Issuu

WINTER 2016

IN THIS ISSUE

THE CAVALIER

MARTA SMALLEY

THE VIEW: FALL FESTIVAL

SOCK IT TO ME

REAL FAMILIES

ALUMNI UPDATE

13 2

TRADITIONALLY SPEAKING We asked CVC 4th graders to share what

their families enjoy doing for the holidays!

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Reflections on Green Eggs and Ham From the Superintendent’s Desk I asked Leah to be “HERE” and Demi to be “THERE.” Betty Lou volunteered to be the “FOX,” Jared was the “MOUSE,” while Carson was the “GOAT” and Tommie, the “TRAIN.” I was in a second grade classroom reading one of my all-time favorite books, Green Eggs and Ham. Whenever I read that book, I like to have audience participation. And the audience is always happy to oblige. For those of you unfamiliar with the Dr. Seuss classic, Sam-I-Am is trying to convince the protagonist to eat green eggs and ham. The narrator of the story insists that he does not like green eggs and ham and continually refuses to eat them. He will not eat them in a box or with a fox; not in the rain or on a train; not in a boat or with a goat; not here, not there, not anywhere. So each of the second graders who secured a role in this drama had to know what their word rhymed with so they could shout their word at the appropriate time. When we got to “HERE” and “THERE” I just looked at Leah, then Demi, to cue them in. I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them Sam-I-Am! I do not like them on a boat, I do not like them with a -----. I do not like them in the rain, I do not like them on a -----. Not in a box, not with a ----. Not in a house, not with a ----. I do not like them H----, or TH----. I do not like them ANYWHERE. When we got to ANYWHERE, I allowed the whole to class to say it. I have learned from years of experience that it’s best to make them whisper ANYWHERE. Otherwise, it gets louder and louder as the book progresses, and we become way too disruptive to the classroom next door. At the end of the book (spoiler alert), Sam-I-Am wears down his friend and finally convinces him to try green eggs and ham. You do not like them. So you say. Try them! Try them! And you may. Try them and you may, I say.

I’ve been reflecting on this story since my second grade visit a couple weeks ago. I’ve been reflecting and doing a little soul-searching. This story is actually an accurate portrayal of my relationship with sushi. Except sushi and I have not yet reached the end of the book. I do not like sushi. I would not eat sushi here or there. I would not eat sushi ANYWHERE. I am also embarrassed to admit, I have never, ever tried sushi. I’m not interested. I am absolutely convinced I do not like it. In the spirit of confession and transparency, I will admit that my refusal to try something like sushi is a character flaw. Rest assured, Central Valley Christian Schools will not benefit or suffer as a result of my narrow culinary preferences, but if I allow that character trait to seep into other areas of my life, the school I’m trying to lead runs the risk of becoming stagnant and mediocre. Thus, I promise to work hard at keeping an open mind to better ways of doing things. Because we’ve always done it that way should not ever be our rationale for any activity. If that was the way CVC operated, we’d still be having chapel in the gymnasium, we would not be using iPads and Chromebooks, and we wouldn’t have agriculture classes or FFA. We need to stay open-minded on ways to improve. In his Sermon on the Mount, at least a halfdozen times, Jesus begins with the words, “You have heard it said…,” and concludes with the words, “but I say to you…” as he turned the world’s thinking upside down. Jesus was definitely not a because-we’ve-always-done-itthis-way kind of person. Jesus came and taught us to love our enemies, to never seek revenge, to not turn away from the one who wants to borrow, and to provide a jacket to the one suing the shirt off our back. Others: It’s Not About Us – that is what Jesus lived and taught and that should not just be our theme for the year; it should be our theme for life.

Central Valley Christian School 5600 W. Tulare Avenue Visalia CA 93277 559.734.9481

Email: admissions@cvc.org

Advertising and Content Information: Marissa Carpenter CVCS Marketing Director mcarpenter@cvc.org 559.798.5327

He tries them and, lo and behold, discovers that he likes green eggs and ham. Say! I like green eggs and ham! I do! I like them, Sam-I-Am! I do so like green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you! Sam-I-Am!

