Prospective students gathered for Academy Days at Shenandoah Valley Academy on October 22-23, 2023. Held yearly, the introductory event serves as a preview of the atmosphere and student life for Potomac Conference 7-11th graders and features several fun activities for students who are interested in attending SVA.
While young students arrived and were entertained, more than 20 SVA students were assisting in leading in various capacities, from ambassadors to photographers. The team efforts yielded an event
that awarded scholarships to future students and encouraged increased enrollment.
“I thought it would be a great opportunity to introduce people to SVA life,” said Alonso Sanchez, a junior who served as an ambassador. In his role, he helped head a group that toured the campus and visited some classes while they were in session. Sanchez said that he was asked to assist and happily accepted the invitation. “I really enjoyed showing what SVA is. We got to represent what SVA is about and its character.” He hoped the tour
led students to see themselves at the school and pursue enrollment.
Hannah Lucas, another junior who served as an ambassador, agreed. “I had a blast,” she said. “I wanted to show the kids the people who go here.” She also pointed out the importance of connection, saying that her favorite part of the event was eating with her group. “That’s where you get to know people.”
A former ambassador who now assisted with the games, Kevin
Guzman, concurred, saying that a “hype and welcoming” environment makes more people want to enroll at SVA. “It’s like a preview of going to school here,” he said.
While the tangible results of this year’s important recruiting event won’t appear until a new school year begins in 2024, the immediate results were apparent. Those the Shen-ValLore interviewed said the energy level throughout the weekend was high, and the tours were well received.
On October 15, 2023, at 3:00 pm, SVA students and senior citizens filled the Waynesboro First Presbyterian Church. The grand church harbored hundreds of people eager to listen to “Symphonic Poems” in the brightly lit sanctuary. Orchestra members, mostly women, of all ages and types of instruments sat down in their designated seats to await the concertmaster Wanchi Huang and director Peter Wilson. Peter Wilson is also a solo violinist, music arranger, music composer, and has been noted “first-class” by The Washington Post With the direction of Peter Wilson, the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra has been noted as one of best community orchestras in the country.
Finlandia Op. 26 by Jean Sibelius— played two years ago by the SVA orchestra— opened with a strong brass melody, indulging us in the beauty of the well-known melody from “Be Still, My Soul.” The director queued the strings and with articulation the strings and woodwinds expressed the magnificent musical story Sibelius wanted the audience to hear. The audience was captivated by Finlandia’s beauty. Kacey Ware, SVA sophomore, said, “I really liked that piece; it was mesmerizing and I enjoyed hearing the story it told. I could not get distracted with this piece, you couldn’t look at the ceiling.” Another SVA student commented that Finlandia embodied strength, power, hope, and love into one melody.
The audience applauded while Peter Wilson welcomed solo violinist, Anton Miller, to the stage. Symphonie Espagnole in D minor Op. 21 is a five-part symphony written and
Waynesboro Symphony
Ariana Anderson
composed by Édouard Lalo. Symphonie Espagnole has a funny history, as it was deemed as “too sensual” to the public’s ears in the early 1900’s. The soloist and conductor displayed great communication throughout the piece. The five-part symphony had a soft opening, and increasing depth and emotion was shown by the soloist. The first and second movements had sweet melodies as the woodwinds, strings, and soloists serenaded the audience. The whole church was silent between movements, not out of courtesy, but out of amazement. Anton Miller left everybody with their jaw on the floor. The Spanish motifs echoed throughout the whole symphony, climaxing in the third movement “Intermezzo.” As the song progressed to the fourth and fifth movements, the piece changed from a tragic melody to a happier mood. After the piece was done, the soloist Anton Miller performed an encore to finish his time on stage. He was so delighted after his performance, and even spoke afterward to the cheering crowd about how happy he was to play for us. During the after party, many orchestra members commented that he was the happiest, most respectful, and humble soloist they have ever worked with. At this point in the concert, the Waynesboro Symphony Administration had a free downtown dinner and concert tickets for the audience members. Two friends who had won the free dinner won again and an elderly woman won the free concert tickets.
Death and Transfiguration, Op. 24 by Richard Strauss was one of the best pieces in the whole program. The conductor introduced the piece and
explained that the song is about the story of a sick artist on his deathbed reflecting on his life. It was a spectacular piece as the audience could hear how Strauss manipulated the song to sound like life as an adolescent, feelings of a first love, a dramatic death, and other transfigurations. As the piece transformed and changed moods the chromatic theme was passed on from the woodwinds to the concertmaster. It was a satisfying piece to hear as the song’s melody sounded incomplete until it resolved at the end of the piece. Peter Wilson heard this song when he was fourteen in the Youth Symphony Orchestra in Michigan. He responded to the question, “What did Death and Transfiguration mean to you?” by saying “This piece just connected with me in such a way—it was a piece about reflecting on your own life. Every time I come back I hear something new that makes it fresh.”
