Educating for Eternity Silent Auction: April 2009

On Saturday, April 18, 2009, WCS’s annual Educating for Eternity silent auction took place at the Family Center on Worthington Galena Rd. At the auction, an adults-only event, parents bid on various items to help fund financial aid for students and continuing education for teachers; and to assist with the administrative costs of running the school.

Tailgating was this year’s theme for the auction, and participants were asked to wear their favorite collegiate wear. The WCHS band performed outside while bidders entered the auction.

OSU alum and former football player Archie Griffin made a special appearance at the event, mingling with bidders, signing autographs, and taking photos.

The gym was decorated with Buckeye decorations and game-themed signs designed by Laura Stepp. Decorations were also provided by Exhibit Pro and Alphagraphics. Many of the auction areas had football themes like “End Zone” and “Take Down.” The area was also filled with “pump up” music such as “Hang on Sloopy” and “We are the Champions.”

This is the fourth year for the auction, and the goal for this year was to reach $140,000. The general attendance for the auction was around 400-500 people.

Though no one under 18 is allowed to participate in the auction, teenagers did help out. Students volunteered to serve food and drinks from Schmidt's, in addition to beverages from Crimson Cup Coffee. WCHS senior Tyler Mitchell acted as student emcee alongside WCHS theater teacher Dave O’Roark; they walked around informing bidders of items on display and announcing when auction areas were closing. Seniors Emily Bookheimer and Gabe Botkin played the parts of homecoming king and queen, with Emily wearing jewelry available for bidding.

There were many items on display--everything from baked goods to paintings and even a “money tree” worth $300! The goal was that all the items up for the silent auction would be sold, but unfortunately some were not; “all the items that did not sell will go on Ebay,” comments Juile Nathan, WCS Director of Development.

The final events for the auction started with the Show Choir performing, followed by the Chorale. The live auction then began, with Dave O’Roark taking on the role as emcee. Julie Nathan noted that “The live auction was the best we’ve ever had. Some of the items up for sale went for more than their worth.”

The biggest selling item was this year’s USC football tickets that were worth $138 and were sold for $ 3,000! “The one item that was really surprising was the homemade WCS quilt,” commented Julie Nathan: “it was just really cool to see that item bring in that amount of money.” The quilt was valued at $500 and sold for $1,500.

The night ended with a closing song by the Chorale in which Morgan Meyers sang the solo.

The Educating for Eternity Silent Auction was an eventful evening with many creative items from which to choose. “I didn’t get the Buckeye Cheesecake,” WCHS parent and bidder Becky Chodzin commented on her experience: “but it was a fabulous evening and I won the one thing I’ve wanted for the last 3 years!”

Overall, the auction brought in $110,000. “Everything went very smoothly during the auction and I have very high hopes for next year,” Mrs. Nathan noted.

(Photographs courtesy of Brian Shindle, Creative Moments Photography and Ginger Gibson)

The Seder Feast: Westview Elementary School’s Passover Celebration

The Westview Elementary school celebrated the Seder Feast on April 9th in the AC auditorium in commemoration of Passover. The celebration of Passover began on April 7th or 8th and it lasted seven or eight days, until April 15th.

The Seder Feast is celebrated on the first two nights of Passover world wide every year at a predetermined time: the dates change each year.

Jews that observe Passover for eight days celebrate Passover on the first two nights and those Jews that observe Passover for seven days celebrate Passover on their first night.

The word “Seder” means “order” in Hebrew. Elimelech David Ha-Levi Web Services reports that “Passover has fifteen steps that are performed at different points in the Passover Seder meal.”

The Seder Feast involves six different dishes on one plate; a side of salt water, and a cup of wine.

A variety of dishes make up the Seder Feast; Rabbi Shraga Simmons explains that these dishes are “Matzah, Chazaret, Zeroa, Karpas, Beitzah, and Charoset.”

Matzah is unleavened bread; Karpas and Chazaret are bitter vegetables; and Zeroa is a shank bone of a chicken. Beitzah is a hard-boiled egg, and Charoset is a mixture of nuts, fruit, honey, and cinnamon.

Elementary Principal Jim Parrish informed me that “the significance of the Seder Feast is that “at the point of the tenth plague, lamb were slain and their blood was put on every Israelite’s doorpost; and the angel of death would pass over their home.”

Mr. Parrish further explains that “This symbolizes for Christian Jews that Jesus is the lamb that was slain for our sin, so that we can pass from death into life.”

