Rancho Christian School Magazine 2017-2018

RANCHO CHRISTIAN

2017-2018

MAGAZINE

CHRIST, CULTURE & CROSSROADS:

The New Era of Christian Education

RANCHO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 31300 RANCHO COMMUNITY WAY, TEMECULA, CA 92592 951.303.8040 • R A N C H O C H R I S T I A N . O R G

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MISSION To build Christ-centered leaders who are University Ready – Life Ready.

VISION Rancho Christian School is a model of exceptionalism, centered on the grace and truth of Jesus Christ. We cultivate a safe and positive environment where students journey through a comprehensive, premier educational experience. Graduates will transform their communities, our nation, and the world.

CORE VALUES • Loving God and Others • Christ-like Character

• Premier Education • Exceptional Programs

Rancho Christian School 31300 Rancho Community Way Temecula, CA 92592 www.ranchochristian.org

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HOW DOES A CENTURIES OLD INSTITUTION — THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL — BECOME A BEACON FOR TRANSFORMATION AND CHANGE? After all, the first schools in the United States weren’t public schools, they were private Christian schools, established by missionaries and entrepreneurial philanthropists, established to raise up young men and women in the Christian way of life.

Today’s Christian education bares little resemblance to those institutions of old. For one thing, there are more of them.

Currently, there are approximately 33,619 private schools in the United States, and 70% of them consider themselves to be “faith-based.” Secondly, by nature, schools don’t change easily.

They can get tied down by budgets, resource management, and the conflicting needs of students and parents. The struggle between maintaining deeply held, strong values and discovering paths to improvement can become organizationally overwhelming.

For a school to provide the experiences and tools for students to become “change-makers” it requires three things:

BEYOND THE EXPECTED:

Kaizen and the New Era of Christian Education

BY BETSY KUNAU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RANCHO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

BY MRS. BETSY KUNAU

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RANCHO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

• First, a desire to change. It is impossible to improve without changing, so to embrace improvement, schools must embrace change first.

• Second, develop the entrepreneurial spirit in each child.

The words and activities our teachers use in and out of the classroom must spark imagination and the desire to do more.

• Finally, a commitment to the values that are true to the organization. This need not be sacrificed in the name of progress.

This is where the concept of Kaizen comes into education.

Kaizen is a popular management philosophy developed by the Japanese that loosely means “continual improvement.”

There are a lot of ways to pursue Kaizen, but in education, it’s about finding those unique paths that lead to educational excellence, and finding those small, forward-moving steps that further link a student’s interests, skills and potential.

magazine can explore further with each article. We deeply believe these opportunities can no longer be considered “extras.” At Rancho, they are now a vital part of “the New Era of Christian education.”

This “New Era” includes a vast array of academic offerings and diverse experiences in and out of the classroom that produce a greater understanding of the world and the extraordinary opportunities for each student.

We love to see the curiosity in Rancho Christian students as they try something new, and the joy in a teacher’s heart when they open up the opportunity for them to do so, and the impact for Christ that they both will have on the world around them as a result. This issue of Rancho Christian Magazine shares with readers those experiences in travel, experimentation, curiosity, and adventure that Rancho students have the chance to explore each year. Enjoy, and live a little vicariously through their stories!

As a Christian school, we have both our faith and our profession deeply calling us to improve; to “be better”: • When Jesus mentored his followers, He guided them in an intentional process of continual improvement. He modeled for the disciples how to empower and delegate to others so that the power of Christ’s message would gain strength, resulting in the church itself being born. We are called to do the same, with our own “Biblical Kaizen,” to use our growing platform as a Christian school to share the Gospel message.

• Education, at its core, follows Kaizen. Individuals are inherently drawn to improve, learn, and grow. It becomes the job of the school to leverage this desire into something productive.

At Rancho, the concept of Kaizen is most keenly practiced by administrators, teachers and staff in areas that other schools might consider “extras.” We highlight and encourage concepts like global awareness, service to others, and cultural intelligence through field trips, travel opportunities, innovative science experiments, theological debate, and interpersonal discovery. These are all things that readers of this

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A PLACE TO CALL W

alking into the robotics workshop on the Rancho Christian back campus is an exciting, but somewhat overwhelming experience. The high decibel sound of a chop saw aggressively cutting through metal reverberates through the space. Welding work in the middle of the room creates an intensely bright shower of sparks. High school students weaving in and out of equipment in what can best be described as a well-rehearsed montage of operating room precision and football field teamwork. It pushes the senses into overdrive.

The energy of the open and carefully designed space is noticeably different from the packed tight facilities workshop the team worked in just a few years ago. The transition from campus storage to a premiere workshop for the High School’s 4

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award winning FIRST Robotics Competition Team was far from simple, but ask anyone on Team 4984 and they will tell you it was definitely worth it.

As the completion of the West Campus approached, the decision to take advantage of the former storage and classroom space in this auxiliary building was easy. School administration made the choice to give the prized space to their growing robotics team. The design and accessibility was perfect with large bay doors and independent space for students and mentors to come and go as the season dictated. “A team like ours that is competing in FIRST robotics, is highly dependent on their workspace to provide them with the best possible path to success. We felt that the J-Building gave them the best ratio for

both planning and build space,” explains Executive Director, Mrs. Betsy Kunau.

Rancho Christian’s team, Bullseye, has been competing in the FIRST Robotics Competition for five years and began their first-year building in a team member’s garage. They quickly realized that wasn’t going to work and a mentor generously offered his business workshop as a place for the team to meet and build. His shop was spacious and well equipped, but there was one small catch, it was in Fallbrook, 30 minutes away. With no other options, the team decided they would be happy to commute for the opportunity to work with professional equipment. There were thirteen students the first year and they did what many thought was impossible, they made it to the playoffs at one of the most competitive regional competitions in the country.

With a location on campus, the team has gone from a parttime club with thirteen students meeting seasonally, to a yearround team nearly double in size. The season ahead looks to be an exciting and challenging one.

