e-newsletter
A love for God. A desire to learn. A commitment to serve. Volume 22 - Issue 2
www.sjchristian.org
Fall 2011
Inside this Issue From the Superintendent The beginning of our year at SJCS has been amazing. Last year, we launched a prayer campaign called, “Pray 280,” in which we asked God to help us reach our enrollment goal of 280 students in preschool - 8th grade. On the first day of school this year, we had 281 students. Our Lord is the great provider! In this Fall enewsletter, you will find lots of information about the happenings on campus, new staff, and the continuing adventures of our alumni.
Walk-a-Thon Shines Saturday, October 1, marked the annual SJCS Walk-a-Thon (WAT), which serves as both a fundraiser for various student activities and a great community-building event. Students and parents, clad in WAT t-shirts with this year’s school theme—SHINE, cranked out lap after lap around the course, earning prizes. Besides walking, people enjoyed the carnival-style activities, which included a climbing wall, a giant slide, and face painting. Big Ed’s Buzzard BBQ provided great tri-tip sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, and more for everyone who worked up an appetite.
Please enjoy the articles and check out the video and web links for even more information. As always, we appreciate your continued prayers as well. This week, we are launching the annual financial drive, entitled Bold Vision, Bright Future, and I want to thank all of you ahead of time for supporting San Jose Christian School with your gifts. It is always inspiring to see people from across the history of our school coming together to invest in the lives of our current and future students. We rely on you to help us achieve our mission, and every gift counts! - Dan Meester
At the end of the event, raffle prizes including an iPad, a Nook Color, an iPod Touch, and an electric scooter went out to the lucky winners amongst the hundreds of tickets entered. The proceeds from the WAT benefit student programs throughout the grade levels like day field trips, playground equipment, athletics, music, and the overnight field trips in grades 4-8. This year’s WAT revenues totaled over $53,000, which will allow SJCS to continue to offer the kind of quality experiences that characterize our students’ time at the school. To check out a video of the 2011, SJCS Walk-a-Thon, click here.
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Walk-a-Thon News page 1 New iPad lab page 2 Professional Learning Communities page 3 Fall Sports Update pages 4-5 Quarter 1 Honor Roll page 6 Alumni News pages 7-8
San Jose Chris-an School
iPads in Action San Jose Christian used money from last year’s learned Chinese characters by tracing them on the spring auction to buy an iPad lab. The students and iPad. Third grade students place themselves on the teachers love this new resource! street in from of the St. Louis Arch Elementary students play Rocket using Maps with street view. Math to improve their math facts Teachers continually look for new and Stack the States to build their ways to use iPads in the knowledge of the United States. classroom. Teachers videotape student Josh Wenke, an eighth grader at performances, allowing students to SJCS, created a video spotlighting assess themselves before being the use of the iPads in the th assessed by the teacher. Students classroom. See for yourself what 7 Graders work to cremake their own movies using the students think of the iPads by ate iMovies on the iPads. iMovie and the iPad’s camera. In clicking here! sixth grade Life Skills, students
New Staff We welcome Rachel Diephouse as our new Middle School Language Arts teacher. Miss Diephouse comes from the very Dutch city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan before graduating from Hope College in Holland, Michigan in December 2010. She studied Secondary Education English, Math, and Psychology; was a Young Life leader; and rowed as a part of Michigan’s novice crew team. Last year, Rachel student taught and long-term subbed at Leland High School in Almaden. Although she loves Michigan football and her Dutch heritage, she is very happy to now live in sunny California. Miss Diephouse is excited to be at San Jose Christian because of the familylike community. She enjoys integrating technology into the classroom and trying new things. We also welcome Harry Webb as our new P.E. teacher and athletic director. Mr. Webb was raised in
Michigan where he lettered in baseball, football, and basketball. His career began at Steelcase, an office furniture manufacturer in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Harry and his wife, Mindy (one of SJCS’s Jr. K teachers), began dating long-distance after Mindy took a job at SJCS. When the Webbs got engaged, Harry transferred to a Steelcase dealership in Milpitas, where he worked for four years. During this time, Mr. Webb was highly invested in the students and families of San Jose Christian, volunteering whenever possible. In May, Harry and Mindy had their own future Tiger, Lucy. They can think of no better place to raise a family than within the community of San Jose Christian. Mr. Webb is excited to be a daily part of the San Jose Christian community by teaching P.E., coordinating sports teams, and mentoring the students.
