The Compass - Winter 2022/23

C MPASS THE WINTER 2022-2023

A PUBLICATION OF SOUTHWEST CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

From the HEAD OF SCHOOL

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Construction projects are exciting. I love watching plans on paper take shape in the field. However, these past five months of our athletic complex expansion have reminded me that construction projects are also messy.

Parking lots get filled with mud. Traffic patterns require adjustments. New building codes, inflation, and supply chain issues cause delays and increased costs. To overcome these challenges, the building team must stay focused on the finished product.

In many ways, Christian education is a lot like a construction project. It’s exciting, it’s messy, and it requires a keen focus on the end goal.

When I meet with prospective families I spend a lot of time talking about the things I love about Southwest Christian. I get to talk about the loving and supportive environment that our students experience daily. I tell families how our teachers intentionally and skillfully connect what they are teaching to Jesus as our creator and redeemer.

I also make it a point to let families know that we are a community of real people with real flaws, and that every school day we fill our school building with people in need of a savior (the Head of School not excluded!). I remind them, and remind myself, that we should not be surprised when we encounter attitudes, desires, and behaviors in our school community that are not aligned with the character of Christ.

The process of Christian education can be messy. Lesson plans fall flat, students and staff grow tired, and poor choices cause hurt and conflict in relationships. It is in this “mess” that we most clearly see the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and those of our students as we accept discipline, change behaviors, seek forgiveness, and reconcile with one another. This process takes time and is crucial work in the Christian community.

I have a front row seat to this process and see the beautiful things God is doing in and through our school community. I am witness to the ways our students, and my own children, have been loved, forgiven, sharpened, and equipped by their teachers and peers. Every year, I hear from many of our graduates about how God used their time at SWCHS to shape their beliefs, desires, and convictions in ways that are helping them pursue Christ in challenging environments as young adults.

When in the middle of the “construction process” we must hold tightly to the exhortation from the apostle Paul in Galatians 6:9, which says, “Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.”

Soon our “messy” construction project will be a beautiful facility filled with students, athletes, and fans. In the same way, we teach, coach, and disciple students in anticipation that in “due season” God will use our efforts to transform our students into the likeness of Christ. We embrace the full process of Christian education, the exciting and the messy, focused on our vision of developing mature disciples who seek, know, live, and proclaim the truth.

In

Christ, Dan Beckering Head of School

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

LILLIAN REDIGER

by Annebet Pettit, Marketing & Communications Manager

As a team captain, All-State player, Ms. Soccer 2022, and sought-after college athlete, Lillian Rediger could be expected to be entirely focused on her success on the pitch. Yet, she says she has never put her identity in soccer. Perhaps her balanced attitude toward soccer is because she is an excellent athlete in basketball and track along with being an accomplished visual artist. Other coaches outside of soccer certainly identify her as an excellent athlete. Girls basketball coach Tiffany Stubbs says, “She works hard to be the best,” an idea echoed by track coach Shani Johnson. But immediately, her coaches pivot to another character trait: humility. Coach Johnson adds, “As talented as Lillian is in sports, she…is full of humility.”

Rediger herself attributes her ability to separate her identity from her athletic success to her parents. “My mom encouraged me in things I was good at, but she never pushed me, so I never put my identity in one thing.” She does point out that not getting her identity in sports doesn’t mean she is complacent. “I do get too intense [about winning] sometimes!”

Her love of winning is not a fault, at least not according to her coaches who say that the person she pushes hardest is herself. Soccer coach Mark Anderson says, “Lillian never stops running during a game even though she plays nearly every minute!” Coach Johnson noted this drive in track as well: “She always gave her all regardless of how she felt, to the point of

“As talented as she is in sports, she... is full of humility.”

Shani Johnson, Head Track Coach

crossing the finish line completely depleted.” Soccer teammate and fellow senior Piper Stafford says Lillian is focused and determined on the field, “No one can get past her [on defense].”

