WINTER 2015/16
FFA IS COMING TO CVC What it means and how your child can benefit
IN THIS ISSUE
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CELEBRATING GRANDPARENTS DAY
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GET TO KNOW YOUR SCHOOL
CVC FALL FESTIVAL
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REAL FAMILIES OF CVC
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
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ALUMNI UPDATE
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AG EDUCATION COMING TO CVC
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From the Superintendent’s Desk
Dear Reader, A large part of this edition of the Cavalier is devoted to the new FFA/Agriculture program CVC is kicking off next school year. The idea of starting FFA was brought to me over a year ago and being a city kid who grew up only 20 miles outside of New York City, I needed convincing. We’re a school, after all. Don’t we have our hands full just focusing on academics? Aren’t the future farmers among us learning what they need right at home? A few things convinced me that this was a good idea. First, a knowledgeable and passionate FFA Steering Committee cast a vision for the potential impact on our ag-focused students. The second and third reasons came from Jesus and from Abraham Kuyper. Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, on earth …” Abraham Kuyper, a Dutch theologian, informed us, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not declare, ‘Mine!’” God yearns for his kingdom to be established right here, right now. He would like us to join him in that work of restoration. Mr. Kuyper reminds us that there is no place in all of life that is outside of that divine yearning. Christ is Lord of politics, of education, of families, of business … and of agriculture. This reminds me of a conversation I had several years ago with a parent in a previous school. When guys meet, the conversation almost always starts with, “So, what do you do for a living?” I’m not much for small talk, but even I can begin that conversation. The man’s response, “I’m in land development.” Not knowing much about land development and already having my fill of the small talk, I followed that up with, “How does your faith make a difference in land development?” I think I might have surprised him, but after two seconds of deep thought, he responded, “Honestly, Mr. Baker, I’ve never thought about that.” Every graduate of CVC has to have a better answer. Daily I walk these campuses and I know I’m rubbing elbows with future accountants, nurses, doctors, businessmen and women, and, next year, future farmers of America. Each of them needs the knowledge and skill to follow God’s call. They also need the passion and conviction to declare Christ as Lord of every square inch while living out His prayer, “May your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.”
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Grandparents Celebrating
A favorite CVC tradition is Grandparents Day. Our K-4th grade classes put on a program for their grandparents that packs out the high school gym, and all our elementary students enjoy classroom visits from their grandparents and grandfriends. We are honored to host CVC grandparents every year!
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Agricultural and FFA are coming to CVC!
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What it really means and how your child can benefit
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By Lauren Westera CVC Director of Marketing and Enrollment
W
hen a lifetime east coast suburbian marries a central valley farmer, both parties become aware of how much there is to learn about agriculture.
I grew up in Philadelphia and New Jersey, went to school outside Chicago, and studied abroad in Sydney before I moved to Visalia, where I met and married a Tulare farmer. Some real questions I thought or voiced in Year One include: “Man, a lot of people that live in the country have issues with their wells or something. Their fields are always flooded. I’d fix that, I mean don’t they have drought issues here?” (aka flood irrigation) “It’s so crazy that I always stop by the dairy when they happen to be milking! What are the odds, since it only happens once a day for an hour or two?”
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“Daniel, did you know we have a lime tree? They taste a little weird though.” (I said that in August. It turns out we have an orange tree. They are ripe in January.) Blonde or not, voicing any of those thoughts in this geographic area may set one back a bit in terms of perceived intelligence. If employed central valleyians are not themselves farmers, odds are they work in an agricultural-related field, or within an industry that serves the ag-employed population.
the partnership of church, home and school and providing regular worship and service opportunities for our students. It is because of this history of excellence in Christ-centered education that we are excited to add a full agriculture program to our high school, beginning fall of 2016! As we move forward with this program (including an FFA portion), we celebrate the opportunity for our students to become better equipped for success in the community in which we live. Our
As we move forward with this program (including an FFA portion), we celebrate the opportunity for our students to become better equipped for success in the community in which we live. For 35 years, CVC has provided excellent Christian education to members of this ag-heavy central valley community. We’ve offered exemplary sports programs, admirable arts offerings and a full range of events and opportunities for community involvement. Teachers use diverse methods to help students learn, from in-class lectures and assignments, to course-driven field trips, to cross-campus partnership and guest speakers and exhibitors. We’ve provided education from a distinctively Christian perspective, emphasising
goal is to ensure that every student — from those who wish to work in the medical field to the business world to agriculture — better understand the community in which they have grown up, and that they derive from this program leadership skills applicable to all career paths. To get a handle on this agriculture program and what it will look like at CVC, please peruse the following pages. As always, CVC is grateful for your partnership and trust!
