Arts Day 2013 Dock juniors perform during the Arts Day 2013 skit, “The Sixth Sense.” More Arts Day photos on page 5.
Newsline
1000 Forty Foot Road • Lansdale, PA 19446-4398 215.362.2675 • www.dockhs.org
Parent-Teacher Celebration
March 2013, Volume 45, No. 8
Principal’s Corner
All parents are invited to attend our next Parent-Teacher Fellowship gathering on Monday, March 11. We’ll begin with a light supper at 6:00 p.m., followed by a short program that will include updates from Dr. Swartzentruber, some of our senior students, and two of our teachers who recently had sabbaticals. This is a terrific opportunity to meet other parents and get to know our Dock teachers. See page 6 for more details.
Modeling a passion for life-long learning The first goal of our graduate profile is for our students to “value and demonstrate life-long learning, including skills of problem-solving, problem-posing, critical thinking and cooperation.” Our faculty at Dock model life-long learning for their students. This week our faculty spent a full day of in-service with the faculty of Penn View Christian School and Quakertown Christian School. The day included worship time, presentations, workshops and networking opportunities. John Stoltzfus, Dock Campus Pastor, presented a keynote address, describing how our calling to this life-changing work spurs our passion to impact students. Workshops allowed time for our teachers to share ideas, stories and encouragement. Outside presenters provided a new perspective to our work.
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Professional development is key to teacher effectiveness. It invigorates creative teachers as they continually explore better ways of interacting with students. It serves as a model for students as they observe their teachers, already well-prepared academically, continually learning regardless of age or years of experience in the classroom. In addition to this one day of in-service, our teachers attend seminars and conferences throughout the year. They read professional journals, and enjoy academic and spiritual discussions together.
5 Spring sports practices begin 5-19 Alumni Phonathon 11 Student Visitation Day, Invite a friend! 11 Parent-Teacher Celebration, 6 p.m. 14 Winter Athletic Banquet, 6:15 p.m. 18 Spring Parent-Coach Night, 7:30 p.m. 18-22 Spiritual Life Emphasis Week 19 Board of Trustees, 2:30 p.m. 20 Spring Pastors’ Day, 7:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 28 Faculty In-Service, No school 29-April 7 Easter Break, No School
We expect most students to make numerous occupational shifts during their careers. This will require continual education for a shifting skill set needed in the workplace. For this future, preparing a student to be a continual learner is an essential goal, and technology is a valuable tool. We welcome your response and thoughts as we continue to consider how we can best prepare your students for an increasingly complex, technological workplace.
APRIL
8 11 12 12-14 14 16 17-20
—Dr. Conrad Swartzentruber, Principal
Prayer with the Principal, 7:00-7:30 a.m. Open House, 3-5 p.m. Invite a friend! Student Visitation Day Invite a friend! MSC Choral Festival, hosted by Dock Choral Festival public concert, 3 p.m., SAHS Board of Trustees, 2:30 p.m. PMEA All-State Band, Chorus, Orchestra
Our Mission Statement: “Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, in partnership with the family and the church, seeks to develop the God-given abilities of students in preparation for responsible stewardship of life as members of God’s people in a global society.” 1
Classroom Corner
short pieces, and reading from a number of well-known authors, including Stephen King and Anne Lamott.
Dr. Bishop Literature of War and Conflict (12) students are reading self-selected novels and watching self-selected movies based on wars and conflict of their specific interests. They will write a 4-3-2-1 essay in response to that novel and present a clip and analysis of the film. While they work independently on those projects, we will continue to read and discuss stories, letters, essays and songs that have emerged from our world’s many wars and conflicts.
Mrs. Rauch's World Lit juniors are wandering through Slovakia with the Roma poet and singer Zoli. This basedon-a-true-story novel is taking us to a world that is little visited and less often written about. Next up is a jaunt to Nigeria and times past as we take up Chinua Achebe's great work Things Fall Apart. Mrs. Rauch's freshmen have finished their odyssey through The Odyssey (excerpts only). Next we'll look for love in all the right places, namely in Verona, Italy, as we unfold Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet.
