The Power of Graphing Calculators

     Every day across America and around the world, students use graphing calculators for mathematical computations, which is a far more powerful computer than we used to send men to the moon in 1969. 

And yet, the features students use most were available as early as 1852.  If students learned to tap into the full potential of the calculator, they could way beyond math class. 

Mr. Pifer, a math teacher at Worthington Christian High School, thinks that using a calculator is comparable to using a hammer or a saw for a carpenter. They are very important to what they do. Using programs in Mr. Pifer's classes are very important because he does not want his students to "get bogged down in the mechanics of the process." Programming calculators is not easy though and requires somewhere to start. 

     Mrs. Cain, the Technology teacher at Worthington Christian Highschool, thinks that it is not hard to start programming calculators because it is just giving the computer instructions to do. Mrs. Cain also suggests hour of code on code.org to start programming and learn the basics. Tim Sherrod, the JV soccer coach for Worthington Christian High School and computer programmer, thinks that programming your calculator could help a lot out in the real world because all the basic controls are exactly the same. Programming code is becoming known as a universal language because it is everywhere, and Mr. Sherrod thinks that no matter where you go or do programming will help you. To know that the use of a calculator could affect your job and life one day is pretty incredible.  

Corner Bakery requests WC workforce

     From conveniently designed drive-thru parking spots that assure a customer that they are not forgotten to every flake of a golden croissant, Corner Bakery is not just a restaurant, it’s a community. Mr. Bowers, the owner, holds Worthington Christian in high regard as a center of rising employees. “I choose WC students”, as Mr. Bowers says in an interview with the iJournalism team, “because the caliber of student is elevated”.  Flavor profiles of Corner Bakery are a result of a higher standard that is expected from a well run franchise. 

     When co-interviewer, Danny Myers, questioned about the local competition of Barry’sBagels, Mr Bowers responded “Barry’s has a better flavor profile yet once you enter a franchise they require you to use all their recipes”. Right when you walk in the door it is clear Corner Bakery does not cut corners and is one of the rare occasions of an honest establishment. If there are any WC students interested in acquiring a job at Corner Bakery just walk in and ask for Mr. Bowers.

JR Bowers comments on Worthington Christian Golf

            JR Bowers is a freshman at Worthington Christian high school.  It was his first year playing golf for Worthington Christian.  Aside from Golf, JR enjoys playing baseball and pickup basketball with his friends.  He recently sat down with the IJ1 team to talk about his experiences playing on the 2016 WCHS JV golf team. 

Q:  Why do you like Golf?

A: I like golf because of the relaxation of being outside and being able to play golf with my friends and how fun that can be.   Golf also isn’t a super competitive sport where you go right at someone’s throat and get mad at them or something like that.

Q: How has WC golf made an impact on your life?

A: I played last year, and that was my first year playing for the school, but I’ve played golf since I was 4 or 5.  My golf coach last year was Zac Hess who is a young couples’ marriage counselor [at Grace Polaris church].  He always pushed into us the morals of life, and how we can apply those to golf, like always being honest. It’s really easy to trick someone and say you got a par when you really got a double bogey, so he is always just telling us to be honest with ourselves and other players.

Q:  What is your favorite course to play?

A:  My favorite course is Apple Valley.  I shot one of my best scores of the year there.  My dad told me when I was going to play that day, that it was a really tough course and there’s a bunch of trees and [it is] really hilly.  So I was glad he told me that so I could get mentally prepared for how to take on the course and be focused, and I shot my lowest score of the year there, which was an 80.  I loved it because it had the look of a PGA [Professional Golf Association] course without the pressure of the PGA.

Q: How have your teammates helped shape you?

A:  I would say that the players around me have helped push me to become a more fundamental golfer and to always focus on your game, not your competitors game.   They are always an encouragement.  For instance, the comradery we have when we see each other at school, we don’t just walk by.  We are always engaged with each other and never put someone out of the group.   Everyone is included like a big family.

Q:  How much attention does Golf get at WC?

