Last Thursday evening, February 27, Vista Ridge Academy’s first and second grade classes held their annual fundraiser dinner and play. Over 100 tickets were sold for the event. Attendees enjoyed a lasagna dinner provided by Blue Mountain Kitchen. Following the dinner, the first and second grade classes performed “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Students first began learning their lines and music two months before the performance.

While the school is also known for its emphasis on instrumental music and other arts-based endeavors at the elementary school level, it also offers well-designed opportunities for young kids to act and sing, as well as learn about production, sound, staging, and costume and set design. These productions provide a wonderful opportunity for parents, friends, and extended family to connect with each other and see how the children are growing socially and academically through performance.

Vista Ridge Academy aims for students to strengthen each area of development during their time in elementary school. Giving students a voice through drama and music allows them to develop public speaking skills, memorization, and self- confidence.

Every year the first and second grade students create a special item to be auctioned off at each production to raise money to fund costumes, set pieces, and other production expenses. This year, with the help of Color Me Mine in Westminster, students painted mugs and plates with the Charlie Brown theme which brought in over $350 at auction.

The school’s annual Spring Concert and Art Exhibit will be on Thursday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. for all grades, PK-8.

Vista Ridge Academy is a private Christian elementary school north of Denver, operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It offers wholistic Christ-centered and values-driven education to children from preschool through to the eighth grade.

Marsha Bartulec is the Vice Principal of Administration at Vista Ridge Academy.