MAGAZINE
Tri-State Christian The 55-year-old Elkton, MD, school joins the Reach Christian Schools family.
ALSO INSIDE
Biography Day
The Red Lion fifth grade students portrayed historical characters.
Violin Player
A junior at Tall Oaks Classical School, Katelyn Walker, excels in playing the violin.
AND MUCH MORE... A STUDENT PUBLICATION OF REACH CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
ISSUE 11 SUMMER 2018
WWW.REACHSCHOOLS.ONLINE
Reach Magazine summer 2018 ADVISER
Aaron Hamrick
EDITOR IN CHIEF Bria Dickerson
RED LION STAFF Zach Albano Brian Dickerson Kirsten Heusser Morgan Kline-Hill Kaitlyn Larson Kevin Mills Benny Nequist Tony Wright
TALL OAKS STAFF Lydia Brown Delainey Gray Faith Hollister Naomi Mengel Katie Rippon
GLASGOW CHRISTIAN STAFF Luke Papili, Adviser Joshua Betters Anthony Feghali Sophia Small Isabella Wicks
RED LION CAMPUS 1390 Red Lion Rd Bear, DE 19701
4-5
Reach Christian Schools Events
6-7
Luke Sherman Tall Oaks Senior Profile
8-9
Miss Nester Hiking the Trails
10-11
Angel Helton Red Lion Senior Profile
12-13
Mrs. Larson Red Lion Teacher Profile
14-15
Camryn Kerr GCA Senior Profile
16-17
Mrs. Schneider and Mrs. Gray TOCS Teachers
18-19
Red Lion 5th Grade Biography Day
20-21
Katelyn Walker Tall Oaks Violin Player
22-23
Tri-State Christian
24-25
Tri-State Christian
26-27
Tri-State Christian
28-29
Reach Magazine Staff
30-31
Softball and Baseball Player Profiles
www.reachschools.online
302-834-2526 ON THE COVER Enjoying recess on a warm spring day, third grade Tri-State Christian Academy students Taylor Strohecker, Kim Nyabiosi, and Lizzy Harris stop playing to pose for a photo. photo by Aaron Hamrick
What’s inside?
Summer
R
eACH Magazine
As part of the Red Lion Select Ensemble, Luis Diaz and Razaq Sola-Rufai sing during the spring concert.
Students dance into the night at Thousand Acre Farms during Red Lion’s 2018 prom.
the
BEAT
of
REACH
copy and design by Bria Dickerson
Here’s what’s happening on campus of the 2017-2018 school year
APRIL
17 Spring Concert Mr. Nathan Gioconda directed the Red Lion upper school choir and band on May 17 at Reach Church. The theme of the concert was God’s power in nature.
13 Tall oaks high Protocol Each year the juniors and seniors at Tall Oaks Classical School attend High Protocol. The purpose of this required event is to provide an opportunity to practice the variety of lessons learned in their etiquette sessions that take place throughout the school year. This year the students had dinner at the Mendenhall Inn in Mendenhall, PA, and saw the ballet Romeo and Juliet at the Baby Grand in Wilmington.
15 Pastor Appreciation
Pastors from the churches represented in the school came for a breakfast in the Reach Cafe. The pastors were able to fellowship with each other, and many visited the classrooms of students who attend their churches.
Freshman Hannah Ye plays the violin during the band concert portion of the spring concert. The concert was held at Reach Church on Summit Bridge Rd. in Bear, Delaware.
20 RLCA Prom The Red Lion Junior/Senior Prom was held at Thousand Acre Farms in Middletown, DE. The junior class officers, comprised of Ani daPonte, Becca Posey, Janai Gibson, and Margaret Johnson planned this event with help from Mrs. Denise Holt and Mrs. Matina Starrett. Students danced and were able to take pictures by the canal during sunset.
Meeting in the Reach Cafe on the Red Lion campus, Pastor Peter Lamme enjoys a cup of coffee while speaking with Mr. George Timko and Mr. David Corbett. Pastor Lamme is the Reach Church Fair Hill campus pastor.
4
Prom queen and king, Victoria Pope and Eli Bogetti pose for a photo in front of the prom venue at Thousand Acre Farm in Middletown, Delaware. Reach Christian Schools
May 01 Decision Day May 1 was National Decision Day. To celebrate, Red Lion Christian Academy held an assembly recognizing the senior class and their next steps of education. The senior class of 46 students are going to 22 different colleges. Miss Sarah Martin led the assembly and talked about the importance of college and applying for college.
The senior class wore a t-shirt of their college of choice in a special assembly on National Decision Day. A video produced by senior Bria Dickerson was shown that had each student announce their college they plan to attend in the fall. Miss Martin spoke about the many scholarships that were awarded and about the college application process.
