Fall 2009 newsletter - Rehoboth Christian School

Fall 2008Vigorously Academic • Beautifully Diverse • Thoroughly ChristianGrateful Hearts & Serving HandsBy Carol Bremer-BennettIn all our living, may we show that we are thankful to God forall He has done for us and may He be praised through us.–from the Heidelberg Catechism, Answer 86At Rehoboth,we emphasizethat success isabout knowing Godand serving others inHis name. Success is notabout how much you get;it is about how much yougive back. We recognizethat a heart of gratitudewill naturally developservant hands.That is why, whenRehoboth chose ourtheme for the 2008-09school year, I rejoicedupon the discovery ofhow well the Heidelberg Catechism reflectedthe topic of “Grateful Hearts and ServingHands.”You see, as we looked for the right verse toaccompany our theme, we found so many thatthe task of choosing just one was too difficult.We also found that no one verse simply statesCarol Bremer-Bennett AssistantSuperintendent of RehobothChristian Schoolthis biblical idea on itsown – the real messageonly makes sense throughknowing the entire story.It was at this pointthat we turned to TheCatechism. I grieve thatmany churches don’t teachthe Heidelberg Catechismto our young peopletoday. We are missing apart of the church’s faithstory by not reflecting onits message.In middle school, myfather was my catechismteacher. This may sound like pure torture tosome – first, because of having catechism classeach week, and second, because of having myfather explain it to me and all of my friends ingreat detail! I know that I must have been a bitunique, since this didn’t seem to bother me atall.. . . Continued on Page 3RCS EnrollmentHits 106 Year Record!Worrisome. That’s what Rehoboth’senrollment situation was at the endof the 2007-2008 school year. With parentsfacing rising inflation and skyrocketing gasprices, many families struggle to provideChristian education for their children, thusprecipitating plummeting private schoolenrollments nationwide.In addition, conditions on the Navajoreservation that Rehoboth serves are evenworse, with unemployment approaching50% and income levels amongst the lowestin America. Altogether, conditions lookedbleak at this wonderful ministry to NativeAmericans, which the Christian ReformedChurch founded in 1903.So, what to do? The burden fell uponthe shoulders of Director of Admissions,. . . Continued on Page 10

Making the Most of Transitionby Ron Polinder, Executive DirectorOnly a few of you would know that I come from an extended familythat has kept a six or an eight horse hitch of Clydesdales now fornearly 70 years. Lots of people grew up with fish stories. I grew upwith horse stories, about good teams—Jessie and Lady, Doreen andHeather, Clark and Major.Most of those horses were honored and appreciated. Only rarely wasthere a cull. But there was always transition in the hitch—a horse orteam sold and a new one brought in. So it is in any organization—transitions are inevitable and healthy, when done well.The challenge is to make the most of each transition. This past summer,God chose to guide two Administrative team members, Jason Zylstraand Alan Pearson, to other posts in His Kingdom. We fretted muchas to how we were going to replace them. But the Lord has graciouslysent us Jeff Banaszak and David Orris (see the center spread) to fill theharness and pull their weight.We urge our friends andsupporters to submit names ornominees for consideration.Would you contemplate whomay be a good match forRehoboth, and pray that theLord will send the man orwoman of His choosing? Thisselection is the highest task ofour School Board this schoolyear.But while that Search isunderway, we have our handon the plow with an eye totilling an acre or three yet. Our agenda includes the following:And, now there is a search underway to replace Colleen and myself.Great care is taken to replace the lead team of an 8-horse hitch. So too,our Search Committee is diligently seeking new talent to come in andlead Rehoboth into a new phase of its history.1. Rehoboth’s highest calling is to deliver excellent Christ-centeredinstruction, based on developing the understanding and the abilityof our entire educational team to articulate and employ a biblicalworldview and way of life. Toward that end, we brought in DanBeerens, from Christian Schools International to help our teachersask and ponder “essential questions” with their students. It was a verysuccessful in-service and we are already seeing results in the classrooms.This effort is ongoing, never to be forsaken in our school.The picture above, taken in 1946, is itself a pictureof transition. The teamster is Henry Polinder, Ron’sfather, showing his younger brother Fred the intricaciesof driving an 8 horse hitch. Fred in turn drove thePolinder hitch for nearly 60 years. Those duties noware being passed on to a grandson.2. Completion of our Master Campus Plan. We are engaged in amajor overhaul of our campus infrastructure, bringing new water andsewer lines to Rehoboth Village and 150 new lots, which will soon goon sale and whose revenues will help endow the school. Numerousother decisions regarding older building and remodeling of facilities willbe made this fall. This also includes decisions about the building andplacement of a Senior Housing Assisted Living facility. The campus haschanged remarkably these past few years—and we are not finished yet.3. More specifically, we have long wanted to start a Pre-K program atRehoboth. We have done much of the planning work, and are currentlyseeking the financial resources to remodel a space to earn the approval ofthe State licensing folks.. . . Continued on next page2

