 I remember being in fourth grade and counting on my fingers to see what year I would graduate: 2020. Perfect vision, I remember thinking. Now, with the coronavirus causing so much uncertainty, the year of “perfect vision” seems ironic. Too often, I hear people say my class is special to be part of such a huge world event; the first senior class ever to experience a worldwide pandemic such as this.
This, however, is not the first historical milestone the class of 2020 has seen. The year we were born, the world grieved the attack on 9/11, and we will be the last graduating class to have been alive for that infamous day. When we were six years old, the first iPhone was released. When we were five, Facebook was available, and by the time we were in fifth grade, Instagram was popular. The first black president of the United States was elected when we were in first grade. Throughout our lives, school shootings have been a constant threat. We saw the rise of the #metoo and #blacklivesmatter movements. Our freshman year began with the election of Donald Trump. The end of our senior year is marked by COVID-19. This latest event in our lives has derailed all the plans we have been making the past four years. Being a senior stinks right now, and although we will always be known as the class that had our senior year stolen from us, I hope that we will also be known for our ability to adapt to life’s challenges. The world we will join after graduation is vastly different from the world we were born into, but all the changes we have seen in our lifetime have helped to prepare us for the many curves life will throw at us. The class of 2020 may not have a perfect vision of the future, but we can see how to rise above the challenges that come our way. Ashley Herber Student Editor
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 Jean Boonstra, Associate Speaker of Voice of Prophecy and Executive Producer of Discovery Mountain, an audio adventure series for kids, is helping kids look at the positives during this period of self isolation. Starting this past Sabbath, every morning at 11:00 MDT, she’s gotten onto Facebook Live from home and read Christian stories for kids.
Currently, she’s reading a chapter a day from the book Mary Jones and Her Bible, a classic children's story from the 1800s. “It was difficult to find books that weren’t subject to copyright rules for sharing. The first day, I read a story that the editors at Guide Magazine worked hard to contact the author of and gave me permission to share,” says Jean. “It was nice to work together to give kids something positive during this time when they’re feeling isolated from friends and their normal routines.” There’s a theme to the livestream each day, like pets, hobbies, or thankfulness. “In addition to the story, I give them practical ideas of positive things they can do that are focused around the theme of the day,” says Jean. When the theme was hobbies, Jean shared with them several ideas of hobbies they might want to learn, then showed them her own hobbies and gave them websites where they could learn more about them. Kids not only have story time at 11 to look forward to, but they can find inspiration to fill their whole days with creative fun. “It can be kind of scary right now for kids, and I wanted to do something positive for them and give them something positive to look forward to when their normal routines are out the window,” Jean says. Naomi Boonstra, Student Editor  COVID-19, self-quarantine, social-distancing! That’s all we have been hearing lately, not just on the news, but social media, TV, the radio, and basically everywhere. As most people are freaking out about the virus, making sure to be prepared for any situation such as a stay-at-home order, us high school seniors are more devastated than ever. With all the cancellations and closures, the Campion Class of 2020 is struggling.
At first it didn’t seem real, and at times it still doesn’t. With the first email we received, I saw that Music Tour was canceled, and with the emails that kept coming, it kept getting worse. Everything was being canceled, all of my “lasts” you could say, including our senior class trip. It came expectedly, but it was still devastating to receive the email. It felt like the world around me was crumbling, and although that may sound dramatic: it's true. For many of us seniors, those final school events have been our world. These last couple of months that were supposed to be spent with our friends, getting together for what may be the last times, is being spent in self-quarantine. It stinks. There’s no other way to put it. The whole situation is ruining our senior year. Not only has this time been taken away from us, but we’re all worried about graduation being canceled. Finding out that my family who had been planning to fly in from the Philippines can no longer come was devastating. But realizing that we may or may not get a graduation is even more crushing. We have dreamed of the day we would wear a cap and gown, getting ready with all our friends to finally walk and receive our diploma, representing all of our hard work. And now that rite of passage may be ripped away from us. With everything going on, it’s hard to find the good and to be positive-minded. One day as I was scrolling through Instagram for what seemed like the hundredth time, I saw something that said, “What if God has given you this time to spend with Him, to strengthen your relationship with Him?” I believe that we are living in the end times, and it made me think that maybe God wants us to use this time to get ready and to help others be ready too. Even though everyone is going through challenging times, we as seniors should take this time to remember what is important. As hard as it is, I choose to believe that God has something bigger and better planned. God has a way of surprising us when life doesn’t go the way we planned. Bela Cinco, Student Editor (Photo from Mountain View Studio, used with permission)  Greetings Campion Family,
