Summer 2015
Vigorously Academic · Beautifully Diverse · Thoroughly Christian
Rehoboth says, “Farewell” to Superintendent The Board of Trustees of the Christian Reformed Church appointed Rehoboth Superintendent Carol Bremer-Bennett as the new director of World Renew-U.S.
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he Board of Trustees of the Christian Reformed Church appointed Rehoboth Superintendent Carol BremerBennett as the new director of World Renew-U.S. Carol’s appointment will now go to Synod 2015 for ratification this summer. Carol will be leaving Rehoboth Christian School after 24 years of faithful and dedicated service. Carol came to Rehoboth in 1991 after graduating from Calvin College. At the time she says she was running away from God but it turns out she was running right into His arms. After wrestling with questions and doubts regarding her identity as a Navajo woman, Rehoboth became a safe place for her to discover herself as a child of God. Carol started work at Rehoboth as a volunteer but was quickly shifted into a paid position as a typing teacher, even though she did not know how to type herself. Always willing to learn and take on new challenges, she has since gone on to hold eight other positions at Rehoboth. Her intentional support, faithful prayers, and big dreams for this mission have been vital to running the Alumni Association, teaching middle school Social Studies, leading teachers as a head teacher and principal, and in 2010 becoming the Superintendent of the school.
The legacy that Carol Bremer-Bennett has left at Rehoboth can most easily be seen in the development of the Rehoboth Christian Middle School. When she first arrived at Rehoboth, the Rehoboth Christian Junior High School was a small wing of the high school building, extremely limited in space and resources. She and others at the time had a strong vision for what this new school and program might look like. She worked tirelessly and prayed fervently to see it open its’ doors in 2004. Today, the middle school has its highest
enrollment to date with growing waiting lists each year. For the staff at Rehoboth, Carol’s absence will leave a hole not easily filled. Many staff members have commented on how there is no one they would rather have in their corner. Whether it was meeting with parents, giving teaching advice, or working to secure grant money, Rehoboth staff members have always been able to count on Carol going above and beyond the call of duty to help Rehoboth thrive. She takes deep, personal interest in the lives of those she loves. Her heart is big and there is always more room available to care for more people. Rehoboth has been blessed to have Carol more than half of her life and 100% of her professional career. We are thankful for how she has blessed many with her joyful spirit, attentiveness to detail, and compassionate leadership.
Thank you, Carol, for your 24 years of faithful service to Rehoboth Christian School
We are confident that God will use her and her availability to advocate for the poor, show compassion, alleviate poverty, respond to natural disaster, speak against social injustice and serve those in need of Jesus in her new role with World Renew.
In Joyful Service
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his is going to be my last Superintendent’s Corner. I have recently been offered and have accepted the position of Co-Director of World Renew, which means a big change and a move to Grand Rapids, MI. I guess that I could spend time reflecting on the past -- when I do, I realize how much I have grown up at RCS. I came here fresh out of college in 1991 -- mistaken for a new student my first day in the lunch line. Boy, that was a long time ago! I think of starting the Young Life chapter and then Eisodos, the first summer camp of Rehoboth. I think of being part of the new middle school concept and advocating for the 7th & 8th graders to have an educational program that fit them “Rehoboth’s just right. And, of course, I tear up thinking of the people loved and lost. Joy and future is bright; sorrow are closely connected throughout I am honored our lives in the Rehoboth family.
