Philosophy
The philosophy of Heritage Schools is that the school should cooperate fully with the home and the church to develop each individual to his fullest potential encompassing these qualities:
- Relationship with God
- Responsible and productive citizenship
- Growth in skills and knowledge
- Physical and emotional well-being
- Moral conduct in all relationships
- Development of social skills and good manners
The Bible is presented as the inspired Word of God and the Lord Jesus Christ as the solution to the problems of our day.
Nursery: Creative Curriculum, We Care
Heritage Nursery is spacious, cheerful and modern. The clean and safe environment provides the backdrop for learning and loving. All personnel are carefully screened and must demonstrate superior character, patience and ability with a God-given love for babies.
The Heritage cafeteria provides nutritious, delicious breakfasts, lunches and snacks for the little ones.
The daily schedule includes both indoor and outdoor play, story time, music, feeding, and encourages verbalization, manners, participation, independence and potty training. The staff’s goal is to provide each baby with security, and equally important, provide all parents with the security that their most precious possession is being well cared for in the Heritage Nursery.
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Preschool: Bob Jones Press, Creative Curriculum, We Care
Preschoolers are placed in small classes according to their appropriate age level. They experience both an open and enclosed classroom environment. The open classroom introduces children to making individual choices, while working with blocks, books, puzzles and dramatic play. The enclosed classroom teaches Bible stories, scripture memory, the alphabet, numbers, shapes and colors. Use of all the children’s senses is incorporated into the daily curriculum.
Children are taught that they are a special creation of God. They are treated with respect and learn to respect each other. The child’s first experience with school is enjoyable, while providing a solid educational foundation. Communication with the parents is aided by progress reports, parent teacher fellowships, home visits and conferences.
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Pre-Kindergarten VPK: Bob Jones Press, Creative Curriculum
Four-year olds at Heritage, discover how to think, grow, know and live “God’s Way.” Daily lesson plans include Bible, english, math, science, social studies, story time, art, music and motor development. Basic, visual perception skills, along with alphabet recognition, initial letter sounds, number and numeral recognition, correct pencil hold and handwriting strokes, are mastered. Since reading is a thinking process, Heritage stresses not only language acquisition, visual discrimination of basic shapes, letters and numerals, but also a variety of reasoning skills that will help the child sort out, recognize and use this information. This teacher-directed, language-experience approach results in a uniquely integrated, unpressured foundational program for a four-year old.
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Kindergarten: Bob Jones Press, Creative Curriculum
The five-year old kindergarten class is an area of crucial importance at Heritage. Since this is a child’s first introduction to school and more formal academic training, it is imperative that this experience be a positive one. This sets the tone for the child’s entire academic future. This can only be accomplished when each kindergartner is accepted as an individual learner. The child’s skills and abilities are assessed, and the child is then led to achieve success, step-by-step, from one level of performance to another. The curriculum includes the development of listening, speaking, penmanship, spelling, composition, reading and math skills. The ultimate goal is to develop skills that every learner will use enthusiastically and frequently as a means of building Christ-like lives.
Graduates are honored in a ceremony, complete with caps, gowns and diplomas. They all have individual speaking parts in a play. It is definitely the highlight of the year!
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Elementary: Bob Jones Press
Heritage Preparatory School employs a traditional, Christian approach to learning. All classes are conducted in a loving, disciplined and individualized atmosphere. Each day begins with pledges, prayer and Bible study.
Students learn the practical applications of the Bible to their daily lives and character formation.
Students maintain a daily assignment pad and conduct report. This information, compiled with a weekly newsletter from the teacher, provides an effective means of communication.
A very strong emphasis is given to reading through phonics training and building a sight-word vocabulary. Comprehension of subject matter, as well as a growing desire to read different types of literature, is cultivated.
Heritage also sponsors a Title I program. Qualifying students receive free, individualized tutoring in reading, math and study skills at no additional charge.
Textbooks are attractive, full color and fast paced in each facet of the elementary curriculum, such as Bible, language (grammar and composition), math, history, science, penmanship, spelling and reading. Nationwide and state competency tests are administered annually to measure academic progress, determine strengths and weaknesses and compare the student with others of his grade throughout the United States. These results, as well as classroom performance, are communicated to the parents regularly via progress reports, report cards, parent-teacher fellowships, private conferences and home visits.
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Middle School (6th. 7th & 8th)
Middle school years are generally the most traumatic. The child is in the process of becoming a teenager. It is a period of confusion, of searching for one’s identity, of gaining independence and of reassessment. It is particularly crucial that the student has proper peer and adult, role models in a controlled, Christian atmosphere.
The middle school provides an opportunity for transition from the elementary to the high school. Students are slowly introduced to fifty minute periods, the use of lockers between subjects, middle school clubs and changing classes. The slow transition over the course of an entire school year helps to cushion the typical abrupt shock of a sixth grader suddenly thrust into middle school.
A strong, traditional curriculum is carried forward into the middle grades. Specialized teachers instruct individual subjects in their area of expertise. Emphasis is placed upon the mastery of foundational mathematics and english skills. The Bible curriculum is extended to include a daily chapel program, where Christian life values, decision making and character training are stressed. Science and social studies become more intense and critical thinking is taught.
Successful completion of middle school at Heritage Preparatory School ensures the student of a solid academic foundation. This is necessary for the rigorous demands of a high school like Heritage, where only a college preparatory diploma is offered.
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High School (9th. 10th 11th and 12th)
The 1983 report of the National Commission of Excellence in Education expressed alarm at the “marked deterioration of academic study in American high schools - especially at the well-documented fragmentation and incoherence of their curricula.” The study concluded by proposing goals that would eliminate these problems. These goals are a reality at Heritage Preparatory School. We have not only included these in our program as a part of our twenty-four credits required for graduation, but have also surpassed these ideals. Heritage is proud to present its four-year plan in brief, leading to a recognized college preparatory diploma.
It is our earnest desire for each of our students to graduate with the most prestigious and coveted title available in the state, ’FLORIDA ACADEMIC SCHOLAR’. It is achieved by fulfilling all of our graduation requirements. A score of 1270 or above must be earned on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) of the College Entrance Examination or a score of 28 or higher must be made on the American College Testing (ACT) Program. The Florida Academic Scholar is entitled to automatic admission to a state university and a special scholarship from the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
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