T RI -C ITY C HRISTIAN A CADEMY
The SWord’S eDgE
F EBUARY 1, 2013
I SSUE 3
J OURNALISM
S TAFF
Unraveling the Love Mystery
BY Mandy Huang and Joyce Hwang
W
e usually see the
serious side of our
teachers and our
principal while they teach and
give out demerits, but none of
us know the romantic side of
their stories when they deal
with love!
Pastor Thad: We got engaged in
January, but I was sent to Spain for
three months right at the end of the
January. I got back from Spain at the
end of the April and then we got
married June 1. But before all that we
didn’t know when I was coming
back. She was nervous.
-Pastor Thad and Mrs. Todd-
Q4: How did you propose?
Q1: How did you meet each
other?
Pastor Thad: I got her apartment
key from her roommates, so I went
ing the course of the trip, we started
over to her apartment and made dinPastor Thad: I was hanging out
talking and we decided we should
ner when she was at work. In the
with her brothers. We were having a start dating. It was more like a dare,
course of making dinner, I burned my
water balloon fight, and we decided
so we dated once without telling
hand badly, it was a third degree
to attack our older sisters. That’s how anybody.
burn, but I didn’t go to the doctor
we first met. It meant nothing
until later. She came home around
Mrs. Todd: We were going to try
though, because I was 12 and she was
4:35. We had dinner and then I got on
this
to
see
if
it
would
work
or
not.
If
it
16.
my knee and said “Would you marry
doesn’t work, we are not going to
me?” But she thought it was a joke so
Mrs. Todd: We were just family
keep dating. After we dated once, we
I pulled the ring out of the coat and
friends.
decided we should keep doing this!
showed it to her. She was like “Yes!”
Q2: How did you start dating?
Then afterward we went to the emerPastor Thad: And 7 months later,
gency room for my hand.
we got engaged.
Pastor Thad: My parents lived in
the same town her parents lived in.
(Continued on page 5)
Q3: Anything interesting happened
When I was 20 and she was 24, we
before or during the wedding?
drove home to see our families. DurWarrior Picture By Joyce
F ROM Y OUR V ALENTINE
BY MELISSA LARSEN
D
id you know Valentine’s Day has its
roots in biblical truths? So before you
open your box of chocolates, take a moment
to consider and celebrate the importance of
love and God’s creation of marriage.
In the fourth century, the emperor of
Rome was Claudius, also known as Claudius
the Cruel. Neighboring empires were attacking Rome, and the emperor needed more
men to defend the country.
Because Claudius was afraid men would
want to stay home with their families instead
of going to fight for Rome, he outlawed marriage and the performance of wedding ceremonies, hoping to gain higher quality soldiers, focused on the task at hand.
A priest named Valentine fought against
the law; he believed marriage was ordained
by God, a right no man could take away, and
continued performing weddings anyway.
Valentine was imprisoned for his defiance.
While in jail, he met the blind daughter of the
jailer. Through God’s power and Valentine’s
prayers, the jailer’s daughter was miraculously healed.
Eventually, Valentine was martyred because he would not recant his faith and his
beliefs. Before he was martyred on February
14, it is said he wrote a letter to the jailer’s
daughter which he signed, “From your Valentine.”
Valentine’s Day is a reminder of the love
and sacrifice one man made because he believed marriage was ordained by God. Are
we willing to stand up for the truth of
God’s Word, especially the truth of marriage being sacred union of one man and
one woman? This February 14 let us celebrate with friends and family God’s love
for us allowing us to love each other.
Source: Focus on the Family, Adventures in Odyssey.
The Best of 2012
Sponsor
Marianne Domico
Co-Editor
Melissa Larsen
Jeremy Tetreau
Sports
Tayler Mazaros
Design
Mandy Huang
Officers
Claire Yang
Joyce Hwang
Nhi Huynh
Tristan Cipriano
Tatum Gardner
Mikaila Whitehouse
Margaret Towers
Caleb Hill
Josh Delo
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE
B EST
OF
2012
2
The weight of the
ZOMBIES?
3
14,225 lb 6 oz!!
FREE CANDY
3
The omelet used
145,000 eggs, 880lbs oil,
and 220 lbs of butter
SPORTS
4
TCA
4-5
EDITORIAL
6
B ANQUET Q&A
7
EDUCATION
8-9
PRAYER
11
QUIZ
12
largest omelet:
(Guinness World Records)
To read more facts about
the best of 2012, go to
page 2!
I SSUE 3 F EBUARY 1
P AGE 2
2012—A year of groundbreaking numbers and records
BY JEREMY TETREAU & MIKAILA WHITEHOUSE
2012 is over and the world didn’t end-- Hurray, hurray!
“But what else happened last year?” you may ask. Luckily for you,
we’ve provided a short list of worthwhile accomplishments, events,
numbers, and, well, oddities for you to enjoy! Try not to hurt yourself asking why anyone would do some of the following things. Better
not to ask. Similarly, try not to ask how you can get as much money
as the world’s richest man, for example. I hate to be politically incorrect (not), but you will never obtain that much money. Sorry for
bursting your bubble. Then again, if you invent some sort of machine
able to do all my homework for me AND cook up a bacon cheeseburger with curly fries and a tall, thick strawberry milkshake, maybe
I’d take back my remarks. Take a look at some of these milestones
from 2012!
Lasting Goals
From around here. . .
•
•
Mr. High is now teaching his 30th year as 4th grade teacher at TCA.
•
The tallest dog living is Bella, who was measured at 3 ft. 1.37 in.
tall. The owners, Andrew and Suzanne Barbee, currently reside in
Chandler, Arizona.
Tri-City Christian Academy hosted a political rally for the Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on February 22, 2012.
Worldwide. . .
