WESTERN CHRISTIAN
HIGH
Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?
What an obscure question! This made me curious when I first read the question in Damon West’s illustrated fable, The Coffee Bean. The story teaches readers how to transform their environment, overcome challenges, and create positive change. While it is not a religious book, the story contains life lessons that can be applied for those who follow Jesus.
Ready for another peculiar question? What happens when you put a carrot, an egg, and a coffee bean in a boiling pot of water? Go ahead and answer before reading on…
The environments we find ourselves in can change, weaken, or harden us and test who we truly are. We can be like the carrot that weakens in the pot of boiling water or like the egg that hardens. Or, we can be like the coffee bean and discover the power inside us to transform our environment.
Paul the Prophet is a great example of a man who, in adversity, became like a coffee bean. You could put him in any circumstance, and the same thing would consistently come out of him. Western’s Theme Verse for the year comes from 2 Corinthians 5:16-17: “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of
view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone; the new is here!”
People who are like the coffee bean know that they will be something special when the Master Chef is finished with them. Not only will they be facing some hot water, but they understand that they must also be crushed and ground before they can be used readily.
“New life” is a gift for each of us. We receive it as we walk closely with Jesus, following His lead. Letting go of the old as He gently shows us how. God doesn’t just wipe off the dirt and put new clothes on us. He completely changes us from the inside out, making us brand new people. And notice that the agent for this change is Jesus Christ. It is only through Jesus that this dramatic transformation takes place.
Head in a new direction with a newly mended heart as you prepare for today, tomorrow, and eternity. You are a New Creation!
In mission, together,
A new school year means many new opportunities to learn and grow. Freshmen Hadley Dekkers and Avery Dykstra enter school with big smiles on the first day of their high school careers.
Mr. Brian Verwolf Head AdministratorCTE – Second Year
Wolfpack Livestream
Leaving A Legacy
Wolfpack Athletics
Snapshots from School
Homecoming Week
Stewardship Day
Memorials
Upcoming Events
www.westernchristianhs.com
Western Christian High School
TheWCWolfpack
The CTE (Career and Technical program) at Western has doubled in size in just its second year of existence. This program allows students to explore possible careers prior to college or joining the workforce. Twenty students are actively learning at nine area businesses. Students spend roughly 90 minutes observing and learning each day at the school day’s beginning or end.
Two students earning CTE credit are Teigen DeKam and Aiden Van Roekel. They are learning about all the intricate details of providing a live stream to athletic events. They are working in conjunction with Dordt and have put in countless hours to improve the live stream of events for the people who cannot attend in person.
Kaase Van Niejenhuis plans to earn a Diesel Technology degree after high school, so spending time at Van’s Implement made perfect sense. He stated, “The CTE program has been really beneficial for me personally. It allows me to gain more working
experience and build relationships with coworkers and people who can help me further my career. Especially as somebody who knows what they want to do after high school, it makes way more sense for somebody like me to be out getting more experience than trying to find an extra class to fill my schedule. It might not be for everybody, but for people like me, it can provide an excellent head start getting into a career path they could be interested in.”
Students can participate in the CTE program before their Senior year. Students can apply their sophomore year already. Four Junior girls and Senior Payton Marks spend part of their morning at Hegg Hospital and Clinic in Rock Valley. Payton is excited about this opportunity as it has solidified what she wants to do for her future career. “I knew I wanted
Thanks to our amazing student tech crew and generous sponsors, the new Wolfpack Livestream is up and running. These broadcasts will also have a play-by-play announcer and a “celebrity” color commentator. Our hope is that we will be able to broadcast all home varsity events. Home football and volleyball games have already been covered. We anticipate
covering home basketball, wrestling, and soccer as well. We are excited to show these athletic events and promote the mission of Western Christian High School. Happy viewing!
• Search/Google hudl tv
• Search for a school or club - choose Western Christian High School - Hull, IA.
to enter the medical field, but I was unsure what I wanted to be. Through the CTE program, I figured out that I like surgery. As of now, I am planning on becoming an RN and working in surgery.” Junior Kadence Breuer also has been given a lot to think about as she plans for her future. “The CTE program through Hegg is a great opportunity for students to see all the different areas in healthcare. This helps decide a future career path as a nurse. So far, I have enjoyed following the nurses in the hospital and clinic and standing in while surgery was performed.”
