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9501 Arlington Expressway
Suite 245B

Jacksonville, FL 32225

(904) 652-1441

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Remembering the Meaning of Easter

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Remembering the Meaning of Easter

Spring can bring about the excitement of warm weather, the end of the school year, and the notion that summer is around the corner! We mustn’t forget that it is also a big celebration of life, especially for us as Christians. While it is fun to celebrate with ideas of egg hunts and the Easter Bunny coming out to play, we wanted to remind you where all of these modern ideas came from, and their origin in relation to Easter.

Easter Lilies

All kinds of flowers bloom in spring, but Easter lilies hold a special significance to us, especially around this time of year. Lilies are mentioned multiple times throughout the Bible, even back to the Garden of Eden. They speak of innocence, purity, rebirth, and new beginnings. Easter lilies are most often tied to The Virgin Mary, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ himself.

Not only do lilies bloom after forming in a bulb underground for some time, reminiscent of Jesus’ death and resurrection, but they are also believed to have bloomed in the spots where His blood, sweat, and tears landed during the crucifixion. They were seen as fixtures of hope and the new beginnings that arose as He sacrificed himself for our sins. Not only will your Easter lilies make a lovely centerpiece for your Easter feast, but now you understand the meaning behind it too.

The Butterfly

With birds chirping and animals celebrating the end of winter, the butterflies are also plentiful come springtime and Easter. Jesus is often symbolized by butterflies when one looks at how a caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly. The time spent inside of the chrysalis recalls the time Jesus spent in the tomb before being reborn, just as a butterfly emerges.

This metamorphosis is also symbolic of the transformation that can occur in your journey within your faith, led by God’s grace.

Easter Eggs

Easter eggs also have more than one significance when it comes to their tie to actual Christianity. Just as an egg must crack and hatch for a baby chick to be born, just as God opened Jesus’ tomb so that he could emerge. Symbolizing both the tomb and His resurrection, the egg brings forth the meaning of new life. This can be carried even further with spring, since so many young are born during spring, as it celebrates the new life of offspring and blooming of flora as well.

While understanding and valuing the traditions of Christianity and Easter, Impact Christian Academy also supports the fun activities that come with the Easter holiday. If you are looking for a festive activity to start your Easter celebration early, please hop on over to the Impact Church Egg Hunt at Ed Austin Park this Saturday, April 9th from 11:30 AM to 1 PM.

With ICA’s practice of instilling a biblical worldview, we focus on helping your children excel in knowing God and finding freedom in their faith. If you are looking for a private school in Jacksonville, Florida, start your application with Impact Christian Academy today.

4 Reasons Why Your Child Belongs at Impact Christian Academy​

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4 Reasons Why Your Child Belongs at Impact Christian Academy

Right now, we are in a crucial time when everyone, especially children, deal with so much.  Our students have learned how to maneuver through life in a pandemic, something no other recent generation has had to endure. They are learning about self-esteem in an age of social media and figuring out who they are in a world filled with billions of people with divergent points of view.

Impact Christian Academy was created to provide Jacksonville families with a viable option for world-class education that is coupled with a supportive Christian environment. Our students excel in knowing God and fulfilling their purpose while making an impact.  Learn more about why your child belongs at Impact Christian Academy.  Here are our four pillars, our core beliefs.

Academics

At Impact Christian Academy (ICA), our teachers go above and beyond to craft lesson plans that their students can use beyond the classroom. These lifelong lessons will help them achieve their goals to graduate and shape them into a productive member of society. Our teachers use the best practices that infuse a vibrant atmosphere in the classroom, one where children feel free to ask questions and contribute ideas in a discussion. ICA has a curriculum that focuses on STEM and college prep, as well as life skills that challenge, enrich, and empower them as they pursue their God-given purpose. This private school in Jacksonville, Florida, sets students up for success by having classroom sizes that will allow your child to get the attention they need to achieve greatness.  ICA students are set above and apart from others in the nation.

Altruism

Another core belief that sets us apart from the rest of the schools is that we value altruism.  This principle of acting to promote someone else’s welfare and to serve others at some cost to themselves is engrained into each student from pre-school to their senior year.  Each quarter our students take time to help others during a community service project, where they express their love of God and love of their neighbors.  Our students show kindness in a time when our communities are surrounded by bad news. While students are putting smiles on their neighbors’ faces, they’re also changing for the better by gaining a sense of belonging and a positive outlook on life.

