5th Grade Over and Out: Camp Out

The 2009 5th grade Over and Out will be held May 26-28 at the Camp Lazarus, home to Council Cub Scout’s summer resident- and day-camps. This camping site features easy access to Delaware.

The camp also includes an amphitheatre, a pool, a small boating lake and a fishing pond. The camp also has a dining hall and training center. .

The 5th grade class will be leaving on Tuesday morning, May 26, at 8:15 am, heading off to the camp’s grounds. This year’s class will participate in 7 Breakout Sessions in tie dying; dissection; BB guns, arts and crafts; and the last activities include CPR and mapping.

The girls and boys have two courses that they will go through during the sessions: Inner and Outer Beauty for the girls, and Inner and Outer Strength for the boys. The students will also choose three selective electives to participate in; they will learn about each elective from the parents that will be sharing specific elective.

During the 5th graders’ first day, they will attend a camp orientation that will go over the rules and regulations of the camp. During the first day, the campers will have their respective breakout sessions, as well as a ropes course experience.

The campers will also attend a first-aid class during their first day; and to finish their day, they will be attending a camp fire session with a Bible theme incorporated.

Day two will be a day of fun and recreation that will include the 7 Breakout sessions. The day will conclude with a family dinner: this will be a time for the students to bond with their families in a campsite environment; there will also be a campfire session to close out the evening.

The third and final day of camp will include a private devotion time, and a Bible teaching. Then, the students will be going to their chosen electives.

They will then proceed to lunch, followed by strike camp, which is a concluding session; they will then head back home to the Westview campus.

This year’s 5th grade Over and Out will be full of great fellowship with many fun activities. It will give the 5th graders a camping atmosphere and a chance to experience summery activities a week early.

Theatre II Class: Coffee House Crumbs!

Drama is an important department at Worthington Christian. Not only does WCHS offer Fall, Winter and Spring Theatrical performances, but the school also offers Theatre classes. The 6th and 7th period Theatre II classes 2nd semester each performed a play for their final exam. The whole evening was titled “Coffee House Crumbs”, and took place on May 21st at 7:00 in the AC.

7th period Theatre II put on the play The Quest for Quasi: How Red Got Her Hunch Back by Darlene Gonzalez. In this one-act play, Red Riding Hood is on a game show eerily familiar to “The Dating Game”.

The play starts with Red asking the contestants a few questions; then she chooses the bachelor, who turns out to be Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame! Red is sure that Quasi is the man for her, but the Wicked Witch of the West captures Quasi. Red must find and give the Wicked Witch three items of power in exchange for Quasi. The play follows Red’s challenging journey to find the three magical items in order to rescue her beloved in The Quest for Quasi.

The shows began at 7 o’clock on Thursday, May 21st. The evening started with the 7th period Theatre II class’s performance of Quest for Quasi. When the show started and the audience caught its first glimpse of sophomore Sonny Panzica as Quasi, a ripple of laughter could be heard. Sonny’s portrayal of Quasi was extremely humorous yet maintained a feeling of sincerity. Red was played by freshman Amber English, whose portrayal of Red as a sweet yet strong character mixed really well with Sonny’s humor.

On Red and Quasi’s first date, to the romantic McDonalds, Quasi is captured by the Wicked Witch of the West and only Red can stop her; so Red’s quest begins: she must find the items which the Wicked Witch desires, or else…no more Quasi.

The whole cast did really well: from the three fairy godmothers, Prince Charming and the Wicked Witch to Captian Hook, Tinkerbell and Smee, hilarity really poured from this play. In the end, Red was able to save her beloved Quasi and the whole cast lived happily ever after; well, all but the Wicked Witch, of course.

After a curtain call and applause from the audience, the second play began; the 6th period Theatre II class performed Romeo and Winifred: A Tragical Comedy in Two and a Half Acts by Charlie Lovett. The premise of this production is simple: two feuding families, the Capulets and Montagues, that own rival department stores in NYC, have kids that fall in love; namely, Romeo and Winifred. The play is all about the two lovers, from their not-so-leisurely courtship and hasty marriage to the “tragical” end of the play.

The play began with a brief reminder of Shakespeare’s style and a quick explanation of the play. Afterward, the lights went down and the audience viewed commercials from “Crazy Capulets’” and “Montagues’” department stores. The 7th period Theatre II class made and filmed the commercials beforehand.

Once the lights came back on, the audience witnessed the Capulets and Montagues engaging in an insult competition. Mr. O’Roark participated in the play, playing everyone from Capulet AND Montague to a slightly crazed Friar. Winifred was played by senior Emily Bookheimer; I played Romeo. All members of the cast, however, played at least two characters. We made it work, though, and we had fun in the process.

The whole evening was a huge success; and there was a large audience to support the cast. When everything was said and done, Theatre II put on a fantastic final show!

General Student Awards at WCHS' Awards Assembly

During the annual Awards Assembly, various awards and scholarships are given out to students who fit the required expectations—and then go beyond. These awards were given out on May 14, 2009.

After the Timothy Awards had been presented, Mr. Kraynak began the Special Honors with the Scholar-Athlete Awards. These ranged from awards given out by the Columbus Dispatch to scholarships from the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Seniors represented for these special honors were Brady Beals, Brian Hecker, Luke Helmuth, Emily Fuesse, Paige Stump, and Christy Watterson.

Mrs. Klapheke came on the stage next to announce the nominees for the students representing the special honors for music. Junior Tim Webb received the John Phillip Sousa Award and junior Chris Rivers won the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award. Seniors Jesse Polsdorfer and Andrew Protopapas received the Arion Awards. “I was greatly honored to receive this award! I had no idea.” said Jesse.


Next, Mr. Anglea began presenting the Parent-Teacher Fellowship Endowment Funds. The first endowment was the Junior Academic Scholarship, given to a current 11th grader who has the highest grade point average and participates in school activities. Andrew Parrish received this scholarship.

The James L. and Triceine N. Custer Scholarship Endowment is given to a WCS student who has attended for at least two years; who demonstrates the school’s ideals; and who has developed in her relationship with Christ. Junior Megan Meyers won this award, and said “I was really excited that I received this award. I thought my parents were there for National Honors Society.”

Afterwards, the Joe and Margaret Jerele Scholarship Endowment was given out to a current 11th grader who exhibits the desire to be attending WCS. Junior Caleb Palumbo received this award.

The Jered Pyles “Heirs to Heaven” Memorial Scholarship is given to a student who has completed at least one year at WCS and participates in music and athletics. Junior Paul Torrie fit this standard for being a part of the Columbus Crusader football team, as well as the WC choir. “This was a great honor,” exclaimed Paul. “I am totally undeserving.”

