April 2022 Employee Spotlight

Mrs. MacAvoy, second grade teacher

How long have you been at ICS and what do you do?
I’ve been teaching second and third graders for five years and this is my first year at ICS. I am the second grade teacher.

What brought you to ICS?
I joined the ICS family with the desire to provide Christ-centered, Christian education for young children.

What is one thing that has happened at school recently that you'd like to share?
On St. Patrick’s Day, our class had fun doing math activities with Lucky Charms cereal! We made bar graphs and pie charts using the marshmallows. It was a fun and tasty time!

What is your hope for your students and/or our school this year?
I hope that my students will gain a love for learning, grow in their God-given strengths, and develop a greater understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

March 2022 Employee Spotlight

Mrs. Banta, kindergarten teacher

How long have you been at ICS and what do you do?
This is my first year teaching at ICS and I teach kindergarten!

What brought you to ICS?
I was at another school and was looking for a different teaching opportunity. I had two friends that worked at ICS who reached out to me and then Mitch contacted me as well. At first, I wasn't sure about teaching Kindergarten since I hadn't done it before, but I am so glad and grateful that I work here now. I love it!

What is one thing that has happened at school recently that you'd like to share?
In my classroom we are always on the lookout for ways that we can love like Jesus. Watching my students grow as they live out acts of grace, kindness, and love to each other has been amazing. There have been words of comfort shared with those who are hurting, help offered to others, and even the giving up of things for classmates. I also found out recently that some of the students are implementing the same things at home. It's an encouragement to watch them grow in Christlike character.

What is your hope for your students and/or our school this year?
My goal for my students is that while they learn basic skills in school, they are also learning about Jesus. My hope is that as they learn, they fall in love with Him, and as they get older that love grows into a lifelong relationship.

May 2022 Employee Spotlight

Mrs. Smith, Middle School Science Teacher

How long have you been at ICS and what do you do?
I have been at ICS since January 2018 when I joined the faculty as a 4th-grade teacher. I currently teach middle school English, Middle School Leadership Team (MSLT), and Study Skills.

What brought you to ICS?
I came to ICS looking to continue my career in Christian education with a school that was a better fit for my experience, skills, and abilities. I had heard some great things about ICS, which drew me here. God confirmed that this was where He wanted me to be and opened the door for me to join the faculty here.

What is one thing that has happened at school recently that you'd like to share?
I do not have a specific story, but  I enjoy getting to know my students.  Each day there is a story or something that a student says that makes me laugh. It could be about a student losing their voice or something silly they did over the weekend. It could also be something that I said in class and the student cannot stop laughing about.  There are so many moments of joy.

What is your hope for your students and/or our school this year?
My deep hope is for my students to be image reflectors of Christ by showing love and respect for each other within our school community and sharing that same love and respect with others outside of school as well.

April 2022 Students of the Month

April 2022 Students of the Month

Congratulations to Weston Williams (Pre-K), the April ICS Lower School Student of the Month!

Weston has such a big heart! Kind, hardworking and thoughtful are just a few ways to describe what an outstanding student he is. Weston actively participates in class discussions and has worked hard to accomplish our Pre-K goals. He is a good friend to many and frequently offers a helping hand to his classmates. Weston is very active and loves running, BMX biking and skiing! We are proud to honor Weston as our student of the month!

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Congratulations to Rebecca Curtis, the April ICS Upper School Student of the Month!

Rebecca selflessly gives of her time as the stage manager for ICS Theater Department productions. She also kindly helps her peers in class and is a wonderful example of having a servant’s heart. Rebecca's teachers admire her humility and maturity! She truly reflects the heart of Jesus in all that she does!

A Jazzy Friday Night

By Jennifer Adema, ICS admissions director

Miss Potter has been on staff at ICS for 27 years. She has carried a love for the Utah Jazz for 35 years. Earlier this year, her calling and her passion collided on a special night. Miss Potter put in a request for tickets to a Utah Jazz game through the player donation program sponsored by team members of the Jazz.

Miss Potter’s request was honored! She received 30 complimentary tickets to the Jazz vs Clippers game on March 18, 2022. This meant the entire class could be included, as well as a few lucky chaperones! The night proved to be a fantastic time of building community and celebrating one of Utah’s beloved professional sports teams. 

