At SFC, students are invited to see themselves as part of God’s story, nurtured and empowered to be Christ-treasurers, and discipled through authentic learning experiences rooted in a transformational Biblical worldview.
Our culture shapes everything we do in service to our mission, providing your child with a Christ-centered, excellent education.
Beth Jensen, SFC HS Parent
Testimonals
“Everything you see and hear and touch is rooted in the truths of the Bible and what God has to say. It is so refreshing when you're on the same page in terms of your Christian beliefs and values.”
Stories and News
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Foundations in Education
Foundations in Education
When interest in teaching careers began to grow among students, Sioux Falls Christian implemented a new course offering, Foundations in Education, designed to give students real classroom experience before they graduate.
“Last year there were three students who were interested in becoming teachers and we really didn’t have a course to offer them,” said class instructor Tanner Hilbrands. “We knew going into this year that there was going to be more interest.”
Rayna Fischer (‘27) was excited for the new class. “I [thought] well, I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, so I was like, this is perfect.”
Lauren VanStryland (‘26) felt the same. “When I heard that this was going to be an option for a class, I thought that would be really cool—just a way to get more involved in the classroom on top of being a TA.”
Hilbrands coordinated partnerships across campus, placing students in classrooms to observe and assist. “We had 11 wonderful partner teachers that took in a student one period a week,” he explained. “School and teaching is more than just a simple classroom job. There’s specials, there’s administration, there’s special education. So we wanted to expose kids to all those different avenues.”
At the elementary level, first grade teachers quickly saw the value. “We decided as a first-grade team that if we could get a high schooler at math time, that would benefit our students and us a lot, so we signed up,” said teacher Cathy Huhnerkoch.
Students who take Foundations in Education also use journaling as a way to reflect and learn from their classroom experience. “We’d fill out a journal with questions like, ‘What did you learn? What went well? Who’s a student you interacted with?’”, explained VanStryland.
Hilbrands said that reflection is intentional. “It got them really thinking about if they were to run their own classroom someday, what are some things they would do or take away from this teacher.”
Students have gained first-hand insight into classroom management and student engagement. “She’s definitely a really good teacher—good at keeping them on track and saying little things to keep them engaged,” VanStryland said of her mentor teacher. Fischer added, “Mrs. Huhnerkoch runs her classroom so well. It’s just really organized.”
Beyond academics, the relationships formed have been meaningful. “Rayna naturally was interacting with my students and making relationships with them,” Huhnerkoch shared. “They’re excited to see someone a little closer to their age. To have connection in the community is more than just the elementary or the high school—but really bringing us together.”
Hilbrands values the partnerships with Dakota State University and the South Dakota Department of Labor. “When students get practicum experience, they actually get paid from the state of South Dakota because it is an apprenticeship program.”
“I’m so thankful that Tanner was willing to take the leap to implement this class,” Huhnerkoch explained. “As our student goes forward into college and into her own classroom, I just hope the experiences she’s had will help her be a step ahead of those who didn’t have this opportunity.”
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Brewing Confidence
Brewing Confidence
A message of purpose has turned into a meaningful partnership designed to give students hands-on job experience.
Last spring at an employment workshop, SFC Middle School/High School Inclusion teacher Kelsey Bolkema heard Kathy Luke, owner of the Yakkity Yak Coffee Shack in Sioux Falls, present about the coffee shop’s mission. Their goal is to teach students with different abilities from various area schools how to gain job skills, pursue employment and advocate for themselves. “I immediately thought, my students can be involved in that,” Bolkema said.
After the workshop, she reached out with an idea for a partnership that would connect classroom learning to real-world job skills. “The whole goal of this lesson and this relationship, this partnership with Yakkity Yak was to give my students some experience outside these walls,” Bolkema explained. “So we put our curriculum in line with the process of finding a job.”
Luke was all in. “We started from the very beginning and built that course over five weeks from start to finish: what it looks like to obtain a job, maintain a job, and gain some job skills,” she said. Students practiced completing applications, preparing resumes, and learning how to interview.
The experience also includes customer service. “They showed us how to make drinks and they also showed us how to do the cash register,” said Kaylee Steensma (‘28), one of the participating students. Eventually, students took the biggest step yet. They ran the coffee shop themselves, inviting friends and family to attend. “They felt like they needed more practice,” Bolkema said, “but they were excited to get their hands dirty.”
“Each week they opened up a little bit more, but [running the shop themselves], they flourished,” Luke said. “They were excited, they laughed, they were confident.” For Steensma, serving her family was a highlight. “We got to make drinks for our parents and grandparents. That was one of my favorite parts.”
“You could just feel a sense of pride,” Luke said. “They couldn’t wait to show what they’d learned.” With a strong foundation in place, both partners are eager to continue. “We’re excited to keep partnering,” Bolkema said. “And my students are more than excited to come back.”
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Seen, Valued, & Connected
Seen, Valued, & Connected
by Jake Pettengill, Middle School Principal
At the beginning of this school year, I shared a story with our middle school students that has deeply shaped my leadership and my hope for our community: the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19.
Zacchaeus was a man who was overlooked, disliked, and pushed to the margins. Too short to see over the crowd, he climbed a tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus passing by. What happened next was remarkable. Jesus stopped, looked up, and called Zacchaeus by name. In a moment, Zacchaeus was seen. Jesus then invited Himself into Zacchaeus’s home, communicating that Zacchaeus was valued.
Through that personal connection, Zacchaeus’s life was transformed, and Scripture tells us that salvation came to his household. What began with one man being seen led to an entire family encountering Jesus. That story captures my Deep Hope for Sioux Falls Christian Middle School.
My Deep Hope is that every student and every adult would feel seen, valued, and connected as part of a Christ-centered family. Over time, this hope became more than a guiding belief. It became a clear Storyline that shapes how I think about community, discipleship, and student life: See > Value > Connect > Family
Throughout Scripture, this pattern appears again and again. Jesus sees people others overlook. He values them by entering into relationship. That connection leads to transformation, not just for individuals, but for families and communities. I believe this same Storyline matters deeply in a middle school, where students are forming their identities and longing to belong.
This Storyline directly influenced the development of the HOUSE system. We wanted a structure that reflected how Jesus builds community in intentional, relational ways with lasting impact. The HOUSE system is one way we seek to live out this Storyline in the everyday rhythms of school life.
In the HOUSE system, students are first seen. Each student is placed into a smaller, consistent community with adult leaders who know his or her name and take time to learn his or her story. In a busy middle school environment, being seen matters more than we sometimes realize.
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Students are also valued. Houses provide regular opportunities for encouragement, celebration, leadership, and contribution. Whether through positive recognition, shared responsibility, or simply being invited to participate, students are reminded that they matter, not because of what they achieve, but because of who they are as image-bearers of God.
From there, students connect. Shared experiences such as HOUSE meetings, games, competitions, service opportunities, and conversations create meaningful moments that bring students together across grade levels and social circles. These experiences build trust, empathy, and joy. Connection grows when students walk through things together.
The ultimate goal is family. Not a perfect family, but a Christ-centered one where students feel supported, challenged, forgiven, and loved.
Just as Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus extended beyond him to his household, my prayer is that students experience a community that reflects Christ so clearly that it shapes how they live, love, and lead both now and beyond middle school.
At its core, the HOUSE system is not about points, colors, or competition. It is about discipleship and belonging. It is one way my Deep Hope becomes visible in daily practice.
My prayer is that every student who walks through our doors leaves knowing these truths: You were seen. You were valued. You were connected. You were part of a family.
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