Junior Caitlin Malone received the Robert E. Bechtel Memorial Music Scholarship for continually showing development in her walk with Christ and participating in a music course. The last of the endowment funds was the WCHS Alumni Scholarship, established by the class of 1995 and given to junior Nicole Kuisel for being involved with the track team and displaying a Christ-like attitude among her peers.

Senior Tyler Mitchell was the nominee for the Mark Tracey Art Award; and Lauren Trainer, who is a current junior, received the Yellow Ribbon Scholarship, which is in honor of Sgt. Justin Hoffman and in memory of Keith Maupin.

The WCHS Ministry Award was given to Emily Fuesse; and the Awards given out by SCORE were received by Josh Howard and Lauren Williams. Afterward, Mr. Dave Muschott transitioned into the “other awards.”

First, he announced the Clean Slate Awards for the seniors that have never received a dress code slip, unexcused tardy, or detention during all four years of their time at WCHS. A total of eight seniors received the award, including Justin Doherty, Alexa Garrison, Brian Hecker, Courtney Hommelle, Jesse Polsdorfer, Marisa Smith, Bailey Walter, and Christy Watterson.

Lastly, the distinguished Daniel, Solomon, and David Senior Awards are given respectively to seniors that best represent these three Biblical characters. Renae Vagnier received the Daniel Award; Andrew Swetnam received the Joshua Award; and Alexa Garrison received the Solomon Award.


Everyone who received these awards was greatly honored. These awards were a great way to show students’ achievements throughout their high school years; these students deserved to be recognized for everything they have accomplished.

Worthington Christian High School Senior Scholarships

College entails much preparation, including applying scholarships. This year, many students from Worthington Christian High School received scholarships to various colleges.

Although numerous scholarships were given to the current seniors, there were some scholarships that stood out from the rest.

Brian Hecker received a full ride to Cedarville University for basketball. Jordan Doherty, meanwhile, earned a scholarship to Mt. Vernon Nazarene University.

One of our seniors, Marisa Smith, will be attending Cornell; she will be the first Worthington Christian High School student to attend an Ivy League school since 2000, a major accomplishment for her.

Alexa Garrison also received a full

ride to Michigan State, another impressive achievement.

In order to get a scholarship, there are many things to be considered. Whether or not you receive a scholarship depends on your GPA, your SAT and ACT scores, your class rank, your involvement in community service, and financial aid.

Numerous academic scholarships are available to those that apply, including alumni and profile scholarships. “About 85% of all scholarships will come from the school to you,” adds Mr. Dave Muschott.

As far as the process of selecting students to be accepted into college is concerned: there are many requirements for upcoming college freshmen. Whether or not you are accepted is based upon multiple considerations.

First, the colleges will look at your academic performance in high school as well as the strength and quality of the curriculum you are being taught. In addition, colleges will look at your overall class rank; your ACT and SAT scores; and your leadership skills and talents.

Christian colleges look at the same aspects as non-Christian colleges, but with the addition of looking at your evident relationship with Christ, and a Godly lifestyle.

Preparing for college can be a stressful and daunting process. It is important to remember what colleges expect when anticipating whether or not they shall accept you into their college or give you a scholarship to attend.

The WCHS Bowlers

Worthington Christian High School is a school of many sports. Bowling, however, is a new endeavor for the school. The sport will start as a club next school year, and, if successful, could become an official varsity sport.

Bowling as a sport is on the rise in high school students’ eyes: in fact, it has already surpassed lacrosse as a high school-level sport in Ohio. Bowling is a game of skill in which practice is key.

The bowling club will start its WCHS career under the guidance of Dan Thompson, owner of Capri Lanes, and an extremely talented bowler; he has bowled 23 games with a score of 300. Under his guidance, the team should flourish.

Mr. Thompson is not new to starting bowling leagues; in fact he has initiated three: Desales was first, in 2001-02. He was head coach there for two years and won the team’s first state tourney with the girls’ team. He also initiated the Westerville North Bowling program in the 2004-05 season and coached them for two years, going to states both times. He also started the Olentangy Liberty bowling program with its 2006-07 season.

The Worthington Christian Bowling team will not be starting with all novice bowlers; Jared Shields, a current junior, is a bowling aficionado who will definitely be an asset to the team. Jared has bowled for eleven years and finished this season on April 18th. His highest game this season was a 257. When asked what he thought of a bowling team, he said “It’s about time!” Jared’s attitude will be a major motivator in the success of the team: the fact that the team members enjoy bowling.

High school bowling in the state of Ohio began in 2001.The two goals were simple: get more teenagers involved in the sport, and help high school bowling to become a Varsity sport. These goals were met, and, in fact, high school bowling is becoming one of the fastest-growing Varsity sports in Ohio.

In high school bowling, Varsity and Junior Varsity teams both need at least five bowlers, with a maximum of eight bowlers. The Bowling program at Worthington Christian will begin as a “club level” sport, and we hope, with enough interest, that it will become a Varsity sport.

When the Bowling program at WCHS begins its first season, it will be hosted by Capri Lanes, which will become WCHS’s “home house,” where the team will hold its practices and its home matches.

The team will begin optional practices in November and will hold tryouts at the end of November. Once members of the team are selected, mandatory practices will start in December. By the middle of December, the team will be bowling in matches. After these matches, district, regional, and state tournaments will follow from late February to early in March.

For anyone interested in trying out for the team, Capri Lanes will be holding open bowling on Saturday nights this summer. So even if you haven’t bowled much, but have an interest in the sport, come out to the open bowls so that you can hone your skills and be ready for tryouts in November!

Student Council 2009

As the end of the year approaches, WCHS students vote in the annual Student Council Elections. Each grade has representatives running for class president and other positions; then, the class votes on who will become its officers. The students will also vote on who will become the student body officers.

As the 2009-2010 year approaches, the upcoming 10th grade officers are as follows: Michael Stomps will take on the role of Class President; Gabi Benalcazar will be Vice President; Reid Smith will be Treasurer; and Brett Muschott will act as Secretary.

Starting their junior year, Austin Morgan will act as 11th grade Class President; Tanner Singleton will be Vice President; Annie Barlow will act as Treasurer; and Shelby Hamrick will be Secretary.

For the class of 2010, this year’s election was the most dramatic. Dave Muschott, WCHS guidance counselor and head of student leadership, comments on the event, saying: “I have never seen this in 9 years.” Mr. Muschott is referring to the “political race” between Marsalis Brown and Braden Peters versus Madison Mikhail and Beryl Dulo.

