Wingspan Fall 2017

Fall 2017The magazine of Grove City Christian School

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONDavid ArrellEDITORHannah BlandinEDITORIAL ASSISTANTSAmy McIlhargeyAmy SullivanCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERDon RogersELEMENTARY PRINCIPALCindy BigelowINTERMEDIATE/MIDDLE SCHOOLPRINCIPALDebbie EdwardsHIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALRebecca JeffriesHIGH/MIDDLE SCHOOLASSISTANT PRINCIPALJim McMillanATHLETIC DIRECTORMatt BlandinDIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENTHannah Blandinwww.grovecitychristian.orgwww.facebook.com/gccseaglesTwitter: @gccs_eaglesInstagram: @gccs_eagles Grove City Christian School serves as a ministry of the Grove City Church of the Nazarene

On behalf of the Education Committee of GGCS and Grove CityChurch of the Nazarene, it is my pleasure to welcome you to ouronline magazine, Wingspan. You don’t hear from us too muchduring the course of a school year and that is a good thing. Asa committee, we are charged with protecting and funding themission of our school. We take our mission statement very seri-ously as it is the only reason we exist. We do this through policydevelopment, monitoring the budget, and tracking progress onour goals. We have been active in the preparation of our ACSI/Advanc-ED accreditation report. We eagerly anticipate thefeedback on our school from the visiting accreditation team andtheir respective agencies.In this issue, you will read about how we are fulfilling our mis-sion statement with current students as well as with our alumni.Readers should be on the lookout for more information aboutour school finances and demographics, including the largenumber of area churches represented by our student body. Youwill see stories about our current students on athletic teams,the honor society, as well as a summer internship. Two storieshelp us understand how our current trips for Intermediate andMiddle school students provide opportunities for forming deep-er friendships with one another and develop leaders outsideof the classroom. The alumni focus takes us to Kenya, on thecontinent of Africa, where we learn how God is using Jonathanand Amanda Clark as they serve in hospitals and orphanages.Also in this issue is a collaborative project between a facultymember, Mrs. Emily Burlingame, and her students to create at-shirt design. The proceeds from the sale of the shirts will becontributed to hurricane relief efforts. Finally, within this issueyou will learn about our Upper School Library and the wonder-ful resources we have to enhance student learning.Thank you for your partnership with Grove City ChristianSchool. We appreciate you and your prayers as we developChristian leaders who impact their world.In Christ, Don Rogers, CFO & Chairman of the Education Committee 3

K I NDNE S S T ART S WI TH M4 WINGSPAN Magazine | Fall 2017 | www.grovecitychristian.org

SS Kindness counts. Kindness starts with me. Be a kindness ninja. S Cute quotes or conversation starters? However you see theseME quotes, they are lined in our K – 6th grade halls and classrooms this year. Each year I try to choose a character trait to focus on in the art room. This year is kindness. I kept seeing this idea of “Kindness Rocks” (rocks decorated with positive words and images) on social media and wanted our students to be involved in some way too. It inspired me to come up with ways to get our students thinking about CHOOSING kindness. One of my favorite things about teaching art is showing my stu- dents that art is more than just a pretty painting hanging in a gal- lery. Art can impact our world and our culture. Art can express love and kindness. I like to think about art class being the heart of our school. In my mind it is the place where culture change and commu- nity can really grow. I especially wanted to think of a way to focus on this. How could I show my students that art can have a positive impact in our school and world? When the hurricanes struck in September I was fascinated by the news coverage and heart broken over the devastation. In a casual conversation with one of my 5th grade art classes, we sort of stumbled across this idea of trying to raise money to help those impacted by the hurricanes. As you can imagine 5th graders and art teachers neither have much cash to spare, so we thought about things we could make and sell. I had wanted to get some kindness themed t-shirts made earlier in the year for our staff and it struck me that it was the perfect op- portunity for us to raise an extra buck. We could sell shirts. As we were brainstorming out loud, the kids lit up. They were immediate- ly excited by the idea. It was a great opportunity for my classes to CHOOSE kindness. I decided it would be meaningful if the students designed the shirts with kindness themes. We’re currently in the middle of the t-shirt design sale and I’m so amazed by the students who put forth effort to participate. They truly inspire me. We have also created a Kindness Wall in our hallways in which each of my almost 300 students has a self-portrait and the quote “Kind- ness starts with me.” We also plan to participate in the Kindness Rocks project later this year. My hope is that the students will learn to recognize opportunities to show kindness to each other and the community around us. Ephesians 4:32 has been our driving force be- hind our theme this year. “Be kind and compassionate to one other, forgiving each other, just as Christ Jesus forgave you.” By Emily Burlingame, DK-6th Grade Art Teacher 5