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business world to agriculture better
FFA:
It does not stand for Future Farmers of America and other misconceptions
What is FFA?
FFA is a dynamic youth organization within agricultural education that changes lives and prepares students for premier leadership, personal growth and career success. FFA was created in 1928 as the Future Farmers of America; the name was changed in 1988 to the National FFA Organization to represent the growing diversity of agriculture. Over the past 79 years, FFA and agricultural education have grown to encompass all aspects of agriculture, from production farming, agribusiness and forestry to biotechnology, marketing and food processing. The FFA Mission: The California FFA Association is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
Is FFA and agricultural education the same thing?
FFA is part of agricultural education. The ag education model encompassess three overlapping portions, as listed below. 1. Instruction: Classroom and laboratory instruction is the foundation of all agricultural courses. Over 300 high schools in California offer standards-based instruction in agricultural education. Technical and academic content is made real by a “learn by doing” philosophy. Many courses meet high school graduation, University of California, and California State University system requirements. 2. SAE: Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Programs are individually specialized projects which empower students to apply concepts and principles learned in the classroom. Students experience unparalleled growth through their real world experiences in the three categories of SAE programs: Entrepreneurship (Ownership), Placement (Work Experience), and Agriscience (Research). SAE programs are curriculum based, documented, student managed, and recognized through degree and award programs.
3. FFA: “Learning to Do. Doing to learn. Earning to Live. Living to Serve.” The FFA motto exemplifies the impact made in countless members’ lives each year. As an intercurricular organization, students must be enrolled in agricultural education to be an FFA member. FFA provides unparalleled leadership development through motivational conferences, competitive career development events, community engagement and leadership offices.
Who is involved in FFA?
Today, nearly a half-million student members are engaged in a wide range of agricultural education activities, leading to over 300 career opportunities in the agricultural science, food, fiber and natural resources industries. Student success remains the primary mission of FFA. Sources: California Agricultural Education, North Carolina FFA Association
CVC & Ag Education: Where are we?
A committee was formed in the spring of 2014 to explore this possibility. The committee still exists today and is working through all the logistics of beginning the program. Committee members include high school principal Greg Wojczynski, chair Doug DeGroff, and school board vice president Art Van Beek, among others. Next steps for the committee include: ● securing a CA-certified ag teacher ● organizing class schedules to accommodate FFA with minimal impact on current offerings ● fundraising ● finalizing the curriculum tract/pathway ● finding/building classroom space The agricultural committee is made up of Doug DeGroff, Chris Nelson, Lauren Westra, Greg Wojczynski, Ron Colburn, Lisa Colburn, Mike Pitman, Mark Pate, Kellie Kroes, Kris Costa, Dane Nelson, Joel Bleeker, Willem DeBoer, Kent Mc Niece, Art VanBeek, Josh ZonneVeld, Beau Williamson and Chad Pinter.
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The CVC Fall Festival
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THAT GUY IN THE PARKING LOT Meet Mr. Schuringa, CVC Elementary’s traffic volunteer In the few central valley months that most make quick dashes between the warm house and the car, one man stands staunchly in the morning chill outside the exit at CVC’s elementary parking lot. Stop sign in hand, sporting a neon jacket, and often wearing Netherlands orange, Mr. John Schuringa is one of CVC’s most dedicated volunteers. “I started [directing traffic at the elementary] when they killed all those kids at Sandy Hook elementary school. When I heard about that, it really shook me up and I told my wife too, ‘This is getting ridiculous. I’m retired, why 12
don’t I monitor for the school around here because I’ve got to do something.’” And something Mr. Schuringa did. “I’ve got grandkids in [CVC] and I worked for the school and I know a lot of people at the school so I thought why don’t I spend a couple hours in the morning and walk around and see if everything is safe.” Though John admits there is no foolproof plan for protecting our students, he rests in the security that he is doing
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what he can. He enjoys meeting the families and kids and loves the energetic greetings he receives from students. His wife Alice fully supports John’s dedication to CVC in this way - although in John’s words: “I always told her I like it better than honey-dos!” CVC is thankful for John’s time and commitment to serving our community and our students — please send him a wave, a smile, or a “thank you!” the next time you drive past our elementary at 8:15 or 2:50!
