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There's a new buzz on campus, and it's not just the sounds of the end of the year! Our brand-new Science Club officially launched this year, and they're already making (sound) waves with their inaugural research project: an investigation into the effects of music on stress levels among students and faculty.

The idea for the Science Club sprang from a shared passion for discovery and a desire to foster a community around scientific inquiry. "I wanted to start the science club to do experiments and research projects and have a community to talk about science with," says Khaveen, one of the driving forces behind the club's creation. "I also started it to supplement my curiosity about some scientific questions, like stress and music." Other members echoed this sentiment, highlighting the lack of an official science club at RAA and the appeal of a new extracurricular. "I also just like learning and studying about new things," shared one enthusiastic member, while another added, "I joined out of curiosity because it was a science group for students who are interested in and planning to go into the medical field." The club quickly became a space for growth, cooperation, and even some unexpected fun. "Originally I joined to support Khaveen in his strive to start a club," a member admitted, "but after joining I soon learned that it was actually an enjoyable time. There have been many laughs, states of confusion, and fun memories all together; I don't regret joining."

So, why stress? It's a universal experience, especially for high school students. "Everyone, including me, experiences it, and experiencing such stress is detrimental to our mental health," explained a club member. "So, the club and I wanted to help our community by studying how to help with stress." The idea resonated deeply with the team. "Stress is something that everyone experiences every day," another member pointed out. "I wanted to know how stress is affected by different subjects." From academic pressures to extracurricular demands, stress is a constant in the lives of RAA students. "It's a very big force in our everyday life," said one student. "Especially in high school, there are a lot of activities and work, and it can cause you to be very stressed. So learning about it in a different way, like through music, can help you get through that stress and also learn about the stress."
 

The club's ambitious study aimed to provide tangible ways to combat this pervasive issue. "We hope to educate more people about stress and to help people lower it in their everyday lives," stated a hopeful member. The team set out to investigate how music, specifically, impacts stress levels, using heart rate as a key indicator. To do this, they put students in a controlled environment, had them work on challenging riddles, and measured their heart rates several times. They also sent out surveys to high school students and teachers to gather broader insights into stress and its effects. "I and the rest of the team want to accomplish how music affects stress levels through your heart rate. Not only looking at freshmen through seniors, but also teachers," a student elaborated. The ultimate goal: to find "simple ways to combat stress in our daily lives as high schoolers." 
 

Their initial hypothesis was that "listening to our favorite relaxing music will have the most significant impact on reducing levels of stress." The results were intriguing, offering both validation and new questions. "Our initial hypothesis... was kind of proven but also disproved because the people with higher heart rates had no effect from the music," explained one researcher. "We learned that listening to music will lower stress for the more relaxed individuals in a short period of time (10 mins)." Interestingly, the study also revealed that "music that people personally enjoy was actually more helpful in calming them down" than classical music, a finding that challenged their initial expectations. One member noted, "This project helped me gain useful knowledge about ways to reduce stress. For example, we found that listening to good music can help relieve stress, which made me decide to build a habit of listening to more good music."

To gather their data, the club designed a clever experiment. "We recruited one male and one female high school student from each grade at RAA, along with two faculty members (one male and one female) who were interested in participating," their study summary outlined. "Each participant would engage in a challenging problem-solving activity with a short time limit to induce stress." Following this stress-inducing task, participants would listen to either their favorite song or a classical piece for ten minutes, with their heart rates diligently monitored using pulse oximeters. "We gathered our data by collecting students and teachers and doing riddles on them with a time limit playing in front of them," described a member. "They would then listen to either classical music (Mozart) or their favorite stress reliever songs. We would use multiple heart rate monitors to find the average heart rate every 2 minutes for 10 minutes."

While the process was enlightening, it wasn't without its challenges. "My favorite part was seeing our hypothesis proven," one member shared, while another found enjoyment in "seeing people's answers on the riddles and also trying it out for myself." However, "the most challenging part was to make sure that nothing we do affects the data and raises their BPM." Technical difficulties with pulse oximeters also added to the complexity. Despite these hurdles, the club found joy in the collaborative nature of the work. "It was fun talking about science and doing experiments with my friends," a student happily recounted.
 

The Science Club isn't stopping here. They have ambitious plans to enter their research into the San Bernardino Inyo Mono Science Fair. "We want to try to enter the San Bernardino Inyo Mono Science fair to give a more public view to our findings," a member enthusiastically shared. This opportunity is seen as a major stepping stone. "To be able to enter the San Bernardino science fair would be a huge opportunity, especially for such a small school like us," said a student. "We would not only be able to share our findings on our research, but also be able to see other schools that are much bigger than us and see what they are researching and finding out." Beyond the competition, the club hopes to expand, gain more members, and leave a lasting legacy at RAA. "We hope to gain more members and make it more structured and hopefully leave a lasting legacy that will continue for years to come," shared a forward-thinking member.