Athletics

From football to volleyball, from basketball to track, sports are an honored tradition in schools around the United States, and at Impact Christian Academy as well.   Although it is an extra-curricular activity, it’s vital in a child’s upbringing and growth in their skills and identity.  Your child will develop positive habits that will help improve their self-esteem. Playing a sport will also motivate them to lead their peers to excellence as they make complex decisions while feeling the weight of the game on their shoulders. Sports teach kids lessons they cannot learn in the classroom, such as the power of encouraging others, physical exertion through exercise, and resiliency.

Arts

At Impact Christian Academy, your child will be provided with an array of creative opportunities to master the arts through dance, singing, music, theater, fine arts, and culinary skills, among others.  Our talented and experienced instructors desire to help your child learn and master their craft. Plus, our programs help them understand different points of view while teaching them how to collaborate with others, improve their social skills and develop self-confidence and self-expression. 

At the end of the day, we strive to create a learning environment that develops students both inside and outside of the classroom. Our curriculum provides a balanced learning environment while also emphasizing character development and Christian leadership. Our goal is to help your student recognize and grow his or her God-given talents. We’d love for you to join our Impact Nation today! Visit https://icajax.com/ to apply and complete our five-step admission process.

Finding Your Purpose During Black History Month

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Finding Your Purpose During Black History Month

Every February, people in the United States celebrate the achievements and history of African Americans as part of Black History Month.  It honors all Black people from all periods of U.S. history, from the early 17th century to today, and has even begun to be recognized internationally in the last decade.

From civil rights trailblazers to activists, there have been many names that have become leaders in politics, culture, science, and more – like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and Rosa Parks, just to name a few. These heroes have all made a huge difference in our society.  Impact wants our students to discover their purpose and make a difference in their community.

Get to Know God

Impact’s ability to segment dedicated time to better familiarize ourselves with the Bible and God’s teachings quells the excuses that we may tell ourselves, such as being too busy. These excuses have no room for validity anymore. We give students the chance to sit and study God’s messages and connect both to Him and with each other. Students are not left alone to navigate this journey, our passionate staff is there to help them understand and guide the way.

Discover Your Purpose

Earlier this month at Chapel, Min. Kellee Craig spoke about the importance of Purpose. It was an excellent reminder to consider the parts we must play, and what God requires of us. It is up to us to use His guidance to find out our personal purpose, and how we can best put it to use. Whether that is sharing our knowledge, art, leadership, or empathy, we can learn how to utilize our talents to make a difference within our families, friends, and communities, just as our Black History Month heroes have done. Here at Impact, we’ll help you leave your impact.

We encourage our students and families to participate in our Black History Month Hero campaign. We are accepting forms detailing who your Black History Month hero is and why! We’d love to hear who inspires you the most. Fill out and submit your form here.

We Do School Differently

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We Do School Differently

You always want what is best for your kids as parents. You want them to have all of the love, safe shelter, good health, and best education that is available.  Don’t think that you can’t have a say in all of these matters – your choices can make a huge impact on your kids.

While your child’s education is typically determined by school zoning boundaries and places of residency, that doesn’t mean you are stuck with the local school you may not want your children to attend. We’ve outlined the difference of all of your choices down below, so you can determine what will benefit your children and suit your family’s needs.

Public vs Charter vs Private School

Public schools are usually traditional schools, located within a certain radius of your home, are free for students to attend, and have educational standards that are set by each state individually. Because public schools are reliant on federal, state, and local tax dollars, funding can, unfortunately, be cut. This can lead to larger class sizes, diminished extracurricular activities, and decreased academic achievement for students in general.
Charter schools are also free to attend. There is usually an application process, as space is limited, however, they can’t discriminate against admitting students because of their race, gender, or disability. Charter schools are considered independent public schools run by nonprofit groups, private companies, or community organizations. While they do exist in almost every state, they are not as common as public schools, so they may not be located close enough to your residence.

Private schools are privately funded schools and require tuition fees for students to attend. Since private schools, like Impact Christian Academy, are autonomous, they are able to establish a curriculum that is not regulated by state standards, as public schools are. This includes religious education. Also, class sizes are usually more intimate and allow for more individualized approaches to teaching.

