Woodcrest Christian School
generations
Magazine Spring 2018
CONTENTS
6
Features 6 10 10
14
Mrs. Sallie Gude Impacting generations of WCDS students
Alumni to the Rescue Tackling each emergency with faith and courage
70 Years
Celebrating our platinum anniversary with a look back
Pursuing Excellence Daily
14
3
Superintendent’s Message
4
Campus News
18
Athletes of the Year
20
Athletics Highlights
21
Missions Trips
22
Leadership in Action: Medicine and Science
Leadership is demonstrated in many ways—sometimes by standing in front, sometimes by being unseen but still impactful.
See You at the Pole September 27, 2017
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Letter from the Superintendent A Legacy of Leadership
Did you know that Elon Musk just sent his TESLA Roadster to Mars on a test rocket from his own company? Ten years ago, only governments could put rockets into space. Now there are a half-dozen private companies doing that same thing every year. How do you prepare students for an unknown future? Our world is changing so rapidly that the best preparation students can attain is through the acquisition of multi-disciplinary skills. A primary initiative at Woodcrest Christian is the development of leadership abilities within our students. Activities both in and out of the classroom collectively provide training and hands-on experiences that give students many opportunities to grow as leaders. The same leadership skills we are diligently working to foster in our students are often found in our alumni as well. As you turn the pages of this issue of GENERATIONS, you will find Woodcrest Christian alumni serving as leaders in their respective medical and scientific communities as doctors, emergency responders, and cutting-edge researchers. Leadership is a lifelong, 21st century skill that never loses its impact and one that will remain central to the Royals’ experience.
At the heart of leadership, biblical wisdom
provides
an anchor to what is right and wrong and true.
In Christ, Jim Sullivan GENERATIONS 2018 | 3
HONE YOUR SKILLS
Up and coming graphic designers and storytellers (a.k.a. writers) are flexing their skills in the newly redesigned WCMS Yearbook and Photography class. More than 20 students participate on a design or photo team working to create the class yearbook. Students meet once per week for lessons on basic photography techniques including camera settings and photo composition, and for yearbook design including editing, layouts, fonts, and formatting techniques. At WCHS, a small team of students in a new Video Production class produce multiple short films promoting school spirit and highlighting campus events. Check them out online: wcss.org/videos. 4 | WOODCREST CHRISTIAN
FULL STEAM AHEAD
Woodcrest Christian Day School teachers are cleverly incorporating higher level thinking in the classroom through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities. Even our kindergarteners are in on it! They recently learned how to take crayons from a solid state to a liquid state! WCDS also supports STEAM through outside experiences. Fifth graders participated at STEP CON17, a STEAM conference covering topics such as robotics, virtual reality, meteorology, and oceanography. A favorite was the US Navy exhibit on thermal energy, laser labs, and drones.
OFFERS OF LOVE
Through mission projects such as Operation Christmas Child, students experience what it means to offer love and generosity to those in need. This year, K-6 students brought in more than 475 shoeboxes with gifts for children in third world countries, and they eagerly prayed for those who would receive their boxes.
PUMP IT UP
Watch out Woodcrest Christian, things are about to get pumped up! The new Middle School Pep Club has one goal in mind...make things fun! So...we’ve got spirit, yes we do! We’ve got spirit...how ‘bout you? GENERATIONS 2018 | 5
Fhundreds or over forty years Sallie Gude has touched the hearts and minds of of Woodcrest Christian Day School students. She has invested her time, talents, and love to not only third graders and first graders, but she has spent over three decades serving in kindergarten.
Besides their contagious excitement, Mrs. Gude also When asked why kindergarten is her favorite grade to teach, Mrs. Gude answered that she loves her loves the nurturing aspect of ministering to the youngest students’ sense of discovery. Everything is new to them, of children. On any given day, that could include opening they are enthusiastic about everything, and regarding countless containers of food during lunchtime to giving their personalities, she says, “They entertain you without them a hug when they are sad. In fact, this was one of the even trying.” Mrs. Gude loves to spread the joy that is catalysts that drove Mrs. Gude toward teaching. When she found in kindergarten and always has a good kid story was in kindergarten she remembers folding towels for to share. For instance, after attempting to recite a Bible naptime and “pretending to cry.” Concerned, her teacher verse, one student said, “Jesus is the same yesterday, came over and asked if she was okay. Even though she was today, and…and…Fridays!” Another stated, “Keep your only pretending and nothing was truly bothering her, Sallie tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking…disease!” remembers realizing that day just how much her teacher cared for her. She felt loved and thought that when she grew up she wanted to be a teacher too. She wanted to make other children feel the comfort and care that she had felt with her teacher’s simple kindness. Weaving music into her lessons is another teaching method that Mrs. Gude uses daily. “I love music, and lots of studies show it helps kids remember information better.” Years ago Mrs. Gude took a seminar at the ACSI Teacher’s Convention regarding the importance of music in a classroom setting, and she has been utilizing it ever since. In the mornings, praise music fills her classroom as children sing and unpack their belongings. Bible, spelling, reading, and math lessons all have songs and ditties—several requiring hand motions - perfect for active and fidgety five and six year olds. Joy and praise seep out the door of room 5.
