🦉Our 6th grade scientists rolled up their sleeves this week for an exciting lab—dissecting owl pellets! Using tools and plenty of curiosity, they carefully examined the pellets and identified the bones inside. From tiny skulls to delicate rib bones, each was a clue to learning about the diets and ecosystems of these fascinating birds. 🔍 🦴 #ucathunder #ucamiddleschool #ucastem
10 months ago, UCA
students dissecting owl pellets
students dissecting owl pellets
students dissecting owl pellets
students dissecting owl pellets
students dissecting owl pellets
students dissecting owl pellets
students dissecting owl pellets
students dissecting owl pellets
students dissecting owl pellets
students dissecting owl pellets
🏅 Congratulations to Adam, our Athlete of the Week! 🏀 🏀 Adam scored 16 points in a legendary game against PACT. His steals, speed, and valuable score in the last moments of the game led to an overtime victory for the Thunder JV team. He makes everyone else a better player and person, on and off the court! 👏 Way to go, Adam! Keep up the fantastic work! 💪 #ucathunder #ucaathletics
10 months ago, UCA
athlete of the week graphic
🙌 ✝️ Our High School Apologetics students are diving into objective morality as a powerful argument for God’s existence. 📖 🗣️ They were split into four groups, each assigned one key question to research. Two students from each group then stepped up to the front of the room to teach their peers what they learned, sparking insightful discussions and deeper understanding. We’re so proud of these students for sharpening their critical thinking and communication skills while exploring important truths about faith and morality! 🙏✨ #ucathunder #ucahighschool
10 months ago, UCA
students working on a group project
teacher writing on the white board
students presenting in front of the class
students presenting in front of the class
students presenting in front of the class
teacher working with a student
students working on a group project
teacher talking with a group of students
teacher in front of the class
✈️ Our aviation classes have been hard at work with two exciting labs this week! 📡 🛫One group practiced communication skills used in air traffic control, learning the language and precision required for guiding planes safely through the skies. With the appropriate commands, the students guided each other through the runways and flight patterns taped on the ground. 🕹️🛬The other group hit the flight simulators, sharpening their piloting skills and experiencing what it’s like to fly and navigate different aircraft in different conditions. These hands-on experiences are key steps in preparing for future opportunities in aviation. 🚀 #ucathunder #ucahighschool #ucaaviation #ucastem
10 months ago, UCA
students flying on simulators
students flying on simulators
students flying on simulators
students flying on simulators
students flying on simulators
students walking through a map of air traffic taped on the floor
students walking through a map of air traffic taped on the floor
students walking through a map of air traffic taped on the floor
students walking through a map of air traffic taped on the floor
students walking through a map of air traffic taped on the floor
😁🪥Our 1st graders were all smiles as they received oral hygiene kits from Delta Dental and the State of Minnesota! Miss Anderson walked them through each item in the kit—toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, timers, and tracking charts—and taught them how to use everything to keep their teeth healthy and strong. 🦷✨ To wrap it up, the students practiced brushing their teeth for two full minutes, just like the pros recommend! 🕒🦷 Thank you, Delta Dental, for helping our students build healthy habits that will last a lifetime! #ucathunder #ucaelementary
10 months ago, UCA
student showing her toothbrush
student using a timer when brushing her teeth
student showing her toothbrush
classroom of students brushing their teeth
student showing the teacher her brushing chart
student talking to teacher
student showing her floss
students brushing their teeth
students brushing their teeth
students brushing their teeth
⚖️🚢 Our 7th grade Language Arts students stepped into the courtroom for an exciting mock trial exercise after reading "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle." Acting as lawyers, witnesses, and jury members, they debated key moments from the story, using evidence and persuasive arguments to determine the verdict. 📚This hands-on activity helped sharpen their critical thinking, public speaking, and teamwork skills—all while bringing the novel to life! Fantastic job, future lawyers and storytellers! 🔍🗣️ #ucathunder #ucamiddleschool
10 months ago, UCA
students in a mock trial
teacher portrayed as a judge in a mock trial
students in a mock trial
students in a mock trial
students in a mock trial
students in a mock trial
students in a mock trial
students in a mock trial
students in a mock trial
students in a mock trial
🏃‍♂️ 🏃‍♀️Our Kindergarten and 1st grade students had a blast getting the wiggles out during a recent phy ed class! They rotated through different activity stations, working on large motor skills like running, jumping, balancing, and throwing. Each station offered a new way to move, play, and develop coordination—all while having tons of fun! Way to go, little athletes! 🏅✨ #ucathunder #ucaelementary
