DECEMBER • 2014
•
Sports Shorts The football team wrapped up one of its best regular seasons since moving to Division 4. The team went 9–1 this year and received the number two seed for the Division 4 playoffs. Despite being moved up from Division 3 to Division 2, the CVC volleyball team won the CSL this year and competed at a national level tournament in Las Vegas called the Durango Fall Classic. They also took 3rd place at the highly competitive tournament called Spikefest II in Milpitas, CA. The Cavaliers received the number one seed for the Division 2 playoffs. Girls’ tennis finished one of their best seasons in the history of the sport at CVC. The team was given the number six seed in playoffs and ended up finishing as the runner-up for the Division 5 section title.
The Girls’ Cross Country squad is ranked in the top three in the state in Division 4. They are favored to win the Central Sequoia League, win the Division 4 Valley title, and finish the season in the top three in the state. The Boys’ Cross Country runners are competing well and should compete for a top-three finish at the Valley Championships in Division 5. The Girls’ Golf team was CSL Champion this year. Lindsey Vizzolini was the low scorer for the Central Sequoia League.
C VC ADMINISTRATIVE PERSPEC TIVE – by Doug Vander Schaaf, CVCMS Principal
Raising Our Ebenezer
A
s you peruse this issue of The Cavalier, you are most likely in the throes of the holiday season. Thanksgiving has come and gone, and it is now the fast track to Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve. For most of the CVC community, I imagine the focal point is Christmas. Despite all the commercialism, it is the high holiday where we especially recognize and celebrate God’s greatest gift, Jesus Christ. During the Christmas season it is likely that sooner or later one will hear the name Ebenezer Scrooge from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol fame. It’s probably the Scrooge part of the name that is most well-known and attention-grabbing. Scrooge is not so much a name anymore, but rather a term to describe someone who is not in a celebratory spirit and unwilling to recognize and participate in the joy of the season. The name Ebenezer is a much less-used name and term. Aside from the occasional Southern Baptist Church using it to identify itself, Ebenezer has not hit a high point in popular jargon. For those who know the story of the Bible however, Ebenezer does have a special significance and should be a bit more familiar. It is rather curious that Ebenezer, in its origin and meaning, is the opposite of the connotation of Scrooge. In 1 Samuel 7 we find the prophet and the people of Israel under attack by the Philistines. The Israelites asked Samuel to pray for victory in battle. Samuel then offered a sacrifice to God and prayed for His protection. God responded to Samuel by causing the Philistines to lose the battle and consequently, they were driven back to their own territory. 1 Samuel 7:12 records the response of Israel and Samuel after the victory: “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up...and called its name Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’” Ebenezer comes from a Hebrew term that simply means “stone of help.” On several occasions we read in the Old Testament that the people of Israel set up “standing stones,” like Ebenezer, as a reminder of His supernatural acts, protection and faithfulness. It was intended that the story behind the stone be passed down to future generations. This year we are celebrating 35 years of God’s faithfulness at Central Valley Christian School. In gratitude for all that God has done for us, we are looking to raise a number of standing stones. The new mural on the original CVC classroom building is one of those stones. Stones of special events and celebrations will be raised throughout the year. (“Ebenezer...” continues on page 2)
2 (“Ebenezer...” continued from page 1)
Most of the stone-raising this year will be in recognition of, and in thankfulness for, what God has done in the past. That is a right and proper thing to do for an anniversary. We must not, however, neglect to look forward to the raising of stones in the future. In fact, that is what the mission of Christian education at Central Valley Christian is all about. The apostle Peter, in the second chapter of his first epistle writes of “living stones” (vs. 4, 5): “As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” And what is the purpose of a living stone? (vs. 9) You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Raising Ebenezers and living stones is the task of Christian education. We recognize and celebrate what God has done for us, and we respond by educating and equipping our children – His children – to live in service and dedicated to the bringing of His Kingdom. Rock on! Doug Vander Schaaf is the CVC Middle School principal and teacher of eighth grade Bible at CVC. Thirty-five years ago he, along with fellow CVC educator Dan Ruiter, was a member of a Christian music group in western Michigan. The name of the band?... Ebenezer.
