Godspell: Worthington Christian’s Spring Musical 2010

Singing and dancing filled the Worthington Christian AC Auditorium on Saturday, May 9, 2010. Audiences of all ages watched as the musical Godspell was performed by the school’s students under the direction of Dave O’Roark.

This year’s annual spring musical has been performed at Worthington Christian before. According to director and dramatic arts teacher Dave O’Roark, Worthington Christian performs Godspell quite frequently. “I decided that I was going to do it every four years,” commented O’Roark. “That way each class can see it at least once.”

Repeating Godspell ensures that all students are able to hear its Biblical message. “I really like the show,” said O’Roark. “I think it gives the kids the opportunity to learn a lot of the parables from the Bible.” Although the play is set in a gypsy camp, all of the stories are taken from the Bible. The musical used the parables to relay the story of Jesus’ life in an intriguing way.

When considering the other plays performed at Worthington Christian, freshman Rachel Parrish said, “There is something different about Godspell, because the actors are able to live out the story.” The play truly affected the audience that attended. Junior Jack Price said that out of all the plays he has attended over the years, “Godspell is my favorite,” because he loves learning about the parables.

The response from the audience was overwhelmingly positive. “It was excellent,” commented senior Michael Bush. “It was well directed, well acted, well danced, and well sung.” Some audience members even went as far as seeing the play multiple times. Freshman Rachel Parrish attended the play three times, noting “It just got better each night that they preformed it!” Parrish’s brother Andrew was also one of the lead actors in the play.

People were surprised at the immense talent of the Worthington Christian cast members. In the majority of school plays, only the lead roles are considered to be strong vocally; however, Worthington Christian is fortunate to have strong vocal qualities in all of their actors. Director O’Roark said, “The cast was very strong vocally, which is good because even our smallest parts were able to sing a solo.”

The cast members from Godspell are very pleased about their performance as well. Actor Matt Rickly commented on the performance, “They were awesome and so much fun.” He later added, “The first week we had a lot of attendees, but the second week was packed!” The entire cast was thrilled at the number of people in attendance the second week. More seats even had to be added at the last minute because more people came than initially expected.

Overall the musical Godspell had an overwhelmingly positive response. Director Dave O’Roark’s goal was to do something about which the cast could be proud. He noted, “The actors were definitely glad to be a part of it.” Some said it was the best musical they had ever seen. The cast should be proud of their accomplishment.

Three New WC Babies

Babies Natasha Baugher, Garrison Burns, and Caschel Heath were all born recently to staff members here at Worthington Christian.

Between April 28^th and May 6^th, the Baughers, the Burns, and the Heaths were all blessed with new additions to their families. The Baughers had a beautiful baby girl, and the Burns and Heath families both had a boy.

Mr. David Stoll, WC staff member, said “Wow! I’m very excited. Being a father of four, I get excited to see God’s miracle inside of a woman. It’s amazing.” The new babies are the buzz at WC this week.

WC photography teacher Mrs. Jess Heath gave birth to Caschel McHenry Redemption Heath and, surprisingly, chose to wait until the delivery to know his sex. “I actually didn’t know that I’d have a boy. The longer Adam and I waited, the more we didn’t want to know,” she said. “I always had the feeling it was a boy.”

With this being the Heaths’ first child, waiting to discover the sex was a bold step.

WC Director of Spiritual Formation Mr. Tom Burns and his lovely wife Christie also had a baby boy. Garrison Murphy was named after a close family friend, Gary; and his middle name, Murphy, was inspired by Mr. Burns’s childhood hero, baseball player Dale Murphy. “At first we were shocked that we were pregnant as we already have a fairly full home,” said Mr. Burns. “We always thought we would have one more, but Garrison’s timing was a little sooner than we were anticipating.”

Garrison’s birth, being the fourth for the Burns family, was no major adjustment for Tom and Christie. However, Garrison’s delivery was different from that of their first three children. “This was surely the easiest pregnancy of the three,” said Christie. “We were all shocked by how big he was: nine pounds. Breaks our family record by about a pound and a half.”

