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New Summit Academy’s Integrated Reading Program is intentionally designed to engage students in college-preparatory learning, developing comprehension, analysis and synthesis skills. Each quarter, our community collaborates in choosing and reading a different book or novel. Throughout the quarter, students learn that reading is not only a skill in English class, but applicable throughout their lives. Each teacher guides students in analyzing text through the lens of their area of expertise: Math, Science, Global Citizenship, History, and more.
This quarter – with the polemic elections in the United States serving as a backdrop – our school is reading Jose Saramago’s Seeing. This novel begins with a parliamentary election in which the majority of the populace casts blank ballots. The story revolves around the struggles of the government and its various members as they try to simultaneously understand and destroy the amorphous non-movement of blank-voters.
Throughout the quarter, students and teachers will be working together to develop close-reading skills, and will analyze topics within the novel including democracy, the role of the media in politics, utopias and dystopias, plutocracies, and the effect of education on elections.
We invite everyone in our NSA community to read along and join in the conversation!
Throughout the quarter, students and teachers will be working together to develop close-reading skills, and will analyze topics within the novel including democracy, the role of the media in politics, utopias and dystopias, plutocracies, and the effect of education on elections.
We invite everyone in our NSA community to read along and join in the conversation!
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NSA’s Academic Department is continually striving to improve our innovative curriculum to prepare our students with 21st-century skills. Our newest addition to the course catalog is founded on our English teacher Brooke’s passion for teaching English as a second language (ESL). Brooke has designed a course in which students focus on the grammar and construction of the English language, and then show mastery of their studies in the most effective way possible: teaching.
Each Friday, students convert their grammar studies into dynamic English language classes, teaching our non-native English speaking staff from the Operations department. By teaching, students not only show mastery of the English language and its often complicated and convoluted grammar -- they are also developing critical organizational, time-management, and public speaking skills.
Each Friday, students convert their grammar studies into dynamic English language classes, teaching our non-native English speaking staff from the Operations department. By teaching, students not only show mastery of the English language and its often complicated and convoluted grammar -- they are also developing critical organizational, time-management, and public speaking skills.
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When it comes to clubs at New Summit Academy, the students are in control. Based on individual and group interests, students are able to manage existing clubs and propose new ones. Students develop important skills of organization and follow-through as they write proposals, find a staff sponsor, develop a budget, and work with Student Council to make the club a reality.
Once a new club is formed, club leaders are responsible for organizing meetings and workshops, and planning weekend activities.
Once a new club is formed, club leaders are responsible for organizing meetings and workshops, and planning weekend activities.
Our newest club – Backcountry Skills – provides students interested in camping and wilderness survival an opportunity to learn new skills and put them into practice. Recent meetings have focused on campfire cooking, knot tying, and makeshift shelters.
Students and staff in the Backcountry Skills club recently tested out their expertise on a weekend camping adventure in the Bosque Eterno de los Niños – a protected forest reserve funded by children’s donations from around the world!
Students and staff in the Backcountry Skills club recently tested out their expertise on a weekend camping adventure in the Bosque Eterno de los Niños – a protected forest reserve funded by children’s donations from around the world!
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by Kelly Weld, NSA therapist
I was having one of those incredible moments last week when I found myself surfing at sunset with Nico. Our Surf Club heads to South Jaco every week, which may be my favorite part of the job (which says a lot). I’ve been out in many different conditions: the perfect 4’ rollers in which everyone feels like a professional; big waves in which many of us ride the white water (when we clearly are not professionals), or even flat calm days in which there are no waves to catch, but everyone still feels the magic.
There is a particular bond that happens between people over a surf outing: first the anticipation and shared excitement on the drive to the beach, and then the stories told over post-session pizza. It is during these activities where some of my best student connections are made. Paddling in the warm water under a rose-covered sky, I watched Nico return to the lineup after surfing the last set. He grinned at me, happy and proud of the wave he caught, while clearly amused by my recent wipe-out. I am not the best surfer, but laughing at ourselves is part of the fun.
There is a particular bond that happens between people over a surf outing: first the anticipation and shared excitement on the drive to the beach, and then the stories told over post-session pizza. It is during these activities where some of my best student connections are made. Paddling in the warm water under a rose-covered sky, I watched Nico return to the lineup after surfing the last set. He grinned at me, happy and proud of the wave he caught, while clearly amused by my recent wipe-out. I am not the best surfer, but laughing at ourselves is part of the fun.