American Literature (10) students are reading Zora Neal Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. They work in pairs to lead short discussions of the reading assignments. A thematic focus for this unit is on the stories we tell others about ourselves. They will write a personal narrative that tells a significant piece of their own story. S.A.T. preparation for the Verbal section continues. Freshman English (9) students are reading excerpts from Homer’s epic tale, The Odyssey, and focusing on the need for role models and ideals to follow for our own lives. This unit follows their reading of self-selected biographies/autobiographies where they each performed in front of their classmates, dressed and speaking as the person whose book he/she read. S.A.T. preparation for the Verbal section continues.
Mrs. Rauch’s freshmen English students creatively interpreted what they learned reading Homer’s The Odyssey, including a boat carved by Tim DeLoreto to resemble Odysseus’ ship, and this cake (above), iced by Alex Groce to show all the regions of the underworld. The class also enjoyed pita and hummus as part of the Greek experience!
Mr. Hackman Economics students will be analyzing both federal and state tax and budget priorities. Two classes are researching the issues surrounding Marcellus Shale resources in Pennsylvania, and the other two are delving into issues related to the US-Chinese relationship. How Christians— followers of a generous and gracious God—navigate our world which emphasizes scarcity and anxiety about resources is a challenge with which we are always wrestling. How do you talk about these things at home?
Mr. Wallerich In Biology, we are finishing up our work on DNA, genes, genetic engineering, genetic disorders, and ethics of biotechnology. We will then begin our discussion of various populations of organisms and classification. We will spend time on bacteria and viruses and continue to work through the various phyla until we reach humans. The year is going very fast!
As we study the extremes of the 1920s and the Great Depression in U.S. History II, we will be looking for connections to our current economic rollercoaster. By the end of the month, students will be participating in a mock trial of the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan at the end of World War II. Each student will be role-playing a character who was affected by that decision.
Mr. Yoder Personal Finance students are learning about credit. They are learning how to calculate loan payments, how much interest is paid over the life of a loan, and how much can be saved by paying off a loan early. Students will be learning about credit cards, how to use them wisely, and the pitfalls to avoid in their use.
Mrs. Moyer Seniors in Fantasy and Future are reading about Big Brother in George Orwell’s classic novel 1984. Twentyfirst century world citizens can find it more than a little disconcerting to realize that some of Orwell’s “predictions” seem to have come/are coming true.
Advanced Math II students are exploring the concept of limits in a variety of functions in preparation for studying rates of change and derivatives of functions. Calculus students are beginning to work on finding volumes of objects generated by revolving curves around an axis.
Sophomores in American Literature Honors are reading about the Great Plains, sod houses, nature’s challenges, immigrants, country and town folk relationships, and the meaning of strength (body, mind, and purpose) in My Antonia by Willa Cather.
Pi Day Thursday, March 14 is Pi Day, and students in Mr. Gehman’s classes will compete to see who can memorize the most decimal places of Pi.
Mrs. Rauch Creativity is in the air as Mrs. Rauch's seniors are busily getting to know the characters they will be using in their short stories. In addition, they are doing timed writings, 2
From the Advancement Office
Invite a friend to consider Dock
Pastors’ Day All pastors of Dock students have received an email or snail mail invitation to our March 20 Pastors’ Day. Additional invitations are available in the office for students to personally invite their pastor. This special day is a time for pastors to spend the morning learning about Dock and visiting classes with their students. The morning begins with a 7:45 breakfast with other pastors, followed by chapel, visiting classes, and ending with a free lunch with students. Pastors’ Day takes place in the middle of Spiritual Life Emphasis Week. Chapels this week include alumni speakers sharing about the intersection of faith with their vocation. Speakers include Brad McCarty, Maribeth Benner, Krista Ehst Showalter, Ron and Becky Bergey, and others.
Now is the time to begin the application process for the 2013-2014 school year, and we need your help. Why not invite a neighbor or friend to Open House, or to spend a day at Dock shadowing your student? Dock’s Spring Open House will be held on Thursday, April 11 from 3 to 5 p.m. This is a great opportunity for prospective students and their families to tour the campus, meet teachers and coaches, ask questions about curriculum and academics, co-curricular activities, and financial aid. Student Visitation Days are scheduled for Monday, March 11 and Friday, April 12, but can also be arranged other days by contacting Director of Admissions Doug Hackman at 215.362.2675, ext. 106, or by email at dhackman@dockhs.org.