Social Studies teacher Mr. Dan Roads said, “This is crazy. Three babies at once?! They’ll all grow up together and probably get married. The two guys will be fighting over Natasha, though.” The Baughers are moving into the same neighborhood where the Heaths reside, so there is a strong possibility that their children will be close companions.

The Baugher’s baby girl, Natasha, was also born in May. The only girl of the three and proud! “It is wonderful that one girl was born of the three!” said Student Services Assistant Mrs. Cindy Dunn. “And I’m pretty sure I saw Mr. Baugher wrapped around Natasha’s little finger!”

These pregnancies, and the subsequent births of the infants, have brought an intense excitement to WC.

One Band, One Sound

On April 26th, band instructor Ms. Karen Leigh led the very first WC Band Concert in the AC Auditorium.

This year, the band performed separately from the WC choir for the first time in years. The band’s independence made an indelible mark and shows the capability of their teamwork.

The band, consisting of seven seniors, two juniors, and seven freshmen, worked hard to make this concert a great one.

Senior Aimee Zhu said, “Even though the beginning of the semester wasn’t good we kept getting better. And even though we made mistakes in the concert, it was still good.” Working hard pays off, and the band put work and time into this show.

The seniors of the band earnestly presented their talents for this concert, specifically because they wished to put on a final good show. “Being in the concert was bittersweet,” said senior Katelyn Shultz. “I love being a part of the band, but that was my last concert for high school.”

The band playing without the choir was a risky decision; however, their confidence spoke volumes at the concert.

“This band concert is an innovative idea.” said senior RJ Murray. “Sure, it may need some refining, but it is a good idea for the future.” The efforts of the band members balanced their small size.

Remarkably, the band members complement each other while playing certain songs and themes. English 11 teacher Mrs. Lia Johnson said, “They played well together. Katelyn Shultz’s piece was especially beautiful.” Compatibility is a key component to a great band.

Even though the band had a rough start toward the beginning of the year, they undoubtedly, have been advancing. “I was not completely satisfied with my own performance,” said senior Alex Whitt. “However, I have seen marked signs of improvement in other band members.” Knowing what needs to be improved and making the proper adjustment comes with performance and presentation.

Not only did the high school students have a good show, but they shared the concert with eighth grade WC band members. “My favorite part was playing with the eighth graders,” said freshman Ryan Carroll. “I was in the eighth grade band last year, too.”

Band director of three years Ms. Karen Leigh went from having conducted a 15 minute piece, in previous years, to this April’s hour-long show. “The Seagate is my favorite song that was played. It is a college level piece, but it is beautiful,” she noted. “I was very pleased with the concert; the whole ensemble and the solos show off my class’ talent. I am very proud.”

Internship Academy: Taking Education Outside the Classroom

Now that we're nearing the end of the school year, certain juniors have completed the process of applying and interviewing for Worthington Christian’s fall 2010 Internship Academy.

The Internship Academy has been available at Worthington Christian for the past 6 years, and has been a huge success. A number of students, every year, have the experience of getting hands-on education within the career field in which they are interested. Mr. Anglea had a vision for this program for some time, but it wasn’t until Mrs. Wheat came to our school that it became a reality. Mrs. Wheat’s previous experience with managing internship programs was just what Mr. Anglea needed to take his idea to the next level.

This year, a record number of students filled out the applications for Internship Academy, early in March. These applications inquired about the students’ interests and their reasons for wanting to be involved in the internship program. As a result of the large number of applicants, the course is highly competitive, and the selection process is rigorous. With only 11 or 12 positions available, the 29 students who applied must compete for a spot in the class. Mackenzie Clapper said “I think interning will be a good experience, because it will help me decide what I will major in, in college.”

The applicants are evaluated on the grounds of academic qualification, punctuality, professionalism, and work ethic. These are the characteristics of someone who will flourish in the Internship Academy program. A list of the interviewees is also given to all of the staff members so they can provide insights on the students that they have had in class. The interviews were conducted by Mrs. Wheat, who was accompanied by a business expert and a former intern from the previous year’s class. The students are invited into a formal interview and questioned about their interests and what they expect to receive from the Internship Academy. Nathan Deskins, who just completed his interview recently, said “The interviews were very in-depth.”

