Academics at HCA: Growing Minds, Grounded in Christ
As we strive to attain our vision, we believe that it is important to develop programs, strategies, and methodologies within the context of biblical principles and thereby to produce graduates with a Christian worldview, who…
Worldview
- understand the worth of every human being as created in the image of God
- have a critical appreciation of languages and cultures of other peoples—an appreciation that dispels prejudice, promotes interethnic harmony, and encourages biblical hospitality for the “alien” or “stranger”
- embrace and practice justice, mercy, and peacemaking in family and society
- can articulate and defend their Christian worldview while having a basic understanding of opposing worldviews
- understand that work has dignity as an expression of the nature of God
- are committed to lifelong learning
- possess apologetic skills to defend their faith
Spiritual Formation
- personally respond to carrying out the Great Commission locally and around the world in a culturally sensitive manner
- respect and relate appropriately with integrity to the people with whom they work, play, and live
- understand and commit to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
- know, understand, and apply God’s Word in daily life
- are empowered by the Holy Spirit and pursue a life of faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love
- treat their bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit
- are actively involved in a church community, serving God and others
Academic/Thinking
- are well prepared in all academic disciplines and are skilled in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and thinking
- are proficient in mathematics and science
- have a knowledge and an understanding of people, events, and movements in history (including church history) and of the cultures of other peoples and places
- appreciate literature and the arts and understand how they express and shape their beliefs and values
- value intellectual inquiry and are engaged in the marketplace of ideas (open honest exchange of ideas)
- have an appreciation for the natural environment and practice responsible stewardship of God’s creation
Skills Development
- know how to utilize resources including technology to find, analyze, and evaluate information
- have the skills to question, solve problems, and make wise decisions
- understand, value, and engage in appropriate social (community) and civic (political) activities
- are prepared to practice the principles of healthful, moral family living
- are good stewards of their finances, time (including discretionary time), and all other resources
HCA’s Four-Year Thematic Learning Cycle
At Holden Christian Academy, students journey through a thoughtfully designed Four-Year Thematic Learning Cycle that integrates biblical truth with history, culture, and worldview development. Each year presents a unifying theme that connects learning across subjects, deepening students’ understanding of God, themselves, and the world around them. The cycle allows learners to revisit key concepts at increasing levels of depth, promoting both academic and spiritual growth.
Year One Theme: Our Heritage
• Foundations of the Old Testament - Patriarchs through the Exodus
• First Half of American History - Explorers through the Civil War
Year Two Theme: Unchanging God in a Changing World
• The story of the nation of Israel and their land - Joshua-Malachi
• The story of our nation and our land - Post Civil War to the present
Year Three Theme: Great Civilizations
• New Testament: Kingdom of God - the greatest Kingdom of all; the transcendent Kingdom
• Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation
Year Four Theme: Cultures in Contact
• The Bible as one story; using the Bible as a missionary
• Non-western cultures: Asia, Middle East, Africa, South America
Concept-Based and Integrated Curriculum
Concept-Based Instruction
Each school year concept statements are developed. These statements provide a superstructure for the curriculum out of which flow the units of study for the year. They provide the thread that weaves our entire curriculum together thus minimizing fragmentation of subject matter. Our concepts are often based on the Bible content for the year preventing the artificial separation of secular and sacred studies. Some of the concept areas for the different years may include: Our Heritage, Unchanging God in a Changing World, Great Civilizations, & Cultures in Contact.
Integrated Studies
Using our concept statements as a guide, units are developed that integrate traditional disciplines. Studies in history, geography, science and Bible will have a common unit theme reinforcing and expanding one another. By using an integrated, unit-based approach, teachers (as well as parents) work together to combine resources and expand the units indefinitely. Children are often able to explore aspects of particular interest to them in each unit and individualize their learning. Children are given time for presentations to learn from one another.
Basic Skills
At the heart of every good elementary education are the basics. Learning well the skills of reading, writing, and mathematics will enable children to read, think about, and understand Man and the world of ideas in relation to God. These basics will be taught using logical, sequential and enriching methods (our integrated units). Because mornings are opportune times for learning, our mornings will be carefully protected so the children will have uninterrupted time to grasp these basic skills.
Curriculum/Textbook Choices
Our concept statements serve as our guide and a valuable tool for textbook and other resource materials selection. Instead of searching for a good textbook and then basing our curriculum around it, we are able to plan our units then find the best of the best to meet our needs. We freely use the best of both secular and Christian books and materials.