03 NJHS Induction
Ceremony
The National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony was held in the Red Lion sanctuary in May. Family and friends of the members watched as 30 students were awarded membership. Requirements for membership are excellence in character, scholarship, leadership, service, and citizenship.
16 NHS Induction
Ceremony
The new 11 inductees of the National Honor Society was held on May 16. The ceremony was led by members of NHS. National Honor Society at Red Lion emphasizes service and honor. The guest speaker of the event was Mr. Jeff Jackson.
22 8th Grade
Promotion
The eighth grade promotion ceremony was held in the sanctuary on the Red Lion campus. Forty-two eighth graders were promoted. The guest speaker was Red Lion upper school history teacher Mr. Kevin Clineff.
June 01-02 Graduation Reach Church at the Summit Bridge Road campus hosted all three graduations for Red Lion Christian Academy, Tall Oaks Classical School, and Glasgow Christian Academy. A total of 80 seniors graduated from Reach Christian Schools. Family, friends, and students filled the sanctuary to celebrate the new graduates and the next steps in their lives.
Current NJHS member Reagan Mendick hands a white carnation to newly inducted member Bella Adjei-Owusu as she crosses the platform in the sanctuary on the Red Lion campus.
www.reachchristianchools.online
5
LIFE OF HOBBIES
“
Seeing the world with a Christian worldview really impacts your life.
06
”
Reach Christian Schools
FROM THE SPORTS FIELD TO THE CHURCH STAGE, LUKE SHERMAN TAKES INTEREST IN IT ALL Copy by Delainey Gray and Katie Rippon Design by Tony Wright
Luke Sherman is a senior at Tall Oaks Classical School, which he has attended since kindergarten. He notes that it was hard for him to see the importance of classical Christian education when he was younger, but looking back on his thirteen years at Tall Oaks, he has realized the value of this type of education. He loves that it teaches not just what to think but how to think critically. His theology classes have especially taught him to see God in everything. Luke is involved in several sports and extracurricular activities. He has run cross country since 7th grade, and this past season, he was captain of the team. He really likes the cross country community. He also began wrestling at a young age, but he said he enjoys cross country more. He is involved in the Tall Oaks student government, of which he is president this year. His goal for student government is for the students’ voices to be heard and to change the school for the better. Furthermore, Luke plays the drums and the bass. He started playing the drums in 7th grade, but recently he has enjoyed playing the bass even more. He plays for the praise team at his church, Parkview Assembly of God. He has also done service projects with White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church to help people in need in the community. He notes that “you get a lot more out of helping people than you expect. At the end of the week, I felt like I’d gotten a lot more out of it; I felt spiritually filled.” Additionally, Luke went on a Tall Oaks mission trip in his junior year to work with the
community at Iglesia Biblica La Roca in Mexico. Luke plans to attend Regent University to major in Government. He became particularly interested in government during the 2008 election, when his parents became highly involved in politics. Political theory comes naturally to him, and he wants to do something about the problems we have in America. Luke is writing his senior thesis according to his passion for government, arguing that the original goal of political correctness was to destroy Western civilization. Luke has learned a lot at Tall Oaks. He stated that his education has “helped me develop my biblical worldview, and seeing everything through that lens. Worldview is important; seeing the world with a Christian worldview really impacts your life.” Tall Oaks has especially helped him grow in his ability to write. Writing was a challenge for him at first, but as he nears the end of high school, he can write papers much faster, and their quality is much better. Public speaking and communication is another major area in which he has grown, particularly through his debate and rhetoric classes. While Luke says that he has been through many challenges during his education, especially with rigorous courses and planning for college during senior year, he finds his years at Tall Oaks valuable. He advises younger students to “keep pushing through. At times it seems hard and stressful, but it’s worth it at the end.”
www.reachschools.online
07
hiking
the trails Copy and design by Morgan Kline-Hill Photos courtesy of Miss Nester
From California to Maryland, Miss Mary Nester has traveled coast to coast to enjoy the beautiful views and time with friends that hiking can provide.
