Ten current and recently graduated students at Bakersfield Christian High School earned the designation of AP Scholar and one earned the award of AP Scholar with Distinction by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program (AP) Exams.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school, and to receive college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. About 18 percent of the more than 1.4 million high school students in more than 16,000 secondary schools worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to merit the recognition of AP Scholar.

BCHS students earning the AP Scholar Award are McKenzie Camp, Aaron Cooke, Megan Eas-tin, Garrett Johnson, Arim Kwak, Jack Pandol, Moriah Starzer, Tif-fany Tjaarda and Ryan Underhill. Student Anna Czech earned the title AP Scholar with Distinction.

Students took the AP Exams last May after completing challenging college-level courses at BCHS.

Bakersfield Christian High School12775 Stockdale HighwayBakersfield, CA 93314

It is the mission of Bakersfield Christian High School to prepare students for excellence in mind, body and spirit. In a variety of ways, BCHS students continue to demonstrate the achievement of that mission. The list below is a sample of the many successes our students have realized in the past semester. As you read through this impressive list, you come to understand that BCHS students hold their own amid larger local schools and against formidable opponents in many areas.

Applause

Virtual Enterprise class took first place at the San Francisco Virtual Enterprise Trade Fair for best video commercial. They also received a third place award at the Kern County Virtual Enterprise Trade Fair.

See Applause on page 2

TODAYVolume 2 • Fall/Winter 2007

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit 1199

Bakersfield, CA

See Dedication on page 2

BAKERSFIELD CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

A Bakersfield Christian High School Community Publication

With a loud count-off of, “One … two … three …” Mayor Harvey Hall cut the

wide, red ribbon stretched across the entryway of the brand new Bakersfield Christian High School Library/Media Center, officially opening the facility to students and the community.

The Mayor declared the building open for business for those people attending the BCHS dedication of the new structure.

“I’m here in recognition of this state-of-the-art-facility,” the Mayor told audience members just moments before. “The library contains over 6,600 resources, and the building boasts seven new classrooms, a multi media center and a high-tech center that will help fulfill BCHS’s commitment to academic excellence.”

The Mayor offered praise to the friends and employees of BCHS.

Congratulations to the BCHS Football team who has found success in the South Sequoia

League with a 8-2 season record and are moving on to Division 5 Playoffs.

Bakersfield Christian High School has received a six-year dual accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Association of Christian School International (ACSI). The six-year accreditation, which is the maximum award, is an official declaration that BCHS’s academic standards and student processes meet all the requirements expected of schools throughout the western region of the United States.

New BCHS building officially open for business

See Accreditation on page 2

Successful review results in six-year dual accreditation

Bakersfield Mayor Hall (center) gives a congratulatory handshake to BCHS President/Chief Administrator Dan Cole as a team of school staff members, community leaders, school board members and students look on in celebration of the Library/Media Center dedication.

BCHS students (l-r) Demmi Nunn, Jacob Ogden and Brenna Bibbs offer tempting treats to Kathy Barreto at the dedication ceremony.

“I commend all of you for what you give to the school,” he said.

The BCHS Library/Media Center is the latest structure in the school’s master plan for an exceptional Christian educational experience for area young people, according to Dan Cole, BCHS President/Chief Administrator.

“This building represents a solemn statement of commitment to academic excellence,” Cole said. “We also wanted to create transitional facilities as we develop our fine arts program. This building has a venue for a stage productions, recitals, drama programs and band concerts.”

Cole said one of the especially notable features of the new building is the Smart Lab where students “see that the

computer is used for more than word processing.” Cole noted that the lab allows students to explore how computer technology is put to use in industry and the marketplace.

“We are really excited about the career component which exposes young people to various careers,” Cole said. “For those who have a propensity for careers in medical science, architecture and engineering, there are components to help them become more passionate about that. God will use these facilities to build long-term goals for students in these areas.”

Builder Darrell Ward called the facility “the hub of the campus.”

“We had a goal in our design,” Ward revealed. “When we built the gym, the size of the structure spoke to BCHS’s commitment to athletics. Later, when we designed the Library/Media Center,

When some students are bored, they go to the movie theater, play video games or watch television.

Bretley Roche isn’t like most stu-dents. Her answer to boredom was sim-ple. She wrote and published a novel.

This Bakersfield Christian High School Independent Academic Program (IAP) student was tired of the hours and hours of manual labor that was constituting most of her summer in 2006. She and a friend were working as fence painters on a large ranch near their homes. After four to five hours of painting fences each day in the hot sun, Roche and her friend, California State University Bakersfield student Sarah Haymond, were looking for a diversion.