to have been a part of getting us to this point
But I’d much rather think about the future. Rehoboth is growing and has the highest enrollment ever -- and we are going for even stronger numbers come August. We have expanded into PreK and hope to add a program for 3 year olds next year. We have new facilities and plans to replace the high school. We have title to our own land -- with no debt and no title restrictions. By selling most of the houses, we have reduced the number of buildings that the school has to maintain, allowing us to be in a stronger financial position. Due to annexation into the City of Gallup, we will no longer have to maintain our own well, streets, electricity, etc. A few weeks ago, a dream of mine came true -- a City of Gallup street sweeper drove through campus and cleaned our streets for us! I may have grown up during my 24 years at RCS, but Rehoboth has grown up as well. Rehoboth is a full-fledged adult; no longer owned or run by others, but controlled by the parents through a local board. Rehoboth can stand up tall and be proud. Rehoboth can look into a future full of hope and opportunity. It is the dawn of a second century of this ministry, and we
Carol Bremer-Bennett with her family at graduation are still firmly rooted in our mission to reach Native people with the gospel. We can rejoice in the lives transformed for Christ. Even in its strength, Rehoboth will continue to need your support. Tuition is going to go up next year so that the budget can be met, but the amount of fundraising done by our team will also increase. Tuition dollars only pay for about half of the total annual budget of Rehoboth - the rest is given by you, faithful donors across the nation. Please know that when we think of you, we rejoice for how God uses you to change so many lives here. Rehoboth’s future is bright; I am honored to have been a part of getting us to this point and humbled by the great outpouring of kind words directed towards me since the announcement of my resignation. In Christ’s Joyful Service,
Carol Bremer-Bennett, Superintendent
Recognizing Years of Service
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he success of Rehoboth Christian School lies in the commitment of its staff; their complete dedication to God and His kingdom is what fuels our mission. Pete Goudzwaard came
to Rehoboth in 1980 to be our campus engineer, the title that he still holds today. Pete’s task is to care for the infrastructure of campus – to keep things running smoothly. Pete has taken care of crisis after crisis – whether it is water mains that break or boilers that fail to heat. Pete is always a phone call away and races over to help. His preventative care and constant rounds done through campus are his real gift to Rehoboth. We cannot even know how many systems have kept running smoothly for years because Pete has been quietly giving them the attention that they need. Thank you, Pete for your loving service to Rehoboth. 2
Leanne Gillson came
to serve, love, and nurture the children of Rehoboth – and she hasn’t stopped or even slowed down for 35 years. For Leanne, every moment is a teaching moment, every situation is a learning opportunity. Leanne embodies the fruit of the spirit. She shows love to every child. She has a peace and calm that reigns in her classroom. She is patient with each shoe that needs tying. She radiates kindness and goodness throughout the day. She is faithful – in her devotional life, in her physical health and caring for herself. And she is gentle and has self-control – not only with the children, but also with parents and her peers. All are blessed by her insights and knowledge.
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The Wheels on the Bus By: Dr. Paul Bremer, Rehoboth Volunteer
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arly this year Rehoboth received a gift in response to a “wish list” request in one of its newsletters. Intermountain
Christian School in Salt Lake City Utah raised enough money to send $2,400 to
help Rehoboth purchase new tires for one of its buses. The students at the school in Utah presented their gift and used Skype to sing: “The wheels on the bus go Round and round Round and round Round and round The wheels on the bus go Round and round All day long.” People at Rehoboth said “these kids worked hard to meet the goal and they brought tears to our eyes as we were humbled by their generous gift.” Rehoboth has an expansive busing system, and the gift was greatly appreciated. School buses are an integral part of the school today, but it was not always that way. Rehoboth was founded in 1903 with six students in its first class. For many years of the 20th century Rehoboth was a boarding school because distances on the reservation are great and students could not easily travel back and forth to school. Students, in effect, were confined to the campus. In 1946 a member of the CRC Mission Board described the contribution a bus would make to the mission of the school and Abel Poel, a pastor at the church at Rehoboth, worked hard to develop the vision for the value of a bus. Student groups with musical ability could give concerts in other places on the reservation. Athletic teams could compete against teams in other schools. Students and staff could visit groups and events in other areas and share the story of the school. One person played a significant role in the bus project. Richard Postma (known as “Uncle Dick”) was Director of the Young Calvinist Federation and had a regular column in the Banner (the official publication of the Christian Reformed Church), which he addressed “For the Boys and Girls.” On that page he often had a section about “Our Indian Cousins” and used it to raise money for missions to Native Americans. He agreed to popularize the proposal for a bus and started raising funds for it. On January 3, 1947
the fund had $72.36. He gave regular updates about the amount of money that was coming in for the project. The sources of the funds are interesting. Many were small amounts because they came from individual children and Sunday School classes. Children often did creative things to raise money for the cause. Some chose not to exchange Valentines with each other and give the money to “Our Indian Cousins” instead. Others did special work projects and sent their earnings to the fund. Uncle Dick would write thank-you letters to them.
Rehoboth’s first school bus arrived on campus in 1947.
