Summer 2010 - Lancaster Mennonite School

sor plus one other high school teacherin various ways and heard sermonsto test my academic ability in orderMichael Madea, front, poses with familyand teachers after sharing his Senior Presentation,a requirement for all seniors atLancaster Mennonite. With Michael are,left to right: Shirley Garber, middle schoolteacher/principal when Michael attendedthe New Danville Campus; Beth Yoder,kindergarten teacher at New Danville;Marcella Hostetler, LMH music teacher;Gretchen Madea, mother; Timothy Yoder,LMH advisor and Bible teacher; DouglasMadea, father; and Kirsten Madea, Michael’ssister who graduated fromLMH in 2004.senior presentation a community eventLooking back, looking forwardFor Gretchen Madea and her family, her son’s Senior Presentation inMarch was a “very, very precious memory.” Hearing Michael recount hisK–12 journey and share career plans reminded her, again, why she andher husband, Doug, had invested in an LMS education for their children.The Madea family’s experience wascolored by the fact that several formerteachers (kindergarten and middleschool) cared enough to attend thepresentation.“We were so stunned,” Gretchen said.“I had to hold back tears. It was justsuch a very pleasant surprise (to seethem there).”Michael Madea and his 163 classmateswere the first class to be requiredto give a Senior Presentation. Whatmakes the Senior Presentation so significantis that each student is encouragedto combine the faith, academicand social aspects of her/his life intothe presentation—a holistic approachthat results in a meaningful and oftenemotionally moving experience forfamily and friends.To prepare for this senior activity,students maintain a vocational portfoliofor the duration of their educationat Lancaster Mennonite. Along the way,faculty advisors guide studentsin reflection of their experiences,and to make this easier in high school,each student has the same advisor allfour years.When students reach grade 12, theyuse documents from their portfolio togive their presentation. A faculty advi-paul Brubakerscores the students in how they sharegrowth, school highlights, personalinterests related to career ideas, andfuture plans. The teachers also look atfactors such as eye contact, delivery andcreativity. The presentation is generallyheld on campus after school hours.The Senior Presentation grew out ofthe school’s educational strategic planto become more deliberate in helpingstudents identify God-given gifts,interests and career options.Following are excerpts from whatMichael Madea and Jessica Zookshared as well as their responses tothe Senior Presentation Program.Michael J. MadeaMy senior presentation went very well.I covered the areas I’ve grown spiritually,physically, and academically inboth my home and school. Many unexpectedguests arrived. Three elementaryteachers came in support which blessedme very much. They had played a hugerole in my early development and myvictory over personal struggles.Spiritually: I grew up nurtured by twoparents who were also the pastors atmy home congregation, Crown of LifeFellowship. At LMH, though, I grewspiritually on a different level. Becauseof the school’s diversity of people, I metstudents my age who attended differentchurch denominations. One of the mostenjoyable times at LMH was learningabout the differences and similaritiesof various Christian brothers. I finallywas able to see that, though we are allpart of one body of Christ, that bodyis made up of many different kinds ofpeople. I got to see worship presentedfrom diverse speakers who cared aboutthe next generation.The Bible classes were full of both“gold nuggets” of knowledge and deepspiritual discussions. Kingdom Livingwas my most fulfilling Bible class atLMH. There I learned to question myspiritual beliefs and to fortify themwith the word of God. I also learnedto become Kingdom minded in myjourney through life. The class becamean environment that both groundedmy spiritual beliefs and prepared mefor tough spiritual discussions in thecollege realm.Physically: I grew up participatingin active competitions and events. Inelementary and middle school I competedin various track and field events.I also joined the middle school soccerteams and played soccer at LMH fortwo years. During my last two years atLMH I joined the drama departmentand explored a hidden dancing talent.LMH enabled me to explore my capabilitiesthrough its variety of activitiesand clubs.Academically: I had struggled academicallyin my elementary years atNew Danville. With a history of failingmath and reading backwards, I wastested by a psychologist to discoverhow I think and reason with problemsand ideas. The tests showed I had goodlearning potential but was slow inreaching the answers to problems.Going into my middle school years,the school worked hard to accommodatethis problem. From then onI decided to face this struggle and workhard to make a positive transformation.High school became my playing fieldto win the reward of excellence. Startingfreshman year, I made a goal tograduate with a 4.0 GPA. I decided tochallenge myself with AP courses inchemistry and math. I took AP Calculusand finished with an “A” in the class.I also made the honor role and becamea member of National Honor Society.With plenty of prayer, positive confessions,and encouragement from familyand teachers, I met my old goal onJune 5, 2010—graduation day. Lookingback I didn’t know for sure that I wasgoing to make it this far, but now I amencouraged and am setting new goalsfor college.Jessica ZookMaking my senior presentation helpedme realize how many activities areavailable at LMH. I tried to get involvedin a lot of different areas of the schoolwhile I had the chance and it definitelypaid off. It made me realize how manydifferent types of people I had becomefriends with from participating in(continued on pg. 9)6 | Bridges S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 0 Bridges S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 0 | 7