Writing a novel seemed to be the perfect answer.

The self-published fiction work, “The Sound of War,” is set against the backdrop of the American Revolutionary War. It tells the tale of six young men and one young woman who must trans-port a message critical to the war effort.

Roche and Haymond are planning to work as missionaries, not writers, when they complete their education. Even so, writing was something they both en-joyed. They’d written many short stories together, but had never tackled a truly long piece of writing until deciding to create this story of strife, freedom and love for one’s country.

Roche and Haymond opened the book with a series of quotations. One quote by Charles Finney, a post Revolutionary War Presbyterian minister who motivated others with his passion for protecting America’s hard won freedom, is an ac-curate indicator of the novel’s tone.

Finney said, “God cannot support this free and blessed country unless Christians take a stand for what is right. They must vote for honest leaders and do their duty to their country as a part of their duty to God.”

Student coauthors novel

2 • FALL/WINTER 2007 BCHS Today

BCHS student Willie Rivera receives the Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Outstanding Student of the Year Award from Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall. Willie was honored in April in recognition of his dedicated service to community improvement and beautification at the annual Keep Bakersfield Beautiful clean-up event.

Applause, from page 1

we were making a statement that academics are important.”

“I’ve been involved in every building on campus,” Ward noted and it’s a blessing to see a vision come true. It’s an honor to be part of it. It’s humbling.”

Other speakers during the evening dedication echoed those sentiments.

“This building is here because of so many people who said, ‘Here I am, Lord. Send me,’” Alan Larsen, BCHS chairman of the board, told the audience. “I’m just blown away by all that you’ve accomplished.”

Bakersfield City Councilwoman Jacquie Sullivan, representing Ward 6, offered her praise of the school’s far-reaching impact.

“To give our children a Christian education is so great a gift,” Sullivan said. “These children will be promoting a strong faith. That is what will keep our country strong.”

Dedication, from page 1

Schools reviewed by an accredita-tion team are subject to a visit by a team of educators who look at the school’s records and policies and who interview many faculty, staff, admin-istrators and students. The success-ful accreditation indicates that BCHS is offering a valuable and bona fide education which will prepare students for college and university entrance, according to Marcia Manning, BCHS dean of academics and arts.

“When the accreditation team came, it reviewed every aspect of BCHS. Our school was put under a microscope to see that we achieved a high level of academic standard,” Manning said. “Passing the accreditation process says that we’re meeting a high standard. It’s a seal of approval.”

BCHS’s accreditation represents the following:

• Certification to the public that the school is a trustworthy institution of learning

• Validation of the integrity of a school’s program and student transcripts

• Fostering of improvement of the school’s programs and operations to support student learning

• Assurance to the community that the school’s purposes are appropriate and being accomplished through a viable educational program

• A way to manage change through regu-lar assessment, planning, implement-ing, monitoring and reassessment

• Assistance in establishing its priority areas for improvement as a result of the perpetual accreditation cycle

The accreditation process includes an initial visit by WASC and ACSI representatives, completion by the school of a self-study report, a mid-term review,

Accrediation, from page 1 and a follow-up report by WASC and ACSI.

WASC is one of six regional associations that accredit public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the United States. The Western region covers institutions in California and Hawaii, the territories of Guam, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, the Pacific Basin, and East Asia, and areas of the Pacific and East Asia where American/International schools or colleges may apply to it for service.

ACSI accreditation is recognized at the national level as well as by regional and state accrediting agencies. These programs provide a comprehensive evaluation model for Christian schools.

“I feel blessed at having achieved this goal,” Manning said. “The positive accreditation is acknowledgement of the hard work everyone does at BCHS.”

While the construction is complete, a debt of $1.9 million remains. We are currently, according to Alan Larsen, in the process of eradicating the debt.

“Paying for this building will allow us to move forward on other plans for the campus,” said Larsen.

He told the audience of the plans for a “wall of honor” to recognize those who have participated in making the Library/Media Center a reality.

The wall will acknowledge and commemorate the financial gifts of the many partners who have contributed to the facility’s success.

Larsen said the goal is for the remainder of the debt to be paid off by the end of December. If you’d like to help BCHS reach that goal, contact Karen Dierks at 410-700 ext. 5503.

As we play together, pray together, and worship together, we grow together.