CharacterInspiring Students in Character,Leadership, Service, and Scholarship The Grove City Christian School National Honor Society induction on October 2, 2017, was a massive success. Twen- ty-one new members were welcomed by National Honor Society president Anna Phillips, along with advisers Mrs. Jacki Keim and Mrs. Helen Massaro. Current members Caleb Sullivan, Dalina Phomphengchane, Kent Writesel, and Melinda Baker delivered inspiring speeches about the four pillars of the National Honor Society: character, leadership, service, and scholarship. Our own Mrs. Rebecca Jeffries also encouraged both the incoming members and the current members with her challenge. Touching letters from the in- ductees’ parents were read as they were awarded their pinsand certificates. Afterward everyone fellowshipped together, enjoying cookies and punch in celebrationof the amazing achievements of all the students. By Anna Phillips, GCCS Senior Strong Character Is Like a Boomerang If most people know the difference be- tween right and wrong, why do some fall short of doing the appropriate action? They must think, “I’m under pressure to perform,” and “I have an image to main- tain.” They reason, “The rewards are worth it,” “It’ll only be this time,” and, “No one will ever find out.” Sadly, . . . they probably say, “Everybody does it” or “I’ve gotten away with it before. And, I bet I can again.” But, before you know it, this behavior becomes habit. Well, if you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see, don’t blame the mirror. It’s never too late to change. It’s not always easy to admit a mistake, persevere during tough times, or follow through on every promise made. It’s not always comfortable to convey the hard truth or stand up for your faith or what the Bible says. In the short term, it may notbe beneficial to do right by your customers, to put people before profits, or to distance yourself froma questionable relationship. BUT, in the long run, doing the right thing is the clear path to both successand happiness.6 WINGSPAN Magazine | Fall 2017 | www.grovecitychristian.org

When you have strong moral character, you’ll be judged by who you are, rather than who you pretend Leadershipto be; you’ll be a trusted friend rather than suspected as a foe; you’ll learn from your mistakes ratherthan hiding them in fear; you’ll serve as an outstanding role model for your admirers rather than lead-ing them down a dead-end path; you’ll look forward to the future rather than defending your past; andyour reputation will do you proud rather than reveal your flaws.Strong moral character is like a boomerang that causes good things to find their way back to you –– butit takes effort. Jim Rohn, the business philosopher, said, “Character isn’t something you were born withand can’t change, like your fingerprints. It’s something you weren’t born with and must take responsi-bility for forming.” So promise yourself to be true to yourself and do what’s right, even when nobody islooking –– your character matters. Presented by Caleb Sullivan, GCCS SeniorSpeech taken from “Moral Character Matters” by Frank Sonnenberg www.franksonnenbergonline.com/blog/moral-char-acter-matters/, posted on June 24, 2014 We all know the basic qualities of a leader; confidence, honesty, integrity, commitment, creativity, etc. Looking at an individual with those qualities it would probably seem as though being a leader would be really easy for them. Howev- er, most of us already know that when chosen to be a leader as a teenager, it’s VERY difficult! Especially today when our generation faces so many tempta- tions that at times it feels like leading by example is the “uncool” thing to do.But let me tell you this, being able to lead is one of the best characteristics a personshould have. Leadership is a gift. Being a leader means you have the potential tomake a change, whether it be in the classroom or maybe even the world. Why bea random person in the crowd when you can be someone who everyone can neverforget, because of your strong and lasting influence displayed to them. I encourageall of the inductees to bring out the courage within and be a stepping stone into thefuture, not an obstacle. I’m not going to say it will be easy because you will be testedand challenged to the point that you’ll want to give up. But, failure is inevitable, yetit’s how you bounce back that will make all difference. As leaders you must realizeto accept the failures and success in order to grow as a person. You all must strive to persevere throughfailure and come out stronger than you were before. So to conclude, I would like to encourage all thepotential leaders to not idly stand by and watch the world go on, on its own. But, GET UP, and leaveyour mark on this world. Show them all that you’re a leader.“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say,in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 Presented by Dalina Phomphengchane, GCCS Senior 7