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Miss Diephouse
Mr. Webb
San Jose Chris-an School
Professional Learning Communities As technology increases, learning changes. The teachers of San Jose Christian are continuing their own learning in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). There are four PLCs on campus this year, each including a conglomeration of elementary, middle school, and specials teachers. PLCs provide a space for the staff to have thoughtful discussion and share how they use technology in the classroom. This year, we are focusing our conversation on Curriculum 21: Essential Education for a Changing World, edited by Heidi Hayes Jacobs. Jacobs argues that teachers need “to prepare the learners in our care for their world and their future”, even if this means preparing them for jobs that aren’t created yet (2). Each teacher is wrestling with the specifics of what this looks like in his or her classroom. On a large scale, teachers are considering how the growing technological world should affect their course content. What do we need to add to our curriculum? What do we need to remove because we are teaching it simply because “it’s always been done this way?” At San Jose Christian we strive to make each lesson intentional and purposeful, so that our students may thrive in the world in which they live.
Teachers are also updating their assessments, adding things such as podcasts, PowerPoint presentations, and video assessments. These new assessments give students experience with technology and allow a new degree of self-assessment, allowing students to evaluate their own learning as well. On a smaller scale, teachers are integrating technology into their everyday classroom. Instead of creating brochures by hand, students work on MacBooks to create a neat, colored brochure. Instead of writing a biography, students create a movie of an interview with a classmate. Instead of doing math flashcards, students play math games on the iPads. Student enthusiasm and focus is increasing as teachers upgrade their lessons to the technological world the students engage in every day. Curriculum 21 offers ideas of how to implement technology into learning while preparing our students for the future. PLCs allow for teachers to share both their frustrations and successes, creating a community that can learn from each other. Photo from: http://www.curriculum21.com/pd/curriculum21/book/
Learn with us! We invite you to read and learn alongside us this year. Curriculum21.com offers many great resources such as podcasts, webinars, and interesting articles. You can even read Curriculum 21 along with us for free at the ASCD website (click here to see the table of contents). Page 3
San Jose Chris-an School
Fall Sports Update Softball Beginning in September, these Tigers came out with a roar! This 2011 season had nineteen girls—one of the biggest teams in recent history! Practices were filled with defensive drills, using SJCS’s new pitching machine, and catching pop flies from guest “big hitters.” The nine eighthCross Country grade girls blessed this year’s softball Seven Tigers participated in Cross team with great leadership and Country this season. encouragement. These runners Although diligently worked the team to become more finished 1-7 “I loved catching the ball, and consistent, overall, they sprinting up field to score a pushing their played many touchdown.” bodies even solid games - Blake Pierson, Flag Football when their brains and learned a told them to lot. The team stop. Through learned the “I liked the popsicles and workcircuit workouts, value of ing with Molly Fiske to finish the long runs, and working race” sprints, the together and - Rebeka Shols, Cross Country Tigers learned to encouraging beat the mental each other, game of running. regardless of Their hard work and determination in ability. They discovered how to exhibit practice helped them succeed in their grace in both winning and losing by races. practicing humility. The Tigers are The boys team (Braedon Camarota, thankful for Mrs. Kunde, Mrs. Meyer, Jensen Donley, Samuel Leale, Nico and Mr. and Mrs. Philips for the Rios, and David Schultz) finished lessons they taught both on and off second in the league overall. The the field. We look forward to 2012 for ladies also finished strong, with another great season! Rebeka Shols finishing third in the league and Molly Fiske coming in fourth. These students are excited to Thanks to all our apply what they’ve learned in running great coaches and to life, as they encounter hardships and learn to work (and excel) through athletes! them. This fall the Tigers have roared their way through a great sports season. With cross country, flag football, and softball, SJCS has left its mark throughout the bay area. With almost 50 athletes, it was exciting to see more than half of our middle school students participating!
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San Jose Chris-an School
“I loved the team support that everyone gave me.” l - Sammi Ledbetter, Softbal
Flag Football Despite losing a lot of players last year, Tiger football had another great season! The team finished 10-1 overall, securing themselves a first place finish in the division for the regular season and the consolation championship for the BACSAL playoffs. The team grew immensely throughout the season and learned how to adjust to any and every situation. The team played well to get some exciting wins, but real victories are
the ones that the boys take with them after the season is over: lessons in character and honor and a pride in what they do and how they do it. Mr. Webb has a special love for this team, his first team at SJCS. He is grateful for the leadership of captains Levi Johnson, Toby Sterk, and Joshua Weber. Although the 8th graders have played their last game, they leave behind a legacy after another great season in the tradition of Tiger football!
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San Jose Chris-an School
1st Quarter Honor Roll The following students have qualified for the SJCS Honor Roll for the 1st quarter of the 2011-12 school year. To receive the “Honors” designation, a student must earn at least a 3.3 GPA, and to receive the “High Honors” designation, a student must earn at least a 3.7 GPA.
