FOWCS2019Winter

WCSFriends OF Volume 9, Winter 2019 Issue

2019 SIGNING DAY Two WCHS student-athletes and best friends, Jordyn Hutchins and Arianna (Anna) Pires, signed their grade, Jordyn is a member of National Honor Society letters of intent to play softball in college. Jordyn (NHS) and ASB. will be playing at Boise State University, while Anna will be Anna has attended WCS since preschool, and this will be playing at CSU Sacramento. her fourth year playing softball for WCHS. Last season she A natural lefty with an amazing swing, Jordyn has played had 32 hits, 31 runs batted in, and 31 runs scored. Anna softball since she was six years old, and this will be her is a member of the California Scholarship Federation, fourth year playing for WCHS. Last season alone, Jordyn NHS, and ASB, and she currently holds the office of ASB had 29 hits, 31 runs batted in, and scored 36 runs. A quick President. Maxpreps search of the national rankings in softball show The softball season opener is scheduled for the weekend that Jordyn is currently #1 in the nation in slugging (1.885), of February 6, 2020. Come on out, watch some incredible #3 in the nation for batting average (.771), and #2 in on- softball, and cheer on our Lady Cardinals! base percentage (.825). A student at WCS since fourth FUN FACT! Did you know that for over 40 years at Christmas, Woodland Christian Elementary School students have been memorizing and reciting Luke 2 together in chapel? This year it will happen again at our last chapel of 2019 on December 19, 2019.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. -Matthew 7:24 Table of Contents 06 04 Administrator’s Perspective 08 06 Mud Run 08 08 WCS Band 10 Homecoming 12 Fall Sports Update 14 Alumni News 6 10 12 14 Alumni WANT TO STAY UP-TO-DATE? FOLLOW US! Instagram Facebook Twitter

4 ADMINISTRATOR’S PERSPECTIVE Dear Friends of WCS, Publisher: Woodland Christian School With the passing of each year, it seems that it is getting more difficult to talk about Jesus’ birth. In some cases, Christmas trees are Administrator: Matt Diehl forbidden and “Merry Christmas” has been replaced with “Happy Holidays.” I am so thankful to be able to work in a place where we School Board can unashamedly proclaim the birth of our Savior. Not only can President: Shiloh Sorbello we do this during the Christmas season, but we get to talk with Vice-President: Jack Hamlin students and parents about Jesus every day! As you will see in this edition of FOWCS, we as a school have so Treasurer: Sergio Jaime much to be thankful for. We have several new Baby Cardinals, Secretary: Debbie Simpson students getting baptized, league titles, two new buildings... and this is just what we can fit into this publication! We are humbled by and Members At Large: grateful for all that God has done for the school, but all of it pales Chris Johnson in comparison to the gift He provided in sending His Son into this Jennifer Klier world. That baby, born in a manger over 2,000 years ago, changed my life and is the cornerstone of our school today. As we spend time Megan Plamondon with family and friends this season, it is my prayer that we may all spend time reflecting on Jesus’ birth, His purpose, and His desire for Friends of WCS is published by Woodland Christian School’s our lives. From all of us at Woodland Christian School, Development Office and is sent to we want to wish you a very merry Christmas. alumni, supporters, and friends of In Christ, the school. Matt Diehl Administrator, WCS Our mission: Woodland Christian School exists by God’s grace and for His glory to educate and prepare students for college and Christian life. By faith in Christ, our students, parents, and staff can change the world. Send correspondence to: Friends of WCS 1787 Matmor Road Woodland, CA 95776 E-mail: [email protected]

