Just because school is out for summer doesn’t mean the learning should end! In fact, incorporating fun learning activities during the summer months can aide to student success during the school year. According to the National Education Association,” Parents who are actively involved in their children’s learning at home help their children become more successful learners in and out of school.” Whether its setting aside time each day to read, visiting the local museum, or attempting science experiments, it’s important to make time for activities that fend off forgetfulness and build learning skills!

for some fun ways to keep the learning going this summer.

Sources: www.scholastic.com

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It’s not often you hear of high school students interning in roles that provide them with real-world experience. In recent years, King’s Schools and CRISTA Ministries has made it a point to offer internships that allow students to discover their passions in order to further the mission of inspiring hearts and equipping minds. We sat down with Corrine Nield, Academic Dean of Students, to discuss the amazing opportunities offered through King’s internships.

How long have CRISTA and King’s Schools partnered to offer student internships?

The internship program began in 2013 with three students piloting its first year. Since then, King’s Schools has had multiple student interns in many different ministries. For the 2018-2019 school year, there are now ten student interns.

What ministries can students intern for?

In the past five years, interns have gotten experience working with World Concern, CRISTA Marketing and Events, Elementary Education, Law and Corporate Affairs, the President’s office, Video Production, Graphic Design and CRISTA Media’s radio station, Spirit 105.3. King’s High School also offers two other internships. One that includes technology support for the Elementary, Jr. High and High School and another that is focused on instructional assistance where students can work in high school classrooms to support teacher content and assist in student learning.

What tasks do students complete during their internship?

When each student’s internship begins, they are given a One Note to set goals to achieve over the course of the semester, they complete weekly reflections, a career interest survey, specific projects pertaining to their ministry, and at the end of the semester, each intern will submit an evaluation of their experience. This feedback allows both the school and the interning department to continually develop the program each year in order to help students develop skills that are informative as they explore what careers may interest them.

During the semester-long internship, students will also attend three “Brown Bag” lunches where CRISTA Marketing professionals provide conversation topics on the many different aspects of business. This is a time where student interns can hear real-world experiences from professionals in their fields of interest.

What does the typical CRISTA internship entail?

Every intern’s experience is different! That is the beauty of project-based learning through internships.  Before offering certain internships, each ministry and department is vetted to ensure that there is enough opportunity for student interns. We want to be sure that these students are having true professional opportunities in order for them to begin to discover their likes and dislikes of certain industries. For example, we don’t want the interns in Elementary Education just correcting papers and completing other mundane, tedious tasks. The interns are working alongside students and teachers, learning and preforming Elementary practices. This first-handedly shows them what it’s like to be a professional in that particular field.

What are the benefits to a CRISTA internship and how are they preparing students for life after graduation?

High school internships can provide so much insight to future career paths. Through offering these internships, students may begin to discover what their skills are and how they may be utilized in the workplace. This is a rare thing in high school – to learn skills in the classroom and then put them to use in a professional setting. Some students don’t get this chance until later in their college years!

Our internships allow students the opportunity to see how their gifts and callings might fit into a specific industry. There is value in both finding an outlet for your passions as well as discovering that a specific line of work may not be of interest to you.

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By Elementary Teacher Rachel White

Can a whole house really be built in 2 ½ days?  What if half of the builders are elementary-aged children?  What if most of the adult builders don’t have much construction experience?

Impossible?  Not if you were the 2018 King’s Elementary “La Casa de Amor” team!  10 adults and 11 children traveled from Seattle to Antorchista, Tijuana for part of their spring break to build a house for the Moreno family:  Edwin, Erika, Jesus, Mailin and Liset.

It all started with some pennies…..

For the months of February and March, King’s Elementary students brought coins and bills to school every morning.  All of these donations helped to purchase the building materials for the Moreno’s house.  Also, the younger students decorated posters and bookmarks with Spanish scripture verses to be given to the Morenos and their neighbors.  The older students wrote prayers, encouraging words, and Scripture verses – all translated into Spanish – onto notecards for the Moreno family.  Every King’s Elementary student participated!

