Tips for Success
Balancing academics and extracurriculars can be a challenge. Here are five key points to help our students balance academics and athletics at ICS.
Balancing Academics and Athletics: 5 Tips for Success
At ICS, we are thankful that our students have so many great opportunities outside the classroom. Whether it be theater, Student Council (Stuco) or athletics, our students have the chance to serve God in many ways while growing in their knowledge through extra curricular activities. Although this is a blessing for our students, participating in these additional opportunities can be a challenge when it comes to academic success. Here are five key points to help our students balance academics and athletics at ICS:
Communication with teachers and coaches.
Our coaches and staff always strive to work together with students to help them succeed. We encourage athletes to be constant and consistent in their communication as they seek to balance both their school work and after school activities.
Get ahead and avoid procrastination.
Putting assignments off can always lead to challenges for student athletes. We suggest finding ways to get ahead on assignments, and not waiting until the last minute to get something done. This will help students from feeling overwhelmed, as their responsibilities increase.
Prioritize academics.
We love our athletic teams and activities. We also want to encourage students that academics is their number one priority at ICS. We will always help students seek success in the classroom first, and see athletics as a privilege.
“We will always help students seek success in the classroom first, and see athletics as a privilege.”
4. Write down important details.
As students begin to participate in multiple activities, it can be challenging to keep everything straight. A great way to make sure students balance activities is to keep a planner (either written or online) where they can manage their dates, events and assignments.
5. Keep a positive attitude.
Lastly, we encourage students and families to keep a positive attitude. It is a blessing and privilege to be able to participate in activities, and it should be fun. There may be tough times, but remembering to keep a positive attitude is essential.
March 2023 Employee Spotlight - Mrs. Florell
Congratulations, Mrs. Florell, the ICS March 2023 Employee Spotlight!
March 2023 Employee Spotlight
Congratulations, Mrs. Florell, ICS high school science faculty
How long have you been at ICS and what do you do?
I have been part of ICS for more than 20 years as all three of my children started in PreK and have attended all the way through 12th grade. My youngest is a senior at ICS this year. I coached volleyball for 14 years and have been a part of the HS faculty teaching Strength & Agility and Anatomy & Physiology for the past 6 years.
What brought you to ICS?
Before my husband and I had children, I worked at what was Carden Christian Academy in Park City. The school was PreK-8th grade and it was there that I was "introduced" to ICS. Many families chose ICS for their children's high school experience after graduating from 8th grade, so when we had a family of our own we knew we wanted them to be part of ICS.
What is one encouraging thing that has happened at school recently that you’d like to share?
My love of teaching is ultimately rooted in my love of learning, so when I learn something new, it feels natural for me to want to share it. The student reflections from my Anatomy & Physiology class upon completion of our recent FLEx project were of great encouragement to me. Hearing from each individual what surprised them about the topic, what they learned about themselves, and how the process integrated their faith with their work fulfilled me as a teacher. There are so many layers of intentionality that go into teaching as I attempt to connect each subject matter to a biblical worldview and draw out of students their potential in various categories of life. For my students at this time, my hope and expectations for them were matched by their experiences - and that was encouraging!
What is your deep hope for your students and/or our school this year?
My deep hope is "What if my students humbly believed that their human bodies are evidence of an intelligent, imaginative, Creator of complex systems driven by God's order?"
March 2023 Students of the Month
Congratulations to ICS’s March 2023 Students of the Month!
March 2023 Students of the Month
Congratulations to Dean Saullo (3rd), the March ICS Elementary Student of the Month!
Dean consistently displays a great work ethic and is a delightful student to have in class. When on the playground, he does not think of himself first, but rather, about how the group is working together. He desires to have peace and works toward that when things are not going well. Dean is a kind and determined student. It is my pleasure to teach him!
Congratulations to Vera Adema (6th), the March ICS Middle School Student of the Month!