Western is very excited to see how big the CTE program can grow in the years ahead.
• A calendar on the right side of the screen will highlight past and future games to watch.
• Western’s social media will often share the link as well.
Your will (or trust) is a powerful tool for leaving a legacy of care and generosity. Through it, you can provide for the needs of your loved ones. You can also give in a substantial way to Western Christian High School. But what’s the best way to accomplish your personal and charitable goals?
Your will (or trust) is a powerful tool for leaving a legacy of care and generosity. Through it, you can provide for the needs of your loved ones. You can also give in a substantial way to Western Christian High School. But what’s the best way to accomplish your personal and charitable goals?
Here are three common ways people include charitable giving in their estate plans.
Many individuals choose to allocate a certain percentage of their estate toward charity. Some choose to specifically designate 10 percent of their belongings toward Kingdom causes, because they wish to reinforce to their families the biblical concept of tithing.
Many individuals choose to allocate a certain percentage of their estate toward charity. Some choose to specifically designate 10 percent of their belongings toward Kingdom causes, because they wish to reinforce to their families the biblical concept of tithing.
Some families choose to add a “child named Charity” to their will or trust. By this method, for example, if a couple had four children, each of the children would receive 1/5 of their belongings, and the remaining 1/5 could go toward their favorite Kingdom causes.
Some families choose to add a “child named Charity” to their will or trust. By this method, for example, if a couple had four children, each of the children would receive 1/5 of their belongings, and the remaining 1/5 could go toward their favorite Kingdom causes.
Perhaps you have a specific non-cash asset that you’d like to give to Western Christian High School, such as a gift of real estate, business interests, life insurance, retirement assets, machinery or even a collection. People often designate assets as gifts for a number of reasons, whether it’s because the property has special meaning, their children have no further use for it or because they wish to protect their families from unnecessary taxes.
Perhaps you have a specific non-cash asset that you’d like to give to Western Christian High School, such as a gift of real estate, business interests, life insurance, retirement assets, machinery or even a collection. People often designate assets as gifts for a number of reasons, whether it’s because the property has special meaning, their children have no further use for it or because they wish to protect their families from unnecessary taxes.
You have complimentary access to trusted planning support through our partnership with Barnabas Foundation. A planner will help you identify the best giving options for you, answering your questions with the utmost integrity. Their goal is to help you make God-honoring decisions in an atmosphere of confidence and trust.
You have complimentary access to trusted planning support through our partnership with Barnabas Foundation. A planner will help you identify the best giving options for you, answering your questions with the utmost integrity. Their goal is to help you make God-honoring decisions in an atmosphere of confidence and trust.
To learn more about gifts in a will, or to be connected with a Barnabas Foundation planner, call 712.439.1013 or email brad.vis@westernchristianhs.com.
To learn more about gifts in a will, or to be connected with a Barnabas Foundation planner, call 712.439.1013 or email brad.vis@westernchristianhs.com
Here are three common ways people include charitable giving in their estate plans.
The summer sports season is fast and furious, with many games played in a short amount of time. This year, two new head coaches led the Wolfpack softball and baseball teams. They both shared their thoughts on the season.
This year was a really good year for Wolfpack softball. Not only did we win more games than we had in any season since 2018, but I personally saw a lot of growth in our players this year. Playing for a new coach is never easy. Still, the girls did an admirable job stepping into unfamiliar territory, doing what was asked of them, and giving their all to pursue a successful season and the program’s continued success. My biggest goal this season was to cultivate a safe, positive, and healthy environment where all players and coaches could thrive. Though there were some bumps in the road, we made good progress towards this goal. One key reason for that was our team motto: control the controllables. In softball - and in life - there is so much that we cannot control. Our job is not to micromanage everything
but to be responsible for everything we are given authority over. Although that can be difficult to perfect, I was very proud of how the girls rallied around each other, celebrating one another’s successes, and supporting each other when things got tough. Overall, I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be part of this team and proud of how they battled all season.
