May 2010

Viking May 2010

The

Lakeland Christian School

Young Olympians ­ Compete in Annual Games

“like a tree... planted by the stream...”

Like a Tree

Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:8

By Dr. Mike Sligh, Headmaster

In the arid climates of the ancient near east, where a

As ­parents,

tree was planted made all the difference. The psalmist and

we make d ­ ecisions

the prophet Jeremiah both used this word picture to contrast

every day about

the lives of those who trust in God with those who trust in

where we will

­themselves. Since a tree can’t plant itself, its future success

“plant” our

rested on a decision by another. There are parallels to the

children. The

­decisions we make about where we “plant” our children.

Christian school

The psalmist warned of wicked counsel, wayward

provides a unique

­lifestyles, and a cynical, scornful attitude (Psalm 1:1). By

­opportunity

contrast, the tree planted by the stream reflected one who

for children to

meditated on God’s law day and night (Psalm 1:3). The deep

be c­ onstantly

roots drawing life from the water below enabled the tree to

rooted near the

“This ‘Living Water’ nourishes the soul and equips the heart and the mind for ‘when the heat comes.’”

bear fruit and prosper. The stream was

­life-giving stream

a ribbon of life piercing the desert.

of biblical truth.

The tree by the stream was

This “Living

described by the prophet Jeremiah as

­Water” ­nourishes

reflective of the one who was blessed

the soul and equips the heart and the mind for “when the

because he t­ rusted in the Lord (Jeremiah

heat comes.” Let’s face it; the “heat” comes into all of our

17:7). The roots by the stream drew life

lives in ­various forms from time to time. The “drought” of

from the ­water. As a result, the blessed

suffering, ­loneliness, and disappointment are standard fare in

man “will not fear when the heat

our fallen world.

comes” and “is not anxious in the year

The church provides a unique setting for us to hear the

of drought.” (­ Jeremiah 17:7, 8) The root

Word proclaimed and to have our perspective restored as we

system ­facilitated real flourishing, not

ascribe worth to our God in worship. Our spirits are renewed

just ­survival.

by the Word and by fellowship with the people of God. The

Jeremiah portrayed the man who trusted in his own flesh and his own way as a shrub planted in the desert. It was useless and unproductive and depended on the day to day environmental circumstances for its continued existence.

family who faithfully worships together develops a root ­system that can provide stability and strength.

As parents and teachers, there is no substitute for our individual worship of God. The intentional decision to invest

The trees planted by the stream illustrate for

time in our own personal reading and meditating on God’s

us lives of stability, fruitfulness and freedom from

Word is essential if we are to develop our own root system.

fear. The shrubs in the desert were unproductive,

Our times of prayer – confession of sin, giving thanks, and

like the chaff described in Psalm 1. It was blown

petitioning our Heavenly Father regarding our daily needs

away by the wind and was worthless (Psalm 1:4).

– provides an authenticity of relationship with God that

The description of these useless, u ­ nproductive, hollow lives leaves one with a sense of ­emptiness, vulnerability, and despair.

The application to be drawn from these Old Testament word pictures is both simple and powerful. Where our tree is planted makes all

extends far beyond nominal religiosity.

As we face uncertain times, it is even more essential that we prepare our children well by making wise choices about where we “plant” them. The time to develop the ­orientation and the strength of the root system is before “the heat comes.” The earlier the roots are developed the more resilient the tree. We must take advantage of every opportunity to

the difference. continued on page 3

Elementary Olympics – A Spring Campus Highlight While the 2010 Winter Olympics were taking place in Vancouver, ­British ­Columbia, a different type of Olympics were taking place on the campus of ­Lakeland Christian School. Instead of downhill skiing, ­curling and speed ­skating, the ­students were competing in the obstacle course, low hurdles and relay races. Our young ­Olympians marched proudly onto the ­playing fields in their class colors, with ­parents and teachers cheering them on from the sideline.

The annual Elementary Olympics is one of the most anticipated events for students in grades K4-5, as well as in the Discovery ­Program. This year’s games were held at the end of February in Viking Stadium. Each elementary grade competed during either the morning or afternoon. Events included a softball throw, low hurdles, running ­competitions such as the 440-yard dash, mile race and relay races, as well as an obstacle course and the running long jump. Each student trained for and ­participated in three events.

The Olympics are organized and run by the PE coaches, and National Honor Society students were on hand to help with the measuring and timing of events. At the end of the week, an awards ceremony was held to honor the top eight boys and the top eight girls who won ribbons in each event. An overall ­winning class was also chosen from each grade.

This annual tradition continues to honor the memory of Mrs. Vicky ­Dawson, our beloved PE coach and Olympics ­coordinator, who passed away in 2007.

in this issue p2-3 __________________ Gifts Bless LCS

p12-13 __________________ Sports

p4-6 __________________ Fine Arts

p14-15 __________________ Alumni

p8-9 __________________ Creation Care

p17 __________________ Mark Your Calendar 1

Seven-Figure Gift Names New LCS Facilities $1.5 Million A Major Campaign Boost Lakeland Christian School has

The Jenkins Wing – on the

for students will now be known as

been blessed over and over again by the

first floor of the Elementary/Middle

the Anne MacGregor Jenkins Wonder

open-hearted generosity of people from

School building – is the home of the

Room. This special facility on the second

the Lakeland community and across

special program for the Christian

floor was also dedicated during the

the country. And now the campus

education of students with Autism

April 16 ceremony.

will bear the name of the man who

Spectrum ­Disorder. The Discovery

most c­ onsider to be the “father of

Program began several years ago in

­arrived at a better time, as the school

­philanthropy” in Lakeland.

one small ­classroom in the oldest

seeks to wrap up the transformational

area on ­campus. This new facility,

­Deliver the Dream expansion campaign.

Wing was formally dedicated on

however, provides the students with

Over the past four years, LCS has moved

April 16, named for the founder of

two ­extra-large classrooms specially

forward with the most massive expansion

Publix ­Super Markets, who long ago

equipped with technology, instructional

in school history, spending $23 million

­established a pattern of generous ­giving

aids and other apparatus essential

to ­provide beautiful, spacious, high-tech

to his community. The wing was

to the education and development of

­facilities for students.

named as a result of a $1,000,000

these very special children.

