Western Witness - Summer 2020

WESTERN CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

In this issue:

Learning...to Serve the King: A Story

Northwest Iowa Community College Visual Art Show

Just My Thoughts

Ag Department Updates

NICSTO Contribution

Booster Club Golf Tournament

Entry Form

Exchange Program Updates

Prayer and Praise

Fast Facts from the Pack

Years of Service Recognition

Individual Events Competitive

Speech

Memorial Gifts

Spring Drive Thanks

National Honor Society

Class of 2020 Composite

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

The Ninety-Eighth Commencement

Class Verse Colossians 2:6-7

FIVE Valedictorians

Tori Wynia

Rachel Covey

Cassie Van Otterloo

Abigail Postma

Allison Postma

Commencement Speaker

Mr. Brian Verwolf, Head Administrator

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

Learning...to Serve the King: A Story

As we plan for the 2020-21 school year, the current pandemic, along with the events across our country these past weeks, are stark reminders of the brokenness of mankind and the deep, significant challenges we are facing. There are no quick or easy solutions. But there is hope. We pray that as you flip through these pages of the Western Witness, you get a glimpse of this hope through Christ-centered schooling that is rooted in the gospel of the kingdom.

As our WC Online Learning adventure came to a close in May, Western arranged a pick-up/drop-off event for students to dropoff textbooks and parking tags, and pick-up personal locker items, student artwork and, of course, donuts. It felt so good to have students back on campus, even for a five-minute walkthrough. It was like Western’s soul had returned.

We opened the doors at 9:00 am when I greeted a student who was wearing a baseball cap and hoodie. I think it’s likely they had just rolled out of bed. Without making eye-contact, the student handed me an envelope, said “hey,” and continued walking. I didn’t get a good look at who the student was, and I assumed they were handing me a parking tag or tuition payment. I put the envelope in my pocket. Later that day, I went back to my office and opened the envelope that was addressed to me. There was a check inside from the student’s personal bank account. A yellow sticky-note on the check wrote: “Please use this to help someone with tuition.” This gift struck a chord with me. Not only did I become emotional, but I was reminded of my conviction for Christcentered schooling as an avenue towards renewal and restoration.

Friends, when we say “Learning… to Serve the King”, we’re not just talking about note-taking in bible classes or worshipping in a chapel service 2-3 days/week. We’re talking about an education that involves socialization, spiritual formation, and a general leading of a student into a particular walk of life. We do this in close partnership with our parents and churches.

A teenage student gave money to support their neighbor’s Christ-centered education. Let that story sink in. Christian education is not about just you or your student’s academic career. It’s about leading and learning with others in mind.

In mission, together.

Brian Verwolf Head Administrator

Northwest Iowa Community College Visual Art Show

Each year Northwest Iowa Community College hosts a Visual Arts Show for the area high schools. Each school is asked to submit artwork from their students.

This year, the show is being held virtually online at: https://nwicc.edu/visual-art-show/

The show opened Friday, May 22 and is accessible until Tuesday, June 30. First, second, third place, and honorable mention awards were determined by one judge for each overall category. The contributing schools’ art teachers determined awards for the focused media categories and one Best of Show award.

Western entered 22 pieces into the show.

Two Western students received the following awards:

Individual Media Awards

Paintings - Watercolor 2nd Place - Macay Van’t Hul

3D Media/Sculpture - 2nd Place - Olivia Hulstein

Overall Awards

Painting - 3rd Place - Macay Van’t Hul

Sculpture/Mixed Media - 1st Place - Olivia Hulstein

Just My Thoughts

Swing Sets and Difficult Times...and Trust

My family’s house is in town, so we have neighbors beside and behind us. On a recent Saturday we observed that the neighbors behind us took on a pretty big project: they started building a swing set/fort for their two young daughters.

At first it brought back great memories. My three kids had a swing set/fort with many hours spent playing and growing up on that fort! But as Saturday progressed, my attention turned away from my own memories to watching my neighbor guy wrestle and maneuver his way through the construction of their new fort. Even more interesting to me was the attention he was getting from his 3-year-old daughter. Early on in the process, she was right by his side, handing him tools, and cheering him on...literally, she was cheering him on.