•
Richest man in the world- Carlos Slim Helu- net worth $72 billion
(Forbes)
•
Man pulls train with his teeth 9 feet and 2.2 inches on his first try,
His second attempt—2 feet, 4.7 inches-- third attempt-- 8 feet, 1.6
inches. (Parade magazine)
•
Collinsville, Ill. makes biggest ketchup packet (holding 127 gallons
of ketchup) (Parade magazine)
•
Man wins “Oddest Book Title Award” with "The Stray Shopping
Carts of Eastern North America: A Guide to Field Identification." (Guinness World Records)
•
40,885 trees- The most trees planted by a team of 100 people in 1
hour. (Guinness World Records)
•
41 - The most 12 inch throwing knives caught in one minute.
(Guinness World Records)
•
•
3,463- The most people husking corn (Guinness World Records)
•
6,277- The most cars washed in eight hours at multiple venues (89
stores) (Guinness World Records)
$158,187.26- The most expensive wedding for pets. (Guinness World
Records)
2,014 lb- The weight of the largest hamburger
The hamburger was topped with 52.5 lb. of tomatoes, 50 lb. of lettuce, 60 lb.
of onion, 19 lb. of pickles, 40 lb. of American cheese and 16.5 lb. of bacon.
(Guinness World Records)
•
•
22 min 00 sec- The longest time holding the breath underwater.
(Guinness World Records)
•
1 min 9.36 sec- The fastest time to eat a 12" pizza. (Guinness World
Records)
•
3.43 seconds - The fastest time to type the alphabet. (Guinness
World Records)
•
1,768 lb 11 oz-The weight of the largest chocolate truffle. (Guinness
World Records)
•
•
10,221- The most stickers on a car. (Guinness World Records)
•
1, 008, 928 – the most comments on a single Facebook item.
(Guinness World Records)
•
The best company to work for was Google, with a 33% job
growth and 18,500 U.S. employees. (Guinness World Records)
63.01 miles – the greatest distance run on a treadmill in 12 hours
(achieved by Dermot Mathers on April 28, 2012. (Guinness World
Records)
BY JOSH DELO
H
ow many times do we get
caught up in all the hype
about New Year’s resolutions?
Most of us set goals every year,
even though our resolutions usually never make it past January. For
example, losing weight, exercising
more, getting better grades in
school, and reading the Bible everyday are a few popular resolutions.
Margaret Towers, a TCA junior,
said one of her spiritual goals for
this year is to “be a better testimony” and “as big life decisions
come, to place all my faith in Christ
because He has a path for my life.”
Brock Gardner, a freshman on the
varsity basketball team, shared that
one of his goals for this year’s basketball season was to get his first
dunk, which he has already done
against Desert Point on January 11.
Kara DeFord, also a TCA junior,
wants to read through the entire
Bible in 2013 and score at least three
times in TCA Girl’s soccer this
spring.
Maybe you have physical goals
of your own, like scoring twenty
points in a basketball game or getting a hole-in-one in a golf tournament. Maybe you have set social
goals of making a new friend or
talking to that cute girl or guy at
lunch. You might also want to get
straight A’s in high school or get a
perfect score on the SAT. But more
importantly, do you have any spiritual goals in mind?
Whether our goals are physical,
social, academic, or spiritual, we
will only be able to reach them with
God’s help. Paul says in Philippians
3:14: “I press toward the mark for
the prize of the high calling of God
in Christ Jesus.” We should be
aiming for goals that will last for
eternity. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘For I
know the plans I have for you,”
declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper
you and not to harm you, plans to
give you hope and a future.” God
knows what our future holds and
He desires for us to let Him guide
and direct our lives in the ways He
sees fit. Because God sees the whole
picture, we can rely on His will and
remain faithful in the small tasks
He brings into our lives every day.
A passion for God is an important goal for our student body to
strive for this year. A deep, vibrant,
and personal relationship with God
is something that cannot be taught
at school. It needs to be yours.
When asked what one goal the TCA
student body should strive for this
second semester, junior Jeremy
Tetreau said, “I would love to see
these kids read their Bibles, grow in
their love for God, and let others
know about it! The excitement that
comes as a result of someone who
is on fire for God is not only a proof
of their salvation, but an encouragement to others! I want to see the
students at TCA live a life that’s on
fire for God!” Jeremy further explained, “There are a lot of kids
who are Christians, they legitimately are, they’re just not actively
living out what they claim to believe.” Kara DeFord’s goal for the
TCA student body is “to see more
unified spiritual growth or just
more unity in general.” Our school
needs to be characterized by what
these two students said so we (our
school) can be an example to others
for Christ.
So as we begin this second semester of the 2012-2013 school year,
let us remember this goal: Let
Christ be the center of your life,
work toward unity with each other
and Christ, and by His grace become more like Him!
T HE S WORD ’ S E DGE
P AGE 3
ZOMBIES?!
BY TRISTAN CIPRIANO
Z
ombies. . . You’ve seen the movies,
you’ve read the books, and you’ve
played the games. I’ll bet cold, hard
cash you’ve asked yourself: “Would a zombie
attack be possible today?”
As scientists grow closer and closer to
unlocking the secrets of life, the question can
become very relevant today. Scientists have
already begun to begin “zombie” tests on
animals as early as the 1930s.
If one visits the Prelinger Archives, located
in San Francisco, California, a documentary,
Experiments in the Revival of Organisms, documents a “zombie” test. The said documentary
features the first zombie experiment ever
recorded. A Soviet scientist, Sergei Bryukhonenko, used his recently developed device,
the autojektor, as a primitive heart-lung machine. Though the film does not show how the
autojektor works, the autojektor was used to
reanimate a dog’s head that was severed from
the rest of its body.
The documentary shows the head being
brought back to life after having a clinical
death by having its blood drained out. It
shows the head being supplied with oxygenated blood, a fluid that is required by all living things to live.
According to the Museum of Cardiovascular Surgery, Bryukhonenko made a new version of the autojektor, designed to be used on
humans. The new autojektor can be viewed in
the Museum of Cardiovascular Surgery in
Russia. Bryukhonenko was later posthumously awarded the Lenin Prize, one of the
most prestigious awards in the USSR.
Bryukhonenko’s experiment shows that
humans can reanimate at least some part of a
dead organism. But Bryukhonenko’s experiment is not the true zombie we all dangerously know too well. Could a crazy-in-thehead scientist out there actually create a zom-
bie virus intentionally or unintentionally?