For the next three years, not only did the team grow, but they continued to commute five days a week including Saturdays during the six-week build season. Zachary Brewer, a team captain and senior who has been on the team since his freshman year, recalls hearing the news for the first time, “I couldn’t believe we were getting a place on the school campus. We had been commuting for so many years and then suddenly, we weren’t going to have to. It was such a great feeling.”

Turning the classroom into a workshop was not without challenges. While everyone wanted the team on campus, there was a consensus that they would need the right equipment for the move to make sense. “We have some amazing mentors who were able to secure equipment for us through means I would have never believed possible,” explains Mr. Mike Majewski the team’s new program director. Some equipment was obtained through trades with other robotics teams in Southern California, some was purchased through deep discounts from FIRST sponsors, but most of the equipment was donated to the program. Pieces that are still on the team’s wish list including a bandsaw and lathe, are temporarily on loan from mentors until the team can acquire their own.

With the workshop build-out now complete, the walls are lined with two drill presses, a grinding wheel, chop saw, Bridgeport mill, table saw, and workbenches. Hanging on the walls are designs from previous year’s competitions and posters with safety rules. Above the drill press, in bold lettering reads, “LEARN, DO, PRACTICE, TEACH.” Mr. Majewski explains, “Every student can use this equipment, but they have to do it safely.

That means first, they learn it, then, they can do it with supervision. After that, they practice using it. Once they’ve mastered it we want them to teach it to someone else. Teaching is how they know they really understand it. The wall is a reminder of their right to use the equipment and their responsibility to use it safely.”

In the center of the room are more work tables for the students to collaborate together on projects and plenty of open space for them to test out ideas. Currently, some of the space is consumed by their off-season build project, what they are calling “The Super Pit.” When completed, it will be a rolling workshop they will take with them when they travel to their competitions next season.

2017 Awards for RCHS Team 4984-Bullseye Innovation in Control Award-Boise, ID Dean’s List Finalist Award-Jake Davies-Boise, ID FIRST Robotics Competition 2017 26 Countries 3,357 Teams 83,000+ Youth Team Members 20,000+ Mentor Supporters 55 Regional Events 10 District Championships 2017 Robot Facts Up to 120 lbs. total May not exceed 3 feet in height Powered by a 12-volt battery For Inspiration and Recognition of Science & Technology RA N CHOCHRI STI A N .ORG

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A few Rancho teachers gathered their favorite apps and websites for learning.

Whether in 3rd grade or 11th grade, there’s always a tool to help students.

Khanacademy.com

“Code.org is free and an excellent resource to begin coding. We use it for 1 full quarter in elementary computer lab but there are many levels and different games to help develop their coding skills.”

Adaptedmind.com

–MRS. CHRISSY KORTENHOVEN

FOR MATH & SCIENCE Dragon Box+12 App Middle School Math Pro App

Splashmath.com Mathantics.com Mathisfun.com

Kidstyping.weebly.com Bible Gateway App (ESV with audio) GoNoodle.com Quizlet.com (and App)

Getepic.com

Mrnussbaum.com

Edubuzz.com

Brainpop.com

ChineseSkill App

Adaptedmind.com

Ap.gilderlehrman.org

“GoNoodle.com is always great for getting kids moving. I have also found a free sight word app from Edubuzz.com. Getepic.com for kids is a great way to access thousands of books your kids will like and keep them reading.”

Blendspace.com

–MRS. JASMINE BOBCZYNSKI

Grammar Bytes (chompchomp.com) Inference Ace App Raz Kids App

Socrative.com

–MRS. ERIN DERUSHA 6

code.org

FOR LANGUAGE AND HISTORY

Turnitin.com

“I use Mathantics.com almost daily.

There are tons of free instructional and interactive videos for various math concepts across many levels. For a small fee, parents can access practice worksheets and lessons as well. All the videos are free. I recommend this to my parents every year.”

FOR GENERAL EDUCATIONAL FUN

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o say that High School senior, Zakg Brewer, is unique, is an understatement. A true renaissance student, Zakg has explored the arts, STEM, and athletics during his time at Rancho Christian School. But what makes his time at Rancho truly unique is his journey through global languages. A student at Rancho since Kindergarten, he credits Rancho’s small class size and caring teachers who have encouraged him to explore interesting classes and try new things.

In his freshman year, Zakg decided he would attempt something no Rancho student had yet tried - he wanted to become fluent in Chinese. His interest had initially been piqued with a family visit to Chinatown in San Francisco when he was in 6th grade. What he found was a love of a challenging language and a new appreciation for his own. Rancho reflected Zakg’s passion and began to offer Mandarin as one of its four global languages. But clearly, this young man has set the bar high for his fellow and future students at Rancho.

STUDENT FOCUS

Zakg Brewer

And while learning one of the world's most complicated languages doesn’t come easily (it can take up to a month to learn a new sentence structure and pronunciation!), he loves the adventure of it all. “I have to work hard to learn Chinese but I enjoy it. It’s not something I “have” to do but something I “get” to do,” he says.

This “get to do” attitude has also provided him with exciting one-of-a-kind opportunities. The most notable is the two summers he has spent at the prestigious Middlebury Monterey Language Academy (MMLA) camp in Vermont. By Academy rule, students spend the entire month only speaking their target language of study. Zakg insists “it’s much harder than you think before you go.” As a part of the in-depth language immersion program offered at Middlebury College, students room and study with like minded friends from around the globe. They speak only the language they have come to study and participate in cultural exploration projects to gain an ever greater appreciation of the world around them.

After two successful summers at Middlebury, and at the recommendation of the MMLA advisors, Zakg took his studies to the next level last summer with a trip to China studying in Bejing with an added focus on the ancient history and deep culture of China. He cites a visit to China’s Great Wall as a trip highlight: “When I went to the Great Wall with my Dad before my program had started, we had to hike out to this far place in what seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. Then we climbed up a mountain and we were on the wall. It was empty and I could look out over miles and miles of history within the wall, and it was just me and my dad and our tour guide. It was just surreal.”