Students have an opportunity to intern with almost any occupation. Nathan Deskins said he wanted to intern because he likes that it gives him the opportunity to go out and work. Interns from last semester’s class went, after school, to participate in many different professions. From Braden Peters, who interned with a police department, to Kaley Heath, who interned with the Promo West Pavilion, learning about media and film, the students have almost limitless choices, even in the medical field. However, with the swine flu virus of this last year, some students found it difficult to find accepting mentors within the hospitals in our area. Such a circumstance may not be a problem for this next school year, because the swine flu scare is now mostly gone.

Internship Academy is most definitely not what you would call an “easy A.” Mrs. Wheat said “The students begin the course by spending the first few weeks of class studying the book of Nehemiah,” who is the biblical representation of all the qualities that make a hard worker, and a good leader. As they learn more about how to be a professional business person, they also learn about how to write a credible resume. Having qualities that make you a diligent worker is pointless if you can’t advertise them effectively. Mrs. Wheat is hoping that through learning these qualities, the students will be able to take advantage of this program to its fullest degree.

The students are paired with their mentors, the business professionals with whom they will be interning. After sixth period, the Interns go to their new place of occupation. In order to pass the class, the students must spend at least 10 hours a week with their mentor, and record the time they spend interning in a time log, which is signed by the mentor. The students also must keep a journal, in which they record their experiences. All of this information is put in the intern’s portfolio at the end of the semester.

Most of the time, Mrs. Wheat has pre-existing connections with almost every field in which a student would be interested in interning. However, when a student wants to intern in a career field with which Mrs. Wheat has no pre-established contacts, she must begin the difficult process of finding a completely new mentor. First, she sends a mass email to all of the teachers and parents asking if anyone has any contacts within that field; and with the wide variety of careers that the parents of Worthington Christian are involved, it is not normally a problem to find a Christian, professional mentor.

For almost all occupations, the students have an opportunity to participate directly with their work. Unfortunately, sometimes the type of work in which they are interning can limit the amount of hands-on experience they can receive. For example, any job that requires a license to perform, like surgery, or many other medical fields, is very difficult for a student to participate in, legally. However, this shouldn’t discourage anyone from applying to intern in these fields, because even if you can’t contribute directly, students will still be able to learn extensively about their desired career from aiding and observing their mentors.

The juniors that recently applied for Internship Academy are extremely excited to take part in this program next year: they are thrilled to continue their education by moving out of the classroom, and into the work place.

A "Magical" Evening: Worthington Christian Gala

Saturday May 1st was truly a night to remember. Worthington Christian’s juniors and seniors stepped into the ballroom at the Josephinium in Worthington, Ohio, and enjoyed a night filled with laughter, etiquette, and magic for the annual Gala Event.

In weeks prior, the anticipation of many students built quickly as the big day drew near. Many young ladies were asked to attend the masquerade event. Junior Jack Price used a creative idea to ask Shelby Hamrick. “I asked by giving her a bracelet that said ‘Gala 2010’ on it, and she said yes,” Price exclaimed.

Junior Tom Dreyer asked Amy Gibson in a creative way, as well. Gibson told the story: “Every class period I received a single rose with a word taped to it. By the end of the day, it spelled, ‘Would you go to Gala with me? Sincerely, Tom.’ ” Gibson added, “It was a very cute and creative idea, and because of how he asked me, I was really excited to go with him!”

Although most students decided to take the more traditional route and go with a date, others opted for a different experience. Junior Megan Nishizaki decided to go with a group of her friends instead of having to deal with the pressures of a date. Nishizaki commented, “It’s all new for me and very exciting!”

Boys and girls alike were excited for this highly anticipated event. The Student Events Committee worked hard to make sure that everything ran without a glitch. Josh Petrel, a new addition to the Committee, boldly commented, “I was excited for Gala because I was going to look super attractive.”