The results for the two teams came to a tie and a “run-off” was issued for Friday May 22, during the various 11th grade Worldviews classes. Later that day, the student body found out the much-anticipated results of the election: the role of President went to Marsalis Brown, and Braden Peters will act as his V.P.

For the senior class, the role of Treasurer will go to Gina Bourcouras, and Carrie Chodzin will act as class Secretary.

Even though each class has its own individual class officers, WCHS does have one main Student Council. For the upcoming year, Tim Webb will be Student Body President, with Jared Watson acting as Vice President. Andrew Parrish will be Student Body Secretary, and for the first time ever, rising 11th grader Matt Rickly will act as Treasurer. “We’ve had it where an underclassman and a senior go head to head, but generally the Student Body Council is made up of seniors,” notes Mr. Muschott.

Although there were some that did not win the student vote, they will still be able to be on student council: “Students that don’t win will be class representatives” comments Mr. Muschott.

With a new year approaching, the new Student Council is ready to breathe new life into our school. New opinions and ideas will be brought to the table and an exciting new year is bound to unfold. To get the ball rolling, “There will be a Student Council lunch next Thursday, during exam lunch, catered by Chipotle. Any past Student Council members are welcome to join” exclaims Mr. Muschott.

WCHS Awards Assembly: The Timothy Awards

Every year, Worthington Christian high school holds an awards assembly to recognize seniors and other outstanding students from different grades. The Timothy Awards make up a major part of this assembly, which was held on Thursday May 14, 2009, from 10:30 to 12pm.

To start the assembly, Principal Tom Anglea opened with a word of prayer; then afterward presented the National Honors society. Next, Dr. Buzz Inboden transitioned into the Timothy Awards, whose name is taken from the verse 2 Timothy 2:15: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” Each subject gives an award to specific students (generally seniors) who best represent this verse and who excelled in that specific subject.

Mrs. Rosa Montgomery started the announcing of the Timothy Awards with the award for Foreign Language, giving this award to senior Renae Vagnier. “She brings her love for God everywhere she goes,” exclaimed Mrs. Montgomery.

Tyler Mitchell then received the Timothy Award in English, which was handed out by Miss Peggie Bell. Mrs. Johnson, the 11th grade AP Literature teacher who had Tyler in class, said “He is an excellent student; very passionate, and very articulate: he was a joy to have in class.”

The Business and Technology Award was given to a senior who has great leadership skills, and is very organized; and, as Mrs. Wheat, said, who “lights up a room with his smile.” The Timothy award for Business went to senior Nathan Wicker.

Mr. Heath and Mr. Roads gave the Social Studies Award to senior Brady Beals for “his desire to expand his knowledge of History beyond memorization,” as Mr. Heath observed.

Mrs. Walton presented the Science Timothy Award to a senior girl who has taken all Honors science classes her whole high school career; and who won the World Food prize and was represented at the Global Youth Institute, which is a great honor. This award was given to senior Marisa Smith.

Mrs. Klapheke was next in line to give out the Timothy Award for Music. Morgan Meyers was chosen to receive the award for choir because she is a “musician who combines her music with her love for God” said Mrs. Klapheke, smiling. “She is also a great president for Choir and is loved and respected by her peers.”

The Band Award was given to sophomore Michael Brammer for always contributing to the band and for being a great leader in the band. Senior Andrew Protopapas then received the Timothy Award for Dram. “It was exciting to win this award!” said Andrew. “I had a lot of fun working with Mr. O’ Roark; he brought out my passion for Drama.”

Next, Mrs. Galbraith gave out the Art Timothy Award to senior Christy Watterson. She received this award for being in ceramics all four years of high school and for “combining her love of art with her love for God.”

Miss Johnson and Mr. Kraynak came up next to give out their Physical Education awards to certain freshman in their P.E classes. Miss Johnson gave hers to two girls--Gabby Benalcazar and Moriah Efries--for always having a servant’s heart and for displaying Christ in every aspect. Mr. Kraynak gave his to freshman Collin Davidson.

Following the Physical Education award was the Bible award, which was given to an outstanding student in each grade. The respective awards went to freshman Samantha Dorgan; sophomore Megan Nishizaki; junior Emily Bowersox, and senior Alissa Cutforth. All of these girls received this award for having high academic achievement in each Bible class.

Finally, the Math award was the last of the Timothy Awards. Seniors Alexa Garrison and Sam Knapper received the Timothy Award for math for being hard-working students, and, as Mr. Pifer said, “always, consistently, at the top of their class.” Overall, the Timothy Awards were a success and everyone who received one felt greatly honored.

Senior Chapel and Their Final Goodbye

Worthington Christian High School’s graduating seniors took charge of the last chapel of the school year, and turned it into something of their own. On Thursday May 21st, 2009, the seniors presented numerous videos, led worship, gave advice to the underclassmen, and read a Dr. Seuss book.

“Each year, the students are challenged,” Mr. Burns said, “with doing something that's enjoyable to the entire student body, yet is unique to their class. All the while, it must be a time that is spiritually meaningful.”

Seniors Tyler Morgan and Luke Helmuth created a comical video on attempting to find girlfriends. Afterwards, fifteen senior choir students sang “I’ve Got Love” by Raymond Wise.

For the underclassmen, Morgan Meyers put together a video that was full of advice from teachers and seniors. Next, Emily Bookheimer read the famous Dr. Seuss book Oh, the Places You’ll Go. This book focused on going out into the world by yourself and accomplishing great things.

Brady Beals shared with the audience about what God has been teaching him through his struggles and trials. Afterward, Alissa Cutforth chose to talk about pursuing God as a piece of her testimony.

A video about the senior’s Dominican Republic trip was played during chapel to give freshmen through juniors a taste of what to expect their senior year. This video captured the joy and love that WC’s seniors and the children of the Dominican Republic shared.

As senior chapel came to an end, Josh Howard, Jordan Doherty, Nathan Wicker, and Renae Vagnier led praise and worship. Afterwards, Dr. Buzz prayed a blessing on the graduating class, and chapel was then concluded.

Throughout the years, the seniors have experienced challenges, learned new things about their personal relationship with Christ, and made an infinite amount of memories.

“Mrs. Lia Johnson definitely impacted me the most academically,” Ashley Merino said. “Her AP English 11 course was the most challenging class I've ever taken.” On the other hand, Ashley was impacted the most spiritually by geometry teacher, Mrs. Fischer. “She is always there if you need anything.”

“I have learned that God is always actively moving in our lives,” Stephanie Medlock said. “I need to seek Him out and find out what He wants to do. I've learned that there's nothing else in the world comparable to what He has for me.”

When it comes to difficult classes, the seniors have learned that it’s okay to ask teachers for help outside of school. “Get extra help,” Tyler Morgan said. “Show your teachers that you care about your grade.”

