Bighorn Bulletin

Oasis Academy Student Council Builds Leadership Skills at Disneyland Retreat

Members of the Oasis Academy High School Student Council recently returned from a three-day leadership retreat that combined fun, teamwork, and valuable leadership lessons. The retreat allowed students to step outside their comfort zones, collaborate with new people, and strengthen their leadership skills.

Throughout the two-day program at Disneyland, students participated in interactive leadership sessions and activities designed to build communication, planning, and problem-solving skills. One of the highlights was a scavenger hunt inside Disneyland, where students worked together to complete challenges that required strategic thinking, teamwork, and creativity. The winners received Disneyland's famous churros as a reward.

“Our Disneyland leadership retreat reminded us that leadership isn’t just about directing others, it’s about listening, collaborating, and finding creative solutions together,” said Isabella Hockenberry-Grimes, Student Body President. “Between the lessons, laughter, and churros, we learned that the best leaders know how to make teamwork feel like magic.

The retreat focused on leadership principles such as cooperation, time management, and adaptability—skills the council plans to bring back and use while organizing school events and representing the student body. One skill students honed was to appreciate different perspectives within a team.

“From this retreat, I learned important life skills, one of which was how to plan with others,” said Neel Bhakta, Freshmen Class President. “Many groups would meet up and create a plan to go on rides with each other. This created a sense of teamwork among all of us, which will help us in the future as we plan events for the school.” 

At the start of the retreat, the group spent an afternoon at Huntington Beach, bonding as a team by swimming in the ocean, playing volleyball, or looking for shells. The day by the sea provided a chance to unwind and connect. 

Overall, the experience was both educational and inspiring, and provided many firsts for some students. 

“I found the trip extremely beneficial and enjoyable in many ways, from making new memories to learning more about myself through Student Council,” closed Stevie Hiskett, Sophomore Class President. 

The Oasis Academy Student Council returned motivated and ready to apply their new skills to make a positive impact on their school community.

Oasis Academy to Host First-Ever Holiday Extravaganza

Oasis Academy is celebrating the magic of the holiday season with its first-ever Holiday Extravaganza on December 2 at the Fallon Convention Center, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event promises an evening full of festive performances, creativity, and community spirit.

The celebration will showcase the incredible talents of Oasis Academy kindergarten through eighth-grade students across multiple departments. The choirs and music classes will fill the evening with classic and contemporary holiday tunes, while the drama class takes the stage with a special seasonal performance. The video production class will also assist, offering a glimpse into the hard work and imagination happening behind the scenes.

In addition to the performances, the art classes will have their artwork proudly displayed throughout the event, turning the convention center into a festive gallery of student creativity.

Families can also enjoy a visit with Santa Claus, complete with photos by Taryn Lenon. While pictures are complimentary, donations will be accepted to support Grad Nite and help Oasis Academy’s seniors celebrate their upcoming graduation.

“I am very excited by this opportunity to bring our community together to celebrate our students’ talents and share goodwill as we head into the winter holidays,” said Dane Nott, K-12 School Leader. “The integration of art and music benefits student learning by boosting cognitive, social, and emotional skills, confidence, and teamwork, leading to improved academic performance.  I firmly believe that these community engagement opportunities foster a greater sense of belonging and pride for families and students alike.  This will be an amazing evening.”