The new Science Club is off to an incredible start, demonstrating curiosity, dedication, and a commitment to understanding and improving the well-being of their school community. A special thanks is extended to "everybody that participated in the study, whether as a member, as a sponsor, or as a participant, because without them this study would not have been possible." It's clear that this club is not just about experiments; it's about building a community, fostering a love for learning, and making a real-world impact.
 

Back on Friday, May 2, this year’s RAA Physics class, 27 juniors strong, embarked on a physics adventure, trading the classroom for thrilling drops and dizzying loops at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. This wasn’t just a fun day out; it was a hands-on physics lab where every twist and turn of a roller coaster had the potential to become a data point in a future calculation!

Armed with Bluetooth displacement trackers from our physics department, students bravely boarded some of the park’s most iconic rides. The goal? To capture the raw data of motion, which would later be translated into displacement graphs back in the classroom. Imagine seeing a visual representation of data from Tatsu or X2 come alive!

Our intrepid team of four RAA vans, piloted by chaperones Mr. H, Mrs. Macknet, Mr. Walter, and Mr. Hayton navigated the park like seasoned pros. And talk about good luck! It was a rare day where every single thrill ride was open, much to Mr. H’s delight! And on top of that, it was also a “medium” crowd level day, meaning most line wait times clocked in at a breezy 20 minutes or less except, of course, X2.

Speaking of X2, a huge shout-out to Khaveen Kabilan, who made RAA history by being the first student in fifteen years to ride X2 a whole 3 times in one visit! That’s dedication to data collection. But what’s even more surprising is that over 75% of our physics students had never set foot in Magic Mountain before this trip! After a day packed with physics fun and data collection, we wouldn’t be surprised if that same 75% considered summer memberships.

Our physics students now have until June 6 to dive into their collected data to solve at least seven real life problems, turning their thrilling experiences and data collection adventures into meaningful physics calculations. Curious to see the displacement graphs of Tatsu, Twisted Colossus, or even X2 look like? Stop by Room 500 - with a peek at these graphs you just might find yourself on the fast track to falling in love with physics!
 

As the school year winds down, the pace has definitely picked up! It feels like we're on the final stretch, and with all the end-of-year events, it's easy to get caught in the whirlwind. Yet, this past week offered an incredible opportunity to pause, celebrate our amazing students' achievements, and reconnect with God for some peace. It was an inspiring week, filled with pride, joy, and spiritual growth as we honored hard work and dedicated time to connection and prayer.

Celebrating Hard Work: Sports & Academic Awards

Our celebrations kicked off with the Middle and High School Sports Awards. We recognized the athleticism, teamwork, and sportsmanship of our student-athletes across all sports. It was inspiring to witness their growth and passion, from the track to the court to the field. We handed out Coach’s Awards, MVP, and Bulldog Awards for each sport, and even selected our male and female athletes of the year. We also celebrated our dedicated coaches, presenting the Jan Rice Excellence in Coaching award to one of our own alumni, Ben Korompis. His and all the other coaches' dedication to developing our student-athletes is truly inspiring.

The academic accolades quickly followed. On Monday, we celebrated our younger students at the Middle School Academic Awards, commending their dedication to their studies. Then, on Tuesday, the spotlight shifted to our older students for the High School Academic Awards. Their commitment to academic excellence is made even more impressive by their ability to balance it with leadership roles, athletic pursuits, and musical talents.
 

Oh, and let's not forget the iconic tradition of passing the Presidential key from one ASB President to the next, followed by the exciting announcement of the Class of the Year (calculated by spirit points)! Congratulations, Seniors!

We are incredibly proud of all our students and the positive strides they've made this year! Their hard work, resilience, and passion are an inspiration to us all, and we eagerly anticipate celebrating their future successes.

Seeking Peace & Growing in Faith Together

Beyond the awards, our students also took time this week to connect with their community and with Christ during our second Week of Prayer (WOP) this year. It was a beautiful opportunity for staff and students alike to pause from the end-of-year rush, connect, and reflect on messages designed to bring them closer to God.

Our elementary students enjoyed special visitors who helped with music, and we were incredibly proud to see our 5th graders courageously speak during the chapel services, embodying the Week of Prayer and this year’s theme of "Do Good on Purpose." Their faith and heartfelt words were truly wonderful to witness.

In middle and high school, students engaged in a variety of WOP activities centered around their theme of "Capture the Moment."

Ready for the Grand Finale?

As we reflect on this past week and year, we are so grateful for our talented students, dedicated teachers and staff, and supportive families. Even though these celebrations have concluded, we're incredibly excited for the final two weeks of school, which are brimming with even more end-of-year events…and did someone say yearbook?
 

