MAGAZINE
A STUDENT PUBLICATION OF REACH CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
ISSUE 12 FALL 2018
Red Lion Daredevil Red Lion student Jake VanWingerden has his own dirt bike trail right in his back yard.
ALSO INSIDE
House Day Games
The four houses at Tall Oaks battled it out in the annual House Day competition.
Back to School Bash
Food, fun, friends, and fireworks were on the menu at the annual Tri-State get together.
AND MUCH MORE... WWW.REACHSCHOOLS.ONLINE
TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
Reach Events Jake VanWingerden Red Lion Dirt Bike Rider Tall Oaks House Day Tri-State Back To School Bash Dr. Doherty Red Lion Teacher Reach Christian Schools One Night Alexee Gray Tall Oaks Senior Red Lion International Students Tri-State Senior Profiles Glasgow Christian Academy Overview Red Lion Seniors Since Kindergarten Reach Youth Teens Mrs. Marshall Tall Oaks Teacher Red Lion Sports
On the first day of school Red Lion anatomy teacher, Mrs. Denise Holt goes over the rules and procedures with her class. Photo by AaronHamrick
REACH MAGAZINE FALL 2018 ADVISER
Aaron Hamrick RED LION STAFF Aaron Fieger Madeline Scalia Mackenzie Skelton Logan Taylor John Xu
TALL OAKS STAFF Spencer Armstrong Lydia Brown Fiona Fawcett Delainey Gray Faith Hollister Abby Metzger Katie Rippon
TRI-STATE STAFF Miss Mali Grau Aron Flanagan Sean Dela Torre
RED LION CAMPUS 1390 Red Lion Rd Bear, DE 19701
302-834-2526 www.reachschools.online ON THE COVER Getting some air time, Red Lion senior Jake VanWingerden jumps a ramp on his own dirt bike track on his property. Jake has been riding dirt bikes since he was four years old. photo by Aaron Hamrick
The Beat of Reach
Many exciting events have taken place since school began. Copy by Madeline Scalia Design by Madeline Scalia Photos by Aaron Hamrick
See You at the pole
Back to School BBQ
Wednesday, September 29
Monday, August 20
Red Lion and Tall Oaks were able to come together for See You at the Pole. Before school began, studetns gathered in the gym where various studetns and teachers led prayer for our families, schools, and nation.
At the back to school BBQ this year, students gathered for fellowship before the first day of school. Families enjoyed music, moon bounces, and food alongside their friends.
First Day of School
Wednesday, August 22 The 2018-2019 school year began on August 22. Red Lion Christian Academy and Tall Oaks Classical School returned to the Red Lion campus for another year.
4
Reach Christian Schools
Color Wars
Grandparents Day
Thursday, October 18
Friday, September 31
The annual Color Wars games were held on October 18. Each high school class competed in a variety of games, such as tug of war and musical chairs. Each class tried their hardest, but ultimately the senior class won.
The Red Lion Campus hosted the annual Grandparents Day celebration on September 31. All grandparents gathered in the Pusey Gym to enjoy breakfast and fellowship with one another, followed by musical performances from various classes and groups.
Tall Oaks House Day Friday, October 6
Tall Oaks participated in their first House Day of the year on October 5. The four houses participated in a variety of games and activities. www.reachschools.online
5
“ 6
Reach Christian Schools
BACKYARD
DAREDEVIL S
“
Jumping ramps, r iding ban wheelies ks, and are just popping s o m Jake Van e of the Wingerde tricks t n perfor hat m s on his motocros own s track.
Copy and Design by Logan Taylor Photos by Aaron Hamrick
enior Jake VanWingerden has a very special hobby. When he was about 4 years old, he was given his first dirt bike. Since then, he’s ridden dirt bikes, just for fun, for about 13 years. His first bike was a Honda 50cc, and he crashed it immediately. Because his dad is into dirt bikes as well, in 2010, his dad hired someone to build a track for the bikes in the back of their farm, where Jake still rides to this day. Jake has been injured while doing some stunts and tricks. However, he’s never gone to the hospital for any injury, big or little. He said he never wanted to be put out. Jake shared about one time when he was injured. “About two years ago, on the last day of school, I was riding my bike alone on the track, which I probably shouldn’t have been doing. I got home, started riding, and a few minutes later I crashed. I bent the handlebars on the bike and had a golf-ball sized lump on the side of my ankle for about a year before it went away.” He also has a permanent scar on his side from the incident. He called his mother and asked if she could come get him, but he still never went to the hospital. Jake isn’t the only one in his family that has gotten injured on a bike. “My dad actually got hurt really bad, and he was in the hospital for three days with a concussion and crushed ribs. He was just showing off and landed really wrong. It was like a 300 pound bike that fell on him.” Another thing Jake mentioned was a deal he and his older sister made with his dad when Jake was in second grade. Their father told them that if they made honor roll for the whole year, he would buy them a pair of dirt bikes 70 cc’s. Of course, they accepted the challenge. By the end of his second grade year, Jake and his sister were both awarded with brand new dirt bikes that they rode around on together.
