V i g o r o u s ly A c a d e m i c B e a u t i f u l ly D i v e r s e T h o r o u g h ly C h r i s t i a n
Junior, Alex De Armond, died suddenly in May of an undiagnosed
brain tumor.
I
am filled with gratitude
as I reflect on my time
as the executive direc-
tor of Rehoboth Christian
School over the past seven
years. While leading a school
was never something I had
imagined for myself, I am so
thankful for the opportunity
it has provided me. Serving as
executive director has allowed
me to form connections with
the various departments,
families, supporters, volun-
teers, and alumni of Reho-
both. It has also given me
the opportunity to immerse
myself in the communities
of McKinley County and the
Navajo Nation. Above all,
it has allowed me to under-
stand the beauty of Rehoboth
Christian School.
During my 31 years at
Rehoboth, I have been
reminded again and again
that Rehoboth is more than
a school. Rehoboth is family.
Even in the past semester,
especially amidst moments
of tragedy, the depth of love
for each other was so evident.
On January 24 the Reho-
both community heard the
tragic news of sophomore
Toby Seciwa’s death, leaving
behind family members in-
cluding Ash, a sister at Reho-
both. The community ached
and asked, “Why Lord?”
Bonds of love were deepened
as staff, students and family
cried together and reminisced
about Toby’s middle school
and high school experiences.
For many, Toby’s loss reawak-
ened other painful losses
students had experienced,
creating an atmosphere of
sharing and vulnerability.
Three months later, senior
Caleb Clauschee was involved
in an accident that resulted
in a broken back and femur
as well as a shattered ankle.
Caleb, nicknamed "Sarge"
by his friends, had a lifelong
dream of joining the Navy
and had received his dates for
basic training. He is devas-
tated physically, emotionally
and spiritually as he faces
a future with so many un-
knowns. However, it has been
amazing to see the Rehoboth
family support Sarge and his
grandparents with whom he
lives. Immediately after Sarge
was flown to Albuquerque,
staff and friends joined him
in the hospital, and Chaplain
Kevin Ruthven arranged a
hotel stay for Grandma. Staff
and students continue to
text, call, and visit Sarge as
he recuperates at his home in
Window Rock, Arizona. His
grandpa wrote after a visit, “I
am truly grateful for the lov-
ing Christian support of the
Rehoboth staff and students.
Caleb loves spending time
with everyone, and I loved
(hearing) the laughter.” As
this article is being written,
a ramp is being built so that
Sarge can cross the stage at
his graduation in his wheel-
chair to receive his diploma.
Rehoboth is family.
A week and a half after
Sarge’s accident, the Reho-
both community was again
called to love in the midst of
tragedy when junior, Alex De
Armond, passed away due to
an undiagnosed brain tumor.
Known for her smile and her
selflessness, Alex’s love shone
brightly on the Friday before
she passed away. She had
spent lunch with her “lit-
tle,” her fourth grade friend
whom she had mentored.
She had delivered a package
to the administration build-
ing and wished everyone a
good weekend. She wrote a
beautiful testimony of her
love for Jesus in her math
class (shared elsewhere in this
newsletter). She rehearsed for
the choir’s Spring Fling and
went to work after school.
No one expected Alex to be
gone by Saturday morning.
As members of the family
and Rehoboth staff gathered
around Alex’s body at Reho-
both McKinley Hospital, the
family shared of Alex’s love
for being a facilitator on the
ropes course, of her excite-
ment for next year’s choir
tour, of her involvement in
planning an upcoming mis-
sion trip, and of her love for
the Rehoboth students and
staff, a community of which
she had been a part since she
was three years old. They
reminded me that Alex had
wanted me to remain in the
position of executive direc-
tor for just one more year
so that she and I could leave
Rehoboth at the same time.
Alex, like so many of us, saw
that Rehoboth is more than a
school. Rehoboth is a family.
And for that, I will be forever
grateful.
Cherishing Connections
Tribute to Rehoboth Christian School
by Bob Ippel
Senior, Caleb Clauschee, was involved in a serious accident in late
April, breaking his back, femur, and shattering his ankle.