Blog

This week has been a whirlwind of holiday fun here at RAA. From classroom parties with all sorts of tasty treats to bigger community events, we’ve really joined together to celebrate the season and time together.

One of the highlights of the week was when Santa (Principal Bill Arnold…Don’t tell anyone), three high school student elves, and Dozer, our mascot, made a surprise visit to campus. Sounds of joy and excitement filled the air as they visited each grade and classroom from elementary to middle school to high school. Have you ever heard an excited high school student shout, “SANNNTTTTAAAAA!” from down the hallway? We have, and as it mixed with Christmas music it made us all smile. From excited shouts to athletic, aerial high-fives, it was a fun break from the rest of the packed week.

As the students greeted Santa and his crew, we even got a few unique questions, including “Why is that elf so tall?” Santa, with a twinkle in his eye, answered the question in stride saying, “Well, we have a special program for tall elves. They help us reach the highest shelves.” This is the second year of this tradition, and it's fun to watch and even fun to participate in, as our high school helpers couldn’t help but smile too.

In addition to a visit from “Santa,” we also had our Christmas where talented students filled the gym with music for three nights… We didn’t get three French hens for our twelve days of Christmas, but we certainly got the better version by hearing our students play a variety of Christmas songs that they have worked really hard to perfect. From handbells, to bands, to choirs and even our elementary’s Christmas musical, it was wonderful to enjoy the results of our students’ time and dedication that they poured into their musical pursuits.

Wrapping up the week, our middle schoolers traded their textbooks for ice skates, gliding more or less gracefully across the ice skating rink in Riverside, making memories and enjoying an iconic winter pastime that we don’t often get to enjoy here in sunny Southern California. Meanwhile, our high school students embarked on their annual Christmas outreach trip, bringing gifts and stories to a joint Christmas party of sorts with students at a local elementary school.

Back at school, the high schoolers embraced their creativity with a festive “Christmas Tree” decorating contest. However, in lieu of a real Christmas tree, each group chose a representative to act as a living, breathing tree, to be adorned with tinsel, ornaments, and other decorations, some “trees” even having presents at their feet. The fun continued with a spirited “snowball fight”, where students hurled large white pom-poms at each other, laughing and running in a friendly competition. It was so fun that even Pastor G joined in, adding to the chaotic joy.

As we bid farewell to this eventful week, we’re looking forward to a well-deserved Christmas break. Whether you’re relaxing at home or venturing out on adventures, we wish everyone a safe, joyous and restful Christmas season. We’ll see you next year!