I have found that it is moments like these that allow the most natural and open relationships to develop between myself as a therapist, and the students with whom I work. There is an emotional connection that occurs when sharing favorite activities with someone, particularly in an outdoor setting. Profound relationships develop when that activity includes a “challenge element” (eliciting the “flow state” of presence and mindfulness) with an attainable struggle that eventually leads to mastery (creating a sense of earned pride and personal confidence).
On our drive back to campus, I could tell that something special had happened out in the water that evening: Nico and I had strengthened our shared experience and personal history. Whether it be surfing, rock climbing, paddling, or the rhythm of walking, NSA’s experiential Aventuras create opportunities for deep therapeutic rapport, the foundation for clinical efficacy.
On our drive back to campus, I could tell that something special had happened out in the water that evening: Nico and I had strengthened our shared experience and personal history. Whether it be surfing, rock climbing, paddling, or the rhythm of walking, NSA’s experiential Aventuras create opportunities for deep therapeutic rapport, the foundation for clinical efficacy.
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There is no experience more rewarding for our faculty and staff, and none more enriching for our current students, than to have an NSA alumnus return to our campus to share their successes after graduation.
One of our graduates, Jordan R., recently reached out to NSA requesting an opportunity to teach a workshop for our students.
One of our graduates, Jordan R., recently reached out to NSA requesting an opportunity to teach a workshop for our students.
After graduating from NSA in 2008, Jordan went on become a nationally-placed slam poet and battle rapper. His performance of his slam poem “Bullies” won third place at the national Slam Poetry competition in Berkeley. And even more impressive, Jordan is now completing a double honor’s major in English from the University of California Davis!
So of course, our answer was “yes!” Jordan rejoined our community last Friday for a workshop with our Visual and Performing Arts class on performance art. Students worked with Jordan to analyze the language of poetry and the spoken word, and read a number of poems aloud. The students were also treated to a live performance of Jordan’s “Bullies." Finally, students wrote and performed their own spoken-word pieces -- a fantastic culmination of the afternoon.
When we asked Jordan why he had returned, we heard our favorite answer: “I wanted to give back.”
When we asked Jordan why he had returned, we heard our favorite answer: “I wanted to give back.”
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New Summit Academy students and staff have just returned from an extraordinary experience exploring ancient and modern cultures in Belize and Guatemala!
To prepare for the trip – to be travelers rather than tourists – teachers engaged students in a week of workshops, studying the history of the area and current issues affecting the people. Students also participated in workshops focusing on how our senses are heightened through travel. The objective of this guiding theme is to help raise student awareness of the human experience, both through their travels and in their day-to-day lives at NSA and back home.
While traveling in Belize and Guatemala, students engaged in once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, including:
- Exploring the breathtaking Mayan sites of Caracol, Tika and Xunantunich
- Performing community service in the tropical gardens at their jungle lodge
- Spelunking the Cave of the Stone Sepulcher, home of Mayan sacrificial objects
- Snorkeling in the second-largest reef on Earth (including Shark Ray Alley!)
- Documenting their experiences in a film which will premiere in September
Students returned to campus energized by this amazing opportunity, and ready to begin the quarter. Keep an eye out for our upcoming Documentary Film Premiere issue at the end of the quarter, and a shared link of the student film!
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As our largest graduation ever quickly approaches, it is a perfect time to reflect on what makes up a student’s experience graduating the New Summit Academy program. While attention is often given to exciting Aventuras, engaging classes, and Personal Growth, it is important to understand the results of these programmatic aspects.
In other words, what does the resume of a New Summit Academy Graduate look like?
In other words, what does the resume of a New Summit Academy Graduate look like?
Resume of a New Summit Academy Graduate
Service:
Students perform over 100 hours of community service (many much more!), on projects ranging from working with children at Hogar de Vida to protecting endangered sea turtles in the Osa Peninsula.
Students perform over 100 hours of community service (many much more!), on projects ranging from working with children at Hogar de Vida to protecting endangered sea turtles in the Osa Peninsula.
Academic Achievement:
Graduates have succeeded in a college-preparatory learning environment, and have not only developed impressive critical thinking skills, but have learned how they learn to take charge of future success.
Graduates have succeeded in a college-preparatory learning environment, and have not only developed impressive critical thinking skills, but have learned how they learn to take charge of future success.
International Travel Experience:
Costa Rica is a rich classroom for learning independence and cultural sensitivity, and students also have opportunities to travel to Panama, Nicaragua, Belize, Peru and Guatemala!
