Kirk Day School

Head of School, Taylor Clement and Director of Admissions, Stacy Engel discuss the end of the year activities, 6th grade speeches, graduation and other highlights from the 2023-2024 school year.

Making Christian education accessible to families is our passion at Kirk Day School and the Herzog Foundation. In this episode, Taylor Clement and Ragan Taylor interview Herzog Foundation's Development Coordinator, Mayela Esser about the history and mission of the Herzog Foundation. 

This year, Kirk Day School has hired a new Director of Admissions. In this episode, Taylor Clement and Ragan Taylor interview Stacy Engel about her history at KDS and what she is excited about in her new position.

This summer, KDS parents were asked to share their feedback about different aspects of the school. The goal of this survey was to allow space for feedback about goals to work toward or areas that are going well.    In this episode, Taylor Clement and Ragan Taylor discuss the results and respond to questions parents have. 

Why are some teachers leaving Kirk Day School?  What is staff working on over the summer?  What updates are happening before the new school year?    In this episode, Taylor Clement and Ragan Taylor answer all of these questions and more.     

Kirk Day School references the Strategic Plan often. But what is the Strategic Plan? Why is it important? And how does it impact our KDS community? In this episode, Taylor Clement, Rebecca Kapphahn, and Jacob White unpack Kirk Day School's Strategic Plan. Mr. Taylor Clement, Head of School Mrs. Rebecca Kapphahn, School Board President Mr. Jacob White, School Board Member

It may be an uncomfortable conversation but it's an important one, too. In this episode, Mr. Clement and School Nurse, Mrs. Matthews discuss God's view of our bodies, and how to navigate that conversation with your kids.

Mr. Clement interviews Head of Student Life, Mrs. Diane Abeln, about her passion for nurturing students' hearts through discipleship.  She hopes to help shepherd students towards Christ-like behavior by encouraging them to reflect upon their behavior and grow in the knowledge of themselves while demonstrating empathy for others. Mr. Clement points out that, “The goal of any discipline or conflict at Kirk Day School is to restore relationships and if necessary transform hearts.”     Mrs. Abeln shares how she utilizes the Peacemakers program, prayer, scripture, and open heartfelt conversations as she guides students through the resolution process. She explains, “When I'm disciplining or discipling a child, I'm looking at them as an image bearer of our great king. I want them to learn, grow, and enjoy the beauty of the way that God has prepared for them.” While conflict is not easy, Mrs. Abeln believes devoting time, energy, and passion to walking with children through this restoration process is so very important.

St. Louis Cardinals First Baseman and KDS Dad Paul Goldschmidt is an avid reader and lover of books. In honor of the Book Fair happening at school this week, Paul sits down with Mr. Clement and Mrs. Rolf to talk about his favorite genres, authors, and books he recommends

In this week's podcast, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey touch on a variety of topics including Mrs. Massey's upcoming departure and Kirk Day School's conflict resolution program (including Peacemakers by Ken Sande). This is a particularly helpful podcast for those interested in learning more about how KDS partners with families to nurture the hearts of students. Article from Podcast: www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/

Herman Armstrong joins Mrs. Massey and Mr. Clement as they continue the podcast series, "Big Questions, Little People." Armstrong, a Church Planter with the Evangelical Presbyterian Denomination, is currently teaching Christian Ethics at Westminster Christian Academy and serving on the school board at South City Community School. With years of ministry experience and a Master of Theological Studies from Midwestern Seminary, Armstrong shares insight into a few common questions children often have about God: Who created God? Why do we pray to God if he knows everything? Why did God create the world?

In this week's podcast, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey introduce Kirk Day School's new school nurse, Mrs. Catharine Matthews, RN. Catharine shares a bit about her work history, her family, and the connections she has to Kirk Day School. To finish up, they shift their focus to talk about the ongoing pandemic.

Abby Karsten joins the podcast this week to continue the series, “Big Questions, Little People.” Abby is a mother of two KDS students and the Director of Women's Ministry at Kirk of the Hills Church. Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey talk with Abby about why Christians pray, how to talk to children about prayer and what prayer with kids looks like in each of their households. Wrapping up, they share some books on prayer to use as resources for ourselves and our kids.