The thing that I enjoy most about motocross is the intensity.I’m chasing the adrenaline rush that comes with high speeds and sketchy moments. www.reachschools.online
7
“There was so much camaraderie and community; and so many memories.” David Crossan
CLASH OF
The Houses A little rain didn’t stop Tall Oaks from the annual House Day competition. Activities were moved inside to the Pusey Center. Copy by Faith Hollister Design by Spencer Armstrong Photos by Aaron Hamrick
“T
here’s only 10 more days until House Day,” Kaitie Booth, a student from Wilberforce, said. House Day is the day when the houses gather together to compete and earn points for a chance to win the House Cup at the end of the year. It seemed as if the rain would wash away such chances. Luckily, the administration had a backup plan: the Pusey Center. Kuyper, Kepler, Edwards, and Wilberforce teammates entered the gym, unsure of what to expect. Three houses hefted their mascots onto the stage. Kepler’s large bear cradled a tiny Edwards lion and a Wilberforce horse on each of its sides. They had strategized during lunch but wondered if they would play the same game due to the rain and the location change. After unboxing a set of flagged belts, Mr. Jones began to explain. It became apparent what they’d be playing: flag tag. “I was excited,” said Janelle, a student from Edwards. Becca Booth, a student
8
Reach Christian Schools
from Wilberforce, agreed, “because it was a day of no school.” A sense of excitement rippled through some of the students. The games were about to begin. “Ready to win!” a Kuyper student exclaimed. The Houses competed fiercely against one another. In a span of about ten minutes, two houses would try to steal the three flags velcroed to the belt around each person’s waist. Students rushed, dove, shoved, dodged, worked together, and sneaked alone like ninjas, trying to steal as many flags as they could. Some students walked joyously back to the sidelines to hand in and report their flags. Other students lined the sidelines, those who had lost all three flags and were counted out of the game until the next round began. If their house racked up more points than the opposing house, they’d move towards claiming first place. “We adapted well to the changes presented,” said a student from the House of Kepler.
Let The Games Begin As Wilberforce and Kuyper clashed first, the hallway outside the gym was used for another chance at house points. Edwards and Kepler played a tense game of Shock. Sitting in parallel lines, they held hands and bowed their heads. The two at the front of the lines focused intently on a coin that was being flipped. If the coin landed tails, they remained still. But if it were heads, they jerked suddenly into action, squeezing the other’s hands. If their choice was wrong, they’d lose a point. If their choice was right, and the shock could reach in time, the point would be theirs. The hand squeezing traveled down the line like an electric shock, eventually reaching the end where the last students of each line waited patiently. As soon as the shock reached their fingers, their eyes flew open, and they lashed out at a single bottle at the end. Only one line could claim the victory each time. “Shock was actually fun, because it used our brains and senses,” Becca Booth said. Then the lines shifted as the new person would watch for heads and the old would prepare to snatch the bottle. House Day came to a close. In flag tag, Kepler came in first place, Kuyper in second, Edwards in third, and Wilberforce in fourth. Some injuries occurred, and the light of competition had flared in some eyes, but, overall, there seemed to be a sense of sportsmanship and fun. “There was so much camaraderie and community. There were so many memories,” said David Crossan, a student from Edwards. It was a time off from the grind of schoolwork and strict rules. It was a chance to talk to friends and release cooped up energy. At the end of the day, despite the rivalry, Christ was the center of all. Friendship defied the thin boundaries of the House System. House Day may have been a day of competition, but the competition did not ruin their relationships and love of Christ.
www.reachschools.online
9
food fellowship fireworks
“The bash exceeded all my expectations. Seeing everyone having fun was so great. And the legendary fireworks show definitely lived up to all the hype.�
On Friday, September 28, Tri-State Christian Academy held their annual Back to School Bash. Students and their families were able to enjoy a variety of activities, including music, games, and fireworks. Copy by Aron Flanagan Design by Madeline Scalia Photos by Aaron Hamrick
10
Reach Christian Schools
Mr. Turner Jones, principal
t
he Back to School Bash was an opportunity for the students to meet up with friends and to makes friends with people they didn’t know. Some of the students used the event to hang out and watch fireworks together. Other students played competitively with each other with some of the festival activities. “I had fun playing the basketball game. We had a competition with my friends,” said Dominick Alabanese. The students had other options for spending time together such as dancing, football, and bouncy houses. The school hired a DJ that held a few games for the students that they could play to win prizes. The potato sack race was one game that the younger students played which they enjoyed. They did two races for a short distance
and one longer distance race. Then there was a hula-hoop competition that many students and teachers joined in as well. When the games were done, they enjoyed a couple group dances that students of all ages took part in. Gavin Sottnick said, “The music was pretty good.” The students used the activities to wear themselves out for the fireworks. The event had fireworks that caught the attention of people driving who pulled over to watch the spectacle. Most of the students said that the main attraction of the event was the fireworks. There was a wide range of fireworks from the fireworks launched into the sky to custom sign fireworks. Juliana Edwards said, “The Tri-State Crusaders fireworks were cool.” The fireworks lasted from 9:05 to 9:35, which marked the end of the bash.
photo courtesy of Tri-State Christian
www.reachschools.online
11
12
Reach Christian Schools
Dedicated to Ministry From working for DuPont, to pastoring a church, to teaching Bible at Red Lion, Dr. Mark Doherty has dedicated his life to minister to others.
“I never want to say that I didn’t hear the gospel in the church. I just don’t think I was listening.”
