WOODCREST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
GENERATIONS Magazine
2020
CO N T E N T S YEAR: 2020
REGULARS 04
ELEMENTARY CAMPUS LIFE
06
MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS LIFE
08
HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS LIFE
10
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
16
EVENTS CALENDAR
24
MIDDLEFEST CLASSES
PACK YOUR BAGS FOR LEARNING Travel experiences that supersede what students can learn from a lesson or book.
THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM Dedicated men impact hearts on the WCS Cross Country team.
14
20
BIBLICALLYMINDED CULTURE MAKERS
WHEN FAITH AND CULTURE COLLIDE
Helping students dive into digital creativity as Christians.
Equipping kids to live in this cultural moment with Gospel ambition.
24
28
ON THE COVER A glimpse of life at Woodcrest Christian as freshman Brianne Burgess and fellow classmates prepare for class on the first day of the 2019/2020 school year.
WOODCREST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL SYSTEM Transitional Kindergarten through 12th Grade 18401 Van Buren Blvd. | Riverside, California | 92508 (951) 780-2010 | wcss.org Glorify God by Pursuing Excellence in Christ-centered Academics
From the Superintendent Learning and Living The best educational environment can be summed up as Learning and Living. Preparing students to interact with various cultures, become adept at new technologies, and grow in a desire to give back to others is a necessary complement to strong academics. The learning environment is not limited to the classroom but truly encompasses the myriad of activities that students can participate in at each of our campuses. As you read through the stories in this issue, it’s hard not to notice that Woodcrest Christian students are not passively engaged in their education, they are doers! Each year, our students and staff work together to meet all of these goals and ground them in the Truth of Scripture. I am proud of our staff who work diligently to help instill in our students these values and goals and just as proud of our students who exemplify them day in and day out at school and out in the community. Enjoy this year’s issue of Generations and see what makes our students thrive!
JIM SULLIVAN Woodcrest Christian School System Superintendent
Follow us on social media: @woodcrestchristiandayschool
@woodcrestchristianms
@woodcrestchristianhs
ELEMENTARY CAMPUS LIFE 100 MILE CLUB
go-getter
Can you run 100 miles in one school year? Many WCDS students take on this challenge in the 100 Mile Club, but fourth grader Karlee Barberie has beat that goal every year since she was in first grade. In fact, she holds the record at WCDS for most accumulated miles run with a whopping 967 miles in the last three years. She has already racked up 307 miles since September 2019 and continues to run 4-5 times per week. “She averages about 7-8 miles per day, sometimes up to 30 miles on the weekends,” says her mom Kristine. “She runs at all the school sponsored events, and we run together at a lot of other 100 Mile Club events. She amazes me. She never complains and just wants to keep running.” When asked why she loves to run, Karlee humbly says, “I just want to motivate other kids to reach their goals.”
FUN RUN WITH FIREFIGHTERS Several local firefighters, many of them Woodcrest Christian Day School parents and grandparents, came out to help kick off our fifth year of participation in the 100 Mile Club. Over 275 students ran with our heroes through a balloon arch and bubbles.
Students and teachers
alike enjoyed this fun run and inspired and challenged all of us to stay fit and do our best. New goals were set for the year, and our first graders were very enthusiastic for their first ever run. It has been inspiring to see these runners push themselves to stay fit and healthy and encourage each other to keep going. 04 | ELEMENTARY CAMPUS LIFE
SAY YES TO WAITING FOR THE SMARTPHONE Recent studies agree that children under the age of 13 are not yet prepared for the risks and responsibilities of a cell phone, especially a smartphone. Even the tech giants are not allowing their children to have a personal device until they are a teenager and even then, most are opting for phones that don’t have access to the Internet. The following article may encourage you to stand with other parents and “wait til 8th,” a nationwide rally to wait until at least eighth grade before children are allowed to have a smartphone. www.waituntil8th.org/why-wait
practicing a lost art
ROBOTIC CODING IN KINDERGARTEN Could it be that a tech device for kids exists that doesn’t require screen time from PCs, tablets, or smartphones? How about a device that is not only fun to play with, but also teaches the fundamentals of robotics and coding? This hands-on gadget that introduces engineering and design concepts is precisely what excited kindergarten teachers Miss Davis and Mrs. McCoy. Thanks to an in-house grant opportunity provided through Woodcrest Christian, our kindergarten duo was successfully awarded the funds to purchase two Kibo Robot Kits that would enhance learning in the classroom. “Using barcoded blocks, students can create a multitude of codes that will make the robot spin, respond to sound and light, walk designated distances or
paths, draw with a marker, and more,” says Miss Davis. “What I love most is that it doesn’t require a screen and they are so engaged,” she says. “We can use it across all curriculum in art, social studies, and math. There are just so many possibilities.” While kindergarteners may not realize they are ‘coding,’ Miss Davis says, “They are learning the basics of the engineering process of how to plan, implement, collaborate, execute, and analyze. This is part of their future, and their understanding will develop more and more.” Right now, she and Mrs. McCoy are excited to bring Kibo to life with the kids. “I think we’ll have them program him to walk around Jericho seven times and we’ll make the walls fall down afterwards,” she says smiling.
