- Published on
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.
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.
- Published on
Hogar de Vida is an orphanage right down our street, but it's more than that. It's a place of hope and growth for everyone involved.
It doesn't matter whether you are a director, accountant, teacher, or student at NSA... you all share a common goal of spreading 'love' and 'joy.'
We asked some of our students and staff, "What makes Hogar de Vida so special?" ...and this is what some of them said.
"It's not about material possession, it’s not about who’s cool or not, it’s about connecting one-on-one with another human being who wants to be loved and accepted. Both our students and the little kids get that feeling from their interaction." - NSA Staff
"One big community working together towards a better cause - that's the beauty of Hogar de Vida!" - NSA Staff
"It makes me feel like a parent for a day. It's really cool to see their faces light up when they see us, and it's the same both ways, my face also lights up. I'm very happy when I go there." - NSA Student
"It was my first time going to an orphanage, people made it seem a lot harder than it was, I’m somewhat good with kids, but especially with my Hogar de Vida ‘son.’ A previous student had him before me, and no one really ‘wanted him’ - he would spit on me or climb up from behind, mess around... But it takes time. If you show them that you care and you want to be around them, even just the vibe of that, they will pick up on it. And he just became a whole new person - he comes up and grabs my hand; I'm now his best friend and he's mine." - NSA Student
"The experience as a whole - it not only helps me as a person but also them. They get to interact with people that are older and a positive influence on their life, which they might’ve not had in the past." - NSA Student
"They don’t think anyone besides the ‘tias’ would care for them. As some of us are young men, or getting to be there, it’s very positive for them to get and see positive 'male' examples, and we as students get to build our identity in a way too." - NSA Student
"For someone who struggles with comfortability around little kids, it’s honestly still pretty fun to see everyone having a fantastic time, and even if you aren’t a great fan of little kids, you can still help out. I still enjoy seeing them have fun." - NSA Student
- Published on
NSA’s innovative Global Citizenship certification program engages our students in the investigation of eight facets of what it means to be a Global Citizen, including Human Rights, Social Justice, Digital Citizenship, and, this week, Diversity.
Our Spanish teachers guided students in learning about the global refugee crisis, and NSA hosted two special guests: Costa Rica’s Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a United Nations Refugee Agent, who each discussed local and global refugee issues.
This engaging day is just one small part in New Summit Academy’s efforts to develop our students into Global Citizens.
Our Spanish teachers guided students in learning about the global refugee crisis, and NSA hosted two special guests: Costa Rica’s Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a United Nations Refugee Agent, who each discussed local and global refugee issues.
This engaging day is just one small part in New Summit Academy’s efforts to develop our students into Global Citizens.
- Published on
Vianney is our Spanish Language teacher at New Summit Academy, which means so much more than working in the classroom (although she is an incredible classroom teacher as well!) Vianney has been a member of the NSA community since 2013, and alongside her teaching responsibilities, serves as a student Academic Advisor and takes great pride in providing our students with immersive experiences in the culture of Costa Rica.
She helps to prepare students for weekend cultural activities, takes part in our work with Hogar de Vida, and often accompanies our students to town to learn more about Atenas.
When asked what her favorite aspects of working at NSA are, Vianney responded “I really like to develop relationships with the kids and to learn about their culture and experiences. It is also really fun to see them in the process of learning Spanish and learning about my culture, especially when we dance to Latin music or cook typical food.”
Thank you, Vianney, for your passion and efforts in connecting our community to language and culture of Costa Rica!
She helps to prepare students for weekend cultural activities, takes part in our work with Hogar de Vida, and often accompanies our students to town to learn more about Atenas.
When asked what her favorite aspects of working at NSA are, Vianney responded “I really like to develop relationships with the kids and to learn about their culture and experiences. It is also really fun to see them in the process of learning Spanish and learning about my culture, especially when we dance to Latin music or cook typical food.”
Thank you, Vianney, for your passion and efforts in connecting our community to language and culture of Costa Rica!
- Published on
This holiday week, most of our students are spending Thanksgiving with their families. Those students spending the holiday with New Summit Academy have a week full of fun and celebration!
Activities include:
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our extended family at New Summit Academy!
