Small Schools, Great Values

Joy Christian School

Joy Christian School (JCS) is implementing some exciting new changes and welcoming a few additions that are sure to make the 2011–12 school year their best yet. Their athletics department is getting a boost from two new faces: Alan Boelter, an experienced coach and administrator who is coming in as assistant principal and will oversee the athletic program and facilities, and Brian Cole, a state-winning football coach.

The music department is feeling the love as well, with the addition of the keyboard/piano lab. Students in grades 3 through 12 can participate in piano/keyboard class, and it is hoped that someday soon the state-of-the-art lab can be used for public classes. The literacy hub was modernized this summer and will service students of all ages. And when it comes to the academics, you’ll notice that JCS has added some honors and advanced-placement courses and will be changing 6th- through 12th-graders over to a block schedule to allow for more classroom instructional time. Expect JCS to continue its quest for academic, athletics, and arts excellence with future changes and additions and an adherence to the Christian values it holds at its core.

Joy Christian School is located at 21000 N. 75th Ave., Glendale, AZ 85308. For additional information or to schedule a tour of the school, contact Kimberly McCarty at kimberly.mccarty@joyonline.org or (623) 561-2000. The annual Back to School Celebration takes place August 9 from 9–11 a.m. The first home football and volleyball games are on August 26, and the annual dinner and auction will be held October 8. joyschool.org

The Caepe School

Another school that considers the student’s full potential, the Caepe School also continues to add to its curriculum and programs. Following its growth plan, this nonprofit college-preparatory private school will be adding grade 10 this fall and plans to add grades 11 and 12 over the next two years. It currently serves grades K–9.

For your gifted little guys and gals, The Caepe School is implementing a gifted education program, Inspire, for students in grades 3 through 6 to “serve and inspire their academically gifted learners and high achievers.” The school defines giftedness according to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act definition, as follows: “Students who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities.” To measure giftedness, they will take into account cognitive and achievement testing, classroom performance, and an inventory of parents and teachers. The program will feature challenging, stimulating material and lectures by instructors who are continually learning, training, and achieving their gifted endorsements. Like all Caepe programs, it will place a heavy emphasis on experiential learning.

The Caepe School is also introducing a new Campus Merit Scholarship for incoming freshman and sophomores as well as current students. Testing dates for new students have already passed, although a second date may be added if absolutely necessary. Seven four-year and eight three-year scholarships will be awarded to the top fifteen candidates who meet the following six criteria:
Scores on the quantitative reasoning and verbal reasoning subtests of the CTP4 exam from the Educational Records Bureau
Scores on the reading comprehension and mathematics subtests of the CTP4 exam through the Educational Records Bureau
2010–11 grade-point average
2010–11 extracurricular involvement
Interview with the TCS Team of Four
Writing sample

Keep apprised of developments in the curriculum, extracurricular activities, and more by visiting thecaepeschool.org.

For information on the Campus Merit Scholarship, e-mail TamaraLee@thecaepeschool.org. For information on Inspire or the scholarship, call (623) 551-7808 or e-mail DarrenLee@thecaepeschool.org.

By Cassaundra Brooks