“WCS students celebrate this event as a part of their Bible curriculum,” Mr. Parrish noted: “and through the process, third graders learn more about the Old Testament.”

Worthington Christian High School Cheerleaders Reflect on the 2008- 2009 Season

Now that the season is over, the Worthington Christian High School Junior Varsity and Varsity Cheerleaders look forward to try-outs, cheer camp, and all the other possibilities the new season will bring. They are also reflecting on the past season’s games and how the members of each squad were able to become close friends.

The JV squad had a total of six cheerleaders, with a total of eight cheerleaders on the Varsity squad. Both of the squads were coached by Mrs. Jenny Sanders.

During the season, both of the squads became very close. Emily Heskett, a JV cheerleader, mentions that “The season was amazing! I had so much fun spending time with all of the girls!”

The Varsity squad consisted of four seniors, two juniors and two sophomores. “We all got really close!” Abby Camp, a junior on the Varsity squad, said in reference to her experience with all of the other girls: “We had so many fun times at team meals and at the games! I’m going to miss the senior girls so much!”

The graduating seniors on the Varsity squad were Cassidy Herbst, Becca Condon, Lindsey Petrel, and Lindsay Price.

Now that the 2008- 2009 season is over, the girls are getting ready for next season’s tryouts and reflecting upon what the new season might bring. Megan Myers, a junior on the JV squad, exclaims “I’m not really nervous for try-outs; I’m just relieved that this is my last one! It is going to be weird being the seniors on the squad next year.”

After try-outs, a few weeks into summer, all the squads help teach a cheer camp for the elementary and middle school students. “Cheer camp is a lot of fun to teach!” Emily Englehart, a sophomore on JV, comments. “The little girls are so cute, but it can get tiring; and by the end of the week I’m ready for it to be done!”

A new season also means a new squad. Although all of the girls got along really well this year, sometimes it doesn’t work out that way, and “there can be a lot of conflict within individual squads,” Brittany Wicker, a sophomore on JV, elaborates. “This year everyone seemed fine with one another, but in past seasons, there have been sort of cliques within the squads. I just hope that that doesn’t happen next season, because it could ruin it!” she adds.

Both the Varsity and JV squads made a lot of great memories during the season, memories that won’t soon be forgotten. Each squad would agree that they made some of the best memories outside of games and practice. For example, during the season, it was a memorable tradition for the JV squad to go to Planet Smoothie together before each game.

This season for the cheerleaders was definitely an enjoyable one. Let’s hope next year’s squads have just as many positive memories, if not more!

Baseball Spring Training at Disney’s Wide World of Sports

While most WCHS students were on spring break, a select group of WCHS baseball players attended spring training at Disney’s Wide World of Sports (DWWS)

Members of the WCHS baseball team left the first Saturday of spring break and started practice that weekend, initiating a great beginning of the season for the team.

The group of guys who were on the trip consisted of Coach Kraynak; seniors Jordan Doherty, Jarred Lawson, Tyler Morgan, and Matt Schoonover; juniors Matt Anglea, Mike Bush, Ike Meyers, and Caleb Palumbo, Alex Scott and Tim Webb, along with sophomores Dan Bauslaugh and Austin Morgan. The guys were joined by the team’s manager, senior Zach Theiss.

The Team took part in two official practices as well as their first official game of the season while at DWWS. Disney’s WWS is a state-of-the-art sports complex that is fitted for all of the amateur athletes’ needs.

The Baseball Quadraplex consists of four professional-size playing fields, a practice field, batting tunnels, and pitching machines. The team also had access to the Milk House, a loaded indoor training complex.

The opportunity to play and practice in such a fine sports establishment has truly benefited the team this season. Coach Kraynak, head coach for six years, said that the team has another advantage: “We have practiced outside eight times.” In baseball, playing on the field is a huge advantage, superior to being in the gym.

This year, the team is returning with all of last year’s starters. Coach Kraynak said of the returning starters that “they are good kids and solid examples.” Last year, the team was young: this year, the team is a veteran team.

Returning starter and senior Jordan Doherty said that the training was “fun but it made me mad to come back to the cold state of Ohio.” A number of the guys shared Jordan’s resentment about coming back to the colder weather of Ohio.

Junior Tim Webb also spoke highly of his enjoyment of the training: “It was great experience to prepare us for a great season.”

All in all, the team accomplished a lot of effective training and team building; and the guys enjoyed their time in Florida. The team is now ready for an extremely successful season.