Rediger’s winning attitude affects the other girls on her team. According to Stafford, who has played with Rediger for many years, including four years at SWCHS, “She is not only a great player, she is a selfless friend who shows constant compassion and joy.”

Learning to be a leader was one of the best opportunities she’s had at Southwest Christian High School, says Rediger. She credits the examples of the girls who were captains when she was a freshman: Callie Ertel, Nasya Ramli, Grace Ose, and Claire Larkin in soccer, and Lily Schwen and Lauren Jones in basketball. “I looked up to them so much! I was so impressed with them, and thought they were so good at everything.” But what stood out the most was the way those young women reached out to her. “Throughout the seasons, both soccer and basketball, they really got to know me and cared about me as a person.”

As a captain herself, she tries to show her teammates how much she cares about them. She says she loves encouraging other people and adds, “It’s amazing to watch your teammates grow in Christ.” Coach Anderson says that she has a consistently positive attitude and that he has never heard her being critical toward a teammate. Stafford adds, “She makes sure all the girls feel valued and loved, regardless of grade or team.”

Rediger realizes the small school environment at SWCHS has helped her. “There are amazing opportunities here to step outside your comfort zone.” While a small school has been helpful, it is the Christian atmosphere that has been most transformative for her growth in high school.

When Rediger came to SWCHS as

a freshman, “I was worried I’d have to be a perfect Christian and know a lot of Bible verses to be accepted by the other kids.” However, she quickly realized that other students accepted her and that the teachers would help her understand her faith. She had a revelation her junior year during Don Carlson’s Bible class which “opened my eyes to what faith is supposed to look like.” It’s one of “multiple things” that have grown her faith in God during her student years.

In the words of fellow captain Stafford, Rediger “leads in a way that embodies the nature of Christ, and I think all the players and coaches see that in her day in and day out.” The kind of leadership that Lilian Rediger, Piper Stafford, and many other students exhibit are the end goals of our school’s discipleship model and athletic program, and we are grateful for their time at Southwest Christian High School.

“[Rediger] leads in a way that embodies the nature of Christ, and I think all the players and coaches see that in her day in and day out.”

Piper Stafford, teammate

Soccer team captains Lillian Rediger and Piper Stafford

ENCOUNTER FOCUS

LEANING ON JESUS THROUGH ENCOUNTER

By Rob Wassenaar, Dean of Students

Scripture teaches us that one of the greatest joys for parents is to see their child walking with Jesus (cf. 3 John 4). While I am not the “parent” of our students, some of my greatest joys are to see our students authentically share their faith story in Christ, have one of those “aha” moments with God, rely on God’s Word even when it is hard, or share the gospel with others.

I get to see that growth on a regular basis here at Southwest Christian.

Through Encounter, we are blessed to learn from and be challenged by godly communicators. So far this year, we’ve enjoyed two special Encounter speakers, one a SWCHS grad and one a current senior. Ellie Harrison (Class of 2019) and Caroline Wilhite (Class of 2023) both shared authentically about their struggles in their life

but also the amazing goodness and healing that has come to them through Christ our Savior. They shared courageously the pain and struggle they have experienced and the many ways they’ve learned to trust God in their challenges. Neither of these two young women would say that they will be problem-free for the rest of their lives but they also both strongly and confidently proclaimed that peace and healing comes through Christ. Ellie and Caroline know Christ as Savior, are walking by faith in Jesus and are seeking to experience the abundant life that Jesus offers.

That is the story we all need to hear, and it is the story that we want to share with our students and the world. We are grateful to have time set aside each week during Encounter for speakers to exhort, encourage, and uplift our students.

Caroline Wilhite, current SWCHS Student

A FOND FAREWELL

Patrick Mealey has influenced the Southwest Christian High School history, Pro Tech, and theater departments for 16 years, from teaching and directing in our warehouse building on Peavey Road to directing the first show in our new theater in 2019. However, God is calling him to a new location, and he is leaving SWCHS at the end of December to care for aging relatives in his home state of Michigan where he will teach college courses remotely.