Les Preludes, S. 97–“Symphonic Poems No. 3” was written by Franz Liszt, a Hungarian composer. The piece featured four themes, often referred to as the “four elements,” Spring and Love (introduced by the violists), Tempests of Life (introduced by the cellos), Consolations of Nature (again introduced by the violins), and Struggle and Victory (introduced by the trombones). Each section of the piece showed impeccable talent by all of the orchestra members.
After many rounds of applause, flowers, and standing ovations, Peter Wilson informed the audience that there would be complimentary cake and conversation in the lobby. Then, as is the tradition
Blackfriars Theater Rebecca
Reis
Fall was peeking around the corner. The big tree in front of Hadley Hall was already beginning to change from a pale green to fiery orange, temperatures were dropping, and the flu was preparing its yearly debut on campus. Yes, the perfect time of year for Shakespeare. The NHS students piled into the minibuses preparing for the adventure to Staunton, Virginia. The drive was pleasant and the winding roads led up to a picturesque small town. Before entering the playhouse, the NHS members had the opportunity to explore the quaint town. The students were delighted to scout the bakeries, plant shops, yoga studios, and art classes that lined the small, charming street. Salome Tembo describes Staunton as “beautiful, relaxed, welcoming, and aesthetic.”
After galivanting up and down the street, the students piled into the small theater. The building was surprisingly full for such a random Sunday afternoon, but the people seemed excited and lively. The play began with lively music performed by none other than the actors and actresses themselves. They came from behind the curtain in traditional Shakespearean attire, the men in knee high socks, pantaloons, and flowy blouses and the women in puffy dresses. Many of the female actresses portrayed male characters, and vice versa. After some lively tunes the show began. Much Ado About Nothing is a Shakespearean comedy about Count Claudio, who falls in love with Hero, the daughter of his host. Hero’s cousin, Beatrice, and Benedick are each duped into believing
the other is in love with them. Claudio is deceived by his jealous brother and denounces Hero before they marry. She faints and is believed dead, but recovers to be proved innocent. Benedick wins Beatrice’s love, defending her cousin’s honor, and Claudio is reunited with Hero, who he believed was dead.
The play is quite funny, the constant banter and joking flows through in a never-ending stream. The play was also very interesting because of the crowd interactions. Margaret, one of the most memorable characters, enjoyed dancing through the crowd and climbing over the audience. There were also six seats on stage that audience members could be chosen
Volleyball Intramurals
Donovan Hernandez
Seven teams, all with interesting prospects, have competed in the SVA volleyball intramurals. Air Traffic Control, led by team captain Gabriel Martin, holds a lot of team chemistry and has many solid players. While their players all have good game sense, we are yet to see them at their full potential since they have not contended in playoff matches. Setters of Catan, led by Mr. Heilman, have some promising players as well, but in the playoffs against the formidable Hot Diggity, they were simply outmatched. Overall, they are an average team that performed to their expectations.
For the team Sneak Attack, led by captain Donovan Hernandez, standards were low. However, even with the low standards, the team members fought tooth and nail as many games ended with almost tie scores, (losses, but close nonetheless). Despite this, they could not seem to perform against Mission Unblockable and left the season with mediocre results. Set for Life, led by Michael Herold, performed the poorest. When entering the playoffs, the result was expected, and the team left the season with a bad outcome. The players were simply not seasoned, and some lacked the coordination to get the ball over the net.
The One Hit Wonders were the most dynamic of the seven teams. Captain Hsu selected amazing candidates as well as solid players who knew the fundamentals of the game. While the team alignment is rather shaky, they are still expected to perform well in the playoffs. Dean Hunt’s team, Mission Unblockable, had exceptional power players and these would arguably have taken them to the championship game at least. Unfortunately, in a playoff match against the intimidating Hot Diggity they were knocked out, and an amazing season for the team was brought to a disappointing stop.
at the Waynesboro Symphony, the orchestra gave an encore, performing a rendition of “Soul Bossa Nova.” This piece featured the percussionists with the intricate rhythms and peculiar instruments. The SVA students were able to talk to the orchestra members, director Peter Wilson, and soloist Anton Miller after the concert.
I interviewed Principal Violist Stanley Beckwith about the concert. He commented that “It felt great to play in this Symphony season. The soloist was incredible.” I asked him if any of the pieces were “viola friendly,” and his remark was, “Some pieces were more [difficult] than others. Strauss [Death and Transfiguration, Op. 24] was noinstrument friendly—on purpose, as he wrote very hard pieces. The other pieces were fun to play.” Then Peter Wilson commented on the evening, saying that, “Every time you conduct or perform a piece it is going to be different; that is the element of live music. In a [live] performance I am always looking for the new things that can happen in the performance. There are so many layers to a performance, and I have to be inside the music as well as outside the music. Tonight we ‘rode the wave’ of music as the
orchestra really showed the magic [of music].” SVA junior Sam Girven commented on the evening saying, “The performances were absolutely wonderful, the repertoire breathed life into our sleepy souls. The Death and Transfiguration was a wonderful storytelling piece that the orchestra played. I loved how it painted a picture for us using the various instruments.”
to sit in if they wanted to participate even further. Overall, everything was exactly as Shakespeare himself would have wanted; funny, innovative, and slightly weird. Afterwards, the students went out for delicious ice cream at a popular spot in Staunton before heading off to the dinner stop, and ultimately the dorms. Cami Prudencio describes the experience as “a fun day out with friends. I enjoyed exploring the stores in Staunton and seeing the wonderful play!” From exploring a cute small town to interacting with the actors, the NHS Blackfriars Playhouse was a success!
