Bringing Winter to Florida Through Kid-Friendly Crafts

Florida winter is here, and while it may be chilly by Floridians’ standards, it’s highly unlikely you’ll be seeing snow anytime soon. Sometimes you need a little extra help getting into the winter spirit. These wintery crafts should do the trick for you and your child.

Pinecone Winter Owl 

If there’s one thing Florida does have, it’s birds. The state is actually a bird sanctuary! However, some birds only live in colder climates. The snowy owl, for example, calls the Arctic home. This cute craft project can bring this wise bird to Florida for the winter. Any child old enough to handle Elmer’s glue can help put one of these owls together.

Supplies Needed

• Pinecones

• White felt, beige felt, orange felt

• Cotton balls

• Googly eyes

• Elmer’s glue or hot glue gun glue

• Scissors 

Instructions

1. If the pinecones are collected outside, dry them in the oven at 200 degrees for an hour or two. After the first hour, check every 30 minutes or so. If they’re craft store pinecones, they’ll be good to go.

2. Tear up the cotton balls, and stuff the cotton into the pinecone. No need for glue in this step.

3. Cut the wings and eye area out of white felt. 

4. Cut the head out of beige felt, leaving space for the eye area.

5. Cut out a small triangle for the beak from the orange felt.

6. Glue the layers together, then glue on the googly eyes. 

7. Glue the wings to some of the cotton you used to create the owl shape in the pinecone.

View the full tutorial here. 

Paper 3D Snowflake

Snow doesn’t fall from the sky in Florida, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make your own! This project is easy, but it has a lot of steps. We would recommend this project for a child who already enjoys crafting and can safely use scissors. Take an afternoon over winter break with your child to make these adorable paper snowflakes. Who says it can’t snow in Florida?

Supplies Needed

• Scrapbook paper or regular printer paper

• Scissors 

• Glue or staples

Instructions

1. Cut seven square pieces of paper. 6” squares will make a snowflake that’s about 15” wide.

2. Fold each square of paper in half diagonally to make triangles.

3. Fold each triangle in half to make smaller triangles.

4. Hold the paper in place by the end with two folds, and cut 3 evenly spaced lines from that end, stopping about ¼ inch from the single folded edge. 

5. Unfold the paper, then twist the innermost points near the center. Glue the point of one over the point of the other to make a cylinder.

6. Flip the paper, and twist the next points toward the center, gluing them together. Repeat this process for each layer. 

7. Glue the widest parts of each piece together, the area where you glued them together for the first steps.

8. Repeat the above step with each glued row.

9. Then, glue the centers together. That’s what will make your final snowflake shape. 

10. If you’ll be using this snowflake as an ornament, you can simply punch a hole in one of the outside points.

View the full tutorial here. 

No-Sew Sock Penguin

Penguins can be found in more places than the snowy owl, but Florida is not one of those places, except maybe at a zoo or theme park. Floridian children can’t help but be fascinated by these adorable waddling birds. This project is a little more involved than the other two, so we would recommend doing this one with an older child. 

Supplies Needed

• Black sock

• Colorful sock, preferably with a pattern for the hat

• Rice

• Rubber bands

• White and orange felt

• Ribbon

• Glue gun

• Felt glue

• Markers or paint

• Scissors 

Instructions

1. Fill the black sock with rice, creating the rough shape of the penguin body as you pour.

2. Wrap a rubber band or two at the top. 

3. Wrap a rubber band just above the middle to separate the body and head. Shape it as you go, and consider using a second rubber band for reinforcement.

4. Cut the excess sock, sealing the top with glue from the glue gun.

5. Cut an oval shape out of white felt. Measure it against the body, and consider drawing the shape before cutting. 

6. Glue the oval shape onto the penguin using felt glue or the glue gun.

7. Cut a beak out of orange felt, and glue it to the head.

8. Draw on eyes with a marker, or paint them on for a more 3D look.

9. Glue on ribbon to make a scarf, overlapping it to give a tied off look.

10. Cut the colorful sock in the middle.

11. Roll up the sock to get the hat shape.

12. Place the hat on top of the penguin.

View the full tutorial here. 

Winters in Florida don’t mean snow, penguins or snowy owls, but these crafts can bring the season to the state. 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.

How the Health Office Serves NTCA’s Student Body

Children often have aches that they can’t explain. When they walk into the Health Office at NTCA, Jody Cline helps them get to the root of the issue. She looks at every student who comes in as a whole person, not just a scratched up knee or a case of the sniffles. The goal is to allow children to return to class and get back to learning. 