Get to know Mr. Schuringa: Living the Story The following excerpt appears in Rooted: The Story of CVC, a recounting of CVC’s past, written by CVC middle school principal Blake Hiemstra and released last year in celebration of CVC’s 35th anniversary. Schuringa grew up in a Dutch household in Indonesia. At the tender age of 3, life took a dramatic turn when Japan occupied the country, sending John, his older brother and mom off to a Japanese concentration camp. With his dad getting shipped off to a similar camp for men, the family spent 4 ½ years apart under the most dire of conditions. Through the grace of God, they all survived, miraculously, especially in the case of John’s dad. He sat on a steam train bound for a death camp in Burma when the wheels on the train stopped moving and the train came to a halt. The Japanese had just surrendered after being bombed at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The train never reached its destination, and the family was able to reunite following a lengthy separation. Following the war, as a result of malnourishment in the camp, John suffered from severe stomach problems. Doctors gave him a 50/50 chance of survival. A steady diet of buttermilk served to alleviate his stomach problems enough to make them bearable, though the condition would continue to plague him for forty years. Years later John made his way from Indonesia to the Netherlands at the age of 14 and eventually he made the journey from Holland to Southern California. After relocating to the Visalia area, Schuringa opened a Visalia eatery called the Downtown Hut, but the venture didn’t prove very lucrative. When he landed in the hospital once again and was forced to sell the restaurant, David Lyon came calling on John with a question: “John, would you like to work at CVC?” With the school opening its own campus in the fall of 1982, it needed a custodian. Quite simply, Schuringa was the maintenance, groundskeeping, and janitorial department by himself. Though the to-do list never seemed to have a full page of check-offs, one thing made the job truly enjoyable: the students. Schuringa recalls with fondness the relationship he had
with the kids at CVC. “I enjoyed it so much because the kids were so good to me.” For Schuringa, this relationship with the kids meant that he never missed a single game. Schuringa definitely relished his role as CVC’s unofficial cheerleader, in his thick Dutch brogue belting out “C-V-C”. Anyone who recalls the early days of Cavalier Volleyball surely remember Mr. Schuringa standing on the back row of the bleachers waving his flag back and forth. The flag, which set him back about $150, was large and blue and featured the word “Cavaliers” on it. He’d pound the pole into the bleachers and wave it back and forth, drawing the delight and glee of the Cavalier faithful, and, as one might expect, the ire of the visiting team.
A request: If anyone has seen Mr. Schuringa’s flag, please return it to him. (He gave it to someone for a reunion and he never got it back. #findtheflag) 13
If there’s a word that anyone in a Christian circle has heard once, they’ve heard it a thousand times: blessed.
have made up the full educational offering we are able to provide today.
There are 10,000 reasons for our hearts to sing, 10,000 reasons to bless the Lord.
If it’s been awhile since you’ve set foot on campus, or if you’re just curious about CVC, then we’re pleased to introduce to you the CVC Community of 2015/16.
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CVC is no exception: we’ve been blessed to live in a country and county that not only allows the freedom for Christian education, but live in a community that supports it. Over the last 35 years, we’ve been blessed with land, buildings, classrooms, teachers, students and families that
Get a bird’s eye view of our crowd of supporters in the next few pages, and join us in prayers of thanks and celebration as we continue to uphold our mission, and partner with families and churches in the central valley.
