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NSA’s relationship with Hogar de Vida, our neighborhood children’s home, has grown into something truly wonderful over the years. Students and staff volunteer their time weekly to provide individualized attention to these children, while receiving much more than they give. In Costa Rica, Children’s Day is a national holiday celebrating fun and recognizing that nurturing children is key to a healthy future.
To do our part, New Summit Academy (and especially Daisy, our Cultural Coordinator) came together to organize a Children’s Day celebration for the little ones at Hogar de Vida. Our students escorted the children to campus, where they were entertained with games, participated in horseback rides, and shared a delicious meal with our community. Hogar de Vida is such an important part of our students’ experiences, and celebrating Children’s Day is a small effort to give back!
To do our part, New Summit Academy (and especially Daisy, our Cultural Coordinator) came together to organize a Children’s Day celebration for the little ones at Hogar de Vida. Our students escorted the children to campus, where they were entertained with games, participated in horseback rides, and shared a delicious meal with our community. Hogar de Vida is such an important part of our students’ experiences, and celebrating Children’s Day is a small effort to give back!
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October 12th is celebrated in Costa Rica as Dia de las Culturas, or Cultural Appreciation day. Costa Rica recognized the need for building respect for diversity, and takes this national holiday to embrace the various cultures that make this country such a vibrant place to live.
With the understanding that one of the best ways to express one’s culture is through food (as well as knowing that nothing engages teenage boys like a feast), our staff came together to prepare traditional foods that represent a unique part of their own culture.
Members from all NSA departments shared with our students pejibaye dip from Costa Rica, empanadas from the Dominican Republic, tea from Argentina, traditional chili from the Midwest, and guacamole from Mexico -- among many other tasty dishes.
More importantly, each staff member shared their story, and why these meals hold special significance. Thanks to everyone at NSA for pitching in to make this celebration a success!
With the understanding that one of the best ways to express one’s culture is through food (as well as knowing that nothing engages teenage boys like a feast), our staff came together to prepare traditional foods that represent a unique part of their own culture.
Members from all NSA departments shared with our students pejibaye dip from Costa Rica, empanadas from the Dominican Republic, tea from Argentina, traditional chili from the Midwest, and guacamole from Mexico -- among many other tasty dishes.
More importantly, each staff member shared their story, and why these meals hold special significance. Thanks to everyone at NSA for pitching in to make this celebration a success!
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No other high school teaches Spanish quite like New Summit Academy! Our talented Spanish teachers, Daisy and Vianney, have worked to develop a truly unique Spanish Language program, which overlays grammatical learning objectives onto our yearly Cultural Immersion calendar.
This allows students to master Spanish grammar by studying and preparing for upcoming Cultural Immersion activities, making both their language acquisition and their cultural engagement that much richer.
Last week, students in all levels of Spanish learned about Costa Rica’s Bosque Eterno de Los Niños, Costa Rica’s largest private nature reserve, which was founded with donations made by children from 44 different nations. After learning the history of the park and relevant language skills, students spent Sunday hiking the trails and putting their new Spanish into practice!
This allows students to master Spanish grammar by studying and preparing for upcoming Cultural Immersion activities, making both their language acquisition and their cultural engagement that much richer.
Last week, students in all levels of Spanish learned about Costa Rica’s Bosque Eterno de Los Niños, Costa Rica’s largest private nature reserve, which was founded with donations made by children from 44 different nations. After learning the history of the park and relevant language skills, students spent Sunday hiking the trails and putting their new Spanish into practice!
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Students continue to develop critical self-advocacy and organizational skills by being in charge of clubs and club outings at NSA.
Last month, students organized a 10k race for members of the Running Club, while the Climbing Club practiced their technical skills at an indoor rock climbing gym.
Other student clubs successfully planned day trips to a skate park in San Jose as well as Playa Esterillos for some epic surfing.
By organizing and participating in club outings in their areas of interest, students continue to develop healthy lifestyles, ownership of their processes, and an understanding that sometimes we need to put in some work to have some fun!
Last month, students organized a 10k race for members of the Running Club, while the Climbing Club practiced their technical skills at an indoor rock climbing gym.
Other student clubs successfully planned day trips to a skate park in San Jose as well as Playa Esterillos for some epic surfing.
By organizing and participating in club outings in their areas of interest, students continue to develop healthy lifestyles, ownership of their processes, and an understanding that sometimes we need to put in some work to have some fun!
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The other half of our students traveled to the untouched rainforests of Sarapiqui to study the art of Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Daily classes were planned by our English teacher, Brooke, herself certified and experienced in TEFL.
Students applied their new knowledge and skills with practice teaching at a nearby elementary school, where they also participated in community service.
To celebrate, students and staff took to the whitewater of the world-famous Sarapiqui River for well-deserved fun after earning their TEFL certificates!
Students applied their new knowledge and skills with practice teaching at a nearby elementary school, where they also participated in community service.
To celebrate, students and staff took to the whitewater of the world-famous Sarapiqui River for well-deserved fun after earning their TEFL certificates!
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Professional-level certifications are a required component of the New Summit Academy program, ensuring that students experience real-world, challenging learning outside of their amazing classroom experiences.
