Blog Archives

December Academic Fair

12/18/2017

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!

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NSA Celebrates Graduation with Student Reflections

12/15/2017

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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:

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Excerpts from Student Essays

12/15/2017

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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

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Spanish Language & Cultural Immersion

12/1/2017

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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.

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December Academic Fair

NSA Celebrates Graduation with Student Reflections

Excerpts from Student Essays

Spanish Language & Cultural Immersion

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