Senior Sean Glenn denies the basket

The 2011-2012 boys basketball season was a success in many ways. As a program (9th, JV, and Varsity) the success on the court was near perfect with only three losses all the year.

The Varsity team was lead by a strong group of upperclassmen including seniors Michael Carney, Sean Glenn, Andrew Minor, Robert Hein, Matt Herbers, and Tyler Osborn. They bought into the team concept and led the Lions to conference and district championships with a 22-2 record.

These seniors will be missed by the program and God has great things in store for their lives. All of these young men have trusted Jesus Christ as their savior and will be blessed in their next chapter of life.

All-Conference honor winners include: 1st Team All Conference, 3rd Team All State (Register), 2nd Team All State (INA): Michael Carney; 2nd Team All Conference: Sean Glenn, Jared Jones; Honorable Mention All Conference: Keaton Anfinson and Robert Hein.

Senior Carly Grotenhuis goes for two

The Lions completed their 2011-12 season with an impressive 19-5 record. The girls had a very successful run in post-season play by making it three rounds deep in the tournament.

The girl's style of play was characterized by high intensity pressure defense which led to a high scoring offense that averaged fifty-five points per game.

All-Conference honor winners include: Carly Grotenhuis, 1st team; Annette Bosman, 2nd team; Taylor Dubberke and Halie Behr, Honorable Mention. Carly Grotenhuis was also named to the All-District team and selected to participate in the post-season class 2A All-Star game.

Several of the DMCS girls' basketball records were broken or tied throughout the season. Annette Bosman broke both the single game and season records for rebounding. Halie Behr set new school records in steals per game and steals per season. Carly Grotenhuis tied the current record for most points scored in a single game.

Born to and raised by Godly parents, grandparents and great grandparents who love the Lord, I wanted nothing more than...to seek out and find God as my own personal Lord and Savior.

My growing years were consumed with lots of walks along the creek, through the timbers, moving cattle, sorting hogs, herding sheep, helping work the three generation farm we lived on. As adulthood came, I was mentored, challenged, encouraged, broken, wounded, rejected and then restored. Yet I never forgot the place God started my life...hard working days of the farm.

I was mentored by Mrs. Cindy Waters, a Master Teacher of Mae Carden's Method of Education, who taught me the most important lesson: respect. Miss Carden firmly believed that education was a privilege! Is it rigid? No! Without joy? Most assuredly not! So practically that the imagination and emotions are smothered? Heaven forbid!

Each morning at a Carden School the children shake their teacher's hand upon arriving to school, "Good morning Mrs. Waters how are you today?" The teacher would respond, "I am doing well Nathaniel, how are you today?" Nathaniel would respond "I am well Mrs. Waters, thank you for asking." Then with the child and teacher's hand still clasped in a firm welcoming manner, Mrs. Water's would say, "Nathaniel, please enter our class for the privilege of learning today." He would smile and respond, "Thank you Mrs. Waters." The children, unattended by any other adult, entered the class in a single file line, put away their belongings, politely acknowledged their classmates, quietly, went to their desks and stood, waiting for the last child to enter. They would recite the scripture of the week, pledge to the American flag, Christian flag, and the Bible. A child would lead them in prayer, thanking God for the privilege to learn. This started a wonderful day of respect and learning!

The other important lesson was that children are children. Children are to be respected and to respect. At a Carden school, only children are allowed to attend. Children, not kids. You see, part of teaching children to respect is to respect the child and expect their respect in return. This comes from something as simple as knowing that a child is not a kid... That made sense to me!

Growing up on a farm, I knew kids come from goats, children come from people. On the farm a kid is allowed to break past fences, butt heads, jump off anything it can climb, jump on each other, and have only the constraints the farmer sets in place. Kids bleat until Mama Goat or the farmer attends to them, are only excited to see the farmer if he has their bucket of grain, and get it without saying please or thank you! Mrs. Water's would say, "If you have a room full of kids, expect pasture-like behavior. If you want a room filled with learning potential, invite children to come in!"

What makes a school Christian or what makes a Christian school different? My answer is unwavering, "We smell different, we look different, we act different, we talk different, we treat each other different, we are governed different, we disciple then discipline."

It is my privilege to serve God's children here at Des Moines Christian School. With each step of my journey, I observe, pray, and then work diligently to put the goat pasture up for rent!