By Nina Lin
From summer programs to trips abroad, community service to hanging with friends, the students and teachers at TPA had very exciting summers!
James Atkinson, 6A
My family and I traveled to a lot of places over the summer. I went hiking in northwest Arizona. I visited the Indian ruins and Havasupai where we went hiking and camping. I also went to Mason Camp at Christopher Creek. My favorite moment was seeing the pine tree house.
Monserrat Larios, 6C
I went to Mexico to visit my family. We went on a boat ride at the lake for my dad’s birthday, and we also went to Flagstaff. I went to Guanajuato, Mexico where I saw a wide green land and a huge pyramid called Guachimontones.
Bree Van Dahm, 6B
I went with my family to Alaska where we saw glaciers. I also went dog riding in Canada.
Gloria Grama, 6B
My family and I went to the National Monument in Washington, D.C., in front of the Lincoln Memorial. We also went to the World War II Memorial and museums. It was exciting to see it up close.
Sierra Smith, 6B
I went to Disneyland with my family. I had so much fun there. We had an amazing time going on all the rides together. This is one of my favorite vacations! My favorite ride was Toy Story Mania. The most memorable moment there was my grandma going on The Tower of Terror and loving it!
Natsuki Saballos, 7A
I went to Camp Geronimo, a scout camp, in Payson with my friends. I had a lot of fun and I played lots of video games. The most memorable thing was being with my family.
Preston Smith, 7C
I went on a three-week tour with the Phoenix Boys’ Choir. It was an excellent opportunity to see the northwest of our country. We went to Utah and got to ride the Alpine slide. Then we went through Idaho and finally Oregon. That’s where we sang at Piccfest where choirs from outside the country sing together.
Gabriella Troglia, 7A
I went to Colorado and Mexico with my cousins. My favorite memory is when my cousins and I went to the beach and ran around. It was special because I hardly see them.
Ashleigh Duplissis, 7B
I went to Maine and had a blast! We went there to celebrate my birthday and to see my family. I can’t wait to go back!
Anna Moriarty, 7A
I went to Montana to celebrate my birthday. We ate a lot of food.
Lily Welter, 7A
Over this summer, I went on a Disney cruise and celebrated my birthday. And I went to the mall a million times with my friend, Anna.
Mitchell Rines, 8C
I went to TPA Junior High Football Camp where we practiced extensively to win games this year. One of my favorite moments there is when one of the football players “accidentally” ripped off the coach’s sleeve and he said, “My wife doesn’t let me wear sleeveless shirts.”
Sammy Nagy, 9C
I traveled to Paris and went sightseeing. I went to the U of A engineering camp. I learned how to design with CAD (computer aided-design) and used it to make cool creations. That was the bomb!
Cameron Pickard, 9B; Ahmad Jones, 9A; Trevor Kerber, 9B
We went to Santa Monica Beach. Then we went Universal Studios where we rode on the ride called The Mummy. We love that ride. It was fast and scary at the same time. Later, we went to the Hollywood Boulevard where we saw many buildings and a lot of scenery.
Alayna Issacs, 10A
I went to horse camp where cowboy campers had rodeos. My horse, Disco, had been doing very well when we came to the goat tying event. During the event, I was fast jogging with my horse and fell off my horse and then face planted on my face … ow. I got bruises on my knee and scraped my hand. Luckily, I got up and finished the event in second place.
Emily Cleveland, 11C
I went to my parents’ school, The Awaking Seed School. I interned with 1-year-olds. I have interned there for the past seven years! I help the teachers with everyday tasks including washing tables, helping kids, reading books to them, etc. It’s a really fun way to get volunteering hours.
Bronson Stephens, 11B
I worked at Boy Scout Camp Geronimo at the climbing tower. I also got to rappel into a river. Then I went to Minnesota for a week to see my mom.
Nina Lin, 11A
I went to the Phoenix Zoo for the first time. My younger brother, Waley, took about 300 photos of the animals because he wanted to make a photo album. My favorite moment was seeing the elephant. It was too far away to take a picture, but I took a photo with an actual size elephant!
Noah Lewis, 11C
A lot of family came down from the East. I went to Colorado Springs to visit my grandmother. I spent my rest of summer in the Air Force Academy.
Quinn Collins, 11B
I was a teacher’s assistant for a week for sixth and seventh grade Math at TPA. Then I went to San Diego to do an engineering camp for three weeks.
Connor Will, 11B
I went to San Diego, CA, and drove to the coast of California, watching movies endlessly.
Anne Fischer, 12C
I went to Arizona Girls State, a program for junior girls. We practice running the government for one week. I was the City Counselor, City Candidate Woman, and City Supreme Court. I also did the Constitution Academy and The Bill of Rights Academy Programs where we learned history and literature just like in Humane Letters.
Yegor Zenkov, 12B
I went to Russia to visit my grandmother. She owns a “Dacha” (a cabin that has a farm in the backyard). I also went to visit my cousins and other family members there.
Teachers
Dr. Cardoso
My family went to Mexico City, Querétaro, San Juan del Rio, Teatihuacan (ancient pre-Hispanic city), etc. The last place is my favorite place. It’s a place where there is a huge city about 2000 years old and a big pyramid.
Mrs. Tobin
I went to Kauai, Hawaii, for a couple of weeks. I went hiking, swimming, and snorkeling in Alakai Swamp, which is the best thing I’ve ever done during summer. I went to Montana and then went home to Arizona.