By the end of October 1947 he reported that the fund had raised more than enough money to purchase a bus! The bus was ordered and arrived in Grand Rapids. It was on a KB7 International chassis and had seats for 32 adult passengers and could hold up to 50 children. It was equipped with an upgraded radiator to handle the higher level of heat in the southwest. The bus cost $6,338.17. The bus had to be driven to New Mexico and left Grand Rapids on Wednesday, December 17. Howard Bosscher and Roland Kamps were the drivers and John De Graaf assisted as a supervisor. The bus went on a steady journey to New Mexico and the group only stopped when the bus needed gas or the passengers were hungry and needed to eat. The trip to Rehoboth was at least 1600 miles in length – with no freeways or expressways. A number of other passengers were on the bus: a few were representatives from the mission board, some were children of people at Rehoboth who were attending college in Grand Rapids and others had ties to Rehoboth and Zuni (another CRC mission south of Rehoboth). The bus arrived in Rehoboth Friday afternoon, December 19. One of the students at Rehoboth noticed the bus had arrived and shouted “the bus!” Bells were rung on the campus and the fire siren was set off to commemorate the event. Students were given permission to leave their classrooms and go inside the bus to view it.
Associated Press and printed in a number of other newspapers in the country. The Banner of January 1948 has a picture of people at Rehoboth admiring the bus and contains “A Letter from the Indian Cousins” to our “Dear Paleface Cousins” thanking them for the wonderful Christmas gift. Today students at Rehoboth no longer live in dormitories and buses are an integral part of Rehoboth’s educational system. Although some students live near the school and are easily dropped off, others live many miles away. The school system has 7 bus routes today. One of the buses goes 60 miles each way every day. The buses put on a total of about 165,000 miles per year. The wheels of the buses still go round and round! Our buses travel long distances through red rock canyons and over washed out roads in order to bring the children to Rehoboth for Christ-centered education. Today, every student can ride a bus home each morning and night. In order to make this possible, we need your on-going support. Our buses are old and they take quite a beating on our roads. Please consider donating to our transportation fund so that Rehoboth is accessible for all those who desire it. If you would like more information regarding the Transportation Fund, please contact Ken Zylstra, Director of Advancement at kzylstra@rcsnm.org.
A story about the bus appeared in the Grand Rapids Press and was put on the wires of the 3
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Senior Scholarship Recipients This year’s graduating class includes recipients of the Gates Millennium Scholarship, the Daniel’s Fund Scholarship, and the Chief Manuelito Scholarship.
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or most graduating seniors, college decisions weigh heavily on their minds. The questions of where to go to college, what field to major in, and perhaps most importantly, how to pay for these future opportunities overshadow the final months of their high school careers. Despite these financial burdens, on average 90% of Rehoboth students go on to attend a 2 or 4 year college, and many receive significant scholarship aid.
Five of this years’ seniors have been blessed with extraordinary financial gifts to make the transition to college a bit (or a lot) easier. As unique as the scholarships they have been given, these students represent the diverse nature of Rehoboth Christian School.
Kidist BremerBennett will be attending
Nolan Johnny is a
recipient of the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship. This scholarship will cover the full cost of Nolan’s education through a PhD if he so chooses. Given to minority students from all different backgrounds, the Gates Millennium Scholarship program was set up to provide exceptional students with an opportunity to attend college where it may have otherwise seemed impossible. Nolan hopes to major in Finance at the University of California, Irvine. Nolan Johnny attended Rehoboth for 7 years. He was an active participant in Choir, National Honor Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the DELTA leadership program.
Azusa Pacific University in the fall where she will major in Psychology with hopes of becoming a Psychiatrist. This was made easier through the blessing of the Daniel’s Fund Scholarship. The Daniel’s Fund Scholarship will cover any expenses left after receiving other financial aid and scholarships. Kidist hopes her degree will help her to better assist those who struggle with psychological disorders but have limited access to treatment, specifically in developing countries. Kidist has attended Rehoboth for 6 years. She was an active participant in three varsity sports - soccer, basketball, and track. She also sang in choir.
The Chief Manuelito Scholarship was established to provide scholarships to high achieving Navajo high school graduates. The scholarships are awarded based on ACT/SAT test scores and final high school grade point average (GPA). Students receive significant tuition aid to cover direct educational expenses associated with attending a post-secondary institution. The three Rehoboth seniors below were nominated for this scholarship, along with Nolan Johnny (above).