Vera is a great community builder among her classmates. Even as a 6th grader she is already a leader in MSLT by being a servant worker, ready to step in and help in every situation. Her teachers were especially impressed with her continued and high-quality help in making the recent lock-in a huge success!
Congratulations to Kasey Hoar (11th), the March ICS High School Student of the Month!
Kasey is a hard-working student, who is helpful and patient with her peers. She leads with humility as a member of the women’s football team, and maintains authentic connections with her teammates through her steadiness and dependability. Kasey is a blessing to ICS!
5 Stories of the Power of One Campus with 14 Grades!
There is a secret among our hallways. We come in, drop off our kids, and know it is a happy place. But when we look deeper we notice one of ICS’s super powers – the powerful integration of students at different grade levels learning together.
5 Stories of the Power of One Campus with 14 Grades!
By Denise Buckley, ICS director of curriculum and instruction
There is a secret among our hallways. We come in, drop off our kids, and know it is a happy place. But when we look deeper we notice one of ICS’s super powers – the powerful integration of students at different grade levels learning together.
Ask a middle school student and I bet they can tell you who their reading buddy was in first grade (pictured). Or ask your child what class they worked with in January to learn their Pep Rally cheer – or about what grade they are pairing with for the National Honor Society special competition.
ICS upper school dance team teaches PreK students dance technique.
Across grade levels, our students are often brought together and these relationships have an impact. This semester that impact is going even further as our youngest and oldest learners are joining together to do some authentic work.
A component of Teaching for Transformation is something called Formational Learning Experiences, or FLEx. The essence of a FLEx is creating opportunities for students to do real work that meets the real needs of real people. Several of our teachers have combined grades to do a FLEx, allowing students to meet real needs together:
Binary Games in Computer Science: Mr. Hildebrand teaches computer science in our middle school and high school. He challenged his AP Computer Science Principles class to design and code games and teaching tools that helped his younger students learn a new topic. Students teaching students!
Seventh graders read with their kindergarten reading buddies.
Dancing into Community: Mrs. Lee teaches art and dance to students in nearly every grade at ICS. This winter, she asked her upper school dance team to teach preschool students (pictured). Her dancers worked with the prekindergarten class, getting to know them and developing community. They then led a movement class for prekindergarten. It was such a success the dancers plan to do it again this spring!
First Grade Poets: Mr. Wittstock’s 8th graders have been writing poems and compiling a special poetry book. The first graders wanted to try their hand at poetry, too, and their 8th grade friends were happy to help! The first graders got top-notch learning and mentorship from the 8th grade and loved being able to connect with the big kids. Mrs. Banta’s and Mrs. Guy’s first graders will present their special poems to the residents at Rocky Mountain Care Center in March, hoping to both encourage and entertain.
Julius Caesar for Middle School: Mrs. Smith’s English class just finished reading Julius Caesar. Now they will be reworking the play into modern form and sharing it with middle school students. The play will focus on the importance and impact of friendships - some helpful lessons for middle school students to hear and discuss!
Juniors play games with first graders at the ICS Junior Carnival.
Wisdom for Middle School Life: Mrs. Harmon’s 6th graders will be working with percentages and using them to model and graph data. Her students will track their screen time, analyze the data, and make predictions about how their screen time affects their success in middle school. They will then present their findings to our 5th graders, giving them some sage advice on how to be successful in middle school next year!
Want to learn more about our REALLY amazing FLEx work?
These are some ways ICS students did REAL work to meet the REAL needs of REAL people!
(And these are only a few – each teacher is doing at least one FLEx with their students! Ask your child’s teacher about their FLEx!)
Read more here!
Mrs. Biel and Mr. Hobbs are working together to learn about what our local Pregnancy Resource Center provides the community. Mrs. Biel will bring a speaker into her health class while Mr. Hobbs will discuss the history of the pro-life movement in the United States. Then, during their trip to Moab, the 8th graders will serve at a PRC.