Zakg is clear that he wants to continue his Mandarin studies throughout college — as he studies and pursues international business. But after that, his plans are wide open. But with more than one fifth of the world’s population (848 million people) speaking Mandarin, he’s sure to have unlimited opportunities when the time comes!

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STUDENT FOCUS

Isabela Blanco

I

sabela Blanco likes to be involved, and luckily for the energetic senior, there’s plenty on the Rancho Christian High School campus for her to do. She is part of the Spanish Honor Society, serves on ASB, runs Track & Field, and participates on the FIRST Robotics Competition team. She would do even more, but with a full class schedule and a desire to give her all to everything she does, there isn’t time left in her day.

As co-Ministry Director for ASB, Isabela Blanco is definitely a girl on a mission. Isabela and her ministry partner, TeddyMax Talanoa, want every student at Rancho Christian to feel encouraged and uplifted. “We aren’t perfect. We all are going through something, but it’s important that everyone knows they are special and they are loved.” Their vision of a loving supportive student body led them to redesign Friday chapels. Now, each week, students are put in the ‘hot seat’ in front the entire school for classmates to describe what they like best about them, share a favorite memory, or simply say thank you for being a friend.

For Isabela the goal is simple, “Ensure every student graduates having been uplifted and blessed by their peers.”

Isabela’s heart for service isn’t limited to her role in student government. This is her second term as Ambassador for the Spanish Honor Society and her overwhelming enthusiasm for the Spanish Program at Rancho makes her exceptionally qualified for the role. As a junior, she was recognized for her outstanding performance in Spanish and selected by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese as one of 24 nationwide winners of the Student Travel Award.

The honor earned her an all-expenses paid trip to Guatemala over the summer to enhance her education, bringing the language and culture to life. Isabela gives credit for the win to Rancho Christian Spanish teacher, Señora Hankins. “She told me about the competition and encouraged me to apply. She even stayed up late to help me get everything submitted on time. She prayed with me, and then when the committee needed additional materials (which happened more than once) she was always there.” That willingness to go above and beyond for her students is what lead Señora Hankins to integrate AP Spanish with WE Service at Rancho this year delivering service based learning as a component of the advanced course. Isabela is excited to be part of one of only 27 California schools offering the College Board’s newest program that invites advanced high school students to work beyond the classroom and actively engage in their local community and beyond.

In addition to busy leadership roles in her co-curricular activities, Isabela also participates in afterschool activities. She is a distance runner on the Track and Field team, where she runs both the 1600 and 3200 meter events. She is on the school’s FIRST Robotics Competition Team where she is helping the team develop and implement project management, and she is looking forward to competitions this season in San Diego and Hawaii. As Isabela finishes her final year of high school, she’s delighted to be so involved on campus with activities carefully selected from the vast array of co-curricular and extra-curricular offerings at Rancho to perfectly fit her desires and tastes.

“WE AREN’T PERFECT. WE ALL ARE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING, BUT IT’S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THEY ARE SPECIAL AND THEY ARE LOVED.” 8

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hree years ago, when Isaiah Mobley came to Rancho for high school, he didn’t know what to expect. Having come from big public schools in Orange Country for elementary and middle school, he was surprised on his first day of freshman year by just how different the experience was. “At Rancho, kids are just friendlier. They come up and say hi. That never happened at my other schools. That’s the first thing I noticed when I got here. I remember thinking, well this is different. But it was good. It was really good.” His smile is large and genuine as he reflects on his early days on campus. When one year later, his younger brother followed in his footsteps, it was with confidence, not trepidation, that Evan Mobley stepped onto the Rancho Christian campus.

Today the athletic brothers are leaders on the school basketball team, a group they call “family” and consider their closest friends.

They are also two of the top high school basketball players in the country. Each is consistently ranked in the top forty players within their graduating class nationwide. The brothers have earned those spots through their hard work and dependably impressive performance on the court. They have also attracted a steady stream of coaches from top universities across the country into the Rancho gym, for practice and for Rancho Christian basketball games where the Eagles play in the same division as local public schools.

STUDENT FOCUS

Mobley Brothers

Eagles Coach Ray Barefield says, “The most impressive thing about these boys is their humility. They epitomize our team philosophy of ‘we over me’.” As coaches arrive to look at the “stars” of the team, the boys champion the entire team, leading by example that no single player is greater than the team. Despite a grueling practice schedule (logging at least twenty-five hours a week of practice) and full school days with eight classes, the boys are disciplined students. It is clear that studies are a top priority for them.

When asked how he manages to maintain his 4.0 GPA, Isaiah says a big part of his success in the classroom is the way Rancho focuses on student engagement. “The teachers are more interactive, I’ve never had that at a school before. They don’t just move on to get through everything they need to teach. They stop and ask, ‘Do you have any questions?’ They make sure you understand.”

Evan says a big part of his success both on and off the court is the feeling from everyone on campus. “Everyone just wants you to succeed.”

In their limited free time, both boys enjoy hanging out with friends, watching YouTube (especially basketball footage) playing video games, and participating in community service projects.

They sometimes marvel at the opportunities that basketball has provided them. They’ve each travelled internationally to play, Evan to China and Isaiah to Canada. They’ve also had the opportunity to meet some of their basketball idols including Kobe Byrant, Michael Jordan, and Kevin Durant. As surreal as some of the experiences they’ve had are, they find comfort in knowing they are surrounded by friends and a student body that knows them for who they are, two teenage boys from Temecula who happen to have an incredible God-given talent for basketball that they’ve worked hard to develop. As Evan explains it, “at Rancho, I’m treated like I’m normal, which I love.”

As school started this year, both boys found themselves saying hello and greeting new students. The friendliness of Rancho is now a part of them. They want to make sure every student at Rancho looks back and thinks, “This is good.”

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DO try this at home Top 8 Middle School Science Experiments you can try at home!