Copy by Logan Taylor Photos by Aaron Hamrick
d
r. Mark Doherty was born and raised in Iowa. He went to the University of Northern Iowa for his Bachelor of Arts in chemistry. He then went to the University of Minnesota and received a PhD in chemistry. Later he went to West Minister Theological Seminary and got a Master of Divinity. Before becoming a pastor, he went through a series of mid-level manager jobs and was Vice President of Technology of a joint venture between a Japanese company and DuPont. Dr. Doherty came to Red Lion through connections with Tall Oaks and by knowing Dr. Tim Dernlan, the Head of Schools. Dr. Dernlan started talking to him about coming to teach Biblical Studies, and he ended up taking the offer. Dr. Doherty believes in the school and the philosophy
it teaches. He said that he did not grow up in a Christian home. He was 38 years old when he came to know Jesus. He said, “I had a wonderful job which gave me everything I ever wanted. Through the circumstances God really opened my heart to wondering about dying and what would happen to my soul.” He and his wife, who both were not saved at the time, went to a small church. The pastor preached a sermon that really spoke to him. Afterwards, the pastor discussed the gospel of John with him for the next two weeks. Dr. Doherty was convicted of his sin and said how he needed Jesus in his life. He and his wife got saved. He has been a Christian for 26 years. Dr. Doherty and his wife have been married for just over forty years. He met her at college, and
she too worked at DuPont. They both made a lot of money, but they knew there was something missing. Dr. Doherty said that he has always had a passion for teaching. Even though he is not a pastor anymore, he said, “Even when I was a pastor, people would ask what I would prefer to do on a Sunday morning. I like teaching, and I try to promote an interactive environment, so that was what I always enjoyed. It was the interaction rather than just standing up there and kind of lecturing at people. So I have always enjoyed teaching and pastoring. “The part I enjoyed about being a pastor is the same thing I enjoy about being here. God gave me the ability to communicate and share the truths of Scripture with individuals, and I see that as a kind of different pastoring. Instead of being in a church, it’s now being here at Red Lion, and I am thankful that I have been given that opportunity.”
www.reachschools.online
13
A NIGHT OF FELLOWSHIP AND WORSHIP
The faculty and staff of all the Reach Christian Schools gathered at Reach Church Summit Bridge Road on September 9 for a time to get to get acquainted with each other and to spend time worshipping and celebrating what God is doing through the ministry and to encourage one another. 14
Reach Christian Schools
REACH ONE NIGHT
A
s a new school year began, many new students, families, staff members, faculty, and a new member of Reach Christian Schools, Tri-State Christian Academy, were welcomed. It is easy in the hustle and bustle of a new year to get distracted from the main mission and focus on the day-to-day tasks that education requires. Thus, the creation of One Night. On Sunday, September 9, Reach Church hosted the first annual Reach Church and Christian Schools joint event called One Night held at the Summit Bridge Road Campus of Reach Church. One Night was a worship event for all who are part of Reach Church and Christian Schools to worship together, to pray for the teachers and staff, and to hear about the overarching mission of “living to reach all people with Nothing But Jesus.�
Copy courtesy of Reach Church Design by Aaron Fieger Photos by Aaron Hamrick
There has been a lot of activity this past year in the Reach ministries. Tri-State Christian Academy joined Reach Christian Schools, and a new ministry was launched at the University of Delaware called Reach UD. The Fair Hill Campus of Reach Church, located in close proximity to the Tri-State Christian Academy Campus, has doubled in size this past year as people there have engaged the communities of Cecil County with Nothing But Jesus. There was also the launch of Reach College and Seminary with the goal of receiving their first students next fall. Reach Worship released their first worship CD of original songs. From the congregation and volunteers, to the students and their families, to the teachers and staff, together, they all played a part in reaching all people with Nothing But Jesus. At One Night, everyone was reminded of the purpose of Nothing But Jesus as everyone celebrated what God is doing in and through the Reach community.
www.reachschools.online
15
Alexee Gray Attending Tall Oaks Classical School since kindergarten, senior Alexee is interested in math and science and plans to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. She is also a starting outside hitter for the Red Lion volleyball team.
Copy by Delainey Gray & Faith Hollister Design by Madeline Scalia Photo by Aaron Hamrick
16
Reach Christian Schools
A
lexee Gray is a senior at Tall Oaks who has been playing volleyball since sixth grade. She initially started playing because the mother of Ani daPonte (a senior at Red Lion who also plays volleyball) wanted her to. It was that time to “find a sport, pick a sport, and do something,” and she didn’t want to play basketball, so she decided to try volleyball. Alexee started playing club volleyball in ninth grade at Bible Fellowship Church of Newark with Upward Stars. In tenth grade, she played with Delaware Juniors, and in eleventh grade, she played with Delaware United. She wanted to go to bigger tournaments and play with other great players. To get better, she would watch players who were more experienced and try to learn from them. Alexee kept reaching for more. When the Tall Oaks team was transitioning to the Red Lion team, Alexee was enthusiastic. She was excited to play against harder competition. She quickly made friends with the team, and said, “We had a bomb JV team.” Alexee thinks that the Red Lion team now has lots of great talent, and the friendships on the team are really strong. She is very proud of the hard work that the players put into practices and games and wants the team to continue to work hard. Alexee is grateful for her coaches and teammates. She firmly believes that the people are what make volleyball a fun sport, and she is proud to be a part of that. She gives a shout-out to Core4 and Tea Time with Janai and Reagan. Alexee plans to get a doctorate in physical therapy, so she is looking to major in exercise science, health science, or something along those lines. She recently volunteered at the University of Delaware Physical Therapy Clinic. She also volunteered at the Mary Campbell Center where she got a glimpse of occupational therapy. Alexee has attended Tall Oaks Classical School since kindergarten. She said that Tall Oaks has given her a better and stronger mindset of working hard and actually wanting to learn, rather than only going to school because she has to. Alexee has always been in interested in the maths and sciences. In seventh grade, she joined the school Science Olympiad team. One of the events she competed in this past year was the Anatomy and Physiology event. Currently, Alexee is working on a project with some other Tall Oaks students called Go Baby Go. Go Baby Go is a program where you design a vehicle for a kid with limited mobility. The team has already had one meeting with the boy for whom they are designing the vehicle.
