The Advantage - Spring 2023

SPRING 2023

ADVANTAGE

INSIDE

THE

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What Are We Building . . . . . . 2

A Hearty Thank You. . . . . . . . 4

Robots Have Taken Over . . . . 3

Interview with Seth . . . . . . . . 7

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EQUIP SERVE IMPACT

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOLS Dear Friends of NPC Schools: What Are We Building?

It is exciting to see all the new construction projects that have been completed and are ongoing, as well as yet to come. These buildings allow us to “build into the lives of our students.”

Recently we have seen revivals taking place across college campuses. I’m excited to report that there has been a stirring in the lives of our young people too. Just within the last two weeks we have seen five students give their lives to Christ, accepting the free gift of salvation made possible by Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

This is the exciting part of offering a Christ-centered education. Now we have seen other students come around them, to disciple them in their newfound faith in Christ. Truly, NorthPointe is building “to equip students to impact their world for Jesus Christ.”

PRESCHOOL/ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 616.363.4869 540 Russwood Street NE Grand Rapids MI 49505 MIDDLE SCHOOL 616.719.5440

To God be the Glory!

–Todd N. Tolsma, Head of Schools

Open House + Chicken = A+

UNIFIED MUSTANGS Team player, JW Ceus, takes a shot on the court at a Unified Mustangs Basketball game as team partner, Olivia Rhoda, looks on (cover). Special Olympics Unified Sports seek to offer inclusivity to all students by fostering an enviroment that encourages leadership and skill-building in students with different abilities.

HIGH SCHOOL 616.942.0350 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 616.942.0363 3101 Leonard Street NE Grand Rapids MI 49525

Go Mustangs!

www.npchristian.org

NorthPointe thanks our sponsors who help fund “The Advantage.”

For advertising opportunities in our next edition, please contact: diepenhorstd@npchristian.org

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28th & Beltline Cascade

NPC HAPPENINGS

FAREWELL SHON What most makes NPC special is the people. Our ability to faithfully maintain institutional commitment to Jesus Christ and His gospel is only as great as those we entrust to carry it out daily. God has been so good to us in who He brings to carry out our mission of “equipping students to impact their world for Jesus Christ.”

ROBOTS HAVE TAKEN OVER! If you were brave enough to venture through the main lobby at the elementary building, you, most likely, side-stepped an obstacle course of large city maps, excited robotics engineers, and speeding spheres.

This year’s new faculty and staff are no exception to this rule—wonderful Christian servant leaders. But our administrative team loses a long faithful partner this year as Shon Cottle (Athletic Director/ HS Assistant Principal, former counselor) departs. We appreciate the indelible impact Shon has left on our students and community over his decade-plus at NPC.

Our Kindergarten-5th graders were part of teams that created maps, manipulated robotic spheres, and challenged themselves in their accuracy, control, and speed. The Sphero™ and its iPad app allows learners to begin with a Draw program, advance to Block coding, and work toward Text (writing code) to command the robot through various tasks. While enjoying the thrill of “manning a robot,” students also honed their skills in the area of patience, cooperation, gratitude, and perseverance.

We’re so grateful for our generous PTO that provided the funds for this Computer Science program.

–Tom Molenkamp, High School Principal

–Julie Bennett, K-5th Computer Teacher

MIDDLE SCHOOL MARKETPLACE One of the highlights each year is our Middle School Marketplace. Our students spend the first semester studying business through interdisciplinary, project-based learning. Our 8th graders determine a product or service to sell and become CEOs of a company. They hire a 7th grader who is a Marketing Manager and a 6th grader as an Operations Manager. Together they form

a company, create a name, business plan, company mission statement, and ads, and then sell their actual product or service on the night of our Marketplace event. Each company is required to do a service project together or give some of their profit away to a charity.