The George W. Jenkins Discovery

gift from the George W. Jenkins Fund

At the same time, LCS received a

These marvelous gifts couldn’t have

The signature building on campus is now the three-story, 71,000 square-foot

within the Community Foundation

$500,000 contribution from the Anne

Elementary/Middle School building. In

of Greater Lakeland. This generous

M. Jenkins Fund within the Community

­addition, LCS has expanded parking, ­created

­donation was provided to the Deliver

Foundation of Greater Lakeland to

a new main entrance, constructed Viking

the Dream campaign earlier this year.

name the scientific discovery center in

Stadium, added a new Center for Early

the Elementary/Middle School building.

Childhood Education (for K4/K5), built a

This “living laboratory” of exploration

new maintenance complex, and relocated Administrative Offices.

LCS has now received $20 million in campaign commitments, leaving only $3 million remaining to be raised. ­Included in the gift totals are a stunning seven 7-figure commitments, the most ­amazing display of g ­ enerosity has truly ­transformed the landscape of Lakeland Christian School.

However, the campus ­expansion is truly all about ­students and the excellent ­Christian education of children and young people. Every dollar given plays a critical role in the sharpening of minds and ­shepherding of hearts of the next generation. continued on next page LCS Director of Advancement Steve Wilson, far left, and Headmaster Dr. Mike Sligh, far right, are joined by Brenda Craft and Gregory Fancelli, ­representatives of the George W. Jenkins Fund within

2

the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland.

Like a Tree

continued from inside front cover

develop the root system of our young people, in preparation for the “droughts” of life that we know are ahead.

There has never been a more critical time to plant as many young people as possible near the stream of living water offered by Christian schooling. The Christian school, complemented by the God-ward

The April 16 ceremony included the unveiling of the Ann McGregor Jenkins Wonder Room.

focused worship in the church, and family worship in the home can be used by the Lord to cultivate mature root systems in our young people.

continued from page 2

If you are currently an LCS parent, I applaud your commitment to

For more information on the

“plant” your child (ren) at LCS! If you are one of our supportive donors,

­development of LCS, or to find out

I commend your investment in the “root systems” of our students.

how you can help wrap-up the Deliver

I invite all of you to join with us in prayer for the ministry of LCS.

the Dream campaign, please contact

Please pray that the Lord would use us in this important process of

Director of Advancement Steve Wilson

developing strong root structures for our students. Thank you for your

at swilson@lcsonline.org or at

partnership in developing the roots that will provide resilience and

863/688-2771. Other exciting naming

life for future generations.

­opportunities are still available!

Memorial Gifts Provide SMARTboard for Classroom Gifts to LCS allow the school to

for the only classroom in the

provide a margin of excellence for

Elementary/Middle School building

students. These blessings usually

without this technology.

provide for needs that could be obtained through no other means.

However, one type of contribution

This SMARTboard was recently installed in the Discovery Program classroom that serves the youngest

to Lakeland Christian provides a double

autistic students on campus. Through

blessing — gifts in memory or honor

the outpouring of generosity in

of a loved one. Not only do these gifts

memory of Mr. Wilson, these special

provide something special for the

children will now be able to use this

children and young people of LCS, they

cutting-edge technology to enhance

also serve as a perpetual memorial or

their learning.

honoring of a person.

The impact of commemorative

A double blessing, indeed!

Yet, with a unique twist. Mr. Wilson’s

gifts to LCS can be significant. Just

memory will now be honored in

last December, when longtime school

perpetuity in a classroom in the

grandparent Burl Wilson passed away,

George W. Jenkins Discovery Wing.

his family suggested memorial donations

Wilson and Jenkins were close

be directed to Lakeland Christian School.

friends who traveled and golfed

The result? Friends of the Wilson family

together as long as both were able.

from across the country responded in

Now, their legacies will extend

a generous fashion, enabling the

forever, benefiting the children of

school to purchase a SMARTboard

the next generation.

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FINE ARTS STUDENTS COMPETE Heart of Joy Earns Superior Rating at Festival The LCS Heart of Joy choir, comprised of s­ tudents in grades 4-5, traveled to Lakeside ­Christian School in Clearwater for the a ­ nnual ACSI Music Festival held in late February. The chorus sang “­ Inspiration of Hope” by Z. Randall Stroope and “Sing! Shout! Alleluia” by J­ oseph ­Martin. The

Stephanie Powers

Justin Middleton

students earned a superior rating and enjoyed a M ­ cDonalds lunch on their way back to Lakeland.

Powers, Middleton Earn Highest Scores at Student Day Freshman Stephanie Powers and junior Justin ­Middleton earned the highest scores at this year’s Ridge Music Teacher’s Association District Student Day. ­Stephanie tied with a student from Winter Haven for

LCS Heart of Joy choir

the highest score in the Level 7-9 competition. She earned a $50 prize for her performance. Justin was the top student in Level 10-12

Choirs Receive Superior Ratings at Choral Music Assessment

and received a $200 prize.

The 26-member high school concert choir performed two p ­ ieces at the District 12 Choral Music Performance A ­ ssessment held at Tenoroc High School in February. The students received straight superiors in both ­performance and sight-reading, q ­ ualifying them to perform at the State Music Performance ­Assessment held in April. The choir ­performed in 10 events at the state assessment. The c­oncert choir and chamber

Sixth Grade Choir Ranks High at Festival

­ensemble both received ­superior r­ atings. Other superior marks went

The sixth grade choir ­participated

to the ­following s­ tudents: Amanda Carl and Chelsea Bolter (duet);

in the ACSI ­Elementary/Middle

­Mickelyn Graves, ­Makaylee Graves and Johnny Boatwright (trio);

School Choral Music Festival in

­Chelsea Bolter (solo); Johnny Boatwright (solo). Excellent ratings went

Clearwater in late February. The

to the following students: Caitlin Robb and Casey Jones (duet); W ­ hitney

chorus ­performed “Jubilate Deo” by

Andersen (solo); Courtney Payne (solo); Hannah Sharpe (solo).