Mrs. Florell’s Anatomy & Physiology class studied the crisis of the shrinking Great Salt Lake and specifically the potential health effects on our community. They presented their research to the 5th grade class in December, and at a public forum to approximately 60 at the Holladay Library in January. You may also have seen their public service announcement on our social media sites.
As part of the Junior Achievement curriculum, Ms. Frazee’s fifth graders chose a business to help. They decided to partner with teh United Way, who is in need of bilingual books to share with the community. Ms. Frazee’s class will be doing a book drive this spring to help meet this need.
Miss Potter’s class learned that they are One of a Kind through a special writing and art project. After completing their essays and art project, these brave 3rd graders will present their work to high school students – who also need to learn that God sees them as one of a kind! This will be followed up with the annual 3rd Grade Wax Museum, where students learn about other one of kind people from history and share what they learn with the community by “becoming” that historic person in our living wax museum.
Ms. Reed asked each of her science students to research and present a long-term Curiosity Project. Assigned in August, her middle schoolers were asked to choose an intriguing science topic that was not part of our curriculum. Students then had a full semester to learn about the topic, create a slide presentation, and teach the topic to their classmates. Much hard work and critical learning went into these projects: research, presentation, time management, and teaching skills to name a few! And our middle school science students learned about so many new topics!
February 2023 Employee Spotlight - Mrs. Harp
Congratulations, Mrs. Harp, the ICS February 2023 Employee Spotlight!
February 2023 Employee Spotlight
Congratulations, Mrs. Harp, ICS pre-kindergarten teacher!
How long have you been at ICS and what do you do?
I teach full-day PreK and this is my first year teaching here at ICS.
What brought you to ICS?
After teaching PreK for many years in the valley, I was looking to teach in a vibrant, authentic Christian community. Through a series of events, I feel God led me to ICS. I feel very grateful and blessed to be a part of this community.
What is one encouraging thing that has happened at school recently that you’d like to share?
Working at ICS, I feel encouraged in so many ways! We have an amazing administrative team who lets us know when we are doing well and helps us grow, supporting us in our spiritual walk through devotions, prayer, and worship. There are also wonderful teachers here who are welcoming and so helpful.
What is your deep hope for your students and/or our school this year?
My deep hope for the boys and girls in PreK is that they would grow in wonder and awe, exploring God’s creation and His deep love for us. My prayer for our school is that we would continue to shine God’s light in this valley and grow in Him!
February 2023 Students of the Month
Congratulations to ICS’s February 2023 Students of the Month!
February 2023 Students of the Month
Congratulations to Hazel McNamara (PreK), the February ICS Elementary Student of the Month!
Hazel is an attentive student and a kind friend. She loves to learn and is especially engaged in our daily Bible time. Her joy overflows during worship. She listens well and sets a good example for her peers when we are meeting on the rug. She is a wonderful friend, includes anyone who would like to join in play, and has many kind things to say to her peers. What a blessing it is to have Hazel in my classroom and in our school!
Congratulations to Jackson Smith (8th), the February ICS Middle School Student of the Month!
Jackson excels in the classroom and is a great community builder among his classmates. He has shown his leadership ability this year in MSLT by being a servant worker, ready to step in and help in every situation. His teachers were especially impressed with him refereeing the student-faculty homecoming game (especially since the teachers won 😉).
Congratulations to Kaleb Begg (12th), the February ICS High School Student of the Month!
Kaleb worked consistently and thoroughly to make sure that the cafeteria floor, foyer, and gym floor were spotless during the high school service project. His teachers agreed that he set an excellent example of service for his peers. Congrats, Kaleb!
Congratulations to David Autry (12th), the February ICS High School Student of the Month!
David worked consistently and thoroughly to make sure that the cafeteria floor, foyer, and gym floor were spotless during the high school service project. His teachers agreed that he set an excellent example of service for his peers. Congrats, David!
Meet the Delaney Family!