08
Reach Christian Schools
The first experience that Miss Mary Nester had with hiking was when she was invited to go on a hike on the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania with her cousin and his friends. Her cousins started on their hike in the morning, and, after classes, Miss Nester and her friend Rich were going to join them. “We were supposed to go to a point ahead of where they were and hike backwards to meet them. Well, Rich decided it would be better to park behind them and run to catch up with them.” Miss Nester’s past of being a runner influenced her to be ok with this, and they started running through the rocky Appalachian trail. She said, “We ran for a couple hours and then decided, ‘we’re not going to find them tonight and we have no tent.’ So we had to run all the way back to the car, drive to where we were supposed to drive first, sleep there, and just meet them in the morning.” Many people, after having this as their first experience on the Appalachian Trail, would probably have given up on hiking and chosen a new hobby. But this experience sparked a love for hiking in Miss Nester’s heart that will forever burn. Ever since Miss Nester went on her first hiking trip, she hasn’t stopped. She has seen many different mountain tops from the ground and many different views from the peaks of mountains. She says the best part of hiking are the experiences and memories you get to make with people through hiking. “[Hiking] is something that I have done with friends, so all those memories are wrapped up in very good friendships. My friend Christie and I went for a thanksgiving hike somewhere every single year, and whenever we got to the top of where we were hiking, we would sit and pray together, for everything. Hiking is a way of sharing wonderful life enriching experiences with friends, family, and even students. It’s an activity that really bonds people together in a way that few other things can.” The beauty of God’s nature has also always been
something that makes hiking so enjoyable for Miss Nester. “The first time I went to Mt. Katahdin I was on a spiritual retreat. It was a particularly sad time in my life, and I went up to fast and pray and just be with God and have God minister to my spirit. I remember driving up, feeling sad, and wanting God to meet me, and I said to myself as I’m driving, ‘God how do you hug a spirit?’ because sometimes you just need a hug, and I wanted it from God. At that very moment, I make a left turn, and the road that I got onto was a straight shot with Mt. Katahdin at the end. The narrow road was lined with white birches on either side. It was
up to 90 mph. “There is a place where you have to scale a vertical granite cliff. You have to step on these rings that are drilled into the granite, kind of like rock climbing, but they give you the hand holds. But in 60 miles per hour winds, you’re hanging from these rings on a sheer face (of granite,) and that time I thought ‘Am I being foolhardy for doing this? Am I going to die?’ So I got to the top of the cliff, and it is still very windy, but it’s like a plateau. I crouch behind this rock, trying to shield myself from the wind, and I’m praying, ‘Lord should I go on? Should I go back?’ And about that time, this young fellow jumped over my head, and he laughed and said ‘What are you doing?’ and I said ‘I’m praying! I don’t know whether I should go on.’ To that he said ‘oh you’ve got to go on! You’re almost there! Go for it!’” When this man said this to Miss Nester, she knew it was a sign from God so she kept climbing and was able to experience the beautiful view from the peak of Mt. Katahdin. Though she has been on many hikes, Miss Nester still has one thing left on her bucket list, which she will have to return to Mt. Katahdin to complete: she wants to walk Knife Edge. Knife Edge is a footpath between two peaks of the mountain that can get as narrow as a lobster trap and is very rocky. The first time she had the opportunity, it was too late by the time she got to the edge to go over and back. The second time she went back with her nephew it was too cloudy for them to walk the edge. “Even though I’m a little older, I know that I can make it. When I was up there the first time, an elderly, grey-haired couple were coming across Knife Edge. I know that if they can do it, I can do it too!” When she is not hiking, Miss Nester is a staff member of the learning support at Red Lion. She enjoys being able to connect with kids and help them grow academically and spiritually. “I am very grateful for the gift of children God has given me over the years in teaching, and the recent gift of an international host daughter Rita!”
“ ” The overwhelming beauty of who He is just wrapped itself around me.
the most gorgeous sight, just turning onto it, seeing the mountain, the beautiful white birch trees overhanging. It was like God was saying ‘That’s how you hug a spirt!’ The majesty and the overwhelming beauty of who He is just wrapped itself around me.” According to Miss Nester, hiking can be fun and exciting, but it can also be quite scary. One of the scariest moments of all of her hiking experiences was when she was hiking Mt. Katahdin. The way that the mountains are shaped makes it one of the windiest places on earth. There is a point on the hike called “the gateway” where wind is funneled through and can reach
www.reachschools.online
09
Angel
: Helton Senior profile
Copy and Design by Kevin Mills Photos by Aaron Hamrick
10
Reach Christian Schools
“
“
[My teachers] definitely pushed me to be my best.
Angel Helton is a Red Lion Senior that began attending Red Lion in seventh grade in 2012, after attending GCA since fourth grade. Angel Helton has excelled greatly at her academics scoring her a scholarship for fifty percent tuition to the Florida Institute of Technology. Angel explains that her teachers were very helpful in her success. She said, “They definitely pushed me to be my best.” She plans to get her undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and a master’s in business or management for engineering. Angel plans to pursue a career working for NASA and to help benefit astronaut health Children are a big part of Angel’s life; she has been working for aftercare at Red Lion for two years. She enjoys building strong relationships with young children to inspire and lead them towards an interest in science and technology in a God-centered way. She also wants to be a leader for young girls to encourage them to pursue a career in advanced engineering and mathematics. Angel attended a STEM conference and was around other women who are leaders in the science field and is excited to begin helping and mentoring other girls who want to pursue science, “I feel like I already see that in my life, giving back to the next generation.” Angel is also an avid sports player and has played soccer since the sixth grade at GCA. This year Angel was voted to be a team captain. “I feel honored to but put in this position,” Angel explained. Angel made it clear that she takes being a leader very seriously. She said, “It’s really about keeping the mental energy.” She enjoys teaching, and she coaches the younger players through different drills and during games. “Playing soccer is one of my favorite things to remember about my life at Red Lion,” she added.
