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DownloadSee also | Middle School News BriefLast updated 6/29/10 Middle School Chapels
In
recent weeks, the Middle school students have been led in worship by
Pastor Bob of Covenant Life CRC, the eighth grade SAC group (Ariana B.,
Josh C., Sara K., Sam M., Anna S., and Clayton Z.), Mrs. Van Winkle, and
Mr. Geertsma. Pastor Bob challenged us to consider “the beam in our own
eye” when we find ourselves criticizing others. The SAC group
acted out the story, “The Terrible Things” by Eve Bunting. Ariana
helped connect its message to our lives by challenging us to stand up
against injustice rather than to stand as a silent a bystander.
Mrs. VanWinkle also started her message by reading us a story. She
connected the book to her focus question, “Who are you?” Many
times we are asked “What do you do?” in people’s attempts to get to know
us. We were challenged to do the good works that come out of a
life of faith. In our final chapel, Mr. Geertsma read from I
Corinthians 13 and expressed the meaninglessness of possessions,
popularity, power and talent if we don’t have love. Greek Olympics
The sixth
grade recently concluded their study of Ancient Greece with a classroom
Olympics. Students were involved in teamwork activities, relays, tongue
twisters, Wii bowling, a softball toss, paper airplane throw, and even a
little Wii boxing. The students even dressed the part and created their
own team flags and chants. Congratulations to all the Olympians. God was
truly glorified through our competition. We finished
the year with a study of Ancient Rome. To end the unit, each
student created an artifact for a Roman museum. Parents and other
classes were invited to walk through the “museum” and hear each student
explain what they had learned about their topic. The Annual Bible Bowl
Teams of 6th
graders, 7th graders, and 8th graders competed Tuesday, June 1, in our
yearly Bible Bowl. Mr. Geertsma asked questions that included
“name the book”, “Who said…?”, and “How many…?”. The seventh
grade team took an early lead and held on to win the entire competitioin.
Sixth graders took second place. The eighth grade team made a valiant
comeback effort but fell short, taking third place. Athletics
The spring
sports season recently concluded with girls’ soccer, boys’ baseball, and
track and field. The girls’ soccer finished with a record of 5-3, good
enough for 2nd place in the league. The team was coached by Carly Nelson
and Jeff Erickson and was made up of Jenna Bakker, Elizabeth Boeve,
Lindsey Dick, Isabel Elve, Lorelle Hallenbeck, Kelly Hoffius, Sydney
McLean, Christa Houskamp, Ella DeWyn, Mikaela Erickson, Olivia Hippe,
Leah Hoffer, Onika Langeland, Shelby Lile, Lilli McCastle, Rylee Stuk,
and Lily Vander Molen. The boys’
baseball team concluded the year with a 1-7 record. The team was made up
of Max Ingersoll, Jacob Kempster, Sam Mast, Clayton Zimmerman, Sam
Bekins, Hunter Berens, Sam Berens, Jeremy Christiansen, Tully Groenendyk,
Kyle Kingma, Ben Kramer, Nolan Pelkey, Ryan Reiffer, who were coached by
Mr. Brondyke and Mr. Annema. The boys’ and
girls’ track teams had great weather and an excellent day at Unity
Christian. Both teams won 2nd place, highlighted by strong performances
from many of the athletes. Results from the meet can be found at
http://ghcathletics.wordpress.com/. Once on the homepage of the
blog, click on team updates and it will provide a link for you to click
on with all the times and places from the day. I am hoping to
use this blog extensively next year to post schedules (all of next
year’s schedules are already up), scores, and announcements throughout
the year. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Go Sailors! Eighth Grade Exam Project
The middle
school staff developed our own “exam project” using materials and
ideas from other Christian middle schools such as Legacy and West Side
Christian. Our eighth graders completed their project exams this week
with great success. The projects included a visual display, a
written paper, an oral presentation, and “thank you” letters. Each 8th
grader chose a theme and designed their project around it, incorporating
the connections school has made in their life with their service to God
in His Kingdom. Through the process, students looked back on their
entire education at GHCS and produced a product that summarized how they
have developed over the years. Finally, they looked toward the
future, anticipating how they will continue to use their God-given
gifts. The projects
will be on display at the graduation reception in the gym. This project
will replace all the student’s final exams and will count as an exam
grade for each core class. Disability Awareness Day
On May 14 we experienced a day unlike any other at GHCS, our first
disAbility Awareness Day.The Middle School began the day as a whole
singing songs, watching a video and enjoying several speakers. We
learned more about Maddie Dukes and Williams syndrome from her parents,
and brother William, as they shared that Maddie is missing 5 genes and
how that impacts her and her family. Students had an opportunity to play
the bells and learn how Dawn Artwick, a music therapist, uses various
instruments and music to teach kids with special needs. Later in the day, we joined the rest of the school in the gym for
more songs and a video featuring GHC students. We then had the privilege
of meeting Mr. Will Pardee, a mouthstick artist who discovered he had
God-given artistic talent, after a diving accident left him paralyzed
from the neck down. His story, and complete dependence on God left us
all in awe. The rest of the day was devoted to simulations in different
classrooms. In one classroom kids experienced what it would be like to
have fine motor skill struggles by having several fingers on each hand
taped down and then making a peanut butter sandwich, or buttoning a
shirt. Dyslexia was simulated in another classroom as students tried to
trace a star by looking in a mirror, or reading text where many letters
were transposed. Other classrooms involved vision and hearing impairment
experiences and yet another, attention difficulties. Students were all
given time to do a reflective writing at the end of the day, and nearly
all students felt that their experiences, though difficult, would deepen
their compassion and patience for those with disabilities. The final
result, many said, was a deeper understanding that although we all grow
and learn differently, we are all children of God, made in his wonderful
image.
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