When WCDS art teacher Miss Faulkner read in a recent news article that aspiring surgeons were “all thumbs”—they could pass intense medical written exams, but were failing surgical procedure tests because they lacked dexterity (which the article attributed to thumb-typing on their phones or playing video games as their primary experience working with their hands), she wanted to come up with an art project that encouraged three-dimensional thinking. What could be better than learning to thread a needle and sew. “Making a simple half cross stitch, practicing hand-eye coordination and learning to follow a pattern has been trickier for students than I thought it would,” she says, “but their response has been great. They’ve caught me in the halls asking if they can come in and do more sewing.” ELEMENTARY CAMPUS LIFE | 05
MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS LIFE FASTER THAN FAST Now you see him…and now you don’t! Whether it’s running 5k’s or one mile races in and around Riverside, 7th grader Eyan Turk is always on the move. Already finishing in the top 7 in our region, Eyan recently became an All American Athlete with his 4th place finish at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) finals. He recently ran at the AAU Junior Olympics that took place in Knoxville, TN in December 2019. His current personal record for the two-mile race is 10 minutes and 3 seconds, which makes him #1 in the nation! Eyan says, “[Running is] the gift that God gave me and I love the gift He gave me. So, I want to nourish it and use it to the best of my abilities and honor Him. Anything less than the best is to sacrifice the gift.” Eyan has big plans for the future, including conquering the Junior Olympics and then, one day, the Olympics. He says he wants nothing more than to “give God the glory.”
MANY BOOKS BUT ONLY ONE STORY What is the big story of the Bible? What does the Old Testament have to do with Christmastime? Ask a 7th grader, and they might whip out a laptop to give you the full scoop. These students take an Old Testament Survey course for Bible Homeroom. A central critical thinking piece of the course culminates at the end of the first semester right before Christmas. Students create a Google Slides presentation that synthesizes their knowledge of the Old Testament timeline and shows how all of the books of the Bible make up one big story. Students design their presentation and assemble information and imagery to effectively communicate their ideas. They receive ongoing feedback from their teachers and also collaborate with peers on content accuracy and presentation methods. This allows them to become more comfortable with making productive learning mistakes and helps to develop a growth mindset. The presentation is ultimately intended to be shared with friends and family at home for the holidays. The story presentation ends on the importance of Christ’s life, the New Covenant, reflections on the student’s understanding of salvation, and an invitation to accept the Gospel. It is incredible to see our young Bible scholars make real-world applications with their understanding of God’s Word and impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ.
06 | MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS LIFE
OFF SHE GOES! What do you get when you mix a godly woman and a love of writing? You get Mrs. Breed! This year Mrs. Breed announced her retirement after 23 years of teaching. Throughout her time at WCS, she taught students, year after year, how to write well and think critically. In collaboration with Mrs. Figueroa, she established an amazing writing program for all of our students. Her impact and love for WCS and her students never went unnoticed and she will be missed in the years to come.
2.
1.
CLUB LIFE Have you ever heard the saying, “Join the club”? Well this year, WCMS students did just that! As of this year, students have ten different clubs to pick from Mountain Biking to Board Games. Each of the clubs serve their own purpose with the ultimate goal of providing a glimpse into the world God has created for us to enjoy. Twice a month at lunchtime, boys and girls Bible studies are offered for students to stop and take time to read God’s Word. Meanwhile, the Yearbook Club strives to teach students about design and photography as they work on the MS yearbook together. Middle schoolers also have the chance to study for upcoming tests or quizzes in Study Club! Finally, to encourage respect and kindness, the Debate Club ensures that students are able to effectively discuss important and relevant topics in a Christlike manner.
3.
4. 1. Photography Club. 2. Worship Team. 3. Board Game Club 4. Creative Writing Club
SEEING DOUBLE...X4 No, you don’t need to schedule an eye exam—there really are four sets of twins in our middle school this year! The Gfeller and Viene twins are currently in 7th grade, while the Onyedika and Poptelecan twins are in 8th grade. But, that’s not the only interesting thing about this year. We also have an unusually high number of sibling sets. While most families have kids at least two or more years apart, there are 17 sibling sets (totaling 34 students) out of 220 total middle school students. So, next time you’re on campus, see if you can spot a set of siblings! MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS LIFE | 07
HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS LIFE
A BIG SPLASH Seniors Ella Whitehouse, Elyssa Smith, and Klaudia Blaszczyk, and alumnus Madeleine Chaffin, are winners of the “Splash Into Cash” annual bottled water label art contest sponsored by Riverside Public Utilities (RPU). Keep an eye out for their artwork on 15,000 RPU water bottles this year!
funding futures This September we hosted the second annual Royals Legacy Gala Financial Aid Fundraiser. Celebrating over 70 years of WCS history, alumni Krissy DiNicola (’10) and Alfredo Ramos (‘04), along with former parent, Alvin Davis, shared what WCS has meant in their lives and their children’s lives. Together, $60,000 was raised for the Royals Financial Aid Fund!
NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALIST
THEATER: “BAH! HUMBUG!”
The Drama Department has done it again in their outstanding performances of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. Family and friends enjoyed the story of the mean-spirited Ebenezer Scrooge (played by junior Garrett Haun) as he was visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. As one of the largest Fall season productions in WCS history, the cast and crew totaled 47 students ranging from grades 3-12. While many were returning to the stage, there were 17 students performing in a school drama for the first time.
