🧠 Learning Beyond the Classroom 📚
⛳Dr. Morrison used disc golf as a fun class activity to teach his students that Kinetic Energy is the energy of motion. It's the force that makes things go and significantly impacts our everyday lives, even when we're having fun! His students discovered the fundamental principles of kinetic energy:
🔵 Speed Matters: The faster the disc flies, the more kinetic energy it possesses. Just like a moving car has more energy than a stationary one!
🔴 Mass Matters: Heavier discs store more kinetic energy than lighter ones. Think of a large truck having more energy than a bicycle.
✨By mastering the principles of kinetic energy while playing disc golf, students gain a deeper understanding of the physics behind sports, transportation, and countless other real-world scenarios.
#ucathunder #ucamiddleschool #ucastem
🏐🌟 Heartfelt Thanks for an Unforgettable Evening 🌟🏐
Friends, family, and alumni rallied around Coach Larson last week at her last home game coaching volleyball for UCA.
Denise, you have been a guiding light for countless players over the years, instilling not only the skills of the game but also the values of teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship. Your legacy will forever inspire us! 🙌
To our family members, your unwavering support and encouragement have meant the world to our athletes and to our retiring coach. Your cheers from the stands have been a source of motivation. To our friends and alumni, it was truly special to see familiar faces from different chapters of our volleyball journey.
Thank you for making this event an unforgettable one. 🙏
#ucathunder #ucaathletics
👏 Congratulations to our very own Mr. Chris Palmer for his induction into the Faribault Sports Hall of Fame!
Chris is a 2009 graduate of Bethlehem Academy and was an outstanding multi-sport athlete in Football, Basketball and Golf.
-Basketball conference champions in 2007, 2008 and 2009 culminating with a State Tournament appearance in 2009.
-3 time all-conference basketball, all state as a senior and team MVP
-All time leading scorer and rebounder in BA history
-Played in the MBCA all-star game
-Played at St. Mary’s University and UW River Falls. Chris was in the top 5 in scoring and rebounding as a freshman, top 2 in both as a sophomore as well as 1st Team all MIAC as a sophomore
-Managed and coached at various camps after college
💜 We are blessed and privileged to have Mr. Palmer on our staff! He pours his passion for learning, sports, and the Lord into each and every athlete and student he works with.
#ucathunder
🖍️✍️Our elementary students recently held a coloring contest for our House System. All of the entries were voted on anonymously by teachers and staff, and a winner was chosen for each grade.
🤔💡Creativity abounded as the students were given free reign to color their House logo however they wanted.
🥪The winners were rewarded with the opportunity to eat their lunch in a classroom with Dr. Morrison. They were also treated with homemade brownies, made by our very own Mrs. Troost!
#ucathunder #ucaelementary #ucahousesystem
♥️ 💛 💚 💙 At the end of each quarter we highlight students that are portraying what we call “House Essentials”. These essentials are behaviors, skills, and gifts that we pray will shine through each and every one of our students.
Teachers take notes and vote on who they see is consistently being a good leader in these areas. One student is chosen for each school level, Elementary (preK - 5th), Middle School (6th-8th), and High School (9th-12th). Each student is awarded house points, and a personalized, special edition sweatshirt! They are recognized during chapel in front of their peers.
The first quarter ended today, and our winning students were:
Julia - High School (12th)
Isaiah- Middle School (6th)
Lagatha - (2nd)
Keep shining the light!
#ucathunder #ucahousesystem
✨This week was the grand finale of Mrs. O’s 2nd grade habitat project! 🌵🌳
The classroom was filled with mini ecosystems, each student proudly presenting their carefully crafted habitats. 🦜🧊 From lush rainforests to icy polar regions, the creativity was truly astounding. Every detail, from the construction paper trees to the fuzzy animals, reflected the hard work and imagination these little scientists poured into their projects.
🧑🏫 💫 Our students confidently presented their projects to their fellow students from other grades, turning the classroom into a hub of curiosity and learning. The enthusiasm was infectious as these young presenters explained the unique features of their habitats and the incredible creatures that call them home.
Great job students! 👍
#ucathunder #ucaelementary
👩🔬🔥 Our amazing chemistry students turned up the heat in the lab with a Flame Test experiment!