Preparation for Gala is never easy, but this year the girls did an amazing job. Finding the right dress, getting your hair done, and choosing the right group can be very stressful experiences. However, the Worthington Christian juniors and seniors made it look simple. “Everyone looked really pretty,” senior Alex Myer commented. “The dress selection was amazing.” However, the ladies weren’t the only ones to arrive in style. Senior Beth Julca commented about her date’s attire, “Michael [Williams] looked like a stud.”

As students began arriving, parents waited anxiously outside the Josephinium. Most tried to capture every little moment of their children’s experience on film. The parent reception lasted for a little over one hour before students began to file into the facility to get their seats. Bouquets of roses sat in the middle of every table, and tea lights helped create a special atmosphere. “I thought the place was decorated beautifully,” said senior Jazmine Keels. “It was very elegant.”

The entertainment for the evening started with a brief lesson on proper dining etiquette. Several students did not particularly enjoy this part of the evening. “I didn’t think it was a necessary part of the evening,” fellow writer Raima Forbes stated. “The setting just wasn’t a very appropriate place for it.” Despite the students’ misgivings, this special lesson in etiquette should prove beneficial in the future.

The attendees were next served a catered meal of Chicken Piccata (chicken breast served in a light white wine, lemon and caper butter sauce), string green beans, and red potatoes. Many of the students had mixed reviews concerning the quality of the food. “The food was just okay,” said Nishizaki. “There wasn’t much of a selection.” However, Keels noted that “the chocolate cake and the salad were delicious!”

After dinner, the students watched their classmates attempt hilarious and difficult tasks during the game, Minute to Win It. The required tasks included trying to get all the tissues out of a tissue box, as well as trying to get cotton balls to stick on a nose covered in petroleum jelly. “The Minute to Win It game was a little dumb,” commented senior Bekah Mack. “However, it was definitely entertaining.”

The next part of the evening was magical and by far the most popular. “I thought the best part of Gala was the magician,” said senior Caleb Palumbo. “He had some amazing tricks.” Students watched earnestly as David McCreary, a professional magician, amazed them for almost an hour. By including many of the students in his performance, McCreary grabbed and kept their attention, something that has been almost impossible in years past. Student Events representative Amara Taranto said, “The magician was mind-boggling!”

When the night finally came to an end, young men and women began trickling out of the ballroom. Fellow journalist Raima Forbes said she was surprised by how long she stayed. “My date and I weren’t expecting to stay the whole time, but we did,” Forbes noted. Overall, everyone seemed to have a good time and the feedback was very positive. The 2010 Gala was definitely successful and will be remembered as one of the best Worthington Christian formal events.

[Photos courtesy of Abby Camp and Mrs. Ginger Gibson]

The Third Grade Passover Seder

The WC Westview and Powell Elementary schools held a special ceremony at the HS AC Auditorium on Friday April 5, 2010, for the purpose of understanding the routines of the Jewish Seder Feast.

Third graders from both branches who were engaged in this event have been informed of the importance of the special Passover Supper that is recounted in the Bible. Understanding the reason for this celebration is an important piece of these children’s Christian education.

Westview Elementary School teacher Judy Bechtel attended this function and was delighted by the reason behind it. “It is a great experience for these kids to get to be a part of something this serious. It is supposed to be a traditional celebration and that it was!”

Though the Jewish traditions were the focal point of the ceremony, the larger percentage of the children and parents were, unsurprisingly, non-Jewish. Nevertheless, they easily adapted to the atmosphere. The components of this ceremony reflect those that the Jewish disciples and Jesus Christ practiced.

Granted this opportunity to be associated with the intricate ceremonies of the Jewish people, the third grade class of WC had an interesting outlook on the celebration. The food that they ate was that of the original Passover Supper.

Although the Seder meal was distasteful to a majority of the class, some children with Jewish backgrounds had a far less difficult time accommodating to the flow of the ceremony than the non-Jewish attendants did.

“One thing we tasted as a symbol was the bitter herbs that reminded the Israelites of the bitterness of slavery,” third grade Powell Elementary school teacher Mary Myers shared. “Also, there was a door drawn on the plate on which the students dipped a parsley branch into grape juice and put it on the doorposts. After we did our symbolism part, then we had a feast! It was great.”