A few outstanding debuts came from senior Silas Sheffer (Scrooge’s nephew, Fred), senior Matthew Stoffel (Mr. Fezziwig), and bright-eyed 3rd grader Aiden Kelley (Tiny Tim). Their remarkable performances were heartwarming and enlivening as they captured the heart of audience members. Mrs. Bickett also praises Garrett’s (Scrooge’s) performance saying, “He was in every single scene, never got a break, and he had an incredible amount of lines to memorize. Plus, he had to completely change character midway when Scrooge’s transformation took place. His ability to be a new and different Scrooge was incredible.”
“This is an unusually high number of first-timers,” says WCS Drama Director, Teresa Bickett. “They did an amazing job,” she says.
Be sure to witness the magic as the Royals Pavilion transforms into an underwater grotto for the Spring play, The Little Mermaid, coming March 2020.
08 | HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS LIFE
WCHS senior, Ella Whitehouse, has been chosen to be one of 16,000 semifinalists from 1.5 million applicants in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program! She is on track to earn one of the 7,600 scholarships worth more than $31 million.
PLAY BALL!
On November 13, we celebrated three outstanding WCS athletes as they signed their National Letters of Intent! Ryleigh Carricaburu committed to play softball for University of Michigan (NCAA DI), Ashley Williams signed on to play soccer for Northwest Missouri State University (NCAA DII), and Brandi Meyer committed to play soccer for The Master’s University (NAIA). They have worked incredibly hard to achieve this goal while still excelling in the classroom!
GET THRIFTY WITH IT Out with the old and… in with it too? In case you haven’t heard, thrifting is officially ‘in’. WCS senior, Taylor
Huskey,
founded
“Thrift Cycle” to show her fellow Royals that shopping and up-cycling are not only fun, but good for the environment too! The new club hopes to encourage stewardship, creativity, and generosity.
making a royal sound New to the Woodcrest Christian Band program in early 2019, the Royals Sound show band has been making a joyful noise and getting audiences on their feet at multiple performances throughout the year! Band Director, Ken Rasner says, “I want students to learn and feel different styles of music. Royals Sound gives us the opportunity to play a variety of types of music from jazz and rock to big band and everything in between.” The high school students must audition to get into Royals Sound; currently 28 students perform using an array of instruments including trumpets, trombones, french horns, timpani, saxophones, drums, bass guitar, and multiple percussion. What makes Royals Sound not only fun to listen to, but also fun to watch,
is the creative movements they add to their performances. Watching trumpet players raise and lower their instruments in sync as they’re playing, and seeing other members of the band sit, stand, and move across the stage adds an element of surprise and fun to each performance.
popular Christian songs unique for our band. We played it at The Grove in front of nearly 5,000 people. When we finished with How Great Is Our God, I had tons of people coming up to me, with tears in their eyes, thanking me for that touching song. It is a very powerful, moving song,” says Ken.
While most of the Royals Sound music is upbeat and energetic, there is one particular song they perform that has been especially moving. “We were asked to perform at The Grove Community Church,” says Ken, “and I realized how special it is that we are a local high school that can play Christian music. Other schools around here can’t do that. So I asked a friend who is a nationally-recognized composer and arranger to write us a medley of
Royals Sound band has three goals: 1) to honor God, 2) to have fun, and 3) to entertain the audience in such a way that they remember, long after the last note ends, how the music made them feel. “Our joy is seeing these wonderful young people share the gift of their talent in an amazing way, for the purpose of honoring God. That will impact them for the rest of their lives.” HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS LIFE | 09
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Mia Helman’s passion for language and the Spanish culture creates a class that’s both challenging and eye-opening.
MIA HELMAN WAS 13 YEARS OLD when her family
of the people. It was home. But the Lord had a
moved to a foreign country. “I was starting a
plan for me, He always does. And looking back, I
new school in a foreign land, and I had no skill
can see His work and His grace woven through
speaking the language,” she says. “And there
every part of my life.”
I was, walking into middle school in Beverly
Mia credits an amazing ESL teacher she had
Hills, California, and I couldn’t speak a word of
during her first few years in the United States.
English.”
“I can still remember her name, Mrs. Rosenthal,”
Mia grew up 1,500 miles south in Guadalajara, Mexico. “My grandfather was the U.S.
she says fondly. After graduating high school, Mia’s
Ambassador to Mexico, and so he moved our
connectedness to the local culture grew, and
family from Michigan to Mexico because of his
she had the opportunity to work with the
work,” Mia explains. “I was born and raised in
San Marcos Unified School District migrant
Mexico, and I loved the culture and the warmth
education department. She began teaching there
10 | FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
PHOTO: Âť In class with one of her sophomore students, Luca Atencio, Mia says part of her ministry as a Spanish teacher is getting to know the students and showing them how much she cares for them.
in the summers exposing her to the Hispanic
One of Mia’s goals for her students is to help
population in Southern California. “I saw a need
them become culturally and globally aware.
for helping to bridge the gap for them from
She wants them to be able to access another
Spanish to English and it ignited a passion in my
culture outside of themselves. “I love that we
heart. I wanted to teach them not only English,
are a mission-minded school here at Woodcrest
but to also teach them cultural norms and about
Christian,” she says. “Sending kids out to Belize and
different people groups, and ultimately share the
other areas of the world is great because learning
Gospel with them,” she recalls.
Spanish is more than grammar and context.