💥Armed with safety goggles and excitement, they explored the unique spectrum of colors produced when different metals were introduced to the flames. The heat added energy causing the color of the flame to shift as the electrons emitted varying frequencies of light. From vibrant reds to sizzling blues, the lab became a canvas of chemical art. 🧪🎨
#ucathunder #ucastem #ucaupperschool
#Tuesday Testimonial - New Family edition
💜 We love to hear from our families about their experiences at our school. This week, we feature a family that is new to UCA this year. Please help us welcome the Fegter family!
"Before we even started looking for schools, I thought about how much pressure it was to find a school that would forever be with our daughter. We had to find a school where we didn't have to be afraid for her safety, afraid for her emotional well-being, and afraid of the enemy using the system to influence her mind. This was her future.
After a brief and timid search online, we found UCA and one other private Christian school. We interviewed at both, and we liked both, but UCA provided more. The staff at both made us feel secure and sure, but UCA felt different. There were no loud neon signs from God to go one way or the other, like I had hoped, but what there had always been from the beginning was His quiet and gentle nudge towards UCA.
A few weeks before making our final decision, we still weren’t 100% sure if God was really directing us one way or the other -until UCA had an evening event that featured their new building plans. We attended as guests, just to see what this community was like in action.
To my surprise, I instantly felt a spirit of honor and humility when walking into this event, held at a local church. It was like we had just stepped into a Kingdom. I felt that we were witnessing a community, a family, a team working for the Lord. They opened the event with worship, lead in a sanctuary. A sanctuary! How was I so deserving of a school that follows the Lord for our precious child? I was truly humbled. I felt it was ours to have, without even having applied or been accepted yet. It was like the Lord was opening my eyes and telling my heart, "you're home". It was the divine power of the Spirit, easing my soul, reassuring my fears listed above with peace and security.
Seeing teachers and school leaders lifting their hands and worshiping God was an incredible experience. Never did I think a private Christian school would ever be in my future. What an honor.
When open enrollment for the school year came, we applied for UCA with confidence. My husband said a couple days prior, "maybe we should also enroll at the other school we interviewed at, just in case Avery doesn't get accepted into UCA", he didn't want to risk not having a school for our daughter, but in my heart I KNEW we did not need a backup plan -this was the plan. We did not apply for the other school and after a few months of waiting, we were accepted into UCA.
Now, a couple months into our first year at UCA, I never imagined partnering with a school that would help us build the foundation that our daughter will always stand on. I never imagined going to a school where they open their parent-teacher conferences with prayer, where their leaders are proudly led by His spirit, where HE is the center of it all. With all the crazy evil things going on in the world, we are protected and favored. We stand separate from the others. Knowing we will not have to fight the school system in how we raise our daughter is one of the biggest blessings we, as parents, could EVER ask for. We continue to be honored and humbled to be a part of UCA."
UCA is so blessed to have the Fegter family as part of our community!
#ucathunder #tuesdaytestimonial
👩🚒👩⚕️Our kindergarteners have wrapped up their unit about community helpers. To celebrate, they got to dress up for a day!
👨🍳Ms. Flaga’s students were all bakers, and Mrs. Troost’s students chose their favorite helper. 🧑🌾👮
The festivities included drawing community helpers, singing songs about them, and even decorating and eating cupcakes!🧁🧁
#ucathunder #ucaelementary
❓ 📖 Is this statement biblical?
What seems like a simple question led to great classroom discussion in Mr. Hilgenkamp's Ethics class. 🇬🇷 🇮🇹 As they cover the philosophies of people such as Plato, Aristotle, and Aquinas, they were presented with a statement about whether our true identity is found in the body or the soul.
Small group discussions led to decisions for, or against if this idea is biblical. Mr. Hilgenkamp also posed questions about tattoos and other ways people change their bodies.
Our teachers do a stellar job of facilitating discussions in a safe environment so that each student's viewpoint can be heard. All while drawing everything back to that same question...is this biblical?
#ucathunder #ucaupperschool #christcenterededucation
🎉🪀 Our Lower School had a special guest this week - Dazzling Dave, National Yo-Yo Master!
Our students were filled with laughter and amazement as Dazzling Dave spun, flipped, and looped his way into the hearts of our students. 🌀💖 His visit was not just about yo-yos; it was a captivating lesson in the "Science of Spin" that had the entire school buzzing with energy!
