The Buzz Around Northside Christian Academy...

I am always proud to report a success of one of our students at Northside Christian Academy, staff and/or families... these last few months at Northside were full of great opportunities and excitement.

Tre Washington, a sixth grader is a member of the Porch Production theatre group, a Norths Carolina-based production company which creates staged theatre for youth and young adults. The group has recently performed at the Congressional Black Caucus Luncheon and the Wells Fargo Community Celebration, where they performed at the Levine South Museum uptown.

Tre and his fellow actors will be performing "Black Nativity: An 'All Youth' Gospel Song Play" by Langston Hughes at the Harvey Gantt Center at the Westin Hotel uptown, followed by three additional shows.

As our students in 5th-8th grades displayed their knowledge of geography trivia in the preliminary competition of this year's Geography Bee. The group was then narrowed down to the top ten. The final round, held on December 7th, consisted of 2 students from 5th grade, 3 from 7th grade, and 5 from 8th grade. After a barrage of tough trivial questions, the top ten was narrowed down to the final two; eighth graders Micah Brighton and Taylor Lawing.

The two students answered a series of questions, and the student with the most correct answer was declared the champion. The winner of our school-level Geography Bee this year was Micah Brighton!

Many more exciting things are happening every day at Northside Christian Academy, from our #2 ranked Basketball team in the Sweet 16, our 9th grade girls Basketball phenom, our Nationally ranked Wrestler, our Fine Arts performances in our community and at home, to our numerous articles regrading our school, coaches, and technology improvements. We are proud of our school and are thankful for the many blessings the Lord has brought our way this year.

I can't wait to see what great things the Lord has for us in 2012!

Come join us at NCA!

Does "influence" matter?

I love Christian education! As a student at a private Christian school in Florida, I did not understand the sacrifice that my parents went through in order to put me in what I know call a “place of influence”. I am proud to be a graduate of a Christian school and honored to have had a Christian education. I consider it a “place of influence,” due to the fact that it took many people to turn one life around. I was encouraged, loved, mentored, coached, taught, and advised by some of the most skilled educators I have ever met. A chance is what I needed to change my life around and a chance is what I received at the hands of Christian mentors, whom I call educators.

Today, as the head of school of one of the finest institutions in North Carolina, I pray each night that I might have the same effect on the students that walk our halls at Northside Christian Academy. I understand clearly that all students are not going to want to build a relationship with the head of school, but I also understand that they are looking at me, listening, and making their conclusions on what they perceive.  Leading a school is a difficult job, but I am honored to have the opportunity to lead others by example. I too want to make Northside Christian Academy a “place of influence” for our students. I want my children to see our teachers as “inspirational” leaders, and that our constituents may look at Northside as a “place of influence” for their children.  I am encouraged by the words of Billy Graham, "salt and light speak of the influence Christians can exercise for good in society."

"If you speak good words...you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!  - Jeremiah 15:19

Head of School answers perceptions @ the November Coffee!

More than30 parents gathered at the “Coffee with the Head of School” at the Fine Arts building on the Northside campus this morning. I hosted the gathering and gave our parents the chance to say hello to each other and to hear some of the things that we have been addressing during the last month as a school and administration.

At the event I had the chance to go into detail regarding many of the rumors or perceptions that parents have heard about during the last month of school. I also had the chance to address some of the concerns that parents had when they filled out our parent survey earlier this school year. All the parents had great questions and many of them gave great ideas for future opportunities. I was very excited about all the support and encouragement that the parents are expressing about the openness of the administration and the ability they have to have an open exchange of ideas at these meeting.

