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.”

Sarah Whitt: Dedicated New Artist

The walls of the Worthington Christian High School library are currently decorated with sophomore Sarah Whitt’s witty paintings of her pug.

So far, Sarah has 11 pieces in her concentration upon Pugsley, her dog. Sarah’s brother, Alex, said that she has spent a great deal of time on this collection, working with “whole-hearted dedication,” and for anyone who has seen her art, the results of her effort are clear.

All of the pieces in this compilation are on poster board, and were painted using acrylic and tempera paints, making the art very bold and colorful. Sarah has been working on the compilation since September at the beginning of the school year.

Pugsley, the subject of Sarah’s collection, is already a legend to the students of Worthington Christian. Sarah’s friend, Liz Akin, said “Pugsley is a lovable dog that everyone adores”—which contributes to the art’s popularity with the students.

Sarah Whitt is one of the youngest students ever to be in AP art, and is excited to have her art on display for the whole school to see. “I think it’s really cool that they wanted to put my art on display,” Sarah commented.

Mrs. Heisey’s Advanced Placement Art course is quite different from a normal art class. In addition to continuing to learning about artistic concepts, the students also work on building a portfolio. However, only the exceptionally well made concentrations, like Sarah’s, are put on display for the entire school to see.

“Sarah’s inspiration for her art concentration came from the famous contemporary artist Elizabeth Peyton.” Mrs. Heisey said “Elizabeth’s Peyton’s style of capturing the fashion and style of celebrities inspired Sarah to do the same thing with Pugsley.”

Peyton’s technique, which is based on stylizing and idealizing celebrities, was formative in inspiring Sarah to make a celebrity of her dog, Pugsly. Sarah, however, took Peyton’s sometimes sardonic style to the next level by presenting her pug as a fashionable celebrity. “Pugsley was already a celebrity;” Alex clarified: “Sarah is just spreading his glory to everyone else.”

The eight-piece collection currently on display in the library reveals Pugsley doing everything from eating yogurt to standing in a majestic pose. Sarah’s depictions make this “awkward and chunky” dog appear quite the star.

The student body of Worthington Christian is proud to have Sarah Whitt’s art work on display. After seeing the Sarah’s extraordinary collection about Pugsley, we all look forward to her next endeavors.

Meet the Writers: The Wonderful Dan Beale

Who is Dan Beale? Many friends know him as an outgoing and cynical person; but do you know him as a compassionate future engineer?

Dan, a member of the Worthington Christian community since his freshman year, came to Worthington Christian from Heritage Christian. While there, Dan had the distinction of winning the state championship in lacrosse while in seventh grade.

Once Dan came to Worthington Christian, he stopped playing lacrosse; but since then he has become active in several different activities. Currently, Dan is a member of the Worthington Christian tennis team. When he’s not playing tennis, Dan enjoys paintballing at “Land Paintball,” snowboarding at Peek’n Peak in New York, riding dirt bikes, and playing recreational football with friends.

In addition to playing a variety of sports, Dan is a huge fan of Jimmy Hendricks. Dan “has the same guitar” as Hendricks and enjoys playing Hendricks song “All Along the Watch Tower.” When asked why he likes Hendricks so much, Dan started to grin as he responded “I like songs with a message.” His love for such music has caused him to maintain a secret admiration for classical and older music.

Dan’s favorite teacher at Worthington Christian is Dr. Buzz. According to Dan, Dr. Buzz does a great job of mingling his intelligence with a good sense of humor, which complements his style of teaching Bible overall.

Although Dan loves the teaching style of Dr. Buzz, his best memories at Worthington Christian come from “helping Mrs. Walton with the fish tank.” As Dan reminisced upon the great times he has had helping Mrs. Walton, he also remembered how much fun he had getting to know his classmates on class retreats. It’s Dan’s belief that the junior retreat was the best because he “actually got to swim.”

Dan’s passion for working with his hands has led him to fix many of his family’s cars. One day, Dan plans to buy a ’70 Chevelle so that he can customize it himself.

After a brief conversation with Dan, you can easily tell that he doesn’t like backing down from a challenge, which was vital in helping him “do well in mathletes with Mrs. Fisher.” His knack for accepting challenges and his love for math have combined to serve as the perfect route for Dan to challenge himself intellectually.

In addition to all of the extracurricular activities Dan enjoys, he loves activities that allow him to combine his intellectual curiosity and passion for working with his hands. For this reason, Dan plans to join the Army Reserve after high school in order to earn a degree in mechanical or aeronautical engineering.

As Dan finishes his high school career and excels in college, watch out for his name in newspapers as he makes giant strides in the field of engineering.

Meet the Writers: Social Butterfly

Worthington Christian senior Abby Camp is one of the school’s most affable and sociable W.C. students; however, there is more to her than meets the eye.

Abby is what some would refer to as a social butterfly, or a very sociable person who flits from one social event to another. Not only does Abby attend all the social events connected with the school, but she assists in planning them as well. She’s commonly known to be active in the latest affairs and events of WC.

Varsity cheerleading, student council, student body, and Spanish club are a few activities that occupy Abby’s interest, performance, and attention. Abby diligently pursues being efficacious in her schoolwork and her efforts apparently serve her well.

College, for the senior class, is approaching; Abby is preparing for this vast transition and claims Ohio State University as one of her top choices on where she will most likely attend college. Abby says Columbus has been her “favorite place to live so far because it’s an actual city and it isn’t gross.” Essentially, her opinion of Ohio is heavily weighted upon her strong desire to attend Ohio State.

Along with her indefatigable involvement at WC, Abby also possesses a passionate love for traveling the world. Having conquered Ireland, Italy, Greece, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras, Abby now considers Brazil her most desired future destination. She also wishes to travel more often inside the United States.

This affinity for traveling is closely intertwined with Abby’s deepest devotion: the people of the world. Traveling is one of the main ingredients for touching God’s people, specifically those who are lost and suffering; and Abby is adamant about this concern in our world.

The hope that all people would come to know Jesus Christ before breathing their last breath on earth stands as the one element Abby says she would change about the world if only she could. Abby values having a relationship with the Savior tremendously. Making this change would connect to Abby’s compassionate personality and character traits.

Traveling encourages Abby to write about her experiences and encounters while she journeys. She enjoys writing and sees it as a good tool to help recall and relive her travel experiences. Writing things down can assist almost everyone in remembering important events that occur.

Once Abby chooses the college she will attend, she will major in Political Science and Pre-Med, and minor in Spanish. She previously considered majoring in Marine Biology, but has since abandoned that ambition. Abby believes that it could still happen, but isn’t necessarily pursuing that desire any longer.

Abby admits that she is unsure whether she will change her major or not. According to the studies and surveys, a little over fifty percent of all college students change their major the first year. She does not deny the statistic, but she is unsure of what the future will hold for her.

Mr. and Mrs. Camp have never failed to encourage their daughter to pursue her own dreams and follow her own path. They encourage her to be her own person, not
pressing any particular profession or decision upon her. Abby is thankful for her parents, and fulfilling her dreams is exactly what she intends to do.