The teachers and staff here at Campion Academy miss being able to see our students on campus, but we are thankful that we will be able to continue to provide a quality education online during this time. This new process will take us all some time to get adjusted to, and I’m sure there will be many kinks that have to be worked out. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we go through this together. We are preparing a new schedule of classes for students to follow online to keep up with their academics, beginning on Monday, March 30. Most importantly, our goal is to continue to lift up Christ through our classes and meet the spiritual needs of our students. Online education has its own challenges and we will need the help of our students and parents to be successful. Please take note of the following information. Students, you must be self-disciplined to finish this school year. You must dedicate yourself to the work before you. When participating in a live online class, it’s imperative that you remain "on task". It will be easy to become distracted, but you must focus your energies and attention to the rigor of education. Parents, you can assist the education process by eliminating distractions at home, and by being available for your student if they have questions. Encourage your student as they learn to navigate this style of learning. Campion is a college-preparatory school and students who learn this style of education will be well equipped for higher education. Please spend time praying with your students specifically about their education. Vice-Principal, Mr. Kast and Registrar, Sherry Hay are preparing a schedule of classes for you to follow. Live classes will be held on Zoom, and we will continue to use Schoology. You will need your iPad and connected to WIFI. Mr. Kast will email the new schedule and information on how you will attend classes, receive instruction and complete assignments by Friday. The April ACT has been cancelled. If you are registered for the April 5 test, following is the information you need to reschedule: You may change your registration to the June 13 or July 18 ACT test date at no cost to you. To change your registration, you must go to your ACT.org student account and request a test date change to either the June or July test date. You will be prompted to pay a registration fee to make this change, but that fee will be fully refunded within 3-5 business days. If you would like to test in June, please log into your account no later than May 8 to make the change. If you would like to test in July, please log into your account no later than June 19 to make the change. If neither date works for you, contact www.actstudent.org/contactus by June 19. Guidance Counseling: Students must still accomplish the tasks Campion has outlined in the Guidance Counseling program. Please make an appointment with him by going to the Campion website under the Academics tab and selecting "Career Counseling". Mr. Marin is prepared to be a resource for you with the ACT test and getting you ready for the next steps you need to take. Residence Hall Students: The Residence Halls are closed. While you are not able to collect your belongings at this time, they are safe, and will be available to you at a later date. Again, we continue to be committed to a quality, Christ-centered education here at Campion. As a staff, we are praying for the health and safety of each of our students and families. We look forward to reuniting as soon as possible! Sincerely, Don Reeder Principal, Campion Academy  Melody and Milka living "the good life" prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, they still connect over the phone to pray for each other. The extended spring break and social distancing, due to COVID-19, didn’t stop Milka from connecting with her friends and uplifting them spiritually. Last Sabbath, Milka, junior at Campion Academy, spent the morning calling some of her closest friends to pray for each one.
“My family has been going through a rough time,” she explained. “I woke up Saturday morning thinking that as much as I’m going through a rough situation, I know that my friends have situations that need prayer too.” She took the time to listen to her friends share their requests before praying with them. “My friends have been praying for me, and I thought it was time for me to pray for them as well,” she explained. One of the friends she called, Melody, shared, “I was just sitting in my kitchen eating and I got a call, and Milka asked me if she could pray for me. I’ve never had that happen to me before. It meant a lot to know that someone actually cared enough to call just to pray. The fact that she still called even though she’s going through a lot, showed she cared about me and my situation. It was admirable, and it made me want to reach out to others to pray for them too.” Milka strongly believes in the power of prayer. “There are situations we go through that we can’t do anything about except pray, but prayer means a lot,” she said. “I knew God had used me in a special way, even though I may not ever fully realize how my prayers will impact my friends.” With the constant stream of confusing information and worrisome stories regarding COVID-19, it is easy to feel helpless and overwhelmed. Milka set a perfect example for us, in taking the initiative to reach out and offer support to her friends. Her actions not only helped her put her own struggles in perspective, but also started a chain reaction of friends reaching out to friends. How can you be like Milka?  Campion Academy continues to monitor the information provided by the Colorado government, Colorado Department of Health, Center for Disease Control, and World Health Organization. Currently, Colorado has low numbers of confirmed or presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, however, Campion Academy is continuing to work diligently to keep the spread of the virus as low as we can.