Angel Helton’s College Search Angel’s college search was a long and extensive journey. She looked into many different colleges and weighed many different options. When all was said and done, Angel decided on the Florida Institute of Technology. She gave some tips for the younger generation when they begin their own college search. “Keep working hard even if you don’t want to because it will be worth it in the end,” Angel stated. Angel also explained that the SAT and ACT tests are another big factor in getting accepted into your dream college.
www.reachschools.online
11
12
Reach Christian Schools
A Love for Middle School
Copy and Design by Katie Larson Photo by Aaron Hamrick
Although she was looking to teach elementary school, a middle school teaching position opened up at Red Lion, and Mrs. Shelly Larson has learned to love teaching many different subjects to the middle school students.
M
rs. Shelly Larson has been a middle school teacher at Red Lion Christian Academy for thirteen years. She currently teaches sixth, seventh, and eighth grade math. Throughout the years, Mrs. Larson has not only taught math, but she has also taught middle school social studies, Bible, and science. While growing up, it was Mrs. Larson’s dream to become a teacher. So, as soon as she graduated from college, she immediately went to pursue her dream. She received her first teaching job at a Catholic school called Immaculate Conception and taught there for about a year. She then substituted in the Appoquinimink School District. After that, Mrs. Larson wanted to send her children to a Christian school. She found one that was just around the corner called Red Lion Christian Academy. She not only wanted to send her children there, but she also wanted to teach there in order to afford to send her children. She said, “I wanted them to be surrounded by God’s Word and not just hear it at church but hear it every day at school. We figured they could have that where it is taught in every subject.” Mrs. Larson had originally wanted to apply to become an elementary teacher; however, when she applied,
there were no positions available. The principal encouraged her to apply for the seventh and eighth grade position. She said, “I really did not want to teach middle school, but I needed a teaching job in order for our children to stay here and go to school.” What did she do when she handed in her application? She put it in God’s hands and prayed for God’s leading. She eventually did get the job, and she has loved it ever since. While Mrs. Larson is teaching, she loves being with the middle school students. She thoroughly enjoys teaching math, and she finds it challenging presenting the concepts in a way that the students will not only just understand them but will also remember them and be able to use them later on in life. She explained, “I enjoy getting to know my students over three years and then being able to watch them mature through high school and go on to graduate. I really enjoy my job, and I love being able to have an impact in the lives of the students. Hopefully, they see Jesus in me, and I hope that when they come to school, they see somebody who is going to encourage them and give them a smile and help make their day a little better.”
“ ” I enjoy getting to know my students over three years and being able to have an impact on them.
www.reachschools.online
13
A Girl of Many
Talents Copy by Keri Betters Photo by Luke Papili
Camryn Kerr is a girl of many talents. You may see Camryn on the Red Lion Christian Academy soccer field or walking the halls of Glasgow Christian Academy. There is a lot about Camryn many do not know, so we sat down to learn more about this GCA senior. Camryn has many responsibilities, but, when she has free time, she prefers to spend it playing sports. She loves attending NHL hockey games, watching her favorite hockey teams on TV, and constantly checking the NHL app for game updates and highlights. “I am not just an ice hockey fanatic,” Camryn admits. “I also love baseball and football.” Camryn’s love for sports doesn’t end with watching others play. She also has been on RLCA’s girls’ soccer team since 7th grade and is currently one of the team captains. “It has been fun stepping up, leading the team, and representing GCA,” Camryn says. “I’ve played Sweeper since 10th grade, and, since then, I have been bettering myself by playing club soccer during the offseason.” Playing soccer has fueled her love for sports while also allowing her to spend time with friends from Reach Christian Schools. When Camryn isn’t playing (or watching) sports, you can usually find her traveling across the globe with her family. Athens, Greece, is her favorite because of its beautiful sites, people, and history. “A cool place in Athens I stumbled upon was this huge rock,” Camryn reflects. “At first, I was unsure of the rock’s meaning, but came to find out that it was the rock where the Apostle Paul preached Acts 17:16-34.” Although Camryn has traveled the world, going on a mission trip was something she was unsure of. “I had been praying to God asking for an answer, but
14
Reach Christian Schools
I wasn’t getting a clear response,” Camryn explains. It wasn’t until she volunteered as a “buddy” for Tim Tebow’s Night to Shine event at Reach Church that her hesitations and anxious thoughts slowly melted away. “I knew that God was pushing me to travel on the mission trip,” Camryn states. “My advice is to pray about it, and then listen for God’s answer.” As Camryn prepares to graduate this spring, she reflected on her high school years. English has always been her favorite subject, and she loves to read, something many people are surprised to find out when talking to Camryn. “Organizational skills are [also] important throughout college and are good to know heading into college,” Camryn advises. The next adventure awaits for Camryn as she will attend Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, in the fall. She will use her love of sports as a catalyst for majoring in sports psychology with the dream of working for a team in the NHL, MLB, or NFL as their sports psychologist. God has taught Camryn many lessons through high school and senior year specifically, but the most prominent is to trust in Him completely. John 16:33 is Camryn’s favorite Bible verse because it reminds her Jesus overcame the world, and everything is completely in His hands. “God closed doors throughout senior year,” Camryn says. “But He also opened doors…I have definitely learned that my life is in His hands and to fully trust in Him.”