Topics discussed in detail:
• Academics program at NCA

ü  SAT Scores in 2011

o   NCA Verbal/CR = 530                    National = 497

o   NCA Math = 543                             National = 514

o   NCA Writing = 543                         National = 474

o   NCA Composite = 1073                  National = 1011                                                          

o   NCA = +62 points over National Sat Score

ü  98% of students Attend Further Education/90% attend 4year institutions

ü  Class of 2011 Earned 1.5 million dollars in scholarship & 29% earned more than $50,000 individually

ü  Examples of some of the colleges and universities attended… Duke University, Wake Forest, Oxford of England, Wheaton College, High Point University, Georgia Tech, and New York University

 
We also spoke about uniforms and some possible changes that are being addressed as we head into the Fall Forum in November. We spoke about technology and the jump that NCA has taken to make sure that our students are involved in the learning, participate, and feel engaged. The meeting covered the $34,000 that was spent in making this technology jump possible this year.

I hope that you have the time to join us at our next “Coffee with the Head of School” on Thursday, November 10, at 8:00 a.m. in the Fine Arts Center. It is a great opportunity to fellowship together and get questions answered in a casual environment while sitting down alongside other school parents.

Come join us @ NCA!

Northside Christian Academy takes a huge jump in the world of technology!

I truly believe that in order to sustain, enhance, and improve our early education through 12^th grade curricular we must be up to date in our technology. In order to prepare student for their entry into college and career academically, our educational programs must be continuously reviewed, updated, and improved with excellence in mind. Many parents have been concerned about our progress when it comes to technology and its integration in the classroom. In the following paragraphs I will try to explain how quickly we have been able to improve the learning environment at Northside since our announcement at the State of the School in February.

Northside has added new technology in every 3^rd grade through 12^th grade classroom by putting over $33,000 into the updating of our classrooms. We have added projectors and Mimio interactive teaching tools for our teachers and students. Full integration is a unique benefit of the MimioClassroom family of product. Each of the tools is an easy-to-use, powerful technology on its own, but all of their products are designed to work together, using powerful MimioStudio software. That means less setup work for our teachers and more time to teach!

We have turned our ordinary whiteboards into an interactive whiteboard-instantly. The MimioTeach interactive system makes it easy. This device helps connect our computer to a standard projector and access everything on our teacher’s computer from their whiteboard. Our teachers can now create engaging lessons with our new Mimio Studio software. We can also create interactive assessments on the spot. We have added MimioVote assessment systems that lets our teachers gauge student understanding instantly, at any point during a lesson, with maximum class participation. It simplifies assessment, grading, and record-keeping. This system helps display and discuss the results with our students immediately. We have also added the MimioView document cameras to our science labs in order to allow our students to instantly capture pictures and live video. These cameras help us to instantly access editing and storage features, as well as show textbook content, objects, or live demonstrations.

Please stay tuned for a technology article that is being written in University Magazine regarding technology and Northside Christian Academy. Everything we do at NCA is with our students and their future in mind!

Go Knights!

Head of School Welcomes Parents @ Coffee!

More than 35 parents gathered a the "Coffee with the Head of School" at the Fine Arts building on the Northside Campus on Thursday, August 8, to attend the first parent coffee of 2011-2012. I hosted the gathering and gave returning and first-time parents the chance to say hello to new friends and old friends over coffee and tea and to hear about plans for the new school year.

At the event I had the chance to go into detail regarding many of the new changes that parents saw or heard about during the first few days of school. All the parents had great questions and many of them gave great ideas for future programs opportunities. I was very excited about all the support and encouragement that the parents gave towards the new changes and additions of programs.

Topics discussed in detail:
           • Annual Fund
           • Honor Code
           • After School Programs
           • Important Meetings     
           • New @ Northside In 2011
           • Website changes

I hope that you have the time to join us at our next “Coffee with the Head of School” on Thursday, October 13, at 8:00 a.m. in the Fine Arts Center. It is a great opportunity to meet with the Head of School and get questions answered in a casual environment while sitting down alongside other school parents.

Come join us @ NCA!

Waiting In Anticipation!