Some of the Jazz key players were unable to compete against the Clippers due to injuries. However, this proved not to be a problem as the Jazz dominated the entire game. The final score was 121-92. 

For the majority of the students and chaperones, this was their first professional basketball game. What a fantastic night of staying out past bedtimes, riding the school bus downtown, feasting on arena snacks and cheering with friends.

For Miss Potter, this night wrapped up her birthday week! She was thrilled to share one of her favorite pastimes with her entire class. As important as learning is in the 3rd grade classroom, it’s also important to learn under the influence of a lifelong Jazz fan how to fully support the team! What a fun and special evening this was for our 3rd graders and their teacher. We celebrate our student’s “wins” in and out of the classroom. This Utah Jazz win on the court will not soon be forgotten!

Meet Our New Head of School Gabe Pethtel

The ICS community is excited to welcome its new Head of School Gabe Pethtel! Gabe began his career as a middle school English teacher and wrestling coach, and since then, his resumé in the world of education as well as his passion for Christian education has only grown. Read a Q&A below to get to know Gabe and see why we are greatly looking forward to him joining our ICS community this May! 

Q: Why are you passionate about Christian Education?

A: I am passionate about Christian Education because I firmly believe in the words of Psalm 24 that, “The Earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world, and all who dwell therein”. Trusting God through the grace of Jesus Christ as the foundation of all truth has opened my eyes to the amazing ways that our Christian faith integrates into all areas of learning and life.  My wife, Dana, and I have been blessed to have two children attend Christian schools from pre-kindergarten through high school graduation with one graduating from the US Air Force Academy and one attending Baylor University on a full scholarship. We now have two younger children attending Christian school at the elementary and high school levels. Christian Education, the living witness of the teachers, the family atmosphere, the academic rigor combined with individual attention, the outstanding extracurricular opportunities, and the legacy of true faith in Jesus Christ and God’s Word have all been the greatest investment we could make as parents. My goal as Head of School is to partner with parents, students, teachers, and staff who feel called to lCS, so that they may receive the robust blessing of investing in the mission and vision of Christian Education.

Q: What're you looking forward to most in your new role as ICS Head of School?

A: I am most looking forward to getting to know the staff, teachers, parents, and students of ICS.  My greatest desire is to listen to what they love about our school, and also what they would like to see grow and develop.  

Q: What motivates you?

A: I am motivated by a great mission and a compelling vision that displays the love, power, and mercy of Jesus Christ to people who are seeking Him. I also love seeing people achieve their dreams through prayer, hard work, and perseverance.

Q: Tell us about your family!

A: My wife, Dana and I met our sophomore year in college. We both were college level athletes who decided to begin learning more about Jesus and met with Campus Crusade for Christ. We both dedicated our lives to Jesus and education at the age of 20 and realized that God was guiding us to such a similar mission and vision that we were better together. We have now been married and pursuing our passion as Christian educators for 27 years. God has blessed us with four wonderful children, Logan (pilot in the US Air Force), Caleb, (Junior at Baylor University), Emma (rising ICS Junior), and Hudson (rising ICS second grader). Our family loves music, dance, skiing (water and snow), and outdoor activities, including cooking outdoors. We look forward to living among the beautiful landscape of Utah, and meeting new friends. 

Q: What is something most people don't know about you?

A: Most people don’t know that my brother and I started a band in college with two other friends that got to be a pretty big regional act around our college town and the greater Indianapolis area.  We began by playing coffee house gigs for free on weekday nights, then practiced a ton, recorded a bit, and started playing larger and larger venues until a branch of MCA records asked us to tour with some up and coming groups.  We eventually all decided to take jobs in the “real world” though, and now I just play guitar and sing for family and friends.

Q: Anything else you'd like to add?

A: I want people to know that I believe in three simple rules. Be Godly, be gracious, and be gritty!

March 2022 Students of the Month

March 2022 Students of the Month

Congratulations to Harper Parrish (K), the March ICS Lower School Student of the Month!