Vicki Tucker Courtney and “Keep

The junior high choir, comprised of 38 middle s­ choolers, performed

Your Lamps Trimmed and Burnin’”

two pieces and received overall s­ uperior ratings in both performance

­arranged by Gret Gilpin. The group

and sight-reading. The choir will perform at Disney’s

earned straight ­superior ratings

Magic Music Days in May.

from all three judges.

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IN SPRING FESTIVALS Choir Students Participate in Solo and Ensemble

Students Perform National Anthem for FHSAA

Twenty-five secondary students participated in the FVA District 12 Solo and Ensemble Festival held at Bartow High School in late March. ­Congratulations to the following students on their outstanding p ­ erformances: Superior – Chamber Ensemble; Chelsea Bolter and Amanda Carl (duet);

Seniors Chelsea Bolter

Caitlin Robb and Casey Jones (duet); Makalyee Graves, M ­ ickelyn Graves

and Mickelyn Graves were

and Johnny Boatwright (trio); Whitney Andersen (solo); Johnny Boatwright

­chosen to perform the

(solo); Chelsea Bolter (solo); Courtney Payne (solo); Hannah Sharpe (solo);

National Anthem at the

Emily Carl and Rebekah Firmin (duet); Rebekah Firmin (solo); Amanda

FHSAA Boys ­Basketball

Fulton (solo); Christopher Greene (solo); Kyli Collins, Amanda Fulton, Gage

State finals in early

Frier, Christopher Greene, Regan Shaw, Savannah Spinks, Robert Verner and

March. Chelsea performed

Jordan Wells (mixed ensemble).

on March 4 and 6, and

Excellent – Mallory White (solo); Kylie Dunbar and Sarah Kettelkamp

­Mickelyn sang on March 5.

(duet); Mackenzie Bell and Jordan Wells (duet).

Band students performed well at this year’s State Solo and ­Ensemble MPA. Front row (l-r): Justin Middleton, Andrew Tew, Hannah Mora, Jessica Palm, Zach Martinez, Cameron ­Underwood, Mrs. Jill Jones and Mrs. Kathy Johnson. Back row ­(l-r): Grace Imig, Emily Behrens, Faith ­Simmons, Emily Tan, J­ enna Smithson and Makaylee Graves. Not pictured: Claire Jarvis.

Band Sets Records at District Solo and Ensemble Festival Superior with Distinction – Claire Jarvis (clarinet solo

At this year’s Florida Bandmasters Association ­District Solo and Ensemble Festival, the Lakeland C ­ hristian Band earned

played by memory).

Superior – Emily Behrens (flute solo); Emily Tan (flute

the highest percentage of s­ uperior ratings and had the most events to qualify for the State festival in LCS history. With 65

solo); Justin Middleton (baritone solo); Cameron Underwood

entries in the competition, Lakeland Christian students earned

(tuba solo).

Excellent – Makalyee Graves (flute solo); Jenna ­Smithson

­superior ratings for 58 of the performances. C ­ ongratulations to all of the students for their o ­ utstanding work.

(French horn solo); Zach Martinez (­ baritone solo); Andrew

At the State Band Solo and Ensemble MPA, s­ everal

Tew (tuba solo); Jessica Palm, Grace Imig, Emily Behrens and

band students received superior and excellent ratings.

­Makaylee Graves (flute quartet); Emily Tan, Hannah Mora

­Congratulations to the following high school students:

and Claire Jarvis (woodwind trio).

Fine Arts continue on page 6

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FINE ARTS STUDENTS COMPETE IN SPRING FESTIVALS continued from page 5

Elementary Artists Exhibit Work at Festival

Secondary Art Students Rate High at ACSI Competition

Congratulations to the following elementary

Several secondary artists from LCS

artists for earning high marks at the annual ACSI

represented the school at the annual

Art Festival this spring:

ACSI Art ­Festival held at Calvary

Superior – Brandon Kaye (5th grade), Maci

Christian School. ­Students visited

Brown (1st grade).

the St. Pete Museum of Fine Arts in

Excellent – Campbell Rice (5th grade), Ava St.

the morning while their artwork was

John (3rd grade), Ashley Russell (2nd grade), Mason

being judged and then attended the

Bush (K5).

competition in the ­afternoon. The

Good – Julia Canady (5th grade), Olivia St.

students received several superior and

John (5th grade), Luke Averitt (4th grade), Sydney

excellent ­ratings and were able to see

Cabrera (4th grade), Abby B ­ ranham (3rd grade),

what other high school students were

Senior Briana McLeish

Audrey Fagan (K5).

producing in their art classes.

works on her piece for the competition.

Secondary Students Perform with All-County Band Congratulations to all of the students who performed with the All-County Band on Friday, April 16, at Florida Southern College.

Curls Wins Second Place at Strawberry Festival Art Show Congratulations to LCS second grader Sydney Curls, the ­daughter of John and Denise Curls, for ­winning second place for her age division in the Strawberry Festival’s art ­competition.

Brandon Kaye, Sydney Bolton, Camryn Wineinger, Hayden Patteson and Mrs. Bonnie Mosley also had art on display at the festival.

From left to right: Andrew Tew, Justin Middleton, Emily Tan, Zach Martinez, Danae Drake, Jenna Smithson, Claire Jarvis, Amanda Fulton, Welbie Houghton, Cameron Underwood, Jonathan Murray and Ashley Middleton.

Sydney Curls

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Two Odyssey of the Mind Teams Place at State Tournament Three teams of Lakeland C ­ hristian

Jonathan Masters, Brent A ­ driano, Casey

The Division II middle school team

School secondary students competed in the

Jones and ­Whitney ­Andersen ­finished

of Carter Overholt, Amanda Fulton,

annual Odyssey of the Mind ­tournament this

first at the ­Regional ­tournament and

­Paxton Evans, Savannah Spinks and

past spring, and two of the teams placed at

went on to a ­fifth-place finish at the

Anna Brooks competed in the “Food

the State level.

