Since the beginning of the new school year, Lehigh Valley Academy has been working on finishing the construction of a new gym. After much hard work and patience, the gym was finally opened in December. Students were able to tour it Dec. 22, the day before winter break. It is now home to many of the Jaguars’ basketball games, as well as space for gym classes to play sports and activities.

Since December, the school’s girls’ and boys’ basketball teams have been actively playing in games every week, with practices being almost every day.

The inauguration of the new gym occurred Jan. 2 when the boys junior varsity and varsity teams played their first home games against Salisbury HS. I spoke with Christopher Hunt, a 12th grader on the boys varsity team. This is what he had to say:

DHRITI: What was your team’s most memorable victory?

CHRISTOPHER: New Hope-Solebury. We played that game for Mr. Jennings. And it was the first win in program history.

DHRITI: How does the team prepare before a game?:

CHRISTOPHER: We go over a scouting report thoroughly, and then we come to practice with a game plan, and we execute it.

DHRITI: What is a personal accomplishment you’ve made so far that you’re proud of?

CHRISTOPHER: I’ve fulfilled my role for the team by being able to contribute and help out.

It’s clear that the Jaguars are very dedicated to their games through their hard work and practice.

Many fun events have been happening at LVA lately. Mini-THON hosted Skate Night at Skateaway Jan. 11 to help raise money for children fighting cancer, as well as to help their families financially. The turnout was incredible, with around 350 people attending. Mini-THON raised over $1,840, making this event a great success!

On Jan. 4 and 5, National Spanish Honor Society members taught kindergarten classes about the significance of “El Día de los Reyes,” a holiday celebrated in many Spanish-speaking countries all over the world. The children were shown an educational slide show about the holiday, including fun videos to watch. Then, they were given paper crowns to color and wear as a fun activity to celebrate.

The middle school held its “Dancing in a Winter Wonderland” school dance Jan. 19 with a variety of snacks and drinks, including hot cocoa – the perfect event for a cold winter.