🖌️🌟Creativity swept through the 4th and 5th-grade classes as Mrs. Joroensen, our beloved library teacher, hosted an exciting contest! Students unleashed their artistic talents, designing bookmarks that showcased their imaginative flair.
The winning designs from each class have earned the opportunity to be transformed into actual bookmarks for all our elementary library students to enjoy. 📖🎉
Elementary teachers and specialists participated in a blind vote to select their favorite design from each class. Congratulations to all the talented participants, and a special shout-out to Zack, Kate, Elise, and Jane, the winning designers! 👏
📚Let the reading adventures continue!
#ucathunder #ucaelementary
🍬 🍭 "May I have some candy, please?"
🗣️Rumor has it that if you go to the Lower School office, you can choose a piece of candy from Ms. Ally and Ms. Melissa. The catch is, that you must use your best manners, wait your turn, and speak respectfully!
#ucathunder #ucalowerschool
'Tis the season to decorate Christmas treats! 🍬🎅
These 5th-grade and Kindergarten buddies joined forces to frost sugar cones and sprinkle them with holiday magic, transforming them into adorable Christmas trees. 🎄
Our creative buddies also polished their grammar skills by diving into some Christmas-themed mad libs, adding an extra dash of linguistic fun to their festive collaboration! 📚🤣
#ucathunder #ucaelementary
🕯️💜 The UCA Chapter of the National Honor Society spent Saturday morning helping the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve sort toys and fill orders for children who depend on organizations such as these for a special Christmas gift!
🧸 🪀The NHS students sorted dozens of toys and filled orders to ensure that children all across the Midwest region have a very merry Christmas.🎄
#ucathunder #ucanhs #ucaupperschool
👩🔬🤣 Our high school science just wouldn't be the same without the incredible Mrs. Diamond and her legendary puns!
🧪🔬Her ability to seamlessly weave puns into her teaching not only keeps her students engaged but also proves that learning can be fun!
🎄👑 Enjoy this Christmas edition from the queen of science puns!
#ucathunder #ucastem #ucaupperschool
💬✝️Our teachers and staff have the privilege of speaking into the students you entrust to us daily. Our curriculum is Christ-centered. Our goal is that every student will feel known and loved by us and, more importantly, by God.
🙏🌎As the students rise up through grade levels, we pray that their transformational educational experience will empower them to represent Christ to the world.
🤝💜 UNITED WE TRANSFORM. United, we do everything, all to the glory of God!
#ucathunder
Last night, our secondary choir students took the stage as we bid farewell to the Christmas concert series for this year. Our hearts and ears are filled with holiday harmony. 🎄✨
A round of applause for our incredible performers and a special thanks to our dedicated teachers, whose passion shone brightly on stage! Your musical talents have truly made this holiday season unforgettable. 🎶
To our supportive audience, thank you for participating in these celebrations. Your cheers and applause added an extra layer of warmth to the winter evenings. 🙌❤️
#ucathunder #ucafinearts #ucasecondary
🚪Deck the doors 🎄
🎅🖍️🎨Our high schoolers worked within their houses to put together Christmas-themed door decorations. The students brainstormed ideas, collaborated with each other to assign duties, drew up plans, gathered materials, and went to work!
🏆Next week, the finished products will be judged and winners announced. Stay tuned for the results!
#ucathunder #ucahousesystem
🏫Yes, we are a school. We have everything you would expect at a school. Students, teachers, classrooms…all of it.
💜But above and beyond the tangible, our heart for the Lord makes us who we are. UCA provides transformational, Christ-centered education by cultivating the mind, engaging the heart, and equipping the students for action, all to the Glory of God! What a blessing to be a school that cannot only worship God but it is the foundation of who we are.
🤝UNITED WE WORSHIP. United, we do everything all to the glory of God!