“I knew that God was pushing me to travel on the mission trip. My advice is to pray about it, and then listen for God’s answer.”
www.reachschools.online
15
A billboard along Kirkwood Highway advertising classical education brought Mrs. Christina Schneider to Tall Oaks.
Mrs. Schneider Mrs. Schneider Copy by Naomi Mengel Design by Morgan Kline-Hill
Mrs. Christina Schneider is a Tall Oaks upper school teacher who has been fostering a love of math and science in her students for eleven years. She was born into a Christian home in Tallahassee, Florida, but moved around during her grade school years, living in Michigan, Maryland, and Gainesville, Florida. She then attended Bryn Mawr College, where she majored in physics and minored in math, before meeting her husband and moving to Delaware for grad school. From a young age, Mrs. Schneider felt called to be a teacher. After teaching physics in public schools and instructing other teachers at the university level, she found Tall Oaks in an unexpected way. She said, “There was a billboard on Kirkwood Highway that caught my attention. It said, ‘classical methods, Christian principles, amazing results.’ That intrigued me; I didn’t know what it meant. I had no idea about the grammar, logic, and rhetoric stages. I knew nothing about classical education. I started to seek out information on Tall Oaks and classical education in general, then came to visit and got totally sold and blown away. I never thought that I would be teaching in a Christian school, but I’m so grateful now, and I wouldn’t want to teach anywhere else. I’m grateful that God brought us here.” Mrs. Schneider teaches math and science classes including logic, physical science, pre-calculus, calculus, and physics. She said, “I always liked math and science because it was very clear if I were doing something correctly or if I were not doing it correctly. I think very linearly, and it’s like a puzzle to me. Being able to figure out how all the puzzle pieces fit together is something I find exhilarating, to work really hard on a problem, and then figure it all out. There’s a sense of accomplishment to that. Since I enjoy those things, I enjoy seeing when kids have those same lightbulb moments where they’ve been struggling with something, and they figure out how it all connects and works.” Mrs. Schneider especially appreciates the family aspect of the Tall Oaks community. She explained, “It has always been a really lovely sense of family where we hold one another accountable to the Word of God. We all fall short, but I like being in a community that strives to maintain biblical standards, and when we fall short, we come alongside one another.” Mrs. Schneider also has two children, Benjamin and Maggie, who she has had the opportunity to teach in various classes throughout their time at Tall Oaks. “I think it’s hard because you can’t really stop being their mom, so sometimes the challenge is to treat them like any other student. But I like being in the same place where they are, and I like knowing their friends and teachers intimately because I’m part of the same school.” Outside of school, Mrs. Schneider enjoys playing tennis as well as spending time with her family. “I used to be a tennis player, and I don’t get to play nearly as much as when I was younger,” she continued. “I mostly enjoy time with my family, spending time with my husband and my kids. Teaching is so much more than eight to three. There’s lesson planning and trying to set up labs and make sure they’re working before you do them with your students. But I think it’s important that your family comes first.”
16
Reach Christian Schools
“Being able to find out how all the puzzle pieces fit together is something I find exhilarating.”
“Teaching my children helped me to become a better teacher.”