And then...the project proceeded to take way longer than her 3-year-old brain could understand. At times I could hear her ask countless questions: What part of the slide is that? Why are you putting that chain there? Is my swing going to go there? Lots of questions. And then...the project took even longer than she thought it should. The questions turned to whines. I want it done. Why isn’t it standing up tall yet? I don’t think you’re doing it right.

I observed the patient dad continue calmly at the task, not snapping at his daughter, but not taking the time to answer every question or complaint either. At one point she was invited (maybe more like distracted) by her mom to take a walk around the block with her younger sister in the stroller. That sounded like a great idea...until the ladies returned from their walk...and the swing set was still not finished! At one point she stomped in the house and shouted, “I don’t even want it anymore.” (But a little later in the day, she was back just to make sure he was still working on the project.)

Saturday evening approached, and it was clear that the project was not going to cross the finish line that day. The pieces were all stacked around the parts that were already assembled, and each day of the following week became project time for that dad. Sometimes his daughter would hang around, sometimes she wandered away. But Thursday was the BIG NIGHT in their yard. As I loaded my dishwasher after supper that night, I glanced out the back window above my kitchen sink...and observed a beautiful sight--my little neighbor girl was getting a great big push on her brand-new swing from her very smiley dad! I wanted to run out there and clap for them, but I didn’t want to interrupt their moment. She was beaming, and he was too. All the questions, frustrations, angry words and whines were so far from her memory as she enjoyed the first of probably thousands of pushes on that swing!

What a great reminder of trust. As God is pounding out His plan for our lives, how often don’t we hang around, full of energy when we think that plan is going exactly the way we want it to. We are right there, handing God all the “tools’’ we think He may want to complete the project for us. But then, the plan takes a turn. It doesn’t look like we imagined it would. Sometimes there are pieces we don’t even recognize or appreciate that are used in that life plan for us.

Often the plan takes longer than we have decided it should. We can’t imagine what God could be working on for so long, especially when we aren’t seeing the progress we hoped to see. Maybe we even try to distract ourselves, only to come back later, more disappointed than ever that His work is still not done. And, how many of us have stomped away, so frustrated and angry with God’s plan that we tell him we’re done with it; we say that we don’t even care anymore.

But then, JOY enters as the plan comes together, and God invites us into full enjoyment of what He’s been building in our lives. Our breath catches in our throat and all we can do is be amazed at the Master Builder. We put the waiting, wondering, and whining away as we step into full enjoyment and trust in what He has constructed for us. Our Father has proven again that the wait was worth it, His plan is good, and we are blessed to be in His Child

This past spring has been hard, for some of us, these have been the most challenging times of our lives. Pandemics are hard. COVID-19 is confusing. Social injustice is ugly. Anger is sometimes too close to the surface. And, we often aren’t sure what the “perfect” answer is for these complex times. But wait, my friends, wait. He is building something for us, and it is going to be beautiful. His ways are sometimes (actually oftentimes) not our ways, but He has promised that when we are His (which we are) His plans always include HOPE and a FUTURE (Jeremiah 29:11). So, wait and trust. His hands are always at work on our behalf, and the finished product is always better than we could even imagine!

Just My Thoughts, KC

Ag Department Updates

Greenhouse

On March 13, the greenhouse was officially ready to go. The Klyn sisters and I went to Natural Beauty in Boyden and picked up some floral varieties that they graciously donated to our program to get us started. We had the thought that we wouldn’t gather together again on Monday, but we knew that if we didn’t go get those flowers, going on “as normal” would just not be the same. While the three of us, along with the rest of the Plant Science students thought we would be gathering together again to use the greenhouse, we all know that we never were able to.

This spring, we were successfully able to grow almost a dozen varieties of flowers and provide them to our community. In May, we opened up the greenhouse a couple of weeks to the public. Of course, practicing all of the CDC regulations, but at least we were able to do something.

I am very thankful not only to the crew and leadership that put this learning space together, but also those that helped me learn a few things before we gather together again. My husband, Michael helped build the headhouse table and assisted in figuring out the water system and putting the shade cloth up (along with his dad, Merrill).

Tractor Ride

If you ask any member of our chapter what is one of their favorite activities for the year, more than likely you will hear, “Drive your Tractor to School Day,” in their top five. Sawyer Rozeboom, a freshman, is responsible for organizing this year’s Drive your Tractor Day. Sawyer not only put the idea into action, but he also created a route with the community in mind. As an advisor, I’m not only proud that we were able to make this happen, but also that we were able to spread a little bit of joy to our community.