www.reachschools.online
17
FAR FROM HOME Interviews by Aaron Fieger Design by Aaron Fieger Photos by Aaron Hamrick
E
John Xu China
“I miss the food and some of my friends from back home, but I can always FaceTime my friends from back home if I really miss them.”
18
Reach Christian Schools
ducation in China is very different from education in America. We have over 700 people per grade and about 40 students for each class. But in China, we don’t have lockers. Instead of students moving from room to room, each class stays in their room for the whole day, and the teachers move from classroom to classroom. Teachers come into our classroom, teach their subject, and then leave so the next teacher can come in. All the tests and quizzes are so hard, and we even start to study for the SAT math problems in middle school. American Chinese food is not real Chinese food. Real Chinese food is very different from the American version. Americans eat meals differently than how people eat meals in China too. In China, people order food together and share it with everyone at the table instead of each person ordering a meal like the way Americans eat together. I miss the food and some of my friends from back home, but I can always FaceTime my friends from back home if I really miss them. I don’t really miss my family, although some of my family already lives in America a little easier when I first came over. Getting used to the English language was a little hard, but in China we start learning English in elementary school. However, I learned most of my English from my first host family who are American. Living with an American family who constantly spoke English really helped me to become familiar with the language. So, the hardest things about coming to America for myself, and probably a lot of other international students, is learning English and finding a good host family.”
“South Korea has American food. There are many McDonald’s and other American restaurants back home. My favorite food in America is pizza, especially with pepperoni. South Korea is not very different than America. Everybody watches TV, plays video games, and plays sports, but the main sport that people play and watch in South Korea is soccer. From what I have seen, Americans seem to be nicer than the people in Korea. The boys in Korea are very, very bad, and the girls and boys are always fighting each other. I don’t see as much fighting between Americans which is really nice. The music I listen to in Korea is very similar to American music, but I find that I like American music better. For me, learning English has been hard, and I don’t understand some words, but learning English hasn’t been impossible.”
Jein Han, South Korea
“In America, everyone in the classroom is really nice to me, but in China there are a lot of bad influences. When I came to America five years ago I felt sort of helpless, because I couldn’t speak the language. I could barely even count from one to twenty. Watching TV was really important for me to learn the language and is one of the easier ways I was able to practice and listen to English. I’ve learned that I like Chinese food and American food, but when I come home from school, I always eat Chinese food. Some of the things I eat at home are dumplings, fried noodle, fried rice, and sesame chicken. I eat at a lot of the authentic Chinese restaurants in America and I would say that they are basically the same because they are usually opened up by real Chinese Americans.
Sammi Huang, China
“I came to America in my freshman year of high school. The hardest things for me to adjust to were the American school system and English. In Korea, I was used to staying in one homeroom for the whole day and having the teachers switch classrooms, but it’s the opposite in America. The students move from classroom to classroom and the teachers stay put. When I first arrived in the U.S., my English wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough to get by, and it has improved a lot since I have been here. One of the things I am most thankful for in America that we don’t have in Korea is the options for after school sports. If you want to play a sport like soccer in Korea, you have to join a club outside of school. There are some things that I still miss from Korea such as my family, friends, and food from back home. I am lucky enough to be able to travel back home every summer, but that means I am not with my family for most of the year. Living in a different country than my parents can be hard at times, but, for the most part, I have adjusted to it. I still stay in contact with my parents using FaceTime and messaging which helps.”
Ben Hong, South Korea www.reachschools.online
19
“God profoundly changed my life every time I have attended this trip. I am super stoked to be able to partner with my school this year for the trip.”
J
Jordan Malizzi
ordan Malizzi, a senior at Tri-State Christian Academy, is no stranger to the mission field. While she does have a passion for international outreach, her heart beats for an underprivileged community right here in the States. The town of Boone, North Carolina, is a community in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains that is typically thought of as the home of Appalachian State University and a great place to land in retirement. However, there is a significant population of children in need due to either parents in prison or severe poverty that plagues their families. Since 2004, many of these children have been given something they could not imagine receiving: Christmas gifts. “Jordie” is approaching her fifth trip to Boone to reach out to these children in need with Eagle Rock Ministries. “My first year attending,” she said, “I didn’t know what to expect. I was blind to the fact that children my age weren’t going to get presents on
20
Reach Christian Schools
Design by John Xu Photos by Aaron Hamrick
Christmas. I feel like during the Christmas season we tend to not think about others getting presents on Christmas morning, because we are so focused on trying to guess what that oddly wrapped object is under our own tree.” Malizzi has been surprised over the years at what many of the children ask to receive for Christmas. “When I started to read the wish lists of some of these kids,” she explained, “it gave me a reality check. One boy was asking for diapers and food for his younger siblings. After reading those words on the list, I had to take a step back and look at my life.” This year, Jordie is taking two other Tri-State seniors along for the ride in this amazing outreach opportunity. Actually, she wants to invite the entire community to take part in helping the kids of Boone, NC. This year, Tri-State will host a toy drive in the weeks leading up to their trip south to support the efforts to reach children in need. Be on the lookout for information about how you can be part of this amazing mission.