Miss Stephanie Johnson, Mr. Crary, and Mr. Kraynak are some of the coaches that have pushed their teams the hardest and encouraged them to do their best. “Miss Johnson is uplifting and encouraging,” Ashley Merino said. “She knows her stuff really well and she isn’t afraid to correct you in a loving way.”

Many of the seniors were challenged, as a consequence of attending Worthington Christian, to further their walk with Christ and to push themselves beyond the limits they had set in school. Seniors, “take sin seriously,” Dr. Burns said. “Remember that Jesus is all you need and you cannot wander from God’s word or God’s people without eventually wandering away from God.”

The seniors will be graduated from high school on May 31st, 2009, and have great plans for their lives.

WCHS Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities are important because they allow you to enjoy the sports you love and also allow you to stay in shape for school sports.

There are many other activities that you can do outside of school that can be enjoyable and fulfilling; and that don’t necessarily require you to be amazing in sports.

Luke Seiffert is a current senior at Worthington Christian High School whose primary extracurricular activity is fishing. He told me he fishes at Alum Creek. He also said he fishes at Alum Creek for Musky, Saugeye and Crappy.

Fishing is a sport that gives you time to relax, and to enjoy time spent with yourself, as well as with friends and family.

Hope Kusan and Caitlin Kusan are sophomores at WCHS who play volleyball in school as well as recreational volleyball. “Caitlin’s position is middle hitter,” Hope said, “and my position is libero.”

Nathan Dawdy, a junior at WCHS, enjoys spending time paintballing. “It is a really fun sport,” Nathan says: “I really enjoy the scenario games because it’s generally small team-based and takes quick, thought-out action.”

Blake Miller, a junior at WCHS, plays soccer for Crew Juniors--a club soccer organization. Blake told me he “enjoys playing soccer for his club team; and it’s going great.” I love playing basketball and soccer in my free time because I get to do things that keep me in shape. Playing basketball with my friends and family helps me get in shape for soccer.

Fishing allows me just to forget about everything and enjoy peace and fun spent with my family and friends. The quiet activity also allows me to enjoy the thrill of bringing up a big fish.

Sara Katula likes to be involved with horse riding; she said that she “does shows on the weekend with her family.” She also said she likes horseback riding because she “has been doing it since she was eight,” and although it takes up a lot of time, she “loves animals.”

WCHS has a lot of students doing extracurricular activities; these activities are beneficial because they allow you to express yourself even outside of school. Such activities give you a chance to try new things, as well allowing you opportunities to enhance your talents and abilities.

Worthington Christian Wrestling Team: A Year in Review

The wrestling team of Worthington Christian High School this year was a new group with a new coach: Ross Luckett, a Worthington Christian Alum and graduate of 2001. This year’s team had only two returning wrestlers: Harry Duffey, a junior; and David Feusse, a sophomore.

This year’s team included four newcomers also: Grant Dingess, Nathan Deskins, Caleb Duffey and Daniel Bauslaugh. There were also four new stat girls, who made encouraging locker signs; and encouraged the boys through prayers, fun jokes and pranks.

The lone returning stat girl was junior Alex Myer, who was joined by four new girls: Emily Berestecky, Rachel Mugge, Sarah Whitt, and Caroline Simms, all of whom are freshmen.

Although there were few fans at the events, the team put in long hours that took up most of their Saturdays in December, and all of them in January and February. “There was a great spirit of courage ad unity despite few wins, because the newcomers were just learning the sport,” Mrs. Fischer explained.

Mrs. Fischer continued to say “There was one great highlight, and that was when Harry Duffey finished 2nd in sectionals and went on to districts to compete on the district level.”

“This is an accomplishment which very few wrestlers accomplish during all their wrestling years,” Mrs. Fischer went on to say. The wrestling team was very proud of Harry Duffey’s accomplishment.

David Feusse and Nathan Deskins shared their thoughts on the season: they were really encouraged even despite the tough season and can not wait for next year.

The ongoing preparation of the wrestling team included weight lifting as well as watching their body fat, because the wrestlers had to go through a body weight evaluation that would place each wrestler in his right weight class.

Parents of the stat girls and wrestlers revealed their generosity and connection to the school by donating scrapbook-makers’ baskets for the Education of Eternity auction so that other teenagers can attend Worthington Christian Schools.

The 2008-2009 wrestling season was a learning experience, full of improvement for the boys as the season progressed. The 2009-2010 season is coming, and the students look for a major improvement with more experience.

The 2009-2010 team will have more experience and leadership: so expect the students to improve tremendously.

Operation Barnabas and Asia's Hope

Worthington Christian High School hopes to instill a heart for missions in all of its students. Two opportunities WCHS students have to serve their community over the summer are Operation Barnabas and Asia’s Hope.

Operation Barnabas is open to all upcoming juniors and seniors. It is a ministry
opportunity that allows students to serve the community while deepening their relationship with Christ. They will be learning how to share their faith and partaking in various ministry opportunities.

Operation Barnabas will begin in Powell, Ohio on June 12th and end in July. The groups will travel to various places in Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, and other Midwestern and Eastern States.

Current students that will be involved in Operation Barnabas this summer are Gina Boucouras, Luke Condon, Luke Helmuth, Seth Montgomery, Lexie Secrest, Claire Scott, and Carolyn Simmons.

Luke Condon, a junior involved in Operation Barnabas, exclaims, “I’m really excited to be a part of an opportunity like this. I can’t wait to go!”

Asia’s Hope is an organization that focuses upon taking care of families, particularly
children, in Cambodia and Thailand. These places are still suffering from a civil war that took
place in the 80's.

Many people are killed from the land mines that are still in Cambodia and Thailand,
leaving many children without a family. Other major problems are evident in Cambodia and
Thailand as well, especially human trafficking and prostitution.

Mrs. Jess Heath adds that “Asia's Hope seeks to provide an alternative place where young girls can find safety, security, and the love of Christ.”

The group from Worthington Christian will leave June 11th. This group includes Elizabeth Early, Beth Julca, Sarah Morford, Cassie Struble, Audi Anderson, and Leah Schroepfer; as well as Renae Vagnier, and Mr. and Mrs. Heath, who will be staying for six weeks. Everyone else will be staying for two.

“I’m just ready to get out of here so I can experience something new and fully be exposed to the heart of God” explains Cassie Struble.

The group will be helping the orphanages and serving the community while playing with the children and teaching them English. “Renae Vagnier is working with the Justice Trade Mission to teach women how to make and sell jewelry (as a form of income)” adds Mrs. Heath.