When inducted into the prestigious NHS Scholarship organization you not only have to fulfill Service the three pillars of character, leadership, and scholarship, but you must also meet the required amount of service without any pay or material goods in return. When called to serve, many may see it as an inconvenience for themselves, but you must ask yourself is this the true mean- ing of community service? True commu- nity service is an attitude in which every member of the NHS must possess. Ofcourse, there will be Saturdays when you would rather sleep in instead of collectingcanned goods for the food pantry. However, when your days as an NHS member arecompleted, you will be able to look back on something you have done and realize itwas worthwhile and you have made a difference.As you become the newest generation of our school’s NHS, you must not waste amoment longer and begin your journey in service not only in your community, but inyour household and country as well. Presented by Kent Writesel, GCCS SeniorSpeech taken from Teen Ink 1989, author unknown Scholarship is characterized by a commit- ment to learning. Scholarship means that you’re always going to do the best work possible, regardless of what the reward may be. This pillar of the National Honor Society can only be obtained through hard work, diligence, and a thorough amount of effort. The scholarship pillar, although it may seem as if it just recog- nizes a student’s grade point average, looks way beyond the letters sent home on a report card. Scholarship is the re- flection of not only a student’s dedication to their school work, but their willingness to go above and beyond. A scholarly student is willing to spend the necessary time to cultivate their mind in the quest for knowledge. They show integrity through performing a multitude of different tasks and they understand that good scholarship reaps different types of benefits. The students present here today understand that nothing worth having comes easy. They have all put in a great deal of effort in their studies and it shows that hard work does, in fact, pay off. All of the students being inducted here today have exemplified attributes that are unique to members of the National Honor Society. Today, I am here to remind each member of the NationalHonor Society, both new and old, that, “successful people are not gifted; they just work hard, then suc-ceed on purpose.” Congratulations on this prestigious achievement. Presented by Melinda Baker, GCCS Senior8 WINGSPAN Magazine | Fall 2017 | www.grovecitychristian.org

The annual trip to Gettysburg and Washington, D.C. is the highlight of the eighth grade experience! Students work throughout the year to earn money towards their trip. Working together to sell mums, pick and sell pumpkins, and do tasks like cleaning the stadium or gym after a game, all work toward building comradery and giving students a sense of ownership and responsibility for their trip. While in Gettysburg, eighth graders are able to make their classroom learning come alive by standing where battles they studied actually took place. Seeing the terrain, feeling the heat, and seeing where the action took place gives a new appreciation of the hardships of war. Washington, D.C. holds many adventures and opportunities of learning for our eighth grade students. Exploring the Smithsonian Museums, U.S. Capitol, the many war monuments and presidential memorials give students a visual for the places they have studied in history that year. Laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and experiencing the rows and rows of perfectly lined crosses grows a sense of reality and gratitude for the men and women who serve our country. Visiting the 9/11 Pentagon Memo- rial provides a look into why we need those men and women even more in this day and age. Throughout D.C., students can see evidence that God was at work in the founding of our nation, whether it be carved into the architecture, or displayed in the sculpture and other works of art, and that they have the responsibility as future voters to see that we as a nation don’t lose sight of God and His work in our lives. Touring Gettysburg and Washington, D.C. is a time of bonding with each other, parents, and teachers and is an experience they will never forget. By Becki Bohlen, Middle School TeacherLearning Brought to Life 9

