Category: Academics - New Summit Academy Costa Rica

From Solos to SnapChat: Guiding Re-entry into a Technological World

5/9/2020

Martin Naffziger, M.Ed., and Dr. Heather Tracy, Ed.D., presented in early 2020 at the annual NATSAP conference. The topic? Once through wilderness, how do we guide students back into the realities of our technological world?

Dr. Tracy presented the latest research on the positive and negative effects of technology use as well as presented a framework for how to assess and discuss intentionally moderate use.

Martin Naffziger then outlined how New Summit Academy re-introduces technology into student lives in an intentionally gradual way using process-based scaffolding. Enjoy!

Academic Tour of NSA (2020)

4/26/2020

Costa Rica? No Way! Yes Way! (a parent's perspective)

4/26/2020

We eagerly awaited our educational consultant’s recommendation for after care programs for my son who was on track to complete his wilderness program. Our son had made significant progress in wilderness, but we believed his therapist and other experts who assured us that his work was far from done and that after care was the necessary next step. Our EC provided three choices... one a more innovative program in Costa Rica. Costa Rica?!? You have to be kidding us! No way are we sending our 16 year-old kid to a foreign country when he’s barely out of crisis mode. No. Way. Give it a look, our EC counseled. Talk to them, I think it might be a good fit for your son. We were paying him for his advice, so we agreed. Why not?

After calls with all programs, we chose to divide and conquer visiting two schools. I toured the school in the mid-west. The program seemed solid and the staff engaging. The location was remote, mountainous, and beautiful, but cold. I could see him here, I thought. This could work. When I compared notes with my son’s dad, however, the differences in our impressions were striking.

He talked about being greeted by staff with hugs, how a white board marked out all activities for the week, from therapeutic groups and excursions for surfing, down to who had a dentist appointment on Wednesday. He talked about close, individual engagement, comprehensive personal growth plans, and tailored learning programs. And he talked about the beautiful outdoor setting, with an open air gym and dining hall, not to mention delicious food. The comparison between the two schools was hardly fair. But could we send our son off to another country during this difficult period in his development? Ultimately, we decided yes. And we are forever grateful that we made this choice.

These are some of the factors that got us “over the hump” about sending our son to a school in a foreign country:

Costa Rica is a safe country (they haven’t had a military since 1948) and NSA provides a safe, fenced in campus with 24/7 security guards
Studying in a foreign country might give our son a sense of personal achievement distinct from his peers back in the States
Living in another culture might widen his world and personal vision beyond the generally homogenous culture to be found in our upper middle class major metropolitan environs
The temperate weather and activity options were better suited to our son who did not participate in snow sports and we knew physical activity would be a big factor in his progress and process (more on this later)
NSA only admits students who want to be there. They will not take your son "kicking and screaming,” so if he attended NSA, he would have to invest in the program
NSA does not follow a rigid set of levels in its program; there is room for adaption, modification and self-advocacy, but there are also rules and community norms that must be followed
An all-boys school would eliminate distractions
NSA was willing to allow visits on an ad hoc basis and did not adhere to a strict visitation schedule
Travel time from the east coast to Costa Rica was no different or even faster than flights to the midwest which are plagued by delays in the winter
And I can’t emphasize enough how warm and caring the staff at NSA are. This is a place where EVERY staff member is invested in the care of your son.

Ultimately, we left it up to our son. If he didn’t want to go to NSA and would not invest in the program, their program would not be a good fit for him. We described both programs to him, but expressed our preference for NSA and gave him our reasons why. He spoke with students and staff at both schools. He too expressed concern about the international element. And, at the end of the day, he chose NSA.
I cannot describe our entire experience at NSA but I offer a few highlights:

NSA paired our son with two therapists who were SPOT ON for him. They related to him immediately and he to them. They were young and cool - one with more experience, one newer in his role. Both “got” our son. They called him on his BS. They established trust with him and eventually he began to reach out for their advice and counsel independently. They pushed him to open up despite his resistance to show emotion. They were straight shooters and consistently worked with our son on the challenges that would face him when he left the safe bubble of NSA. Under their guidance, he leaves NSA with remarkable personal insights into his own areas for growth and has made substantial progress in addressing each area. His “toolbox” for navigating the “real world” is so much better equipped as a result of his work with the entire team at NSA. As parents, they pushed us to be better communicators, listeners, and collaborators with our son. Ultimately, they helped us become better parents.
NSA gave our son the space, motivation and encouragement to stick with a goal - to improve his physical fitness. Although he had always been athletic, during his year at NSA, our son put on 30 lbs of muscle working out almost every day. But this was about so much more than just a physical transformation. He learned to work hard and not to give up (as he had with so many of his other good intentions). He learned to be a leader by encouraging others to join him in his physical pursuits. He learned that exercise is a healthy coping mechanism for stress and anxiety. And he developed a self-confidence which had been sorely lacking at home.
NSA gave our son the support and tools to excel academically. The English teacher became a close confidant. The science teacher met students before class to workout in the gym. The culinary arts teacher introduced our son to a newfound joy of cooking. The academic team built the scaffolding for success. All of these folks are exceptional. In addition to academic achievement, however, our son developed a number of key skills that will help him moving forward in his educational journey, including self-advocacy skills (seeking out support when needed - a 180 degree turnaround from his tendencies before NSA); resiliency (getting back on track after academic lapses instead of giving up); and academic risk-taking (trying more difficult courses, even if it ultimately didn't work out).
NSA adapted on the fly. When a family emergency arose, they quickly pivoted to allow our son to come home for an early unscheduled visit, which caused a bump in the road but also provide the opportunity for all of us to learn how to handle the unexpected stresses that happen in life.
NSA created a safe bubble for its students during the COVIC19 pandemic. While other families in the US were scrambling to adapt programs for remote learning, NSA’s foresight to create an early self-quarantine allowed the boys to continue their education, activities, therapeutic work, and socialization without social distancing.

