Photo by Scott Landwehr
Justice Ziegler conversed with Valley students: Kayla Floyd, Mariah Nelson, Kayla Hubbard and Katie Schiltz.

-By student, Kayla Hubbard (originally published in the VCS, Spirit of One, Feb. 2016 issue)

Wisconsin is one of the few states to claim a five-to-seven ratio of women to men on the state’s Supreme Court. Valley Christian School had the honor of hearing from one of the justices, Justice Annette Ziegler.

Once again, teacher Tom Winkels secured a visit from another government authority, within days of Governor Walker’s coming. Justice Ziegler came and talked to students about her story, as well as the inner workings of the judicial system.

Justice Ziegler, much like Governor Walker, started off with humble origins. She started work in her parent’s hardware store in a rural area, where she learned many of the work ethics she holds to today. Said sophomore Nehemias Gutierrez, ”It’s nice to see how she came from a small town, with all the different steps going up to becoming a supreme court justice.”

Not only did Justice Ziegler give students her history, she also explained much about how the court system works.

“ She described the justice system and her role in it in a very understandable way,” said teacher Jeanne Gutierrez. “And as an authority figure, she came off as very approachable and human.”

Justice Ziegler displayed an enthusiasm for interacting with and helping to educate students in schools all over Wisconsin, as well as being involved in the community.

Said Ziegler: “When you’re active in the community, I think it helps you keep your finger on the pulse. It’s easy for people to ascend to the level of Supreme Court justice and just disconnect. You have to focus…or you just don’t do any good.”

Article by Richard Wang
(originally published in the February 2016 Spirit of One, school newspaper)

The sound of muffled vacuum cleaning and  flushing toilets permeate the hallways and bathrooms of Valley Christian School. Here, freshman Aiden Gehrke is sitting after a two-hour school cleaning, one of his part-time jobs. He works 8-10 hours per week after school at Valley Christian as a cleaning assistant.

Gehrke, who is also on the football team, said that it is nice to have a part-time job in high school for financial purposes, including the following: saving for college, paying for his hunting equipment, and covering many other small expenses that add up quickly. Gehrke is a janitorial assistant; his job is to collect garbage, clean the top of the lockers,  wipe the windows, and sometimes sweep the rocks off the playground equipment. He gets paid $7.25 per hour, 2 hours per day for three days a week. Gehrke makes $170 per month. He also has a partner, Nehemias Gutierrez, who works the same amount of time, and gets paid the same amount of money.

Gehrke working on changing garbage bags.
Photo by Richard Wang

His work, Gehrke has found, has affected him significantly. “In the area of character building, it teaches me responsibility and how to have a great work ethic,” said Gehrke.

Meanwhile, senior Caleb Cooley described his on-campus work experiences as enjoyable and stress-relieving. Working five hours a week since his junior year, Cooley has been with the after school care program,where he plays with the kids, takes care of them, and makes sure they behave and have fun until their parents arrive. His expenses include saving for college and occasionally dining out. He only works three days a week so that on other days he can focus on his school work.

“It helps you prepare for being a parent. It also allows me to make a positive impact on the kids I am working with,” said Cooley.

The expectation of students involved with community service and work experience is always a central part of Valley Christian School’s focus—— VCS requires 80 hours of unpaid service to graduate, according to the school office.

“I had a part-time job when I was in high school; I was the lifeguard and swimming instructor at the Y. I think it is good if you can balance school work and a job. Having a part-time job can help you learn a good work ethic and experience for the future,” said Tara  Westpfahl, the middle/high school secretary.

Juggling high school and a part-time job is a tough act. The parents demand good grades, a social life requires cash, and functioning in general means getting a decent night of sleep. Somewhere in the middle, there’s a sweet spot of happiness. However, finding this elusive medium is easier said than done.

“I think they have to balance it. I don’t want people to give up the opportunities for sports, dramas, clubs, but I do think there’s a huge benefit for students who take the part-time job. They learn time management, having a boss, self discipline, and having some extra-money in their pockets,” said Brad Dunn, the school’s head administrator.

