What started with a handshake ended with mattress surfing.
An activity-filled first weekend capped off a busy first week of school at Shenandoah Valley Academy. The weekend activities, which began on Friday, August 25, and ended on Saturday, August 26, allowed students to deepen their new and existing friendships as a fledgling school year roared to a start.
After the debut of a new Friday schedule and the final chapel of the week, the penultimate day of the week culminated in an exceptional evening vespers that included a candle-lit dedication service and sacred singing at center campus.
SVA Vice Principal Kaleb Leeper was the speaker for the evening worship service hosted in the New Market Church. In
an interview, Leeper said that his message, based on Romans 15:5-6, advocated for a unified school—a school of one voice and one mind. “I would describe it as a call for unity, and to come together as SVA family—as students, faculty, and staff—and to glorify God in unity,” he said.
Following Leeper’s message, students filed out of the church and organized into groups led by college religion class students. Each group went to various classrooms on campus and prayed with the teachers in each department. The groups asked God to lead the school, its teachers, and its students in the new academic year.
The evening concluded with the groups returning to center campus, where students received a lit candle. Pastor Tim Harley, a religion teacher at SVA, led the finality of the dedication service. As the students held the candles, they prayed over the school and sang several praise songs.
For Emelia Gude, a sophomore and a new student, the vespers service was her first on SVA’s campus. “It was the first Friday where I could feel what SVA was going to be like—the difference between my old school and this school,” she said. “It was so incredible. I felt so good and happy that I called my parents and told them, ‘Wow, I really want to stay here. I feel the presence of God on this campus.’”
Erica Lopez, a senior, also felt that the vespers service was profound. “I’m a four-year senior, and it’s happened every year I’ve been here,” she said. Lopez realized that this was the last time she would ever experience the service, and she said in an interview that she fully realized how decisive the moment was. “The candles held symbolism that was more than just playing with fire,” she said.
The weekend pursuits continued after church on Saturday. A large group of students and staff walked approximately two miles from the school to a pavilion along the Shenandoah River, where the students participated in games that symbolized the “Great Controversy” and had an opportunity to wade in the smooth river.
The games included a complicated task: each person participating was blindfolded, and “good” people attempted to
lead them to the finish line, while “bad” people tried to lead them astray.
“I think one of the unique aspects of the Seventh-day Adventist faith and Adventist Education is the ability to run everything through the context of The Great Controversy,” Leeper said of the games. “I have a burden to help students think about real controversy in their lives and the choices that they make.”
After the games, the groups from the previous evening reconvened to have a short Bible discussion based on the ideas they practiced during the games.
“I liked having the individual groups,” said Tabor Parker, a senior who led one of the discussion groups. “We could ask questions and answer them,” she said. “It was very nice having the small group. It felt kind of like a Bible study,” added Zaevon Dalhouse, another senior leader.
“It felt like family.”
According to Harley, the Nature Sabbath activities originated as an all-day affair during the administration of Principal Spencer Hannah, making Nature Sabbath at least a decade old. Nature Sabbath was initially known as “Hideaway Sabbath” and has changed form and function as the years have progressed.
Later that day, the association-sponsoredstudent“Almost Anything Goes” event kicked off at 7:30 p.m. Each class formed a team and played a series of games. The first game, mattress surfing, involved having each person in the class lie on the floor while passing a mattress with a student on it back and forth.
Other games included a shoe toss, roulette, “Hungry Hippos,” and a paper airplane toss. Ultimately, the senior class took first place in the event, while the junior class took second place. The sophomore and freshman classes took third and fourth place, respectively.
“Almost Anything Goes is so much fun,” Lopez said. “It was really interesting to see the new SA officers and sponsor and how they worked together,” she said, aptly pointing out that the event is the debut of the new SA team.
Senior Survival is an annual trip for the senior class where students learn how to physically prepare for the end times prophesied in the Bible. However, that is not the only outcome, as it also is a lesson for the class of the importance of teamwork as we begin our final year of high school. The days were packed with many spiritual and practical challenges we had to overcome with our individual teams. Much of the class looked forward to this adventure with apprehension, for we had little clue what was about to occur. The only known information was about the lack of showers and bathrooms we would have to endure.
As we arrived at Camp Overlook on August 30, our first surprise was the return of Ms. Mohns, former science teacher at SVA, as a group leader! We were sent to set up camp with the supplies to form a ramshackle shelter, but most had brought along hammocks, and soon enough the woods were filled with the seniors’ residences for the next few days. When we had finished setting up camp, we all were sent to dinner and
Nicole Kidin
joined together for a worship service and s’mores before lights out.
The next morning, all ears were awakened to the sound of Mr. Raymond’s voice, signaling the start of our first real day of surviving. Both the girls’ and boys’ camp had to prepare their own breakfasts, and by 9:00 a.m., we were gathered together for some spiritual reading to begin our day. We then were split into our separate teams, where we went to a wild edibles class, a team building exercise, and a camping essentials course. Lastly, all groups headed to the lake at Camp Overlook for another activity and to cool off after a long day. We were then sent back to camp to prepare our own dinners and then to another worship before lights out.