Used Treasures The proceeds from your Used Treasures donations go to the CVC Endowment Fund. The Endowment Fund helps keep the tuition down. Please donate your unwanted items to Used Treasures (a Quality Thrift Store), 232 S “K” St., Tulare, CA. Phone 685-8919. You may bring your donations for Used Treasures to the shed in front of the Middle School. Thank you.
Cultivating responsible Christian adults
aluing Vacademic excellence
The New CVC Mural Mural Specifics
▲ 1,000 tiles – all painted by hand ▲ 50 feet long ▲ Displayed on the CVC Middle School building because it was the first building on our campus
Reason Thirty-five years ago, God led a small group of men and women to step out in faith and build a school. Today we celebrate their obedience, overflowing with thankfulness that we get to be part of this incredible, Christcentered academic institution. The mural that the school commissioned is designed to be a reminder of God’s faithfulness and leading over these past 35 years. It is not a comprehensive history of every event and person. It is not a record of who is the most important. It is designed simply to remind you of God’s faithfulness. When you view the mural and are reminded of events from the past 35 years, it is our hope that you will share your stories with one another. Remember and communicate how CVC has impacted you. Celebrate the work that God is doing. This school is bigger than any person, any class, any team, any committee or any church. This school is here today because of God’s faithfulness...and man’s obedience. We hope this mural causes you to overflow with thankfulness about what God continues to do here. We hope it inspires you to continue living your lives through His power and according to His leading. We hope it challenges you to remain rooted in Christ. We hope that it strengthens your faith and your commitment to the cause of Christ. Throughout history, artists have used a dove to symbolize God’s Spirit or God’s presence. Doves show up in countless paintings in the Christian tradition. To indicate God’s faithful leading over the past 35 years, there are 35 little doves hidden within the mural. Please enjoy the mural...find the doves...share your stories...and thank God for His faithful leading here at CVC.
Connecting Biblical truths with everyday living
haping SChrist-like behavior
3
A Big “Thank You!” to All Our CVC Volunteers Volunteers are an integral part of the CVC story. Without volunteers we would not be able to effectively operate our libraries, our hot lunch program or our middle and high school sports, just to mention a few things. We would like to take this chance to say “Thank you” to all of those who are currently volunteering and have volunteered in the past. Mother’s Club Mother’s Club is comprised of seven or eight board members who depend solely on volunteers to operate. Their primary function is fundraising in order to purchase large items for the school grounds and class rooms that are not provided for in our budget. During the 2013-2014 school year, Mother’s Club raised $45,103 through the Fall Festival, Farm Show ice cream sales, CVC merchandise, Box Tops for Education, Fugazzi’s, Jamba Juice, milk caps and Target. Their big contribution last year was the preschool play structure that cost $17,967. They also purchased the MMC window coverings, provided funds for the hearing/ speech and vision screenings, and funded bus rider of the week awards, as well as the third grade ice cream party for learning multiplication, the book club rewards, the teacher appreciation lunch, the popsicles for Blue & White Day and two $500 scholarships. This year they have raised $19,272 through the Fall Festival, Jamba Juice and milk caps. They have approved the following purchases for our school thus far this year: a shade for the kindergarten, resource test updates, library software updates, middle school sports uniforms, new drills for the Industrial Arts program, a water bottle filling station and microcontrollers for a new class in the high school (see the article on page 6). Scrip Program The CVC Scrip Program has donated $100,000 the past two years, and this money has been designated solely for text books. The CVC Scrip Program is run and operated by volunteers. The volunteers are supervised by Ruth De Leeuw and Glenda Vander Maarl. Geri Leyendekker, Loretta Scheenstra, Monica Schotanus, Jeanie McGuigan and Susie Hesse have given up a couple hours of their time each week for many years (an average of 12+ years). We love and appreciate each one of them and all they do! Middle School Sports What Ms. Brooke loves most about the middle school sports program are the amazing coaches who take time out of their busy lives to mentor and teach these young athletes. At CVCMS we have a no-cut policy when it comes to sports. Everyone makes the team. We feel this is the perfect time for students who might be interested in a sport to come out and play. It helps them gauge whether or not they may want to continue that sport in high school. The no-cut policy makes for some pretty large teams. Our coaches really embrace this policy, involving each athlete in the game. They demonstrate a Christian perspective in