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Mrs Sallie Gude
More Than 40 Years of Faithful Service
“I am so thrilled that I get to tell children about the Lord, make an impact for eternity, and get paid for it! That God would entrust me with that is an honor and delight. Also, that parents trust their greatest treasure to me—I am aware of that honor and privilege.” - Sallie Gude
Sallie Gude has seen and been a part of many changes over the decades, but her love for her students and for God has remained unchanged. “I am so thrilled that I get to tell children about the Lord, make an impact for eternity, and get paid for it! That God would entrust me with that is an honor and delight. Also, that parents trust their greatest treasure to me—I am aware of that honor and privilege.” Parents are aware of the blessings too. Melissa Becerra, parent of a former kindergartner, says of Mrs. Gude, “I call her the ‘kindergartner whisperer’ because every time I was volunteering and I walked into her classroom, the children were quiet, listening, and doing exactly what they needed to do.” 1 Peter 4:10,11 (NIV) says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms…if anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ...”
Mrs. Gude has faithfully shown God’s grace to these precious children. We at WCDS are grateful for the many years Mrs. Gude has been serving at our school and impacting the lives of her students and their families. Parent Allison Bussey, former WCDS student herself, sums up Mrs. Gude’s ministry with the following memory: Seraphim, her son, was nervous about starting kindergarten. The whole summer he told his mother he did not want to go to school, but the minute he found out he had gotten Mrs. Gude as his teacher, his mother reports he felt at ease. He knew that his mother and his older sister had also had Mrs. Gude when they were in kindergarten. The fond picture that has embedded itself in her memory is during Back-to-School Night when Mrs. Gude gave her son the biggest hug. It meant so much to her to see Mrs. Gude showing love toward her child. “She’s got that spirit and great heart for children. I will never stop loving her.” GENERATIONS 2018 | 7
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The best example of leadership is the everyday observance of students who go out of their way to lead by serving others—such as this student-led morning worship service. GENERATIONS 2018 | 9
Woodcrest Christian alumni serve in a wide variety of professions. However, we noticed one vocation that has lured quite a number of former WCS students: firefighting. While probably not a complete list, we learned that Riverside City Fire Department was home to Chris Boykin (1998 - a firefighter paramedic & engineer), Erik Collins (1998 - a firefighter who had previously been a captain for Cal Fire), Giovanni Contreras (2001 - a firefighter), Brian Fuentes (1995 - an engineer), and David Waltemeyer (2006 - a firefighter paramedic). At least three other grads work for fire departments outside the area: Dan Lamy (1979), Brad Aarts (2006), Kevin Carpenter (2001), Kelwyn Wild (1997), and Ted Schaffer (1981 – a “legend” at Cal Fire).
Occasionally, one of our very own responds to medical emergencies that occur on campus. It has been a real joy to watch our WCS alumni do their job competently and confidently. But we wanted to find out more, so we contacted a few of them to get a picture of what When askedprepared why kinderg their life as firefighters is like and how their experience at Woodcrest Christian is her favorite grade to t them for this calling.