Growing in KnowledgeI have attended GCCS since kindergarten and I McKay. These teachers have helped me further myhave loved it. My high school experiences here education and also grow in my faith. I am an activehave shaped me into the man I am today. I am a member here at The Naz. This past summer, mypart of student council, which has shaped me into youth pastor approached me with an opportunitya better leader and taught me how to serve oth- to intern in the youth office with him. This wasers. I also am a member of the soccer and basket- something I felt that I would enjoy so I applied andball teams, which have taught me to be a good got the position. Throughout the summer I got tosport, a respectful teammate, and work hard on help organize events, set up for church services,and off the court/field. Soccer coaches Aaron Hol- lead small groups, attend meetings, and muchley and Dan Milam along with basketball coaches more. Interning allowed me to experience the vastDerek Carson and Chris Timlin have helped shape amount of behind the scenes work that goes intome into not only a quality athlete but also a qual- working at a church. This gave me an even deeperity young man. One thing that I have loved about appreciation for those who work and volunteer atbeing here at GCCS is the small class sizes and the the church. I really enjoyed working with the youthteachers. The teachers are knowledgeable in the office and have felt a calling to go into ministrysubjects that they are teaching but also are relat- after college. I plan to attend a Christian collegeable and they really care about you and want to with a major in business and a minor in ministry.help you, whether it be school related or not. With I would like to thank David Morrison, Matt Mc-teachers like this and small class sizes, it helps to Closkey and Dale Benson for pouring into me andget a great understanding of what is being taught helping me grow in my faith in the midst of theand makes the material come to life. Three key craziness that high school brings.teachers I have had the privilege to know and learnfrom are Mr. AJ McCampbell, Mr. Pyles, and Mrs. By Riley Peters, GCCS Senior10 WINGSPAN Magazine | Fall 2017 | www.grovecitychristian.org

Fiscal Report for 2016-2017 Revenue- $3,893,362 Administrative Reimbursement Athletic 6% Lunch 3% Tuition 5% 86% Expenses- $3,893,362 20% 1% 1% 5% Salaries & Benefits Student Activitiesand Truth Professional Development Operations 73% Debt Service Advanc-ED Survey Fall 2017 Parent Survey Results 4.01 4.02 Overall Score Network Average Purpose & Direction 4.01 Network Average 4.06 Governance & Leadership 3.96 Network Average 3.96 Teaching & Assessing for Learning 3.96 Network Average 3.98 Resources & Support Systems 4.11 Network Average 4.05 Using Results for Continuous Improvement 4.05 Network Average 4.01 Student Survey Results 3.57 3.64 Overall Score Network Average Purpose & Direction 3.77 Network Average 3.72 Governance & Leadership 3.49 Network Average 3.54 Teaching & Assessing for Learning 3.62 Network Average 3.66 Resources & Support Systems 3.44 Network Average 3.54 Using Results for Continuous Improvement 3.39 Network Average 3.51 11

The Journey to Bring Hope and HealingHello GCCS family from Migori, Kenya! We are quite a journey that God has had us on theJonathan and Amanda Clark, graduates of Grove last 10 years, but full of His purpose andCity Christian Class of 2011 and now fulltime guidance none the less! Our story beganmissionaries serving orphans in Kenya. It has been at GCCS when we met freshman year of high school and started dating sopho- more year! Amanda’s first mission trip was with the Naz youth group sopho- more year to Belize where God planted seeds and the start to God’s calling to international ministry began. Jonathan grew up doing short term mission trips to Mexico with his family which then led to many other trips over the years. GCCS was the start to our journey and a place where we grew through learning what it truly meant to have a relationship with God, to spend time with Him, to hear His word, and follow with faith! We want to specifically thank many teachers and staff who greatly impacted our lives during those years- all of our Bible teachers, Jesse Schroed- er, Joel Estes, David Morrison, and Aaron Holley along with many others that loved us and poured12 WINGSPAN Magazine | Fall 2017 | www.grovecitychristian.org

