a publication of the Kalamazoo Christian Schools

2121 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49008 • (269)381-2044 • www.kcsa.org

Winter 2016

The Agony And hilAriTy: The life of Teens

Presented by Kalamazoo Christian Middle SchoolYour

word is a lamp to my feet and

a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

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A TAle of Two TreesI lived many years in the Central Valley of California. Every tree on earth grows there or close by. I had a twelve minute drive to Ripon Christian School and part of the trip was magical. The lane was bordered by almond orchards and, for two weeks in February, the trees were in blossom, pink and white, over a base of dewy green spring grass. It was two weeks of heaven.Unfortunately, almond trees like sandy soil and don’t develop strong root systems. A big storm can topple

the tree. And the productive life of the tree is short. Often the entire orchard is ripped out and planted anew. Yes, almond trees are breathtakingly beautiful, but oh so short-lived!As one heads south in the big valley, one often sees a single stately oak tree rising above the orchards of almonds, walnuts, or citrus. Eventually, one encounters a grove of oaks, protected now by law, that are enduring, stately, and intimidating. The valley oak is an impressive tree, keenly adapted to the semi-arid climate. It lives hundreds of years, sprouting main branches from a solid trunk. The branches and canopy are intricate and elaborate. An ancient valley oak stands like a monument through time and turbulence. It is not surprising that the oak is often the subject of artists and photographers, including the famous Ansel Adams.What is most impressive about the valley oak is what is unseen. A robust root system, including taproots, reaches into the soil drawing water and nutrients while anchoring the tree.

By now you know where I am going with this tale of two trees. Kalamazoo Christian is like that valley oak, strong, enduring, intricate, and beautiful. When hit by storms or drought, Kalamazoo Christian endures. The fruit is every student that moves from school to college, career, family, and service to God. But what is most impressive about Kalamazoo Christian is what is often unseen. Her roots are strong, tapped into a life-giving faith, the Bible, and powered by the Holy Spirit. Her mission is consistent. Her roots are the thousands of supporters that anchor the school, providing water and nutrients by giving of time, prayer, and financial aid. I am grateful for roots and pray that we will be like that tree mentioned in Jeremiah 17:8.

Leading The Wayby BJ huizenga, lead Administrator

"Like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Jeremiah 17:8

Our students are privileged to raise and lower the flag every school day. This cold week in January the students were having a bit of trouble taking it down in the wintry weather, and a grandparent kindly stopped to help them fold the flag properly. One of our parents snapped this photo as they were doing this. What a blessing to see all the parts of our school family working together!

leAding By exAmple

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On January 13, 2016, the eighth grade drama class led by Dennis Burchett presented “The Agony and Hilarity: The Life of Teens” at Comstock Auditorium. The play was composed of twelve short skits and each student in the class of thirty-three students had parts in multiple skits. The students learned their parts, found their own costumes, created scenery for each skit, and worked out who would be responsible for putting scenery on and off stage for each skit. They learned to become responsible for doing their parts at just the right time. The picture on the front of the Torch is of the skit “Politically Correct Preschool”. Performing the play at Comstock Auditorium was a great experience for the students because it is a large stage with many curtains and entryways. It even has a great makeup/dressing room. The auditorium employs lighting and sound people that make the play very professional-looking.The students did a wonderful job and are looking forward to presenting

the musical “James and the Giant Peach” on May 24 at Comstock Auditorium. It should be another great job by Mr. Burchett’s eighth grade drama class!

Kalamazoo Christian Middle School recently held its Bowl for A Goal event at Pinz, raising funds for new middle school classroom chairs. Great job students!

The agony and hiLariTy: The Life of Teensby debbie Klaassen

Bowl for A goAl by ruth Wiersma

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On January 8, 2016, six teams from fourth and fifth grade met to compete in the annual Battle of the Books! Teams of six students from each class in fourth and fifth grades worked together to read as many of the books from a 68-title list as they could. During the battle they were read a quote from one of the books, which they had to answer with the name of the book and the author. The winning team was Mrs. Meyer’s Mantises including: Annabelle Terpstra, Aubrey Herder, Connor Tuin, Drew VanderLaan, Kathryn Irmen and our runner was Lily Dyk.