It's that time of year again when the days are getting colder and shorter... And you're discovering that your kids seem more tired and less motivated. Along with the lovely parts of fall, another not-so-lovely phenomenon might be hitting your family: The October Blues. In this podcast, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey talk about the October Blues — a period when many of us notice a change in mood of not only our child but also ourselves. They share some reasons for this change and offer a few practical steps to address the October Blues and teach our children to lean on the Lord when feeling down.

Our series, "Big Questions, Little People" continues this week with a conversation between Mr. Clement, Mrs. Massey and Mr. David Ottolini. David is both a KDS alumnus and parent of two current students at our school. He is also the Director of Student Life at Westminster Christian Academy. Together, they explore the question: “If God is good, why is there still sin in the world?”

Chad Townsley, Pastor of Community Life at Kirk of the Hills and father of three students at Kirk Day School, sits down with Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey to kick off the start of a new series: "Big Questions, Little People."  Recently, the entire KDS faculty attended a Biblical Integration Training that focused on questions like, "What is a Covenant?" "What is Covenant Theology?" and "What Does it Mean to be Reformed?" These are big questions that we grapple with as Christian adults. However, we are not the only ones with theological questions. Our kids have them too. The purpose of this series is to bring up some of these big questions our kids have and to offer suggestions on how to respond to them. This week, the discussion revolves around the question: "What is the Bible about?"

On the first podcast of the school year, Mr. Clement & Mrs. Massey talk about what's been happening lately at KDS and what to expect as we start the new semester.

Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey reflect on the highs and lows of the 2020-2021 school year, discussing the unique challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as some unexpected triumphs and blessings. They conclude with a sneak peak of what they believe next year will look like for the Kirk Day School community.

In this week's podcast, Mr. Clement interviews Dr. Dan Doriani on the Biblical view of marriage, gender, and sexuality. With a strong cultural focus on these issues, Kirk Day School has formed a statement in alignment with the Presbyterian Church in America and Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church. Mr. Clement and Dr. Doriani discuss the differing views on these topics within the Christian community, while holding strong to doctrinal truths and understanding the sensitive nature of these conversations.  Kirk Day School is a ministry of the Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church, in the Presbyterian Church of America, and all views are subject to denominational oversight. Dan Doriani (MDiv, PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary; STM, Yale Divinity School) is vice president at large and professor of theology at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, and a Council member of The Gospel Coalition. He has authored a number of books, including Work: Its Purpose, Dignity, and Transformation. He and his wife, Debbie, have two grandchildren who currently attend KDS.

Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey sit down with the new Pastor of Community Life at the Kirk of the Hills church, Chad Townsley. Chad, a father of three KDS students, talks about how his family ended up in St. Louis and his hope to encourage and bring together the community not only at the church, but at Kirk Day School too.    

Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey discuss “cancel culture." While this is a phrase we hear often in today's world, knowing how to respond as Christians can be complicated. They explore the intricacies of what it means to be “cancelled” and look at what scripture says about this.

On this week's podcast, Mrs. Massey and Mr. Clement interview Chris Pitts, the Kirk Day School Athletic Director. Pitts talks about his childhood from growing up in New York City to attending KDS in St. Louis. The group also discusses race relations and how to build a better future for our students.

On our third podcast of the series, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey talk to Rossi Summers. Summers is the Chief Operating Officer at the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition and a current KDS parent. She describes her experience growing up as a black woman in East St. Louis and shares stories about how racism has impacted her family. She also focuses on the importance of having intentional conversations about race with others and the hope we have for the generation of kids that we are teaching and raising.

Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey have a conversation with Anthony Lucas, football coach at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas. Lucas shares his story, talks about how God has used athletics in his life and gives some personal insight on race relations.