Fast-forward to today and Mia has remained
Language allows crossover of cultures and it helps
in the United States, has been married for 26
students build their confidence to share God’s
years, and has raised four amazing daughters. “I
truth.”
really see a lot of parallels in my life as God was
Looking back at her last nine years of teaching
preparing me for my ministry,” she says. Mia’s
Mia says, “Speaking Spanish and teaching Spanish,
oldest daughter is adopted from Russia and came
it’s just part of who I am. What I want most is to do
to the United States when she was 12 years old.
His will and give Him the glory and for students
“She didn’t know any English and she barely had
to know there are limitless opportunities here in
a first grade education,” Mia says. Heeding God’s
Southern California to share the Word…in English
call to homeschool, Mia provided a solid Christian
or Spanish.”
education for each of her children, which the Lord used to prepare her for going back into the classroom.
PHOTO: » Mia immerses students in language in her Spanish 3 class by speaking only Spanish to them during 80% of the class period.
PHOTO: » The Helman family with Mia and husband, David and daughters Katya, Becky, Leah, and Grace.
PHOTOS: » A young Mia growing up in Guadalajara, Mexico.
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT | 13
PACK YOUR BAGS FOR LEARNING MRS. JAMIE FIRETAG WCMS BIBLE & GEOGRAPHY TEACHER
some say planning for a trip is half the fun. I have to admit that I agree. I love the hunt for the obscure, authentic tips that can take a trip from a “been there” check to truly life-changing. Perhaps it’s the push of we’ll-probably-only-ever-behere-once-and-I-don’t-want-to-miss-a-thing realization that causes me to fill every moment with planned experiences while abroad. I also have grown to understand the potential for travel to create dynamic learning experiences for my own kids that supersede anything they could learn from a lesson or a book. When my family embarked upon the Scottish Highlands, we had envisioned a trip full of castle touring, haggis sampling, and Loch Ness Monster gazing. The trip did not disappoint (although ol’ Nessie remained elusive). The castles were grand, the haggis better than anticipated, and the region itself was utterly magical. Scotland got into our hearts.
14 | PACK YOUR BAGS
Sitting in silence staring at the beauty of the otherworldly hills of green, speaking with proud Scots about their land, even being scared to death and then brought to tears laughing by the sudden appearance of an ornery goat—these combined minutes have changed us. Just as expected, our reading and research were like a black and white photo compared to the technicolor reality. When Woodcrest Christian students travel for learning, they cannot help but return changed. Ask any 8th grader who has huddled inside a pup tent on the frozen ground in Yorktown, Virginia to describe to you the conditions for soldiers during the Revolutionary War and you will see their face alight with eagerness to share. They haven’t just read. They haven’t just studied. They
attempt to comprehend the incomprehensible number
have experienced. On the same trip, they read aloud
of crosses in rows at Arlington National Cemetery. Our
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream Speech”
8th graders embark on this trip as students of history, but
from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. They watch the
return with a truer personalized understanding of what our
flag raised at Fort McHenry and sing the “Star Spangled
freedom has cost. Their travel has forever enriched their
Banner” now able to envision the “bombs bursting in air”
knowledge.
over those stars and stripes. They feel the weight of a
The same can be said of any student who has traveled
musket shot in their hand. They hear echoes of Lincoln’s
on a Woodcrest Christian Mission Trip. Whether within
sadness on a hillside in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. They
California in middle school or as a high school student Continued on page 18...
PHOTOS: » High school students grin and bear the cold on a mission trip to Port Alsworth, Alaska. » (Above) The Firetag family visits otherworldly castles and landscapes on a recent family vacation to Scotland.
APRIL 8, 2020 Easter Choir Concert @ East Hills Community Church wcss.org/easterconcert
EVENTS CALENDAR PLAN TO JOIN US AT THESE UPCOMING EVENTS
FEBRUARY 7, 2020 Prospective Family Dinner & Tour wcss.org/tour
JANUARY 25, 2020 Homecoming & Reunion Weekend wcss.org/homecoming
FEBRUARY 1, 2020 Missions Banquet wcss.org/missions 16 | EVENTS CALENDAR
MARCH 6,7, 12-14, 2020 Spring Play: The Little Mermaid wcss.org/littlemermaid
MAY 16, 2020 APRIL 24, 2020 Woodcrest Christian Day School Band & Choir Concert
Choir Concert in the Park wcss.org/concertinthepark
wcss.org/elementary/concert
MAY 1, 2020 Woodcrest Christian Day School Open House wcss.org/elementary/openhouse
MAY 9, 2020 Band Spring Benefit Concert
MARCH 17, 2020
wcss.org/springconcert
Band Masters Concert @ Sandals Church Woodcrest
MAY 28, 2020 High School Graduation @ The Grove Community Church
wcss.org/mastersconcert
wcss.org/high-school/graduation
MARCH 20-28, 2020 Spring Missions Trip to Alaska and Belize wcss.org/missions
MAY 28, 2020
abroad to Belize, Alaska, Peru, or Costa Rica, every student has returned with more than a stamped passport. The trip has left a permanent impression upon their hearts as well. Often in travel—and most definitely in mission trips—the most profound experiences are often the unplanned. The detours. The hidden variables that redirect the day. These unplanned experiences are clearly part of God’s divine plan and evidence of His sovereignty. PHOTO: » WCMS students serve Primera Iglesia Bautista Church during a mission trip to Calexico, CA.
Every year after our high school mission teams return from their trips, our student body shares a Mission Trip Chapel where each group reports. The repeated themes quickly emerge as team after team shares. I fell in love with the people. God’s church is so much bigger than just here. I will never forget. I will never be the same.
