Things look a little different around the office at Southwest Christian High School this year.  At the end of last school year, Denise De Kam, who had served in many capacities for the past 24 years, decided to pursue other things. 

At the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, Daci Moss had come on staff as a part time secretary. She assisted Denise and Randy Pfeifle with office tasks or projects for a few hours each day.  That experience is paying off now as she becomes the full time secretary in the high school office.

Daci is a SWC graduate herself. She was Daci Fey back then, daughter of Rick and Karen Fey of Edgerton. She went on to study secretarial science at Dordt College. She and her husband Justin farm north of Luverne and have four children.  Brooklynn is a sophomore at the University of Sioux Falls. The other three children are all students at SWC: Makenna is a senior, Zachary is in the 8th grade, and Tage is in the 5th grade.

Daci’s work involves handling the regular foot traffic in the office, whether that be assisting parents who stop in or helping the physical trainer find the students they need on a particular day.  She handles morning announcements and many of the traditional activities that high school secretaries are known for – answering the phone, responding to emails, ordering school supplies for teachers and the concession stand, etc.

Daci also runs the concession stand during breaktime in the morning, doling out snacks to hungry teenagers. At lunch time, she processes the students as they go through the food line.  She also keeps track of student bussing and attendance.

“I had done daycare almost 20 years before starting at school last year,” Daci said. “I had always told myself the only way I would quit daycare was if I could get an office job at SWC –  a school I went to and send my kids to, a school that I so deeply love and appreciate!”

“It seems so easy to send your kids to school day in and day out. However, it isn’t until you’re working in the school that you realize how much everyone pours into your children. SWC teachers and staff truly love these children and it’s so fun to be a part of that!”

New to SWC this year is Katie Van Dam. Katie is a 2016 SWC graduate. She went on to Crown College in the Southwest corner of the Twin Cities. She majored in communication with an emphasis in digital arts and two minors: Christian studies and video and film. She graduated from Crown College in December 2019 and then went on to earn her graduate degree in organizational leadership, with a concentration in higher education. She graduated in March 2022.

While in college she worked for a photographer off campus for five years. On campus, she worked as a Resident Director, working alongside a staff of Resident Assistants and overseeing three dormitories with more than 70 residents.

“I didn’t plan on coming back to Edgerton to work at my alma mater,” she said. But she is enjoying the work and getting to know the students and staff as an employee. “God guided me to a place that I wasn’t planning on, but every experience is preparing me for where he calls me to be,” she said.

At SWC she is serving in events, promotions, communication, and student life. Katie said she is learning the different facets of her job description. Some examples of current work are the fall class fundraiser, website content management, and the Donation Sale in November. She is also handling social media for both the high school and elementary and tries to spend time at each campus every day.

Katie will also be working her way into the leadership of “Leaders 4 Life”, SWC’s student leadership organization. “Being a part of Leaders 4 Life in high school sparked my interest in event planning and heightened my skills in communicating with people. Fast forward to now, I have been given the opportunity to use those gifts and skills that God blessed me with alongside the education I’ve acquired to establish relationships and mentor students along the way,” Katie explained.

Another new face at SWC is Samantha Vander Woude, who is the new school counselor. Samantha grew up in Sioux Center, Iowa, but she has Edgerton roots. Her parents are Pete and Emily De Boer. Mel De Boer of Edgerton is her grandfather. Samantha graduated from Unity Christian High School and then went on to Dordt University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in social work. That is also where she met Jeremy Vander Woude. Jeremy is a son of Leon and Sharla Vander Woude of Chandler.

Samantha graduated this past spring and while she is working part-time at SWC, she is also working on earning her Master’s Degree in social work through an online program at Dordt.  She and Jeremy got married in June and now make their home near Chandler.

Samantha became interested in studying social work because her youngest three brothers were all adopted through foster care. She also has a brother with special needs, so she developed an interest in helping children.

Samantha’s job is to work as the social and emotional counselor for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. One of SWC’s improvement initiatives is to provide PK-12 counseling, when needed, as an extension of the academic and career guidance historically available at the high school. Samantha spends time at both campuses and typically meets with two or three students each day.  Some students just want someone to talk things over, while others are battling anxiety or other mental health.

“I am very passionate about helping kids in school,” Samantha said. “Some of my siblings have struggled with having their voice heard. I want to help students find their voice.”

Part of her work is also helping students understand what they are feeling and why they are feeling that way. Rerouting those feelings and giving them skills to accurately show what they are feeling is one of her goals. She hopes that all students will come to realize that it is completely normal and okay to come and talk to the school counselor. “It would be good if everyone came to talk to the counselor,” she said. “I’d love that!”

Samantha added that she appreciates that because she is working in a Christian environment, she can share her faith with students and help them find their identity in Christ.

Daci and Katie echoed that they are thrilled to be working at SWC this year and each of these women hopes to be a positive influence in the lives of students at SWC.

“It’s a busy place all the time,” Daci commented. “But it is so rewarding to interact with these students and teachers and hopefully show them God’s love and help direct them in the way God is leading them!”