A: Golf, I would say, isn’t very big here.   We only had 13 guys on the team and it’s not like fans come out.  It’s just your parents and grandparents.  But I it’s always encouraging when you look up at WC Channel 3 and you see Mr. Stoll put the week’s golf schedule up.  It’s always good to see that someone notices and wants others to notice too.

Q: How would you encourage others to come watch golf?

A:  If they want to come watch a match or something, I mean they’d have to make sure their homework is done and stuff, but if you actually enjoy watching Golf, it’s just like any golf tournament.  you can pick one person to follow or multiple people.  We only play 9 hole matches on weekdays unless there is no school, then we play 18 holes.   On weekends we play 18 hole matches.   You get exercise, you get to watch golf, you get to be outside.   It’s the best of both worlds.

~Tommy Robinson

WCHS Worship Band

This is the story documented by an iJournalism student of the WCHS worship band.

The worship team gets up bright and early every Wednesday to come and lead worship. They set up microphones, music stands, etc. and make sure everything is ready to go and running smoothly for that day's chapel. They prepare songs and practice their instruments for hours to perfect them. Most importantly, the worship team prepares the hearts and minds of the student body for the chapel message.

WCHS former worship band leader, Jack Peterman, said, "Yeah sure, its nerve wracking the first time you do it because anything in front of the entire student body is, but once you get used to it and realize you're not doing it for their entertainment, then all that goes away and it makes it twenty times better". However, through their struggles of waking up early and dealing with stage freight, the worship team perseveres so that they can worship God and grow closer to him.

Understanding Discrimination through the characters in the Wizard of Oz

The classic film entitled "The Wizard of Oz" contains hidden themes related to stereotyping and discrimination. The movie, three main characters are portrayed as the specific people who play parts in the world of discrimination. The scarecrow is known as the mindless speaker, the lion plays the coward, and the tin man is the character that lacks an empathetic heart. While thoroughly watching the movie, I was able to unpack each of these characters and who they represent. Along with the symbolism between these characters, the Wizard of Oz also has an important theme. At the end of the movie when the scarecrow received a brain, the lion received courage, and the tin man received his heart, all three of those characters put their new gifts together and they were no longer lacking anything. It only takes one person to speak out against discrimination. As long as we have minds to think, courage to speak out, and hearts to feel empathy, the world will be changed and the problem of discrimination will be resolved.
- Collin Kimbrough

Lives changed from the Dominican.

Last March, our seniors experienced change in themselves and witnessed it in their classmates.  Every year, Worthington Christian blesses the senior class with a trip to the Dominican Republic as a short-term mission trip.  This trip really shows how God works through people and how he has the power to change the hearts of many.  I interviewed four students and one teacher and got their testimonies about how they experienced change in themselves and how they witnessed it in others.  Senior Jacob Eriksen talks about how he witnessed God's love to the people noted as "the lowest of the low".  Nathan Han tackles the idea of students breaking out of their comfort zone and how certain students are good with children.  Courtney Parsell explains why she got baptised and how it affected her life.  Katie McIntosh portrays the senior class as a family and how they all bonded together. Finally, Trevor Wadsworth tells us that he has seen the blessings of the Dominican Republic spill out onto his life and the life of his students after they had returned.
- Jack Peterman

4-13-16 AP Art show sure to excite the viewer's eyes

YOU are invited to stop by the High School of Worthington Christian Schools today from 11:00-12:30pm for this week's AP Art show in the Media Center. 3 very unique and fantastic artists: WC senior, Will Deffet, WC senior, JJ Wandikbo and WC junior, Ben Kindberg will be receiving guests, family and friends while discussing their individual concentrations and serving light refreshments.

Will sees an everyday functioning hand and visualizes the mechanics of that hand in exquisite detail. JJ is moved deeply by the power of music and demonstrates that in a variety of forms and mediums. Ben sees the juxtaposition of his two loves: fish and architecture and puts them together in sometimes seemingly wacky compositions using the full spectrophonic color that draws in the viewer. Learn more about this week's AP artists and their concentrations in this WC3 broadcast.