4. Similarly, the Kuipers gym, while still being used formiddle school athletic practice and games, has wonderful potentialto also become a place for our drama program and chapel. Withsome minor remodeling, we can restore the old stage, put thebleachers on wheels and make this facility a flexible and functionaleducational and worship space. The right group of volunteers andsome additional cash completes this.“Thechallenge isto make themost of eachtransition.”5. Rehoboth Goes Green! We have on our campus what maybe the only wetland in McKinley County. Fed by an artesian welland the run-off from our entire campus, this pond has the potentialto be an outstanding outdoor environmental education center, fornot only Rehoboth, but for the broader community. This pondproject will serve Rehoboth students for decades to come, gettingthem outside the walls of the classroom and into the best learningspace of all, God’s good creation.Do you sense the excitement about this important work that mustbe done during this time of transition? I surely do! Our missionand intent is to do everything we can for the future success ofRehoboth. In some cases, this will require more resources (seecoupon for some gift opportunities). In other cases, just dutifulexecution of good planning and priorities.This team of “Clydes” is functioning well. Join Colleen and myselfin praying for our RCS co-workers as they labor greatly over theyear ahead to make the most of this transition.Continued from page 1 . . .In fact, I hold fond memories of being in the youth building of MayfairCRC and going through each Lord’s Day in the catechism (I still havemy book and my notes!). As a result, I began to understand my faith ina deeper way.And even though it was conventional for students to make a professionof faith during their senior year of high school, I went to my churchcouncil while I was still in middle school and told them of my love forJesus. In fact, I used the catechism’s very words to express that faith:powerful words and holy concepts that remain etched in my heart andare used in sharing my testimony even to this day.I’m a teacher at heart and by profession: So please forgive me if I simplycan’t resist the temptation to share just a bit more about the HeidelbergCatechism with you now. This great and important work is dividedinto three sections:• part one confronts our human misery• part two explains our deliverance• part three calls us to gratitude.Gratitude is all the more powerful when we view it within the context ofthe salvation story.Gratitude is our act of obedience to God. Lord’s Day 32 calls us to liveso that all will see that we are thankful to God and that by doing goodwe will find assurance of our faith and also be able to win our neighborsto Christ.A critical “StudentOutcome” at Rehobothis “Christian Formationand Witness”. In thisoutcome we declare:Graduates of Rehobothwill engage in lifepatterns and establishhabits that will shapetheir spirituality and“Gratitudeis our act ofobedience toGod.”witness. Students will participate in church life, in Bible reading, andprayer. Our students will seek to be serious disciples of Christ, bearwitness to His grace, and disciple new believers.In short, they will be “salt and light’ to the world.This is a tall order, but we remain faithful to our mission at RehobothChristian School and we are committed to help our students live a lifeof thanksgiving, and in doing so, win over others for Christ.3

RCS Alum WinsNew Debate Team“Best in Class” Wins Trophies!It is an election year and what more fitting course to addRebecca Begay, graduate of Rehoboth, aswell as a former high school art teacherhere, won “Best of Classification” at theinternationally acclaimed Santa Fe Marketfor her hand-crafted tufa casting jewelry.It was quite an honor which she receivedon August 22 nd of this year. She andhusband Darryl work together usingthis unique process in making Indianjewelry.Prior to this award, in April,Rebecca was also awardeda “Fellowship” from theSouthwestern Association forIndian Art. She received an award of $5,000 to be used for her artworkbusiness. There were only six winners in all, and Rebecca was the onlyNavajo recipient. Congratulations Rebecca Begay!The tufa casting creates beautiful jewelry by designing and skillfullycarving the piece within a stone. Then, molten lead is poured intothe carved mold, and a lead blank is pulled from the mold. That leadblank is sand-cast enabling a unique piece of silver or gold jewelry to beproduced.But, the piece is not yet finished. Slag and remnants from the castingmust be removed. The piece is stamped,adornments are added, as wellas gemstones such asturquoise or coral.Finally, the patinais added and thepiece is carefullypolished until abeautiful pieceof art is created.to the Rehoboth High School Curriculum than debate. Thisexciting new class is being taught by Mrs. Becca Donkersloot whohas set a goal for her students to learn how to express their viewsin a coherent and educated manner. She notes that debate is notan ability people are born with but rather is an art that should bepracticed and perfected. She believes that in order for a personto be successful in our competitive world, one must know how toexpress oneself clearly and appropriately.Mrs. Donkersloot also stated that debate has a longhistory in democratic societies. In ancient Greece people put greatimportance on public speaking. The public forums ensured thepopulation would get a voice in matters of state. If a person did notknow how to debate his views, he was laughed out of the meeting.Because of this, people took lessons, studied the greats, and wrotebooks on speech. One of Aristotle’s greatest works, Rhetoric, is onthe art of public discourse. Clearly, the ability to express one’s viewswell is still important in our democratic society today so our debateclass is a very important addition to Rehoboth.The ability to express oneself well can only help empowerstudents to interact with confidence in classroom discussions also.We hope that they will be much better equipped to give their ownopinions and to question views expressed in many different contextsnow and throughout life. Being able to evaluate what one hears andreads in all the media we have today is an important skill.Though our students are just beginners they have alreadydemonstrated that they are indeed gifted debaters. In their firstcompetition last month they earned two second places, a fourth anda fifth. What a treat to see two shiny trophies on display already.The debate students are now inspired to work even harder to addmore awards to their newly started collection. A special thankyou to you Rehoboth supporters for making this great beginningpossible.Congratulations debaters: Best wishes for further successthis season!Rebecca iscontinuing in herjewelry art creationswhile raising three boys. Formore information about her art you may explore her website at: www.redstreakdesigns.com4New Rehoboth debate team bringshome trophies!