We are kicking off a new series titled, “Un-polarizing Polarizing Conversation,” where Mr. Clement & Mrs. Massey sit down to talk with members of the black community who are friends of Kirk Day School. The purpose of these conversations is to honor diverse Christian voices, offer listeners an opportunity to hear a worldview that may be different from their own and confront topics that can feel difficult to talk about. This week, Mr. Clement chats with Kenneth Griffin, Principal at Yeatman Middle School in North St. Louis City, who shares his life story, highlighting specific challenges that arose throughout his life. From a difficult upbringing to a successful career, Griffin's life reveals some of the systematic problems the black community faces in St. Louis City. He then goes on to explain a few tangible actions he has taken to support members of the community surrounding Yeatman.

In our first podcast of 2021, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey sit down to discuss the school's recent health days and what the COVID situation is like at KDS as well as things to look forward to this semester and where the podcast is headed.

Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey sit down with Steve Hughes, a former KDS parent and certified professional speaker. For the last 15 years, Steve has used his public speaking and writing abilities to encourage and challenge audiences all over the United States. During the podcast, Steve goes over a few ways we can embrace challenges and unexpected situations to glorify God. For more information about Steve and his programs, visit https://hityourstride.com/.      

For most of us, this Christmas will look different from past years. In this week's podcast, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey focus on the Christmas season and talk about a few ways to still find joy and hope amidst the challenges and burdens we are experiencing.  

This week, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey give an update on COVID-19's impact at KDS. They review the protocols the staff and faculty are following and discuss how these precautions have continued to prevent transmission on campus. In addition, they discuss the recent restrictions and policy changes from St. Louis County as well as the state of Missouri.  

This week, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey continue their conversation on the idols of our culture by discussing freedom and happiness. Both of these concepts can lead to us to idols of independence and autonomy. They talk about where we can see these idols in culture and discuss ways to help our students understand freedom and happiness through the lens of the Gospel.   

In this week's podcast, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey begin a mini series on cultural idols ingrained in our culture. This conversation is based off of a talk given by Michael Keller, a pastor in New York City at Redeemer Lincoln Square where he shares about five cultural idols (identity, freedom, happiness, power and history) and how they interact with our identity as Christians. Today, the focus is "identity" and the concept that, "you have to be true to yourself.” They give some examples from culture where you can see this and discuss potential side effects of this mentality on our mental and emotional health. Finally, they talk about our identity as Christians and the biblical framework for understanding who we are in Christ. 

In today's world, most of us don't know our neighbors. And even if we do know them, we may not know how to talk to them about our faith or grow in our relationship with them. In this week's podcast, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey have a conversation with Chris and Elizabeth McKinney, Co-Authors of a new book titled, "Placed for a Purpose," and staff members at The Crossing Church in Columbia, MO. The McKinney's talk about their mission and work to provide Christians with the proper framework to be good neighbors who "live missionally where God has placed them." Visit https://www.placedforapurpose.com/ for more information. Purchase Book Here: https://www.amazon.com/Placed-Purpose-Sustainable-Next-Door-Neighbors/dp/0578736489/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=placed+for+a+purpose+mckinney&qid=1601251651&sprefix=placed+&sr=8-2  

It's that time of year again. The days are getting colder. Your favorite pumpkin flavored foods are back in stores... And you're discovering that your kids seem less motivated and more agitated. Yes, along with all the lovely parts of fall, another not-so-lovely phenomenon might hit your kids: The October Blues. In this podcast, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey talk about the October Blues — a few weeks during the month where you might notice a change in your child's mood or behavior. They share some reasons for this change as well as some added complexities this year due to the pandemic. To conclude, they offer a few suggestions to manage the October Blues and enjoy the blessings of fall. 

This week, we continue our mini series on equipping students to be lifelong followers of Christ by interviewing missionary, Steve Spencer. Steve and his wife, Mary, have spent 30 years on the mission field in Africa and call St. Louis home when they are on furlough from the mission field. All eight of their children have attended Kirk Day School. During the podcast, Steve shares his experience and passion for sharing the Gospel through higher education and stories about the impact of Christian education around the world.   