An article was recently published on Popular Science, a science and technology centered
magazine, in 2011 by Ryan Bradley, interviewing and asking various professors and
directors of medicine about a possible zombie
virus.
“We are looking for something a little between Haiti and Hollywood [zombies]: an
infectious agent that will render its victims
half-dead but still-living shells of their former
selves.” wrote Bradley.
“An effective agent would target and shut
down specific parts of the brain” said Steven
C Schlozman, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard University and the author
of The Zombie Autopsy.
According to Popular Science, “Schlozman
explained although the walking dead have
some of their motor skills intact—walking, of
course, […] the frontal lobe, which is responsible for morality, planning, and inhibiting
impulsive actions (like taking a bite out of
someone), is nonexistent. The cerebellum,
which controls coordination, is probably still
there but not fully functional.
[A partly functional cerebellum] makes
sense, since zombies in movies are usually
easy to outrun or club with a baseball bat.”
wrote Bradley. “The most likely culprit for
this partially deteriorated brain situation,
according to Schlozman, is as simple as a
protein, specifically, a proteinaceous infectious particle, a prion. Not quite a virus, and
not even a living thing, prions are nearly impossible to destroy, and there’s no known
cure for the diseases they cause.”
“Now, if we’re thinking like evil geniuses
set on global destruction, the trick is going to
be attaching a prion to a virus, because prion
diseases are fairly easy to contain within a
population.” wrote Bradley. “To make things
truly apocalyptic, we need a virus that
spreads quickly and will carry the prions to
the frontal lobe and cerebellum. Targeting the
infection to these areas is going to be difficult,
but it’s essential for creating the shambling,
dim-witted creature we expect.”
Be at ease though. A zombie apocalypse is
“a fairly unlikely” scenario according to Jay
Fishman, director of transplant infectious
diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital in
Boston. Fishman adds “using a virus that
causes encephalitis, an inflammation of the
brain’s casing. Herpes would work, and so
would West Nile, but attaching a prion to a
virus is a fairly unlikely scenario.”
According to the article on cracked.com, 7
Scientific Reasons a Zombie Outbreak Would Fail
(Quickly) by David Dietle, we would be ready
for the outbreak and it would be shut down
rather quickly in the rare chance that such an
outrageous outbreak does occur. The #1 reason that a zombie outbreak would fail quickly
would be the amount of firepower and the
people we have that use said firepower.
“There were over 14 million people hunting with a license in the US in 2004. At a minimum, that’s like an armed force the size of the
great Los Angeles area.” Not even factoring in
the US Army or Military, an armed force the
size of Los Angeles is very impressive. The
outbreak would be contained and eradicated
in the course of several days.
Thus, we come to the conclusion that puts
our minds at ease. A zombie outbreak is fairly
unlikely, and if it did somehow miraculously
happen in that perhaps 1/1,000,000,000
chance, it would mostly be shut down quickly
due to natural forces such as the cold and
heat, and the rest? Let the military and the
gun owners in the US handle that.
There are hearts scattered all over this issue! The first
person to email us the correct number of heart shapes
will receive a free candy bar
I am one!!!
from Junior Concessions! Get looking!!
Please e-mail to:
info@tcawarriors.org
I SSUE 3 F EBUARY 1
P AGE 4
TCA vs. Desert Heights
BY JOSH DELO & TAYLER MAZAROS
T
he undefeated Desert Heights
Coyotes would
prove to be no
match for the 100 Warriors. TriCity Christian
Academy hosted
Desert Heights
Prep on Thursday, January 24,
2013. Prior to this
matchup, the
Warriors had
walked all over
their competition, but this
game would
prove to be
slightly more
challenging than
Photo By Chi Wang
the rest. “My mindset for this
game was to focus, and make sure we played as a
team,” said Joshua Stephenson, a starting junior, “I
really wanted to make sure we passed and stayed on
the ball the whole time.”
TCA started off the game with an opening steal by
Josh Stephenson which lead to a break-away layup.
Desert Heights, however, kept Tri-City to 12 points in
the first quarter, making the score 12-10. TCA started
off the second quarter on a 17-4 point run sparked by
a “behind-the-back” pass by Seth Hathaway to a trailing Brock Gardner for a wide open layup and the
foul. TCA Assistant Coach James Brown said the 17-4
run was "a huge confidence booster . . . but really it
was defense. We tightened down on defense . . . and
for this particular team [TCA] we haven’t had that
many tough games and, I think at that point [the 17-4
point run] they knew that this was our game to win.”
The Warrior's defensive prowess led to fastbreak after fast-break, ending the second quarter with
a score of 31-16. However, the Desert Heights Coyotes
went on the offensive to start the second half, outscoring the Warriors 20-13 in the third, leaving the
score 44-36. “Our defense just fell apart and we let
them back in the game,” admitted Seth Hathaway
when asked about the third quarter.
The Coyotes tried to claw their way back into the
game with a couple of big three point shots, but the
Warrior’s defense rebounded and proved to be too
much for the Coyotes. Despite the tenacity of Desert
Heights, Tri-City held on for a 54-42 victory. Brock
Gardner led the Warriors with 23 points hitting 8-9
from the free-throw line. Josh Stephenson had five
blocks, eleven rebounds, and eight points. Seth
Hathaway and Triston Hudson combined for twelve
points and eight assists. As the Warriors head into the
post-season, one philosophy will carry them through
to the end--teamwork. The future is promising for this
young team, and hopefully they will bring home the
championship.
Homecoming Family Style
BY MARGARET TOWERS
What do the Olsen Twins and Charlie and Lucy
Brown have in common with this year’s representatives of the TCA homecoming court? They’re siblings!
This year was a special year for the homecoming
court - two pairs of siblings were given the honor
of representing their classes during homecoming
court. Sheridan & Caleb Hill and Clayton & Acadia
Caupp represented their classes with their siblings
by their sides. Both pairs of siblings have a reputation of watching over each other and being a good
testimony to each other.