Rehoboth’s“Cowboy Star” StudentWith the sun beginning to set amidst pink and purplish clouds,a remote button was clicked and a metal gate flew open. A three yearold steer raced out of the gate into a riding arena. Instantly dust swirledthrough the air as Walt Eddy and his 15 year old son, Reno, kicked theirhorses into action.Walt, the “header,” ropes the steer’s head, and Reno, the “heeler,”lassoes the steer’s heels, taking just seconds to accomplish their feat.Onlookers watched in awe at the timing and skill this father and sonroping team displayed.Reno is quite the “cowboy star,” but, you’d never suspect it bywatching this young man in a Rehoboth high school classroom. He’squiet, respectful to everyone, attentive, intelligent, and works diligently.Once in a while a slight grin warms his face and his eyes smile at theantics of fellow classmates.A sophomore at Rehoboth, Reno has won more steer ropingawards than we can list. Reno has won blankets, jackets, spurs, gold andsilver belt buckles, headstalls, and beautiful saddles. As an 8 th graderReno won the National Team Roping contest. This last August of 2008he won the Southwest Regional Team Roping Championship Finals inthe 12 th handicap division.Athis young 15years of age,Reno competesagainst menwho are proand semi-proropers, quite anaccomplishmentfor such a youth.But, with allthese accolades,his dad WaltEddy states, “Ithink the thing Our very own cowboy, Reno Eddy, RCSI am most proud of Class of 2011 has won many nationalhim for is winning and regional team roping events withthe ‘Servant’shis dad, WaltHeart’ award fromRehoboth Christian School last year.”Art Contest WinnersMr. Stravers’ advanced high school art class students competedin an art contest the week of September 14 th . With many beautiful andcreative entries, the judges had a difficult task in making their decisions.• The “First Place” went to Luke Morrison• “Second Place” went to Stephanie Cayatineto• “Third Place” went to Grace HostlerThe “First Place” prize winner received $25.00 in cash. “SecondPlace” won a $15.00 gift certificate to Camille’s, a local restaurant. And,the “Third Place” prize was a $10.00 gift certificate, also to Camille’s.Congratulations art students!Watch your mail box for new note cards made from the art ofthese talented Rehoboth students. RCS plans to print up new stationeryfor sponsored children to use in writing to their Sponsor Families.If you would like to help a deserving young NativeAmerican student attend Rehoboth ChristianSchool, please contact Sue Eddy,Sponsorship Coordinator by phoneat 505-726-9684 or email her atseddy@rcsnm.org .First Place (Right)Second Place (Left)5

ExaltedBy Dr. James C. SchaapHere’s what little I know. She was born and reared in Minnesota,probably a Lutheran—of Swedish ancestry. A hearty Christian woman,she went to Biola College in California, sometime in the Thirties,where she married a man named Lauber and, together they eventuallyheaded out to New Mexico. The two of them served as house parents atGanado, a Presbyterian mission on the northern Navajo Reservation.There, tragedy struck. She and her husband lost three tiny children,two of them--twins--in childbirth. When, later, her husband took ill,they moved to California, where he died also. Iva H. Lauber knewsuffering, knew it very, very well.There in California, bereft of husband and kids, she determined toreturn to the reservation by herself, almost as if undeterred by whatshe’d been through. Someone in California gave her a homemadehouse trailer, and someone else told her of a place near Houck, Arizona,a spot that needed a Protestantmissionary. Determined, she setoff east to the Arizona/New Mexicostate line, where, like some explorerwho has finally arrived at his finaldestination, she simply set down thatmakeshift trailer and started tellingfolks the good news of the gospel andfeeding the multitudes, come Sunday. Normally, she got men to holdforth, but during the week she did all the evangelizing.Eventually, she and others put up a church along old Highway 66, aplace that’s still there, just off I-40. That church—and the significanthouse beside it—became a refuge for kids from the neighborhood whowere taking the bus to school at Sanders. That church she founded, allalone, still exists.Years later, old and crippled with arthritis, she insisted on teachingSunday School to the little children. The Navajos called her asdza’baa’ho’zho’ni, or “woman happy” for her unceasing smile.One of those children, Harrison, was less than ten when he told herhe would like it if “Nana” Lauber would adopt him. Adoption wassomething she’d not done before, nor would she do again; but thislittle boy, she must have thought, was not only willing but needy, soshe went through with it. That little boy grew up to marry Clara Cheeand became the father of Karen Schell, the recently retired Chair of theRehoboth School Board.“Everyone called her ‘Nana,’” Karen says, of the woman who was onlyreally hers’. In fact, Mrs. Lauber was ‘Nana’ to so many Navajo peoplethat a friend once complained to Karen that she simply couldn’t findNana ’s name in the phone book.For years, she lived in the very same neighborhood, never left in fact,never quit until August of 1986, when she died at 93 years of age. Youcan find her burial spot, all by itself, out there on the reservation, notat all far from where she set up that homemade trailer. She spent herentire life as a minister of God’s redeeming grace.“Nana,” Missionary to the Navajo. Her efforts decadesago bear fruit even now.6We live in an amazing world. If I’d write Nana’s book--if anyonewould--probably no publisher would take it. They’d say, and I don’tthink they’d be wrong, that no one would buy it. Honestly, I don’tknow that I would.All of that is true. But then, the Bible says that Nana Lauber, this