While hundreds of SWCHS students have learned US and World History alongside economics and government from Mr. Mealey, his most profound impact on students was as director of 42 theater productions. He influenced over 1200 cast members, 300 stage crew, and six student directors in his 15 years of leading shows.

Among those impacted by Mr. Mealey and his theater program is AJ Veninga, SWCHS Class of 2021. Veninga said, “He created a welcoming space where I could interact with my friends and try to make art without judgment. Mr. Mealey was always a warm, funny, and caring director when life otherwise could be just the opposite.”

Mr. Mealey’s first musical at SWCHS was Cinderella and his first play was Harvey; his all-time favorites are The Phantom of the Opera and the hilarious Nooses Off.

Most of the time, the shows mostly went off without a hitch, although there have been a few close calls over the years. There was a moment in A Christmas Carol when Carter Warta was supposed to fly off stage using rigging and instead dropped to the ground like a sandbag (uninjured!). Another near-miss was a student who got grounded and nearly didn’t show up for a performance. There have been some forgotten lines and

GOODBYE TO MR. MEALEY

By Annebet Pettit, Marketing and Communications Manager

some set malfunctions. But Mr. Mealey persisted and brought out the best in his cast and crew for every show.

One of Mr. Mealey’s interests which benefited our theater department and eventually our whole school was his love of construction. He helped staff members build decks and remodel basements, but he also designed and built most of his theater sets, often with the help of parents. After the new SWCHS Pro Tech area opened in 2019, he began teaching a residential construction class, about which he said, “Giving students the understanding and ability to do basic construction projects around the house is really rewarding.”

As AJ Veninga’s mom, Joellyn, said, “His students are reminded that everyone matters, everyone has value, and that their very best contribution is highly valuable.” We are grateful for Mr. Mealey’s influence and wish him many blessings in his next endeavors.

Singing in the Rain, 2017 theater production

“He created a welcoming space where I could interact with my friends and try to make art without judgment...”

AJ Veninga, SWCHS Alumnus

TEACHING for

How I Learned to Love Throughlines

by Matt Berka, English Teacher

I love throughlines, but I didn’t always.

A few years ago, Southwest Christian High School adopted a framework of Christian education called “Teaching for Transformation” (TfT). TfT has three core practices that guide teachers as they implement a new way of seeing God’s story in the classroom. One of those three core practices are throughlines. “Throughlines” are eight phrases that describe a key aspect of what it means to follow Jesus thoughtfully and faithfully. When teachers anchor their course content to throughlines, they are asking students to consider classroom learning in relation to being a “steward of creation” or an “idolatry discerner,” as examples of two throughlines. Throughlines help teachers invite students to consider the eternal implications of what they learn, and to help students live in ways that are consistent with the message of the Gospel.

It sounds meaningful, doesn’t it? However, I didn’t like using throughlines or see their purpose early in my TfT journey. Despite the fact that TfT’s overall framework was immediately compelling to me, I wasn’t sure what to do with throughlines. They seemed second-tier, the TfT JV squad, and I worried that students would become fatigued and frustrated with many teachers pointing them back to the same phrases.

Last year, however, I decided to give throughlines an honest, fair try by integrating throughlines and making them a focal point of my teaching. As I look back at my attempt, I’m happy to report that I was wrong about throughlines. I found that throughlines helped students experience deep learning and see glimpses of what it looks like to follow Jesus faithfully. I was happily surprised to discover in my end-of-the-year course evaluation that throughlines were the most commonlynamed course component that impacted students’ learning and experience of my course.

One student stated that she was “proud of how I considered our course throughlines and took steps in following Jesus.” Another reflected that when we “took the time to analyze them and how they relate to the work we were doing” the throughlines “had the biggest impact on my wanting to be a person who reflects Christ in my speech and actions.” Another student noted that our work with throughlines was “beneficial for me to think

through and made it easier to connect some of my thoughts and our coursework to broader Christian ideas.” These kinds of reflections sustain me as a teacher and remind me that the work we do in class is eternally worthwhile as well as beneficial for student learning today.