Senior Mike Dunn has worked at the Oshkosh Convention Center for 2 years. He thinks that he does not have enough free time during the weekends. “Juggling your job with sports [is difficult]. Friday, I have my sports. Saturday, I have practice and my job. Sunday, I have church and homework. Luckily with my job, I can do my homework during the break time, so it does not affect my school much,” said Dunn.

Senior Ben Peterson, who also works at the Oshkosh Convention Center, just started his job in January. He said that his job entails setting up for weddings and some other special events, as well as working a bit with technology. “Scheduling is the only challenge with work, between athletics, schoolwork, and other activities,” said Peterson.

The contrast between Gehrke’s, Cooley’s, Dunn’s and Peterson’s stories highlight not only the variation in work experiences for part-time jobs in high school, but also the different opinions that surround the part-time employment expectations, which overall named it a good experience.

Article by Kayla Hubbard (originally published in the February 2016 Spirit of One, school newspaper)

Governor Walker visits with elementary students of Valley Christian.
Photo by Richard Wang

What do Luke Skywalker, barbeque karaoke, and following God’s will have to do with one another? The answer: all were topics covered by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in his visit and lecture to the students of Valley Christian School.

On January 8, 2016, the efforts of teacher Tom Winkels to book Governor Walker for a visit to VCS paid off. Governor Walker talked with the fourth through twelfth grades about his background, family life, life in office, and, most importantly, his personal walk with God.

Winkels said, “My hope [for the visit] is that it inspires students to run for political office so we can keep Christians involved in the political process.” Through his talk, Walker made his faith apparent in his words to the students. Winkels described him as “an example of someone who is comfortable and confident in his faith.”

In words that revealed a heart for community as well as the Lord, Walker summed up his line of work in a question. He said, “Ultimately, it’s about how do I serve?”

His faith in God was apparent throughout his talk, even when he talked about his beginnings. He also came off as very relatable, describing his early experiences at a small school much like Valley Christian, and how he worked minimum wage jobs, much like many of the high school students.

Holly Simpson, a freshman at Valley, said it stuck out to her that “…he started off working at McDonald’s, and eventually worked his way up to state governor.”

Indeed, hearing how Walker rose to the position of governor of Wisconsin through a series of opportunities was a motivating story. Regarding his journey to office, and the value of the work he put in prior to his election, Walker said, “One of the most important things… about washing dishes and working at McDonald’s isn’t just the paycheck, but the dignity that comes from work.”

Junior Mimi Nelson said, “There’s a lot of potential for kids out there, even to be governor.”

Administrator Brad Dunn agreed that hopefully the words of Governor Walker would inspire students to work hard at what God has designed for them.

Governor Walker challenged students to ask themselves the question, “How can I be the best at what I’m called to do?” He also encouraged students to get up every morning and pray—to ask of God what His will for them is each day. When asked what they hoped Governor Walker’s impact on the school would be, the majority of staff replied that they hoped that students would be encouraged to pursue God and His will in all they do.

“It maybe will spark an interest in our students to follow whatever dreams God has put in their hearts,” said Dunn. Governor Walker also urged students to take hold of opportunity, and said that in his own life he had seen some of the seemingly negative events turn out to be the most impactful.

While the visit of Governor Walker earned Valley Christian recognition throughout the Oshkosh community, the focus of the event was to provide encouragement for students.

“You’ve got tremendous opportunities!” said Walker. “But don’t forget where you’re grounded…If you can do that, the sky’s the limit.”

3 TUE – HS Boys BB Away Regional
7 SAT – Missions Trip Training

 Dear VCS Families,

Do you know that we have an International Student Program here at our school? We have students from Korea and from China. Many of them attend from middle school all the way through high school and graduate from Valley Christian School. I believe it is in God’s plan that we are able to not only educate students from around the world, but also give them the Good News to be able to share when they return home.

We are having a special celebration this Saturday here at the school recognizing the biggest holiday on the Chinese calendar which is “The Chinese New Year”. The takes place every year in February. So make plans to stop by and enjoy some new traditions and possibly some new food. We count it a privilege to work with these students whom God has sent our way. If you are interested in becoming a “HOST FAMILY”, please contact Karen Cooley, our ISP director, at kcooley@vcoshkosh.com .

