December Alumni Newsletter

THUNDERBIRD ADVENTIST ACADEMY December 2023

Teaching students to EXCEL: EXperience Jesus, Communicate clearly and think critically, Embrace service and citizenship, and Live healthfully in body and mind.

DECEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER 2

Notes from the Principal

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From the Director of Advancement and Engagement

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Alumni Weekend Invite

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TAA Department News

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School Counseling & Mental Health at TAA

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Thanks You!

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Arizona Adventist Scholarship, Inc

Our mission is for each student to EXCEL: EXperience Jesus Communicate clearly and think critically Embrace service & citizenship Live healthfully in body and mind Our vision is for our students to “increase in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”

Luke 5:52

ADMINSTRATION Michael Tomas Principal

Keryssa Ford Registrar and Recruiter

Mikey Stewart-Tapasco Business Manager

Randall Harrison Director of Advancement and Engagement

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Ed Keyes Ray Navarro Reggie Leach Chris Juhl Michael Tomas Berit von Pohle Marilyn LaCount

John Loor Margie Baumann Luis Saravia Frank Arana Maria Shibalovich Calvin Miller Kathy Proffitt

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NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPAL: Greetings Alumni, Family, and Friends of TAA! I want to thank each of you for the continual support of Thunderbird Adventist Academy.

There is much history ingrained throughout our campus, and as we continue with the future, we hope that each student’s life is touched in ways that allow them to be productive members of society and representatives of our one and only Savior, Jesus Christ.

In the past couple of years, we have seen a steady increase in students from 123 in 2021 to 138 in 2023. However, we cannot take full credit for TAA’s student population growth, as our K-8 schools around the Arizona Conference are growing as well. When our elementary schools flourish, our academy flourishes! Our churches flourish with young people too! I’ve seen such tremendous growth with the Scottsdale/Thunderbird Church. The spiritual support that it gives to our young people and dorm students is amazing! God is blessing us here at TAA!

There have been numerous changes on campus: the completion of the Prayer Wall, Mark Jewett Memorial, as well as the backlit school seals for both Arizona Academy and Thunderbird Adventist Academy that can be seen in the evening. More changes are coming. The east side of the boy’s dorm, where our new two-story 26,000+ square foot Maintenance Building, housing all of the maintenance department needs with plumbing, woodworking, metal fabrication, etc., also complete with bus bays and automotive lifts to aid in TAA’s daily operations.

Once again, we thank you for without your support these things could not happen.

Michael Tomas

“What makes TAA special are the weekly chapels, the teachers and students. This school makes me feel safe. I am able to learn and grow in this environment. Thank you for giving to TAA, I appreciate your support and help, blessing!”

-9th Grade Student 2

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT AND ENGAGMENT Dear Alumni and Friends of TAA: From the Cloud Choppers at the Thunderbird Airfield to the furniture factory, our school has a rich history grounded in faith and community.

Over the last couple of months, I have been blessed to meet some incredible supporters of Thunderbird Adventist Academy. It has been great to see how passionate our Alumni, teachers and volunteers are about our school and Adventist education.

It takes a village to raise a child, and we thank you for being a part of ours; supporting our school and investing in our students. It is because of your faithful gifts that we can continue to provide students with a holistic and academic approach to education, improving and expanding our mission; and affording our students a variety of opportunities to EXCEL: Experience Jesus, communicate clearly and think critically, embrace service & citizenship, and live healthfully in body and mind.

Moving forward, I am excited to see what is in store for TAA. Some of our upcoming projects include the addition of a new maintenance building and the renovation of our campus auditorium. Both projects will be great additions to our campus and our students. In addition, we have the Arizona Music Festival, a mission trip to the Dominican Republic and so many other things planned for our campus. It is through these shared experiences and collaboration efforts that we continue to have a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive community here at TAA.

“One of my favorite memories here at TAA is when the Chorale went to Tucson and Colorado, we worshiped together and shared testimonies, this experience bought me closer to God.” -10th Grade Student

“This is the first school I’ve attending where we start every class with prayer...I love that!”

-12th Grade Student

Lastly, please remember to save the date for Alumni Weekend. Join us as we reminisce, celebrate, reconnect as a community. Your presence will undoubtedly make this occasion all the more special, and we eagerly look forward to having you and your family join us for a weekend filled with joy and laughter.

