The March 21, 2025 Northwest Christian School Spotlight e-newsletter

From the desk of the superintendent...

Dear NCS family,

They are called “Four Last Songs”. When he wrote them, Richard Strauss referenced them as his “posthumous songs". As his health faltered and he approached the end of his life, he knew that they would be the four last songs he would ever write.

A German composer most recognized and revered for “Also Sprach Zarathrusta” – a composition used to epic effect in the movie “2001, A Space Odyssey” – Strauss also understood his place in history. Living in 1930’s Germany, he was part of an unbroken musical lineage going back to Beethoven. But, because this was 1930’s Germany, and although there was nary a Nazi notion in his noggin, his zealous pursuit of the Germanic musical tradition had created the international perception that he was a card-carrying member of the Third Reich.

As a result, Strauss knew the stakes in writing these songs. He wanted his final songs to convey the unrivalled legacy and glory of Germany’s musical heritage. He wanted the songs to acquit him of any accusation of Arianism. He wanted these songs to be perfect. And, they were.

In fact, they were too perfect.

The songs are renowned for their vocal complexity, their long melodic lines, and their need for a strong, expressive tone, sustained past the lung capacity of any mere mortal. History records that, as they were originally written, no soprano had the ability to manage the “diaphragmatic breathing” required for the songs to be sung. Legend has it that the only soprano to sing the songs as written was also an oceanic free-diver, capable of holding her breath for upwards of 20 minutes.

Strauss’ dying desire was that the songs would be premiered after his death by a soprano named Kirsten Flagstad. But, recognizing that she did not have the lung capacity to deliver the songs in their original beauty without passing out, she did the unthinkable and declined Strauss’ dying wish. Yet, the composer was not undone. Instead, he worked closely with Flagstad and together–composer and soprano working in harmony–they adjusted both lyrics and melody so that the beauty of the songs was not compromised and Flagstad would not pass out at the debut performance.

But, this all begs the simple question: Why would a maestro write something so perfect and at a standard that no person could attain? Can you imagine a written document holding those that seek to follow it to a standard that they could not humanly achieve? What purpose would it serve?

If you’re not yet capturing my meaning, I’ll say it plainly. Is it possible that our students see God’s word, and the standards it would hold them to, in very much the same light that every 1930’s German soprano saw Strauss’ Four Last Songs? If such perfection is simply not possible, is it fair?

Strauss understood that the real beauty in his Four Last Songs was not in the product. Rather, it was in the process. This true beauty was found in the process of writer and singer working together towards perfection even if, on this side of Heaven’s veil, that perfection was never attained on earth. Beyond the composition of the Four Last Songs, it was in the process of aspiring towards unattainable perfection that the world realized the heart of the composer. And, in so doing, Strauss achieved what he set out to do.

We have the same beauty available to us in the disciplinary process. God’s word is perfect, true, and an unchanging standard around which we orient our lives. But, like so many German sopranos, our students cannot attain its perfection. Instead, beauty is found in the process of school, home, and student working together, in harmony and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, towards a bullseye we will never hit.

When that email hits your inbox notifying you that your student was tardy or out of dress code, don’t be undone. When the call comes home that your student said that one word they should not say or looked at someone else’s spelling test, don’t even be surprised. Instead, impossible as it may seem, recognize the beauty of the moment. These cues are simply an invitation to participate in a sacred and beautiful process.

I'm privileged to serve your family and your student.

Geoff Brown

Superintendent/Northwest Christian School

(623)225-5573 (cell)

gbrown@ncsaz.org

Northwest Christian Band and Choir travel to Ireland. In March 2025, just in time for St. Patrick's Day, the Northwest Christian band and choir had the experience of a lifetime, travelling to Ireland in order to participate in four different concerts and festivals. In addition to the concerts, over eighty participants had the chance to enjoy learning about the culture, history, and food within this beautiful nation. "This was truly a memorable experience for our students," explained Northwest Christian high school principal Jeff Parsons. "Going in, our students had high expectations, but I don't think that they were expecting the sort of hospitality and opportunities that these wonderful churches provided." To hear one of the band ensembles perform a beautifully dissonant arrangement of "Amazing Grace" in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, please follow this link.

Building blocks for the future. The Red Letter Challenge (RedLetterChallenge.org) is Northwest Christian's annual incentivized Bible reading plan for elementary-aged students. "I started a daily commitment to God's word when I was in fourth grade," explains NCS superintendent Geoff Brown. "And I earnestly believe that the elementary years are the perfect time to establish the daily discipline of devotions and prayer." This year's campaign was themed around Legos. And, among the many different incentives that were offered, three classes won the chance to spend the day with Mr. Brown, Mr. G, and Mr. Dowdle at the Legoland Discovery Center.

We can do this! Help make the Northwest Christian Lunchroom a reality! Buy your 2025 "In Full Bloom" Fundraising Dinner and Auction tickets now! The long-asked-for lunchroom is finally happening. "Presently," explains NCS superintendent Geoff Brown, "fundraising towards our funding goal reached 50% in just two months. I am excited to report that a single donor stepped forward and, right out of the gates, contributed 20% of our concept estimate cost. I never imagined that so soon after finishing and opening the Ernest and Beverly Shortridge Elementary Classroom Building that we would be so close to moving forward on another huge project. Right now, we are working with the architects, refining the plans, and preparing to pursue permits. It really is time to get excited about what the Lord is doing on this campus. I am asking every Northwest Christian family to do what they can and one of the best ways to help make this dream a reality for our students is strong participation in our annual fundraising dinner and auction. Would you consider buying your tickets today?"

