Current and Archived Stories
A Fresh Coat of Paint!
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If you have been involved in a painting project, you know the feeling of sitting back refreshed when you are finished, and seeing the finished product as a new creation, even if it remains basically the same. This summer, the high school is getting a fresh coat of paint, both literally and figuratively. We have added an additional science program, allowing students to complete three full years of lab science and installed a brand new science lab. We are also redesigning and carpeting the office, re-flooring the art and science rooms, re-painting the parking lot and creating an entrance from
2008 TUCSON CITIZEN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER
Rebuilding 
Ten years down the road, Ali Rawaf, the 2008 Tucson Citizen Student Achievement Award winner, expects to be back in his homeland of
He says he will be a politician trying to rebuild the country with a group of people like himself who left to gain knowledge outside the war-torn nation and then returned.
"I want us all to have come back to build a true democracy in
People who know the
But for today, he is honored with the Achievement Award, which is given to students who excel in academics, school and community involvement and leadership. He will receive a $500 scholarship.
He is the second Desert Christian student to win the award in three years. Carina Groves won in 2006.
Rawaf's global vision of democracy and bringing cultures together in understanding and respect is something he figures he'll try to accomplish someday.
Locally, he already has succeeded.
The 17-year-old has sought out Iraqi refugees here and has put in nearly 1,300 hours as their translator and tutor - helping them find employment, housing, education and legal assistance - all to help them fit in and be successful in their new culture.
At Desert Christian, Rawaf decided his senior project should be a two-week course on
He got an A and said he was amazed at the change in understanding he saw in his fellow students, who before that mostly had a vague idea of what the country really was like.
"I know I'm here for a reason," he said, and he is proud of the success he has seen in his cultural bridge-building efforts, even on this small scale.
But it isn't just Iraqis like himself or classmates that Rawaf has reached out to.
"A 2006-2007 Iraqi Kurdish student in
"Earlier this spring that (Kurdish) student's living arrangements fell apart, so Ali invited him to come to
Rawaf credits his parents for his attitude toward others. "I was raised to be very tolerant of all types of religions," he said.
What he isn't so tolerant of is injustice and that comes out in Rawaf's blogs - http://new_secularist_iraq.friendsofdemocracy.net and http://twentyfourstepstoliberty.blogspot.com.
He said he has spent hundreds of hours on them over the past few years. He also expresses his views as an occasional "My Tucson" columnist for the Tucson Citizen.
"At one point he was reprimanded by an exchange organization for writing on controversial topics - he was criticizing Iraqi terrorists - and ordered to stop," Dohse said. "Unfortunately for them, Ali understood the First Amendment better than they, so he continued writing."
The young man started writing politically when he still was in
"I was in a taxi and people followed us and started shooting at us," he said.
That event didn't deter him. And he isn't treating his stay here as an exchange vacation free from the political strife he temporarily left behind. He is trying to make a difference. And even while seeking political asylum, his heart is in
He will stay here for awhile. He has been accepted at the
But because he is an international student, tuition at UA, he said, would be $23,000 a year - a figure out of reach for him. So he said he may have to start at
Regardless of where he gets his education, those who have spent some time with Rawaf expect greatness.
"He's the most mature teenager I've ever met anywhere in the world," Dohse said. "He thinks and acts in ways comparable to a high-quality college senior - and perhaps equal to that of a young professional."
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Math Olympians Take Regional Honors
Elementary and Middle School students recently tested their math mettle at the ACSI Rocky Mountain Regional Math Olympics in Tempe, AZ. Of the thousands who competed in the multi-state testing, several DCS students emerged with medals and ribbons, including five first place awards and two perfect scores. Well done! Photos...
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Outstanding Experience in Hawaii for Advanced Biology High School science teacher Meg Chandler led a group of students to the far shores of Hawaii this spring for six days of intense study. Mrs. Chandler explained, "Real and meaningful learning occurred as we snorkeled, scuba dived, and kayaked to observe marine life and the environment around
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Young artists displayed their abilities in performing monologues,
In a dramatic finish to the defensive duel which took place during regulation, the championship game was decided by a shootout where the Eagles came up short, taking the runner-up trophy. Photos...