Some churches represented include: Visalia and Hanford Christian Reformed, Tulare Community, Grace Community, Neighborhood, 1st Assembly of God, The Road, Trinity United Reformed, St. Mary’s Catholic, Gateway and Calvary Chapel
Top 5 Professions of our Parents
1,000
business
dairy
education
15%
12%
11%
CVC 10-YEAR ENROLLMENT: k-12
agriculture
healthcare
9%
7%
5% $200,000$250,000
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10%
800
$250,000 or more
700
CVC families’ range of annual income
600 500 400
$150,000$200,000
300
16%
200
$100,001$150,000
100 0
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12%
23% Skipped question or did not answer
17% Less than $50,000
21% $50,000-$100,000
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s e i l i m a F l a Re
The Rip Family
Mark (husband); Annette (wife); Jake (6th grade) Micah (4th grade) and Luke (2nd grade). Nate (3 years old) A NOMRAL DAY: A “normal” day for us starts with breakfast around the table. Breakfast leads into devotions, piano practicing, morning chores, and off to catch the bus to school. Afternoons are filled with snacks, homework, playing outside or with Legos. In the evenings we have dinner and devotions, followed by finishing up homework or playing a game. Other evenings include Cadets at our church or sports practices. WE LOVE: Our family enjoys camping, trips to the beach, bike rides, playing games, and playing football or basketball in the backyard. We also love to have people over. FAVORITE THING ABOUT CVC: At CVC our children learn more about God in every subject area and I love the way that transfers into their everyday lives. Whether it is noticing God’s creativity at an aquarium, connecting what they learned in Bible class to our devotions, or praying with someone who is homeless, we see the lasting imprint CVC leaves on our children’s hearts and minds. PRAY: Pray that we trust God in our daily journey and we learn more about His love for us each day.
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The Holt Family Joseph (Husband); April(Wife) Isaiah (12th grade); Sarah (10th grade)
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OF CENTRAL VALLEY CHRISTIAN A NORMAL DAY: Typically, it runs around work, the kid’s school schedule, practices and games, band events and church activities. WE LOVE: We definitely enjoy hanging out with family and friends food and conversations. We love the outdoors, during the valley heat we hang out by the pool and during the cooler weather, we are roasting marshmallows for s’mores by the fire. We also love to travel and explore new places and during the summer we usually go overseas to visit with family. FAVORITE THING ABOUT CVC: During over a decade at CVC we have priceless friendships and unforgettable memories, but most importantly we feel beyond blessed for our children’s Christian education and their spiritual growth.
The Puckett Family
Natalie (7th grade); Nicholas (Freshman) and Jeff & Renata Puckett
A NORMAL DAY: There are no normal days really. We are a busy family with work, school, church, sports, etc. We enjoy relaxing at home on the weekends when we can. WE LOVE: We really enjoy eating out and watching movies together. We have a large extended family and enjoy time with them as well.
PRAY: We would appreciate prayer for God’s guidance, his wisdom, health and our children continue to know God better through his study and are equipped for the future to fulfill His plan in both their lives as well as ours.
WHAT PEOPLE DON’T KNOW: Before we had kids Joseph was in several rock bands and we traveled all across California. PRAY: Please pray for us as our kids transition into college in the next few years. That we will all continue to follow God’s plan as our family dynamic changes.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT CVC: That it is a community of believers with sound biblical teaching and the teachers care about ours kids success.
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Alumni Update Dec 2015
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Katie Udell ‘13 competes in pole vault, long jump and triple jump on the track and field team at Corban University in Salem, OR. She currently holds the Corban University pole vault record, and is the shortest athlete to even compete for Corban University in track and field.
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2 Bre Koetsier Slegers ‘07 and husband Jarred welcome their 2nd baby, Tori Brynn, on June 4th, 2015 in Richland, Washington. 3
Eric Adams ’08 married Ashley Jones on October 24, 2015 at Coto De Caza near Mission Viejo, Ca. They will reside in Costa Mesa, Ca. Eric works for Surterre Realty in Newport Beach, as a graphic designer. Ashley is an independent wedding photographer. Both graduated from Biola University in 2012.
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Kevin Kampen ‘09 graduated from UC Davis in June 2015 with a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. He is currently working at Micron Technology in Folsom, CA as a Product Engineer on the Non-Volatile Memory Solutions Group Team.
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