We have approval to begin transportation set up for 2016-2017. (Enrolled full time students living more than 2 miles but not more than 30 minutes from DA may be eligible for public transportation or reimbursement.) Mrs. McNamara and the DA staff have labored many hours to get us to this place. We are excited about the options chartering is opening to our Christian school. We anticipate an immediate increase in academic enrollment. We are adding kindergarten. This is beneficial to stu-dent outcomes in upper grades. Increased enrollment means greater variety in classes, more interactions & networks, increased extra-curricular options including athletics, and an ability to pay staff commensurate with experience enhancing retention. According to the ODE website:

A Chartered Nonpublic school is a private school that holds a valid charter issued by the state board of education and maintains compliance with the Operating Standards for Ohio’s Schools (Ohio Administrative Code 3301-35-12)… Chartered Non-Public schools are eligible for the Administrative Cost Reimbursement Program, Auxiliary Services Program and Transportation services for students.Full time students have the most options though we will continue to be a resource for our homeschoolers. We anticipate a spike in full-time enrollments. We highly

recommend current families enroll during our initial period which begins January 4, through January 28, 2016 in order to guarantee a seat. If we receive chartering approval in January, open enrollment for applications of potential voucher recipients begins February 1, 2016. New qualifying families will start submitting applications. (Please call the DA office to request links to guidelines if you want to find qualifications).Please know, DA’s process of enrollment is changing slightly in order to better help compliance with state standards.

We highly recommend current families enroll during our initial period which begins January 4, through January 28, 2016 in order to guarantee a seat.

DAQuarterly

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Update on theChartering ProcessBy Dss. Michelle Caldwell, Head of SchoolMost private Christian schools in the Dayton area have been chartered by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). We hope to soon join their ranks.

>> CONT. PAGE FOUR

12/15 WINTER Edition

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Featured Parent: Fr. Harry Mathis•Family Background: Our family has lived in the Dayton area for 4 ½ Years. We moved here with the Air Force in 2011 from Germany. I was concluding a career as an Air Force Chaplain, and my wife, Sherry is an artist and Art Teacher, and we had lived in 13 places over the past 32 years. We have five children, three children-in-law, and four grandchildren. Our youngest, Lydia, enrolled in DA when we arrived, and graduated last May. I currently serve as Rector of Christ Our Hope Anglican Church, the daughter parish of Christ the King, where Dominion Academy is located, and am on the DA Board.

•School Experience: Our children were all homeschooled and also attended private Christian and/or public schools over the years. We were so pleasantly surprised (amazed, actually) as we became acquainted with Dominion Academy. We had never before seen a school where the faculty showed such love, care and respect for each other and for their students. We also had never seen a school where the students loved and cared for each other so deeply, and especially where the older students, cared for and encouraged the younger. We were also amazed to find that

DA students took their learning so seriously, and encouraged each other to do so.

•Our Daughter’s Experience: After only homeschooling, DA was Lydia’s first real full time classroom experience. Though she had done well academically in most areas, she was concerned about Math. She spent the summer prior to entering 9th grade reviewing and prepping, but still was a bit challenged as school began. We were thrilled to find a faculty member willing to tutor her, and for a very reasonable

cost. We were amazed to find that this faculty member was so patient and encouraging to the effect that Lydia began to excel in Math. As time went on, teacher after teacher proved to be just what was needed, meeting her where she was, and encouraging her to learn all she could. She grew spiritually, as well, through the example of facul-ty who live out their Christian faith. Through her four years at DA, Lydia absolutely blossomed and thrived, eventually graduating as a Salutatorian, and with 30 semester hours of college credit through the AP courses she took.

We had never before seen a school where the faculty showed such love, care and respect for each other and for their students.

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attention to detail in costume, stage, lighting, and sound. The production value in tonight’s performance will be hard to beat.The cast achieved more than doing justice to such a bold and ambitious work. The hard work by the students and director was clearly well worth the effort. Dominion Academy’s Julius Caesar is a tour-de-force of a program that seems to get better year by year.”We are very proud of our students and thankful for the direction of Natalie Houliston, our artist-in-residence from the Human Race Theatre.

Dominion Academy presented William Shakespeare’s tragedy Julius Caesar on December 3rd and 4th. This was Dominion Academy’s very first produc-tion of a tragedy and the reaction from audience members showed it to be a suc-cess. Alumnus and Board Member John Weis reviewed the performance saying, “A breath-taking performance! The acting of the players, both passionate and considered, lightened ever so slight-ly with simple comedic relief, put me on the edge of my seat and sent shivers down my spine. I was impressed by the

Julius Caesar, December 3-4

With the expected expansion of our younger grades as the Ed-Choice Voucher becomes available, we were looking for a brand new reading program. What we found is so exciting. Remember those “American Girl” dolls that were so popular when they came out a couple of decades ago? We were delighted to learn that the inventor of American Girl was an elementary school teacher with a passion for teaching reading. With the fortune she made selling American Girl to Mattel, she created a new reading program for K-2 based on the model of the pretend, but very realistic, Super-Kids gang. These little action figures follow each young learner as they apply phonics to reading, learn how to write their letters and even learn to write simple sentences as early as first grade. The basis of the program came from not educational, but neurological research -- scientists recording