Friday’s schedule was very similar to Thursday’s, but with one very large difference– the privilege of taking a shower was presented to us! We again prepared food for ourselves and had a
This year, SVA has been blessed with an abundance of new deans, teachers, and other staff. Throughout these first couple of months, the new staff have been adjusting to SVA life, and have been getting to know the school and people better. The students have been getting to know the new additions better as well. Cami Prudencio, a senior, says, “I have been enjoying getting to know the deans, and have appreciated the positive atmosphere they have created in the dorm.” SVA’s new head girls’ dean, Kim Hunt, says that the thing that stands out the most about SVA to her is “the student involvement and leadership.” Along with Dean Kim, Dean Kristi Young and Dean Faith Montes have also been welcomed as new deans in the girls’ dorm The new assistant dean, Kristi Young, has been coordinating Girls’ Club as well as home leave transportation. Her positive attitude and bright personality have been radiating through her participation in Girls’ Club activities. The girls’ task force dean, Faith Montes, says that “Something that surprised me about SVA was how genuinely kind everyone was. I live in Washington State and I didn’t know anyone when I came to work at SVA. However, I felt so welcomed the second I arrived and I still feel so welcomed everyday by everyone here. . .I think one of the greatest things that stands out about SVA is its spirituality. God is so clearly present throughout our campus. In addition to this, so many of the students here have personal relationships with Him. It’s amazing to see this as a new staff.”
The boys’ dorm has also welcomed two new deans. The new assistant dean, Todd Hunt (husband of Dean Kim!), says that his favorite thing about SVA has been the “nice people, nice weather, and beautiful valley.” Along with Dean Hunt, the boys’ dorm has a new task force dean, Alex Nesmith. Zaevon Dalhouse, another senior, describes Dean Alex as “a nice person, he is a good dean to have in the dorm.”
The dorms have not been the only places welcoming new staff. Our new cafeteria director, Mrs. Fatima da Silva, has been providing students with delicious meals every day. Her cooking has been enjoyed by our new science teacher, Mr. Shibin Samuel. He says, “My favorite thing about SVA is the cafe’s food! The food is delicious!” We have also welcomed Mrs. Karen Pelote, who is working as both a teacher and a nurse. Mrs. Pelote says, “My favorite thing and event kind of go together. I really enjoy the authenticity of the students during praise and worship. This was very evident during the music retreat in which groups of students had ‘jam’ sessions just praising the Lord. Spontaneous beautiful music praising God. It was totally wonderful! Maybe something that surprised me is that I also have to mention the kindness and politeness of the students. Some examples of this are opening doors, yes ma’ams and respectful conversations.”
Although Mrs. Monica Biaggi has volunteered for many years, she has now been welcomed as an official staff member in the music departmen! She says that, “What I love about SVA is that it feels like home. It is a big family. And we take care of each other. And I see it in how the students treat Lala, my daughter; they are so sweet with her; she found a lot of brothers and sisters at SVA!!” Another familiar face is Mrs. Ellen Rogers, whom we have welcomed as our new maintenance director. We also have a new custodian, Mrs. Trudy-Ann Clarke, who has been doing a wonderful job keeping our administration building clean. Last, but certainly not least, we have our new registrar, Mrs. Carrie Heilman. Senior Nicole Kidin says, “Although Mrs. Heilman is new, she has already become an integral part of the SVA community.” On behalf of all of the students at SVA, I would like to thank our new staff for their tremendous hard work and dedication to making our school a better place! We appreciate your kindness and determination. Welcome to SVA!
worship to welcome the Sabbath. We ended with the opportunity to stargaze and to sing praises around the campfire.
On Sabbath morning, most seniors woke up apprehensive, for we all knew there was going to be a large challenge for the teams that day. We had our daily spiritual reading and waited to find out what was to come. Our challenge was to find colored ribbons while on a particularly arduous hike. All teams were determined to reach the top of the hill the fastest, but there were many instances of helping the students from other teams to reach the top. The view at the top and the feeling of satisfaction made the struggles of climbing worth it for the whole class. After all the seniors returned from the hike, every group had to participate in the trust fall and Devil’s Web activities. After these, the ladies had some free time to freshen up, while the men got to prepare a meal for us. Each girl was led into the cafeteria by a boy, was seated and served a “gourmet meal.” The dinner was absolute chaos, with boys running every which way
around the cafeteria, serving meals and refilling drinks. For the ladies, it was quite an enjoyable experience, and the boys seemed to have a fun time amid their disorderliness. After the meal was cleaned up, the seniors had our class party and performed our team’s rendition of the school song. The final event of the night was to sign each other’s shirts for picnic the following Monday. By the time all of this was done, it was well after midnight and time for all seniors to retire for the final night.
