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Presentation at NATSAP 2018 Annual Conference - by Mario Duran and Heather Tracy
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This month, our community of New Summit Academy proudly celebrated 13 YEARS of working together to fulfill our mission of nurturing students to become more relationship-based, goal-driven, resourceful global citizens.
To commemorate this exciting milestone, we would like to share some student testimonials from these amazing times. We hope you enjoy!
To commemorate this exciting milestone, we would like to share some student testimonials from these amazing times. We hope you enjoy!
“Happy Anniversary NSA! Celebrate the fact that you are providing something more than anyone there realizes. You are giving everyone there a chance to step away from what life is really like and grow in a controlled environment, a place where they can learn to love and trust themselves.”
-Tyler, Class of 2006
“At NSA I was given so many opportunities to improve my self-esteem. I left NSA with a sense of pride and accomplishment, which helped me get past insecurities and fears back at home.”
-Luke, Class of 2007
“I remember how real Mario and the rest of the staff were with us. I was told many things I didn't want to hear, and really felt that I was treated with respect (when I deserved it, and even sometimes when I didn't).” - Matt, Class of 2008
“The experiences I received in Costa Rica with NSA were invaluable and irreplaceable. I grew from a naive and immature boy to a young man who is motivated and destined for success.”
- Evan, Class of 2009
“When I think about NSA the first thing I remember is the Aventuras. Those were some of the most enlightening and insightful experiences that I have ever partaken in.”
- Billy, Class of 2010
“I don’t think NSA makes you a different person. I think that NSA makes you the person you have always been meant to be.”
- Rory, Class of 2010
“I think the most important aspect which NSA taught me which I still use today, is to simply be myself!”
- Johnny, Class of 2012
-Tyler, Class of 2006
“At NSA I was given so many opportunities to improve my self-esteem. I left NSA with a sense of pride and accomplishment, which helped me get past insecurities and fears back at home.”
-Luke, Class of 2007
“I remember how real Mario and the rest of the staff were with us. I was told many things I didn't want to hear, and really felt that I was treated with respect (when I deserved it, and even sometimes when I didn't).” - Matt, Class of 2008
“The experiences I received in Costa Rica with NSA were invaluable and irreplaceable. I grew from a naive and immature boy to a young man who is motivated and destined for success.”
- Evan, Class of 2009
“When I think about NSA the first thing I remember is the Aventuras. Those were some of the most enlightening and insightful experiences that I have ever partaken in.”
- Billy, Class of 2010
“I don’t think NSA makes you a different person. I think that NSA makes you the person you have always been meant to be.”
- Rory, Class of 2010
“I think the most important aspect which NSA taught me which I still use today, is to simply be myself!”
- Johnny, Class of 2012
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On January 22nd, 2018, the staff and the students of NSA gathered to celebrate the 13th anniversary of NSA. We shared in gratitude for all of the collaborators, students, and parents; the whole NSA community for seeing this reality of time and commitment together.
Thank you! And to many more years to come!
Thank you! And to many more years to come!
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NSA is continually working to innovate and provide the best possible experiences for all of our students, parents, staff and educational partners. Each year, the Academic, Experiential Education, and Personal Growth departments all set goals for improving our program and offering a unique learning and growth opportunity for students.
2017 was a fantastic year for the New Summit Academy community – with achievements including:
-The implementation of our quarterly Club Fair, providing more chances for our students to pursue their passions and interests
-Adding Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) to both our Course Catalog and as a professional certification opportunity
-The final installation phase of our solar panels, significantly reducing our program’s environmental impact
-A successful Wilderness Advanced First Aid Course, with 100% of participating students earning their WAFA and CPR Certifications
-Enrichment of our Global Citizenship Facet Workshops, including interviews with authors and filmmakers
-Successful facilitation of 22 Aventuras, including our Integrated Aventuras as well as once-in-a-lifetime journeys to Peru and South Africa
-Increased student empowerment, with improvements to our Student Council and Proposals systems
-College acceptance for 100% of our graduating seniors, with an average merit scholarship offer of $53,904 and well over a million dollars of total scholarships offered
2018 is looking to be even more exciting, and as we develop our goals – guided by our organizational values – we would like to thank our students, families, educational consultants, faculty and staff, homestay families and the community of Atenas for the support and dedication they have provided to make New Summit Academy the amazing program it is today.
Keep an eye out in future issues for our 2018 goals and objectives!
Keep an eye out in future issues for our 2018 goals and objectives!
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Students continue to balance their senior year course load with transition planning as well as finishing up their college applications. Already this year, we have received some exciting acceptances and scholarship offers for our amazing students.
Schools offering admissions so far include:
Dominican College, Ohio Wesleyan, Juniata College, Allegheny College, The University of Portland and Elon University. Just as exciting are the merit scholarship offers; even though we are just entering the decision period, with many more to come, NSA students have already been offered a combined total of $387,000.00 in merit scholarships.
Well done, seniors!
Schools offering admissions so far include:
Dominican College, Ohio Wesleyan, Juniata College, Allegheny College, The University of Portland and Elon University. Just as exciting are the merit scholarship offers; even though we are just entering the decision period, with many more to come, NSA students have already been offered a combined total of $387,000.00 in merit scholarships.
Well done, seniors!
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Many of NSA’s students returned home to celebrate the winter holidays with family and friends. Those who remained in Costa Rica celebrated with their New Summit Academy family and friends, enjoying the natural beauty of the country while having loads of fun participating in recreational activities.
These are just some of outdoor adventures our students engaged in over the holiday break:
- Hiking among the geysers and mud pots of Rincon de la Vieja National Park
- Horseback riding in the tropical dry forests of Guanacaste Province
- Spending time surfing and relaxing at the beach
- Swimming in the spectacular blue waters of the Rio Celeste
Happy Holidays and Feliz Año Nuevo to our entire New Summit Academy Community!
