Academics
We are committed to deliver a distinctly different Christian education through our classical approach.
Our instruction utilizes methods from the Classical Education model. The design of Classical Christian education is to produce a student with the mental discipline and ability to read an in-depth book, write discerning, thoughtful essays on the book, present lectures or debates on the contents of the book, and evaluate its contents in light of the Christian worldview. Its goal is to teach the student to think clearly and express himself persuasively. To accomplish this, we will be teaching children according to three stages of learning and development: the Grammar, Dialectic, and Rhetoric stages. These stages make up what is known as the Trivium. The word Trivium comes from the Latin prefix Tri meaning “three,” and the Latin root “via” meaning the way. The word Trivium literally means three-way, referring to the three ways of learning that coincide with a child’s cognitive development as he or she matures.
Classical Education:
The Trivium
Grammar Stage
During this stage, children compile information in an organized framework (or “grammar”) for each subject area. Children love to chant, recite, and memorize. Emphasis on repetition and rote techniques corresponds to a child’s ability to easily memorize and learn by rote during this phase of development.
During these elementary years, we are focused on the fundamental facts and rules of each subject, the building blocks, the “a,b,c’s” of each core subject including phonics, English grammar, spelling, reading of the classics, Bible study, math facts, and penmanship. This is the time to fill them full of facts, such as the multiplication table, geography, dates, events, plant and animal classifications – anything that lends itself to easy repetition and assimilation by the mind. The material is presented to the students in an assortment of techniques to reach all types of learning styles.
Through the use of varied repetition, a strong foundation is laid as the building blocks for future learning.
Dialectic Stage
During the second stage, the Dialectic stage, the child begins to understand that which he has learned and begins to use his reason to ask questions based on the information that he has gathered in the grammar stage. It is during this stage that the child no longer sees the facts that he learned as separate pieces of information, but he starts to put them together into logical relationships by asking questions. No longer can the American Revolution merely be a historical fact, but it must be understood in the light of the rest of what the child has learned. For example, how can one reconcile the fact that some of the founding fathers can be held up as great men even though they were also slaveholders?
Through more in-depth and careful discussion and examination of evidence, the students learn how to question, how to dialogue, and how to discern. This leads to the development of stronger critical thinking skills. Formal logic is taught as a class. It is also integrated into each subject matter enabling students to learn the rules that guide sound thinking.
Rhetoric Stage
With the grammar and dialectic stages serving as building blocks, children in this stage progress toward articulating their views. Children are learning how to think out loud; they become concerned with expressing themselves and how their ideas are coming across to others.
Although our students will enter the Rhetoric stage after graduating from NorthCreek Academy, our educational goal is to prepare our students to enter these upper grades ready to learn how to 1) communicate clearly in written and verbal form, 2) thoroughly research all subject areas, 3) see interrelationships between subjects, 4) and apply a biblical worldview to daily living and future learning.
By recognizing and utilizing these stages throughout the child’s development, we are cognizantly working with how God designed children, and their ability to learn.
Enrichment Programs
Art
“So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:27
The first book of the Bible, Genesis, makes it clear that God, the author and creator of life, made us in His image and our creativity is a natural reflection of this. Michelangelo said, “A true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection.” In art, students have the chance to go on an adventure through time as they learn about some of the great masters of art, their lives and the art they created. While studying these artists, students further engage with the artist through creating an art piece reflective of the artist’s style. Each year, five-to-six artists are studied in a rotating cycle so that by the time a student reaches the sixth grade, they will have studied at least 30 different artists. In addition to studying the masters, there is a “classroom connection” component designed to enhance the classroom curriculum.
Music
“Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.”
(Psalm 33:2-3)
NorthCreek Academy seeks to enrich the lives of our students with music. The Bible teaches that music can be used for praise and worship (Psalm 33:2-3), and we treasure putting this into practice. We believe that music is part of God’s Creation and with it, we bring glory to our Creator. Music can be used to encourage and build others up in the body of Christ (Ephesians 5:18-19).
Physical Education
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,”
(1 Corinthians 6:19)
Believing that it is our responsibility to honor God in all that we do, and that our bodies are “a temple to the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19), students are taught that fueling their bodies with healthy food and keeping their bodies strong through regular exercise is honoring to God. At NorthCreek Academy, physical education is more than just playing games. It is also a chance for students to learn how to deal with conflict and to forgive others. It is an opportunity for students to learn how to lift-up less confident players. The skills learned in physical education are just one more part of their growing in knowledge of how to honor God in all aspects of their lives.
Latin
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.”
(Psalm 19:1-6)
As a classically-based school, we seek to enrich our students’ lives through teaching Latin. The Bible teaches that there is no language where God’s glory is not heard. Latin is a foundational language for a classical education. Studying Latin allows students to see God’s order in its nuances and structure. As they build their foundation of vocabulary, grammar and Latin derivatives, students also build on their knowledge of classical Roman history.
Latin is taught through its grammatical rules and, as a student’s understanding of Latin grows, so does an understanding of the mechanics and structures of language as a whole. Dissecting sentences to discern their meaning imparts skills helpful with algebra and computer coding. As 60% of English vocabulary is Latin- based, this also provides a rich means of understanding our language. Latin is the language of science and law, and it is the foundation for the romance languages including Spanish, French and Italian. The mind of the student that has been educated in Latin takes on the qualities of Latin: logic, order, discipline, structure. Latin requires, and teaches attention to detail, which extend into the study of other subjects. As Latin is a foundational subject, students who are new to NorthCreek Academy are encouraged to attend our summer workshop introducing Latin fundamentals.
Learning Assistance Program
NorthCreek Academy offers a Learning Assistance Program for students who are experiencing difficulty in classroom achievement. Students can be referred for consideration in the program through a classroom teacher, the principal, or by his/her parents with the agreement of the teacher and principal. Students are given several assessments in order to determine learning strengths and weaknesses, and to develop an appropriate educational program that would best meet identified needs. Based on the assessment, recommendations are made, which may include individual remediation, classroom accommodations, and referrals for additional testing/support by other professionals.
Students who are referred to the LAP for remediation meet with a learning specialist in individual sessions one to three hours per week.
These sessions are based on individual student needs and focus on developing foundational academic skills, strengthening processing skills and improving compensatory skills for classroom success.
For our younger students, NCA offers the Search and Teach program. The purpose of this program is to find and assist students who may have difficulty with skills basic to reading and the language arts. All kindergarten students are assessed with the SEARCH screening tool in September. Those who would benefit from individual instruction in preacademic and beginning academic skills meet with an instructor in individual TEACH sessions thirty to sixty minutes per week.