We have remained busy during these hot, summer days with anticipation of what God is going to do at Northside Christian Academy in 2011-2012.  Sydney Harris has written, “what you learn with just the mind is quickly forgotten; what you learn when you are also emotionally involved remains imprinted in the nervous system; and the first task of education is involvement, not mere learning.” Northside Christian Academy has been actively involved in providing excellence in education that involves the entire essence of the student for 50 years. This education is instilled with the solid commitment that Jesus Christ is the unconditional Lord of life.

It is our desire that young people be in a Christ-like environment where they can be challenged socially, physically, mentally and, above all, spiritually. Such an atmosphere will involve them in life changing principles and practice. Northside Christian Academy strives to see youth go and grow into life with a practical usage of knowledge that will work in the day-to-day community. Herbert Spencer once said, “The great aim in education is not knowledge but action.” Northside Christian Academy has a history of students graduating into life accomplishing a maximum Christ-like effect.

It is our distinct privilege to be a part of the training of children. It is our prayer that this endeavor will strengthen children to be involved in life with a Christ-honoring lifestyle. Our mission statement explains it best: “Northside Christian Academy is here to partner with Christian families to provide a Christ-centered, biblically based education in pursuit of excellence.” We are looking forward to another great year together in Christian education!

We are blessed that God has continued to send wonderful families and students who will carry on the rich spiritual and academic heritage at NCA.  Let’s be encouraged knowing that God has blessed our school and all who pass through these doors for 50 years.  He is our purpose for all that we accomplish at Northside Christian Academy.  As we “partner” with families to fulfill our mission statement, we believe that God will be honored as we continue to follow our motto by “impacting students for eternity.”

Come join us today!

Have We Created A Culture of Pride?

“A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.” –Proverbs 29:23

It is important that we take a close look and see if we have created a culture of pride in our educational systems. Are we creating a culture within our halls, and on our playing fields that misrepresent our core values and our mission?  How do we address this ongoing concern in our Christian schools?

At Northside Christian Academy we are making an emphasis that our students clearly understand that they represent more than just themselves. Our administration, our teachers, our coaches, and our parents are partnering together in order to make sure that we are leaving a legacy for our community. We strongly believe that we need to help our young people understand Christianity is not about Me, but that it is about Him. Jesus is the only way that we can fight the culture of “pride.” Let’s teach our young people that life is more than money, cars, or what you wear, it is about what you are doing to help transform our world for Jesus Christ.

Steps and quotes about pride that may help us take a close look at our pride problem:

·         Recognize Your Pride

“If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, you are very conceited indeed.” –C.S. Lewis

·         Admit Your Pride

“There is perhaps not anyone of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Beat it down, stifle, it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive. Even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.” –Benjamin Franklin

·         Express Your Gratitude

“A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never things he gets as much as he deserves.” –Henry Ward Beecher

·         Say Your Prayers

“Lord, when I am wrong, make me willing to change, and when I am right, make me easy to live with.” –Anonymous

·         Practice Serving Others

“The high density of the individual is to serve rather than to rule.” –Albert Einstein

Choose Christian Education!

Has America Forgotten the Significance of Values?

I would like to take this Independence Day weekend opportunity to address the importance of instilling values in the lives of our children. Children should be taught to develop respect and compassion for others. They should learn to be honest, descent, and thoughtful to stand up for their principles, to cooperate with others, and to act responsibly and most of all to make sound moral choices. The payoffs for encouraging a child’s values are enormous: those who grow up with strong, consistent and positive values are happier, do better in school and are more likely to contribute to society.

Let’s talk to our children about good values and why they matter. Just as children need to be guided academically, so too must they be educated in the values of a civil-society – values like love your neighbor; give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s wages; tell the truth and be honest; respect others, respect their property and respect their opinions; and take responsibility for your decisions.

In word and deed, parents and educators play an important role in helping children develop a good sense of right from wrong and good from bad. Here at Northside Christian Academy, these are the things we are trying to teach the children of the Charlotte community. Please join us at home in the fight to help instill these values in our children enabling them to become successful young men and women we can be proud of as they transform their world for Jesus Christ.