BATTle of The Booksby Kim Vanloo

nCss 2015 new orleAnsby scott Vandyke

From November 12 to November 15, 2015, four Social Studies teachers from the Kalamazoo Christian Schools attended the National Council for the Social Studies Conference in New Orleans (NCSS). Using Title II funds (funds from the state to further the education of teachers statewide), Matt Eling, Joel Netz, Jim Potter and Scott VanDyke flew to the “Big Easy” for sectionals, meetings and curricular planning. Matt and Joel teach in the middle school, and Jim and Scott teach in the high school. This year’s theme urged the over 10,000 attendees to “Celebrate Social Responsibility.” The convention began with a key-note speech from Dr. Terence Roberts. Dr. Roberts was one of the “Little Rock 9,” one of the first schools to integrate African Americans from a segregated school. It was fascinating to hear his personal perspective on that important event in our nation’s history. There were many offerings connected to New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina and the rebuilding process. This was especially pertinent as the Conference Center of New Orleans was a shelter for many of the people dispossessed by Katrina. Another highlight sectional was an explanation of the work of the UN War Crimes Tribunal in Sierra Leone. David Crane, an American appointed by Kofi Annan, served as prosecutor against the notorious Charles Taylor, the Liberian president who supplied blood diamonds to the world. A particularly serious sectional related to terrorism, since the Paris shooting occurred while this conference was in session. In another session, Rick Steves, the noted travel guide, gave an overview of Iran’s culture, politics and its relation to the West. It’s very evident that the sessions were diverse and interesting.

The convention was not solely focused on speaker sessions, as there was time to peruse the latest in teaching resources, technology and textbooks. Also, the teachers caught up with Josh Koning, an Educational Specialist for CSPAN. Josh, a KCSA graduate, uses his love of social studies by traveling the country covering news events and preparing educational materials which explain the background of current events and news incidents themselves.While the convention focused mainly US issues, there were enough worldwide issues that can be integrated into the classroom. Armed with ideas, worksheets and even full lessons, these teachers are striving to become even better in the classroom. This will certainly make our students more prepared to serve God in all the world.

around The MiddLe schooL

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fun WiTh scienceby randy deJong and Jeff offringa

KCSA parent and scientist Randy DeJong visited KCMS on Dec. 15, 2015 to share some fun scientific experiments with students. Randy has been coming to 8th grade science class for the past 8 years. Each year he comes after the 8th graders finish their study

of chemistry. His visit gives the students a first hand experience on states of matter and chemical reactions (including some big explosions!) Every year it's a big hit with the students. They talk about a variety of chemistry topics including examples of different

types of chemical reactions and the changes/by-products that can be observed (color, heat, smoke, light, sound, etc). The first photo deals with a chemiluminescence reaction—a unique reaction that gives off light. The second photo deals with exploring the difference in the density of gases. Solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) is in the bottom of the glass and forms a layer of CO2 which is heavier than air in the bottom. Bubbles appear to “float” on the invisible layer of CO2. In the last photo we are exploring the affect of liquid nitrogen on a balloon.

The extreme cold slows down the motion of air molecules so much that it appears the balloon has gone flat, but warming the balloon again returns it to a normal state.

In addition to what is pictured, the students cover different types of chemical reactions, flammability and the fire triangle, evaporation/cooling, physical and chemical properties, states of matter, polymerization, safety, and of course explosions (pictured in the background photo).Thank you, Randy, for showing our students the fun side of science!

medievAl fesTivAlby dave Koning

The glint of steel and the flash of shining armor filled the afternoon for KCMS 6th graders one Friday in December. The annual Medieval Festival provided an apt culmination for a

month-long study of the middle ages. Throughout the study students were assigned roles to play and projects to complete for the big day.Jesters entertained. The clergy led devotions. The lord and lady had the honor of being first in line for fine medieval fare. Knights jousted. Towers were built and tested. Catapults were readied, aimed, and fired at castle walls in a test of skill and shooting accuracy. The classes tested their combined strength with the tug of war competition.No Medieval Festival is complete without a visit from Rob Schipper and his band of knights. The actors, dressed in their medieval garb, shared insights about medieval times. They showed us their armor and weapons and demonstrated their effectiveness.

All in all it was an effective and entertaining way to experience medieval times.