This year’s group was a large senior class mixed with some young talent. As coaches, we wanted to focus on finding joy in all things and focusing on God’s blessings. We were fortu-
nate to have a group of guys who loved baseball and had a great time being there. This attitude allowed us to move on from losses and just continue to focus on getting better. The team progressed as the year went on, getting better with each game, ultimately allowing us to get some great wins. Their willingness to show up and work hard was something that could be seen on the field and showed what a group of young men they were. I know that this year’s seniors will go on to do great things in the next chapter of their lives. As coaches, we felt blessed to be able to mentor this group and are proud of the year we had!
Coach Logan Cline Coach Andrew Van Nieuwenhuyzen
The start of high school for the Class of 2027 started with the Annual Pom Pom Squad welcome visits in early August and orientation on August 22nd. Students were welcomed with excitement and a theme t-shirt. At orientation, they navigated the building following their class schedule, practiced opening lockers, and worked as teams in a domino project.
A new music group has started up at Western this fall! Women’s Chorus is a co-curricular choir open to any female student. Students meet once a week on Thursday mornings before school to rehearse and plan to perform at concerts. This group has been an excellent chance for our young women to experience a new genre of choir music and connect with students from other grades and curricular choirs. Come see the Women’s Chorus perform “Nothin’ Gonna Stumble My Feet” and “In Meeting We are Blessed” at our Fall Festival this year!
The FFA chapter is alive and well this school year with the support of many parents and interim advisor Marianne Bleeker. On September 7, they had their annual BBQ Kickoff at the Bleeker’s farm. A great turnout showed up, and the chapter is eager to welcome approximately 20 new members. The officer team can’t wait to see what this year will bring for the chapter and our community!
Rehearsals for the fall theatre production Shiver Me Timbers! are underway! Students have been working on memorizing lines, stage directions, and developing their characters for the stage. Performances of this Swashbuckling fun show will be at 7:00 PM November 9 and 1:00 PM November 11.
COUNTRY VS. COUNTRY CLUB DAY - Monday
Chapel Speaker: Eric Kelderman, Class of ‘89
Music: Sierra Nielson and Jaiden Van Schapen, Class of ‘22
ANYTHING BUT A BACKPACK DAY - Tuesday
Powderpuff Football and Yard Games
JERSEY DAY - Thursday
Pizza Eating Contest
SPIRIT DAY - Friday
Chapel Speaker: Pastor Bob Pollema, Class of ‘86
Music Guest: Andrew Hoekstra, Class of ‘09
Co-ed Volleyball / Bingo / Pep Rally / Football Game
Stewardship Day is a long-standing tradition built into the Western Christian calendar when faithpacks go into surrounding communities and serve. This school year, Western Christian integrated this service-learning opportunity into Homecoming Week. Amongst all the week’s fun activities, it was a great opportunity to bless others. Some places where students served were Inspiration Hills, ATLAS, LOVE, INC, area Christian Grade Schools, Royal Family Kids Camp, and Midwest Honor Flight, just to name a few.
Western Christian High School is grateful to receive memorial gifts in honor and memory of:
Marcia Douma - Sanborn, IA. Marcia was a 1969 graduate of Western Christian High School. She and her husband Robert (Bob) had four boys who all attended Western. Ross (1990), Kent (1992), Nathan (1995), and Adam (2000).
Henry (Junior) Gesink - Sheldon, IA. Junior was a 1957 graduate of Western Christian High School. He and his wife Elinor, had three children who all attended Western. Joni (1981), Joy (1983), and Kevin (1984).
Joan Horstman - Hull, IA. Joan was a 1953 graduate of Western Christian High School. She and her husband Virgil had three children who attended Western. Vicki (1974), Bruce (1982), and Laryl (1989).
Leonard and Ella De Stigter - Sioux Center, IA. - Leonard (1939) and his wife Ella, had six children, 5 who graduated from Western. Thane (1963), Sonja (1964), Elaine (1968), Emlyn, Philip (1975) and Paul (1977).
Florence Horstman - Hull, IA.Florence was a 1966 graduate of Western Christian High School. She and her husband Gary had four children who attended Western. Curtis (1988), Candace (1989), Carmen (1993), and Cody (2000).
Dwight Bakker - Hull, IA - Dwight taught at Western Christian for 40 years. He and his wife Janice, had two children who attended Western. Jill (1992) and Nathan (1995).