Celine Bia 4
Amanda Martin
Temera Nahsonhoya
V ig o ro us l y Acad em i c · B eau t i fu l l y D i v ers e · T horoughly C hr istian
Underground Heroes By: Ron Polinder with Gary & Pat Nederveld
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n our upside down world, it seems we often honor the folks that are not very honorable—the news on television, the Web, the newspapers are chockfull of counterfeit heroes. The highly regarded David Brooks of the New York Times has recently published a book, “The Road to Character,” in which he discovers “heroes of renunciation.” I would like to introduce you to four authentic heroes, all of whom have lived in the shadows, spending months, years, even decades underground, rarely receiving much attention, but steadily “on duty” in the service of others. For some the names will not be new, but for most they will be, because these kind of people are never up front giving a speech. But their faithful work enabled hundreds of people and thousands of students to live peaceably, warmly, well-watered and well-lighted. I am referring to four men who worked to create and maintain the infrastructure of the Rehoboth campus. Each remarkable in different ways, and each representative of colleagues with whom they worked side by side, and each embarrassed that we are calling attention to them. But each with a grand story!
Art Bosscher: Art Bosscher recently turned 100 years old. He was born at Rehoboth, where his father was Superintendent from 1909 to 1954. He lived in New Mexico for 86 years until he was compelled to move to Michigan given the absence of senior housing in the Gallup area. Friends Gary and Pat Nederveld recently visited with Art only to discover it was not easy to get Art to talk about his underground contributions at Rehoboth as he was celebrating his bowling success that week. Art had a game over 180 and a three game total well above 400, an excellent score for anyone, let along someone in his second century of life. With persistence Art did engage in talking about his work, and adventures, as the person responsible for heating and the boiler system, as well as water. Art’s work focused on the Rehoboth campus, where he has “been under every building”. He recalled the crew he was part of...names like Visser, Tibboel, Berkompas, Nyhof, James, Den Bleyker, and Rodriquez came to mind. Some of this crew worked more on the reservation churches. One other responsibility of Art’s was to “put lots of people under me.” Art dug hundreds of graves with a shovel, work now done with Rehoboth’s
backhoe. As a youngster Art learned plumbing by working with his dad. Art’s Rehoboth, New Mexico life was interrupted by WWII, initially stationed at Sacramento, CA, then in New Guinea, and the Philippines, as an Army Signal Corps cryptographer, that is, code interpreter, during WWII. After the war, Art returned to Rehoboth where his wife-to-be, Nip, was living with Art’s parents. The Mission Board was hesitant about appointing Art to the maintenance crew because of a concern about nepotism, but eventually it was “the Lord’s will that I work there.” With winter temperatures as much as 60 degrees below zero, it was a challenge to keep lines from freezing. Often lines were run near the steam lines, and the adjacent service tunnels, that provided heat to the buildings. Few people understand the harshness of New Mexico elements. Thus someone like Art Bosscher knows best what a huge blessing it is to be annexed into the city of Gallup and transitioned to the Gallup water delivery system. Surely he qualifies as one of our underground heroes!
Pete Goudzwaard: Pete and Dot Goudzwaard and their two children moved to New Mexico in 1980. Pete was given the title of campus engineer, and thus in charge of the central heating system, the water system and the proverbial “other duties as assigned.” That included the sewer system with its clay pipes. Pete had the reputation of being detail-oriented and preventative. Thus he “babied” those well water pumps. Where normally they would last for 5 to 10 years, the Rehoboth pumps have lasted since 1976. Since Rehoboth never had enough money, it was vital to be good stewards of our resources and Pete was a master at it. Nobody was more pleased than Pete with the decision made in the early-2000’s to sell the homes on campus, close down the boiler, and install heating units in individual buildings. Further, the bulk of the sewer system going to the 20+ homes would need replacing. Both the heating pipes were rusting out, and the clay sewer lines were filled with tree roots. It is Pete’s style to compliment others who contributed so faithfully to the maintenance of
these systems—Art Bosscher who nursed the boiler along since post WWII, and Juke Den Bleyker with the plumbing. In the mid 2000’s, the Smith brothers from Denver would come to campus with their friends several times to install new heating systems. “What gave you the most satisfaction, Pete?” His answers reflects the quiet humility that marked his 30+ years of service at Rehoboth: “Providing safe, clean water at reasonable cost, and the warmth from a heating system though out-dated, just kept going” A gift from God, surely, even as was Pete Goudzwaard, an underground hero!
