5 Ways to Discover Your Child’s Genius

Children are the future, whether or not they realize it. Every child has many different potential paths to becoming who they will someday be. But parents, you can only do so much. In some ways, children need your help. In other ways, you’re just along for the ride. At North Tampa, we believe that finding the balance between the two is the best way to nurture your child’s genius. Here are five ways you can help your child discover what makes them great.

Focus on Existing Talents

Every child is unique, and not every child needs to aspire to be a doctor or lawyer to be considered “successful” in life. It may not be obvious from the start, but children can use who they are to create and pursue their goals. Define your child’s success as reaching their unique potential, rather than tailoring it to society’s goals or your own. Avoid comparing your child to other children or yourself at your child’s age. This will help you see who they are and boost their self-esteem.

Observe Without Judgment

See what your child does when left to their own devices. You’ll start to notice patterns. Maybe your child is always humming or literally can’t put down a good book. Listen to what they can’t stop talking about, and ask what you can do to help further their interests. Help them find resources to explore their interests and talents so they can reach the next level.

Embrace Change

Your child may have one dream for a few years, then grow out of it as they discover other interests. It’s natural for interests to change as children find new things that capture their attention. When they give up on something, dig deeper. See if you can figure out why. If they’re still interested but discouraged about the pursuit, see what you can do to help them love it again.

Be Their Biggest Fan

Whether they show it or not, your child wants your approval. Encourage them in whatever they choose to do, even if it’s not something that you’re passionate about. Attend as many baseball games, piano recitals, video game tournaments or art competitions as possible, and cheer your child on as they go. Show appreciation for what they do, and help them develop their talents by encouraging them to practice and finding resources that allow them to grow.

Let Them Explore

One way your child can find their genius is by seeing everything that’s out there. Give them plenty of opportunities to explore different interests. Encourage them to do extracurricular activities and sign up for classes that will help them meet their goals. Some schools, like North Tampa Christian Academy, offer a wide range of classes and activities that allow children to create their own educational experiences. The more room a child has to explore, the easier it will be for them to discover and fully develop their genius.

At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

Teacher Spotlight: Manouchka Louine

Manouchka Louine discovered her love of teaching while working as a substitute teacher in college. Watching children become engaged and grow over time, she started to learn that she could make a difference in their lives. Children now love coming to her class every day, and she enjoys teaching them just as much. 

Before finding a place at North Tampa Christian Academy, Louine aspired to be a healthcare provider. However, she fell in love with teaching — and the NTCA community. Now, in her 11th year of teaching, the Fort Lauderdale native is a 2nd grade teacher at North Tampa Christian Academy.

During her free time, Louine enjoys being active and spending time with her family. Given the choice of any superpower, she would choose the ability to teleport so she could be near family and close friends anywhere around the world at any time. Some of her favorite activities include traveling, bike riding, snorkeling, walking and camping. She also loves trying new foods, though if she had to choose just one type of food to eat forever, she’d be happy eating tacos. 

Louine doesn’t just love teaching (and tacos); she also loves learning. This love of learning extends beyond the classroom. When she finds the time, she reads biography books in order to learn about real people and their lives. When it comes to movies and television shows, she prefers documentaries, and her favorite ones being Discovery Channel shows and 60 Minutes. 

The best part of teaching at North Tampa Christian Academy for Louine is that children have choice, space and flexibility to learn in among a diverse student body. She also loves interacting with passionate parents and students. At the school, she has a unique opportunity to help students apply their lessons to real life situations, making it a personal experience for every child. This experience has been a culmination of the lessons she’s learned through her years of teaching.

“With patience and compassion, I’ve learned that you can learn about each child’s individuality and hence cater to their needs,” Louine said.

When students take Louine’s 2nd grade class, she hopes that they walk away with confidence in everything they do and that they truly know that the greatest gift they have is Jesus.

Get to Know Manouchka Louine

Do you have any pets? No, but I would like to have a dog. 

If you could have dinner with three people, dead or alive, who would you choose? My grandmother (my dad’s mother), Oprah (I love to watch and learn from the people she  interviews), my next door neighbor MiMi (elderly woman). 