In His Service,

Brad Dunn

IMPORTANT SCHOOL CHOICE INFO

ATTENTION ALL SCHOOL CHOICE FAMILIES
If you currently hold a School Choice voucher there are a few things you need to do to secure your voucher and your spot for the 2015-16 school year. Before the April 20 deadline, you MUST re-enroll for the WPCP program with DPI (begin here). Click the “Online Parent Application” link in the blue box, then click “Click here to enter the Private School Choice Programs System”. Then you just log in to your existing account with your email and password. If you are not changing anything in your status with DPI (not adding any additional students to the application), you just need to verify your residency. If you are adding children, you must complete the residency verification and you must submit your tax return from the previous year. Both of those documents need to be turned into the school. It is very important that you take these steps, otherwise you will lose your voucher. DEADLINE IS APRIL 20, 2015

Additionally, it is necessary for you to complete the re-enrollment process here at VCS in the same way that other families are required. In addition to the online portion (here), there are two forms for you to sign and return. These forms, including the Tuition Payment Commitment (this will be adjusted to reflect School Choice) and the Statement of Faith are available for download here as well as on Sycamore. They must be signed and turned into the school office. You are not required to pay the re-enrollment fee.

ATTENTION FAMILIES WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY ENROLLED IN SCHOOL CHOICE
If you have previously applied for a School Choice, but have not received a voucher, you must complete a short re-enrollment procedure with DPI. (begin here). Click the “Online Parent Application” link in the blue box, then click “Click here to enter the Private School Choice Programs System”. Then you just log in to your existing account with your email and password. Your previously saved information will be there, update any necessary information and complete the online registration, You are then required to provide proof of residency documentation to the school. DEADLINE IS APRIL 20, 2015

ATTENTION FAMILIES WHO HAVE NEVER APPLIED TO SCHOOL CHOICE
If your family qualifies and your student(s) is selected for a School Choice voucher, their tuition will be covered by the state of Wisconsin until they graduate from high school. If you would like more information about the School Choice program, including income qualifications, please follow this link. Here you will find a parent brochure, FAQ, and links to begin the application process. This information is also available on our website. DEADLINE IS APRIL 20, 2015

Please note that NOW would be a great time to apply for the School Choice program. There are changes to the School Choice Program before the state legislation now. The ability for families currently enrolled in private school to obtain a voucher may be limited in the future. DEADLINE IS APRIL 20, 2015

Forensics Team Going to State

The Group Acting team (Holly Simpson, Emma Lehman, Alivia Harvey, & Madeline McDonald) qualified for the State Meet! This was the 2nd year in a row that they qualified. The Infomercial team (Will Simpson and Josh Lehman) received a 2nd state qualification score on Friday. One more and they are headed to State as well. They also received a perfect score on their 2nd round. A VCS first!
Great Job Forensics team!

Warrior Wear Order

Several have asked if we could order more Warrior Wear. We will be placing another order on Wednesday, March 4. If you’d like to order a shirt or sweatshirt, please complete an order form and turn into the elementary or middle/high school offices by Wednesday morning, March 4.  Thank you.

Fan Bus Going to Regionals

The first round of regionals for our high school boys varsity basketball team is on Tuesday, March 3, 7:00 P.M. at Hilbert High School. We’d love to have as many fans there as possible. To accomplish this, we are offering bus rides for students for $1 each. If there’s room left, parents are also welcome to ride. See Mr. Abel. Let’s fill the bus and cheer on our Warriors!!

Help for the Homeless Feb 22 – Mar 15

“The supplies that were given are more than toothpaste and toilet paper; they are a sign that the community cares. Thank you.” –Thomas, Shelter Resident

We are collecting NEW hygiene and cleaning items for local homeless shelters and crisis agencies through the 23rd annual “Help for the Homeless” hygiene drive February 22 – March 15. Please place your donations in the Help for the Homeless collection boxes located at the school’s main entrance and The Commons by March 14. The most requested items include laundry detergent, garbage bags, dental and hair care items, diapers & baby care, tissue, etc. Your donations will remain in this community. Thank you! More information available at www.thefamily.net or 800-236-9364.

Find a detailed list of needed items here.

Oshkosh Area School District Summer School

Greetings from the OASD Summer School Office,
For general information and course offerings related to summer school, please see the link below. Step by step directions for online registration will be available on or after February 26, 2015 on the Summer School Webpage. Additional Summer School information can also be found on the Summer School Webpage found under the Schools Menu Tab on the OASD district webpage.