Activities include:
- Go Karting
- Stand-Up Paddle Boarding
- Whitewater Rafting
- Hiking in the Cloud Forest
- Swimming and Surfing at the Beach
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our extended family at New Summit Academy!
- Published on
Students and parents often ask what a therapeutic boarding school “looks like” for college admissions.
The answer is that – if presented correctly – students’ experiences throughout wilderness and New Summit Academy can make applications stand out and show colleges that our students are more college-ready than many students who haven’t had their experiences.
Think about it. NSA seniors have:
Need some proof? Here are a few statistics from last year’s college application season:
Loyola University Chicago, Lynn University, Juniata College, Christopher Newport University, Quest University, University of Oregon, University of Denver, and Lehigh University.
This year’s seniors are in the middle of their application process, so wish them luck!
The answer is that – if presented correctly – students’ experiences throughout wilderness and New Summit Academy can make applications stand out and show colleges that our students are more college-ready than many students who haven’t had their experiences.
Think about it. NSA seniors have:
- Faced and overcome challenges
- Developed an understanding of their learning styles and can advocate for their needs
- Lived away from home in a dorm with peers
- Cultivated significant international experience and multicultural skills
- Developed a resume like no other
Need some proof? Here are a few statistics from last year’s college application season:
- Percent of seniors applying to college who were accepted and enrolled: 100%
- Percent of total schools offering admission: 79%
- Acceptances to “Colleges That Change Lives”: 5
- Percent of students offered merit scholarships: 60%
- Average merit scholarship offered: $75,076.92
- Total amount of merit scholarships offered: $976,000.00
Loyola University Chicago, Lynn University, Juniata College, Christopher Newport University, Quest University, University of Oregon, University of Denver, and Lehigh University.
This year’s seniors are in the middle of their application process, so wish them luck!
- Published on
Marco is New Summit Academy’s Medical Coordinator. Marco joined our team this year, and is already an indispensable part of NSA. After earning a degree in Nursing from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, Marco served as a nurse in the States for three years before returning to Costa Rica, where he also earned his nursing license.
Marco’s organization and kind demeanor means that our students (and sometimes our staff!) receive the highest-quality medical attention, and Marco’s empathy for our students shines through in his interactions with each of them.
Outside of work, Marco enjoys playing golf, hiking, spending time at the beach, and spoiling his dachshund Roxy.
When asked to describe his work at NSA, Marco put it perfectly: “Once you get the true meaning behind what NSA does for our students, it makes you extremely proud to be part of the team."
Marco’s organization and kind demeanor means that our students (and sometimes our staff!) receive the highest-quality medical attention, and Marco’s empathy for our students shines through in his interactions with each of them.
Outside of work, Marco enjoys playing golf, hiking, spending time at the beach, and spoiling his dachshund Roxy.
When asked to describe his work at NSA, Marco put it perfectly: “Once you get the true meaning behind what NSA does for our students, it makes you extremely proud to be part of the team."
- Published on
A few weeks ago we had one of our quarterly Global Citizenship Workshops.
This time we discussed Sustainable Development and how Gender Equality can help us reach it. Thanks to Juan Diego, our biology teacher, for organizing it.
"I wanted to show my students the true meaning of feminism and gender equality - allow them to discuss and understand its value, to not feel threatened by it."
- Juan Diego Rodríguez
AWARENESS
Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong…it is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum not as two opposing sets of ideas.
- Emma Watson
RESPONSIBILITY
We do a great disservice to boys on how we raise them. We stifle the humanity of boys. We define masculinity in a very narrow way. Masculinity is a hard, small cage, and we put boys inside this cage.
- Chimamanda Ngozi
ACTION
Physical strength used to be the most important thing for survival. Today, we live in a vastly different world. The person more qualified to lead is not the physically stronger person. It is the more intelligent, the more knowledgeable, the more creative, more innovative. And there are no hormones for those attributes.
- Chimamanda NgoziLEARN
LEARN
It is always wonderful to align and interact with students as they venture - with open minds and a curiosity to learn more - into the “gray areas” of global citizenship.