What is your favorite place that you have traveled to? Italy

If you won the lottery, what’s the first thing you would do? I’ll put it in my bank account  for about 6 months to give me time to plan out how to go about spending the money. 

What is your favorite Bible verse? Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

At our Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

How Sports Bring People Together

People around the world of all ages and backgrounds enjoy sports. From cheering on teams in the World Cup to celebrating our favorite athletic heroes in the Olympics, sports create an atmosphere of pride, an appreciation for athleticism, and a togetherness that’s hard to top.Sports bring schools and workplaces together, building a sense of community between strangers. But why exactly are we so obsessed with sporting events? Here are a few reasons why it’s more than “throwing a ball around:” 

They’re Family Friendly Events

Most sports, whether you’re playing or spectating, can be fun for the whole family. People of all ages come together to cheer on their favorite team or players. Watching sports together allows families to bond over mutual interests. Many games have teachable moments (one of our favorites is when two collegiate runners helped an injured runner cross the finish line), so parents can use this time to teach children life lessons.

We’re Unified in Collective Physical Activity

When looking for something for the family to do, you may end up defaulting to watching movies or eating out. However, there’s nothing quite like getting the neighborhood together for a round of football or playing basketball with some friends at a local court. Playing sports allows the whole family to exercise together while getting some sun. It’s also a great way to bond with one another. Wherever your child’s passions lie, see if they want to invite friends or neighbors to join in on the fun.

It Inspires Us to Improve Our Health 

As long as athletes play safely, sports can improve physical and mental health. Athletes build healthy bones, joints and muscles and often have better heart and lung health. Exercising regularly can also help relieve stress by releasing endorphins. Children who play sports learn about discipline, leadership and social skills early on in life, which can get them ahead of their peers. Athletes also develop self-confidence as they learn new skills and eventually master them. Even just watching a sport can inspire someone to get up and get active like their favorite players. The health benefits of playing sports leads to more positive interactions, which can help children become productive members of their communities.

They Help Us Find Community

Becoming a fan of a sports star or team gives you an instant community. That can be your child’s school, your state, or even the entire country. Whether the team is good or bad, everyone feels like part of the team’s successes and failures. The whole community cheers together when the team is up and comforts one another when they’re down. Watching games up close or from afar, you can feel the community’s collective energy.

North Tampa Christian Academy has a variety of sports programs and partnerships to give students the opportunity to join great communities and work toward health goals. At our Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

Meet Ministries Director Cesar Grassiotto

Pastor Cesar Grassiotto, Ministries Director at NTCA, has discovered over the past 15 years that serving children and students is his life’s passion.

“There is indeed nothing that brings more joy to my heart than connecting young people to Jesus,” Pastor Cesar said.

Before finding his way to NTCA, Pastor Cesar had the privilege of being a youth pastor at five churches and the senior pastor of the Highland View Academy Church. As senior pastor, he helped organize the school campus ministry, which gave him the opportunity to assist the school Chaplain, staff and students. These experiences helped prepare him for his work at NTCA, which he believes God has called him to do.

Pastor Cesar sees education as a form of transformation. Being part of a school with so many talented and gifted students and teachers, he expects nothing less than to see extraordinary outcomes. This school has allowed him to become part of each student’s spiritual journey, which he finds to be the most rewarding part of his job. 

In the short time Pastor Cesar has been at NTCA, he has already formed amazing and warm friendships. His wife Laura will soon be joining him at the school as a music teacher, expanding his network even more. When the two aren’t working together at school, they’re at home with their wonderful one-year-old daughter Olivia. 

Growing up in São Paulo, Brazil, Pastor Cesar already knew he wanted to be a pastor. He went on to major in Pastoral Theology at UNASP in São Paulo, an Adventist university, and he earned his master’s in Divinity Studies from Andrews University. He’s finishing his doctorate in ministry with an emphasis on millennials and Gen Z from Andrews University. Pastor Cesar knew all along what he wanted to do, but his family wasn’t as sure.

“I had never thought about anything else besides being a pastor,” Pastor Cesar said. “My dad wanted me to be an engineer!”

