Meet Phanstiel Hall’s resident assistants! Top Row: Judd Watson ’17, NJ Christian Sanchez ‘17, FL Justin Lee ‘17, Korea
Middle Row: Iverson Kester-Calvin ’17, VA Ricardo Paulino ’17, NY Matthew Shelton ’17, MA
Bottom Row: Luke Fogg ’17, IN Andrew Cuellar ’18, OH Trystan Gammon ’17, OH
SERVE GOD ∙ VALUE KNOWLEDGE ∙ ACCEPT A LIFE OF SERVICE
SHENANDOAH VALLEY ACADEMY, ESTABLISHED IN 1908, EXISTS TO PROVIDE A DISTINCTLY SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST COLLEGE PREPARARTORY PROGRAM THROUGH EXPERIENCES TO PRODUCE DISCIPLES OF JESUS WHO ARE COMPASSIONATE CITIZENS PREPARED FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS. JULY/AUGUST 2016
We Welcome Principal Donald Short to Shenandoah! in-transition to be mentored by principal Dr. Dale Twomley, who would assume the role of principal when Twomley’s term ended after the 2015-16 school year. The Shorts entered into conversations with SVA, both parties sensing God working to bring the two together. In May 2015 Mr. Short began his career at Shenandoah as principal-intransition. On February 2, the board unanimously voted to call Mr. Short as principal, effective June 1, 2016.
“My career goal is to be where God wants me to be,” says Principal Don Short, pictured with wife Laura at the celebration of his announcement as SVA principal.
Last spring, Donald Short decided to let God lead as he and his family considered opportunities to be principal of an Adventist academy. As vice principal of Georgia Cumberland Academy for 13 years, he received numerous principal "calls,” but remained in Georgia. Short says, "My career goal is to be where God wants me to be." At the same time, Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) searched for a principal-
Board chairman Dr. Bill Miller personally shared the announcement of the selection of Mr. Short as principal with SVA staff. Rita Miller, assistant girls’ dean, suggested a celebration which was arranged for the next day. Short’s selection was announced; prayers of dedication were offered by Dr. Twomley, faculty and students; and everyone congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Short and enjoyed donuts in the administration building lobby. “As principal-in-transition Mr. Short's leadership has demonstrated his commitment to Jesus and to the SVA family. He
has developed strong relationships with students and solidified the faculty and staff team. We are blessed by the Short's decision to serve the people and educational ministry of SVA. We welcome them to Shenandoah!” said Dr. Twomley. Mr. Short holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Religion from Southern Adventist University, and a Masters of Arts for Teachers in American History from Indiana University. In addition to administrative experience, he has taught a range of social studies classes. Don and his wife Laura have three elementary age daughters.
2015-16 Student Association Pastor Christian Sanchez offers a prayer of dedication for Principal Short.
Inspirational Thoughts From Hadley Hall by Dean Stephanie Powell
The residents of Hadley Hall are amazing young women who are serious about knowing God. It fills me up to listen to them explore and contemplate Him. I love hearing what they have to say! It reminds me why I do this job and love teenagers. The Holy Spirit is moving on our campus. We went for something interactive at worship the other night. The girls walked to posters hung around the chapel, and wrote personal responses to Bible texts. In sharing their thoughts, I hope you will be inspired and refreshed—and maybe will bring a smile to your face!
Psalm 138:7 • To me this makes me feel not alone, knowing someone hears my cries. • You (God) will protect me no matter what. Even if I am not 100% or 1%, you will always be 1 million % all the way with me and never give up on me because you love and care for me and thank you for that. John 16:33 • He has already overcome the world. We will climb through hell but if we choose Him we can overcome the world too. • Christ is my peace. There is no trouble greater than God! • God will give you the strength to overcome things in life you never thought you could because God overcame everything. He is the almighty, powerful God. Galatians 2:20 • When we accept God, we die with Him on the cross. We died with Him and now we have been resurrected with Him with new, clean, slates. • We must give ourselves up, leaving the door open for Christ to enter and live inside of us. We must completely trust Him. He already gave Himself up for us.