CAMPAIGN UPDATE 5 F NOUR UTURE IS OW Iremember the first time I heard the phrase, “He’s a true believer.” It was in reference to a defense attorney who truly believed in the judicial PRAY process. Hearing this phrase got me thinking about what I believe in my own life, and I am convinced of a few things. FOR THE PROJECT First, I am a true believer in Jesus, His birth, His resurrection, and His power to change lives. I am also a true believer in the mission of our GIVE school. I am convinced that by God’s grace, we truly can change the world, one student at a time. I believe without a shadow of a doubt that ONCE OR ONGOING our new buildings will not only impact every Woodland Christian student for generations to come, but that they will also have a positive impact on SHARE our community. Our goal is to raise $12.5M dollars so that we can build four buildings WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS debt-free: a gymnasium, a performing-arts center, an onsite preschool, and an elementary learning center. By the powerful grace of God and the tremendous generosity of donors, we have raised $8.3M dollars so far, and I am committed to doing everything I can to share with every Cardinal everywhere this opportunity to give the remaining $4.2M. Why am I so passionate about this? I am a true believer in what we are doing as a school, a true believer in our staff, a true believer in our students, and a true believer in the power of our God. When you give, your donation will have double impact. Your gift will not only help us construct buildings, but it will also allow our school not to have to use financing—which will, in turn, allow us to increase programs and raise the salaries of our hardworking teachers and staff. So I encourage you to Pray, then Give online at www.ofin.org, and then Share this opportunity with those in your circle of influence. Wishing you a merry Christmas, Dave David Hargadon Director of Operations and Development

Photos courtesy of Todd Atwood 6 MUD RUN Photo courtesy of Todd Atwood Photo courtesy of Todd Atwood2019 Woodland Mud Run

MUD RUN 7 Scrambling over a hay tower of 120 bales; crawling through 10 irrigation tubes; climbing up and sliding down a mud mountain; crossing multiple telephone poles with careful balance; clambering over tractor tires; and, of course, slipping, sliding, and sinking through mud pits made this 9th annual WCS Mud Run one of the best yet. On an unseasonably warm and sunny day, over 200 men, women, and children spent their afternoon running through the mucky course on the WCS campus. Participants chose among a three-mile race for teams and individuals, a 1.5-mile race for teams and individuals, and a half-mile kids’ run. Medals were awarded to the top three males and females of each race as well as to the top three teams. After the runs, participants and onlookers enjoyed visiting the sponsor booths and playing games at the City of Woodland’s Rec2Go van. Over $8,000 was raised for WCS technology through this event. Special thanks fo out to our sponsors (logos shown below), to Kyle Lang for creating the course, and to the many tireless volunteers who made this such an oozy success!

8 SPECIAL PROFILE WN CS Bandot many of our readers remember, but from 1976 to the mid 1980s, WCS had a flourishing band program under the direction of Mr. Fred Lange. There have been some attempts at resurrecting the band program at WCS since then, but none have proved as promising as what we have now under the direction of teacher Juan Winstead. We thought you might enjoy getting to know a little more about him: his background, talents, and vision for the future of band at WCS. Get ready—it’s exciting! Q: How did you get interested in music? Were you inspired by someone? I first got interested in music when I moved to a new school and my first new friend invited me to join band with him. My band director, Alvin Wilson, was a very passionate director, and from there I shared in that passion with him. He was such an inspiration musically, and was also inspiring as a strong Christian. Mr. Wilson taught me that with hard work anything is possible. Q: What instruments do you play? I play multiple instruments: French horn, trumpet, euphonium, trombone, tuba, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute, percussion; I could be leaving something out. I am currently taking lessons on piano. I never want to stop learning new instruments! Q: If you could cast a vision for music at WCS, what would it be? Woodland Christian School music will be a well-rounded program that includes: elementary general music, primary band, middle-school band and choir, high-school band and choir, jazz ensemble, marching band, music-theory courses, and “Worlds of Music” courses. It will be our goal not to let any musical gifts in our students miss the opportunity to be nurtured by the staff. In turn, students will love to serve their community using their gained musical skills to be a light at WCS and beyond. Q: What do you like best about being at WCS? The best thing about WCS is the opportunity for excellence. Staff, students, and administration are all for innovative ideas and forward thinking. I have not once heard, “We would rather...” Instead, everyone is on board with moving forward and striving for greatness. This is truly a culture that exhibits excellence and influences creativity! Q: Where did you receive your training? I went to college at Chowan University in Murfreesboro, North Carolina. My school was a small school where I learned most of the skills that I rely on daily. My college music director, Mr. Michael Butrico, taught me more application than theory. During my junior and senior years

