Academics
Academics
At Sussex Christian School, we believe we are called to serve as partners with parents in the education of their children. As a result, our classrooms are intentionally small environments where children are known, loved, and nurtured to their fullest potential, and where the values that children learn at home are reinforced and encouraged. Starting with our littlest learners in PreK3 and continuing to our high-school bound 8th graders, we are committed to helping children gain the confidence they need to excel in learning.
What makes our academic program unique?
Dedicated Christian Teachers
Our teachers are certified educators and passionate Christian mentors who are committed to fostering young people’s ability to understand, evaluate, and transform their world for Christ. Teachers start each day with prayer and devotions, helping children know that they are cared for while modeling Christian commitment.
Purposefully Small Classes
We are committed to a low student to teacher ratio so that teachers can provide 1-on-1 support and Christian mentorship in the classroom. In small classrooms, each child is known and is given the appropriate level of support and challenge he or she needs to thrive.
Biblical Foundation for Classroom Expectations
As young children learn what it means to be a part of a collaborative learning experience, they are taught behaviors like respect, kindness, and care for others. Our classroom expectations are rooted in expectations for Christian living. This means when correction is required and disciplinary situations arise, we point kids back to who God calls us to be as Christians.
Academic Support and Challenge
We are committed to serving children with a range of learning styles and challenges. Our achievement center provides supplement or replacement instruction for students with challenges in reading and math, as well as in-class support for students with various learning differences as needed. In addition, we differentiate learning in the classroom to support children who are learning at a more advanced level and need additional challenges to stretch and grow them beyond the standard curriculum.
Learning Through a Biblical Lens
God is the author of all creation and the source of all knowledge, therefore, all academic areas naturally lend themselves to study through a Biblical lens. In addition to studying all subjects with a Biblical worldview, we introduce challenging and controversial topics on an age-appropriate timeline and with the Bible as the ultimate source of truth. This allows parents to have confidence that there is alignment between home and school and that tough questions from kids will be addressed through a Biblical lens.
Academic Highlights
Learning to Love Learning
Our academic program begins in PreK, where our main focus is helping children to explore what it means to be a part of a collaborative learning experience and gaining social and academic confidence. During this stage, children learn to love learning, and by giving them a positive and safe environment to start their academic journey, they receive a strong foundation that will set them up for success along the way.
Emphasizing Math & Reading
In the primary elementary grades (K-2), we place a strong emphasis on math and reading skills. In our math and reading classes, we maintain a low student to teacher ratio to ensure that children are receiving an individualized level of attention. By third grade, children transition from learning to read to reading to learn. We make sure to capitalize on the window of opportunity while they are young to ensure they have the skills they need to be successful.
Purposeful Balance
We encourage balance in all aspects of learning and so our program is intentional in blending modern technology with traditional learning and outdoor instruction. Students learn cursive handwriting and keyboarding in our elementary grades. We require students to use print and digital resources in their research projects, and we highlight the value of knowledge gained while pushing students towards the future world through a lens of God’s Word.
Leaving SCS Prepared
Our ultimate goal is to have students leave SCS with academic, social, and spiritual confidence to be high achievers in their next steps. We provide advanced level classes for our middle schoolers to prepare them for high school, and we challenge our 6th-8th grade students to take on leadership challenges and serve as mentors and role models to younger students. Our 8th grade Bible class has a strong focus on apologetics so that our high-school bound graduates have the skills they need to defend their faith.