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MARTA SMALLEY

AIDING &

A BLESSING Written By Blake Hiemstra Middle School Principal

In a country with a beleaguered economy, having a job is a gift. Having a job that you love is a blessing. Working in a place that feels like a second home is a treasure. Serving as CVC’s Before/After School Care Director and Kindergarten Aide prompts Marta Smalley every day to offer prayers of gratitude for such a treasure. “Every day I say ‘Thank you, God, for my job.’ I never thought I’d work in a Christian school. This job is a blessing.” When looking at a CVC staff roster, it’s easy to see the diverse population of individuals and personalities God has brought together in this spot of earth. What’s a tad more difficult to see is the intricate tapestry God’s woven in the grander story of this school, how he’s taken the life stories filled with grace and woe and despair and triumph of a hundred individuals and threaded them together to accomplish his purposes at CVC. Some of these life stories stretch to places as exotic as Pella, Iowa, or Grand Rapids, Michigan. But some of the stories behind the people stretch even more globally, to different corners of the world. One such story of grace and God’s providence belongs to Marta. The long and winding road leading her to CVC began in El Salvador. Growing up in a country fractured and besieged by civil war meant experiencing plenty of eyeswide-open moments for young Marta. When she was just

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eleven years old, she and a friend walked to the store to get a birthday cake for Marta’s mom. While walking the aisles of the store, a bank robbery across the street turned the merriment of cake-shopping into a face-to-the-floor moment of anxiety. As robbers exited the bank, gunshots fired and left plenty of folks lifeless. Though Marta and her friend survived unscathed, the episode prompted Marta’s mom to declare from that moment on, “You’re going to church.” And go to church Marta did, becoming the impetus for a faith in Christ that’s carried her all the way to present day. Surviving in El Salvador meant many days in the safer confines of indoors and learning the power of fervent prayer. As a young woman, she heard her minister explain the life of a pastor’s wife. He said, “Being a pastor’s wife isn’t easy, but it’s a blessing.” Not dissuaded by the former, she latched on to the latter. “I want to be blessing,” she recalls. She prayed, “God, I want to go to other place and be blessing.” Making the trip from El Salvador to the United States seemed impossible, but, of course, our great God specializes in orchestrating beauty in the midst of insurmountable odds. Five times she tried to get a visa to the United States, and five times she failed. Finally, on the sixth (and perhaps last) try, she was granted a visa, and she stepped off the plane in Sacramento onto U.S. soil for the first time in 1999. Eventually she moved to Visalia and came into contact with a young pastor named Ted Smalley, who wanted to do a vacation Bible school outreach in Ivanhoe and needed a Spanish translator. Marta proved to be the perfect resource and for three straight years, she got to spend exactly five days doing VBS with Ted. Unfortunately the language barrier limited their interaction to plenty of smiles and head nods. Little did Ted know about Marta’s desire to be a pastor’s wife and to be a blessing. She recalls the exact moment clearly. “When I see Ted, God says, ‘It’s him.’” Soon their interaction wasn’t limited to VBS, and dating turned into engagement, which turned into marriage, which soon led to two little boys. With an earnest and sincere desire to train their sons in God’s ways, when their oldest son Teddy hit school age, Ted and Marta prayed to find the right school. Before driving to CVC for their initial interview, Ted and Marta prayed, “God, please give us a school that wants to partner with us to raise Christian young men and women.” After exchanging pleasantries with then-principal Mr. Postmus, he opened the interview with these words: “At CVC, we want to partner with families to raise Christian young men and women.” With as direct an answer as they could ask, Ted and Marta enrolled their son and started the journey familiar to many CVC parents.

her to apply for the job, which Marta did, albeit hesitantly, unsure if she’d really have a chance at the job. When Mr. Fakkema called and said, “Marta, we’d like to offer you a job,” she knew once again the power of a faithful God who simply answers the prayers of his children. Tears well up in her eyes as she recalls the blessing of that opportunity. “I am so blessed to have this job,” she declares. “It’s like my second home.” In addition to working in the kindergarten classroom, CVC hired Marta to direct the Before/After School Care program which allows working parents to drop off kids early and pick them up late. It’s a position Marta relishes and works hard in to build community. Each day after school with her crew of students ranging from kindergartners through 6th graders, she has them do their homework, leads them in a devotional and has a time of prayer with them. When 5:00 hits, sometimes she and her students are the only ones left on campus. She reassures them with these words: “God always protects us, and God always blesses us.” Indeed, the words are truths that she’s spent her whole life savoring.

A few years later younger son Caleb started in kindergarten, and Marta offered another fervent prayer. “God, give me job that allows me to be available for my sons.” When a bevy of applications at places all around the area proved fruitless, she simply volunteered in Mrs. Bons’ kindergarten classroom for the year. The following year a spike in kindergarten enrollment necessitated aides in each classroom. With Mrs. Bons seeing Marta’s value in the classroom, she encouraged 5

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REALTY

MELANY GAMBINI BRE LIC.01979616

559.786.2274

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Written By Marissa Carpenter

Middleschoolers: warming hearts since forever and feet since 2015. Truth is, it’s not hard to get a middle schooler to do really silly things. In fact, most of the time, they’ll do really silly things with no prompting at all! (Some of you may be more familiar with this fact of life than others.) But that’s part of what makes our 7th and 8th grade levels so amazing. This past September, our middle school got together to do the 2nd Annual Sock it to Cold Feet, successfully collecting and donating over 1,500 pairs of socks to those in need, all while sporting their wildest stars, stripes, and whatever-have-you on their stockings. Grand total of socks donated: 1542 pairs

FALL FESTIVAL

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Our Ag Education classes have started off strong, and the Central Valley Christian FFA Chapter is already halfway through one year of leadership training, competitions and sporting blue corduroy. They’re “on a mission to grow the tradition!”

