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Young thespians are invited to express their creativity, build new skills, and gain confidence through drama exercises, activities, games, and performances. Participants will be expected to fully engage in club activities and learn lines from a script. They must also be willing to participate in a performance before an audience. $50 Materials Fee may be paid in cash or check made payable to "2nd Nature Academy" with "Intro to Drama" in memo line.

Bring your lunches! Please remember no food containing nuts allowed in The Academy classrooms. “Genders & Sexualities Alliances, or GSAs for short, are student-run organizations that unite LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in their schools and communities. GSAs have evolved beyond their traditional role to serve as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in middle schools and high schools, and have emerged as vehicles for deep social change related to racial, gender, and educational justice.” - GSA Network

Join us every other Friday as we create the SNA yearbook for 2024-2025.

Top of Page About the Organization About the Project Engage Your Child Service Learning November 2024 - Project B Holiday Gifts for Children in Need MAIN MENU The holiday season is full of lights, loved ones, feasting, and, yes, gift giving across many different cultures, religions, and traditions. For some families, however, it is a time of increased financial stress and children going without. That's why each year around the holidays, we don our Santa hats and return to one of our favorite service learning projects to help change that for some local families. Each November, we run a gift card drive as part of Marguerite's Place Holiday Giving Program. The recipients are mothers and their children who are experiencing homelessness and/or fleeing from unsafe domestic conditions. Through community donations, these mothers are provided the opportunity to do their own holiday shopping for their children, and also fulfill their needs for basic necessities. So, yet again, we invite you to join us in spreading warmth, security, and joy this holiday season! Mission Marguerite’s Place is on a mission to transform the lives of families working to achieve safety, stability and independence by fostering connection and providing holistic, individual and group support offerings, including transitional housing for women and their children, as well as early childhood education, and group-based community programs for all. Programs Transitional Housing Safe, private apartments where mothers and children experiencing homelessness can stabilize and rebuild. Early Childhood Education Low-cost child care with social-emotional learning curricula that ensures children meet their developmental milestones. Community Programming Supportive group programming where parents develop success skills and build meaningful connections. Sponsored Families 2024 Family 1: Ashlyn and her son, Ayden (10) Family 2: Felicia, her son, Farell (10) and daughter, Faith (4) Sponsor a Gift How to Engage Children Service learning is not just about donating. In fact, the meaning is in the name. At SNA, students perform acts of service as a means of education about the greater world around us, the role we each play in our communities, and how we can all contribute to building a better future. We encourage families with children of all ages to further this discussion at home to engage their children as active participants in both acts of service and acts of giving. 1 Discuss the issue of poverty with your child, in an age-appropriate manner. 2 Encourage them to contribute an amount they deem fair to a gift card donation. If your child earns an allowance, you can talk about the power of giving, for both the giver and the recipient. How do they feel when they receive a gift? What about when they give one? 3 Make a project of it! Ask your child if they would like to make a card for a family recipient, because gift giving doesn't solely need to be about monetary value. Sometimes the act of spreading love and cheer can go a long way in letting others know they are not alone.

Lower School (K-5) LOWER SCHOOL Kindergarten Rooted in inquiry and problem based learning, our kindergarten program is also skills based, integrated and multi-sensory. Emphasis is placed on social-emotional wellness and the development of strong interpersonal skills. Kindergarten at 2nd Nature Academy is a skills based program that relies heavily on the importance of play to teach interpersonal skills and conflict resolution. This program is designed to prepare students for first grade by providing important pre reading and pre writing skills throughout the school year. Many students will begin reading and writing by the end of kindergarten but it is not a requirement to advance to first grade. The kindergarten program at 2nd Nature Academy is designed to fill the tool box for each child with necessary skills for when they are developmentally ready to begin reading and writing. Elementary School Grades 1-5 Similar to all programs, our elementary program (grades 1-5) is deeply rooted in inquiry and problem-based learning. It is skills based, integrated and multi-sensory. The curriculum focuses on social-emotional wellness, interpersonal skills, and conflict resolution. In addition, there is strong emphasis placed on cooperative learning, community outreach, and environmental awareness and responsibility. As with every grade level, critical thinking skills that are age and developmentally appropriate are developed within the classroom. The elementary program is designed to serve as the framework for specific content taught, which may also be influenced by student and teacher interest, school wide activities and current events. Kindergarten Elementary Students must be 5 by September 30th to be eligible for 2nd Nature Academy kindergarten. For students who do not meet the minimum age requirement or could use an extra year for social-emotional or academic readiness, we recommend our interim-kindergarten program . Upper School (6-12) UPPER SCHOOL Middle School Grades 6-8 Middle school is a unique period in a student’s academic career. The middle school years are marked by distinct physiological and emotional growth. Students in middle school benefit from being in an environment that includes mentor relationships with teachers, small class sizes that allow for individualized instruction and attention, and flexible, interdisciplinary curriculum that allows for active and personalized learning. Similar to all programs, our middle school program (grades 6-8) at 2nd Nature Academy is deeply rooted in inquiry and problem-based learning, with skills based, integrated and multi-sensory curriculum. The middle school program emphasizes the importance of social-emotional wellness, interpersonal skills, and conflict resolution. In addition, teachers intentionally and deliberately incorporate cooperative learning, community outreach, and environmental awareness and responsibility where appropriate. As with every grade level, critical thinking skills that are age and developmentally appropriate are developed within the classroom. Middle school course curriculum is designed to serve as the framework for specific content taught, which may also be influenced by student and teacher interest, school wide activities and current events. There is heavy emphasis on developing independence and strengthening executive functioning skills. High School Grades 9-12 The high school program operates on both an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary model, and is heavily rooted in both inquiry and problem-based learning. An interdisciplinary approach teaches concepts and skills from two or more disciplines that are tightly linked so as to deepen knowledge and skills. A transdisciplinary approach requires students to undertake real world problems and projects, and apply skills and knowledge from two or more disciplines. This allows for a more authentic and purposeful learning experience, challenging the efficacy of traditional teaching methods and engaging students in real world problem-solving and experiential learning. Student autonomy and student driven learning support increased motivation, improved decision-making abilities, and enhanced critical and creative thinking capacities. The high school years are a unique period of social emotional development, rooted in identity and independence. The high school program at 2nd Nature Academy fosters independence, responsibility and strengthening executive functioning skills in a safe and supportive environment. High School Highlights Middle School High School

PAC FAMILY VOLUNTEERISM OPPORTUNITIES The SNA Parent Action Committee (PAC) plans and organizes special events and activities that enhance the sense of community at our school. This committee is open to all clients of Nature's Pathways and 2nd Nature Academy. The Parent Action Committee has aided in preparation, organized, and hosted several community events for students and their families, including annual Fall Festivals and Winter Holiday Galas, pancake breakfasts, spaghetti suppers, bake sales, raffles, and a variety of school-based fundraisers to benefit our educational community. Additionally, PAC provides support for our school-wide service learning projects. Help us build this year's schedule! If you are interested in joining our Parent Action Committee as a volunteer, please email PAC@2ndnatureacademy.com .