Deep Joy: Ireland to Michigan

by Simon Morrow, ZCS 8th-grade teacher

I love ZCS!

I have known about this place for about 10 years, but I only moved to the US and started working at ZCS in July 2023. Being in a place where I can help students to explore what it means to truly experience Jesus, while also preparing them for life beyond ZCS, is such a blessing to me and my family.

In the short time I’ve been here, I have experienced a sense of Deep Joy on an almost daily basis, demonstrated mostly through my students. From hearing my 8th graders share their very real testimonies with each other and the entire school, to seeing how everyone is loved and truly seen every day, it is clear how Jesus' love is evident in this place and how He is moving in the lives of our students!  This is a safe place in which our vulnerabilities are welcomed and where we see each other as a child of God. Our students are not afraid to share clear examples of how Jesus has moved in their lives, even through sickness, sadness, and separation, so that He is glorified and others can see that He is still moving today. They look for Jesus in the small things so that they can easily recognise Him in the big things. Isn’t that what it means to experience Deep Joy?

I especially loved sitting with an 8th-grade student this month after conducting an experiment to demonstrate how ocean currents work. This student was blown away by the fact that the colors moved in cycles, all because of different levels of thermal energy in the water. Watching him sit, watch, and try to figure out how it all worked, with a smile from ear to ear, showed me the Relentless Curiosity that exists throughout this place. Knowing we are created to create, and seeing my students demonstrate this in the classroom, motivates me to encourage my class to dig deeper and gain more knowledge.

The community aspect of ZCS is something new to me. Having a true partnership with parents, where all parties work together for each student's success, is a beautiful thing to be part of. In my experience, 8th grade can be an age where parents aren’t always welcome or wanted by their "very cool" young men and women, but that is not the case here. There is no question our parents are Faithfully All-In when it comes to supporting 8th grade and making what is already a great year truly memorable. From bringing snacks after testing, to leading groups through Downtown Holland for the annual scavenger hunt, to encouraging their children to create projects like a king’s treasure chest or scepter in Social Studies, the dedication of our parents and families goes beyond ensuring their kids flourish, they make this school community second to none!

What a beautiful blend of faith, curiosity, and community that exists within the walls of ZCS.  These are lived values that shape not only the students we teach but all of us who walk the hallways daily. Every day here reminds me that we are all growing together, inspired by Jesus’ love and a shared commitment to nurturing the potential in each child so that they develop into the man or woman that the creator created them to be. I feel truly grateful to walk this path with such amazing students, families, and colleagues.