Students must be prepared to learn before they walk through the school doors. It begins with a good night’s sleep.
Studies show that a minimum of eight hours of sleep is necessary for the body to heal itself. Many upper school students arrive at school in a state of sleep depravity and are unable to stay awake in class, much less concentrate on lessons or participate in class.
Action:
Students will be held accountable by parents to go to bed at an appropriate hour to allow for a minimum of eight hours of sleep on school nights. In the event that a student comes to school in a state of sleep depravity, parents will be called to return to the school to pick up their student.
Students must eat a good breakfast consisting of protein and whole grain sugar-free cereals and/or bread.
Studies have shown that students who have not eaten a breakfast that includes protein and/or whole grain sugar-free cereals or breads are unprepared to learn, concentrate in class and are often disruptive in behavior. Sugar is a memory eraser. Sugar causes the pancreas to excrete insulin, which not only stores fat, but also creates a “crash” that causes sleepiness and lethargic behavior.
Action:
Parents will ensure that their student is provided a good healthy breakfast that consists of some form of protein and/or whole grain cereals or breads free of sugar prior to coming to school. Students who are not fed a healthy breakfast are not prepared for the best learning experience. If a student exhibits behaviors that are a direct result of an unhealthy breakfast, parents will be notified. If this persists, then the student may be sent home.
Sugar is a student’s worst enemy.
It creates havoc in the human blood stream, causing long-term chronic disease, such as diabetes and heart disease. Sodas, refined wheat breads, fast foods, processed foods, cakes, candies, cookies, sugar-coated cereals, and even white potatoes all contribute to this decline in health. Sugar in any form disables the student’s ability to concentrate and learn.
Action:
All candy, sodas, and other sources of refined sugar will be eliminated from machines in the school. In addition, SCA will furnish a protein-rich, well-balanced lunch for students for a nominal charge. SCA will eliminate trigger foods for ADD and ADHD such as: cow’s milk, white bread, food dyes, sugar, aspartame, caffeine and other potential hazards from the revised menu. Parents are asked to eliminate as much of these as possible from the home diet. No sodas or sugar-filled snacks will be allowed on campus. Parents will be asked to send bottled water to drink or 100% juices rather than drinks high in sugar content.
Classes in basic nutrition will be taught in a child-friendly manner, using various experiments to reinforce teaching. In addition, students will be challenged to hold each other accountable via competitive means.
Filtered water enhances memory and creativity in children and adults.
Proper hydration helps to connect the right (creative) side of the brain to the left (analytical) side of the brain. Studies have shown that students who drink 4 ounces of water every 60 minutes are able to concentrate for longer periods of time in the classroom. Because of toxins found in city water supplies, it is necessary to use filtered water rather than tap water.
Action:
Students will be given filtered water bottles to be used in class. SCA has already installed water filters on all water fountains. Parents are asked to either purchase bottled water or install a water filter for the kitchen sink. For more research on movement and learning, log on to: http://www.braingym.org
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies, in addition to toxins in our water, food, and air, can cause learning difficulties.
Studies have shown that students with a metal toxicity or a vitamin or mineral deficiency may have difficulties in the classroom setting, such as short attention span, anger and fits of rage, and short and/or long-term memory loss. Memory and behavior are all affected. Studies have also shown that 9 out of 10 people in the U.S. suffer from both of these abnormalities.
All kids are created equal and all students are special.
Everyone has a different learning style. Some students learn more easily by listening to the teacher (audio learners). Some students learn best by reading information in books, magazines and the internet (visual learners). Other students, including those labeled as ADD, learn best through hands-on activities and visual aids. There is no right or wrong way to learn, so no student should be singled out for his/her learning styles.
Action:
SCA is committed to continuing education for our teachers. All SCA teachers will receive specific training related to different learning styles. Every effort to accommodate different learning styles will be made in the classroom. For more information, read Right-Brained Children in a Left-Brained World, by Jeffrey Freed.
Students must be motivated to succeed. Success must be taught, rather than caught.
Many students struggle with issues of self-esteem. Children who have low self-esteem consider themselves to be failures, even though they may be gifted, talented, and filled with God-given potential. Our role, as parents and educators, is to accentuate the positive traits inherent in each child and provide every opportunity for each child to succeed in their areas of strength.
Action:
Training will be made available to parents and teachers on how to focus on a student’s “success traits”, strengths, and good grades, rather than the student’s weaknesses and bad grades. Just like a second language is second nature for a child who has parents who speak more than one language in the home, studying success in school at an early age will make success second nature, so that they leave school prepared to succeed.
Education is a privilege and a blessing, a gift from our loving God. We are responsible as stewards of all of His gifts to handle with care and use with wisdom.
Therefore, education becomes a joint venture with God as parents, students, teachers, and school administrators commit to do their part. The Results Project will hold all parties accountable for their actions.
To assist parents in their efforts to raise healthy, godly children who will fulfill their divine destiny in Christ. The Board of Directors of SCA is committed to implement changes that will:
·Empower SCA students to learn at their maximum potential
·Build self-esteem in SCA students
·Educate teachers, parents and students in proper nutrition and care of the human