their coaching philosophy, shaping these young athletes with Christ-like characteristics. They take time away from their own families daily to coach with little to no pay. Some take their stipend and donate it right back to the middle school athletic program. What a blessing that is. We are thankful for these parents, grandparents, youth pastors, family friends and teachers who the athletes call “coach.” They certainly deserve a pat on the back and a thank you. We would not have an athletic program without them! Boosters During football and volleyball season it takes 25 volunteers each week to run the concession stands and approximately ten people each week during basketball season. In the past year the Boosters’ Club has purchased all the appliances for the new football concession stands, new uniforms for the sport teams, the pole vault pit for the track team, and has paid for coaching conferences for our coaches. Elementary Library Volunteers in the elementary library are essential to the library program. There are 60+ volunteers who come in one to two times a month to check in students’ books, shelve books and check out new books to students. Having library volunteers come in to help with these tasks enables the librarians to teach important literary and technology skills in the library and computer lab. There are many more individual volunteers who give of their time in many areas of our school. Evelyn Vanderham has faithfully come to CVC once a week to help provide one-on-one academic support to first graders by reviewing sight word flash cards and helping them complete unfinished assignments. Professionals (Dave Satterlee, Mike Spicer, Katrina Bartel and Christine Lopes) help with the eighth grade CPR and drug/alcohol awareness presentations as well as the eighth grade sex education classes. Jorge Matos helps with setting-up guest speakers and putting on two programs during the year for the high school Agricultural Science class. Carron Kuns volunteers as our K–3 music teacher on Thursdays and directs our Grandparents’ Day, Christmas and spring programs. Liz Greidanus and Tami Terrazas volunteer as K–12 nurses as their schedules permit. John Schuringa is our school safety volunteer who patrols our school every morning. And of course, we have many more unnamed hot lunch, yard duty, library and classroom volunteers who faithfully serve every day!
Coming Soon to a CVC School Near You!
4
CVC Alumni News Calling all instrumentalists!
Do you play a brass, woodwind or percussion instrument? Would you like to combine with the Cavalier Band to be a part of the 35th Festival Band at the March 2, 2015, band concert? If so, contact Mr. Daniels at steved@cvc.org for more information. Instrumentalists should be able to play music at a high school or higher level.
Graduations
Kassie Kampen (’09) will graduate December 19, 2014, from Texas A&M with a Masters of Agribusiness. She is currently entertaining offers from companies located in Texas in the field of finance and leaning on God’s guidance as to where her next adventure in life will begin. Curtis Bosma (’10) graduated from Calvin College in May of 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Marketing, with a minor in Economics. In July he passed his Series 3 Commodity, Futures and Options Test and is now qualified as an NFA Licensed Broker. Curtis is working in Chicago, Illinois, for High Ground Trading Group as an account manager. Caitlin Branderhorst (’10) graduated from Vanguard University of Southern California in May 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology. She is now working as the Donations Coordinator at Second Harvest Food Bank in Irvine, CA. Adam Walters (’10) will graduate from Texas Christian University, Neeley School of Business, with a BA in Entrepreneurial Management in December, 2014. Nicole Marshall (’11) graduated from Fresno Pacific University in May, 2014, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. Now she attends Fresno State for her Masters degree in Experimental Psychology.
Marriages
Dustin Berlinger (’07) and Melissa Mellema (’07) were married on November 8, 2014, at the Visalia Country Club. They are residing in Visalia where Dustin is employed by West Coast Sand and Gravel, and Melissa is a real estate agent. Justin Grieb and Brittany Wilson (’08) were united in marriage on October 11, 2014, at the Visalia Country Club. Jacob Kitson (’09) and Michelle Sytsma (’09) were united in marriage on October 17, 2014 at 7 Sycamores Ranch in Ivanhoe, CA. They are currently residing in Visalia where Michelle is a nurse at Kaweah Delta, and Jacob is a youth pastor at Tulare Community Church. Robby Diepersloot and Erica Nederend (’09) were married on October 4, 2014 in Newport Beach, CA. They are currently living in Madera where Robby is working on the family dairies, and Erica is working for Oracle. Dave Kraina and Caitlin Branderhorst (’10) were united in marriage on September 5, 2014, at La Cuesta Ranch in San Luis Obispo. They are residing in Costa Mesa, CA. Levi Paulin and Marissa Hamar (‘07) were united in marriage on October 24, 2014, at Visalia Christian Reformed Church and celebrated with a reception at the Hamar home. They are currently living in Porterville where Levi is a farmer, and Marisa is helping with the family farm.