Sheridan & Caleb Hill have grown-up at
TCA. Many parents and fellow students have
watched as their relationship as siblings has developed. Sheridan and Caleb are very close. “Since we
know each other so well we can practically talk by
just looking at each other,” said Caleb. Caleb was
very proud of his sister when he found out that Sheridan was selected by her class for
homecoming.“I was so proud of her, and happy to be her brother,” said Caleb. Caleb is
a good example of an older brother. He has always tried to make sure Sheridan is happy
and has tried to encourage her spiritually.“I’m really happy when she shares a testimony. I can see her growing into a Christian young lady,” said Caleb. Sheridan & Caleb
always seem to know when the other is down. They are not just siblings; they are best
friends. They will always help the other through different struggles no matter how
great. “There was this one time during Music Camp and this guy was talking about how
his sibling ran away from home and never wanted to come back. My sister was in tears
and said 'I never want you to run away.' We just hugged it out,” said Caleb Hill.
The Caupp family has been very involved in Tri-City Baptist Church. The church has
had the privilege to watch Acadia & Clayton grow into godly young adults and see their
relationship grow as brother and sister. “They encourage each other. They don’t spend
a lot of time fighting like many siblings do,” said Landry Homsher. Both were thrilled
to hear the other was chosen as a representative. “I thought it was a good choice that
Acadia was selected, and I was excited because she is my sister,” said Clayton. Acadia
has been privileged to have a brother who will protect her and watch over her as only a
brother can. They both listen to each other and encourage one another. “We talk to each
other. We’re very open to talking about different stuff,” said Clayton. Acadia & Clayton
support one another, and continue to try to do what is best for each other.
Unlike the Olsen twins who focus on
worldly things and on what they can get
from each other rather than what they
can give to each other, Sheridan & Caleb
Hill and Acadia & Clayton Caupp want
to do what is best for one another and
make sure they are on the right track
spiritually. Both pairs of siblings’ characters shine through as they help the other
grow. The TCA student body is honored
to have siblings that care so much for
each other. No wonder why both pairs of
siblings were selected for the homecoming court; they have helped the other be
the best they can be.
What a great experience to watch
Sheridan & Caleb Hill and Acadia &
Clayton Caupp share the honor of being
representatives on the homecoming court
with their siblings.
T HE S WORD ’ S E DGE
P AGE 5
Unraveling the Love Mystery
(Continued from page 1)
Q5: Anything interesting you’ve done on
Valentine’s Day?
each other. They kept trying to find opportunities to put us in the same place so we would
end up being together with each other.
Pastor Thad: I usually give her flowers the
One time they arranged us to go to a group
week before Valentine’s Day. It is cheaper,
event, and she gave me a ride home back to
and she can also have the whole week to enjoy campus afterward. We ended up sitting in the
Valentine’s Day.
car for a couple of hours talking with each
other; then it kicked things off and we started
Mrs. Todd: The flowers would bloom fully
spending a lot of time together.
and would be beautiful on Valentine's Day.
Q3: Any interesting things happened before
-Mr. Paineyou got married?
Q1: How did you meet your wife?
Mr. Paine: The night we got engaged, I had
Mr. Paine: After I moved to Chicago, Lana planned to go to a place in Chicago just next
to Lake Michigan called Buckingham Founand I went to the same church and the same
tain. After we went to a stage play and had
Sunday school class. One morning she dedinner, we headed to the fountain and I was
cided to introduce herself to me. In order to
ready to propose to her with the ring. What I
create a conversation, she brought up her
daughter, Meagan, who went to the Christian didn’t know was there was a time at night
when they shut the light and the fountain off,
school where I taught. She said, “I have a
daughter in first grade.” And I could not think so as we walked over to the fountain, all we
of anything else to say so I said “I don’t teach saw was a gigantic concrete slab. I had to
change the plan and drove north to the shore
first grade.” The line awkwardly ended the
on Lake Michigan, where I proposed to her
conversation. She had nothing to say, and I
had nothing to offer afterward. She still gives instead of the Buckingham fountain.
me a hard time today because it seemed like I
Q4: Tell us about your wedding.
was blowing her off.
Mr. Paine: I actually ended up having two
Q2: How did you and your wife start dating?
weddings. I can decide whether to celebrate
Mr. Paine: There were several ladies in our my wedding anniversary on December 17th or
church who were both friends with Lana and December 20th, therefore I sometimes tell people I have been married twice. First we
me, and they thought we would be good for
wanted to have our wedding in California
because we wanted my dad, who was a pastor, to perform the wedding ceremony; but in
California they had strict requirements and
we did not have the time. In the end our Pastor in Chicago did the legal ceremony in his
office on the 17th , and then we flew to California on the 20th for the real wedding ceremony.
Q5: Have you ever forgotten your anniversary?
Mr. Paine: No. But one time I decided to
buy some flowers for her on the Valentine’s
Day and I got a great deal on a dozen roses
just few days before. I wanted to hide them so
my wife would not find out. We had a closet
in the small hallway between our house's
front door and the real door, so I hid the roses
in the closet and naively thought the cold
would preserve flowers. It turned out the cold
did not preserve the roses but killed the roses,
so I had a dozen brown crusty roses on the
Valentine’s Day. I did not know what to do,
so in a panic I gave them to her anyway. She
still reminds me about giving her dead roses
today!
A NIGHT UNDER THE STARS BY MARGARET TOWERS
W
hen a puzzle is being put together, the
bigger picture has to be kept in mind.
As the pieces gradually come together, the
picture slowly becomes more visible. Every
year at TCA, the junior class has the privilege
of hosting the high school banquet. As the
juniors slowly endeavor to piece all the details
together, they try to create a masterpiece honoring the senior class for their accomplishments and ensuring the underclassmen have
an enjoyable time.
As every junior was given a specific job,
they helped to formulate the bigger picture by
working together. Some jobs included making
the invitations or making the party favors. No
matter what the job was, no one in the class
complained, and everyone was willing to pitch
in where they were needed. The junior class
also had amazing parents helping make our
Night Under the Stars an amazing success.