devoted woman, already has her reward--and is receiving it, I’m sure.Honestly, I’m not sure what David means when, in a line like Psalm57:11, he asks the Lord to “exalt himself.” It’s as if he’s trying to coaxsome jittery kid out on the stage for a show that’s been rehearsed forweeks. I’m still not sure God almighty needs a cheerleader. “Be exalted,Lord,” King David says, as if the Creator of Heaven and Earth issomehow shy or reserved.But Nana Lauber’s story brings to mind that the God of heavenand earth is exalted in the lives of his saints, each of them, all of them.David never thought about a place like Houck, Arizona, buthe’d be singing himself, I think, at the blessed eternity of the lives of thesaints, one of them, Nana Lauber.Think of her teaching those little children, a woman who losther own, and yet was given so very many more. Think of her in thecompany of all those kids, and never forget that in the lives of his saints,God almighty was and is exalted.“Be exalted above the heavens, O God;Let Your glory be above all the earth.”Psalm 57:11THOROUGHLY CHRISTIANThe greatest promise that Rehoboth Christian School makesto our students, parents and supporters is that we are ‘thoroughly’Christian. I suppose this statement can be interpreted in many ways.To work at a school which makes this claim forces me, a high schoolBible teacher, and chapel coordinator, to ask a couple of questions.First, ‘Is Christ…is His Word gaining, in an ever increasingmanner, absolute authority over and in every area of my life?’Second, ‘in regards to the spiritual formation of the students Iencounter each day, how am I leading or challenging them into a deeperrelationship with Jesus Christ – a discipleship relationship throughwhich they will become more and more ‘thoroughly’ Christian, or inother words, ‘more and more Christ-like?’Our vision for the young people we serve is that they would takehold of and carry His hope, values, authority and mission into everyarea of their lives, including their families, communities, and futures.I long to see Rehoboth Christian School, with the leading and aid ofthe Holy Spirit, birth and develop Christian servant leaders in an everincreasing manner.Doing this effectively requires a lot of work and includes threeimportant steps:1. teaching Christ-likeness2. modeling Christ-likeness; and,By Kevin Ruthven3. giving our students opportunities to apply what we are teachingthem by placing them in positions to lead and to serve. I believe thesesteps were modeled to us by our Lord and Savior Himself – He taughtthe kingdom, lived the kingdom-life, and sent out His disciples asambassadors of and for the kingdom.The first two steps are crucial – what we teach and model iswhat we are going to reproduce.Therefore, what we teach and model is vital. We want toteach that Christ is Lord over all spheres of life and we want to modelwith our lives how His Lordship over our lives spills over into theway we do our jobs, and into how we interact with our families andin our communities. Without these first two steps, the third steplacks direction and focus. We do these two steps constantly – in ourclassrooms, athletic fields, chapels, mentorship, extra-curricular activitiesand even mission trips.We as a staff here at Rehoboth Christian School need yourprayers in this – that our lives and the things we teach would besubmitted to and under the influence of the Holy Spirit so that theywould be faithful witnesses of the Lord and His purposes before ourstudents, spurring them on to passionately walk in the ways of the Lordand of His kingdom.Importantly, one of the things. . . Continued on Page137

Introducing. .Chris and AbbieHuizinga joined us in midJuly from Grand Rapids,Michigan. The couple metand graduated from CalvinCollege. Chris teaches 7 thand 8 th grade Science and isvery well liked by his middleschoolers.The always smilingand vivacious Abbie is the newRCS Volunteer Coordinator.They are blessed with threelittle girls: Gracie 6, Anna 4, and Audrey 2. The children are adorableand bring liveliness to the neighborhood, school and sometimes even tothe administration offices. We are blessed with the joy they bring us.Sean and Rachael Kass havealso joined us from Grand Rapids.Young, energetic, and in love, they weremarried on August 9 th , 2008, got on aplane and flew here August 10 th , andthen started work on August 11 th . Talkabout commitment! (or insanity?) Seanteaches high school Social Studies andcarries a heavy load with multiple lessonplans to do daily.Rachael oversees Phonathonand is the assistant to the Director ofAdvancement. Sean’s quiet, gentle demeanor brings respect from hisstudents, while Rachael’s outgoing personality and high level of energykeeps things lively.Rachael stepped up to the microphone and “MC’d” like apro. We were proud of our young talent. Rachael and Sean have beenenjoying New Mexico’s abundant outdoor activities and our fine campusfitness center.In January of 2008 NickDonkersloot was hired to teach 6 thgrade at Rehoboth. Nick, originally fromVancouver, Canada, moved to Rehobothwith his parents when he was a junior inhigh school.After graduating from Rehobothhe went to Grand Rapids, Michiganwhere he attended Calvin College for two years. He then married hislovely wife Becca, and they moved to Albuquerque where he finishedhis education at UNM. Interestingly, Nick did his student teaching atRehoboth Elementary School. He must really like it here!Becca Donkersloot teaches Language Arts at Rehoboth HighSchool and the kids love her. The last time a substitute teacher walkedinto her classroom the kids groaned with disappointment. Usually asub means “time to party.” But, not for these kids! Becca and Nick areexcitedly “expecting” their first child – a six year old girl from Ethiopia,who should be arriving within the month.Irvinson Jones is another new additionto Rehoboth’s high school staff. Irvinson isa young, single Navajo man who was raisedin, and came to us from, Ganado, Arizona.He is presently enjoying teaching the Navajolanguage to the high school students here. Itwas surprising to discover that very few of ourstudents actually knew any of the Navajo language, which is why it is soimportant to offer this to our students.Noell Engbers is a new staff member withquite a lot on her plate. For the first two hoursof each day she’s at the high school where sheteaches Algebra, then rushes back to the middleschool, where she teaches 6 th grade for theremainder of the day. If that weren’t enough,she also coaches girls’ soccer and basketball.It’s a good thing she’s young! Her husband Jeffteaches PE in the high school and is attending UNM to get his PhDin Sports Management. The couple love it here… the surroundings,culture, kids, community, places to go, including the many great hikingopportunities.

