Keeping Parents and Campuses Connected
May 2015
Spring Programs and More!
Can you believe it’s time again for Challenger’s Spring Programs? All of our
programs are original, written specifically for our talented Challenger students.
You will be impressed and delighted with the musical performances of our
preschool through fifth grade students.
Our middle school programs are designed to greatly develop students’ theatrical
poise and delivery. Both the music and the scripts are more mature and
challenging than in previous grades. Students must audition for lead roles.
May at a Glance
• May 4–8 (PS)
Spring Programs *
• May 11–15 (K–5)
Spring Programs and Art Fair *
• May 11–21 (1–8)
Computer Programming Fair *
• May 18–21 (6–8)
Spring Programs and Art Fair *
• May 25
Memorial Day—No School
* Family event
© 2015, Challenger Schools
Sixth graders will present a readers’ theater that will spark your imagination
and tickle your funny bone. Seventh grade classes will deliver a one-act
play in which they will display their budding thespian abilities. Our eighth
graders will perform a challenging historical production which includes period
costumes, dances, and music. (Note: At various campuses, some grades and
classes have combined for the programs.)
Every preschool through eighth grade class will have a handout that describes
the songs, dances, and other program elements. We hope your experience is
enriched with a small peek into the music and drama in your child’s world!
During the weeks of elementary and middle school programs, peruse the
outstanding kindergarten through eighth grade Young Author books. Visit
classrooms to see Computer Programming Fair projects from grades one
through eight. And don’t forget to wander through the Art Fair to enjoy a
sampling of impressive artistic student work.
You won’t want to miss
these wonderful events!
As a Challenger parent
marveled last year, “It’s
amazing what these kids
can do!”
Watch for an invitation
with exact dates and
times, or download
a schedule from
ChallengerSchool.com.
Invite your neighbors,
friends, and family—
Challenger Spring
Programs are fun
for everyone!
ChallengerSchool.com
Challenger Spring Programs are both entertaining and impressive!
17-50.09-15
Reward vs. Award
At Challenger, we show students the benefits they gain from the
mental sweat of their academic pursuits. Students discover how the
knowledge and skills they acquire enhance their lives. They come
to realize that the ultimate reward for their efforts is the ability to
perceive reality correctly and live and think independently.
We admire the attainment of worthwhile goals and find inspiration
in recognizing others who excel. Challenger students know that it
is through their hard work and achievement, rather than the award
given, that they find joy and self-worth. Congratulations to the
achievers in this issue!
Hannah J.
of Lone
Mountain (NV),
1st place
in Physical
Science and top
middle school
winner at
UNLV regional
Science Fair
Winning Writers
Each year, Challenger fifth through eighth graders participate in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
American History Essay Contest. Essays are judged for historical accuracy, adherence to topic, organization of materials,
interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness.
Challenger students traditionally perform extremely well in this contest, and this year was no exception. Many campuses
reported chapter award winners from the contest—in several chapters, Challenger students swept the awards for every
grade—and a number of students advanced to win at the district and state levels!
District and State Winners
Akshay G.
Anthony W.
Divya S.
Gweha L.
Sara R.
Sophia A.
Tiana H.
Sunnyvale, CA
Almaden, CA
Berryessa, CA
Salt Lake, UT
Salt Lake, UT
Lone Mountain, NV
Traverse Mountain, UT
Chapter Winners
Abilene R.
Anusha G.
Arvind R.
Daniel M.
Eddie G.
Elena V.
Gabriel D.
Gage S.
Greg S.
Jasmine K.
Malavika R.
Max S.
Mia H.
Mihika B.
Nick F.
Nuha M.
Rachel M.
Rithika V.
Robert W.
Shraya P.
Simran S.
Sophie B.
Srivishnu P.