On the night of the banquet, all the puzzle
pieces came together into one magnificent
Now, you may be thinking . . . putting toshowpiece. All of the junior’s hard work paid
gether a banquet doesn’t seem very difficult . . . off, and they were able to present an enjoyable
right? Organizing a banquet is just some tables, banquet for all the high school students.
chairs, and food. How hard can it be to plan?
“After all our hard work, they were
Well, planning is not as easy as it seems. So able to enjoy the ‘fruits of their labor’,”
many little details go into organizing one,
said junior class president, Jeremy
spectacular night, and all those details of plan- Tetreau. The banquet was an enjoyning a banquet are never fully understood
able night for everyone who came, and
until they become your responsibility. The
they seemed to enjoy themselves as
junior class became very familiar with phrases they laughed, talked with friends, and
such as, “Why would we do that”, or “Yeah,
ate.
no that’s a horrible idea”, and “Yes, we love
The food was a highlight of the
that; let’s do it”. Slowly all the decisions were
evening.
Parents volunteered to promade, and the pieces of the puzzle started to
vide the food. “Every parent unselcome together.
fishly volunteered their time and en-
ergy to make or serve a dish, and that’s what
made this year’s banquet special. The food was
made with love,” said Junior Tatum Gardner.
Everyone who attended seemed to really enjoy
the food. “The food was great. I loved it,” said
Senior Emily Tjepkema.
At one point in time, the banquet seemed a
puzzle too difficult to complete, but God
blessed the juniors with a great night. The stars
where shining; the weather was not too cool;
and the lights shone bright. Each piece of work
and planning fit so perfectly together to make
this year’s banquet a stunning work of art.
P AGE 6
I SSUE 3 F EBUARY 1
Welcome
The Editors would
like to welcome
Josh Delo
the newest member of
the publication staff,
to the Sword’s Edge!
Wield your pen
with honor!
A
From the Editor
BY MELISSA LARSEN
The kindness of that little girl convicted me; even I love to buy
s Valentine’s Day approaches, people often focus on “love” and
trinkets for myself at the Senior Boutique! As I continued through
“who-likes-who.” But truly, what is love? Two months ago, I
had an amazing experience of a simple act of kindness right in front my day meditating on the innocent act of love I’d witnessed, I
observed some of my fellow junior high and high school students
of me at my Senior Boutique table.
being cruel to one another, forgetting the kindness essential to a
On that late November morning, Mrs. Anderson asked if I could
Christian’s life.
help a K4 student spend her money. As her eyes flitted across the
Love is more than just liking someone or thinking he is cute, love
tables full of shining objects to buy, she told me she wanted to find a
is wanting what is best for another person and sacrificing yourself
present for her friend who had just broken her arm, thinking she
for their benefit. If we really stop and think, are
might like a stuffed animal. Clenching
we kind to people only when they benefit us or
her five dollar bill, she perused through
do we care for them even when we will receive
the stuffed animals and decided on a soft
nothing in return? Even worse, do we try to
bear holding a pink flower.
impress others by making our “friends” the
With her gift in tow and a dollar to
laughing stock when they do something stupid
spare, the girl eyed me as I asked her if
instead of defending their feelings?
she would like a little something for
In 1 Corinthians Paul says, “Love is patient,
herself. Immediately shaking her head,
love is kind. . .it does not dishonor others, it is
she proceeded to pick out a Barbie
not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps
coloring book for her friend as well. We
no record of wrongs. . . .It always protects,
headed to the checkout table where she
always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1
proudly shared her gifts with the moms at
Cor. 13:4-7 NIV).”
the wrapping table, telling me she hoped
her friend would like the gift and it would
As we go into the second semester of school,
make her feel better.
think about how you treat others and compare it
to Christ’s life. Remember the kindness of one
After she meticulously wrote her
little girl, and the immense impact of a single act
friend’s name on the tag, she and I
of love.
hurried to the office where her crying
friend was being gently carried out by her
Happy Valentine’s Day! Thanks for reading
father. Unable to contain her excitement,
the Sword’s Edge.
the girl announced the contents inside the
package and gave them to her friend as
she left.
P AGE 7
T HE S WORD ’ S
EDGE
Chinese
New Year!
BY JOYCE HWANG
A
nother new year is coming and it
starts in February! Chinese New Year
falls on February 10 in 2013 according
to lunar calendar. 2013 is the year of the snake
since each Chinese New Year is represented
by one of the animals in the Chinese Zodiac.
This festival holds the most meaning in Asia.
The festival lasts for 15 days, and each day has
certain traditions and activities to be followed.
which must include fish. But the fish cannot
be finished because the left over fish symbolizes blessings for the following year. Chicken
and pork are also required dishes. For children, receiving red envelopes is the most
exciting moment on New Year’s Eve. Traditionally, adults and parents put money in red
envelopes and give the envelopes to the children because this action represents giving
luck and blessing to the young people.
Even though different nationalities and
ethnic groups have different customs, the
The first day of the New Year, people go
New Year’s Eve, New Year, and Lantern Festi- out to visit neighbors, friends, and families
val are the significant events for all regions
especially to honor the elders. People also like
celebrating the Chinese New Year.
to have fireworks during the New Year to
scare the evils away. Some truly believe in it
On New Year’s Eve, people go back to their and some people do it just for tradition, but it
homes to enjoy family time by sacrificing to
also makes the town jollier than normal days.
ancestors, having a reunion dinner, and staying up until midnight. The reunion dinner is
The fifteenth day which is the Lantern
the important event on New Year’s Eve. Festival is the first full moon in the New Year
The reunion dinner is a sumptuous feast and is considered to be the end of the Chinese
New Year celebration. At the Lantern Festival,
people solve puzzles on the lanterns, appreciate the beauty of the lanterns, and eat rice
dumplings. It is also a romantic day. Ancient
China was a conservative society and young
women were not allowed to be outside without permission on regular days. The Lantern
Festival became a great chance for young
people to meet each other.
