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Cultural immersion Spanish class is offered to students who have advanced language skills. These students are researching topics of interest based on diversity and heterogeneity. One student chose Costa Rican food, another student chose solid waste management and burning as a way of disposal of household trash in the Atenas canton.
After having done online research, they will now be collecting field information through interviews. In the case of Costa Rican food, the student is interviewing NSA staff from Costa Rica, young people, and adults in Atenas who are recognized for their experience in culinary arts. The interviews on solid waste management will include the environmental agent from the municipality, a representative of the local firefighter station, and people from Atenas and NSA. The final product will be a written text and an exhibition presented to NSA students and staff.
After having done online research, they will now be collecting field information through interviews. In the case of Costa Rican food, the student is interviewing NSA staff from Costa Rica, young people, and adults in Atenas who are recognized for their experience in culinary arts. The interviews on solid waste management will include the environmental agent from the municipality, a representative of the local firefighter station, and people from Atenas and NSA. The final product will be a written text and an exhibition presented to NSA students and staff.
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Last week, our Experiential Education mentor and Student Council facilitator Matthew organized campaign speeches for students running for office. NSA’s Student Council includes a President and Vice-President, an Activities Representative, a Proposals representative, as well as a liaison with the Academic and Operations departments.
These positions have been intentionally created so that students are able to take part in the formation of their community and experiences while enrolled at New Summit Academy. Students, through their Student Council representatives, are able to organize their own cultural and recreational opportunities, can write proposals to make changes to the student handbook, and have the chance to manage their student monthly budget to make purchases to improve their daily lives.
Elections will be held soon, keep an eye out for the results!
These positions have been intentionally created so that students are able to take part in the formation of their community and experiences while enrolled at New Summit Academy. Students, through their Student Council representatives, are able to organize their own cultural and recreational opportunities, can write proposals to make changes to the student handbook, and have the chance to manage their student monthly budget to make purchases to improve their daily lives.
Elections will be held soon, keep an eye out for the results!
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This month, students and staff traveled to Costa Rica's northern zone to explore Arenal – a once highly active volcano that periodically rumbles to life – and the surrounding area, famous for its beauty and adventure opportunities. When students were asked about their favorite part, each answered differently, with highlight quotes including:
“We swam in the crater of an extinct volcano. [Volcan Chato] Who gets to do that?”
“The best part was hanging out with Tom.”
“The whitewater rafting was amazing, even though it is the dry season.”
Besides navigating mighty rapids and crater-lake swimming, students hiked to and swam in the 200-foot La Fortuna waterfall, handled snakes at a serpentarium, and enjoyed quality time with Tom! The students all returned positive and energized for the upcoming quarter.
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New Summit Academy is privileged to have the community at Hogar de Vida as our neighbors. The amazing children who are cared for by a dedicated staff of tias, or aunts, welcome our students into their home weekly with hugs, shouts of joy, and energy which wears out even our guys!
New students visiting the children’s home for the first time may be shy to begin with, or afraid to hold an infant or feed a toddler, but surrounded by the spirit of these children, each student eventually bonds with his “favorites” through play, arts & crafts and fun outdoor activities.
Many thanks to Daisy, our Cultural Coordinator, for working to develop this relationship with Hogar de Vida, and for introducing such an enriching experience to our students.
New students visiting the children’s home for the first time may be shy to begin with, or afraid to hold an infant or feed a toddler, but surrounded by the spirit of these children, each student eventually bonds with his “favorites” through play, arts & crafts and fun outdoor activities.
Many thanks to Daisy, our Cultural Coordinator, for working to develop this relationship with Hogar de Vida, and for introducing such an enriching experience to our students.
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NSA’s U.S. History class is analyzing small U.S. led military engagements that sought to pursue U.S. empire building, promote and negotiate expanding economic markets and policies, protect corporate investments in foreign lands, conduct scientific, oceanographic, and geological exploration, and occasionally noble pursuits like the encouragement and spread of democratic principles, political stability, infrastructure soundness and public facilities (customs houses, schools, administrative structures, road and highway systems, bridges, and hospitals), bureaucratic transparency and fairness, and basic modern sanitation systems and standards.
