Controversy Continues To Surround Trump Administration

Throughout Donald Trump’s presidency, there have been multiple instances where his actions have been controversial, including recent events regarding the Trump administration’s possible ties to Russia. There are allegations that he shared classified information with Russian leaders.

On May 16, 2017, Trump tweeted, “As President, I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.”

It is believed that Russia leaked Hillary Clinton’s emails early in her campaign. A lot of people think that former FBI Director James Comey did not competently handle the investigation surrounding this issue, which the White House states is the reason that Trump recently fired Director Comey.

Later the same day, Trump also tweeted, “I have been asking Director Comey & others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community . . . Crooked Hillary Clinton and her team ‘were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information.’ Not fit!”

The Washington Post announced on May 15 that Trump told Russian officials of an ISIS plot, which was classified information. On May 16, information was released that Trump allegedly asked FBI Director Comey to stop the investigations surrounding Michael Flynn (former Director of Defense) and Russia. Trump's actions could be seen as an obstruction of justice, which is a felony.

Many believe what Trump has done is cause for impeachment, while others think it should be delayed. Yet, according to the New York Times, Comey was the one who said that Trump asked to stop the investigations. If there’s no proof, there’s really no case against Trump. However, if proof emerges, there may be cause for his impeachment.

To find out more about this issue, go to https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/16/us/politics/james-comey-trump-flynn-russia-investigation.html

By: Ava Krueger, Editor

2016-17 CCHS Highlights

Well, the 2016-17 school year is finally wrapping up . Let’s talk a walk down memory lane and see what happened this year. As always, school kicked off at Skonewood, where students got to know each other through games, competition, and fellowship.  Friendships continued to form in various autumn activities, including the fall play Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily.  Calvin provided an opportunity for students to play soccer, basketball, and volleyball.  For the freshmen and sophomores, service learning took place at Northport Elementary, Crestview, Linwood, and the Alexandra House.  

This year’s theme for the winter dance was Moonlight on the Parkway.  Soon after came Christmas, giving everyone a chance to get away and sleep in.  After the post-Christmas lull, Prom walked ‘round the corner, flashing its “Under the Sea” theme.  It was held for the 4th year in a row at the TPC in Blaine. Moving on, we’ll note that this is was the year for advisory trips.  The students broke off into their academic families and each visited their own location: Duluth, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Chicago, and South Dakota.  

As many people know, Calvin High School follows up the fall play with a spring musical.  Lydia Thoreen returned to direct How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.  And now, final tests are handed out, classes wind down, and we start to say goodbye to our seniors as they prepare for final presentations and graduation.  

By: Anna Silker

Bees on the Decline in the U.S.

The rusty patched bumble bee is now “beeing” listed as an endangered species in the United States. This bee is known as a key pollinator of blueberries, tomatoes and wildflowers. It is also the first wild bee in the continental United States to “bee” listed as endangered. This status includes federal protections and the development of a plan to recover the bee population.

Since the 1990s, the rusty patched bumble bee has seen a shocking decline of 87 percent. These bees were once incredibly common in 28 American states and are now found scarcely in only 13 states. This decline is thought to “bee” caused by a combination of habitat loss, disease, pesticide use, and climate change.

The reason endangerment and extinction are such serious topics is “beecause” of the interconnectedness of the world’s ecosystem. Bees serve as vital pollinators of our plant life, which ultimately “beecomes” a food source to humans as well as other creatures which share the earth with us. Christy Leavitt from Environment America suggests that “it’s simple: no bees, no food.”

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services says that individuals can help by planting gardens with lots of flowers which provide nectar for bees. They also recommend leaving some areas untouched since many bumble bees build nests in undisturbed soil, abandoned rodent burrows, or grass clumps.

To learn more about the endangered status of the rusty patched bumble bee, visit https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/insects/rpbb/factsheetrpbb.html.