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On a cold and blustery October afternoon, Kalamazoo honored a US Armed Services fallen hero. Streets from the airport to the funeral home across Kalamazoo County were lined with total strangers waving

flags and thanking this man and his family for their service. As a mom of a currently deployed US Marine, these events have a personal meaning. On that October afternoon, our family drove over to the 12th Street Campus to stand

along the route and honor this fallen hero, Staff Sargent Kuhse. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by many families of KCSA. So many made signs to honor this hero, and kids waved flags and balloons, many dressed in red, white, and blue. It was heartwarming to see

and it is good to know that our community will honor these men and women, even if they are total strangers.As I stood there and watched the processional vehicles, the tears rolled down my face to know that this man’s service was not being overlooked by our community.

The Kalamazoo Comets Boys Soccer Team was started in August of 2013. The inspiration to start this team came from the desire to keep all boys from Kalamazoo Christian on the same team. At the time, my Assistant AYSO Coach Cory VanDeGriend reminded me about a league we had heard about that was a step up in competition without a lot of travel required, called SMMSSL (Southwest Michigan Middle School Soccer League), or Mitten Soccer. The Middle School put an ad in the Comet Clips and we called all middle school boys to tell them about the possibility of a new team starting. Two days after school started, we already had enough for a full team! The team is open to any middle school boys, grades 5 - 8. We usually have about 16-20 on the team. We have 12 games every fall, traveling not farther than 30 minutes for our away games. The cost has varied, from $0-75, depending if we do a fundraiser or not. It is a competitive league so we do work very hard. I do my best to lead the team the way the teachers teach in our schools: encouraging the kids to push themselves and do their best, while behaving in a Christ-like manner. I have been impressed with the

team’s desire to work and improve, especially this past season. It made coaching so enjoyable for me, and it has been an honor to represent this fine school!Many of the players have gone on to play in high school. Last season, the high school team had their best results in years.I want to thank everyone who has help build and

support this program: the Kalamazoo Christian Schools, particularly Marc Verkaik, Jerry Weesies and Ruth Wiersma; all my assistant coaches; all the parents from all three seasons; our team photographers; announcers David and Harley Seelbinder; the middle school girl’s club soccer coach; and the Comet Football Club. You have all been invaluable, and I could not have done it without you! I also offer a winter program

every year on Mondays at Oshtemo Soccerzone from 3-4:30. This keeps the boys thinking about soccer, develops their foot skills and improves their stamina. It is $75 for the season January-March or $10 weekly drop in. For questions or more information, please contact Kelly at calltheexperts@yahoo.com.

MiddLe schooL Boys soccerby Kelly seelbinder

TriBuTe To A fAllen hero by lori Vigen

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Hostess: McKena RazenbergHost: Kevin Wunderly

Class Representatives:9th grade:

Anders Bogard, Aaron Verkaik, Nathan Wenke, Kayla Beebe, Jayme Koning, Alyson Roberts10th grade:Jordan Katje, Armaan Sandhu, Colin Sikkenga, Erin Koning, Jill Rozeveld, Mackenzie Wallace11th grade:

Chad Blackwell, Zack Hazelhoff, Tyler Tiesman, Kaylee Cramer, Meagan Laaksonen, Aliyah Lemmer

12th grade:Joe Petro, Billy Ruh, Joel VanderKamp, Brooklyn Block, Gabby Brandt, Jasmine Czajka

KaLaMazoo chrisTian high schooL hoMecoMing 2016by Patti landstra

Even though a snowstorm on Friday, February 12, cancelled the Homecoming 2016 basketball game and events, bringing the week to a disappointing close, the high school students and staff still enjoyed a full week of activities and dress-up days leading up to that night. Competition

was high in the first-ever floor hockey tournament, where in the first round the juniors lost to the freshmen and the seniors were knocked out by the sophomores. Blind Musical Chairs, Pairs, the Trash Can Game and the Obstacle Course were among the more popular games for the week, but the highlight of the week was definitely the Teachers vs. “Senior Cheer Section” basketball game on Friday afternoon. While the game was a little more physical at times than expected, both students and staff had a great time playing and cheering on the teams in a game sure to become a homecoming tradition. The week came to a close on Saturday with seniors capturing

an Air Jam victory and all of the students celebrating together at the Homecoming Dance. Plans are in motion for additional opportunities for alumni to gather this spring to reconnect and make up for the time missed during homecoming, so stay tuned!

