Karrie Meyers – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Mile High Academy (MHA) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, welcomed students, families, alumni, community members, and staff to its annual Fall Festival, November 7.

The annual event serves as a major highlight of the fall semester, filling the school campus with entertainment and a chance to visit with both new and old friends. The event generated over $18,000, with proceeds directly benefiting MHA classrooms and select booths contributing to the school’s overall financial aid fund. This year, MHA has committed to raising $300,000 in student aid to ensure every student who seeks an MHA education has access.

The campus came alive with activity from start to finish. Festivalgoers lined up for crowd favorites like the mechanical bull, the bounce house, the fishing booth, the “Kissing Cowboys” booth, and the infamous festival jail, where attendees willingly paid to lock up friends and staff for a good cause. Adding extra excitement to this year’s lineup, MHA’s first-grade class introduced a brand-new axe-throwing station allowing booth guests to test their target skills.

Food was another major draw, offering something for every palate. Guests sampled a wide variety of savory and sweet offerings throughout the evening, including street tacos, cotton candy, loaded nachos, authentic Indonesian cuisine, fresh popcorn, homemade caramel apples, and much more.

The first-grade class had a fantastic time participating in the festivities. “Fall Festival is fun,” said first-grade student Ronan. “I love the bounce house.” Classmate Danny agreed: “There was so much to do! The food! I love all the flavors! Oh, and the Robot Rally was fun too.” First-grade student Caleb added, “I loved the robots downstairs.”

“Happy chaos, fantastic families, and unforgettable traditions—autumn wouldn’t be complete without the MHA Fall Festival!” said April Zimmerman, MHA first-grade teacher. “While we teachers love working with our students to plan and decorate our booths, watching our school families gather for candy apples and bull rides is the best part. We’re so lucky to be part of the MHA community!”

School leadership noted that the evening highlighted the vital role community backing plays across every level of the school’s mission.

From financial aid to classroom support, each dollar raised makes a huge difference in the lives of our students,” said RD Gallant, MHA principal. “The strong community spirit and generosity seen at Fall Festival are what make Mile High Academy such a special place for our families. Thank you to everyone who supported this special event.”

—Karrie Meyers is the Mile High Academy marketing and development coordinator. Photos supplied.