Super Kids: DA Prep Schoolers get READY to Read!

and analyzing kids’ brain waves as they are learning. Not surprisingly, the test results showed that kids learn best when the language arts are integrated (reading, writing, spelling, handwriting all done at once) AND when the curriculum provides motivation -- the SuperKids growing up with the students from Kindergarten through 2nd grade. Tim Reilly, principal of an inner-city parochial school in Cincinnati, reports that after 4 years of integrating SuperKids into their curriculum, they have a 100% pass rate for reading among students who have learned with the SuperKids program. His enthusiasm is palpable and he says the main feature is the “motivation” factor. He says a day doesn’t go by that a parent in the parking lot exclaims they “can’t wait to hear what happens with the Super Kids today.” -Sandy McNamara, Academic Director

“What has your life looked like since you graduated from DA in 2007? After graduating from DA I moved to California to attend Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. I earned a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering, and then moved to Riverside, California. I was a structural engineer for three years, and earned my professional engineering license. I then realized that I was most interested in historic architecture and chose to go back to school at University of California, Riverside to study architectural history and historic preservation.

“What are you doing currently?I graduated in June with a Master’s Degree in Art History and currently work in the historic preservation division of the planning department in Ontario, a city near Riverside. I also use my engineering skill set to teach structural analysis at California Baptist University.

“What did you appreciate most about Dominion Academy” I’m very grateful for the intensive liberal arts education that I received at DA, particularly the exposure to a wide breadth of literature and the emphasis on writing well. The ability to think critically about ideas and express them clearly in writing has benefited me greatly in undergraduate and graduate school, as well as in my current positions.

What is your favorite memory at DA?I loved Mrs. MacNamara’s AP Art History class.The class was one of my favorites due to her passion for the subject and her endless anecdotes.

“What advice would you give to a current Dominion student?”Take advantage of the fact that your teachers are presenting their subjects through the lens of the Bible. Ask them tough questions and use this occasion to learn what Christian faith looks like in everyday life.

Alumni Spotlight: Sandra Schmitz

and/or with lower than certain income thresholds to once again send their students to a school that teaches God reigns, and Jesus is Lord, and that is the basis for all morality. Won’t you consider helping us make this transition today? We must spend several more thousand to fulfill all the compliance requirements by February 1, 2016. Our goal is in sight. Please give generously.

If you wish to make a year end, tax deductable donation, please make out a check to “Dominion Academy of Dayton” and mail it to “Dominion Academy of Dayton, 925 North Main St. Dayton, OH 45405.” Or, to give online via Paypal, go to dominionacademy.org and click “Support” on the homepage!

Chartering Update, Continued.All new applicants will submit a birth certificate and be subject to an on-site entry exam. Our on-going policy of one parent being an active member of a local Christian congregation remains intact. We will continue to follow up with local church leadership regarding this requirement. We are committed to providing an exceptional private Christian school experience. We recognize this chartering as vital to maintaining our mission to client families and culture.Wholesale public education began in the U.S. nearly two centuries ago. It has changedmarkedly since Horace Mann began his crusade for education reform. Regardless of your opinion of Mr. Mann’s programs, he maintained that public education should be guided by Christian principles and morals. In the current economic climate, the buying power of the dollar continues to decrease while families find it ever

more difficult to maintain their homes and families on one or even two incomes. This has put non-homeschooled Christian education increasingly out of reach for the average family. (The average cost of a private high school education in Ohio is over $9,000 according to the ODE). Chartering non-tax supported private schools in Ohio brings us full circle. This is a way for Christian families living in failing districts

The Dominion Academy Varsity Soccer Team, under first year head coach Troy Canavan, finished its best regular season ever in it’s third year of play. 10 wins, 1 loss, 1 tie. Tournament Champions (2nd straight year) at the Milford PAW Tournament, and it’s first ever trip to the Ohio Christian School Athletic Association (OCSAA) Final Four Soccer Tournament with 1st and 2nd round tournament victories against

DePaul Cristo Rey (7-0) and Mars Hill Academy (1-0).

The trip to Ohio Christian University for the Final Four Tournament was a disappointing end to a highly successful season. The semi-final game pitted the Sabers against last year’s runner-up, the Temple Christian-Mansfield, Crusaders. After keeping the Crusaders at bay for most of the first

2015 Varsity Soccer: A Great Third Season!half, a late 2nd goal just prior to the first half whistle stole the wind from the Saber’s sails. Temple Christian came out firing from all sides scoring 2 quick goals at the start of the second half to sink Dominion’s hope for a trip to the finals. The 6-0 final score did not represent the heart and soul our boys and girls put into playing this heated contest to the final whistle.The next day saw the Sabers opposing last year’s champions, Hearts For Jesus Christ Guardians (HFJC-Cleveland) in the consolation game. This see-saw match had several missed opportunities on both sides for over 85 of the 90 minute match. At the 87th minute, HFJC managed to slip in the only goal of the contest to seal their third place finish.

The Saber team only loses two seniors this year (Jacob Richter and David Gallivan), and should again have a strong run for the OCSAA State title next year.-Phil Pierce, Athletic Director