Western Christian Class of 1963
ugly places). There are glimpses of His grand glory everywhere, and we as Christians are part of that. His new creation is evident in us too! When we are “in Christ” we can be like those flowers sprouting up in the middle of a cement parking lot–we can surprise the world when we let His beauty shine through!
Something caught my eye a couple of days ago as I drove up to my husband’s shop after school one day. My husband owns a car repair shop in Sheldon, and most of his shop buildings are surrounded by cement or gravel. The cement and gravel provide a great place to park cars before and after they are fixed, but they don’t offer a lot of visual appeal (or beauty) to his shop area. So, when there is something colorful (or even beautiful) in that area, it catches my eye. And that’s what happened when I saw this.
a little glimpse of beauty, as only God can do. Right in the middle of all that hard, colorless cement was this pretty moss rose. The orange blooms were wide open, soaking up any rays of sun that could reach them, and by the looks of it, a number of future blooms were also growing on the green vines.
What an unusual (and pretty) thing to find in the middle of the ordinary! What strength and resilience for this fragile-looking flower to take root, grow and bloom in the crack of a slab of cement. What a simple reminder that in the middle of the mess, God plants beauty.
This isn’t my idea or my realization, this is God’s idea and His promise. Our theme verse confirms this message clearly: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old is gone; the new is here.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
The orange color caught my attention, and when I walked over for a closer look, I saw that it was indeed
I don’t think that verse means that flowers will pop up in the middle of cement parking lots everywhere, but I do think it means that even though we are living in a world that is impacted in every area by darkness and sin, we can see His love and His power shine through–oftentimes in the most unexpected (and even ordinary or
I hope you see God’s surprising and beautiful signs all around you. I know that you don’t have to look very long or very hard to see brokenness, but thankfully, the brokenness isn’t permanent; God’s newness is! There will come a time when we won’t have to search for the beauty in the ugly. No! The ugly will be completely gone, and everywhere we look and every part of who we are will be new and beautiful. Until then, let’s point out the beauty when we see it–in our world, in others, and even in ourselves. God’s promises never fail, so when He says, “the new creation has come,” we know it’s true. It’s here. See it. Celebrate it. Live it!
Just my thoughts, KC
Throughout my time at Western, I have been challenged by teachers, coaches, and classmates to view the world through a lens centered around God and his presence in the world and my personal life. This year’s theme verse, 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, has encouraged me not to live a worldly life but one pleasing to God. It can be easy to get distracted by technology, social media, and many other aspects of society that the world says are necessary for a life full of happiness and contentment. However, I have learned through Chamber Singers’ music, participating in chapel, Faithpack service days, Bible class, and many other classes that true joy can only be found in Christ and his unconditional love for me and the world He designed and created.
Another thing the student body and I have been challenged with most recently is adjusting to a
October 12 Fall Music Festival
October 27 End of the 1st Quarter
new schedule. This year’s block schedule has provided us with new opportunities. It allows teachers to have bigger projects or talk about topics more efficiently in one day rather than over multiple days.
The altered schedule reminded me that an open mind can go a long way and encourage growth through new experiences. All the students and teachers have been in the same boat, trying to get used to it. The teachers have been helpful in giving us breaks to get up, walk around, and rest our minds.
The block schedule has also improved the chapel experience by allowing us to have an hour-long time slot every Thursday. This way, we can have time for weekly Faithpack meetings, which has been very beneficial because we can prepare ourselves for chapel beforehand or reflect on it afterward.
I am very thankful for my time at Western and for all the people who have taught and challenged me in different ways. As a senior, I look forward to putting many things I have learned into practice with opportunities for increased leadership and responsibility, such as Student Body President and planning parts of chapels. For the short time we have been in school this year, my classmates and I have already been presented with numerous opportunities to be Christ-like leaders. I’ve enjoyed helping prepare for and organize Homecoming week with Student Council. I am also looking forward to being able to take on more of a leadership role on the athletic teams I am part of. I’m also excited to take what I’ve learned here at Western and explore what God has next for me!
Aidyn Schemper, SeniorBe watching for more information through email and social media
October 31 - November 1 Parent / Teacher Conferences
November 9, 11 Fall School Play
November 14 Explore Western Open House
November 17 Celebrate Western