Is it “Loved by God; Lovers of Others” and “Seekers of Justice” that help students feel the full power of Frederick Douglass’ words in his 1852 speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”

Is it “Image Bearers” that encourages students to reflect better on the quality of their own Christian communities as they read and analyze Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 19th-century classic, The Scarlet Letter? Is it “Order Discoverers” that creates urgency for a student who has much to

TRANSFORMATION

say to the world, but struggles with grammar and writing conventions? According to the students, throughlines create these connections.

As teachers, we hope to see these throughlines manifest in the lives of our students and in our school community. I want my students to grow as followers and disciples of Jesus in these particular ways, just as I do in my own faith.

Bringing History to Life

By Peter Welle, History Teacher

I've been thinking lately about a sharply articulated statement from a student of mine. In reflecting on what she hoped to get out of a major research project in my 11th grade US History class, she wrote, "I want to learn more about the past through the lens of someone who lived through it, instead of through a PowerPoint."

The project that prompted this remark was a research paper designed to access the heart and imagination of my students. Students conduct an interview with someone of an older generation and listen to their life stories. Students then use that interview to write a paper which contextualizes their subject’s story within a broader chapter in American life. This significant and challenging research and writing assignment are deeply meaningful because they are conducted through the lens of a person whom my students love. Christian formational learning occurs when the historical “stuff” of our course is opened to human connection.

While we’re still going to need to use PowerPoint in class most days to

So how did I learn to love throughlines? I actually used them. I prayed that God would be at work in my class. Finally, I trusted that the Kingdom of God is endlessly and eternally compelling. Throughlines have added a level of depth and meaning to my course that, if I’m honest, had been missing. Before, I did not know what to do with throughlines. Now, I can’t imagine teaching without them.

equip students with the essential background knowledge that they’ll need, without some imaginative engagement in our learning, we’re just memorizing. However, when our students’ emotions are engaged, we can hope to see student reflections at the end of a project like this gem I recently received:

“I loved my experience with this essay. Papers normally make me nervous, but as I began this process, I realized it was unlike any other essay I have written. I felt this way because it had a personal, intimate connection to me while also coinciding with history. Learning about my mom's story during the recession made me realize how hard of a worker she is, and what is truly valuable to her… As a result, I learned a lot about my mom's business, and now I feel like I can have easier conversations with her about it. From researching the recession, I was able to look at the patterns of the market, and I feel that if it happens again, I will be equipped to know that it will not last forever. Thank you for allowing us to do this sort of project!”

FINE ARTS

JAZZ CABARET

A night of music and dessert featuring our Jazz Band, Accidentals and soloists.

FALL PLAY: GEORGE WASHINGTON SLEPT HERE

A slapstick comedy directed by Jeff Angell.

SPOTLIGHT CHRISTMAS

CONCERT

Southwest Christian Music department presented “O Holy Night” featuring all of our Music students directed by Kimberly DeVries and Ruth Ivesdal.

A GROWING HOUSE

Fun this Fall in our House System

By Annebet Pettit, Marketing and Communications Manager

The House system, now in its second year, is emerging as a great way for students to get connected in our school. Students meet others through sports, extracurricular activities, lunchtime, and classes, but House is another avenue to know others and to be known.

Through the House system, students are placed in four cross-grade Houses each with the name of a virtue, a verse, color, and motto, and these Houses form the basis for friendly betweenHouse competition and in-House connection.

According to junior Josie Santjer, House Sapientia’s secretary, “When planning activities, games, discussions, etcetera, we make sure to find a way for everyone to be seen and heard.” While it can be hard to ensure everyone is

enjoying the games and activities, this year, student talents have shone in many areas.

For instance, the second all-school game featured a Bob Ross-style painting competition. While talented art students painted, the rest of the school played simple carnival-style games. The third all-school game featured teams of students using construction skills to saw and hammer miniature catapults while the rest of the student body shot Nerf guns, flipped cards, and did wall squats, the latter of which had to be called for time when four of our female athletes were still squatting at 21 minutes on the timer!

