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Passion for God, Compassion for People February 8, 2010
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Getting to The Heart of NCA's Elementary School
This is the first in a series exploring education at Nashua Christian Academy. This month's focus is NCA's Elementary School.
 "Teach Me Knowledge and Good Judgment,
For I Believe in Your Commands" - Psalm 119:66
In the early years as Christian parents, you have assurance that the influences most affecting your child are aligned with your faith and values: the family and the church. But before you know it, a third major influence comes into your child's life: elementary school. Since students spend in excess of 30 hours a week there, choosing a school based on its structure, culture, and underlying principles is not a simple choice.
At Nashua Christian Academy's K-5 elementary school, your child's horizon of knowledge will be expanded in a God-honoring way. Here we build solidly upon the firm foundation that Christian parents provide their child at home and at church.
As a master educator and someone with ten plus years of experience at NCA, our Elementary School Principal, Mrs. Jean Eastman has a solid perspective on what sets our elementary program apart: "Our mission, Passion for God, Compassion for People drives everything we do here at NCA. We develop passion for God in our youngest students by learning to love Him, praise Him, and read, memorize, discuss and obey His Word. Each day is a new opportunity to practice living lives pleasing to the Lord. Children learn compassion by observing it in the lives of their teachers as
they instruct from a godly perspective, as they model kindness and
compassion and with their words and actions. The teachers take the
time to stop and instruct in those "teachable moments" that happen throughout the day, and we actively seek to instill in our students a love for others.'
Young
children need to feel safe, secure and loved.
They need to know God
loves them and that they are part of His family.
Mrs. Eastman's heart for Christian education comes not only from her role as a teacher and principal, but also from that of a parent. She recalls her own child's experience:
"My daughter came to Christian school when she was in fifth grade. The
change was more significant than I expected. As a young believer in
the public school system, she would hide behind trees at recess to
pray. There were 30
students in her classroom. The teacher told her to "ask a neighbor"
when she had a question. Not only did Christian school give her the
freedom to be who she was as a Christian, to pray and learn about God
at school, she also became a more solid student. Smaller classes meant
more teacher attention. Friendships were more easily established and
nourished. She flourished! Young
children need to feel safe, secure and loved. They need to know God
loves them and that they are part of His family. Our small Christian
school is a family away from home where children learn to love God and
love others."
Read more...
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The NCA Eagles are Looking Great!
The basketball season at NCA is looking pretty fresh! The Boy's team won two games last week,
and lost Tuesday night against Derryfield. Even though the final score was not what they had hoped for, they battled fiercely and kept the score fairly even for as long as they could. The Boys record is 3-8 on the season.
Winning their most recent home game against Tri City, the
Girl's team looked awesome Monday night. There turned out to be quite a crowed as well. On Friday January 29th, the Girl's team headed to Milford Christian to yet another victory. Keep up the good work NCA Eagles!
By Elyse Zagorites 10th grade
Go Eagles!
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Are You a Nurse and Interested in Volunteering at NCA?
Due
to the demands of her schedule, Dawn Tarbotte RN, one of our faithful
school nurses, will be leaving NCA. Dawn will be greatly missed, and
our thanks go out to her for many faithful hours helping us to develop
policies and procedures for effective management of illness and for
emergency preparedness planning!
Dawn
and Suzanne Locke RN, carefully scrutinize our records each year,
student by student, to ensure NCA's files are accurate and up-to-date
according to all New Hampshire state requirements. If you have had the
opportunity to talk with these ladies, you will know the depth of their
care for the children, and the high professionalism they bring to NCA.
So
- back to our title - are you an RN and willing to volunteer some time
at the school for these important tasks?
Mrs. Urban would love to hear from you. |
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Prayer Vigil held by students at NCA
NCA's Senior class organized
and led an overnight prayer vigil last weekend. Approximately
30 students throughout the high school came to pray and worship starting at
8 PM on Friday, January 30 through to 5:00 the next morning. Along with
Mathematics teacher, Christen Byrd '04, the group was chaperoned by
NCA alumni, Grant Wege '04, Stephen Byrd '07, and Andrew Tripp '03.