Spring Break Vacation Plans

Spring Break is relaxing, fun, and a great opportunity to spend time with the family: multiple W.C. students spent time in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Kentucky while some stayed at home here in Columbus, Ohio.

I was fortunate to travel to Georgia and then to Hilton Head, SC. We traveled 9 hours on Monday March 30th to Savannah, GA. There, we spent March 31st sight-seeing and walking on the river front. Later that afternoon, we traveled on to Hilton Head for another 4-hour drive. Although it was rainy for several days, we were able to spend the last day at the beach and I went to the movies with my dad to see The Fast and Furious.

W.C. freshmen Cody Holbrook spent his break at home here in Columbus. “I slept, ate, and played Guitar Hero,” Cody stated. “I even went to Texas Roadhouse for my sister’s birthday on April the 1st.” Toward the end of spring break, Cody said he just hung out with friends and went to see the movie Monsters vs. Aliens.

Alex Barlitt, a current sophomore, went to hang with his friend at Polaris. Then he also went to the movie Monsters vs. Aliens. Alex said that “The movie was a little cheesy, but it was better than I expected and a little funny too.”

Riley Means, another current sophomore, went to Cumberland Falls in Kentucky with her mom and little brother. “It was really nice to see God’s creation in the waterfall,” she said. Riley also brought home some souvenirs.

Courtney Dickinson, a current junior, traveled with her family to Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, and then off to the Magic Kingdom in Orlando. “In Orlando, it was good to see my sister meet all the Disney characters again,” Courtney said. “It had been probably 3 years since our last trip to Disney and it was really good to go back.”

The tennis team met on March 28th for a bowling outing. “It was a great way to get to know the younger guys on the team and it was fun,” junior tennis player Nathan Dawdy said: “Schimdtty, our coach, was the best bowler there.”

Shane Fultz, a senior, went to Cincinnati to spend time with his family and friends and then spent time in Columbus contributing through community service. Shane tutored 2nd and 3rd graders at Devonshire Elementary as well as Evening Street Elementary in math and reading. Shane learned from his tutoring experience how great it feels to help someone. “After time the students I was tutoring caught on with my teaching methods.”

Alec Bruner, a junior, stayed here in Columbus working and hanging out with his friends at Easton and Polaris.

Eric Stevenson, senior, and Jacob Rettsttat, junior went to Hilton Head, South Carolina, as well. However, since it rained there, they just relaxed at their hotel. The W.C. students spent spring break relaxing, having fun, and spending time with their families.

Philip Mains: A Skilled Worthington Christian High School Art Student

Philip Mains, a senior at Worthington Christian High School, has a noticeable passion and incredible imagination for art which clearly shows throughout his artwork.

Philip has decided to stick with drawing because, he said, “it suits my style.” He also says that he has learned to appreciate the “raw forms of beauty” in nature.

This spring, Philip is enrolled in AP painting and AP drawing. “Art,” Philip said, “is what we are. We can’t escape it. It’s an act of inspiration.”

“He has a good hand,” Mrs. Heisey said. “He’s also very capable of accuracy, and he appraises other people’s work.” Philip’s artistic talent is evident throughout his work because the process of creating the piece is visible.

American cartoonist David Wiley Miller, who created the famous comic strip Non Sequitur, inspires Philip. Also, “the mountains [in Colorado] fascinate me,” Philip said.

Mrs. Heisey believes that Philip’s passion for art is clearly visible. “He’s a genius,” Mrs. Heisey said. “He has a lot of talent and puts in plenty of hard work.”

“It’s straight forward and down to the point,” Philip said about his artwork. Mrs. Heisey also commented on his work by saying: “It’s very detailed and he’s good at mark making.”

Just like his finished pieces, the sketches that Philip creates are thorough and full of imagination. The amount of thought and precision in each piece of artwork instantly catches one’s attention.

Columbus School of Art and Design in where Philip plans to attend this fall. He wants to apply his abilities in order to become an art teacher.

Instead of creating just one art concentration, Philip decided to create three: there is a music focused concentration, an alien concentration, and a concentration on “V61”.

“V61 has a lot of meaning behind it,” Mrs. Heisey said. It seemed to be difficult to explain, so Philip agreed with Mrs. Heisey and added, “It has something to do with a book I’m writing.”

Columbus School of Art and Design requires students to study diligently and apply tremendous amounts of thought and skill into their artwork. “If anyone is doing it right, Philip is,” Mrs. Heisey said.

