New Birth Christian Academy Curriculum

NBCA Academics

Co/Extra Curricular Activities

Overview
The ABeka and Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) curriculum and other textbooks are chosen based on alignment to our yearly Assessment (Stanford 10th Edition and Otis Lennon School Ability Test for students in second, fourth and sixth grades). Materials written from a Christian perspective are used at New Birth Christian Academy. When secular materials are chosen, teachers are expected to enhance the instruction by integrating Biblical principles.

Standardized Testing
In the spring of each year, standardized achievement tests are given to students in kindergarten through eleventh grade. New Birth Christian Academy administers the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT) to all students in kindergarten through eleventh and the OLSAT to students in second, fourth and sixth grades. Test results are made available to parents as soon as they are returned by the test center (generally at the end of June 2008).

Elementary School
New Birth Christian Academy thrives upon students having an electrifying elementary school experience. As students travel through their elementary experiences, we provide differentiated instruction to ensure the success of all learners. New Birth Christian Academy is a school of excellence that prepares each student to become life-long learners.

Middle and High School
The NBCA middle and high school teams provide various academic opportunities for students. The main goal of the teachers is to develop life-long learners. The students are provided with a wide range of academic electives such as Spanish, technology, Physical Education, SAT prep, and Bible. The students are also given many extra-curricular activities to participate in such as 4-H, Student Council, cheerleading, and intramural sports.

Summer Enrichment
An academic summer school program will be offered during the month of June.

Counseling Department
New Birth Christian Academy’s Counseling Department serves as an integral part of the Academy. Programs such as Mentoring, Red Ribbon Week, Career Day and our Annual Gender Bender Conferences for young ladies and young men serve as foundational programs for developing active and engaged learners.

The classroom guidance program, group counseling, one-on-one counseling and parent counseling are essential because it gives our students the additional support/ resources needed to be successful and productive.

The key to the students knowing who they are and what they want to accomplish is based on the many programs that the Counseling Department creates in order to set the climate to make sure that they are well rounded individuals.

William H. Brown Media Center
The Media Center supports the overall school curriculum and serves the elementary, middle and high schools. It houses over three thousand volumes of fiction, non-fiction and reference books, a daily newspaper, monthly periodicals, audio visual materials and professional/parent support materials. The Media Center hosts two book fairs annually, Reading Rocks, Book It, National Young Readers and The 600 Minutes Reading Program. The Media Center is always open for individual students’ study or research needs. Students in PreK-3 through fifth grade visit the Media Center weekly and participate in planned activities for enjoyment, enrichment and lessons on research and library skills. Computers are internet accessible and equipped with programs that support student learning and the curriculum.

NBCA Co/Extra Curricular Activities

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Arts (Visual and Performing)

The Music and Arts Program provides an opportunity for each student to enhance their talents and self-expression. All students in grades kindergarten through eighth and eleventh grades are challenged to create and solve problems through artistic development.

Visual Arts

Visual Arts classes are formatted to include a diverse experience for all students. Students will participate in art production, art history, art criticism and aesthetics. Students will also have an opportunity to participate in Art Competitions.

Music and Performing Arts

All students in kindergarten through eighth grades have general music every other week. The general music program introduces students to the following musical concepts: rhythm, melody, tone color, form and expression. Students experience these concepts through singing, playing classroom instruments, moving and listening. Students apply these concepts through performing and creating. Students in kindergarten through third grades are expected to sing accurately, with rhythmic accuracy, and play classroom rhythm instruments with proper technique alone and in concert. Students in grades four through six are expected to sing and play the recorder with expression and reproduce basic melodies and rhythms in treble clef.

Two of our key performances are the Christmas and Easter Programs. Students in fourth through eleventh grades have an opportunity to audition for key roles in these productions as well as take part in several theatre exercises and techniques. The entire school participates by singing, acting and dancing. Middle and high school students are also afforded the opportunity to work backstage, sound and props.

Band and Keyboarding

Students in second and third grades are afforded the opportunity to receive keyboarding instruction, while fourth through seventh graders may take part in our band program. This opportunity is made possible through Newsome Music Education Inc. Students receive specialized music instruction during their special area classes two times a week.

Newsom Music provides quality music programs for Christian schools. Research shows that the study of music also affects a child’s academic performance. Additional benefits include an increased sense of responsibility, self-esteem, teamwork and mental discipline.