. New Staff MembersOur new Director ofAdvancement is David Orriswho has “de-retired” to comeand serve in our administration.Having been a senior executive inChristian publishing and otherbusinesses for thirty odd years, hecomes with much experience. Heresides on the Rehobothcampus with his wife Lorraineof 39 years! She is substituteteaching in the Rehoboth schoolsand working afternoons at theRCS outreach After Schoolprogram being held at the ChurchRock public school located onthe Navajo rez. In between substituting, Lorraine writes: Her latestproject – this newsletter! So, she’s enjoying having one foot in theschools and one foot in the office, where she regularly brings her littleBichon dog, Tasha. Their daughter, Karissa resides in Atlanta Georgia,and son David Jr. lives and works in Hollywood. Lorraine and David arethoroughly enjoying the New Mexico landscape, climate, and people.And, speaking of people, after taking a whirlwind tour of Illinois andMichigan last month to meet part of our Rehoboth family, David camehome absolutely ecstatic with the quality, tenor and commitment of thedozens of RCS donors who enthusiastically greeted and welcomed him!Meet JeffBanaszak. Hehas joined us fromHolland, Michigan asthe Director of Financeand Operations. Hecomes with wife Lori,and three children,Michael in 7 th grade,Nathan in 5 th , andKatie in 3 rd . Lori ispresently workingfor the Red MesaFoundation as anadministrative assistant just across the street from the Rehoboth office.Jeff’s main reasons for wanting to make this job change werebecause he wanted to help the Rehoboth ministry, because he has alwaysbeen a big supporter of Christian schools, and because he wanted hischildren to experience the Christian school environment in this diverseculture. Some years before, Jeff had made a commitment to fulltimeChristian service, which we are very glad God didn’t let him forget.Jeff comes with great experience having taught finance classes invarious universities, having been the Financial Controller for HermanMiller, Inc. in Zealand, MI, and having served as Finance Manager forHolland Hospital.Also new to Rehoboth is AndyNewell. Andy originally cameto this area to teach at the ZuniChristian Reformed Mission School.He then married Autumn, who tooka teaching position in Gallup wherethey purchased a home. Since then,they’ve had a beautiful baby boy who isnow five months old, and with whomAutumn now stays home and cares for. Andy teaches the senior class onWorldviews/World Religions, freshman World Geography/History, andWoodworking at Rehoboth. He’s enjoying his work here immensely.Bethany Keen joined usmid-year last year. She originallydid her Calvin College studentteaching program at the IndianHills Elementary School in nearbyGallup. She enjoyed living in andbeing a part of the community hereso much that she prayed and prayedfor an opening at Rehoboth. Justtwo days before she was supposed to return to Michigan, she was askedto interview for the first grade position at Rehoboth Elementary. A daybefore Christmas Eve she was informed that she had gotten the job!Bethany feels happy, and blessed, and is looking forward to her parentspossibly moving here in the near future.

6 th Graders Retreat to Broken ArrowBright and early on Thursday morning, September 11 th , allRehoboth 6 th graders boarded a big, yellow bus and headedfor the hills. Well, actually, they headed to the annual6 th grade get-away to the Broken Arrow Bible Camp inVanderwagen, New Mexico.Excitement filled that crowded bus as they rumbled upthe mountain for a special time of fun, fellowship and spiritualnourishment. Their destination was Broken Arrow, an authenticChristian camp complete with cabins, a chapel, climbing walls, andan abundance of beauty amidst the rocks, pines, and sagebrush.Two days of recreation and spiritual growth activitieswere tightly planned. There were outdoor and indoor games, rockclimbing, a rope course, mixers, devotions, a talent show, and fun,food and free time. There were a dozen parents who volunteered toaccompany and supervise with the kids, as well as teachers NoellEngbers, Nick Donkersloot, Jim Holwerda, Dorothy and PeteGoudzwaard, and Mary Ippel.A highlight for the kids was a surprise provided by AstridGonzaga’s parents in celebration of their daughter’s 12 th birthdaywhich occurred during the retreat. They actually had an ice-creamman and his truck drive up the mountain and give the kids anythingtheir sweet-tooths desired. Needless to say, there was joy in thecamp!Coming back that Friday, the kids were exhausted, and theadults even more so, but all were happy. When the kids were polledabout their favorite activity, the general consensus was the “WolfPack” game where they got to run around in “packs” in the dark andhowl like wolves, scaring each other: And, the least favorite activity?Ballroom dancing!When asked what they would do to make the retreat better,they unanimously announced, “Stay longer!”11

