The Dancing Games: Party at the Capitol

Last Friday, May 9, CCHS held prom at the TPC Golf Course, with an all-new Hunger Games theme. The majority of the school attended, and it was a fun time. The food served was chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, and rolls, with marble cake for dessert. After the meal, two juniors, Nick Bonnema and Sara Shields, read the senior wills and testaments, which were funny and enjoyable, lightening the mood. As soon as those were finished, most people were ready to dance. Halfway through the dance, the two tributes for the dance-off from each advisory entered the dance floor and performed their dances. It was a close match, but eventually Matt Johnson and Maddie Vande Kamp won the games. Mark Whitcomb, a sophomore, says, “Two memorable events from prom was the dance competition and Jeremiah’s song.”Many of the freshman attended, and enjoyed their first prom. Anna Smith, a freshman, says, “Being a freshman, I think that was great how they tried to make it memorable for us. It was a great first time.” Anna Bankes, a senior, says, “As my first[and last]prom, I liked it.” We hope the seniors all have great memories from their last prom as the year draws to a close.

School Girls in Nigeria Abducted

photo found here

Its been nearly a month since the abduction of an estimated 300 Nigerian girls. Yet, they are still being held captive and being threatened to be sold. Many of the girls have been forced to change religions, going from Christianity to Muslim. They are being taught parts of the Qur’an (the Islamic sacred book) and wearing traditional Muslim clothing. Even though this serious and horrible situation, it has also raised awareness for other countries that are being withheld from their education. Many other undeveloped countries restrict the right to education are women. On the following website, there is an opportunity to pray for a specific girl you can pray for:

http://achurchforstarvingartists.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/please-pick-one/#comment-4919

Angela Balboa

Independent Project Highlight: Is Beauty in the eye of the Beholder?

At Calvin Christian High School, sophomore Angela Balboa recently conducted a project about the standard of beauty. She was inspired by the attitude she saw in the media and among girls today about the subject. She said that she wanted to show them that what counted was what was beauty in “God’s eyes” and not what culture thought. She said that “society has distorted beauty”, and that what it considers to be beauty changes often.

Angela presented in front of the entire female student body and facilitated thoughtful conversation about body image, self-appreciation, and God's role in beauty today.

This is a good lesson can apply to boys also. Angela believes that today’s culture is very judgmental and idealized in several ways, and it can seem impossible to do everything the way it considers right. She reminds us that what matters is what God thinks of us, and that does not necessarily reflect the view of culture.

Thanks to Angela for starting the conversation!

- Rick Derfus

Washington DC: Exploring our Nation's Capitol

Every other year, Juniors and Seniors take the coveted trip of going to Washington DC to engage in both the political and historical significance of this country. This trip is always a highlight during the high school career for many students. Juniors and seniors are flown out to Washington DC for the week and engage in learning the story of America that Washington DC tells. 

Students visited many of the monuments such as the Abraham Lincoln Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, and the Vietnam War Memorial. They visited many other monuments, Smithsonians and museums as well as meeting with two different Congressmen, Erik Paulsen and Keith Ellison. 

Students had the chance to be able to get away from the normality of Minnesota and experience a new setting and culture within the capital of the United States. Even when students were not out and about, they were busy building community with fun card games, board games, and enjoying one another's company.

Freshmen and Sophomores Go on Spring Trips!

Two weeks ago, students from Calvin Christian high school went on spring trips. The upperclassmen went to D.C. and the lower classmen to Iowa. The 9th and 10th graders trip was supposed to be a canoe trip, but that changed due to the unpredicted ferocity of the weather. 

After a day of planning, student were able to begin their endeavor the next day. On Tuesday, they drove about two and a half hours up to visit Mystery Cave in Preston, Minnesota. After touring the cave, they drove to their set campsite in Iowa, with a steady stream of rain all the while. Students slept in tents for the first two nights and slept at a Bible camp the last night. In between, the students visited the Effigy Mounds and Maquoketa caves. 

On Thursday, the students went canoeing for two hours on the Upper Iowa River.On the last day the group traveled to a Bible camp, where we stayed for the night. They enjoyed roasting marshmallows and bungee jumping. Friday morning, we split into two groups. 

While one group reflected on the trip, the other went on Iowa’s longest zipline, and the second longest in the entire Midwest. Overall students were very pleased with the outcome of the alternative plan. It showed the students that Iowa wasn’t the most boring state in the U.S.

A New Opportunity to Learn: A Plethora of New Faces Come and Gone

Calvin Christian High School has had the opportunity to host foreign exchange students for two weeks. Over the two weeks, they stayed with host families who attended the school and they had the opportunity to Minneapolis and St. Paul. During school they would often attend the classes and see what the school was like. This was possible because they had already learned about English, so they were able to communicate well, and the students were willing to be patient and cooperate.

It was a good experience for everyone involved, and everyone got to experience a new culture, whether by hosting or visiting. The students have now continued to other parts of the U.S., and thanks to the effort of all involved hopefully their experience will be remembered well. We might even see some of them again if they choose to come to our school, though wherever they go we hope the best for them.

- Rick Derfus

Calvin Christian High School Prom: The Dancing Game - The Reaping

This year, the theme for prom is: The Dancing Games; Party at the Capitol. On Tuesday, May 6, two tributes, male and female, from each advisory were reaped to participate in a dance-off (practically)to the death. The two remaining students will be pronounced as winners. From Miss B’s advisory, Rachel Anderson and Nathan Mulder were chosen. From Mr. K’s advisory, Sunnie Zhou and Bradley Mateer were reaped, but Destiny Smith volunteered to take Sunnie’s place. From Mr. Smith’s advisory, Marissa Lindsey and Jacob Allwine. From Mr. V’s advisory, Mollie Kelderman and Mark Whitcomb. From Miss Wheeler’s, Maddie Vande Kamp and Matt Johnson, who volunteered in place of Trevor Bartz. The Dancing Games are guaranteed to make prom more fun(for the non-tributes, that is). To the tributes, may the odds be ever in your favor.

- Ava Krueger