Finally, Hot Diggity, led by team captain Aleks Ullrich, is undeniably the best team on our roster. They had a strong beginning and seemed to only improve as the season progressed. The traction they gained allowed them to be exceptional. No team is perfect but this one definitely shines more than most. Strong offense, near insurmountable defense, and great coaching led this to be this year’s top pick for the winner of the SVA intramural volleyball championship.
“Girls’ Club retreat this year was such a blessing! My favorite part was going up to the apple orchard to sleep. We made giant beds on grass and told stories as the night passed. We slept peacefully until the rain came. We then ran all the way back to the dorm and were very thankful for a warm room to sleep in.”Anonymous
Girls’ Dorm retreat started off with a fancy dinner. Opening the doors to the chapel, you could smell the soup being served and hear the jazz music in the background. There was a hum of excitement as the girls questioned what was going to happen this weekend. While we were still sitting for dinner, the speaker, Sonya Reaves, told us about herself. She told us how she was a missionary, teacher and even a principal for a while. She has traveled all over and she shared her experiences and stories with us. Her goal was to help us figure out what to do with our lives in the future.
After the dinner, Zaida Galva, the Girls’ Club president, and a few other girls told us our first activity. They passed around tiny slips of paper with every girl’s
Girls’ Dorm Retreat
Tori Zimmerman
name on them. We were told to write a message to the girl whose name we pulled out of the bowl. The message was to be sweet, encouraging, inspirational, etc. We were not supposed to show anyone or tell anyone who we got. The room went quiet as the girls put their heads down and wrote a message to the special person. As soon as everyone was done, we had 30 minutes to change and get ready for the campfire behind the gym.
The campfire included delicious smores, both vegan and non-vegan. We sang some songs, had a little devotional, and stargazed. After a while we were instructed to hand out our message to the girl we got and pray with them. It was a very touching moment, and you could tell these young women love each other. We then went back to singing while others got to know new people. A few girls even lay in the grass and looked up into the beautiful night sky filled with shining stars. The walk back to the dorm was dreamy in a way because the girls just had a very memorable night. Little did they know it was about to get a lot better.
During the campfire we were given the choice to sleep underneath the stars with nothing but what we had on our backs and a warm blanket, or to sleep in the warm rooms or chapel in the girls’ dorm. Many girls risked the chance of rain and slept outside. Walking up the big orchard hill was a workout, but the singing of campfire songs made it better. Once we got up there each friend group split up and claimed different sections of the hill. They laid down the blankets, sleeping bags, towels or whatever else they could gather. There were girls who were sleeping, reading, talking, or telling creepy stories.
Everyone went to sleep around 11:00 and woke up around 3:00 to horrible wet chilly rain. Girls jumped up immediately and gathered their things. There were even a few screams. They ran down the hill and back into the dorm straight to the warm rooms. After that it was not hard to fall fast asleep.
The next morning, breakfast started at 8:00 and consisted of pancakes with whipped cream and Nutella. We also had yogurt, fruit, and orange juice. There were girls in the lobby and in Dean
Ringfest Samantha Trigo
One of the Valley Ringers’ favorite outings is the long-awaited Ringfest in Toledo, Ohio. On Tuesday, October 24, we left the SVA parking lot and let the adventure begin. The views from the bus were breathtaking, with the beautiful colors of the fall leaves. After about seven hours of singing, laughing, and napping on the bus, we finally arrived in Columbus, Ohio. That night, we ordered Chinese takeout and rested peacefully in the hotel. We loaded the bus the following day and headed to our first performance in Ephesus SDA church. The student body of the Ephesus school was so lively; they gave us so much energy even though some of us were still pretty tired. They sang along enthusiastically and clapped in delight when we finished a piece. The Ephesus faculty were also lovely, and they truly enjoyed our visit.
After our performance, we went to the Easton Mall for lunch and shopping. We mainly stayed in groups; some went to the Legoland store, and others went shopping for clothing. Overall, we all had fun and got to know each other better. We spent the rest of the afternoon traveling up to Toledo, Ohio. Matthew Hernandez remembers it like this: “Ringfest was a great experience; I got to
connect with my fellow ringers and have a great time. A fun moment was when we were all on the bus and started to sing ‘Sit at the Welcome Table.’ We made the funniest lyrics to the song and overall just had a good time.”
