Current eighth grade students Bailey Shiflet and Emma Lobbes meet new eighth grade international student Isabel Berczely from Spain at Bahama Bucks before the school year begins

Students in Liberty Christian’s MIX Club aim to learn about other cultures and share their own by easing the transition for international students and make them feel at home in the United States.

Liberty’s international students receive PALs (Peer Advocates at Liberty) who help them with practicing English, getting settled, acclimating to America, finding classes, and most importantly, building friendships.

On Aug. 20 prior to school start, MIX held a lunch that included 6^th to 12^th grade Chinese, Koreans, Americans, and of course, pizza!

At this lunch, international students met their PALs face to face. Many had already been in contact with each other through “What’sApp” and “WeChat.” Teachers also came by to introduce themselves, and current students had yearbooks on hand to give the new students a glimpse into life at Liberty.

“At the beginning of the luncheon, the conversation was pretty quiet,” said sponsor and physics teacher Dawn Lobbes. “As the lunch continued, it was wonderful to see groups of current and international students come together and enjoy talking about all kinds of topics.

“Our current students did a fabulous job welcoming our new international students, helping them make connections with others in their own grade and even from their own country.”

This luncheon was the first time many of the international students had ever stepped foot on Liberty’s campus. One of the international students who lives with a teacher’s family enjoys baking, and she even brought cookies to share with everyone.

On Aug. 31, MIX held another lunch at school to continue to assist the new students and make sure they were beginning to feel more comfortable and confident at Liberty.

“Our current students want to reach out and support our new international students, helping them know what to expect and providing much-need support and encouragement,” added Mrs. Lobbes.

One international student commented after the lunch, “I am feeling so different from the first day. Everything is getting better. Thanks for the MIX Club – it gives us safety and courage!”

Warrior Tennis heads to the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) State Championship today in Waco, where the tournament will be held April 15 and 16.

The 2015 regular season came to close on Thursday, April 2. The team faced many obstacles, the biggest being the weather. The team did not practice for more than three weeks this spring due to snow, ice, rain, midterms, and Spring Break.

“Facing this many obstacles in one season is unheard of, but our boys and girls have fought through it and competed in seven matches in the span of two weeks,” said head coach Chase Hardin. “Our team members showed a lot of passion and willpower in all of our district matches.”

The team is young this year. On the boys’ side, four freshman, two sophomores, and two juniors make up the varsity team. On the girls’ side, one sophomore, six juniors, and one senior make up varsity team.

The boys’ team finished at two wins, two losses, and two splits in district.

Boys individual results:

1 singles: Noah Villarreal went 4-2

2 singles: Braedon Gunn went 2-4

1 doubles: Kayson Smith and Aron Hawkins went 3-3

2 doubles: Josiah Liszewski and Matthew Reneau went 3-3

The girls’ team finished with four wins, one loss, and two splits in district.

“This is the best the girls’ team has done in school history,” said Coach Hardin. “Way to go, Lady Warriors!”

Girls individual results:

1 singles: Lindsay Marker went 6-1

2 singles: Christine Liu went 5-2

1 doubles: Kirie Psaromatis and Jamie Couch went 4-3

2 doubles: Grace Stinson and Hannah Dickson went 3-4

With these results, Liberty had three seeded players for the district tournament on April 7 and 8.

“For the first time in school history, we had a seed for girls’ singles, Lindsay Marker, who was seeded No. 2,” said Coach Hardin. “Jamie Couch and Kirie Psaromatis snatched the No. 4 seed, and Noah Villarreal also snatched the No. 4 seed.”

At district, the boys’ team won second place. The girls team finished in fifth, three places up from eighth place last year.

Individuals who will compete at state include singles Lindsay Marker and Noah Villarreal, and doubles Aron Hawkins and Kayson Smith, and Josiah Liszewski and Matthew Reneau.

Coach Hardin said, “Last year was the first year we have ever received points in tennis in Liberty’s pursuit of the overall TAPPS Henderson Cup, and we look to add to that this year.

“Coach Gina Ernest and I are very proud of our players. In their morning workouts and two-hour practices after school, they continually show us their character, hard work, and dedication.”