By Daniel Bolechowski and Margaret Wight MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHERS

1. Plastic From Milk

2. Egg in a Bottle

1. Heat up 1 cup milk, but do not boil it.

1. Hard boil an egg and peel it.

2. Add 4 Tbsp. of vinegar.

2. Using a paper towel, coat the inside edge of a glass bottle mouth with a little bit of vegetable oil.

3. Mix well.

4. Pour carefully through a strainer.

5. Let cool.

6. Clump it all together and mold it into your favorite shape.

7. See what happens when you vary the amount of vinegar or try different kinds of milk.

3. Dip the egg in water and set it with the small end down in the mouth of the glass bottle. It should be slightly larger than the mouth of the bottle, so it doesn't fit inside.

4. Light the end of a strip of paper on fire with a match.

Lift the egg off the bottle, drop the paper inside with the flame down, and quickly replace the egg.

5. Watch the egg wiggle a little in the bottle mouth, and then get sucked inside!

3. Homemade Lava Lamp 1. Pour ž cup of water into a 1 liter bottle.

2. Use a measuring cup or funnel to slowly pour vegetable oil into the bottle until it’s almost full. Wait a few minutes for the oil and water separate.

3. Add 10 drops of food coloring to the bottle (we like red, but any color will look great!) The drops will pass through the oil and then mix with the water below.

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4. Break an Alka Seltzer tablet in half and drop the half tablet into the bottle. Watch it sink to the bottom and let the blobby greatness begin!

5. To keep the effect going, just add another tablet piece.

6. For a true lava lamp effect, shine a flashlight through the bottom of the bottle.

4. Ice Cream In A Bag

7. Self-Inflating Balloons

1. Half fill a 4 quart Ziplock bag with ice (about 2 cups).

1. Put a test tube where it will stand upright securely (or have someone hold it) and fill it halfway with vinegar.

2. Add 6 Tbsp. salt and seal the bag.

2. Give a balloon a good stretching, like you would if you were about to blow it up.

3. Pour 1 Tbsp. sugar, ½ cup milk and ¼ tsp. vanilla extract into a ½ quart Ziplock bag and seal securely.

4. Open the large zip lock bag and place the smaller bag inside. Seal the large bag.

5. Shake and rock the large bag for 10 to 15 minutes.

6. After enough shaking, the mixture in the small bag will become ice cream and is ready to eat. Enjoy!

5. Cleaning Pennies 1. Put 1 tsp. salt and ¼ C. vinegar into a clear, nonmetal bowl and stir until it dissolves.

2. Put 20 dull and dirty pennies into the bowl for about 5 minutes.

3. Take half the pennies out and place them on a paper towel.

4. Take the second half out and rinse them off with water very well. Place them on a paper towel and mark it as being “rinsed.”

5. Wait about an hour and then check back on your two piles.

6. What differences do you see between the two? The rinsed pennies should be bright and look brand new. What Happened? When the vinegar and salt dissolve the copper oxide they make it easier for the copper atoms to join with the oxygen in the air and the chlorine in the salt.

6. Rainbow in a Jar

3. Use a funnel to put 1 tsp. baking soda inside the balloon. Gently shake the balloon to get baking soda to the bottom.

4. Making sure none of the baking soda gets into the test tube, carefully stretch the opening of the balloon until it’s completely over and tight on the opening of the test tube.

5. Once the balloon is attached to the test tube, lift the rest of the balloon so that the baking soda falls into the vinegar. Give it a gentle shake to make sure it all goes in.

6. Watch the balloon inflate!

8. Walking on Eggs Did you know you can stand on eggs and they won't break? But, read the instructions carefully or you will end up with an egg mess!

1. Open two cartons of eggs and give them a good inspection. Make sure none are cracked or flawed in any way.

2. Cut the centre bits of the egg carton so that they are level with the tops of the eggs.

3. Make sure all the eggs are set in the carton the same way up: they need to be either all pointy end up or all rounded end up.

4. Spread a garbage bag on the floor. Place the cartons open and side-by-side, comfortable for you to put a food on each and stand still.

2. Blue: ½ cup of blue dish soap.

5. Have a friend or parent help you steady your weight as you carefully place your first foot onto one of the cartons of eggs. Place your foot flat and evenly onto the eggs so your body weight is spread evenly across all 12 eggs.

3. Green: Mix ½ cup of water with 2 drops of green food coloring.

6. Place your second foot on the other carton of eggs the same way — evenly and carefully.

4. Yellow: ½ cup olive oil.

7. You’re standing on eggs! Eggs are actually like an arch: The curved design of the eggs spreads your weight evenly instead of concentrating it at one point. When you crack an egg, you are concentrating the force at one point and that’s why it breaks.

In 5 different bowls, please combine the following: 1. Purple: Mix ½ cup of light corn syrup with 1 drop of blue and 1 drop of red food coloring.

5. Red: Mix ½ cup of rubbing alcohol with 2 drops of red food coloring.

6. Carefully pour each color down the inside of a clear, clean jar - Purple first, red last.

7. Being careful not to disturb your liquids, set your jar down on the table and enjoy your rainbow!

8. Try changing up the order of the colors — what happens?

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Field Dreams1 of

BY MS. LINDA BREWER

T

hree years ago, Monty Jones had the most vivid dream of a field with a tree stump and water spigot. The Lake Elsinore Storm chaplain, who would never traveled outside the country, didn’t realize his dream would begin a life-changing international and intercultural relationship for a group of high-school boys. He knew he couldn’t get the vision out of his head. “God worked through an incredible set of circumstances,” says Monty about how he found himself partnered with Rancho Christian’s baseball team and heading to Cuba to share God’s love with the people of the impoverished island nation.

When the Rancho Christian baseball team was approached with the opportunity to take a mission trip to Cuba over the summer of 2016, they knew this was a unique opportunity seldom afforded to Americans. If there was a national sport in Cuba, it would be baseball. Baseball is played everywhere in the country and loved universally. For the 11 million people living in one of the most tightly controlled countries in the world, baseball is a unifying distraction from the sometimes-harsh reality of their everyday existence. It is also a source of great cultural pride. As excited as the team was about undertaking the trip, they faced many challenges. Travel restrictions had yet to be lifted (making visas difficult to obtain) and flights to Cuba required travel through another country. Yet God provided throughout the planning process, and before they knew it the team touched down in Havana. From there, the boys and

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coaches traveled three hours to the small village of Placentas where they would spend a week living with the local people.