State ­tournament in the ­Division III

Court ­Challenge.” The team had to create

level of “Nature Trail’R.” The team

and present a ­humorous ­performance

­largest creative problem-solving

had to ­design, build and drive a

in which one food item ­accuses another

­competition for students. It fosters c­ reative

­human-powered ­vehicle that travels

of being unhealthy or bad in some way,

thinking and problem-solving skills with

along with a camper on a ­camping trip.

and that food item has to defend itself.

five long-term problems to be solved

The vehicle must overcome ­obstacles,

All of the characters in the performance

in a variety of areas – from building

clean up the ­environment, encounter

were portrayed as food items and act as

­mechanical devices to giving an original

wildlife and be r­ epaired along the

the ­accuser, the accused and the jury. The

­interpretation of literary classics.

nature trail at the campground. The

team earned first place at the ­Regional

students had eight ­minutes to complete

­tournament and finished 12th at the

the problem.

State level.

Odyssey of the Mind is the world’s

The high school team of M ­ ickelyn Graves, Luis Sierra, Johnny B ­ oatwright,

The “Discovered Treasures” ­problem Several members of the LCS Odyssey of the Mind teams pose for a picture during the competition.

involved creating and ­presenting an ­original performance of the ­discoveries of two ­archaeological treasures; one ­portrayal was a ­team-created ­version of the discovery of an actual historical treasure. The other was the team’s depiction of a modern manmade structure or sculpture that ­exists today, but is a discovered ­treasure in the future. This middle school ­Division II team was made up of Ally Bochis, Chris Green, Kendra Lehner, Kyli Collins and ­Melissa Lamelas. The team tied for third place in the Regional tournament.

Andersen Earns First Place at Math Olympics Lakeland Christian School took 36 students in

Alex Skladenek – 2nd place

grades 3-8 to the annual Association of Christian

­(reasoning), Tyler Steckler – 5th place

Schools International (ACSI) Math Olympics in

(computation), Logan Mason – 3rd place

­mid-April. Ten students won awards for their skills

(reasoning), Kaid Walding – 5th place

in ­computation and reasoning. Eighth grader Derek

(reasoning), Hayden Patteson – 2nd place

­Andersen was the top winner with a first-place award

(computation), Robert Hickernell – 5th

for reasoning. ­Congratulations to the following

place (reasoning), Josh Martinez and Drew Guenther – tied for

­students who also won awards at the event:

3rd place (reasoning), Spencer Abramson – 2nd place (reasoning)

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Derek Andersen

nnual Week Emphasizes

Care of God’s Creation

Whether learning how to conserve water or getting rid of invasive plant species, the annual Creation Care Week at Lakeland Christian School emphasizes the stewardship and care of all different parts of God’s creation. Students enjoy guest speakers, work on service projects, participate in centers and work together to learn about how God asks us to take care of the things He created.

Third grade students had the opportunity to learn about water conservation from Ruffin Gray of the City of Lakeland, and about watersheds from a r­ epresentative of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Guest author Doris Holman visited students in grades K5-2. She writes and illustrates books about animals and God’s creation. She also showed the students how to illustrate a seahorse.

Dogs, cats, rabbits, and even a hermit crab p ­ articipated in Pet Day in both K4 and fifth grade classes during ­ Creation Care Week.

It was fun to have these guests on campus for a portion of the day.

George Heinrich, a field biologist and environmental educator who specializes in Florida turtles, brought some of his reptile friends to LCS during Creation Care Week.

The largest and least friendly reptilian visitor was the alligator snapping turtle.

Fifth grade students and their kindergarten buddies read the story of S.T. Shrew. The fifth graders read the story to the younger students and illustrated the story with “window pictures.”

8

Fifth grade students got a visit from Toby and his

K4 students teamed up with middle schoolers to look at nature under a microscope. The youngsters examined leaves, grass and moss and then colored what they saw.

Fourth grade students made and decorated kites with a creation care theme, which they flew in PE classes during Creation Care Week.

caretakers from the SPCA of Lakeland. Mary Church, Community Outreach Coordinator for the SPCA, spoke to the students about taking care of pets and how ­cleaning up after pets can help keep the environment clean. The students made pet carrier boxes, which they presented that day.

Middle school science students took on the task of clearing out invasive air potatoes from Faith’s forest. This fast-growing vine forms a blanket over plants and makes it impossible for the lower vegetation to receive sunlight. The students removed bags and bags of air potatoes.

9

Student Archers Compete in NASP Tournament Several secondary students from

(224 points) and Derek Andersen finished in

in eighth place out of the 16 teams.

Lakeland Christian competed in the

third with 205 points. With 224 points, Allie

The high school team earned a third

National Archery in Schools P ­ rogram

Frost won the middle school girls division.

place state finish with 2,655 points.

tournament this spring, and junior

Meghan Sutton earned second with 209

­Courtney Payne had the fourth

Courtney Payne’s skills with a bow and

points, while Brooke W ­ ilsman finished in third

­highest score for high school girls in

arrow qualified her for the N ­ ational

with 202 points. ­Honorable mention went to

the state and Carley Frost was fifth for

Tournament held in L ­ ouisville,

­Hannah ­Warren for earning 201 points.

high school girls.

­Kentucky in early May. At the school tournament, D ­ onald

As a team, the LCS middle schoolers

James and Barb Moore organized

earned a total of 2,403 points and finished

the event.

Payne won first place in the high school boys division with 260 points. Josh The high school boys take their aim.

McGaffigan ­finished ­second with 254 points. Alex Babcock-Latta and Garrett

The high school winners were Alex Babcock-Latta,

Matlock tied for third with 234 points,

Josh McGaffigan, Donald Payne, Courtney Payne,

but a tie breaker gave Alex the third-

Carley Frost and Hayley Maloy.

place ranking. For high school girls, Courtney Payne won first place. Close behind with 232 points was ­Carley Frost. Third place went to Hayley Maloy who finished with 201 points.

Garrison Hodge earned 234 points to win the middle school boys division.

Austin Berges won second place

Middle School E-Team Places 5th in County Competition

In just its second year as a competitive team, the LCS middle school E-Team placed fifth out of 32 Polk County schools at the E-Team county competition held in late March at the USF Polytechnic campus.