By: Miriam Nelson

Taking Part in the World of Service: Senior Year Passion Projects

Senior year at Calvin Christian High School concludes with the famous (or infamous) senior projects, and along with that, passion projects. For these projects, seniors undertake to help the community in ways they are passionate about, such as organizing fundraisers, volunteering, or setting up events.

For example, Mollie Kelderman organized a 5k for Shema, an organization dedicated to providing jobs for survivors of trafficking. Her goal was to raise $10k, and she has already exceeded this.

However, this is just one example of the variety of projects that this year’s seniors are doing. Brad Mateer, Connor Bartz, and Drew Dykstra organized a basketball camp for children in grades 3-5.

Connor says, “We all have a passion for the game of basketball and for youth.”

Some Passion Projects are based on the seniors’ experiential learning projects, such as Ava Krueger’s project on homelessness.

“We’re getting supplies for Stepping Stone Emergency Housing,” says Ava. “Since the shelter already provides the resident’s basic needs we wanted to collect items that would improve their quality of life.”

Calvin Christian High School has required senior projects for a long time now; it is a fundamental part of the student's path to becoming active agents of good in the world.

"It’s important to apply our passions into the world of service,” says Connor Bartz. “It’ll help show that it is not about me, but about others.”

by: Nicole Krueger, Writer.

Student Highlights 8.0

Caleb Walden

Birthdate:

July 3, 2002

Biggest fear:

Living forever

Favorite quote:

“That's bad.”

What’s on your bucket list:

To play with a quantum computer.

If you had a time machine where would you go:

Before I ate my lunch.

Describe yourself in five words:

I like turtles, a lot.

If you could vacation in one country where would it be:

Dubai.

If a genie appeared and offered you one wish (besides more wishes) what would you wish for:

More genies.

Ilya Yunchyk

Birthdate:

July 30, 2001

Biggest fear:

Heights.

Favorite quote:

“Lit.” — Ilya Yunchyk

What’s on your bucket list:

Skydiving.

If you had a time machine where would you go:

To the future.

If you could vacation in one country where would it be:

Australia.

If a genie appeared and offered you one wish (besides more wishes) what would you wish for:

More genies.

Why Advisory Trips?

Photo: Mr Tien's advisory traveled to the Minnesota North Shore.

Advisory trips have come to pass successfully once again. These trips allow advisory groups to to get to know each other better and learn new things. Advisory groups meet at the beginning and end of the school day, and act like a conventional home room.

Every other year, the advisories goes on a trip together for one week. The location of the trip needs to be within a ten hour drive of school, which leads to the exploration of various locations around the area. This year, advisories went to Chicago, St. Louis, Duluth, South Dakota, and Milwaukee, leaving on April 24 and returning on April 28.

Why do advisories go on trips?

A significant goal of advisory groups is to build a close community, and develop friendships between students in different grades. Shared experiences over the course of a week can help develop these friendships.

The trips also have an educational goal. Each one is meant to answer a driving question, and works towards that goal with the places they go and activities they participate in. Upon the conclusion of these trips, advisories make presentations to show the rest of the school what they have learned.  

CCHS Principal Wendell Schaap said that the trips help develop community, and “give you the space to develop relationships.” They allow students to get to know each other in different ways, and that they combine the learning community of school with personal community, and that can work to strengthen friendships and groups.

Educationally, Mr. Schaap says the trips allow students an “experience where we can learn about the history of a city, and learn how to value it.” The trips give students the chance to learn and experience things that they would not be able to learn about or experience in a typical school class.

It teaches students to be interested in history, and to learn how to value it in ways that they would not be able to without experiencing it. Learning to appreciate the history of a place can cause students to think differently about any new place that they go.

It will be exciting to see how the Arkansas Canoe Trip and the Washington D.C. Trip go next year. They also give students unique opportunities, and contributes to their understanding of creation or government. They also both offer students the opportunity to get to know each other better. Hopefully these trips will go smoothly and enjoyably next year.

By: Rick Derfus, Editor