One of the best ways to get me to learn a new skill or concept and learn it quickly is to tell me I have to teach it. There’s something powerful in the pressure of having something of worth and passing it on to someone else. For example, in 7th grade, my dad taught me how to change a tire, and then he made me teach my mom how to do it. It worked. I took ownership of my learning, and my dad never had to change a tire again!
Just recently, a few Western students confirmed the power of this learning strategy, which educators call the protégé effect. In an effort to prepare students to profess their faith and biblical worldview, Mr. Soodsma, Bible teacher, coordinated an opportunity for them to share the gospel with strangers. Students have been learning about why we need to share our faith, obstacles that keep us from sharing our faith, and ways we can share our faith. One obstacle students have shared is not being taught how to witness and not having opportunities to practice. Volunteers from the community were brought in to act as unbelievers to help students practice in a real-life situation. Students practiced approaching and sharing the gospel. They experienced rejection, success, hard questions, and taking leaps of faith.
The students I spoke with suggested that serving others as mentors accelerated their own worldview development. The students saw a direct connection between helping
others develop their worldview and the growth of their own.
This activity was particularly beneficial to these students who were being called upon to articulate their beliefs to others, and this is worth celebrating!
This style of learning happens around campus all the time. An 11th-grade Spanish III class visits a Spanish I class to share tips for becoming successful in learning Spanish. 12th-grade Speech students are challenged to submit a request to speak in chapel. Art students design murals for the hallways. And the list goes on. Whether it is getting student work on the walls, showcasing a class project, or hosting a whole-school concert or athletic event, it’s powerful to celebrate students’ work and to learn by making it visible.
That’s why we desire to celebrate Western; to make learning visible. To share powerful stories of what God is doing through this place. Celebrate with us by engaging with this issue of The Western Witness.
Merry Christmas!
In mission, together.
On October 12, students and staff spent the day serving others for Western Christian’s annual Stewardship Day. Sophomore Shae Reitsma is pictured priming a home that was recently inherited by Heritage Village in Sioux Center. Students worked with their Faithpacks, helping in various ways in many surrounding towns. Check out more pictures of the day in the Snapshot section of this issue.
WESTERN CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL
Celebrate Western Board Governance
Crime Scene Investigation
Building Fund
Wolfpack Athletics
Snapshots from School Christmas Greeting
Upcoming Events
Just My Thoughts
Student Perspective
Mr. Brian Verwolf, Head Administrator
Western Christian is excited to announce the start of a new educational program called JumpSTART, beginning in the fall of 2023! The “START” in JumpSTART stands for “Supporting The Area of Rising Trades” and aims to better meet the needs of Western’s non-college-bound students who plan on directly entering the workforce. The JumpSTART pathway is designed to equip students to be servant-hearted, career-ready individuals through authentic field experiences in conjunction with Christian Education.
JumpSTART students will be highly motivated to learn and to grow within a diverse and rapidly changing industry. To prepare JumpSTART students for directly entering the workforce, they will take a variety of traditional courses at Western, including math, science, and English, and a few new courses only offered to JumpSTART students. These courses include workplace Spanish Communications and JumpSTART S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering, and math). In addition to the academic courses at Western Christian, JumpSTART students will also gain valuable and authentic field experiences through partnerships with local educational institutions and area businesses. Here, JumpSTART students will learn specific trade skills at these locations while gaining significant experiences through various hands-on projects, leadership programs,
internships, and apprenticeships tailored to each student’s trade choice.
At the conclusion of the four-year program, each JumpSTART student will complete a capstone project. This capstone project will provide JumpSTART students with the opportunity to create an exhibit and demonstrate to their family, friends, and community the skills they have learned while in the JumpSTART program.
Even though JumpSTART students will be off Western Christian’s campus more than the traditional student, they will still be active members of Western’s learning community. JumpSTART students will attend chapels, participate in faithpacks, enroll in Bible classes, and be members of other required courses that have biblical integration woven and infused within the curriculum. In addition, JumpSTART students will have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities that take place before and after school.
Mr. Shawn De Stigter will be the administrator of this 4-year program which will begin next fall with a cohort of students from the incoming freshmen class. Dr. Bill Elgersma will serve by building partnerships with local businesses and colleges and by connecting JumpSTART students with these area partners.
Western Christian High School is grateful to receive memorial gifts in honor and memory of:
Joyce Vander Well - Hull. Joyce was a 1950 graduate of Western Christian. She and her husband, Pier, had five children, two of who graduated from Western. Kay, Lora, Kathy (1978), Dale (1986), and David.