Our Structure: Our Four Pillars

ICA is not just any ordinary Christian school. We have four core pillars that we model our curriculum around that provide an education that extends well beyond academics. We emphasize character development and Christian leadership at every level and strive to mentor students to be the best versions of themselves. Our pillars are:

Academics: High academic success with a focus on stem and college prep is our specialty.
Altruism: Teaching our students the altruistic values or the compassion of Christ is essential to being a successful person.
Arts: We encourage and vibrantly promote art culture. Our students are creative and talented in performance, visual, musical, and culinary arts.
Athletics: A dynamic program of student activities is vital to the educational and spiritual development of the student.

What makes our youth gifted and talented may not always be good grades in school, but a different way of looking at the world and learning. We are currently enrolling new students. Apply today.

Why Teach Altruism?

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Why Teach Altruism?

Altruism is at the core of our values here at Impact Christian Academy. It highlights the importance of selflessness and promotes putting others’ needs ahead of your own. It stems from humans’ innate desire of helping people, without the obligation of doing so, or the expectation of being rewarded for such kind gestures.

While the goal of altruism is not for personal gain, the practice does reap some positive benefits in the process. We believe those who are altruistic become the most successful by learning life skills and making positive impacts on their community as they go. Helping others tends to improve physical and mental health, reminds us that we’re not alone, and inspires others to do the same.

Think of the verse, “It is better to give than it is to receive.” – Acts 20:35

ICA enjoys showing our students that altruism is easier than it seems. Giving does not have to strictly mean gift-giving by any means. It can be simple acts of kindness and lending bits of time to others.

Some examples of altruism include:

  • Holding the door or elevator open for someone
  • Helping your neighbor carry their groceries inside
  • Ask someone how they are doing, and genuinely listen
  • Help out with chores
  • Give someone a sincere compliment
  • Volunteer at a soup kitchen, animal shelter, or community center
  • Donate non-perishable goods and clothes to a local drive

There’s no one-size-fits-all for practicing altruism. There is a method or medium for everyone. We encourage you to try to find ways of making altruism a priority in your life.  

Being a private Christian school makes altruism a priority for us.  ICA’s School-wide Community Service aims to model students to share the love of God through practical acts of kindness. By serving others with simple acts of selfless love, our students learn how open hearts, together with their peers, can make a difference.

How Staying Active Benefits Your Student

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Everyone knows that most kids love recess. But what you might not know is that climbing to the top of a slide or swinging from the monkey bars can help lead your student to success in the classroom. There is exhaustive research that suggests that physically active people are not only healthier but also perform better on tests of cerebral or intellectual ability. Further, establishing an active lifestyle as a student can help set healthy patterns that will last into adulthood.

Studies have consistently demonstrated that physically active people are not only healthier but also perform better on tests of cerebral or intellectual ability. Some studies even indicate that the results can be immediate– even a quick 5-minute walk can yield instant results. Most studies show that the more exercise students get, the more proficient their mental faculties and cerebral performance can become. A healthy and active lifestyle is a routine that needs practice and reinforcement to make into a lifelong habit, which is why we encourage all of our students to become active from a young age.

Here at Impact Christian Academy, we believe that offering a dynamic program of student activities is vital to the educational and spiritual development of the student. Just this school year we unveiled a brand-new playground for our Lower School Students as well as a weight room for our student-athletes to utilize in their athletic journey. We have a robust offering of experiences to enhance the development of positive student habits and attitudes that will prepare them for life outside of athletics. With our teams winning at the district and regional levels, we have established a winning athletics program. But more importantly, we don’t subscribe to the “winning at any cost mentality” that can be so damaging to student development, but rather we view athletics as a platform used to bring glory to God.

Ultimately, countless health benefits are brought on by physical activity. This is why this month we are encouraging our entire community of learning to get active this November. Whether it is team sports, pick-up games, weekend trips to the gym, or daily walks around the block, we can take care of our bodies and let our minds follow positive patterns of achievement. To learn more about the athletic programs at Impact Christian Academy, visit: https://icajax.com/athletics/

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ICA is Now Enrolling

Impact Christian Academy is now enrolling for the 2024-2025 school year. Discover a place where passion meets purpose and dreams become reality.