To see the video of Dr. Eger’s visit to Liberty, please click on Dr. Eger Inspires Students.

On March 26 when Dr. Edie Eger stepped onto Liberty Christian’s campus for the second time in two years, she once again captivated students’ attention with her stories of surviving the Auschwitz prison camp in World War II and the valuable life lessons that have carried her through life.

Introduced by Dallas Cowboys’ three-time Super Bowl Champion Chad Hennings, who calls her his adopted grandmother, Dr. Eger shared her wisdom to the hundreds of 5^th through 12^th grade students who were seeing for themselves one of the last survivors of the Nazi prison camps.

“We don’t appreciate what we have until we lose it,” said Dr. Eger. “Even bread is hard for me to throw away because of what I went through.”

In 1944, Dr. Eger’s family was taken captive by the Nazis. Upon arrival to the concentration camp known as Auschwitz, her father was immediately separated from the rest of the family, and they never saw him again. The last words she heard from her mother were, “No one can take from you what you put in your mind.”

Through her life, Dr. Eger said she has learned not to fight or flee, but to flow.

“My enemies, the soldiers in Auschwitz, were the true prisoners, not me,” she said.

“Anger gives power to someone else,” she added. “We all have the power to be warm and loving or cold and stiff.”

As a teenage ballerina, Edie even danced in Auschwitz for the “Angel of Death,” Dr. Josef Mengele. She did indeed see death, disease, and destruction every day for a year in that camp. She said that even when they showered, they did not know if gas or water would spray from the nozzles.

“Throughout the experience, I changed hatred to pity,” she said. “If I hated today, I would still be a prisoner.”

Dr. Eger, who knew Corrie ten Boom of the “Hiding Place,” told students that the love of Jesus is unconditional.

“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them,’” she said. “To be Christ-like and to forgive is to be free!”

Now as a clinical psychologist, Dr. Eger helps others face their fear, accept adversity, and use it to their advantage.

She encouraged students to think about what they think about and to be pay attention to what they pay attention to.

“The only thing we have is the present,” she said. “In class, be there 100 percent with your teacher.”

She emboldened students to do well in school, saying that if they did, many doors will open to them.

“If you look at your birth certificate, you are not going to read that life is easy or that there is certainty or a guarantee, but there is probability,” she said.

She now looks back and calls Auschwitz her schoolroom, and she never stopped believing that God was with her during her imprisonment. As the war ended, guards mistook her for dead and tossed her body into a mass grave. An American GI saw her hand move and realized she was not dead yet. She weighed only 40 pounds and had a broken back, but she had survived.

When Dr. Eger came to America, she was penniless, not even having the $6 to get off the boat.

“Yet I had no time to be a victim,” she said. “Remember, do not set up camp in the valley of death. You move through it.”

She told students that it is OK to be disappointed but not discouraged.

“No one can replace you,” she said. “You are unique – God only made one you!

“Jesus said to love others as you love yourself. I tell myself ‘I am beautiful!’ We are no less or greater than anyone else. We are all special.”

Mr. Hennings, in his introduction, told students he met Dr. Eger when she spoke at Wingmen, an organization whose mission is to bring men closer to Christ.

He said that after his retirement from the Air Force and then the Cowboys, he struggled with his identify and purpose in life.

He said he was greatly helped by reading a book from another Auschwitz survivor, Victor Frankl, who wrote “Man’s Search for Meaning.” Mr. Hennings announced to students that Dr. Eger is writing a book much like it, a female version of Frankl’s book, to be released later this year.

Mike Hogg, a Liberty administrator who had a large part in bringing Dr. Eger to Liberty, said he greatly admires Dr. Eger, saying that even with losing her parents and experiencing illness and starvation, she has taken her pain and used it for good.

Campus Pastor Chris Searcy also shared with students the profound impact this time with Dr. Eger could have on their lives.

He said, “These moments are going to be what you remember and talk about with your children someday when you become parents.”

After Dr. Eger’s inspiring message, she took time to visit with individual students, hugging them and encouraging them, as they came to meet a woman who had endured so much and now helps so many.

