Enjoy some photos from our recent surf lessons and surf outings!

As we reopen, we are taking all precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on our campus. Luckily, the rainy season is ending and we will be soon entering the dry season. What does that mean? That we will be able to be outdoors as much as possible!

Learning more about the aerosol spread of the virus has encouraged us to take many precautions such as: 

• Classroom time and therapeutic groups conducted in outdoor ranchos and covered (but open-air) spaces. 
• Social distance spacing at meal tables (in our open-air dining hall). 
• Mask wearing by all staff at all times and students as well when in off campus situations.
• Outdoor recreation and cultural immersion will only be implemented in outdoor activities with proper social distancing.
• Campus modifications: More night-time lighting to allow for more time spent outdoors after dark, more fans for better ventilation, designating bathrooms to specific groups of people, and spreading out dorm placements in a way that provides ample personal air space but also does not leave students isolated or lonely. 

We're excited to reopen and feel optimistic about all that Costa Rica and NSA has to offer during this stressful global pandemic. 

December 1 is our 4th album release in almost 16 years! We've sold some tickets for our December concert and are fine-tuning our playlists with the band, back up singers, stage hands and all the rest! Let's take a look back at the first 3 albums and why you're going to love the 4th even more...

NSA 1.0 was released on January 1, 2005, when NSA first opened its doors to 11 students and their families. Young, inspired, energetic and ambitious, we pumped ourselves up with hits like:
- Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Something,"
- "Let's Get it Started" by the Black Eyed Peas, &
- "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac. 

NSA 2.0 was released in 2012 as we moved into our newly built campus and opened our young adult Bridge program. We psyched ourselves up with:
- the Jefferson's theme song, "Moving On Up"
- and then slowed it down with hits like "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel &
- "Home" by Phillip Phillips

NSA 3.0 - The 2020 COVID COHORT! The COVID lockdown brought out our inner divas as we discoed our way through
- "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees,
- Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" and
- REM's "It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)"
... all while playing corn hole, horseshoes, ladder golf, and gathering to make S'mores around our fire pit.

NSA 4.0 - Now, as we prepare for our post-covid-lockdown December 1st release, we are inspired to begin again - with a return to our roots, an even more powerful purpose, and lots of inspiration. Listen to our rendition of
- "Don't Stop Believin'" (no, it's not as good as the Glee cast!),
- "I'll Rise" by Ben Harper (a la Maya Angelou)
- "Stronger" by Kelly Clarkson, &
- "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles

One of the the things of which we are proud is our commitment to life-long learning, and that isn't only for our students! Each version of NSA is a result of a reflective, systemic  process of self-examination, feedback from our stakeholders, and research on best practices.  
 
NSA 4.0 is a result of this process in our team as we decided to take advantage of the opportunity that the COVID hibernation brought us. You will not be disappointed as NSA 4.0 brings to the forefront:

• even more intentional integration within our program,
• relationship-based humility in our activities and cultural immersion,
• a continued commitment to diversity among our staff and students,
• a renewed commitment to open, mindful communication and collaboration,
• Dr. Danny Recio's new position dedicated to tending the fire of a healthy community culture at both NSA & The Bridge,
• the same high quality service and connection you are used to, and
• an exciting revamp of the weekly schedule to empower students to take more ownership in building their own healthy lifestyles and create more space for experiential learning!

Martin Naffziger, M.Ed., and Dr. Heather Tracy, Ed.D., presented in early 2020 at the annual NATSAP conference. The topic? Once through wilderness, how do we guide students back into the realities of our technological world?

Dr. Tracy presented the latest research on the positive and negative effects of technology use as well as presented a framework for how to assess and discuss intentionally moderate use. 

Martin Naffziger then outlined how New Summit Academy re-introduces technology into student lives in an intentionally gradual way using process-based scaffolding. Enjoy!

Our son finished his freshman year at NSA almost a year ago. We can’t say enough to thank the team for what they did for our son and for our family! For a place of healing and growth it is the perfect setting with fresh air, fresh food, and surrounded by nature.

This is a TOP NOTCH boarding school – academically, socially, and emotionally.  NSA is a warm and loving community with gifted educators and therapists. NSA is ahead of the curve with innovative learning that extends beyond the classroom to life skills and exploration of who the students are in relation to the world around them.

​Nearly every day, we still hear stories from our son about the friends and staff who challenged him daily to know himself and be the best version of himself.  NSA is an incredible team of people who have created a program that is truly a game-changer and a life-changer!

Your last newsletter completely resonated with our experience with our son in his process in finding the right school. I am SO Grateful EVERY day for what you and your team has done for him, and the results continue to manifest through him.  He knows now what he is capable of in educational studying, confidence in leading, understanding himself on an emotional intelligence level and others.  

Currently he is working for a global TV station; they love him so much, his talents and who he is, they are his #1 go to for animation, video editing and helping with the set, etc.. They are using him a lot right now remotely during this pandemic.  He is getting mostly As and Bs in college right now at community college, and he plans to transfer to UCI at some point to finish his bachelors. 

He sat with me recently and did his taxes on his own with my guidance, filing his own tax return online through Turbo Tax for 2019. It was somewhat complicated, so he had to organize his expenses that were write-offs from his bank account into excel to complete a schedule C.  

He has a steady girlfriend now for over 1 year, and she’s also in college and they have a good relationship.  He is living in my family owned townhome and his girlfriend moved in during this pandemic. They are very happy... and now looking for a roommate so they all can cover the expenses of the property to stay there.  He loves living independently and enjoys having the responsibility of keeping the home clean, caring for their two kittens, doing his laundry, dishes, cooking, etc.. He said it reminds him of NSA.  

He is doing GREAT and his experiences at NSA really turned him around and built out his resume, making it impressive to employers. If he had not had that opportunity, his life would be dramatically different right now.

So a BIG Thank you to NSA... and sending all my love and blessings to you, your team and the kids during this pandemic. 
From a VERY PROUD MOM of a June 2018 graduate of NSA,