into us like their own family- Nancy Gillespie, Lisa the needs of 50+ other children. It is our missionKeating, Beth Spata, Cheryl Stauffer, Lisa Howard to provide lifesaving healthcare, continued followand many more!!   up care, and health teaching for these children at no cost to them or the orphanage where theyWe went on to graduate from the University of reside! Like many areas of the world, the needKentucky (GO CATS!), Amanda in Nursing and is great but we are trusting God each step of theJonathan in Business Management. We graduated way to lead us in doing His work in the lives of Hisin May of 2015, got married in June and then start- children! We would love for you to check out moreed working in Lexington fulltime as we continued information about our organization and the workto pray about where God was leading us. It was in that we are doing by visiting our website www.the spring of 2016 that we got connected with OVI ovinternational.org. & Violet International and joined their team!  Feel free to follow our personal journey throughOur work in Kenya has just begun as we are work- our blog at www.clarksinkenya.com.ing to open the OVI Children’s Hospital that willserve orphans with life threatening illnesses from By Jonathan and Amanda (Folzenlogen) Clark,all over Kenya. This includes anything from diar- Class of 2011rhea and malnutrition to HIV/AIDS and cancer. It isour goal to bring hope and healing to these chil-dren both physically and spiritually through meet-ing physical medical needs but ultimately throughthe hope of the Gospel!  The burden of healthcarecosts is great for many people in Kenya, especiallywhen as an orphanage director you have expen-sive health costs for one child on top of meeting 13

A Season LikeNone OtherThis fall sports season has been an exciting one for all our teams,not just through competitive success, but also through off thefield service to others. The 2017 GCCS Soccer program has hada season they will not soon forget. In 2016, the soccer teamachieved a first in school history by earning the right to host theOHSAA District Semi-Final game as the higher seed. They didnot win that game, but the standard was set for the future. Asthe 2017 season approached, the team leaders and coaches knewthey wanted to achieve more and they were “Not Done Yet”, bothon and off the field. With this goal in mind, they took time duringtheir busy season on an early Saturday morning to wake up andserve those staying at the Ronald McDonald House with break-fast.The team continued to re-write the GCCS history books for thesoccer program this season. For the first time in school histo-ry, the soccer team advanced the furthest they ever had in theOHSAA tournament, as they finished as District Runner-up inDivision III Boys Soccer. The irony is that our “boys” soccer teamhas girls on it who played a major part in their success this sea-son. In the District Final game, the GCCS team took GrandviewHeights boys team (ranked second in state Division III poll) to thebrink, before falling by the score of 1-4. At the end of this remark-able season, the team finished with a school record for wins at14-2-3, while earning the highest seed ever in district tournament(second seed). This Christian service to others and living out theirfaith, both on and off the field, led many to notice this uniqueteam bond, perseverance, and commitment. These future worldchangers for Christ accepted the challenge to work hard so otherswould be able to observe the difference Christ has made in theirlives through their walk for Him. That is why they are truly, “NotDone Yet”, in many ways! By Matt Blandin, Athletic Director14 WINGSPAN Magazine | Fall 2017 | www.grovecitychristian.org