“I
Aubree Smith
moved to Delaware from Chicago when I was just a baby because my dad got a job here when it was Elkton Christian School. It’s nice having both of my parents working here because if I forget something or I need something signed they can do it. It’s weird having them as teachers sometimes, but it’s nice they are in the building with me. I had my mom for physical science and earth science, and she’s been my gym teacher. My first year having my dad as a teacher was last year for Bible, and this year I have him for civics. I call them both Mom and Dad in school and not Mr. and Mrs. Smith. That would be kind of weird to call them that. My parents also coached me. My dad was my middle school basketball coach in 7th and 8th grade, and my mom was an assistant JV volleyball coach when I was in 9th grade. This year both of them are assistant coaches on my volleyball team. It’s still kind of weird having them coach me because they don’t treat me the same as everyone else. They know they can be harder on me. My brother is also my basketball and soccer coach. I have an older sister, Ashley, who is 31. She is married and has three kids. She lives in Georgia. I have a brother, Brandon who is 28, and he just got engaged. My other brother is Caleb who is 25. My favorite subject is math, but I’m not taking any math this year. I took three math classes last year at Cecil College. We would go to Cecil on Tuesdays and Fridays. The first semester classes were all on the computer, and there were two tutors in the classroom that would help you if you had problems. The second semester I took statistics where there was a college professor, and it was a regular class.
This is my fifth year doing drama. I did two years in middle school and three years in high school. I’m also going to be in this year’s play, and it’s going to be Alice in Wonderland. I’ll be playing the Queen of Hearts. We recently started going to The Journey Church in Newark, DE, and we really like it there. I really like the pastor. His name is Mark Johnston. I like the way he talks because I understand it easily. We’ve gone to several different churches, and it was always hard for me to pay attention in church. When I went to Journey, I felt like I really comprehended what he was saying. I love their music there too. I was saved when I was five years old. When I got older, I began to not care about spiritual stuff anymore. I eventually started reading daily devotionals, and one day I read one about a girl who lived with a lot of guilt in her life and then confessed it to her mom and to God. This made me feel an overwhelming amount of guilt as well. I lived with that guilt for three days when I finally confessed my sin to the Lord and to my parents. This wave of peace washed over me. I made a covenant with God to never do some of the stuff that I had done. Since then I’ve been working hard on my relationship with Him. One of the things I like to do is to write stories. I’m working on one right now about a girl who is a dancer who has a really rough childhood. She was adopted twice because both her parents died, and she went through a lot of adversity. This helped her to become a famous dancer. It’s about how she finds God, and she tells about His love to the world. As of right now, if I stay in Delaware, I’ll be going to Wilmington University. My plan is to major in Animal Behavior Studies to become a trainer because I love dogs.”
“This wave of peace washed over me. I made a covenant with God to never do some of the stuff that I had done. Since then I’ve been working hard on my relationship with Him.” www.reachschools.online
21
GLASGOW CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Cyndi Succarotte, teacher
Isaiah Grob, 12th grade
Sienna Douglas, 1st grade
G Approach A Unique
Photos by Dan Davis
STUDENTS AT GLASGOW CHRISTIAN ACADEMY GET TAUGHT AT HOME BY THEIR PARENTS AS WELL AS ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK BY TEACHERS ON THE CAMPUS OF REACH CHURCH.
22
Reach Christian Schools
Lilah Heiger, 2nd grade
lasgow Christian Academy considers it a privilege to partner with families on their homeschooling journey. At GCA, teachers, parents, and students build community together focused on Christ. They seek to give God their best, not only spiritually, but with academic excellence as well. GCA offers a full range of a-la-carte core and elective classes for preschool through high school. Not only do they offer Christ-centered classes, but students also have opportunities to build relationships with their classmates outside of the classroom. The mission statement of Glasgow Christian Academy says, “GCA exists to partner with families in providing students with a quality, Christian education at home. Our main desire is to instill in young people a deep love for Jesus and His Word which equips them to make disciples in response to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). We seek to give God our best, not only spiritually, but with academic excellence as well.” Glasgow Christian Academy’s weekly homeschool classes were started by a cooperative effort of a few families in 2001. Since then, they have grown to almost 300 students and offer over 60 classes for preschool through 12th grade. The diploma program, Red Lion Christian Academy at Glasgow Diploma Program, partners with Red Lion Christian Academy to offer students in Grades 6-12 access to DIAA competitive sports while allowing families to
Gabe Loppatto, 7th grade
Hannah Orlando, 12th grade
Jaren Morgan, 7th grade
Lily Pollock, 12th grade
Sakal Wilson, 11th grade
Danielle Walls, 2nd grade
maintain their unique approach to education. Students participate in a college model of education at the Glasgow Christian Academy campus which offers both college preparatory and honors weekly classes. Once students have met the rigorous RLCA graduation requirements, they are granted an official transcript and diploma representative of their achievement. GCA offers weekly classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays for preschool through 12th grade in academic areas such as Bible, foreign language, language arts, math, science, and social studies. They also offer many electives such as art, drama, music, physical education, and photography. In addition to academic courses, students attending GCA also have the opportunity to participate in social events, spirit days, mercy ministry projects, student government, honor society, our annual Student Showcase, and graduation. Glasgow Christian Academy has placed a high priority on offering theater productions. The elementary drama program has performed such productions as Charlotte’s Web, Peter Pan, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and Madagascar. The high school drama program has performed full-scale Broadway musical productions such as Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Fiddler on the Roof, and Annie. Parents and students come together each year with the drama production team to make costumes, sets, and props. The staff at GCA would love to show interested families around the campus and introduce them to the school. Shadowing a student for a day is an excellent opportunity to experience GCA.
