Sophia Academy Blessings

As we close the year 2012, we thank God for all of the blessings we have received at Sophia Academy. We also take the time to note the many achievements that we have reached. The following is just a partial list of our successes thus far this school year:

The Woodcock Johnson test, administered one-on-one with each child for 1.5 to 2 hours each, is our best standardized measurement of student progress at Sophia Academy. We are proud of students, teachers, and parents who partner in reinforcing the best academic outcomes.

100% of our students have been tested, and we thank you for making attendance a priority on those testing days. High attendance assures our ability to move to new curriculum after those designated days.

We have an opportunity to make comparisons for those students who took the test at Sophia Academy last fall. The cumulative scores include:

• More than half of these students made one year’s academic growth or more in both Language Arts and Mathematics. Most of these students were progressing at a slower rate before Sophia Academy.

• Students improved the most in Language Arts, with Spelling being the highest of the 6 subgroups.

We are proud of our personalized testing, which helps tailor the best education for our students!

One of the components we have added this year that helps student test scores soar is Curriculum 21. Curriculum 21 is a virtual, multi-sensory approach to learning that touches all core subjects and is a beginning roadmap for the learner-centered classroom. Students are able to interact in an engaging and productive fashion. It takes lots of time and preparation on the front-end, but the end result is we begin to shift the balance of power to the learner.

Curriculum 21’s hybrid model of blending virtual learning and standard learning practices helps students with their different learning styles benefit from the learning objectives. Our teachers use many different modalities to achieve the highest results for their students.

Moving forward into the new year, we also plan to have an outdoor classroom. Our outdoor classroom is being developed by Eagle Scout Kevin Quigley. Kevin's project will include raised beds in which we can grow herbs and vegetables. This project will engage our students into more in depth settings in the study of science and may include cross curricular activities to further knowledge and understanding.

As we close this calendar year, we have already begun to prepare another class for our High School and other lower elementary classes. God's faithfulness to us is so apparent that we are compelled to step out in faith and to prepare for all the blessings that we know He will send in 2013.

May God bless you and yours and it is our heartfelt wish for you that you are also looking forward to 2013!