During the semifinal round of the competition, the LCS team scored among the top six schools to advance to the final round. The annual competition q ­ uestions are based on all academic subjects including language arts, history, math, science and ­economics. ­Students spend months learning economic ­principles and practicing ­subject-area q ­ uestions to prepare for the ­competition.

The E-Team is coached by Mrs. Katy Andersen.

Congratulations to the middle school E-Team: 6th Grade – Marybeth ­Boulerice, Emily ­Montanez 7th Grade – Matthew ­Henderson, Joshua ­Martinez, Tucker Scruggs, Chase ­Turbeville 8th Grade – Spencer ­Abramson, Derek

10

­Andersen, RJ Caron, ­Jonathan Murray

LCS Welcomes S­ everal Guest ­Speakers to Campus Several guest speakers visited the Lakeland Christian School campus this spring to share their knowledge and expertise on a variety of topics.

We thank them for taking the time to come talk to our students.

Registered dietician Erin Kowal spoke to students in grades 3-5 about nutrition.

LCS Students Compete in ­Regional ­Science Fair; Mackenzie Bell R­ epresents LCS at State

She reminded the students about the importance of eating breakfast, and she also challenged them to

Lakeland Christian School had its best showing yet at the Polk County ­Regional Science and Engineering Fair held at USF Polytechnic on Friday, March 5.

make healthy choices at

The competition included more than 350 entries representing private, charter and

meals and at snack time.

public schools from around the county.

Seventh grader Mackenzie Bell won first place in the engineering category at the regional fair, earning a $75 cash award. She was also honored for h ­ aving the top female engineering project and won an additional $100 prize from the ­American Society for Future Scientists. At the state science fair in early April, Mackenzie was one of 850 finalists from 67 districts throughout Florida.

At the regional fair, Sam Moseley earned a third-place prize in the physics category. Alex Bahn finished in fourth place in the Behavioral and Social Science category while Connor Sutton finished fourth in Engineering. Honorable mentions

Students in K4 learned about fire safety when several members of the Lakeland Fire

were awarded to Patrick McDaniel, Terry Latimer, Maggie Long, Jordan Mason, Will Richert, Evan Gonzalez, Cole Yrastorza, Skye Allen and Kristen Schaedel.

­Department visited the campus in March.

Students had the opportunity to see the inside of the fire truck and to talk to the firefighters.

Dr. David Dodd, a school parent and cardiovascular surgeon, visited students

Youngsters Perform ‘Back at the ­Creekbank’ in Annual Show

in the seventh grade ­science classes to discuss

Young students in first and ­second

the heart. Students had

grade performed “Back at the

the ­opportunity to dissect sheep hearts to get a better

­Creekbank” for their annual ­musical

understanding of how the

program. Written by Kathie Hill, this

human heart works.

play tells the story of Mr. Jenkins and some young friends on a fishing trip who learn about how God shows us His love through nature and how to express the love back to God. School ­parent ­Reverend Jesse Sharpe, who helped the second graders with their ­speaking parts, played the part of Mr.

Jesse Sharpe joins the

Jenkins. The ­performers and ­audience

young ­students for their

Several members of the Lakeland Region Ford

­members were delighted by this

annual ­performance.

Model “A” Club brought their classic cars to

­musical and its important message.

LCS for the fifth grade classes. Students were

Elementary music teacher

able to see the different styles of Model A cars

Miss Nancy Snyder directed

and even got the chance to sit in some of them.

this year’s program.

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Spring Sports Wrap-Up Weightlifting

Twenty-three girls and 19 boys from the LCS team advanced to the Regional tournament after winning the

In its second year of competition, the Lakeland Christian

District meet. Mallory White won first place in the high jump

School weightlifting team and its members lifted their way to

and 800-meter run and finished fourth in the long jump to lead

several strong finishes this past spring. Coached by Bobby Dan

the girls’ team. For the boys, Bo Thornton won the 400-meter

McGlohorn, the team competed in five different meets in March

race, earned second in the triple jump and took third place in

and April. After starting off the season with a 13th place finish

the long jump. Teammate McWayne Weche won the triple jump,

at Avon Park, the lifters earned third place two weeks in a row

finished second in the long jump and placed third in the

at Tenoroc and Bartow. On April 6, the team finished second

400-meter dash.

at Auburndale High School.

At the Class 1A, Region 3 meet at Naples Community

Girls Tennis

School, the boys’ team earned seventh place while the girls’

The girls tennis team had a successful season with a record

­jump-off to win the high jump at five feet. She also ­qualified

team earned a fourth-place finish. White competed in a

of eight wins and three losses. The team started strong in

for State in the 400 meters and the 4x800 relay. The girls’

February, sweeping Fort Meade, Tenoroc and McKeel Academy

relay team earned a second-place finish at the Regional meet.

by the scores of 7-0. The Lady Vikings lost their first match to

Senior Marcus Stone competed well at the Regional level and

George Jenkins by a close score of 4-3. Other big wins came

­qualified for State in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

against Frostproof (6-1), Kathleen (6-1), Lake Wales (7-0) and

At the State Finals on April 30, White ran to a third-place

Ridge Community (6-1). In the West County and Polk County

finish in the 800 with a time of 21.21.58, tied for third in the

Tournaments, the Lady Vikings finished in second place. After

high jump with a jump of five feet and finished sixth place

narrowly defeating Santa Fe by a 4-3 score in late February, the

as part of the 4x800 relay team. The girls’ team earned a

Vikings dropped their final regular season match to the Crimson

14th place overall finish at State. For the boys’ team,

Hawks by a 5-2 score. In the District, the Lady Vikings finished

Mark Mutz medaled in the 3,200-meter race with

second to advance to the Regional tournament. A tough 7-0

an eighth-place finish.

loss at the Regionals ended the team’s season. The Lady Vikings were coached by Debbie Stump.

Boys Tennis Coached by Joel Helm, the boys varsity tennis team finished their season with eight wins, three losses and a thirdplace finish in the District tournament. After falling to George Jenkins High School, 7-0 to start their season, the Vikings won four matches in a row to Fort Meade (7-0), McKeel Academy (7-0), Santa Fe (4-3) and Frostproof (7-0). The boys team dropped ­another 7-0 decision to Berkeley Prep before rebounding to defeat Bartow, Mulberry and Lake Wales. At the West County Tournament, the team earned a third-place finish. After spring break, the team easily handled Kathleen by a score of 6-1. The Crimson Hawks of Santa Fe handed the Vikings their third regular-season loss by a score of 6-1.