Early in the morning on April 2^nd, the La Casa team – 6 families from King’s Elementary – met at SeaTac Airport.  They flew to San Diego, CA, picked up rental vans, and headed to Costco, Walmart, and Home Depot to pick up food and supplies.  Then, they met up with Paul (a.k.a. “Pablo”) from Baja Christian Ministries to cross the border into Mexico.  There was plenty of time to go visit the family who had received a home last year, go pray over the Moreno family building site, and then check into the hotel to get a good night’s sleep in preparation for building the next day.

On April 3^rd, Pablo met the King’s Elementary team at their hotel and led them out to the Moreno family building site.  Baja Christian Ministries (BCM) has built over 2300 homes in Tijuana over the past 25+ years!!  To say “they know what they’re doing” is a gross understatement.  From the moment the King’s Elementary team opened their car doors that morning, to the moment they packed up to head back to their hotel for dinner, Pablo and “Hallelujah Hector” from BCM kept everyone busy with painting, hammering, sawing, roofing, cleaning, and laughing.  By the end of Building Day 1, the walls and roof were up, and even some of the interior dry wall was up, taped, and mudded (dad, Edwin Moreno, helped a lot with the mudding when he wasn’t at work)!  Most of the exterior plywood boards were painted prior to being put on the house, and the boards were still wet with paint when they were put up!  Everyone was thrilled with the progress!

For Building Day 2, the team was already working on finishing-type work.  All of the trim boards were being painted (4-year-old, Mailin Moreno, really enjoyed helping to paint), all of the interior dry-walled walls were getting their 2^nd coat of mud, the windows and doors were going in…. By lunch time they were done with what could be worked on that day, so the King’s Elementary team went with several other members of Baja Christian Ministries to another location in Tijuana.  There they went door-to-door and invited families to the nearby park for some free gifts and activities.  At the park, BCM staff and King’s Elementary team members shared testimonies of God’s faithfulness and also extended an invitation for people to ask for prayer.  Bibles, study guides, bubbles, soccer balls, and coloring books were all given out.  The team enjoyed staying in the park, praying for families, and playing with the neighborhood children, until it was time to head back to the hotel for dinner.

Building Day 3 was spent doing all of the finishing touches on the Moreno’s house.  By early afternoon the team gave Erika her new keys, a leather Bible, and a few house-warming gifts.  They prayed over the Moreno family, their new home, and the neighborhood.  With the extra time they had, the team walked around the neighborhood giving out little toys to the children, and smiles and hugs to everyone.  By the time they walked back to the building site to get into their cars to head back for dinner, the Morenos were already painting the interior of their new house!  What a thrilling sight!

Can a house really be built in 2 ½ days with an inexperienced construction crew, half of whom are children?  When God is in charge, the answer is YES!

Rachel White has been teaching 2^nd grade at King’s Elementary since 2005. She and her husband live in Edmonds with their twin 18-year-old daughters. She has a BA in Mathematics with a minor in Cross-Cultural Communication and a MEd in Curriculum and Instruction, all degrees from Seattle Pacific University.

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by American History and Social Justice Teacher Ryan Crane

I distinctly remember as a six-year-old driving with my mom to pick dad up from Sea-Tac Airport. On I-5 south, around Tukwila where the freeway bends sharply westward, a vehicle 200 feet ahead of us swerved out of its lane, then back into its lane. Suddenly the passenger side door of the swerving car swung open and a woman’s body was thrown out, across three lanes of freeway, ending up on the shoulder. With no cell phone, two boys in the backseat and a husband to pick up at the airport, my mom had to make a quick decision. Courageously, my mom pulled over, nursing the victim until help arrived.

If you were in my mom’s place, what could you do? What should you do? What would you actually do? As a witness to some sort of conflict or crisis, you have two fundamental options: do something or do nothing.

In 2018, one doesn’t have to venture far to witness conflict. Whether it be the grip of poverty on so many communities around the world, environmental degradation, or the trafficking of humans for sex on Aurora Avenue North, we are all bystanders to something. The question is: will we choose to do something, or do nothing?