–Megan Willink, Middle School Principal THE THE ADVANTAGE ADVANTAGE

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REJOICING IN GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

A HEARTFELT THANK YOU

Flairwood Handcrafted Cabinets and Carts – cabinetry, countertop, closets

A hearty “thank you” to all who are working hard to complete our new high school wing:

K & S Plumbing – plumbing system and connections

Visser Contractors Visser Brothers Construction - general contractor

NPC Partners

Gemmen’s Caulking & Waterproofing – sealants

Midwest Asphalt Maintenance – asphalt paving Mikalan Roofing – roofing system Prebuck Products – parapet cap and fasteners

Bareman & Associates – wall partitions

Precision Commercial Flooring – flooring

Caretakers Landscape – lawn prep

Rapid Fire Protection – fire extinguishers and cabinets

Cig-Jan Products - visual display boards C.I.R. Masonry – masonry Dynamic Wood Products – casegood furniture Eckhoff & DeVries Painting & Wallcovering – painting Elders Electric – electrical system Enriquez Construction – metal stud framing, bulkheads Fabcon Precast – hollowcore precast plank

Control Solutions – HVAC controls Dynamic Wood Products - furniture High Grade Materials – site concrete Mitten Communications – low voltage wiring Nederveld – surveying and civil engineering

Architectural Openings & Access – metal doors and frames

Cascade Cement Contracting – columns, stair nosings, paving

Automatic Door Service – folding partition door

Soulard Technology – access controls The Design Forum – architectural design

Rayhaven Equipment – metal lockers Soils & Structures – testing and inspection Superior Glass – curtain wall system, entrances, windows Triangle Window Fashions – roller shades Van Wall Fire Protection – fire protection system Vans Mechanical Contractors – HVAC Xtreme Engineered Floor Systems – polish system

Take a sneak peek inside on a video tour!

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PARTNERS IN EDUCATION

SET SAIL AUCTION

GRANDPARENT’S VIEW

The total from the NorthPointe Christian Schools Annual Tuition Assistance Auction was $178,904 - our highest ever!

Thank you to all our sponsors, donors, bidders, and volunteers.

Bring up NorthPointe Christian Schools in conversation and many experiences come to mind for grandparents, Dave and Barb Huyser. With several grandchildren in or are graduates of the school, they’ve attended concerts, shows, sporting, and classroom events. They’ve loved being able to volunteer in grandchildren’s classes, listen to senior testimonies, and even helped in the Student Union. As retired teachers, they understand solid teaching, and as grandparents, they know how important it is to have a school built on the Word of God. That’s the most important thing to them as grandparents, especially in the increasingly dark culture they see. Where culture gives permission, they’re thankful for God-given boundaries. Where culture mocks godliness, they’re thankful for His wisdom and care shown by teachers.

They are thankful for the Christian education provided at NorthPointe Christian, and are blessed that their grandchildren are closer to the Lord and ready to use the gifts He has given them because of their time at NorthPointe Christian.

–The Huysers, NPC Grandparents

SUPPORT NPC Make a direct impact on our students.

Contact Deb Diepenhorst, Director of Development, to learn more: diepenhorstd@npchristian.org

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What do Alumni say about NPC for their children? love that my kids are “ Ilearning a Biblical

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FEBRUARY BASKETBALL HOMECOMING PIZZA PARTY 2023

worldview, and how to think for themselves, as opposed to simply learning how to remember facts.

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“ I am grateful that I can

send my daughter to NPC and know that she is going to be taught values similar to what I am teaching in my home.

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(1) Michael Bartels and son Andrew

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(2) Benjamin Boverhof ’10 family (3) Class of 2022 friends. Chase Berends, Joey DeLano, Sam Bradley, Jonathan Braam, Jordan Rogers, Nicky Brunink.

(4) Kristi Dykstra Beckwith ’02 family (5) Joe and Terri Alexander (6) Coach Tim Swore surprise

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(7) Bryan 82’ and Gwen ‘80 Molda and grandchildren (Lee ’06 Sara Molda Owens ’06) (8) Lisa Biel Kresge ’87 family

James Hoffman, Class of 1996

THE LEGACY OF THE BERENDS FAMILY Rob Berends, Class of 1984, is an engineer at Nederveld, Inc. NorthPointe is grateful to have Rob overlooking our current building projects, starting with helping to secure building permits on both campuses and continuing to push it forward to completion. The value of his level of his involvement is immeasurable. Rob served on our Board at various points between 2002-2020. He is still serving NPC today although his children have graduated.

The Berends family has been involved with our school since the beginning in 1972. Rob’s dad, Robert W. Berends, board member from 1973 until his death in 1979, was committed to

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Photos courtesy of Lori Melton

In Memorium

(9) Lisa Frueh Ellison ’97 family

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Christian education in the lives of his family.

Robert’s name is seen above the cafetorium doors. The Berends alumni children and grandchildren: Michelle ’82, Rob ’84, Kris ’87, Kim ’89, Mason ‘11, Jarrett ’16, Quincy ’17, Tressa ’18, and Chase ’22.

