Principal and Parents Partner at Sixth Grade Camp

This past week, the 6th Grade class spent time at Santa Barbara Christian Camp together, studying God’s creation and hearing from God’s word. Mrs. Koster and I joined them on Tuesday and were fortunate enough to join them in some of their outdoor adventures. I was so encouraged to see how hard the students worked hiking through the wilderness on one of the more strenuous hikes of the week, and to see all the different games they made up with one another during their free time. It’s a joy spending time with our students in a non-traditional school setting.

While I was up there, I was reminded of a few things. First, we are blessed to have parents who partner with us so well in our efforts here at Grace. Our parent chaperones committed their week to these students, hiking through the hills of Santa Barbara, and even sleeping in cabins with a bunch of 6th graders! The second thing I was reminded of was that we have excellent teachers all across our campus who are committed to our students in and out of the classroom. I am incredibly grateful to be surrounded by staff who care not just about our students' academic abilities, but also about their development as a whole. The final thing I was reminded of by being in the beautiful hills of Santa Barbara is that we serve a phenomenal Creator. Psalm 19:1 says, 

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”

The beauty of the Lord is clear all over, but it is especially easy to see when up at Santa Barbara Christian Camp. This is a fantastic week that we look forward to each year!

-Dustin Marvin, Elementary Principal