The Bright Ideas Beacon November 2019
Autumn Blessings
The Journey of a Superstar(7-8) Superstar(7-8) The Wonders of Biology (15-16) (15-16) Jester's Corner (21-22) (21-22)
The Bright Ideas Beacon
The 2019-2020 Beacon Staff
Reporters: Christian Zeliadt Elisabeth Guilliams Gabriella Hunter Garrett Hopkins Haddi Iverson Krysten Meyer Editor-in-Chief: Colin Sink Design Editor: Ingrid Dornbirer Copy Editor: Jaedon Wilkinson Faculty Advisor: Jamie Anderson Please email any questions, comments, or suggestions to Colin at colin.edchief@gmail.com
1 - November 2019
Contents
The Bright Ideas Beacon
November 2019 | Volume 3 | Number 2
3-4 - Mission Statement 5-6 - Count It All Joy by Christian Zeliadt 7-8 - The Journey of a Superstar by Elisabeth Guilliams 9-10 - Teacher Spotlight: Mrs. McIlvaine by Gabriella Hunter 11-12 - Faith and Science by Garrett Hopkins 13-14 - Readership Survey 15-16 - The Wonders of Biology by Haddi Iverson 17-18 - Finding a Family by Krysten Myer 19-20 - Rhiannon Raps It Up by Jaedon Wilkinson 21-22 - Jester's Corner
ATTENTION We need YOU. Click the link below to participate as a stringer for The Beacon! STRINGER INFORMATION
November 2019 - 2
The Bright Ideas Beacon
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." Psalm 106:1
3 - November 2019
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Beacon Mission Statement
The Bright Idea Beacon is a student-run newspaper which helps highschool homeschool students develop journalism skills as they research, write, edit, and publish a monthly newspaper, distributed to homsechool students and families. The Beacon staffers learn to uphold the highest professional and ethical standards, while working under deadline pressure in a collaborative environament to produce a newspaper that is both glorifying to God and of benefit and interest to its readers. The newspaper content is mainly news and feature articles about faculty and students taking classes at The Academy at Bright Ideas, and the curriculum produced by Bright Ideas Press. Above all, its purpose is to uphold Godly standards as students learn the art and craft of journalism.
November 2019 - 4
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Count It All Joy
Christian Zeliadt
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” James 1:2-3, ESV
Trials. That is the first issue the half-
Christian Zeliadt is a 16-year-old highschool junior from Nashville, TN. He plays piano and drums and is a member of the Nashville Youth Choir. He enjoys world history, military history, biology, drawing, listening to music, playing strategy board games, running, and hiking the Appalachian Trail with his family.
When I was eight my little brother Asher
brother of Jesus chooses to write about in his
was born with gastroschisis and spent 4 weeks
letter to the Jewish believers. Therefore, we
in the NICU. It was difficult for our family to
realize that it must be of some
travel back and forth to the hospital every day
significance. We face trials every single day,
to see him. Then at 5 months old, he was
whether it is completing the homework we
diagnosed with infant Leukemia. My younger
detest, doing a chore we loathe, or watching
sister and I spent about 150 days without one
our family and friends fight sickness, even die.
parent or both, for the next year while he was
Why then, would our brother-in-Christ tell us to
in the hospital. We spent time with friends and
be joyful when trials come upon us? What on
sitters. As an eight-year-old, I recall being
earth is there to be joyful about? James
greatly upset that our family could not be
provides us with an answer in verse 3: “for you
together. To me, Asher was the cutest thing on
know that the testing of your faith produces
the planet, but visiting him in his room time
steadfastness.” Other versions substitute
after time, surgery after surgery, was very
steadfastness for patience and endurance.
heart-wrenching. Even now, when we visit the
How does struggling through math class test
Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital for other things,
our faith and grow patience in us?
simply being there brings back a flood of
5 - November 2019
The Bright Ideas Beacon memories for my family and me. How then, you may ask, could my family
His great glory. After God has saved us—and until He
and I find joy and comfort in that situation?
comes again or we go to meet Him—He is
Knowing that God is sovereign and went before
constantly sanctifying us, steadily molding us
us in this trial allowed us to put our trust in
into the image of His Son. Whether we see it
him. We met wonderful nurses, doctors, and
or not, God is sanctifying us in every area of
patients who God used to minister to us, but
our lives: doing our school work without
also, through His Spirit allowed us to minister
complaint or disputing, staying patient and
to them.