This week on the podcast, KDS Librarian Jody Kouzes joins Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey. She shares her perspective on the importance of reading, what she loves most about reading and tips to help your students become more avid readers. In addition, she talks about the process of curating the library and selecting books that fulfill the mission and vision of KDS. She also shares some of her own favorite books for children and adults.      

Over the summer, the entire KDS faculty read "The Emotionally Healthy Church" by Peter Scazzero, which focuses on 6 key principles of emotionally healthy ministries. Scazzero implores us to recognize and process the emotions we experience in life and explore how those emotions impact our ability to lead. On this week's podcast, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey share some of their insights from reading the book and discuss how it influences their work at KDS. 

The Kirk Day School community has successfully made it through the first three weeks of the school year with zero positive COVID-19 cases. In this week's podcast, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey look back at the past few weeks and share more about some health and safety protocols at KDS. Later, they discuss new statistics that are informing the KDS Administration's decisions and a few predictions they have for this school year.   

On our first podcast since coming back from summer break, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey give parents an update regarding the start of the new school year. They talk about what is going well and the areas where they see room for growth in the midst of so many changes due to COVID-19. In addition, they share some helpful ideas and objectives to keep in mind as we continue on throughout this year.   

In this week's podcast, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey interview three KDS teachers (Mrs. Engel, Mrs. Bowman, and Mrs. McCracken) to chat with them about various aspects of distance learning. Each of these educators share a different viewpoint on the joy, sadness, and uniqueness that this shift in learning has brought to our educational paradigm. 

First, a disclaimer. This episode has mature content. We recommend parents listen to the podcast before deciding if they want to share it with their kids. Our intention in having a conversation about sex and sexuality is to help equip parents to have this conversation with their kids.  Possibly the most challenging conversation to have with your child is on topic of sex and sexuality. It is a loaded conversation. It can make us feel uncomfortable. We know the importance of teaching and shepherding our kids in their view of sex and sexuality but can struggle with what to say and when to say it. This is a re-release of a podcast we recorded last year with Mollie Pfuetze where she shares some tips on how to have “the talk” with your kids. She challenges parents to broaden their scope of the conversation past “the birds and the bees” to include a healthy view of their body. She shares about tangible ways parents can model of their kids healthy relationships between the opposite sex. Most importantly, she discusses ways to normalize and celebrate the way God created sex and sexuality. Helpful Resources: Books - God's Design for Sex Series, 4 Books, By: Stan and Brenna Jones God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies, By Justin and Lindsey A. Holcomb I Said No! A Kid-to-kid Guide to Keeping Private Parts Private, By Kimberly King and Zack King  Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today's Young Kids, By Kristen A. Jenson M.A. and Dr. Gail A. Poyner Generation Z Unfiltered by Tim Elmore The Period Book, by Karen Gravelle and Jennifer Gravelle The Talk: 7 Lessons to Introduce Your Child to Biblical Sexuality, By Luke Gilkerson   The Ultimate Guys' Body Book: Not-So-Stupid Questions About Your Body, By Walt Larimore MD  The Ultimate Girls' Body Book: Not-So-Silly Questions About Your Body, By Walt Larimore MD, MD Amaryllis Sanchez Wohlever Internet Protection - Net Nanny ClearPlay Cybersitter Safe Eyes Besecure Cyber Sentinel K9 Web Protection pkFamily X3 Watch  

In this week's podcast, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey focus on some of the positive things quarantine has brought into our lives. For many of us, this quarantine has given us bonus time and space in our schedules. With less activities in the evenings outside the home, we are all trying to find ways to fill time within our home. In this podcast, they share some ideas to get kids outside and doing fun activities. They also highlight a few creative ways to spend time with family during the evenings. This episode is light and fun.

As part of the prospective parent process, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey typically sit down and go over portions of the school handbook that affect the day-to-day life of the school. However, because of the stay-at-home order, we've transitioned this to a podcast. Listen as we examine the mission of the school, volunteering, student discipline, and conflict in our community, all through the lens of KDS. 