As we near his graduation date, some 13 months after he enrolled at NSA, we know whole-heartedly that we made the right choice. Our son is so much better for the time he spent at NSA, as are we.

Enrollments Open May 15

4/22/2020

Despite the challenges of COVID-19 and all the back up plans and risk management required, our updated date for accepting enrollments is May 15 so that NSA and the Bridge can continue to offer the services that we know have changed many a life for the better.

We will be accommodating accepted students with a virtual platform to start earning academic credit and participating in our Orientation program.

We are confident that what we have to offer - albeit internationally, which can present additional hurdles in a time of a pandemic - is worth the wait.

So, please stay in touch. Our students, families, and staff have been amazing in their collaboration, their creative problem-sovling, and their resilience in these difficult times.

We are grateful to be living in a place where the government acted swiftly and continues to implement preventative measures, and the tropical climate allows us to actually find plenty of ways to enjoy our "quaranteam."

Pura vida,
Dr. Heather Tracy, EdD
Co-Founder & Executive Director, New Summit Academy & The Bridge - Costa Rica

Latest COVID-19 Update from NSA

4/9/2020

Hello, supportive community!

It is time for an update from Costa Rica! Our parents have been receiving regular email updates and calls to process the COVID-19 situation in Costa Rica. Parents have been absolute troopers participating in collaborative decision-making, creative problem-solving, and general flexibility and adaptability to this unprecedented situation.

Since Costa Rica implemented early prevention measures and continues to update restrictions for Holy Week, the spread has been slow here. We are grateful to our government’s innovative and exemplary response.

The current status is: 502 confirmed, 5533 negative, 3 deaths, 2 cases in Atenas, 23 hospitalized (14 in ICU), 29 recovered. Borders are closed to incoming foreigners through April 30. We will accept enrollments in May.

If you are interested in our decision-making processes and pandemic protocols implemented to ensure the safety of our students and staff to the best of our ability, please feel free to reach out. Our leadership team has been fully dedicated to risk management as well as turning lemons into lemonade. The silver linings may seem like few, but we have found a lot of joy and optimism in the way that our students and staff have responded to this crisis rather than being defeated by it.

NSA classes have continued as normal with some adjustments made to integrate the current global situation into our studies, such as immune system studies in science and pandemic history in social studies. We have also opened up time in our schedule for additional therapeutic groups for all students to process how COVID-19 is affecting them and their families.

Because we were not able to embark on our beloved Aventuras last week, we have also been guiding student cohort groups to implement projects on campus.

Each student has a role in their group, and projects have been finalized: 1) Hammock hut, 2) Music studio mural, 3) outdoor gym and 4) building Adirondack style chairs for the fire pit.

Campus weekends have been a flurry of "at home" game building on the weekends! With the help of our dedicated staff, we have managed to build and set up various on campus activities like: bocce ball, fire pit, frisbee golf, cornhole, ladder golf, horseshoes, graffiti wall, frisbee golf, gaga ball, an expanded gym (indoor and outdoor), and much more!

We've also heard from our alumni, and we're grateful for their connection and support as well. They remind us often how we always used to say, "Boredom is a choice!" and those words could not be more relevant than they are now.

Take care & stay safe!
Dr. Heather Tracy, EdD, Co-Founder & Executive Director

Academic Excellence in a Global Crisis

4/8/2020

All of us at New Summit Academy are so grateful that we are able to continue with classes as usual during this challenging time.

We are grateful that our dedicated teachers are not simply weathering this unprecedented situation, but are guiding students to learn from the historic times they are experiencing, and to emerge with more wisdom and resilience.

Our U.S. History class is analyzing the ways that coronavirus news is being politicized, and Documentary Filmmaking is chronicling the effects of recent events on our community members.

Our Biotechnology class is studying how epidemics spread and can be prevented, while this quarter’s Integrated Reading and Writing driving question - “What does it mean to be human?” - is brought into poignant relief in discussions and student writing.

