We have the kind of positive environment where you can infuse Christian teachings. There's no gossiping, no nit-picking, and there's more accountability. Parents and students say it works. The students feel a greater sense of ownership in their school, and parents say they see that pride at home. When a visitor enters a classroom at the academy, students rise from their seats in unison and offer a polite greeting.
Manners are important.
In Tom Doney's social studies class, there's no waiting for hands to shoot up with answers. These nine students are as engaged in the discussion with their teacher as they would be at home chatting with a friend. Hebrew is prominent in the classroom. Eighth-grader Naomi Pescovitz said a current research assignment is particularly painful because it hits so close to home. The hardest report I've ever worked on is the Holocaust research paper we're doing.