FAQ – New Springs Christian Academy

FAQ's

What denomination is NSCA affiliated with?

NSCA is a Christ-centered, non-denominational school with Bible-based curriculum. We believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior and we help the children to walk alongside their parents as they develop a Biblical worldview. We are a member of the Wisconsin Council of Religious & Independent Schools.

How do you integrate Christian Faith into everyday learning?

Learning about God and His world is woven into everything we do. Students are guided in
their understanding of who God is and who they are in Him through:

Daily Bible stories and scripture memorization
Worship time through singing and prayer
Developing Christ-like character such as kindness, patience, sharing, respect, and self-control
Learning to see each person as uniquely created and deeply loved by God
Learning biblical methods to conflict resolution

Are students required to attend chapel?

Yes, Chapel is a highlight of our week! Our younger students partner with an older student and they go to chapel together. We worship and learn about God together, as well as work on community events where we’re spreading acts of kindness with our buddies from chapel.

Do you accept students who aren't Christian?

We welcome all people to come to New Springs Christian Academy. We want to share who God is and what God has done in our lives with everyone that we meet, so we aren’t bashful about the fact that we are a Christian school and that we will be teaching God’s word.

What curriculum do you use and is it accredited?

Curriculum is selected at the discretion of each classroom teacher in partnership with the Administration team. We implement Horizon Math from kindergarten through eighth grade.

Do you administer standardized testing?

At the middle school and high school prep levels, yes.

What is the average class size and teacher to student ratio?

Our class sizes are typically about 20 students per class with a degreed educator as lead teacher supported by an educational support assistant. Student to teacher ratio is on average 1:12.

How do you support students with different learning styles or needs?

Our role as educators is to meet children where they’re at. If a child is struggling with a way that something’s being presented, it’s our job to figure out what they need to help them to be successful.

Although this holds true at all levels of instruction, it looks different at each level. In early childhood, it looks more like leading and guiding through daily activities and transitions.

As a child moves into upper elementary, it looks like helping them to understand how they can advocate for themselves. For example, a student might struggle to keep up in class taking notes. We would encourage them to problem solve and speak up to their teacher, “I have a hard time taking notes. Can you help me and support me in this way?” These opportunities to build life skills, like asking for help, set our students up for success as they prepare for independence and the vigor of high school academics.

Do you offer enrichment programs such as art, music, stem?

At New Springs Christian Academy, we place a high value on the arts and plan to offer music, art and schoolwide performances to enrich our student’s educational experience.

What extracurricular activities or clubs are offered?

As New Springs Christian Academy continues to grow, we plan to offer the sports that we’re able to. We are partnering with other schools, clubs and programs in which our children can participate. We will have a dance team used in some of our pep rallies and other school functions that we have throughout our year where kids can dance together and can grow in community.

How do you foster character development and leadership?

As we learn about who God made us to be, we also begin to understand that God has made us on purpose for a purpose.

How do we live that out?

that shows up in our
character
that shows up in the way we treat one another
how we help one another
the way that we look to share God’s love with others

And that in turns develops leadership that the students grow up understanding that they matter and that others matter, and that they lead with that attitude.

How is discipline handled in a Christ-centered environment?

NSCA staff not only model what self-discipline and conflict resolution looks like, but also help facilitate mediation between student relationships by guiding them how to share what they are feeling and express emotions in a constructive way through daily interactions and situations.

At times, a third person, usually a teacher, will come up alongside a conflict to help guide a meaningful conversation.

As students develop and grow, we help them to understand how to take ownership of their responsibilities with the understanding that although they can’t control anyone else’s actions, they are responsible for themselves and how they lead by their example.

Do you have Barton Tutors and Dyslexia support available?

Yes!

NSCA Barton Tutors bring 25 years of combined experience in implementing all ten levels of the Barton Reading and Spelling System with fidelity.

Statiscially, 1 in 5 children in the US struggle with dyslexia. Early identification and intervention are crucial to help children as it significantly improves their reading and writing abilities therefore increasing their self-confidence.

Is there a dress code?

Yes. In order to focus on developing our relationship with Jesus, or relationships with each other, and to grow academically, students are asked to wear school colors such as white and blue colored shirts and khaki pants or skirts. We also have sports days and spirit days where students are able to come to school in our New Springs Christian Academy sportswear.

What role do parents play in the school community?

Parents are a huge part of the community at New Springs Christian Academy. We love having parents come and support the classroom in a variety of ways, whether it’s helping on a special day in kindergarten, like Dinosaur Dig Day, or it’s coming as a mystery reader in the early elementary, or even signing up to go on a class trip in middle school.

We love having parents be involved and partnering with the teachers to create incredible experiences for the students.

What kind of volunteer opportunities are there?

There are lots of opportunities for parents to volunteer and serve in classrooms, in special programming, in sports, or in after school activities.

How do you communicate with parents about academic progress and school events?

Teachers inform families through a weekly newsletter where they’re communicating specifics about what the children have learned, things that are coming up, ways to continue learning from school at home. If there’s a specific challenge that a student is working through, or we have a praise report to share with parents, teachers will send an email to parents.

We also hold two in-person parent/teacher conferences throughout the year in the Fall and in the Spring to have face-to-face conversations with parents about academic, social and emotional growth. We love to highlight the gifts that each child brings to the classroom, as well as discuss any struggles that we see the student working through. We place a high value on partnership with parents to find constructive resolution to any academic or social challenge a student may be experiencing.