Ted Lyzenga: Even more obscure than Art and Pete was a fella from Grand Rapids by the name of Ted Lyzenga. We learned about Ted from Owen Aukeman, who had used Ted and Exxel Engineering for some of his housing development in Western Michigan. Owen would consistently proclaim the guy was a genius, and that he would not have accomplished much at all except for Ted’s guidance. That was enough for us to engage Ted in the early 2000’s and bring him to campus to help us engineer our elevations and drainage systems. Such is essential to prevent flooding, to design good roads and to think about a host of infrastructure issues that school officials and even contractors do not normally think about. Ted also quietly, but sensibly, participated on the National Advisory Council during that decade. His good sense came to light as we dared to think about the big project of transformation of the campus, plus the even bigger dreams of future development of housing and new school buildings. In short, we are benefiting everyday from his long career in civil engineering and land development. Ted Lyzenga, a hero to be sure— underground in the sense that very few know of his covert activity, but also the design of much of the new underground on Rehoboth campus.
Dan Aukeman: While it took a Ted Lyzenga to engineer a new infrastructure for Rehoboth, it took a very experienced, skillful and detail-oriented person to execute the plans. For such a time as this, the Lord sent us Dan Aukeman. As we noted above
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Ki ds ’C or ne r!
Navajo Wedding Basket
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he weaving of wedding baskets, or ts’aa’, is an ancient tradition. It is viewed as a map through which the Navajo chart their lives. The colors (red, black, white) and designs all have special meaning.
Baskets are used in many different ceremonies to hold items like prayersticks and medicine bundles; yucca suds for baths and hair washing; white clay, red ochre, and cornmeal during coming of age ceremonies; and food during the Navajo wedding ceremony. They can also be used as drums when inverted and struck with a yucca drum stick.
Find your way to the center!
The Face of Compassion
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hat makes sponsoring a child at Rehoboth a unique opportunity? Many sponsorship programs allow you to correspond with a child that is in great need of help, but the connection is limited to a long distance relationship. This can leave many supporters wanting more. As someone investing in their child’s life, they have a desire to understand their struggles, their background, and to see the difference that their help is making in real ways. On the other side, children often have a difficult time comprehending the role and importance of a sponsor, thinking, “Who is this person, why are they helping me, and how do I respond?” Sponsoring at Rehoboth presents an opportunity not only to make an impact, but see it first hand in your child’s life. We welcome sponsors to our campus to meet their child(ren) and to make a personal connection with them and their family. As you spend time with them, both you and your student will gain a greater appreciation and understanding for one another. Making memories together is one of the most powerful ways to build a strong and meaningful foundation with your student- a foundation upon which your relationship can grow over the years. Without fail, every student who has had the opportunity to meet their sponsors remembers it as the single most important highlight of their relationship.
opportunity to learn about their culture, and the chance to witness the work that God is doing in their children’s lives at Rehoboth. Tim and Cindi Maher reflected on their time, saying: “Bookmarks bearing photos of the Manuelito children that have been proudly displayed on our refrigerator took on a whole new meaning as these faces came to life on our recent visit to Rehoboth. We have been sponsoring these children for several years and meeting them and their parents was such a heartwarming experience. We have enjoyed keeping up with the kids through their cards and the mailings the school sends out but seeing them in person was more than we could have imagined! Through the help of Joy and Deanna with transportation, accommodations and hospitality, we spent two days immersed in the beauty and culture of Rehoboth and its staff and students. Being sponsors for these children has tbeen a rewarding experience and seeing God’s hand at work in this way is truly a blessing!!!! We’ll be back for sure.” If you would like to become a sponsor, or are currently a sponsor and would like to plan a visit to Rehoboth’s campus, please call or email Joy Burmeister at 505.726.9684/ jburmeister@rcsnm.org.
Sponsors will gain a new perspective on what their support means as they experience their child’s struggles, joys, and opportunities - as well as being immersed in their culture. Students are able to see the face of compassion, and understand the love and sacrifice that is helping to make each of their hopes and dreams a reality. Tim and Cindi Maher,
who sponsor a family of three children at Rehoboth, recently visited to attend the 8th grade graduation of one of their students. The experience provided meaningful connections with the family, an
Tim and Cindi Maher, who sponsor a family of three children at Rehoboth, recently visited to attend the 8th grade graduation of one of their students. 6
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Retired Teachers for Rehoboth
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olunteers are loved by Rehoboth staff and students. They are an integral part of the work at Rehoboth so much so you can even measure the difference they are making according to Middle School Principal, Chris Huizinga. “During January and February of the Spring semester we had four volunteers that were retired teachers assigned to help with middle school students. During their time at Rehoboth these four volunteers were assigned at to work with 5 specific students. These students had an average GPA of 1.4 for the first semester. Over several weeks the volunteers followed these students around to all of their classes and worked with them in small groups at the end of the school day. They were able to develop relationships with these students and gave them one-on-one attention both in and out of the classroom. By the end of February, these 5 students were able to raise their GPA by an average of 0.8 points!” Huizinga also noted that “The volunteers these same students were turning in help emergent work and had a renewed confidence readers become in their abilities.