Let me tell you about King’s Social Justice.

You can track the six-year journey of King’s Social Justice on our Instagram feed: @kingssocialjustice. Scrolling through six years of the moments in the collective journey of KSJ, the snapshots filling my screen illustrate what happens when young people engage injustice with curiosity and empathy. I see students advocating for an end to sex trafficking in Seattle and Champasak, Laos. I see students attending justice conferences in other states.

I see students planning a local justice conference, sharing their passions with 200 Seattle area high school and college aged students. I see students tirelessly inviting their peers at school into their Thursday afternoon sacred space where topics range from personal experiences with neglect and powerlessness to the importance of avoiding paternalism in the pursuit of human dignity.

If I could somehow physically return to each moment depicted in that Instagram feed, I would be overcome with admiration and inspiration for the young people who continue to choose to see the image of God in everyone. Most of us, including myself, can choose to avoid and ignore stigmatized people and places, yet when students remind me of the people and places that Jesus engaged with, we redirect our ears to those not being heard, our eyes to those not being seen.

It is often said that King’s Schools is a place where future community leaders are nurtured. This is true. The purpose of King’s Social Justice, whether through the regular and advanced courses offered; or through experiential trips to the borderlands of the United States and Mexico, the rural communities of Laos, and the urban centers of Seattle and Chicago, is to inspire and equip students to have eyes to see and ears to hear the stories of those on the margins, standing with and for the powerless, choosing engagement over apathy, moving from bystander to upstander.

What I see in the students of King’s Social Justice is a gathering movement of young leaders unsettled with the status quo, charting an unconventional, uncomfortable path toward the restoration of people and communities.

Toward peace,
Ryan Crane

Mr. Crane is in his sixth year as a teacher of American History and Social Justice at King’s High School. His greatest passion is “to provide opportunity for students to wrestle with topics of moral and ethical significance. I hope that students leave my class knowing that they are loved, that they have a voice, and that they can use their influence to bring dignity and equality to humanity.” He lives in Seattle with his wife, Marisa and feels alive when dancing, slowing down for flowers and playing the harmonica.

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by King’s High School Student Einya Densmore

On Friday, December 2^nd, 45 King’s DECA students and six mentors embarked on the trip of a lifetime. Everyone boarded the plane and buckled in for the five-hour flight to New York City, excited to finally see the “City that never Sleeps”. As soon as the plane landed, the group got on a bus and was greeted by a view of the city and information from New York expert Mr. Ruhlman. Students learned about different architectural structures and history of the many areas while coming into the city. Bus rides are ok, but on this trip, students got to experience something even more magical-the subway. That day, everyone visited famous landmarks such as the New York Library and Grand Central Station. However, that was only the beginning.

Trekking on foot for nearly 45 miles over the course of the trip, students explored Times Square, filled with giant screens that lit up the city. Everyone enjoyed a night cruise and view of the dazzling lights and historic Statue of Liberty. Many watched what was their first ever Broadway performance and were also able to go backstage to meet the actors and talk about relevant world issues. The group did not just experience the theatrical side of New York, however. Later, students visited King’s alumni Hadley Ma and several Wall Street experts to learn firsthand what business in New York entails. Lastly, a stunning performance by the Rockettes brought a close to the spectacular trip in New York.

As the plane landed in Seattle, King’s DECA students were happy to be home. And yet, there will always be a special place in our hearts that longs for the hustle bustle of New York.

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What’s better in the summer than immersing yourself in an adventure while relaxing in a hammock on the beach or sprawling out on a pile of pillows in your backyard fort? Practically nothing. And our amazing King’s Schools librarians have some great suggestions for every age on books to put at the top of your summer reading lists!

High School to Adult:

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain – recommended by Siri Shapiro

Join Huck and Jim as they journey down the Mississippi River; laugh until you cry at Huck’s profound revelations on human nature and friendship. A book I re-read every few years!

Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte – recommended by Siri Shapiro

My all-time favorite literary character is orphan turned governess, Jane Eyre, who discovers love and friendship in the barren landscape of the English moors. Another book I revisit often!