SPECIAL PROFILE 9 of college, I served as the student director for the band program. I also served as the president of our chapter of NAfME National Association for Music Education. Those college years taught me many skills that I use today. Following college, I interned at Ridgecroft School as the band director while a colleague was on maternity leave. Then I moved on to Hertford County High School, where I taught for three years prior to receiving a call to ministry here in California. Q: How do you encourage students to play music? I often will start band class by playing for students. I will play a song that has mean- ing and a story, and then I will share it with students. Following, I tell students that their song is waiting for them. This normally evokes students to search for a song they enjoy rather than something that they are given. The music is already inside of them; I’m just helping to bring it out! Come celebrate the birth of Christ with our middle-school and high-school bands! Woodland Christian School 2nd Annual Christmas Concert December 16, 2019 7:00 p.m. Life Pointe Church 1616 West Street Woodland, CA

10 HOMECOMING When Valley Christian called to say they had to forfeit our homecoming football game due to a lack of players, it appeared we were in for a disaster. Floats were built and the homecoming royalty had already been selected, but it looked like we didn’t have a football game! But God had His plan—and what looked like a disaster turned out to be His blessing. We made a call to our alumni and some old dudes (staff and parents) to save the night by digging out their old cleats to compete once again on the gridiron. The question remained: Would WCS families show up to watch a flag- football homecoming game of alumni vs. staff/parents? The answer was a resounding YES! Over forty players came out to play and over 600 people showed up to watch as the old dudes beat the alumni team. Who knows? This could become an annual tradition! The alumni team included James Morgan (‘11), Bobby Taylor (‘11), Corey Jahn (‘13), Dillon Carter (‘14), Connor Brennan (‘15), Curtis Campos (‘15), Anthony Modesto (‘15), Josh Truesdell (‘15), Paul Vithayaveroj (‘15), Nathan Hawley (‘16), Jack Simpson (‘16), Will Black (‘18), Braden Brennan (‘18), Cooper Johnson (‘18), Parker Johnson (‘18), David Corona (‘19), and Roman Ochoa (‘19). The staff/parent team included the following alumni: Les Toland (9th grade; ‘80), Andy Flowers (9th grade; ‘91), Chris Hayes (9th grade; ‘91), Jimmy Hamlin (9th grade; ‘95), and Chris Toland (‘06).

HOMECOMING 11

ATHLETICS12 ATHLETICS The Cardinals went undefeated during league play and won their fifth SMAL (Sac Metro Athletic League) Title with a decisive win over Western Sierra Collegiate Academy, 56-30. Although they ended up losing in the first round of playoffs, the 2019 season was a huge success. The Cardinals beat two teams they had never beaten before, Vacaville Christian and Stone Ridge High School; had their fourth undefeated league season in a row; and had a final win/loss record of 8-3. The future of the program looks bright with most of the team returning next year. Reflecting on the success of the 2019 season, Bruce Pielstick said, “God receives all the glory for this year and every year.” Cheerleading at WCHS is on the rise! This year, we had both a JV and a Varsity squad for the fall, and all of the girls worked incredibly hard to further their skills and strengths. Our athletes grew tremendously over the course of the season. We are beginning a winter cheer season this year as well, and will have a presence at our home basketball games. Cheerleading is a strong passion for many of our participants, and it is exciting to get to provide further opportunities to bring spirit to our school community.