While eating breakfast in a local hotel (near ICS), my wife and I met an Alumni of ICS who shared his family's experiences with the school and encouraged us to visit the school to see if it might be a good fit for our kids…
Meet the Delaney Family!
How did you first hear about ICS?
Before we moved to Utah in early 2018, we were visiting Salt Lake City to get a feel for the community and tour potential homes and schools for our family. While eating breakfast in a local hotel (near ICS), my wife and I met an Alumni of ICS who shared his family's experiences with the school and encouraged us to visit the school to see if it might be a good fit for our kids.
How did you choose to send your children to ICS?
We had already made the decision that a Christian-based school system and community was what we wanted for our children and family. After meeting with several Alumni and staff members of ICS (including the head of school), the experiences they shared were consistent with the experiences we were seeking out for our family. After our daughter's first year with ICS (kindergarten), it was no question that we would stay at ICS and also bring our son into the pre-K program that following year.
The Delaney Family
What do you feel your children get at Intermountain Christian School that they would not get somewhere else?
1. Strong organizational foundation in our Christian faith. Not simply a class or time slot in the week, but principles and lessons woven into each daily interaction.
2. Individualized experiential care and learning from teachers and staff. We are all different and so are our kids. The teachers and staff know our kids and us as parents at a relatively deep level. Proactive discussions and actioning among staff, parents and students are commonplace at ICS and they help optimize our children's learning and growth experience. I also believe that the ICS culture allows for a stronger community based upbringing that promotes overall well being across all modalities of life.
3. Connection to older students as informal (and maybe formal) role models. There are programs that promote older students to coach and guide the younger students. Both of our kids already have older classmates that they look up to and that have inspired them to become more engaged with extracurricular activities.
4. Compassionate discipline. Not discipline for the sake of discipline, but instead, having compassion for when we make mistakes and staying disciplined to the principles of how and why we do things and treat one another.
What do your children like the most about their education at ICS?
For our daughter - Teacher, friendships with students, extra curricular activities (dance)
For our son - Teacher, "block time", bible verses, outside play, friendships with students
What advice would you give families who are considering ICS?
Spend time thinking introspectively about what you hold important to your kids and family. Once you have that clear in your mind and heart, talk with several ICS staff and alumni about their experiences (along with other schools to compare with). Decide on what is most important for you and your family.
What makes ICS special for your family?
The community and culture across ICS staff, students, and alumni.
January 2023 Students of the Month
Congratulations to ICS’s January 2023 Students of the Month!
January 2023 Students of the Month
Congratulations to Harper Parrish (1st), the January ICS Elementary Student of the Month!
Harper Parrish is a joy to have in class. She comes to school ready and eager to learn and challenges herself daily. This year she has grown so much in her writing and reading — it is a joy to watch her creativity and reflections in both subjects. She shows love, patience, honesty, and self-control in everything she does. Harper makes a footprint in others’ hearts by reflecting God's love in all that she does. Congrats, Harper!
Congratulations to Knox Westenskow (7th), the January ICS Middle School Student of the Month!
Knox is an extremely hard worker in the classroom and a great encouragement to his classmates. He uses his natural leadership ability to influence his fellow middle schoolers for the better, and he does a great job being an image reflector with his positive and respectful attitude, especially during PE.
Congratulations to AJ Peek (9th), the January ICS High School Student of the Month!
AJ Peek is not only a fantastic basketball player but is a diligent student who demonstrates his love for Jesus and others through his kind heart. He shows integrity in sports and in the classroom. AJ is a leader on and off of the court, and we love having him in the ICS community!
January 2023 Employee Spotlight
Congratulations, Mr. Uzi, the ICS January 2023 Employee Spotlight!
ICS January 2023 Employee Spotlight
Congratulations, Mr. Uzi, ICS Maintenance Director!
Mr. Uzi Montiel came to ICS in 2007 with the understanding that it was a two week long work assignment. Fifteen years later, Mr. Uzi is still at the helm of ICS as Maintenance Director.