TAKE AWAY
"Although we mainly focused on gender equality in this particular seminar, teachers were not limited to female vs. male but rather expanded the discussion to the broader societal messages about who we are expected to be based on our gender, how that makes us feel about ourselves, the systems that are set up to benefit one over another, and how we can all relate to some form of inequality. By empathically connecting with how they themselves might have been set up for failure in some way, and recognize underlying systems of oppression, students were able to “see” perspectives of “others” they had not seen (or had been too defensive to see) before."
- Heather Tracy
This time we discussed Sustainable Development and how Gender Equality can help us reach it. Thanks to Juan Diego, our biology teacher, for organizing it.
"I wanted to show my students the true meaning of feminism and gender equality - allow them to discuss and understand its value, to not feel threatened by it."
- Juan Diego Rodríguez
AWARENESS
Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong…it is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum not as two opposing sets of ideas.
- Emma Watson
RESPONSIBILITY
We do a great disservice to boys on how we raise them. We stifle the humanity of boys. We define masculinity in a very narrow way. Masculinity is a hard, small cage, and we put boys inside this cage.
- Chimamanda Ngozi
ACTION
Physical strength used to be the most important thing for survival. Today, we live in a vastly different world. The person more qualified to lead is not the physically stronger person. It is the more intelligent, the more knowledgeable, the more creative, more innovative. And there are no hormones for those attributes.
- Chimamanda NgoziLEARN
LEARN
It is always wonderful to align and interact with students as they venture - with open minds and a curiosity to learn more - into the “gray areas” of global citizenship.
TAKE AWAY
"Although we mainly focused on gender equality in this particular seminar, teachers were not limited to female vs. male but rather expanded the discussion to the broader societal messages about who we are expected to be based on our gender, how that makes us feel about ourselves, the systems that are set up to benefit one over another, and how we can all relate to some form of inequality. By empathically connecting with how they themselves might have been set up for failure in some way, and recognize underlying systems of oppression, students were able to “see” perspectives of “others” they had not seen (or had been too defensive to see) before."
- Heather Tracy
It’s rewarding to watch each generation become more and more aware, more complex, and hopefully more activated to make a difference.
- Published on
After our eldest dog "Spy" passed away, students begged for a "new puppy." Knowing how a new puppy with 32 "masters" would turn out, we decided to contact our local animal rescue foundation and ask for an already-grown dog.
Our "dog committee" went to meet her at the shelter and immediately fell in love.
We had a "name voting ceremony" where these two came out in 1st & 2nd place, so yes... We gave her a middle name.
Welcome to your new home at NSA Luna -Laika!
Our "dog committee" went to meet her at the shelter and immediately fell in love.
We had a "name voting ceremony" where these two came out in 1st & 2nd place, so yes... We gave her a middle name.
Welcome to your new home at NSA Luna -Laika!
- Published on
Few schools are able to offer true cultural immersion experiences for learning language and developing interpersonal skills and cultural connectivity. At New Summit Academy, students are engaged in a once-in-a-lifetime project-based learning opportunity.
Our school has been working with our local retirement home for years, offering activities and connections for its residents. Recently, our Immersive Spanish teacher, Daisy, decided that we should be doing more. The project that students collaborated on developing is one that will provide the home with photographs and stories of its residents.
The first steps involve the students developing deeper relationships with the residents, so the class is visiting the home weekly, engaging in fun activities including music presentations and hands-on arts and crafts. As the students and residents bond, stories shared in their conversations will be recorded and paired with portraits taken by our Photography class to decorate the halls of the retirement home.
What an incredible opportunity for New Summit Academy’s students!
Our school has been working with our local retirement home for years, offering activities and connections for its residents. Recently, our Immersive Spanish teacher, Daisy, decided that we should be doing more. The project that students collaborated on developing is one that will provide the home with photographs and stories of its residents.
The first steps involve the students developing deeper relationships with the residents, so the class is visiting the home weekly, engaging in fun activities including music presentations and hands-on arts and crafts. As the students and residents bond, stories shared in their conversations will be recorded and paired with portraits taken by our Photography class to decorate the halls of the retirement home.
What an incredible opportunity for New Summit Academy’s students!
