Writer Lara Piu

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his month, North Valley Christian Academy will swing open the doors of its new pre-K through 12th grade campus. Located in North Phoenix, the 72,000-square-foot facility debuted August 16, in time for the 2017-18 academic year.

“We are blessed and excited to see this remarkable new campus approach completion,” says Nate Kretzmann, NVCA executive director.

At the hub of the new state-of-the-art facility are digital tools designed to support the academy’s collaborative, socially interactive project-based learning. As a Christian school fully accredited by the National Lutheran Schools Association, Association of Christian Schools International and AdvancED, NVCA will offer a Christ-centered liberal arts education to more than 600 students at full capacity in grades pre-K through 12th grade.

“We are excited to be able to offer students a strong, Bible-based academic education, as well as a foundational education that develops strong social skills and the emotional intelligence of our students,” Nate adds.

NVCA plans to expand its blended, project-oriented curriculum in this new learning environment. Its new digital platform is designed to increase student’s flexibility in learning and provide them with a more comprehensive range of athletic programs, performing arts and STEM classes. The classrooms and collaborative areas form an integrated network of maker spaces that allow students to work together, explore and innovate in teams, and learn from one another.

“The NVCA experience is designed to teach students to think critically, analyze and develop a lifelong passion for learning,” Nate says. “Today’s students want to create and learn simultaneously. They want access to content quickly in a format that is actionable to solving real-world problems.”

With the expansion of the campus, NVCA will also offer programs for sports, competitive athletics, leadership and service projects, as well as options in the arts including dance, music and theater.“We want our students to have the opportunity to capture their passion and emotions,” Nate explains. “The arts allow them to explore new ideas, subject matter and cultures in the development of the whole person, while our athletic programs teach Christian conduct and sportsmanship in practice and competition.”

The school is still accepting new students.

NVCA is still enrolling for the 2017-2018 academic year. For further information, contact Lori Fox at lorif@northvalleyca.org, Natalie Gilliland at natalieg@northvalleyca.org or @623-551-3454. Enrollment information is also available on the website at gonvca.org