Track and Field Both the boys and girls varsity track teams won first place in the District meet in mid-April, and ten of the team members went on to compete in the State meet held on April 30.

12

Baseball

Softball

After coming up with big wins in the District finals and

At press time, the girls varsity softball team clinched their

Regional Quarterfinal rounds of the Class 2A baseball tournament,

first-ever trip to the State tournament after defeating St. Petersburg’s

the Vikings came up short in the Regional Semifinals with a

Northside Christian by a score of 6-4 in the Class 2A, Region 3

8-4 loss to Bishop McLaughlin on May 7.

Finals. The summer edition of The Viking will provide complete

With a regular-season record of 13 wins and 12 losses,

­coverage on the team’s trip to the State finals.

the Vikings won the District title by defeating the Santa Fe

The road to the State finals started with a District championship

Crimson Hawks by a score of 5-2. Eighth-grade pitcher Logan

win over the Santa Fe Crimson Hawks, whom the Lady Vikings easily

Browning earned the win for the Vikes, striking out seven

handled by a score of 13-3 in a mercy-rule victory. In the first round of

batters while allowing only two hits.

the Regional tournament, the team defeated Indian Rocks Christian,

After winning the District title, the team hosted Tampa

11-7. The Vikings then hosted Bishop McLaughlin for the Regional

Prep in the Regional Quarterfinals and avenged an early

Semifinals. Pitcher Helen Long struck out nine opponents to help the

season 14-5 loss by taking the Quarterfinal round by a score

Lady Vikings to a 4-1 victory.

of 4-2. The Terrapins took an early 2-0 lead, but the Vikings

In the Regional final game, the team hosted Northside, who

rallied in the fifth inning to go ahead 3-2. Another run in the

had defeated the Vikings earlier in the season by a score of 2-0.

bottom of the sixth inning clinched the win for the Vikings.

The Vikings jumped ahead early in the bottom of the first, with a score

Against Bishop McLaughlin in the Semifinal round of

of 5-0. Their sixth and final run came in the bottom of the second. The

Regionals, the LCS pitchers struggled as they gave up nine

Mustangs cut the Viking lead to just two runs after scoring four runs,

walks and allowed three hits.

but Viking pitcher Helen Long held the Northside to just two

The Vikings are coached by Blane Fox and finished the

hits, and the Vikings came out on top by a score of 6-4.

season with a record of 15-13.

The team is coached by Rand and Mary Reese.

The JV baseball team, coached by Roger Evans, finished their season with a record of 6-7.

The JV team, coached by Sue Wilsman, finished with a record of 3-6. The middle-school team, coached by Sue Wilsman and Susan Ellis, finished with a record of four wins and four losses.

13

Alumni News 2000s

Darrian (’99) and Dorcas “Dee” (’00) Crumbley would like to introduce Baby Dorian Armondo, born Wednesday, March 24, 2009, at 8:30 PM. He weighed 7 lbs., 9 oz. and was 21 inches long. He is now an active one-year-old and already trying to keep up with big brother Darrian, Jr. (DJ), who is 2 1/2 years old. Darrian, Sr. is in his third year as New Business Underwriter at Geico Indemnity, and Dee is working as the Regional Public Information Officer for the Polk County Health Department. They have been married four years and reside in Winter Haven, Florida.

Marie Kirby (’05) graduated from Cedarville University in May 2009 with a degree in athletic training. She passed her National Athletic Training Board of Certification exam and is licensed in both Florida and Georgia. In July Marie began a graduate assistantship at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia, where she serves as the athletic trainer for the women’s soccer team. Next year, she will be the women’s volleyball athletic trainer. Marie is also pursuing her master’s degree in athletic training.

Christina Bradley Haggerty (‘03) is currently working at Publix Corporate Buying Office and resides in Lakeland with husband, Shaun, and daughter Alyssa.

Colleen Kirby Riddle (’03) graduated from Cedarville U ­ niversity in 2006 with a degree in criminal justice and minors in coaching and Bible. On ­October 18, 2008, she married Shane Riddle. He is a shipping and ­receiving manager for Central Food Equipment. Colleen completed her a master’s in human services with a concentration in marriage and family c­ ounseling from Liberty University in March.

She is employed by C ­ hildren’s Home Society of Florida and specializes in shelters (or removals) and intakes. The couple resides in Lakeland.

Daniel Wilson (‘02) and Jessica Gandy were married at Faith Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama, on May 8, 2010. They live in Atlanta, Georgia, where Daniel is employed by ValleyCrest Golf at St. Ives Country Club.

1990s Bethel Stutzman Cleveland (’04) and her h ­ usband, Paul, ­ elcomed daughter Karisa Rose on April 22, 2010. She weighed w 9 lbs., 11 oz. and was 21 inches long.

John Sanders (’90) and wife Taunashia reside in Lakeland along with their three children Breiana, Jazlyn and Brindesi.

1980s Regina Lape Watkins (’87) and family welcomed Isaac ­ homas, born February 13, 2010. Regina was a public school teacher T for eight years before d ­ eciding to manage their home full-time.

Isaac’s siblings are M ­ ikaela (13), Shanalise (12), Emily (8), Josiah (6), ­Destiny (4) and Victoria (2).

Note to Alumni Parents: If your former student no longer lives in your home but still receives mail from Lakeland Christian at your ­address, please e-mail Claudia Powell at cpowell@lcsonline.org Daniel Wilson (‘02) and his wife, Jessica, celebrate at their wedding reception with former LCS classmates from the Class of 2002. Pictured, left to right, are Kristen Booth, Ellie Campbell, Chase Mansfield, Daniel, Jessica, Andrew Knowlton, and BJ Finn.

to update any alumni Darrian, Jr. (DJ) and Dorian Armondo Crumbley

Paul and Bethel Stutzman ­Cleveland with Karisa Rose

­information.