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high schooL happenings

High School chapel on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 was led by Pastor Nate Bull from Vanguard Street Ministry. Pastor Nate changed his message at the last minute to speak

about what God was calling him to say. As kids gathered for their small groups at the end of chapel, Pastor Nate offered to stay for 10 minutes if a small group wanted to pray with him

and recommit to seeking God with all their heart. This evolved into the entire high school joining together in a prayer circle for over a half hour of collective and individual prayer. Powerful.

"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20

ChApelby erik Jacobson

Last spring the Freshman English classes of Mrs. Dawn Brown embarked on an educational journey. For their freshman English research project, the students investigated non-profit organizations in the Greater Kalamazoo area, chose one to focus on, researched the role of non-profits in general and then researched their chosen non-profit. The students did internet research and also did email and in-person correspondence with representatives of their chosen organization. Monetary donations were accepted and Erin Koning and Kara VanderKamp were chosen to present donations on behalf of the Christian Schools to Ministry with Community and Animal Rescue Project. The hope is that students will see the non-profits in

the community and see the impact they make and will consider volunteering and sharing Christ’s love.

freshmAn english projeCTby Tami Koning

grAd BAsh fundrAiser by Jana deering

Available for a limited time – reusable grocery totes. Sturdy construction with reinforced carrying handles (15” x 13” x 10”). Sold in packs of 5 for $15. They will be available at the home high school basketball games or the school offices (HS, ES/MS, and Administration). Please make checks out to KCSA and put “GRAD BASH” in the memo. Thank you for your support!

AliCe Through The looking glAssby Matt Jewett

Kalamazoo Christian presents an original adaptation of “Alice Through the Looking Glass” on March 4 and 5 at Comstock Auditorium. Tickets will go on sale February 17. You may also buy tickets during lunch break or by calling (269) 381-2250. It will be performed on Friday, March 4 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, March 5th at 1:30 and 7 pm. Tickets are six dollars for students and eight dollars for adults. Children six and under get in free.

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KaLaMazoo To rehoBoThby Jim Bosch

What is Kalamazoo 2 Rehoboth? We are an annual mission trip that takes place in Rehoboth, New Mexico. This mission trip was started by the youth group at Comstock CRC in the summer of 2011. Originally we went down to the Rehoboth Christian School campus to do miscellaneous projects. But a couple weeks before we were scheduled to leave, we were told there were no projects to do. Per God’s plan, a local basketball coach, Adrian Pete, was in need of volunteers to help run a free four day basketball camp at the Rehoboth campus. So without knowing how to run a basketball camp or anything basketball in general, we trusted God that it would all work out. The night before the camp we met Adrian and planned out our week. We didn’t know how it would turn out. And by God’s grace it turned out to be a great week! We learned a lot about ourselves and we truly loved it! Our daily schedule included having our students leading the campers from different basketball stations, including one where the message of Jesus' love for them is told. In the afternoon we take the kids to lunch on the Rehoboth campus, then play

games, do crafts and sing with the campers until the end of day. We have the kids from 9am to 3pm. The age groups for the campers range from 1st grade to 8th grade. It’s so amazing to see the relationships that are built between our kids and the campers. Some remain strong to this day. Our record for the most campers to attend the camp the first 4 years was 90 for one day. In 2015 God decided to stretch our group. The first day of camp we had 150 campers. Those numbers stayed constant for the rest of the week. The last day we had 200 campers! We don’t know how we did it. God gave us the strength to finish strong. The yearly growth is amazing! God continues to bless this camp!

Our mission group consists of 5-7 adult leaders and 15-20 student volunteers (many are KCHS students) every year. After four years Jim and Lisa Bosch, the Comstock CRC youth group leaders, decided to be done as leaders, but felt led to continue the camp/mission trip, so the non-profit group, Kalamazoo 2 Rehoboth was created. In 2015 along with Jim (1986) and Lisa (1985), Courtney Bosch (2010), Allison Bosch (2013), Ruth Wiersma (1973), Sharon Harrington (1975) and

