TCSTribune.com

“Masquerade Paper faces on parade” invaded the Assyrian Civic Club for the annual Junior/Senior Banquet. The theme for the May event was The Phantom of the Opera, so of course the seniors were serenaded by the likes of Christine, Raoul, Carlotta, and even the Phantom himself.

The Junior/Senior Banquet (JSB), a tradition at Turlock Christian, dates back to the ‘90s. This year, Mrs. J Burnam was the main overseer of the event, and really tried to incorporate God into every aspect of the banquet. “The most fun aspect of running the JSB was all of the relational aspects with students, parents, and outside people we have contacted.  I also keep learning the important lesson to give ALL things to God and Trust Him.  I incorporated I Corinthians 10:31 as the theme verse of JSB ‘…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’

Burnam was pleased just how well the junior class planed the event. “It has been our goal to ultimately glorify God with JSB as we honor our seniors. The junior class held a lot of responsibility as well, and really put all of their effort into making the night a perfect one for the seniors.”

The evening began with a bang as the seniors made their way through the phantom’s cave, entering into the “Opera House.” The banquet hall was decorated lavishly in black and gold, and the sparkling chandeliers accented the grandeur of the room. The juniors, who served the seniors, could be found darting from table to table, delivering food, filling up glasses, and clearing plates, their identities kept a secret by the exuberant masks upon their faces’.

After the first course of the meal, the Phantom (Kurt Lemos), Christine (Molly Farrar), and Raoul (Chase Ulrich) performed some of their favorite songs for the audience. Another source of entertainment for the night was a dance put on by the juniors, which was a re-enactment of the masquerade scene from the movie, The Phantom of the Opera. Carlotta, the Prima Donna of the opera house, also sang some of her favorite songs to tables upon request.

A slideshow of the seniors was shown, which reflected on their transition from childhood into adulthood. Parents were teary eyed while the seniors preferred to giggle at each other’s baby pictures. Later in the night, an open mic was presented so that the seniors could share their favorite high school memories. As usual, Cody Aldrin, Beau Warda, and Trevor Starn provided laughs, while other such as Hiliary Sharp, Jina Daniel, Matthew Davoodian, and Robbie Smallwood chose to be more serious with their reflections on their high school years.

All in all, it was a great night, and a perfect way to sum up the year for the seniors. As they transition from high school to college, it’s time for them to take off their masks and begin a new stage in life.

“Out hustle, out work, and out play our opponents.” This is Turlock Christian baseball coach Jon Valenti’s goal is for the season, and with the Eagle’s strong lineup, it should not be a problem. It is Valenti’s first year coaching varsity at Turlock Christian, and he is expecting the team to be “unstoppable.” Clearly, what he’s done with the team so far is working.

The Eagle’s beat Modesto Christian in a close game of 3-2, and blew Le Grand out of the water 11-1. They also had several outstanding wins in preseason play. First Baseman and pitcher, Trevor Starn, believes the momentum will continue in spite of a Goliath in their future.

“The team is going to do well in league this year I think. We’ve improved a lot from last year and the league is weaker than last year. Mariposa will be our biggest challenge.”

Coach Valenti agreed that Mariposa, whose team runs like a well-oiled machine, will be a tough team to beat, but he believes there’s a greater opponent to own.  “I think our toughest opponent is ourselves. My only concern is we cannot make mental errors that will cost us the game, because talent-wise we have it.”

The key strength of the Eagles this year is their potent lineup. With vital players such as Trevor Starn, Robbie Smallwood, Mile Martinez, and Jesse Lopes, Valenti is anticipating the team to go very far, and a contributing factor to that success is their hitting.

“I think the strongest aspect of this team would be our offense,” says Valenti. “We really possess a lot of strength in our line-up. Although we have not nearly reached our potential in hitting, it will come. When it does come, we will be unstoppable,” he added.