Hometown Heroes After completing four years of collegeprep classes, many of our grads move towards
professional fields of science, nursing, or business. What would lead some of them into serving on local fire departments? Firefighters seem to have become almost mythical heroes after their valiant efforts on 9/11. So, it was both the respect and admiration the job engendered as well as the variety and excitement of the task that appealed to Dan Lamy. Others had more personal influences. David Waltemeyer spoke of how firefighting was “in his blood.” He recalls seeing the fulfillment evident in the smile on his father’s face as he returned each day from his job with the Corona Fire Department. After visiting the fire station and 10 | WOODCREST CHRISTIAN
Sallie answered that loves her students’ sen discovery. Everything is to them, they are enthus about everything, regarding their persona she says, “They entertain without even trying.” loves to spread the joy
researching the potential career, David chose to keep the family tradition alive. Chris Boykin came from another angle. While he was attending RCC, an introductory EMT course looked appealing and he took it. That led to a job with American Medical Response where he was promoted to paramedic two years later. Finally, five years after garten that, Chris decided to attend the fire academy. teach,
she nse of The Rush on the Job s new siastic TV shows like Chicago Fire and Third Watch offer and weekly doses of excitement facing their fictional alities, firemen. What are the exciting parts for our n you alumni? Firemen are called whe-n a crisis arises Sallie and facing that crisis usually gets the adrenaline y that
flowing. Maybe it’s just a generic sort of rush that happens when a column of smoke is seen rising in the air. Brian Fuentes mentioned one fire where he had to search a fully involved apartment for a paraplegic victim caught inside. The low-lying smoke layer initially hid the man, but Brian and his partner eventually found him and dragged him to the front door. Though they had to battle the heat, the smoke, the poor light, and the weight of the victim and were exhausted, they were gratified that he ultimately recovered
from the burns due to inhaling heated smoke. Dan referred to one call where they responded to a school bus fire. Getting 26 junior high students off the bus while quelling the flames really got his heart rate going. It seems today, however, that most of the firemen’s efforts don’t have much to do with fires: traffic rescues were mentioned repeatedly. David works a rescue truck and operates the “jaws of life” to perform an auto extraction after a traffic collision or use his paramedic skills on a medical call.
Relying on Faith These alumni are firefighters, but they are also followers of Christ on the job, and it was interesting to hear how they “put their firemen’s boots to their faith” as it were. Both Chris and David pointed to the way firemen living at the station together 24/7 really become like a family. As Christians live their lives in that context, their commitment to Christ becomes obvious to all, and allowing their coworkers to see a living faith first-hand is a powerful witness to them. But Dan joined Chris in also pointing out that dealing with people in crisis is much easier when coming from a position of strong faith. GENERATIONS 2018 | 11
Chris pointed out how he has had to be the one to notify a family when a family member has died; the compassion and kindness of Christ allow him to be a real comfort to those who feel engulfed by loss. But where does WCS fit into all of this? How does their past experience on our campus affect the job they do now? Key qualities that these men drew from their time include hard work and perseverance. Brian even tied it down more specifically. As he ran cross country and track for Coach Billy York (for twelve years at Harvest and WCS!), he came to identify Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” as his life verse. He recalls reciting this verse to himself both in the past as he ran the switchbacks at Mt. Sac races and in the present when pulling limp, lifeless victims from burning buildings. He also mentioned that this tenacity wasn’t just expressed in the physical challenges of firefighting.
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Though academics didn’t necessarily come easy to him, patient teachers working with him in after-school study sessions proved extremely helpful, not only during high school but also later when he had to deal with entrance exams and promotional exams with the fire department. He went on to point out that those study habits and character traits were also “pivotal in achieving my college aspirations and realizing my goal of owning a business, Children’s Lighthouse Learning Center, a place that cares for and teaches children the same values that were taught to me.” Dan similarly indicated that WCS was an environment that encouraged academics and spiritual growth: “With the daily tragedy that firefighters experience, using rational thought balanced with a Christ-centered worldview helps me to deal with those events that cause me to shake my head and ask the inevitable questions of how and why did this occur.”
Finally, Chris added that the strong moral foundation at WCS put him in the best position to deal with the sensitive aspects of his job. Woodcrest Christian appreciates all that these public servants do for us and is proud of the part our firefighting alumni play both locally and beyond. We have been the beneficiaries of their efforts and pray for God’s protection of them as they serve in this way.