loving when our siblings or friends annoy us,
As I look back on those years today, I know
or keeping our faith in our Lord when the
that Asher could have died; the doctors told us
storms of life descend upon us. How does
that he had only a 40 percent chance to live. If
God sanctify us? We know that because of the
he had, then that would have been God’s will,
Fall, death, disease, hardships, and
and He would have used Asher’s death for His
wickedness entered the world. God, for His
glory. However, God chose to keep him, and
glory, allows these things to enter seasons of
He changed our lives forever because of it.
our lives, however long or short. These dark
Our faith, my faith, was strengthened in the
times of our lives are what God uses to
Lord, and I was reminded that our lives are not
strengthen us spiritually, to test our faith in
our own, but belong to God for Him to use for
Him.
Asher, age 7
November 2019 - 6
The Journey of a Superstar
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Elisabeth guilliams School is a difficult task and while most students strive to succeed in their academics, many
and enlighten them in their education. 4) Study in sizable chunks.
fall short of becoming a superstar at
Studying for three hours before a
it. Mrs. Christine Filipek, a teacher
test is not the best way to retain
at The Academy at Bright Ideas
information. 45-minute chunks with a
Press, wants all students to
5-minute break in between are most
advance in their education and has
effective because it gives the brain a
five tips that give students a better
small break. However, the break
chance of becoming that star.
cannot be too long. A small brisk
1) Be organized. Knowing the
walk or getting something from the
deadlines, keeping folders and
refrigerator is perfect, but if one gets
working throughout the week, not
distracted with other things for a long
leaving it to the last minute, can be
period of time, the mind distances
a key factor. Procrastination is not
itself from the studying.
an option.
5) Stay focused. Technology is a
2) Take notes. “The art of writing
Elisabeth (Lizzy) Guilliams is a sophomore in high school. She is the fifth child of six and loves to read, write, play Ultimate Frisbee, and spend time with her family. She also loves to listen to music. She has participated in many plays with her homeschool friends and loves the thrill of stepping into a different role of acting each time!
huge distraction, including computers and phones. A study
helps you to memorize,” said Mrs.
done by Rutgers University called “The New Brunswick” study
Filipek, “studies have shown that
shows that students who use their phones during class time
your mind is connected to your
perform worse in the final exam. Although most students
hands and your mouth. Your brain
reading this are homeschooled and do not attend live classes,
retains it easier if you write or speak
this study can still assist them. When studying, watching an
it out loud.”
online class or attending a co-op, pulling out their phones will
3) Do not be afraid to ask questions. If asking questions
cause them to have an academic stumble and can even distract other students in the room, too.
helps a student succeed, they should ask them. “If you succeed, we feel as if we succeeded in our job,” said Mrs. Filipek. If a student does not understand a question or concept the best thing for them to do is ask the teacher to explain it again. Teachers are there to help 7 - November 2019
A series recommended by Mrs. Filipek is called How To Be A Superstar Student by Tim Mcgee. A 12 lecture series from The Great Courses, it studies the best way for parents and students to achieve goals and can be found at most local libraries.
The Bright Ideas Beacon
November 2019 - 8
Teacher Spotlight: Mrs. Mcllvaine
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Gabriella Hunter Marjorie McIlvaine is not like
she always wanted her children to
most teachers. She teaches Marine
call her those names, and they
Biology and foreign languages for
rarely called her that. Also in her
high school students at The
spare time, she plays board games,
Academy at Bright Ideas Press, but
reads and rides horses. Some of
there is much more to her than
her favorite authors are C.S. Lewis
knowing sea creatures and French
and Tolkein, but she also enjoys
words.