Although the team is stacked with talent this year, two specific players who will excel come to mind for Starn. “Jesse Lopes is a standout . . . stud at defense. Robbie, if he gets hot, is one of if not the best hitter in the league.”

In recent years, it has appeared as if the team had trouble putting their potential through to the games. This year, the team has a variety of talent from both the upperclassmen and the lower classmen, and has the drive necessary to win games. , “Last year, we had a lot of potential but didn’t have any of it carry over into wins. We want to, and expect to beat teams this year,” said Starn.

As for Valenti, he knows what his team is capable of, and expects exceptional effort from everyone on the team, from the bench players to the starters. After losing a starting pitcher last year, a weakness the team is trying to overcome is finding someone to fill that spot. Another thing the team is working on is having equal ability throughout the whole team, and Coach Valenti looks forward to seeing development. “We will also have to work on having our bench players be just as good as our starters. So far, our bench players are making great strides in improving.”

This could be a year of glory for Turlock Christian baseball, if they play their cards right. The talent is there; they simply need to keep their eye on the prize. From their powerful lineup to their win-it-all attitude, there is something special within the Eagles this season. Valenti knows it, too. “God has blessed me with the opportunity and given me the great honor to coach these fine young men. I hope just to give them as much knowledge that I know to help inspire them to be better athletes, and better baseball players. Even after 20+ years of playing, teaching, & coaching the game, I still am learning myself.”

It was down to the final two contestants.

One, an accomplished theater actor who previously toured the country with Broadway productions like Wicked: The Musical and the European production of Hair. His voice showed amazing range, his performances-flawless. The other, a singer-songwriter who performed in local bars and worked as a shoe salesman. A nice guy with an adequate voice yet limited range. All in all the two could not have been more opposite.  It was painfully obvious which performer should win a talent competition. Maybe that’s why American was shocked when the name of Kris Allen the shoe salesman beat out Adam Lambert the star. But don’t be too surprised because…

This… is…American…Idol!

Throughout its nine seasons so far, American Idol has consistently been the number one show on television, and is ranked the number three television broadcast of all time, behind only the Superbowl and the Academy Awards. Every winner of the show has enjoyed success, some more than others. Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, and Carrie Underwood round out the top three most successful idols of all time, although Chris Daughtry did not win the show; he placed fourth. But apparently you don’t have win AI in order do great things. Jennifer Hudson starred in the movie Dreamgirls, and won an Oscar for her role in that film. Other post-idol alums who did not take the prize include Clay Aiken, Kellie Pickler, Elliot Yamin, and of course, Adam Lambert, all who are enjoying a successful career.

This year marks the return of Idol, with its ninth season in full swing. The top 12 have been chosen, and this year’s hopefuls are: Michael Lynche, Didi Benami, Casey James, Lacey Brown, Andrew Garcia, Katie Stevens, Tim Urban, Siobhan Magnus, Lee Dewyze, Paige Miles, Aaron Kelly, and Crystal Bowersox.

Obvious favorites for this season are Crystal Bowersox, who has a Janice Joplin vibe to her, Casey James, whom the ladies love, and Lee Dewyze, who has a certain rasp to his voice that you have to be born with.

This year’s Idol delivers more than new talent: after the departure of the beloved judge Paula Abdul, a replacement was necessary. The humorous charm of talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres was welcomed to the show this season. Ellen brings the opinion of the fan watching at home to the show, and always has something witty to say.

Most assuredly, Idol will bring many surprises this year, as it never ceases to do. Whether you have the pipes to sing “A Moment Like This,” or the guts to blabber your way through “Pants on the Ground,” this is the one show that can turn you into a star.

Tune in to Idol
Fox Channel 5, Tuesdays at 8:00 PM
&
Wednesdays at 9:00 PM

Funworks? Really? This is what was going through the minds of the Turlock Christian student body as ASB announced Homecoming 2010 during chapel. The ASB members began by parading through the gym in a cardboard bus, exclaiming that they needed to get to Funworks in Modesto. Groans were heard throughout the gym as students began to comprehend the fact that they would be spending their homecoming a mere twenty minutes from their campus, riding go-carts and bopping gophers with mallets.