Mrs. Gray Mrs. Gray
When Mrs. Robin Gray first experienced Tall Oaks with friends from her church, she didn’t know it would lead to twelve years teaching at Tall Oaks. But that was the result, and Mrs. Gray has loved every moment of it. Mrs. Gray grew up in Delaware in a Christian household and attended both school and college in Delaware. She received an undergraduate degree in finance and worked as an accountant before she started a family. She and her husband have three children, Lezlie, Alexee, and Delainey, all of whom attend Tall Oaks. Mrs. Gray was invited by friends from her church to a Fine Dessert at Tall Oaks, and she attended mainly to support the family’s children. She turned down several previous offers to go there because she did not have children old enough to start school. She was so impressed with what the students were doing that she ended up starting her oldest daughter, who is a senior now, in kindergarten there. Mrs. Gray started volunteering at Tall Oaks when her children started going there, taught P.E. for a time, and then substituted for math. When the former math teacher retired, Mrs. Gray was told that Tall Oaks needed a math teacher, and so she started teaching algebra. Mrs. Gray has also taught each of her own children in her classes over the years. She said, “Teaching my children helped me become a better teacher because I was able to see what they would struggle with or the amount of work I had assigned, whether it was too much or too little. I had a gauge on that side of the fence, and I think that has helped me.” Mrs. Gray likes how math always has final answers, and she says it fits her personality. She remembers some of her elementary teachers and how they inspired the love of learning in her. Being able to give that knowledge and inspiration to learn to others brings her joy, and she hopes to impart that joy to others through her teaching. In her free time, Mrs. Gray enjoys reading and playing her flute, which she plays for the music ministry at her church. She also enjoys watching her daughters perform their various activities, and most of her free time is spent with her children.
Teaching at a classical high school was not always the plan for Mrs. Gray, but now that she isz, she wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. By Lydia Brown
www.reachschools.online
17
Back in Time traveling
The Red Lion fifth grade students went back in time and portrayed their favorite famous people in front of parents and friends during the annual Biography Day, held in the Red Lion campus sanctuary.
Copy and Design by Kirsten Heusser Photos by Aaron Hamrick
Have you ever wanted to be a famous person for a day? The fifth graders do just that, in fact. For the three years that Mr. William Petrauschke has been teaching at Red Lion Christian Academy, the fifth grade class has been participating in a project known as Biography Day. Biography Day is one of the biggest projects the fifth grade has. Every year, the fifth grade class begins preparing in March for their presentations by choosing who they would like to learn about, creating a PowerPoint for the audience to follow along, and preparing and practicing a speech that they present to most of the Red Lion elementary school and parents. From Joan of Arc to Carson Wentz and everything in between, the fifth grade class covered several centuries. Their selections of people included Bethany Hamilton, Carl Ripken Jr., Nick Foles, Malala Yousafzai, Michael Jordan, Martin Luther King Jr., Florence Nightingale, Neil Armstrong, Elizabeth S. Hamilton, Gabby Douglass, Mary Lou Retton, TD Jakes, Desmond Doss, Rosa Parks, Albert Einstein, and John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. Mr. Petrauschke allows them to choose basically anyone, with a minor exception - if they choose a present athlete, the athlete must be a Christian. Each student began their presentations by giving short introductions of who they were, where they were from, educational pasts, family relationships, any accomplishments they had reached in their life, and, most importantly, they told the audience how they reached their fame and how they got to where they are now. For the students that chose a sport-related person, they would tell any nicknames they received in their life and the draft statistics as well. The students would end each of their presentations with a famous quote that their person is known for, and some even gave a piece of advice to help others succeed in life like they did. The fifth grade is a big year for their elementary studies. They are given larger projects and more extensive field trips. Not only do they participate in Biography Day, but they also do the International Fair. They have a field trip to Junior Achievement Biztown in May where they act like they run a business and learn the basics of being a businessman/businesswoman. Fifth grade is a big year as it prepares the students for their middle school career.
“
Getting to hear the other students talk and seeing if they used accents or acted like the people they chose was my favorite part.
�
Kaylei Thomas portrayed Rosa Parks
18
Reach Christian Schools
Ronnie Succarotte as Elizabeth S. Hamilton
“
My favorite part was dressing up as someone else. I picked Mary Lou Retton because I am a gymnast, and I thought that was cool.
”
Abigail Anselmo portrayed Mary Lou Retton
Jayden Oommen as Carson Wentz
Raven Lieske
as Malala Yousafzai
“
Biography Day is a time for each student to take the information they have researched about an individual and use it to transform into that person for a few mintues.
”
Rosalin Tanyous as Pocahontas
“
Fifth grade teacher Mr. Bill Petrauschke
I chose Nick Foles because I really love the Eagles and how they won the Super Bowl.
Dylan Waters portrayed Nick Foles
”
www.reachschools.online
19
From Keys to Strings Switching from the piano to the violin in the fourth grade, Katelyn Walker plays the violin for school, church, and in youth orchestra.