Karen Tiesman (1990) formed the board of Kalamazoo 2 Rehoboth. Our goal is to train our student volunteers to be future Christian leaders and to share the love of Jesus by teaching basketball skills through our daily interaction with the campers. Our July 2015 trip was the first year without the backing of a church. It was a lot of work to start a non-profit, but we are so glad that we did. We love going back every year to see our second family. It’s our home. Part of the experience of our trip is the 36-hour Amtrak train ride from Kalamazoo to Chicago then to Gallup, New Mexico. There is nothing like riding the train. We have all the participants pay a set amount to go on this trip. We have had some small fundraisers and

donations to help defer the cost of going. It is our goal someday to raise enough money to help bring down the cost for everyone that goes on our trip. You can go to our website www.kzoo2rehoboth.org to get current information on our trip and a link to our GoFundMe page for donations. We are always looking for students to go

on the mission trip. Thank you for this opportunity for us to get our group’s name out there and let you know who we are. This year we will have 10+ former and current KCHS students going on our trip. If you are interested in going on our trip with us or would like to support us in any way you can contact us at: jim@kzoo2rehoboth.org

Prayers are always appreciated! Looking forward for what adventure God has planned for us in year six!

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Former teacher and Second Impressions volunteer, Pete Lubben, went to be with his Lord on Sunday, January 24, 2016. Pete's career included thirty-six years of teaching middle school science at North Christian School. After retirement he spent fourteen years in the development and daily operations of Second Impressions Thrift Store. In addition, Pete and his wife Ann volunteered their services at a variety of charities. They did disaster relief work with World Renew. Over the last eleven years they spent

the winter months tutoring Native American students at Rehoboth Christian School in New Mexico. Pete was instrumental in challenging many students to succeed. Pete was on the original committee in July, 2001 that dreamed of having a thrift store. With rising tuition costs there was a concern for the families that wanted to give their children a Christian Education and therefore help make the future of KCSA secure for generations to come.When Second Impressions opened in October, 2002, Pete served as a co-general manager. Pete and Ann also worked as day managers, staffing volunteers, fielding phone calls, providing customer service and other daily operations. Most days he arrived by 8AM, bustling around the backroom, organizing and re-stocking supplies to have everything ready for that day’s volunteers. A few departments that he took personal responsibility for were the sporting goods and the toys. He even packed up tubs of little toys and

took them home to sort into ziploc grab-bags, often enduring much teasing about “playing with his toys out in his garage workshop”. When overwhelmed with donations he often told volunteers, “just start at the left and work your way to the right!” As a board member at Second Impressions, Pete was the number-cruncher, keeping track of expenses and determining how much money went to the schools. He was especially proud to announce to the volunteers when a $50,000 check was sent off to the school. When recruiting new volunteers he was especially conscious of the burden of time for young families, looking to the retirees and grandparents as a valuable source of manpower. Pete will be sadly missed at Second Impressions but his hard work will be continued in the spirit that it was originally intended, to come alongside families, helping support them in every way possible. Pete is survived by his loving wife and six children.

rememBering peTe luBBenby Patty gruizinga

hair for hearTby sarah dirksen and Jaime ekkens

February 13, 2016 was the date for the annual father-daughter dance held at the elementary school gym. It was a beautiful evening of fellowship and fun for third through fifth grade girls and their fathers. What many don't know is that earlier in the day, another special event was held, "Hair for Heart." As explained by parent Jaime Ekkens, "I saw a need and I love to create an outcome where everyone wins. February is congenital heart awareness month, and I have a son with heart disease, so this month is near and dear to me. I know of a sweet 19-year-old girl, Kyle, who is in need of a new heart. I organized six hair stylists (including 8th grader Claire Dirksen) to donate their time and skills to give beautiful hair styles for girls who attended the father-daughter dance. We had over 34 girls attend and we raised over $600 for Kyle. I’m in awe of the support that we received!"We are grateful to be a part of a community that not only loves and cares for its own but reaches out to others in need.

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The Comet volleyball season began with the Hackett Early Bird Invitational which takes place a week before school starts in the fall. The Comets swept the tournament, claiming the trophy with a straight set victory over the Loy Norrix Knights.The weekend after the Hackett Early Bird was the Warrior Showdown in Muskegon, featuring six top 10 class C teams. The Lady Comets came out of pool play with a 2-1 record, losing for the first time against a very strong Montague team. The Comets met them again in the tournament final where the Comets shut down Montague’s all-state, big hitting middle and claimed the trophy.Next on the tournament schedule was the Zion Invitational where another top 5 team awaited the Comets. The Comets still figured a way to make it to the finals, where they lost one of the most intense, exciting matches of the year in three sets. A new league this year also meant a new league format. The Comets played each team in the division and also had several crossover quads. In these quads, as well as division play, the Comets were undefeated, sporting a perfect 6-0 division and 10-0 overall league record.From a player's perspective: “Outside of volleyball we were more like a family. Whether on or off the court, everyone got along and loved spending time together, making up strange games to keep ourselves entertained and spending LOTS of money on chicken nuggets before practices. We wouldn’t have played

as well as we did if we didn’t get along."Season highlights for the players include:• District title over a spunky

Hackett team.• When a referee at Hackett Early

Bird took the time to tell the team they had the talent to match any team in the state.They needed to play every point. (This was a very special moment as this is one of the things that the team really took to heart.)