But, the joke was on the students. The cardboard school bus was flipped around to reveal a charter bus, and The Wicked Witch and The Good Witch appeared to inform the students that they would be traveling to San Francisco to see the award-winning play Wicked at the Orpheum Theater.

Wicked is the untold story of the friendship between the Wicked Witch, Elphaba, and the Good Witch, Glendal Elphaba, the villain in the (year’s) version of the film “The Wizard of Oz,” is actually a gentle, yet misunderstood (and very green), woman who wants the best for the animals of Oz. The Wizard wants Elphaba, who has great powers in sorcery, to assist him in ruling Oz.

In reality, The Wizard of Oz is the villain. He begins to capture the animals of Oz and make them forget how to speak, including one of Elphaba and Glenda’s teachers, Dr. Dillamond, who is a goat. When Elphaba discovers what terrible things the Wizard is doing, she refuses to partner with him. The Wizard and Madame Morrible, the owner of Elphaba and Glinda’s school, convince Oz that Elphaba is wicked, turning the whole town against her.

Tie-ins to the original “The Wizard of Oz” were frequent, such as a friend of Elphaba’s becoming the tin man and a love triangle between Elphaba, Glinda, and a handsome young suitor, Fiyero, who ultimately became the well-known Scarecrow. Dorothy eventually kills Elphaba, just as in “The Wizard of Oz,” but there was a twist that no one was expecting. A wandering scarecrow, Fiyero, appears. He then knocks on the floor, saying, “It worked!” In the floor is a trap door, and out of it emerges Elphaba, who was never really melted by Dorothy. Elphaba and Fiyero embrace, and decide that they can never return to Oz. Elphaba pleads with Fiyero that she must tell Glinda she is alive, but Fiyero says that the danger is too great, and Glinda must never know. The two of them leave Oz together, and Elphaba looks longingly to the North, in the direction of her best friend.

The play featured sensational music, and the talent of the actors was immeasurable. The most breath-taking song of the night was “Defying Gravity,” in which both Glinda and Elphaba hit nearly impossibly high notes, sending shivers down the backs of many audience members. As a whole, the student body was very pleased with the musical.

After the play, everyone was treated to dinner at the Macaroni Grill. The students entertained themselves by drawing on the paper tablecloths, and were entertained by opera singers. The food was great, and the students had fun chatting as they waited for their food. After dinner, everyone was allowed to mingle and walk around the huge shopping center that the Macaroni Grill was located in. Some students treated themselves to Cold Stone, while others huddled in the warmth of Starbucks. Soon, it was time to leave, and everyone piled onto the buses.

The bus ride home seemed much shorter, mostly due to the fact that the students got to watch “The Wizard of Oz.” Everyone was in high spirits, and it was obvious that the homecoming event was a success. In fact, the day was so awesome that some could even call it wicked.

“I’ve always wanted to see Wicked, so I was really excited that we got to see it. It was a perfect first homecoming.” - Arin Morelli, Freshman

“Homecoming was amazing, and Wicked was wicked!” - Rebekah Muller, Sophomore

“Dinner was fun. It was cool being able to eat at big tables with everyone.” - Kaisa Spycher, Junior

“The play was satisfying. I had a lovely date.” - Kyron Loving, Senior

12►

Randy Hopkins, our Turlock Christian Athletic Director, elementary PE teacher, and high school softball coach, is a godly man who is loved by all of the students here at TC. Little did we know that God loved Hopkins enough to make two of him.

It is a little-known fact that Mr. Hopkins has a twin sister who lives in North Carolina. Growing up as a twin had its fair share of memorable moments. Hopkins recalled a rather embarrassing moment from his childhood. “My aunt dressed us (my sister and I) in matching dresses for our birthday. We were only about five or six, just little tykes.”