Used Treasures in Tulare is looking for donations of time, money, and goods! Have some summer gear you need to part with? Bring it by! Have a free afternoon? Contact them to volunteer! Looking for a special Christmas sweater? Swing by! Used Treasures is a wonderful supporter of Central Valley Christian Schools--please visit them at 232 S K St, in Tulare.

Thank you to all who came to our Fall Festival in October--the annual fundraiser put on by the Mothers Club was bigger than ever and the weather was perfect. We loved seeing you there, and hope you were able to get a head start on your Christmas shopping! 12

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Traditionally Speaking Fourth Grade’s Family Traditions We asked CVC 4th graders to share what their families enjoy doing for the holidays!

My family’s New Year’s Eve tradition is that sometimes my family and friends the Hanses go up to Shaver. That day we go up to where the snow is and either ski or sled. They have a great ski lodge to ski up. The first time we went there on New Year’s Eve. I went on a ski lift. That night we pop open apple cider, take pictures, and play Spoons. -Grace Van Velson

For Christmas we always have a bag with all our cousins' names in it and then we get to pick one piece of paper, and whichever name you get, you have to give them a poem you wrote and a present that they put on their Christmas list. Then we go to our Oma’s usually and we say it in front of all our cousins. -Haylie deJong

On Christmas my family opens presents on Christmas Eve, so that on Christmas we can sleep in. On Thanksgiving my family goes to the Turkey Trot. -Ezra Schuyler

My Thanksgiving tradition with my family is we eat in our dining room and have a big Thanksgiving dinner and we tell each other what we are thankful for; we thank God for all he’s done for us. -Ella Burton

We always go to Illinois for Thanksgiving. Also my grandparents always come for Christmas and we make cookies and string popcorn. For New Year’s we celebrate my grandma’s birthday at midnight, then in the morning we watch the Rose Parade. -Samantha Wilson During the holidays, our family goes to my grandma’s house and sets up a Christmas village, with porcelain buildings and dolls. When that’s done, we put fake snow on the whole village. On New Year’s we watch the big ball drop on TV and my dad sometimes makes milkshakes. -Wesley Sabourin

On New Year’s we watch the ball drop and then when it does we shoot confetti poppers. And then we sleep. -Megan George For Christmas I open presents with family. We ride our bikes, too. For Thanksgiving we have a big dinner and ride our bikes. For New Year’s we have our friends over, too. We watch the New Year’s ball drop. -Austin Vander Tuig

"For Christmas I open presents with family. We ride our bikes, too. For Thanksgiving we have a big dinner and ride our bikes." —Austin Vander Tuig 13

DAY

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GRANDPARENTS

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Want to be a Cavalier?

You're invited to

EXPERIENCE CVC Spend time in class, attend chapel, and enjoy lunch on us!

Grades 1-6: December 14, January 25, February 22, March 22, April 19, May 3

Grades 7-8: December 7, January 11, February 8, March 8, April 5, May 10

www.cvc.org/experiencecvc or call 559.734.2684

Grades 9-12: December 8, January 12, February 9, March 9, April 6, May 4

OF CENTRAL VALLEY CHRISTIAN

What is your connection to CVC/history here? Our connection and history with CVC is very new. We relocated to Visalia last August for Jason's job as an orthopedic surgeon at Visalia Medical Clinic. We are originally from the East Coast but fell in love with California during the last four years that we spent in Southern California. Visalia seemed like a great opportunity for Jason to establish a practice and a great place for us to raise our family in a smaller community that is centrally located to all of the outdoor activities we enjoy.

What does your family enjoy doing together? With four young children, anything we do all together takes some planning and patience. We love doing things outdoors. We love a day that is free of obligations that we can spend at the beach or skiing or hiking in the mountains.