Jeanette Lems - Doon. Jeanette was a 1944 graduate of Western Christian. She and her husband Garret had three children that attended Western. Audrey (1966), Clyde (1970), and Alan (1978).
Harvey C. De Jager - Rock Rapids. Harvey was a 1950 graduate of Western Christian. He was also an instructor at Western Christian from 1957-1960.
Arvin Hoogendoorn - Rock Valley. Arvin and his wife Betty (1961) had five children who attended Western. Darwin (1985), Jody (1987), Kristi (1990), Tamara (1994), and Kari (1995).
Edwin Kats - Rock Valley. Edwin was a 1955 graduate of Western Christian. He and his wife Sharon and his wife Elaine (1958) had eleven children that attended Western. Loren (1979), Darryl (1980), Don (1981), Roberta (1982), Ken (1982), Daryl (1985), Arlan (1985), Connie (1986), Sheila (1990), Jerry (1992), and Kaye (1995).
Johanna Westra - Hull. Johanna and her husband Sidney had five children that attended Western. Arlys (1972), Ardelle, Sharon (1975), Marcia (1978), and Rob (1982).
We are “Celebrating” year 103 at Western Christian High School this year. We believe that God has called us to instruct the “next generation” to love and serve our Lord. In 2 Timothy 1:5, we read, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Eunice and, I am persuaded now lives in you also.”
“Celebrate Western” engages all generations and constituents through a Kids Carnival, Community Meal, Bake Sale, online auction, and freezer and meat sales. We, TOGETHER, are committed to building God’s Kingdom here at Western, generation after generation!
THANK YOU for all the ways you are supporting the mission of Western Christian High School! To God be the Glory!
Western’s School Board has recently launched a Board Governance Study Taskforce as a part of Western Christian’s 2026 Strategic Plan. The taskforce is composed of a board member, our head administrator, and representatives of Western’s society who have expertise in missional and strategic board governance models. The chief goal of this taskforce is to study and envision a model of governance that enhances the sustainability of the vision and mission of Western Christian High School and increases church and community partnerships throughout our learning community.
Based on major recommendations from Christian Schools International (CSI) Accreditation Sites Visit Teams in 2017 and 2022, and input from staff, board, parents, and consultation by The Center for the Advancement of Christian Education (CACE), the Board Governance Study Taskforce will study and recommend to Western’s board of directors a unique-to-Western governance model that will improve board-level organization and functioning as it relates to:
• The process of board evaluation
• The development of a consistent election process
• The creation of a board strengthsbased profile
• The review and revision of current bylaw statements
• The development of a board policy manual and board orientation process that aligns with a desired outcome of a mission-directed governance model.
The board anticipates voting on any potential changes to the bylaws at the Spring Society Meeting. Detailed information will be shared with our broader constituency at the appropriate time.
The four freshman Physical Science classes from Western Christian High School participated in a crime scene activity October 24 – 28. Facilitating the activity were Physical Science teachers Shawn DeStigter and Sarah Wilson and our School Resource Officer, Deputy Waylon Pollema.
On the first day of the activity, the students were given a scenario: acting as law enforcement investigators and entering the mock murder scene. During their investigation, students learned about the search warrant application process, which used evidence collection, fingerprint analysis, suspect interviews, and collaboration to determine who had committed the crime. Students were also educated on the importance of photography, documentation, and report writing for these investigations.
A combination of pledges and various giving drives has lowered our debt total to less than $400,000 on the Second Century of Service Campaign. We are so thankful that over $1,000,000 was raised this past school year with the goal of being debt free by the end of 2022.
Deputy Pollema said, “It’s always rewarding to see the students engaged in learning. This year, Western Christian took this activity to a whole new level academically by incorporating Mr. Klay Byker’s English instruction for reporting writing and Mr. Travis Kooima’s Computer Applications instruction for data collection and digital organization. We could show the students real-world applications in several areas of their daily learning. We look forward to continuing this activity and expanding in the years to come.”
To finish this activity, on Monday, October 31, the nearly 85 freshman students visited the sheriff’s office to tour the law enforcement center facility. The students could see more about what they learned previously by going through our
communications center and jail intake. Additionally, they watched a K9 demonstration with Sonny and his handler, Sgt. Justin DeBruin, as well as having the opportunity to listen to Sheriff Jamie Van Voorst and Deputy Jessica Dorhout talk about their roles at the Sheriff’s Office.
The students also stopped at the Sioux County Courthouse. They heard from Sioux County Attorney Thomas Kunstle, Assistant Sioux County Attorney Dawn Wilson, Sioux County Attorney’s Office Paralegal Beverly Heronemus, and Sioux County Attorney’s Office Victim/Witness Coordinator Alison Kamp as well as Honorable District Court Judge Jeffrey Neary.