Harper Parrish is new to ICS this year. She is a very joyful girl, who loves God and worships in chapel with all of her heart. She made friends quickly because she is so fun to be with. She is always kind to her friends and plays well with lots of different friends. Harper is a very hard worker. She focuses on her work and doesn’t give up if things get difficult. She is amazingly flexible, ask her to do a split for you! Her smile is contagious and she brightens the room when she comes in. If you haven’t met her yet please make it a point to, you will be so happy that you did.

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Congratulations to Claire Carpenter (6th), the March ICS Upper School Student of the Month!

Congratulations to Claire Carpenter, the March ICS Upper School Student of the Month! She is a 6th grader who loves singing, acting, and dancing! She also enjoys boogie boarding and skiing. She was born in California and moved to Utah in the summer of 2021. She has three siblings, all of which attend ICS as well. Claire is an exceptional and enthusiastic student who demonstrates a positive attitude in and out of the classroom. Her smile and love for learning are infectious. We are so grateful to have her as a new student in our middle school community this school year!

Meet the Cizik Family!

After Googling “Christian Schools in Salt Lake City” the Cizik family found Intermountain Christian School. The Cizik’s were moving from Seattle to Utah and finding a Christian school for her son, Luke, was important to Amy. Upon touring ICS during the summer of 2019, Amy was struck by the natural light in the hallways and the friendliness of everyone she met while at the school. The spiritual emphasis of the school solidified Amy’s desire to have Luke attend. The Ciziks moved to Salt Lake on August 11, 2019 and Luke started kindergarten on August 14! The family is grateful for the experience they’ve had thus far.

For Amy, the strong community at ICS is vital. She is assured that Luke’s teachers are caring and that he has great friends in his class. Amy appreciates that parents are able to connect and talk amongst themselves. The fact that there are 14 grades on one campus is a bonus, too, as Amy’s family likes to support the school’s sports teams and theater productions! Luke looks forward to when he is old enough to participate in ICS sports! The Ciziks attend Hope Church and see many of their church friends at school, too, solidifying that sense of community.

The Ciziks feel well supported at ICS and Amy says she knows of many teachers, administrators and staff that she could call/text if she were to ever need anything. Amy trusts that while at ICS, Luke, among his teachers and his friends will continue to “increase in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52

February 2022 Students of the Month

Congratulations to Petra Mauer (Pre-K), the February ICS Lower School Student of the Month!

Petra has such a kind and helpful spirit. When she sees her classmates or her teacher in need, she is always the first to offer a hand. She exemplifies one of her first memory verses beautifully, "A friend loves at all times" (Proverbs 17:17). She is a very bright and eager student; always happy to participate in class discussions. Mrs. Saullo is so excited to see how God will continue to mold and grow Petra in the months and years to come.

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Congratulations to Joey Menning (12th), the February ICS Upper School Student of the Month!

Joey worked as the production manager of Mr. ICS, coordinating and communicating with STUCO, contestants, and hosts. He spent much of his free time working to make the pageant a fantastic show for the whole community. Joey opts out of his study hall to work with and tutor an elementary student twice a week as well. Joey is a fantastic leader with a servant’s heart!

January 2022 Students of the Month

Congratulations to Jackson Hobbs (2nd), the January ICS Lower School Student of the Month!

Jackson Hobbs is a new student at ICS this year! He comes to school each day with a smile and an eagerness to learn! When he’s facing something new and challenging, he works hard and keeps a good attitude. He’s even asked to take his assignments home so that he can keep working on them. He treats his classmates with kindness and loves to lend a helping hand to others. “Thank you,” are words he often uses in the classroom to show his appreciation to his teacher. ICS is a better place because of Jackson’s enthusiasm for learning and his kindness toward others.

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Congratulations to Olivia Frazee (8th), the January ICS Upper School Student of the Month!

Olivia steps up to lead in all areas of middle school. She excitedly serves as a student ambassador to welcome new or interested students to the class. She takes initiative by asking and answering questions in class and handles herself with a grown up level of maturity. Olivia's knowledge and understanding of God’s word is evident in the classroom and in the hallways. She shows leadership through her involvement in sports, dance and theater. Olivia's God-given talents run deep through singing and dancing! Congrats, Olivia!