At around 5:00, we finally arrived at the Toledo First Seventh-day Adventist Church for Ringfest registration. We set up our bell tables and practiced our solo piece a few times before settling in at the hotel. We all slept well that night because we had to be ready and out of the hotel by 7:30 the next day.
Before the sun was even up, we were back at the church with hundreds of other ringers. That morning, we met our clinicians, Michael Glasgow and Timothy Waugh. We spent the
whole day ringing to our hearts’ delight. Michael and Tim helped us learn new techniques and made us feel more confident with our pieces. During these two days, we were fed by the wonderful church staff at Toledo. We had nutritious meals every day and were served with love. At our mealtimes, we also had the opportunity to get to know other
ringers from all over. “Ringfest was such a unique experience, from sharing our music with others to growing closer as a group. We played bells with 17 times the normal human power, and nothing was like it. Young choirs came in from everywhere, anywhere from Texas to right there in Toledo,” says Sienna Dauer.
After our first full day of mass rehearsal, a smaller group, the Festival Choir, had their own rehearsal time. The Festival Choir was made up of one carefully selected member of each bell choir. Alex Cuellar was chosen by Mr. Biaggi to be part of the festival choir this year. “Ringfest was a wonderful experience,” Alex expresses. “We got to practice and perform with a huge bell choir. The synonymous melodies impacted the people in the audience and enraptured online viewers.”
The Ringfest 2023 sacred concert finally began. With everyone in position, we began the performance with an incredible feeling of adrenaline in the air. The choir’s angelic sounds filled the church, harmonizing perfectly with each other. The beautiful music and the energy emanating from the ringers
Kim’s apartment eating and talking away. Once everyone ate breakfast, we headed up to the top of the orchard once more for church. Sonya once again talked to us about her life story and sang songs with us.
That afternoon was naptime, play time, walk time, or one on one time with Sonya. We then were called outside to take a picture as a whole group. There were a lot of us, most lined up on the ground, but some were up in the tree or lying on the ground. Once we got a few pictures, we headed to the student
center for our third talk and activity. Sonya told us how we need to not freak out in a crowd and to listen more. The activity was the group of us making up a story off the top of our head. Since this was together, we had to do it in a small group.
The boys joined for dinner and cleaned up since the girls made the pizza. After dinner we headed to the auditorium to watch a movie about a teenage track team. All in all, it was a wonderful success of a weekend.
on stage mesmerized the audience. The clinicians’ movements became more enthusiastic as the music swelled, urging us to give our all. As we reached the finale, the energy in the room was at its peak—the mass choir gave grace to every sound, pouring passion and talent into the final piece. The last note echoed in the church as the audience applauded simultaneously. There was a noticeable sense of joy and accomplishment as we took
our final bows. The Ringfest 2023 sacred concert succeeded in bringing together ringers and audience members to celebrate God and music.
Before wrapping up our handbell tour, we made one last stop at the Worthington Hispanic SDA Church. There was something exceptional about this performance. The congregation sat, listened to us play, and also blessed us with their unique gifts. We were amazed by the amount of talent we witnessed that day. It was very special for all of us. As our trip came to an end, we reflected on the past few days. I am confident Ringfest 2023 was an experience we will never forget.
Every school year the student body has the amazing opportunity to give back to our community through community service day. This is a wonderful time for the student body because they are able to make a difference in the lives of people who have helped SVA in wonderful ways. According to Rebecca Reis, “Community service allows me to see the joy in the faces of the people we help.”
Before community service day, students have the privilege to sign up for an activity they would like to participate in. This year, students participated in painting the fence of the New Market battlefield, singing to the elderly, doorto-door praying, yardwork, etc. The day started off with breakfast in the cafeteria, then everyone met in the auditorium where they received a devotion from Mr. Leeper, and we then separated into our various groups. Community service started at 8:30 and ended at 3:30, so this was a whole day of hard work and service.
The group that went singing to the elderly first went to the New Market church where they met up with their group supervisors, Mrs. White and Pastor Buzz, and also received prayers from the church secretaries. The prayer
Community Service
Salome Tembo
was very encouraging because it gave the students motivation and strength to be able to serve with love and passion. From there, they headed to one of the church members’ houses where they sang three hymns and also prayed over their house and family. The church members were delighted to receive the group and mentioned that they received a huge blessing.
From there, the singing group went to Mr. and Mrs. Dodge’s beautiful house. “Their house was so beautiful! We were welcomed with a delicious aroma of baked cookies!” said Grace Tolbert. While the group was there, they sang hymns and received a wonderful message from Mr. Dodge on how the Lord blessed them that morning. He expressed that their family was only expecting to receive the singing group but he desperately needed a group to help him with his yard because he is blind and could not do it by himself. Thankfully, the Lord answered his prayers and he was blessed with two groups that day.