On Sunday morning, everyone got to sleep in a little extra before we had to break camp. Once everything had been cleaned up from our stay, we enjoyed a final breakfast prepared by the teachers. We all gathered together to share our final thoughts and what we learned over Senior Survival. When everyone returned to school, we all had a different outlook on our class and our strength as a group. The entire experience, from the activities, to the spiritual insights we gained, to just living out in the middle of nature was a huge bonding experience as we enter
On September 4, 2023, all SVA students boarded the buses to drive to Camp Horizons. Each class wore their class colors, with some wearing face paint matching their shirts. The Freshmen wore white, Sophomores wore red, Juniors wore blue, and the Seniors wore their Senior survival shirts. After about a twenty-minute drive to the camp, we unloaded the buses and all gathered at the pavilion. SA welcomed us and got us ready for the class on class events by hyping everyone up.
The first event was the medicine ball relay race. The goal of the relay was to run around the lake twice while holding the ball and finish faster than the other classes. Six people from each class participated in the relay, passing the ball to the next runner. The Seniors ended up finishing the relay first and had a great start to the picnic.
Naomi Pakkianathan
The next event was canoeing. Each class had two teams of three people who canoed from one side of the lake to the other side and around a floating trampoline. The Senior class won this event, also. The events following were more relay races such as a three-legged, wheelbarrow, sprint, and gunny sack race.
After these races came one of the most competitive events of the picnic, the tug of war. Not only were the participants fighting against the other class, they were also fighting slippery grass. Unlike a regular tug of war, the SA officers used water guns to spray water on everyone’s feet and hands as they pulled the rope. The Freshmen and Juniors competed first, with the Juniors winning. Next were the Sophomores and Seniors. After the Seniors won that round, the Freshmen and Sophomores competed for second place. As per usual, the Juniors and Seniors were left to fight for first place. The round started and it seemed like the Juniors were taking the lead. The rope would give a little on the Seniors side and then give a little on the Juniors side. No one knew who would win because the rope was even on both sides. In the last few seconds, the Juniors started pulling harder, almost causing the Seniors to take second place. To everyone’s surprise, the seniors pulled
the rope all the way back to their side in the last second and won first place. Nolynn Dahlberg, a Junior who participated in the tug of war said, “I used every bit of physical strength I had in my body to the point where it was a mental battle to keep going. At the end, I literally couldn’t feel my arms for two hours.” It was a struggle but the Junior v. Senior tug of war was definitely a highlight of the picnic. After tug of war was the bus push. The goal of the bus push was to push the minibus across the field in the shortest amount of time. Once again, the Senior class won.
The day was unbearably hot, so the last events by the pool were a blessing. The second to last event was a relay swim race. Each class chose four swimmers to swim in the lap pool. The freshmen won the race and took their first win. The belly flop contest was the last event of the picnic. Four people from each class took turns jumping off the diving board and creating the most creative belly
This year’s Week of Prayer, beginning Monday, September 11, was titled Love 101, and we had the privilege of having Glenn Russell as our speaker. Russell was born in Egypt to missionary parents, and his childhood years were spent living in Beirut, Lebanon. He graduated from Columbia Union College and later graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University Theological Seminary. Russell then earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Trinity International University with an emphasis on missions and ministry. He is married to Sharon Russell, a retired reading specialist. They have two adult children and one granddaughter, Gemma. Dr. Russell spent ten years pastoring in Virginia and Maryland and then 15 years serving as the Bible teacher at Andrews Academy.
Russell started the week with one of the first things that come to mind when we think of love: romantic relationships. He discussed the importance of having each other and how males and females bring balance when we are together. He referenced the story of creation and how we are created in God’s image. Both genders together create the image of God and reflect his characteristics as a whole. He then discussed God’s blueprint for relationships and the steps to grow one: detachment, attachment, unity, and intimacy. At the evening meeting, we were given journals for the week to answer specific questions pertaining to that day’s topic. That night, Russell prompted us with two questions: “What is something that you need to detach from?” and “What are some ways you can improve how you show love in relationships?”
On Tuesday, Russell spoke about friendships. He encouraged us to find good friends that help us grow; iron sharpens iron. Russell illustrated that there are four levels of friendship: acquaintances, casual friends, close friends, and best friends. There are also killers of these friendships, like dishonesty, lack of integrity, hypersensitivity, jealousy, and gossip. Russell described how, if you want to find the right friend, you first need to be the right friend. The four principles that aid you in becoming the right friend are: a good friendship needs to be rooted in God; true friends are unselfish and make sacrifices for you; a good friend loves you as much as they love themselves; and a good friend helps you strengthen your relationship with Christ. That evening, Russell prompted us to write a letter to a good friend and thank them for being there for us.
Wednesday, Russell spoke on loving the other. He emphasized the importance of not discriminating or being prejudiced toward others because it causes fear, loss, trauma, problems in relationships, religion, and media. Russell then showed us a video of a song he wrote on prejudice to give us an example of how to love. He also provided solutions to stop discrimination, like education, association, laws, and conversation. In the evening, Russell prompted us to write boundaries that we have for certain relationships in our lives that help us avoid conflict.