Liberty students at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School

A group of 20 Liberty Christian students traveled to The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas on March 25 and participated in a Cadaver Lab with Dr. Justin Northeim, an ER doctor at Baylor Medical in Grapevine, and Russell King, an EMS flight nurse.

Dr. Northeim is also the Medical Director for Grapevine Fire and Rescue, and his EMS paramedics and nurses use the cadavers to learn procedures and stay current in their certifications.

“We were blessed to have the opportunity to come and learn from these cadavers with our Anatomy and Physiology and Advanced Placement Biology students through dissection,” said teacher Jamie Michalek.

The Willed Body Program at UT Southwestern allows people to donate their bodies upon death so that the living can learn from them.

“Many people interested in the medical field do not have this opportunity until they are in their first year of medical school,” said Mrs. Michalek. “We have been extremely blessed to allow our juniors and seniors this opportunity to have a small glimpse of what they will study in medical school.

“Many of the students in the past who have participated in this lab have chosen to go into the medical field and dedicate their lives to the health of others.”

Best in Show at Liberty: Emma Curtis with her painting at the Emily Fowler reception

To integrate art and their study of Texas history this year, Liberty Christian 4^th grade students created in art class last semester paintings of Texas native plants as a part of the annual Texas Native Plant Art Exhibition.

Approximately 150 student paintings from participating schools including Liberty are on display at Denton’s Emily Fowler Central Library and the South Branch Library. Liberty students’ artwork is featured at Emily Fowler. On Saturday, April 18, the artwork will be on display at the Denton Redbud Festival.

An Appreciation Reception for students, teachers, and parents was held at Emily Fowler on March 24.

Congratulations to Emma Curtis’ painting that was chosen Best in Show at Liberty. First, second, and third place winners from each classroom were also chosen.

• In Mrs. Cook’s class, Emma Curtis won first, Samantha Garza won second, and Lauren Ullrich won third.
• In Mrs. Himel’s class, Sam DeWall won first, Amelia Wallis won second, and Mackenzie O’Rourke won third.
• In Mrs. Mahowald’s class, Gigi Marye won first, Chris Barcroft won second, and Gracie Monasmith won third.
• In Mrs. Newman’s class, Savanna Morris won first, Molly Monschke won second, and Cole Duininck won third.
• In Mrs. Otto’s class, Haley Hughes won first, Sydney Reardon won second, and Savannah Dunbar won third.

Award-winning pieces and additional ones from each class were featured during the exhibition.

Sponsors of the Native Plant Art Exhibition include the Trinity Forks Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas, the Elm Fork Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist, and Texas Woman’s University College of Arts and Sciences.

The purpose of the exhibition is to raise awareness and educate students about the importance of native plants and their role in conservation.

Guidelines for the paintings:

• Artwork should accurately depict a Texas native plant. The plant may be a flower, grass, shrub, vine, or tree.
• A Wildflowers of Texas poster and Native American Seed Catalog were provided to suggest plants for students to paint.
• The preferred medium for paintings was watercolor. Originality was encouraged so art teachers may vary the techniques used.

Judging criteria:

• Artwork was judged by members of the Trinity Forks Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas and volunteers of the Elm Fork Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist. Texas Woman’s University art students assisted.
• Paintings were evaluated mainly on the accurate portrayal of the plant depicted.
• The overall appearance of the painting including the use of color, space, balance, and creativity was considered.
• Every student participating will receive a certificate of accomplishment.

Liberty’s Lower School art teacher Ms. Charlotte Roland invited all of the fourth grade families to the exhibition and reception and congratulated all of her 4^th grade art students.

Students in band celebrate their fourth straight win at state!

Liberty Christian’s band won the state championship for the fourth year in a row from the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) on March 26 and 27 at Mary Hardin-Baylor.

“There was a very high expectation we placed on ourselves,” said Scott Himel, Band Director and Fine Arts Teacher of the Year. “Our senior class especially wanted to earn the very rare distinction of winning state every year of their four-year high school career at Liberty.”

Mr. Himel said winning state this year impacted each student differently.