8th Grade High Honors Andrew Bost Iisa Haapamaa Lydia Savelli Toby Sterk Joshua Wenke 8th Grade Honors Amanda Garside Marissa Hruby Samantha Ledbetter Madeline Lind Lilly Meyer
7th Grade High Honors Faustine Dietrich Hunter Elloway Lindsay Gissler Kelci Kimbel Rebeka Shols 7th Grade Honors Stanley Armstrong Marissa McKie Isaac Oliveira Nicolas Rios Michael Tamrat
6th Grade High Honors Braedon Camarota Kayla Draves-Hau Elaine Duh Molly Fiske Eerika Haapamaa Colin Hastings Bob Knaus Alicia Lindemulder Mary Nyberg Kaylee Philbrick Nia Salmons Matthew Stenfort
6th Grade Honors Naomi Dasari Jensen Donley Jared Haynie Lindsey Kaemingk David Schultz Julianna Silkwood Ashlynn Steen
Mrs. Baham and students Alyssa Miller (’11), Elyssa Rhea (’10) , Lily Meyer (’10), and Breanna Rhea (’10) shared their musical talents with a local church this summer.
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San Jose Chris-an School
SJCS Alumni News Jenny Martin (’87) lives in Oakland and works for The Queenstone Group, a software Triathlon 11 Wildflower 20 e th development company at y Jenn focusing on HIV/AIDSrelated software products. Jenny graduated from Southern California’s Occidental College and earned her Masters in Public Health from Tulane University in New Orleans before volunteering for the Peace Corps in Gabon and working for Johns Hopkins in Lima, Peru. Jenny has a 7-year-old son named Nico and enjoys swimming, biking, and running. Karla Portale (’01) is living in San Jose and—after graduating from San Jose State University—and working as Director of Marketing and Sales for two photography firms: Meyer Photography and
27, 2011. Karla and Steven are praying for the Lord’s direction in their lives, and they are excited to see where He leads them in ministry. Monica Jackson (’04) has been attending San Jose State University and will be graduating this spring with a major in business marketing and plans to get her masters degree in communications from Santa Clara University. She spent last semester studying in Burgos, Spain and had a great experience.
Monic a Jack son in Burg os, Sp ain Still Light Studios. Karla is excited to announce that she was married to the most incredible blessing in her life, Steven Zeier, on November
Karla and Steven
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San Jose Chris-an School
SJCS Alumni News Ashlee Melinat (’98) graduated from Valley Christian High School and then Azusa Pacific University. She is currently living in San Jose and employed at Valley Christian High School in a variety of roles—from in-house graphic designer, to substitute teacher, to assistant for the president.
Chi Tran and
Chi Tran (’05) has lived a life full of testimonies of God's love, blessing, and sovereignty since graduating from SJCS. After leaving high school with the desire to pursue music, she went to UCLA in hopes of making a name for herself among some of LA's finest jazz musicians. To Chi’s surprise, it was during this time that the Lord brought her to genuine faith in Him. He opened her eyes to see that He Himself was her very great reward and provided many opportunities for her to serve young people. Chi currently mentors junior high school girls and leads Bible Studies with other students at UCLA. She is majoring in psychology with hopes of minoring in education studies and eventually making teaching her profession. Tara MacInnes’ (’01) life has taken some unexpected turns, as she had two brain surgeries after being diagnosed with Moyamoya disease in
some of the st udents she w
orks with
Tara MacInnes
2004. Once recovered, she began pursuing her college dreams. Tara currently resides in Baton Rouge, LA, and will graduate from Our Lady of the Lake College next spring with a Bachelor of Arts Degree – Liberal Arts, with an emphasis in English, and an Associate of Science Degree – Health Sciences. Page 8
Tara has some big goals, hoping to one day run a large scale medical non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and support for Moyamoya disease. To that end, she participated in a program in Washington, DC, where she interned with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and took classes related to leadership in the non-profit sector at Georgetown University. Tara is quite interested in furthering her academic experience and has applied to Cambridge University in England, along with other graduate programs in the U.S. Tara has also helped in many service projects at her church—The Journey (San Jose)—as well as with Habitat for Humanity and St. John’s Hospice (Baton Rouge). Tara enjoys open water swimming and has done competitive swims at La Jolla, Lake Tahoe, and the San Francisco Bay (from Alcatraz to shore, as well as under the Golden Gate Bridge). An item on her bucket list is to one day swim the English Channel. Brain surgery brought out a zest for living for Tara, and she prayerfully pursues her dreams with everything she has.
Help Us Stay in Touch You can update contact information (name, address, email) or share life stories and pictures for an SJCS alum by sending an email to info@sjchristian.org.