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Watch our 70 year timeline at wcss.org/videohistory. GENERATIONS 2018 | 17
There are some students who forever leave a mark on their high schools and Alex is one of those students. A true renaissance man, Alex indelibly left his mark on Woodcrest Christian. It was fun to watch Alex from his first days in middle school on the WCS campus, practicing hoops on the court before school, at lunch, and after school. That commitment and dedication paid off as he was a four-year starter on the Varsity basketball team. His amazing ball handling skills, unselfish passing, and character led the team to three League Championships and two CIF semi-final appearances. Along the way, Alex was selected All CIF for four years— the only WCS team sport athlete to be so recognized. In his senior year, Alex set the alltime school scoring record with a staggering 2,132 points. He was also a four-year Varsity Volleyball player and was both Team and League MVP for three years and led the VB team to the Quarter Finals in its first season competing in CIF. But Alex’s accomplishments and talents don’t stop there. An accomplished musician, Alex plays guitar, bass, piano, and drums and was a key member of the Worship Team. His humility, love for Christ, and genuine heart of service made an impression on staff and students every year. Alex will continue his basketball career after receiving a full-ride scholarship to California Baptist University. 18 | WOODCREST CHRISTIAN
To say Tesa Oaks is competitive is an understatement. Her accomplishments in the 2016-17 school year earned her the respect of not only her fellow athletes at school, but across the Ambassador League as well. During her career at Woodcrest Christian, Tesa earned five varsity letters (four in volleyball and one in swimming) and, according to long-time Athletic Director, Charlie Ricards, “established herself as the most outstanding volleyball player in WCS history.” During her tenure as a Royal, Tesa led her team to one CIF semi-final match and to the CIF Volleyball Finals twice. This past year, Tesa also led the Lady Royals to the third round of the State Championships. Along the way, she earned numerous recognitions including four-time All League honors, League MVP twice, named to the All CIF Team three times and was named 2nd Team All State, High School Game Time Player of the Year, and Max Preps All American Player of the Year. She was also honored as the Riverside County All Time “Kills” leader with a whopping total of 1,913. Knowing that college volleyball was in the future and needing to rehab some worn out knees, Tesa decided to join the swim team. Virtually every time she dove into the water, she set a new personal record. Her “senior only” high school swim career came to a close at the CIF Swim Finals where she finished second in the 50 yard freestyle and third in the 100 yard freestyle. Not a bad finish for someone who hadn’t swam competitively in five years! Through all of those accomplishments, Tesa displayed humility, respect, good sportsmanship and amazing poise. Character traits that will serve her well as she received a full-ride scholarship and committed to California Baptist University’s volleyball program. GENERATIONS 2018 | 19
Boys Cross Country earns their 27th consecutive league championship, and ties the current record among all high school sports in all divisions for the state of California. They also ran their way to the State Championships where they placed 16th.
Baseball completes a tremendous CIF Championship season in 2016, and moved up 3 division levels in CIF finishing as League Champions in the Ambassador League.
Swimming takes 3rd in league with two notable accomplishments: Matthias Scarano ‘18 sets the school record in the 200 and 500 freestyle events, and Tesa Oaks ’17 takes 2nd place in the 50 yard freestyle and 3rd in the 100 freestyle in the CIF Championship.
Mountain Biking wins the SoCal League Championship by just 11 points out of 9000 against Temescal Canyon! They clinch 11th place in the State Championships.
WCS SPORTS TEAMS INCLUDE: Boys Volleyball V, Girls Volleyball V/JV, Boys Cross Country V/JV, Girls Cross Country V, Baseball V/JV, Softball V, Girls Tennis V, Boys Basketball V/JV, Girls Basketball V/JV, Girls Soccer V, Boys Soccer V, Boys Flag Football V, Girls Cheer V
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Each spring, Woodcrest Christian High School has the opportunity to travel abroad and share the gospel to a world that needs Christ. In 2018, students will travel to Alaska and Belize where their faith will be tested and strengthened. Through ministering in different parts of the world and serving alongside Christian believers and missionaries, transformations happen that last well beyond the trip. Middle School students also experience the joy of serving every year with an annual trip to serve in a Spanish-speaking church, and with the Riverside and San Bernardino City Missions to pack their Thanksgiving and Christmas boxes for the Inland Empire. GENERATIONS 2018 | 21
Leadership in Action Focus: Medicine
Maggie Kozman knew she wanted to be a doctor from the start. As a member of the powerhouse Woodcrest Christian class of 2007, she completed her undergraduate work at UCLA and graduated from medical school at UC San Francisco. Along the way, however, she had numerous opportunities to make a difference in the lives of children and other students. She undertook global health research on severe anemia while in Uganda and completed an immersive medical Spanish course while in Ecuador. She also created an elective course on religious/spiritual diversity for health professional students realizing that many patients would ask their doctors about spirituality and to allow medical students to feel more comfortable sharing different faith-based views on medical issues. Maggie has also mentored high-risk high school students interested in health care and worked with national organizations to increase underrepresented ethnic groups in the field of medicine. Somewhere in the middle of her residency requirements in Combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, she is looking ahead to medical work abroad providing sustainable medical care in third world nations and researching the possibility of engaging in outpatient pediatric care in Tijuana. Maggie continues to invest in the lives of others and seeks to impact the world around her one person at a time. We are proud of the work she is doing and look forward to what the Lord will do in her life in the future. 22 | WOODCREST CHRISTIAN
WCS Alumni Leadership in Action “The secret things belong to the Lord our God but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever.” - Deuteronomy 29:29 For those who pursue God’s creation through exhaustive and comprehensive study, this promising verse evokes great passion and purpose. As a science teacher for the past 33 years, it has been my honor to help students see and enjoy the fascinating and marvelous intricacies of God’s formation of matter and energy. Such enthusiasm is prominent with many of my former students, as they continue to reveal His design of everything to the world through their fields of study. As educators and Christians, we are enormously proud of the following leaders in science for their diligence and wisdom in pursuing our Creator and His attributes through the study of what He made. - Julie Sullivan Department Chair, Science Woodcrest Christian High School
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WCS Alumni WCS Alumni Leadership in Action Leadership Focus: Science in Action Dr. John Butler ‘05
Focus: Science
John holds a Master’s degree in Engineering and PhD in Philosophy from University of California, Riverside. With a focus on Materials Science and Nanotechnology, John currently is an adjunct Professor at California Baptist University and has authored at least eight articles in multiple professional journals including the Journal of Applied Physics.