“For some students, this fourth straight win was the perfect way to end their high school band career,” he said. “To others, this championship has inspired a deep rooted desire to establish a legacy, maintaining excellence and maturing our program as we grow from our success.”

The band competed with 14 soloists, 19 small groups, a jazz band, concert band, and symphonic band, in addition to two sight reading contests.

Mr. Himel said his students begin preparing for state in early summer by choosing their music selections, along with band officer input.

“During the school year, a culture of student leadership is supported by the directors to inspire students to learn to work together and be accountable to each other through our musical curriculum and goals,” he said. “This culture also includes student-led Bible studies, homework groups, and social events that all work together to build our band family.”

During TAPPS, competition events incorporated performing in large ensembles as well as soloists and small groups without the aid of a director. This year, each student had the opportunity to perform in a maximum of five events and most did, averaging 12 songs per student throughout the competition day.

“I am so proud of our students and my fellow band directors Brad Mezei, John Racina, and Jason Umbach,” said Mr. Himel. “It’s almost surreal to realize everything we are accomplishing, and it is a privilege for me to be a part of it and watch our band members grow together and bond as a family. It is truly amazing to see.

“Winning the state title is also an exciting and humbling honor that is a public confirmation of everything I see in our students’ character and commitment to each other.”

A huge congratulations the following students:

Officers

Drum Major – Tiffany Lu

President – Anna Hudelson

Drum Captain – Elijah Parr

Woodwind Captain – Mary Jane Stidham

Brass Captain – Trevor Dondrea

String Captain – Rachel Lorentz

Flute

Kennedy Collins

Zhendong Qian

Clarinet

Cole Collins

Jonathan Couch

Parker Smith

Bass Clarinet

Ashley Harrison

Alto Sax

Chris Howells

Anna Hudelson

Tiffany Lu

Antoine Michels

John Munera

Payge Perdue

Tenor Sax

Mary Jane Stidham

Tyler Barnes

Baritone Sax

Nicole Boudreaux

Trumpet

Harrison Chapman

Tyler Clifford

Trevor Dondrea

Tyler Dondrea

Isaac Ilami

Jonte Normand

Trombone

Michael Becker

Silas Hill

Jason O’Connor

Tuba

Brayden Dragoo

Jonathan Palmer

Drums

Natalie Belokin

Matthew Honeycutt

Kelsey Hovanetz

Dillon Lewis

Tiffany Lu

Cameron Meath

Elijah Parr

Cheryl Shaffer

Kevin Wissink

Mack Wright

Mary Wright

Bass Guitar

Rachel Lorentz

Cello

Joonyeong Choi

4×200 champions: Dakota Sanchez, Drew Hunnicutt, Givon Washington, and Justus Lee

The Liberty Christian Warriors and Lady Warriors were well represented at the 88^th Nike Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at The University of Texas in Austin March 27 and 28. This meet is the second largest of its kind in the United States with more than 15,000 spectators and was the first time Liberty students competed there against Division 1 athletes from UIL schools in class 4A and below.

In the boys 4x200m relay, the Liberty Christian runners were named champions at the meet and included students Drew Hunnicutt, Justus Lee, Dakota Sanchez, and Givon Washington.

“We went into the meet with the goal of qualifying for the finals in each race,” said Coach Trent Vest. “Once we achieved that, we knew we had an opportunity to compete for a medal.”

In the boys 4x100m relay, students were named runners-up and included Justus Lee, Dakota Sanchez, Ryan Teague, and Givon Washington.

“Our athletes did a great job preparing themselves to run at the highest level they could, given the amount of time we missed due to weather and Spring Break,” Coach Vest added.

In the 4x400m relay, runners were fifth place finishers and included Drew Hunnicutt, Tanner Moseley, Ryan Teague, and Givon Washington.

“I was very proud to see how our boys went out and competed on such a large stage and against some of the best runners in the state,” Coach Vest said. “This meet gave us the confidence to step on the track and compete with anyone.”

For the third straight year, Liberty Christian students were named state champions in Academic and Speech for the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS).

“Our students continually amaze me with their hard work, determination, and tenacity,” said Misty Baptiste, Fine Arts Department Chair and Academic Competition Director.

