Parents as teachers with their children as students: these seem like awkward combinations. But for a few campus duos, mixing family and school is just a fact of life.

This year there are seven teacher/parent, student/child combinations on campus.

“My son Ryan [?08] and I come to school together each morning,” David Martens, campus technology director, said. “It’s pretty neat to have him around because I get to talk to all his teachers and see how he relates with other kids. I think it’s helped our relationship because we get to spend more time together.”

Teachers agree that having their children on campus gives them a sense of security and reassurance.

“I like that she [daughter Melissa, ?08] is here with me,” Beatriz Foth, Spanish teacher, said. “I can keep an eye on what she’s involved in. We have more topics in common and more things to talk about now. That’s really helped our relationship. It’s a relief to have her here with me because I know she’s in a safe Christian atmosphere, and I know all her teachers because they are my colleagues and friends. It just saves me a lot of worrying.”

Campus secretary Cheryl Pohl remembers back to 2003 when her son David [?03] was on campus with her.

“It was tempting to do dorky mom things to him, but I was really glad that he could have cared less that I was around,” Pohl said. “I loved it when David was here; I always knew exactly what was going on at school. He couldn’t be lazy because I could just talk to his teachers every day.”

In a unique situation, Foth teaches her daughter Melissa in her Spanish III class but guarantees that there is absolutely no favoritism.

“I treat her the same as all my other students,” Foth said. “I don’t let her call me mom; she must call me Senora like everyone else. Everything is fair with her; she gets no extra help at home either.”

For students like Foth and Suzie Falk, ’06, having their parent on campus is a definite plus to their relationship.

“Having my mom around makes me feel more comfortable,” Foth said. “She’s more like a friend to me. Sometimes I go eat lunch with her and it gives us more time to talk. Occasionally she helps me with my homework, but mostly she helps me with history homework.”

“Last year I saw my dad all the time at school,” Falk said. “Our paths would somehow cross between almost every period, but this year I just see him every once in a while. I like being able to walk into his office on a bad day and get a hug from my dad.”

This joy is shared by both father and daughter.

“My daughter, Suzie, is the source of my greatest joy in all the world,” Falk said. “I love that she is within my reach all day long. I get to be in her world, which a lot of parents never have the opportunity to experience with their kids. I get to see and interact with the people she cares about and see her as her real self.”

Having the opportunity to see their children in their actual element enables parents to take advantage of this closeness.

“I love being able to see him [son Nate, ?05] in his element and sometimes I’ll get a hug from him too,” Ellen King, history and Bible teacher, said. “If he was at another school I wouldn’t be able to see him participate in activities. I get to see him as a part of the school.”

For more information, parents and student can contact the high school office at 299-1695, ext.5.