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Who knew that life at boarding school could be so interesting and so much fun? Every day, New Summit Academy’s students and staff share rigorous academic discourse, once-in-a-lifetime experiential adventures, unique cultural immersion experiences, and exciting recreational opportunities.
Take a look at what our students have done in just these past two weeks!
Take a look at what our students have done in just these past two weeks!
Spotting crocodiles on the Tarcoles River
Competing in a 10K with the Running Club
Healthy competition at the Go Kart track
Being boys at the pool
Honing bouldering skills with the Climbing Club
Ready to roll at the amusement park
Learning sustainable agriculture techniques
Preparing a Halloween feast
Presenting on Sustainable Development
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NSA continues to engage students in rigorous, thought provoking investigation of the facets of Global Citizenship and of important social issues that shape our world.
This month, our learning community has been investigating the complexities of Interdependence and Conflict Resolution. Teachers act as facilitators of research, debate, and application of ideas and skills that contribute to the development of a global perspective and 21st-century skills.
This month, our learning community has been investigating the complexities of Interdependence and Conflict Resolution. Teachers act as facilitators of research, debate, and application of ideas and skills that contribute to the development of a global perspective and 21st-century skills.
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Every five weeks, the Academic team engages our students in the investigation and study of one of the eight facets of Global Citizenship, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to explore all facets during their time at New Summit Academy.
Last week, students chose subtopics of personal interest that fit under the facet of Sustainable Development – including local and global water issues, renewable energy, and pollution. Student groups each produced multi-media presentations guided by Art teachers, which were shared with the community. Presentations included interviews and films about Atenas’ water situation and podcasts addressing electric cars and sustainable energy sources.
Last week, students chose subtopics of personal interest that fit under the facet of Sustainable Development – including local and global water issues, renewable energy, and pollution. Student groups each produced multi-media presentations guided by Art teachers, which were shared with the community. Presentations included interviews and films about Atenas’ water situation and podcasts addressing electric cars and sustainable energy sources.
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NSA’s students have the opportunity to investigate the eight facets of Global Citizenship and to integrate driving questions and themes about the facets into each of their classes. This quarter, our workshop focused on Human Rights, and the students chose the timely and important topic of water access rights.
Staff from each department contributed to the investigation and reporting ofwater access and Human Rights in the United States, South Africa (where seven of our students will be traveling with the school this week), and in our home of Atenas, Costa Rica.
Culminating projects consisted of analyses of issues and proposed solutions, as well as a plan to join Atenas in its efforts to improve water access for our neighbors.
Staff from each department contributed to the investigation and reporting ofwater access and Human Rights in the United States, South Africa (where seven of our students will be traveling with the school this week), and in our home of Atenas, Costa Rica.
Culminating projects consisted of analyses of issues and proposed solutions, as well as a plan to join Atenas in its efforts to improve water access for our neighbors.
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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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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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New Summit Academy’s Global Citizenship program is designed to develop important 21st-century skills and a global perspective that will be necessary for success in our increasingly complex world. Each quarter, students and our academic faculty engage in workshops, each focusing on one of the eight facets of what it means to be a global citizen. This quarter, teachers worked with students to investigate the issues surrounding Social Justice.
Our community investigated and discussed ideas including power and privilege, youth movements and their role in social justice, and issues of gender in society. We hope that our students (and staff!) ended this workshop with more awareness of social justice issues, and how to make intentional decisions to promote justice in our world.
Our community investigated and discussed ideas including power and privilege, youth movements and their role in social justice, and issues of gender in society. We hope that our students (and staff!) ended this workshop with more awareness of social justice issues, and how to make intentional decisions to promote justice in our world.
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Fostering a sense of global citizenship – understanding the interdependence of our world and how our choices affect and are affected by others – is a key component of our mission at NSA. Our innovative Global Citizenship program engages students in the investigation of facets of what it means to be a global citizen and the application of that knowledge in all aspects of students’ lives. This month, our community’s facet focused on Sustainable Development, and students voted to investigate the ideas within the context of business practices and solutions.
Our two-day workshop included classes on problem-solving and creativity, investigations of sustainability issues, and a culminating project which had student groups pitching business ideas addressing campus sustainability to a panel of judges, with the winners receiving up to $500 to implement their solutions!
Our two-day workshop included classes on problem-solving and creativity, investigations of sustainability issues, and a culminating project which had student groups pitching business ideas addressing campus sustainability to a panel of judges, with the winners receiving up to $500 to implement their solutions!
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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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In order to prepare students for their upcoming adventure to Peru, the teachers and academic staff facilitated three days of workshops so that this international experience is as rich as possible. When NSA journeys to a new destination, it is important that we do so as travelers, not tourists. These workshops were intentionally designed with that goal in mind.
Students have been working with our English teacher to learn the intricacies of travel writing, studying the history of Peru with our Social Studies teacher, learning travel etiquette and curiosity with our Coordinator of Student Success, and pondering how travel changes them and their destinations through daily reflective writing.
Keep an eye out for exciting photos and stories in our next issue from this once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Students have been working with our English teacher to learn the intricacies of travel writing, studying the history of Peru with our Social Studies teacher, learning travel etiquette and curiosity with our Coordinator of Student Success, and pondering how travel changes them and their destinations through daily reflective writing.
Keep an eye out for exciting photos and stories in our next issue from this once-in-a-lifetime experience!