Specials

New Hope Academy affirms strongly the need for the fine arts to be a very present part of the students’ experience and learning throughout their formal education, as well as their lifelong pursuit of knowledge. It is very natural for a child to experiment in painting and drawing, and it is our desire to encourage and enhance this outlet of communication and expression. Visual art is taught in the following ways:

• Hands on experience with art in different mediums will be offered once a week with an art teacher, allowing students to experiment and learn different techniques.
• Art expresses the thought, world view, and artistic style of the day. Therefore, students will study the art of a time period in conjunction with their humanities units, observing, discussing specific works of art.
• Students will study the artwork of renowned artists, allowing students to observe reproductions of several works by the same artist. Each student will study artists and their work during the course of one year.
• Field trips to museums, galleries, and other locations will be taken by classes so students may see fine art firsthand.

Music is a gift from God. God commands us to make music and sing to the glory of His name. Ephesians 5:17 tells us to “speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord . . ..” Music has been an influential aspect of all cultures since the beginning of time; it speaks about the ideas and thoughts of past and present cultures. Therefore, at NHA, we study and enjoy many different styles and genres of music, celebrating our own diverse student body.

It is our desire to allow music to be part of each student’s life in four specific areas:

1. Hands on experience through personal participation in musical activity, allowing students to express themselves and enjoy the art of music. Students will have music class once a week with a professional music teacher.

2. Instruction in the academics of music: reading notes, learning about the various musical instruments, the components of an orchestra, etc.

3. Studying famous composers and their work each year. Students listen to the works of the great composers and grow familiar with their music, giving the students an ear to recognize and appreciate the composer's’ works. This takes place in music class and in the classroom.

4. Opportunities for performances through worship, concerts, musicals and drama, recordings, and other venues.

New Hope Academy believes in training the whole person - body, mind, and spirit. Motor movement helps develop physical, social, psychological, and spiritual characteristics in a person. The purpose of physical education at New Hope Academy is to teach our students to worship and glorify God with their physical bodies. Our hope is that students will have an understanding that God created each person in His image (Genesis 1:27) and understand that our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14). Because our bodies are God’s temples, (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) students will comprehend how important it is to be strong and healthy and begin a life-long commitment to staying physically fit. The focus of physical education is motor proficiency, strength and conditioning, wellness and health, rules of play and play, and creative movement. We also emphasize good sportsmanship and encouraging one another.

The Bible teaches that the world was of one language until man attempted to build the Tower of Babel. It was during this event that God “confused” the language of man, and many languages were formed. New Hope Academy is a school where the staff and families value the culture and languages of all countries. We believe there are many benefits to starting a foreign 45 language at an elementary school level. Research shows that students who study a foreign language in their early years have greater mental flexibility, creativity, critical thinking skills, and higher-order skills, as well as improved listening skills, attention, and memory.