Association of Christian Schools International Academic Competitions

NBCA currently participates in several competitions sponsored by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). ACSI is an organization of biblically based Christian schools. Its mission is to provide programs and services in order to bring about excellence in these schools to the glory of God. ACSI seeks to encourage and inspire students toward a standard of excellence in leadership, communication and performance by enhancing the academic and fine arts education of NBCA. The competitions in which we participate are the Creative Writing Contest, Math Olympics and Science Fair to name a few.

Athletics

NBCA students in sixth through eleventh grades have the opportunity to play competitive basketball in conjunction with the Associated Consortium of Christian Schools. Additionally, third through fifth grade students will have the opportunity to play basketball as members of NBCA’s coed team.

Business Expo

The students of New Birth Christian Academy will host their 3rd Annual Business Expo in 2009. The Business Expo allows students to demonstrate their creative abilities outside the classroom. Each student will use their God-given talents to create a product to sell and present to their fellow classmates and the entire NBCA school community. For more information contact Ms. Hoskins, Business Expo Coordinator.

Cheerleading

The New Birth Christian Academy cheerleading squad is an award winning group. The primary focus of the cheerleaders is to uphold and promote school spirit and pride. All girls in sixth through eleventh grades are eligible to be a part of the NBCA cheerleading squad. Cheerleader tryouts are held at the beginning and end of the school year. For more information contact Cheerleading Sponsor, Mrs. Krystal Grant.

Entrepreneurship

New Birth Christian Academy has a practical business development program designed to help young entrepreneurs advance their skills in starting, growing and managing their own business. The entrepreneur program at NBCA provides a comprehensive overview of entrepreneurship for eighth grade students interested in starting a small business. It offers information on business concept development and strategies as well as the art of developing a successful business.

Foreign Languages

The overall objective of the Spanish courses at New Birth Christian Academy is to teach the students to communicate verbally their basic feelings, needs and desires in everyday contexts. The program is designed to help the students develop their speaking skills through memorization, repeated practice and by transferring learned knowledge into practical skills.

The second objective of the Spanish program at New Birth Christian Academy is to introduce the students to the Latin American cultures, values, beliefs, behavior, occupations, habits, traditions and geographic locations. Cultural awareness and enrichment in the development of speaking a foreign language will enable the students to develop well-rounded students who will broaden their horizons internationally.

Each class session gives the students the opportunity to practice orally. The students will be engaged in meaningful use of the language. Through application and enrichment activities, each lesson is taught for the student’s enjoyment. Below is a preliminary schedule of what will occur in each Spanish class.

Introductory Questions/Oral Application
Pronunciation
Vocabulary Review
Grammar Review
Cultural Enrichment
Homework check

Promise Dancers

New Birth Christian Academy has a liturgical dance troop called “Promise.” The dance troop ranges from grades three through eleven. The purpose of the Promise Dance Troop is to train the next generation on how to praise and worship God through dance. The aim of this program at NBCA is to lay a foundation and equip the students with the tools they need to have a well-balanced life. The overall goal is to train up bold, confident, obedient, gifted children. Our desire is to assist parents in molding and shaping the life and character of each “Promise Dancer.”

The Promise Dance Troop is committed to: spiritual development, academic excellence, building leadership, effective communication, cultivating and nurturing the gift of dance and life application skills, which are time management, stewardship, discipline, study skills, servant hood and discipleship.

Our dancers will develop godly esteem and they will understand the importance of creating an atmosphere of communion with God. We will stir and motivate the creative gifts within each child. The dancers will demonstrate the beauty of praise and worship through dance and we encourage our young people to develop an intimate relationship with Christ Jesus.

Step Team

Stepping into a new dimension of praise, NBCA’s Step Team glorifies God in a radical way! As warriors of Christ they proclaim the gospel in a unique fashion stomping out the works of the enemy.

Student Government

Students have the opportunity to represent fellow classmates and have a voice in the school. Student government will meet monthly.

Technology

The technology department of New Birth Christian Academy offers an introduction to students in kindergarten through eleventh grades. This world of technology is currently available for classroom use and exists to provide hands-on experiences. It is our desire to increase students’ awareness of the present trends in technology and the potential impact on education in the private school system. In addition, New Birth Christian Academy assists students in locating educational technology information and resources. The focus for Middle School students deals with various aspects of Multimedia and Journalism; while High School students master the design, layout and structure of the school yearbook.

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