They brought with them bags of equipment and uniforms as well as clothing and other basic supplies for the church. With an average income of $20 a month, these donations will make a big difference in the lives of the local people.

“One of my favorite things about the trip, was the people. Seeing the way they live and building relationships with them.”

In the humid heat of the Caribbean summer, the boys played ball. Two games a day, six days straight. They pitched, hit, caught, threw, and slid onto base. As they played, spectators watched, drawn into the excitement of the sport. People were curious. Why would Americans come all the way to Cuba to play ball with them? After the games, they visited with the opposing team to share experiences. The love of God was shared.

The message connected because of a shared love of baseball.

After full days of games, the team visited with local families.

“Everyone invited you into their home. They were so welcoming and friendly,” says senior Tyler Treadway. “One of my favorite things about the trip, was the people. Seeing the way they live and building relationships with them.” Yet this was Cuba, and meals were shared and bonds were forged all under the watchful eye of the Castro regime. Government Minders and local officials checked up on the team daily (often multiple times per day) to ensure rules were being “minded”. While religious freedom and speaking about your personal faith is limited in Cuba, political freedom and discussion of democracy or against their government is strictly forbidden. The students realized through this trip just how blessed they are by the the many freedoms they have. They also were impacted by the how the people in Cuba are happy with less. Explains Coach McManus, “We have so much more but we also have this hustle and bustle that comes from trying to have more.

They are worried about survival and we are worried about things like the latest technology and the best clothes. That really resonated with the boys.”

The team was invited to return to Placentas in 2017 and despite the physical demands of the trip and living conditions well below their normal standard, they were eager to accept.

Relaxed travel rules and direct U.S. flights made trip logistics easier and arriving at the church became a happy reunion. For JoJo Saatzer, his second visit, “was about relationships both with my teammates and the local people. We really grew deeper in relationship. That made it special.” The ministry itself was much deeper because they had been there before. They were no longer strangers, but friends who had chosen to return.

The uniforms and equipment they had brought year one were now well worn. The equipment and uniforms arriving with them now were greatly appreciated.

Once again, they played ball and gave it their all. Again, they were exposed to many wonderful Cuban people and had the opportunity to hear about their lives, their hopes, their dreams, and their challenges. More importantly, they learned about themselves through the process of giving to others. As senior Carter Treadway explained, “I learned about my personal faith as I shared it with others. My faith became deeper.”

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“Through giving interviews to players and coaching staff in high school, we are able to do what most others in the field can’t do until college.”

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n the fall of 2016, RCHS juniors Austin Hall and Alex Markakis had an idea. Both sports enthusiasts and wanting to try something new, they approached their journalism teacher, Mrs. Laurel Mueller and asked "what if we created a broadcast show that covered the growing successes and athletes in the Rancho Christian athletics program?" With a thumbs-up from Mrs. Mueller, and the financial support from Rancho’s donor-driven “Angel Investment Fund,” the boys began planning.

The two weren’t sure where their dream would take them, but they were certainly up for the adventure. They began to work with fellow classmates and advisors on what their broadcasts should look like; Should it be a weekly feature at Chapel; or a social media deliverable or just focused on game broadcasting? In the end, they chose a combination of all three with the intent of sharing their love of sports with the Rancho community — and the Rancho Sports Network, RSN, was born.

Today, the growing program boasts highlight shows, interviews with athletes and coaches, and a broad range of commentary on high school athletics.

The highlight of the effort has been the working relationship with Trent Rush of AM830 Angels Radio. Connected

by Coach Jim Kunau, the three began a mentoring relationship that allowed Rush to “pay forward” what he had learned when he was in Hall and Markakis’ shoes a decade before. The students come to Rush with ideas and plans and he offers advice, suggestions and encouragement. Rush believes that programs like RSN do more than just report on local sports. “Not only is it a student driven media outlet great experience, it also teaches responsibility, creativity and confidence in a tangible way,” he says.

Hall shares, “He [Rush] not only came in when Alex and I started this up, but has been that symbol of where you can get to when you put in the work.”

The feeling is mutual Rush says, “Having mentors to look up to and support me made such an impact on my life. In return, I try to take every chance I can to help students that are where I was 5-10 years ago. It’s part of the code. You help others the same way you got help. Paying it forward is just part of the culture of the industry.”

Hall, Marakis, and their video technician, Nathan Vaniman, are all seniors at Rancho. With a full year of experience in front of them before they head to their respective colleges and universities. They will go with a passion for broadcasting, but more importantly, they will go to into their future endeavours with the belief that anything is possible when you dream big.

As Markakis explains, “Rancho Sports Network is more than just two guys talking about sports, it’s Austin and I getting the opportunity to gain an extra step in a highly competitive field. Through giving interviews to players and coaching staff in high school, we are able to do what most others in the field can’t do until college.”

RA N CHOCHRI STI A N .ORG

15

The Dream Project

BY MS. HANNAH THOMAS AND MS. WENDY GORHAM

S

ince the beginning of Rancho Christian High School, graduates have spent their final year with us completing a meaningful senior culminating project. We want them to be introspective and yet academically challenged.

We want them to look to their past as well as their future. And above all, we want them to be authentic. We have no idea how the students will respond to this multi-faceted assignment. Each project is as unique as each student. Our students, while at first a bit cautious and confused, take the project to places we never dream it will go. They push themselves and us. They make connections, they dig deeply, and they take us with them. We look for a strong academic experience that is somehow tied to them, but what they give us is passion, creativity, and excellence.