reading travel books and the historic
Mrs. McIlvaine teaches French
American Girl books. She enjoys
because she studied French and
books that have “prose that almost
went to a French university. She
sings”, those that are like a “vacation
loved Paris and her favorite
with old friends” and those that
museum is the Musée d’Orsay. Her
make her think and challenge her
favorite French dish is quiche
spiritually. Two recent favorites are
lorraine, which is an egg-based
All the Light We Cannot See and
recipe with cheese and bacon. She loves it so much she named one of her five cats after it. Mrs. McIlvaine teaches Marine Biology because she grew up on a beach in south Florida and loves the ocean. She enjoys scuba diving; some of the coolest things she has seen are coral, sharks, barracuda, lobster, moray eels, rays and a little fish called a “beau Gregory”. In her class, she even does a dissection of a shark. Mrs. McIlvaine, also known to her students as “Her Majesty” and “The Queen” and loves to take naps. She loves to be called “Her Majesty” and “The Queen” because 9 - November 2019
Gabriella Hunter is a twelve-year-old seventh grader. She lives in the middle of a cornfield in central Illinois with her mom, dad, younger sister, two dogs, and a cat. She enjoys art and spends her spare time painting, crocheting, and decorating cakes. She often has her nose stuck in a book.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. If you are a student in Mrs. McIlvaine’s classes, you will have a very fun and interactive teacher and you will get to choose your own adventure. For example, in this past year, we studied about the Boston Massacre and we got to choose our own adventure. One student portrayed the event using Legos. On other choose your own adventure assignments, some people drew pictures, or made their own videos. In her Trip Around the World class, some students choose to learn dances from the place they were studying. In Mrs. McIlvaine’s classes, she shows many fun videos to help you remember the things you just studied. She shows videos that are to the same tune as popular music, just with different words about the subject of the class. Hopefully, you will get to see how wonderful her classes are and experience her great personality.
The Bright Ideas Beacon
November 2019 - 10
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Faith and Science
Garrett Hopkins
Garrett Hopkins is a fifteen-year-old sophomore and proud military kid. Garrett was born in Mobile, Alabama, currently calls Chesapeake, Virginia his home. Garrett is likes to study God’s creation as it pertains to science, with astronomy being his favorite. In his downtime, Garrett enjoys playing electric guitar and learning to play songs from his favorite artists. His life verse is Psalms 1:1-2.
Many people see faith and science as
godly ways to have discussions with these
irreconcilable, but Chris Leingang, teacher of
people and to also avoid pitfalls. Mr. Leingang
Chemistry, Physical Science and Physics
believes one of the first obstacles is that
for The Academy at Bright Ideas Press,
Christians often go immediately back to the
believes they fit together perfectly. With
Bible when having a discussion with an atheist.
degrees in physics and chemistry as well as a
This can sometimes be a mistake. “One of the
master’s degree in Christian Divinity, Mr.
challenges we run into as Christians is a lot of
Leingang understands the challenges bringing
our answers to scientific questions often begin
faith and science together for people. He has
with the phrase, ‘The Bible says,’” said Mr.
acquired excellent experience over the years
Leingang.
as he seeks the amazing connections between God’s creation and His Word. It can be hard for the average Christian to
Mr. Leingang says “Our faith is rooted in the Bible, but when talking to an atheist, the atheist doesn’t really care about what the Bible
discuss faith and science with skeptical and
says.” When discussing issues like this,
scientific non-believers. Christians must try to
Christians must find a way to make a
find ways to equip themselves with effective,
connection that is godly, Biblical, and true, but
11 - November 2019
The Bright Ideas Beacon also something an atheist would take as fact. Another challenge that Christians face is
guy in church who is a mechanic, he can offer you advice on how to fix your car … we often
recognizing that they do not know all the
overlook this with apologetics," said Mr.
answers. People often ask questions about
Leingang. “We don’t need to know every
science or faith that others do not have an
answer. We just need the humility to go to
answer to. However, this is alright; not every
someone else who does.” Mr. Leingang also
Christian has, or needs, a bachelor’s in science
thinks that science can be presented more into
or a master’s in Divinity. Mr. Leingang believes
the Christian community; not on Sunday
Christians are needed in every field, not just
morning, but churches could have a seminar or
science. Since not everyone has education in
a day out of the week to have a class about
a field of science, not everyone will have every
Christian science. Another way Christians can
answer, and even those who do have
grow more familiar with science is simply by
educations do not know everything.
personal learning. Mr. Leingang owns books
Nevertheless, Mr. Leingang suggests that
about scientific creation written by people like
Christians can go to someone in their church or
Lee Strobel or Ken Ham. These are Christians
local Christian community who may know some
who simplify things and write them in such a
answers.
way for the average person to read.
"If your car broke down, and you know a
November 2019 - 12
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The Wonders of Biology
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Haddi Iverson
Mrs. Lung is a woman of faith
Additionally, Mrs. Lung facilitates a
who teaches a self-paced biology
class discussion for pastors about
class for The Academy at Bright
the intersection of science and faith.
