How Christian Education Builds a Sense of Community

School helps children develop into who they’ll one day become, but private Christian schools are unique in fostering character. Due to affiliations with churches, Christian schools often come with a welcoming built-in community. This makes it easier for children to build relationships while learning. Going to school with like minded individuals comes with many benefits, especially for developing children. Here are some of the many ways Christian education builds a sense of community. 

Students Share More than Classes

On the first day of school, meeting new people in an unfamiliar place can be overwhelming. While Christian schools aren’t exempt from those initial anxieties, students (and their parents) can feel more comfortable knowing that they have faith as a connection. Aside from academic material, students can explore their faith and discuss it with others. This creates space for deeper friendships that can last a lifetime. 

Teachers Promote Faith Building

Teachers at any school can mentor students, but talking about faith isn’t allowed at all schools. Christian schools allow faith exploration, encouraging deeper conversations between teachers, students and staff. Everyone at the school learns and worships together, which creates an inherent connection between individuals. Students also tend to stay at the same school for longer, which allows teachers and staff to build strong relationships with students on a faith-based and a personal basis.

Service to the Community

One way Christian schools help build a sense of community is by encouraging student involvement in service projects. Often, classes at these schools do community service projects together for local churches and charity organizations. These acts of service help students bond and meet people outside of their schools. By working in the community, they also develop an understanding of the needs of others in their own backyard.

North Tampa Christian Academy promotes leadership through Christian innovation, which helps build a sense of community and strengthen bonds between students and teachers. At our Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire every student. Contact us today to learn more.

Teacher Spotlight: Angie Rubin de Celis

Angie Rubin de Celis teaches Spanish to all grade levels at NTCA. She has a different strategy and approach for each age group; she keeps it simple with younger students and exposes the older ones to as much language as possible. At all grade levels, she engages students by bringing them meaningful content. In any given class, students can be found playing games, singing songs, doing hands-on work with worksheets and participating in the occasional project.

Rubin de Celis always considered teaching as a career. As a child, she debated between becoming a teacher and becoming a dentist. She started leaning toward a career in teaching during her junior year of high school. She took education classes and went to elementary schools to observe, then got her CDA certification for early childhood education. She has now been teaching for about three years, including one year of missionary work. 

During her early years at Andrews University, Rubin de Celis worked with preschool children. She never thought she would end up working at a place like NTCA. She enjoys having the freedom to use her own curriculum and arrange her lessons to make Spanish relevant to her students. She wants her students to enjoy the learning process and to leave her class with a love for Spanish.

When students take Rubin de Celis’s class, she hopes that they have a sense of belonging. She wants every student to see and understand how much she cares about them. Building connections with students is the most rewarding part of her job.

“When the student is excited to come to class, that’s when it hits deep, and you know you're doing it right,” Rubin de Celis said. 

While students are like family to Rubin de Celis, she cherishes her family at home, as well. She spent her early life with her mother in Argentina, then moved to the US with her father. If she won the lottery, she would start by tithing, giving all the money she owes to God. Then, she would support her family in Argentina. She’d take her mother to the best doctors and pay for her treatments. Then, with the rest of the money, she would pay off her own debt. 

Biblical figures who love others despite adversity inspire Rubin de Celis. Her favorite Bible verse is Phillippians 4:13 — “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Her favorite passage is the story of Joseph, one of Jacob’s 12 sons who received a colorful cloak from his father, then went through slavery and prison before working his way up to becoming a compassionate ruler in Egypt. 

If you need a recommendation for a coffee shop, Rubin de Celis is happy to help. She loves going to coffee shops to read. She has explored so many of them that she often gives suggestions to others. She also enjoys going on hikes and exploring recreational parks around town. Her favorite movies are the Chronicles of Narnia series, and she loves watching Korean dramas in her downtime.

Get to know Angie Rubin de Celis

What’s a place you would like to travel to in the future? I have traveled to more than 10 countries already, and I would love to go to Turkey some day! 

What is your favorite book?  “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett

If you could have dinner with any three people, who would you choose? I would love to have dinner with King Solomon, Barack Obama, and Jesus, of course!

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? I will never get tired of soup. I love soups, especially if they have tons of veggies. Sometimes I eat 4-5 bowls even though I’m full.

If you could have any superpower, what would you choose? I would love to be able to go back in time and teleport.

North Tampa Christian Academy promotes leadership through Christian innovation, which helps build a sense of community and strengthen bonds between students and teachers. At our Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire every student. Contact us today to learn more.

Helping Your Child Master the Art of Public Speaking

Public speaking intimidates even the most confident people. Children often find public speaking like reading aloud to their classmates or giving a presentation to be a chore. They have to build speaking skills from scratch. It’s difficult to learn to be a good public speaker without knowing what makes a good public speaker. Students are often given vague directions, like to stand up straighter, project, and be more confident, but many need help getting there. Here’s how we recommend helping your child master public speaking: 

Build Their Confidence

Nothing helps children develop confidence as speakers more than feeling like they’re being listened to in everyday life. Give them time to talk about their lives, and let them make small mistakes rather than challenging their ideas. This will help build their confidence in daily life. See if you can model confident behaviors, approaching stressful situations in a calm, decisive manner. This will help you and your child see that you can be confident, too. 