$7.1 Million Second Century of Service Campaign
$400,000 Debt Remaining
$6,700,000 Funds Raised
The Fall Athletic season wrapped up on November 4th after a whirlwind of competitions over the last week of the season. Each Wolfpack team has much to Celebrate. Along with success on the court, field, and course, the Wolfpack kept in mind the core values of the Wolfpack Edge that was implemented this school year. The Wolfpack Edge is an intentional effort to promote Faith, Purpose, Passion, and Service in all activities and athletics.
Thanks to all who supported the Wolfpack along the journey- parents, fans, student body, school administrators, Athletic Directors, and the entire Wolfpack Community!
A trip to the State Volleyball tournament isn’t something new to the Wolfpack, but this year’s ending to the tournament won’t be forgotten for many years to come. The team prevailed in a five-set victory over the heavily favored Dike-New Hartford team. Coach Tammi Veerbeek shared her thoughts on the season.
Truth be told, championships are not a result of one year of hard work and dedication. Championships are a culmination of several years of persistence, reps, and drive by each individual player. It also includes a significant commitment from parents to encourage the gifts of their kids and, of course, a supportive learning community in Western Christian. But this year was special in many ways.
We choose a theme Bible verse that serves as our true north every season. We reference the passage often during pregame talks and devotionals. This year we selected James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Looking back at this verse after winning the championship gives me goosebumps. The team showed ultimate perseverance in a thrilling comeback victory that was unexpected by many, to say the least. This is because our competition was tough. But God already knew the outcome of the game (and season). All our girls had to do was go play the game they love with their best friends one last time. It may sound cheesy, but faith and perspective gave our team a sense of peace, knowing the outcome was all part of His plan.
We, as a team, saw the themes of the Wolfpack Edge many times as we went through the season’s journey. Many of the devotions focused on playing with a Purpose more significant than ourselves and using the abilities God has given us to Glorify Him. The team played with a great Passion and love for the game and each other, and that was seen to the very end when no one gave up and had an unforgettable comeback victory.
One act of service the team did was making blankets for some local families struggling with illness, and the team personally delivered them.
- Coach Veerbeek
Friday Night Lights (the Football season) delivered a lot of Joy to the Wolfpack fans. The team had a balanced roster with many capable players ready to step up, play their role and contribute. The result of the season was a success.
The season began with players and coaches focusing on the theme “Be the Difference.” Coaches challenged the players at each practice to be difference makers not only on the football field but in the classroom and when out with family and friends. One of the specific goals for the season was “Got your 6.” It is a reference to having each other’s backs by working hard each and every day. The team talked about chasing their best in everything as called to do as part of our work in God’s Kingdom.
The team earned 2nd place in the District, which moved them into the playoff portion of the season. They competed into the quarter-final round, losing to the eventual state runner-up West Sioux. Their final record (8-3) reflects hard work and determination, as their only losses came to West Sioux and 2A-ranked team Spirit Lake.
Cross Country runners rise early in the morning and cover many miles before the school day ever begins. Each team member finds their personal verse to focus on for the year as each runner has their own things going on, on the course and in life. Even though the verses are self-picked, the team is united because God is the center of everything for them all.
The girls’ team had some new competitors this year who adjusted well to running cross country. The boys’ team faced attempting to replace some varsity runners from last year’s state placing squad.
Qualifying for the State Meet was Kyrin DeGroot for the girls and Noah DeWeerd for the boys.
2023 Senior Konner Struik has been named a semifinalist in The National Merit® Scholarship Program. This program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous university studies. Struik is 1 of ~16,000 semifinalists around the nation. In February, we’ll learn if he is designated as a finalist.
Western Christian sent out 23 Faithpacks on October 12 for the annual Stewardship Day. The day’s goal is to be a blessing to organizations, families, and individuals. Also, a goal is for the students to see others as Jesus sees them and then bless them as Jesus has blessed us.
Some organizations that Faithpacks visited were Mid-Sioux in Sioux Center, Bargain Alley in Hull, Atlas in Rock Rapids and Sioux Center, Heritage Village in Sioux Center, and Kaden’s Kloset in Sheldon, just to name a few. This year a number of our groups went to family homes and acreages to help with fall clean-up because of illness or difficulty for that family.
Also, a couple of groups were a blessing to the Alpha Center in Sioux Falls, and while they were in Sioux Falls, they prayed outside of Planned Parenthood. We also connected with Zestos in Alton and Habitat for Humanity. Stewardship Day continues to be a blessing for all involved.
