POWDER PUFF 2009

Friday, May 1 was CVCHS first annual STEP UP Powder Puff Football Game. Although the weather was not ideal, a very fun night was had by all!

The freshmen girls fought hard during the first game against the seniors, but the seniors were able to pull off the win by raising over $600 towards Sober Grad.

The triumphant Senior Girls after their first win!

The sophomore class looking a little somber and soggy after their loss to the junior class in the 2nd game.

The Junior Class girls were the winners of the night. What they lacked in quantity they made up for with spirit! Way to GO Girls!

Step Up Senior Essays

Here are some essays that our Senior board members wrote to impart some words of wisdom to those who will follow in their footsteps...

ADVICE TO INCOMING FRESHMEN: HOW TO STEP UP AND TAKE THE HIGH ROAD IN HIGH SCHOOL.

High school can be a scary place as a freshman with lots of new opportunities. You start to figure our who you are and who you want to become. There are some things that freshmen should know to have the best high school experience. First of all, make good friends. Your friends have a lot of influence on you and it is always good to have someone to keep you accountable. You also have to set standards for yourself and stick to them.
Second of all, participate in extra curricular activities. There are plenty of options with sports, student council, STEP UP, and others. Any way to get involved is good and can be very fun and rewarding. You should make memories and have fun. Don't worry about trying to act old and mature because you are only freshmen so you don't have to. Being confident i your self is also important and don't be insecure. People might, no will, try and get you to do things you aren't comfortable doing, but don't be afraid to tell them what you think and say no. It can be hard, especially if everyone else is doing it and it's the cool thingk, but not giving in is worth it.
Third, look to the people that have succeeded before you. It can be very helpful knowing that someone went through the struggles as you and succeeded. High School can be a very confusing time and having a good role model can help keep you on the right track
~Anneke Verhoeven Class of 2009

As an incoming freshman I was scared to death. I worried about fitting in and finding the right friends and juggling school work and a social life. I worried about peer pressure and trying to just be myself and the person God wants me to be.
To all of the incoming freshmen my first piece of advice would be to be true to yourself and stay focused. Keep God at the foundation of everything you do and surround yourself with good friends who have the same morals as you. Once you have developed a group of close friends that are true friends, who will stick with you no matter what, it will be easier to stand up for who you are and what you believe in.
STEP UP's acronym stands for Student's Taking Every Precaution Under Pressure but the group of people that participate in STEP UP stand for rising above both drinking and partying. In order o STEP UP from the craziness that comes along with high school, and take the high road, become firm in your beliefs and be surrounded by positive influences willing to help you along the way. No matter what people think of yo and your decisions throughout high school, stick true to yourself and be the person God has created you to be.
~Bailey Schmidt Class of 2009

My Advice to incoming freshman is to pick your friends wisely and also be involved in school activities. You can pick friends that you know will lead you astray from the path which God has provided you or you can choose friends that are responsible, that care about you, and will help you grow in your walk with the Lord. You know when you have a good friend because they not only enjoy being with you, but also help you through the tough times in life. Friends are there to hold you accountable for your actions. For example, if your parents get a divorce and you turn to alcohol to fill the emptiness in you life, then your real friend should talk to you and help you through it without turning to alcohol or some other type of drug. I have been blessed with good friends and a loving family that is there to help me through hard times. The way I took the high road in high school was getting involved. Be getting involved I stayed busy and I didn't have time to drink or do drugs. I encourage you as freshmen to get involved whether it is STEP UP, sports, music, or service projects. I will also encourage you to choose your friends wisely, because they are the ones that could be a big influence on your life. Being involved in STEP UP from the start of its conception has reminded me that I do need to take precautions and STEP UP, in a way, it held me accountable. As I look forward to being a freshman next year myself, I know that the High Road can get difficult with the college pressures, but I know that "He pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor" and that is a verse that I will take to college with me!
Jared De Groot Class of 2009

To the Freshman, Class of 2009,
A new stage has opened in your life called High School. As high school brings homecoming, JV and Varsity sports, theatrical productions, and so much more. It also brings a new sense of freedom and and turn responsibility. You will be stretched beyond comprehension in school and contorted in mind twisting ways in the hustle and bustle of the high school social life. Your parents, teachers, and others in authority hold you to a different standard now. Their expectations have inched just a little bit higher. The question is this: How will you, as a determined individual, meet those expectations and make them proud?
STEP UP: Students Taking Every Precaution Under Pressure. A justifying acronym but what does that mean in general and concerning you? As I mentioned, high school brings academics and school functions but what about the social life? I'll be honest in saying that the pressure to drink alcohol, smoke a little, or just go one step further with that special someone is overwhelming. Take a look at the previous acronym again. STEP UP. My advice to you is to take those precautions. Don't put yourself in those tempting situations. Pick the right group of friends. Turn to God and other great role models. You've heard all of this before but there's one thing I want to emphasize. Don't just listen. Act. Don't shrug it off off as something, "I've heard a thousand times." I can tell you there is a reason that it has been said a thousand times so learn from the advice given down and act, Class of 2013. Be bold and strong, because next thing you know you're picking colleges and freshmen are looking up to you.
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." Corinthians 10:13
In Him,
Mark Weststeyn Class of 2009