Play Word Games

One example of a speech-improving word game is the “Woof” Game. Take a common word like “this” or “the,” and have your child replace it with the word “woof.” For example, rather than saying “This is a duck,” your child would say “Woof is a duck.” This game will help them learn to improvise and think on their feet. It will also make them laugh, which should take some of the stress out of practicing the big speech. 

Debate with Them

Consider a topic your child is very passionate about. It could be something silly like homework or video games, or something more serious like what to do about world hunger. Let them pick their side, and give them 30 seconds to argue for their own side. Offer a rebuttal, and keep going until they’re out of arguments. When they’ve started feeling comfortable, have them argue the opposite side. This will help make them confident that they can talk about anything, even if it’s not what they believe. This also strengthens their critical thinking, as they have to understand an opposing viewpoint. 

Give Feedback After the Speech

Let your child practice their speech in front of you. If they struggle, just give them the time they need to get through it. At the end, give feedback and ask questions. If they have a full understanding of what they’re giving a speech about, that will help them give it to the audience. See if you can think of positives and areas for improvement so you can help them do better the next time. Thoughtful feedback goes a long way in helping children learn. 

Giving speeches, offering presentations or even reading to a classroom can be scary, but with these tools, children can have a little more confidence when they reach the lectern. 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: Barry Warren

Barry Warren, Sports Education Director at North Tampa Christian Academy, found his calling during a college history class. 

It all started when he was working toward his degree in History and Physical Education at Southwestern Adventist University. A history professor inspired him to become a teacher. After SWAU, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at Bismarck State University and a master’s in Secondary Leadership and Supervision from the University of Missouri. Warren has since been in the education field for 39 years. 

Before he pursued education, Warren wanted to be a doctor. Now, he enjoys helping children by teaching them and encouraging them to enjoy learning the way he does. One subject he especially enjoys teaching children about is math. 

“I think math is so cool, and I try to generate that excitement in my students,” Warren said.

Over the years, Warren has learned that in teaching, he shouldn’t stress over what he can’t control. Instead, he needs to prioritize the most important things. Working at a Christian school, one of those priorities is showing his students God’s love. He hopes all of his students see the positive side of having God in their lives. 

One of Warren’s hobbies is reading all kinds of books, especially the Bible. Aside from the Bible, which is his favorite book, he enjoys reading anything by Tom Clancy. He also likes to stay active by playing golf, riding his Harley, spending time with family and playing with his dogs. His family consists of several dogs, mostly miniature Daschunds. Family time is so important to Warren that, if he won the lottery, he said he would buy his grandfather’s old farm and turn it into a hub for family gatherings.

Warren has been to many places in his life, and his favorite so far is Kaua’i, Hawaii. When he was young, he lived in several states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Indiana and Arizona. Arizona is the one he considers his home state. In his college years, he found himself in Texas, North Dakota, and Missouri. He now lives in Florida, where he teaches students that they have the power to overcome any circumstance. 

“I hope students take away the idea that anyone can make a positive difference in their world, no matter what challenges they face when growing up!” Warren said.

The most rewarding part of working at NTCA has been watching students grow into productive adults who use their power to make a difference. 

Get to Know Barry Warren

If you could have dinner with three people, dead or alive, who would you choose? Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), David (Bible), my mom.

What's your favorite movie or TV show? Princess Bride.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? I would love to fly!

What is your favorite Bible verse or passage? Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Nachos!

At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, students thrive thanks to teachers and educators like Barry Warren. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

New Year’s Resolutions for Tomorrow’s Leaders

Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders. As you start the new year, take time with your child to discuss New Year’s resolutions that can help them build leadership skills. Think about dreams you’ve discussed with your child where a new outlook can help them get to the next step. Setting goals for the New Year may give them that push they need. Here are a few self-improvement goals that can help children thrive: 

Learn to Manage Stress

Everyone has stress, especially children who feel pressured to be the best. High achievers strive to be better and often bite off more than they can chew. Some students struggle to keep up with all their commitments. It’s important for children and adults alike to take a step back when they become overwhelmed. This may look like pausing when stressed to take a breath and reframe the situation. It could also mean learning to say “no” to new obligations when they’re already doing enough. You and your child can work on this together by practicing stress management techniques. 

Become a Better Friend

Friends are everything to children. It can be difficult for a child to understand why someone likes them one week and doesn't the next. There’s a lot that can go wrong in a friendship, and it helps to consider ways to prevent losing friends. Children, just like adults, want friends who are trustworthy, reliable and kind. Encourage your child to foster their friendships by focusing on personal connections. This essential life skill will help them on school grounds and beyond. 

Try Out for Something New

There’s always something new to try. Children can become well-rounded by learning new skills and discovering new talents. Maybe they’re skilled at sports but always wanted to try out for the talent show. Perhaps they love writing but never considered entering a writing contest. This could even be the year your smart but shy child finally tries out for the debate team. Having something to work toward will give them something to look forward to and give them a unique skill set that they can use later on in life.

Get Involved in the Community

No matter where you live, there will always be someone in the community who needs help. Encourage your child to get more involved in their community this year. There are many ways to get involved, from volunteering to coordinating canned food drives. Talk to your child about which causes interest them the most, and see how you can help them plan out a service project. If they enjoy volunteering, look for opportunities at nonprofits in your area throughout the year. Community involvement will help them understand the world around them and help with future career prospects.

To start the new year, help your child set goals that will help them build leadership skills. 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.