TIPS FOR FAMILY TRAVEL
“Travel has an unbelievable way of taking a vivid imagination and showing it dull by comparison to the even-better reality.”
Plan together – Ask the kids what they want to see during a visit. Read / Listen to novels set in the location you plan to visit before the trip. Bring along a new album or playlist unique to this trip–these songs will spur memories for years to come. Attend a worship service – This opens your kids’ eyes to the global church and also teaches them to attend church no matter where life takes them. Plan downtime – Intentionally leave a few hours or even a day empty to allow room for new discoveries or sometimes just to take a nap. Embrace the unexpected – Laugh in the middle of the travel mess (they are inevitable!) for these are some of the best memories. Eat the thing! Whatever it is in each culture! Gelato, haggis, pierogi, curried goat?! Yes, please! Shoot a quick video of each kid at the end of the day sharing their highlight of the day.
Add to the National Heritage trip to D.C., the annual mission trips, the recent Choir trips to New York and Boston, Band trips to Hawaii and the Grand Canyon, and the summer Europe trip, and there is no doubt our students are graduating with minds that know, but also eyes that have seen and hearts that understand. Perhaps the greatest lesson of travel is one of perspective. When beginning a trip often the world appears huge. Hundreds of countries, thousands of cultures, billions of people. However, the more one travels you see the commonalities every culture shares. A mother preparing food for her family, commuters on the way to work, kids celebrating a goal in a heated match, neighbors chatting, grandparents walking and holding hands. These scenes are repeated every day, every where between similar sunrises and sunsets. So many people. So many needs. So many victories. So many hurts. And the Lord sees every. single. one. When the trip is over and the luggage returned to its shelf, the greatest lesson that travel impresses is that as big as the world may be, our God is so much bigger still.
18 | PACK YOUR BAGS
PHOTO: » High school mission trips, such as this 2019 Belize trip, allow students to share God’s love and to encounter Christ in unique ways that further develops their own spiritual growth.
PHOTO: » The closeness of a canon makes the realities of the Civil War more real for WCMS students on the annual National Heritage trip to Washington D.C.
THE TEAM behind the team
To know the heart of Woodcrest Christian’s Cross Country
athletes, you’ve got to meet the coaching team behind them. you can measure the success of an athletic
the Royals Cross Country teams. Together they
program in many ways—wins and losses,
have 60 years of coaching WCS Cross Country
championships, records broken. However,
with three of them having coached for over 15
in order to accurately assess the success of a
years. Each of them are in very different lines
program, you have to know what its goals are.
of work including a retired Motorola Strategic
Perhaps no other incident reflects the goals
Business Manager who now coaches multiple
of the Woodcrest Christian Cross Country
school-to-career programs, a sports park
team and the school’s athletic program as a
manager, a Caltrans worker, and an associate
whole as the CIF Finals in November of 2012.
pastor and music director. But what makes
On that morning, the team learned that a
these men, all of whom have had children
student from another competing school had
in the Cross Country program, stay on years
died earlier that week. This was a competitor. A
beyond their sons’ or daughters’ graduation?
challenger to making the cut to attend the state
Each of them have a different story; for Steve
championships. A team that was hurting. If you
and James, they helped when their own student
had been there that morning, you would have
was in the program and they stuck around. For
seen a hurting team surrounded by students in
Ben Nunnally, his son Grant was on the team
purple and gold praying for them.
when he was killed in a car accident his junior
That’s the heart and truest measure of
year. Ben’s time with Cross Country is both
success. There is nothing wrong with working
giving back and personal therapy. For head
hard and winning. But when you measure
coach Eric Reynolds, he ran under legendary
success by hearts that have been changed by
Billy York in the 1980s and has returned to take
Christ, by students who have found a place
over the program. We sat down with them and
to belong, and by a program that is just as
dug deep into why they stay and what their
well known for its championship success as
goals are for our athletes.
its heart success, then you have a glimpse of what Woodcrest Christian Cross Country is all
What do you love about coaching?
about. Such a program doesn’t just happen. It
Listen to these men and you can’t help but
begins with coaching and takes commitment,
note the raw excitement that fills their voices
perseverance, and passion.
as they talk about Cross Country. In answering
Eric Reynolds, Ben Nunnally, Steve Voges, and James Flores make up the coaching staff for 20 | CROSS COUNTRY
why they keep doing it, two answers are clear: it’s a blessing to each of them to be able to share
PHOTO: » The WCS Cross Country team has won 30 consecutive league championships since 1990.
“We want students to be an example to the fellow believer and unbeliever.” ~ steve voges, wcs cross country coach
PHOTO (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT): » Together, Steve Voges, Eric Reynolds, James Flores, and Ben Nunnally have 60 years of coaching WCS Cross Country. the truth of Christ to each of the students and they
many Cross Country championships, the first trip
get energized working with students every day. As
and first victory is the most memorable. During my
James Flores said, “I truly get a joyous satisfaction
first year coaching with Billy [York], we went to the
when I see these kids awakening to the things
State Championships for the first time and came in
of God that we share.” That is the heart of the
fourth place, then to return the next year and finish
coaching staff. Sharing the truth of Scripture every
in first place (which was finally given to us after one
day with these students, our coaches help them
of the opposing teams protested the results). It was a
see that running is fun and valuable in lifelong
cold and rainy day. We were all soaked and muddy.
health, but also understand the power of Christ to guide them through life’s journeys is much more
James: There are many, but I believe when I’ve seen
important.
a runner fall down from sheer exhaustion after [crossing] the finish line because that’s how I believe
What has been the most memorable moment
we should run the race for our Lord.
you’ve experienced as a Cross Country coach? Ben: Being part of the first State Championship team Steve: Although we’ve had the privilege to go to
22 | CROSS COUNTRY
along with each of the winning State Championships.