Elementary Creates Hygiene Kits for Afghan Refugees

Intermountain Christian School’s 2021 Elementary Fall Service Project successfully met its donation goal this year. The project focused on creating hygiene kits for Afghan refugees settling in Utah and other struggling communities. The kits were created in partnership with and distributed by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) of Salt Lake City. Together, the ICS community collected over 800 items to be included in hygiene kits, twenty-eight completed kits total. 

Refugees receive care items from IRC. Photo by Marc Gardner

After the hygiene kits were packed and sorted, students and teachers gathered in Chapel and prayed for the individuals and families who would receive the kits. ICS community’s eyes were opened through this project to various needs in the area, and as they seek to continue to serve others, the school hopes all thanks and praise is redirected to Christ’s name and His agape love for all. Miss Potter says concerning the project, “To God be the glory!”

The IRC in Salt Lake City helps refugees and new Americans regain control of their future and positively integrate into the community. For more information or how to get involved, click here.

Photo by Marc Gardner

Meet the Hendersons!

My husband Wesley and I both grew up attending ICS, along with all of our siblings. Wesley started at ICS in pre-K and I started in first grade; he then graduated in 2009, and I graduated 2013. Wesley was a member of the baseball, basketball, and soccer teams when he attended school, and his love for sports is what brought him back to ICS after graduation to help coach the high school boys baseball team, as well as the girls basketball team. During my junior and senior year, I also helped with the girl basketball team and this is where our friendship started. After I graduated, Wesley and I started dating with the purpose of marriage and six and a half years and three kids later, here we are! 

Something that I loved about attending ICS was that the teachers truly cared about their students. When I struggled in a class they would take time to make sure I had the help I needed. When I struggled with things outside of school (family or personal), they would talk with me, and pray for me. ICS was my home away from home, where I felt loved and cared for. 

Wesley and I prayed a lot about what kind of schooling we would choose for our children, and in the end we really felt called by God to choose the school that was such a big part of both of our lives. Our daughter, Ella, is in preschool with Mrs. Saullo and is absolutely loving it! More so, she is thriving at ICS. God willing, we pray that we will send our boys, Bodie and Wade, there one day. As parents it is important to us that we set our children up for success, and give them the best education. But as followers of Christ, it is even more important that we teach them God’s Word so that they may have right relationships and eternal life with Him. We believe that ICS will bless our children, that they will gain knowledge in every scholastic area, have the opportunity to participate in many of the extracurriculars we loved being a part of when we attended, and most importantly that all of this will be built on the foundation/core of Biblical Truth.

December 2021 Students of the Month

Congratulations to Grace Riter (3rd), the December ICS Lower School Student of the Month!

Grace epitomizes what Jesus calls a servant worker. Miss Potter can always count on her to offer help, even if that means missing out on something more fun. Grace navigates change well and is developing into a resilient young woman. On top of all that, she is a good student too! Miss Potter says, "It is a joy to see Grace reflecting a portion of God's glory each day in our classroom."

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Congratulations to Natalie Russell (11th), the December ICS Upper School Student of the Month!

Natalie is a great student and hard worker. She serves the student body as Student Council's (STUCO) Secretary Treasurer and sacrifices her personal time to ensure that all details are taken care of for STUCO events. She's always on the lookout for opportunities to serve her friends and other members of her community. Natalie's ambition and kind spirit are noticed by all!

Meet the Heiple Family!

How did you first hear about ICS?

We sought out a good school for our kids when we moved to Utah!

How did you choose to send your child(ren) to ICS?

It was the only Christian School in this area, and I feel blessed that despite being our only choice, it had a very similar structure, curriculum, college prep expectations, and investment in the individual student that we were used to at our last private school.

We also like the volunteer requirement.  Too many parents are detached from their kids and schools, this is a great way to be connected.

What do you feel your children get at Intermountain Christian School that they would not get somewhere else?

Small class size, individual attention, more friendships and family atmosphere, ability to shine if they choose to apply themselves in any area, and especially a Christian education that is applied to our present world situation and lives.

What do your children like the most about their education at ICS?

Everyone knows each other and is friendly and makes you feel welcome.

What advice would you give families who are considering ICS?

A parent should choose a school where their child can flourish.  We have always felt that you only have 18 years to invest in your child and that your investment should be a nurturing of the whole child, where you have a say and input into their education process. ICS prepares a student's mind, body, and soul as they prepare for adulthood.

