City School

This is one of those prayers we hope our students and families carry with them long after childhood.

A reminder that we do not have to hold the weight of the world on our own shoulders. That we are small, loved, known, and safely held by a God who is infinitely stronger than we are.

As summer has begun, we pray this prayer over our students:

That you would sleep peacefully, play joyfully, wonder deeply, and continue growing in the hands of the One who holds all things together.

School is out, but these photos are still living rent free in our heads.

During the last couple weeks of school, we handed our older students disposable cameras and let them capture their days through their own eyes.

We loved this project so much, and we hope these photos give you a little glimpse into their perspectives, personalities, friendships, and the small moments that made up this year.

Starting with 5th grade, enjoy!

They were once 5 years old, starting school and now they are embarking on high school.

As they continue growing taller and older, we desire that they would speak to themselves with courage, perseverance, and hope.

Over the years, there have been hard lessons, long days, new friendships, failures, victories, prayers, and quiet moments of wrestling. In each of these past and soon to be future moments, the voice you listen to matters.

So we remind them again before they leave these halls:

Speak kindly to yourself.
Encourage yourself.
Remember what is true.
Remember the God who walks with you.
Remember that growth takes time.
Remember that you can do hard things.

Watching these students hold their five-year-old selves in their hands feels a little like watching time fold together at once, the child they were and the young adults they are becoming.

Both are worth celebrating.