Eric: The first year I took over as head coach I
implemented a policy for our teams to each pray together with an individual from a competing team before the races. The impact on athletes, coaches, and spectators was incredible. One of the areas where Cross Country stands out from many sports at Woodcrest Christian is in the close-knit nature of the teams. The word “family” has been used for decades. If you ask the coaches what makes the team so unique, you’ll hear about how cross country runners race as both individuals and as teammates as it takes five runners to qualify with a team score but you can also achieve individually. You’ll hear how each athlete runs the same distance, on the same course, in the same conditions and that such conditions create a unique bond of camaraderie that is not easily broken. What you won’t hear from the coaches is how each of them pour into the students spiritually day in and day out as they practice. They won’t tell you that they have created a team where parents
CROSS COUNTRY ACCOMPLISHMENTS As you enter the Royals Pavilion, what you immediately notice is purple and gold. Along the walls hang banner after banner representing athletic league championships in each sport. There are larger banners that represent CIF championships for Baseball, Swimming, Softball, and Cross Country. Then there are the gold banners...huge 14ft banners cascading from each corner of the building, standing out in their size and color, representing State Championships. There is only one sport at Woodcrest Christian to have earned a State Championship—Cross Country. There have been other Cross Country accomplishments such as the five times the school won the prestigious Mt. Sac Invitational (enough to earn former coach Billy York a spot in the Mt. Sac Hall of Fame), and this year’s California record of most consecutive league championships by any sport in any athletic division (30), but it’s the gold State Championship banners that stand out. They stand out because each of them represents a level of commitment unknown by most teams but shared by a small group of students over the years who have been blessed to achieve such a victory. It’s not easy making it to the winners’ podium at Woodward Park in Fresno, California, but it is worth the effort.
are welcome and encouraged to join the “fun” from the team dinner the night before each race to helping during the races. They won’t tell you about the many alumni runners who speak of the powerful impact the coaches had on their life while running cross country. You won’t hear about that because that’s not what they are about. Woodcrest Christian is blessed to have four men who faithfully serve the Lord with a passion and commitment to making Christ known to each of our Cross Country athletes and to helping them learn how to make Him known to others. While good race mechanics are taught every day, it is the long term learning of living for Christ which is at the heart of the coaching staff. Head coach Eric Reynolds says it best, “The greatest thing I believe we teach them is that God has given them so much, and every day is an opportunity to use the gifts He has given them.”
30
CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS
(BOYS CONSECUTIVE WINS SINCE 1990)
9
MT. SAC INVITATIONAL PODIUM APPEARANCES (BOYS & GIRLS SINCE 2004)
8
CROSS COUNTRY CIF CHAMPIONSHIPS
(BOYS & GIRLS SINCE 2001)
9
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PODIUM APPEARANCES (BOYS & GIRLS SINCE 2001)
PHOTO: » WCMS students design a video game as part of the Media MashUp class.
BIBLICALLY-MINDED CULTURE MAKERS How a MiddleFest elective class is helping students discover their potential to dive into digital creativity as Christians.
MRS. ALICIA QUAN WCMS BIBLE & SCIENCE TEACHER
24 | MIDDLEFEST
THE FIRST IPHONE WAS RELEASED weeks after my
in these areas, while also maintaining an appropriate
high school graduation in 2007. After my years at
caution and wisdom.
Woodcrest Christian High School had concluded, I
I was given the opportunity to explore this more
remember some of my college classmates beginning
through developing an elective class called Media
to show up with iPhones while flip phones like
MashUp. For middle school students, the fourth
mine were still common. Nobody knew how iconic
quarter is an opportunity to mix things up as their
the iPhone would be or how it would revolutionize communication, consumption, and creative expression. Eventually, I started using my share of smartphones and quickly realized that using them wisely would not be a given. This would take some major intentionality. Eight years later, I returned to WCMS as a 7th grade teacher. So much about Woodcrest Christian was just
“The course contrasts mindless consumption with thoughtful critique; shallow copying with dynamic creating.�
as I remembered it, yet we now lived within a world where few areas of life had been left untouched by
homeroom class turns into a new elective course that
the smartphone era. I became intrigued and soon was
culminates in a showcase festival at the end of the
concerned over how middle school students were
year. Media MashUp encourages students to use their
using their phones. This year, I am teaching my fifth
awareness of digital technology and pop culture to
class of students who were barely born when the
build cultural artifacts that have a positive influence
iPhone was released. As true digital natives, adults
on our world.
using smartphones is all they know. For some, they
The course contrasts mindless consumption with
are beginning pre-adolescence with a device and
thoughtful critique; shallow copying with dynamic
will likely maintain some kind of relationship with a
creating. We spend time analyzing what and how
mobile device into adulthood and the unforeseeable
we consume media and then move forward to
future.
