The Griffin Rundown

In this week’s episode of The Griffin Rundown, Mr. Nees sits down with Jonathan Holmes, MA—author of Grounded in Grace: Helping Kids Build Their Identity in Christ and Executive Director of Fieldstone Counseling. With over fifteen years of pastoral experience at Parkside Church and Parkside Green, Jonathan brings deep biblical insight and practical wisdom to the conversation.

Together, they explore the five core areas where teens often struggle with identity: sports, academics, moralism, sexual orientation, and gender confusion. Jonathan shares how parents can guide their children through these challenges by anchoring their identity in the gospel of grace rather than external pressures or internal doubts.

Listeners will gain:

• A biblical framework for understanding identity formation
• Practical tools for gospel-centered conversations with teens
• Reflection questions to foster self-examination and spiritual growth

This episode encourages parents to play a vital role in helping their children build a secure, Christ-centered identity—one rooted in truth, grace, and hope.

In this fourth installment of the Building Study Kids series, Mr. Nees sits down with Mr. Scott Hatteberg, Head of Upper School, for a conversation on guiding children through life’s challenges. Together, they explore the importance of allowing kids to struggle and learn to navigate on their own, creating teachable moments, and turning problems into opportunities for dialogue.

The discussion also touches on helping students grow in their faith, teaching them to advocate for themselves, and remembering to keep joy and fun at the center of the journey. Plus, don’t miss our campus updates and the always-popular Joke of the Week.

Join us for an episode filled with wisdom, practical insights, and encouragement for parents.

This week on The Griffin Rundown, we continue our Building Sturdy Kids series with an insightful conversation between Mr. Nees and Upper School teacher Mrs. Elizabeth Fleagle. Together, they explore practical ways to support our students both in the classroom and at home, sharing strategies, stories, and encouragement for families and educators alike. The episode also features the always-popular Joke of the Week, guaranteed to bring a smile, and a roundup of all the exciting happenings around our campuses—from events to student highlights, you won’t want to miss it. Tune in for a blend of wisdom, laughter, and community spirit as we continue building up our Sturdy Kids!

We continue our series on Building Sturdy Kids with a special conversation between Mr. Nees and Mrs. Pam Larison, Head of Lower School in Pepper Pike. Together, they explore how parents and educators can deepen their understanding of what children are truly capable of—and how to support their growth with wisdom and care.

Also in this episode, Mr. Bond and Mr. Hatteberg reflect on the joy and success of the first-ever Heritage Dance, a memorable evening for our Upper School students.

As always, you’ll hear important announcements and enjoy the Joke of the Week from Posey.

Welcome to the first episode in a special three-part series on helping understand your student developmentally and how you can help them grow in responsibility at home and at school. In this episode of The Griffin Rundown, Mr. Nees sits down with Carrie Serafimov, Assistant Head of Lower School at Peninsula, for a practical discussion on how we can support our children as they grow in character and resilience. The focus age group this episode is Jr Kindergarten through 1st grade.

Together, they explore how to help kids do hard things, honor and respect authority, and how to come alongside them without swooping in. They also highlight the importance of daily family prayer and meaningful conversations at home.

This episode is full of encouragement and insight for anyone invested in raising strong, thoughtful, and faith-filled children.

This week on the Griffin Rundown, Mr. Nees sits down with Mike Swiger from True Freedom Ministries to explore the powerful work his organization is doing inside prisons across Ohio. From offering hope to the incarcerated to transforming lives through faith, Mike shares the mission and reach of the ministry in a heartfelt and inspiring conversation.