Each of the students in these groups will be using his summer to serve God and others. We should all be inspired by their dedication and service. Our thoughts and prayers will be with them all as they travel and spread the Good News of the Gospel.

Worthington Christian Language Field Trips

Students involved in the Spanish and French programs at WCHS have been embarking on field trips to explore the traditions of these respective languages. Both groups of WC students have indulged in the delicacies and traditions of other cultures.

On the field trips, students had the opportunity to interact with native speakers without the help of a teacher, which was useful in allowing the French or Spanish students to use the language genuinely on their own.

Spanish 1 and 2 students travelled to Senior Antonio’s or El Paso, local restaurants, while Spanish 3 and 5 went on an art field trip to Cincinnati. A group of French students went to a student’s home to experience the making of traditional French desserts known as crepes.

The Spanish 1 and 2 classes divided and went to restaurants on Tuesday the 21st and Thursday the 23rd of April. The students had to order their meals and communicate with the waiters completely in Spanish. Megan Buskirk, a current sophomore said, “It was an interesting experience; it was cool to hear people use their Spanish skills.” Many students agreed with Megan’s thoughts.

“It was weird being in a restaurant where you had to speak only Spanish, but the food was good,” stated junior Courtney Dickinson. I was able to take part in the field trip as well, and the group of students that I sat with can attest to the fact that the food was extremely good.

Profe Montgomery’s Spanish 3 and 5 classes ate at El Paso, a local restaurant, before heading out to the Cincinnati Art Museum. Once at the Museum, students were able to view a Surrealist art exhibit with works from many Hispanic artists on display.

The students had mixed feelings concerning the enjoyment of the trip. Danny Arsenault, a sophomore at WCHS, stated that “I found it surreal and distorted” He went on to explain that he felt this way because the piece that he was referring to was a toilet.
However, Blake Miller, a junior, thought that the exhibit was very interesting, noting that “it was a new outlook on what the world goes through when tragedy happens.” He went on to explain that Surrealism came about in part due to the great loss of life and the general destructiveness of WWI.

The French students went to make crepes at Alex Johnson’s house. Nikki Kuisel, a junior, said, “There were tons of fresh fruit and toppings...the girls made theirs perfectly, but the boys were a little messy!”

Nikki went on to say that the guys on the field trip decided to pour half a bag of chocolate chips and lots of chocolate syrup onto the crepes! In the end, she stated that the event was a huge success and had a very “French feel” to it, mainly due to all of the authentic food.

One of the French 2 classes went to the French restaurant “La Chatelaine,” owned by a French family in the area. “They all enjoyed trying authentic French food with the ambiance of a French country inn,” stated Mrs. Kettering; “some ordered delicious patisseries, others French soupe à l’oignon with a tasty salade or sandwich.”

Mrs. Kettering went on to say that the whole group had a great experience enjoying the French culture in such an authentic environment as La Chatelaine. All in all, this French field trip was a huge success.

The Worthington Christian language program has given its students many opportunities to dive into the culture, and to learn far more than can be taught within the confines of the common classroom.

The Cotton Patch Gospel: WCHS’ Spring Musical - Directed by David O’Roark

Worthington Christian High School’s spring musical, directed by David O’Roark, was performed on May 7th and 8th at 7 PM, and May 9th at 2:30 PM and 7 PM. The life of Christ was retold in a southern style, portraying Jesus, His family, and His friends as modern-day Americans.

“I love the fresh take it gives,” Mr. O’Roark said, “on a story that most of us have heard a hundred times or more.” He felt as if he had to do everything as excellently as possible in order to bring justice to Christ’s earthly ministry.

Mr. O’Roark was all for telling the life of Christ in a new creative way, but, as a Christian, “I don't want anyone mistreating the story of Christ,” he said. “This show tries to help us understand Jesus’ message from a place where we all can relate.”

Actress and junior Erin Szabo said that at first, she was vocal about not wanting to go through with the play, before practices even began. However, “after going through it, I realized it was really great,” Erin said. “I’ll admit it: I was wrong.”

“The amount of passion displayed amongst the cast was astounding,” senior Gabe Botkin commented. “From seniors to freshmen, we were all able to connect through the love we had for this show.”

“They really stepped up to the challenge,” Mr. O’Roark said about the actors and actresses in the play. The cast started rehearsals in early March, giving them a little over two months to put the musical together.

The cast consisted of nineteen students, and almost half of them were Worthington Christian’s current graduating seniors. Most of the cast members commented that they were very fond of having such a small group with whom to work.

“If I could have picked nineteen people,” senior Gwen Dreyer said about the cast, “I would’ve picked those nineteen.”

“Dave is brilliant,” senior Andrew Protopapas said about their director. “It was an amazing experience and a pleasure working with everyone.”

Sophomore Annie Barlow liked that the whole cast was on the stage at the same time for the majority of the play. Another sophomore, Shelby Hamrick, said, “It was pretty emotional after the last show because we all had become so close as a cast.”

The Cotton Patch Gospel is a hilarious play with a heart warming end. It’s a helpful reminder that Jesus was one-hundred percent man as well as one-hundred percent God. “The important stuff is loud and clear,” Mr. O’Roark said. “Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth, walked with men, was killed, and He rose again. Those are the parts of the story that never get old.”

2009 Middle School Trips

Every year, students at the Middle School look forward to the month of May for two reasons. One, it’s only 31 days till summer; and two, the infamous middle school trips take place. Each grade gets its own special trip where, for 3 days, education and fun mix together. 6th grade travels down to Huntsville, Alabama, home of Space Camp; 7th grade goes to Lake Erie where they visit Put-in-Bay, Great Wolf Lodge, the Great Lakes Science Museum in Cleveland, and the Mather Ship Museum. Finally, 8th grade travels to our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

The trip to Space Camp is one of the most anticipated trips of the year. There, students get a first-hand look at what it’s like to go into space and learn its techniques. Also, students got time to do what becomes a highlight of the trip: swimming! Instead of using the pool at the hotel where the students stay, coordinator and WCMS social studies and science teacher Ruth Beschta explains that “this year we rented an Olympic-size swimming pool.”

One of the most memorable parts of the trip is the Space Shot, a ride that lifts you 140 ft up in the air in 2.5 seconds; and for 2-3 seconds students are able to experience what it feels like to be weightless. “By the end of the trip, everyone went on the ride” notes Mrs. Beschta.

Though Space Camp is filled with many wonderful and valuable memories, Mrs. Beschta mentions what she believes is the most valuable part: “All the kids bonding on the trip. They spend a lot of time on the bus and it’s a good experience for them.”
Both the 7th and 8th grade trips are fairly new to the agenda: both trips started only 5 years ago. 7th grade travels to Lake Erie where they learn about water life. They also get to travel to Cleveland where they visit The Great Lakes Science Museum and Mather Ship Museum.