These are just some of outdoor adventures our students engaged in over the holiday break:
- Hiking among the geysers and mud pots of Rincon de la Vieja National Park
- Horseback riding in the tropical dry forests of Guanacaste Province
- Spending time surfing and relaxing at the beach
- Swimming in the spectacular blue waters of the Rio Celeste
Happy Holidays and Feliz Año Nuevo to our entire New Summit Academy Community!
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At the close of 2017, New Summit Academy’s students and staff celebrated the hard work and dedication of graduates and their peers with both the semi-annual Academic Fair, and with an emotional Graduation Ceremony. The Academic Fair – where students are able to show off their project-based learning results from the semester – was a wonderful opportunity for our community to see first-hand the learning that takes place in the NSA classrooms.
Projects included documentary films about Sustainability from our Humanities class, Immersion Spanish presentations about students’ experiences in Costa Rica, a Physics class trebuchet demonstration, and the premiere of the student-produced film from the Peru International Aventura!
Projects included documentary films about Sustainability from our Humanities class, Immersion Spanish presentations about students’ experiences in Costa Rica, a Physics class trebuchet demonstration, and the premiere of the student-produced film from the Peru International Aventura!
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“In my time here, I have met people from backgrounds that I had never even really imagined. Young parentless children in a rural Costa Rican orphanage, an otherworldly experience with Amaru tribespeople in Peru, these people who have shown me compassion and accepted mine in return have changed my outlook. I have realized how very lucky a lot of us are.”
-Class of June 2018
“Over the last year or so, I have added alot of new things to my backpack: new skills, knowledge, perspectives. And white pine logs. I have also been able to shed some old weights and burdens, stuff I no longer need and rocks that I hadn’t realized I was carrying. I have repacked that big green backpack more times than I can count. And now, as I prepare to set off on another journey, I pack it again. I have what I need to take on what’s next, and some space in the pack for something new.” -Class of December 2017
“I started to work on myself; going to the gym every day, planning out my schedule for the week, even running for Student Council President and winning. I earned Honors status and finished my senior year with a 3.67. I no longer seek unhealthy comfort - no longer crawl into the shade - because I've learned that I'm good enough to do whatever I put my heart into.”
-Class of September 2017
“As I strive to be the best person that I can be, the obstacles in my life continue to press down, but now I have the tools needed to successfully overcome them and progress forward and continue to follow my own dreams and ambitions.” -Class of December 2017
“Nine months later, looking back with my new perspective, I am glad to be where I am. I have slipped since I've been here, but never fallen. I've learned how to handle, and even embrace, struggle rather than avoid it. Though not everywhere I go may be immediately comfortable and easy, I am n ow confident that I have the experience and skill set to succeed in the face of challenge.”
-Class of March 2018
-Class of June 2018
“Over the last year or so, I have added alot of new things to my backpack: new skills, knowledge, perspectives. And white pine logs. I have also been able to shed some old weights and burdens, stuff I no longer need and rocks that I hadn’t realized I was carrying. I have repacked that big green backpack more times than I can count. And now, as I prepare to set off on another journey, I pack it again. I have what I need to take on what’s next, and some space in the pack for something new.” -Class of December 2017
“I started to work on myself; going to the gym every day, planning out my schedule for the week, even running for Student Council President and winning. I earned Honors status and finished my senior year with a 3.67. I no longer seek unhealthy comfort - no longer crawl into the shade - because I've learned that I'm good enough to do whatever I put my heart into.”
-Class of September 2017
“As I strive to be the best person that I can be, the obstacles in my life continue to press down, but now I have the tools needed to successfully overcome them and progress forward and continue to follow my own dreams and ambitions.” -Class of December 2017
“Nine months later, looking back with my new perspective, I am glad to be where I am. I have slipped since I've been here, but never fallen. I've learned how to handle, and even embrace, struggle rather than avoid it. Though not everywhere I go may be immediately comfortable and easy, I am n ow confident that I have the experience and skill set to succeed in the face of challenge.”
-Class of March 2018
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This week, New Summit Academy proudly awarded high school diplomas and certificates of program completion to six young men who have – like all of our graduates – shown impressive effort and growth during the past year.
December graduation coincides with our seniors wrapping up their college application process, and reflecting through their personal essays on their unique journeys. As we celebrate this graduation and look forward to more stories of success in the future, we would like to share a handful of excerpts from these student reflections:
December graduation coincides with our seniors wrapping up their college application process, and reflecting through their personal essays on their unique journeys. As we celebrate this graduation and look forward to more stories of success in the future, we would like to share a handful of excerpts from these student reflections:
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NSA students have a unique opportunity to develop true language mastery and cultural understanding through our Spanish and Cultural Immersion curriculum. Grammatical learning objectives are employed in the classroom as a means to enrich weekly cultural immersion activities, allowing students to approach the Costa Rican culture with more understanding and ability to engage.
Recent culminating immersion projects have included a presentation at the local elementary school on the country’s indigenous communities, trips to the farmer’s market, pick-up sports in San Jose's La Sabana Park and interviews with the local water institute about Atenas and water rights.
Many thanks to our dedicated Spanish Teachers and Experiential Education mentors for facilitating these opportunities for true cultural immersion.
Recent culminating immersion projects have included a presentation at the local elementary school on the country’s indigenous communities, trips to the farmer’s market, pick-up sports in San Jose's La Sabana Park and interviews with the local water institute about Atenas and water rights.
Many thanks to our dedicated Spanish Teachers and Experiential Education mentors for facilitating these opportunities for true cultural immersion.