Appreciation for the arts At the Arts Day program on February 15, I was pleased to announce that a new sound system was installed in the Clemens Auditorium. With support from many persons, we were able to proceed with the purchase of the sound system and hands-free mics (like the one worn by sophomore Emmanuela Lorisme, above right). Thank you for your donations toward this special project. The new system greatly enhanced our students’ performances. While we’re still collecting donations for hearing-assisted devices, we received many comments from the audience, sitting throughout the auditorium and balcony, that they could hear the students much better with the new system. Thank you for your support and encouragement for the students.
Sponsor of the Month Univest Newsline’s Sponsor of the Month is Univest. Based in Souderton, Univest offers a full range of financial services through 32 financial service centers, 12 retirement financial services centers, and 39 ATMs throughout the region. Contact Univest at 877.723.5571 or online at www.univest.net
— Susan Gingerich, Director of Advancement
Teen Cancer Awareness Night nets $5,000 for cancer research Christopher Dock hosted Teen Cancer Awareness Night on Saturday, February 23. In addition to a student art show, coffeehouse, and silent auction, there was a panel discussion where students shared how cancer had affected them and those they loved. There was also a time for audience questions. The event raised nearly $5,000 for Teen Cancer America. Congratulations to Dock juniors Lindsey Laverty— who dedicated the event to her sister, Emilee (‘11)— Jessica Finlayson, Marissa Souder and others who organized and promoted the event. See more photos on Dock’s Facebook page, and videos on Dock's YouTube channel, including the panel discussion featuring (bottom right, l to r) Lindsey Laverty ('14), Kayla McClanahan, Leah Moore ('10), Chad Burger, and moderator Jessica Finlayson ('14). Top left: Music provided by guitarist Bunny Barnes; Top right: Enjoying the evening are (l to r) Mattasyn Shisler, Megan Bishop, Alyssa Burkholder and Morgan Swartley.
Teen Cancer Awareness night 3
Upcoming Local College Fairs Souderton Area High School 625 Lower Road Souderton, PA 18964 Phone: 215.723.2808 March 6, 2013 – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Guidance Office Parent Teacher Fellowship A light dinner will be held for parents and teachers in the cafeteria on Monday, March 11, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Following the meal, Dr. Swartzentruber will be sharing various school and curriculum updates highlighted by teachers and students. A question and answer time will follow. Come out and get to know our Dock teachers and parents. Watch for your email invitation.
North Penn High School 1340 Valley Forge Road Lansdale, PA 19446 Phone: 215.368.9800, ext. 1244 March 7, 2013 – 7:00 to 8:45 p.m.
College prep begins with your HS schedule The first step on the road to college begins with the courses students take in high school. The first thing colleges look at is the high school transcript. It is an important document in the admissions and scholarship process. Schools look for four years of solid course work in a basic curriculum. Although standardized tests are important in the application process, the high school transcript measures a student’s ability and motivation over four years. Your student’s registration for next year’s classes has already begun. Please review their schedule with them when they receive them back in the spring. What do admissions officers look for in a transcript? Generally, admissions counselors are looking to evaluate: Grades: Are they on an upward trend? High School: What are its academic qualities? Rank/G.P.A.: Where does the student fall in comparison with other students from the same school/class? Test Scores: SAT I, ACT, SAT II. How does the student compare to students from different schools? Senior Year: Is the student taking a challenging academic year and being successful?
Council Rock High School North 62 Swamp Road Newtown, PA 18940 Phone: 215.944.1300 March 21, 2013 – 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Upper Dublin High School 1580 Fort Washington Avenue Maple Glen, PA 19002 Contact Person: Jill Morgan, 215.643.8900, ext. 2014 March 15, 2013 – 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Work Study Program If your senior has interest in career study or work study for the 2013-14 school year, please have him/her see Mr. Kabakjian to discuss the process and fill out the application. This course selection comes with school requirements as well as employer expectations. The application needs to be on file before the end of May, and regular time cards and employer evaluations will be expected throughout the semester. If you have questions pertaining to this class, please call the Guidance Office.
SAT information We encourage college-bound students to take their SATs the spring of their junior year. Students register by mail or online at collegeboard.com and take the test in the public high school nearest them. We encourage even those students who do not intend to go to college to take the SATs, since test results are honored by schools for many years. Testing Date May 4, 2013 June 1, 2013
Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week This summer program for sophomores and juniors offers four one-week sessions in which students explore careers in business on the campus of Lycoming College or Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA. More information can be found in the February edition of Newsline or online at www.pfew.org. Application deadline is April 12, 2013.