The dedication ceremony began at entryway of the brand new Bakersfield Christian High School Library/Media Center.

HUME RETREAT 2007… Building Community.

BCHS Today FALL/WINTER 2007 • 3

PRO

FILE

S The answer is simple for any math student of Paul Sadowsky at Bakersfield Christian High School. After just three years of teaching at BCHS, Sadowsky has built a reputation as a teacher who knows his stuff and loves to share that knowledge with students.

Sadowsky said he has a love for students and a strong desire to see them significantly improve their math ability.

“I enjoy seeing the success students have and am encouraged by the possibilities that a stronger math background will give these students as they transition to college and ultimately careers,” Sadowsky explained.

Sadowsky is the modern day mathematical pied piper. Students flock to him before and after school and at lunchtime to get help with their math problems. It’s all a part of the plan to help students achieve their best, according to this dedicated teacher.

“All students can be successful with math if they are willing to work hard and ask for help when they do not understand a concept,” Sadowsky said.

His philosophy seems to be working. Just ask senior BCHS student Nathan Vanden Berge.

“He is always willing to stay after school or help at lunch if students have any questions,” said Vanden Berge of his math teacher. “Mr. Sadowsky makes me enjoy math and think at a higher level.”

Sadowsky teaches two Geometry

classes, three Pre-calculus classes and one AP Calculus class. His enjoyment of math is borne out in his educational background. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California (USC) with a bachelor of science degree in biomedical/electrical engineering. He remained at USC to earn a master’s of science degree in biomedical engineering.

Sadowsky worked for three years as a computer programmer and systems engineer for a defense contractor on a mobile imagery intelligence system for the United States Army. He also served for three years as a substitute teacher for the Kern High School District. His teaching experience also includes a stint as a teaching assistant for a Business Calculus class and a Calculus II class at USC.

That wonderful experience has paid off for BCHS students.

“Mr. Sadowsky encourages all of his students to excel in math and has allowed me to go farther in math education than I ever expected,” admitted Breanna Wind, a student in her

junior year at Bakersfield Christian High School. “He is a very friendly guy, and it’s obvious that he cares about his students and their success.”

Wind said Sadowsky has strong teaching and motivational skills and that he creates the right environment for students to excel.

“Mr. Sadowsky has a great atmosphere in his classroom. His lessons

have the students serious about their education, yet the atmosphere is still very welcoming.”

One of this teacher’s strengths is his devotion to his students, according to David Meek, Bakersfield Christian High School principal.

“One of the greatest things about Mr. Sadowsky is his humility and heart,” Meek said. “At any time of the day, he is in his room working on lesson plans or sitting with students.”

Student Breanna Wind concurred.“Mr. Sadowsky wants all of his

students to succeed and does all he can to help them achieve success.”

Paul SadowskyBCHS Math Teacher

Question: Where do you find a teacher who cares about students, loves his subject, and gives it all he’s got every school day?

Students elected Mr. Sadowsky to “Kiss the Cow” for a school fundraiser. He is very respected for his “smarts” and dedication.

BCHS’s commitment to excellence shines in the success of our students. Following is a list of some of the colleges and universities our students have been accepted to in recent years along with a couple of excerpts from interviews with the class of 2007.

Moriah StarzerBCHS Class of 2007College: Colorado School of MinesMajor: Petroleum Engineering

“I’m well rounded because Petroleum Engineering combines so many different aspects of engineering. Bakersfield Christian High School made me a well-rounded student. Because of its small size, I could be involved in sports, student leadership, take the classes I wanted to and get lots of experience.”

“In my senior year at BCHS, I took Mr. Martin’s Contemporary Social Issues Class. Knowing what I believe and why I believe it is really going to help me to hold fast with the Christian values I’ve grown up with. I would have gone to BCHS for the sole reason of the Christian education. It’s the basis of our lives… how we live our lives. That’s the most important thing I’m taking with me from BCHS onto college and into life.”

Mckenzie CampBCHS Class of 2007College: Eastman School of MusicMajor: Applied Music/Percussion Performance

“Scott Cross, the band director at BCHS and my private teacher, Gary Scudder at Stockdale Christian, each had a big impact on me. Now I’m seeing the benefits. All these things

throughout my life have come together.”

“BCHS has a really great music program and is very strong academically, too. Eastman School of Music is a great music school, but you also have to have strong academic scores to get in. Doing well at BCHS is one of the reasons Eastman accepted me, and I got a scholarship.”