10 months ago, UCA
boys jumping like hopscotch
kids playing table tennis
kids and teacher throwing scarves in the air
girls doing handstands
boys jumping on mats
girls jumping like hopscotch
girls throwing tennis balls at the wall
boys playing table tennis
girls doing hula hoop
girl jumping over ropes on the floor
🥚🪜 Our high school physics students put their engineering skills to the test with the classic egg drop experiment! Their mission? Design and build a container (within specific parameters) that could protect an egg from a high drop off a ladder. After all of the anticipation, they dropped their eggs to see if their protection strategies worked. Some eggs survived unbroken, while others… well, let’s just say they didn’t make it. 🍳😅 This hands-on experiment was a fun and messy way to explore physics concepts like momentum, impact force, and energy absorption. Great job, students! 🥚📏✨ #ucathunder #ucahighschool #ucastem
10 months ago, UCA
physics students working on egg-drop projects
physics students working on egg-drop projects
egg named Sherman
physics students working on egg-drop projects
physics students working on egg-drop projects
student dropping an egg from ladder
students fine-tuning their experiment before dropping it from a ladder
students showing that their egg survived the fall
students performing egg-drop experiment
student dropping an egg from ladder
🎟️ Only two weeks left for Early Bird tickets! Our Annual Fundraising Event is sure to be a memorable evening. Don't miss out on your chance at discounted tickets. 🎬 🎞️ Join us for a Hollywood-themed night that includes dinner, silent auction, raffle and other games, student-led worship, speakers from our staff and community, live auction, and much more! Purchase tickets here: onecau.se/lights-camera-auction #ucathunder #lightscameraauction
10 months ago, UCA
Two weeks left of early bird prices
🦊🛶 Our 5th grade students experienced history firsthand through an immersive simulation of the Minnesota Fur Trade! Divided into small hunting parties, each group—led by senior students or parent leaders—explored the hunting territory, negotiated trades, and faced the challenges of life as hunters and trappers. Some even dressed the part! 🐾📜 Some groups struck successful deals with traders, while others had unexpected setbacks, like a measles outbreak that cost them valuable time. 😮 This hands-on experience brought history to life, teaching lessons in teamwork, strategy, and resilience. #ucathunder #ucaelementary
10 months ago, UCA
students gathered around a trader negotiating trades
students gathered around a trader negotiating trades
students gathered around a trader negotiating trades
students dressed up as fur traders
students gathered around a trader negotiating trades
students gathered around a trader negotiating trades
students gathered around a trader negotiating trades
student counting his beaver pelts
students making trades with traders
students making trades with traders
🏅 Congratulations to Evan, our Athlete of the Week! 🏀 🏀 Evan played really well in the JV win against Mayer Lutheran HS, knocking down 18 points. He also scored 20 Points in the JV game against Avail Academy in the same week. 👏 Way to go, Evan! Keep up the fantastic work! 💪 #ucathunder #ucaathletics
10 months ago, UCA
athlete of the week graphic
Our high school Spanish students recently attended Spanish Language Day at the MN Zoo, where they practiced their conversational skills while learning from other Spanish students presenting about animals and conservation efforts. 🦁🌿 🇲🇽 After the zoo, they visited a local Mexican restaurant, where they took their learning to the next level by ordering in Spanish! 🌮🗣️ This real-world experience helped bring their classroom lessons to life while boosting their confidence in speaking. #ucathunder #ucahighschool
10 months ago, UCA
students watching presentations at the zoo
students on a field trip to the zoo
students watching presentations at the zoo
students watching presentations at the zoo
students watching presentations at the zoo
group photo of spanish students
students eating at a mexican restaurant
students eating at a mexican restaurant
🎉💯 100 Days Smarter! 💯🎉 Our Kindergarten and 1st grade students had a blast celebrating the 100th day of school this week. They counted to 100 in fun and creative ways, read the story of Zero the Hero, and even followed clues on an exciting adventure to find Zero! 🕵️‍♀️🔍 It was a day filled with learning, laughter, and milestone moments. Here’s to the next 100 days of growth and discovery! 💜 #ucathunder #ucaelementary
11 months ago, UCA
student wearing 100 days smarter crown
students doing black light activities
students lining the hallway with 100 steps
zero the hero  on the playground
students doing black light activities
students lining the hallway with 100 steps
students doing black light activities
zero the hero reading a book
student doing a counting to 100 exercise
students doing black light activities
📐🎨Mrs. Larson’s geometry students are combining math and creativity by creating tessellations! Using patterns and shapes, they’ve been designing repeating, interlocking forms that fit together perfectly—just like puzzle pieces. This project helps them explore symmetry, transformations, and spatial reasoning while tapping into their artistic side. #ucathunder #ucahighschool #ucastem
11 months ago, UCA
