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

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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

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"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." Psalm 106:1

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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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WE NEED YOUR HELP.

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And don't forget to send in your favorite jokes to be featured in the next issue! November 2019 - 14

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

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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