Air Force AcademyAmerican UniversityArizona StateAzusa Pacific UniversityBaylor UniversityBethany CollegeBiola UniversityBoston ConservatoryBoston UniversityCal Poly PomonaCal Poly San Luis ObispoCalifornia Baptist

UniversityCalifornia Lutheran

UniversityCalvary Bible CollegeCarnegie Mellon University

Boston CollegeCase Western Reserve

UniversityCedarville UniversityChapman UniversityChico StateColorado Christian

University Colorado School of MinesColorado StateConcordia UniversityCSU BakersfieldCSU Channel IslandsCSU FresnoCSU FullertonCSU Long BeachCSU NorthridgeCSU San Diego CSU San FranciscoCSU San Jose Dordt CollegeEastman School of MusicEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical

UniversityFresno Pacific UniversityGardener-Webb UniversityGreenville CollegeHarvey MuddIndiana UniversityKasturba Medical College,

ManipalKings College in New York

CityLoma Linda UniversityLoyola MarymountMcPherson CollegeMichigan TechMontana State UniversityMoody Bible InstituteNew York UniversityNorthern Arizona

University

Pace UniversityPatrick HenryPepperdine UniversityPoint Loma Nazarene

CollegePrinceton UniversityProvidence CollegeRedlands UniversityRutgers UniversitySan Angelo StateSan Francisco

ConservatorySimpson UniversitySonoma StateSouthern Methodist

UniversitySouthern Nazarene

UniversitySouthern Oregon

UniversitySouthwestern UniversityStanford UniversityTexas A & MTexas Christian UniversityThe CitadelThe Julliard SchoolTulane UniversityUC BerkleyUC DavisUC IrvineUC Los AngelesUC MercedUC RiversideUC San DiegoUC Santa BarbaraUniversity of AntiguaUniversity of Chicago,

BarnardUniversity of ColoradoUniversity of HawaiiUniversity of IdahoUniversity of

Massachusetts Dartmouth

University of Michigan Ann Arbor

University of Notre DameUniversity of PhoenixUniversity of San FranciscoUniversity of Southern

CaliforniaUniversity of Washington,

SeattleVanguard UniversityWashington and Lee

UniversityWest Pointe AcademyWestmont CollegeWhitworth College

BCHS jumpstarts students on career quests

Thank you to all of our volunteers and sponsors whose giving spirit helped us reach our goals through these successful fundraisers.

4th Annual Eagle Golf ClassicOctober 15, 2007Seven Oaks Country Club

2nd BCHS Ag AuctionOctober 31, 2007Dairymen’s Beef Auction

OPEN HOUSE

the freedom to go in all those directions.”People at Bakersfield Christian High

School also had an impact on Schmidt.“Every teacher I had there actually cared

about me,” Schmidt said. “I felt like they were interested in my wellbeing spiritually, physically and mentally. It’s a rare find. There was an environment of love that is unique to BCHS.”

Schmidt said his education at BCHS opened his mind to think analytically and look at things from other perspectives. It’s the perfect skill for working with highly cre-ative animators whose standard is to look at the world from a very different point of view.

“I look at my opportunity to go to BCHS as a blessing,” Schmidt added. A lot of what I was learning opened my eyes. It gave me a chance to do something I wouldn’t have done if I’d gone to a public high school. If had to talk to a parent, and their child was even remotely interested in BCHS, I’d urge them to choose Bakersfield Christian High School.”

Schmidt said his own parents are part of the blessing that has led him to his present career and fortunate circumstances.

“I don’t think I can underestimate the importance of my family, who helped me get where I am,” Schmidt concluded. “They are very supportive of everything I’m doing. I don’t know where I’d be without them.”

F laming buildings, blowing up bridges, bringing a rushing flood under control… it’s all in a day’s work for

Bakersfield Christian High School alumnus Jon Eric Schmidt.

4 • FALL/WINTER 2007 BCHS Today

12775 Stockdale Highway

Bakersfield, CA 93314

(661) 410-7000

Fax (661) 410-7007

www.BakersfieldChristian.com

BCHS Leadership Team

Daniel H. ColePresident / Chief Administrator

Douglas S. Barnett Jr.Athletic Director

Debbie A. CampDirector of Admissions

Karen DierksAdvancement Director

Susan L. Hemme CPAChief Business Officer

Marcia ManningDean of Academics and Arts

Dave MeekPrincipal

Board Members

Alan Larsen, ChairmanUBS Financial Services

Mel AtkinsonM.D. Atkinson Company

William BolthouseBolthouse Properties

Don Camp Jr.Western Power Products, Inc.