Ideas Press. Unlike many science
As a child, Mrs. Lung had a few
teachers of today, however, Mrs.
ideas of what she wanted to be
Lung’s faith in God is strengthened
when she grew up. She either
by the evidence of God’s design in
wanted to be a teacher, a scientist,
her classes.
or an adjunct professor at a big
Mrs. Lung is always amazed by
university. When she was in high
deoxyribonucleic acid, or more
school, Mrs. Lung had a very
commonly called DNA. “The most
inspirational teacher who taught
fascinating thing about DNA is that
geology and impacted her to dig
it is codes in our body. When we
deeper. She was fascinated by
look at DNA, there has to be an
geology and after high school she
engineer, a designer, God,” said
got her bachelor’s degree in
Mrs. Lung. The students in her
geology from Michigan
class go through and “learn about
Technological University and a
the different ways we classify
master’s in Environmental
organisms and what makes each
Education from Concordia
kind special.”
University, Wisconsin.
Mrs. Lung also teaches
Hadassah “Haddi” Iverson is a 17-year-old senior in high school. She was born in China and moved to Michigan in 2003. Haddi loves to hang outside with her sister, Lydia, biking, playing badminton, volleyball, or reading in the hammock. She loves watching Disney and Marvel-based movies, as well as reading Christian fictional or non-fictional romance series and novels. She loves serving at church and serving others in her life.
Mrs. Lung has been teaching since 1993. As she has gone
Introduction to the Physical World
through life, she always has seemed to end up teaching. She
(PS110) which is a general science
believes she got the best of both worlds by learning more about
course for undergraduates at Trinity
life and being able to teach others as well.
Evangelical Divinity School, located in Illinois. Mrs. Lung is also an author. She published Wisconsin’s Flood Journey, which is about the geology of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula from a creationist perspective. Mrs. Lung has also written some science curriculum for parochial schools in her area. 15 - November 2019
"There has to be an engineer, a designer—God." ~ Mrs. Lung
The Bright Ideas Beacon
November 2019 - 16
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Finding a Family
Krysten Myer
Krysten Meyer is a Junior in high school from Colorado. She has several younger brothers and is the only girl. She is a proud history nerd and studies history whenever she gets the chance. She also enjoys reading, serving on her church worship team as a vocalist, and entertaining children with stories whenever she gets the chance. More than anything she is a child of God and wants to grow closer to Him.
"Please, sir, I want some more" is the line
master’s wrath when he defends his late
from Charles Dickens' book Oliver Twist that
mother, Oliver escapes to London. In London,
tugs at the heart of every reader. The book is
he meets Jack Dawkins, who goes by the alias
required reading in Mrs. Rhiannon Applegrijn's
"the Artful Dodger", who is part of a gang of
English IV class at The Academy at Bright
pickpockets roaming the streets. Oliver is
Ideas Press. Mrs. Applegrijn, a gifted and
taken in by the boys and their leader, Fagin,
enthusiastic English teacher, uses the book to
who sends the boys into the streets to steal for
educate and inspire her students to excel in
him. This band of thieves is the only family
college-level English.
that the boys know, and they attempt to make
Oliver Twist is the story of a young orphan
Oliver one of them. When his first attempt at
boy, who is born in a 1830s poorhouse in
thievery goes awry, Oliver finds himself in the
London. Oliver is brought up in a culture of
home of Mr. Brownlow, where he is finally
cruelty, where it is every man for himself. He is
loved and cared for, despite the fact that Mr.
sold to an undertaker, but after incurring his
Brownlow was robbed by this very gang of
17 - November 2019
The Bright Ideas Beacon pickpockets. Unfortunately, Oliver is snatched from this
to those he otherwise would have greatly offended,” said Mrs. Appelgrijn.
place of safety by Fagin’s former student, Bill
Considering the way poor people were
Sikes. What follows is a race to rescue Oliver
generally treated in that era, it is amazing that
from his pickpocketing comrades, and ends
Dickens had the courage to show the people
with the untimely death of a young woman, and
how those in poverty were suffering.. “It
the inadvertant suicide of Bill Sikes. Oliver is
reminds me of the way Nathan the Prophet
taken in again by Mr. Brownlow, and all that
revealed to David his sins. He told him a story
was stolen from him in his early years is
of a man who acted unjustly, and King David's
restored. The little boy who was once loved by
anger burned against the sinful, selfish man.
none becomes loved and treasured by a real
When Nathan announced to David, ‘You are
family. While some books are, as the
that man!’, David's eyes were opened,” Mrs.
character Mr. Brownlow describes, “...books of
Applegrijn said. The accurate portrayal of
which the backs and covers are by far the best
workhouse children during the Industrial
parts”, Oliver Twist is not one of these, instead
Revolution, and the general attitude of the rich
being a classic novel that has endured for
towards the poor in those years add up to
many generations. The honest emotion
create a compelling story with a main character
portrayed in the book further illustrates the
that most people cannot help but care about: a
intricacy and beauty of British literature.
character whose actions are governed by a
"Charles Dickens had the ability to present the
kind and gentle heart rather than selfish
harsh realities and gross injustice that existed
desires, a character full of forgiveness rather
in his era in a way that was somehow palatable
than bitterness.