Isaiah 26:3 • He will be my big brother that will make sure I feel safe. • Trust in God doesn’t stop bad things from happening, but allows us to deal with it peacefully. Romans 8:26 • Words are manmade, they are not sufficient. Feelings are God made they are sufficient. Pray with your heart, an ocean of emotion. • The spirit does help us in time of weakness. Why? Because we don’t know what to pray for. We pray for our “hair to get longer, or a boy to like us.” How ever God answers prayer, that will glorify Him! Psalm 34:5 • I am a horrible looking creature yet I am loved. Now I am able to stand unashamed of who I am. Beloved of Christ. 2 Corinthians 12:9 • I think we should tell God our weaknesses, even though he already knows them. Psalm 37:23-24 • God is with me always, even when I fail to delight in him, he will grab hold of me and be my savior. • Even when we fall, God is still there. We will fall even when we are committed to God but he will lift you up and lead you even though you’ve been down. Don’t Hadley Halls deans and resident assistants’ enthusiasm about the upcoming school year captured during pre-session: give up on God just because Assistant Dean Rita Miller, Maddy Ndahayo ’17, Allie May Magtanong ’18, Hannah Sloan ’18, Bethany Edwards ’18, Jessica Pepper ’17, Dean Stephanie Powell, Elizabeth Schuen ’17, Noe Grady ’17, Janice Pakkianathan ’17, Brenda you’ve stumbled. Get back up Ngetich ’17, Becky Renderos ’17, Taskforce Dean Jessica Mattox and keep on walking!!!
Psalm 23:1 • Sometimes I tell myself multiple times that I lack something, either smart stuff for math, or beauty. But you know what? We don’t need to worry about what we’re lacking. Why? ‘Cause God doesn’t see that in us. He sees something better than what we see in the mirror every morning. • I lack the ability to think before I speak, but with Him I’ll be okay. 2 Corinthians 5:7 • Human sight can only see so far. My eyes cannot see what truly lies ahead of me. But Him who sees all will be my sight. As long as I choose to believe. • We will be living life if we decide to follow Jesus and have him in our hearts, if we have faith in him, not by what we see.
SVA Cafeteria Transformed! Cafeteria renovation made possible, primarily by alumni estate gift If you attended alumni weekend, principal’s list brunch or a special event recently at Shenandoah Valley Academy, you have enjoyed being hosted in the newly renovated cafeteria. This significant improvement for our students and campus life was made possible, primarily by a generous alumni estate gift. The main dining room and restrooms were fully renovated, with the majority of the work and upgrades completed last summer. The project included a fresh coat of paint, window and wall treatments, lighting enhancements, new tables, chairs (donated by the General Conference dining room, seats recovered by SVA),
SVA students. The team has been canning, freezing, cooking and baking to provide an ideal diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts to support the healthy diet and wellness of our young people. “The changes we’ve made in purchasing to offer students
Bob Ockenga, shows-off fresh local raspberries
more fresh produce and whole foods, combined with the newly renovated dining room, have reinvigorated our food service program,” says Okenga. The cafeteria provides fresh, nutritious ovo-lacto vegetarian fare, and also ample opportunity for students choosing a vegan or gluten-free diet. Positive student reviews and enthusiasm have been unanimous. Junior Miranda Benton told principal Short, “I love everything about SVA, and local produce and healthy food options in the cafeteria have made it absolutely amazing here!” F
Surprise carpet installation by anonymous
donor completes cafeteria renovation
shelving for student backpacks, tile entrance flooring, refurbishing and/or replacing wood columns, trim and brass railings on the mezzanine, a new sound system, and television monitors on each side of the serving entrance for announcements and special presentations. Quality high-grade carpet capable of holding up to daily use by large numbers of active teenagers was the remaining large-ticket item not completed or covered by donations. This summer the final piece of the renovation—the carpet—was installed as a surprise gift to returning students and staff by a generous anonymous donor. When food service director Bob Ockenga returned from summer break, he opened the cafeteria door and saw beautiful new carpet! It was a terrific surprise for everyone! The cafeteria has been transformed--and not only by the renovation! Bob and his hard-working team, including a significant number of volunteers, are going the extra mile to provide local Shenandoah Valley produce and fresh-baked whole grain bread to
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“It takes a lot of work and planning to make this happen, and we couldn’t do it without faithful volunteers,” says Ockenga. “Its fun working with everyone, and the positive reviews and good health of our students make it all worthwhile.” Each week, Bob spends most of his day off at the Shenandoah Valley produce auction. “People ask where we’re from and why we’re purchasing so much produce. When I tell them its for a high school cafeteria, they can’t believe it and want to know more about our school and why we’re doing this,” says Ockenga. “It’s exciting to interact with the community and talk with them about SVA and our wonderful students, and the focus on health and wellness of our school and our church.” Providing a fresh, nutritious diet is making a difference in the overall health and wellness of students when combined with an active outdoor lifestyle, and deans encouraging and creating an environment in the dorms for adequate sleep. School nurse Darlene Anderson reports the students are well, and have far fewer illnesses and medical concerns this year than in prior years. She suspects this is attributable the students' nutritious cafeteria diet.
Valerie Pichot ‘18, volunteer parent Gilia Toma, and Judd Watson ’17 take a
moment to celebrate and have some fun after baking whole grain rolls.
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