Dr. Amy Yoder becomes Grand Canyon University's first post-doctoral fellow. Her research into the effectiveness of school strategies is attracting national attention.

As recently reported by GCU News, Northwest Christian School's Dr. Amy Yoder is the first post-doctoral fellow in the history of Grand Canyon University, a deserved designation that she achieved due to the cutting edge nature of her research into spiritual formation strategies and high school students. But, the qualification of "cutting edge" isn't just due to the fact that she is making the first research forays into the effectiveness of Christian schools. In large part, the 'edge' to her studies is her research subjects: her students!

In the spring of 2016, as part of her doctoral dissertation, Amy launched an extensive research effort designed to determine which Christian school spiritual formation strategies--in this case, Northwest Christian spiritual formation strategies--were most effective in the perceptions of her high school students, and which were not. Now, these several years later, Dr. Yoder has been commissioned by Christian School Management to continue and expand her research. "The results have been revelatory," enthuses superintendent Geoff Brown. "As a function of Amy's concern and care for her students, we're harvesting objective information that we're using to make data-driven decisions regarding the opportunities and investments of time and money that have the greatest potential impact for high school students."

An aspect of Amy's research included re-administering an anonymous survey to all Northwest Christian High School students. "This enabled us to compare our 2016 results against the 2023 results," continues Geoff, "and it allowed us further to determine if the Biblical worldview formation strategies that we are leaning into after the 2016 research effort are working."

To review this comparison, please follow this link. To listen to Dr. Yoder discuss her research efforts and what the school is learning through the process, please follow this link to Northwest Christian's Kingdom Culture Conversations podcast.

It's signing season! After years of hard work, tireless effort, and admirable self-discipline, multiple Crusaders this winter and spring will enjoy the fruits of their labor: the well-earned opportunity to participate within university-level athletics. "The idea that big schools won't look at athletes from smaller high schools just isn't true," explains high school athletic director David Inness. "Big schools have learned to look where they are most likely going to find the sort of athletes that they want to build their programs. They are looking for dedicated, hard-working students that are disciplined and focused enough to succeed in the classroom and on the court. And, we have those kids in spades." This past month, Northwest Christian celebrated the start of the signing season in recognizing two big signings: senior Emma Sayers signed on to swim at University of North Carollna-Chapel Hill and senior Gunnar Penzkover signed on to pitch at Grand Canyon University. This week, Northwest Christian enjoyed two more signings: senior Zach Veilleux signed with Glendale Community College and senior Bryan Lorenz signed with Arizona State University to play baseball.

No pressure! The start of December was also the start of spelling bee season...a season that will culminate in the spring with the annual ACSI spelling bee. Northwest Christian's elementary grade-level spelling bee took place on Friday, December 8th in the Don Sanderson Gymnasium. The winners were... First grade: Mikey Waypa, Felix Jones, Carter Hoffner, and Henry WIley; Second grade: Micah McFadden, David Heyward, and Roselyn Brimhall; Third grade: Camden Kluaka, Carson Soderlund, and Ariel Stark; Fourth grade: Stevie Barry, Kylee Green, and Caleb Soliman; Fifth grade: William Hay, Tyson Cacchiotti, and Jude Moore.

Get ready to walk the red carpet! Students, the annual NXNW Film Festival is fast approaching and with it the opportunity to see your own digital short film on the big screen and win cash prizes! The deadline for submissions is January 5, 2024. Click here for info!

Christmas Crusaders are coming to town! On Saturday, December 9th, just over sixty Crusaders made their lists and check them twice as they hit the road before dawn to traverse the border, headed to the Kids Kingdom orphanage in Imuris, Sonora. The five dozen students, faculty, alumni, and parents brought food, clothing, and gifts that were put together by generous Crusader families and students in both National Elementary Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society. Click here or on the image above to watch the video that captured the fun and ministry of the day trip.

January and February are about to get exciting... "These next two months are going to get really fun," explains superintendent Geoff Brown. "We will move past the dirt-moving towards the walls going up." Phase 1 of the school's "Build Here, Build There" campus improvement plan is beginning to take shape as that behind-the-scenes and off-campus, the new classroom building has already been built. Geoff explains: "We are using a newer building technology called Hercuwall which allows for us to build with maximum efficiency." Hercuwall is an ICC-certified construction solution which far surpasses typical "stick-built" construction methods. Made of concrete, steel and EPS, everything about Hercuwall’s power is in its unique, patented structure. Hercuwall delivers R31 insulation and is three times stronger than 2 x 4 wood studs, delivering superior strength, unsurpassed energy efficiency, sustainability, fire resistance, sound rating and overall building quality. Meanwhile, planning is already underway for the next phase - the Crusader Creation Commons. A state-of-the-art technology center, the Creation Commons will house the just-announced Siemens-driven engineering partnership, robotics, audio-and-video recording studios, 3-D printing, HAM radio, and many other chances for Crusaders to enjoy university-level technology. For more information on the Build Here, Build There campaign, please follow this link.

