   | Our talented seniors at New Summit Academy have received all of their college decisions this month, and most have made the exciting decisions of where to enroll. This process began last May, when students and families began developing comprehensive lists of characteristics that they believed would lead to continued student success. Using these characteristics, individualized lists of schools were developed for each student, and the intensive process of honing these lists began. Alongside this process, students worked on resumes, essays, requesting letters of recommendation and – sometimes at the last minute! – submitting applications that highlighted their strengths and their growth processes over the last year. New Summit Academy is proud to share some of our College Application stats for the fall of 2019! Seniors accepted to college: 100% Acceptance rate of all colleges applied to: 79% Total Merit Aid Offered: $970,000.00 Acceptances into Colleges that Change Lives: 5 The impressive list of schools – as unique as our students – where our seniors have enrolled or intend to enroll: Loyola University Chicago, Lynn University, Juniata College, Christopher Newport University, Quest University, University of Oregon, University of Denver, and Lehigh University Thanks to all of our supportive families and consultants whose participation helped to make this such a successful season!  |
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 The recent student benefit concert and fundraiser, SummitFest, turned out to be a major success. Students have been volunteering at Caritas – a local soup kitchen that feeds up to 60 people per day. A lack of a freezer and needed supplies make their efforts challenging, and students recognized that need. Funds raised online and at the concert were used to purchase a new refrigerator, a deep freezer, and contribute to the ongoing food needs of the organization. The delivery of the new appliances was overseen by our Experiential Education staff, Miguel, who also helped guide the students in organizing the concert. Great work, Miguel and NSA students! 
 This month, NSA’s newest club – the Birdwatching Club – took it upon themselves to organize a weekend trip into the cloud forests of Costa Rica. The trip coincided with the nesting season of one of Central America’s most stunning and most elusive avian species: the Resplendent Quetzal. Students and staff departed for the forested mountains on Friday, with the plan to rise early the next morning for the best quetzal spotting opportunity. After a sunrise yoga session led by one of our Case Managers, Andrea, the group began scanning the lush foliage for their prize. They identified dozens of different species and, in the end, their efforts paid off with a male quetzal displaying its iridescent plumage to the group for over 20 minutes. Nice work, birders! 
NSA’s host country of Costa Rica provides our students with an incredible opportunity to learn the Spanish language. NSA students do spend time in the classroom studying grammar and vocabulary, but the beauty of our Spanish program is that this classroom study is designed to prepare students for, enrich, and reflect on all of the immersive, cultural experiences that we offer. This month alone, students practiced their Spanish skills by: - Exploring the history behind the Oxcart Factory in nearby Sarchi - Volunteering with children at Hogar de Vida - Learning about the traditional “trapiche” mill and watching sugar cane be turned into sugar - Visiting Costa Rica’s National Theater in San Jose - Surfing some of the nation’s most beautiful beaches - Spending Sundays sharing cultural customs with their homestay families There is no better way to learn a language than by immersing in it, which is just what our students do at NSA!
This February’s round of Integrated Aventuras engaged students in hiking, rafting, swimming, service work, and other amazing opportunities. While the physical challenge and natural beauty of NSA’s Aventuras are often highlighted in stories and photos, these experiences offer our students so much more.
These reasons, combined with the physical challenge and connection with nature, are why NSA’s Integrated Aventuras are some of the most meaningful and impactful experiences for all of our students, and why our alumni continue to speak about them 10 years after graduation!
 Later this month and into March, our seniors at NSA will be receiving mail and emails with exhilarating news about college acceptances and merit scholarships.
Already, in early February, the excitement is growing as decisions come in almost daily. So far this month, we have had students accepted to some incredible schools, including:
 With challenging and enriching academic days, Honor Council, SCAFA Team meetings, physical education, evening therapeutic groups, and nightly homework, NSA students certainly look forward to some fun and relaxation on the weekends. Our Experiential Education team works closely with Student Council to design and schedule a variety of activities over the weekends, ranging from outdoor pursuits to cultural activities, and from trips to the movies to community service. Here is a sample of activities that our students have enjoyed in just the past two weeks: Cultural Activities This month, students visited a cacao plantation to join in on the chocolate-making process and also spent time learning about Costa Rica’s indigenous past at the Gold Museum. Las Minas A nearby river filled with pools and natural rock slides is always a hit for our students! Beach Day Students often look forward to action-packed days on the beautiful beaches of Costa Rica, where they can be found body surfing, playing soccer on the sand, and flying kites!
Community Service Our students and staff recently pitched in at Hogar de Ancianos, our local retirement home, helping for the day in the laundry room. Pure Go-Karting and Paintball Fun Competition gets fierce when NSA students get behind the wheel or on the paintball field! Weekends may be just as busy as weekdays at NSA, but these student-driven activities let the young men recharge and be ready for each coming week!
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