Sophia Spotts, 10th grade
Ava Douglas, 4th grade
“I always look forward to coming to GCA because of the laid-back environment and the people I’ve met here.” Isaiah Grob, 12th grade www.reachschools.online
23
from Cubs
Lions to
There are eleven seniors who have attended Red Lion Christian Academy since they were in kindergarten. Design by Mackenzie Skelton and Logan Taylor Photos by Aaron Hamrick
“Red Lion has given me the opportunity to be surrounded by many Christian families and be provided with a lot of godly mentors to help further my education, athletic, and spiritual life.�
Aaron Fieger
22 24
Reach Christian Schools
Nikki Short
Becca Posey
Austin Barbin
Jordan Cooper
Jake Pancake “Red Lion has provided me with a different view of sports. They taught me that it is less about you or your stats. It has changed my mindset on focusing more about the team and more about God than yourself.” “Throughout my time here, it is amazing to see the different relationships I have developed and how far Red Lion has come.”
Ashton Driver Alexis Boukamp “Red Lion has provided me with friendships that have lasted me throughout the years. All the teachers are good role models as to what we should become when we are older.”
“One of my best memories at Red Lion was being able to play on the varsity lacrosse team as a freshman. Making the playoffs was one of my best experiences as a goalie and a Red Lion student.”
Zach Albano
Jake VanWingerden “Playing on the golf team has been among my favorite time here at Red Lion. From the inside jokes to the long, funny car rides, playing with my teammates was an awesome experience.”
“Being here my whole life has helped me grow in Christ. The sports teams have been fun with being able to play from middle school up to high school together and that has helped us build a strong team, especially for field hockey.“
Juli Thompson
www.reachschools.online
23 25
Middle and high school students gather in the Loft at Reach Church to listen to a message about worship from Reach Next director Tyler Schoenberger. They meet every Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. on the Summit Bridge Road campus.
REACH TEENS
Design by John Xu Photos by Aaron Hamrick Copy courtesy of Reach Church
Meeting every Sunday evening, dozens of middle and high school students meet at Reach Church for a time of games, food, worship, and to hear a message from God’s Word. Roaring laughs, the thunder of feet running around the gym, hands clapping to the music, students sharing their thoughts and feelings of scriptures. Those are just some of things that the youth will experience at Reach Teens. Every Sunday evening from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., students in sixth to twelfth grades gather at the Summit Bridge Road Campus of Reach Church for a night dedicated to discipleship and spiritual growth. With a free dinner to begin the night, there is always lively conversation around the dinner table as students from the surrounding community, Reach Christian Schools, and Reach Church come together and get to know each other and Reach Teens Volunteer Leaders. Students are then invited to participate in large group games that make everyone a part of the fun, before moving to the third floor for the second
26
Reach Christian Schools
half of the night. In the Loft, the student-led worship team prepares the students to hear the message by leading a few current worship songs with the crowd. This fall, Tyler Schoenberger, Reach Next Director, or one of the Reach Teens Interns, presents a message that dives deep into the book of Exodus, showing God’s grand story of redemption even in the stories of the Old Testament. Their prayer is that through this study, students will develop a deeper joy and passion for God’s Word. Students then divide into small groups with leaders to discuss and do activities related to the talk. Lasting relationships, mentorships, and bonds are formed in these groups. Reach Teens is often referred to as a “waterfall of grace” and that is the atmosphere the leaders strive for. It is a place for students to come and meet with each other and fall more and more in love with Nothing But Jesus.
1. Before the message up in The Loft, Sakal Wilson sings on the worship team as Leah Hoopman plays the keyboard. 2. Enjoying the game time, Christine Hayes, Kendall Kerr, and Natalie Merkel wrap up Sam Garber in toilet paper to win the most creative paper mummy. 3. Starting off the night with a pizza dinner, Jeremy Johnson talks with his friends while eating. 4. Before the evening officially begins, Dylan Waters plays basketball with his friends at the weekly Reach Teen night.
1
2
4
3 Adam Fornwalt
Peter Sarac
Cora Vasquez
Adam Fornwalt is a graduate of Liberty University with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management. Currently, Adam works at Harford Community College in their athletics department. Although relatively new to Reach, Adam has experience teaching and working with teens from a previous ministry. He hopes to build relationships with the Reach teens and support them in this important time of their lives.