This week, a part of our student body chose to earn their SCUBA Certifications to meet that requirement. The palm-lined beaches of Playa del Coco in northwestern Costa Rica provided the backdrop for the course. Students began the week learning the fundamentals of Open Water diving and practicing hands-on techniques in the safety of the hotel pool before putting their learning into practice in the beautiful Pacific waters.
Coral reefs teeming with schools of fish were the rewards of the students’ work and dedication, along with their Open Water certification cards!
This week, a part of our student body chose to earn their SCUBA Certifications to meet that requirement. The palm-lined beaches of Playa del Coco in northwestern Costa Rica provided the backdrop for the course. Students began the week learning the fundamentals of Open Water diving and practicing hands-on techniques in the safety of the hotel pool before putting their learning into practice in the beautiful Pacific waters.
Coral reefs teeming with schools of fish were the rewards of the students’ work and dedication, along with their Open Water certification cards!
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The planning process for NSA’s first-ever professional development week involving members of all departments began more than a year ago, when a need for an integrated approach to training was identified. Staff members from all departments not only participated, but collaborated in the identification of themes for workshops and the development of engaging, hands-on learning opportunities.
Some of the themes of these important community-building workshops included: Communication, Work/Life Balance, Leadership Development, Diversity, and Supportive Immersion – the foundational approach which has guided our success at NSA from the start.
The week wasn’t all work, however, as each workshop integrated fun, relationship-building activities that promoted experiential learning. Faculty and Staff also dedicated an evening to further develop their interpersonal relationships at a celebratory all-staff dinner. The week was extremely valuable, and is certain to become a regular part of our professional development at NSA.
Some of the themes of these important community-building workshops included: Communication, Work/Life Balance, Leadership Development, Diversity, and Supportive Immersion – the foundational approach which has guided our success at NSA from the start.
The week wasn’t all work, however, as each workshop integrated fun, relationship-building activities that promoted experiential learning. Faculty and Staff also dedicated an evening to further develop their interpersonal relationships at a celebratory all-staff dinner. The week was extremely valuable, and is certain to become a regular part of our professional development at NSA.
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by Dr. Danny Recio & Andy Myers (Oct 2016)
Check out this great presentation by Dr. Danny Recio and Andy Myers - given at the Young Adult Transition Association conference in October 2016 in Idaho, USA. You will learn a lot about the psychological and social benefits of an appropriate, supportive cross-cultural immersion experience on growth and complexity.
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Teachers and all of our staff work very hard to help students develop real skills for success. Every once in a while, one of our graduates reaches out to say thanks and to help make our jobs even more fulfilling. The message is important for our families of current seniors, as well as an example of college application success.
From a 2016 High School Graduate:
“I just wanted to write to tell you how much I appreciate the time you devoted towards helping me and my family during my college process over a year ago. That was a stressful, exciting and crucial time in my life where you did an impeccable job of helping me stay organized, write concise essays, and choose a school where I can continue to be academically successful. Not only that, but I am truly grateful for the academic skills that I learned while in Costa Rica and the curiosity of mine which was utilized in and out of the classroom like never before while at New Summit. As time continues I only appreciate these things more and more. From the bottom of my heart, I want to write to say thank you to you and all of the other teachers who have impacted my life and academic career in such a positive manner. I am also proud to say that I finished with a 3.46 GPA freshman year. I am continuing to expand my mind and curiosity here at Fordham inside the classroom.
Anyways, I hope to visit NSA soon but for now, I say hi and send my regards to the academic staff!" - Robbie
From a 2016 High School Graduate:
“I just wanted to write to tell you how much I appreciate the time you devoted towards helping me and my family during my college process over a year ago. That was a stressful, exciting and crucial time in my life where you did an impeccable job of helping me stay organized, write concise essays, and choose a school where I can continue to be academically successful. Not only that, but I am truly grateful for the academic skills that I learned while in Costa Rica and the curiosity of mine which was utilized in and out of the classroom like never before while at New Summit. As time continues I only appreciate these things more and more. From the bottom of my heart, I want to write to say thank you to you and all of the other teachers who have impacted my life and academic career in such a positive manner. I am also proud to say that I finished with a 3.46 GPA freshman year. I am continuing to expand my mind and curiosity here at Fordham inside the classroom.
Anyways, I hope to visit NSA soon but for now, I say hi and send my regards to the academic staff!" - Robbie
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This past week, the NSA community – faculty and staff, students and families – gathered to celebrate the high school and NSA program graduation of two beloved students. The day was bittersweet, as both students became important contributors to our campus throughout their stays, helping guide their peers, developing a healthy milieu, and achieving amazing academic and personal growth.
These young men are each setting out for very different, but equally exciting, paths after graduating with honors. One will return home to continue working on his college applications with the plan to enroll in the fall of 2018. The second embarked with NSA on an adventure to South Africa and plans on joining our Bridge program to investigate internships. We are very proud of both young men, and excited for their certain future successes.
These young men are each setting out for very different, but equally exciting, paths after graduating with honors. One will return home to continue working on his college applications with the plan to enroll in the fall of 2018. The second embarked with NSA on an adventure to South Africa and plans on joining our Bridge program to investigate internships. We are very proud of both young men, and excited for their certain future successes.