WCMS principle Dick Dray, who has gone on the trip every year, comments on his experience on the trip: “Seeing kids who have never gone on the waterfront or have never experienced Cleveland get to do those things was great. At the Science Museum, they did an extra demonstration for us; it was on electricity and some of the teachers participated in it.”

The final trip middle school students get to attend is the journey to Washington, D.C. There, students get a taste of the sights and experiences of the Capital. WCMS history teacher Mike O’Neil comments on his experience: “It’s a highlight trip, but we’ve been able to add extra sites to our list like the Holocaust Museum.”

The trip to Washington this year was full of memorable moments. “This year, on the steps of the Capital Building, we met Pat Tiberi and got to pray with him,” notes Mr. O’Neil; “I was also able to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider in honor of my father.”
When asked about the lasting impression that the trip has had on his students, Mr. O’Neil says “I hope they get to see how fortunate they are to get to go to the capital and allowed to see all the historical sights. Some countries don’t allow that and sometimes we can take things like this for granted.”

ACT Boot Camp

The summer is quickly approaching, and WCHS will soon be hosting the second annual ACT Boot Camp, whose purpose is to prepare W.C. students for the college entrance exam.

The ACT Boot camp guides students into the world of test taking. The camp is an intensive one-week workshop that teaches students strategies for mastering each section of the ACT.


This year’s camp will take place from August the 3rd -7th in the Worthington Christian High School gym, and is broken into two sessions, the first being from 9am-12pm, and the second lasting from 1pm-4pm. There is also a June 8-11 camp for all incoming seniors. The Boot camp’s central Bible verse is taken from Proverbs 11:14, which says “Where there is no guidance, people fall, but in the abundance of counselors there is victory!”

This year’s camp brings back instructor Brian Stewart, who is a teacher from Dublin Jerome High School. Prior to this experience, Mr. Stewart has taught successful camps at the Dublin and Granville recreational centers.

Mr. Stewart is a highly qualified instructor who accomplished a score in the 99th percentile on his ACT and SAT exams in high school. Mr. Muschott said, “Right now, W.C. averages a 24 on the ACT; my goal is that in two years the score will be 26.”

Mr. Muschott went on to say “The camp will teach us techniques of reading and writing and better test-taking; overall, we will learn to ask: how can I take this test better?”

“The camp has opened doors for more colleges to give our students a look, or possibly a scholarship,” Mr. Muschott explained. In the 2008 camp, 99% of the attendees either equaled their score or improved their score by two, three, four, or five points.

The ACT is a four-part test with 45 minutes given per section: you have as many chances as you need to take the test. “During the boot camp we do practice tests; I am very excited for this camp and we would love for the Worthington Christian students to sign up,” Mr. Muschott emphasizes.

The camp is currently open to all Worthington Christian High School students. However, due to a low amount of participants for the August camp, Grace Brethren Church members may also be allowed to attend.

The camp sessions will be broken down to 12-15 students per session. Sign ups are limited, so please act fast, because spots are reserved on a first-come first-served basis.

Come and learn how to take the test better; and increase your ACT test score by attending this one-week camp!

Mrs. Heisey’s AP Art Students

At Worthington Christian High School, Mrs. Heisey is teaching her five AP art students to show that, through their artwork, “passion persuades.” On Friday, May 9th, the AP art students submitted their finest drawings and paintings digitally online to college boards. Receiving artwork digitally is a new way for colleges to scope out talented high school art students.

When each student finishes submitting his artwork, he sends out twenty-four items to college boards. The process of creating the artwork is time-consuming, but it will certainly pay off in the end when students are accepted to the college of their choice.

Five of the twenty-four items need to be originals and every piece needs to be different. Most of the artwork the students submit has been created this school year. However, some of the students are uploading artwork that was created during their sophomore year.

Senior Christy Watterson is one of the few AP art students in Worthington Christian’s history to have received a five, the highest rating. She accomplished this last year as a junior. For a high school student, “a three is an average score,” Christy said.

Christy will be attending Cleveland Institute of Art because of their excellent illustration program as well as their biomedical program.

“A purpose in life means you have a purpose in art,” Mrs. Heisey said. “There is a ton of ability in Worthington Christian.” However, she feels as if her students are somewhat handicapped if they don’t start taking art classes as early as possible.

Mrs. Heisey believes that students should finish Beginning Drawing and Painting as underclassmen and take their AP art classes as upperclassmen.

"Mrs. Heisey made me expand my boundaries of drawing a sketchier picture," senior AP art student Danielle Phelps said. "This was a little difficult for me because I am a very detailed person and I draw really tight."

For the studio art portfolios, “there isn’t a written test like in chemistry,” Mrs. Heisey said. Seniors Philip Mains, Danielle Phelps, and Bailey Walters submitted their artwork online on May 9th.

The current AP art students have worked diligently on their art and seem to be anxious to find out the scores they’ll be given.

WCHS Spring Choir/Band Concert 2009

On May 19, 2009, in the high school auditorium, WCHS’s much anticipated choir/band concert began at 8:00 pm. There, attendees were serenaded by the choir and band’s best musical numbers.

The choir and band perform two major concerts a year: one in the winter that contains a majority of holiday songs; and one in the spring that has more up-beat and lively songs.

This year, the choir sang songs from State Contest and from the class the choir took with Dr. Raymond Wise. Mrs. Rugg-Klapheke, choir director, commented on the experience: “He taught us two new songs and we will be singing those pieces at our concert.”

Soloists included seniors Morgan Meyers, Gwen Dreyer, Ashley Merino and Andrew Protopapas; along with sophomores Rachel Safer and Ali Butterworth.

The Spring Choir/Band concert can be described as “a dedication to the seniors and a fun, up-beat performance that everyone will enjoy,” notes Sara Katula, current junior. Sara has performed with the choir since freshman year and notes that “the spring concert is my favorite performance we do the whole year!”

The Band also performed and has definitely grown since previous years. “We are 25 members strong,” says band director Karen Leigh, who joined the WCHS staff in 2007; at that time, only 3 students had signed up for band. As she prepared for the concert, Miss Leigh noted that “the audience will hear us perform challenging fanfares, Celtic ballads, and well-loved songs from The Phantom of the Opera.”

Much like the choir, the band also has a new addition to the music department: the Jazz Band, which includes freshman Chris Bradley; sophomores Michael Brammer and David Feusse; juniors Zach Hartzell, R.J. Murray, Chris Rivers, Tim Webb, and A.J. Whitt. The Jazz Band also had help from WCHS librarian Mr. Stoll who played the drums. “This is the debut performance of our outstanding Jazz Band,” noted Miss Leigh: “The band will be performing ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ and will bring a new level of talent to our show.”