Randy CoulterWest High School

Rayburn S. Dezember

Bryan HauptASU Associates

Julia PelzBCHS Retired

Robert E. SmithSmithTech USA, Inc.

Neil VisserVB Ranch

John WhiteInsect Lore

Alum credits BCHS for opening mind, doors

B C H S A L U M N I U P D A T E S

If you’ve ever had questions about the many wonderful opportunities for students at Bakersfield Christian High School, then the BCHS Open House should be added to your calendar!

Open House is an exciting opportunity to see Bakersfield Christian High School first hand. Open House opportunities are taking place on two different days. The first will be held Sunday, January 27, 2008 from 2-4 p.m. The second Open House takes place eight days later on Monday, February 4 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

On both days, Open House will begin in the BCHS Sports

BCHS alumnus Jon Eric Schmidt is an employee of DreamWorks Animation

SKG.

Attention Alumni: We want to hear from you! BCHS Alumni may share updates and personal achievements with the Alumni community in this newsletter. We invite you to visit our website, www.bakersfieldchristian.com, select the Alumni section and click on “update.”

Charleen DeHoog (2007) is playing Volleyball at UC Santa Barbara. Aaron Cooke (2007) is playing Tennis at Westmont. Bryce Stevens (2007) is playing Football at Greenville College. Audry Field (2007) will play Softball at BC. Blake Leonard and Andrew Rapp (2007) are playing Baseball at Taft.

The class of 2004, the first class to graduate from the new BCHS campus, gather in the special alumni section at the 2007 BCHS Homecoming Game: (l-r)John Hall Wilson,Jake Trotter,Shafin Sitorius,Daniel Stemen,KJ Powell,Laura Barton,Mark Sudenga,Mat Eakleand Jake Duncan (kneeling.)

Schmidt, 25, is effects coordinator for DreamWorks Animation SKG. If that company name sounds familiar, it’s because of its amazing products. Think of animated movies like the Academy Award®-winning Shrek, as well as Shark Tale, Over the Hedge, Antz and the recently-released Bee Movie, starring Jerry Seinfeld and Ms. Zellweger.

As a DreamWorks Animation’s effects coordinator, Schmidt schedules the work of artists, managing their time on the many tasks they have to accomplish to turn a movie idea into reality. Schmidt plans and organizes the myriad weeks of skilled labor to ensure that teams hit their animation goals on time for various sequences in a film. Schmidt’s oversight allows talented animators to create the special effects movie goers have come to expect as part of today’s box office draw.

Schmidt said he is currently working on a movie called Monsters vs. Aliens that will come to theaters in spring 2009.

“We’re supplying all the dust, fire, water, and smoke, like if a bridge collapses or if there is an explosion,” he said. “We work with all the other departments — anima-tion, layout and lighting — to come up with something really spectacular.”

The process of creating an animated ef-fect like fire is complicated, Schmidt noted.

“Our special effects teams support the vision of a movie’s director,” Schmidt ex-plained. “For example, in Shrek the fire is realistic. In Madagascar, however, the fire is cartoonish. We’re developing what the look is going to be like for each film.”

Such creativity and imagination is an everyday occurrence at Schmidt’s job. He’s been employed with DreamWorks Animation for two years, starting his career there as a production assistant on Shrek The Halls, a made-for-TV animated holiday presentation set to air on ABC later this year.

A bachelor’s degree in television produc-tion from Pepperdine University was the credential that caught DreamWork’s atten-tion, but Schmidt credits Bakersfield Chris-tian High School for setting the stage for his entertainment industry future.

“It gave me an advantage and a head start over a lot of my peers,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt said one advantage of going to BCHS was that it opened many doors for him to explore his abilities.

“The best thing that BCHS offered for me was the opportunity to do everything I want-ed to do. I wanted to write for the newspa-per, be on the yearbook staff, participate in student government and play sports. I did all of those things,” Schmidt said. “I don’t think any other high school that I know of would have given me as many opportunities and

Center with a 45-minute orientation followed by campus tours and a visit to various information booths. There will be opportunities to meet teachers and students as well as to receive admissions and financial aid applications. Light refreshments will be served.

Plan now to attend this excellent opportunity to get your questions answered and see our facilities. No RSVP is necessary for Open House.

For additional information, contact the BCHS Admissions Office at (661) 410-7000 extension 5527.

Upcoming event offers look into BCHS for prospective students, parents