Zones | New Leader Academy

At New Leader Academy, we are setting a new standard for educational excellence with a school environment that is truly unparalleled.

Our unique approach is the cornerstone of our mission. We are intensely focused on nurturing every child's innate ability to become a leader in their own lives. Our vision of leadership is different from typical interpretations, as we aim to empower each child to explore their own skills, talents, passion, and potential. We are highly committed to cultivating children's self-awareness, resilience, and the potential for every child to thrive in their own individual ways.

Central to our innovative approach are the Zones of Fun and Serious Learning, each designed carefully to merge children's own motivation with impactful and highly educational experiences. Movement, inspiration, and rigorous learning are the foundations on which we are building every zone across our school building. Our zones include:

Interactive Classrooms, with an emphasis on dynamic learning environments including movement and active learning.

The Xplore Zone, a realm of fun and discovery where children can focus on discovery that is meaningful to them.

Immersive Green Screen Worlds, where children can participate in highly interactive and educational digital learning and exploration.

The Gymnasium, which is specially designed for children with special needs and based on children's sensory needs.

Interactive Classrooms

The basis of our interactive classrooms is dynamic and active learning. Our classrooms are learning environments specifically designed with modular and multifunctional equipment, which can be moved and changed quickly based on the type of learning activities happening. Some learning activities are more traditional sedentary activities where children are sitting on chairs and working on tables. We will also have a focus on flexible seating so that not all learning happens while sitting, and some learning may happen while sitting in bean bags, standing at a standing table, or sitting on the floor while learning. We will have modular equipment that can be quickly moved so that children have different options for posture and positioning while working. In addition, we will have many active, physically active learning activities including kinesthetic learning and movement-based learning.

A key feature of our academic approach will be the incorporation of "Rhythm Before Reading" and "Rhythm Before Writing" activities. These are innovative approaches with a very strong and extensive research basis. Highly structured movement and rhythm have been strongly shown in extensive research to benefit children in terms of their overall physical and neurological development as well as in terms of academic progress and achievement.

The design of our interactive classrooms extends beyond traditional learning spaces. Walls and floors are also active learning environments and integral parts of our educational experience, with spaces designed for interactive, tactile, and spatial learning activities. In our classrooms, all surfaces are places where learning can take place. Our classrooms are designed for maximum achievement and participation.

Xplore Zone

The Xplore Zone is a significant highlight of our program, presenting an exciting and dynamic environment where children have the opportunity for individualized fun and sensory exploration based on their own interests and needs. This highly unique concept, grounded in extensive research, is designed to be a vibrant and engaging space that will continually adapt to offer novel movement and exploration experiences, tailored to the evolving interests and needs of our specific students.

Jumping Jungle

This section offers a variety of jumping platforms, extending beyond traditional trampolines to include jumping pads and inflatable structures suited for children with sensory and physical challenges. Recognizing the potential risks traditional trampolines pose for children lacking coordination, the Jumping Jungle provides safer and more enjoyable alternatives. Research underscores the numerous benefits of jumping, making this section an invaluable part of the Xplore Zone and the learning process. It enables children, who might have struggled with typical jumping activities, to gradually enhance their jumping skills—an activity loved by many yet difficult for some children with special needs.

Bungee Bouncing

Designed for children with special needs who may find body control and sensory regulation challenging, bungee bouncing introduces safe and expansive movement in a controlled and secure environment. Harnessing children to ceiling-mounted bungee cords, set with specific tensions to meet individual needs, allows them to safely experience the exhilaration of bouncing and aerial movement. As children gain skill, they can move more freely, fostering confidence and a love for movement.

Reach High

This personalized modular climbing wall allows every child to experience climbing with custom-adjusted handholds and footholds, tailored to their specific needs, ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience. Reach High is more than a physical challenge; it embodies the metaphorical climb or reach towards personal goals, emphasizing the value of aiming high and the significance of reaching metaphorical targets. The act of climbing, coupled with the lessons of perseverance and striving for one's best, offers a rich avenue for teaching life skills. With modular climbing walls adaptable for both the Xplore Zone and classrooms, our aim is to nurture each child's motivation and confidence, leveraging the extensive benefits of climbing for physical and socio-emotional growth.

Movement, Music, and Multimedia

Here, children can follow along with structured movement videos that progress from basic to complex levels, offering a graded and scaffolded program of movement and audio complexities from level 1 to 4. Additionally, children are encouraged to create their own movements and music, individually or in group collaboration. This section, featuring wall-mounted drums among other multimedia and music-making tools, facilitates creative expression, community building, collaboration, and shared achievements.

Green Screen Worlds

The Green Screen Worlds area is a creative and highly educational space for digital storytelling, creativity, and learning. This entire room will be equipped with versatile green screen technologies, including modular green screen walls, portable green screen tents, and a variety of green screen clothing, providing many fun and inventive effects for video creation. The immense potential for imaginative play, enriched learning, and the development of digital skills sets the stage for endless opportunities to help children develop essential digital skills. We will also include other technologies such as assistive technologies, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence technologies within this environment as well as in the classrooms.

Green Screen Worlds incorporates:

Digital video and audio editing / creation

Assistive Technologies

Virtual ‘ Augmented Reality for Learning and Fun

Artificial Intelligence for enhancing learning

Make Your Own

In this dynamic environment, we will introduce the "Make Your Own" concept, empowering students to create their own music, rhythms, and videos. This initiative deeply focuses on celebrating children's uniqueness, individual preferences, and creative expressions. In today's digital age, transitioning children from passive consumers of digital content to active creators is crucial. Doing so, we aim to equip them with valuable real-world skills while nurturing their innate creativity.

Furthermore, integrating rhythm and movement into this digital playground underscores our commitment to activities that are not only enjoyable but also highly effective for cognitive and academic development, based on research. This approach ensures that children are not just engaged in digital creativity but also participating in holistic activities that foster comprehensive growth.

Drumming Wall

A unique "Drumming Wall" in the Xplore Zone and in our classrooms, provides an engaging way for students to explore rhythm and movement. Adjustable to accommodate different heights and arm lengths, this feature promotes physical health, neurological development, and emotional expression, all while being sensitive to the diverse sensory needs of the student body.

Move to the Beat - Help your Brain Learn

This includes the innovative "Move to the Beat - Help your Brain Learn" initiative, which emphasizes the neurological benefits of rhythmic movement and its positive impact on learning and development.

Rhythm before Writing & Rhythm before Reading

The concepts of "Rhythm before Writing" and "Rhythm before Reading" integrate rhythm and movement into the academic curriculum. This structured approach is supported by extensive research indicating the positive correlation between rhythmic activities and academic achievement. These programs encourage not only the following of pre-established rhythms but also the creativity and innovation of students in creating their own rhythmic patterns.

Gymnasium