Blessings,

Randall Harrison 3

Alumni Weekend April 5-7, 2024 Schedule: Honor Classes: 1949 1954 1959 1964 1969

1974 1979 1984 1989 1994

1999 2004 2009 2014 2019

Friday, April 5th Sabbath, April 6th 7:00 am Golf Tournament 10:00 am Registration 6:30 pm Registration 10:45 am Church 7:00 pm Vespers 12:30 pm Lunch

7:30 pm Alumni Basketball Sunday, April 7th 9:00 am Alumni Brunch.

For updated information on alumni weekend, to register for the golf tournament and/or for golf sponsorships please go online at www.thunderbirdacademy.org/alumni or give our office a call and secure your spot today!

First Annual Alumni Golf Tournament Raffle and Silent Auction Friday, April 5, 2024 7:00 am Shotgun Start Grand Canyon University Golf Course

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Alex Smith, Athletic Director

It was another awesome year in the Canyon Athletic Association for TAA Athletics! We saw 5 out of our 7 sports make the playoffs, including softball and girls and boys basketball, state champion runner-up girls volleyball, and state champion boys volleyball! We also saw 8 athletes earn all-state nods, an athlete win Player of the Year, and a coach win Coach of the Year.

Girls Volleyball had a record of 11-1, the best in school history, earning a 3-seed in the state tournament, and won 2 playoff games including an upset semifinal win against an undefeated 2-seed BASIS Mesa en route to the first state championship game appearance in school history.

Although they came up short of their ultimate goal of winning a state championship, which was played in the ASU Desert Financial Arena, it was truly a historic season, led by 2 amazing all-state athletes, outside hitter Madison Ramella and libero Vika Olivarria.

Boys Volleyball had an even more historic season, going 13-0, then winning 2 playoff games en route to the 2nd state championship in school history!

Thunderbird also won numerous individual awards, including a record 4 all-state nods, Mason Rogers, Ronnie Garcia, Jacob Leski, and Malcolm Tucker, TAA’s first Coach of the Year award for Michael Tomas, and state Player of the Year, Malcolm Tucker.

Other notable achievements are Jorge Zavala earning an all-state for soccer, and Anjalli Laborda earning all-state for softball.

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Thunderbird Wings Acrobatics lead by Coach JR Thimsen have been working hard preparing for Acro-Fest 2023 at Andrews University. For updates on the team, check out their instgram page @ wingsacrobatics.

CERTIFED NURSING ASSISTANT PROGRAM Under the careful guidance of Eva Gonzalez, TAA’s Certified Nursing Assistant program is thriving! In the class, students gain valuable skills, and learn to be the hands and hearts of Jesus while providing compassionate care for patients. Students who graduated from this program have the opportunity to take state certification boards through the Arizona Board of Nursing. Currently several of our CNA graduates have successfully passed their examinations and are practicing as CNAs while starting their careers in the medical field.

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Talea Shupe, Music Director The TAA Music Department had a phenomenal year! In addition to the usual scheduled performances, the department went on tour to Kingman, Lake Havasu, Tucson, and Colorado. The students performed well, and many people were blessed by their music.

Last Spring, we had some exciting updates to our handbell set.

Through a very generous donation, we were able to purchase the 4th octave of handbells. This donation made it possible for an additional student to join the ensemble.

Additionally, last February we saw the return of the Arizona Music Festival, a collaboration between TAA and the Arizona Conference. We had a total of 162 students from all over the Arizona Conference and from the Vegas Valley Adventist Academy. Over the course of the week, the students rehearsed in their choir, handbell, and band ensembles for their performance on Sabbath morning. The visiting students were also given the "Thunderbird Experience" through a fun evening of SA activities and Storm Ministries vespers. An amazing time was had by all, and we are looking forward to the next one!

We have big plans for our music department this year. Our students will be traveling to Orlando, Florida for their big spring music tour, the handbells will be attending a festival put on by Redlands Adventist Academy, and the chorale will be singing the National Anthem for a GCU women's basketball game in November!

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STEM:FEST 2023 Nicolas Owens

A highlight of STEM Festival was Ben Roy, a renowned Adventist educator and scientist. Mr. Roy delivered captivating demonstrations and engaging worship talks that inspired students to pursue their passion for STEM. His interactive presentations showcased the real-world applications of STEM concepts, making them relatable and exciting for the young audience.

Through his talks, Ben emphasized how God is central to each of the areas involved in STEM and encouraged students to embrace STEM to make a positive impact on the world.