Senior Trip 2009

The trip that so many students at WCHS have anticipated finally arrived, on March 17, 2009, when WCHS seniors left on a week-long trip to the Dominican Republic. While there, seniors ministered to sugarcane villages; helped out at medical clinics; and, of course, visited beaches, Catalina Island, and did shopping in Santo Domingo. Seniors returned on Thursday March 26, 2009, just in time for spring break.

This year, out of the 82 seniors, 56 participated in the trip. Those who did not attend were required to do a community service project.

Seniors were placed into various groups for the flights down, with flight connections in Miami, FL and Chicago. Once in the Dominican, seniors traveled to the SCORE complex, their “home” for the week; had dinner; and relaxed by the beach.

This year, the group held three medical clinics (one at an orphanage, two in villages) -- which helped 400 people.

Joining the seniors were two doctors and two nurses. Over $100,000 in medical supplies and equipment was donated to the effort!

Seniors also went into four villages and were able to feed 295 families. All together, over $6,000 was donated from various students and families to “Feed the Village.” Also established was a benevolence fund for local church deacons to use for their village in case of food emergencies.

Seniors did ministry in two different orphanages. 12th grader Emily Garber commented on her experience, exclaiming “The Dominican was amazing! The little kids were great!”

One of the ways our seniors ministered at the orphanage was by putting on a puppet show for the kids. Additionally, over 100 kids were seen in the medical clinic that took place at the orphanage.

Lindsey Petrel, senior, gave this reporter an enthusiastic comment on her experience: “Senior trip was amazing! You have to go next year!” Evidently, the trip down to the Dominican Republic is what students look forward to most in their senior year, next to graduating.

WCHS Bible teacher Dr. Buzz Inboden, who’s gone to the Dominican with previous senior classes, commented on his experience: “This trip was more serious. This class was more focused and better prepared. Senior trip was about missions, not ‘It’s our senior trip; let’s have fun and do some missions.’”

11th grader Sara Katula commented on what she looks forward to when she attends next year: “I’m really excited: and I hope to get a rewarding experience, and that it will open my eyes to new things.”

When asked about what about what he thinks next year’s trip with the class of 2010 will be like, Dr. Buzz smiles and says “There’s no doubt that the class of ’10 will be just as focused as this class.”

Italy and Greece Trip of 2009

Spring break for some fortunate Worthington Christian high school students meant spending a week in Italy and Greece. Mr. Heath and Mrs. Heath led a group of students on a weeklong tour from March 29th to April 6th, experiencing firsthand the history and culture of these major cities: Rome, Pompeii, Athens, and Delphi.

Students from all grades can sign up for this trip, and it does not matter if you are in a history class, either. This year, twelve students signed up for the trip: seniors Gwen Dreyer, Kelsey Eggenschwiler, Renae Vagnier, and Bailey Walters; juniors Abby Camp, Cristina Mace, and Sarah Morford; sophomore Megan Walls; and freshmen Ruthie Cathers, Tom Dreyer, Angia Grant, and Sammy Head. Renae Vagnier’s parents and Abby Camp’s dad came along for the ride as well.

Before leaving, junior Abby Camp said, smiling, “I’m extremely excited and can not wait to go! It is going to be amazing!” She was especially looking forward to seeing Rome, Pompeii, and Athens. Sarah Morford, who was standing next to her, agreed: “I can’t really pick a certain place: I am excited for all of them!”

The first day, they arrived in Rome, Italy, and began touring the city. They started their tour by going to see the Catacombs, which are ancient underground tunnels used as tombs. Freshman Sammy Head said “Rome was my favorite place; it was really pretty!” Afterward, the students walked around downtown where they had free time to shop and eat lunch.

On Day Two, they stayed in Rome and kept touring the city. They visited the Vatican Museum to see the Sistine Chapel and took a tour through St. Peter’s Basilica. “If I had to pick my favorite place, it would have to be the Sistine Chapel; then everything else follows,” said senior Gwen Dreyer. “It is so hard to choose: the whole trip was incredible!” After their time in St. Peter’s, they visited the Coliseum, and the Pantheon. Then, to top off the day, they walked around the city at night to see all the cities and fountains lit up.

The next day, they drove down to Pompeii and toured the city. Later that night, they took a ferry over to Greece to begin their next set of tours. Most of their tours were led by tour guides from Italy and Greece but when there was free time, Mr. Heath would teach them what he knew.