Choose Christian Education!

WHAT SHOULD WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN?

My Philosophy on Twelve Life Lessons: By Tony Fajardo

1. Pray: Always put God first, make Him you accountability partner.
2. Be Disciplined: When you know what needs to be done, do it.
3. Have Courage: It takes courage to say no-to-drugs, temptations, but it also take courage to stand up and   follow God.
4. Lead by Example: Your actions speak louder than your words.
5. Be Humble: God gives us our gifts and talents, lets give Him the praise.
6. Do Your Best: Doing your best in any endeavor you undertake represents one way of saying thanks to      God.
7. Tell the Truth: There is never an appropriate time to lie.
8. Respect Yourself: Develop an appreciation for your specialness and uniqueness.
9. Finish the Race: By being committed to finishing any race or job, a person ensures he or she will not back down from    challenges or take shortcuts or seek the easy way out.
10 Life Isn't Fair: Rise above all things that are bad or do not go your way, commit to making a difference with your life. God has given you that opportunity.
11. Be Responsible for Your Choices: "The buck stops here." President Harry S. Truman
12. Live Your Dreams: Write it down and never stop trying to accomplish your dream.

The Northside Christian Academy Story

Northside Christian Academy was founded in 1961 by Northside Baptist Church, under the direction of Dr. W. Jack Hudson. The school began with 44 students in kindergarten through third grade. The school operated in the church buildings on Old Concord Road in north Charlotte. Both the church and the school grew steadily, and the ministry bought property in 1971 to build a new facility. Northside Baptist church purchased 116 acres in the original transaction. Over the years, additional property was purchased to complete the campus. In the meantime, the school kept adding grades until it had its first graduating class, the Class of 1973.

Godley Construction Company, directed by NBC member Fred Godley, built the new facility, and in the fall of 1973 the school moved to the current location. The educational wings that the school occupies were actually completed first, and a few months later the church auditorium was completed. By March of 1974 the entire ministry was located at the property. Dr. Hudson chose the 333 Jeremiah Boulevard address because of the Scripture verse that the Lord had impressed upon him through the construction process. “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3).

In the early days Headmaster Paul Montgomery did much to develop the program. Other key figures were Coach Marty Benton (who helped develop the athletic department) and Rev. Barry Shearer. Rev. Shearer served short term as a geometry teacher and headmaster, then returned to church staff but continued his involvement in Christian Education. He served as president of the North Carolina Christian School Association from 1991-2007. NCA was an active, accredited member of that association followed by its affiliation with ACSI and the accreditation process. These leaders were followed by capable men and women who have influenced many lives for Christ.

The current student body is over 550 students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Typically, students score well above national averages on the Stanford Achievement Test, and 98 percent or more of the graduating students go on to further programs of study. NCA graduates are currently serving in business, law, medicine, education, and Christian ministry, just to name a few areas. The school’s graduates have been accepted at over 100 colleges and have pursued programs of study both nationally and internationally. Last year’s graduating class scored above the national score in each of the three areas of the SAT and earned in excess of 1.7 million dollars in scholarship offers. NCA’s faculty members are known for their longevity and their desire to train young men and women to be godly leaders in their culture. The school has enjoyed a rich history of leading the way in Christian Education for 49 years, and is well-situated to continue to develop Kingdom leaders in the twenty-first century.

NCA'S Authentic Christian Faculty!

“The comprehensive purpose of Northside Christian Academy is to provide a Christian educational experience based on the authoritative Word of God.” 

Few things are as important in the life and development of a school as the selection of faculty members. Teachers personally committed to the Christian faith and highly trained in their academic fields are the heart of Northside’s excellence. In large measure these men and women, with their distinct personalities and teaching skills, make up the fabric of the school.

