See you at our 25^th Annual Benefit and Live Auction tonight!  Remember to check out the live auction packages on our website ahead of time.

Congratulations to Director Chad Parker and the High School Jazz Band on their excellent showing at this year's Jazz Championships on Tuesday, April 10th!  The beauty and acoustics of the newly-remodeled Veteran's Auditorium showcased the DMC Jazz Band extremely well.  All of the many soloists were great, the sections and overall band created toe-tapping experiences, and Mr. Parker is to be commended for putting such a fine ensemble in front of this audience as a representative of the school and Christ!  The band finished 9^th of 15 bands performing from the over 100 2A bands who could have qualified for the championships! Our DMC band received a well-earned standing ovation at the conclusion of their wonderful program.  Keep up the great work, Jazz Band!

Des Moines Christian's 2012 Elementary Baseball Clinic
Hosted by Assistant Coach Luscombe, Varsity Head Coach Derek Flack,
and the High School Boys Baseball Team
Who: K-6
When: April 23, 24, and 25 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) After School
(Students will meet in the Gymnasium under their respective grade level signs.)
Practice will move outside from 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Cost: $1.00( Cash only, please)
Please bring baseball glove, hat, sweatpants and top, and tennis shoes.

Attention juniors:  The Bankers Trust Youth Board is looking for students to serve on their board.  If you are interested in more information about this opportunity, see Mrs. Kostek.

April 2012 Teacher Resources

I was so grateful for the leadership of the sixth graders and their teachers - Jahna Duda, Kathy Wagner, and Roxanne Wilson - during Elementary Spiritual Emphasis Week!  Those students enriched our lives through the great and meaningful variety of chapel experiences on Monday through Thursday of Holy Week and the Monday following Easter Sunday!  Very clearly, they were well prepared for each of the chapels.  They no doubt came to understand how much effort and time is necessary to deliver first-rate programs like these.  And they presented 5 programs!  I loved the instrumental preludes, praying, singing, skits, props, posters, Scripture memorization, and all of Cortney Eklund's messages!  Everything fit together so well as five parts to a whole.  The sixth graders achieved great clarity in "preaching" the Gospel message in a language understood by children and adults alike in the chapel audiences.  I wish more people could have experienced their high-quality chapels.  These sixth graders were mature when they started this school year, and they have matured so much throughout this year.  I am proud of them for your leadership and the positive spiritual impact they have had on the school as a whole!  If you would like to read my summary of their final chapel, "Jesus, Others, and You!" please click here

The Secondary theme for 2011-2012 school year is "Worldview." More specifically, we are attempting to help junior high and high school students develop a BIBLICAL worldview about major cultural issues. During the Secondary Chapel on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, the students and staff were blessed with biblical perspectives on politics by Bob VanderPlaats, Chief Executive Officer of the Family Leader. If you would like to read my summary notes of Mr. VanderPlaats' chapel message, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T!" please click here.

Athletes in Action

2012 Summer Basketball Camp

• June 5-7, 2012
• 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• Westchester Evangelical Free Church
• 4919 Aurora Avenue
• Des Moines
• $65
• $5 discount available for each camper when registering with a sibling or with four other campers!
• For boys and girls entering Grades 1-5 in 2012-2013
• Learn to excel in shooting, passing, rebounding, defense, dribbling, and countless other skills.
• Develop the confidence and skills needed to enhance your abilities as a more effective player.
• Campers will be divided by age and skill level.
• Instruction will be provided by former Drake stand-out Julie Rittgers Sladek and her husband, Craig Sladek. Both have done numerous camps throughout the world.
• Questions should be directed to 309-1269, 937-902-9435, or craig.sladek@athletesinaction.org.

JOIN THE BE THE MATCH DONOR DRIVE!  On Friday, April 20th, from 3:00-8:00 p.m., at Des Moines Christian, we will have the opportunity to "BE THE MATCH" for someone through the bone marrow donation registry.  To join, you only need to be between the ages of 18-60, be willing to donate to any patient in need, and meet the health guidelines.  The test is as easy as a swab of your mouth with a Q-tip.  Thousands of patients needing a bone marrow/stem cell transplant depend on BE THE MATCH registry to find a donor who can give them a second chance at life.  You have the power to help save a life.  Please contact Brenda Van Heukelom at 276-0298 or bvanheuk@gmail.com,  if you would like to help volunteer at the event (1-hour stations), make a donation ($100/kit but any amount helps) , or have questions.  Bring your photo I.D. and saliva!  See you there!  STRENGTH t-shirts (Philippians 4:13) will be sold in adult and child sizes for $10 -- cash or checks accepted.  Proceeds go to Be The Match.

In a nearby school (which will be remain nameless, but which is NOT Des Moines Christian), an elementary student (who will remain nameless) asked to see the school nurse (who will remain nameless), so the student's teacher (who will remain nameless) sent the student to the office with the following notation of the student's analysis of her health needs: "Brain feels warm when she thinks." That's my kind of student! All of the cylinders were firing at 100%! In this student's mind - pun intended-her brain was apparently warming to the point of explosion! The nurse wrote that the student's body temperature was 98.4, and she was sent back to class! I can't make this stuff up! Truth is always more interesting than fiction!