On Thursday, Russell spoke about a time in his life when he was intentional about his feelings toward a girl he is now married to today. He told us that he kissed her, and she asked him what he meant by doing that. He told us that it made him think about what he meant by his actions and that he cared about her deeply. Russell said to us that, as young people, we must be intentional about how we show affection and that if we express it, we need to mean it. We express actions of love because we love the other person, not because we want something back. That evening, he asked two upperclassmen to pray over an underclassman as an expression of love.
Finally, on Friday Russell discussed the importance of being a kind leader. He said you can measure a leader by the size of their followers. In the evening, Russell ended with an appeal to be leaders and disciples for others so that they may help each other understand and love the way God loves.
This Week of Prayer was a great way to start off our school year. We hope to remember and implement the lessons we learned throughout the rest of the year
Sabbath morning, September 16, 2023, a group of twelve of us went to Valley Fellowship SDA Church. Including Pastor Reed Richardi, our eager group of 13 left SVA at 9:00 am and arrived at the church at about half past nine. Inside one of the downstairs rooms, we all sat around a big table and were each given a plastic container. Pastor Reed placed several bags of various kinds of M&M’s in front of us with the directions to fill our little cups with as many of the little candies as we wished. Without hesitation, we packed as many of the treats into the mini cup as possible. After doing so, we were directed to get into groups of two or three, preferably with someone you were not familiar with, and for each M&M we were to share something about ourselves. Though quickly realizing what we had just done, it was especially fun because it gave us a chance to be invested in learning about the other person. I particularly enjoyed this because both my partner and I reminded one another of exciting, humorous memories of our younger selves that showed our different and similar personalities.
When everyone had finished up their not-so-little icebreaker, we were asked why we had originally signed up to be a part of Church Connect. Several people answered that they were not sure of what participation would be expected from them, but had signed up to get off campus. Many put their names on the list for the sole purpose of wanting to find out about this specific outing. When first reading about it on registration day, I had been happy to join because I saw it as an opportunity to connect with others by sharing our individual talents. I wanted to take part in experiencing the
Nolynn Dahlberg
Sabbath with other people, while being a blessing to them. I had been searching for a way to reach and serve people while still being in school, and this gave me a way to find the fulfilling joy and love of Jesus in doing so. We hurried afterwards to practice the songs we were to sing for leading out in praise and worship. Accompanied by our own SVA students playing the violin and guitar, the congregation raised their voices in song to “All in All,” “How He Loves Us,” “Sanctuary,” and “In Christ Alone.”
During the praise and prayer request time, people could stand up and share their individual stories and testimonies. You could see the pleasant expressions on their faces, grateful for the thoughtful and personal environment. The service was so touching, as you could feel that everyone wanted to be there, portraying God through our love of music.
Church was followed by a delicious potluck. We discussed all the usual findings at fellowship meals and how the meaning of “potluck” is that there are many pots filled with random foods and it all depends on luck of whether it pleases your taste. The people kindly saw us off and we headed over to W.O. Riley Park for FLAG camp. For the next two hours, we dedicated our time and attention to fun learning about God with the five kids who showed up that afternoon. Since we had a small group, we all sat in a circle and introduced ourselves, saying our name and age. Some of us taught them how to play fun hand games, and then we all ran to the big playground to let out all of our energy. The kids were so excited and helpful to each other in teaching
the others how to play the games. The playground was one that kids dream of, and we played rounds and rounds of sardines where everyone but one person counts and then tries to find the one person who is hiding. The goal is to quietly hide with that person till one person is left looking for everyone else. During this time, we had invited a little boy who was also at the park to join in our game. He gladly did so and the boy’s mom then asked Pastor Reed about what we were doing. He told her about FLAG Camp and she and her son then stayed the rest of the time connecting with us. Next up, we gathered together to sing camp songs and perform a skit for the children. It was precious to see one of the smaller girls be very interactive with all of the hand motions. Even though she didn’t know them, she was so expressive as she followed along.
During the skit that demonstrated how our words can hurt others and the importance of being kind and honest, our exceptionally small crowd watched enthusiastically. The afternoon ended with yummy snacks and sweet Capri Sun drinks and putting together a cute arts and craft keychain that says “Jesus (heart) Me.” The mother of the young boy had been so thankful for her encounter with the children and us that she had gone back to the park and told the other adults about what our church was doing and what FLAG Camp was about. I am sure that we were witnesses of the work of Christ and my first experience with church connect was a definite 10/10, would recommend! In return for this, you will be blessed by many genuine, warm, thankful smiles.
Avery Browne
On September 9th of this year, SVA’s music department took a beautiful trip to Beverly Farm for a retreat. We were thankful to make it there safely, even though we had a difficult situation on our hands. The bus that took the people who went to set up early broke down. It was such an abrupt stop and nobody really knew what was going on. Thankfully, we were close to our destination and we were able to pull over on the side of the road. Surprisingly, at the exact moment that the bus broke down, we saw a spot to pull over. This was only one of the many blessings from God that day. On our way to the farm, we had to carry everything in the bus. Fortunately, Mrs. Anderson and Ariana came to the rescue, and we put everything in their car.