Summer Program

VCS is considering offering a summer day camp program in partnership with Community Christian Child Center. This program would run 5 days per week 7a-6p. The fee would be $185 which includes meals and most field trips. If you have any interest in such a program, please contact Brad Dunn at bdunn@vcoshkosh.com.

Chinese New Year Party

The Valley Christian International Club will be hosting a Chinese New Year party on Saturday, February 28, from 4-6 p.m. All high school students, as well as high school teachers, are invited to come and enjoy some cultural foods, traditions, and fun! The party will be held in the gymnasium. Please, come and join us for this celebration!

Enrollment is OPEN

It is time to secure your seat for the 2015-16 school year. Please take a few moments and fill out the online re-enrollment information. A $50 discount on the registration fee is available through the month of February. New families now have the same opportunity to claim available seats in each grade, so don’t delay. Please read the re-enrollment instructional letter here.

In addition to the online portion, there are two forms for you to sign and return. These forms (including the tuition and fees schedule) are available for download here as well as on Sycamore at the end of the online process. We are so thankful for what God is doing in and through our school.

Changes Happen

As happens throughout each season, especially basketball, game dates and times can change. Please check the Athletic schedule OFTEN!! Go to valleychristianoshkosh.com. Click on the “Athletics” tab toward the top of the page. Then click the “2014-2015 Athletic Calendar” button. You will see the week’s activities from that screen. To view an entire schedule, go to the “View Schedules” box on the right side of the screen, check mark the schedule you want, and click on “View”. The schedule will appear in a printable format. Please contact Mr. Abel via phone or email if you have any questions.

Game Schedules

HS Boys Basketball
Tue. March 3 – 7:00 pm – Away Regional Tournament Game @ Hilbert High School – Varsity Only

FAN BUS AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST 50 STUDENTS WHO SIGN UP WITH MR ABEL.
 $1 PER STUDENT.

Congratulations to all of our basketball teams for a great season.  We are very proud of every one of our players.

20 FRI – 22 SUN – Grand Canyon Univ Visit
20 FRI – HS Girls BB Away
20 FRI & 21 SAT – MS Girls BB Away
21 SAT – Missions Trip Training
23 MON – HS Boys BB Away
24 TUE – MS Boys & Girls BB Home
25 WED – Pastor Appreciation
26 THU – HS Boys BB Home

Dear VCS Families,

I wanted to reach out and let you know about our upcoming annual benefit auction, The Big Event. The theme this year is a Masquerade Ball – “Unmasking the value of Christian Education”. This is our school’s largest fund raising event of the year. We do it up BIG at the Oshkosh Convention Center. This year our auction is on March 28th. Ticket prices are $75 each or two for $100. We will have a host of items to bid on during the silent auction. As well as premium and live auction items. We would love your help:

• Would you make plans to attend? 
• Do you have an item you could donate?
• Do you know someone who has something unique to donate?

A few items of interest still on our wish list include:

• Tickets to Augusta National to watch The Masters golf tournament
• A condo or hotel stay in Santa Barbara, CA to go with a fishing trip we have planned. 
• We could use some donated air miles to go with an African Safari package.

More information about table and event sponsorship, menu choices, advertising in our program and more is available by downloading the event brochure here, or by contacting Carey Holtz.

It is going to be a great night. We have entertainment for all of our guests. There will be a musical performance from the Broadway play Phantom of the Opera sung by VCS students, parents, and faculty.

Please take note of the bulletin board just inside the school’s front doors with a listing of businesses we wish to contact for donations. Thanks so much for all of your help in making this the best benefit auction our school has ever done.

Just 36 days until the event. NOW is the time for ACTION, please contact Carey Holtz for tickets or to donate an item. Carey may be reached at choltz@vcoshkosh.com or 920.231.9704 x20.