“The goal is to treat students holistically,” Cline said. “If the child can be treated in the Health Office and return back to class, we’ve accomplished our goal.” 

Getting to the Root Cause

Students come into the Health Office with headaches and stomachaches that may be caused by anxiety or stress. Children have a difficult time making this connection, so it’s important that they have a chance to talk through it with a trusted adult. The pandemic causes students a lot of anxiety, especially those who recently returned to in-person instruction. Each student is evaluated based on their needs to see if there’s a problem that needs to be addressed.

“Instead of blindly following the rules, we look at each student as an individual and consider their specific circumstances,” Danae Gillam said.

Facilitating Care

The school keeps track of every visit and what each child is experiencing. The office also stores medications that students need to take. Emergency care items are collected at the Health Office to be distributed to classrooms when needed. There’s an almost constant flow of students who need help and who, in a public school setting, would be sent home, leaving the burden of figuring out the problem on their parents. 

Students also receive care during school sponsored off campus events. The Health Office sends sports bags with medicine, splints, etc. to the traveling sports teams when they leave campus for games. They also send field trip bags with first aid, paperwork, meds, etc., that students may need when leaving school for the day.

Helping Parents

When children are sent home from school, the burden of taking care of them falls on the parents. With Health Office staff caring for each child as an individual, it is often easier to get to the core of the issue. A child who frequently visits the office could be experiencing anxiety. In this case, the counselor or chaplain is available to help with the parents’ consent. Since the office keeps detailed records, the school can also inform parents if a child needs medical assistance. 

Not Just for Students

Teachers, staff, faculty, and students at both North Tampa Christian Academy and the North Tampa Christian Explorers preschool benefit from the Health Office. Since the school has innovative tools in various classrooms, teachers occasionally come in with injuries from machinery. Maintenance workers also come in with injuries. The idea is to avoid a situation where they need to go to the hospital when possible and to make sure they get there if they need to go. 

How it Started

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the receptionist or administrative assistant at NTCA would be in charge of giving out band-aids, ice packs, etc., as well as their administrative duties. This made life difficult for teachers, who would often have to take on the burden themselves. When students returned to in-person classes, it was clear that something needed to change. 

In August 2020, the health office was among the many new services offered to students to help with the effects of the ongoing pandemic. Much like NTCA’s partner AdventHealth states in their tagline, the goal of this program is “extending the healing ministry of Christ.” The main difference is that the Health Office offers holistic solutions and the opportunity for students to continue learning after visiting. Children don’t always need to go home or go to the doctor when they’re not feeling well. 

“Sometimes, a kid comes in and just needs a 5-minute break, and we give it to them. If they need a minute of prayer, we give it to them,” Cline said.

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: Nehiel Rivera

Nehiel Rivera has a spirit for adventure in all forms, from entertainment media to moments in nature with family and friends. The Chronicles of Narnia books, Stargate shows, video games and Disney movies are just a few of the places he likes to escape to in his spare time. Rivera also enjoys being outdoors, especially if he can set up his hammock and spend time with family and friends in nature. One of his family members is a fun-loving cocker spaniel/poodle mix named Naty. 

Rivera’s adventures sometimes take him to faraway lands. Of the many places he’s had the blessing of traveling to, one of his favorites is Botswana. Before starting at NTCA, Rivera attended Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. Some day, he would like to visit and explore Brazil.

This love of adventure has always been part of Rivera’s life. As a child, he wanted to be a lot of things. He found himself trying to decide whether he was meant to be a ninja, a teacher, a lawyer or an architect. He even considered becoming a youth pastor. Ultimately, he ended up pursuing the teaching path as a substitute teacher at NTCA, which led to his current role as a teacher’s aide. This position gives him the opportunity to help students thrive in many ways.

“The most rewarding part of my job is having the opportunity to help a student learn something new, and also seeing the joy a student expresses after I help them understand something they were confused or unsure about,” Rivera said.

While helping children learn academic skills gives Rivera a sense of accomplishment, the opportunity he values most is being able to teach them about Jesus and His love for them. When he interacts with students in the classroom, he hopes that they leave with respect for others around them and the knowledge that Jesus loves them.

Given the chance to have dinner with any three people, Rivera would choose Jesus, as well as Samson from the Bible and his grandfather, who passed away the year before he was born. Since he only heard about his grandfather in stories, he’d love to get to know the awesome person he really was. He’d like to hear Samson’s perspective on the events that took place in his life. His inspiration for wanting a dinner with Jesus came from episodes of The Chosen. Rivera would love to laugh and talk with Jesus, ask him questions and learn from him face-to-face like characters do in the show. 