The food produced mixed reviews. In addition to the Seder meal, the feast also included traditional American dishes. Third grader Michael King said “It was fun; I liked the mashed potatoes and chicken!” Though some of the guests thought the cuisine bitter, others, apparently, appreciated it.

Parent David Forbes said, “I was glad to accompany my son to this formality. It was a wonderful time.” The parents highly commended the opportunity to be a part of such an event with their children.

“I liked that we got to be like Jesus in the Passover picture,” said Caroline Mousa. Being like Christ seems a primary reason for participating in the Passover. Our Savior is the reason why we are here and it is laudable that young children can experience a different way to show their love for God.

“I like the Passover Seder because we got to learn all about it and what the Blood of the Lamb on the door means,” third grade Westview Elementary student David Forbes stated. The Seder Feast has made a positive impact on the lives and mindsets of the 3rd grade WC children and parents.

[Photos courtesy of Mrs. Holly Varian]

Roatan Island: the 2010 Marine Biology Trip

The Marine Biology teacher, Mrs. Debra Walton, and the 16 students in this year’s class ventured to Roatan Island, Honduras, this April. While there, they enjoyed a week of learning, scuba diving, snorkeling, and sun bathing.

On Saturday April 10th, the students met at the Delta Check-In at the Columbus International Airport. Although the line was fairly long and no one was looking forward to the lengthy plane ride, the excitement on their faces was palpable.

For some students, this trip would be the first time they had ever traveled outside the country. However, for junior Andrew Siders, the trip was particularly special. While entering the plane, he mentioned to the flight attendant that it was his first time flying, and he asked for a pair of wings. However, the flight attendant decided to above and beyond the call of duty. She escorted him to the cockpit where he was introduced to both pilots and allowed to sit in the captain’s seat. For most first-time flyers, that would be enough in itself; but the captain then asked if Andrew would like to be upgraded to first class. Of course, Andrew said yes. “I was pretty nervous at first,” commented Siders; “Speaking to the pilot and the stewards comforted me very quickly.”

The first few days flew by quickly for many of the Marine Biology students. On Sunday, many experienced for the first time what it felt like to be scuba diving. Feelings were mixed as students began to jump into the water. “I was surprisingly not nervous,” commented Amy Gibson. However, junior Jack Price admitted that at first he “was a little nervous, because if something were to happen, you’re still 90 feet from the surface.”

Fortunately, soon after the students entered the water, a lot of their previous trepidation disappeared. With the help of the Dive Masters, Frank and Mrs. Walton, the class’s adventurous week of exploring the underwater world got underway. Throughout the week, the students enjoyed various dives, including one where they reached a depth of over 90 feet and appreciated the sights of many sea creatures and a sunken ship. “It felt like you were in a totally different world,” remembers Price. “It was absolutely incredible.”

Although scuba diving was an amazing experience for the students, they found that their most memorable times happened above the surface. “The most intense moment was the dance night,” said junior Nathan Deskins. “Everyone in our class was going crazy, and no other people at the resort were really dancing.” All the WC students joined in for a tropical island version of the Ohio classic “Hang on Sloopy” and, of course, the conga line. Michelle Laws and Josh Petrel were crowned The Anthony’s Key Resort Limbo King and Queen! Also, the class enjoyed performances from fire dancers, a tribal dance form.

Many students enjoyed being exposed to the exotic wildlife on the island. During one special excursion to Maya Key, the class was introduced to many animals, including many colorful parrots, anteaters, jaguars, and a very curious monkey named George.

When students returned to the main island, they were also able to interact with the dolphins at the resort or go on a horseback ride along the beach. “The dolphin training was really interesting,” commented Emily Englehart. “We were able not only to swim with them but also to learn about how they respond to different signals and rewards.” While Emily was training the dolphins, Blake Miller was having an entirely different experience: “My favorite part of the trip was riding my horse, Scorpion.” Miller later added that he also enjoyed “racing with Jacobs’s horse, Sapolche, on the beach.”