After the group said their goodbyes to the family, they went to Pastor Buzz’s neighborhood. Their first stop was his neighbor. While at her house they sang and shared about their wonderful
experiences at SVA. They also received baked goods and drinks from her. This had to be one of my favorite houses because not only did I have a wonderful time singing, I also received delicious food. We were blessed with delicious muffins and doughnuts as well as apple cider and hot chocolate! After our wonderful experience, we headed down the road to one of Pastor Buzz’s other friends. At her house, the group sang and played instruments as well as attempted to play with their beautiful but shy dog. While at her house, the lady allowed two of SVA’s students, Joseph Pelote and Kacey Ware, to use her late husband’s violin and cello. “This was a very sentimental moment for everyone in the room because the lady lost her husband not too long ago, so for her to allow us to use his instruments was a heartfelt experience,” said Joseph Pelote.
The group had the wonderful opportunity to sing for the New Market Town Council and also converse with the wonderful people who worked there. From there, they went to have lunch at a church member’s house. During their time there, they listened to the mind-blowing stories of a World War II veteran. “It was just unbelievable
NACA Soccer Tournament
Joseph Pelote
On the morning of October 31, the soccer players, managers, and coaches loaded the bus and headed to Dayton, Tennessee, in search of a D1 trophy. The team arrived late that evening and rested in preparation for the game the following afternoon. The first game of the tournament was against the projected winners of the tournament. They were ranked in the state of Kansas, as well as nationally. Life Prep Academy recruited many players from places such as Europe and Africa. As the game commenced, the SVA Stars quickly scored off a surprise throw-in from player Jonathan Pelote, and Malachi Foote tapped it in. The team celebrated wildly, but had to compose themselves quickly as Life Prep bounced back, scoring about 10 minutes later. The teams continued to battle it out in the first half, but Life Prep had scored two more goals. The score was 3-1 at half time, but winning the game was still in reach. The team conversed and rested during halftime and were prepared for the second half. Despite the preparation, the second half went poorly, allowing Life Prep to score three more goals. The final score was 6-1 and the Stars walked off dejected, but looking forward to the following games.
The following day at 11:00 am, the Stars took the pitch hoping to win against Bob Jones, their self-proclaimed rivals of the tournament. The game started off and the Stars were in control, having multiple chances to score, just not putting it in the back of the net. The first half was pretty equal in terms of shots on goal, but in every other department the Stars were winning. The defense in this game was the star of the show, saving multiple shots and stopping multiple dangerous attacks from the opposition. Michael Hunter, Joseph Pelote, and Kevin Guzman held Bob Jones at bay for the entirety of the game. The midfield did their jobs, protecting and attacking, but the Stars could not score. The referee blew the whistle to signal the end of the game and the start of overtime. The teams were allotted five-minute breaks before the start of overtime. Both teams were tired at the start of overtime but neither team conceded a goal, so it
was time for the dreaded penalties. Pablo Hernandez was the designated goalie for penalties and he was up first. At first, both teams scored during penalties until one of our team missed the goal
completely, but Pablo made up for his teammate and saved a penalty. Pablo saved multiple penalties during the shootout, but it was not enough as the Stars last shot. A player (who will not be named) stepped up to take his shot, but took too long and tried to intimidate the opposing goalie. This resulted in a poorly placed shot that their keeper saved, winning Bob Jones the game. Disheartened by the results, the team slowly walked off the field and made their way to the bus and eventually the hotel.
After losing to Bob Jones, the team was determined to win their final game of the tournament. The next morning at 11:00 am the team played the match. From the beginning of the game, the Stars were in control and had many opportunities to score. The team was hoping to score multiple goals during the game, but could not find the back of the net more than once. In the end, the team won the game 1-0. It is the first time in SVA history that the Stars have won a D1 soccer game, and they were more than proud. At the end of it all, the Stars placed third in the tournament and had three of our players
being in the same room as someone who experienced the devastating events of such a horrible time, and even though they went through tragedy their faith in God never disappeared,” said Jeannette Mahoro. After having a delicious lunch with incredible company, we went to another of Pastor Buzz’s friends, Ms. Gloria. She recently lost her husband so she currently lives by herself. She expressed her gratitude for the school and how they allow their students to bring joy in the lives of others. After Mrs. Gloria’s house we made our way back to school.
Community Service day has always been a blessing for me, but this year made a huge difference in my life and made me want to give more to our community. My incredible experience during community service day led me to begin SVA’s new Sabbath activity, door-to-door ministry!
named to all-tournament—captain Jose Roblero, captain Jonathan Pelote, and defender Michael Hunter. Each of them played exceptionally well during the tournament and deserved the plaques and recognition. Jose Roblero had this to say on the overall experience and how the team played during the tournament: “It was a fun and very memorable experience, and I think we could have corrected some minor errors. If we had corrected them or done it correctly, we probably could have reached second or maybe fought for first place. However, it was a fun and [great] learning experience.” Following the tournament, the Leeper family hosted the team at their house for the weekend and everyone there was blessed by them. Thanks to the Leeper family again!
