Are you thinking of homeschooling and feel overwhelmed about providing courses of study, or are a home-school family already but are looking for a program that can provide you with curriculum and maintain your records for you OR Are you looking for a program that can provide your student with a diploma which is accepted by post secondary institutions?
Woodstock Christian Academy offers a distance learning option that will do these things for you!
Why enroll in a distance learning program?
A full-service program such as Woodstock Christian Academy (WCA) validates the education you provide your student. WCA acts as a third party evaluating and producing each student's records, verification of enrollment, and projected course of study. The academy guides each student in earning a diploma and official transcript before enrolling into post-secondary study.
Why do families home school?
Many parents commit to schooling their children at home. Their motivation is the conviction that this is the best for the moral and spiritual development of their family, and it is the best way to provide a solid education for their children. They know what their children are being taught in the areas of spiritual and character development, as well as about the social and academic well-being of their children.
Specific Advantages have been expressed as follows:
• Homeschooling makes quality time available to train and influence children in all areas of life.
• Each child receives individual attention and has his/her unique needs met.
• Parents can control destructive influences such as negative peer pressure and offensive curriculum.
• Opportunity is available for spiritual training and presenting a biblical perspective of all academic subjects.
• Children gain respect for their parents as teachers
• The family experiences unity, closeness, and mutual enjoyment of each other.
• Children develop confidence and independent thinking, away from negative peer pressure to conform, in the security of their own home.
• Children have time to think and explore new interests.
• Communication between different age groups is enhanced.
• Flexible scheduling can accommodate parents' work and vacation times and allow time for many activities.
The courts have declared the public system of education in Canada to be purely secular. There is no room for religious instruction and, in particular, Christian instruction in government schools. However, parents continue to have the right to direct the education of their children on their own, including religious training, if they so desire. That right is safeguarded by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and protected by the courts.
Are parents qualified to teach their children?
You know your children better than anyone and have the deepest love and concern for them. You also have the most direct and long-term responsibility for your children.
Your example and enthusiasm in learning with your children will motivate and encourage them far more than striving to appear that you know it all. You do not need to know everything in order to teach. It has been found that home educated children score at about a 76th percentile in all subject areas. (The national average of all conventionally schooled children is the 50th percentile.)
Tutoring children has always been superior to the typical classroom. Homeschooling epitomizes this method, providing the essentials for success and a close relationship between the student and the teacher, motivation, flexibility, and individualization.
Several resources are available to give you on-the-job training:
• Homeschool conventions, workshops, and book fairs at local, regional, and provincial levels provide practical instruction in teaching techniques unique to home instruction. Up-to-date information on these events is a regular feature of homeschooling magazines and provincial homeschool association newsletters.
• Homeschool magazines present articles that inform, encourage, and inspire you in various principles and techniques of home teaching.
• Provincial and local homeschool support groups can greatly encourage and help you as ideas and information are exchanged.
Why choose Woodstock Christian Academy?
The curriculum we use is built upon these five basic laws of learning:
- Students must be at a level where they can perform.
- Reasonable goals must be set.
- Students must be controlled and motivated.
- Learning must be measurable.
- Learning must be rewarded.
From its beginning, almost 12 years ago, Woodstock Christian Academy has held these goals:
- A solid, back-to-the-basics education program.
- A course of study individualized to meet a child's specific needs and learning capabilities.
- A program incorporating character-building and wisdom principles.
- A curriculum having available advanced computer technology to help ensure the finest education possible in today's high-tech climate.
One significant result from adhering to these goals is that students score higher than their counterparts in conventional programs using the same standardized achievement tests.
Whether the student is a high achiever or a moderately paced learner, our educational process proceeds at the exact level determined by the child's ability.
Individualization makes it possible for each student to master the subject before moving on. Such mastery is the foundation upon which all future learning is built.
Individualization-produced academic excellence. Students take responsibility for their own learning. Biblical character training received as part of this learning experience prepares students to welcome and accept challenges and future opportunities that come their way.
Biblical values and concepts considered foundational to relationships and productive living are conveyed throughout the curriculum in such a way as to become life-shaping influences.
What is our curriculum like?