Peter Sarac graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from a non-traditional discipleship college in South Jersey while doing travel ministry to thousand s of youth and young adults across the East Coast. Currently, Peter is working towards a master’s degree from Knox Theological Seminary. While he pursues his education, he works full time at Romano Masonry and serves at Reach Church. He has been working with the middle school and high school youth of Reach for the past year.
Cora Vasquez is a senior Human Services major at the University of Delaware. She has an associates degree in arts and is living at Reach UD. Cora has been a faithful member of Reach Church for many years, serving on the worship team, in Reach Kids, and in many other ministries. She is excited to build on relationships she already has with many of the teens at Reach as well as building new relationships.
www.reachschools.online
27
28
Reach Christian Schools
for the love of
Teaching “Everyone is in need of encouragement. The students are always encouraging me, and I’m forever grateful for that.” Mrs. Cynthia Marshall Mrs. Cynthia Marshall teaches middle school literature and grammar classes at Tall Oaks. Students know her as one of the most kind-hearted teachers at the school. A Delaware native, Mrs. Marshall lived at home through college and studied at Wilmington University. She worked full time and graduated a semester early with a bachelor’s degree in Communications. Growing up, it was clear that Mrs. Marshall had a gift for teaching others. Her sister, who is nine years older than her, has cerebral palsy and was developmentally behind. When Mrs. Marshall was five years old, she would come home from school and teach her older sister what she had learned. Mrs. Marshall had a crucial impact on the development of her older sister. When she was younger, she would also play teacher. She loved to make study guides for her friends. To this day, she still enjoys making puzzles, such as word searches, to help her students better grasp concepts. For many years, Mrs. Marshall had been prayerfully considering sending her children to Tall Oaks. She was invited to the Fine Dessert by the Crismon family when her oldest daughter, Viviana Marshall (who graduated from Tall Oaks in 2016), was two years old. Mrs. Marshall fell immediately in love with Tall Oaks and began praying for the Lord to provide a way for her children to attend. She started classically schooling her kids, and, ten years later, God worked it out. She had prayed constantly, and God made it possible. A Tall Oaks mom and teacher, Mrs. Robin Gray, saw Mrs. Marshall teaching a sixth grade class at Vacation Bible School. Mrs. Gray saw how sad Mrs. Marshall was, because she knew that at the end of the week, she would have to let them go and would not be able to tell them everything she wanted them to know. Tall Oaks was looking a for a sixth grade teacher, and Mrs. Marshall was the perfect fit. Mrs. Marshall loves teaching. She enjoys watching her students learn. She says that it is exciting to see the moment when something that is revealed to a student is finally in their grasp. She especially loves it when a student develops a love for writing or poetry. She loves to see students who not only complete an assignment but learn to love it. Mrs. Marshall has not only taught many students over the past seven years but has learned from them. She says that she has learned to be careful and cautious in her words and in her tone. She is reminded daily of the purity that comes from living in the moment and the joy that comes with giving unconditionally. She loves that the students bring little encouragements, and that they are always
willing to share. She loves their unconditional love for herself and each other and their giving hearts. Through teaching, she is reminded constantly to re-capture that love, joy, and willingness to give and to share. One of the most important things she has learned in her interactions with the students is the value of a compliment. Not only has Mrs. Marshall learned many things from her students, but she also has a goal for every student she teaches: to have a love of learning that takes them far into adulthood. She loves to hear that they are learning a new sport or a new instrument or developing a new interest for a particular skill. The world is so big, and there is so much that the world has to offer. Although no one will never be able to learn it all, she wants her students to learn as much as they possibly can about the world around them. There is a creation invitation that is there for the rest of their lives. There is so much to find out. Her goal is that every student will have intellectual curiosity. She also hopes they can learn to have humility and quiet servitude, that they will always have a childlike fascination with the world (even as adults), and that they will know that all things are possible with God. Mrs. Marshall loves teaching because of the joy that it brings to her life. She loves that she gets so many gifts back from the students. Whenever she walks into the classroom, the students are happy and excited. They want to tell her things, and to learn what is new. She has had concerns and worries in life, but whenever she walks into the classroom, those feelings are wiped completely away. She says, “I am transported into this land of beauty through the children’s eyes. I am transported every single morning without fail. My father said he has never seen me happier than when I’ve taught.” Mrs Marshall said that “everyone is in need of encouragement. The students are always encouraging me, and I’m forever grateful for that.” www.reachschools.online
29
The Pride in Stride Various student athletes sat down to answer questions about their unique experiences with athletics at Red Lion. How long have you played field hockey, and how has your experience on Red Lion’s team compared to the teams that you play on outside of school?
Having played volleyball at Red Lion for 4 years, what has your expirience been like, and how did you take your game to the next level to break Red Lion’s school record for blocks?
“I started playing field hockey in sixth grade on Red Lion’s team. I realized I loved the sport and was pretty good at it, so I decided to start playing on teams outside of Red Lion. This year I’m playing for two travel field hockey teams: North Bay and FSC. The experiences are definitely different. It’s been kind of a challenge, but it’s been really good to see how we have improved as a team over the years and worked hard for our spot.”
