Reflecting on a Remarkable 25-26 Year at FCS Junior High & High School

It’s easy to focus on what’s next. A new school year, new students, and new goals are already around the corner. But before looking ahead, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on what made this past year so meaningful.

When we sat down with Secondary l Principal Amy Deffenbacher, one theme came up again and again: leadership. Throughout the year, she watched students step up in ways that strengthened their community, deepened their faith, and inspired the adults around them.

Junior High Students Created Their Own Culture

One goal this year was helping junior high students develop an identity that wasn’t simply an extension of the high school. Although they share the same campus and bell schedule, Principal Deffenbacher wanted younger students to feel like they truly had a place of their own.
As the year unfolded, that vision came to life. Students embraced opportunities to shape their school culture by creating new traditions, encouraging one another, and fostering an environment where everyone felt welcome.

That ownership was evident throughout the year. Junior high students planned a record number of student events, bringing classmates together through fun, meaningful experiences. They also had the opportunity to lead beyond their own grade levels when the junior high worship team helped lead worship at the National Day of Prayer before a gathering of more than 1,000 people. It was a memorable opportunity to use their gifts to lead others in worship and boldly live out their faith.

A Senior Class That Followed Through

Principal Deffenbacher says this year’s graduating class stood out because they were intentional from the very beginning.

They decided, as freshmen, a big list of things they were going to do during high school,” she recalls. “They really did what they said they were going to do. They were motivated, and they banded together.

What impressed her most was that many of the moments that defined this class happened beyond the classroom.
She remembers students organizing worship gatherings in their backyards simply because they wanted to spend time together and grow in their faith.

They were getting together for worship in peoples’ backyards,” she says. “Those moments reminded us adults why we do what we do.

For Principal Deffenbacher, those gatherings reflected the heart of a Fresno Christian education. The goal is not only to prepare students academically but to equip them to pursue Christ long after they leave campus.

The Class of 2026 is taking that foundation with them to colleges and opportunities across the country. Together, they were offered more than $2.6 million in college scholarships, and 70% of the senior class achieved California Scholarship Federation (CSF) Honors, demonstrating a commitment to academic excellence.
Outside the classroom, students continued to excel in every corner of campus life. Four athletic teams advanced to league championships, with two bringing home league titles. Cross country and track athletes qualified for the Valley Championships alongside the Football, Girls Soccer, and Girls Tennis teams, the high school choral program earned Gold Ratings, and The Wizard of Oz captivated audiences with five sold-out performances

Student journalists also continued a tradition of excellence as The Feather Online received its 11th Columbia Scholastic Press Association Digital Gold Crown Award, one of the nation’s highest honors in scholastic journalism.
While these accomplishments are worth celebrating, Principal Deffenbacher hopes they are remembered for something even greater. More than the awards, championships, and scholarships, this class will be remembered for its commitment to one another, its intentional pursuit of faith, and its desire to leave a lasting impact wherever God leads next.

Celebrating the Teachers

When Principal Deffenbacher reflects on the school year, she’s just as quick to celebrate the teachers as she is the students.
She says one of the highlights of the year was watching teachers recognize the impact they were already making instead of only focusing on what needed to improve.

It brought me a lot of joy to watch my teachers feel confident and pleased with the work they’re already doing,” Principal Deffenbacher says. “So often as educators we’re moving so fast that we don’t stop to recognize what we’ve accomplished.

For Principal Deffenbacher, giving teachers the opportunity to celebrate their work reinforced something she already knew: the everyday moments of teaching, mentoring, and encouraging students make a lasting difference.

Thank You for an Amazing Year!

I’m so humbled and grateful for my staff who just continue to say yes,” she says. “They’re excellent at what they do. They’re credentialed to teach their subjects and committed to ongoing learning. But they love the Lord, they love students, and they come here because they want to put those things all together.

Looking back, Principal Deffenbacher doesn’t point to a single event or accomplishment as the highlight of the year. Instead, she celebrates something bigger: students who chose to lead, teachers who faithfully invested in them, and a school community committed to helping the next generation grow in both faith and character.

As one school year comes to a close, those are the moments worth celebrating.

The accomplishments shared here are just a glimpse of all that God has done through Fresno Christian this year. To explore additional highlights from across our entire school community, we invite you to view our full 2025–2026 Impact Report.