What makes ICS special for your family?

It's the only thing that feels like home.

ICS Middle School Bonds at Boondocks

Written by ICS Student Media Team Member Tara Shootman (9th)

In late October, our ICS middle school enjoyed some time together outside of the classroom at Boondocks.Three brave chaperones accompanied the students--Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Harmon, and Mr. Hobbs. Students and their teachers participated in fun activities together such as miniature golf, bumper boats, go-karts, laser tag, and arcade games. The event was organized by ICS Middle School Leadership Team. Mrs.Smith, MSLT advisor and middle school English teacher, said that it was a fun night and she thinks everyone had a great time. Her favorite memory was riding the go-karts and challenging two students and Mr.Hobbs in a race.

Mr.Hobbs, middle and school social studies teacher at ICS, said that he had a lot of fun hanging out with his middle school students. His favorite activity at Boondocks was miniature golf and challenging some of his 8th graders in a game of laser tag. Mr. Hobbs claims he won the game but the 8th graders believe otherwise. He remarked, “Playing against a few of my students in mini golf was so fun. I enjoyed being competitive with them and, of course, winning.”

Middle School Leadership Team (MSLT) is the student government arm of Middle School. With the purpose of developing biblical leadership qualities among the student body, MSLT helps plan social activities, like an outing to Boondocks, and service projects.

For more information about MSLT, contact Mrs. Smith at psmith@intermountainchristian.org.

ICS Hosts First Fall Ball

By ICS Student Media Team Member Makenna Stoddard (10th)

This year our high school had a Fall Ball with a new theme: “Costume Hoedown”. Student Council planned an evening of hot chocolate, cider, line-dances, and a costume contest. Most attendees agree that the costume challenge really brought out the creativity of our high school students. Costumes ranged from Among Us characters to McDonald's french fries. Two students from each class were nominated for “Best Dressed”. Hope Edmunds (10th) dressed as a sasquatch and won the Best Costume award. When asked about her inspiration for the costume, she replied, “I chose this costume because it's my dad's! He always scares my siblings when he wears it. I decided it would be funny to be able to scare high schoolers as well!” Hope was right. She indeed scared all who crossed her path.

The rebranded Fall Ball was memorable and successful. Students and teachers are hopeful the event continues in the years to come.

ICS Girl Scout Receives Silver Award

Grace Heiple (8th) has been a Girl Scout for seven years. This past year she has been working diligently on receiving her Silver Award with three other girls from her troop in Atlanta, Georgia. Together the team created nine different birdhouses out of recycled materials and presented them as a bird sanctuary to one of Atlanta's local art parks. Each birdhouse portrayed a different theme, all inspired by the imagination of the team.

The sanctuary was installed three weeks ago and in early November, Grace flew to Atlanta with her family to present a plaque to the sanctuary's community and to receive her Silver Award. This massive project involved a lot of hard work, networking, creativity, teamwork, and perseverance. Congrats, Grace! Your ICS community is beyond proud of you!

High School Volleyball Wins 2021 1A State Championship

Intermountain Christian School’s High School Volleyball team victoriously brought home a 1A Championship title over the weekend. On the way to the championship, our lions beat Rich and Panguitch, which is a massive triumph for ICS Athletics. We are incredibly proud of our Lady Lions’ hard work and determination on the court, our coaches’ commitment to the team, and our community’s support along the way. To read more about the team’s journey to the title, check out Deseret News’ coverage of the championship game.

Go, Lions!

State Championship Gallery

November 2021 Employee Spotlight

Mrs. Gorka, Middle School Science Teacher

How long have you been at ICS and what do you do?
This is my first year at ICS; however I have taught for five years. I am the middle school science teacher here at ICS.

What brought you to ICS?
I was led to ICS by a friend who knew about the school's need for a middle school science teacher!

What is one thing that has happened at school recently that you'd like to share?
It's so hard to choose! However, I have really enjoyed exploring some chemistry labs and activities with the 8th grade these past couple of weeks. Watching students explore chemical reactions in the chemical reaction stations was really fun!

What is your hope for your students and/or our school this year?
My hope is that the students would see science as a way to better understand and explore God's wonderful creation and use it to grow stronger in their faith!