Israel Dartiguenave – University of Virginia, Penn State, Northwood University, University of Michigan

Leira Fombrun – Florida International University

Laura Fosnaugh – Olivet Nazarene College, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Indiana Wesleyan University

Annabelle Malvoisin – University of Prince Edward Island

Kevin Renois – Baylor University

Taressa VanDam – Calvin College

The senior class is awaiting results from hundreds more applications, and we happily anticipate many more acceptance letters. Mrs. Pruitt, our new guidance counselor, has done an excellent job coaching the 12th grade through the process. She has led both the junior and sophomores classes in college-readiness activities in the first month of this new semester.

Coach Mantz watches over the game.

The Eagles are giving their all and playing hard.

The team poses for a group shot.

Celebrating after their most recent game, a 10-0 victory.

Throwing up the eagle sign! Go QCS!

The school is preparing for a big game this Wednesday at 3:30 against our crosstown rival, Union. Come support the team!

Just another day in sophomore English class.

12th graders learn laundry, ironing, and stain removal techniques as they prepare for college in Senior Transitions class.

Senior Transitions class members showing off their stain-free shirts!

High school students cheer as they attend the Student Council’s Fall Campout.

9th graders making s’mores around the little campfire at the Fall Campout.

Silly hats as senior guys enjoy their s’mores.

This past week began our second quarter, and we’re continuing to learn and grow.

]]> http://quisqueya.org/2011/10/quisqueya-news-october-24-2012/feed/ 0 http://quisqueya.org/2011/08/quisqueya-news-first-day-of-school-2011/ http://quisqueya.org/2011/08/quisqueya-news-first-day-of-school-2011/#comments Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:02:45 +0000 Thomas L Dugue http://quisqueya.org/?p=1011 And we’re off!

Quisqueya Christian School began its new year with a devotional time and a few words from our director, Mr. Hersey.

Mr. Mantz, a new PE teacher at QCS, led worship with his guitar while Mr. Davis, our new computer teacher, played drums.

Elementary students first got settled in to their new classrooms and met their teachers. They joined our opening rally next on the basketball court.

Quisqueya guidance counselor Mrs. Pruitt joins our librarian Mr. Chabot and director Mr. Hersey to sing a few worship songs as we start the year.

Mr. McMahon and Ms. Denie join members of the junior class on the front row. In the background, parents of new and returning students alike join in for the opening rally.

This year Quisqueya begins with over 305 students! This is full capacity and the largest student body we have had in some time. New teachers from the US, Australia, and Haiti have been decorating classrooms and planning lessons in anticipation of this new semester.

This year, our school verse is found in the first chapter of Joshua: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” We hope to claim this verse in our lives and studies.

Right from the start, our students are also planning ways to invest in service. As part of the required 30 hours per year for high schoolers, a large number of secondary students are spending days this week assisting the US Navy ship Comfort, a floating hospital that is current providing humanitarian and medical services outside Port-au-Prince. Dozens of upperclassmen are interpreting at the triage center at the dock, and some may even ride by helicopter to translate aboard the hospital ship itself. A wonderful opportunity!

Quisqueya Christian School is delighted to celebrate the graduation of twenty new seniors. The graduation ceremony took place at Karibe Hotel and Convention Center, with many family, friends, and other supporters in place. A reception followed and the Class of 2011 threw their hats as they posed for a photo. From Penn State to Duke to Florida International, the seniors will be moving far and wide this summer to begin additional studies. We wish them every blessing and are proud to call them alumni.

Next we journeyed to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. The major exhibits here included the famous dinosaur bones, with a full skeleton of a T Rex and Triceratops, among others. The Hall of Mammals houses hundreds of taxidermy animals, from bats and African lions to wolves and kangaroos. Another hall held a giant ocean scene, and the geology section featured the famous Hope Diamond, the largest in the world.