“I started playing on our varsity team my freshman year and have had so much fun with my team since I started. I’ve learned to communicate better and become a better leader through my experience. Each year, I made new friends and don’t think anything could replace the team I’ve had this year. In order to improve, I joined club teams outside of school, worked out in the offseason, and went to different volleyball clinics whenver I had the opportunity. The end of my sophomore year, I realized that I was good enough to take my game to compete at the next level and I was able to break our school’s record for blocks my junior year.”
been here, I’ve seen the cross country team become a diverse mix of both schools with all sorts of people, and I’m looking forward to where the team is headed in the future.”
Adam Rao, cross country junior
Gabby Armesto, field hockey sophomore
Janai Gibson, volleyball senior
What position do you play? What is it like to start on the varsity soccer team as a freshman? What challenges or difficulties have you had to overcome? “I play center and wing for the team, which means I have to be fast and quick on my feet, smart with the ball, and have the knowledge of when to shoot. The hard part of starting as a freshman isn’t really the pressure that comes with that, but the harder part is that I’m smaller than a lot of other people playing. That makes it hard to be physical, because everyone is bigger than I am. But overall, I’ve really enjoyed my time on Red Lion’s team so far. I have improved a lot, the coaches are really good, and they help you out, and all the kids are really nice.”
Zack Villamor, soccer freshman
What led you to decide you wanted to run cross country? How has the cross country team impacted you, and how has the team grown and changed over the years?” “I wanted to join the cross country team because it’s such a good workout, and I knew that I wanted to train hard and become a better athlete. Running is a very disciplined sport, and since joining the team, I think I’ve really learned a lot about self-discipline, dedication, and commitment. I came to Red Lion last year, and even on the short amount of time that I have
“What was your experience like playing football in Germany overseas, and how does that compare to your experience competing on Red Lion’s football team? “The biggest difference in Germany was the coaching style. He didn’t run a normal offense that you would run in the States. It was difficult because my sophomore year, I was expected to step up and be one of the leaders of the team, but I didn’t really understand the leadership role at the time. My team played six games, and we lost every single one. I came back to America after that and didn’t play football my junior year. Now I’m at Red Lion and trying to adjust to playing again, and that’s probably the hardest part, just getting back into the swing of things. But playing football at Red Lion has been fun, and it’s taught me a lot about what it means to be a team and leadership. And now, I’m much older than I was my sophomore year, so I have an opportunity to really help lead the team and help coach up the younger guys who have their entire football career ahead of them and that’s exciting.”
Josiah Marlow, football senior Copy by Aaron Fieger Design by Aaron Fieger Photos by Aaron Hamrick
“I love playing football because its the only time I’m allowed to hit people without any consequences.” Jake Pancake, senior
30
Reach Christian Schools
From the AD “Two teams have really stood out in taking their performance to a higher level. Volleyball is continuing the success of previous years. This team has really thrived on being a tournament team looking to make a strong run in states. Field hockey is a team that is loaded with veterans who have been together for many years and are really showing chemistry especially with their wins over Appo and Middletown.” Mr. David Corbett, Athletic Director
FOOTBALL September 7 vs FSMA September 13 at St. Andrews September 21 vs DMA September 29 at Conrad October 5 vs Tower Hill October 13 at Tatnall October 19 vs Christiana October 26 vs Archmere November 2 at Seaford November 10 at Charter
FIELD HOCKEY September 11 vs Sussex Academy September 14 at Newark Charter September 20 vs Conrad September 25 at Charter September 7 at Hodgson Vo-Tech September 28 at Brandywine October 2 at Caravel October 4 vs Bohemia Manor October 9 vs MOT Charter October 12 at Archmere October 16 at DMA October 19 at Appoquinimink October 22 vs Lake Forest October 24 vs Middletown October 26 at William Penn
CROSS COUNTRY September 10 vs Caravel St. Elizabeth’s September 18 vs MOT Charter September 21 at Middletown Invitational September 25 vs Delmarva Christian October 2 vs MOT Charter October 6 at Salesianum Invitational October 10 vs Conrad DMA October 16 vs Wilmington Christian FSMA
VOLLEYBALL September 7 at Tome September 11 vs AI duPont September 15 at Newark Charter September 18 at Tatnall September 20 vs MOT Charter September 25 vs Sanford September 27 at FSMA September 28 vs Archmere October 1 at Tower Hill October 9 vs Charter October 12 vs Caravel October 16 at St. Mark’s October 18 at Conrad October 22 at Delmarva Christian October 25 vs DMA
SOCCER September 6 at Charter September 8 vs Hodgson Vo-Tech September 18 vs Archmere September 21 at Kirkwood Soccer Club September 24 vs D.A.P.S.S. September 26 at MOT Charter October 3 at Newark Charter October 5 vs DMA October 10 at FSMA October 12 at Tri-State October 16 vs Conrad October 18 vs Wilmington Friends October 23 vs AI duPont October 25 at McKean
www.reachschools.online
31
REACH
CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS RED LION CAMPUS 1390 Red Lion Road Bear, DE 19701
Red Lion Christian Academy is a distinctively Christian traditional Pre-K through 12th grade school where students are nurtured in mind, body, and spirit. Our highly qualified faculty and staff are caring professionals who are committed to Christian education and are devoted to teaching their students. All our students receive a strong Christcentered, college preparatory education that is consistent with a biblical worldview. Giving your child a Bible-based, Christ-centered education is one of the best investments a parent can make. Red Lion Campus phone: (302) 834-2526 fax: (302) 836-6346 info@reachschools.online