Liahona Preparatory Academy

Liahona Preparatory Academy is a regionally accredited[1] private school in Utah County, Utah, United States, that teaches pre-kindergarten to grade 12. The school was founded by Brent and Kolleen DeGraff. The school blends core academics with the principles of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Liahona has been in operation since 1998. Liahona teaches four basic classes: history, science, English, and math. They also teach electives such as dance, Spanish, drama, choir, and career exploration. Liahona currently has almost 200 on-campus students. In 2014, Liahona notably recognized by BestSchool.org,[2] an independent ranking organization. Out of thousands of distance education programs nationwide, Liahona was ranked 34 out of the top 50 schools.

Location

Liahona Preparatory Academy (grades 5-12) is located just off the freeway at 2464 West 450 South in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Liahona Elementary (Pre-K to grade 4) is located at 801 N. 300 E., Pleasant Grove, Utah.

Liahona Preparatory Academy announced the opening of Liahona Elementary K-4. Classes will be held at the Liahona Campus at 801 North 300 East in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Kathie Drake, who is a Golden Apple award winner with a Master Equivalency, is the administrator and teaches first and second grade. Lynette Teuscher teaches Pre-K and Kindergarten and HollyAnn Ward Rogerson teaches third and fourth grade.

Liahona has an accredited[3] distance education system. Each week the students and teachers are filmed in the three core classes, (History, Science and English). These are then available via the internet and accessed by students world-wide.

Activities

Liahona boasts a nationally award winning drama department. The school produces 3-6 shows each year in their black box theater on site. In 2013 Liahona placed first in the duo/trio scene category and third in ensemble scenes at the National Shakesepare Acting Competition in Cedar City, Utah. In March 2014, they traveled to Southern California to compete in the Fullerton Theatre Competition. This last year, Liahona's Theatre Competition Team won the Overall National Shakespeare Championship both High School and Junior High as well as 1st and second overall in Jr. High monologues and 2nd place in high school duo/trio scenes and ensemble scenes. This year's season includes Seussical the Musical in December, Everyman in March, The Giver in April, and the Utah Valley High School Premier of Melissa Leilani Larsen's new play, Martyr's Crossing.

Each year Liahona students attend a week long Youth Conference at Aspen Grove, up Provo Canyon. There are activities, youth speakers, service projects, and entertainment. Each year, Liahona students take a service trip to Mexico to help out at the two orphanages which the school has adopted. Students participate in fundraising activities to raise money for the orphans. Students have also participated in a Christmas service project taking presents, food boxes, clothing, blankets, books, hygiene kits, and school supply bags to Navajo families near Chinle, Arizona.

Athletics

Liahona has an athletic department that plays in the USSA (Utah School Sports Alliance). Their basketball team went 7-1 in 2007, winning the state championship against Lincoln Academy by 19. Their Soccer team went 12-0, beating Lincoln Academy in the State championship by two in a shoot-out. In 2010, while playing 1A UHSAA, Liahona took 2nd in State in Basketball. Back in the USSA in 2014, Liahona's Men's Basketball team placed 3rd in state, Men's soccer placed 2nd and Women's Soccer placed 4th

References

  1. ↑ "NWAC School Accreditation Summary". AdvancED. NWAC. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  2. ↑ http://www.thebestschools.org/rankings/best-online-high-school-diploma-programs/
  3. ↑ "NWAC School Accreditation Summary (Distance Ed)". AdvancED. NWAC. Retrieved 10 December 2012.

External links


Coordinates: 40°22′20″N 111°44′10″W / 40.37222°N 111.73611°W