🏃♂️ 🏃♀️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
🥚🪜 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
🎟️ 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
🦊🛶 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
🏅 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
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
🎉💯 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
📐🎨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
🙌 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
🌿 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
📚 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
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
🚑🚨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
🤗 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
🏅 Congratulations to Simon, our Athlete of the Week! 🏀
🏀 Simon has been playing great for JV all season! Last Thursday, he had a huge game in a competitive win over Eagle Ridge, scoring an impressive 25 pts!
👏 Way to go, Simon! Keep up the fantastic work! 💪
#ucathunder #ucaathletics
🧪👩🔬👨🔬Our high school Physical Science students recently put their chemistry skills to the test during a pH lab experiment. With their goggles on and their minds ready, they explored different substances to determine their acidity or alkalinity. 🌡️
Understanding pH levels is more than just a classroom experiment. The students learned how to apply their knowledge to everyday life! From testing soil for gardening 🌱 to monitoring safe drinking water 💧 and even balancing skincare products 🧴, pH plays a crucial role in the world around us.
#ucathunder #ucahighschool #ucastem
📚Our first graders had a special guest reader recently—our Head of School! But the real surprise? The book their teacher chose for him to read: The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak. 😆
This hilarious book is filled with silly words and sounds that the reader must say out loud… and Mr. Peters was a great sport about it! 🤪 The students couldn’t stop laughing as he played along, making goofy noises and reading every ridiculous word.
It was a memorable way to celebrate the joy of reading! 📖
#ucathunder #ucaelementary
💍The Wedding of Q and U! ❤️
Our kindergarteners attended a very special event recently—the wedding of Q and U! 💒 Through this fun tradition, they learned how these two letters are inseparable and always stick together in words like queen and quick.
Mr. Andrews officiated the ceremony, and the students celebrated at a festive reception complete with cupcakes 🧁 and learning some popular wedding dances! 💃🕺 It was a joyful way to reinforce their learning and create lasting memories.
#ucathunder #ucaelementary
🥁🎵Our 5th graders have been making music in a unique way—with boomwhackers! Each student had to focus carefully on their assigned note, follow the rhythms, and wait for just the right moment to “whack” their part into the melody.
🎶✨Along with the laughter and energy, this exercise also taught the importance of teamwork, timing, and focus. What an awesome way to make music together! 👏
#ucathunder #ucaelementary
✨Tickets On Sale Soon! 🎟️
Early Bird tickets for our Annual Fundraising Event go on sale in just one week! 🗓️ Starting on February 3rd, is your chance to secure your spot at a great rate.
We’re looking forward to an exciting evening! Planning is well underway, and the details are falling perfectly into place. All that’s missing is you! 💜
Mark your calendar, spread the word, and get ready to join us for a night to remember.
Check out our website and stay tuned for more updates!
https://www.ucathunder.org/page/annual-spring-fundraiser
#ucathunder #lightscameraauction