It was a truly beautiful walk up to the barn. As soon as we reached the barn, we were each handed a shirt that had the words, “With one voice” on it. This is the theme for the music department this year. “With one voice” is used to describe the unity that we have in the worship of God through everything that we do. After getting our shirts, we had an amazing devotional thought by Ms. Wiedemann about the power that music has in others’ lives. Sometimes people don’t want to listen to a sermon or a lecture about biblical principles, but sharing it through song can truly make all the difference.
Shortly after, we broke into peer-led discussion and read the story of Paul and Silas. The story was a huge inspiration to continually have a posture of praise no matter what we are going through. Even in the midnight hour, we can still praise God. Paul and Silas’s faces caused the jailor to be so impressed that he and his whole family were baptized the same night. That is the power that worship can have in the life of a person who may not even know Jesus.
When the devotional ended, we had a jam session. People from every music group came together, and we praised the Lord all morning. This was organized entirely by the students and we just
Juridia Castellanos
Parents’ Weekend, a weekend when parents can come to our campus and enjoy their kids as well as fun events, started off on September 29 with a Friday night vespers of beautiful testimonies, worship, and special music. Boys’ assistant dean Todd Hunt and his daughter Hannah began the service with a beautiful performance of “Love Like This.” Following this were more musical selections and several parent testimonies, ending with one of the most touching testimonies given by Michelle Kidin, senior Nicole Kidin’s mother. She spoke about how her life has changed in these past ten years and God’s calling.
mission trip. Senior Kevin Guzman spoke about how his leadership life has changed during his years at SVA, and senior Zaida Galva, our girls’ club president, shared her thoughts on boarding school life and the amazing impact it has had on her. Parents were able to see and hear what their students were up to while at SVA. There was also amazing special music led by students and parents. The Jackson, Pelote, and Sotelo families all sang wonderfully.
Sabbath afternoon, strings, orchestra, choir, handbells, and Shenandoans came together in the first concert of the year. Our directors, Ms. Wiedemann and Mr. Biaggi, have done an amazing job with their music groups. Parents loved to see their children up front participating. They are always astonished and amazed after these performances.
Gaviria, Juan Tarazona, and Camilo Ortega. No one was competition for them. It was too easy. Their strategic and communicative team was undefeated. Many thought they were done for against some competitors, but they proved them wrong. I guess we can say Colombians do it better.
decided to praise the Lord as long as we could. From songs like “Jireh” to “It Is Well with My Soul,” it was truly a blessed experience. A little later in the day, the event became more of an organized worship experience. Each group, which includes band, choir, Shens, orchestra, and strings, broke up and prepared songs for a special afternoon concert. Choir could hear the band while practicing, which at times was distracting, but eventually everyone got together and we had a great time getting prepared.
After the preparations were done, there was another break of free time where we got to record a music video all together and go for a walk to a beautiful body of water. Once everyone came back up, the concert began. The barn was beautifully lit and very well decorated. There was no audience, on earth at least. We all truly felt the presence of God. It almost felt as though the heavens were shining upon us as we began to sing and play our instruments all together. We were all here together simply to sing and play praises to our God. It was especially great when we all got to play songs together. We had solos, special music, and beautiful chorale sounds all in one concert. It was very evident that the spirit of the Lord was with us.
To close the concert, we had a very well- known speaker amongst the Adventist community. Mr. Biaggi’s father visited us and spoke on the importance of music in our lives, as well as in Adventist education. His words were truly a blessing to all who were able to hear. When the concert was over, we sang campfire songs late into the evening while sharing dinner together. The music department provided everyone with pizza and drinks, which we were all very glad to have. While eating, we sang songs that were fast, slow, in English or Spanish, anything you could imagine. After one big prayer all together, we got organized and began heading back to SVA. We closed the night all together in song and the music retreat was a great success. Praise be to God for the power of music in the lives of us all.
Sabbath was full of activities. Sabbath school, once again, was filled with praise and testimonies. Senior Zach Mace started with prayer, then sophomore Andres Munoz shared his experience on last year’s European music tour. Sophomore Evelin Balcarcel also shared her experience on last year’s Mexico
As Sabbath church service neared, more parents kept coming in. Students got to meet parents and reunite with old friends. By the time the program started, all the seats were filled. It was a smooth program with a sermon shared by Pastor Buz Menhardt. We learned that as a campus of faith we must stand together. School, church, and home are the three bases for this campus.
We closed the Sabbath with a short devotional in which Mr. and Mrs. Wiygul both shared their stories of their love for agriculture and explained its impact on their life as well as on this campus. Matt and Josie Minikus then had a mini concert. It was a beautiful way to tell the Sabbath goodbye.