Births
Art (’99) and Jamie De Haan were blessed with a daughter, Ruth Anne, on October 17, 2014. AJ (’02) and Jeannie (Hilarides, ’03) De Groot welcomed a son, Dallas John, on October 17, 2014. Jason (’07) and Michele De Groot were blessed with the birth of their first child, Luke Andrew, on September 25, 2014.
Alumni Accomplishments
Congratulations to Cami Mora (’13) in making the cut for USC’s top acapella singing group – The SoCal VoCals!
Special Recognition
On October 10, 2014, CVC alumni Gerrit DeJong (’96) was recognized by the Tulare Victim Advocacy Center of Tulare County and awarded the 2014 Virtue Award. When asked about his experience at CVC as a student and the influence the CVC community has had in his life, Gerrit responded: “My years at CVC have been absolutely vital to many of the successes in my life, including professional, personal, and spiritual. There are too many influential people or special times to select any specific ones during my time at CVC, but I can say without question the scholastic and Biblical teachings I received are exactly the reason my children attend/will attend CVC. It’s been such a blessing to see how much the school has changed and grown since I re-entered the CVC culture when my daughter began preschool. Seeing all of the familiar faces again reminds me of that close-knit community feeling my family and I enjoyed while I was attending there. My wife Kim and I are looking forward to getting involved with the school now as parents.” The following statement was on the Tulare Victim Advocacy Center of Tulare County FaceBook page: It is with great pleasure we announce Officer Gerrit DeJong of the Visalia Police Department as the recipient of our 2014 Virtue Award. The word virtue means “strength or courage; bravery; valor and moral excellence.” This award recognizes a member of law enforcement who consistently displays these qualities in the manner in which he or she carries out the responsibilities that come with the honor of wearing a badge. Gerrit began his career with the Visalia Police Department in 2003. He has served in the patrol division, was a K9 officer (where he won numerous awards with his K9 partner “Samson”), an explorer advisor, a member of the rapid response team, and a defensive tactics instructor. Gerrit is currently working as a Youth Services officer assigned to Mt. Whitney High School. Gerrit has also had the opportunity to work in the Violent Crimes unit handling follow up investigations and working with victims of crimes. Gerrit believes that having compassion for victims, helping them pick up the pieces of their lives, and empowering them to get through the legal process and continue on is a responsibility shared by every police officer. This belief is apparent in the manner in which Officer DeJong carries out his duties, and we are proud to honor him with the Virtue Award at our upcoming Taste of Triumph Event. Please join us in congratulating Officer DeJong for receiving this award.
Email your alumni news and information to: sdweststeyn@gmail.com, admissions@cvc.org or lwestra@cvc.org
5
Celebrating 35 years of God’s Faithfulness
– S A V E T H E S E D AT E S – Friday, February 13, 2015 CELEBRATION BANQUET
Special Guest Speaker: Henry Lengkeek Rooted: The Story of CVC will be available Location: Koetsier Ranch Tickets will go on sale in January
Saturday, February 14, 2015 Faculty, Friends & Alumni Concert
2014–2015 CVC School Board Back row (left to right): Linda Moons, Roger Fluegel, Keith Visser, Matt Verdegaal, Jon Bushnell, Nick Leyendekker and Ellie De Hoop; Bottom row, (left to right): Tim Souza (VP), Rich Vander Tuig (President), John De Leeuw (Superintendent), Donna Zwart (Treasurer) and Dan Altena. Not pictured: Tom Koetsier and Dave Johnson.
Of Note...
Seniors Peter Toms and Kayla Vander Schuur have qualified to be “Commended Students” in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended Students are recognized for their exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their outstanding performance on the PSAT. Five CVC juniors were chosen to participate in the Tulare County Farm Bureau Leadership Program: Madalyn Souza, Emily Cross, Brady Pate, Sara Valcheschini and Shani Slabber. The Tulare County Farm Bureau’s Youth Leadership Program began in 1983 as a unique opportunity for high school students to develop their leadership skills. Since its inception, the program has trained over 500 young adults, many of which have gone on to pursue agricultural fields of study in college and beyond. The Farm Bureau seeks to recruit young adults that have strong potential for developing leadership skills in all fields of study. Congratulations to Lindsey Calvin and Veronica Nederend who have signed to play volleyball next year with St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA (a suburb of Oakland), and Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, respectively. CVC sophomore Libby Hill will be participating in the CA Regional Honor Choir November 20–22 at Clovis North High School. Congratulations, Libby!