more confident by practicing...”
The administration at Rehoboth realizes the value of having teachers come to Rehoboth to volunteer, and is eagerly looking for retired teachers to come for a week or even for a month at a time to volunteer. Sherry “Short” Holwerda, RCS reading teacher, sees firsthand how valuable volunteers can be. “In the elementary, the volunteers help emergent readers become more confident by practicing sight words and listening to them read and reread their books at their level. They provide repetition with math facts and play math and reading games to engage learners. This invaluable one on one attention not only encourages struggling and/or gifted students but also gives a boost to the classroom teacher who strives to meet those needs in the classroom.” Chad Meekhof, the
High School Academic Support Teacher also sees how valuable it is to have a volunteer teacher come alongside the high school
students that come to his room throughout the day. He says “When a volunteer teacher shows up, there is more energy in the room, more supervision, and students have the opportunity to receive more help than they normally would. When there is another adult in the room, I am able to show extra attention and time to individuals as opposed to supervising the whole class.” He also observed, “When a volunteer has a certain subject that they feel comfortable tutoring, I am then able to plan ahead for which students could use the help in that subject. Sometimes it’s just having the adult next to the student to keep them on task, help them stay organized, and motivate them to complete their work. Many volunteers come back year after year and are our best promoters. Recent volunteers, Lloyd and Jan Dozeman shared about their first-time volunteer experience at Rehoboth. “We both greatly enjoyed working in the classrooms at Rehoboth and experiencing students from a different culture. It was both interesting and challenging. We felt God’s hand of blessing on us as we worked there and knew we were appreciated. It was great becoming part of the close-knit Rehoboth community ,and we quickly felt very welcomed and included. Since our time there this past January, we have an increased interest in what is happening in Rehoboth, and our prayers have deepened for that ministry.”
If you would like to sign up to volunteer please go to http://www.rcsnm.org/ volunteers.cfm and click on the hand at the bottom of the page. We are especially in need of volunteers during the months of September-December and April-May. Please consider how you could make a difference in the lives of Rehoboth students.
Underground Heroes....Cont. from Page 5 in the Pete Goudzwaard story, the infrastructure of the campus was very tired, essentially worn out. It would take a major overhaul and someone who understood the various systems. We noted the serious issues with our sewer system, given the aged clay tile disrupted by tree roots and shifting soils. Dan would know how to do this, all of which needed to be connected to mainlines that in turn be connected to the city of Gallup sewer system. It was time-consuming and expensive! The well and pumps would be costly to replace, making our annexation to Gallup all the more important. Someone would have to take the lead in those negotiations, and at last connect Rehoboth to a more reliable water source. Dan Aukeman would be the guy who understood these systems and could use the language and jargon necessary to communicate with city officials.
house—a huge undertaking! Dan was our man to oversee this enormous project. So too, the electrical system presented challenges that needed attention. And finally, the houses themselves needed a facelift to prepare them for sale. In many cases, attractive Southwest porches were added and houses were resurfaced with stucco. Gradually, the once mid-west looking campus began to look like a Southwest village. Too, landscaping and street work, especially Pill Hill, was given a thorough makeover. For those of us who do not understand the workings of all these systems, we can at least look above ground and stand in awe of the aesthetic improvement of the Rehoboth campus. For so much of this, we owe thanks to Dan Aukeman. Some people can give money, others can teach, but Rehoboth also survives because of the enormous skill that a person like Dan Aukeman brought to our campus. To be sure, he had good help along the way. Yet much of this was accomplished by his sheer determination and will. That is what it takes to be an underground hero!
