April 2021 | Vista Ridge Academy

By Marsha Bartulec – Erie, Colorado …Students experienced a special week-long worship event at Vista Ridge Academy during the first week of April, where they were able to connect with God through lessons, stories, prayer, and fun, including an ending to the week which involved eggs being tossed from the roof.

The week of worship was sponsored by the RMC youth department team, which is visiting schools across the conference to encourage youth to dive deep into the theme “Fully Alive.”

One third grader’s favorite part was the theme song, This is Living, from Hillsong Young & Free. “The theme song at the beginning of each day was amazing! I liked doing all the hand motions,” they remarked.

Each day, a new theme was introduced based on what it means to be fully alive with Jesus. They included, “Because God loves the world, He sent us Jesus”; “Because God sees me, I know that I am his child”; “Because God values me, I value myself”; “Because God is with me, I can do what is right”; and “Because God loves me, I can love others”.

The week ended with some science and fun as Kiefer and Jessyka hosted the school’s annual Egg Drop event. All students, from preschool to eighth grade, were invited to participate.

Students were given instructions and parameters two weeks prior to the event to create a device that would keep a raw chicken egg intact when dropped from the school roof. While Kiefer dropped each device from the roof, Jessyka helped students see if their egg survived. Those students with an egg that survived received a dress down pass, meaning that they were able to have a dress down day at school.

“We always have such fun at VRA! The kids have such a fun and loving energy and the teachers always make us feel right at home, said Jessyka Dooley, RMC assistant youth director. “Kiefer and I especially loved getting to help with the egg drop. We’re so excited to see so many of the VRA students at Glacier View Ranch this summer.”

Kiefer Dooley, RMC youth director, reflected on the week. “I had a blast connecting with the students at VRA for the week of worship. [The first four days] were online, so we met over Zoom and the kids saw us on TVs in their classrooms. On Friday, we zoomed into the classrooms from the school and helped with the egg drop in person! I was honored that the kindergartners wanted to “meet me in real life instead of on TV” and that the first and second graders wrote a song for me. It was a lyrical masterpiece, consisting entirely of my name in different melodies and harmonies. Overall, we were thrilled to make connections and encourage the students to live in the Fully Alive way of Jesus.”

–Marsha Bartulec is the vice principal of administration at Vista Ridge Academy; photos supplied

By Marsha Bartulec … Erie, Colorado … Participants in the annual Vista Ridge Academy (VRA) scholarship gala traveled “around the world” during the virtual event. The evening affair featured ten unique desserts from different parts of the world.

Some 50 participants were invited to the event and were given the option of picking up a dessert box or having it delivered.

Brittany McLachlan began the virtual event by sharing her connection to VRA across the years, going from student-to-student teacher, to current parent and board member. VRA teachers introduced themselves from their classrooms and announced the winners of the drawings for six items: iPad, $250 Target gift card, The Grey House basket, a custom address sign, a photography session with Brittany McLachlan and tickets to the Denver Zoo.

Boulder Adventist church senior pastor Geoff Patterson presented a worship thought on why parents send their children to a Christian school and Rebecca Murdock interviewed teaching principal, Sandy Hodgson.

Hodgson reflected on how the school year has been different this year and shared information on the scholarship program. “One hundred percent of our students benefit from subsidized tuition due to the support of our constituent churches–Boulder church and Chapel Haven church. Beyond the subsidized tuition, about 25% of our students receive financial aid each year.”

The evening culminated with the Virtual Auction hosted by Mr. E., a.k.a. Boulder church associate pastor James Murdock. The items auctioned included themed baskets from each class from Italy, the Middle East, Hawaii, Mexico, Germany and Puerto Rico. Kodo Kids store donated a Rainbow Peg Board and Northland Violins donated a violin for the auction.

Because of the generous support of Avista Adventist Hospital and several local businesses (Brew, COSTCO, Crumbl, Daylight Donuts of Dacono, DP Sweets, Trader Joes and Whole Foods), all event costs were underwritten, and every dollar raised went directly to scholarships. The evening events raised more than $7,500 toward the scholarship fund.

–Marsha Bartulec is vice principal of administration at Vista Ridge Academy; photos supplied

Worship and Egg Drop

Vista Ridge Academy Goes Around the World

We Want to Meet You!