For an outsider looking in, this Marine Biology trip could look like it was all fun and games. However, in reality, the students learned a great deal about the marine environment and conservation during their stay. Every day, the class attended a seminar with a Marine Biologist, and through these seminars, the students’ view of the underwater world was definitely altered. “It was nice to be able to learn about the environment we would be diving in before we went out,” said Jack Price. “Plus, our teacher explained it in an easy-to-understand way.”

During their stay on the Island, the students and chaperones made an impact on the local children. Two times throughout the week they set apart some of their “sacred” free time to go and interact with the young children. Students had songs, crafts, and testimonies prepared. Even with a language barrier, they shared the love of Jesus Christ.

Throughout the week, not only did they learn more about the amazing world that God created, but they bonded as a class. “I think we all got closer as a group,” added Jake Berlin. The Marine Biology trip to Roatan Island, Honduras, was an amazing experience for teachers and students alike. It wasn’t something that any of them are likely to forget.

The Dominican Republic: Senior Missions Trip 2010

On Friday April 19^th, WCS seniors traveled to the country of Dominican Republic with the effective intention of blessing the Dominican people with the love of Jesus Christ.

Proving to be very successful this year, the trip to Dominican was an inspiring experience for all WC seniors who attended. The mission portion of the trip was the focal point majority of students and chaperones; and ample fun was included during the experience.

Our mission for the Dominican trip contained of a variety of duties. Giving food and water to the residents of poor villages was but one way of lending a helping hand. However, this particular experience of interacting with numerous Dominicans was one of the most performed of all the activities. Senior Carrie Chodzin said, “Some of the people hadn’t eaten in days. It was a good feeling to be able to be the heroes they had been believing God for; even if it was just for a few hours at a time.

The experience of feeding the villages ministered to the majority of WC attendants. Seeing people in such dire circumstances blessing God’s name changed the perspectives of the senior class.

Children as young as three years old bearing life-threatening diseases displayed that happiness is still an option. The WC medical team worked diligently to help those struggling for their lives. Dr. Douglas Katula accompanied the seniors this year, successfully leading the medical clinic portion of the mission trip.

“This young boy held up a paper to me that said he was positive for HIV,” said senior Andrew Parrish, one of the many assisting medical students. “He was the happiest kid, just smiling and running around. It just touched me.” The trip allowed many of us to understand that we take too much for granted; especially when we realized that we have so much, in comparison.

Singing and dancing with the Dominican children was one of the major highlights of the missions for a bulk of the senior class. Senior praise leader Madison Mikhail directed the song and dance program for the trip.

Alongside Madison, Michael Bush vigorously involved himself with singing and dancing as well. Together, their overflow of energy enlivened the children and made God more real to them.

“It was crazy, hot, dripping with sweat, and high energy, but it was well worth it,” said Michael Bush. Being involved in this experience requires one to be passionate—without that passion, we as seniors could not have made it through one day in the Dominican Republic.

Along with songs and medical assistance came arts and crafts. Katelyn Schultz led the face-painting department along with Cristiana Mace, Beth Julca, and myself. “I loved painting their faces!” Katelyn said. “I don’t speak a word of Spanish, but I loved it!

On Sunday, WC students attended a Dominican church, where there were children everywhere. “I loved going to the church.” Jazmine Keels said. “Observing the way other people love God is really interesting.” Though an English translator was present and the atmosphere was a culture shock, it engaged our attention fully.

Selected senior Spanish students gave personal testimonies at the villages that we visited, speaking directly to the people about what God has done in the lives of those at WC. “Even though I didn’t give a testimony, I like being able to translate and just talk to them,” said fluent Spanish speaker Beth Julca.

The testimonies were heartfelt and the Dominican village residents appreciated the students’ gesture. Kaley Heath said, “I just wanted to pour my heart out to them and let them know how much God cares.”

Returning home from such an environment of loving people and children was difficult for most students. Being in the Dominican was a new way of life; many people that we met carry God in their hearts in the way a true follower of Christ should. “I was thinking about it,” said Cristina Mace; “and I miss the kids already.”