Then there was the replacing of natural gas lines; the old ones all consisting of iron and not a few leaks. Meters that needed to be added to each
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Snapshots fro The Spring Fling Concert featured songs from Broadway musicals and other classics. Students were also able to perform solos and duets of their favorite songs.
High School Band Tour to California Highlights of the trip included Navajo taco dinners before concerts, interacting with Rehoboth supporters at concerts and schools, and touring Alcatraz Island.
High School Gospel Concert With CJ Grier 8
Elementary School Field Day was a fun two-day day event featuring a lot of games, water, and smiles.
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om Spring 2015
Congratulations, Pre-Kindergartners, Kindergartners, and Middle Schoolers on your
Graduation.
The Elementary School joined the High School in
Student Alternative Curriculum Week this year. Activities in the high school included
a missions trip to Nicaragua, baking, mural painting, biking and more. In the elementary school, they played cards, learned how to dance, and folded origami.
Congratulations,
Boys and Girls Track on
To celebrate the end of the school year, the 4th and 5th graders traveled to Santa Fe to visit the Roundhouse and also took many opportunities to explore, hike, and do team building activities.
finishing first in the district. Coach Nick Donkersloot was also named Coach of the Year. Senior Shelby Peterson won first in State in the 100 Hurdles (new Rehoboth record) and Long Jump.
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Pray for our Ministry:
Please keep our Administration and Staff in your prayers over the summer months. As you have read about the upcoming transition, we covet your prayers as we establish the interim leadership plans and for the upcoming search for a new leader. If you would like to receive our monthly prayer calendar, please email Melvina at mmusket@rcsnm.org
Our Blessings &
Needs
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Plan to have Rehoboth in your Estate: This school year,
e have been blessed to receive many generous gifts in response to our school year end appeal! As we approach our fiscal year end on June 30th, our tuition assistance need is now $239,000. Please consider how you can help us meet our needs for this school year, and begin our next school year on a solid financial foundation. You can give today online at http://www. rcsnm.org/giving-to-rehoboth.cfm send a gift in the envelope provided.
we have been blessed to received 8 gifts from donor bequests. Please remember Rehoboth in your estate plans. Each bequest we receive helps to grow our endowment and provides a financially stable future for our students and ministry.
The current school year’s need from contributions is $1.935 million. Please consider how you can give to help raise $239,000 by June 30, 2015.
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Become a Student Sponsor: Student sponsors help to
$1.696 $1.935 million million
encourage, support, and pray for our Native students throughout the school year. As we look to next year, we need more sponsors to bless our students and families. We also love to have sponsors come for graduations!
Campaign Update
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he campaign for the new high school at Rehoboth has continued to gain momentum this school year. Support -raising events were held in West Michigan, Rehoboth, Central Iowa, and Northwest Iowa, and we hope to continue to encourage support across the country next school year. Through the end of May, $10,257,500 has been raised in gifts and pledges. Our current need to
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complete the campaign is $3,442,500 ($13,700,000 Total). This summer, we hope to complete our major water infrastructure project that is part of this campaign. A big thank you to all who have committed above your normal tuition assistance support for our new high school!
V ig o ro us l y Acad em i c · B eau t i fu l l y D i v ers e · T horoughly C hr istian
Gifts in Memory of:
In memory of Angelyn Keegstra
Mr. Robert D. Keegstra
Gifts in Honor of:
In memory of John Klein In memory of Bert Gjeltema
Mr. and Mrs. William and Shirley Martinus
Mrs. Ruth L. Klein