What else has been new?

Normally, the last quarter of the school year is filled with spring competitions, attending State Convention, planning our annual chapter banquet, and educating the Rock Valley 3rd graders at Farm Safety Day.

For Farm Safety Day, the committee that’s in charge of this, Darcy Alons & Emily Fedders, connected with members in their chapter and created a Farm Safety Video that they were able to share with the Rock Valley 3rd graders!

Secondly, although it was through snail mail, Aubrey Kooima, Matthew DeVries, and Travis Mulder all received their Iowa FFA State Degrees! Through a lot of hard work in their SAE projects, involvement in FFA, and agricultural courses completed these three deserve this. I’m so proud of each of you!

To end the year, we held a Virtual Banquet. The Officer team helped present a great number of awards through Facebook Live.

Officer Interviews for the 2020-2021 school year were held over Zoom, and the outgoing Seniors and I personally delivered a Congratulations note to the new officer team members.

Mrs. Kylie Nettinga FFA Advisor/ Ag Instructor

Did you pay Iowa income taxes this year?

Would you rather see your Iowa Income taxes go to Western Christian to help families with their tuition obligations and help pay down the debt we have on our building at the same time?

NICSTO allows you to do this with a 65% tax-credit. Two examples.

1. 1. If you have an Iowa Income Tax liability of $650, you could give $1,000 to NICSTO which would then provide Western Christian with that $1,000. Then when you do your tax work in March/April you will receive a tax-credit of $650 from the state of Iowa. You could then give this $650 refund to Western Christian to help pay down the debt on the school. Western Christian benefits by $1,650. $1,000 goes to the Tuition Assistance and $650 to debt reduction, and you have only given $1,000 Two gifts in one!

2. For those who are at least 70 ½ years old we encourage you to give from your IRA (you may even use your Required Minimum Distribution) to NICSTO. If you give $1,000 from your IRA you don’t need to include it as taxable income on your return, Western Christian receives that $1,000 for tuition assistance, plus you will receive a state income tax credit of $650 that you can use to help Western Christian pay down the debt on their building. Two gifts in one!

3. If you have questions, feel free to contact Wes Fopma at Western or check with your tax preparer.

This completed memo must accompany your contribution. A formal Iowa Tax Credit Certificate will be sent to you in late December or early January.

Western Christian Booster Club Golf Tournament Entry Form

The 29th annual Western Christian Booster Club golf tournament will be held on Friday, August 14, at noon at the Ridge Golf Course in Sioux Center. We have lots of room and need your help in filling the golf course, so put your foursome together soon. We’ll once again have mulligans for sale and various tee boxes based on your age and gender.

The cost to golf is $100 per person and that includes 18 holes of golf, cart, supper, and the chance to win prizes. Mulligans will also be sold at registration. Please enclose a check with your registration. It would help us greatly if you would return your registration form and entry fee as soon as possible.

Registration is from 11:00-11:45 with a shotgun start at 12:00 sharp. Ribeye steaks will be grilled at approximately 5:30. If you have any questions feel free to call Mike Broek at (712) 395-0699 or Mike Roetman at (712) 449-5199.

Golf Team Members

Additional People coming to meal $25/per person

Please return form and full payment to: Mike Broek, 807 3rd Street, Hull, IA 51239

Exchange Program Update

Forty-eight hours before six students and one coordinator were to board their final flight to the Netherlands, the trip was canceled after the United States restricted travel out of Europe. Then the following week, the exchange trip scheduled in April to South Africa was also canceled. That trip involved five students who had planned to go on what would have been the first exchange to South Africa. It was a huge disappointment for everyone after months of planning.

Unfortunately, the effects of COVID-19 will continue for some time as students from both the Netherlands and South Africa will not be able to come to Western Christian in the fall. We pray the program may resume in 2021.

Prayer and Praise

Please lift your praise to God for . . .

• The completion of this unique school year and that a physical graduation ceremony was able to be held for the Class of 2020. While the ceremony may have looked different, the evening was a blessing to those involved.

• The healthy birth of a baby girl, Janelle Maria, to Mr. Thomas Soodsma (Math Dept) and wife Tianna. Janelle will be greatly loved!!