Sixth and Ninth Grade Sleuths Team Up to Solve Murder Mystery It was a chemistry lab mystery: what killed the mouse? Students in Mrs. Jennifer Canady’s sixth-grade science class teamed up with Mrs. Cheryl Brannen’s ninth-grade class for a forensic science i­nvestigation to ­determine which chemical killed the fictitious mouse. The high schoolers had the o ­ pportunity to share their knowledge and introduce the middle-school students to the chemistry lab and teach them how to perform flame tests and light Bunsen burners. This beneficial p ­ artnership is one of the many examples of how s­ tudents are able to benefit from the unique environment of a K4-12 school.

14

Alumni: Updating Your Info is Easier than Ever Attention LCS alumni: updating your information is now easier than ever! All you have to do is visit ­­­­ www.lcsonline.org/alumni/form.asp and you can update your address, phone n ­ umber, email address and ­family ­information. You can also send a write-up to appear in future i­ssues of

Senior Class Presents Cheaper by the Dozen

The Viking. When you click “Submit,” the ­information that you provide is

The Senior Class of Lakeland Christian School presented Cheaper by the Dozen

­automatically sent to Mrs. Claudia

for four performances in March. Based on the true story of Frank and Lillian

Powell, the a ­ dministrative assistant

­Gilbreth and their 12 children, the play is a funny portrayal of life in a large f­ amily.

in the Headmaster and ­Advancement

The drama was adapted from the novel of the same name and was written by

­Offices. If you would like to include a

Frank Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth, two of the children.

photo for The Viking, please email it

The cast members were Steven Firmin (dad), Chelsea Bolter (mom), Sarah

to Mrs. Powell at cpowell@lcsonline. org. Keeping your i­nformation current

Schaedel (Anne), Jimmy Prescott (Frank), Mickelyn Graves (Ernestine), Laura

helps your former c­ lassmates contact

­Thomas (Martha), Matthew Henderson (Bill), Michelle Cassidy (Lillian), B ­ rantley

you when reunion time rolls around,

Sabat (Fred), Jake Albritton (Dan), JT Stacy (Jackie), Jackson Overholt (Bob), Emma

as well as insuring that your Viking

Green (Jane), Bethany Green (Mrs. Fitzgerald), Andrew Tew (Dr. Burton), Jerrod

arrives at the correct address!

Schwarz (Joe Scales), Luis Sierra (Larry) and Courtney Payne (Miss Brill).

The senior play is an annual fundraiser with all proceeds going toward the class missions trip to Washington in late May.

Gaines Griffin Senior

Patty Johnson Third Grade Teacher

Kylie Beaudreault

Least favorite subject in school

Do you prefer to swim in the ocean, pool or lake?

History

Lake

French and Geometry

Lake

Library

Pool

If you could have a super power, what would it be?

Manipulation

Ability to fly

Invisibility

Fourth Grader

Eric Wells Secondary History Teacher

Jake Roberson Ninth Grader

Pool

Math

Math

YOUR TURN

!

Ocean

Favorite Lakeland ­restaurant?

What do you want to be when you grow up?

If you could change your name, what would it be?

Britt’s Café

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Princess Consuela…

I always wanted to be a teacher.

Tricia

Either a veterinarian or a ­professional track star

Destiny Hope Peace

Red Elephant

Carrabbas

Super speed

Texas Cattle Company

I wanted to be in the Army.

Lucky

Be unbelievably fast and strong

Tapatios

I don’t know.

BoBo

15

Gifts

T O

L akeland

C hristian

S chool

On behalf of the students we serve, a heartfelt thanks to the following generous persons and companies who have partnered with LCS by providing a gift to the ministry. We were blessed by: Anne M. Jenkins Fund within the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland Mr. and Mrs. Jim Boatwright The late Ms. Juanita Bolton Mr. and Mrs. Don Bradley Mrs. Helga Castor Mr. and Mrs. Bill Chamberlin Miss Cassie Christensen Dr. and Mrs. David Cook Mrs. Jackie Davis Mr. and Mrs. Glen Duncan Dr. and Mrs. Charles Eaves, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Randy Edwards Rev. and Mrs. Roger Evans Mrs. Nancy Fisher Mr. and Mrs. Bob Forlaw Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Fulton George W. Jenkins Fund within the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland Mr. and Mrs. Bud Gibson Ms. Patsy Ham

LCS Appreciates

Mr. and Mrs. Louie Hampton Mrs. Alexandra Henderson Mr. and Mrs. Rex Henry Rev. and Mrs. Gary Hull Mr. and Mrs. Daryl Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Ken Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Jones Dr. and Mrs. Derek Keenan Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kirby Mr. and Mrs. Ray Kriegbaum Lakeland Automall Rev. and Mrs. Mike Latham Mr. and Mrs. Robert Latimer Mrs. Martha Linder M & B Properties Mr. and Mrs. Bob Madden Mrs. Norma Moore Mr. and Mrs. Michael Mosley Mr. and Mrs. Birk Mullinax Mr. and Mrs. Mike Musick, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Todd Nessa Mr. and Mrs. Chris O’Byrne Miss Ellen Oncu

Mrs. Judy Oncu Mrs. Marlene Pitts Play It Again Sports Mr. and Mrs. Robert Powell, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James Powers Publix Super Markets Charities, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Purcell Mr. and Mrs. James Roberson Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Rowe Mr. and Mrs. Jon Russell Mr. and Mrs. Jim Ryal Sale Insurance Mr. Philip Sebring Shepherd Road Presbyterian Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Shimko

Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Simpson Dr. and Mrs. Mike Sligh Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Smith Miss Nancy Snyder Mr. and Mrs. Geoff Stabler Mr. and Mrs. Michael Stacy Rev. and Mrs. Robert Stubblefield Mr. and Mrs. John Syzdlowski Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Thornton Mrs. Evelyn Towler Mr. and Mrs. Jim Turlington Verner Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Ernie White Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wiechmann Mrs. Ann Yates

Give to LCS Through Payroll Deduction Did you know that you can donate to Lakeland C ­ hristian School through your company’s payroll ­deduction ­program? If you would like to know how, please contact the LCS Advancement Office at 863-688-2771.