This week our guest on the podcast was Jeana Roth, a counselor at Revision Christian Counseling. Jeana's training is in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) which is a form of therapy that focuses on mindfulness, emotional regulation and distress tolerance. Jeana shares about the  benefits of mindfulness from a Christian perspective and some helpful ways to integrate mindfulness and emotional regulation skills with yourself and with your kids.

This week, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey interview Kirk of the Hills senior pastor, Ben Porter. They discuss how the holiest week of the Christian calendar may be influenced by social distancing and how we can move towards Jesus even when we're told to move away from others. 

In today's podcast Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey interview Dr. Leo Hsu, director of over 13 Emergency rooms in the greater St. Louis area, who discusses his medical observations of the area impact of COVID-19 and how we can respond as parents and believers in this time of struggle. 

This week, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey chat with Emily Nienhuis, Director of One Heart Family Ministries, about Trust-Based Relational Interventions (TBRI) and how to implement this practice in our classrooms and parenting. A little over a week ago, our teachers participated in a training all about TBRI interventions. This training was created by Dr. Karyn Purvis, former Director of the TCU Institute of Child Development, to help caregivers provide effective support and treatment for at-risk children. TBRI is used in orphanages, residential treatment facilities, group homes, foster and adoptive homes, churches, and schools. In this podcast, Emily helps us understand the basics of TBRI and explains how it is helpful for all children, in all situations. The three main aspects of TBRI are connection, regulation and mindfulness. Below, you'll find further information about TBRI as well as some recommended resources if you want to continue learning more.  Videos:  https://child.tcu.edu/about-us/tbri/#sthash.F85QT4lH.dpbs    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak6z3pqNqFU Books: The Whole Brain Child- Dan Siegal  Resources: https://child.tcu.edu/about-us/research/#sthash.z0GLLCsZ.dpbs   

In continuing a series on new habits for the new year, our guest this week is Lindsay Schertzer, founder of Moms Into Fitness. Lindsay's background and education are in exercise science, and she has spent her career working with people to assist them in the nourishment of their bodies through exercise and fitness. Topics discussed include: the benefits of exercise, ways to make exercising more accessible and tips for incorporating fitness into your family's lifestyle. If you would like more information about exercise and fitness, visit Lindsay's website www.momsintofitness.com.   

To start off the new year, we are beginning a new series on healthy habits. This week, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey sit down with Deb Meyer, author of Redefining Family Wealth: A Parent's Guide to Purposeful Living and owner of WorthyNest®, a financial planning and investment advisory firm. With over 13 years of wealth management experience, Deb advises families on how to build wealth in a way that aligns with their values; and for KDS families, while kids are still in the home. In this podcast, she offers her expertise on questions about financial management from developing a budget to talking to your kids about finances, to defining your family's values and future goals, among other topics.     

The Christmas season is in full swing, and there's a topic on the minds of many this time of year: how to get along with friends and family. For some, holiday gatherings are a welcomed time filled with joy and connection. For others, this might be a season where they are reminded of loss or grief and feel pressure to be merry and cheerful. In this podcast, Mr. Clement and Mrs. Massey share some tips for juggling the expectations of family and friends and suggestions for processing the emotions around holiday parties and gatherings. They also discuss a few ways we can help our kids manage the joys and challenges that come at this time of year.   

Dr. Dan Doriani, a theologian and teacher of ethics at Covenant Seminary, sits down with Mr. Clement, Mrs. Massey, and Ms. Wynn to talk about Santa Claus. They start by sharing some of their own family's Christmas traditions, focusing on how Santa was regarded in their home. Later, they talk about why Christians should be careful not to overplay Santa's connection to Christmas or overstate Santa's imaginary powers. Ultimately, Doriani offers wisdom and guidance on ways to make it clear to our children that Jesus is the true King of Christmas, not Santa.  

This week, our podcast guest is Kirk Day School Kindergarten teacher, Anna Johnson. Anna shares about her unique family ties to Kirk Day School and what it has been like to return to KDS after teaching elsewhere. She also talks about her passion for education and the different ways she has seen the school grow throughout the years.