Paragon Christian Academy

[EduCativ]

Paragon Christian Academy is committed to the belief that learning rather than teaching is a vital issue in education and that learning must be based on scriptural rather than secular principles. Because Biblical truths permeate the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum used, pupils benefit both in terms of academic training and character development.
The system is the curriculum of Accelerated Christian Education. We had been following the progress of this curriculum since we first were introduced to it five years before. It is a unique individualized system, which emphasizes learning rather than teaching. That premise, coupled with the Biblical foundation of the curriculum and the character objectives interwoven into the educational process, led us to know that we had what Christian parents needed to educate their children as they wanted them to be educated.
We believe that the extra-curricular subject matter has a very important part to play in the overall development of the student. To give the student a well-rounded education, the extra-curricular subjects are offered in the afternoon and are specially designed to complement the PACE material. We believe that these extra subjects will allow the student to develop important skills such as note-taking, essay writing, imaginative writing, practical skills in maths and science, musical and dramatic skills, public speaking skills. As well as this, these lessons provide time for discussion, group interaction, project work, and research.
PACEs integrate Godly character-building lessons into the academic content, and self-instructional activities are carefully designed to develop thinking skills and create mastery learning.
Students begin their PACE work by noting their goals, the concepts they will learn, a Bible verse, and a corresponding character trait. From the beginning of each PACE, they know what is expected and assume responsibility for their learning. Throughout the curriculum, the introduction of new vocabulary words is computer-controlled so that no new vocabulary word is used without the student first learning its meaning and pronunciation. Also, these words are repeated a certain number of times to ensure mastery. Each PACE contains several Checkups, which are quizzes covering a section of the PACE. If mastery in an area is not achieved, the Checkup will reveal that weak area. Students can then take the time necessary to review and learn those concepts before proceeding to the next section of work.
Upon completion of the activities and Checkups, students prepare to take the Self Test. Here students evaluate themselves, and a supervisor/tutor determines readiness for the final PACE Test. When the Self Test is completed, the student hands in the PACE and takes the PACE Test the next school morning.
Another advantage to pupils using the ACE system is that material is not bound in large textbooks. Instead, each subject is presented in small booklets called PACE’s enabling each pupil to master the material for themselves at their working pace. The knowledge in a PACE follows upon what the child has learned in the previous PACE’s. In this way, he or she is constantly adding to a store of knowledge.PACE’s allow children to progress steadily through the curriculum, building a firm base of understanding.
Advancement to new material is not permitted until testing demonstrates that the pupils have thoroughly comprehended all material contained in a previous PACE. Capable children may advance without being held back by those who need more time to learn. The staff is released by our method to devote more time to each child. In a conventional classroom, teachers instruct the entire class at one time, which necessarily limits the attention they can give individually to each child. In our Learning Centre, pupils are busy working at their speed on PACE’s at the right level for their ability. If a child is unable to solve a problem he can call on the teacher for help. The teacher then works carefully with the child, helping him to find the answer to his problem. Since such instruction is private, the pupil is encouraged to ask questions, which he might find embarrassing to ask in front of a class. There is therefore a free exchange of ideas between teacher and pupil. The student then really learns.
Paragon Christian Academy was established in 1992, shortly after the Lord provided the ministry of World Vision for Christ with its first church building in London. The Ministry’s founder and director, Dr. Albert Chambers, has always had a vision for ministry to the children. When he was first saved in Portadown, Northern Ireland, over 40 years ago, he began outreach work to the children of his community. Shortly after the Lord moved him to London in 1969, Dr. Chambers began reaching out to the children in addition to his salvation and deliverance crusades aimed at the most depressed of the inner city areas of this land. There were many times when Dr. Chambers longed for a facility to use as a day school to teach our young people the things they need to fulfill the purposes of God in their lives, based firmly on the foundation of the Holy Scriptures. In 1992, the time had arrived. The Lord gave us the facility, and he gave us the system.

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