All in a sundaes work? Northwest Christian elementary principal Eric Dowdle took one for the team this month as part of Jog-a-thon 2025. Dowdle incentivized the elementary that if they achieved their "stretch goal" for participation and fundraising, he would be turned into a human ice cream sundae. "This was a different experience than I anticipated," explained Dowdle. "I had no idea how cold and 'complete' this would be. I am still finding chocolate sauce and whipped cream!" Dowdle's efforts were part of a very successful Jog-a-thon 2025 campaign that was done as part of the "Build Here Build There" campus improvement campaign which raised just under $200,000 for the new lunchroom. In the secondary grades, as part of the same campaign, students earned the opportunity to host a glow-in-the-dark "silent disco".

The game is afoot? Yes, literally the game was all about a foot! It was in Northwest Christian's annual version of the national literacy initiative Read Across America - cleverly titled "Read Across NCS" - that, all the way back in 2017, Sherlock Holmes first made an appearance. And, in 2025, due to a missing left shoe, Sherlock returned. As we moved through the week, students were challenged to read and, in exchange for many, many pages read, each day they were rewarded with a new video clue. But, in the end, it all turned about to be a fair amount of monkey business! To see what happened, please visit ReadAcrossNCS.com.

Third grade fun in the sun. As part of a long-standing Northwest Christian tradition, over spring break, a host of third grade families headed to San Diego for the annual "floating lab" trip. Students parents spent a half-day on the ocean in a boat equipped with microscopes, aquariums, and various tanks that allowed students to engage with sea life. Students also spent time at SeaWorld and the Sand Diego Wild Animal Park.

Jazz and Java 2025. Northwest Christian's annual Jazz & Java night is one that has grown continuously over the years. The 2025 iteration marked another high point as Northwest Christian's middle and high school choirs, led by Nathan Krell and Melissa Mcguire respectively, performed alongside the very talented high school band's jazz ensemble. In addition to the music, the event also featured a showcase of student artwork, assembled and displayed by high school art teacher Danielle Greene. The whole event also included food and coffee trucks and was hosted at Desert Breeze Community Church. "Yes, this is definitely an event that has grown," explains assistant superintendent Samantha Maszton, "but that growth has paralleled the amazing growth within our fine arts department. This was an amazing night of talent."

No night is like snow night! Spending an evening with several dozen students who number their time on earth in months and not years is always a memorable experience. You throw in snow, sleds, snowballs, hot chocolate, and churros and the memory meter just blew out! Students were bundled in snow clothes that they will probably outgrow before using again and amped up with energy no snow could stifle! The Northwest Christian Early Education program's "Snow Night" on the front lawn of the preschool was a huge hit!

Hoop dreams. The Don Sanderson Gymnasium was packed for Hoopcoming as high school's student council did a wonderful job of complementing a full slate of games against Bourgade Catholic with food trucks. games, and a host of spirited events. "For me," explains superintendent Geoff Brown, "the highlight had to be the elementary cheerleading squad. These girls had practiced with the high school's cheerleaders and they had so much fun together is was infectious!"

Parenting trouble no more! (Well, that might be a bit optimistic.) This past spring, Northwest Christian announced its partnership with Christian Family Care to open the many parenting resources available through the Family Care Learning library to the Crusader community of families, free of charge. These online courses are immediately available once NCS parents have completed the "NCS Parent University: Foundations of a Biblical Worldview" course that is required as part of the re-enrollment process. For more information, please follow this link.

Trusted Truth Transforms... It's the tagline for Northwest Christian School's foray into the realm of online education, the enrollment for which has blown up this summer. A project four years in the making, Northwest Christian School Online is not the typical online academy. Most online schools rebrand third-party digital curriculum. Instead, Northwest Christian School Online is wholly and organically developed and fully facilitated by Northwest Christian faculty. As well, the online experience is available at roughly half-the-price of other Christian online schools, a price that can be easily covered by an ESA for Arizona-based families. (To survey the price points of online Christian schools relative to NCS Online, please click here.) The most exciting aspect of Northwest Christian School Online is that some aspect of the program--Frameworks, NCS Plus, NCS Flex, and NCS Online--will ultimately impact the learning of every NCS student--whether that student is online or on-the-ground. To survey the different aspects of and opportunities within NCS Online, please follow this link. To learn more about NCS Flex specifically, please click the image below.

RightNow Media is your chance to enjoy the Northwest Christian community -- in your living room!

All free of charge and via your phone, smart television, desktop computer, or tablet. RightNow Media is the Netflix of Bible studies and family-friendly movies and children's programming. It's also the home to a huge amount of video-based Northwest Christian content. On Northwest Christian School's RightNow Media page, available at this link, you can enjoy chapels, concerts, senior graduation, eighth grade promotion, Crusader's Got Talent, missions trips, and so much more.

The NCS RightNow Media page is also providing access to the NXNW 2021 student film, "Do-Gooders", as well as all of the other NXNW student films!

Registration takes just a few minutes and is absolutely free!