Finally, the long-awaited volleyball tournament! There were 18 teams in total, each one ready to fight for the win. The winning team was Camila Rojas, Gabriel Martin, Pablo Hernandez,
It was a marvelous Parents’ Weekend. Without the presence of staff, parents, and students this event would not have been as amazing as it was. Let us always keep in mind our verse of the year, Romans 15: 5 & 6: “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each
With an intent to win, the boys’ varsity soccer started up early with tryouts within the first two weeks of school. After tryouts, 22 players remained: 14 seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen. They began the season strong with a resounding 8-0 win in an away game against Massanutten Military Academy. From there, they went on to win what seemed like game after game, each one with a massive lead. Their closest game was a tight 2-1 win that was sadly an away game. The match was equally balanced on both sides. Tied at halftime, the team clicked and locked in. In the second half they brought the fire and pulled out with another goal to win the match.
As has been happening in the recent past, Spencerville cancelled this year’s match. Looking forward to the fierce competition, the boys’ team was disheartened, and some were upset when they heard the news. As they went on to the next game, they used that energy to carry out yet another substantial win.
Guerdy Thomas
My favorite match was their game against Eukarya Christian Academy. This match, although starting off slow, began to pick up energy and had the crowd festive. Their first goal was made by Aleks Ullrich who made a beautiful straight-line kick too fast for the goalie to keep up with. The next goals were incredible and seemed as if they were done by professionals themselves. They were made by the Molina twins, Micah and Morgan, as well as Kevin Quintiana and Daniel Hernandez. These incredible goals led the team to a win.
Easily as exciting was the second game against Massanutten Military Academy, this time at home. The team led strongly with a 5-0 lead by halftime. Coach Biaggi, knowing this lead and trusting in his team, chose to put in the red shirts and have them practice for the upcoming NACA tournament. As the second half went on, the red shirts seemed to light on fire. The crowd cheered on the team as they went on to score four more goals, each better than the last. The game was called early at 15 minutes left in the half. This win had the crowd screaming and
lively after the game. In their first home game against Shenandoah Valley Academy’s sports rivals, Highland View Academy, the boys’ soccer team had a tough match- up. This game was a close one as well. Although the team orchestrated their offense incredibly, they found it hard to score on the opposing team’s goalie. It seemed as though the match would be tied 0-0. But after a time, the Stars scored their first goal. Not far behind came HVA with an answering goal, and the match was evened up. This match had the crowd on the edge of their seats. With a beautiful pass to one of the strikers, the Stars were able to score with time on the board. With all the energy they had, they managed to hold out and stop HVA from scoring, ending the game with a 2-1 win over the school’s rival.
The student body at large doesn’t get to see many away games. Daniel Hernandez, a junior on the team, says that his favorite away game match was against Blue Ridge Christian Academy.
Princess Alcantara
My name is Princess Alcantara. I am a Senior and it is my privilege to have been named co-captain of the 2023 girls’ volleyball team. This season, we got off to a rough start since only one of our team members had played on the SVA varsity volleyball team in the past. The first game was frustrating for me mentally and hard physically because I was pushing through a fever and didn’t have the energy I needed to keep myself going while simultaneously pouring into my team. The most heartbreaking part of being captain by far is seeing the girls walk out of the gym after games with defeat on their faces and sometimes even tears streaming down their faces. I could not take it anymore so I decided to start praying daily and asking God to give us perseverance and chemistry on and off the court. Prayer after prayer and game after game I would find myself crying afterwards in frustration and confusion.
From then on, we had a couple more losses but I refused to give up on my team. The day had finally come when we would have to face our rivals, Highland View Academy, and on top of that, it was our first home game of the season.
That day, which caught me by surprise, was when everything changed for the better. What made that game different was that we gave the game our all and fought all the way to the end. At that moment I felt like I could not recognize my own team. For the first time we were playing like a united team instead of looking and playing like six random girls on the court. Despite our unity, we lost by two points in overtime. Right before the game, I was convinced that if we lost one more game I would be devastated, but, to my pleasant surprise, I was instead filled with an overwhelming sense of contentment and pride for my team. I felt like my prayers were finally answered when I saw how hard we played that night and how we had finally gained chemistry on the court. After that, we beat Dominion Ridge in their home court and had our first home game win against Eukarya shortly after. Despite all of
He says that surprisingly, to not only the school but the players as well, the team was down 2-0 at halftime. The team feared losing and soon seemed to gain their consciousness back as they went on to score six goals in the second half of the game. He says it is his favorite because “. . . it felt like an actual competition, not to be disrespectful to the other teams we played.” He went on to say that he felt like the team woke up and fought back and held on to the very close win. He also claims that their second away game against Fresta Valley Academy was an easy game physically but mentally he felt as though the team was not there. They won 6-2 but Coach Biaggi did not let their attitude go unnoticed; the next practice he was very challenging.
“So far so good” and “If we keep playing as a team and stay close as a family we can get far in the NACA tournament” are the words he has for the rest of the season. Not only Daniel feels this way but the entire team as well. They hope to get further in the NACA tournament this year.
our struggles, it has been the most fulfilling thing to see how each and every one of my teammates has grown personally in physical abilities and characters. I am proud of all of these girls for showing up day after day and giving their best regardless of our losses.