Thunderbird Adventist Academy’s math and science department recently hosted its first STEM Festival in October, which brought together 115 fifth through eighth-grade students from four Arizona Adventist schools. This first-of-its-kind event at TAA aimed to cultivate the Five C's of 21st-century learning: collaboration, character, creativity, critical thinking, and communication.

With the presence of renowned speaker Ben Roy, and math and science professors from Pacific Union College, Union College, and Walla Walla University, students were able to explore different STEM disciplines and enhance their skills in a fun and interactive environment.

Thunderbird Adventist Academy's STEM Festival was a resounding success, providing an enriching experience for the participating fifth through eighth graders, our high school students, and the greater Arizona Conference. By focusing on collaboration, character, creativity, critical thinking, and communication, this event effectively opened discussion on meeting the challenges of 21st-century education. Ben Roy, the university professors, teachers, and students were blessed by the Gracious God who made us and allows us to use the gifts He gives to honor and glorify His name.

Through group activities and projects, students were encouraged to work together, exchange ideas, and solve problems collectively. This collaborative approach not only enhanced their understanding of STEM concepts but also instilled important character traits such as teamwork, empathy, and respect for diverse perspectives. By engaging in group challenges, students learned the value of cooperation and the power of collective intelligence.

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SCHOOL COUNSELING & STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH

By Andrea Gordon, Girls Dean

In Education, Ellen G. White writes that education has to do with the whole being, that it “is the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers” (p. 13).

Likewise, the mission of the newly forming comprehensive school counseling program (CSCP) focuses on the whole being by helping students’ growth by addressing their social/emotional, academic, and career development. This will be accomplished by partnering with stakeholders to develop a creative, diverse, and effective program that encourages learning, productivity, and success for all students.

Research shows that a school counseling program implemented effectively has a positive impact on student achievement. These include improved ACT and SAT scores, more informed college decisionmaking, fewer disciplinary actions, improved attendance, and more. The Bible shows us that Jesus taught using various philosophies and strategies.

Jesus, as the Master Teacher,

taught using everything and anything He could. He used the fields they were walking through, the politics of that day and age, and financial examples they could relate to. He used visuals, and spoken words, and wrote things down. Jesus is our first and foremost example in all things, counseling included.

Like the Master, school counselors must be wellrounded. This is necessary to connect with as many students as possible on the specific level that is needed for their success.

Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, White tells us that as educators, the greatest job is to teach “character building…all true education may be made to help in the development of a righteous character” (p. 61).

School counselors have a responsibility to instill the ability for each student to understand how to make intelligent and responsible decisions – not an easy task.

Every part of what a school counselor does is so important.

The American School Counseling Association (ASCA) National Model provides a framework to be used to develop a CSCP designed to meet the needs of students. These are arranged into two delivery systems: direct student services which include instruction, appraisal and advisement, and counseling and indirect student services which include consultation, collaboration, and referrals.

There are many details that go into creating an effective school counseling program.

Adolescence is the last transition into adulthood. During this time, it is crucial for them to have... 9

knowledgeable advice from trusted, uniquely trained counselors who understand and promote student success in our current world. The state of Arizona ranks 49 out of 51 (including the District of Colombia) for mental illness and mental healthcare access for adolescents. Of the many mental illnesses adolescents struggle with, the most common is anxiety. Studies have shown that consistent levels of high anxiety can obstruct learning3 and put students at risk of lower academic scores. Excessive anxiety can lead to difficulty taking in information, processing information, and storing or consolidating information in long-term memory.

Often there is a misconception that mental health issues do not exist within the church or church-affiliated educational institutions. However, that could not be further from the truth. At the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, a schoolwide needs assessment was administered to the students

The CSCP uses needs assessments as a guide to know what areas of the program are deficient and the order of importance in which they need to be addressed. Out of the 128 students who took the assessment, 90% identified experiencing some level of hopelessness within the last two weeks of the assessment. When asked about self-harm and suicide, 32% have had thoughts and 20.3% have engaged in selfharm and/or attempted suicide.

These numbers are staggering given that a 2019 study showed 18.8% of high school students reported suicidal ideation, 8.9% reported a suicide attempt in the past year, and an average of 17.42% engaged in self-harm.

The state also has a graduation rate of 77.3% with 46.3% of those enrolled in a college or postsecondary institution.

Adventist education already holds an advantage over public high schools, reporting over 85% of graduates attending college.