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand – recommended by Jackie Pearson

This well written and intense biography shows the perseverance of the human spirit.

Night by Elie Wiesel – recommended by Jackie Pearson

The brutality and horror placed upon the Jews in Buchenwald and Auschwitz concentration camps is vividly described in this memoir.  A book that should be read by all lest it be forgotten.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett – recommended by Jackie Pearson

This novel provides great insight into life in the Deep South during the 1960’s.

Maus by Art Spiegelman – recommended by Jackie Pearson

Excellent depiction, using comics, of survival during the Holocaust.

Kidnapped – Robert Louis Stevenson – recommended by Siri Shapiro

Not just a boy’s adventure classic, recalls the heroic life of Alan Breck Stewart as he and kidnapped, 16 year old David Balfour scramble across the Scottish Highlands. Discover a love for swashbuckling, sword -fighting of men in kilts!

Junior High & Above:

The Secret Life of Bees – Sue Monk Kidd (13-adult) – recommended by Siri Shapiro

Experience the life of motherless Lily Owens as she discovers acceptance from “mothers” of a different race during the golden honey-filled South Carolina summer of 1960. Nurture triumphs over raw racism and heartache.

Under the Blood Red Sun – Graham Salisbury – recommended by Siri Shapiro

Billy Davis and TomiKazu Nakaji are good friends in Hawaii whose lives change in a moment when Japanese bombers devastate Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 194l.  Poignant, descriptive writing that young adults will relate to.

Yellow Star – Jennifer Roy – recommended by Siri Shapiro

Cleverly written in first person free verse, Yellow Star reveals the pain and perseverance in Poland’s WWII Warsaw Ghetto necessary for Syvia Perlmutter to become one of 12 children survivors. So powerful you don’t want to miss it!

Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli – recommended by Jackie Pearson

Life in the Warsaw Ghetto is extremely difficult for anyone, especially a young Jewish boy.  Resourcefulness and fortitude are the keys to survival.

Night of the Howling Dogs by Graham Salisbury – recommended by Jackie Pearson

Based on actual events, this book offers a glimpse of growing up in Hawai’i.

Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham – recommended by Jackie Pearson

Well written in free verse.  Explores the challenges of being physically disabled and the determination needed to overcome life’s obstacles.

The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine – recommended by Jackie Pearson

Growing up under the oppression of segregation is the way of life in the Deep South.  Finding friendship and standing up for what you believe in is the way to overcome!

Elementary & Above:

Wonder – RJ Palacio (Age: 11+) – recommended by Denise Boone

Wonder is about young boy, August Pullman, who has a congenital facial abnormality. After being homeschooled, he enters school for the first time in fifth grade and has to cope with a range of reactions to his unusual appearance, as well as a lot of typical middle school drama.

Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Graham (10+) – recommended by Siri Shapiro

A favorite childhood story about another river – the Thames, with equally witty and insightful characters Ratty, Mole, and Toad, who discover how to be faithful friends and what they are truly capable of.  Classic literature that begs to be read aloud!

Circus Mirandus – Cassie Beasley (Age: 9+) – recommended by Denise Boone

Circus Mirandus is a fantastical novel in which children delight in a magical circus that exists solely to enchant them. The novel alternates between the present-day story of a fifth-grader named Micah Tuttle, who’s grappling with the impending death of his beloved grandfather (and sole guardian), Ephraim Tuttle, and Ephraim’s experiences as a boy at the Circus Mirandus. Micah, with the help of his no-nonsense friend Jenny, embark on a quest to save his grandfather with the help of the circus.

Crenshaw – Katherine Applegate (Age: 8+) – recommended by Denise Boone

Crenshaw is a masterful story about a family down on its luck, and though it tackles homelessness, it’s never hopeless.

The One and Only Ivan – Katherine Applegate (Age: 8+) – recommended by Denise Boone

This book was inspired by the true story of a gorilla who, after more than a quarter century of captivity in a tourist trap, now lives happily in a fine habitat at Zoo Atlanta and is renowned for his art. In Applegate’s tale, he’s acquired a few fictional friends, and the story has picked up some plot embellishments driven by the arrival of an innocent baby elephant.