Our high school has grown exponentially and over the years, we have seen our once small and homogenous group of seniors become multiplied in number and in background. We have ushered students from many walks of life and cultures through this project, and it has only become better and stronger through this diversity. Any fears we might have had about the challenges that could come with this growth were proven unfounded. We hear feedback from panel members and the community that several of the project presentations were of a quality rivaling the Master’s Degree level. We now know that this project is indeed hitting the mark we had set for our students. More importantly, we see

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the project have a deep impact on our students on a personal and spiritual level in addition to this stellar academic performance. So often, when we are talking with students about their topics and research, the conversation so easily morphs into an exploration of who they were and who they are becoming.

This project is our passion. We frame every aspect of our teaching and our curriculum to shape the notion that what students learn in school is not divorced from real life. Literature isn’t written in a vacuum—it is the response of real people to what is happening in history. The Bible isn’t just a book for Sunday morning but is the foundation upon which everything else rests. Math and science are the pen and the paintbrush with which God colored the world. We have come to relish that “light bulb” moment—when a student is ushered to the point of understanding where literature, social studies, Christian worldview, and their own journey meet in a way that compells them to see themselves, the world, and God in a fresh way.

We aren’t the only ones who feel this level of excitement about the project. The first year we asked a few other colleagues to join us in serving as the judges for the students’ presentations. They were highly impressed with what the students produced. The growth of our student population has allowed us to expand the pool of presentation judges, which now includes teachers from all levels of our

institution, administrators, school board members, and community professionals (including lawyers, college professors, scientists, and politicians). This interaction between adults and young people was an unexpected gift and has meant as much to the judges and to the students. It is yet another way that this project demonstrates the interconnectedness between academics and real life.

Even in the face of all of this positive feedback and shared growth, we still imagine what the long-term impact of this project will be on our students. Had we prepared them to think, to write, and to articulate? Would they be able to forge their chosen path with courage and grace? These questions melt away as one after another alumni return, invariably reference the ways in which their senior project shaped their goals, their sense of self, and their ability to confidently navigate their future.

Wendy Gorham graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from San Diego State University, earning both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

She has been with Rancho Christian since before the high school began and has loved nothing more than to watch her beloved juniors and seniors grow and thrive. Her own children are die-hard Eagles, having been here since preschool, and this experience as a Rancho teacher and parent has given her valuable perspective. The connections formed in class often extend to the world outside as Ms. Gorham is on the Board of Directors of the Alumni-founded non-profit Rose Again Foundation. In addition, she is an author, having co-written and published two mystery novels with her father.

Hannah Thomas graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cal State San Marcos, earning her Bachelor’s degree and Social Studies teaching credential. This is her seventh year with Rancho Christian and she has loved not only teaching all grades in the high school, but also heading up the curriculum development within the social studies department. She was awarded the James Madison Fellowship in 2016, which is a grant established by Congress and typically awarded to one American history teacher per state for the completion of their master's degree. She has also been selected twice to participate in The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Teacher Summer Seminars, one at Stanford University, and one at Emory University. Additionally, she is a writer who has had multiple nonfiction articles published online, and continues to pursue publication of her fiction and nonfiction work.

Rancho Christian High School’s iconic Junior & Senior Projects are a highlight of the Rancho Christian experience. All students participate; all students benefit.

JUNIOR PROJECT:

SENIOR PROJECT:

• 3 major components: American history, American literature, Christian Worldview

• 4 major components: Literature, Social Studies, Christian Worldview, Personal Journey

·· 8-10+ page academic essay ·· 10 minute class presentation to teachers and fellow students • Topic Examples: ·· The Political, Economic, and Social Influences on American Identity ·· The Impact of Media on American Women Over Time ·· Literature’s Impact on the Abolitionist Movement ·· The Effects of WWII Japanese Internment on the Asian-American Experience

·· 11-15+ page academic essay ·· 25 minute Panel Presentation to teachers, administrators, community members ·· Senior Presentation Evening Event: Students present projects at an event open to the community • Topic Examples: ·· ·· ·· ·· ··

Media and it’s impact on image The Legacy of Western Civilization The Need for Renaissance Men in Our World The Beauty of Trials and Suffering The Degradation of Language RA N CHOCHRI STI A N .ORG

17

Just One Question: A different kind of Q&A WITH RANCHO CHRISTIAN’S ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, MR. JAKE FEY AND CHIEF STRATEGIST, MR. JIM KUNAU

Rancho Christian Magazine recently sat down with Athletic Director Mr. Jake Fey and Chief Strategist, Mr. Jim Kunau to ask them “just one question”:

Q:

WHAT IS IT ABOUT RANCHO ATHLETICS THAT IS SO UNLIKE TYPICAL ATHLETIC PROGRAMS?

Their answer was just as humble and unique as the two men themselves….

A:

At Rancho Christian we are not focused on the tangible scoreboard at the end of games. We are focused on the bigger picture: Making Rancho Christian athletics the best place for any athlete to participate. We are focused on building not just championship programs, but “Championship Human Beings”. At Rancho Christian, we believe young people need three core things in their lives: something to believe in, someone who believes in them, and that every young person needs a place to belong.

First, they need something to believe in. Whether is it being a part of a football, basketball, or softball team, they need to be able to give themselves up to a cause greater than themselves.

We have a saying at Rancho: People that are ME focused will

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ME: Miss Everything. However, when you are focused instead on the team or the WE, then you are Without Equal. When you are focused on what you can do for the team, everyone is in it together and contributing whatever they can. This creates a team-focused culture instead of a “what’s in it for me” culture. We believe this greatly benefits our athletes not only in athletics, but in the future when they are out in the real world and are working for a company or organization.

Secondly, we believe that young people need someone who believes in them. This is where our coaches focus on building up our athletes through positive coaching. We hold our athletes to a very high standard. We expect them to give 100% effort and have a great attitude at all times. We define success

as “unselfishly giving your best everyday regardless of circumstances.” By judging our athletes by this standard alone, and not the societal standard of how many games we win or how many points we score, every athlete can be successful whether they are an ALL CIF player, or if they never see the field.

environment where they can experience success in a meaningful way. This vital recipe builds more than just high level championship programs, it builds Champions for Life.