Lakeland Christian School is the ­beneficiary of many ­donated goods and services provided by school families and other friends. These gifts ­enable higher levels of ­excellence campus-wide.

Jay Horne, Horne Construction – For working with the 5th Grade Brain ­Busters on their “Reading Rocket.”

Lizette Batterton – For photographing and cataloging several pieces of artwork for elementary art students and for assisting Mrs. Bonnie Mosley with setting up the Artsonia Kids Museum online art gallery.

Robin Foster, Stacey Wells, Teresa ­Guenther, Stephanie Hicks and Dr. ­Christopher Terry – For volunteering with the elementary health screenings.

Dr. David Dodd and Michael Wells – For spending two days with seventh-grade science classes discussing the heart and ­dissecting sheep hearts.

Sandy Gibson and Cathy Hamilton – For volunteering in Mrs. Duncan’s ­fourth-grade class each week.

All of the junior class parents – A great big THANK YOU for their help in making this year’s junior class fundraising events successful. The junior-class officers and advisors appreciate all of the time and donations they sacrificed to help the class.

Hayley Hurd – For all of her hard work building the LCS Cheerleading Program.

Jim and Kathy Williams of Willams Fence – For repairing three ­sections of fencing at Viking Stadium in a timely manner and with no disruptions to our program.

Stacey Jenkins, Cheri Maxwell and Beverly Fifer – For helping Mrs. Nancy Bradley each week in her classroom.

PhosLab Environmental Services – For the donation of chemicals for the LCS chemistry lab.

16

Keith Bass of Keith’s Nursery in ­Lakeland – For the use of a forest of oaks that transformed the LCS cafeteria into a Paris café for the pre-grad party.

Alan Mills – For delivering the oak trees for the pre-grad party.

To the countless junior parents, LCS staff and administration – For coming together to make this year’s Junior/Senior Banquet a success.

Sandy Johnson – For the time and ­expertise to create this year’s hit senior video.

Ken Hutto and Georgianna Whyte – For organizing Accelerated Reader ­celebrations for Mrs. Deborah Sullivan’s first-grade class.

Living Memorials It is a joy to receive gifts that are sent to ­acknowledge a loved one. We are grateful for the gifts received from the following:

Gary Means drew chalk art pictures in elementary chapel.

In memory of: Mrs. Kathy Riggs Given by: Mr. and Mrs. James Chaffin Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Coleman Mrs. Norma Harrell Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hooper Mr. and Mrs. William Janssen Mr. and Mrs. David Jarrett Mr. and Mrs. Bill Marshall Mr. and Mrs. Mike McCormick Mrs. Melba Roberts Dr. and Mrs. Mike Sligh Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Smith Mr. and Mrs. Robert Whitehead Mr. and Mrs. Burl Wilson, Jr. and Emily Diggs

Elementary Chapels ­Feature Guest Speakers When elementary students gather for ­chapel each Tuesday morning, they have the ­opportunity to learn about Jesus and the Bible from many ­talented, godly and passionate people in the ­community. Whether sharing about ­stewardship of God’s creation or of their own money, these guests are teaching our young students some very ­important principles. Chapel speakers have

In memory of: Mr. Bill Thornton Given by: Mr. and Mrs. Dick Busing Mr. and Mrs. Raymond King

­included Mr. Ron Yeater (Camp Gilead/Creation Critters) who speaks the first Tuesday of each month, Pastor Rich Piatt (Fellowship ­Baptist

In memory of: Mr. Burl Wilson, Sr. Given by: Mr. and Mrs. Robbie Davis

Church) and his pet monkey, school parent

In memory of: Mrs. Elsie Stutts Given by: Mrs. Robert Hightower

­Christopher Gooding (First Baptist Church at

Keith Albritton, chalk artist Gary Means, ­Pastor the Mall) and many others. In addition to guest ­speakers, the students also have the opportunity

In memory of: Mr. Dennis Fisher Given by: Mr. and Mrs. Marc Slomowitz

to hear from their own teachers, including Mrs. Teresa Mullinax, Mrs. Jane Kriegbaum and Mrs. Missy Green.

Library Donations

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

The Lakeland Christian Library staff a ­ ppreciates the ­generosity of those who have provided recent book ­donations. The library counts on the regular c­ ontributions of school families to expand its c­ ollection for students.

Dr. Rosemary Cardosi Mr. and Mrs. Bob Fischer Ms. Diane Klages Miss Myra Maxberry Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Patterson Ms. Lynn Pruim

Mr. and Mrs. Russell Schiebel Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Smith Miss Nancy Snyder Mr. and Mrs. John Szydlowski Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Webb Mrs. LaVonne Williams

May 24-27 Senior Exams

June 3-8 Final Exams

May 29-June 3 Senior Trip

June 6 Baccalaureate, 3:00 p.m. at Heritage Baptist Church

May 31 Memorial Day June 3 Last day for K4 and K5; K5 Program, 7 p.m.

17

June 7 Commencement, 7:30 p.m. at FSC

1111 Forest Park Street • Lakeland, Florida 33803 • 863-688-2771 • www.lcsonline.org Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Lakeland, FL Permit No. 133

Return Service Requested.

The Viking is published quarterly by Lakeland Christian School, 1111 Forest Park St., Lakeland, Florida 33803

!

Dear Mom and Dad, Please let me go to school at LCS. My best friend got to hold a real live turtle today! Cool!

Love, Britney

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Pirate Parades and Pajama Parties Bring Color to First Grade While walking the elementary school halls of Lakeland Christian School throughout the school year, guests to our campus may encounter pilgrims, ­Native ­Americans, cowboys and cowgirls or nursery rhyme characters. And if these guests ­visited the first grade this spring, they would have seen pirates ­parading through the halls on a hunt for ­treasure or witnessed one big pajama party g ­ oing on in the c­ lassroom.

Mrs. Luci O’Byrne, Primary Grades ­Principal, leads the young pirates on a ­treasure hunt through the hallways of LCS.

Students in Mrs. Marge Palm’s first-grade class celebrate the end of achievement testing with a pajama party complete with sleeping bags, stuffed animals and lots of games.