The Prince Warriors – Priscilla Shirer (Age: 8+) – recommended by Denise Boone

Get your 8- to 12-year-olds thinking about the reality of spiritual warfare—and challenge them to put on “the full armor of God”! Like most young brothers, Xavier and Evan are used to battling each other. But when they’re whisked into the mysterious world of Ahoratos, they must stand together—against a far more frightening enemy!

Stuart Little – E. B. White (age 8+) – recommended by Jackie Pearson

A classic tale about an adventuresome mouse who leaves the big city in search of his missing friend.  A childhood favorite of mine!

Preschool & Above:

Creature Features – Steve Jenkins – recommended by Denise Boone

Packed with many cool facts and visuals on where certain animals live and what they eat, this book captures twenty-five humorous—and very true—explanations of why animals look the way they do in order to exist in this world.

Maddie’s Fridge – Lois Brandt – recommended by Denise Boone

With humor and warmth, this children’s picture book raises awareness about poverty and hunger.

Last Stop on Market Street – Matt de la Peña – recommended by Denise Boone

Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don’t own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty-and fun-in their routine and the world around them.

Larry Get’s Lost in Seattle – John Skewes – recommended by Denise Boone

Larry Gets Lost in Seattle is an interactive, highly visual children’s story about a young boy (Pete) who goes to Seattle with his family and is temporarily separated from his cute little dog, Larry, while sightseeing. In his search for Pete, Larry encounters many Seattle landmarks and cultural attractions before the two are reunited.

Mogie the Heart of the House – Kathi Appelt – recommended by Denise Boone

Mogie is a real-life Labradoodle with a special talent: he always knows just what a sick kid needs! Based on a true story, this heartwarming picture book is published in conjunction with the Ronald McDonald House.

My Heart Christ’s Home, retold for children – Carolyn Nystrom – recommended by Denise Boone

Peter is thrilled when Jesus comes to stay. They eat lunch together, play outside, and go to school. But then Peter is faced with an important decision. Should he show Jesus the secret thing he’s hidden in his closet? Simple text and engaging illustrations teach children that God wants to enter every part of their lives.

Finding Winnie – Lindsay Mattick – recommended by Denise Boone

Here is the remarkable true story of the bear who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh.

Check out our mid-August summer camps for 1^st – 3^rd Reading & Writing and Kindergarten Readiness.

High School Teacher & Librarian Siri Shapiro loves recommending books to students! One of her favorite parts of being a librarian is selecting new books to purchase, which involves reading reviews, following trends and checking content. She also has a passion for reading aloud to audiences of all ages. She spent time in Reader’s Theatre at the University of Washington and earned a major in English Literature and a minor in Oral Interpretation. In addition to working with students in the library, Mrs. Shapiro always attends the school concerts and plays. “Music and drama have been a part of my life since I was a little girl,” said Shapiro. “My mother was a violist and my father a history professor. I have sung soprano in several different choirs over the years. Now, I enjoy being part of chapel and worshipping with the KHS student body.” She has been our King’s High School librarian for 14 years and had three children who graduated from King’s, but did you know… Mrs. Shapiro has climbed Mt. Arthur and Mt. Wellington in British Columbia with Young Life’s Beyond Malibu!?

Jackie Pearson is the Assistant Librarian for King’s secondary schools. Her passion is helping students, whether with technology or finding the resources they need to be successful. She also helps out with drama productions, chaperones high school dances, sells tickets during football and basketball games and has chaperoned robotics teams when they travel to world championships! This is Mrs. Pearson’s 12^th year working for King’s. She is also a King’s alumnus and has 2 children who’ve gone through King’s, a son who graduated in 2013 and a daughter who will graduate next year! And did you know… Mrs. Pearson has a black belt in karate!? She also lives in Hawaii in the summers where she loves immersing herself in her Polynesian culture. Here in Seattle, she performs with a hula halau, where she plays the Tahitian drums!