Stepping up is not always easy when the world around you does nothing but encourage you to fall. Even "encourage" is putting it too lightly. Sometimes it seems like the temptations go our of their way to seek and find you. There is no easy solution to dealing with such handsome looking temptations, especially when the alternatives seem boring and colorless. Avoiding the situations of drinking, casual sex, and drugs is not the answer either, because to ignore is to be ignorant, and ignorance can also be spelled N-A-I-V-E. The answer is not only step up, but also step out.
At CVC there is so much to be involved in. You could probably fill up your time enough so you do not sleep during the week. Being part of something gives you confidence and respect for yourself. Everyone, especially in high school, is looking for respect. Class clowns, jocks, motor heads, prom queens, you name it, they want it. So I encourage you to seek that form of respect. The respect of an ability or characteristic is the finest boost of confidence you can get because it compliments the real you. And do not confuse what I am saying with arrogance and boasting. These will lose you the respect faster than you earned it. Yeah, respect is something you earn. Use influence to better the world and the trust to honor those who trust you.
Men: be men of integrity because to live life any other way is to lie to those around you and to yourself. To Girls: be wholesome. There are countless opportunities you will have and chances you get to take, but there are a few things that you have only one to give away. Cherish and respect those few, precious things.
Do what you love in high school and if you do it with integrity, the respect will come. It is real hard to stay on the right path, but it is incredibly fulfilling.
-Anthony Vander Schaaf Class of 2009

Silly boys...Football is for girls!

STEP UP will be hosting a Powder Puff football game Friday night, May 1 at the CVC football stadium. First game will start at approximately 6pm and the games will end at 8:30. All CVCHS girls will be allowed to play with their classes as long as they get a waiver signed by their parents. Admission is free, but we are encouraging donations. All donations collected will go towards this years Sober Grad.

Step Up Student Board 2008-2009

Fun and Fearless Crew!

Inhalants

Inhalants: Toxic Danger

You've talked to your teen about drug use and other risky behaviors, but you might not have discussed "huffing," "sniffing," "dusting," or "bagging." And if those terms don't ring a bell, it's time to brush up on inhalant abuse. More than a million teens used inhalants -- including household products like nail polish remover, correction fluids, and bleach -- to get high last year. Most teens do not realize how dangerous inhalants can be, but statistics show that repeated exposure can lead to suffocation, brain damage, and even death. Parents should closely monitor these household substances to prevent abuse and irreversible health consequences. Learn more about the dangers of inhalants. Know the Signs Combined with irreversible health hazards, easy accessibility in the home, and legal opportunity to buy directly out of the store, inhalants pose a serious threat to teens everywhere. Parents should be on the lookout for some of the common signs and symptoms of abuse, such as unusual breath odor or chemical odor on clothing; spots and/or sores around the mouth; nausea and/or loss of appetite; slurred or disoriented speech; or red or runny eyes or nose. Learn more about the signs and symptoms of inhalant abuse.

YOU are your teens biggest role model!

As pop culture has become a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week, online and offline phenomenon, young people often look to their favorite music artists, athletes, and/or actors to be the dominant role models in their lives. But celebrities and public figures have been increasingly caught making bad choices and engaging in risky behaviors, and that is far from being a good example. Drinking and using drugs such as marijuana is dangerous and can lead to addiction, criminal activity, loss of school scholarships, and mental health disorders like depression.

Take this time to talk to your teen about the dangers of drug use and set clear rules about consequences. Always remember that you are the single most important influence when it comes to drugs. So this message needs to start with you.

Learn more about connecting with "Teens Today."

Be open and honest

It can be difficult talking to your teen about your past, especially if it involves drug use, and other risky behaviors. But these experiences-drawing on real-life examples of friends who had trouble as a result of drug use, couldn't get a scholarship, or caused a car crash while high-will hit close to home for your teen. Use this opportunity to talk to your kids about making smart choices. Be sure to emphasize that this discussion is about their future, and not about your past. Even if you made mistakes in the past, be clear that you do not want your children to repeat them.

More on how to talk to your teen about drugs.

Learning to Cope: Teens and Stress

With each passing day, it seems there are more things for teens to worry about - school, sports, SATs, friends, and even the economy. Parents know firsthand that stress can wreak havoc on the body and mind, but they may not realize how stress manifests itself in their kids. Teens who are not sure how to deal with these pressures may try to cope with stress by taking drugs. They might think that if they are unhappy, drugs will make them feel better.

Parents need to know that drugs can actually worsen the situation and lead to even more stress, anxiety, and even depression. Research shows that weekly or more frequent use of marijuana doubles a teen's risk of depression and anxiety.[1] Parents should set clear rules about drug use and offer coping strategies about how best to deal with stress.

Learn what behaviors to watch for and how to help your teen handle stress.

Teens Today

Teens are not always equipped to handle on their own the physical, emotional and psychological changes they experience during adolescence. Parents can be instrumental in helping teens through these phases by offering guidance and support. But because times have changed since parents were in their teens' shoes, it's important for parents to take an inside look at today's teens to learn more about the current pressures facing middle and high school students.

Help guide your teen through today's challenges.


[1] 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, SAMHSA, 2007. Pg. 160. URL: www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh/2k6nsduh/2k6results.pdf.