Shoutout to Dazzling Dave for sharing his passion, skills, and infectious enthusiasm with our young learners! 🙌
Yo-yos will be on sale before school on the following dates: Oct 16, 17, 18, 23, and 24. *Only cash will be accepted*
#ucathunder #ucalowerschool
🇲🇽🇳🇮 Miss Luttio took our sixth-grade Spanish students on a journey through different Spanish-speaking countries, learning about common foods, landmarks, and the capitols.
🎵🎸 The students took the words and information that they learned and used them in a Mexican lullaby. The classroom was filled with students singing beautifully in Spanish!
#ucathunder
Boys and Girls Soccer teams continue their Section play this Thursday!
Girls - 2:00 PM, at South West Christian High School - Tickets can be purchased online here. https://mshslr4a.hometownticketing.com/embed/event/75
Boys - 7:00 PM, at Providence Academy - Tickets can be purchased online here. https://mshslr4a.hometownticketing.com/embed/event/62
No Cash will be accepted at the games.
🏐 Farewell to a Volleyball Legend! 🏐
After 26 years of dedicated service and passion, Coach Larson has decided to hang up her whistle and retire from coaching.
Denise has been a mentor, leader, and friend who has left an indelible mark on our volleyball program, both at UCA and Christian Life Academy (one of our Legacy Schools).
💜 “Coach Larson teaches her players valuable life lessons that will impact them not only on the court, but off the court as well, for the rest of their lives. She has taught me the value of integrity, respect, and accountability. These qualities have shaped me into the leader, coach, and woman of Christ that I am today” ~Jase Anderson, former player of Coach’s and current UCA JV Volleyball coach
🙌🎉 Let’s come together and celebrate Coach Larson and express our gratitude for her years of service. We will hold a celebration after her last, regular-season home game on Tuesday, October 17th and 7:00 pm.
🤠 In true Denise fashion, the night will have a theme…so come in your Western attire to support our players and their coach!
#ucathunder #ucaathletics
🤷Could you describe the plum pudding model?
🌐🔬 Our Physical Science students presented their atomic models, unveiling the secrets of the building blocks that make up our universe.
🌌💫Whether it was the electron cloud or the planetary model, they delved into the complexities of atomic structures, sharing their insights, breakthroughs, and creative representations.
#ucathunder #ucastem
🔥🚒 Today was a blazing success for our PreK students who got a firsthand lesson during Fire Safety Week! 🚒🔥
🚨👩🚒 Our little ones had the fantastic opportunity to meet some local heroes – the firefighters! They listened attentively as the firefighters showed them all of the equipment on their truck, and the features of their turnout gear.
A huge shoutout to the Bloomington Fire Department for making today extra special. Your dedication to educating our little ones and ensuring their safety is truly appreciated! 🙌👩🚒
#ucathunder #ucapreschool #ucaprek
✝️ Today's Upper School chapel service was student-led. Having the students hear from their peers is very meaningful and special.
🧠 📖 Today, one of our 11th graders, Hero, spoke about wisdom and referred to Proverbs, chapter 4.
#ucathunder #ucaupperschool
🔍Mock Murder Mystery🔍
Our top-notch biology students have been asked to assist in investigating a most unfortunate incident. An autopsy was performed on a mock murder victim and revealed what they ate just prior to the time of death. The forensic pathologist removed the contents of the victim's stomach for our students to analyze in order to determine where they ate their last meal.
🧪 Our scientists performed several different tests in a macromolecule indicator lab to try and solve the mystery!
#ucathunder #ucaupperschool #ucastem
🍁🌲Mrs. Brown's 5th grade class joined Mrs. Troost's Kindergarteners to help them create beautiful artwork using natural elements.
🫐🌿The students used sticks, leaves, berries, pinecones, grass, and more to create animals, people, and landscapes. The 5th graders worked hard to collect all of the elements outside, thinking ahead about what their buddy would like to use.
🤝Creativity, cooperation, and collaboration were flowing!
#ucathunder #ucaelementary
✈️ Our aviation students are actively engaging with cutting-edge technology as they explore the world of unmanned aircraft systems. 🌍💻
The students got hands-on experience with drones, from takeoff to landing, and more. They navigated the skies and learned the intricacies of drone piloting and coding. 🕹️🛫
Who knows what heights they'll reach next? 🛰️🌟
#ucathunder #ucaaviation #ucastem