Other than his one fashion indiscretion, Hopkins claims to be just like any other ordinary man; he enjoys playing golf in his spare time, and takes pride in spending time with his wife and children. But, in the eyes of many at Turlock Christian, Hopkins is far from ordinary. In fact, many would call him extraordinary.

Before becoming Turlock Christian’s athletic director, Mr. Hopkins taught 4th and 5th grade at the TC Elementary for 23 years. He has always been an athlete; in high school he played basketball and baseball. His focus turned to baseball, though, while attending college at both Merced Junior College and California Baptist College.

When asked how he manages to be the athletic director, elementary PE teacher, and high school softball coach all at the same time, Mr. Hopkins responded, “It is very difficult to manage, but with great people around you to lighten the load it becomes more manageable. Also, when you enjoy what you do, it becomes more like play then a job.”

It’s this positive attitude that renders Mr. Hopkins as one of the friendliest teachers on campus. He loves his job, and states, “I love working with kids and helping them realize that Christ comes first, and then family and others. It is also rewarding for me to see our teams compete and succeed.”

In his seven years as athletic director, Hopkins has seen and accomplished many things here at Turlock Christian. During his first year on the job, football and women’s soccer were initiated into the sports program. Later, volleyball, men’s soccer, and our golf team won section titles, and one year the TC football team boasted a 10-0 season.

“It has been a thrill to be able to be part of an athletic program that has had great success over the last ten years,” says Hopkins.

As Gisele spoke the words “I Do” to her now husband Bobby, her dating history flashed before her eyes. She thought about all the times she had been hurt, all the secrets she had told, and all the lying it took to hide the relationship from her parents. Was it all worth it? Sure at the time, she thought it was a great idea, but now looking back on it she realizes the mistakes she made. Gisele’s mind began to wander, would Bobby hurt her the same way Taylor did? She began to doubt her marriage and her feelings.

Seventy-six percent of teens say they have dated in high school; yet only 27% of those students actually marry their high school sweetheart. The controversy of dating in high school has become an epic battle between parents and teens. Teens obviously want to have relationships, but why date? Where does the drive to date come from? Our wise Math teacher, John Godfrey, says the influence comes from pop culture and peer pressure.

One has to admit his observations aren’t without proof. Television shows convey scripts filled with stories about who is hooking up with whom. And some of the situations are less than moral, with shows like Secret Life of the American Teenager, containing dramas about out-of-wedlock sex and unplanned pregnancies. Even movie themes revolve around high school girls attempting to find love with the popular boys. One can’t help but wonder if teens are programmed to think that remaining single in high school is abnormal.

Mr. Godfrey believes that teens today don’t look at the big picture. He said that every time he considered dating a girl he would think to himself first “Can I see myself marrying this person?” Teens might argue saying the relationship it’s not that serious, and that they are not looking to get married. So if you’re not looking to get married then why date? Of course the answers says Godfrey are in written in God’s word, the Bible.

“Matthew 6:33 tells us, ‘ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’ When we seek God first everything else will come into play,” says Mr. Godfrey. “God promises that as long as we seek him first, other things will be given to us.”
Still the question remains, Does dating in high school affect your marriage/ adult dating life? Mr. Godfrey says most definitely. “Every experience affects how you will process things in the future. When you have a bad experience, and someone hurts you, you will try to protect yourself next time and not open up to someone else.”

Mr. Godfrey warns that dating in high school adds on to our “baggage”. “Baggage” is something that you have to carry with you for the rest of your life, through every relationship you have.”
Mr. Godfrey added that there is only one person you can give your ‘first kiss’ too. “You will remember that kiss for the rest of your life, because there are some things that can never be returned,” he said.

Fortunately for those who’ve made some unwise decisions in the past, there’s no time like the present to give God your dating life, and seek him first.