15

GCCS O u t s id e theAt-A-Glance C l a s s r oo m 2017 One of the highlights of the Intermediate School (grades 5 and 6) at GCCS is the Outdoor Education trip during May each school year. Outdoor Ed is a Enrollment three day trip that allows students, teachers, and many parent chaperones to experience God’s creation in a variety of ways. We stay for two nights at Sky-Elementary School 220 view Ranch, a Christian camp near Millersburg, Ohio. During the day, students travel in groups to different classes that are taught by our many parent chap-Intermediate School 87 erones or Skyview Ranch staff. These classes include things such as stream study, archery, fishing, rock-climbing, marksmanship, horseback-riding, andMiddle School 101 outdoor cooking. Each year the selection of classes varies because parents have different interests and experiences to draw from. We have had someHigh School 212 very specialized classes such as American Sign Language, rugby, geocaching, bird-watching, and knot-tying. The camp has a beautiful lodge where weTotal 620 are able to eat our meals. They also provide hay rides, a swimming pool, and plenty of space to enjoy recreation. In the evening, we gather together for Ethnicity Report chapel services. These always begin with worship where we usually sing some of our favorite songs from chapel throughout the school year. Each year weAfrican American 3% have a special chapel speaker who speaks to us about the year’s theme. After chapel, we usually have an evening snack and then some fun night activities.Asian 1% These may include singing songs around the campfire, skits, night games, or even a night hike. Not all of our time at Outdoor Ed is scheduled. We haveHispanic 5% plenty of free time to enjoy the beautiful camp facilities that are near Amish country. Outdoor Ed is a special time for intermediate students to form newMulti-Racial 5% relationships with their classmates, parents and their teachers. If you have an intermediate student, you will want to join us because this trip is definitely aOther 1% highlight of the year!White 85% By Michele Glovitch, Intermediate School Teacher 122 churches representedwithin our student body 16

Library Resources Improve College ReadinessI am excited to share that GCCS’s new Upper School Eighth grade student, Paige Spencer noted aboutLibrary opened on August 23. Middle and high the project, “In supplying purified water to peopleschool students are now using Gale reference books who don’t have it, we can show people who God isand also the Gale Virtual Reference Library to com- and that He helps us.”plete their projects. Gale, a division of CengageLearning Company™, reports that 483 Ohio colleges Another student, Ethan Doyle commented on hisand universities already use their resources. Our stu- research, “I find myself comparing the water filtra-dents are improving their college readiness by using tion process to the purifying process God wants to docredible resources and skill-sharpening writing tools. with each of us.”With fake news bombarding our culture, we want to The 8th grade science teacher, Mrs. Smith summa-guide our students in searching for truth in all areas rized the project, “Using Gale to research helpedof their lives.  Our students can be easily misguided me to know that their sources were reliable and notwith an unreliable source or ad from a search engine, inappropriate. I liked that students could filter theiror the random contributions of Wikipedia™. searches to match their reading level.”In search of the truth, the 8th grade science students Students are finding that the Gale research toolsrecently researched a scientific process that fulfills such as reading level search, dictionary, highlights,the great commission.  The assignment was called notes, and citations actually make it easier to create“Science for God”. One topic chosen was water fil- their projects and integrate them with Google Class-tration systems for underprivileged communities.   room™ or Canvas™. Students will be learning to use the Gale writing tool, Questia as well, which offersStudents researched and discovered that in 400 BC quick access to writing tutorials.the famous Greek physician, Hippocrates boiledwater and poured it through a cloth to purify it.  Stu- As students visit the Upper School Library, I enjoydents learned that “Hippocrates’ Sleeve” was one of guiding them in research using college approvedthe many developed processes that led to our com- resources and writing tools. I invite you to visit ourplex water filtration systems today. This information library in room 416.You may also explore our digitalwas found in the book titled, “A Global Water Crisis: library by accessing the student portal at GCCS’sA Reference Handbook” by David E. Newton, pub- website.lished in 2016. By Lora McMillan, Upper School Librarian 17

Upcoming Events December 2017December 4, 7:00pm- Middle & High SchoolVocal/Strings Christmas Concert December 12, 7:00pm- Elementary Christmas Program December 14, 9:30am- Christmas Chapel January January 25, 7:00pm- Intermediate School Concert February February 27, 6:00pm- Prospective Family Open House2018March March 5, 7:00pm- Night of Fine Arts May May 1, 7:00pm- Intermediate School Concert May 8, 7:00pm- Middle & High School Vocal/Strings Concert May 15, 7:00pm- Middle & High School Band Concert May 29, 7:00pm- Discovery Kindergarten & Kindergarten Graduation June June 1, 7:00pm- High School Graduation