When asked how she felt when she was chosen as co-captain, Senior Kika Auguste said, “You know, when I was elected as team co-captain I was actually shocked. The girls weren’t surprised because they said that I was easy to talk to and they felt comfortable with me but I had never realized that people actually notice my strengths as a leader. As co- captain, I feel like I have a responsibility to keep my girls energized whether it’s a hard game or an easy game. On the days when I don’t feel as confident, I remind myself that the girls and the coaches chose me because they believe in me and know that I can rise up to the occasion. It’s comforting to know that my co- captain and my coaches are there for me if I’m having an off day and that my girls are rooting for me. And I quote ‘I would rather be hated and respected than loved and not respected because respect is love.’ But lucky for me I’m both.”
When asked how she felt about the first win of the season, Freshman setter Hannah Hunt said, “When we started the game, I was pretty confident we were going to win. We were all excited and I think our confidence helped a lot. The game was really fun; We all played our best. When we sealed the win, I’d like to think that I was even more excited than usual. After that game, I believe we all walked home (or to the dorm) with a smile on our faces, and renewed faith in ourselves and our team. I was even prouder to be part of the Shenandoah Valley Academy Volleyball team.”
The loved sport of flag football has been brought this year to SVA intramurals.
The Chiefs, Commanders, Jets, and 49ers are all competing for their own spot at the championship. The final outcome was uncertain from the start, with excellent picks from all team captains. The teams’ coordination, skills, and technological capacities all determined the winners. The team captains are Seth Job, Kerrick Goodwyn, Angel Hidalgo, and Ajani Shaw, all of whom were optimistic for the new season.
Monday, August 28th Jets vs 49ers 42-6 49ers won
An absolute blowout for the 49ers. More was expected from the Jets sine they have a solid team. However, the 49ers happen to be more seasoned players. This, combined with the Jets’ general lack of coordination, set them off to a very poor start to the season with very low hopes.
Jets (0-1) 49ers (1-0)
Tuesday, August 29th Chiefs vs Commanders
Ajani says they got lucky and it should’ve been their game; reasons were unspecified. Commanders won 27-26
The winner and captain of the opposing team, Seth Job, said “definitely very close, but we won the game. We were down at first half 20-6, with a very uncoordinated defense in the first half.
Second half we turned the game around with two interceptions and much more offensive activity. We benched some
Donavan Hernandez
guys for most of the second half, but it was worth winning the game. If we play them again in the playoffs, we’ll show them that we’re more coordinated as a team and in our roles. We’re gonna get ourselves a flag football championship.”
Very confident words coming from Seth. Was it luck? We will find out when they see each other for the awaited date of the playoffs. Chiefs (0-1) Commanders (1-0)
Thursday, August 31
Jets vs Chiefs Chiefs won 30-0
Yet again another loss for the Jets, adding to an already poor season. Although the Chiefs had already had an excellent game against the Commanders, this game only boosted their morale even more, especially since they won this time. The Jets held them once or twice to a first down, but this was not enough, as the Chiefs came plowing through the defense with young talents such as Cassius Hartman, Marcos Torres, Ajani Shaw, Stevie DeLong, and many others. The Chiefs with a new look into the season leave this game with a record of: Chiefs (1-1) Jets (0-2)
Tuesday, September 5th Commanders and 49ers 49ers won 28-12
For the Commanders, their worst game, for the 49ers, a well needed victory. On the Commanders’ side, no passes were completed, and key players were missing. In a scramble, a multitude of things went wrong. But the 49ers
were on top of their game, coordinated and with all their essential players. The offensive line was awful for the Commanders and, with major plays being held by the 49ers, the day ended with a brutal loss for the Commanders. Commanders (1-1) 49rs(2-0)
Monday, September 11th
Commanders and Jets Commanders won 13-12
What should have been an incredibly easy game for the Commanders almost turned into the biggest comeback of the century for the Jets, and the fight of the Commanders lives on. The Commanders were once again missing key components in their offensive plays as well as being uncoordinated throughout the whole game. Players didn’t show up, and some had to leave mid-game, including team captain Seth Job. Seeing this, the Jets seized what might have possibly been their one and only opportunity to shine in a game and ended with a tremendous one-point victory for the Commanders. Once again, the Commanders barely pulled through with the record now being: Commanders (2-1) Jets (0-3)
Wednesday, September 13th 49ers and Chiefs 49ers won 28-14
A seemingly evenly-matched game turned out to be a rather easy loss. Both teams did have their key players and were well coordinated with their plays, but the 49ers really stood out with their offensive plays. With Dean Hunt taking a leadership role for the offensive plays,
As SVA’s Student Association president, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend SALT with SA’s vice president, pastor, secretary, and sports secretary and the class presidents, vice presidents, pastors, and senate members, and resident hall assistants. SALT, which stands for Spiritual Academy Leadership Training, is a leadership program held by the Colombian Union Conference, where the main purpose is to get student leaders from different schools together to share and learn essential leadership skills through Christ. Other schools, including Highland View Academy, Spencerville Academy, Takoma Academy, Lake Nelson, and Pine Forge Academy, also attended the program. This program is usually an annual event but because of COVID-19 it was not held for the past two years, so this was the first meeting in a while.