Below, some of the TC students weighed in on their dating opinions concerning dating.

“Experience means nothing if it comes with regrets and hurt. Guard your heart and do not leave it out in the open.” - Freshman, Alysia Warda

“I want to be older the next time I date, and also I want to put God in the center of the relationship.” -Junior, Ashlee Burnam

“What I learned from my last relationship is that the girl is always right.” -Sophomore, Schyler Johnson

“Teen dating is fun as long as it’s within the law. Listen to your heart when he’s calling for you, listen to your heart there’s nothing else you can do.” -Senior, Kyron Loving

Every day, thousands of young girls go home after school and enter their bedrooms. Most spend countless time in front of the mirror, criticizing things that they hate about their bodies. Pressure to be beautiful, made even more relevant by the media, lures women across the country to undergo plastic surgery.

All throughout America, women, and sometimes men, are nipping and tucking, sucking and lifting, injecting and implanting, all in the pursuit for better looks. In 2008, over 10 million cosmetic procedures were performed. The top five procedures were breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, and rhinoplasty (nose jobs). Women accounted for 92% of these surgeries while the other 8% were men. Many believe that women undergo more plastic surgeries than men because of lack of confidence or they just want to feel more comfortable in their skin. Perhaps there is the hope that men will look at them differently. Regardless, with over $13.2 billion spent on cosmetic surgeries in the U.S. last year one thing is clear…America likes to look pretty.

Complications

There are countless risks that accompany plastic surgery. These include blood clots, blood loss, drop in heart pressure, and infection to name a few. Recently, the Florida Board of Medicine issued a statewide moratorium on combination tummy tucks and liposuctions, due to the number of deaths in that state. And although it is crucial to find quality care when pursuing cosmetic surgery, the reality is many doctors not certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) have begun practicing.

Forever Young

We’ve all witnessed on television and the big screen older celebrity women undergoing plastic surgery in order to preserve their youth. It propagates the message; to be beautiful you must look young. Does that mean aging women are not beautiful? It’s true that beauty at 20 looks a lot different than beauty at 50, but is that even fair to compare the two? Scripture makes it clear that our bodies will not stay the same. 2 Corinthians 4:16 reads, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

Even though on the outside we become older, inside we are learning and finishing our walk with the Lord on earth, and are being renewed by His love. Perhaps age is something to embrace, not to be at war with?

Sure, plastic surgery is a personal choice. But, next time you look in the mirror, remember: God made you on purpose for a purpose. The body you were given was given to you for a reason, and it should be cherished. It’s the same message God gave Samuel when he said about King David, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7

Once upon a time in small land far far away, students at TC attended MORP in Palo Alto, California. MORP originated quite a long time ago, when the students were sick of not having any kind of homecoming, so they came up with the term “MORP”, which is prom spelled backwards.

The first MORP was held at Discovery Zone in 1998, but since then MORP has come a long way. This year TC students attended a football game at Stanford Stadium, enjoying Stanford’s 33-14 win over Arizona State.

The theme for this year was Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes so students donned creative and whimsical costumes. Junior Jordan Gustafson was impressed with one costume in particular. “Morgan Andre and Geoffrey Retemeyer’s Goldilocks and the 3 bears costume was pretty clever,” he said. Others agreed that Candice Balswick and Garret Yagi also made a big splash with their Jack and Jill costume.

Sophomore Schyler Johnson, and Freshman Mackenzie Spycher, both agreed that the best part of MORP was watching the game, but they didn’t know some would think they were part of it, “Someone saw my Alice in Wonderland outfit and asked me and my friends if we were the half time show,” said Spycher.

Of course part of the fun of any trip is the journey up. Students busied themselves on the 100-mile bus trip with storytelling, mass text messaging, and watching out for Mr. Fast’s hand checks.