During the fifteen days of the Chinese New
Year’s celebration, people eat more food, celebrate more activities, go back to work, and the
daughter who got married brings her family
back to visit her birth parents. Although the
exact dates for the customs are different due
to different regions, the meaning of the New
Year’s celebration is the same all over the
world; New Year’s is a holiday to have a family reunion and to be ready for the following year.
BANQUET Q & A
BY CALEB HILL
E
very TCA Banquet has its very own
unique flair and feel to them. This year’s
A Night Under the Stars had a trivia game on
the back of the itinerary for the evening. Each
question had to do with a strange or unique
fact about a few of the guests attending. These
were the final questions narrowed down and
chosen for the night and the answers might
surprise you.
1. Who is related to Ira B. Fulton of Fulton
homes?
2. Who was a pitcher on (his/her) baseball
team for four years and even received
MVP?
3. Who had dogs that ate (his/her) hamster?
4. Who had an altercation with a Llama?
5. Who use to have the nickname “Fogie”?
6. Who lost (his/her) first tooth eating a bagel?
7. Who handmade a cape similar to the capes
from the Phantom of the opera?
8. Whose favorite movie is Napoleon Dynamite?
9. Who has visited 42 different states?
10. Who has a great uncle in the Sicilian Mafia?
A. Mrs. Taylor McCloskey
B. Tayler Mazaros
C. Erin Miller
D. Melissa Larsen
E. Gabe Lease
F. Rebecca Schmidt
G. Mrs. Angela Todd
H. Jessica Wietsma
I. Mrs. Lindsey Lawson
J. Clayton Caupp
K. Mr. Eric Paine
L. Trevor Le
M. Lindsey Mostrom
The answer to #1 is: D-Melissa Larsen.
With some help from her mother, Melissa laid
out the distant relation to Mr. Fulton. “My
grandfather’s cousin’s daughter married Ira A.
Fulton’s son. That’s how I am related to the
rich and famous.” Melissa said with a smile.
makes it one of the best movies ever,” said Mr.
Caupp.
The answer to #4 is: G-Mrs. Angela Todd.
When asked about the incident she just
laughed and replied, “No comment.”
The answer to #9 is: A-Mrs. Taylor
McCloskey. “When I just finished the fifth
grade my family took a 3 week trip along the
West coast of the United States. We started in
California, and went through Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado finishing back up in Arizona. My family
has taken numerous other smaller trips to
Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas and Oklahoma. I also took a trip with my husband’s
family to Hawaii this summer. Right before
my ninth grade year my family took a 6 week
vacation and toured the Midwest, South, New
England and Montréal, Canada. The only
states that I have missed are Alaska, North
Dakota, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas and
Florida. My favorite place though would have
to be Mount Rushmore,” said Mrs. McCloskey.
The answer to #5 is: I-Mrs. Lindsey Lawson. “When I was featured in a city newspaper
during high school the paper misspelled my
maiden name (Mrs. Lawson’s maiden name
was Foote then). Coach Brown called me
‘Fogie’ and it stuck,” said Mrs. Lawson.
The answer to #10 is: E-Gabe Lease. No
matter how hard the Journalist tried to pry the
information from Mr. Lease he constantly
dodged the question saying “I don’t know
how I’m exactly related.” Perhaps, he can’t
tell….
The answer to #2 is: B-Tayler Mazaros. “I
used to have a pitch-back and I would go outside and practice for 2 hours every day,” said
Mr. Mazaros.
The answer to #3 is: H-Jessica Wietsma. “I
figured out that Sissy, the dog, had eaten
Crackers, my hamster, when Crackers was
missing from his cage and Sissy had something Crackers-sized in her mouth,” said Miss
Wietsma.
The answer to #6 is: F-Rebecca Schmidt.
“It was really weird and I sort of freaked when
I found out,” said Miss Schmidt.
The answer to #7 is: C-Erin Miller. “I was
watching the Phantom of the Opera with
Melissa Larsen and we got jealous so we decided to make our own capes,” said Miss
Miller with a smile.
The answer to #8 is: J-Clayton Caupp.
“The randomness of Napolean Dynamite
I SSUE 3 F EBUARY 1
P AGE 8
The Value of Education
By Mikaila Whitehouse
Education Develops Skills
Education Promotes Social Interaction
loganbiz.com. Web. 7 December 2012.
Education Provides Opportunities
Photos taken by Mikaila Whitehouse
Critical Thinking
Photo taken by Emily Tjepkema
Photo taken by Mikaila Whitehouse
Photos taken by Mikaila Whitehouse
Education Promotes Awareness
A Stronger Economy
Photos taken by Mikaila Whitehouse
Photos taken by Mikaila Whitehouse
Education provides Foundations
Proverbs 4:13
“Take fast hold of
instruction; let her not go:
keep her; for she is thy life.”
Photos taken by Mikaila Whitehouse
P AGE 9
T HE S WORD ’ S
School Choice
ASK TATUM
U
nfortunately, this month the “Ask Tatum”
article has been short on questions. As a
result of this, Tatum will have to resort to
asking questions to herself. However, you may feel
free to send in any questions you may have, at any
time! You can reach her by e-mail at tatumlaree96@yahoo.com or in the drop box on locker
#103, or if you don’t care about the anonymity of
your question you can ask Tatum in person directly!
Q: What was the problem with the chalice during
Spirit Week this year?
A: Well, it’s a long story, but in summary, here it is:
The junior class (specifically Kristian Charbonneau) found the chalice in its original hiding place
on Tuesday of Spirit Week. The juniors were planning on announcing their discovery of the chalice
in their skit on Thursday; however, as fate would
have it, the chalice disappeared (or maybe a more
appropriate description would be was stolen) and
suspiciously, the 7th grade surprised the school by
taking the chalice out of a business bag at the end
of their skit. The administration could not decide
whether or not the chalice, and the points that
would go along with it, should be given to the 7th
or 11th grade classes. So the chalice was re-hidden
on Thursday, and found by the Senior class!
Q: What are these Valentine’s Day grams?