While looking back at the memories and sacrifice, Rob’s mom Marilyn, said, “Would we do it all over again? Without a doubt.”

To a lifer, an alumnus, an alumni parent, a former Board member, a volunteer, and one who loves NorthPointe and what God is doing here: thanks, Rob, from our hearts!

We are grateful for your long hours and hard work.

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

INTERVIEW WITH SETH NYMEYER Seth Nymeyer, Class of 2018, is living in Michigan near the Indiana border and teaching high school English in a public school. It was nice to see Seth back on campus recently.

Q: To start off, tell us one of your favorite high school memories?

A: One of my favorite collections of memories is preseason football.

“Men” twice my size claimed to be my peers. Their beards, muscles and mustaches almost scared me out of playing entirely. I remember my first time getting hit, and the second and the third.

I think it took me a month before I understood it was acceptable to hit back. My peers became savage warriors. It was the best thing for me. I saw biblical manhood on and off the field. Coach Swore and the rest of the coaching staff synthesized the hard work of the two-a-day’s practices with biblical discipleship. James 1 was always on Swore’s lips. The hottest days were his favorite because “adversity makes you stronger”.

I love the moments that brought me to blood, sweat and tears—yes a few tears—because I know it created a good thing in me. Coach Swore’s mantra of “You know when you’ve given your all at the end and it hurts.”

The structure of discipleship at NorthPointe is exceptional. The teachers build into the lives of the seniors. The seniors have the opportunity to apply what they are learning with their small groups. I experienced genuine fun while being discipled. Young men like Carter Miedema and Isaac Blickley modeled biblical discipleship while being in high school. Little did I know that their influence was coached/modeled by their teacher mentors. I have been able to carry this model into my personal and professional life.

Q: Since you’re teaching HS English, what effect did your high school English teachers have on you?

greatest places to pour into

recognizing the reality of

people and study what you

a broken, sinful world and

are passionate about. He

going to God as the source

ended the conversation with

A: NorthPointe’s English

of life. Putting on a smile

his usually facetious attitude,

department is college level. Anji

doesn’t solve or even patch

“Don’t make your decision to

Straayer and Don VanderKolk

our broken world. Our God

be a teacher for the summers

(DVK) are the two people I hold

does. I am learning to start

off. It is a bad idea.” And with

most responsible for my love

each day by recognizing the

a pause he ended by saying, “I

of literature. My senior year at

reality of my situation and then

mean that’s why I did it, but

going to Him as my source of

Q: Seth, tell us where you are living and teaching and how long you’ve been there?

MSU was the first year where I

you shouldn’t do that.” That

was challenged. My English and

everything. Matthew 11:28-30,

was the last conversation

Literature skills are where they are

“Come to me, all of you who are

we had. I am so thankful for

because of the teachers who drew

weary and burdened, and I will

A: For the last six months I have

teachers at NPC like him.

them out of me.

give you rest. Take up my yoke

taught 9th and 12th grade English in the small town in Southwest Michigan called Dowagiac (Da-wah-jack). The town has a population of 5,000.

Q: Which college prepared you for your career? And for our new alum in particular, when entering college, did you feel that NPC had prepared you well?

A: I am a Secondary Education alumnus of Michigan State University as of May 2022.

and learn from me, because I

Q: What are your long-term goals for your students?

am lowly and humble in spirit,

plan for a business degree. I was

A: Simple; seek a life of

my burden is light.”

reaching the levels needed to

learning and love to read. A

be successful in MSU’s Business

well-read mind is a sharp mind.

DVK convinced me to become a teacher. After my freshman year at MSU, I was unsure of my original

College, but I lacked any passion or desire to continue. In the spring of 2019, I made a visit to DVK. I watched him teach his junior

souls. For my yoke is easy and

Joy is doing your best vigorously in each moment God has given. I can entrust to

Q: What is God teaching you these days?

honors English. Afterward, we

A: “Blessed are the poor in

sat in the Media Center teacher’s

spirit for theirs is the kingdom

lounge as he made copies and

of heaven.” —Matthew 5:3

finished lesson plans. He told

Being “blessed” begins by

me being a teacher is one of the

and you will find rest for your

my Savior the specifics; I know He is good and has a purpose for everything.

– Interview by Pam Lasher, Alumni Coordinator

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