Transition for “The Cavalier”
For the past eleven years The Cavalier has been published in a newsletter format. In 2015 The Cavalier will transition from a bi-monthly to a quarterly publication. Watch your mailbox early next year anticipating a fresh look. Thank you to all who have contributed articles, information and pictures over these last eleven years. The newsletter coordinators, Shelly Weststeyn and Bernita Vander Schaaf, would like to give a special note of thanks to Blake Hiemstra and Julie Cardoza for their expertise and willingness to proof issues of The Cavalier over these years, and to Chuck Romer for his creative graphic design.
CVC Chapel • Free admission
DECEMBER 1
Visalia Christmas Parade - MS/HS Bands participating 2 ASAPH at the Holiday Chamber Choir Concert, 7:00 pm, COS Theater 8 Mothers’ Club Meeting, 8:15 am, Elementary MMC 8 HS Boosters’ Club Meeting, 5:30 pm, Gym Foyer 8 HS Choirs/Band Christmas Concert, 7:00 pm, Chapel 9 K/1st Christmas Program, 6:30 pm, Chapel 11 2nd/3rd Christmas Program, 6:30 pm, Chapel 15-19 HS Finals 16 5th/6th Christmas Program, 7:00 pm, Chapel 19 End of 2nd Quarter 19 11:30 Dismissal - Beginning of Christmas Holiday Dec 22–Jan 2 Christmas Holiday – No School
JANUARY 2015 5 5
School resumes Financial Aid Night for HS Seniors, 7 pm, MPR 12 5th-8th Grade Geography Bee, 1:30 pm, Chapel 12-23 HS California Scholarship Federation Spring Drive 15 4th Grade Night of Praise, 7 pm, Chapel 17 HS Honor Band Auditions for select students 19 Martin Luther King Holiday, No School for K–12 20 4th-6th Grade Spelling Bee, 12:45 pm, Chapel 20 7th/8th Grade Spelling Bee, 2:00 pm, Chapel 31 Tulare/Kings Honor Choir Concert, 3:00 pm, Chapel 31 HS Winter Formal, 8–10 pm, Visalia Convention Center
In This Issue Raising Our Ebenezer Page 1 New CVC Mural Page 2 Volunteers Page 3 Alumni News Page 4 CVC School Board Page 5 Save These Dates Page 5 Looking Ahead Page 5 Of Note Page 5 Robots... at CVC? Page 6
Robots... at CVC? Starting this year, the high school science and tech departments have teamed up to offer a new class called “Micro-controllers and Machines.” It started one lunch period last winter when Ben Houseward and I were talking about how to get kids into programming. Ben said that coding becomes more enjoyable when it is used to drive motors and remote sensors. For me, that was a new idea. My code had always been limited to the computer screen. But how do you drive motors with a computer? Aren’t they something you just plug into a USB port? Ben told me motors are driven by a small circuit board called a micro-controller. The controller plugs into a computer so it can be programmed. Motors are then wired up to it and move according to the code written and placed in the micro-controller. The circuit boards are essentially in-between devices that bridge the gap between a PC and the motor. After that I was able to see why these little devices would make programming more enjoyable; this is how robots work! Of course it goes without saying that robots ooze with coolness. Who wouldn’t want to learn coding language in order to make one? Ben smiled and agreed.
From that point Ben and I decided CVC needed to offer a class with micro-controllers as the primary subject, and we quickly hammered out a project-based curriculum. For this class, I meet with eight seniors during the last period of the day, and we play with computers, controllers, and motors. It took them a few weeks to learn the essentials. They had to put together a hodgepodge of C++ programming language, basic electronics, and soldering. We did all this in the first quarter. It really was a crash course in these things. Just this month though, we have started to drive motors. Soon I expect little machines to be driving around the room and the parking lot out back. – by Steve Gann, CVCHS Science and Micro-controllers and Machines teacher