Traverse Mountain, UT
Shawnee, CA
Sunnyvale, CA
Almaden, CA
Traverse Mountain, UT
Sandy, UT
Traverse Mountain, UT
Lone Mountain, NV
Middlefield, CA
Ardenwood, CA
Berryessa, CA
Silverado, NV
Sandy, UT
Ardenwood, CA
Sandy, UT
Middlefield, CA
Middlefield, CA
Middlefield, CA
Lone Mountain, NV
Harwood, CA
Ardenwood, CA
Sandy, UT
Sunnyvale, CA
Chapter and state winners (from left) Tiana H. of Traverse Mountain (UT), Gweha L. and Sara R.
of Salt Lake (UT), and Sophia A. of Lone Mountain (NV)
Check out Challenger
School on Facebook
for even more student
accomplishments!
Chapter and district winners (from left) Akshay G. of Sunnyvale (CA),
Anthony W. of Almaden (CA), and Divya S. of Berryessa (CA)
ChallengerSchool.com
Super Scientists
Stellar Spellers
Eight Challenger students competed in qualifying
contests for the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Manas S. of Salt Lake (UT) finished fourth in the
qualifying bee, and Amith V. of Almaden (CA) also
made the final round.
Almaden, CA
Lone Mountain, NV
Salt Lake, UT
Ardenwood, CA
Berryessa, CA
Strawberry Park, CA
Sandy, UT
Sunnyvale, CA
Utah Valley fourth-place
finisher Manas S. of
Salt Lake (UT)
Amith V. of Almaden (CA),
final round at
qualifying bee
Geography Gurus
Several Challenger students
advanced to state finals of
the National Geographic
Bee. Anoushka K. of Salt
Lake (UT) finished third
in the state!
Aditya T.
Anoushka K.
Ashish B.
Bradley A. Daniel W.
Mason G.
Priyanka M.
Sebastian M.
Sofia L.
Vedanth P.
Many students placed in regional
Science Fair events, and quite a
few also qualified for upcoming
state Science Fair competitions.
Rashi R. (left) and Phillip C. of
Almaden (CA), first-place winners at
regional Science Fair
First-place winners in their
categories included:
Photo: CBSlocal.com
Amith V.
Gabbi H. Manas S.
Matthew T. Mihika G. Prerana A. Rohit S.
Ruhi S. This year, Challenger students
continued the tradition of
achievement in the field
of science.
Anoushka K. of Salt
Sunnyvale, CA Lake (UT), third-place
Salt Lake, UT
winner at state bee
Berryessa, CA
Traverse Mountain, UT
Strawberry Park, CA
Silverado, NV
Sandy, UT
Everest, ID
Lone Mountain, NV
Middlefield, CA
Adishree G. Aditi B.
Akhilesh B.
Anthony H.
Anusha G. Arvind R.
Divya N.
Hannah J.
Kaanthi P.
Kanika K.
Nihal T.
Phillip C.
Rashi R.
Rithik J.
Saey K.
Shruti S.
Tanshi J. Yusra A. Shawnee, CA
Strawberry Park, CA
Strawberry Park, CA
Salt Lake, UT
Shawnee, CA
Sunnyvale, CA
Berryessa, CA
Lone Mountain, NV
Ardenwood, CA
Berryessa, NV
Berryessa, CA
Almaden, CA
Almaden, CA
Sunnyvale, CA
Traverse Mountain, UT
Sunnyvale, CA
Sunnyvale, CA
Sunnyvale, CA
Hannah J. was named the top
middle school student at the
UNLV Regional Fair. She attends
the Lone Mountain (NV) campus.
Three teachers—Ms. Lum of
Berryessa, Mrs. Nguyen of
Sunnyvale, and Mrs. Mackewicz
of Strawberry Park (all CA)
received teacher awards, and
the Sunnyvale team received an
Outstanding School Award.
Outstanding
regional Science
Fair winning
team from
Sunnyvale (CA),
with teacher
Mrs. Nguyen,
also an award
recipient
Anthony H. of Salt Lake (UT), firstplace winner at regional Science Fair
Saey K. of Traverse Mountain (UT),
first-place winner at regional
Science Fair
First-place regional winners (from left)
Nihal T., Divya N., and Kanika K. of
Berryessa (CA), with teacher Ms. Lum,
also an award recipient
First-place regional winners Akhilesh B.