A Special Thank YOU !Hello, my name is AftonAlice Murphy. I justwant to thank you forletting me join RehobothSchool.I like it here because theyteach me about Jesus.My favorite subjects areRecess, Music, P.E. &Chapel. And I love thefood here; it’s delicious! And I love the gyms,playground, classes, and the school. If I didn’t gohere, I wouldn’t know about Jesus and God. I’vebeen here at Rehoboth for 3 years. I ride bus #2Sanders. My bus driver is a lady. Her name isMaggie.I live with my grandma. We live inHouck, Arizona on Hawthorne Road. Myfriend’s names are Liza, Casia, Talya, Val,Kersha, Curtis, Quade, Faith, and Nate. I’m 10years old… My dad is in Phoenix. He lives andworks there. I sometimes visit him. My momwas sick but now she’s fine.Thank you,Afton Alice MurphyHello, my name isGabrielle. Thank you forsending me to Rehoboth.We have the bestteachers around! Allthe wonderful teachersI have had are Mrs.Gillson K, Mrs. Belone1 st , Ms. Velthuizen 2 nd ,Mr. Vanderhoven 3 rd , Mrs. Harvey and Mrs.Jonkman, 4th. I have been here for five yearsnow but what I like about Rehoboth is math,social studies, recess, lunch, Bible, and science.I live in Ft. Wingate, New Mexico.I ride bus #10 or # 13. All my friends areTiffani, Katie, Jamie, Julian, Brandon, Inteous,Chamryn, Kayla. I have one sister namedJessica. And my pets are named Johnny andSwimmy, and my two birds are named Kohnaand Princess. And I’m going to be in the 5 thgrade next year. And, I’m going to turn ten nextyear on March 22.Gabrielle BartonI’d like to thank all thedonors and supporterswho help not only me, butother students at Rehobothand make it possible for usto attend this school. So,thank you very much.Naiomi Yazzie, Class of 2010Thank-you donors and staff for all your support.You have given me the opportunity to havea great education, which others do not oftenreceive. I especially appreciate the time andenergy that you have provided for me.Rehoboth Christian has expanded myknowledge, increased my confidence, and hasdisciplined me. I make sure I do not takeRehoboth School for granted and I make the besteffort to stay on task with my work.Rehoboth Christian School’s students andstaff here are like a family, so I make sure Iget involved with them. Before I came here, Iterrorized my peers so I could feel confident andpowerful; but since I’ve been here I don’t feel theneed to. I have much respect for you, and onceagain, thank you.FALL SPORTS ACTION SHOTSSincerely,Naiomi L. Diaz, Class of 2011This is what determination,readiness and concentrationlooks like whenyou put them and a littledynamite all together inone package.12Kicking in stride!Not with my ball,you don’t!Who told me thiswould be fun?

Why Should You Give Stock To RCS?The federal tax law makes gifts of appreciated assets (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, realestate, and closely-held corporate stock) owned for one year, advantageous for manypeople.How?• Appreciation on charitable gifts is not subject to capital gains tax.• You receive a tax deduction for the full value.• The actual cost to you could be significantly lower when using appreciated assets.Here is an example of the tax savings of giving appreciated assets.The True After-Tax Cost of Giving $10,000(A) Sell $10,000 in stock and give the proceeds. Results in a tax savings of $2,500, but acapital gain tax bill of $1,520 for a net cost of $9,020.(B) Give cash. Results in a tax deduction of $2,500 for a net cost of $7,500.(C) Give $10,000 in stock; avoid capital gain tax of $1,520 plus realize a tax savings of$2,500; results in net cost of $5,980. For donors with a lower cost basis, the out of pocket maybe as low as $5,600.$10,000$9,000$8,000$7,000$6,000$5,000$4,000$3,000$2,000$1,000$9,020(A) Sell Stocks/Give Proceeds$7,500(B) Give Cash$5,980(C) Give StockAll calculations are based on 25% federal, 4% state income tax and capital gain rates of 15% federal, 4% state, cost basis of $2,000.As good stewards most of us will review and possibly rebalance our holding betweennow and December 31 st . Giving appreciated assets is an effective tool to help youmaximize the impact of your charitable giving, while reducing your taxes. RCS worksclosely with the Barnabas Foundation in advising our donors about this and otherstewardship issues. We also appreciate their permission in allowing us to use much ofthe information shared in this article.For more information on how you can take full advantage of these and other taxbenefits in your giving to Rehoboth Christian School, please contact Melvina Musketat 505-726-9606 or mmusket@rcsnm.org.Continued from Page 7 . . .that we would like to be able to do more of,especially through chapels, is to expose ourstudents to Christian leaders, men and womenwho are impacting their communities – religiousand secular for Christ. In order to do this weneed your prayers, and we also need the Lord tomove in the hearts of His people to provide themuch needed extra funds to empower us to bringin powerful presenters and leaders in order toeffectively challenge and motivate our students togrow spiritually; to reach out and serve. To thatend we are establishing a special fund to allow usto strengthen our spiritual growth efforts here.If you wish to support this critical new initiativeplease send a gift today in the enclosed envelopefor the RCS Student Spiritual Growth Fund.With your help and God’s blessing thesefirst two steps will lead us to the essential thirdstep – giving our students opportunity to applywhat we are teaching them by placing them inpositions to lead and to serve.This is an area that I desire to seedeveloped and grow in our chapel program. Ibelieve God brings many students here whohave a heart to grow in and serve Christ, andwe must always be seeking for ways to developthis heart and desire through offering practicalopportunities of leadership and service. Thisalso takes place at Rehoboth in the classroomsthrough various projects, in athletics, other extracurricularactivities, and mission trips. Pleasepray for us that we will be diligent, faithful, wiseand effective in this task.Thank you for all of your support and prayers.Continue praying for us as a staff, that wewould be faithful conduits of the heart of God toour students. Pray also for the spiritual formationof our students - that they would meet Christ,grow in Him during their time here, and take Histransforming message of grace and truth beyondthe walls of our school and to wherever the Lordmay lead them.Kevin Ruthven isa Bible teacher,librarian, and chapelleader for Rehoboth.13

