Academy Days attendance climbed this year with over 90 potential students, promising greater enrollment for next year. Recruiter Jessica Rios, Principal Reeder, and other Campion staff advertised for the event by sending out fliers and personally visiting different schools to recruit for the event. "The teaching staff have been stretched thin in past years planning for the event," Principal Reeder commented, "and [now] having a full time recruiter has been a major blessing to this school.” Campion's own students volunteered to lead out in the activities themed "Around the World." Angie Cedano, a visiting sophomore from Houston, Texas, said, "They took us around campus and we played Bible Pictionary, Apples to Apples, and other games. The activities and worships got us involved and excited to be at Campion." The kids had a blast. When Jordi Obregon, a visiting sophomore from Wichita, Kansas, was asked if he enjoyed Academy Days, he said, "It was a fun experience and I would recommend it to any of my friends." Both Jordi and Angie plan on coming to Campion next year. The high attendance and positive feedback about the event shows promise for a higher enrollment number next year. Principal Reeder said, "We generally get 30-35% of who attend Academy Days, so with over 90 students attending, we are looking at about 30 potential students next year." Jessica Rios, the school recruiter, said that she believes Academy Days was a big success. She said her favorite part was "Our S.A officers guiding visitors and taking them on tours. We used other students to help show people where the boys’ dorm was, etc. I also think our students interacting with them showed them the spiritual culture here as well. A lot of parents enjoyed that." Principal Reeder agreed, "I had a parent come up to me and tell me she had been to a couple of Academy Days in the past, but this one was the best she had been to." Jessica said that some parents thought that we were putting on a show, but when they realized that students get up front and talk about God on a regular basis, they were sold. Madeline Uhrik and Benjamin Gueck are both seniors at Campion Academy photos by Bryant Oei and Jennifer Sigler
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Four teams made up of two students each head to HMS Richards School from Campion Academy each week to give Bible studies to 7th and 8th graders. These 7th and 8th graders, in turn, give Bible studies to the 4th through 6th graders. The Campion students are members of Joe Martin’s junior Bible class where they have been studying the 28 Fundamental Beliefs since the beginning of the school year. After studying one of the beliefs, Martin has his students choose seven Bible verses on that topic that are clearest to them and which they can use in their studies with the younger students. They are creating their own Bible studies. “Although for many of these juniors giving Bible studies is out of their comfort zone, this group is thoroughly enjoying sharing their faith and praying with the kids, many of whom have never prayed before with strangers, says Martin. They are “enhancing their walk with God by sharing their faith,” he finishes. All 43 of Martin’s junior Bible class students will have the opportunity to give Bible studies. In turn, all 14 of the 7th and 8th graders at HMS will have the opportunity to receive studies and then to give them to the 22 4th through 6th graders at HMS. Ashley Halvorson, a 14-year-old 8th grader at HMS, has enjoyed receiving Bible studies from Campion students. “They did a really good job giving them to us,” she states. They had a lot of Bible verses for us to look up” [on] the Second Coming and what happens when you die,” she shares. “I think it’s fun to tell other people about our beliefs,” Ashley says “and to see God work through us.” Christine Eagan-Foster, a 12-year-old 6th grader at HMS, received Bible studies from two girls in 7th and 8th grade, one on baptism. “It’s really fun that we can get taught about these teachings and interact about them. We even learn more than we learned at home. It’s nice to get a kid’s perspective on it,” she shares. “By the time the HMS students have experienced this [give and take of beliefs] for a couple of years, they will be ready for baptism,” states Davin Hammond, principal of HMS. “We want every 7th and 8th grader to recognize that they can give Bible studies,” he adds. Junior Bible students Cassie Carr and Natalie Boonstra, both raised in pastoral homes, believe the things they are learning in the class strengthen what their parents have taught them. “The Bible class with Pastor Joe has helped me to know God on a more personal level,” shares Natalie. “Bible class has helped me develop in my Christian walk and to prove my faith.” “We mark our Bibles with several verses to support each topic and cross reference them,” says Cassie. This gives us the tools to share with whomever we come into contact with. The junior class,” she says, “is coming closer to God because of this class and it is noticed all over campus.” Martin has long had a burden to disciple young people and has worked with the student literature program for more than 25 years. A new federal law, however, that limits the age students can work to 16 and prevents them from working before 3 p.m. has made it more difficult to carry on this program with some students. “The devil tried to close the door of evangelism” through this law states Martin, “but God opened a bigger door to evangelize our youth. Now we are placing the Scriptures in front of many of our youth who would never have opened them had the literature evangelism door not been closed. I’m having more influence with more kids in class than with LEs,” Martin enthuses. Carol Bolden is RMC administrative assistant for communication This story first appeared in Mountain Views, a publication of Rocky Mountain Conference of SDAs. Robots and strategy games may not be the first thing to come to mind when you think library, but that’s what students find at Campion Academy. Managed by