The third and final thing young people need in their lives is a place to belong. Rancho Christian is a safe harbor where each young person is understood as being specifically crafted by God. We want them to know that they have inherent worth and value because the Creator has proclaimed that to be true, and has demonstrated this truth in His willingness to sacrifice everything for them in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here at Rancho, we believe that any student can find a sport to belong to. Once they commit to being a part of the team they have somewhere safe to go every day. No matter what is going on in their life, they know for the 2-3 hours a day they spend with their team, they will be in a safe and positive

BELOW IS A LIST OF U.S. COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT FORMER PLAYERS OF CURRENT RANCHO COACHING STAFFS HAVE RECEIVED OFFERS FROM: • Air Force

• Cal Poly SLO

• Alabama

• Chapman

• Amherst

• Claremont

• Arizona

• Clemson

• Army

• Colorado State

• ASU

• Columbia

• Austin Peay

• Cornell

• Azusa Pacific

• Dartmouth

• Boise State

• Duke

• Brown

• Eastern Washington

• Cal • Cal Lutheran • Cal State Bakersfield • Cal State Los Angeles • Cal State East Bay

• Florida State • Fresno State • Gardner Webb • Harvard • Hawaii

• Hope International

• Notre Dame

• Stony Brook

• Humboldt State

• Ohio State

• Swarthmore

• Oklahoma

• Taylor

• Oregon

• TCU

• Oregon State

• Texas

• Penn

• Texas A&M

• Penn State

• Trinity

• Portland State

• UC Davis

• Princeton

• UC Riverside

• Redlands

• UC Santa Barbara

• Johns Hopkins University • Kansas State • LaVerne • Miami • Michigan • Middlebury • MIT • Montana • Montana State • Navy • Nebraska • Nevada • Northwestern

• Richmond • San Diego State • San Jose State • SMU • St. Martins University • Stanford

• UCLA • University of Chicago • University of Colorado

• University of Washington • USC • USD • Utah • Valparaiso • Vanguard • Villanova • Washington & Lee • Washington State • Weber State • Williams • Wisconsin • Yale

• University of Richmond RA N CHOCHRI STI A N .ORG

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BEYOND THE IQ:

Equipping your Children for Success Through their EQ

BY MS. ELAINE WILKINS

DIRECTOR, SAFE HARBOR COUNSELING CENTER

Academic and achievement scores increased 11%, good behavior in class and school satisfaction increased by 10% and disruptive behavior in class decreased by 10%. Thus, our child’s IQ can actually increase by strengthening their EQ. 20

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W

hether it is helping with ABC’s or the SAT’s, we know our kids and teens will have more educational success if we support their academics. But what if I told you that their EQ (Emotional Intelligence) is just as important to their academic success as their IQ? In fact, a high emotional intelligence may even help them get into college! Yes, it’s true! According to the Gottman Institute, research suggests that the EQ is twice as strong a predictor of a child’s later success in life than their IQ. In fact, kids with high EQ’s flourish academically, socially and emotionally which can lead to greater satisfaction in ALL areas of their lives (Gottman 2017).

In a recent study, Daniel Goleman claims that as children and teens learn emotional coping skills they also improve their academic skills. In a meta-analysis where hundreds of schools provided emotional skills training to their students, academic success greatly improved. Academic and achievement scores increased 11%, good behavior in class and school satisfaction increased by 10% and disruptive behavior in class decreased by 10%. Thus, our child’s IQ can actually increase by strengthening their EQ. So how can you as a parent help foster a high EQ in your children? Whether you have preschoolers, elementary kids or teens, there are simple everyday ways of nurturing their emotional intelligence.

• Cultivate an environment of emotional openness in your home. Try not to dismiss or disapprove of your child’s feelings. Discuss and validate all emotions even if you do not agree with them. When you empathize with your children they feel understood, which triggers a soothing biochemical response in their brains that ultimately allow your children to learn to calm themselves.

• Share your own feelings and experiences. Let your kids see that you experience and deal with emotions too. Your sharing allows your child to develop empathy and to see that coping with emotions is a lifelong journey that is doable. Be sure to share memories you have of dealing with similar emotions or social problems at their age. This normalizes their feelings which allows them to not feel isolated in their distress.

• Teach the names and labels of feelings. Beyond just happy, sad, scared and mad, teach your children the appropriate labels for the hundreds of feelings they will experience over time. Teach them they are likely to feel more than one emotion about a difficult situation. Help them discover the finer cues and nuances related to emotions. This awareness increases their ability to both manage their own emotions and to be empathic toward others.

• Model emotional well-being and healthy relationships.

Allow your children to observe how you take care of your emotional well-being. Talk and show them healthy ways to deal with stress or pain. Keep your own relationships healthy and model positive conflict management.

• Help problem solve. Social problems on the playground or on teen social sites are just as important as fractions or algebraic equations. Kids of all ages need to know they can

come to you for help in figuring out how to handle their peers or difficult feelings about social issues. Stay calm and neutral and help them think of healthy solutions.

• Use teachable moments about feelings to bond. You are your child’s anchor. Your empathy, validation and help allows for a closer relationship with your child at every age.

Use conversations about feelings to grow closer to your children.

We can all do well to remember to put down the flashcards and the books from time to time to just “be” with the children in our lives. Talk about and explore feelings in your home.

Teach them that God made them to be an emotional being.

A strong emotional intelligence will serve your children for years to come not only in school, but also in the workplace and most importantly in all of their relationships. In Proverbs 4:23 God himself declares, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

Elaine M. Wilkins, LMFT #38237 is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the Clinical Director of Safe Harbor Counseling Center at Rancho Community Church. Elaine has worked as a clinical psychotherapist and professional speaker for over 22 years. As a clinical supervisor, Elaine also enjoys guiding interns who are striving to become licensed psychotherapists. Elaine works with a variety of clientele including individuals, couples and youth of all ages. Elaine’s style is caring and compassionate and she feel truly honored to come alongside her clients in their journey to achieve positive relationships and emotional well being.