Faith helps Rivera navigate life by being the anchor he needs. Several Bible passages and verses inspire him, but he has two favorites that stick with him the most: Isaiah 43: 1-4 and Psalm 46:1. These verses remind him that God is with him and will never leave or abandon him. The Bible gives Rivera a sense of clarity, especially when he reads Psalm 46:1, which states that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Get to know Nihiel Rivera

Where are you from? He was born in New York and has lived in the Tampa area most of his life.

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would you choose? Pizza or arroz con habichuelas y pasteles (rice and beans with pasteles)

If you won the lottery, how would you spend your prize? One of the first things would be eliminating all of my student debt. 

If you could have one superpower, what would you choose? The power of flight.

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.

How Faith-Based Education Helps Children Thrive

Education creates opportunities for children, but not all schools are created equal. For some, public school education gives them plenty of opportunity. Others find that faith-based schools, with smaller class sizes and faith-integrated instruction, give them a better chance at success. These schools offer a level of structure, community and hope that children may not find elsewhere. Here’s how private faith-based education can help students become the best version of themselves. 

Emphasis on Character

Students who attend faith-based schools have a built-in foundation for morals and ethics. In the case of Christian schools, that foundation is the Bible. Students share values with their teachers and one another based on Biblical principles. This allows them to develop a strong sense for character while they learn about the world around them. When students have questions about the rules, there will always be a strong reference for teachers to cite.

Community Atmosphere

Children at faith-based schools attend classes with like minded students, teachers and staff. Smaller class sizes give students the opportunity to know each other and their teachers on a personal level. Extracurricular activities tend to be more focused in private schools, where clubs, teams and other organizations have fewer students than those in public schools. Community is a priority at these schools, and the sense of community is strong because of a shared set of core beliefs.

Stable Environment

Private education allows for more individualized attention, which creates a stable learning environment for children. This makes learning easier, especially when children have questions about the material. Each child has the opportunity to ask questions, which encourages deeper learning. Adding in an element of faith creates even more stability for some. With faith as a guide, students can make difficult decisions about their personal lives based on what they learned in school. 

Exploration of Faith

In public schools, education and faith are kept largely separate. Faith-based schools allow children to dive deeper into their religions. Christian schools integrate Bible lessons into everyday classes. This gives students the opportunity to understand their faith better and see each subject from various perspectives. This extends outside the classroom. Christian school students feel valued because each one is treated as a unique child of God. 

Children who attend faith-based schools learn about the world and their faith at the same time, which helps them prosper in life. 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.

Teacher Spotlight: Devin Anavitarte

Devin Anavitarte’s main goal as an educator to be the teacher he never had. Anavitarte currently teaches English and theatre classes at North Tampa Christian Academy. Rather than just seeing him as a teacher, he wants students to view him as a trusted advocate. Anavitarte has been teaching for nine years, and in that time, he has tried to form a relationship with every student who steps into his classroom. 

“Learning is all about relationships. My philosophy is that learning thrives the more a relationship is fostered,” Anavitarte said.

Building relationships with students enhances the teaching experience and the learning experience, especially when it comes to subjects like theatre that have a performance aspect. As passionate as he is about his career now, teaching wasn’t always Anavitarte’s dream. As a child growing up in Keene, Texas, he was sure he would someday be a gameshow host. 

In his hometown, Anavitarte attended Southwestern Adventist University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in English. He then went on to Andrews University in southwest Michigan, where he graduated with a master’s in divinity. Soon after graduation, Anavitarte discovered his love of teaching and started on his current career path.

The most rewarding part of teaching for Anavitarte is watching nervous, insecure students blossom and thrive on stage after months of working hard to put together a theatrical production. While he watches these students grow, he encourages them by letting them know he’s someone they can come to when they need him. Anavitarte hopes that all the students who attend his English and theatre classes see the love of Jesus in him. 

While teaching is Anavitarte’s passion, he also finds joy in writing, swimming, playing tennis and reading. His favorite book he’s read so far is A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. When he has time off, Anavitarte likes to travel, and his favorite place he’s been to is Athens, Greece. The Mediterranean would be a great place for him to travel because if he had to choose one food to eat for the rest of his life, his choice would be hummus and falafel.

Get to Know Devin Anavitarte

What’s your favorite Bible verse? Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

If you could have dinner with three people, dead or alive, who would you choose? Lucille Ball; Jesus; and Joseph, son of Jacob.

If you won the lottery, what’s the first thing you would do? Pay off all my debt. 

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Flying 

“Learning is all about relationships. My philosophy is that learning thrives the more a relationship is fostered.”

— Devin Anavitarte

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.