WCHS Junior Maeva Haveman auditioned and was accepted into the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra. NISO comprises adult musicians from the tri-state area and gifted music students from area high schools and colleges. Maeva joined WCHS orchestra director Amie Smit, and WCHS Orchestra alums Julia Veldman, Emily Zuidema, Sarah Vander Werf, and Faith Bierma in the first concert series of the season performed on Tuesday, November 15, at Dordt University. Additional concerts will be held in January and April 2023.
Konner Struik, trombone; Trista TenPas, clarinet; and Kyra Visser, percussion, were chosen by audition to participate in the Northwest Iowa Honor Band on January 7, 2023. The concert will be held at Eppley Auditorium, Morningside College, Sioux City.
This fall, Western Christian hosted six students from the Netherlands from October 14 to November 4. It is amazing how much can be packed into three weeks. Each student was matched with a host family who contributed to making this an excellent experience for the students. During their time here, the Dutch students spent some of their days in the classroom with students. They paired with the Physical Science class investigating a crime scene and visiting the Sioux County jail. On other days they took part in several outings such as to Yesterday’s Memories and Truck Museum, Oak Grove, and the Black Hills. The students also cheered on the Wolfpack at State Volleyball and playoff football. The Dutch students are pictured participating in the Student Section Theme of the night at a football game.
In a span of just a week, two volleyball players earned a milestone in their high school career by surpassing 1000 kills. Seniors Stella Winterfield and Abby Verburg reached this accomplishment midseason and had each racked up 1,261 and 1,245 kills by the end of the season. Only two other players have accomplished this feat throughout Coach Tammi Veerbeek’s tenure at Western Christian
This All School Play, The Island of Libris, brought much enjoyment to the audiences that attended the performances on November 10 and 12. This year’s production was extremely successful as it was entirely student-led. Kryn Vander Berg directed, and Lauren Vander Plaats and Madison Visser were backstage directors.
Dec 23 Christmas Break Begins
January 3 Classes Resume
January 12-13 Semester Exams / End of 1st Semester
January 22 Chamber Singers at Immanuel CRC, Sheldon
Febuary 8 Noon Dismissal for Teacher Inservice
Febuary 13 FFA Strawberry and Cheese Sales Begins
Febuary 20 No School - President’s Day
Febuary 24 Chamber’s Night Out
March 20-24 Spring Break
The late Elisabeth Elliot is a Christian whom I greatly admire. I am using one of her books as a devotional: Secure in the Everlasting Arms. Toward the end of the book, she includes messages or short journals from other missionaries. A writing by Dr. Steve Hawthorne has given me much to think about, especially as we enter the Christmas season and celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Dr. Hawthorne was a medical doctor who spent many years caring for the poorest of the poor in our world. The passage that I read included a patient who came into his mobile clinic in a remote, undeveloped part of Bolivia. As he watched the old woman, stooped over her walking stick, enter his exam area, he had a hard time feeling hopeful about this visit. He knew she would have little or no access to the hygiene and care that would help regain her health; he was honest that he felt discouraged and actually grumpy as he watched her hobble into his exam room. As he visited with her, it was extremely difficult to communicate. Not only did they speak different languages, but the old woman was nearly deaf. He decided at that point to use hand motions and simple gestures to encourage her to mimic his movements so he could watch and assess her movements. Again, old age had damaged her body–her eyesight was not good enough to see him so that she could even attempt to copy his movements.
He was beyond frustrated. How could he help someone who had no access to healthcare and barely any ability to hear
or see him as he tried to help her? He did the only thing he could think of; he reached over and held her hands. He took her old, wrinkled hands into his; he wrapped his strong, healthy hands around hers. He immediately felt her relax. Her anxious breathing slowed down, her muscles became less tense, and her face formed a relaxed expression. He simply held onto her hands for a few moments. He stopped asking her questions; he stopped giving her motions to imitate. He stopped thinking about what was next on his appointment calendar. The two people sat in silence, strangers holding hands.
“As I sat there, I remembered how in the elderly, long after vision and hearing have been lost, the sense of touch is preserved. I hoped that something of the love of God could flow through my palms to warm her worn-out joints in my hands.”
I had to read that part of Dr. Hawthorne’s story a few times to really let all that was happening sink in. I didn’t want to skim over it and miss the most important part he was sharing: “the sense of touch is preserved.” I had never in my life really considered how accurate that statement is. As we age and lose our eyesight, hearing, balance, muscle strength, memory, and so much more, our sense of touch often remains intact far longer than our other senses. That impacts me as I consider the importance of touch, not only for aging people but for all people. There is such simple power and blessing in human touch. Isn’t that what so many
people missed and longed for when the 6’ distance mandate was enforced--no more shaking hands, arms around another’s shoulders or hugging. Human touch is vital to most of us; we were created to feel it and to feel valued with it. The power of calm and comfort often lies in the soft touch of another human being.