Aside from his educational achievements, Pastor Cesar is an accomplished pastor. During his years as a youth pastor at the Dallas Brazillian Church, they were recognized as the fastest growing church in the North America division. While growing in his career, Pastor Cesar has traveled around the world. Out of all the places he’s visited, Jerusalem was his favorite. Someday, he would like to visit Iceland.

When Pastor Cesar has time to himself, he enjoys reading a good book while drinking his favorite Starbucks drink. His favorite book is The Prodigal God by Tim Keller, a pastor who wanted to use the story of the prodigal son to spread the message of Jesus’s love and the hope and salvation he provides. In his years of ministry, Pastor Cesar has discovered that faith and prayer can change lives.

“My past experience has only proven one very important thing: that prayer is the only certain method that can improve, enhance, heal, and completely change everything,” Pastor Cesar said.

If students take away one thing from attending NTCA, Pastor Cesar hopes that it is that they are loved and wanted by God, and that nothing can separate them from His love. 

Get to Know Cesar Grassiotto

What’s your favorite movie? Jerry Meguire

What’s your favorite TV show? The Office

Which Bible verse is your favorite? Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Rice and beans with eggplant

If you could have any superpower, what would you choose? The power to read minds!

At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

Planning the Perfect Vegetarian Summer Picnic

Nothing makes a trip to the park great quite like blankets and homemade food. Summer picnics help create some of the best family memories. Putting a picnic together doesn’t have to be difficult. You just need to make sure you have everything you need to have homemade lunch in the great outdoors. Here’s our guide to planning the perfect vegetarian picnic for your family.

Packing for a Picnic

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a picnic and forget something you need. While food and drinks make picnics fun, you need more than that to keep your family safe and comfortable. Here are a few items we recommend bringing with you to your picnic:

• Sunscreen

• Bug spray

• Cooler

• Ice

• Water 

• Blankets, pillows, etc., to sit on

• Foil or plastic wrap to cover food 

• Plates and utensils

What Food to Bring

When you’re planning a picnic, food is the most important part. You may be tempted to pack all your child’s favorite foods. However, you need to consider a few factors. The food you prepare needs to hold up until you reach your destination. It needs to travel well and taste good if it reaches room temperature. Finger foods are a safe bet, as they’re easy to transport and popular with people of all ages. You should also pack water, as well as drinks that have salt, sugar and electrolytes so everyone can stay hydrated and replenish nutrients used up by doing outdoor activities.

Planning the Day

One great thing about picnics is that they can be fun for any number of people. If you’re thinking “the more, the merrier,” send a fun invite to family and friends. Try to plan the picnic far enough in advance for food preparation but also close enough to anticipate the weather. Try getting to the park late in the morning to avoid spending all your time in the heat of the day. Pick a shady spot, or (if your family’s not the picnic- blanket-and-pillows type) see if you can reserve a shaded canopy in advance. 

Recipes

Homemade food is what makes picnics so special. Here are a couple vegetarian recipes that you can bring to a picnic and may find yourself craving later on:

Strawberry Fruit Leather 

Ingredients

• 4 ½ cups hulled strawberries

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 2 tbsp lemon juice

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Line two 12 x 17-inch baking sheets.

3. Blend ingredients together, straining seeds if desired.

4. Divide mixture between 2 pans, spreading evenly with a spatula.

5. Bake for 3 hours, rotating pan halfway through. 

6. Transfer to a cutting board, slicing into desired sizes.

7. Wrap with parchment paper and store in an airtight container.

Hummus with Veggies 

Ingredients

• One 14-oz can of cooked chickpeas (retain the liquid)

• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1 tsp tahini

• 1 crushed garlic clove

• (For dipping) sliced vegetables like carrots, cucumber, peppers, celery, sugar snap peas

Directions

1. Put everything except the olive oil in a blender, blitz until smooth. Drizzle oil a little at a time while blending until all ingredients are combined.

2. If hummus is too thick, add in some of the chickpea liquid. 

3. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until picnic day. It can stay in the fridge for up to 5 days.

At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.