The brightest, best trained and most caring teachers are invited to be a part of our dynamic teaching team. Our teachers are committed to helping their students learn, achieve and mature to their fullest potential. What is unique about Northside’s teachers is that they take time to truly get to know their students and discover the most effective ways to instruct and mentor each individual student.

Our teachers are fully certified, several of our teachers hold master’s degrees, and many have more than 20 years of teaching experience. Many faculty members take advantage of the ability to continue their education and are always striving for excellence. Our teachers are committed to our students, our families and most of all the ministry of Jesus Christ.

We believe Christian parents are looking for a special type of teacher, one we call the Living Curriculum. Parents understand these teachers will have awesome responsibilities and opportunities to shape their children's lives. But how do we identify a Living Curriculum Teacher?

First of all, there is no prototype. They come with different personalities from different types of families. They were raised in the different environments in different parts of the world. They attended different colleges or universities and enjoy different styles of worship. Today, they are a wonderful mix of people rooted in Evangelical Christianity but with different heritages and different experiences.

We do believe, though, that Living Curriculum Teachers share a number of identifiable beliefs and qualities. Living Curriculum Teachers are:

·         born-again, growing, followers of Christ and they desire that their students experience the same personal relationship with Christ that they have.

·         happy and positive people. Students trust, respect and desire to be around Living Curriculum Teachers.

·         humble and trustworthy. They have an open mind and a sensitive spirit. They are approachable, and they really listen.

·         relationship builders. They understand that modeling through relationships is essential for growth in Christian character. They pay attention to the individual needs of students as they work at building meaningful and appropriate relationships.

·         committed to treating students with dignity. Students know they can count on a predictable, nurturing and stimulating environment in the Living Curriculum Teacher's classroom.

·         parent partners. They believe the best education is one where parents and teachers work together supporting students from both sides.

·         life-long learners. They never stop getting better at the art and science of teaching. They understand that teaching content is not the only goal. Study skills, higher-level analysis, critical thinking skills and problem solving abilities should all be taught and practiced within the study of each subject area.

·         motivated to motivate. They take time with students one on one. To see a student end up serving God, using his or her gifts clearly within the will of God, provides an indescribable joy to the Living Curriculum Teacher.

We are passionately committed to providing Living Curriculum Teachers for Northside Christian Academy parents and their students.

Making Christian Education Priority

America is home to people with a great variety of attitudes. Americans have different ideas and priorities which can affect how we choose to raise our children. Across these differences, however, research has shown that being effective parents involves the following qualities: showing love, providing support, and setting limits. Young people need adults who are there for them, communicate with them, spend time with them and show a genuine interest in them. That is what we are about here at Northside Christian Academy School.

As we enter the spring season, it can be hard to keep children focused on learning. What can we do to make school a top priority for our kids? Keep these simple ideas in mind--they’re useful at any time of the year.

Make attendance job #1. Let your youngsters know that unless they’re sick, they must go to school. Try to schedule routine dentist and doctor appointments after school hours. If possible, take family vacations during school breaks. Tip: Give awards for perfect attendance each month. Try a “Job Well Done” certificate or a coupon good for a night of bowling or a movie.

Show you care. Want your children to know that you’re interested in their learning? Talk about their school activities and projects. Attend as many school events as you can. If homework and after school activities conflict, speak up: “I know you have baseball practice this evening, but homework needs to get done as well.”

Keep it upbeat. Try to set a positive example for your children, even when your own day has been difficult. Instead of saying, “I had a hard day at work. I’ll never get my project done,” try, “Work was hard today, but I made some progress on my project.” If you show a positive attitude about your work, your youngsters may feel better about their own.

Billy Graham said, “Children will invariably talk, eat, walk, think, respond, and act like their parents. Give them a target to shoot at. Give them a goal to work toward. Give them a pattern that they can see clearly, and you give them something that gold and silver cannot buy.”

Choose Christian Education!