Costa Rica is a rich classroom for learning independence and cultural sensitivity, and students also have opportunities to travel to Panama, Nicaragua, Belize, Peru and Guatemala!
Real-World Skills:
Students engage in classes and workshops to prepare them for independent living, which include cooking courses, car maintenance, budgeting and finances, dating 101, and resume development.
Students engage in classes and workshops to prepare them for independent living, which include cooking courses, car maintenance, budgeting and finances, dating 101, and resume development.
Global Citizenship:
Our Global Citizenship program engages students in the study and application of ethical decision making in areas of Social Justice, Human Rights, Sustainable Development, Digital Citizenship, Conflict Resolution, and more.
Our Global Citizenship program engages students in the study and application of ethical decision making in areas of Social Justice, Human Rights, Sustainable Development, Digital Citizenship, Conflict Resolution, and more.
Professional-Level Certifications:
Our Health term includes all students earning their Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) Certification, and summer Aventuras may have them earning open water SCUBA certifications!
Our Health term includes all students earning their Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) Certification, and summer Aventuras may have them earning open water SCUBA certifications!
Cultural Immersion:
Costa Rica provides an opportunity to develop cultural awareness through our Spanish Language program, cultural events and celebrations, and weekly homestay program.
Costa Rica provides an opportunity to develop cultural awareness through our Spanish Language program, cultural events and celebrations, and weekly homestay program.
College Applications:
Graduating seniors apply to and – no surprise considering their resumes – are accepted to colleges which provide them with a chance to continue their success. This fall, our seniors will be attending: St. Louis University, Montana State University, Southern Methodist University, Central Washington University, Western State Colorado University, The University of Vermont, and Fordham University.
Graduating seniors apply to and – no surprise considering their resumes – are accepted to colleges which provide them with a chance to continue their success. This fall, our seniors will be attending: St. Louis University, Montana State University, Southern Methodist University, Central Washington University, Western State Colorado University, The University of Vermont, and Fordham University.
The class was offered a total of over ONE MILLION DOLLARS in scholarships this year.
It’s amazing what a resume can do!
It’s amazing what a resume can do!
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“Growing up, I viewed poetry solely as a form of writing that used rhyming. I thought poetry to be simple and monotonous, only doing it because my teacher assigned it. There was no passion when it was taught by my teachers and correspondingly, there was no passion when I wrote. Poetry was portrayed as a basic rhyming scheme such as "‘He went into town and found a nice crown,"’ not a creative outlet or form of art.
Here at NSA, it is just the opposite. I feel lucky to have had Larisa as my Poetry teacher. Larisa's passion for poetry translates to class, inspiring and motivating me to write. A typical day in poetry class consists of first receiving a prompt or intention for the class, then breaking for 30 to 45 minutes to write, and finally we regroup to share and give feedback on the pieces.”
Here at NSA, it is just the opposite. I feel lucky to have had Larisa as my Poetry teacher. Larisa's passion for poetry translates to class, inspiring and motivating me to write. A typical day in poetry class consists of first receiving a prompt or intention for the class, then breaking for 30 to 45 minutes to write, and finally we regroup to share and give feedback on the pieces.”
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This quarter our students are learning about the development of many of the economic principles and philosophies (some competing) being used around the world now and in the past. In addition, our students are playing a virtual stock market simulation game powered by Investopedia.com that offers real world, true, and real-time consequences for investment decisions made with the trading of all stocks available on the NYSE, the NASDAQ, and AMEX.
A great way to understand complexity in markets is to study how regional, national, and global changes in different areas can impact the health of the market. Students are learning how to use headlines and market indexes to make predictions about investments. Students are also working on research projects related to different kinds of impact-investing (green energy, green or social justice-minded, social progress serving) and microfinance banking to see how capitalism, profit motive, and greed can actually be used to serve noble purposes.
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Students in Model United Nations are preparing for a simulation of the UN Security Council on the topic "Cyber Security." Students are investigating the topic, which coincides with the school-wide global citizenship theme of "digital citizenship," from the perspective of current Security Council members, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, New Zealand, Egypt, and Venezuela. After researching their country's position on the topic, students will produce a position paper and formal speech before participating in a three-day simulation. The simulation aims to find solutions for improving the monitoring of cyberspace, holding those international actors found guilty of committing cyber crimes accountable, and ensuring a free but safe Internet.