Every day at Challenger is structured to contribute to your child’s development and success. It is important to recognize the invaluable lessons and growth that the full academic term offers, especially as we approach our enriching year-end activities.
These events are not mere formalities. Rather, they are celebrations that solidify the progress each student has made. They offer unique avenues for students to showcase their learning and character development achieved through the year.
One important year-end event is our merit assembly, where we offer public recognition for students who have achieved in various competitions throughout the year. As valuable as the recognition is, we remind students that it is through their hard work and achievement, rather than the award given, that they find the rewards of joy and self-worth. This principle helps students realize how acquired knowledge and skills can help them learn to live and think independently long after a certificate or trophy is forgotten.
Completing the academic year also teaches important life lessons about commitment and the benefit of finishing what one starts; it provides an opportunity for your child to practice dedication to the investment you have made in his or her academic and personal success.
Thank you for helping prioritize your child’s attendance and continued education over early summer diversions. This helps ensure your child completes all of the academic requirements that are preparatory for next year and also enjoys events that build self-confidence and strengthen friendships.
Spring Programs are an exciting time for students to culminate their year of learning with an impressive presentation for their families. Each preschool through fifth-grade class performs a program filled with songs, dances, and recitations, and our middle school students display their developing abilities with theatrical presentations.
While on campus, take note of the Young Author student books on display, and peruse the Computer Programming Fair projects and Art Fair winners.
It’s an exciting time to be on campus and witness the amazing abilities of Challenger students!
Students will participate in our annual math contest that begins May 13. Throughout the year, students study math by building one concept upon the previous in logical sequence. Students practice what they have learned by solving problems that require extending their knowledge to higher levels. This event offers students the opportunity to apply their math skills in an enjoyable, quick-paced contest.
There will be no school on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27. On May 24, kindergarten–grade 8 students will participate in an assembly and hear selections from speeches to help students understand and appreciate the price millions of Americans have paid to preserve freedom and individual rights.
Eighth graders and their families are looking forward to Challenger graduation ceremonies. Watch for an invitation to be mailed in May.
Last month, over 200 Challenger eighth-grade students toured American historic landmarks and sites in Boston, Philadelphia, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
It can be very inspiring for students to personally connect themselves to significant events in America’s history that fueled man’s quest for freedom. Traveling with informed Challenger chaperones helps bring to life some of the knowledge, ideals, and values learned in the classroom.
In addition, by traveling across the country unaccompanied by parents, students practice independence and the joy of self-management. This trip was a wonderful learning experience for many of our soon-to-be graduates!
In the May and June issues of Challenger News, we highlight some of the recent, top student achievements. We simply cannot acknowledge every student’s achievement, but we readily congratulate the students listed, as well as all students who continue to strive to attain worthwhile goals. Some events and awards are still being finalized, so check back in June for additional announcements.
Because of his superior performance on the American Mathematics Competition 10 (AMC 10) last fall, Daniel J. (Middlefield, CA) received a Certificate of Distinction that also qualified him to compete in the American Invitational Mathematics Examination.
Fifth through eighth-grade students participated in the American Mathematics Competition 8 (AMC 8) test this spring, and the following students received the Honor Roll of Distinction commendation for scoring in the top 1% of all AMC 8 test takers nation-wide.
The following students received the Honor Roll commendation by scoring in the top 5% of all AMC 8 test takers nationwide.
The International Academic Competition (IAC) consists of both team and individual competitions in geography, history, and science. The competition is open to elementary through high school students in over 25 countries. The following students placed in the top three for their grades’ regional competition and have qualified for this year’s national level. We wish them well as they continue to compete later this month.
This year, Challenger fifth- through eighth-grade students had the option to participate in the Daughters of the American Revolution American History Essay Contest (DAR). Essays are judged for historical accuracy, adherence to topic, organization of materials, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness.
Kate W., from the Salt Lake (UT) campus won first place in state and took the overall first-place prize for all fifth graders nationwide! She will have the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. to receive a National Winner Certificate, pin, and monetary award, presented at DAR’s annual Continental Congress in June!
The following students won their chapter and advanced to win at the DAR state and/or region levels!
The following students are the DAR winners from their respective chapters.
Challenger students enjoy submitting art and essay projects to America’s Freedom Festival. Student work for this optional contest occurs at home. Freedom Festival is one of America’s largest patriotic celebrations and is sponsored by a private, non-profit, non-political foundation whose mission is to celebrate, teach, honor, and strengthen the traditional American values of God, family, freedom, and country.
The following students won awards for their Freedom Festival essay submissions.
This year, Challenger students continued the tradition of achievement in the field of science.
The following students were nominated to compete at the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovator Challenge. Nomination to the Thermo Fisher JIC is a great honor as it designates the top 10% of middle school science fair projects from nearly 275 fairs in the United States. Entries are judged during the summer, and the top 300 projects are announced in the fall. We congratulate the nominees and wish them the best in the upcoming competition.
Congratulations to the following first-place winners in their various regional Science Fair events.
We applaud Adyant B. (Strawberry Park, CA) for his success in the 2022–23 Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC). Adyant’s seventh-grade science fair project, From Waste to Wattage: Converting Wasted Mechanical Energy into Electricity Through Triboelectrification and Electrostatic Induction placed among the top 30 projects out of thousands of competitors nationwide.
Adyant also won the $10,000 Lemelson Award for Invention, which is awarded to young inventors that create product-based solutions to real-world problems.
Each year, Challenger hosts Speech Festivals at the classroom, campus, and region levels to test students’ oratorical abilities.
The following students are the 2024 California Region Speech Festival winners.
The following students are the 2023 Nevada Region Speech Festival winners.
The following students are the 2023 Utah Region Speech Festival winners.
Challenger’s summer program is designed to review academic concepts while offering meaningful interaction with teachers and other students.
Half-day and all-day programs are available, and classes begin June 17 and 18. Students will engage in unique learning exercises, drills, and activities using methods that have proven successful for six decades—it’s the perfect way to enrich your child’s summer days!
If you have not yet enrolled your child in a summer program and would still like to do so, follow the steps below. A $25 application fee will be assessed.
It’s that simple! Click here to see the payment schedule, and contact your campus office with any questions. We look forward to a summer of fun and learning with your child.
Mark your calendars now for our two main breaks during next school year.
Challenger will not be in session during the dates listed below: