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Student empowerment is one of our core values at NSA, and we work to develop in students ownership, initiative and follow-through so that they feel they are capable of making positive changes in their lives and communities. Student-created and driven clubs are an example of that empowerment. Students are able to propose new clubs based on their interests and those of their peers.
In order for a club to become official and receive funding, students must find a faculty sponsor, generate a minimum number of interested students, and write a proposal explaining how the club can contribute to our community.
Once approved, students work with their faculty sponsor to organize events during the week and on weekends, enriching the activities calendar based on student passions. Current clubs that students have created and can participate in include the Fishing Club, Climbing Club, Running Club and the newly-formed Art Club.
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Arriving to New Summit Academy for the first time can be an overwhelming experience for new students: there are classes to attend, students to meet, staff to get to know, and rules to learn. However, our innovative Orientation program helps new students to more quickly adjust to and engage in our community.
Each new student is paired up with a peer mentor, who serves as a guide during the one-month Orientation program. These students and their mentors spend a weekend off-campus on the slopes of Poas Volcano, discussing the school, Atenas and Costa Rica while enjoying the natural beauty of the area.
Each new student is paired up with a peer mentor, who serves as a guide during the one-month Orientation program. These students and their mentors spend a weekend off-campus on the slopes of Poas Volcano, discussing the school, Atenas and Costa Rica while enjoying the natural beauty of the area.
New students complete a checklist of steps designed to help them understand what they can expect during their time at NSA, including reviewing their Course Progression Plans, analyzing their aptitudes and interests, and setting goals for academic and personal growth development. By the end of the students’ Orientation period, they are fully engaged in the NSA process, and ready for continued success.
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The beginning of May is an important date for seniors who have been accepted to college: the first of the month marks the deadline for enrollment for most schools. Our seniors have made their decisions, and have enrolled in fantastic schools which fit their learning needs and goals, including Western Washington University, Goucher College, Central Washington University, and Fordham University.
To make this month even more exciting, our students reached an impressive milestone: our seniors enrolling in the fall of 2016 have been offered an incredible combined scholarship amount of over ONE MILLION DOLLARS. Congratulations!
To make this month even more exciting, our students reached an impressive milestone: our seniors enrolling in the fall of 2016 have been offered an incredible combined scholarship amount of over ONE MILLION DOLLARS. Congratulations!
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Ecological Stewardship is our Global Citizenship focus this quarter, and students have been able to witness putting this into practice, as phase two of our solar panel installation was completed.
Modeling Eco-Stewardship is an important facet in our mission to develop global citizens, and this project – developed in two phases – is a big part of those efforts. Phase one consisted of installing solar water heaters on dormitory roofs. Water is traditionally heated in Costa Rica with electricity, and since our students love their long, hot showers, these solar heaters have cut our monthly electricity usage by some 35%.
Phase two of the project was the installation of dozens of solar cells on the roof of our Academic Building. The power generated by these panels should cover nearly all of our campus electrical needs, dramatically reducing our carbon footprint!
Modeling Eco-Stewardship is an important facet in our mission to develop global citizens, and this project – developed in two phases – is a big part of those efforts. Phase one consisted of installing solar water heaters on dormitory roofs. Water is traditionally heated in Costa Rica with electricity, and since our students love their long, hot showers, these solar heaters have cut our monthly electricity usage by some 35%.
Phase two of the project was the installation of dozens of solar cells on the roof of our Academic Building. The power generated by these panels should cover nearly all of our campus electrical needs, dramatically reducing our carbon footprint!
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Students in Model United Nations class began research last week for a simulation of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Students first chose a UN member state to represent before completing a research report on that country.
Once they were familiar with the history, strengths, and current challenges facing their countries, the student delegates - representing Ireland, Argentina, Belgium, Norway, Djibouti, Germany, and Japan - voted on a debate topic, ultimately deciding on "Strengthening Prevention Measures and Criminal Justice Responses to Human Trafficking." The US State Department recently estimated that there are between 20-36 million slaves in the world today, with human trafficking generating $150 billion in illegal profits each year.
Students have been researching their country's position on this issue, which coincides with the current school-wide global citizenship theme of human rights, and they are currently preparing formal position papers and three-minute speeches that outline national policies for preventing human trafficking while providing possible solutions to this global challenge. The work is preparing students for their participation in a full Model UN simulation next quarter.
Once they were familiar with the history, strengths, and current challenges facing their countries, the student delegates - representing Ireland, Argentina, Belgium, Norway, Djibouti, Germany, and Japan - voted on a debate topic, ultimately deciding on "Strengthening Prevention Measures and Criminal Justice Responses to Human Trafficking." The US State Department recently estimated that there are between 20-36 million slaves in the world today, with human trafficking generating $150 billion in illegal profits each year.
Students have been researching their country's position on this issue, which coincides with the current school-wide global citizenship theme of human rights, and they are currently preparing formal position papers and three-minute speeches that outline national policies for preventing human trafficking while providing possible solutions to this global challenge. The work is preparing students for their participation in a full Model UN simulation next quarter.
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Cultural immersion Spanish class is offered to students who have advanced language skills. These students are researching topics of interest based on diversity and heterogeneity. One student chose Costa Rican food, another student chose solid waste management and burning as a way of disposal of household trash in the Atenas canton.
After having done online research, they will now be collecting field information through interviews. In the case of Costa Rican food, the student is interviewing NSA staff from Costa Rica, young people, and adults in Atenas who are recognized for their experience in culinary arts. The interviews on solid waste management will include the environmental agent from the municipality, a representative of the local firefighter station, and people from Atenas and NSA. The final product will be a written text and an exhibition presented to NSA students and staff.
After having done online research, they will now be collecting field information through interviews. In the case of Costa Rican food, the student is interviewing NSA staff from Costa Rica, young people, and adults in Atenas who are recognized for their experience in culinary arts. The interviews on solid waste management will include the environmental agent from the municipality, a representative of the local firefighter station, and people from Atenas and NSA. The final product will be a written text and an exhibition presented to NSA students and staff.
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Last week, our Experiential Education mentor and Student Council facilitator Matthew organized campaign speeches for students running for office. NSA’s Student Council includes a President and Vice-President, an Activities Representative, a Proposals representative, as well as a liaison with the Academic and Operations departments.
These positions have been intentionally created so that students are able to take part in the formation of their community and experiences while enrolled at New Summit Academy. Students, through their Student Council representatives, are able to organize their own cultural and recreational opportunities, can write proposals to make changes to the student handbook, and have the chance to manage their student monthly budget to make purchases to improve their daily lives.
Elections will be held soon, keep an eye out for the results!
These positions have been intentionally created so that students are able to take part in the formation of their community and experiences while enrolled at New Summit Academy. Students, through their Student Council representatives, are able to organize their own cultural and recreational opportunities, can write proposals to make changes to the student handbook, and have the chance to manage their student monthly budget to make purchases to improve their daily lives.
Elections will be held soon, keep an eye out for the results!
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This month, students and staff traveled to Costa Rica's northern zone to explore Arenal – a once highly active volcano that periodically rumbles to life – and the surrounding area, famous for its beauty and adventure opportunities. When students were asked about their favorite part, each answered differently, with highlight quotes including:
“We swam in the crater of an extinct volcano. [Volcan Chato] Who gets to do that?”
“The best part was hanging out with Tom.”
“The whitewater rafting was amazing, even though it is the dry season.”
Besides navigating mighty rapids and crater-lake swimming, students hiked to and swam in the 200-foot La Fortuna waterfall, handled snakes at a serpentarium, and enjoyed quality time with Tom! The students all returned positive and energized for the upcoming quarter.
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New Summit Academy is privileged to have the community at Hogar de Vida as our neighbors. The amazing children who are cared for by a dedicated staff of tias, or aunts, welcome our students into their home weekly with hugs, shouts of joy, and energy which wears out even our guys!
New students visiting the children’s home for the first time may be shy to begin with, or afraid to hold an infant or feed a toddler, but surrounded by the spirit of these children, each student eventually bonds with his “favorites” through play, arts & crafts and fun outdoor activities.
Many thanks to Daisy, our Cultural Coordinator, for working to develop this relationship with Hogar de Vida, and for introducing such an enriching experience to our students.
New students visiting the children’s home for the first time may be shy to begin with, or afraid to hold an infant or feed a toddler, but surrounded by the spirit of these children, each student eventually bonds with his “favorites” through play, arts & crafts and fun outdoor activities.
Many thanks to Daisy, our Cultural Coordinator, for working to develop this relationship with Hogar de Vida, and for introducing such an enriching experience to our students.
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NSA’s U.S. History class is analyzing small U.S. led military engagements that sought to pursue U.S. empire building, promote and negotiate expanding economic markets and policies, protect corporate investments in foreign lands, conduct scientific, oceanographic, and geological exploration, and occasionally noble pursuits like the encouragement and spread of democratic principles, political stability, infrastructure soundness and public facilities (customs houses, schools, administrative structures, road and highway systems, bridges, and hospitals), bureaucratic transparency and fairness, and basic modern sanitation systems and standards.