ETERNAL INVESTMENTS IN MEMORY OF. . .In memory of Mrs. Janet BootsmaMr. and Mrs. Myron and Jan DavisIn memory of Beatrice BosscherMrs. Cobi J. HofmanMr. and Mrs. Ted and Theresa KramerMr. and Mrs. George and Sylvia HanninkIn memory of William Pickett and William BurrolaMr. Anthony Burrola and Mrs. Elizabeth Hardin-BurrolaIn memory of Joanne Heyns DeJongMr. and Mrs. James and Lois DeJongIn memory of Juke (Julius) Den BleykerMr. and Mrs. Eddie and Violet HenryMr. and Mrs. Eric and Ruth SanfordIn memory of E. EtheridgeMs. Dolores E. BellIn memory of Thelma FlandersMr. and Mrs. Eddie and Violet HenryIn memory of Mabel HebertMr. and Mrs. Gary and Pamela ClintonIn memory of Christopher JohnsonMr. and Mrs. James and Barbara BrouwerIn memory of Megan OrtizMr. and Mrs. Ted and Theresa KramerIn memory of Minnie PalsMr. and Mrs. Mark and Barbara KadzbanIn memory of Raymond and Marguerite PetersonMr. and Mrs. H. George and Elizabeth HekmanIn memory of Claire PostmaMr. Roger J. TuukIn memory of Rica PostmaMr. Roger J. TuukIn Memory of Margaret Van’t LandMr. and Mrs. Chuck and Mary JohnsonDr. and Mrs. J. Jay and Laura PostMrs. Jacquelyn VogelzangIn Memory of John and Margaret McLaughlinMr. and Mrs. Dan and Julie McLaughlinIn memory of Ethel WalhoutMr. Roger J. TuukIn memory of William and Jean RogersMr. and Mrs. Robert and Jean SimmondsIn memory of Vernon ShooksMrs. Jean R. ShooksIn memory of Clarence StartMr. and Mrs. Edward and Sharon StartIn memory of Margaret Van’t LandMr. and Mrs. Bruce and ElizabethMatthews14In memory of Marie Vander WeideMrs. Jacquelyn VogelzangIn memory of Alfred WegMr. and Mrs. Jim and Clarice AdemaMr. and Mrs. Darrell and Joy AndersonMr. and Mrs. Stu and Amy BokhovenMr. and Mrs. William and Jennie BranderhorstMr. and Mrs. WD and JE CronkMr. and Mrs. Joe and Jill DeCampMr. and Mrs. Barry and Marilyn DeGrootMr. and Mrs. Dale and Marlene DykesMs. Lynette EllefsonMr. and Mrs. Gary and Marge EngelMr. and Mrs. Mark and Retha EngelMs. Pam EngellandMs. Gladys GeorgeMs. Lucille GroendykeMs. Kate GroendykeMr. and Mrs. Mark and Kathy HeferMs. Nikki HoraMr. and Mrs. Rod and Sylvia HulsteinMr. and Mrs. Brad and Wendy JansonMr. and Mrs. Terri and Rachelle JohnsonMrs. Gladys KempemaMr. and Mrs. Wayne and Janet KlingerMr. and Mrs. Kenneth and Deanauralee KreditMr. and Mrs. Clarence and Nancie KuiperMr. and Mrs. Gene and Norma LarsonMr. and Mrs. Steve and Sheryl McClureDr. and Mrs. Steve and Jolene MeisMs. Melvina MusketMr. and Mrs. Bob and Betty PollyMr. and Mrs. Vern and Lois RaakMr. and Mrs. Stan and Lucy RietveldMr. and Mrs. Mike and Linda RishlingMs. Brooke Ruhlin FamilyMr. and Mrs. Harold and Vonnie RutgersMr. and Mrs. Lyle and Everine SchipperMs. Carol SheppardMr. and Mrs. Steve and Jane SmithMs. Shirley SterbeenkMs. Allison ThompsonMrs. Helen VanBeekMr. and Mrs. Marvin and Marlys VanBeekMr. and Mrs. Gerrit and Shirley VanHalMr. and Mrs. Mark and Melissa VanHollanMr. Cornelius R. VanSoelenMr. Peter C. VanSoelenMr. and Mrs. Frank and Karen VanSoelenMs. Gertrude VanSoelenMr. and Mrs. Marion and Janice VanSoeleMr. and Mrs. Jack and Arla VeldheerMr. and Mrs. Al and Deloris VeltmanMs. Kathy WagnerMs. Lois WeberMr. and Mrs. Wes and Carolyn WegMrs. Martha L. WegMr. and Mrs. Peter and Betty WegMr. and Mrs. William and Esther WellingtonMr. and Mrs. Bud and Elaine WiebengaMr. and Mrs. Marvin and Edith WielengaMr. and Mrs. Cornelius and Leola WolterstorffMr. Marvin ZylstraIn memory of John WitteMr. and Mrs. Teunis and Phyllis WitteIn memory of John D. WorkmanMr. and Mrs. John and Thelma HulkaMr. and Mrs. Roland and Elaine WarnkeMr. and Mrs. Robert and Marian BarthelMr. and Mrs. Archie and Kathy WrightMr. and Mrs. Richard and Clara DeVriesMr. and Mrs. Peter and June TamelingMr. and Mrs. Larry and Leann KooyengaMr. and Mrs. Martin and Theresa Huiner FamilyMr. and Mrs. John and Beverly HuinerMr. and Mrs. John and Grace HarbaughJoseph Murray & Company, LLCMr. and Mrs. James and Sandra BultemaJohn Sexton Sand & Gravel Corp.Mr. and Mrs. Dirk and Florence Zaagman Mr. andMrs. Daniel and Betty Ann PierogMr. and Mrs. Robert and Cheryl DeckingaAnonymousMr. and Mrs. John and Jo Ann ColucciMr. and Mrs. John and Rachel DeYoungMr. and Mrs. Paul and Shirley HeerdtMr. and Mrs. Neil and Debora AndersenMr. Melvin WorkmanMs. Irene BandstraMr. Dale KooyengaMr. Ione BraunMr. and Mrs. Gilbert and Anna SleglMr. and Mrs. Ken & Char TrnkaMs. Anna SleglMrs. Tillie E. BulthuisMr. and Mrs. Clarence and Doris WieringaMr. Alan R. SchnulleMr. and Mrs. Kenneth and Lois RusthovenMr. and Mrs. John and Sheryl HasselMr. and Mrs. Donald and Carol WieringaMr. and Mrs. Peter and Marilyn RoetersIn memory of Peter A. ZylstraMr. and Mrs. Andrew and Nancy ZylstraHONORING OTHERSWITH LIFE CHANGINGDONATIONSIn honor of Dr and Mrs. Ken BootsmaMr. and Mrs. Myron and Jan DavisIn honor of Stan and Harriet Brouwer’s anniversaryMr. and Mrs. Raymond and Phyllis VanProoyenIn honor of Henrietta KingmaMr. and Mrs. Fredrick and Barbara HoekstraIn honor of Keith Kuipers, a great basketball coachMr. and Mrs. Julius and Cornelia VanderSlikIn honor of Gary and Phyllis VanderArkDr. and Mrs. Anthone and Judith Kort