According to House Fortitudo staff leader and Bible teacher Dustin Thompson, “The House games are opportunities for students across grades to enjoy lowkey, fun activities. It offers organic connections during

the games and activities between students who wouldn’t otherwise cross paths.”

Junior Matt Von Eduskuty transferred to SWCHS his sophomore year and says, “As a transfer student, I was able to connect with a lot of super cool people I wouldn't have met otherwise.” He found House so valuable, he applied for and was chosen as a leader despite only attending SWCHS a short time. “It was an excellent way for me to be more involved at school and have fun,” he explained.

Santjer is passionate about opportunities for connection through House leadership. “We feel it is our duty to love like Christ by trying to reach those people who are struggling or feel like they don’t matter. One small way we like to help people feel seen is by recognizing their birthdays. We also try to learn the names of the students in our House and greet them in the hallways.”

The House leaders apply for their positions and are selected by a team of faculty and staff. Santjer applied for House leadership in order to use the gifts God has given her to serve her peers. Leaders like Von Eduskuty and Santjer are crucial components of the House system’s success. According to Dustin Thompson, “The House leaders are making decisions that give them the chance to promote school culture. Leadership is not a token position: they come up with real ideas to foster a real culture of community at Southwest Christian.” Not only are the leaders helping their House feel connected to each other, they are themselves connecting with the teachers and other student leaders in a virtuous cycle that influences the community of the school.

The House system is led by Lindsay Johnson who summarizes the purpose of the system by saying, “As Christians, we know community is an important way we live as the Body of Christ, and House is another way for that to happen as our school grows.”

Game Show Night Recap FALL GALA

Our annual fundraiser, held each October, gathers our community and raises money to support our tuition assistance scholarships and our growing facilities. After moving into the 1981 Bavaria Road building in 2012, we have added about 350 students, and to accommodate our need for program space and classrooms, we’ve done two major expansions: one that added classrooms, music rooms, and ProTech and Auditorium spaces, and another currently underway to expand our athletic facilities.

Because the heart of our school is discipleship, our programs offer essential opportunities for teachers, directors, and coaches to mentor our students, and each expansion created more classroom as well as program space so we could continue to meet the needs of our growing student body.

This year, our big fundraising event was Game Show Live! a fun evening featuring the talents of Ron Johnson, Vikings Game Day Host, and a professional team to transform our stage into a game show platform where we could play games similar to Family Feud, Jeopardy, and more.

We enjoyed a moving testimony from SWCHS parents Shamim and Noah Buck about the value of our scholarship funds. We were reminded that part of our mission is to offer Christian education to every family who wants it.

Thank you to the many generous donors who gave us items for our silent auction, and, of course, all those who won items and helped us raise money for scholarships and our new athletic complex!

MISSION FOCUS

THE DR NINE YEARS LATER

by Elisa Palumbo, English Teacher

Last spring, when the staff were offered the opportunity to chaperone the 2022 senior Dominican Republic mission trip, I volunteered immediately. I have a passion for missions in the southern hemisphere after living in Mexico until I was eleven, and I worked in missions in South America after high school. Moreover, I went on this very trip as a senior myself at Southwest Christian nine years ago, so I knew first-hand how impactful the trip can be for students.

This trip felt very different as a chaperone than as a student. While the differences did not mean one trip was “better” than the other, I couldn’t help but compare the two. One major difference came in the locations: the YWAM base I stayed in was much smaller and was located in Santo Domingo. The Jarabacoa YWAM base was bigger and was located in the tropical mountains. The difference

in location meant that the ministry opportunities were also different. Since the Dominican Republic was hit so hard by Covid-19, many organizations and schools are leery about welcoming visitors, something that also affected the type of ministry we could do. In 2013, my class spent our days building a swing set at a local orphanage, speaking at a leprosy colony, and doing ministry at a local school. This year, we spent the week working on reviving the YWAM base and renovating two different houses in the local community.