Crusader Cross Country continues its winning ways.

Coached by Northwest Christian Bible teachers Brandon Southall and Tanner Webb, Northwest Christian High School's cross country team saw Fall 2023 as a chance to continue its winning ways with the girls' team capturing the state title for a second year in a row.

The Arizona Interscholastic Association's Div. III championship follows a line of recent successes that highlight the caliber of athletes and coaches that are investing in the program. The boys team enjoyed a similar win one year ago. As well, the team has enjoyed one individual boys championship and runners-up indvidual wins for both the girls and boys.

"These athletes model dedication," exclaims high school principal Jeff Parsons. "Not only are they disciplined to run no matter the heat or the time of year, these students are also some of the spiritual leaders on our campus. They really are tremendous individuals and an outstanding team."

Crusader Christmas Celebrations!  "There are few times more exciting on a Christian school campus than the weeks leading up to Christmas," says superintendent Geoff Brown. "There is an amazing amount of energy and excitement. And we get to direct the focus of that enthusiasm to Jesus." As seen in the surrounding pictures, the weeks leading up towards next week's final day before Christmas break included: the all-school Christmas chapel, five band and choir concerts, a gingerbread house contest, three Grandparents days, and a mariachi band!

Christmas celebrations also included faculty fun with the continuation of the 2023/2024 school year's "Great Crusader Cook-Off" monthly competitions. During the first full week of December, there were three chances for faculty to bake Christmas treats and win: Christmas cookies, gingerbread houses, and churro treats. Click here or on the video above to enjoy the fun!

A heist film with a twist. The tenth annual NXNW High School Film Festival and student film come together for a spectacular Hollywood-styled evening on January 19th. Northwest Christian is excited to announce that Harkins Norterra has moved the event off the traditional Thursday to a Friday night!

This year's film is "Test Takers", a clever heist film in which a group of honor students scheme to do the unthinkable: steal a copy of the hardest teacher's "un-ace-able" final exam. During Crusaders Got Talent on October 19th, the trailer for "Test Takers" made its debut. To watch the trailer, please click here. Or, to see any of the other NXNW Films, please follow this link.

Crusader Archery hits the mark. In just its second year, the Crusader Archery team is showing that it has what it takes to stay on target. The varsity Crusader Archers competed in two tournaments during the month of December: the Corner Cup and the Candy Cane Crunch. Having competed in just the Candy Cane Crunch in their first season, the team performed admirably well against top archers from around the state and all improved on their prior years' performances. Jaymi Dingledine finished third in her Compound Bowhunter division--an incredible showing form a first-year archer. Grace Rivas also blew the spectators away when she hit a "Robin Hood"--her arrow struck and shattered the shaft of her previous shot! (Pictured left.)

Grandparents Days times three! During the week leading up to Thanksgiving, Northwest Christian School enjoyed a record turn-out of students' grandparents to the school's annual "Grandparents Days"--which have now grown to three days! Grandparents enjoyed a chorus of students during the kick-off assemblies, a time with their grandkids in NCS classrooms, and a festive early run at a Thanksgiving-styled meal. To enjoy one of the assemblies, please click on this link.

The Sutton Project demonstrates that the love of Christ is boundless! Almost as soon as The Sutton Project kicked off, we were inundated by the generosity of the Crusader community! As evidenced in the images above and right, before the storage containers even appeared on campus, school offices were packed with Thanksgiving meal items! For well over a decade, The Sutton Project has been an integral part of Northwest Christian's spiritual formation program for students. The Sutton Project is a school-wide missions learning effort in which all Crusaders get involved in providing meals and gifts to precious students within in the Isaac School District.

Located in central Phoenix, according to sources, the Isaac School District is a 100% Title 1 school district that provides free or reduced lunch to all 7,500 of its students. The district is comprised of eleven schools in the Phoenix metro area. The Isaac community experiences high rates of crime, has limited access to health and social services, is located in a food desert, and has an above average poverty level. Residents in the area also face significant language barriers.

There are numerous ways to get involved for alumni, NCS Online, NCS Flex, and NCS on-the ground students and their families! Early Education and Elementary students donate food items, ranging from canned vegetables to cornbread mix to dried potatoes. Middle School and High School students are invited to sacrificially, generously contribute $20 to pay for turkey vouchers. For more information, please watch this video and consider following this link.