In honor of Art Bosscher’s 100th birthday:
Mr. and Mrs. John and Deborah Rouwenhorst
In memory of Evelyn Kuiper In memory of Frank Gritters
Mrs. Goldie Dingeman Mr. and Mrs. Bill and Susan Haagsma Mr. and Mrs. Del and Wilhelmina VandeKerk In memory of Henry Hilbrand
Mr. and Mrs. Steven and Kathleen Ippel In memory of Henry Ippel
Mr. and Mrs. William and Mary Blacquiere Mr. and Mrs. James and Marysue Brasser Dr. and Mrs. Paul and Jackie Bremer Mr. and Mrs. Dale and Sandra DeYoung Mr. and Mrs. Bill and Marybeth Haverkamp Mr. and Mrs. Martin and Mary Hollebeek Mr. Lester Ippel Mrs. Ruth Ippel Dr. and Mrs. Philip and Betty Kamps Ms. Kysa Meyerer Mr. and Mrs. Mark and Patricia Menning Mr. and Mrs. Ron and Kathleen Redman Mrs. Janet Ronda Dr. and Mrs. Leroy and Anjean Stegink St. Paul’s Lutheran Church In memory of Christopher Johnson
Mrs. Michaela Lesser
In memory of Shirley Jonker
Mrs. Marlys VanBeek
In memory of Duane Newhouse
Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Newhouse In memory of Tom Newhouse
Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Newhouse In memory of Clarence and Bernice Piersma
Grand Haven Area Community Foundation In memory of Julie Schuiling
Mr. and Mrs. Leroy and Annabelle Cunningham In memory of Howard Tazelaar
Mrs. Sharon K. Tazelaar
Mr. and Mrs. Tim and Elizabeth Bolt In honor of Wayne Haines’s Birthday:
Mr. and Mrs. Charles and Wanda Herron In honor of Sue Hutcheson:
Mr. Billie B. Compton In honor of Robert A. Bolt’s 80th Birthday
Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Debra Rankin Mr. and Mrs. Ed and Diane Ipema Mr. and Mrs. James and Doreen Bulthuis Mr. and Mrs. Rich and Donna Hofstra Mr. and Mrs. Tom and Denise Stob Mr. and Mrs. Ray and Betty Kerkstra
In memory of Helen Van Beek
Mrs. Marlys VanBeek
In memory of Marvin R. Van Beek
Mrs. Marlys VanBeek
Friends We Will Remember
In memory of Marvin Vanden Bosch
Ray and Joyce DeHaan
In memory of Mabel Terpstra Daling Visser
Ms. Marthea D. Jager
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth and Yvonne Bengelink Ms. Dianne E. Bennett Mrs. Judy Daverman Mr. and Mrs. BJ and Teri Holwerda Mrs. Lois Holwerda Mr. and Mrs. James and Short Holwerda Mr. and Mrs. Jerry and Jan Jonker
In honor of Dr. James Cook:
In memory of Alfred Weg
Mrs. Marlys VanBeek
In memory of Joyce Weg
Mrs. Marlys VanBeek
Henry Ippel
Henry Peter Ippel entered his eternal home on April 27 at the age of 95. Henry was a Rehoboth historian and blessed our school with his knowledge. Frank Gritters
Frank M. Gritters entered his eternal home on April 28 at the age of 81. Frank was a beloved volunteer at Rehoboth.
In memory of Thomas and Marilyn Wolma
Ms. Carol VanEck
Destination Rehoboth Groups January- June 2015 Lexington Christian Academy (Boston, MA) Lancaster Bible College (Lancaster, PA) Hope College (Holland, MI) Lutheran Church of Hope (West Des Moines, IA) Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo, ND) Intermountain Christian School (Holladay, UT) Calvary Christian Reformed Church (wyoming, MI) Denver Christian Middle School (Lakewood, CO) Denver Christian High School (Lakewood, CO Escalon Christian Reformed Church (Escalon, CA) Princeton Christian Reformed Church (Grand Rapids, MI) Lebanon Presbyterian Church (Lebanon, OH) Ferrysburg Community Christian Reformed Church (Spring Lake, MI) Sioux Falls Christian School (Sioux Falls, SD) Oosburg Christian Reformed Church (Oosburg WI)
Thank you, Volunteers! Short-term Volunteers Ray & Betty Kerkstra Mart & Mary Hollebeek Steve & Joyce Eggebeen Chuck & Mary Johnson Meindert Prins Judy Polinder Scott & Judy VanderZwaag Local and Long - Term Volunteers
Owen & Marylou Aukeman Paul & Jackie Bremer Andrew Swetz Jack & Cindy Ippel Kendall Olson Liz Wilson Nikki Van Slooten Trudi Barton John Van’t Land Tina Begay Denny & Ruth Van Andel
Non-Profit Org. US Postage Paid Greenville MI Permit #338
PO Box 41 Rehoboth, NM 87322 Address Service Requested
Page 1 Rehoboth Bids Farewell to Superintendent Carol Bremer-Bennett
Summer 2015
Vigorously Academic · Beautifully Diverse · Thoroughly Christian
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Rehoboth Seniors Among Nation’s Elite
Underground Heros By: Ron Polinder
Sponsorship a Student : The Face of Compassion
NEW Retired Teachers for Rehoboth Program
Snapshots of Spring!
In This Issue...