Finally we made it through the rain to the National Portrait Gallery. This beautiful building is home to the Presidential Portrait Collection, including the famous George Washington painting that Dolly Madison saved from the burning White House. In addition, there are exhibits of photography, modern art, 20th century portraits of writers, military figures, and other notables from around the world. One of my favorites was the image above depicting George Washington Carver delicately caring for a flower.

We all flew home safe and sound, and are ready to start the 4th quarter on Monday! Whew, what a trip!

Ben and Katie Kilpatrick, sponsors and high school teachers

Next we headed to the National Archives. We saw the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, and there was also an exhibit on espionage in the Civil War.

Wednesday morning was freezing, and we headed off to Arlington National Cemetery. We attended the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was very moving. While walking to see the ceremony, you pass fields of graves in perfect lines, name after name after name. You see the wives and children on the back of the stones, sometimes just called “infant” with only one date- one day of life. There were two funerals taking place while we were on the grounds, and we jumped at both 21-gun salutes. One was so close that we could hear the trumpet- we stopped walking for a moment to stand and listen to Taps. We walked up the hill after the ceremony to see Arlington House, the home of Robert E. Lee.

This afternoon was spent at Mount Vernon. The mansion is in pristine historical condition, the tour guides are the best educators we’ve seen yet, and the museum on the grounds is my favorite so far. Inside the house are several guest rooms, Washington’s personal office, dining room, music room, and parlors. Outside the house you can also see Washington’s orchards, greenhouse, clerk’s office, kitchen, laundry house, stables, coaches, and the vault where he and Martha are buried.

Ben and Katie Kilpatrick

After the service we took a tour, and  learned that one of the stained glass windows celebrating God creating the planets actually contains a piece of moon rock. We also saw the altar, the ornate pulpit featuring carvings of the signing of the Magna Carta, and the rose windows.

Monday we took a tour of the US Capitol. The Rotunda features a 360 degree painting of US history. After lunch we toured the Library of Congress. We saw the main reading room, the gorgeous frescoes celebrating art, science, and literature, and the Gutenberg Bible- one of only three copies. Lastly we visited the Folger Shakespeare Library. We saw their replica of an Elizabethan theater and the reading room where scholars research early manuscripts.

Mr. and Mrs. K

This morning we woke up early and headed to the White House! We strolled through the East Wing, saw the China Room, and marveled at the Green, Blue, and Red Rooms. The security officer in the State Dining Room talked about how they all get to eat the leftovers when the dignitaries leave. The buildings in that area- the Hotel Washington, Department of the Treasury, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Commerce, to name a few- are just exquisite temples of classical architecture.

Next we made our way to the National Mall. We walked by the Washington Monument and spent awhile in the World War II memorial. It is a giant circular space with a huge fountain in the middle, and on one end there is a heartbreaking display: over 4,000 gold stars affixed to the wall over a reflecting pool. Each one represents one hundred fallen soldiers. Below, the words: Here we mark the price of freedom.

At the Vietnam Memorial, the most moving part was an impromptu lecture by a National Park Ranger who spoke about the thousands of items they find left at the base of the black reflective granite “scar” in the landscape. He described finding footballs, a Harley Davidson, a wedding dress, and a cigar box full of love letters left on the 40th anniversary of a soldier’s death. We were all very emotional.

We walked through the Lincoln Memorial, and took a picture of our students on the exact spot where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. Next we walked to the Holocaust Museum. Inside, there are three areas of the museum: the permanent exhibition (the largest part, covering 3 floors), “Daniel’s Story” (the children’s part), and a special exhibit on Nazi propaganda. Tonight several students mentioned that the most moving part was at the end. There is a room where you walk between two large glass compartments filled entirely with shoes. Shoes of concentration camp victims, taken from them as they were sent to the gas chambers. The room smells of leather. Almost all are black, a few white, one pair bright lipstick red. A pair of baby shoes. Between the Holocaust Museum and the war memorials, there were many somber moments.

We ate dinner at a Chinese restaurant, visited a grocery store,  held our nightly team meeting/devotional, and are headed to bed. We are tired, but what a day!

Mr. and Mrs. K