BLUE NOTE
2026-27 EDITION No. 02 | PUBLISHED WEEKLY ON WEDNESDAYS | BURN BRIGHT
Upcoming Calendar Dates //
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September 10, 2026 | 6th Grade Overnight Camp
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September 10, 2026 | 7th Grade Overnight Camp
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September 11, 2026 | 6th Grade Overnight Camp
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September 11, 2026 | 7th Grade Overnight Camp
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September 15, 2026 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm | Parent Meetings: 6-8th Grade (Session 1)
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September 15, 2026 6:45 pm - 7:15 pm | Parent Meetings: 6-8th Grade (Session 2)
Blue Note Blurb //
ZCS Families,
Last week, I shared a few ways our teachers, staff, families, kids, and community have already been Faithfully All-In for kids as we launched the new school year. This week, I want to step back and celebrate another example of that faithfulness: the progress made during the first year of our five-year strategic plan.
Our strategic plan helps us prayerfully and thoughtfully look toward the future of ZCS. It guides how we educate and support every child, advance our mission, steward the resources God has entrusted to us, and prepare ZCS to serve kids and families for generations to come.
Our leadership team is celebrating that, amid a year of leadership changes, more than 90% of our strategic priorities were completed! This represents a tremendous amount of work by our teachers, staff, leaders, Board, families, and supporters, and gives us strong momentum as we begin Year Two.
Education: Strengthening the Experience of Every Child
Much of Year One focused on strengthening the systems that directly support kids and their learning. We expanded early literacy and intervention support, strengthened how we identify and respond to academic needs, introduced a new K–5 Language Arts curriculum, and increased consistency in behavioral support across preschool and elementary.
We also developed our new Portrait of a Learner (look for more on this in next week’s Blue Note), giving us a shared picture of what we desire for every child at ZCS, not only in what they know, but in who they are becoming as members of God’s family, learners, community members, and people called to serve.
Our core values of Relentless Curiosity, Deep Joy, and Faithfully All-In were introduced and are increasingly shaping how we as staff show up for kids - how we learn, lead, and serve together. We also continued developing outdoor learning opportunities and prepared for the launch of nature-based kindergarten.
Mission Advancement: Expanding Mission-Aligned Partnerships
We strengthened our approach to family engagement and retention, and built momentum in donor relationships and fundraising. We crossed a significant milestone with our endowment reaching a balance of $10 million. We continued planning for future campus improvements and growing the resources needed to support our mission for today's learners and generations to come.
Financial Vitality: Faithful Stewardship for the Future
We reviewed the tuition assistance structure, determined the true cost of a ZCS education, and strengthened long-term financial planning.
This work is helping us make thoughtful decisions that balance the needs of families today with the long-term sustainability of ZCS.
Governance: Growing in Alignment
Our Board and administration continued strengthening alignment around ZCS’s mission, core values, strategic priorities, roles, and responsibilities. Clear governance and strong partnership help ensure that the decisions we make today remain rooted in our mission and position ZCS well for the future.
The Board established two new sub-committees as well: Philanthropy and Building and Grounds.
Looking Ahead
Year One was largely about building strong foundations. As we enter Year Two, our focus increasingly shifts toward measuring impact, refining our work, increasing partnerships with our community, and strengthening outcomes for kids.
There is important work ahead, but there is also much to celebrate. I am grateful for the many people who have faithfully contributed to this work and, most of all, for God’s continued faithfulness to ZCS.
Thank you for partnering with us as we continue pursuing a high-quality Christian education that helps every child discover who God is, who they are, and the role He is calling them to play in His story.
Burn Bright,
Betsy Koop
Head of School