Registration Deadline April 5, 2013 May 17, 2013
Scholarship list The Guidance Office has a list of scholarships available. Students are welcome to stop by and pick up a copy.
Junior year: College visits and planning Students should have several colleges selected from information they have researched. Now it is time to prepare for campus visits. Selecting a college takes research. It begins with the college guidebooks, college publications, computer resources, people resources, college fairs and open houses, and the campus visit. It is important to keep files on each for future reference. Below are Internet resources for you to explore and refer to: College Board: www.collegeboard.com Campus tours: www.campustours.com College-bound athletes: www.eligibilitycenter.org Federal Student Aid: www.fafsa.ed.gov/ Scholarships: www.fastweb.com/ College Fit Kit: www.cappex.com
Mennonite College Spring Open Houses Hesston College www.hesston.edu March 22 - 23 – Prospective Student Visit Days Bluffton College www.bluffton.edu March 24 - 25 – Discovery Days Eastern Mennonite University www.emu.edu March 23 – Saturday Campus Visit Bethel College www.bethelks.edu Friday, April 26 – Explore BC Day
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ARTSDAY
2013
Clockwise from top right: Frank Rosenberger provides a ukulele interlude between scenes of the senior skit as Tyler Denlinger and Snowball look on; freshmen (l to r) Ella Barlick, Ty Rice, Taylor Downes, Brooke Leaman and Darren Souder perform Casting Crowns’ hit, We Are the Body; juniors (l to r) Brooks Inciardi, Ethan Neal, Jon Bergstresser and Ryan Moyer entertain during their rendition of The Fray’s song, You Found Me; the juniors show their support for You Found Me; senior Jun Bae belts out One and Only; juniors (l to r) Lauren Anderson, Abigail Anderson and Vanessa Miller perform the Debussy dance, Jardins Sous la Pluie; The sophomore skit, Touring Christopher Dock, featured (l to r) JJ Franke, Angie Aldrich, Jimmy Kustra, Emmanuela Lorisme, Morgan Rush and Mattasyn Shisler; featured in the senior skit were (l to r) Jared Hunsinger, Christian Landis, Drew Kratz and Graham Truscott. Photos courtesy of Cyneé Godshall (‘06).
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Volunteers needed to help Dock host MSC Choral Festival April 12-14 Christopher Dock is hosting the Mennonite Schools Council Choral Festival, featuring about 500 singers from 15 schools across North America. This festival, now in its 50th year, will be a wonderful opportunity for students, families and congregations to build connections, make music together, and enjoy a spectacular mass choir program. The guest conductor is Dr. Philip Copeland, Director of Choral Activities, Samford University.
together to make this a memorable experience. Parent volunteers are needed for food service, the welcome desk, chaperoning evening social times, providing first aid, and some overnight hosting. Please contact Bronwyn Histand, Festival Coordinator, if you are able to help: 215.362.2675, ext. 308, or at bhistand@dockhs.org. The Festival’s public concert will be held at Souderton Area High School on Sunday afternoon, April 14, at 3 p.m. An offering will be received to support the costs of this event.
Local congregations will be asked to host school choirs and the Dock family will work
DOCKATHLETICS
Local photographer Lowell Swartley has created a Facebook page (“Lowell Swartley Photography”) where you can view and purchase photos of Dock athletes in action. To access photos, go to the Facebook page and get the event code for the photo(s) you want, then follow the link provided to the online store.
Photos now available of Dock athletes in action!
Sports Information Director Internship Christopher Dock is offering college students an internship opportunity as Assistant Sports Information Director. Candidates will work with Dock’s athletic department to maintain the athletics web site and social media platforms, develop stories in local and regional media, and facilitate coverage for our student-athletes and sports teams. Hours are flexible; however, some coverage of after-school (3-6 p.m.) and evening (6-9 p.m.) games will be expected. You will need to provide your own transportation to and from Dock’s Lansdale campus. This is an unpaid position, but a small stipend will be offered at the end of the internship. This internship is available immediately and will last through the end of the school year. Interested parties may send a resume and/or cover letter to Tim Ehst, Athletic Director, Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, 1000 Forty Foot Road, Lansdale, PA 19446.