geometry students working on a project
geometry students working on a project
geometry students working on a project
geometry students working on a project
geometry students working on a project
geometry students working on a project
geometry students working on a project
geometry students working on a project
geometry students working on a project
assignment written out on a white board
🙌 UCA is blessed to welcome a new staff member who will fill in as a long-term substitute for the remainder of the school year. We would like to introduce you to Miss White, who will teach Secondary Choir and Worship Arts while Mrs. Prip is on maternity leave. “Hello! My name is Lisa White, and I recently graduated from the University of Northwestern, St. Paul, in December 2024 with a degree in vocal music education. When the opportunity arose for me to work at UCA, I immediately went after it because I knew it would be a place for me to grow as an educator in a Christ-centered environment where I could disciple students in music and their faith, both areas I am passionate about. I am very excited to make high-level music with UCA students and show them how music teaches us so much about our creative and wonderful Creator!” Welcome to the community, Miss White! #ucathunder #ucastaff
11 months ago, UCA
new staff announcement
🌿 Flourish: Growing in Faith Together 🌿 What started as an idea from two amazing students, Anna H., and Julia D., has blossomed into Flourish Bible Study—a space for high school and middle school girls to dive deeper into the Word and build community. 💜 High school students lead the discussions, fostering ownership of their spiritual growth. Middle school girls are studying Ephesians, and high schoolers are exploring 1 & 2 Corinthians. Together, they’re learning how Scripture shapes their relationships and walk with God. It’s been an incredible journey, and we can’t wait to see how this continues to grow! 🙌✨ #ucathunder
11 months ago, UCA
Middle school girls bible study
high school girls bible study
Middle school girls bible study
high school girls bible study
Middle school girls bible study
high school girls bible study
Middle school girls bible study
high school girls bible study
Middle school girls bible study
Middle school girls bible study
📚 Mrs. Otterblad’s 2nd graders are embracing the joy of reading through their Daily 5 reading stations. They rotate through activities such as read to self, word work, read to someone, and more. These stations give students the chance to practice essential reading skills in creative and meaningful ways. 📖 One of the best parts? Watching them encourage and support each other during partner reading, where students pair up to read through a book together. Students at higher reading levels are helping their classmates by sounding out words, reminding them of grammar rules, and celebrating each other’s progress. 💜 It’s heartwarming to see how naturally they step into mentoring roles! These interactions build reading skills and strengthen teamwork, patience, and confidence—valuable lessons that go far beyond the classroom. #ucathunder #ucaelementary
11 months ago, UCA
two boys reading together
boy laying on the floor reading
two girls reading to each other
boy sitting at his desk writing
students doing independent reading
two boys picking out a book
students sitting on the floor reading to each other
girl laying on the floor reading
girls sitting on the floor reading
girl sitting at her desk reading
🚑🚨Our high school students in the Emergency Medical Responder class are gaining hands-on experience in life-saving skills! Last week, they tackled vehicle extractions, backboarding, and proper patient transferring techniques—critical skills for emergency situations. 💪 They are dedicated to serving others and learning what it takes to respond quickly and effectively when every second counts. 👏💜 #ucathunder #ucahighschool
11 months ago, UCA
students practicing vehicle extractions
students practicing back boarding techniques
students practicing proper patient transfer techniques
students practicing back boarding techniques
students practicing vehicle extractions
students practicing vehicle extractions
students practicing back boarding techniques
students practicing back boarding techniques
students practicing vehicle extractions
students practicing vehicle extractions
Our 6th grade science students are getting a hands-on look at the mealworm life cycle, observing its journey through complete metamorphosis! 🌱➡️🐛➡️ 🪲 🔍📏Recently, they checked in on their mealworms' progress, taking measurements and documenting changes as they grow and develop. This real-life observation helps students see science in action and understand the incredible transformation process! #ucathunder #ucamiddleschool #ucastem
11 months ago, UCA
science students measuring their mealworms
science students measuring their mealworms
science students measuring their mealworms
science students measuring their mealworms
science students measuring their mealworms
science students measuring their mealworms
science students measuring their mealworms
science students measuring their mealworms
science students measuring their mealworms
cups with mealworms in them
🤗 Thank you for voting us the best private school for 2025!! 🏫 Enrollment is now open for next year; we hope you'll join us! #ucathunder
11 months ago, UCA
Readers' Choice award graphic