• Great plays, causing the teams and the audiences to gasp.

• Scoring a point in Districts after

the opposition thought they had scored a point.

• Bus rides with life lessons.• Circle team prayer after the final

match surrounded by a circle of parents surrounded by a circle of students.

Statistics are a requirement for post season honors but were never posted and no team members asked about them during the season. Haley Balkema and McKena Razenberg were chosen for All-State honors, Josie VandenBerg All-State Honorable mention and Carlie VandenBerg All-Region.

The team says goodbye to Seniors Carlie VandenBerg, Audrey Bouma, and McKena Razenberg.

VarsiTy VoLLeyBaLLby stan heeres and Josie VandenBerg

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vArsiTy Tennisby Bryan Keeley

This was an exciting year for Boys Tennis at KCHS. This year we had enough players to start a JV boys tennis team which was coached by Joey DeKoekoek and Andrew Long. The JV team had a very successful season with 10 players and a record of 7-1-1.The Varsity team was led by seniors Dean VanElderen, Tyler Boes and Nate Herder. The boys achieved 1st place in the Conference, 1st place in Regionals and 6th place in the State tournament. Adam Ritsema and Travis Pease went farthest in the state tournament, losing in the semi-finals in the 3rd Doubles flight. The Varsity boys tennis team was coached by Bryan Keeley and Kyle Weener. The team finished with a record of 15-3.

Save the Date!Monday, June 6, 20168 AM shotgun startLunch to followThornapple Creek Golf Glub6415 West F Ave.Kalamazoo, MI 49009Registration forms can be found at kchristiansports.com. Contact: Dave Doorn (dave.doorn@hp.com) or Chris Batts (battschris@hotmail.com) for more information. Players and hole sponsors needed.Proceeds from this event will go towards the Booster Club goal to resurface the high school track at a total cost of $150,000.Join us for a day of golf at a beautiful course in support of KCSA!

sporTs shorTs

men's Cross CounTry runs AT sTATe finAlsby Jeff offringa

The men’s cross country team once again qualified for the state finals for the 4th year in a row. The team placed second at the regional meet to earn a trip to the finals race. At the state finals the team placed 15th while competing against the top 27 division 4 teams in the state. Leading the team was Kevin Wunderly, who ran a personal best time of 16:58 which earned him all-state honors. The members of the state qualifying team were Kevin Wunderly, John Cramer, Anders Bogard, Ryan Wunderly, Harley Seelbinder, John Stehouwer, and Andrew Nowak. Congratulations boys for a great season!

BoosTer golf ouTing The Alumni Group will be sponsoring a trip to see the Detroit Tigers on Thursday,

June 23, 2016 for a 1:08 game. Watch for the details and sign up options by letter, email, school newsletters, church bulletins and the TORCH. Contact Connie VanDerSlik for early sign up at cvanderslik@kcsa.org.

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ComeT AThleTiC hAll of fAme

The Comet Booster Club is looking for qualified individuals for Hall of Fame

nomination. If you know someone who would be an eligible candidate for the

Comet Athletic Hall of Fame, please give the name to Dave Doorn (dave.doorn@hp.com)or Jerry Weesies (jweesies@

kcsa.org). Eligible candidates must be out of high school at least 5 years and have made significant athletic contributions in

high school and beyond.

Four generations of Comet baskeball players recently gathered for a photo following a JV boys basketball game. All of these family members have been a part of a Kalamazoo Christian Comet basketball team. Pictured are grandfather Bert DeYoung (class of 1971); great-grandfather John Schaap (class of 1946, celebrating his 70th class reunion this year!); great-grandson Ben Terpstra (class of 2018, current Comet JV player); and granddaughter Sara DeYoung-Terpstra (class of 1995).

four generATions of ComeTs

Comet Athletic Hall of Fame 2016by Jerry Weesies

On a recent Friday night, two former outstanding Comet athetes were inducted into the Comet Athletic Hall of Fame.