During the extended spring break Campion Academy is taking additional measures to keep our staff and students safe and healthy. All buildings on the campus will be sprayed with a disinfectant effective against coronavirus including the residence halls, administration building, Hankins Hall, and the gymnasium. Additionally, we are limiting access to the campus, not allowing visitors on campus, and only allowing essential personnel into the buildings. As a reminder, the COVID-19 virus is spread through person-to-person contact in people who are within close proximity to one another (within six feet). The mode of transport is respiratory droplets which are expelled through coughing or sneezing. These droplets then make their way into the nose or mouth of another individual and into their lungs. Additionally, the COVID-19 virus is two times more contagious than the influenza virus. This is why we are taking steps to reduce person-to-person exposure. There are several things you can do besides reducing your social exposure, washing your hands, and avoiding touching your face to limit your risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus. Ellen White provides good and sound council on how to remain healthy. As Adventists, we know these principles as “New Start:”
There is a lot of information available regarding COVID-19, a few helpful resources are:
We will continue to keep you updated as we determine the best practices to put into place with this fluid problem. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. Jenny Gann Campion School Nurse  Dear Campion Academy students,
You have been on my mind and in my prayers the last few days. I hope you know, that each one of you is precious to me (though I wish I knew some of you more)! I have been processing the escalation of changes along with my own kids. Wow! How unpredictable this life is. However, we can have utmost confidence in God’s character. He never changes! We can trust Him! This situation is a “mixed bag.” I must admit it is kind of nice to have some time off – even a little extra. But, what about the inconveniences and all those plans that are now cancelled or are “up in the air?” There is no way to predict or plan (which I like to do). And what about our friends? We miss them. I already miss you students on campus! We have a choice. We can dwell on how unfair it is, what we are missing out on and unable to do. Or, we can focus on what we do have and the hundreds of things we have to be thankful for. So, I have a few challenges for you. Not an assignment – though maybe I should make it one… #1. Make a list every day of what you are grateful for! It could be mental or write it down. We are told to “Give thanks in all circumstances.” Focus on what you have. My family is thankful we still have the internet and each other. (Though after a couple weeks stuck in this little house, that could change). I truly believe that “All things work together for our good.” Somehow, God can make this entire situation into something good. #2. Think outside of yourself. Do something for someone else with no strings attached. Helping others will bring more blessing than anything else we do for ourselves. Do it! #3. Be intentional about spending extra time with Jesus. I believe this pandemic is just a taste of the end of time. Our only security is in our personal relationship with Jesus. I’m praying for all of you. I would love to hear how you implement these challenges. Love and prayers! Mrs. Eickmann  Last weekend, middle school students from Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Nebraska visited Campion Academy for the annual Rocky Mountain Conference Music Festival. While at Campion, students had the opportunity to make music with high school students for three days. This year, students were able to participate in various ensembles including a large choir, an orchestra and a handbell choir. Megan Michalenko, a senior at Campion who has attended this festival for the last nine years, commented, “Music fest has been such a positive experience in my life and has given me the opportunity to grow my love for music.” From early Thursday morning until Saturday evening, Campion students were encouraged to share their musical talent with the young musicians. On Friday, Campion’s music department gave a short concert for the guests attending music festival. Pastor Goetz, who shared a worship thought, encouraged everyone to “rejoice always, pray continually, (and) give thanks in all circumstances,” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. With Sabbath came performances. The church service began with the Strings of the Rockies, a group of first through third grade students, and was followed by the festival ensembles who shared the beautiful music they had been preparing. “One of my favorite parts was everyone working together to form such a big sound,” Benjamin Maxson, a student at Campion, remarked, “There’s nothing like hundreds of voices singing in unison to glorify God.” On Saturday night, each ensemble played the last of their pieces before wrapping up the exciting weekend. Yves Clouzet, the music department director at Campion Academy who plans this event, shared, “It gives me great joy to see the students improve over the course of the festival rehearsals. It means that all the things that went on behind the scenes to make sure these students could have the musical support they needed to be successful was 100% worth it.” Madi Jordan, senior, guest contributor  Depression and anxiety are scary, especially among high school students. What should you do if someone comes to you with concerns of depression or anxiety? What do you do if you feel someone might be struggling and you’re not sure how to bring it up to them? These are frequent questions asked among teenagers in today's world.