A: The senior class hands out slips of paper, which
individuals then fill out (the information includes
the name of the person who you wish to send it to,
what you wish to send them- i.e. a balloon, a sweet
treat or a song- and a personal note). On Valentine’s Day, the senior class goes around the classrooms, grade by grade, and they hand out cookies,
notes, goodies and even perform silly love songs for
a special few!
Q: When did it become tradition for the senior
class to do the Valentine’s Day grams? –Margaret
Towers
A: This tradition has been around for quite some
time. A current TCA senior, Mikaila Whitehouse,
says she remembers seeing the balloons and pink
notes way back when she was in Kindergarten! It
has always been a fun and successful way to raise
funds for the senior trip!
Q: What are the “Evangelistic Meetings” that everybody is talking about?
A: Once a year, certain missionaries, or a traveling
ministry team come to our church and meetings
are held every night of that week. The missionaries
and/or evangelists have interesting stories to tell,
and some have great musical abilities, which makes
each night unique and fun! Traditionally, the TCA
students who attend TCA night on Tuesday receive
a homework pass- just in case you needed an incentive to come out to the Evangelistic meetings!
The Evangelistic Meetings will be held on the week
of February 3- 8 this year.
EDGE
BY JEREMY TETREAU
T
homas Jefferson, chief author of the
Declaration of Independence once said,
“Educate and inform the whole mass
of the people. They are the only sure reliance
for the preservation of our liberty.” He understood liberty is not something to be taken for
granted. It is a gift and it must be preserved.
Miller said in 2008 the state saved anywhere
from $44 million to $186 million, leaving more
money in the general fund to be disbursed to
public education then there would have been
without the program. With the average scholarship around $2,000 per-student, and the perstudent cost to the state estimated at upwards of
The only assurance Jefferson had for main- $6,000, the state saves for every student who
attends a private school with a scholarship.
taining a free society was an educated people.
“So in the end, the state is saving money,”
This country’s public educational system has
long been the topic of political debate. How- said Larsen. “That’s what makes the law worthever, despite all the briefings in Congress and in while for them.”
state legislatures all across this country, one fact
It is not only worthwhile for the state, but
is clear: our public schools are failing.
also for families all over Arizona, including
“In our government school system, children almost 200 families at Tri-City alone who take
are treated like a number; a commodity. All are advantage of the program, to one degree or
the same” said Harry Miller, executive director another.
of TOPS for kids. “But we know God has
“The key,” Larsen said “is knowing how to
created each of us uniquely with special needs. work the system.”
School options that are fair and open to every“Yeah, this is the fun part,” said Tetreau,
one are vital to giving the family the right
with
a chuckle.
choice.”
“The
system” as referred to by Larsen, inThis week, January 27th through February
volves
several
things. First, the applicant must
nd
2 , is National School Choice Week, a time to
think about, learn about, and advance the ideas fill out an application form provided by the
Miller talks about: a family’s ability to choose individual tuition organization, such as TOPS.
the best education possible for their child. In
Then, he must contact donors who are willhonor of this week, our school hosted a free ing to direct their tax dollars to TOPS, which in
open house where folks in the community turn gives the scholarships to students.
stopped by to learn more about our school, and
“I’ve been doing this for the past 13 to 14
more about school choice as a whole.
years,” said Tetreau. “I’ve got my yearly rhythm
In an attempt to give parents a greater op- down.”
portunity to send their kids to private schools,
The tuition tax credit is only good for one
which are often more accountable to both parents and students because of the smaller envi- thing, however-- tuition.
ronment, the state of Arizona passed the first
“By law, the money given to the school by
tuition tax credit law of any state in the country the tuition organization can only be applied to
in 1997.
tuition. It can’t go to anything else” said Larsen.
“This law allows people to designate a cer- “It can’t cover any miscellaneous fees or anytain amount of their state tax dollars to a par- thing like that, which is actually advantageous,
ticular student in a private school” said Joel because it was designed to help parents send
Tetreau, a local pastor and father of three sons kids to the school of their choice. So you want
who have all attended Tri-City Christian Acad- it to go to their tuition.”
emy in the past or attend currently. “It makes it
For some families, the tuition tax credit
possible to send your kids to a school where you makes sending their kids to a small private
agree with the philosophy they’re teaching, and Christian school possible, when otherwise it
are confident that they’re getting the education would have been impossible.
they need.”
“Very frankly, we would not have been able
Under this law, the state of Arizona allows to afford to send three boys to the school withpeople to take two separate tax credits of up to out the help of the tuition organization,” said
$1,003 for single adults and up to $2,006 for Tetreau. “It just would not have been able to
married couples and send it to the school of happen.”
their choice through the catalyst of a tuition tax
Providing greater school choice for parents
organization.
at the same time as providing them a viable
“There are lots and lots of tuition tax or- means of sending their kids to the school of the
ganizations,” said Nancy Larsen, registrar for parents’ choice is something Thomas Jefferson,
the Tri-City Business Office. “We get most of the great champion of individual
our money through TOPS. Our second is rights, would have been very
ACTSO. But we have several other smaller ones. proud of.
Because, by law, that’s how the money is processed.”
T HE S WORD ’ S
P AGE 11
THE
EDGE
P RAYER :
C HRISTIAN ’ S H IGHEST P RIVILEGE
BY TATUM GARDNER
Based on the book, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
“A life contemplating the blessings of Christ becomes a life acting the
love of Christ.” -Ann Voskamp
I
FLU PREVENTION
BY JOSH DELO
T
he flu epidemic of 2012-2013 is reach2.
ing its peak this winter season. 1,102
cases of the flu have been confirmed in
Arizona since September 26, 2012, The Arizona
Republic’s Connie Midey reports. The influenza
virus is reaching people faster and more widespread than last year. According to Elizabeth
Cohen, Elizabeth Landau, and Ashley Hayes of
CNN, a total of 20 people under the age of
eighteen have died in the United States since
the beginning of flu season. Here are 5 simple
ways to help prevent the flu at home and at
school.
1.