View image source here.
November 2019 - 18
Rhiannon Raps It Up
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Jaedon Wilkinson
Jaedon Wilkinson is a 17-year-old senior and lives in Lynchburg, VA. Jaedon is the youngest of 5 children and lives with his brother while going to school and getting his pilot’s license. He is a member of the Civil Air Patrol. In his free time, Jaedon enjoys reading, acting, gaming, and writing. He hopes to become a corporate pilot, but continue to pursue acting in some capacity.
Mrs. Rhiannon Appelgrijn, a teacher at The
philosophy is the basis for much of her
Academy at Bright Ideas Press, loves to put fun
teaching. She roots all of her class material in
into her classroom, believing that fun and
learning but also makes sure to make it fun
learning go hand in hand. In the spirit of this
and engaging. Her George Washington rap,
teaching philosophy, Mrs. Appelgrijn wrote and
however, is but the tip of the iceberg, even for
performed a history rap about our first
Mrs. Appelgrijn. History is not the only subject
president, George Washington. Originally just
that she uses rhymes and rap to teach.
a promotional for her new history class, it
Mrs. Appelgrijn also uses her talent for
became a new teaching tool for her as an
rhyming in her English class. “I have to teach
English literature and history teacher.
grammar, so why not make it fun… for my
Mrs. Appelgrijn enjoys teaching all of her
English class, I wrote grammar rhymes and
classes and likes to make them both fun and
raps,” she said. She believes learning is such
educational. “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t
a wonderful and exciting thing and it should be
learn well when being entertained… you get
fun as well as educational. “Grammar may not
easily distracted if it’s not engaging.” This
be everyone’s favorite thing so I try to keep it
19 - November 2019
The Bright Ideas Beacon upbeat and as engaging as possible.” Not everyone is so enamored with this teaching style as Mrs. Appelgrijn is. “I’ve had a
everything I teach and everything I do is still rooted in education and academia.” But she also says students have an
parent who heard my grammar rhymes and
important role as well. “If you come into the
decided to take her son out of my class,” Mrs.
class not willing to give anything, you’re going
Appelgrijn said. However, she does not let
to get very little out of it. I encourage students
this get her down; instead, she simply says “to
to be involved,” she said. It is not enough for
each his own” and continues on teaching in
teachers to just create a fun learning
the best way she thinks. “Just because it
environment, but the students must be
might look frivolous or look silly or look fun,
receptive and willing to learn.
November 2019 - 20
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Jester's Corner
A man told his wife 10 puns in an attempt to make her laugh. Unfortunately, no pun in ten did. ~ Tyler Hogan, president of The Academy What did Noah say to his sons as they were fishing off the ark? "Take it easy boys: I only have two worms!" ~ Gary, a Beacon reader Two boys walk into a cafe. One boy asks the other boy, "Who's that new girl?" The other boy answers, "I don't know but I heard she's a vegitarian." The first boy replies, "I've never see her-bivore. ~ invented by Abigail, a Beacon reader What starts with E and ends with E and has one letter in it? An envelope. ~ a Beacon reader What's brown and sticky? A stick. ~ Travis, a Beacon reader What is the coolest letter in the alphabet? B, because it is surrounded by AC. ~ Ava, a Beacon reader 21 - November 2019
The Bright Ideas Beacon
Winner of the Month Today I saw a small prisoner climbing down a wall. As he turned and sneered at me, I thought, "that's a little con-descending." ~ Briar, a Beacon reader
Did you hear about the man who invented the knock knock joke? He won the no-bell prize. ~ a Beacon reader Why did the gorilla take his lunch to the doctor? Because his banana wasn't peeling well. ~ Charlie, a Beacon reader Why did the old man fall into the well? He couldn’t see that well. ~ Jessie, a Beacon reader I was wondering why the baseball was getting bigger and bigger... Then it hit me. ~ a Beacon reader November 2019 - 22
Happy Thanksgiving! Before you you go, here's your Before "Thoughtfully Thought" "Thoughtfully of the month: of
"The people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world are the ones who do." ~ Steve Jobs
Readership Survey HERE