PSEO: College in the Schools

PSEO has always been a vital part of Calvin, especially for Juniors and Seniors. However, this year, Calvin is making it even easier to take PSEO. Two college courses are being offered right here at Calvin, advanced Biology and advanced Language arts for the Juniors, and advanced Environmental studies for the Seniors. Biology and Language arts are being offered for free, while Seniors must pay to take advanced Environmental Studies. The classes are being offered by Northwestern and will count as credits if a student decides to go to Northwestern or any other college that Northwestern is partnered with.

- Ian Krueger

Sports Update

How are the Calvin Christian High School soccer and volleyball teams doing this year? The soccer team is doing good with 3 wins,1 tie, and 1 loss. Trevor Bartz, a senior and one of the captains, said, “I am loving it, I love the character of the team and the way they play together and play their hardest but still having fun, it is one of the best if not the best soccer team I has been on in regard to character.” Alex Meybaum, a freshman, is also really liking soccer and is having lots of fun playing in the games. The volleyball team is also doing very well. Their games have been successful with 3 wins and 1 loss. Emily Nelson, a sophomore, is new to Calvin this year. She is really enjoying volleyball. It is one of her favorite sports, and she loves how her team is very close and supportive. Overall Calvin has very excellent teams, with lots of potential. 

-- Connor Bartz

The One Act Play

The One Act Play: An Attempt at a New Way to Express Oneself

 

siouxcityjournal.com 

The students at Calvin Christian High School are attempting to put on a new type of theatre production. The school in the past has stuck to the conventional multiple act style play. Now however, the one act style is what is being done. This will be a student led production that will be part of a festival done by Dordt college. So far only one student has answered the call. That student would be junior Sarah Shields. As one might expect she was a bit trepidatious. She told me she was “ so used to getting direction.” She seemed to be ready to take on the challenge even without direction. She stated, “I think it will be interesting.” She continued by saying she thought it would be “good” as well. 

A few students were interviewed to see what their opinions of the play were. Annika Tedlund, a freshman, when asked about her opinion on the play, said “plays are useful”, and when asked why she said to give people the opportunity to demonstrate “authentic culture.” 

Tony Sauro has played an important role in in recent plays. When I asked him his opinion, he said “ I think that the plays have given me the opportunity to perform in some of my strengths.” He also said about the play “It’s always a good experience, rarely do you find a play that doesn’t work.” The only negative was “ It can be hard to balance school work and the play.”

It would seem that the play is an enjoyable experience to people and there is now an exciting new style of theatre to attempt this year.

- Rick Derfus

Culinary Experiential Learning: Traveling the Restaurants of Minnesota

This year for experiential learning, Bob Allwine, Nick Bonnema, and Jeremiah Wicklund are working together on a project that will traverse the restaurants of Minnesota. They are attempting to figure out what happens to the food at restaurants that is thrown away at the end of the day, and if there is anything better that can be done with it. “What is unique and special about the project we are doing,” says Bob, “Is that not many people think about it (restaurants throwing away extra food), but it happens so much.” Says Jeremiah Wicklund “Knowing the fact that us three together usually means trouble, it’s interesting that we can focus on something that will benefit everyone, and to do a project that the teachers will accept.”

- Ian Krueger

Nathan Kanis: Experiential Learning

This year, Nathan Kanis decided to explore his passion for cars in connection with his experiential learning project. Every week, he has had the chance to leave the school building and join a local mechanic to learn more about this field of work. Below you will find the conversation the Cougar's Tale had with Nathan about his time there:


What are you doing for your project?I just completed my project on how the automobile has changed over the past 50 years.


Who do you work with?
I did an internship at Rensfeldt's Automotive and I worked with a guy named Dave.


What is the most enjoyable thing about this project?I got to fix my car, but I really just loved being able to work with my hands


What things have you been learning?
I learned how to balance tires, replace wiring. Being a mechanic forces you to learn how things work together so really everyday is a learning experience because every car is different


What are some of your goals in the future?I just want to keep learning so that I don't have to pay a mechanic to do it. However if I would decide that I should become a mechanic it would be a great starting point


What is the most difficult thing about this project?
Probably just setting everything up. It took me 3 weeks to get the internship going


Why are you doing this project/what made you do this?
I have an intense passion for cars.I have just been brought up with cars. My dad is a mechanic and my grandpa owned a ford dealership for a time and then started selling heavy duty trucks. So it's in my blood.


- Angela Balboa

Pig Dissection: Human Anatomy and Physiology

On Thursday, the Human Anatomy and Physiology class went with Mr. VandeGlind to Bethel University to dissect baby pigs. Pigs are the animal of choice because they have a similar organ structure to humans, so the class went digging through their little piglet bodies to find all of the vital organs of the body from the intestines to the heart to the pancreas. Some were not so sure about the experience after seeing the then-intact pigs, but once the process was underway, the dissection went smoothly. This experience gave the Human Anatomy class another glimpse of just how intricately God has constructed the body.

- Nathan Bonnema

There’s something fishy going on here!

Calvin Christian students have done some interesting Independent Projects, ranging from technology, to hands on arts and crafts, to a business plan for airsoft, to a popular sport here in Minnesota. What sport you ask? Good old outdoor fishing. Three sophomores at CCHS put their heads together and came up with a project centered on fishing. Not the sport itself, but rather the impact it has on the Minnesotan culture, the economy, and the sport of fishing. Recently the fishing opener began, and people are grabbing their tackle boxes and poles to get out and enjoy the spring. Sophomores Matt Johnson, Ian Krueger, and Karl Ludwig are prepping their gear to venture forth and answer the questions they have for this project. But how did this project come about? Matt Johnson, presented the idea to Ian and Karl, and the idea stuck, or in fishing terms, they got hooked, pun intended. These three friends are getting outdoors and enjoying the weather, the sport, and finding out how it all ties into the Minnesotan culture and economy.  

Below is a video that is going to be part the group's presentation. It demonstrates how to fillet and skin a fish, so watch accordingly.