Junior Tim Webb commented on what he looked forward to at the concert, saying: “I’m looking forward to showing how hard the band has been working and how good we’ve gotten.”
Mr. Stoll commented on his experience, saying “It was a pleasure and honor playing with these guys; they’re really talented!”

Show choir also performed: this was their first Spring Concert. We first experienced the Show Choir at this year’s Winter Concert; and they just recently preformed at this year’s Educating for Eternity Silent Auction.

Chorale, Varsity Ensemble, Scarlet Ensemble, and Gold Ensemble also performed.

The choir closed the show with a “reunion,” so to speak, when they invited past choir alumni up to the stage to participate in the final song, ‘The Lord Bless You and Keep You,’ which they sing every year.

“The Lord Bless You and Keep You” is also the song that the seniors will sing at their graduation: “[Their graduation performance] will be their last performance here at WCHS” notes Mrs. Rugg-Klapheke.

The Spring Choir/Band concert is always a memorable way to end the school year, so Miss Leigh certainly lived up to her prediction: “Come and enjoy a great evening of music and entertainment!”

Worthington Christian High School's Gala

The Worthington Christian High School Gala was held at the Wedgewood Country Club in Powell on May 2nd, from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The event gave students an opportunity to dress up and spend time with their friends.

At 6:00 pm, a parent reception was held at Wedgewood to give parents and students an opportunity to take pictures together.

Gala was an event open only to juniors and seniors; however, juniors and seniors were allowed to take an underclassman if they wished to do so.

The cost of Gala was $40, which included unlimited appetizers, dinner, desserts, and coffee, as well as entertainment provided by Mr. Dave O’Roark, the drama teacher at WCHS.

The girls who planned to attend Gala had to get their dress checked by Mrs. Lisa Raikes to ensure that it was appropriate. “I liked it because you would know if someone else had your dress, and it was quick and easy,” Sara Katula, a junior attending the event, said in reference to the dress check.

Many students were excited for Gala, especially the juniors who had never gone before. “I think it will be a very fun time, and I think Dave and Friends will be pretty sweet!” Nathan Dawdy exclaimed as he anticipated the event.

The seniors were excited as well, since this was their last Gala and marked the beginning of the end of their final year. “I am sad that this was my last Gala, because I will miss spending time with my friends,” mentions Shane Fultz, a senior at Worthington Christian.

The night started with numerous pictures being taken by parents and students; then, group pictures were taken of the senior and junior classes.

After the pictures were done, the buffet was open, followed by entertainment provided by Mr. O’Roark and WCHS Alumni. “It was better than I expected,” remarks Charlie Held; “The food was good, too.”

Gwen Dreyer was the Gala Queen and Zach Theiss was the Gala King, although, ironically, he was not present at the event.

The overall feedback from the students that attended Gala was positive. “I thought the food was spectacular and I thought the entertainment was really funny, especially when Tyler Joseph sang a parody of ‘Fall for You,’” adds Erin Szabo; “The whole event seemed well thought-out, and I think all that went really enjoyed themselves!”

We Care Teams

This year, Worthington Christian has started a new opportunity called We Care for students to be more involved in helping the community. We Care consists of organized groups led by students that have chosen a place of interest in order to go out once a month and make an impact.

There are about eleven WE CARE teams that all go out on different days of the month. Senior Marybeth Betulius is the leader of the team that goes to the School for the Blind every second Tuesday of the month. This team consists of juniors Courtney Dickinson, Ally Krietemeyer, Caitlin Malone, Cassie Struble, A.J Whitt, and freshman Anna Shaw.

At the School for the Blind, the team, during the students’ lunch, has a Bible study with the students, and afterward they go into one of their classes and help the kids with their motor skills by playing board games, and teaching them how to do everyday things. One of their goals for this year is to teach the girls how to apply make-up and to teach the boys how to shave. Junior Ally Krietemeyer said “This We Care team has been a great experience! All of the kids are a blast to be with.”

The School for the Blind consists of all ages, and there could be any age in any grade. Older students are still in elementary school because of their disabilities. “All the kids are really nice!” said Courtney Dickinson. “After everything that has happened to them, they are still happy and it doesn’t seem to affect them.”

Another We Care team, led by junior Madison Mikhail, visits Highland Elementary in Columbus every first Tuesday of the month. The members of this group are juniors Abby Camp and Jazmine Keels; sophomores Rachel Safer, Kelly Zimmerman, and freshman Alex Mikhail. “I have enjoyed We Care and wish I could go see the kids more than once a month!” said Jazmine Keels, smiling.

During their time at Highland, the girls tutor the younger kids, especially the ESL (English as a Second Language) students. A lot of the kids can not speak English very well, and there are not enough teachers for each child to get individual time with them. “The kids are adorable! I absolutely love helping them learn to read and write,” said Claire Dingess, who subs for the We Care team occasionally.

Not only do students interact with kids, but with older people as well. Senior Angie Wigton leads a We Care team that impacts the community through art. This group goes every first Tuesday of the month, and from about ten to eleven thirty they travel to nursing homes and do art with the residents.

“I love to go and do what I enjoy doing, which is art with the residents,” exclaimed leader Angie Wigton. Kaitlyn Moss and Nena LaMonte hope to keep this team going when the seniors graduate; and they have many plans for next year.

There are We Care teams that go to Brookhaven, Beechcroft, MOPs, and many other places as well, trying to share the Word of Christ.

Worthington Christian plans to keep We Care going next year as a result of all of the great experiences that have occurred this year. Sophomore LC Warren said “I plan to do We Care next year. It looks like a great experience to learn how to help my community.” WC hopes for more teams to be created next year so that additional students can--and hopefully will--participate.

Making Smart Buying Decisions after High School: Lessons Gleaned from Personal Finance

Having sound judgment is crucial to making great buying decisions. Gaining knowledge about buying homes or apartments, and using credit cards is significant for seniors as they prepare to be graduated from high school.

In Personal Finance class, we learned that buying a house can either be good or bad; it depends on the circumstances.

Buying a house can be a good investment if you can afford it and if you want to have the pride of ownership. According to Mrs. Wheat, “buying a home allows you to have the freedom to renovate or make changes.”

Mrs. Wheat also acknowledged that “buying a home can be discouraging because you have to pay for maintenance and repairs, as well as mortgage and property taxes.” Buying a home can hurt you financially if you do not plan ahead and save money.

If you are not ready to be a home owner but you are saving, renting an apartment would be the best thing; it gives you time to save up for a home.