The competition spread over four days – three events were held March 20–21 in Temple, and the other 16 were held on Monday and Tuesday, March 23–24 in Waco.

“With 19 different contests in the Academic and Speech State Competition, our students supported each other and did whatever they could to encourage one another,” Ms. Baptiste said.

If students advanced to the finals, speaking contestants performed their pieces three times, in the preliminaries, semifinals, and finals.

“In addition to growing in their academic and speaking careers, students are learning in this competition how to follow rules and directions for the very specific contests, as well as performing well under pressure, learning the value of tenacity and hard work, and earning the reward of completing a task to the very end,” Ms. Baptiste said.

“Our students continually show they are willing to work hard to achieve a goal that is set in front of them,” she added. “As a teacher, it is always a proud moment to see that realization come to light.”

Ms. Baptiste also wanted to thank and appreciate the teachers who prepared these students throughout the year for this state competition: Ms. Lindsay Charles, Mr. Stephen Cook, Mrs. Kim Earley, Mrs. Kathy Hall, Mr. Chase Hardin, Mrs. Marta Harrington, Mr. Kirk Holland, Mr. Mike Lettau, Mrs. Dawn Lobbes, Mrs. Jamie Michalek, Mrs. Vicki Morgan, Mrs. Ruthie Quam, Mrs. Sharon Ramsey, Mrs. Rhonda Smith, Mrs. Cynthia Vick, and Mrs. Shelley Williams.

Congratulations to these individual student winners!

Science – students tested over biology, chemistry, and physics concepts – State Champion, Neiman Walker; Seventh place, Tiffany Lu

Persuasive Speaking – students given 30 minutes to prepare a speech over current events, national or international – Eighth place, Alex Peters

Prose Interpretation – students read a short excerpt of a story of their choice – State Champion, Sarai Harding; Eighth place, Nathan Griffin

Yearbook – Sixth place

Spelling – students given 1,500 words to study – Fourth place, Marissa Finch; Seventh place, Tiffany Lu

Number Sense – a 10-minute mental math test – State Champion, Kenneth Wong; Fourth place, Guanhua Tao

Calculator – students given advanced math problems to answer with the help of a calculator – Four-Time State Champion, Austin Horton; Sixth place, Drew Hunnicutt

Advanced Math – problems from Algebra 1 to Calculus are tested – Second place, Kenneth Wong; Fourth place, Linda Wang

Solo Acting – students perform a monologue – State Champion, Alex Peters; Second place, Sarai Harding

Literary Criticism – students tested over literary history and terms, and are assigned reading material for the year – State Champion, Mary Jane Stidham; Seventh place, Rachel Lorentz

Duet Acting – a duet scene performed – State Champions – Emily Lentz and Shannon Russell; Third place, Nathan Griffin and Cole Porter; Sixth place, Jason Clemons and Alex Peters

Poetry Interpretation – students read poetry pieces of their choice – Second place, Sarai Harding; Third place, Cole Porter; Eighth place, Darbi Deck

Original Oratory – students write and memorize a speech over the topic of their choice – Eighth place, Darbi Deck

Math – students tested over Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry – Fifth place, Dalton Weed; Sixth place, Caleb Allison

Artwork from student Grace Sitzes, State Champion in Communication Design

For the second time in three years, Liberty Christian students won first place at the state art competition of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS).

“I am so proud of how our students came together as a team and encouraged each other,” said art teacher Joanna Mann. “At every stage, our teachers are helping students grow artistically by giving them the fundamental skills to build on to succeed at each level.”

Artwork from student Becca Lytle, State Champion in Ceramics

Students traveled to the Waco Convention Center on Monday, March 23 at the TAPPS 5A state art championship and competed against more than 20 other schools.

“During the year, our students learned how to persevere when creating their artwork, giving it the time and expertise each piece needed to make it competition quality,” Mrs. Mann added.