Lou hoekstra - Class of 1974Lou Hoekstra earned six varsity letters in cross country and track. Lou was the first KCHS athlete to earn all-state in cross country. In track, Lou was all-state in the 2-mile while setting the KCHS record in the 2-mile run.Lou attended Hope College where he was all-MIAA in cross country all four years. He was the conference overall champion his sophomore year and MIAA cross country MVP his junior year. In track at Hope Lou was all-MIAA twice and was the 5000-meter champion with a meet record his junior year.

Nate Young - Class of 2009Nate Young earned varsity letters in golf, basketball and track at KCHS. He was all-conference and all-state in baseball his senior year. He also set the KCHS single season strikeout record that year.

Nate played at Division 1 Elon University where he went into the record books for being second in saves for his career at Elon. Nate was also voted one of the top 50 closers in the country his senior year.Congratulations to both of these outstanding former Comet athletes!

ceLeBraTing coMMuniTy

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The 1877 soCieTy The Kalamazoo Christian schools have been providing high quality Christian education since 1877. By the grace of god the schools have flourished for over 139 years with the financial support of the Christian community.

The 1877 society was established to recognize those faithful supporters who have included the Christian schools in their estate plans. Membership is voluntary. Membership allows the schools to thank you for your thoughtful planning and confirm during your lifetime how you want the gift to be used. your commitment will encourage others to follow your example.

There is no minimum amount to be eligible for membership. you simply need to list the Kalamazoo Christian school

Association or Kalamazoo Christian school foundation as a beneficiary in your will, in a life insurance policy, in a retirement account, in a charitable gift annuity, or some other life income or trust agreements.

We will be happy to assist you making this type of charitable gift to the Kalamazoo Christian schools. Please contact Jeff lectka or larry stehouwer at 269-381-2044 or by email (jlectka@kcsa.org or lstehouwer@kcsa.org). The Barnabas foundation is also available for free and confidential advice for making planned gifts.

Each year at this time the Kalamazoo Christian School Foundation determines what financial assistance its endowed funds can provide to help support the Kalamazoo Christian Schools. Distributions are made using only the interest income, dividends and growth from donations to its funds, not the principal. For the 2016/17 school year $120,000 of support is available to the Christian schools. Most of this amount is for unrestricted support and for need-based tuition assistance. Some of the funds help provide for the arts, science and engineering, special education, sports and scholarships. We are very thankful for this regular annual financial support. If you would like to help the Foundation supply this critical assistance to the schools please contact us. We will be happy to assist you in making charitable gifts to the Kalamazoo Christian Schools at the Association

or at the Foundation. Please contact Jeff Lectka or Larry Stehouwer at 269-381-2044, or by email (jlectka@kcsa.org or lstehouwer@kcsa.org). You may also get free and confidential advice for making planned gifts from the Barnabas Foundation.

2016/17 SupportTuition Assistance $16,000General Assistance $79,600Staff Development $12,000Science and Engineering $ 2,200Special Education $ 7,700Arts $ 1,200Sports $ 600Scholarships $ 5,000Total: $125,300

foundATion updATeby larry stehouwer

foundaTion neWs

15 www.kcsa.org

need a landscaper, builder, attorney, or other service? Would you prefer to use a Kalamazoo Christian family? We are pleased to announce that Kalamazoo Christian schools will be sponsoring an online business directory!

We have had many requests for a list of products or services that Kalamazooo Christian families provide, and we are now able to provide a web-based, searchable database. Beginning January 1, 2016, www.kchristianbusiness.com is online and expanding,

so please visit if you are looking for a product or service. There will also be a link on www.kcsa.org.

To Kalamazoo Christian school service or product providers: Please visit www.kchristianbusiness.com to register your business and get some exposure to all of our school family and alumni. The directory will be advertised on our website and in our publications. if you feel the service is of value, we have provided a donation bucket, but the registration and listings are free. All listings are restricted to parents, alumni, or Kalamazoo Christian school Association members and are subject to final approval by our directory committee. Please contact Jeff at jlectka@kcsa.org for more information.

deVeLopMenT corner

finAnCiAl updATeby ron Plaisier

The KCsA Board and finance Committee recently reviewed our first quarter financial results. overall, we are pleased with the results as our revenue was positive to budget by $52,000

and our expenses were negative to budget by $69,000. Therefore, through our first quarter the KCSA operational budget is positive to budget by $121,000. We continue to make nice progress on our

financial position.

our capital campaign income remains strong with $73,500 recorded for the quarter and our Bond now stands at $3,900,000.