The negative side of getting an apartment is that it can be very small and you can be irritated by the noise from the other tenants.

Credit cards are a big risk for students graduating high school because generally you will spend more than you can afford, which can lead to debt.

Worthington Christian senior Charlie Held told me that he is “not going to get a credit card because it’s a trap by bankers to get you to spend money.”

JJ Edelinski, a senior at Worthington Christian, said that he will “wait on getting a credit card,” but eventually will get one. He then said that he is going to stay at home to save up in order eventually to get a place of his own.

According to collegecreditcard.com, “seventy-eight percent of college kids have a credit card, and at least thirty-two percent of college kids have four credit cards.”

Jamie Taylor, a Worthington Christian senior, said that she is “going to get a credit card,” and she will “move into an apartment with roommates so that the cost of the apartment will be divided evenly among [her] roommates.”

Seniors have to be very wise about how they spend their money because most students accumulate debts from student loans. Thus, credit card debt would be an unwanted and unnecessary additional burden.

WCHS students, within Mrs. Wheat’s Personal Finance class, learn that being careful is crucial, as far as credit cards and home ownership is concerned; they realize that making smart decisions is very important in life after high school.

Junior Girl Outreach of 2009

Transitioning to high school, for Worthington Christian’s current eighth grade girls, can be a huge step in their lives and in their walk with Christ. To make this transition easier, junior girls from the class of 2010 came together to plan a night of fun and fellowship to reach out to these eighth grade girls. The outreach occurred on Friday, May 1st from 3:30 to 11:30 P.M.

For the preceding weeks, the junior girls planned activities such as games, food, worship, and fellowship. There were about eleven or twelve girls that were in charge of planning different activities, but we encouraged all junior girls to help and to be a part of this night.

Mrs. Fischer and Miss Johnson were the two teacher chaperones for this event. “This event gives me a chance to know the girls before having them in class,” said Miss Johnson.

Emily Fuesse joined the group as the senior advisor in order to help guide the juniors in their process of reaching out to the eighth-grade girls.

On Monday, April 20th, ten junior girls drove over to the middle school with Mrs. Fischer and Mrs. Gibson. At the middle school, the junior girls brought cupcakes and invitations made by Courtney Dickinson and Cassie Struble to hand out to all the girls. The junior girls also ate lunch with the 8th grade girls to get to know them better, and to encourage them to attend the outreach night.

During lunch at the middle school, many of the eighth grade girls seemed nervous for high school. “I am pretty nervous for high school; crossing the street seems scary,” confessed a table of laughing girls. Eighth grader Aubri Fultz said, “After the junior girls visited, I am definitely signing up for May 1st and everyone else I know is, too!” Visiting the middle school was a great success; the juniors and eighth graders all had fun meeting each other.

Unfortunately, not all of the junior girls could come and eat lunch with the middle school girls. As the event approached, junior Jazmine Keels said “I’m really excited to meet all the girls! I hope they all can make it on May 1st.”

On the night of May 1st, there were many activities for the girls to do. Madison Mikhail was in charge of leading worship, while Claire Dingess and Ally Krietemeyer were in charge of planning and running the games. “I am excited to be able to plan the games! Ally and I have lots of ideas,” said Claire Dingess.

Nicole Kuisel and I shared our testimonies that night, which was a first for both of us. “Mrs. Fischer encouraged me to give my testimony because she thinks it will emotionally move the eighth grade girls in a positive way,” said Nicole. After the girls heard my testimony, and then Nicole’s, there was not a dry eye in the room. Many of the girls came up to me afterward and told me how my testimony had a major impact on them. It was such an eye-opening experience for all of us.

The junior girls were also divided into small groups consisting of three girls. These groups were paired with a couple of eighth grade girls to help them feel more comfortable and to get to know everyone individually.

Any junior or eighth grade girl was invited for this rewarding experience. Teachers Miss Johnson and Mrs. Fischer encouraged everyone to be a part of the event, stating “This is a great opportunity for the upcoming freshmen to get a glimpse of a little bit of high school life.”

The Outreach night was a major success and it was a great experience for the 8th grade girls as well as the junior girls. “After worship and hearing the testimonies, I now know my walk with God must be stronger,” said 8th grader Tolu Tolani. “I thought it was a lot of fun; more than I expected,” exclaims Cassie Struble. “I think we should get everybody together again this summer!”

Mrs. Galbraith’s Bookmaking Class

Mrs. Galbraith, Worthington Christian High School art teacher, is instructing her bookmaking students to put poems, which Mrs. Johnson’s junior English students wrote, into handmade books.

“Books are meant to have something in them,” Mrs. Galbraith said. “God put His Word into a book.” Mrs. Galbraith’s students have made one book full of colored paper and another book full of poems or scripture verses.

After a semester focused on poetry, Mrs. Johnson’s junior English class was required to create two poems. “One of the poems had to be metered and rhymed,” Mrs. Johnson said. “The students had their own choice as far as the second poem was concerned.”

Junior Sara Katula was in Hilton Head, South Carolina when she wrote one of her poems. “I enjoyed writing the poem,” Sara said. “I was inspired by my surroundings.”

Mrs. Galbraith’s eighteen bookmaking students have been working on creating the paper that goes into their books; a cover; and a Japanese stab binding for their new creations. Japanese stab binding looks the same on both sides of the book’s cover. After these steps, the students must choose a topic to write about in their books.

“Some students want to use their books as journals and only included one poem,” said Mrs. Galbraith. However, a handful of students decided to fill their books, using all sixteen pages, with Psalms, Proverbs, or poems written by Mrs. Johnson’s English class.

“In the Bible, the word ‘book’ is mentioned twenty times,” Mrs. Galbraith said. “I have books everywhere in my house. I love them.”

Stick-bound binding is yet another way students keep pages of their books from falling out. “It’s the same thing as Japanese stab binding,” Mrs. Galbraith said, “but a stick is included.”

When creating a book, there are several key steps. First, either a hard or soft book cover is needed. The cover will also need to be wrapped in some type of material. Secondly, the student must create pages to fill the book. Thirdly, a book needs several “signatures,” or sections of pages.

Nature, summer, music, past memories, and animals are just a few topics that the junior English students chose to write about. “The poems are very interesting,” Mrs. Galbraith said.

However, some of the students decided to write their poems about noteworthy artwork, such as Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring.

“The students were quite imaginative,” Mrs. Johnson said about her English students’ poems. “There was a lot of variety in their poems. I was impressed by their efforts.”

About three weeks into the process, Mrs. Galbraith’s bookmaking students have added in the poems or Bible verses of their choice, and are now finished with their books.