Artwork from student Callee Vander Stoep, State Champion in Sculpture

Students competed in many categories: Drawing – Black and White; Drawing – Color; Communication Design; Computer Rendered Art; Painting; Printmaking/2D Mixed Media; Photography – Black and White; Photography – Color; Sculpture and Relief; Applied Design, Fashion, and Jewelry; Pottery, Ceramics, and Plastic Arts;  Senior Portfolio; On-Site Drawing; Seek and Sketch – Black and White; Seek and Sketch – Color; and a new category, Film.

Congratulations to all of Liberty’s art students for the state win!

Individual Winners

Alexa Suarez, State Champion in Drawing – Color

Art State Champions:

Madeleine McMillan, Drawing – Black and White

Alexa Suarez, Drawing – Color

Grace Sitzes, Communication Design

Callee Vander Stoep, Sculpture

Becca Lytle, Ceramics

Second place:

Linda Wang, Drawing – Black and White

Linda Wang, Drawing – Color

Maddie Ramirez, Senior Portfolio

Dani Maniguet, Seek and Sketch – Black and White

Artwork from student Madeleine McMillan, State Champion in Drawing – Black and White

Third place:

Grace Sitzes, Communication Design

Dani Maniguet, Computer Rendered Art

Anna Hudelson, Art History

Tyler Barnes, Seek and Sketch – Color

Fourth place:

Dani Maniguet, Computer Rendered Art

Dara Fuller, Sculpture

Hannah Cullum, Senior Portfolio

Dara Fuller, Art History

Alexa Suarez, Seek and Sketch – Color

Additional Place Winners:

Payton Elsey, Photography – Color, Fifth place

Maddy Collins, Painting, Sixth place

Glory Holland, Mixed Media and Printmaking, Sixth place

Jamie Couch, Ceramics, Sixth place

McKenzie Manning, Mixed Media and Printmaking, Seventh place

Dara Fuller, Ceramics, Seventh place

Paige Jeary, Senior Portfolio, Seventh place

Maddie Ramirez, On-Site Drawing, Seventh place

Jack Kinkelaar, Senior Portfolio, Eighth place

Dylan Hernandez, Film, Honorable Mention

Jack Kinkelaar, Seek and Sketch – Black and White, Honorable Mention

Grace Sitzes, On-Site Drawing, Honorable Mention

Michael Clarke, Photography – Black and White, Honorable Mention

Science Olympiad team ready to compete

Liberty Christian Middle and Upper School students competed at the Regional Science Olympiad at North Lake College in Irving on March 21.

“Our students did a super job,” said Heather Lytle, Science Department Chair. “Nothing makes coaches prouder than the effort and attitudes of their team.”

Kelsey Nordlund and Carly Howard

The Science Olympiad is an international nonprofit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science, and providing recognition for outstanding achievement. Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of team events, which students prepare for during the year. These challenging and motivational events are balanced between the various science disciplines of biology, earth science, chemistry, physics and technology, and between knowledge of science concepts, process skills, and science applications.

Ryan Nordlund

Congratulations to these students!

Middle School – Division B

Third place in Elastic Launched Glider – Carly Howard and Kelsey Nordlund

Second place in Fossils – Carly Howard and Lilly Smith

First place in Triple E (Extinct, Endangered, Exotic) – Ashley Howard and Kelsey Nordlund

Third place in BioProcess Lab – Ashley Howard and Carly Howard

Third place in Crime Busters – Mattie Goff and April Smith

Alex Davis and Mattie Goff

Fourth place in Wheeled Vehicle – Nathan Kosub and Brady Martin

Third place in Write It, Do It – Ashley Howard and April Smith

First place in Meteorology – Alex Davis and Kelsey Nordlund

Second place in Texas Wildflowers – Mattie Goff and April Smith

Upper School – Division C

Brady Martin

Second place in We’ve Got Your Number – Michael Becker and Kenneth Wong

First place in Disease Detectives – Brian O’Connor and Kenneth Wong

Fourth place in Chemistry Lab – Michael Becker and Tiffany Lu

Fourth place in Game On – Brian O’Connor and Kenneth Wong

Third place in Fermi Questions – Michael Becker and Sam Kim

Third place in Green Generation – Todd Deetjen

First place in Science Word – Tiffany Lu and Kenneth Wong

Kenneth Wong

Sam Kim

Todd Deetjen