Upon arrival at Camp Blue Ridge, we were given our cabin numbers, the schedule of the retreat, and shirts. After that, we all headed to our cabins to get settled down and rest before we went for dinner and our first meeting. All of the meetings were held in the cafeteria, a beautiful open space with a wonderful view of the mountains. During dinner, I had the opportunity to see some friends that I had previously met at camp, and I also got to make new friends. Following dinner, we had our opening session. Before the speaker began, Lake Nelson Academy and Richmond Academy led a powerful
worship service during which everyone was unabashedly worshiping Christ with their hands up and eyes closed and just absorbing the Holy Spirit. It was an unforgettable experience. To add to the phenomenal vibes, the speaker brought a powerful message to encourage us to accept our calling as student leaders and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us through the school year. To top off the high-spirited night, SVA was given the responsibility of leading icebreaker activities. I started by introducing SVA’s delegates, and Jonathan followed with a prayer. To begin the activities, we gave everyone different color circles to help evenly separate the schools. From there, we began with roulette which helped everyone get comfortable and get to know each other. We then played a couple of rounds of Would You Rather. This activity helped me to see everyone’s different perspectives. After that, we played a game where each different team had to create a song using different random words, and one person had to have both feet off the ground at one point during the song performance. I would say my group did an amazing job and we were also creative. To end off the night, we played a trivia game. Overall, I would say the icebreaker activities were very successful because several of us were able to interact and begin new friendships. After the activities, we all headed back to our cabins.
The following morning, we returned to the cafeteria for breakfast and for
they dominated in their work. And while the Chiefs did hold themselves relatively well, the 49ers’ power simply did its job a little too well. The Chiefs had a prodigious start to their season but are now ending on a rather disappointing finish with the record now being a disappointing (for the Chiefs) 49ers (3-0) and the Chiefs (1-2)
Monday, October 2nd Commanders vs Chiefs Chiefs won 38-26
Half of the Chiefs’ team wasn’t there. They were down by six points, but when the remainder of the team came, the Chiefs came back from the point deficit. In the words of one freshman participant, “We began destroying the second we had our leaders.” Selfproclaimed team captain Seth Job chose to plead the 5th in terms of commentary for the game. He was ejected. He does not specify the reason for this, but sources say he was yelling back and forth with the other team, and against the officials. The original even match turned into a surprisingly easy victory for the Chiefs, especially after the first few plays of the game, while also having their best players only appearing halfway through the game. However, both teams had their moments, and with amazing highlights appearing on both ends, it was an exciting ending for the Commanders. While the rattling start of the play-offs left some in disbelief, the result is still the same as the other games in the season. The Commanders have a decent ending for the season with their record being: Commanders (2-2) and the Chiefs bringing their record up with an equal record of (2-2)
our morning sessions. Before breakfast, some of us SVA girls had a Bible study outside as we watched the sunrise. It was truly a blessing to experience God’s nature while studying His word with my friends. After breakfast, we had our worship service led by Spring Valley Academy. This was followed by our speaker, who spoke of her journey with Christ and how He helped her overcome difficult situations in her life. She also spoke on how Christ provided for her when it looked like there was no way. Following that, we had a delicious lunch. Thereafter, we had a leadership breakout session led by the SA officers of WAU. In this breakout session, the officers shared the responsibilities of their position, the certain characteristics they should have, and the difficulties that came with being that officer. I benefited from the breakout session because it helped me get a clear understanding of my role as SA president and it also reassured me that I’m doing my job.
Friday evening, SVA and Spencerville Academy had the opportunity to lead out in the afterglow by the river. The scenery was absolutely beautiful, with fairy lights alongside the path to the bonfire. During the afterglow, we all worshiped together and shared heart- touching testimonies. It was a very inspiring experience to see young people on fire Christ unapologetically. We ended the night by saying Happy
Sabbath and headed back to our cabins.
On Sabbath, Takoma Academy, Lake Nelson Academy, and SVA led a rejuvenating worship service, by far the best worship service I have experienced in a while. Following this, we had church and then lunch, after which SVA went back to our cabins for a nap to prepare us for the long night ahead of us. After our nap, we came back to the cafe to finish our day with school activities and a popcorn and ice cream party. During the school activities, each school had to sing their school song and teach an icebreaker activity. SVA chose to teach junk scramble. This night was by far the best because everyone was comfortable with each other and there was just a joyful atmosphere.
Sunday morning was a dreadful day for me because it was the end of the retreat and I had to say goodbye to new friendships and unforgettable memories. To start off the day we had breakfast, followed by picture taking and exchanging numbers, although for SVA it was exchanging emails.
Overall, SALT was an amazing experience. I learned a lot about being a leader and it also gave me numerous ideas to bring back to our campus and make it a better place.
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