At the end of one long day of work, I remarked to another chaperone, “I don’t remember feeling this physically tired on my trip.” The first few days of weeding, painting, and plastering left the whole team dirty, sweaty, and exhausted. However, the demanding labor fostered the opportunity for students to bond with each other. While at first I felt sad that the students were not able to go out and

share their testimony with kids at a local school, I saw the beauty of what happened when the students shared their testimonies with each other, something my class did not do.

We spent three nights listening to students share their personal stories with their classmates, and the bonding and forgiveness that I saw as a result of those stories was something I will never forget. While the students did not spend as much time with the local community, they spent a lot of time together. Students worked their hearts out to rebuild Mariana and Bernardo’s homes where I saw the blessing of changing someone’s dayto-day life by transforming their home. At the end of the week, when we got to see the final result of our physically demanding and mentally taxing work, I thought, “Wow. We really impacted these people.”

While much of this trip was different than my own class trip, I saw this class bond with each other in such a powerful way that I felt their trip was perhaps even more memorable than mine. God knows what we need exactly when we need it, and I believe that God knew exactly what kind of trip the Class of 2023 needed. It was a privilege and an honor to go on the trip with them, and my prayer is that they never forget what God taught them in Jarabacoa.

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

Boys soccer team makes it to the state tournament for the second consecutive year.

through servicelearning opportunities.

Annika Veurink Committed to play Volleyball at Villanova

SWCHS music students nominated and accepted into the Wright County Conference Honor Choir & Band Festival, January 7, 2023.

BRow: Daniel Overline, Leihana Weinacht, Emily Gale, Miles Rengel, Ethan Groninga FRow: Cooper Gunhus, Daniel Bozanich, Avery Wagaman, Ava Boen, Paul Hornor, Logan Kimmel, Jace Dovolis, Josh Engler

Olivia Wilson is one of five high school seniors across the nation to receive a scholarship from The American Heart Association for her efforts as part of the American Heart Challenge, a program designed to energize commitment to community health

Mehlayna Straub - Committed to play Volleyball & run Track at Concordia St. Paul

Girls volleyball team - Gold Standard with average GPA of 3.94

Emily Ainslie finished her junior equestrian career by qualifying for and competing in several national equitation medal finals. She has been a regional champion in national horse jumping competitions for the past four years.

Annika Veurink, MMEA State Honors Women’s Choir 2022-2023

Daniel Bozanich, MMEA Honors Orchestra 2022-2023

Daniel Overline organized the Southwest Christian choral library into a digital database and earned his Eagle Scout award on October 24, 2022.

ALUMNI UPDATES

Isabel Johnson (2019) & William Wiggings September 10, 2022

Penelope (Penny) Hundstad October 14, 2022 Ellie (Johnson-2013) & Nelson

Esther Grace Neuberger October 12, 2022

Abby (Vander Galien-2014) & Mitch

Jamie Lubben October 16, 2022 Erika (Huizenga-2013) & Jordan (2013)

Britta Provart (2014) & Joe Burlingame October 28, 2022

Jamie Johnson & Cooper Johnson (2010) August 26, 2022

Inga Molle (2018) & Hunter Wight (2018) August 19, 2022

Nicole Niebuhr (2019) & Nathan Popkes August 5, 2022

Kip Charles Anderson September 10, 2022 Carly (Jacobsen-2012) & Luke

Chloe Payne (2012) & Sam Berthhold (2012) October 15, 2022

Ally Krommendyk (2013) & Tanner Hulstein September 24, 2022

HOMECOMING 2023

January 28 - February 4

SATURDAY - JANUARY 28

NIGHT OF STARS

THURSDAY - FEBRUARY 2

HOCKEY GAMES (FUTURE STARS NIGHT)

SATURDAY - FEBRUARY 4

BASKETBALL GAMES | HOMECOMING DANCE

Alumni invited to a reception at 6pm before boys varsity game!

GAMES/COMPETITIONS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK

swchs.org/events for more details

1981 BAVARIA ROAD

CHASKA, MN 55318