To begin their tour of Greece, the group drove to the Corinthian Canal; afterward, they went to see the former capitol of Greece, which was called Mafpii. Then, after a long day of tours, they retreated to their hotel on the beach.

On Day Five, they continued to explore Greece. Some of the places they visited were Ampudarous, an ancient theater in Greece; Mycenae; and they took an hour and a half cruise on the canal. Abby Camp and Tom Dreyer thought “The cruise was fun but it was too short!” After the cruise, the group drove to Athens where they experienced a walking tour and ate dinner.

Continuing their tour in Athens, the next day they visited the Parthenon, and the national museum—and they saw the changing of the guards as well. To end the day, they had dinner and free time to explore the city some more.

On the last day, the group went to Delphi in Greece and toured the city. Freshman Tom Dreyer said “Delphi was my favorite city in Greece. There were not a lot of people and the scenery was really pretty.” He also commented that “There was just so much history everywhere.” Finally, on Monday April 6th, the group took a flight back home and arrived in Columbus around 7:30 pm.

Overall, this trip was an incredible experience for these Worthington Christian students. Chaperone and WC history teacher Mr. Heath said “This trip was a really rewarding experience! This trip caused us to be able to come out of our comfort zones and see both biblical and secular history come to life while finding out a little bit more about ourselves and where we came from.”

Elizabeth Early: State Fencing Champion

Worthington Christian Junior Elizabeth Early won the annual Ohio High School State championship in fencing, which started at 9:00 am and took place at Greensview Elementary School on February 7th.

In this tournament, fifteen to twenty girls from all around Ohio competed for the right to win the championship.

Elizabeth told me her favorite event was the sabre “because you have to be quick to be in this event.”

Elizabeth said “that fencing is a chess game; you have to try and out-think your opponent and you have to adjust to the speed of the opponent.”

One officiator judges the fencing match. The tournament creates a bracket, and you fence everyone in the pool. The rules involve double elimination, and if you advance, you are the winner.

In order for judges to tell whether you get a point, you are hooked up to an electric strip that shows if you have been hit.

The fencing gear involves a mask, jacket, and knickers; and you have your sabre to complete the whole outfit.

You can get a yellow card if you cover your target from the opponent or if you forget your equipment.

The only way to get a black card is if you get caught cheating- or if you get in trouble by doing something illegal and try to jeopardize someone else’s well being.

Elizabeth stated that she has “never seen a black card given,” but that she has “seen a yellow card” given to a person.

Elizabeth was able to beat out many people in a Round Robin format, and was crowned a State Champion; she said “It was an incredible honor” and that she will be competing in this same tournament next year.

Although Elizabeth is now a state champion, she still practices two times a week to make sure she is ready for next year, and to make sure she stays in shape for upcoming tournaments.

ACSI Speech Meet: Westview Elementary School

On Friday, March 13, the Worthington Christian Westview Elementary School competed in an ACSI Speech Meet against other schools, which took place at Tree of Life Christian School. The competition involved students grades one through five.

The selection process for the elementary students went as follows: students would select a Bible passage, a poem, or a fable/work of folklore and recite it to their class. The students could then choose if they wanted their speech to be judged in order to have a chance to compete in the Speech Meet. “Parent judges sat in each class and judged the students as they presented the material,” Mr. Jim Parrish, the elementary school principal, added.

The Speech Meet Coordinator was Miss Kelly Burby, a second grade teacher at Westview Elementary School.

Fortunately, the students did not have to compete against their classmates, or any other students for that matter. According to the ACSI website, “Contestants do not compete against one another; rather, they are judged against established criteria.”

Claire Dingess, a Speech Meet Alumnus who competed first through fifth grade exclaims, “I enjoyed it; it was a lot of fun! We got to miss school, and I got a blue ribbon every time!”

Students definitely enjoy being able to miss school and have fun reciting their speeches while becoming a better speaker.

The categories for the Speech Meet were Poetry, Bible Memorization, Fable and Folklore, Patriotic Oration, Dramatic Bible Prose, and Original Speech.

Many students from each grade competed. In total, forty-two students participated, all of which came from grades one through five.

The students could either get a white ribbon (good), a red ribbon (excellent), or a blue ribbon (superior). According to Mr. Parish, “All students presented their material very well. By listening to the awards, blue ribbons were earned by the majority of students from WCWES. All students did very well.”

Overall, the Speech Meet this year was fantastic. It is a competition that WCWES has participated in for years, and will take part in for years to come.