If the God who created us designed us to have this incredible sense of touch, it is also a clear demonstration of His complete love for us when He sent His Son to become one of us. Jesus came to earth and did what God had not done before: He touched us. He healed us with His hands, He embraced us with His arms, He wiped our tears away with His very human, very gentle fingers. God loved us so much that he took on humanity to be able to communicate His love for us by touching us.
And Jesus didn’t just touch the ones who cleaned up well and came to Him unblemished. No, He touched the deformed, the outcast, the contagious, the bleeding, the broken, the blind and deaf who could only hobble toward him in weakness. And with His touch, they were healed. The same truth is ours today. With His gentle and all-powerful touch, we can relax, our breathing can slow down, our muscles become less tense, and a relaxed expression can be seen on our faces because we are being held by One who loves us--completely, perfectly, wholly.
This Christmas, I will again sing of a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, placed in a manger. I will again consider hosts of angels announcing His birth. I will again imagine a young mother, a faithful father, and the very humble arrival of the King of the world. But in addition to all that, I will also celebrate a Savior who reaches for me; He touches me, He holds me, and I can actually feel His love. I will allow His loving embrace to enfold me. This Christmas, I will quietly be held by a Savior whose gentle but powerful, nail-scarred hands touch me. And this Christmas, in the middle of all the beautiful music, you may just hear me humming a new Christmas favorite, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”
Just my thoughts, KC
to study something Agricultural related after high school.
Outside the classroom, the work done to improve speaking skills for various contests is extensive. Meagan shared how her confidence has grown by competing in the Conduct of Meetings competitions. Learning is a process. Meagan stated, “it’s not always about how good you do in the competition. It’s about what you learned and what you are taking away from the competition.
The impact of Agriculture can never be talked about enough. For this Student Perspective article, two Junior girls wrote their thoughts on the importance of the Ag Department and FFA Chapter at Western Christian.
Current FFA President, Emery Blankespoor, shared how strongly she feels about the Ag Dept/FFA Chapter. “The Western Christian Ag Department means there is a place in school where I am eager to learn, and my teachers are passionate about what they teach. The Ag Department has been a safe place to be myself and learn about things that will contribute to my future career. The Western Christian FFA Chapter is a family. The other officers are people I can trust and rely on to get things done on time. I have formed a strong connection with several chapter officers and members. As the president, I love to watch different plans come together and play out after all the planning. I also love to watch people grow as they compete in contests, learn leadership skills, and head up committees. Another aspect of the Western Christian FFA Chapter that many people don’t realize is how we give back to the community through agriculture and life skills. We grow
things in our greenhouse to benefit the surrounding communities and participate in elevator meals, fruit sales, and faculty breakfasts. Overall, the FFA Chapter has been a place at Western where I have felt I belong, and I know I serve a purpose that benefits other the students, the community, and me.”
Meagan Mulder, the current FFA reporter, regrets not jumping in and getting involved in FFA during her freshman year. She waited until her sophomore year to join. As soon as Meagen did join, she realized how much FFA had to offer and how much she loved it. “It is amazing watching people make goals within their committee teams. Not only do they just set goals, but they also complete those goals to benefit the community. To me, this isn’t just pigs and tractors. It’s more than that....I look past that and see the amazing opportunities that FFA forms for students.”
The Ag Department currently offers six courses. Emery and Meagan have taken AFNR (Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources) and are currently in Animal Science. Emery wrote about how Animal Science has piqued her interest
This fall, these ladies, eight other students, advisor Kylie Nettinga and student teacher Mattie Tucker attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. “People from all over the country gathering together with the connection of Agriculture amazed me,” said Emery. While at the convention, Emery and fellow FFA officer Ashley Fedders walked across the big stage and were awarded a National Chapter Award, which showed how much Western Christian FFA has accomplished in its mere eight years of existence.
Western Christian has plans in the works to grow the Ag Dept. The school is currently advertising to add another faculty member to teach Agriculture related classes. Emery and Meagan advise all students to check out what FFA has to offer. Meagan remarked, “Don’t make the mistake of waiting to participate. I missed out on a whole year. The possibilities to grow are endless.” Emery pointed out that “Speaking skills, planning skills, leadership skills, problem solving skills, etc… are all things that you will need later in life, and no other classes will teach you all these skills. FFA opens students’ eyes. Agriculture is not just living on a farm.”