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Chemistry class has been studying functional groups as part of our Organic Chemistry Unit. Students have been practicing drawing, naming and recognizing molecules, as well as studying the relationship of Organic Chemistry with daily life (hydrocarbons, steroids, pheromones, and pharmaceutical drugs, just to name a few.) The class is currently researching different types of drugs and their chemical structures, in order to put the knowledge learned in class in context; they will be presenting their findings to the class next week as part of their final evaluation for the quarter.
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This quarter at NSA, students came to a realization of how important developing leadership skills could be for individuals as well as for our community. In response to this epiphany, students took the initiative to work with staff to organize a weekly club which develops those critical leadership skills.
Each week, the LEAD Club meets to learn about and discuss topics which include assertive communication, leading by example, effective body language, and public speaking.
The student-created LEAD Club is not only a great example of NSA students being empowered to develop programmatic aspects, but a valuable resource for them and our community.
Each week, the LEAD Club meets to learn about and discuss topics which include assertive communication, leading by example, effective body language, and public speaking.
The student-created LEAD Club is not only a great example of NSA students being empowered to develop programmatic aspects, but a valuable resource for them and our community.
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Each graduation, students stand at the podium and thank their friends, parents, faculty and staff. They then turn to look into the eager eyes of their Homestay Families and thank them in Spanish. These members of the NSA community welcome – out of the goodness of their hearts – our students into their homes each Sunday. Students learn Costa Rican culture and customs by attending soccer matches and birthday parties with their families. Their Spanish rapidly improves as they work to communicate with homestay mothers, brothers, sisters and fathers. Students sit with families and share home-cooked meals (always mentioned in their graduation speeches.) In short, our Homestay Families provide our students with unique cultural immersion experiences and a family while away from home.
Each quarter, to thank these valuable community members, New Summit Academy hosts a Homestay Picnic. Daisy, our Cultural Coordinator, along with our Experiential Education staff, plan a day full of fun and activities. This quarter, students and families posed for portraits and competed in wheel barrow races. Our chefs prepared picnic food, and the community sat to share a meal and memories of the quarter. Our talented students gave back as well, entertaining families and peers with live music.
Thank you to our Costa Rican homestay families who do so much to enrich the experiences of the students at New Summit Academy!
Thank you to our Costa Rican homestay families who do so much to enrich the experiences of the students at New Summit Academy!
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Let’s face it: sometimes you just have to roast meats, wrestle, and feast. At least, if you are an adolescent male you do. A number of weeks ago, an idea was born among a number of NSA’s students: host a medieval fest with food, music and feats of strength.
Students began to brainstorm ideas and to approach staff for assistance. Matthew, one of our dedicated Experiential Education staff members (and a master of games) took up the challenge. Student Council joined in, and preparations began. Menus were planned, students created swords out of PVC and pool noodles, costumes were sown (or found), and competitive games were devised.
On the day of the event, every member of the student body attended class in t-shirt that the organizers had made, separating the students into different “houses” or clans. As the afternoon wore on, the Culinary Arts class pitched in to prepare a medieval beef stew. Banquet tables were set outside near the freshly-lit bonfire, where vegetables and meat roasted.
Students began to brainstorm ideas and to approach staff for assistance. Matthew, one of our dedicated Experiential Education staff members (and a master of games) took up the challenge. Student Council joined in, and preparations began. Menus were planned, students created swords out of PVC and pool noodles, costumes were sown (or found), and competitive games were devised.
On the day of the event, every member of the student body attended class in t-shirt that the organizers had made, separating the students into different “houses” or clans. As the afternoon wore on, the Culinary Arts class pitched in to prepare a medieval beef stew. Banquet tables were set outside near the freshly-lit bonfire, where vegetables and meat roasted.
Between courses of the feast, students engaged in (safe) wrestling matches, noodle-sword duels, and gave their teams rousing speeches to galvanize them in competition. The students should be commended for taking it upon themselves to organize and host healthy, fun activities – and we hope to see more in the future!
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http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/16/the-best-way-to-fight-with-a-teenager/?_r=0
This is a great article about the different "responses" or "reactions" we can have to conflict as parents and adolescents. The main point is to take a problem-solving approach (instead of attacking, complying or withdrawing). The problem-solving approach has the best effects on mental health, identity, resilience, confidence, relationships and future outcomes.
This is a great article about the different "responses" or "reactions" we can have to conflict as parents and adolescents. The main point is to take a problem-solving approach (instead of attacking, complying or withdrawing). The problem-solving approach has the best effects on mental health, identity, resilience, confidence, relationships and future outcomes.