Madison Academy logo

The busiest week of the school year

Last week, Monday thru Friday, the students and staff played a part in the extended learning opportunities that happened off campus.  The Junior class started this week with the annual history tour led by Mr. Ramkissoon, the history teacher.  Leaving campus Saturday night, 22 students and five adults left for the adventure that began with a tour at Gettysburg and then on to Philadelphia to see Constitutional Hall, the Liberty Bell and the new American Revolution Museum.  Later at Valley Forge the tour guide immersed the group in daily life in the army.  The final days were spent at Washington, D.C. visiting the Newseum, the White House, the Smithsonian-US History Museum and viewing the many monuments: MLK statue, Jefferson memorial and others.

The next day the Seniors and their sponsors went to Southern Adventist University to experience first hand what college is like.  After supper the Gym-Masters performed, then the students went to the church to enjoy a concert by Josh Wilson and then an ice cream social.  The following morning college personnel shared general college information.  After lunch the each student went to the departments they wanted to know more about.  Brianna Burks, said that participating in the Nursing program was the best part of her time there.

While the upperclassmen were away, the Sophomores and Freshmen were involved in taking the North American Division mandated Iowa Basic Tests.  Each morning, Monday-Wednesday students demonstrated what they learned over the course of last year.  When the results arrive towards the end of the month, students and parents will be able to evaluate past learning and project future college readiness scores.

Wednesday at noon over 40 students, staff and parents, left for a short term mission trip to the Appalachia region.  Students were divided so that the could accomplish basic construction projects: installing insulation and building a ramp, as well as moving furniture for a church.

Sunday evening the Student Association had the annual Fall Ball. The theme was color mania–everyone received or wore a plain white t-shirt.  The rest of the evening students painted themselves and others with red, blue, green, and yellow paint.  There was a snack table of fruit, crackers, and some candy.  Later in the evening students could frost cupcakes with a variety of colors.  There was a maze to navigate through as well as three toss games.  Later students were divided into four groups and used the colored powder on their friends or others.  As evening started s’mores fixings were available next to the bonfire.  The night ended with a fireworks display.  This was the best part of the evening said Kayla Smith, senior.