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Cultivating biblically minded students who serve God to their greatest potential and impact the world for Christ
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“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.” - Psalm 23:1-3a
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Dear RC community,
Spring is just around the corner and while we crave the sunshine and warmer temperatures, the season also ushers in one of the busiest times of the school year. As my calendar fills with games, ceremonies, and other events, I am reminded in Psalm 23 that the Lord also offers to lead me beside still waters so He can restore my soul. In his 2003 book Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives, Dr. Richard Swenson shares the difference between this offer and the command for Sabbath:
The Sabbath rest is a rest He calls us to, but the surrendered rest He offers to us. The Sabbath rest we enter out of obedience; the surrendered rest we enter out of our need. The Sabbath rest arises from the good and perfect law of God; the surrendered rest arises from the good and perfect grace of God. The Sabbath rest is remembrance; the surrendered rest is meekness. Both provide soothing, God-ordained healing.
I discovered my own need for surrendered rest after the fourth year as a Christian school leader. I had been tasked with revitalizing a high school that was bleeding enrollment due to dissatisfaction with the academic rigor and spiritual climate. As you can imagine, the change process was difficult as the faculty, students, and families wrestled with modifications to what was familiar, routine, and comfortable. There were many late nights working out the details of the turnaround, and after four years of pressing forward I was running on empty with nothing left to invest in those who were most dear to me. After a summer of reflecting and putting some healthy boundaries in place that prioritized my spiritual, mental, and physical well-being as well as the relationships in my life, I began to feel the soothing, God-ordained healing promised in Psalm 23. It was life changing for me and made me more mindful of our collective need for margin. That was almost 10 years ago and I have clung to those boundaries, doing better at maintaining them during some seasons than in others.
One quick glance at the schedule for March, April, and May will confirm that most, if not all, of us have more on our calendars than ever. So as we enter into this last quarter of the year, I encourage us to give ourselves, our children, and our community room to breathe and permission to rest by intentionally creating margin. I pray that we will take God up on His offer to lead us beside still waters, restore our souls, and make us available in the relationships He has placed around us. Time is fleeting - something our senior parents feel right now especially - and yet God has given us a tremendous opportunity to redeem the time through surrendered rest. May it be as transformational for you as it has been for me.
Blessings,
Dr. Jahna Duda
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Parent University:
"The RC Way"
Each of us, whether parents, educators, or youth pastors, shares the tremendous opportunity to shepherd our children’s faith. At Rockford Christian, we guide students towards the big story of the Bible by reshaping conversations within a biblical worldview framework.
Join us for our next Parent University, and learn how to use this method to empower your conversations at home, in the car, or wherever you may be. Invite your friends, neighbors, and church groups to join us as we share this simple framework that has transformed our conversations at RC.
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Strategic Plan Updates
During our February strategic planning session, the leadership team focused on two key spring initiatives - the transition for students and families from fourth to fifth grade, and hiring processes for faculty and coaches. Both initiatives target specific goals within the strategic plan to build relational trust and consistent experiences in the transition between campuses as well as create a unified philosophy of Kingdom education, or what we are calling the RC Way.
Assisted by our Admissions Team, Head of Upper School Mr. Lindstedt and Head of Lower School Mr. Nyberg collaborated on how to best support students and families in the “passing of the baton” for the Class of 2033 from the Lower School campus to the Upper School campus. The two have mapped out several important touch points including a face-to-face parent meeting, fourth grade visit day to Upper School, alumni testimonials, and a summer fellowship. While we are pleased with progress in this transition over the last few years, we agree that we can still do more in making the experience excellent for students and families. Our team will continue to review feedback and further refine processes to establish a rhythm that works best for Rockford Christian.
Head of Human Resources Mrs. Ahern and Head of Spiritual Life Mr. Tibbetts collaborated on how to further refine our onboarding processes for new faculty and coaches as we enter hiring season. Procedures include:
- an intentional focus on the RC Way in which candidates are vetted against and oriented to a shared understanding of our mission to strengthen Christian formation, knowledge, and spiritual growth for all students
- interview questions and discussions with applicants centered around an understanding of Kingdom education, specifically what it means to be a teacher or coach at RC.
One of our greatest responsibilities is to shepherd the mission of Rockford Christian to cultivate Kingdom-minded students who find their purpose and impact the world for Christ. I cannot think of a better way to guard that mission than hiring mission-fit employees who understand our work is about more than academics and game strategy - it’s about transforming the heart of a child to follow Jesus in all that they say, think, or do.
To learn more about the strategic plan, click the link below or contact the head of school for a conversation about the specific initiatives.
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High School Service Day 2025
At the conclusion of this year's Spiritual Emphasis Week, our high school students volunteered their time and talents around the Rockford community at 11 locations including Habitat for Humanity, Carpenter's Place, Kids Around the World, Pregnancy Care Center, Rock House Kids, Veterans Drop-in, Fairhaven, and Noah's Ark. Royal Lions brought smiles and hope to those in need all across our area. Thank you to the many RC faculty and staff who served alongside our students, leading by example. At Rockford Christian, we are cultivating potential and equipping students to impact the world for Jesus Christ.
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Royal Lion Athletes Conference Champions | |
Congratulations to Coach Park '21and our undefeated 7th grade girls basketball team! RC went 18-0 for the season and won the conference championship! What an impressive season, Lady Royal Lions! | |  |
Congratulations to Coach Johnson, Coach Bubnack, and our boys varsity basketball team who secured the BNC Championship in a crosstown rivalry game against Rockford Lutheran! Read more... | | |
Fine Arts Excellence on Display | | |
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Last month, 13 of our middle school band students competed at the IGSMA District 4 Solo & Ensemble Competition. Every student received a Division 1, the highest rating a student can achieve! Well done, Royal Lions! | | |
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Ellie Mathiesen '29 participated in the 2025 All Illinois Junior Band, a premier musical experience for the state’s finest middle school band students! The ensemble performed a magnificent concert at the University of Illinois in the Krannert Performing Arts Center. | | |
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Five high school band students were selected to perform at the Big Northern Conference Band Festival. Congratulations to Trish Koshi '26, Henry Ingram '26, Samuel Huber '28, Brooke Sunday '25, and Emily Johns '28! | | |
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Emily Johns '28 and Brooke Sunday '25 participated in the ILMEA All-State ensembles in Peoria! The Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-State ensembles showcase the top students from district-level ensembles. | |
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Congratulations to the following students whose artwork was juried into
the Rockford Art Museum High School Art Show!
Brianna Haas '25: Lilies, Under the Sea
Coraleigh Shelley '26: Ralph’s Farm
Lydia Sherburne '25: Wheels
Morgan Johnson '26: Collection
Sophie Whelan '26: Blossoms in the Night
Matilde Cagnin '25: Sun and Moon
Emily Meyers '26: Good Morning World
The show runs March 2-30 at Rockford Art Museum.
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NHS Welcomes 44 New Members
This week, 44 Rockford Christian students were inducted into our school's National Honor Society chapter, including nearly 60% of the Class of 2026, making this one of our largest induction ceremonies. NHS members pledge to maintain and encourage high standards of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.
"You are the light of the world....In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:14a,16
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THANK YOU
to our 2024-25 Royal Lion Ultimate Corporate Sponsors. Sponsorships are a great way to not only support RC but also promote and support our Royal Lion community! For more information about becoming an RC corporate sponsor, please contact our advancement office or click here.
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Rockford Christian School
1401 N. Bell School Rd.
Rockford, IL 61107
(815) 391-8000
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