(left) and Aditi B. (right) of Strawberry
Park (CA), with teacher Mrs. Mackewicz,
also an award recipient
ChallengerSchool.com
Exciting Accomplishments
We applaud the dedication and hard work of the many
students who distinguished themselves this year in
non-Challenger sponsored activities:
• Teams from Lone Mountain (NV) and Berryessa
(CA) advanced to the state finals for Science
Olympiad. Six Lone Mountain students medaled!
• Gymnasts Madelynn M. of Silverado and
Tas H. of Lone Mountain (both NV) were the state
gymnastics champion and qualified for the USA
Junior Elite Team, respectively.
• A History Bowl team and Geography Olympiad
contestant Anuj K. from Ardenwood (CA) qualified
for national championships.
• Edsel C., Anna C., and Colin H. of Everest (ID) and
Ellie K. of Silverado (NV) all performed with
touring theater productions.
• Teams from Berryessa (CA) and Lone Mountain
(NV) won awards in Lego Robotics competitions.
• Traverse Mountain’s (UT) Kunal K. was named
state chess champion for grade four; Yiyang Z. and
Caden R. of Berryessa teamed with Shaaketh S. of
Middlefield (both CA) to win top team for age six at
the CalNorth Youth Chess Championship.
• Silverado’s (NV) Isabella K. was a finalist in
Marquette University’s Young Entrepreneur contest.
Preschool
Summer School
Have you heard about Challenger
Adventureland? During our summer
school program, children will go on
imaginary trips each week as they learn
phonics, numbers, and so much more.
Classes begin June 22. See your school
office to apply today!
Challenger Adventureland—learning and fun!
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Aneesh R. of Ardenwood (CA) qualified for the U.S.
Open table tennis championship, and Nikhil K. of
Berryessa (CA) won two medals at the 2015 Swedish
Junior Cadet Open for the same sport.
Quiz Bowl teams from Berryessa, Strawberry Park, and
Sunnyvale (all CA) qualified for the national finals.
Aneesh V. of Strawberry Park (CA), Yonnie Y. of Avery
Ranch (TX), and Nick and Alex F. of Silverado (NV) all
medaled at regional taekwondo contests.
Middlefield (CA) student Ishansh K. was a semi-finalist in
the Doodle 4 Google competition.
Sachin S. of Salt Lake (UT), Katia N. of Berryessa (CA),
Nishita B. of Strawberry Park (CA), and Divya P. of
Ardenwood (CA) all excelled in prestigious writing contests.
Ardenwood’s (CA) Varalakshmi V. performed at
Carnegie Hall, and Sunnyvale’s (CA) Arushi A. placed
second at a national piano competition.
Frank L. of Middlefield and Aryaman A. of
Strawberry Park (both CA) played for teams that won
national championships in water polo (Frank) and
basketball (Aryaman).
Deepankar J. of Strawberry Park, Ada P. of Ardenwood,
Arushi B. of Berryessa, and Akash S. and Ashwin P. of
Sunnyvale (all CA) were winners at regional and state
speech and debate competitions.
Heard It in the Halls
Avery Ranch (TX) campus—Four-year-old Dax and his kindergartner
sister Mila were playing with flashcards at home. Dax proclaimed,
“I have a question! When a c is followed by an e or an i, then the c
says ‘ssss.’”
Mila asked, “Dax, how is that a question?
“Oh, right,” Dax corrected himself, “that
was a statement!”
Boise Bloom (ID) campus—After
kindergartner Gracie completed all
her classwork, she was given the
opportunity to read quietly. She
looked at her eight choices and
shook her head, “There are too
many books—I don’t know
which one to read!”
Matter-of-factly, classmate
Kayden observed, “If you were
an octopus, you could read them all!”
ChallengerSchool.com