“The fiddlers fiddled.” -Belmaris Mercado
This year, the barn party was on Sunday, October 8, 2023. The barn party this year might have been extremely cold, but it was still loads of fun. We had a doughnut eating contest, a costume contest, and live music, and we could throw whipped cream at teachers. The freshmen sold food, Dean Kim’s horses were there, and we had hayrides and musical chairs. We also guessed how much candy was in a jar, and decorated pumpkins.
The barn party started with everyone in line for tickets. When you entered, you were given about five tickets for free, but after that you had to pay on your own. Tickets were used to buy everything; you could buy food, pay to get two people hitched together, and pay to throw whipped cream at a teacher.
The donut-eating contest started once everyone started getting past the ticket line. People volunteered to stand in a row with other students and finish one doughnut as fast as possible, and whoever finished first won!
During this time, the hayrides started. The hayrides were about a 10- to 15-minute drive. Mr. Wiygul was in
During the second week back from October homeleave, SVA’s seniors took the first-ever class trip to view Southern Adventist University. The adventure began when all the students boarded buses after lunch on Wednesday, November 8. Once the group departed from the school, the students found out that no phones were allowed on the over seven-hour bus ride! After a few agonizing minutes of techlessness, the teachers revealed this to be a little test and handed us our smartphones shortly after. Eventually, Virginia came and went, and when the buses arrived at our hotel in Tennessee, the staff shooed students to bed to rest for the big day that followed.
The next day, the seniors awoke bright and early for breakfast and the first day exploring Southern. After a short drive, the seniors gathered in front of the main building of Southern to get name tags and join tour groups. Each group visited two academic appointments of everyone’s career interests. Iona Kantzer says of her tour, “I loved the Health and Kinesiology department and its professor, who was welcoming and very fun. We also saw their physical testing lab and Acro gymnasium, which
Barn Party
Madison Wilson
charge of driving them; he drove around in his tractor with a trailer filled with hay attached to the back. It was a very pretty drive around SVA’s campus, especially when the sun started to set.
Soon after getting off the first hayride, throwing a whipped cream pie at a teacher started. Our lucky staff member this year was Mr. Samuel. People lined up right in front of him,
ready to buy plates filled with whipped cream. Luckily, Mr. Samuel did have some cover-up; he was placed in a trash bag with safety goggles on.
Throughout the entire barn party, in the actual barn, the freshmen were selling some sweet treats. The barn had tiny pumpkins and paint that you could decorate as a team for a pumpkin decorating contest, and they also had Dean Kim’s horses in the barn that you could visit anytime throughout the night; you could feed them carrots or just pet them.
We had some beautiful live music from Ms. Wiedemann, Iona Kantzer, Ariana Anderson, and Pastor Buzz. The music fit the theme perfectly and was great to dance to. Speaking of dancing, for some parts of the night we had a dance circle in front of the live music.
As we fell into the night, we had a quick game of musical chairs. The finalists were Donavan Hernandez and Tamar Hamilton. Donavan was pronounced winner, but he did pull the chair away from Tamar twice, so we aren’t so sure about who actually won.
Once it got to the end of the night, we finally had our costume contest. SVA’s costume contest is a runway for your costume while the judges sit off to the side to judge you. At the end of the contest, the judges will pick their top three favorite costumes, which will be announced when the night is over. Some examples of costumes this year were: Donald Trump and the Secret Service, a Police Officer and his escaped Convict, Iron Man, the Statue of Liberty and her tourist, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, a Cowgirl, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games, Tyler the Creator, The Lorax Cast (including: The Onceler, O’Hare and his air, Ted, The Lorax, and Grandma Norma), 70’s Hippies, Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean, Raven from Teen Titans, Princess Peach and Mario, Chef Alfredo Linguini, and the one and only rat Remy from Ratatouille, Slinky dog from Toy Story, Where’s Waldo (looks like we finally found him), and lastly a Starbucks barista. The winners of this year’s barn party were A Garden
fairy and a rose, The Statue of Liberty and her tourist, and Chef Alfredo Linguini with Remy from Ratatouille.
The night ended with everyone getting a free slice of pizza and walking back to their dorm. Thank you, SA, for putting an awesome event like this together, and we all can’t wait to see what next year will bring!
Southern Preview
Nicole Kidin
were pretty awesome.” Following the different tours, all students gathered in the cafeteria for lunch. When asked about her opinions on the cafeteria, Rebecca Reis raves (with wildly waving hands and a grin), “It was brick with chandeliers. I love brick buildings, and I love chandeliers!” For the remainder of Thursday, students lounged around campus, visited former SVA students, explored the student center, or enjoyed the health and wellness center.