• The marriage of Lynanne Dadismen (Math Dept) to Dale Van Den Top. The wedding ceremony took place on June 6 in Sioux Center with close friends and family. The couple plans on renewing their vows in June 2021 in Des Moines which will look more like their original wedding plan.

• Advances in technology which enabled schoolwork to continue online and virtual banquets to be held. Through the use of Facebook Live, Western Christian was able to live stream the After-Prom Prize drawing, the FFA Banquet, and the Graduation Ceremony.

Please lift your prayers to God for . . .

• The many families who have been personally affected by Covid-19. Many families have seen the toll this virus can have on someone’s health. Businesses have felt the impact this virus has on the economy. All have endured the emotional struggle of socially distancing due to this virus. May the Lord bring comfort and patience to all.

• Our country as we are in the middle of an election year and feel tension through racial divide.

• The Board of Directors, Brian Verwolf, and the many others involved in completing a Return to School plan.

Fast Facts from the Pack!

• Parents of current students and incoming freshmen: Be watching your email for online registration information. Registration will start on July 14.

• Western Chrisitan has partnered with CASE (The Center for Advancement of Christian Education) to study and put into place a Return-to School Plan.

• Five AP Calc. students took the AP Exam online on May 12.

• Faithpacks did not end with the closing of the school in March! Faithpack meetings took place over Zoom calls. Both students and staff members remarked on how wonderful it was to pray as a group and check-in with one another.

• Concert Choir and Cantus students were pushed out of their comfort zone to record themselves singing at home. Recordings were then submitted and compiled into a virtual choir.

• Learning continued at home in a variety of ways! Teachers incorporated new ways of presenting materials, students filmed themselves for presentations, Ag students planted seeds to be grown at home, and woodworking projects were completed, to name a few.

• Incoming Freshman had some surprise visitors on their doorsteps at the end of May. Brian Verwolf and Karen Christians made home visits to share their excitement of Western Christian with these special students. Also, the traditional 8th-grade day WCHS shirts were presented as a welcome gift.

• All spring sport seasons (Soccer, Track and Golf) were canceled. Baseball and Softball, however, have been able to start to play! Yea!! Let’s Play Ball!! It is wonderful to see students wearing a Wolfpack uniform!

Years of Service Recognition

Each year staff and faculty members are recognized for their years of service to Western Christian on a five-year basis. This year the Board of Directors recognizes the following:

5 years

Dave Boender

Kylie Nettinga

10 years

Karinda deBoom

Shawn DeStigter

Justin Negen

Sandra Van’t Hul

15 years

Roger DeGroot

Katie Reitsma

Lee Talsma

Leona Vande Vegte

Individual Events Competitive Speech

Western’s Individual Events Competitive Speech season celebrated a great number of student participants this year. Our district contest was held at Sibley-Ocheyedan High School on Saturday, February 29. Western sent 31 performances to districts that day, and 18 of those performances earned a “I” rating, which takes that performance to the State Speech Contest two weeks after Districts.

Two days before the State Speech Contest to be held in Carroll, Iowa, the Iowa High School Speech Association made the decision to cancel the State Contest because of COVID-19. While we completely respect the association’s decision and concern for everyone’s health and safety, it was very disappointing for our coaches and performers. Some new guidelines and accommodations have already been made for the 2020/2021 speech season to allow State Qualifiers from this year to share their performance for State judges next year.

Western was not able to hold its annual Celebrate Speech Night, which recognizes all competitive speech participants, and invites all State qualifiers from both Large Group and Individual Events to perform. This night is always full of great performances and celebration of God’s gifts in the area of public speaking and performance; it was sad and difficult to cancel that event.

This year’s State Qualifiers are listed by grade level and IE category; we can’t wait to see what Competitive Speech at Western will continue to do in the future!