However, we must continue to consider our own state statics as we may have students who are a part of that population.

Mental and emotional health are not the only areas of concern, education is of utmost importance. Students are to be trained to be “thinkers, and not mere reflectors of other men’s thoughts” (Education, p. 17).

The future of our CSCP looks to develop an advisory council.

The focus of an advisory council is to review and advise implementations of the school counseling program. This group will advise and review student outcome goals, make various recommendations to help develop the program and advocate for the program.

Additional responsive services will be provided for our student success. Individual and small group counseling will be offered including peer facilitated groups with certified student leaders.

Arizona was ranked 48 out of 50 states in education for grades Pre-K-12.

Our small groups will focus on subject matters that would benefit the students.

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One of the areas of responsive services that need attention at TAA is college/career readiness.

Overall, the students reported a lack of knowledge about postsecondary options and how to achieve what goals they did have. Creating an environment that provides more opportunities and exposure to colleges and careers will better prepare students for informed postsecondary decisions.

The CSCP at TAA will be able to touch, not only the lives of the students but of the community as well. A welcoming atmosphere will be created for all on our campus.

Ultimately, the CSCP of Thunderbird Adventist Academy will be reviewed regularly to stay relevant, applicable, and effective for each student.

Last spring, a group of TAA students and chaperones spent ten days serving in Bethel, Alaska. Students split their time between the Bethel Winter House serving the homeless and the Bethel SDA Church leading VBS for local children.

Sources: 1 https://schoolcounselor.org/PublicationsResearch/Research/Impact-of-School-Counseling 2 https://mhanational.org/issues/2022/ rankingstates 3 https://anxietyintheclassroom.org/school-system/iwant-to-learn-more/anxiety-impact-school/

4https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PM C9524334/#:~:text=Excessive%20worry%2C%20 intrusive%20thoughts%2C%20and,tasks%20that %20affect%20overall%20performance.

5https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep20 -06-01-002.pdf 5https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/ariz ona/2023/05/03/arizona-37th-in-nationaccording-to-u-s-news-worldreport/70179163007/ 1https://www.noblepredictiveinsights.com/post/re ality-of-higher-education-inarizona#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Ari zona%20Boards,52.9%25%20enrollment%20rate %20in%202019.

2https://v1.adventisteducation.org/10r.htm

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THANKYOU: To our donors, volunteers, churches, alumni, parents and coaches, we could not do it without you!

To those who give through their local church, anonymously or through a School Tuition Organization (STO) although we don’t know who you are or the amounts you gave, we want to say Thank You for your support of Thunderbird Adventist Academy. We appreciate all you are doing for the students of this school.

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Redirect your state taxes and give the gift of an Adventist education!

How Tax Credits Work with AASI, Inc. A tax credit is different than a normal donation made to a charity. Instead of reducing your taxable federal income, the tax credit donation reduces what you owe!

Each year state of Arizona sets a cap on the donation limit for single tax filers and those filing taxes as married/joint. This determines the maximum amount taxpayers can expect to receive as dollar-for-dollar credit against their tax liability. In 2021, this amount is $1,219 for single taxpayers, and $2,435 for married taxpayers filing joint.

To get the tax credit, donors must report their donation to the Department of Revenue either on paper tax form or via an online tax filing program. Donations can be made up to April 15th each year but needs to be made prior to filing your taxes. Tax credit donations made on or before April 15th can still be claimed on the previous year’s taxes.

Donations must be made through AASI, not sent to a church or to the child’s school to receive a tax credit from the State. Donations are received and distributed by AASI in the form of tuition scholarships.

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Follow these four easy steps to donate to an STO:

Note: A school tuition organization cannot award, restrict or reserve scholarships solely on the basis of donor recommendation. A taxpayer may not claim a tax credit if the taxpayer agrees to swap donations with another taxpayer to benefit either taxpayer’s own dependent. A.R.S. § 43-1603 (B) (3) Donations can be made in person, by mail, online, or via phone call to the AZ Adventist Scholarship office. Scholarships are awarded four times per school year in October, December, February and May. To have your donation included in a particular award date, plan on donating at least three weeks in advance of the award month.

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Thank you for making a difference!

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Thunderbird Adventist Academy

7410 E. Sutton Drive Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (480) 948-3300 www.thunderbirdacademy.org

Save the Date!

Alumni Weekend April 5-7, 2024