On Friday morning, the seniors boarded the buses once again and drove into downtown Chattanooga for a day exploring the town. The first stop was McKay’s, a huge used bookstore. Although we only had a few moments to look around, it was a hit for the music and book lovers
in the group! Our next stop was the walking bridge, and after a long and leisurely walk, our group stopped for lunch at the Mellow Mushroom in downtown Chattanooga. After the entire group had their stomachs filled with pizza, we had the opportunity to explore some of the surrounding areas. Some students and faculty even rented
motorized scooters and raced around the city! Around midday, everyone regrouped in front of the Tennessee Aquarium, our next adventure. The aquarium consisted of two buildings, a freshwater and a saltwater aquarium. In small groups, we explored a variety of ocean and freshwater creatures as well as some land animals like butterflies and lemurs. Unfortunately, the penguin exhibit was under construction during our visit, but the sheer number of animals we witnessed made up for it. “I loved the jellyfish exhibit but was disappointed to learn we could not see the penguins. My favorite fish by far was the one that opened its mouth so wide we could see through its gills!” says Rebecca Reis. The last stop of the day was back on Southern’s campus for Vespers. Iona Kantzer enthuses, “The Vespers and Sabbath programs were wonderful!”
On Sabbath morning, the seniors had multiple choices for the churches we could attend. At the main campus church, students partook in a communion service. After the service, multiple Sabbath school services were held for all different age groups. In addition, some SVA students attended
yet another service held after Sabbath school. Later in the day, all students went to a park or on a hike as a Sabbath activity. On returning to the hotel, the seniors received an hour of Sabbath rest in preparation for our dinner with the SVA alum. On Southern’s campus, Shenandoah alumni from recent years and no-so-recent years gathered to share a meal and a time of reunion. Everyone had the chance to see old friends and former classmates, which was a lovely time for all involved. After this, the students returned to the hotel for one final night in Tennessee.
Early Sunday morning, the buses left the hotel, but not all was smooth sailing. A few minutes after our departure, the smaller bus broke down! Thankfully, the senior class had a few handy people aboard who diagnosed the problem and had the bus fixed in a few hours and back on the road. Other than this setback, the Southern trip was a success in some way for all involved. No matter what opinions students had of Southern, all can agree with Salome Tembo’s words: “It was a very insightful trip for me because I really got to explore more of my college options.”
On November 15, the SVA seniors left for the annual religion trip to Washington D.C. to learn more about the world religions they had heard about in class. They stopped at five religious locations around the city and filled out a worksheet about every place. The first location was the Washington National Cathedral, an Episcopal cathedral that is one of the largest of its kind in the world. With it being a neo-gothic structure, it has distinctive but beautiful architecture. The seniors learned about the history of the building and saw the stunning artwork while taking a tour. They were also able to observe the many Jesuit symbols that can be seen throughout the cathedral. The Shenandoans missed the joy of singing in public places in Europe, but they were able to sing a small part of a song inside the cathedral, and it sounded heavenly. Rebecca Reis says, “I really enjoyed walking around the church and seeing all of the beautiful architecture. It was super weird but also interesting to find occult symbolism scattered all over the church.”
The second stop of the trip was the Islamic Center of Washington, a beautiful Muslim mosque. There, they learned about the Islamic religion by an imam named Abassi who was happy to teach the students more about his
Senior Religion Trip
Cami Prudencio
religion. This tour was different from the first because everyone had to remove their shoes and sit on the ground as Abassi spoke and the girls were required to wear a hijab, or a scarf, inside the mosque. The seniors learned that in the Islamic religion, Muslims must pray five times a day at specific times, and during the tour, they were able to witness Muslims coming to the mosque for their daily prayers. Jonathan Pelote says, “The man said a lot of interesting things about the Islamic religion that I never knew before. It was cool to see the people singing and coming up to pray, and the reverence they showed said a lot about their beliefs.”
After a lunch break on the bus, the seniors stopped at the third location of the trip, the Buddhist Vihara Society, where there was a giant white Buddha at the entrance. This location
was different because it was inside of a house as opposed to a temple or mosque. The students again had to remove their shoes and sit on pillows on the ground. The seniors learned about the philosophical elements of this religion from a monk. He spoke about the four pillars of Buddhism, which are love all, serve all, help ever, and hurt never. This
religion strongly emphasizes being a good person and doing good for others. Iona Kantzer says, “I liked the setting of the house; it felt homey and very comfortable to be in. The man speaking had a soft voice that was easy to listen to, and he seemed very passionate about his religion.”
The fourth location was the Ohev Sholom Congregation, a Jewish Synagogue, which was a favorite among many students. The boys were given small caps to wear on their heads, and the boys and girls had separate seating in the sanctuary. Rabbi David answered many questions that the students had about the kosher diet, what is and is not allowed to do on the Sabbath, and bar and bat mitzvahs. He also brought out handwritten scrolls which contain parts of the Old Testament. Salome Tembo says, “Having the opportunity to go to the synagogue was amazing and I learned a lot about the Jewish religion. One thing that surprised me was how serious they observed the Sabbath. Aside from that, I enjoyed visiting the synagogue because I had a best friend who was Jewish and I never had the opportunity to learn about her religion, so this trip gave me new insight.”