We are all working together on “giving back” and building community during this hard time as active problem-solvers.

Thank you to our teachers, our families, and our entire community for your unwavering support!

COVID-19 Update from NSA

3/30/2020

Hello, community!

It is time for an update from NSA! Our parents have been receiving daily updates and weekly conference calls (as well as individualized calls) to process the situation, and they have been absolute troopers in making the tough decisions about whether to bring their sons home or leave them in Costa Rica to finish out the quarter as we shelter in place. Truth be told, we were conflicted about what to do, but we knew that if parents agreed, we could certainly shelter in place without losing our flow of academics, activities and therapeutic support. Almost all of our parents agreed, so here we are!

If you are curious about our decision-making processes and risk management protocols that we’ve been implementing since late February, feel free to reach out. We have back up plans in place and feel prepared for worst case scenarios, but we are optimistic and hoping for the best. Costa Rica took early preventative and precautionary measures and continues to implement policies that seem to be making a significant difference so far. We are proud of Costa Rica and our UN's representative's acknowledgment of our exceptional and innovative handling of the pandemic.

As for NSA, we are very proud of our team and how everyone came together to adapt and adjust to the “new normal” – from extra strict cleaning protocols (and additional cleaning staff and cooking staff in order to implement these protocols) …to inventing a whole new list of on campus activities. The students showed outstanding participation and ownership in building and setting up of all sorts of new on campus recreational activities like cornhole, frisbee golf, a horseshoe pit, a graffiti wall, bocce ball, ladder golf, etc. in addition to our already existing recreational options like basketball, ping pong, pool, etc.. It feels a bit like summer camp on the weekends and we’re grateful to be on 7 acres in a climate where we have plenty of space to be outdoors and active. At this point, boredom is a choice!

We understand that this is far from over. When the US issued a Level 4 Travel Advisory, we knew that we had a tough decision to make. We involved parents in the decision, and we found that almost all were more comfortable with their students staying here and continuing a healthy routine and progress towards graduation with therapeutic support, even if that meant not being able to fly home mid-May when the quarter ends. The various medical professionals in our parent group certainly helped confirm that decision. So with that collaborative decision made, we hunkered down and got to work.

Since the Costa Rican border is closed to incoming foreigners until April 13, we are not currently accepting enrollments, but we will continue to assess referrals and continue application processes. When the border does open, we will have a plan for enrolling new students that will take into account the global health situation at that time (and our responsibilities to do our part) and will communicate that directly with all applying families and referral sources. But for now, we are committed to providing the best possible outcomes for our current families, our staff, and our program as we do our very best to weather the storm and turn lemons into lemonade. And, let's be honest, our lemonade here is pretty tasty!

Take care & stay healthy!
Dr. Heather Tracy, EdD

College Acceptances & Merit Scholarships for NSA Seniors!

3/19/2020

This spring has been an exciting time for our seniors! After months of hard work developing and honing their college lists, writing and editing essays, visiting and interviewing, and completing their applications (all while maintaining good grades), their hard work has paid off!

Here is a sample of just some of the schools that have offered admission to our talented seniors.

Our students are also proving that - through their journeys of learning and growth - they have developed into the types of students that colleges want on their campuses. The offers of merit scholarships are proof of that.

Our seniors have, up to this point (and we will surely see more), been offered a total of more than $800,000. Congratulations, seniors!

More Than College Prep: NSA is Life Prep!

2/20/2020

Experiential learning, project and problem-based classes, rigorous standards, comprehensive student portfolios - there is no doubt that New Summit Academy’s Academic Program is college-prep.

But NSA is much more than college-prep; we prepare our students for life! Our students have struggled but developed the resilience to persevere. They have learned how they learn and how to advocate for themselves, have lived away from home in dorms (doing their own laundry and chores!) Our students have immersed in a different culture and language, have performed community service like no other, and have developed healthy coping mechanisms and re-connected with their families.

New Summit Academy graduates: PREPARED FOR LIFE!

NSA presenting at NATSAP 2020 National Conference!

2/7/2020

SUCCESS IN A TECHNOLOGICAL WORLD!

Today, February 7th, Heather Tracy, Ed.D. and Martin Naffziger, M.Ed. presented at the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) National Conference in Palm Springs, California.

The topic: Why we must and how we can better prepare young people to succeed in a technological world.

The presentation explored how to best guide students into developing "Intentional Moderation" so that the technological tools surrounding them are used to improve the quality of their lives and of those around them.

This website was made by a collaborative effort between two students (SK and JA) and NSA staff.
All pictures are real photographs taken from student experiences at NSA. Thank you for taking the time to peruse our site!
© Entire website is copyrighted property of New Summit Academy - Thank you for respecting our intellectual property!

Copyright © 2005-present by Educacion Nueva Cumbre Internacional SA / dba New Summit Academy