Lindsey Santana, who holds a master’s degree in Library and Information Science, the Campion library is a place where students can get help with research, find a book to read, and study quietly, but it’s also a place where students can get creative, color, play games like Suspend or Gravity Maze, or play with Sphero robots. In sum, our new librarian is helping Campion facilitate inquiry and exploration. In the past, students could visit the library, read a magazine, or find plenty of books and online databases. However, the library management was tacked on to a teacher’s class load, so students often searched on their own. Now, Lindsey has the time to be a reading advocate, research assistant, curriculum collaborator, and instructor of information literacy. Teachers at Campion are finding their librarian indispensable, and they recognize what a rare resource they have. According to NAD policy, academies must allot $40 per student towards library resources. But, while the materials may be a standard investment, having an expert to manage those materials and guide students in their use is just as important. English teacher Erin Johnson said, “Lindsey has great ideas and suggestions for my curriculum. She makes my job easier, and the students’ work is higher quality because she finds resources that I’ve never even seen before.” Kathy Binder, who teaches independent living and English, agreed, “She’s wonderful about ordering materials and making a display of the topic I’m covering in class. She also made the whole assignment, had a key prepared, and was there to teach students and encourage them. I had a team teacher for the period.” Students benefit, too. Sophomore Juliessa Fernandez said, “I actually get stuff done when I come in [the library]. It’s a really big help with research and getting resources. I come to get help from Mrs. Santana a lot.” School Library Journal reports that student achievement levels are higher in schools that employ a librarian. Besides supporting Campion’s mission to expand minds, the library’s holdings on religion and spirituality—over 10% of the collection—provides students with resources to grow in their walk with God. Campion recognizes that the role of the teacher librarian is growing even more important as students and faculty are met with new challenges as they use digital information. Lindsey explains her role the best: “Certainly there is a transition going on in the library world from the physical concept of books to ones that are digital. There’s also the mentality (especially among teenagers) that all you need is Google. But what people forget is that we are living in a world where knowledge is growing at an exponential rate. Virtually anyone can publish now, so finding reliable, quality information is like trying to find that one drop of water coming out of a running fire hydrant. It’s overwhelming. Especially for students. So that’s where librarians come in—we help you find just the information you need.”
She’s also an advocate of creativity, which students especially enjoy. At the end of March the library will host “Make & Create Week” where students can trying soldering, programming, and other activities. The creative process enhances the learning process. Whether students are programming Sphero robots, making their own Lego designs, or creating duct tape masterpieces, the Campion library is a place where students can engage in creativity and learn to be producers instead of just consumers.
Senior Madi Uhrik and her team chose Turkey and created a model of the Hagia Sophia. She found the exhibition stressful but learned a lot about teamwork and planning throughout the semester. “Having judges come encouraged me to strive higher in order to impress people I didn’t know. You imagine they have higher expectations of you. They don’t know about all the hard work it took to get that final project done, they only see the project itself,” she said.
This is the 4th year Marin has invited judges to help assess the students' work at the end of the semester. He agrees that the learning environment provided by project-based learning is preparing our students for the 21st century workplace. Reflecting on the switch to group collaboration and authentic audiences, he said, “The improvement in quality and learning has been amazing.” The final exhibition also allows students to celebrate their efforts. “It’s good for them to be able to show off their hard work, and it’s good practice for them to be asked tough questions by an older, more experienced person,” said Erin Johnson, a judge at the exhibition. Second semester geography class will be giving presentations in May. When Philpott began teaching the class in 2006, the shop contained a ban saw and a drill press. With his continued management, the shop now boasts over $20,000 worth of machines, including various lathes, sanders, saws, and finishing materials. The latest addition to the woodshop’s array of machines is a computerized numeric control (CNC) engraving machine, which allows the students to manipulate an image or text using the machine’s software, and then set parameters that guide a drill bit to cut or engrave the image in wood. Sophomore Hannah Phelps said, “Using your imagination, you can really make about anything in this class.” Her classmate Devaney Bright agreed. As they both watched the CNC machine cut shapes of the continents out of a piece of cherry wood, Bright described projects she has made for her mom and her current inlaid map project. “I like learning how to use tools that I wouldn’t have gotten a chance to otherwise,” she added. Both she and Phelps are planning on taking welding class from Mr. Philpott next semester. “I want the students to feel comfortable in a shop setting, use different machines, and work with their hands,” he said. Campion—and Dan Philpott—value hands-on education that provides students with skills they can use now and in the future. Philpott hopes students will walk away with the skills and confidence to tackle future projects and household fixes themselves.
