SOAAR Program

This has been a year of much growth at Nicaragua Christian Academy.  Liam has kept very busy with helping provide direction to the school for many of these changes, including developing a new association of international schools in Managua, unifying preschool learning standards at our three NCA schools, overseeing the design and construction of a new library, and helping to develop a new child protection policy for the safety of our students and staff.

Another huge change that we are all very excited about is the SOAAR program.  Thanks to Andrew Ippel, the originator of the program and its first coordinator, the SOAAR (Students of All Abilities Recognized) Program will allow students with significant disabilities to attend NCA International.  Until now, there are no English-language educational opportunities for children with disabilities in Nicaragua (and very limited services available in Spanish).  NCA International will be the first to offer such services.

There are three primary reasons for the development of this new program.  First, we believe that as a Christian school, it is part of our vocation to reach out to all of God’s children.  By inviting students with disabilities into our school, we show God’s love and help them fulfill God’s calling on their lives.  Second, we believe it is important for all of our students to develop genuine and meaningful relationships with kids who are different from them in one way or another.  We hope that this will help our students be better advocates for justice and inclusion of people with disabilities in society.  Third, we know that NCA International’s unique founding mission is to serve the educational needs of missionary families.  In some past cases, missionary families have been forced to leave Nicaragua due to lack of educational services for their children with disabilities.  We are excited to take on the challenge of providing these services and enabling families to receive the support they need.

As we begin this new program, please pray for our school.  There are many new aspects of what we are doing and there will be new challenges along the way.  Our desire is that God will be glorified in the way we do this.