Have you ever felt the ground beneath you shake and roll during a strong earthquake, braced yourself against the force of 78-mile-per-hour winds, or perhaps even dared to lay down on a bed of nails? Well, that is exactly what the adventurous 2nd grade class did this Thursday! Seems dangerous at first glance, but it was completely safe because they got to experience all this at the Discovery Cube located in Orange County.

Their exciting day began with a demonstration all about plants. Each student got to debate and then decide on the BEST location to plant their vegetable or fruit tree on a mock farm as they learned all about what it is that makes plants grow well. Once they had decided, they followed the path that produce takes when it's harvested by visiting a mock grocery store and recycling center, which showed us a bit about where our food comes from and how recycling works and can make a difference.

Later in the day, the young explorers ventured into the sea lab, where they were able to get up close and personal with a bunch of different marine creatures, including starfish, anemones, and even sharks! Their afternoon also included a dinosaur quest, which helped bring creatures from long ago to life. Don't worry though. Not literally! 

Adding a touch of engineering and a flair for the creative, students even had the opportunity to design their own unique cars and paper airplanes, putting their creations to the test. Does your car drive? Is it fast? Whose airplane can fly the furthest? What a wonderful way for children to experience problem-solving and STEAM in a different environment!

Overall, it was clear that our 2nd graders all had a GREAT day exploring a wide variety of engaging and hands-on activities, making some unforgettable memories, and putting some of the things that they have been learning about in class to the test. Can you guess what a good portion of them reported was their favorite part of the day? Sharks? Earthquakes? Cars? Nope! Interestingly, when asked to pinpoint their favorite part of the day, a surprising number of students exclaimed that the best part of the day was surviving the bed of nails, a “daring” feat involving an astonishing 5,000 nails. Someday they'll remember that moment when they learn more about weight distribution and pressure, but for now, they are amazed at surviving such an injury-defying adventure!

I want to be a doctor when I grow up! I want to be a firefighter! I want to be a garbage truck driver! Insert whatever career it is that you’ve heard kids tell you that they want to be when they grow up. It’s always so cute and absolutely melts even the stoniest of hearts. Now imagine a whole fair dedicated to sharing different careers with children in the local community, allowing them to expand on what they might want to do. Have you reached cuteness overload yet?

On April 30th, our Kindergarten and 1st Grade classes got to attend an event just like that: Loma Linda University’s Health & Career Day. The kids were treated to an unforgettable experience, exploring a huge array of different booths designed to educate, ignite curiosity, and spark dreams for the future. 

From the moment they arrived, there was something to capture their attention. Between the impressive sight of a real-life fire truck, police car, and ambulance, a mobile dental unit and other interactive booths, the kids were in hands-on, experiential learning heaven. The mobile dental unit was one of the big hits, offering a unique learning opportunity where our students donned gowns, and got to check the teeth of specially designed dolls, even getting to pull teeth and take “x-rays.” The police booth, complete with a police car and a canine unit, also drew a lot of attention. Who wouldn’t pass up getting to explore a cop car and interact with a police dog?

The learning and fun didn’t stop there. With booths representing occupational therapy, physical therapy, radiology, and internal medicine, students got to experience age-appropriate glimpses into these important healthcare fields. One particularly interesting display came from the anti-venom researchers, who brought along a bunch of safely contained “friends” aka venomous reptiles, including a rattlesnake and a Gila monster - a truly fascinating experience for our young scientists.

However, one parent reported that the absolute highlight of the field trip for many was the heartwarming “Stuffy Check-Up Station,” where each student got to give a medical check-up to a stuffed animal or toy that they brought along just for the occasion. The station began when the students were given tiny gowns, provided by a thoughtful organization, for their stuffed animals. Once the fuzzy patients had donned their gowns, they went through a line where volunteers conducted “weight checks,” “blood pressure readings,” and even administered “shots” as a way for students to experience a medical check-up without the anxiety that sometimes comes with it (how many of us have heard a very emphatic “no shots pleassseee!!”). 

The hands-on, interactive fun continued with a volunteer teaching the students how to make a finger cast on their own finger, and an internal medicine specialist offered a simple and engaging way to learn about our bodies’ amazing organs. 

Adding to the excitement and the awww factor, our students had a blast dressing up for various roles around the fair - as doctors in lab coats with stethoscopes, brave firefighters as they sprayed water at a fire target, and more! Seeing their children dressed as doctors sparked a touching moment of imagining future possibilities in some parents. "It was cool in that moment to see what they could be and dream what their future might be like," the parent shared. “Can you imagine if my child became a doctor and I have a picture of them dressed as a doctor from when they were little? So cute! Bring tissues.” 

And all that’s not even mentioning the petting zoo (sans our venomous snake friends from earlier). Kids picked their favorite chicken, duck, sheep or other animal and gave them plenty of love and attention. You have to have a break here and there to spend time with some furry and feathered friends!