Students agreed the tailgate party before the game provided an excellent opportunity to bond. “I really enjoyed eating on the grass with my friends during the tailgate,” said Junior Haley Myer.

But for some MORP was bittersweet. “ “I’m sad that I will never get to experience a MORP again. It’s always really fun to ask creatively, dress up, and go to an event with all your friends. But four is a satisfactory amount,” said Senior Morgan Andre.

Overall MORP was a fun day of spending time with schoolmates, and all the students at Turlock Christian lived happily ever after!

Standing in front of the classroom, the teacher patiently waited for the student to answer. The student bit his pencil nervously. If he answered incorrectly, he would let his classroom down. He carefully responded.
“What is . . . the Panama Canal?”

“Timmy, that is correct! Five hundred dollars for your team!”

She tapped the board next to her, resembling a big screen TV the size of a white board, and a new question magically appeared.

What is this remarkable board allowing a classroom to play jeopardy and permitting the teacher to change what is on the screen with the touch of a hand? It is called a Promethean board, the newest in educational technology. The person we have to thank for ushering in this cutting edge advancement is Sherman Glenn, Turlock Christian’s new superintendent.

Sherman Glenn might be new to Turlock Christian this year, but it isn’t his first occupation involved with education. After graduating college, he taught elementary, junior high, and high school for eight years. Later he worked on staff at First Baptist Church as associate minister of counseling, in addition to running a counseling office in Modesto, California.

A private man, Glenn describes himself as a homebody who enjoys reading historical fiction, watching sports, and occasionally sailing on the open sea. He has two daughters: Heather, who is 39 years old, and Holly, who is 29 years old, and a grandson, Eli, ten months old. “He is really the delight of my wife and I. He has certainly taken our hearts. Being a grandparent is very fulfilling,” says Glenn.

Surprisingly, Glenn isn’t brand new to Turlock Christian (back in the 80’s he created our school mission statement) but declined the chance to come back as superintendent when first offered the position by then current superintendent, Jack Mayer. Mayer asked if he would reconsider. Glenn replied he would think about it.

After a great deal of prayer with his wife, Glenn says his thoughts changed. “God began to change our hearts to the point of when I was asked to put an application in, I said yes.” There was a condition however. Glenn told his wife that if it wasn’t unanimous, he wasn’t going to come. Later in the week, Mr. Nelson called Glenn to tell him the decision was in fact unanimous for him to join Turlock Christian.

Glenn feels as if everything he has done up to this point has prepared him for the position he is in now, but must undergo one challenge. “I am accustomed to having contact with the students. Now, I’m not around the students as much as I would like to be, but that’s the nature of the job,” says Glenn. Still, he has a plan to overcome this barrier. “I’m going to attend as many sporting events and meetings as I can.” Additionally, Glenn has met with some of the soccer and football players. “My door is always open,” he proclaimed.

Now what about those Promethean boards? Glenn explains, “The boards are electromagnetic; they’re like a whiteboard that is four by seven feet long. They have an electromagnetic field in front of them, with an arm coming from across the top that has an LCD projector attached to it. This projector shines back down on the board, so that anything commonly done on a computer can be projected to the class. If a teacher has a power point presentation, they can run it through. They can then tap the board with a stylus, and it will flip to the next page.”

According to Glenn, the boards should be installed shortly, first appearing in Mr. Erickson’s, Mrs. Johnson’s, Mr. Garman’s and Mr. William’s room, making TC the only school in the Stanislaus County that with Promethean boards.
Technology is great, but Glenn confesses to seeing something of greater value here at TC. “There is a passion for life, a passion for the Lord that gives students the ability to live life abundantly. At See You at the Pole, someone prayed, ‘Thank you God for the staff loving on us,’ and I thought, what a tremendous compliment from a student to a teacher, that they felt so loved on. It was almost as endearing a term that you would hear a student make to their parent. TC is like family. It’s that kind of thing that I look forward to becoming more a part of.”