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s e l i i m a R eal F

What is your favorite thing about CVC? We love the people. We love our teachers and the love they clearly have for what they do and for the children. We love Mr. Fakkema for being such a hands-on and approachable principal. We appreciate Jason & Jennifer Mihalcin all of the staff and volunteers who make What does a normal day look Ava (5th grade); Emma (3rd grade); the school run. We greatly appreciate Mr. like in your household? Caroline (1st grade) and Callan (Pre-K) Schuringa and the bus drivers for keeping A normal day in our house is best our kids safe on their way to and from described as hectic. We always seem school. We are thankful that our children to be rushing to school, to activities, and can pray and they are surrounded by loving to practice for multiple sports. people. I think just being in a community like CVC we know that if we ever needed it we would be surrounded by prayer and love. We have What do you do after school? witnessed that time and time again over the last year. Although we thrive on staying busy, we cherish and savor those rare afternoons when there is little homework, no practice, and Jason How can the CVC community pray for you and your family? gets home early and we can have a relaxed meal together that Our prayer would be for our children to continue to grow in their faith isn't rushed. If we are lucky we get the chance to watch a movie and make good choices; and as parents that we would continue to trust together as a family. These moments are rare so they are special the path we are being led on and seek guidance along the way. when they happen.

The Mihalcin Family

What is your connection to CVC/history here? We are a brand new CVC family. Everything here is new for us, and we are excited to see what God has in store.

What does your family enjoy doing together? We love to love Jesus together as a family, especially as we travel and lead mission outreaches. We specifically lead teams to Mexico and the Dominican Republic where there are beautiful people whom we love and partner with. We also love spending time at the beach whenever we can and go on family dates. We love to explore and go on adventures together.

What does a normal day look like in your household? Life is busy these days. After getting ready and taking a painfully long time to get in the car, we What is your favorite thing do school, ministry, and about CVC? business. Thankfully we get We love that the staff here genuinely to do a lot of this together love and care for our kids. We have Raymond and Heather Corrales as we help run a non-profit received such a warm welcome. We discipleship program for are thankful for everyone’s kindness, Children: Ian (1st Grade) and Aimee (4 years old) young adults, and own our and that there is a genuine desire in own business helping people the staff to love and honor God. High live healthier lives. We do like to have dinner together as a family fives from Mr. Fakkema and saying hello to “the man in the orange and catch up and connect as much as possible. Time goes by fast. shirt” (John Schuringa) are daily highlights as well. We want to soak in as much of life as we can.

The Corrales Family

What do you do after school? After school is family time, dinner, homework, practice for various events, play time, and reading. Oftentimes we still have business work to do, so we try and connect with each other in the midst of it all.

How can the CVC community pray for you and your family?

We have a lot of things on our plate right now. Please pray for wisdom, joy, continued vision, direction and prosperity in all that we are involved with, including family, ministry, and business. We want to honor God with all that we believe He is entrusting to us. We want to love Him and others well. 17

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ALUMNI NEWS 1 Sharon (Dixon) Browatzke (‘86) and her husband Rick have served the urban poor for 27 years with World Impact, first in St. Louis, MO and now in Fresno, CA. Sharon has her M.A. in Administration & Organizational Leadership, and the Browatzkes have: “5 children, several church plants, numerous missional partnerships and hundreds of stories.” Janelle (Van Bockel) Gonzales (‘98) moved from Visalia to Eden Prairie, MN where she and her husband Raul are enjoying the twin cities. Janelle is currently working as a graphic designer for Brandpoint, a content marketing company.

2 Kinsie (Walters) Henrichs (‘10) married Joe on August 13, 2016, and they currently live in Azusa where Joe attends graduate school; Kinsie is launching her own design company called Kinsie Michelle Design Co. 3 Leah (Fynaut) Guerrero (‘08) and her husband Anthony welcomed their first child, Anthony Guerrero II, on September 11, 2016 in Lewis McChord, WA at the joint base. Shelly (Leyendekker) Stall (‘10) and her husband Daniel have moved to Escondido, California.

5600 W. Tulare Ave. | Visalia, CA 93277

CALENDAR OF EVENTS December 4

Eddy Boertje Replacement Blood Drive, HS Gym, 12-5pm

December 6

HS Choir / Band Christmas Concert, Chapel, 7pm

December 12

Mothers Club Meeting, MMC, 8:30am

December 13

K/1st Christmas Program, Chapel, 6:30pm

December 15

2nd/3rd Christmas Program, Chapel, 6:30pm

December 19-22

HS Exams

December 20

5th/6th Christmas Program, Chapel, 6:30pm

December 22

Half Day of School, 11:30am dismissal

December 23-January 8 January 16 January 17-27

No School - Martin Luther King Day CSF Spring Drive

January 19

4th Grade Night of Praise, Chapel, 7pm

January 21

High School Winter Formal, 5:30pm

January 28

TKMEA Honor Choir Concert, Chapel, 9am-4:30pm

February 6-10

Elementary Spiritual Emphasis Week / HS RAK / Breakout Week

February 16

No School - Farm Show

February 17

No School - Teacher In-Service

February 20-24

www.cvc.or g

Christmas Break

National FFA Week

February 20

No School - Presidents Day

February 27

MS/HS Band Concert, Chapel, 7pm