#ucathunder
Pastor Ashley, our leader in weekly elementary chapel services, is simply amazing! Our students absolutely adore her! 💜🌟
She goes above and beyond by connecting with our little ones outside of chapel, and today was extra special. In Miss Anderson's 1st grade classroom, Pastor Ashley joined the kids for a festive Christmas craft, spreading joy and holiday cheer! She brought Christmas gifts for the kids, including delightful Christmas cookies, adorable Christmas ducks, and play dough.🎄🍪🦆
It's heartwarming to see Pastor Ashley embodying generosity, especially when these students have been learning about it in their Bible class. She's a perfect example of how to be generous in action. 🌟📖
A huge THANK YOU to Pastor Ashley for her unwavering dedication and investment in the students at UCA. 🙏💜 Your impact is immeasurable, and we're truly grateful for you! 🌟👏
#ucathunder #ucaelementary
Last night our talented young musicians took center stage in our Christmas Band Concert! 🎺🎷🎻
From classic carols and hymns to festive tunes, our bands brought the spirit of Christmas to life with every note. The hard work and dedication of our students is clear, as we could hear the progression of skills when each group performed. 🌲🎼✨
#ucathunder #ucafinearts
❄️Crystal snowflake creations❄️
Mrs. Brown's 5th graders used pipe cleaners and some chemistry to create beautiful snowflake ornaments. With the right ingredients and some patience as they grow, their crystals are now beautifully hung on their classroom Christmas tree. 🧪 🎄
This is the first of a series of ornaments this group will create and use to decorate their classroom tree. As they leave for Christmas break, they will take the ornaments with them and bless others with their creations. 🎁
#ucathunder #ucastem #ucaelementary
🏀 All Girls Basketball home games for Monday 12/4 have been cancelled and will be postponed, details TBD. ⛹️♀️
The next home games for UCA Basketball are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of this week. Check the athletics website for details: https://mcaaconference.org/public/genie/40/school/10977/
#ucathunder #ucaathletics
🍪 ⛄️ 🎄Today, our kindergarten students read through the timeless tale of the Gingerbread Man. They were captivated by the enchanting story that followed the adventures of our sweet, runaway friend.
🕵️♂️🔎 But the adventure didn't end there! After the story, the children set off on a scavenger hunt! They followed clues that led them one step closer to catching the elusive Gingerbread Man. Each discovery brought smiles, giggles, and a sense of accomplishment as they worked together to unravel the mystery.
🏆🍪 After locating the last clue, the treasure of homemade cookies awaited them!
#ucathunder #ucaelementary
🎄🎤✨ Our Elementary Stars Shine at their Christmas Concert! 🌟🎶
🎹🌟The stage was set, the lights twinkled, and our hearts swelled with joy as our talented elementary students took center stage at the Christmas Concert!
👏Thank you to our dedicated music teachers and all of our wonderful students who poured their hearts into each note, bringing the magic of Christmas to life! The concert showcased musical talents and united us as a community.
#ucathunder #ucaelementary
👩🔬🤯 The latest adventure in Mrs. Diamond’s Physical Science class has our students diving deep into the world of compounds and unlocking the mysteries of bond types!
🧪🌡️ Through various experiments, they scrutinized properties like melting point, solubility, and conductivity.
🔗📊 Based on their lab results, our young scientists will draw comparisons to what we know about ionic vs covalent bonds to determine which compound forms what type of bonds.
#ucathunder #ucaupperschool #ucastem
✈️🌟Our aviation students recently experienced a “Young Eagles” flight sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association. The sole mission of this experience is to introduce and inspire kids in the world of aviation. Since 1992, the EAA has given this opportunity to nearly 2.3 million youth ages 8-17!
👩✈️🛫For many of our students, this was their first time flying in a small aircraft. EAA member volunteers took them through a pre-flight inspection as a large group, then took them to the skies in a Cessna 172, three at a time. Thank you to our local chapter of the EAA for this opportunity!
🏫🎓We are proud to offer the aviation classes to our students as our hallmark program, one of only a handful in the state of MN, and only 67 schools nationwide.
#ucathunder #ucaaviation #ucastem
📝Our imaginative 6th-grade Language Arts students are rewriting classic tales, adding their unique twists and creative spins! From enchanted castles to magical forests, our students are exploring the realms of creativity and storytelling.🏰💫
After crafting their own narrative wonders, they took the opportunity to read their classmates' work. Engaging in this way builds valuable skills in evaluating and providing feedback. They're not just writers; they're thoughtful critics and supportive collaborators. 🤝📣
#ucathunder #ucamiddleschool
🌱 Our Biology students took a hands-on approach to learning about the incredible process of photosynthesis. They deepened their understanding and developed a profound appreciation for the plant kingdom. 🌏🌻
🌞 💦 Equipped with different props to simulate sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, our students recreated the magic that happens in the chloroplasts of plant cells. From capturing light energy to producing oxygen and glucose, they experienced firsthand the wonders of this vital life process.🌿🔍
#ucathunder #ucaupperschool #ucastem
📚📝UCA is in our fourth year of using the Groves Method Literacy Curriculum for our K-3rd grade students. Groves focuses on the four pillars of reading: phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Lessons are based on the science of reading, where the students learn a systematic way to read, spell, form letters, capitalize, and understand the forms of words. Learning happens in full class, small group, or individual settings, which gives every student the support they need. 🤝
🏫🔠 A 1st grader new to UCA this year came in knowing virtually zero letters and sounds. After working with our intervention teachers, they are now blending words and sentences, keeping up with their classmates!
🧠📈 A current 2nd grade student was “at risk” as a 1st grader. After receiving daily individual and small group interventions, they now score above 80% in reading!
👏Our goal at UCA is for all students to be at or above grade level in reading. And these are just two examples of the success we are seeing.
#ucathunder #ucaelementary
