Activities

Math Competitors

Students compete in six rounds of the Minnesota Math League Contest from October through February and compete in collegiate math contests by working after school with the head of SCLA’s math department.

Robotics

Students in grades 6-12 are invited to participate on SCLA's robotics teams (middle school and high school) which take part in VEX Robotics Competitions from mid-October to late-February. Additionally, with guidance from their teachers and mentors, students build innovative robots and compete year-round. The robotics team started in 2018 and has hosted its own tournament at the school each year. In 2019, during the team's second year, both a middle school and high school team qualified and competed at the state tournament.

Speech Team

Speech is a Minnesota State High School League activity that begins in November and ends with the State Speech Tournament in April. All students in grades 7-12 are eligible to participate in one of the thirteen League-sanctioned categories. SCLA students regularly advance to competition at the State Speech Tournament and qualify for finals and a state ranking.

To be on the team, students must attend team meetings once per week, practice with a coach and peer once per week, and attend a minimum of three tournaments out of the nine scheduled during February and March. To letter, students must attend at least six tournaments. The top three students in each of the thirteen categories at the Section Tournament will advance to the State Speech Tournament. 

Stream Team

Students interested in the visual arts and broadcasting have the opportunity to serve as camera operators, broadcast associates, and sound/light technicians for various events. The co-curricular program is led by the Visual Recording Arts class instructor. This service group learns about SCLA’s modern broadcast audio visual technologies and volunteers time and talents for chapel, concerts, sporting events, and other major events, such as graduation. Visit the YouTube page for SCLA videos.

The SCLA athletic program develops the total student physically. Athletes are expected to display Christian character while competing at the highest level of performance and success in and outside of the classroom. 

With 22 athletic programs to choose from, nearly 75% of St. Croix students participate in one or more athletic activities. Many SCLA students are three-sport athletes – competing in the fall, winter, and spring.

The athletic complex includes one of the best tracks in the metro area, a football field, soccer fields, baseball and softball diamonds, and tennis courts, as well as a gymnasium and weight room.

SCLA athletes compete at the middle school, C, junior varsity, and varsity levels, based on ability. An athlete’s eligibility is established by the guidelines of the Minnesota State High School League. A current MSHSL eligibility statement, health questionnaire, and a current sports physical exam form must be on file at SCLA before an athlete may practice or compete. 

With over 100 international students in attendance, students at SCLA experience a broad intersection of cultures in daily life and through organized programming. Dormitory students have the chance to share a room with a student from a different state, country, or continent.

Designed cultural experiences and a cross-cultural mentoring program enable international students to find success inside and outside of the classroom. International students also have opportunities to share their own cultural background by presenting to school groups and showing friends the unique and interesting aspects of their life at home.

Global Leadership Team

This select group of international and American students meets regularly throughout the school year to discuss school culture and help facilitate fun cross-cultural learning experiences. The team plans cultural aspects into many everyday events and implements unique experiences such as the International Festival, multi-cultural holidays, and multi-cultural presentations to SCLA’s student body and other schools.

International Mentoring

This important group of select American volunteers donates their talents and a part of their summer. They are the first American students to meet new international students at the beginning of the school year and participate in focused events to ease transition to American school and social life. Mentors experience the benefits of cross-cultural friendship through fun and personal multi-cultural interactions.

China Trip

Chinese language students at SCLA are encouraged to visit China on a school-sponsored trip available every two years. Students participate in an authentic service learning trip through a one-week experience teaching at a summer English camp for children in Beijing. Students and chaperones then take one week to visit the ancient land and culture of China in Beijing and Xian, China.

German Exchange Trip

Experiential learning in the German language includes an on-going interaction with students at Evangelisches Gymnasium in Siegen, Germany. On alternating years, students come from Germany to visit SCL for two weeks and SCL students visit Germany.

Costa Rica Trip

SCLA’s Spanish language program offers a biennial trip to Costa Rica or other locations in Latin America to provide relief and lead Christian programs for young people in the local communities. 

Students interested in music, drama, or visual arts will find many opportunities for creative expression at SCLA. In addition to credit courses in the choral, instrumental, and visual arts, students may choose to participate in co-curricular activities:

• Chapel Players
• Croixaliers
• Jazz Band
• Pep Band
• Children’s Theatre
• Winter Musical
• Spring Play
• Middle School Musical

Crusader Athletics Student Leadership Team

The purpose of the Crusader Athletics Leadership Team is to build and equalize both spiritual and financial support for all SCLA teams. Duties may include cheerleading at specific events and assisting with fundraising events, e.g. the 5K and the golf classic, among others. Students meet monthly for team building, leadership, and character training during the school day, including a leadership-focused Bible study.

Homeroom Leaders

Students volunteer for this multi-faceted leadership program and are selected by coaches and instructors. Leaders attend a day-long workshop at SCLA presented by an outside expert in the field of leadership. In August, selected students attend a day-long leadership seminar off-campus. Peer leaders often provide peer mentoring and homework assistance.

Student Council

The student council assists in the planning of school activities, promotes good student-faculty relationships, fosters student leadership, and nurtures a healthy school spirit among all students. Student council membership includes a male and female representative from each class, an international representative from each class, a president from each class, and five executive officers (president, vice president, international representative, secretary, and treasurer). Each class elects its own representatives, and the entire student body elects the executive officers. Each year the SCLA student council selects a mission project and raises money throughout the year through special events, dress-down days, sales, and contests.

Resident Assistants

Resident Assistants serve in each wing of the dormitory and assist the dormitory program with daily activities. These student leaders serve as role models for their peers.

All SCLA students are encouraged to build servant leadership skills by sharing their time and talent as active volunteers. Opportunities for this type of service are available inside and outside of the classroom and include community clean-up, visits with the elderly, ministry to people with special needs, peer tutoring, mission trips, and many others. 

Any volunteer time spent at church, school, or in the community is eligible for credit hours. SCLA records these service hours on student transcripts and the permanent record. Universities often consider a student's life outside of school along with GPA and coursework when determining acceptance to college and eligibility for scholarship awards. 

Service Opportunities at SCLA include but are not limited to:

• Mission Trips
• National Honor Society
• Student Council Mission Project
• Blood Drives
• Food Drives
• Road-Side Clean-Up
• Night to Shine (Tim Tebow Foundation sponsored prom for people with special needs)
• Special Events

New Friends

For people with special needs, developing friendships can often be tough. In response to this, teens from SCLA have developed a friendship group called New Friends. This friendship group aims to  create an atmosphere where everyone who attends can hang out and develop friendships in an atmosphere of 100% love and acceptance. At a New Friends event, young people, with and without special needs, join together to enjoy various activities like games, music, crafts, and snacks. The focus is on having fun and developing new friendships in a safe, judgment free environment. Learn more at StCroixNewFriends.org