ATHLETICS 13 Because our Lady Cardinals had won four Division V section titles in a row, under CIF rules they were moved to Division IV this season. Undaunted, our Lady Cardinals rose to the challenge and became co-league champions, earning a play in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoff games. Playoffs began with a first-round win against Hughson High School played on our home turf and ended with a loss in the second round of bracket play against #3-seed Calaveras High School in San Andreas. Senior Kaia Pipkin and Sophomore Ryhan Heidrick earned first- team all-league honors, and Senior Kendra McKee earned second team all-league honors. The Cross Country team competed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 5 Championships in Folsom. The boys team placed third overall, behind Colfax and Waterford. Matthew Hardin and Andrew Erickson both qualified for the State Championships as individuals, with Hardin placing 5th overall (17:33) and Erickson placing 7th overall (17:44). Coming in third for the Cardinals was Nathan Sindlinger in 22nd (19:09), followed by Reece Cartagena in 36th (20:04), Nicolas Ries in 44th (20:38), Kyle Carpenter in 48th (20:55), and Rick Foster in 55th (21:30). Our three girls competing in the Section Championships competed well and finished close together, with Lilly Flowers finishing 29th (25:14), Brooke Faille coming in 34th (25:37), and Sydney Devine placing 37th (25:48). Be sure to watch the WCS social-media accounts for updates on when Matthew Hardin and Andrew Erickson compete at States on November 30 in Fresno!

14 CURRENT CARDINALS We rejoice and give thanks to God at the news that two of our Cardinal students, Caleb Kootstra and Hannah Hennessy, have recently decided to publicly declare their faith in Jesus Christ by being baptized. HAVE NEWS TO SHARE? ALUMNI NEWS WCS wants to hear from you! Congratulations to WCS alumnus Jacob Naschke (‘16) who made Cal Poly’s football travel team! Proud parents include Send in your news, and we will publish it in the WCES food-services employee Linda Naschke and her husband, first available upcoming issue. Doug. As a walk-on in 2016, Naschke red-shirted and earned E–MAIL: a spot on the roster during Spring 2017 camp. In 2017, as a redshirt freshman, Naschke was a member of the squad but [email protected] did not play. He caught one pass for five yards and also had MAIL: one carry in the 2018 Spring Game. Again in 2018, he was a member of the squad but did not play. He was named Offensive Alumni Notes, Friends of WCS, Team Scout Player of the year. In 2019 it looks like all his hard 1787 Matmor Road, Woodland, CA 95776 work is paying off! Let’s go, Mustangs! yoPuleragsrealdimuaittiyoonuyrenarewoWrs tCthoSe6. l0aswtoyredasr aynodu ianttcelunddeed

ALUMNI NEWS 15 BIRTHS Becca (Williams, ’03) and Taylor Bacon are excited WCS third-grade teacher Maddy (Geer, ’11) & Bobby to announce the birth of their daughter, Harper Lyn Taylor (’11) welcomed a son, Brooks Alan Taylor, on his Bacon, on August 10, 2019. At birth, Harper weighed due date, October 14, 2019. At birth, Brooks weighed 8 lbs, 8 lbs, 4 oz and measured 21 inches long. The Bacon 9 oz and measured 19.5 inches long. Proud grandparents family lives in Cordelia, CA, where Taylor is in the include longtime WCS third-grade teacher Marla Geer and Coast Guard, stationed in Alameda, and Becca is her husband Bill, and WCS Assistant to the Administrator enjoying getting to stay home with Harper. Lisa Taylor and her husband Alan. The Taylors live in Woodland and attend Calvary Baptist Church, where WCS third-grade Bobby is a youth pastor. teacher Amanda and her husband WCS High School Garett Young Physics/Calculus/ are thrilled to Bible teacher Zach announce the birth and his wife Jessica of their daughter, Mazotti welcomed Cambria Grace with great joy their Anne Young, on first child, Nikiel July 25, 2019. (Niko) August Cambria joins big Mazotti, on July sister Izzie (age 10) 22, 2019 at 4:02 and big brother a.m. At birth, Niko James (age 6). At weighed 8 lbs, 6 birth, she weighed oz and measured 5 lbs, 8 oz and 21.5 inches long. measured 19 inches The Mazotti family long. The Young family lives in Woodland, where lives in Davis. Garett works at Umpqua Bank. Together, they attend Jessica teaches at and serve at Church on the Rock. Fairmont Elementary School in Vacaville, and together they attend Catalyst Church in Woodland.

PEACE Woodland Christian School 1787 Matmor Road Woodland, CA 95776 woodland christian school Hats, Horses7th annual & Hope foundation dinner & Auction SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020 YOLANDA RANCH