Dr. Sarah Chang ‘07
John Butler ‘05
Sarah holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering John holds from Case a Master’s Western Degree in Engineering and PhD in Philosophy Reserve University focusing on biomechanics from University and of California, Riverside. With a focus on Materials neurorehabilitation. She has been published Science at least and Nanotechnology, six times John currently is an adjunct Professor in the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation at California Baptist and other University and has published at least eight similar journals on restoring mobility in individuals articles in multiple with paralysis professional journals including the Journal of due to spinal cord injury. She is currently Applied Director Physics. of Research at Orthocare Innovations, LLC working on cutting-edge orthotics and prosthetics technology.
Dr. Sarah Chang ‘07
Dr. Ashlee King ‘07
Ashlee earned her Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry at UCLA Sarah holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineeringand from Case then herWestern Master’s degree in Chemistry at San Diego State Reserve University focusing on biomechanics and University. Working for a company called Lpath, Ashlee focused on neurorehabilitation. She has published at least six times in thedevelopment of various drugs to treat diseases the discovery and Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation and other similar and conditions such as traumatic brain injury, inflammatory related journals on restoring mobility in individuals diseases, with paralysis due to She currently works as a Development and cancer. spinal cord injury. She is currently Director Associate of Research at Orthocare for Quidel developing point of care rapid tests for a Innovations, LLC working on cutting-edge orthotics and prosthetics variety of medical conditions. She has been published in the Journal technology. of Lipid Research for work she has done in reducing inflammation in the body.
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Dr. Sarah Logsdon ‘07 Sarah holds a PhD in Astronomy from the University of California, Los Angeles specializing in brown dwarfs and astronomical instrumentation. She is currently a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Sarah has contributed to at least eight different published papers in the Astrophysical Journal and other similar journals focused on brown dwarfs, planets, and a supernova. During graduate school, she worked with a near-infrared camera and spectrograph for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA).
Kyle Matthews ‘07 Kyle holds a Masters of Science from Georgia Tech and is currently working on a Masters of Engineering. He currently works for Lockheed Martin as a Software/Simulation Engineer having previously worked at Boeing in their space division. Kyle has had two publications dealing with flight mechanics involving spacecraft published including publication in the Journal of Technology and Science Education.
Zachary Sailer ‘09 Defending his PhD this summer in the field of Physical Chemistry, Zach researches at the University of Oregon and has been published several times including in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Genetics. His research focuses on the long term historical changes in proteins and bacteria and their impact on modern antibiotics and medical treatments.
Samantha Byers ‘14 Samantha is currently an undergraduate student in biochemistry at the University of California, Riverside. She has several publications dealing with molecular level proteins published in Soft Matter and Chemical Science.
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One of the exciting things about art is the variety of new media in which it can be studied, expressed, and shared. For WCS junior, Madeleine Chaffin, YouTube has been the outlet for creating and entertaining others with her art. On her channel, Frontier Hero, Madeleine uploads animations and music tracks she’s created. She also posts speed paints—short 10 minute videos recording her painting process for others to learn from. Madeleine describes herself as ‘a young Christian animator who loves to draw, write music, and animate!’ She also says that she wants others to see the Lord through her work. “People ask why I don’t create this or that, and that’s an opportunity for me to tell them I’m a Christian.” 26 | WOODCREST CHRISTIAN
Whether in a concert, on the stage, or on a canvas, Woodcrest Christian students are utilizing their gifts of music and art in the classroom, on campus and in our community. In December, our High School and Middle School bands, Elementary School band, and WCS choirs took the stage together in an unforgettable Christmas performance that wowed one of the largest audiences ever with more than 900 people in attendance. On stage, the WCS Drama Department brought audiences to tears in their moving performance of the story of Helen Keller with veteran high school performers, an 8th grader in the leading role, and elementary students as blind children. In the spring, a cast of more than 60 students will bring to life Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Broadway musical. See more at wcss.org/arts.
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