K
Copy by Faith Hollister Design by Morgan Kline-Hill Photo by Aaron Hamrick
20
Reach Christian Schools
atelyn Walker came to Tall Oaks two years ago and is now a junior. She ran on the cross country team and was in the spring musical, playing the part of Isabel, one of the daughters in Pirates of Penzance. She has also been playing the violin for five years. Even though she says that “good is definitely an overstatement,” many would disagree and strongly affirm that she is better than just “good.” Katelyn first fell in love with the violin when Mr. Tim Carroll came to her school in fourth grade to demonstrate different instruments. She had been playing the piano, but after hearing the demo, decided to give it up and switch to violin. Even though violin was a huge change, she was able to incorporate different aspects of what she had learned in piano to her new instrument. Piano gave her a great foundation for violin, helping her to read music, know how to recognize rhythms, and be familiar with the treble clef. After switching to violin, Katelyn learned that “it’s definitely a commitment, and if you aren’t completely committed to it, then it will get really tiresome. If you really have a passion for a particular instrument, don’t let it go because after you stop, you can’t really build it back as much. That’s something I learned from quitting piano.” Katelyn plays her violin in the Tall Oaks orchestra, on her church worship team, and in the Symphony in C Youth Orchestra. In the summer, she also attends the Csehy Summer School of Music, where she focuses on violin and voice. Some of her favorite pieces to play are “Theme from Schindler’s List” and “Meditation” by Thais. She said, “I love how you can take any emotion and put it into your music. If you want to do something that is really dramatic, you could do ‘The Inferno’ from the Firebird Suite, or if you want to do something really beautiful, something like ‘Meditation’ or ‘Themes from the Secret Garden.’ You can really take any emotion you want and hear it through the pieces that you play.”
“
You can really take any emotion you want and hear it through the pieces that you play.
“
www.reachschools.online
21
22
Reach Christian Schools
tri-state christian Copy by Gwen Shoenberger Photos and Design by Aaron Hamrick
I
a family tradition for over 55 years
t is with great joy that we announce the addition of Tri-State Christian Academy (TSCA) to Reach Christian Schools and welcome them to our Christian school community. The school board of TSCA contacted us a few months ago, and we started talking about the possibility of adding Tri-State to Reach Christian Schools. Tri-State has a very long history of offering Christian education to families in the greater Elkton, MD, area and currently serves over 330 students in grades PK-12. After several months of encouraging discussions, meetings, and prayer, our school board unanimously voted to approve the addition of TSCA to Reach Christian Schools, and the Session of Reach Church voted unanimously to acquire TSCA as a ministry of the church. Reach Christian Schools has now moved into another exciting new chapter as we follow our mission to partner with parents to provide excellent, Christ-centered education. Tri-State Christian Academy continues a long tradition of quality Christian education in Cecil County, Maryland. For over fifty-five years, Elkton Christian School/Academy was operated as a ministry of the Baptist Bible Church (now Crossroads Bible Church). Through the years, hundreds of young people have been educated, and many went on to become pastors, missionaries, educators, doctors, lawyers, business owners, etc., and many have impacted their world for Jesus Christ. In the spring of 2011, the church leaders deliberated and ultimately came to the decision to close the school. The administration of the school asked the church leaders to allow them to continue the school in the building under a new name led by a newly formed Board of Directors. The church agreed, and Tri-State Christian Academy was established. The school chose to continue teaching the same values and standards that were held at Elkton Christian. In addition, the decision was made to keep the school colors (red, black, and white) and mascot (the Crusader) to tie the school’s alumni to the present. The school received its distinction as an approved non-public school by the Maryland State Department of Education in 2012 and is a member of the Association of Christian Schools International. Today, TSCA is a thriving, safe, educational community with an outstanding staff of loving teachers and wonderful student body with supportive parents and grandparents. God has been good, and we are trusting in Him to continue His blessing on our school.
www.reachschools.online
23
a glimpse in the life of tri-state christian academy
24
Reach Christian Schools
When you speak with students, staff, parents, and almost anyone in the TSCA community, the first thing they say about the school is how much they love the family atmosphere that is ingrained in the culture of the school. Reach Christian Schools is excited to continue the longstanding feeling of family that so many are accustomed to at Tri-State. It is something you are aware of as you walk the halls and speak with people in the school, at sporting events, performances, and just the daily life of school. With the addition of TSCA, Reach Christian Schools is now a Christian School District of five schools located on three campuses partnering with over 700 families and 1330 students to offer distinctively Christ-centered education through the service of 250 school employees. We believe that God has called us to spread the message of Nothing But Jesus to as many people as possible. We also believe that Christian schools are stronger together than they are apart, and we are humbled by what God is doing at Reach Church and Christian Schools.