CN: I can tell you have a bent for the literary by naming your son after a character in The Chronicles of Narnia! LS: Yes, I love reading and learning new things constantly! CN: Which brings me to a question that may seem a bit irreverent to your profession: Since Campion has gone to iPads, is there really any place for books or a future for a library here at the school? LS: I love it when people bring this up. Certainly there is a transition going on in the library world from the physical concept of books to ones that are digital. There’s also the mentality (especially amongst teenagers) that all you need is Google. But what people forget is that we are living in a world where knowledge is growing at an exponential rate. Virtually anyone can publish now, so that finding reliable, quality information is like trying to find that one drop of water coming out of a running fire hydrant. It’s overwhelming. Especially for students. So that’s where librarians come in—we help you find just the information you need. CN: I like the fire hydrant analogy. So tell us a bit more about your role as librarian. LS: I’m working on collaborating with teachers—helping them and their students find the right materials to help support curricular needs. I mentor students in their research and homework needs. I teach information literacy skills to classes that come in for certain projects. I assess and determine how the library collection needs to change and evolve to support the classes offered here at Campion. I champion literacy by helping each reader find his or her book. CN: What are you most excited about in regards to your job?
LS: I’m really excited to start implementing a Makerspace here at the Campion Library. It’s a movement that’s growing popularity all over, but especially in libraries. The concept of the movement is simple: get out there and make something. Projects range anywhere from something made using a 3D printer (a technology Campion acquired last school year), learning how to solder, programming robots, building a catapult, knitting a hat, or making a wallet out of duct tape. I want students to learn the satisfaction of making something they dreamed up on their own, instead of just consuming what is so readily available. After Christmas, students at Campion will begin to enjoy Makerspace events probably twice a month. Our first event will involve programming a Sphero (a robot, for lack of a better term) using their phones or iPads. There will be a competition and prizes for winning teams. CN: That’s awesome! If anyone is interested in coming to these events, what do they need to know? LS: They will typically be held during the lunch hour, 12:00-1:00, in the library. Look for announcements in the Campion News emails. And if you’re looking for more information, people can definitely email me at lindsey.santana@campion.net.
Kast, now a senior film major at SAU, credits his high school English class as the place he first discovered he could tell stories through film. “It encouraged me to do what I wanted to do, and that was film.” Now he is paying it forward to Campion students who attended the workshop. “I hope that it gives the students a taste of how fun and important filmmaking can be,” he said.
Freshman Ethan Gueck, who has always been interested in film, signed up for the workshop in order to expand his skills. “I’ve been wanting to do more professional projects, and I was able to learn how to use a higher quality camera and a more advanced editing program,” he said. Junior Jose Castro, on the other hand, had never thought about getting into filmmaking. He admitted, “Now it’s something I might look into for college.” Gueck’s documentary team created a film about their classmate Himanshu Bhantana’s experience in the recent Nepal earthquake. Castro’s group filmed Principal Don Reeder’s story about overcoming challenges as a boys’ dean. David George, whose recent work includes directing the photography for the feature-length film Old Fashioned, was very pleased with the success of the workshop. “I hope that [the students] saw the power of story, whether it takes the written form, or is conveyed through sound or picture. Story is powerful. After all, what is the Bible mostly comprised of? I also hope that they see that filmmaking isn’t out of reach.” These Campion students now have the ability to continue learning how to create inspirational and promotional films, which is exactly what Campion technology director Steve Eickmann was hoping for. “We want as many kids as possible to get the experience of working with the camera and using it to create positive messages.” Video by Bryant Oei
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