When someone in your life comes to you in need of help with their mental health, it may be hard to navigate what to do. The most important thing to remember is to listen. Listening could be the difference of how the conversation goes. Never try to dismiss what the person is expressing to you about their struggles concerning mental health. If they trust you to come and share that they need help, they value their relationship with you. Acknowledge what you hear the person sharing with you, and try and help them come up with a plan towards a healthier mindset. A student at Campion shares when someone opened up to them about struggles with depression, “I tried not to get caught up in the moment too emotionally, having a logical mindset in the situation to take the next step to keep the person safe.” Something we might worry about with the topic of someone’s mental health is overstepping boundaries. A student at Campion shared some good advice from her experience with a friend opening up to her about mental health. “You have to remember that the person is overwhelmed and not thinking clearly. Because you see this, it’s important that you take steps to get them help. Now that you know they are struggling, boundaries don’t really matter. You are now accountable for that person and their safety.” If you see noticeable differences about a person’s mood and know that something is not right, how should you bring up to him or her that you are concerned about their mental health? This is a hard conversation, but if you truly care about this person then it’s an important one to have. If the person is really truly struggling, they will appreciate you taking the time out of your schedule to talk to them. “Talking openly feels like popping the bubble of overwhelming and intense feelings. It can be very healing just to feel heard,” explained a student. Having a time set aside to be able to really talk about what this person is feeling and making sure the person knows that you are a safe place is important. Let the other person talk and simply listen to what they are expressing to you. Be courteous to the other person and let them know that you care about them. The number one thing to remember is that if someone expresses concerns about their own safety, steps need to be taken for professional intervention. This is a subject that needs to be taken extremely seriously. It is better to be too careful than to regret not getting help for the person who needs it. Don’t be afraid to tell a parent, pastor, or professional. When you have done all you can do for the person and are still worried, continue to pray for him or her. Jesus deeply cares for the person you are worried about. Jesus will help you to remain calm and be there for the person who needs you. Megan Michalenko, Student Editor  Dear Campion Family,
The administration, school nurse, custodial staff, and deans have been working together to help prevent illness. The following is a letter from our school nurse describing the steps taken to aid in prevention. Don Reeder, Principal You no doubt have heard a lot about the coronavirus (2019-nCoV or COVID-19) and associated pneumonia which began in China and now has spread to multiple countries including the United States. Campion Academy is taking the potential spread very seriously and keeping the safety of your children in the forefront of our minds and plans. We are monitoring the disease progression, Colorado’s response, as well as CDC recommendations and will keep you informed of any changes we make at Campion Academy. Although the risk of contracting the 2019-nCoV virus is low, we understand that this is worrisome for many parents and we want to inform you of our processes and plans at Campion Academy to keep your children safe and healthy, not only from the coronavirus, but also from influenza. The custodial team at Campion, including those who work in the administration building and the residence halls, are doing an excellent job at disinfecting all high traffic areas such as bathrooms, doorknobs, handles, drinking fountains, and desks at least two times a day. Additionally, staff are diligently disinfecting any desks occupied by a student with a cough or cold in between classes. We are monitoring student illnesses and reducing contact sick students have with the remainder of the student body. With dorm students, this means we are utilizing sick list procedures as well as sick rooms in the dorms. Students have also been reminded of healthy habits including: -washing hands -not sharing cosmetics, food, or drinks -keeping hands away from faces -coughing and sneezing into shirts or elbows -drinking plenty of water As a reminder, students who have been sick need to be fever free (less than 100) for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever reducing medication, before returning to school. Additionally, students who have been vomiting or have had diarrhea must be symptom free for 24 hours, without the use of any symptom relieving medication, before returning to school. Thank you for entrusting us with the care of your students at Campion. We understand the fears new viruses can bring, and we want you to know we are doing everything we can to keep your students healthy. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out by email or phone. Blessings, Jenny Gann, RN jenny.gann@campion.net 301.830.0753 |
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300 42nd St. SW Loveland, CO 80537 Phone: 970-667-5592 Fax: 970-667-5104 Email: info@campion.net |
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