Pre-Refinancing 7/17/2014 After

Refinancing8/31/2014 Fiscal Year

End12/31/2014 Calendar

Year End8/31/2015

Fiscal Year End12/31/2015

Calendar Year End

2003 Bond Issue Elementary School

$3,160,000 0 0 0 0 0

2014 Bond Issue Elementary School

Middle School0 $4,000,000 $4,000,000 $4,000,000 4,000,000 3,900,000

Term Loan Middle School

$1,520,000 $760,000 $725,000 $350,000 95,000 0

Line of Credit $365,000 $365,000 $175,700 $0 0 0

Total $5,045,000 $5,125,000 $4,900,700 $4,350,000 4,095,000 3,900,000

spring sAleby ruth Wiersma

The 3rd annual Spring Sale will be held at the Kalamazoo Christian 12th street campus gym on Saturday, March 19 from 9AM to 2PM. Come and support local vendors and the Kalamazoo Christian schools!

16 www.kcsa.org

On behalf of the staff and students, I’d like to thank all of you for your prayers, volunteer hours, and contributions. The last two years were challenging and full of blessings. Through much hard work and determination, we were able to pay down over one million dollars in debt (see chart on previous page). This was an amazing achievement that we attribute directly to God’s favor. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is that I frequently get to see God’s hand at work in our schools. In my years at K-Christian, there have been many times that we were doubtful that an event would come together, that we would reach a goal, or that we would make a deadline. Without fail, God would once again let us know to trust in Him by giving us what we need, when we need it. For this reason, we have ambitious plans for the coming year. This past September for our second “Kalamazoo Christian Schools Present” event, we hosted renowned best-selling author Andy Andrews. This event was an enjoyable and successful follow up to our Ben Carson event of 2014. This year, we are hosting Bethany Hamilton on March 29, 2016 at Wings Event Center. Bethany Hamilton is an in-demand Christian speaker who exemplifies courage and faith in God. A competitive

surfer, Bethany lost an arm to a shark attack and overcame enormous obstacles to not only surf again, but to become one of the top professional surfers in the world. Her story was the subject of the film “Soul Surfer”, and her inspirational message focuses on faith, family, and hope. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.com.I am also excited about our third Kalamazoo Christian Family picnic to be held on May 19, 2016 at 3PM at the Middle School campus. This celebration was first held when we broke ground on our new Middle School wing. The second celebration took place when the wing was complete and we welcomed 1,400 guests. This year we plan to celebrate our school family, staff, and alumni with food, fellowship, music, and games. I hope you can join us for what promises to be a great day.Plans are also being finalized to work towards the elimination of our remaining debt of $3.9 million, make necessary repairs to the high school, and build a gym/performance facility at the 12th Street campus. In short, although our blessings are great, we have much more to do, and will continue to work hard to achieve our goals and ensure that we will provide Christian education to our community for years to come. Thank you once again for your prayers and support.

KaLaMazoo chrisTian presenTs: BeThany haMiLTonby Jeff lectka

Contributing Photographers:Melanie Balkema, daniel Cooke, sarah dirksen, nikki ebbeler, erik Jacobson,

Joel netz, Becki ruh, Cheryl TenBrink, Katie Vanderlaan, lori Vigen, Jackie Wunderly

Submit articles for publication to ctenbrink@kcsa.org • (269)381-2044 • www.kcsa.org

SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE! Get $5 O� per ticket by using a special PROMO CODE. Check your email or newsletter for details.

VIP DINNER and SPONSORSHIP opportunities available. Call KCSA for info 269-381-2044.

thinkBIGLeadership & Education

Outreach

Bethany HamiltonBethany Hamilton

Presented by

soul surfer

Music FeaturingMusic Featuring

Tuesday, March 29 ∞ 6 pm

Wings Event Center, Kalamazoo$35-$45 ea. ∞ All Ages ∞ www.ticketmaster.com

An Inspiring Evening of Music, Passion and HopeTuesday, March 29

TUBE WAVE SPONSOR