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.

Worthington Christian houses recently went to work to help fight hunger right here in Central Ohio.  Head of the House of Veritas and junior, Nick George, coordinated this food drive to benefit families in need through The Mid-Ohio Foodbank. The goal of 1,000 items was surpassed with over 2,300 items donated by students and staff.  

Here are the specific House results:

• 1st place (Veritas) earned 836 points and brought in 623 cans
• 2nd place (Gratia) earned 737 points and brought in 639 cans
• 3rd place (Pax) earned 509 points and brought in 409 cans

We are honored to have joined  hands through competition and help fight hunger in our community. 

~Collin Kimbrough

WC's junior guard/foward Bridgette Rettstatt honored for 1,000 point career milestone

Worthington Christian junior guard/forward, Bridgette Rettstatt, surpassed the 1,000 point milestone in a 15 point win over Grandview Heights on January 15th.

She has logged 1,208  career points, averaging 21.6 points per game for the Lady Warriors, who were 15-7 overall but came up short in their first tournament game vs. Amanda Clearcreek last Wednesday, February 17.

During the girls senior night game February 8, Rettstatt logged 33 points in a 51-35 win over Johnstown.

 

When asked about her 1,000 point goal, Rettstatt responded, "It has always been a goal, but I didn't know it would happen so soon. I didn't even know that I was close, actually. So when they held up the signs, I was like, What?! It was a big surprise."

Rettstatt's new goal is to reach first-team all-state, which, I am hoping for this year, but if not, I've always got senior year."

The team's chemistry on and off the court counts as a large part of their success this season. Sophomore guard, Emily Hall, explained that the team's comradery comes from the small size of the team.  "There are only 13 girls and so we have all gotten to know each other and encourage each other in the locker room before a game. When one of us is on the court, we know that our friends have our back so we don't feel pressure from our own team to be perfect."






According to the article in This Week News, Rettstatt attributed her success in part to her teammates.  "Without my teammates I would be able to get the ball and shoot...all my points are basically off of assists," explained Rettstatt.


Heading in to the tournament game against Amanda Clearcreek, both  Hall and Rettstatt felt that it would be a close game.  Worthington Christian was seated 8 and the opposing team was seated 9 but unfortunately, Amanda Clearcreek moved on in the tourney with a 50-44 win over the Lady Warriors.  Rettstatt scored 16 points, Alex Evans, 12, Emma Linehan, 8, Elizabeth Lake, 6, and Caroline Cole, 2 points.  Congratulations on a great season! Go Warriors!


`Collin Kimbrough

Understanding the Zika virus and honoring WC Boys Basketball team manager, Tyler Meeks

Understanding the Zika Virus:

The Zika virus has recently been declared an international public health emergency by The World Health Organization last Monday as the virus outbreaks have been detected in more than 20 countries.  The Zika virus is most serious for pregnant women and their growing babies, but for most of us, it is not a life-threatening illness according to The Columbus Dispatch. Public health officials attribute the rapid spread of this virus in the Americas to undeveloped immunity to this virus according to The Associated Press.  Worthington Christian High School's nurse, Lisa Cunningham, helped WC understand this virus while preparing for the Spring and Summer months and give practical tips for the seniors preparing for the trip to the Dominican Republic in March.

 According to Cunningham, the Zika virus is spread through a certain type of Mosquito, that is typically found in the southern hemisphere. Typically, the virus is transmitted when this "type of mosquito bites you, and you have the virus, so when another mosquito bites you, you give the mosquito the virus and it spreads."  Symptoms for the virus are similar to a mild Flu, which includes:   fever, rash, joint pain and reddened eyes. Most people should not be worried; it rarely results in anything too serious.  Use normal precautions: Avoid traveling outdoors in early morning and dusk, wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and use mosquito repellent containing 30% deet.  There have been a few confirmed cases in the Dominican Republic, so Mrs. Cunningham has given the students and parents enough information about preventing the Zika virus via email  and recently visited all the Bible classes to help the students prepare.

`Collin Kimbrough

Honoring WC Boys Basketball team manager, Tyler Meeks:

Winter can mean a lot of things including cold weather and irritable driving conditions.  But for Worthington Christian, Winter means basketball.  What is a better way to spend this time of year than at a WC Varsity Basketball Game? The boys basketball team has had a great season so far, with a (16-3) record.  Part of the secret to the team's success, includes WC senior, Tyler Meeks, who serves as the team's manager.  On January 12^th, the team honored Tyler and showed their appreciation by dedicating the game to Meeks by giving him the opportunity to suit up and put some points on the board for the team.

As team manager, Meeks helps run the clock in practice and sometimes he gets asked to play with the team because they may need an extra player. He also sits at the end of the bench during the game while he keeps the team hydrated and cleans the uniforms.  Most importantly, Meeks serves as a "coach" figure by encouraging the players with a verse from the Bible and provides some words of wisdom after each game back in locker room. Meeks is a highly appreciated member of the WC basketball program not just as the team manager, but as a person as well. He has influenced each and ever player in a positive way and everyone loves to have him around.  When asked about his position as team manager for the past three seasons and the recent honoring, Meeks responded, "At first, I was caught off guard, but  was very excited to have that experience with the coaching staff and teammates." Scoring his first and only points in a varsity basketball game is something that will stick with him for the rest of his life.

~Jack Peterman

1-26-16 iJ1 Broadcast: Prayer event, Ski Club and Chipotle update.

Two Sundays ago on January 10, over 500 people gathered in the gymnasium and around the Hogue to pray for the school and the Forward Together campaign. This event was the first of its kind and was coordinated by a core team of parents but also included many students, teachers and administrators throughout the school.  The High School worship team led the group in worship. Multiple prayer stations were located throughout the Hogue with a variety of themes ranging from quiet self-reflection and repentance to an interactive prayer art installation. The event was followed with a 21 day prayer and fast.  Worthington Christian thanks those who came out to attend the prayer event asks for your continued prayers and support for the Forward Together campaign which is seeking to raise 4 million by this summer to build new facilities.  If you have further questions and would like to schedule to attend one of the forums, please contact the office of Advancement at together@worthingtonchristian.com

The 2016 Ski Club season is well under way at Snow Trails in Mansfield, Ohio and has been a lot of fun for everyone involved.  According to the high school coordinator, Trevor Wadsworth, "it is a great time to spend with friends playing in the snow."  The club takes a charter bus up every Friday after school during ski season and enjoys pizza and a movie before embarking on a fun evening of snow boarding and skiing.

Chipotle, the fast casual burrito chain has reported cases of norovirus, salmonella, and E. Coli outbreaks since the summer in 9 states which has sickened dozes.  According to the New York Daily News, Chipotle now faces a criminal investigation after a norovirus outbreak at one of its restarts in California.  This has caused their stocks to fall drastically by 44% since the summer, according to the Wall Street Journal.  Only one case has been reported in norther Ohio back in November 2015, but there are currently no cases reported in Columbus.  CEO, Steve Ells has declared the outbreak over and plans an aggressive advertising campaign in February 2016 to woo back its customers, but all 19,000 locations will shut down temporarily for a few hours on Monday, February 8 for a national staff meeting about food safety according to CNN.