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ACSI Spelling Bee
Congratulations to all DC Elementary and Middle School students who participated and placed in the ACSI District Spelling Bee. More...
DCMS Students Shine at Speech Meet and Science Fair
Congratulations to DCMS students who put forth their best effort for our annual Speech Meet and Science Fair. Everyone did a fabulous job!
These students were chosen for ribbon awards at the Speech Meet.
6th Grade: 1st Place - Jenna C. (Henry V Prologue);
7th Grade: 1st Place – John W. (“Totally Like Whatever, You Know?”); 2nd Place - Nina B. (“I’m Raising a Virtual Chicken”).
8th Grade: 1st Place - Isaiah B. (“The Cremation of Sam McGee”);
Congratulations to all who represented their classes:
6th grade: Marcela L. (“Dead Parrot” Sketch); Trace R. (“There is Something Under my Bed”); Jack S. (“Casey at the Bat”);
7th grade: Carter H. (“Good News”); Ashley H. (“Fish For Luncheon”); Eddie S. & Andrew M. (“Gollum vs. Smeagol”); Katie G. (“Stupid in School”);
8th grade: Joey N. (“My First Football Game”); Chanel F. (“Skin”); Patrick R. (Pokemon, Vol. 1); Kia H. (“The Raven”); Brittany S. (“Lousy in Little League”); Derek S. (“The Chicken Heart”).
Congratulations to the winners of the DCMS Science Fair. A panel of six judges reviewed 49 projects and awarded these ribbons: Grand Prize – Derek S. (Can Alcohol Put Out a Fire); First Place – John M. (The Art of Electrodynamics); Second Place – Alyson B. (Have a Glass of Ground Water); Third Place – Rebecca H. (Who Plays Better the Raisins or the Grapes); Fourth Place – Isaiah B. (Metal in Midair); Fifth Place – Rachel O. (The True Vein in Music); and Honorable Mention – Camryn P. (Which Paper Towel Would Superman Use); Myles M. (Energize Me, Captain); Joseph D. (The Spin of Things); Garrett W. (A Spin for Power); Brendan T. (It’s All Inside); and Amara Z. (Did You Get the Buzz). These twelve projects have been selected to participate at the Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair (SARSEF) in March.
Great job, students! Way to shine for Him.
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God Bless Our Veterans DCHS students took time to honor our military on November 9 in a special Veterans Day assembly, coordinated by Tim Hoffman as part of his Senior Expo project. Captain John O’Hair, VI spoke of his recent experiences serving with the US Army in Ramahdi. More
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Mr. O'Hair Honored at All-School Chapel
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All K-12th grade students joined together with Board members, parents, faculty and administration for a special blessing chapel in honor of our new Headmaster, John O'Hair, Nov. 7 at El Camino Baptist. This marks the first event where all three schools were present and each contributed to the ceremony with a musical tribute. The .JPG)
Elementary students sang a special version of the DCS Mission Statement lead by our talented music teacher, Karen Tvrdy, followed by a patriotic medley. Amy O'Neill's discipleship class sang the contemporary praise song, "Indescribable", and the HS Ensemble invited the audience to participate in the chorus for "Rejoice the Lord is King". Former DCHS teacher, Pastor Allen Cooney offered a inspirational blessing prayer over Mr. O'Hair. In his address to the student body, Mr. O'Hair encouraged the children to "make a difference in their world" for Christ by continuing to serve God wherever He has called them.
Thanksgiving Prayer 
"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him: bless His name." Psalm 100:4
Abraham Lincoln gave a wonderful Thanksgiving Proclamation in the year of 1864. “Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day which I desire to be observed by all my fellow-citizens, wherever they may be then, as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe.
And I do further recommend to my fellow-citizens aforesaid, that on that occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the dust, and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications…for a return of the inestimable blessings of peace, union, and harmony throughout the land which it has pleased Him to assign as a dwelling-place for ourselves and for our posterity throughout all generations.”
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Girls Varsity Soccer Wins Regional Title in 1st season
Named "Hot Shot High School Best Team" for Southern Arizona after only five weeks of sports action, the Lady Eagle finished the season with a league record of 9 wins and 1 loss claiming the West Regional Title. Photos
Homecoming 2007