King’s Elementary School Librarian Denise Boone loves reading to children and highlighting books. She enjoys making a story come alive, captivating the students to read and discover for themselves. She also teaches advanced math for 4^th – 6^th grade, coaches Math Olympics and tutors students in math before and after school. As a math teacher, her passion is to tear down barriers and create confidence and joy as the students achieve success. Mrs. Boone loves learning and wants to help her students love learning, too, so she works hard to make it fun. In library, for instance, she put together a Jeopardy-style game that taught kids the Dewey Decimal system with a fun competition.  And did you know… Mrs. Boone studied Japanese in college and spent a summer living in Japan? She has also zip lined in Costa Rica!

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Spring and summer breaks are fabulous times for kids to encounter hands-on, experiential learning. During the 2016 spring break, King’s students enjoyed time to observe, transform and reflect on their environments through King’s Kids Club, school trips, family vacations and even time at home.

Outside of the classroom can start with the school grounds. Elementary students in King’s Kids Club delved into the mystery of King’s Schools’ history over spring break by touring CRISTA’s tunnels, exploring the campus and engaging in a fun treasure hunt. They also got up close and personal with farm animals they’d read about in books with a visit from Animal Encounters. Juanita Thompson, Director of Special Programs & King’s Kid Club, believes that learning outside the classroom is important because “students can apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real life and real world situations.” For instance, during free play on Wheel Day, students have a safe place to ride their bikes, rollerblades, scooters and skateboard on the elementary campus. They also went off-campus to try their hand at bowling. “With parents working full-time, kids often have less opportunity to go try new things and see new places,” said Thompson. Special Programs Assistant Sharyn Spradlin added, “In addition to “soft skills” of working with others, leadership, self-discipline, and endurance; extracurricular activities also help build important relationships to mentors such as soccer coaches, bandleaders, and pastors, who can be paramount in a young person’s life.

A large group of King’s Jr. High students travelled with Teachers John Hubbell and Jeff Wright to Washington D.C. for some hands on history. “One thing they learned was the scope of things,” said Hubbell. “Places look much different in person than they do in books.” Students could smell cherry blossoms as they visited memorials to fallen soldiers. They experienced quiet solemnness as two King’s students placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They saw the actual size of the Capitol Buildings and participated in Gettysburg reenactments of cannon and musket loading. You just can’t learn those things inside of a classroom.

Other King’s Kids spent spring break vacationing with family. King’s Parent Beverly Emerson reflected on the things her kids learned during their spring break ski trip:

• They learn to support family.  As our kids get older (and as I get older!) it becomes more difficult to stay ahead of them on the ski slopes. I found my daughter shouting words of encouragement to me as I negotiated the black diamond route the rest of the family had chosen. Words of praise and support from my child to me made me realize – she gets it!
• They learn creativity, and play in nature. We rented a cabin for a couple nights and kept screen time to a minimum. There was more free time than usual to just explore and play.  My son found wild turkeys on the property and stalked them with pine cones.  While we didn’t approve of this activity, he did manage to be the only one to witness them fleeing for their lives, flying high up into the trees.  Who knew turkeys could fly?
• Our daughter learned that she’s capable of more than she thought. Once she got her ski legs underneath her, she was able to do tougher runs than she had ever done before. It wasn’t pretty, but she can say that she skied a black run!

Plenty of King’s families chose to spend spring break at home taking a break from activities, and that down time is also important learning time. With nothing planned, children have time to play, create and process. They create worlds in Minecraft, paint landscapes, and fold paper into airplanes, animals and ninja stars. They learn business skills with lemonade stands and social skills building forts with the neighborhood crowd. They also learn by helping in the garden and around the house. Emerson said that when her children do chores, “They learn that the world doesn’t revolve around them. Well, ok, maybe they haven’t learned it yet, but we’re working on it.  It takes time and effort to maintain a house and yard and taking responsibility for it is part of life.”

Inside and outside the classroom, life is about learning. What are some of the fun things that your family learned on Spring break?

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