WCHS IE Coach, Karen Christians

9th Grade:

Maci Kats–Prose

Adelle Wolfswinkel–Prose

Olivia Hulstein–Lit Program

Macy Westra–Prose

10th Grade:

Kellie Martin–Original Oratory

Alexa Klyn–Public Address

Makenzie Iwema–Storytelling

Wyatt Van’t Hul–Original Oratory

Allison Walhof–Original Oratory

11th Grade:

Hanna Kollis–Prose

Braelynn Kamstra–Prose

Breanna TenPas–Solo Musical Theatre

Maggie Kats–Literary Program

Shawna DeKam–Prose

Sylvia Koelewyn–Poetry

12th Grade:

Lucas Stiemsma–Improv Acting

Brandon Kats–Spontaneous Speaking, Public Address

We are Most Grateful for Memorial Gifts Received in Honor and Memory of:

Mike Vanden Bosch, Sioux Center. Mike was a member of the class of 1953. Mike taught English and coached for several years at Western Christian in the 1960s. Later he was a member of the Board of Directors at Western. He and his wife Nancy had four children that attended Western Christian; Kim (‘78), Shelley (‘80), Mick (‘81), and Dan (‘84).

Dwayne De Jong, Hull. Dwayne was a member of the class of 1971. He and his wife Dori had four children, three that attended Western Christian, Tim (‘94), Melissa Joy, Michael (‘00), and Travis (‘04).

Harold Klay, Hull. Harold was a member of the class of 1946. He and his wife Freda, who passed away in 2015, were good friends of Western Christian and enjoyed attending Western volleyball games.

Lila Kempers, Sioux Center. Lila was a member of the class of 1958 and remembered Western Christian High School in her estate planning.

Roger Poppema, Sheldon. Roger and his wife Donna (‘65) had two children that attended Western Christian. Their children are Amy (‘87) and Greg (‘88).

National Honor Society

It has been a tradition that the National Honor Society members are honored during May, and new members are inducted at Awards Night. This school year, the plan had been to hold a separate celebration for the National Honor Society by holding a Banquet in March.

To be inducted into the National Honor Society, some standards need to be met, and also students complete an application in which they write a ‘Reflection Statement’ about Christian Education. Here is a sampling of a few of these statements:

Ethan Spronk

“Christian education is part of how we set ourselves apart from this world as God’s covenant children. We have places like Western so we can have a God-centered outlook on life and our education. We also get the opportunity to grow in Christ with other believers and push them to grow as well.”

Hanna Kollis

“Christian education provides many opportunities for me to personally develop my faith. I would not be where I am in my faith walk without Christian education. I feel very blessed and thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given to further my relationship with the Lord.”

Emilee Heynen

“Christian education means a lot to me. I am so thankful for the opportunity to go to Western and be surrounded by teachers and students who love the Lord! Christian education is not something to take for granted and I am so thankful for my parents who pay a lot of money for me to go to Western and all the people who donate to our school.”

Tyson Boer

“Leadership to me is about setting a positive example and helping the people around me reach their potential. In my life, I try to show leadership by being a dependable and responsible servant leader in every situation. Leadership comes with responsibility, and I try to be a good leader who understands his role.”

Current Senior NHS Members:

Morgan Andringa

Rachel Covey

Jamie De Kam

Jillian Den Herder

Haley Driesen

Gracie Dykstra

Dawson Feenstra

Olivia Granstra

Josie Iedema

Brandon Kamstra

Janessa Klyn

Courtney Kollis

Aubrey Kooima

Makenna Kooima

Whitney Minderhoud

Nakia Nielsen

Abby Postma

Allison Postma

Madison Slaughter

Ross Vander Berg

Dolan Van De Stroet

Zach Van Essen

Cassie Van Otterloo

Matthew Van Otterloo

Abby Veldman

Hannah Ver Burg

Evan Wibben

Tori Wynja

Cole Zevenbergen

Spring Drive Thank You

New Inductees:

Logan Baccam

Tyson Boer

Carson Elbers

Jadyn Faber

Emilee Heynen

Braelynn Kamstra

Maggie Kats

Sylvia Koelewyn

Hanna Kollis

Ellie Kooiker

Kira Ouwinga

Sienna Moss

Ethan Spronk

Elise Stiemsma

Breanna Ten Pas

Levi Vanden Bos

Sarah Vander Werf*

Christina Van’t Hul*

Kyler Van Voorst

Allison Vermeer

Madison Vis

Emily Zuidema *Seniors

Western Christian High School would like to thank all those who have contributed to the annual Spring Drive this year. Spring Drive gifts will be used for tuition relief and a new security camera system at Western Christian. Over $58,000 has been donated if you haven’t had the opportunity to make your gift, Western Christian would appreciate your contribution.