The Student Experience
At Grace River Academy, we value our relational culture. Students will experience small class sizes that provide individualized instruction and easy access to their teacher. They also share blended classrooms where multiple grades are learning together. This model allows younger students to progress faster because of their exposure to more advanced information and skills. Older students also have the opportunity to practice being role models to younger students, developing interpersonal and leadership skills.
Unlike many classical schools, uniforms are not required at Grace River Academy. While we do enforce a dress code to instill a value of modesty and ensure a distraction-free learning environment, we believe that a student who learns to be comfortable expressing and celebrating their individuality develops into a confident young adult. Additionally, uniforms are not always financially accessible to all families. We seek to make Grace River Academy accessible to any family who desires to raise their child in a school that promotes Biblical values and standards.
At Grace River Academy, students will experience more than just a learning environment, they will experience a community that seeks to encourage, disciple, build, and nurture them into individuals who are transformed spiritually, academically, physically, and emotionally; thus, preparing them to impact their world for Christ.
Special Curricular Activities
Grace River Academy offers additional special curricular activities that set us apart from other Christian elementary schools.
Chapel Services
Each week, students at Grace River Academy attend a chapel service led by a pastor from Grace River Church. They engage in Bible study material that shapes both their understanding of the Bible and their Christian character. As we seek to graduate students who know their God, know His Word, and know His purposes for their lives, our chapel services are foundational in the spiritual formation of Grace River Academy students.
Physical Education
Once a week, students participate in Physical Education by learning the foundations of a new sport each month. Led by our PE teacher, students learn how to stretch, move their bodies safely, and maintain physical fitness. Students' engagement in sports also teaches them teamwork, friendly competition, and kindness.
Computer Science/STEM
Grace River Academy is the only Christian school in our area to offer computer science education to lower-grade students at no additional cost as a
standard learning experience. Through the use of Ellipsis Education curriculum, our school is proud to offer a curriculum that has been awarded the ISTE Seal of Alignment, signaling a high-quality, national standards-aligned learning experience, ensuring that we are continuing to achieve our mission to graduate students who are academically prepared to impact their world for Christ.
Computer science education is not only an asset in this technology-driven society, but also a relevant and proven way to teach children life skills. Ellipsis Education curriculum uses four lesson types: unplugged, coding, digital citizenship, and STEM careers. These lessons are designed to support deep learning that transfers to real-world applications, inspires respectful, ethical, and empowered technology use, enhances computer science understanding with device-free activities, and develops computational thinking, problem-solving, and other 21st-century skills.
Spanish
Each week, students engage in a Spanish language less from our Spanish teacher. By learning the fundamentals of the Spanish language, students begin to learn how to communicate in another language and are immersed in knowledge about Spanish-speaking cultures around the world.
Before- and After-School Care
In today's economic climate, many parents work outside the home and need help to drop their students off or pick them up at the start and end of the school day. To help make Grace River Academy as accessible as possible, we offer before- and after-school care that is included with tuition at no extra cost. Parents can drop their students off as early as 6:30 a.m. and pick them up as late as 5:30 p.m. During these times, students enjoy playing with their friends and participating in activities while parents finish their work day.