Beyond the fun of learning, the day also helped provide our kindergarten and first-graders with early exposure to a bunch of different careers, planting seeds of possibility and helping them understand all the diverse roles that exist even within our immediate community. As one parent observed, these kinds of events allow students to see beyond the most commonly known professions and discover more specific career paths. Our parents were even able to learn things, with the fair offering insights into the diverse resources available within our community. It was a chance for all involved to be present, get connected, and appreciate all the different support systems around us. 

At the end of the day, Loma Linda University’s Health & Career Day Fair was a success for all who attended. It went beyond just a fun outing, offering engaging and age-appropriate introductions to a variety of important roles and careers. It fostered awareness, provided early career education, and offered practical, hands-on experiences - all while being cute to boot! It was a day of expanded horizons and budding dreams, leaving a lasting positive memory for our youngest learners. Can anyone say, “I want to be an Otolaryngologist when I grow up?”
 

by Matea Brooks (high school student)

This year, our kindergarten and first grade students had an exciting and enriching experience at Loma Linda University’s Health Fair. This special event is designed to help children feel comfortable in a hospital setting by giving them fun, hands-on experiences with medical tools and professionals. This year’s fair was extra special, as it marked the 40th anniversary of the event. The children spent the day on the lawn of Loma Linda University Church, learning about the different fields of medicine that Loma Linda has to offer.

One of the most loved activities was the Teddy Bear Clinic. Each student brought a stuffed animal from home, which were then dressed in tiny hospital gowns. The children performed checkups by examining ears and eyes of the stuffies, applied small finger casts on each other, both of which gave them a chance to step into the role of a doctor.

Another highlight was learning about dental care by brushing special stuffed animals’ teeth. Students also took part in a pretend X-ray activity, where an image of the teeth popped out, making them feel like real doctors and dentists. There was also a fire truck to explore, policemen to visit with, and a petting zoo with friendly animals to pet.

Overall, the trip was full of fun, learning, and unforgettable moments for both students and teachers.

When you think of Redlands Adventist Academy, a rush of images likely comes to mind: community, spirited sports, engaging academics, cherished friendships, and the phrase, “Go Bulldogs!” For many, that list undoubtedly includes music, and when music is mentioned at RAA, you have to think of the name: Mr. Walters. He is, without a doubt, a music icon here. Over his remarkable tenure, Mr. Walters has shaped us all as a history, government, and economics teacher, guided melodies as a band director, orchestrated harmonies as a handbell ensemble director, and shaped the very fabric of RAA & decades of students. It's no wonder that countless current students and alumni jumped at the chance to help celebrate Mr. James Walters, a presence felt here on campus for an incredible 40 years.
 

From his signature peace sign greeting and insightful historical anecdotes to his patient understanding of our youthful antics and his appreciation for Monty Python's Holy Grail, Mr. Walters embodies the qualities that forge an RAA legend.

To honor his 40 years of dedication – and with the hopeful anticipation of many, many more, given that RAA music and Mr. Walters are practically synonymous – a group of alumni, current Bellissimo volunteers, and a host of other co-conspirators orchestrated a well-coordinated, undercover bells performance at our annual High School Spring Concert. Here at RAA, the opportunity to celebrate a beloved teacher with a touch of delightful secrecy always brings mischievous grins and joyful delight. A sizable group of 10–12 alumni and 7-8 current handbell ringers gathered backstage, carefully avoiding Mr. Walters, who had been subtly called to the gym under the guise of Mr. Arnold needing help with a project. 

As the annual Spring Concert commenced, Mr. Arnold stepped to the front of the gym. He spoke of RAA's immense fortune in having James Walters for so many years, reassuring the audience that this wasn't a retirement announcement, while the undercover handbell group awaited their cue nervously from the hallway. Then, Mr. Arnold gave the cue, after suggesting that bell-ringers trained by Mr. Walters likely retained their skills, much like riding a bike. A wave of gasps and heartfelt "awws" rippled through the crowd as each player – Bellissimo volunteers and alumni spanning back to the class of 2010 – took their places, holding copies of Mr. Walters' very first composition. Adding to the surprise, as the second to last player joined the ensemble, a member of Bellissimo gently guided Mr. Walters from the audience to conduct the impromptu performance. With only a single day of practice and bracing fist bumps from Mr. Walters, the group lifted their handbells and performed, even concluding with a classic flourish.

While not everyone could participate in the handbell surprise, all the handbell groups, from 5th to 12th grade, collectively signed a celebratory gift for Mr. Walters. Presented as the backing of an old-time brass school bell, it served as a colorful and joyful expression of gratitude for his 40 years of impact, making both history and music at RAA and teaching us a variety of valuable lessons, including that we could always use more cowbell.