developing x-ray questions that can dissect our
Nowadays, the cautionary content on pre-teens
own hearts and consciences. We travel through the
and phones are plentiful. Those who are taking
topics of video games, movies, TV and YouTube,
care of young people are asking similar questions
music, social media, photography, and coding while
about screen consumption and social media, but
practicing Biblical critique of these forms and how
the questions that have really captured my steady
we use them.
attention fall right within the intersection of its
Meanwhile, students are also working together to
pros and cons. I watch my peers use the tools of our
create a media project that allows them to move past
digital age to develop careers, make positive social
consumption and copying and dive into creativity
influence, and create amazing content. I observe in
as Christians. One of the foundational sources in
wonder at how the world surrounding my secondary
developing this course is Culture Making: Recovering
education drastically changed by the time I reached
Our Creative Calling by Andy Crouch. He argues that
the workforce. When I became a teacher, I wondered
culture can only be changed by making new culture.
whether there was a sweet spot for developing
My hope is that Media MashUp can foster Biblically-
Biblical digital citizenship in our teenagers, inspiring
minded culture makers who are developing skills for
them to become skillful and creative problem solvers
their time. So far, we have had a blast building games, MIDDLEFEST | 25
designing websites, writing about films and video game plots, shooting films and newsreels, recording music, and setting up photo essays. So often, students hear the negative results that come from digital technology, which can cut off communication on the topic overall. Maybe it is my age or the fact that I grew up in the Woodcrest Christian School System, but I really empathize with students who express their enjoyment of technology. Their future workforce contains jobs that do not even exist yet because technology is changing so rapidly. As a Christian school, I believe we are in a unique position to encourage digital skill-building while we cultivate the heart and mind behind the screen.
PHOTO: Âť Producing a middle school news show gives students a chance to learn about potential careers and technology.
26 | MIDDLEFEST
PHOTO: Âť Media MashUp students release their video game for other students to play during MiddleFest.
MIDDLEFESTCLASSES What is MiddleFest? MiddleFest is the quarter-long elective class offerings for the fourth quarter in Middle School. These engaging courses provide new hands-on, interactive learning opportunities while still using applied Biblical principles. More courses are set to be announced in early 2020!
MEDIA MASHUP
OPEN MIC
STEALING FREEDOM
PAYDAY
Focuses on the influence of technology and popular culture on young Christians. Students learn to think critically about social media/phones, video games, magazines, music/YouTube, coding, movies/TV/comics/Pop Lit, and entertainment icons.
Based on the dramatic journey of Ann Maria Weems on the “Underground Railroad,” students learn about the extreme hardships and injustices of slavery in the United States. Students also examine slavery in the world today, and how we, as Christians, can respond.
Students learn how to write a script and craft their own original narratives to captivate an audience, engage in improv games and activities that will build collaboration, stretch the imagination, and improve confidence.
Students create, manage, and earn money from their own unique startup businesses, study entrepreneurship and budgeting, all while learning the importance of stewardship.
MISSION POSSIBLE!
A study of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His global mission for the world. Students study missionaries from times past, learn major world religions, examine local and international missions projects, hear from missionaries, as well as learn about what God is doing through global missions today.
PHOTO: » PAYDAY team, NAJA Merch, earned enough money to purchase a cow for Hope Children’s Home in Uganda.
WHEN FAITH and CULTURE COLLIDE How to equip our kids to live in this cultural moment with Gospel ambition.
MR. MATT MESSNER WCHS BIBLE TEACHER
modern christian students face a myriad
The dominant voices of the West have infiltrated
of challenges to their faith. The Christian
the church and Christian education in such a
worldview has received assault from various
fashion as to confuse the minds of Christian
directions in the modern era leaving the
students regarding the legitimacy of their
Christian student adrift on the sea of culture.
Biblical worldview. These realities likewise leave
28 | EVENTS CALENDAR
parents searching for answers as to how to train
in this cultural context. Our goal is for students to
their students to resist cultural vices and pursue
exit our campus thoroughly convinced that the
cultural impact. This is precisely the goal we are
Scriptures are to shape, inform, and dictate the way
trying to accomplish here at school.
in which they live in every arena of their lives.
Woodcrest Christian aims to train students
In the midst of a culture where truth, gender, and
through the development of a spiritual life that
sexuality have been redefined, Woodcrest Christian
is devoted to Jesus. Our faculty and staff work
students are being prepared to enter the culture
diligently to teach and demonstrate that the Gospel
with God’s truth in order to impact it for the glory of
of Jesus Christ is the most beautiful story in the
Jesus Christ.
world and that a life spent pursuing the mission of
Second, we teach beautiful stories. Storytelling is
Jesus Christ is the happiest life in the world. We
one of the most impactful mediums in the lives of
seek the completion of this goal by using at least two
teenage students. It is stories that draw and incite
methods.