Holiday Banquet
Grace Tolbert
The excitement of attending a banquet is always high, and to make it even more memorable, my recent experience involved a turn of the century theme. As a high school student, I was thrilled to immerse myself in an era which held so much historical significance. From the elegant venue and period decorations to the sophisticated clothing and entertainment, the banquet truly transported me to the past. I will describe with excitement and enthusiasm how my enjoyment unfolded throughout the evening. The first thing that caught my attention was the authentic venue chosen for the event. Stepping into a “grand hall” adorned with beautiful lights, an ornate train set, and exquisite furnishings, I felt like I had traveled back in time. The attention to detail in recreating the atmosphere of the early 1900s was outstanding, providing the perfect backdrop for the evening’s festivities.
Another aspect that truly elevated the experience was the period-specific outfits worn by both the organizers
and attendees. With their suits, elegant dresses, and elaborate ties, everyone looked as if they had walked right out of a history book. The effort put into acquiring and wearing authentic clothing considerably contributed to the overall enchantment of the event. The event planners had also organized a variety of fun activities and games that were popular during the turn of the century. The immersive experience continued as we explored themed exhibitions and displays set up in the surroundings of New Market. We enjoyed participating in a walk through the American Celebration on Parade, cards, and photo taking. The interactive nature of these activities added an extra level of entertainment, encouraging everyone to engage. One of the highlights of the evening was the exquisite delicate pastries and elegant
desserts. The scrumptious treats added a touch of indulgence that perfectly complemented the sophisticated ambiance. Throughout the night, the event featured a performance by a
The final stop of the trip was the Washington D.C. Temple, which is the third largest Mormon temple in the world. The seniors were only able to tour the visitors’ center, but there was a small replica of the Mormon temple for them to observe. They also watched a short film about Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon church. Then, they had the opportunity to walk around the visitors’ center and look at the paintings of prominent Mormon figures. The students were able to ask questions to the mission workers there, and they were very welcoming and answered everything clearly. Nicole Kidin says, “I found the temple to be the most beautiful of all the places we went to that day. The golden accents of the building really stood out to me and the Christmas lights around the property were aesthetically beautiful as well. The Joseph Smith movie was also enjoyable to watch.”
The world religions trip had good responses from the seniors who enjoyed being able to see D.C. and visit the various locations.
talented group of senior musicians, further capturing the essence of the turn of the century. We were treated to melodious tunes and “theatrical performances.” These live performances transported us back in time, giving us a glimpse into the entertainment enjoyed by the high society of that era. The enthusiasm and deep knowledge of the event’s organizers was evident as they showed through their captivating efforts to show the beautiful historical significance of the turn of the century. Their passion ignited curiosity among the attendees.
Not only did the banquet create an enjoyable atmosphere, but it also provided an opportunity for us to connect with our peers. Dressed in our best period outfits, we mingled with classmates, sharing laughs and creating memories. It was refreshing to see everyone embracing the theme and actively participating in some of the activities, forging new friendships and strengthening existing ones. In conclusion, attending a turn of the
century-themed banquet was an exhilarating experience that allowed me to step into the past and savor life as it was a century ago. The attention to detail, from the venue to the outfits, immersed me in history. Engaging activities, outstanding performances, and informative exhibits added layers of entertainment, knowledge, and excitement. The banquet not only offered fine dining and entertainment but also fostered a sense of community and connection among attendees. The experience exceeded my expectations, leaving me with cherished memories of a night that celebrated the magnificence of an era long gone.
Other Events
Red Cross Blood Drive Boys Club Retreat
Girls’ Basketball
Boys’ Basketball
Varsity
Happy Birthday!
March
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- Chloe Juncal, Newspaper Editor
Poet’s Corner
Control
Focus on what’s at arm’s length, Perceive what’s tactile. What is it that you can control?
Ones bearing in the middle of hardship; Countenance through a storm.
Lift your chin without lifting your nose, Raise the caliber of your ideals. Stand like a pillar Don’t erode with them, Rise out of melancholy as Vacillation is torture to the Soul.
Find peace in your mind. Let it wrap you in it’s warmth Let it enclose you in honeymoon delight. What can it hurt?
Feel, Understand, Learn, Grow, Let go. It doesn’t last a lifetime. - Anonymous
If you have poetry you want to be published, send it to: chloe.juncal@svasda.org (If you would like it to be anonymous, please let us know)
Sponser: Mrs. Boyer White
Letters to the Editor:
The Shen-Val-Lore welcomes your letters. All letters must contain the writer’s name and phone number. All unsigned letters will be omitted. The Shen-Val-Lore reserves the right to edit your letters for space and clarity, and to reject any letters. Place all letters under the door of the newspaper room or mail tham to: Shen-Val-Lore, 234 West Lee Highway, New Market, VA 22844.
The Shen-Val-Lore is the official student newspaper of Shenandoah Valley Academy and is pub
lished by the students. The opinions and views expressed in the Shen-Val-Lore are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, Shenandoah Valley Academy, staff and faculty, or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
