A key element of your choice for your child's schooling is vision: When you think of the education your student will receive, what is important? What stands out? What kind of person do you want your school to help your child become?
At Darren Patterson Christian Academy, we have at least four major emphases:
1. Biblical teaching and mentoring: One of our primary goals is to help students develop their relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We dream that DPCA grads will not just understand the Christian faith, but will allow their walk with God to be the central focus of their lives, affecting and influencing all of their character and all of their decisions for life and service. Our program of discipleship is geared toward helping our students cultivate lifetime relational and personal perspectives that will help them develop prosperity of the soul, rather than settling for the mere prosperity of the bank account. 2. Excellent Academics: Because we are excited about our student's futures and God's direction in their lives, we want them to be prepared for any possibility. Our curriculum effectively prepares students for success in college and at work; with test scores, college freshman success, and other evidence lending weight to that claim. The academic curriculum emphasizes excellence in reading and writing; mastery in mathematics; breadth of knowledge in science; citizenship, cultural astuteness, and critical thinking in history and philosophy; competence and cultural appreciation in foreign language; and depth and Biblical world view training in Bible. Electives such as drama, art, and athletics help round out the curriculum. Music and physical education is provided for all students grades K-8, with those courses becoming elective in the high school. 3. Community service and others-orientation: We intentionally strive to help our students constantly grow in their understanding of the joy and nobility of "look[ing] not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4) Through curricular elements, community service projects in our own area, international mission trips, and more, we work to help students build a vision for their place and part in building Christ's kingdom. 4. Interpersonal skills, teamwork, and affirmation of self and others. Whether through our outdoor adventure programs or in English class, whether reviewing for that "killer" philosophy test or just sitting around the lunch table, we encourage students to make encouragement and care for one another a top priority. Outdoor experiences, service projects, classroom learning, field trips, team-building exercises, collaborative academic projects: all are intentional means used at DPCA from kindergarten through high school to foster friendship, mutual affirmation, and cooperative accomplishment among our students.
These are the things we dream for our students, and these are the things we work for. The evidence indicates that our students generally rise to the challenge and achieve these goals in large measure. If these elements match your vision for your children, we would be delighted to talk with you, to answer your questions, and to share in more detail what we love about education at Darren Patterson Christian Academy.
719.395.6046 518 South San Juan Avenue, PO Box 1243, Buena Vista, Colorado, 81211 1.877.395.DPCA