2008-09Rehoboth Christian SchoolBoard of DirectorsJerome AlfredGeorge AngLynelle BenallieNorman CheeDuane ChimoniSusanna FosterJoAnn Holyan TerryDerryl LongCharlotte LorenzoLarry SmileyChuck Van DrunenFred WhiteSarah WolfMission StatementRehoboth Christian Schoolchallenges its students toknow the Triune God andequips them to love, serveand transform the world inHis name.I would like to help Rehoboth ministerto Navajo, Zuni and local children.Please use my gift for:$__________ Native American Enrollment Assistance$__________ RCS Salary Fund forNew & Existing StaffIn honor of: _______________________In honor of: _______________________$__________ Where needed most$__________ RCS Building Fund for:New High SchoolRubberizing TrackNew PlaygroundNew Preschool Remodel$__________ RCS Endowment FundIn memory of: _________________In honor of: _________________$__________ Student Spiritual Formation Fund$__________ Total giftP.O. Box 41Rehoboth, NM 87322-0041505-863-4412505.863.2185 Faxwww.rcsnm.orgPlease rush me free information on:Volunteering at RehobothWorking at RehobothTeaching at RehobothEnrolling a child at RehobothBringing a group to RehobothHaving an event at RehobothFinancial PlanningPlanned GivingCharitable Remainder TrustsCharitable Gift AnnuitiesWills and Estate PlanningRehoboth Village and its soon to beavailable lots, homes and condos.RCS plans for Senior LivingEndowed scholarshipsNamed scholarshipsCapital Campaigns and buildingOther: ______________________Use the space below to share your concerns,thoughts, suggestions, questions and/or prayerrequests with us: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Thank YouVolunteers!Long Term:Dan and Alice Aukeman, Rehoboth, NMOwen and MaryLou Aukeman, Holland, MIPaul Bremer, Grand Rapids,MICarolyn Dunn, Gallup, NMRoland and Ruth Kamps, Gallup, NMJohn Klein, Gallup, NMKeith and Arlene Kuipers, Gallup, NMPaul Marotti, Grand Haven, MIAndrew Swetz, Rehoboth, NMDan VanDeRiet, Gallup, NMBen VanderWerff, Gallup, NMFred and Harriet Witteveen, Rehoboth,NMShort term – July through December:Palo Alto CRC, San Jose, CAJoy Burmeister, Holland, MIEd and Patty Smith, Arvada, COJohn and Carolyn Smith, Denver, CORon and Laura Smith, Englewood, CODick Tift, Jenison, MIGary and Marcia VanEe, Williamston, MIRehoboth Seeks NewExecutive DirectorYour prayers and suggestions are sought in support of RCS’s search for its new ExecutiveDirector, going on now.Rehoboth Christian School has maintained a unique and influential Native American–focusedpresence in the American Southwest for over 105 years. With the recent completion of severalnew facilities, the school is positioned to provide an educational experience that is vigorouslyacademic, beautifully diverse, and thoroughly Christian.Our K-12 day school of 448 students is located on a 160 acre campus in Rehoboth, New Mexico,and is seeking an Executive Director to begin with the 2009-2010 academic year.The ideal candidate will be able to lead the school community in embedding the school’s missionthroughout every aspect of the enterprise, and also lead the school in creating a financiallysustainable future in which to work and educate.Please direct inquires, suggestions, and resumes to Margo Voltz, Chair, Executive SearchCommittee, RCS, PO Box 41, Rehoboth, NM 87322,margo.voltz@gmail.com or (505) 863-2134.15

ExaltedThe story of Nana Lauberas told byDr. James C. Schaapwww.rcsnm.orgPO Box 41Rehoboth, NM 87322Address Service RequestedNon-Profit Org.US Postage PaidGreenville MIPermit #338Page 6A RecommendedAgency of theChristian Reformed ChurchFall 2008Vigorously Academic • Beautifully Diverse • Thoroughly ChristianMeet Rachael KassThird CRC, Kalamazoo& Husband SeanHillcrest CRC,Hudsonville, MIMeet the Chris & Abbie Huizinga FamilyEastern Ave. CRC, Grand Rapids, MIMeet Bethany KeenMessiah’s IndependentCRC, Holland, MIMeet Lorraine & DavidOrris & TashaCrosspoint CommunityChurch, Peachtree City, GAMeet the Jeff Banaszak FamilyRidgepoint Community Church,Holland, MIIntroducing Rehoboth’s New Staff. . .See Page 8-9Meet Noell EngbersHillcrest CRC, Hudsonville, MI