At Woodstock Christian Academy we use a combination of the A.C.E. and Christian Light publications Curriculum. A.C.E. or Accelerated Christian Education® and Christian Light Publications have taken the conventional style textbook and divided it into bite-sized, achievable work texts. The curriculum we primarily use for elementary and middle school grades is the ACE curriculum. For High school grades we have multiple elective courses available from the two curriculum's we use. The ACE curriculum work texts are called PACE'S. Each PACE is similar to a unit in a textbook. Each level consists of 12 PACE's in each subject. PACE's integrate Godly character-building lessons into the academic content, and self-instructional activities are carefully designed to develop thinking skills and create mastery learning.
How will our curriculum help my child progress academically?
Core curriculum provides students with academics, skill building, reading practice, character and wisdom training, and knowledge of God and His Word. This complete package begins with reading development and progresses through high school, giving students a solid foundation for pursuing their life goals. Students who are more skilled may progress at a faster rate or may accelerate in the areas of their academic strengths. Slower students are encouraged to do their best but are able to work at their levels of proficiency and proceed as they are capable.
What services does WCA provide?
Curriculum ordering and storage
With our distance learning option, you have the choice of ordering the A.C.E. curriculum yourselves or we will do it for you. We can provide you with loaner resource materials and resource books so you don't have to invest in purchasing those. We can store your curriculum onsite and as your student progresses we can issue it so curriculum never gets lost or damaged.
Diagnostic Testing
Proper academic diagnosis is vital to your student's success. Students enrolled in Woodstock Christian Academy are given diagnostic tests to determine skill and concept mastery. Experienced advisors custom design a course of study from the test results for each individual student. Weak areas (gaps) are strengthened first; then the student continues, progressing at his/her achievement level.
Projected Course of Study
Advisors also prepare courses of study for high school students, outlining all courses needed for graduation. Four courses of study are offered; honors, college preparatory, general, and vocational.
Testing Services
WCA will administer all final pace tests, grade them for you and maintain them to provide proof of course completion. We charge a small fee of $5.00 per test for this service. We also allow students enrolled in our distance learning to take part in provincial assessment tests which allow parents to see how their students rank among the other students in the province.
High School Graduation / High School Diploma
When students have satisfied all their academic requirements, a High School Diploma will be issued from Woodstock Christian Academy. When final tests and grades are submitted, diplomas are mailed unless the student is planning to attend the graduation ceremony.
Extra Curricular Activities
WCA allows distance learning students to take part in any field trips or weekly Phys Ed classes. Some field trips may have fees associated with them that are the responsibility of the parent.
Graduation Ceremony
Each spring, our school holds a formal ceremony for the graduating seniors who choose to participate. This features graduates in caps and gowns, keepsake videotaping of the ceremony, and a reception with the Woodstock Christian Academy students and staff.
Enrollment Services
Students enrolling in Woodstock Christian Academy receive the full support services of a school administration office. Academic records are maintained based on the tests and grades completed on site at WCA. Enrollment verification is provided as needed.
Transcript Services
Woodstock Christian Academy maintains a permanent school record for each student. Official transcripts are sent to schools and colleges as requested. Transcripts and health records from previous schools are also held in the student's permanent file.
Will my child be able to attend University?
Yes, absolutely. The diploma given by WCA is recognized by many Universities and Colleges across Canada and internationally. A list of Universities and colleges that have accepted diplomas from schools using the A.C.E. curriculum is available to download under the parent download tab. Some of the specific school's that our graduates have been accepted to are: Kingswood University, University of New Brunswick Fredericton & Saint John Campus's, Mount St Vincent, McGill, NBCC Woodstock & Moncton Campus's.
How can I enroll?
If you are interested in taking advantage of the WCA home school program, visit the parent download tab and fill out the WCA student application. Once completed, submit your application to our office along with the registration fee and we will contact you to arrange a meeting to begin the process.
Enrollment Fees not including curriculum:
One time Family Registration Fee: $75.00
Online Diagnostic Testing: Free
Written Diagnostic Testing Fee: $75.00
Grades 1-8 Suggested Donation of : $300.00
Grades 9-12 Suggested Donation of: $350.00
Testing fee for each pace: $5.00
Please contact our office to arrange the payment process. As WCA is a registered charity a portion or your Donated tuition is tax deductible. We issue receipts for all donations over $20.00
The Registration Fee is non-refundable.
Please contact our office for further information.
Provincial Requirements
Parents are responsible to register their students with their province upon commencing homeschooling. Please check with the Ministry of Education for details.