www.reachschools.online
25
spring sports at tri-state christian academy
26
Reach Christian Schools
www.reachschools.online
27
Benny Nequist
Katie Larson
Tony Wright
Zach Albano
THE EDITORS' TAKE The editors’ perspective on producing Reach Magazine copy and design by Bria Dickerson photos by Aaron Hamrick
28
Reach Christian Schools
Morgan Kline-Hill
Kirsten Heusser
W
"
hen I first started the media arts program, I thought about doing a magazine. The first desktop publishing classes I taught could not handle it. Evelyn Chen, a 2016 graduate, wanted to start the magazine and really pushed for it, and we made it happen.” Mr. Hamrick explained
about starting the magazine. This magazine that you are reading takes a lot of work to make. From what started as an idea, has now became three years of success with eleven issues. Each year, around ten students are scheduled to be in Mr. Hamrick’s desktop publishing class. In this class, they learn how to use Adobe Creative Suite such as Photoshop and InDesign. Half of last year’s staff returned along with adding new members. “I thought this would be cool to learn because my dad does stuff like this, and I can help out with my mom’s cleaners with the stuff I learn in class,” Benny Nequist said, a second-year staff member. Some just take the class because their friends are in it, and they did not know what else to do like Kirsten Heusser and Katie Larson. Kevin Mills said, “I wanted to take this class because I wanted to take something, and I was not good at art. And this was a way to cheat without painting something.” This class is the easiest way to see your work in other people’s hand for their enjoyment. “I feel a sense of accomplishment,” Benny Nequist answered when asked how he felt when the magazine comes out. “I feel happy that we actually got it done,” Morgan
Kevin Mills
Bria Dickerson
Kline-Hill said. Everyone on the staff has a role in this magazine. Before getting started, the editor-in-chief, Bria Dickerson, assigns the staff pages. For instance, Kevin Mills is always in charge of the Table of Contents, and Benny Nequist is always in charge of the sports page. Everyone else is assigned a personal profile that the issue is going to cover that week. The profile may be a new teacher or a senior and their journey throughout school. Having the same task every issue may seem boring, but it is not. The staff finds it challenging and fun to revamp a spread and make it different from the last issue. Kevin Mills said, “I like making the table of contents. It sets the tone for what you are going to see in the magazine.” Out of eight issues, Morgan Kline Hill’s favorite spread is Taylor Beres’ profile. “That was the spread that I learned how to do everything on InDesign.” “The magazine has definitely developed. One can tell a huge difference between layout and design. We have a lot of articles, and the designs and writing are much better now. The designs look professional instead of looking like a student publication,” Mr. Hamrick explained. The magazine started off with just sixteen pages and has now doubled to thirty-two pages. “The magazine has really taken the life of its own,” Mr. Hamrick said. This magazine was just a Red Lion thing and then has grown to accommodate all Reach Christian Schools. “You can walk in with what you have learned in this class and get hired for a job at a magazine,” Mr. Hamrick answered when asked what you would say to encourage students to take the class. “This could be the best hands-on class you will take while attending Red Lion.” www.reachschools.online
29
RL
softball A 1-2 Connection
Twin sisters connect on the field
The Paolantonio Sisters decided to play softball when they were around the age of ten. When the twins were asked if they have always wanted to play softball, they admitted that they have always wanted to play Division 1 softball for the college of their choosing. For now, the twins are planning on attending the University of Pittsburgh due to their love of the campus and the academics at the university. When the twins where practicing outside one day, Courtney was catching for Caroline and came up with idea of her catching for Caroline as the pitcher. This made sense because they are already very close as twin sisters. When asked if they ever don’t work well together, they responded by saying they don’t ever not work well together, but they do at times fight. They added that they always make up and keep playing and working together like the twin sisters they are. Since the twins are so close, it makes them a force to be reckoned with on the field. The sisters have an amazing synergy that can only come from family. Since they have been playing softball when they were children, they are able to constantly predict what the other is going to do and be able to take action to make the play smoother. When they were asked if they would ever go back to not catching and pitching, they respond with a no because it makes the game just that much more fun.
30
Reach Family of Schools
RL
baseball a versatile player
young varsity starter Sam, an eighth grader, joins his two older brothers starting on the varsity baseball team. Sam Hardcastle was raised in baseball. He started when he was about five and fell in love from there. When he got to middle school, he played middle school ball until eighth grade. Once the season came around he decided to try out for the varsity team and made the team. Sam plays for the better portion of the game as an infielder and as a pitcher. When asked which one he liked more, he said pitching because it lets him be more in control of the game. When he was asked, “Why do love baseball so much?” he responded with, “You lose way more than you win so it teaches you how to deal with losing.”
www.reachschools.online
31
REACH
CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS RED LION CAMPUS 1390 Red Lion Road Bear, DE 19701
CONTACT US Tri-State Christian Academy 146 Appleton Road Elkton, Maryland 21921 Call (410) 398-6444 www.tristatechristian.org
Tri-State Christian Academy strives to provide a quality, Christian educational program in a safe and healthy environment with a warm, family atmosphere. Your family is important to us, and we want to do everything in our power to meet the educational needs of your child at every stage from kindergarten through high school. Tri-State Christian Academy is a proud member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).