Curriculum
Grades K4 – K5 (P-1)
HCA offers excellent programs designed for teaching and nurturing four and five-year-olds. A strong foundation is built for reading and math through phonics and number concepts. Although letter sounds and combinations of those sounds are the foundation at the K-4 level, many of our students far exceed this goal and willexpand their world unlimitedly with their new ability to read. HCA five-year-old students read on a level well above national norms. Math is introduced in K-4 through number concepts and by the end of K-5 students are mastering addition, subtraction, counting, and other math skills. Led by a highly qualified, loving, and enthusiastic faculty, instruction in the K-4, K-5, and Pre-1st programs encompasses a mixture of fun activities, games, arts andcrafts, and traditional classroom instruction. A variety of stimulating learning opportunities is also provided for students to study and explore the world around them through hands on activities.
To enter K-4, children must be four years old by September 1st. The K-4 day operates from 8:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Monday – Friday.
To enter K-5, children must be five years old by September 1st. The K-5 program operates from 8:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and the full-day Pre-1st program operates from 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. K-5 and Pre-1st programs share the same academic goals. In a full-day setting, the Pre-1st program allows for enhancement of additional class time in subject areas and enrichment activities.
Grades 1 – 6
The elementary school years are the formative years in a student’s life. It is the elementary school that has the responsibility of laying the solid foundation upon which increasingly sophisticated academic and personal experiences can be built. Curriculum and thoughtful lesson planning reflect the HCA faculty goals of developing student leaders who are well-balanced academically, socially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. A variety of subjects are taught providing students with a firm grounding in areas such as math, science, reading, language, history, spelling, and Bible. Harvester students are encouraged to be independent thinkers and to make intelligent judgments and decisions. The HCA curriculum is developmentally appropriate and challenging and includes A Beka, as well as Bob Jones and CSI. Students develop poise and self-confidence through involvement in music, chapel, oral book reports and other projects. Students broaden their education by attending music, art, and physical education classes. Technology is integrated into the classroom at a developmentally appropriate pace. A state of the art mobile computer lab extends the teacher’s and student’s capabilities into the virtual world conveniently from their individual desk. The library is updated yearly to encourage young readers to develop a love of reading. The HCA library offers the nationally recognized Accelerated Reader program. Spanish instruction is also a part of the elementary curriculum. For accountability, Harvester’s elementary students complete the Stanford Achievement Test and the Otis Lennon School Ability Test annually.
HCA faculty and staff are dedicated to providing learning experiences in an encouraging and caring atmosphere. Harvester teachers have a genuine interest in each of their students and work and pray for them to succeed individually. Elementary teachers are well qualified in teaching and childhood development. They are required to attend continuing education courses designed to energize their spirit and update their knowledge of the latest teaching methods. All HCA teachers are observed consistently and meet regularly with administration assuring classroom goals are met. Combined, the elementary teachers have over 80 years of teaching experience. Student to teacher ratio is low, approximately 15 to 1. Fieldtrips are designed to supplement classroom studies and reflect grade-appropriate content outside the classroom. Teaching by example, service projects in the community and world are offered every year to give the students the opportunity to serve as Christ himself did.
Grades 7 – 8
Harvester’s Middle School has been designed around the needs of youngsters in transition between childhood and adolescence. At a tender time of their lives, Middle School students long for a safe, nurturing and welcoming environment with caring teachers to guide them to success. Harvester provides this community and nurtures life-long relationships. HCA’s teachers model Christ’s love to Middle School students through their interactions with them in the classroom. Harvester’s Middle School program is developed to prepare students to accept increasing responsibility for class preparation, employment of effective study skills, organizational skills, and personal involvement in their own education. We seek to support students in making the delicate transitions from childhood to adolescence by helping them recognize the connections between actions and consequences, effort and achievement, perseverance and accomplishment of goals. Courses are planned with the goal of helping students develop and refine the basic skills of reading, writing, listening, and mastering math concepts. Students are taught to analyze and solve problems. They learn to use research skills, assess facts, analyze data, formulate conclusions, and summarize findings. As students progress through Middle School, they participate in classroom activities designed to promote maturation of reasoning skills and to encourage them to advance from concrete to abstract thinking as they are developmentally ready. Middle School students are taught science, math, history, vocabulary, reading, language, and Bible using curriculum from Glencoe and Bob Jones, among others. They also attend physical education, art, music, and computer classes. Weekly chapel services offer a time of worship and reflection. Student to teacher ratio is approximately 15 to 1. Field trips are also incorporated to augment what is being taught in the classroom. Each year the 8th grade participates in a team-building retreat. This special trip is designed to unify the class and to promote life-long friendships as they prepare for the transition into high school. HCA’s Middle School is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC). All teachers hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher and are committed to excellence in education. Harvester’s faculty and staff are dedicated to assisting each student reach their full potential. Teachers must meet accrediting standards and are well qualified to teach their particular subject.
Grades 9 – 12
Harvester’s College Preparatory High School offers rigorous academic programs designed to create and refine leaders and prepare each student for entrance into a college that is best suited to them. The High School environment is consistent with the entire HCA campus, in which students value honesty and Biblical principals and accept responsibility for accomplishments, for actions, and for the well being of others. HCA prepares students for the next phase of their lives. Curriculum is from Bob Jones, CSI, and Glencoe among others and students are taught core subjects such as math, science, history, Bible, English, and Spanish. Academically challenging Advanced Placement and Honors courses are offered. Life skills, music, choral, art, physical education, independent study, drama, and computer classes are offered as electives. HCA students experience far more than the classroom allows by participating in nationwide educational field trips, world mission trips, and travel abroad for foreign language classes, based on level of interest and offerings. Harvester students perform well on college entrance tests and have been awarded advanced standing at colleges and universities as well as academic scholarships and the Hope scholarship. As a competitive, college preparatory school, one of Harvester’s goals is the preparation of students for college. To assist in attaining this goal, Harvester offers an extensive college-counseling program. The college-counseling program is aimed at assisting each family to use the college search and application process as a tool to find the best match between their student's needs and desires and the offerings of various colleges. Guidance Counselors begin meeting with students in Middle School to provide assistance in course direction and continue to refine and assist in attaining the High School student’s goals relating to life beyond Harvester. Counselors assist families by inviting college financial aid advisors (GA411) to campus to educate parents and students on availability of scholarships and grants. Harvester encourages students to visit college campuses and also invite college recruiters to HCA’s campus for discussions. HCA graduates are eligible to receive the HOPE Scholarship as well as the Hope Pell Grant and other scholarships. Graduates have attended universities or been offered admission to Auburn University, The Citadel, Berry College, Covenant College, The University of Alabama, University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Mercer University, Young Harris, Georgia State University, Samford University, Oglethorpe University, Georgia Southern, The University of West Georgia and other state and prestigious private universities across the nation. Each year, Harvester seniors of excellence are recognized as leaders among the state and nation and are awarded academic and athletic scholarships at the college level. Better than 90% of HCA graduates go on to attend higher education at a public or private university.
The High School is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC). High School teachers are dedicated to assisting each student reach their full potential. Teachers must meet accrediting standards and are well qualified to teach their particular subject holding bachelor degrees or higher. Student to teacher ratio is approximately 15 to 1.
Life-long relationships are formed between Harvester and its students. HCA alumni are a cherished part of the HCA family and many continue to stay actively involved in the school community through the Harvester Christian Academy Alumni Association.