our students to abandon their Christian foundations
First, we teach the Bible. Here at Woodcrest
and unite themselves with the culture. There is no
Christian, every class students take is immersed in
denying that the culture tells beautiful stories of
our Biblical Core. We believe that the Bible is God’s
bravery, expression, and the quest for identity. In
Word and is “profitable for teaching, for reproof,
fact, the stories culture tells form part of the reason
for correction, and for training in righteousness,
why teenage students continue to leave the church
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for
at such alarming rates. However, Christians have
every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The Bible is our
the most beautiful story to tell. At WCS, we teach
source of truth and authority and our guide for all
in such a way as to explain and persuade students
matters of life. It is the way in which we hear the
that amidst all of the allure of culture’s attempt at
voice of God and experience the reign and blessing
beautiful stories, the Bible tells the most beautiful
of God. Therefore, we teach our students the Bible in
story. In the past, Christians have failed to teach
order to equip them with God’s truth for the battles
students that the Bible is more than a rulebook or
they currently face and will continue to face, living
a set of facts that need to be memorized. Such poor IN THE CULTURE | 29
must engage their students at home in such a way as to equip them to live in this cultural moment with Gospel ambition. The first way parents can train their students is by participating in the normal rhythms of a local church. The local church is a wonderful place for Christian parents to be trained, equipped, and
“Woodcrest Christian aims to train students to resist cultural vices and pursue cultural impact through the development instruction fails to capture the hearts of Christian students and leaves them longing for transcendent beauty. Often, the result manifests in their college years as transcendent beauty is found in cultural narratives leading to an exodus from the local
of a spiritual life that is devoted to Jesus.”
church. Instead, we intend to compel the hearts of our students with the most beautiful story ever told. We believe the Bible is the story of God redeeming
supported. It is the local outpost of the kingdom of
and restoring the world for the praise of His glory.
God. Therefore, if it is the parent’s desire to raise
Here at Woodcrest Christian, we teach the Bible’s
children who are able to resist cultural vices and
beautiful stories to urge our students to cling to the
pursue cultural impact for the glory of Jesus Christ,
Biblical worldview amidst the draw of culture’s
they should participate in the normal rhythms of
secular worldview.
a local church with their children. Participation
While the classroom at WCS is engaging the truth
in a local church enables parents to be trained
of the Bible and the beautiful story of the Bible to
themselves in how they can train their children to
train students to impact culture, parents remain
live Christian lives in a secular culture.
the primary influence and voice in the lives of their
The second practice is the insertion of holy habits
students. Parents must realize that the power of
at home. Homes are where children are instructed,
culture is significant and impacts the hearts and
trained, and formed. This formation happens
minds of their students. Therefore, parents likewise
primarily through the habits children practice.
30 | IN THE CULTURE
Therefore, parents seeking to raise children who are devoted to Jesus and can impact the culture for His glory should employ holy habits in their homes which support this goal. Read the Bible with your kids after dinner or before bedtime to enforce the habit that they should always seek truth and wisdom from the Scriptures. Invite non-Christians over for meals and share the Gospel with them to enforce the habit that cultural voices are not to be rejected outright, but are to be heard and compelled with the story of Jesus. Pray for those whose sexual ethics and truth claims have been warped by culture to enforce the habit that the Gospel of Jesus can change anyone’s heart. Through the practice of these habits, students will be formed to enter culture with clear eyes concerning the truth and passionate hearts regarding the power and impact of the Gospel. In these ways, parents can participate in the empowering of their children to resist cultural vices and pursue cultural impact. Culture is seemingly headed further and further from the Christian worldview each year. Students are being swept away in the current of culture in abandonment of the church and of Jesus Christ. Woodcrest Christian seeks to join with parents in the training and equipping of students to hold fast to Jesus and dive head first into culture with the power of the Gospel. Rooted in Biblical Truth and compelled by the beauty of Christ, our students can change the world.
ABOUT MATT MESSNER: Âť Matt Messner teaches Old and New Testament Bible classes at Woodcrest Christian School. He is a graduate of California Baptist University and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he studied theology and pastoral ministry. He also serves at Redeemer Baptist Church in the area of preaching and teaching. Matt and his wife, Sarah, have been married for four years and are expecting their first child in February 2020.
IN THE CULTURE | 31
RECENT REVIEWS FROM PARENTS & ALUMNI "While making the decision to attend a private Christian school can be intimidating, one thing remains true: at Woodcrest you are not just a student, you are part of the Woodcrest family. Our only regret has been not enrolling our daughters into the Woodcrest Christian School System sooner." - Megan S.
Woodcrest Christian Day School, Middle School, and High School is a school system that is not going to compromise their expectations, especially being Christ-centered. - Bernadette L. "Choosing the right middle school was a big decision for our family! My son just finished 8th grade at WCMS and I am so grateful for the wonderful experience that he had. The academics were strong, he learned about giving back to the community, and they have rules that work. Best of all, he was mentored by strong Christians who solidified his faith and created a strong foundation for him. I highly recommend this school!" - Anna R.
We believe this school is preparing them for their God-given purposes both academically and spiritually. - Jeff B. "The sacrifice we made in paying for private schooling was the best investment we could have given to our girls. They both graduated with high honors and went on to get their Master's degrees in college. I sincerely believe WCS was the major catalyst to their achieving success in adulthood." - Kathy B.
This school offers a top-notch education and wonderful athletics, fine arts, clubs, missions and service opportunities for our kids all while pointing them to Jesus. - Andrea S. "As an alumna of WCS, I am so thankful for the Christ-like role models that surrounded me, from my teachers to coaches to administrators—everyone's conduct helped to disciple me in my faith. It is an excellent school with a nurturing, encouraging, and academically challenging environment." - Katy B.
WOODCREST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL SYSTEM Transitional Kindergarten through 12th Grade 18401 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, California 92508 | (951) 780-2010 | WCSS.ORG
Glorify God by Pursuing Excellence in Christ-centered Academics