So what is EQ or Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is essentially a person’s awareness, understanding and ability to manage their emotions.

Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence (1995), identifies four main domains to a person’s emotional intelligence.

• SELF AWARENESS: The ability to recognize your own emotions and how they affect your thoughts and behaviors.

• SELF MANAGEMENT: The ability to handle emotions in healthy ways and adapt to all types of circumstances.

• SOCIAL AWARENESS: The ability to observe others, to relate to them and understand how others are feeling, and to express empathy.

• RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT: The ability to develop and function well in relationships with others. To communicate clearly, work well in a team and manage conflict.

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Why Field Trips?

BY MRS. MONTYNA COWAN

PRINCIPAL, RANCHO CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDY BY THE U.S. TRAVEL ASSOCIATION

YOUTH WHO TAKE EDUCATIONAL TRIPS HAVE:

59%

12%

95%

63%

BETTER GRADES

HIGHER GRADUATION RATES FROM HIGH SCHOOL

GREATER INCOME

HIGHER GRADUATION RATES FROM COLLEGE

educational trips 89% said had a positive, lasting

impact on their education and career because the trips made them more engaged, intellectually curious and interested in and out of school.

D

on't tell 'em, but the students singing at the back of the bus don’t know that today, even when they are away from their classroom, they are actually going to learn!

They are also unaware that they will learn even more than the facts, figures, art and history that the museum showcases. But, their teachers know that the field trip is an invaluable part of any curriculum.

According to Education Next, “Enriching field trips contribute to the development of students into civilized young men and women who possess more knowledge about art, have stronger critical-thinking skills, exhibit increased historical empathy, display higher levels of tolerance, and have a greater taste for consuming art and culture.”

It is no wonder that a field trip to the science museum can catapult a young mind forward into a career somewhere in the field of science or medicine. Likewise, a field trip to view a play or musical performance can help develop students who value the arts and display higher levels of tolerance. Sensory, physical and social experiences on a field trip enrich learning and can help prepare students of all ages for life well beyond graduation.

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San Diego Zoo Old Town San Diego Legoland Riley’s Farm Indian Homes Animal Rehabilitation Centers Birch Aquarium Old Town Temecula Community Mission of Hope Farm San Juan Capistrano Mission Pechanga Great Oak Tree Sacramento San Diego Harbor Marine Floating Lab Jet Propulsion Laboratory Huntington Library United States Naval Ships AstroCamp Catalina Palomar Observatory Knott’s Berry Farm Washington DC Gettysburg Williamsburg New York, NY Boston, MA RA N CHOCHRI STI A N .ORG

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Go Beyond Christian schools of the PAST separated students from the world.

Christian schools of the FUTURE prepare students to CHANGE THE WORLD.

MR. SCOTT TREADWAY,

PRESIDENT, RANCHO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL; PASTOR, RANCHO COMMUNITY CHURCH

W

hen a family is deciding where to send their students to school, the Christian education option is always an appealing one offering a positive environment, a values-infused community, personalized education, small class size, and mentoring. Families are also increasingly wanting their students prepared to engage the world, not be isolated from it. So how can students experience the extraordinary benefits of a Christian school while being thoroughly prepared to engage and shape the world around them.

Rancho Christian is unique. Rancho provides all the benefits of a private Christian education, but it is also infused with a deep sense that God has called us to equip next generation leaders who are prepared to engage the world intelligently, meaningfully, selflessly, and with a sense of mission that God will use them to transform the world through their family, their vocation, and their service to others.

We call this approach “GO BEYOND,” and there are three necessary components to this.

1. Quality of education must be exceptional. For a student to be fully equipped to lead our world toward a brighter future, educational preparedness must be uncompromising. Rancho graduates are accepted to extraordinary public and private universities, and thrive.

2. Social engagement in the important subjects of our time is critical. The Rancho educational experience is much more than the “drill-and-kill” of rote memorization. Most classes in secondary school include vibrant discussion, applying what is learned to everyday life and to the social/political issues that shape our world. All this happens in the context of deep, authentic relationship with students and faculty.

3. Service opportunities bring it all together. By the time a student graduates from Rancho, they will have had countless opportunities to use their God-given talents to help change the world. Just this last year, Rancho students had opportunities to serve in the follow ways, and more: • Rancho’s Outreach Farm, providing 75,000 lbs. of produce to families in need throughout our region • Rancho’s Community Mission of Hope, providing food and household essentials to over 500 families a month • LA Mission camp, serving youth in the inner city of Los Angeles • Home building week in Ensenada Mexico • Imani Christian School our boarding school for orphaned children in Kenya • Paz y Esperanza home for abused children in Lima Peru • Sports Ambassador trip to Cuba • Breakfast Club child feeding and family care ministry in Ethiopia “GO BEYOND” is a deep and profound educational experience that equips Rancho students to lead our world toward a better future through exceptional education, social engagement, and countless local and global service opportunities.

The future is bright because today’s students are being thoroughly equipped to change the world. Rancho students will help lead the way.

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Rancho Christian School 31300 Rancho Community Way Temecula, CA 92592

Benefits of

Educational Travel

and Out-of-the-Classroom Experiences

Students who travel make

40%

higher salary than those who do not

34% Students who viewed art in a museum were 34% more likely to recall significant facts and insights on the pieces than those viewed the same art online or in a book

67%

25%

of companies say that a majority of their workers need global language skills

of High school Students continue to study a foreign language in college

6 million

Over Americans are working abroad — the highest number ever recorded

81%

of U.S. Middle School students who travelled as a part of their curriculum went on to college

61% of students who travel attain an advanced degree

83%

of students who saw a stage play of Hamlet were we able to correctly identify Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as Hamlet’s friends, compared to 45% of students who just read the book Students who travel are 4x more likely to travel for business and 2x more likely to take international vacations as adults

UNIVERSITY READY LIFE READY

A person’s ability to learn a foreign language peaks at age 6 or 7

hallo

hola Hawaje

Salut