Get vaccinated. Getting a flu shot may
seem like the most obvious way to prevent the flu, but it is a vital part of avoiding the virus that many Americans ignore. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention estimates that only 36.5 per3.
cent of all Americans received the flu
vaccine by November of 2012. I guess I
cannot talk much since I have not yet
received a flu shot, but it is important if
you want to stay healthy.
n life, we as failing human beings often get caught up in meaningless business which just occupies our time and doesn’t
stimulate us to better, Christ-honoring living. Distractions
such as television, music, friends, sports, or other individual hobbies take the “gold” on the list of our priorities. God is seen only as
an aid in time of need, or a friend when everything is going just as
we want it to.
However, God shouldn’t just be a part of our lives. He should be
our lives. Many people say they don’t have time for God. But they
don’t see that God is time- He created time! For us-His most loved
creation- to say that we “don’t have time” to spend in His Word
and fellowship with Him is unfathomable.
So how do we begin to integrate God into our daily lives?
Prayer. Prayer should flow from our lips like our blood flows
through our veins: a constant stream of praise and thankfulness
for his grace and love! Not only do believers have the opportunity
to worship him in prayer; as children of God, we can bring our
requests to God at any time! Think of your friends. Have you ever
texted a friend with a problem you wanted advice for and they
didn’t reply? Well, fortunately for us, God loves for you to pour
out your heart to him, no matter if its 3:30am or 1pm. You bring
Him joy when you go to Him first, and remember to “cast all your
cares upon Him!”
In every moment of one’s life, one should remember to thank
God for His beautiful gift He’s given to us- this life. Our life is but
a “fleeting vapor,” which means we should be living to praise our
Creator in the daily happenings, as well as the major events, and
times of joy or sorrow. In the ugly, praise God. In the beautiful,
praise God. In the unexpected, praise God.
“The practice of giving thanks . . . this is the way we practice the
presence of God, stay present to His presence, and it is always a
practice of the eyes. We don't have to change what we see. Only
the way we see.” – Ann Voskamp
Avoid contact with objects and people
likely to have the flu. Studies show the
influenza virus is most commonly spread
by sneezing, coughing, or touching infected items. Droplets given off from
people coughing or sneezing can get into
your nose, mouth, or eyes, contaminating 4.
you with the virus from up to six feet
away! Touching germ infested items such
as gas pumps, door handles, refrigerators,
keyboards, etc. and then touching your
nose or mouth could result in infection
also. The proper etiquette to prevent the
spread of the flu virus is to always cover
your mouth and nose when you sneeze or
cough. Know when to take a sick day,
even from school. Your classmates and
5.
peers will thank you.
Wash your hands thoroughly. Whether
you have the flu or not, washing your
hands thoroughly is a common sense way
to prevent the spread of the virus. TriCity Christian Academy provides tissue
and hand sanitizer in every classroom.
Take advantage of these things. After
blowing your nose or sneezing, wash
your hands with hand sanitizer. Washing
your hands during flu season will help
prevent the spread of contagious germs
and keep you healthier as well.
Watch your diet. Berries are rich in antioxidants which help build up the body’s
immune system. Zinc, found in red meat,
beans, poultry, whole grains, and dairy
products, can not only strengthen your
immune system but sometimes reduce
the duration of the flu. Foods rich in Vitamin C can also help boost your immune
system.
Happiness may be key. The Bible says in
Proverbs 17:22, “A merry heart doeth
good like a medicine: but a broken spirit
drieth the bones.” Most often people feel
better when they are happy. A “merry
heart” might be one way to avoid the flu
this year.
I SSUE 3 F EBUARY 1
P AGE 12
BY CALEB HILL
Love Speaks Many Languages
I Corinthians 13:4-8
BY MIKAILA WHITEHOUSE
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it
keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres. Love never fails.
Love is expressed in many different forms, and the means by which one interprets love can either gratify or backfire. According to The Journal
of Biblical Counseling, people most often demonstrate love to others in the same way they want to receive it, but true love is self giving, not selfseeking. Author Dr. Gary Chapman sums up love in five different “languages.”
Take the quiz to determine your love language!
1. I like to receive encouraging or affirming notes A
I like receiving hugs E
2. I love spending one-on-one time with close friends B
I feel loved when someone gives me practical help D
3. I feel loved when people do things to help me D
I feel loved when people give me a reassuring handshake or hug E
4. I like receiving gifts from friends and family C
I like visiting friends and loved ones B
5. Visible symbols of love are important to me C
Encouraging words and affirmation means a lot to me A
6. I like being together and doing things with friends and family B
I value praise and try to avoid criticism A
7. I like it when people compliment my achievements A
When people do things for me that they don’t enjoy I know they
love me D
8. It means a lot to me when people listen and show genuine interest
in what is being said B
When people give me compliments it makes me feel good A
9. Several small gifts mean more to me than one large gift C
Hugs make me feel connected and valued E
10. I enjoy going out with friends and family B
I feel loved when someone celebrates my birthday with a gift C
11. I need to be with people every day E
I need words of encouragement everyday A
12. I love when a person enthusiastically completes a task I have requested D
It means a lot when someone tells me how much I am
appreciated A
13. I like when a person looks at me when they are talking B
Receiving a gift for no special reason lets me know that someone is
thinking of me C
14. What someone does affects me more than what he or she says D
I feel loved when someone affirms me E
15. I enjoy taking trips with people, no matter where we go B
Small, meaningful gifts show me that people care C
Total:
A____ B____
C____ D____ E____
Count the number of A’s, B’s, C’s, D’s, and E’s you have chosen.
Mostly A’s = Words of affirmation: actions don’t always speak louder
than words. Simple compliments mean the world to you, but insults
leave you devastated.
Mostly B’s = Quality time: Nothing says “I love you” like having someone’s full, undivided attention.
Mostly C’s = Receiving gifts: You love it when someone puts their
thoughts and effort behind a gift. The perfect gift shows that you are
cared for.
Mostly D’s = Acts of service: Anything that eases your responsibilities
speaks volumes.
Mostly E’s = Physical touch: You love giving and receiving hugs from
friends and family and a simple pat on the back means the world to
you.