Students had the opportunity
to pray and worship for an indefinite period of time and this also led
to deep spiritual discussions later on. At the beginning of the
vigil, the students wanted to pray first for those participating that
night. Two students had requested prayer for healing and release
from pain from injuries they had suffered. The group split into
two smaller groups: the girls laid hands on Rachel Bohanan; the
boys prayed for Josh Keck.
Read what happened next...
That's why the students want to
do this again, because God is real
and
He shows up to meet with us.
As Christen noted "I am really excited about the testimonies, but I am especially excited
that God is helping us all to be refreshed in our understanding of Who
He is... in His great love and kindness toward us. Even as He heals our
bodies, He is also healing our hearts to receive His incredible love. That's why the students want to do this again, because God is real and
He shows up to meet with us. I believe that this is a message that
God wants all of us to be encouraged with right now."
This time of prayer had such
an impact on the students who attended that another prayer vigil is
being planned for the first Friday of March. As one student put
it, "it wasn't just that it was exciting, because there were moments
of seriousness where you realized what the excitement was all about."
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Boliva Trip Update - Your help is needed
A team of NCA High School students will be leaving for Bolivia on February 18th (to read more about the trip, click here) and each of the 12 students will be bringing two suitcases: one for their clothes and another
filled with supplies for the orphanage they will be working at.
They
are looking for: - Beanie Babies (or similar small stuffed animals)
- small
toys (like McDonald's Happy Meal toys)
- child-size toothbrushes and
toothpaste
- 36 soccer jerseys (18 each for their boys and girls teams)
- gently-used band instruments.
Some students are still in need of financial support. Please bring your donation as soon as possible to the school office in an envelope marked "Bolivia Mission Trip Support."
Make your check payable to "Nashua Christian Academy." Do not
put anything in the Memo Field but clip a note to the check stating it
is for the Bolivia Missions trip. As is our custom, we will donate any
money raised over and above our expenses to the local ministry to help
the poor and orphaned.
Your
continued prayer support will ensure that this mission trip has a
supernatural impact on the lives of the mission team and the people
they seek to serve. Be a part of what God is doing through NCA.
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What is God doing at NCA?
It is a question that He answers most every day.
The teachers see it. The administrators see it. The students, from the youngest kindergartener that learns a hard lesson about sharing to the senior receiving that special letter from his or her number one college, also see it. And parents see it too.
 There are many stories about what God is doing/has done in the lives
of NCA students, faculty and staff as they develop a passion for God
and compassion for people. In fact, YOU may have a story about
how God has used NCA in your life. We would love to hear your stories
and share them through this blog.
Perhaps a teacher encouraged you in your spiritual journey... or
another NCA staff member demonstrated how to live passionately for God
in an apathetic world... maybe you've seen a marked change in your
child's attitude/behavior... perhaps your experience on a mission trip
transformed your heart toward others... or you've observed a pupil
showing compassion to another student... whatever your story, we'd like
to hear it from you.
Visit the What's God Doing? page on the NCA website. Share your story of what God is doing at NCA and be an encouragement to others.
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K4 is Coming to NCA!
 NCA is adding a K4 class in 2010-11. We are excited to be
expanding our Early Education program and look forward to welcoming
these little ones in the Fall!
The new class
will bring change to our K5 as well, as we will offer a new 5 day
option at both levels. K4 and K5 students may choose the current 4 day
full day class schedule, or may add a 5th day of enrichment activities.
The respective tuition amounts are detailed in the letter you recently
received, but basically, a student in the 5 day classes will pay the
standard Elementary tuition.
Students must be
4 by September 30th to apply for K4, and we encourage interested
families to move quickly on this. We are opening just 10 slots in K4,
and have tested several applicants already!
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