Literature of War & Conflict During his senior elective, Literature of War & Conflict, Robby Johnson (’13) plays the role of Joe Bonham, a young soldier in World War I who awakens in a hospital bed after being caught in the blast of an exploding artillery shell. He gradually realizes he has lost his arms, legs, and face, but that his mind functions perfectly—leaving him a prisoner in his own body. Students were reading Johnny Got His Gun, by Dalton Trumbo.
Parent –Teacher Fellowship Date: Monday, March 11, 2013 Time: Dinner begins at 6 p.m. Location: Dock Cafeteria All parents and teachers are invited for a light dinner together in the cafeteria. After the meal, the following will share updates: Dr. Swartzentruber – school and curriculum updates Mr. Hertzler and several seniors will share reflections from their senior experience. Mrs. Adams and Miss Johnston will share about their sabbaticals and the new ninth grade science field trip that emerged from their experiences. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other parents and get to know our Dock teachers. 6
Intro to Business class attends Printworks University Students in Mr. Wallerich’s Introduction to Business class were hosted recently for a plant tour and workshop by Printworks, a Lansdale-based printing company. A particular emphasis was the dramatic effect that digital printing is having on the printing business. At the conclusion of the tour, students received a personalized certificate (right) printed on Printworks’ digital press. Printworks owner Marty Wolfe, whose son Josh is a freshman at Dock, followed up the plant tour with a visit to Dock to speak to the class about the rewards and challenges of running a small business. Mr. Wallerich’s Intro to Business class after their tour of Printworks’ printing plant in Lansdale (above right), and the certificate each student received.
Dock students take first in Science Fair Dock students Ella Barlick (9th) and Evan Trauger (10th), finished first in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science’s annual Science Fair competition and will now compete at the county level, with hopes of making it to the state Science Fair competition in May.
Touring Choir Itinerary: Spring 2013
Ella Barlick’s project hypothesis was that no-till farming methods would retain moisture and prevent runoff more effectively than plow-based soil preparation. Her data showed her hypothesis to be correct. In his project, Evan Trauger set out to show that natural products could be used to make antibiotics. His research showed that, using proper purification methods, antibiotics could be made from natural sources.
March 17
Line Lexington Mennonite 9 a.m.
April 12-14
MSC Festival Hosted by Christopher Dock
April 21
Grace Mennonite 10:30 a.m.
April 28
Souderton Mennonite 9 a.m.
May 5
Salford Mennonite 9 a.m.
May 19
Franconia Mennonite 10:15 a.m. Zion Mennonite 7 p.m.
Dock students Ella Barlick (right) and Evan Trauger (far right) are moving on to the next level of science fair competition.
May 22
Spring Concert 7 p.m.
May 24-26
New York City, Carnegie Hall
June 2
Blooming Glen Mennonite 9:30 a.m. Concert in the Park, Souderton 7 p.m.
June 8
Commencement 6 p.m.
2013 Christopher Dock Touring Choir
The 2013 Christopher Dock Touring Choir Row 1, l to r: Karalyn Schmidt, Jennifer Henderson, Damaris Gehman, Megan Bishop, Ryan Thomas, Austin Kratz, Ethan Neal, Simon Nam, Brielle Alderfer, Adrienne Derstine, Jill Leatherman, Maddie Delp, Hannah Derstine. Row 2, l to r: Kayla Alderfer, Abigail Anderson, Lindsey Laverty, Daniel Ramirez, Jun Bae, Jonathan Bishop,YoungYoo Kim, Drew Kratz, Jon Bergstresser, Anna Martin, Jordan Kolb, Diana Choi, Director Rodney Derstine. Row 3, l to r: Jessica Bergey, Clara Bush, Sarah Hart, Beth Curtis, Logan Hunsberger, Alex Holnick, Frankie Rosenberger, Andrew Kang, Eric Hoover, Mariah Denlinger, Morgan Benjamin. Row 4, l to r: Joanna Benner, Jenna Landis, Kaitlin Miller, James Clements, Seth Detweiler, Brooks Inciardi, Seth Strickland, Travis Hoover, Christian Landis, Lauren Anderson, Marissa Souder, Taylor Martin.
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