In His Service,

Brad Dunn

Help for the Homeless Feb 22 – Mar 15

“The supplies that were given are more than toothpaste and toilet paper; they are a sign that the community cares. Thank you.” –Thomas, Shelter Resident

We are collecting NEW hygiene and cleaning items for local homeless shelters and crisis agencies through the 23rd annual “Help for the Homeless” hygiene drive February 22 – March 15. Please place your donations in the Help for the Homeless collection boxes located at the school’s main entrance and The Commons by March 14. The most requested items include laundry detergent, garbage bags, dental and hair care items, diapers & baby care, tissue, etc. Your donations will remain in this community. Thank you! More information available at www.thefamily.net or 800-236-9364.

Find a detailed list of needed items here.

Oshkosh Area School District Summer School

Greetings from the OASD Summer School Office,
For general information and course offerings related to summer school, please see the link below. Step by step directions for online registration will be available on or after February 26, 2015 on the Summer School Webpage. Additional Summer School information can also be found on the Summer School Webpage found under the Schools Menu Tab on the OASD district webpage.

AAUW Tech Savvy—Registration Open!

This is a full day, hands-on STEM conference for girls in grades 6-9. Tech Savvy prepares girls to be scientists, engineers, or technology experts. Special sessions for parents and guardians help them learn how to support students on their path to college and career. It will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2015 at UW-Oshkosh, Halsey Science Center. Please see this flyer for more details and registration link.

Calendar Change

The Elementary Spring Concert date has been changed since the one page calendar came out at the beginning of the school year. The new date is Thursday, May 14, 2015, 6:30 at New Life Community Church. Please mark this on your calendar!

Summer Program

VCS is considering offering a summer day camp program in partnership with Community Christian Child Center. This program would run 5 days per week 7a-6p. The fee would be $185 which includes meals and most field trips. If you have any interest in such a program, please contact Brad Dunn at bdunn@vcoshkosh.com.

Chinese New Year Party

The Valley Christian International Club will be hosting a Chinese New Year party on Saturday, February 28, from 4-6 p.m. All high school students, as well as high school teachers, are invited to come and enjoy some cultural foods, traditions, and fun! The party will be held in the gymnasium. Please, come and join us for this celebration!

Pastor Appreciation Day

Wednesday, February 25 from 9:00 – 9:45 am. We would like to encourage all of our students to invite their pastors to attend this event held in honor of our local pastors. Please take a minute to invite them to join us. Elementary students will be coming home with invitations in their Friday Folders. We would like them to RSVP by Monday, February 23rd. They may contact Mrs. Busch in the front office @ 231-9704 x. 4 or lbusch@vcoshkosh.com to RSVP. We appreciate our pastors so much and we look forward to blessing them.

Enrollment is OPEN

It is time to secure your seat for the 2015-16 school year. Please take a few moments and fill out the online re-enrollment information. A $50 discount on the registration fee is available through the month of February. New families now have the same opportunity to claim available seats in each grade, so don’t delay. Please read the re-enrollment instructional letter here.

In addition to the online portion, there are two forms for you to sign and return. These forms (including the tuition and fees schedule) are available for download here as well as on Sycamore at the end of the online process. We are so thankful for what God is doing in and through our school.

Changes Happen

As happens throughout each season, especially basketball, game dates and times can change. Please check the Athletic schedule OFTEN!! Go to valleychristianoshkosh.com. Click on the “Athletics” tab toward the top of the page. Then click the “2014-2015 Athletic Calendar” button. You will see the week’s activities from that screen. To view an entire schedule, go to the “View Schedules” box on the right side of the screen, check mark the schedule you want, and click on “View”. The schedule will appear in a printable format. Please contact Mr. Abel via phone or email if you have any questions.

Game Schedules

HS Boys Basketball

Mon. Feb. 23 – Away @ Oakfield: JV-6:00 p.m.; Varsity-7:30 p.m.
Thurs. Feb. 26 – Home vs Montello: JV-6:00 p.m.; Varsity-7:30 p.m.

HS Girls Basketball

Fri. Feb. 20 – Away @ Oneida Nation: 6:00 p.m.

MS Boys Basketball

Tues. Feb. 24 – Home vs New Hope: B Team-5:30 p.m.; A Team-6:30 p.m.

MS Girls Basketball

Fri. Feb. 20 & Sat. Feb. 21 – Away Tournament @ Central Wisconsin Christian: TBD
Tues. Feb. 24 – Home vs New Hope: 4:30 p.m.