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Purpose and Identity

Blake Christian Academy, Lake Helen, FL, is a non-profit Christian Montessori school dedicated to following Christ as well as the spiritual and academic development of the whole child through the Montessori method of education. Blake Memorial Baptist Church of Lake Helen, founded BCA in 1990 as a part-time volunteer tutoring program. Since then, the school expanded to preschool and Kindergarten, and in 2008 became accredited with the League of Christian Schools holding a "School of Excellence" rating every year since then.

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In 2016, God called BCA to expand the school, and we were blessed to open a new Elementary/Middle School building in 2019. The school adheres to a philosophy and method of education that is geared toward developing creative, independent children who have an enthusiasm for learning. The school also considers it a priority to introduce students to the graces and blessings of Jesus Christ. Open to any child without regard to race, creed, color or national origin, BCA supports a Christian school community and is committed to providing an excellent education for children from diverse backgrounds. Our child-centered school, with professionally trained staff and carefully prepared classrooms, promotes joy in learning and positive character development helping each child reach his or her true potential.

 

Blake Christian Academy has the following communities: Toddler (ages 2-3 years of age), Primary (3-6 years of age), Lower Elementary (1st – 3rd grades), Upper Elementary (4th – 6th grades), and Adolescent (7th – 8th grades).

Scripture

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old,

he will not depart from it.” - Proverbs 22:6

Accreditation

Blake Christian Academy is accredited by International League of Christian Schools (ILCS), and its state affiliate, Florida League of Christian Schools (FLOCS), #4594. We are members of International Montessori Council and the League of Christian Schools. These organizations promote continuous spiritual development, academic credibility, and the education of the whole student under God’s authority... mind, body, and spirit.

The benefits of accreditation are innumerable and vary from state to state. One of the most significant benefits for parents that are concerned is the validation that the school provides appropriate curriculum and sequence of course offerings for the benefit of its students.

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Additionally, accreditation requires that a school focus on continual improvement of programs, services, and teacher quality through regular evaluation, data analysis, professional development, and long-range strategic planning, as well as the discontinuance of outdated and ineffective learning strategies.

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Blake Christian Academy is registered with the Department of Education as a private, non-public school, DOE #5976.

Mission Statement

The mission of our school is to provide a Montessori-based education that celebrates the individual gifts of each child, nurtures a passion for learning biblical principles, and equips them for academic excellence and Christian discipleship, as Christ has called us to do.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Vision Statement

The vision of our school is to meet the needs of the whole child and family in a strong community that feels like home. As unique educators, leaders, and dedicated professionals, we desire to create lifelong learners who are independent, critical thinkers, who act responsibly, honor God, and are inspired to academic excellence.

Statement of
Educational Philosophy

Blake Christian Academy is a Montessori-based Christian school that is dedicated to the mental, physical, social, and spiritual development of all children. We believe that all people are created in the image and likeness of God with unique combinations of gifts, abilities, interests, learning styles, and personalities. Children move through developmental stages called sensitive periods, in which particular learning is at its optimum level.

 

For children, education can be a joyful process in a prepared environment of continuous learning, using proper educational tools that are developmentally hands-on, self-paced, and allow for self-correction. We believe in creating a cooperative classroom that is child-sized, safe, and sensorial-based that fosters respect, responsibility and resourcefulness. A Montessori-style classroom houses beautiful, natural materials, practical life, sensorial refinement, mathematics, language arts, natural science, history, geography, Biblical studies, character development, classical arts and more. Children respond differently to lessons because they are created uniquely by God (Psalm 139:14) and have special gifts (Romans 12:6).

 

In the prepared environment, BCA’s equipped teachers serve as mentors and guides and have been trained in this work to help children learn for themselves. Our educational goal is to provide children with a positive, self-initiated learning environment emphasizing God’s unconditional love (Romans 8:38).

 

As advocates of the home, our mission is to strengthen families by encouraging parents in their role as their child’s first and most important teacher, nurturer, and role model (Proverbs 22:6).

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NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY: As a religious entity and ministry of Blake Memorial Baptist Church, Blake Christian Academy is legally permitted to make enrollment and employment decisions based upon religious criteria, including doctrinal and lifestyle issues. It is the policy of Blake Memorial Baptist Church and Blake Christian Academy to employ qualified persons who subscribe without reservation to BCA's Statement of Faith, Lifestyle & Moral Integrity Statement, and who are living out these doctrines and standards in all areas of their lives, both at and away from ministry/school functions. Blake Christian Academy does not discriminate in enrollment and employment on the basis of race, color, sex (as determined at birth and not subject to change), national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Statement of Faith

The following truths are held in agreement by administration, faculty, and staff of both Blake Memorial Baptist Church and Blake Christian Academy. Stakeholders understand and accept that the guiding truths stated below drive our instruction. We believe:
 

  1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative, inerrant Word of God (II Tim. 3:16)

  2. We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons; the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:1, Matt. 28:19, John 10:30)

  3. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ (John 10:33); His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14, Matt. 1:23, Luke 1:35); His sinless life (Heb. 4:15, 7:26); His miracles (John 2:11); His vicarious and atoning death (I Cor. 15:3, Eph. 1:7, Heb. 2:9); His bodily resurrection (John 11:25, I Cor. 15:4); in His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19, Acts 1:9); His personal return in power and glory (Acts 1:11, Rev. 19:11)

  4. We believe in absolute necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit for salvation because of the exceeding sinfulness of human nature; and that men are justified on the single ground of faith in the shed blood of Christ and that only by God’s grace through faith alone are we saved. (John 3:16-19, 5:24, Rom. 3:23, 5:8-9, Eph. 2:8-10, Titus 3:5)

  5. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28-29)

  6. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ (I Cor. 12:12-13, Gal. 3:26-28)

  7. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling, the Christian is enabled to live a godly life (Rom. 8:13-14, I Cor. 3:16, 6:19-20, Eph. 4:20, 5:18)

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For purposes of this school’s faith, doctrine, educational philosophy, beliefs, core values, policies, practices, and discipline, the Pastor and Board of Directors of Blake Memorial Baptist Church has final interpretive authority on the meaning and application of the Bible.

 

BCA is committed to guiding its students to cultivate a biblical worldview. The scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inerrant and inspired Word of God, and speak with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind. Sowing the seeds of genuine Christian character and nurturing a relationship with God in the hearts and minds of the next generation is of utmost importance. We do this through active response in Scripture, prayer, devotions, chapel, and biblical character development.

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