Before working at ICS, Uzi and his wife ran a women’s clinic that served women from Tooele and Salt Lake City. Mr. Uzi did a lot of the clerical and administrative work. The clinic eventually closed, and Mrs. Montiel took a position at ICS as the Spanish and health teacher. The Montiels also had 4 kids attending ICS at the time. The next natural step was for Mr. Uzi to join ICS’s team, too!
Mr. Uzi appreciates working in a Christian environment and considers it his ministry to work on Lion Lane. His favorite parts of his day are when he gets to interact with the kids and the people in the hallways. He can often be seen on the lift retrieving lost items from the tall ceiling in the gym, salting our walkways on wintery days, assembling furniture, painting walls, and doing whatever else he is asked to do. His ICS community can vouch that he completes all tasks willingly and cheerfully.
The ICS students and teachers alike would agree that Mr. Uzi is very deserving of much more than a month of recognition. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to your work at ICS, Mr. Uzi!
Theater Students Perform at Utah Shakespeare Festival
This past September, our high school theater conservatory class attended the Utah Shakespeare Festival to compete in the Shakespeare Competition in Cedar City, UT.
ICS Students Perform at Utah Shakespeare Festival
By Becky Schumacher, high school english faculty and lead teacher
The high school theater conservatory class
This past September, our high school theater conservatory class attended the Utah Shakespeare Festival to compete in the Shakespeare Competition in Cedar City, UT. The festival itself is widely known in Utah as well as the United States as one of the premier festivals celebrating not only the works of the bard, but also the world of drama. The competition provides high school students the opportunity to observe peer and professional performances and be evaluated and adjudicated by professionals in the fields of drama and dance.
Our students started their Shakespeare journey as soon as school commenced this year. Each student auditioned with a Shakespeare monologue. Theater Director Tess Tally, along with her daughter, Heather Geertgens, then selected and assigned students to various roles and competitive events. Heather brought her experience as a former Shakespeare festival competitor to act as our resident expert and coach. Her knowledge was incredibly valuable as our students went into the competition as rookies, facing 3,000 other students.
Students prepare to perform at the festival.
Students rehearsed during conservatory class as well as after school to prepare for events in the theater ensemble event, duo, trio as well as two dance events, the duet and ensemble. Three of our students competed in the monologue competition as well. The festival began on Thursday, September 29. Theater mom and trip coordinator extraordinaire, Kim Heiple, arranged and organized all travel accommodations. She brought together a network of theater parents who willingly gave of their time and energy to support our students in their creative endeavors. Upon arriving at the festival, our students watched the Southern Utah University players’ performance of Macbeth. Friday morning saw students out at the crack of dawn for the competitions–dance, theater ensemble, duos, trios, and monologues–all scattered around campus and at various times. Students had to navigate costumes and props, while hurrying from performance to performance. And our ICS performers were ready. They acted and danced, never cracking under the pressure. They spoke well, moved well, responded to feedback, made changes, showed incredible poise and ability, and celebrated each other’s gifts and talents in a Christ-like manner. They were truly a light, taking any chance they had to speak and offer encouragement to competitors from other schools and showing up at each other’s competitions as an audience of support. The competitions spanned both Friday and Saturday, and on Friday night our group was able to catch the Festival performance of Clue. As the competition ended on Saturday afternoon October 1, we headed home–happy with our performance, grateful for the new experience, and maybe more than a little exhausted.
Natalie Russell (12th) and Will Schumacher (11th) perform their skit in front of their peers at ICS before heading to the festival.
But what an amazing experience for our theater students! And in our rookie season we put up some impressive stats, placing 6th overall. The competition itself was indeed valuable.The preparation and execution of performances in a venue that was not the ICS Blackbox Theater as well as receiving and responding to adjudication from trained professionals was something that our students were so blessed to be a part of–and also…it was so so fun! We are looking forward to heading back next year with a little more experience under our belts.