Today, The King’s Academy announces the release of the “TKA 2 Go” app for Android (available for free on the Android Market). This app has been created to provide TKA families and friends with on-demand updates on the latest TKA information.

The TKA 2 Go Android app is a sequel release to the TKA 2 Go iPhone app released in September 2010. Again, TKA takes another step toward their goal of consistently being on the cutting-edge of technology.  Randy Martin, CFO at The King’s Academy, explained, “We believe that the best schools are built on great communication, so we are excited that TKA 2 GO allows TKA parents, students, alumni, and friends to interact with their School anywhere and at any time.”

TKA 2 GO is a free download and offers numerous user-friendly features including:

* TKA News provides up-to-date articles about what’s happening at The King’s Academy.
* My TKA – this feature is powered by Renweb and provides parents and students with secure, personalized lesson plans, homework assignments, and grades as well as school calendars, announcements, and account information.
* Talk2TKA – a new feature to the Android app, it facilitates two-way communication as TKA families and friends can provide useful feedback about their School experiences.
* Find TKA – a feature providing maps and real-time driving directions to all six of TKA’s school and preschool campuses.
* TKA TV houses downloadable video clips about The King’s Academy and TKA Preschool.
* Prayer Requests – the new TKA Android app also allows users to send in prayer requests to the school.

Links to The King’s Academy’s websites (www.TKA.net, www.TKAClewiston.net, and www.TKALions.net, www.TKAOnline.net), School and alumni Facebook pages, and multiple Twitter feeds are also available using the TKA Links feature of TKA 2 GO.

The King’s Academy is a nationally recognized private Christian school serving approximately 1,200 students from preschool through twelfth grade and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Association of Christian Schools International, and the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. The King’s Academy serves students and their families across Palm Beach and Hendry Counties at its main campus at Belvedere Road and Sansbury’s Way in West Palm Beach, its Clewiston campus on Caribbean Avenue, and its satellite preschool campuses in Greenacres, Palm Beach Gardens, and Royal Palm Beach. More information about The King’s Academy is available online at http://www.TKA.net.

Recently, 39 students from The King’s Academy returned from a five-day missions trip to Costa
Rica. The trip was led by TKA teacher, Mr. Tim Wilcox, who is also a director with Pura Vida
Missions in San Ramon, Costa Rica. The students applied to participate in the trip by writing a
personal essay explaining their reasons for going to Costa Rica.

While in San Ramon, the students were divided into teams to share Biblical stories, testimonies,
songs, crafts, and activities with over 200 children in need. These activities were a component
of Pura Vida’s strategic plan to impact local communities with free education opportunities and
with the gospel of Christ. Students were encouraged to put their personal faith into action by
serving families and used their Spanish language skills to communicate effectively.

After serving, the students spent their final day experiencing the Costa Rican rain forest. A
canopy tour zip line, a visit to a volcano and hot springs, and a tasting of typical native foods
provided the trip’s final highlights. King’s students often return from the School’s service trips
with different perspectives and attitudes as well as a continued desire to share their faith and
serve others. This trip was no exception. A number of students indicated their desire to return to
Costa Rica next year.

Mrs. Fatima Silva, TKA Spanish teacher, Mr. Jeff Gentry, academic counselor, Mrs. Michelle
Kolar, director of student life, and Dr. Charlene Urso, mathematics teacher, also accompanied
the students on the trip.

Everyone knows that a private school is different from a public school, but chances are that most people don’t really know exactly where the differences lie. The most obvious is the academic structure itself – what is being taught in a private school is very different than what you might learn in a public school.

Public schools offer a generic education where every student in any public school across the country use the same textbooks, learn the same things and take similar exams. It’s basically a one size fits all.

Private schools allow greater flexibility and almost no two private schools offer the exact same curriculum. They may have more frequent field trips, different types of examinations, or even offer subjects that no other schools offer. This is probably why private school students tend to do better academically when compared to their counterparts in public schools.

Another major difference between private and public schools is religious affiliation. While public schools do not have any religious affiliation, many private schools do. For example, The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida is a non-denominational private Christian school. These schools not only devote themselves to academic excellence, but also nurture their students’ religious beliefs and instill greater moral values and ethical standards.

However, one thing that people often have an issue with when it comes to private schools is the cost of tuition. Since private schools are not funded by the local government, they have to raise their own money through investors, grants, donations and of course, high tuition fees. According to a poll taken in 2009, the average tuition fee for a private school in the US is about $17,441 per year – definitely no small change.

Given the higher flexibility and attention given for students in a private school, it’s easy to see why the cost is higher. As with anything else, you get what you pay for and in this case, you get quality education for your children.

By: Mike Rothman of the Sun Sentinel

The King’s Academy Preschool started in 2008 to serve 2- and 3-year-olds before they reach the kindergarten level at the main campus near Royal Palm Beach.

The academy announced the August opening of a new campus in Boynton Beach at Center Pointe Church, 1275 Gateway Blvd. The new preschool will open with room for 40 students, with expansion possibilities for more than 100.

Randy Martin, CFO of The King’s Academy, said this would be the fifth satellite location that will feed into the main campus, once the students are old enough.

“It’s just not day care,” he said. “There is an academic program with learning components, which include foreign language and physical education.”

Martin said there are about 125 students enrolled in the satellite campuses around the county.

The preschool’s instructional program is based on the belief that children learn through play, play is their work.

Curriculum offered includes art, science, home, building, pretend play, writing, simple math, fine motor skills and manipulative development, interactive play and movement, behavior and manners teaching, letters, shapes, colors, numbers and opposites.

Mary Dulkowski, director of The King’s Academy’s preschools, said the school is excited about the move into Boynton Beach and that staff is the biggest element that makes her school so special.

“I came in here as a mom and this just becomes a family,” she said. “Most of the teachers here are moms of children on campus. It is a nurturing atmosphere.”

She said some unique classes offered include sign language, Spanish and music classes with instruments.

The King’s Academy main campus serves about 1,200 students from preschool through 12th grade and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Association of Christian Schools International, and the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools.

Other satellite preschool campuses are in Greenacres, Lake Worth, Palm Beach Gardens and Royal Palm Beach.

Visit http://www.TKAP.net for information.

Education is something we must not forfeit, regardless of the circumstances. Without a solid education, it is difficult to make progress further in life, improve ourselves or build a successful career. Consequently, the difference between a good or bad education will play a very important role on your child’s future.

With today’s fast-paced environment, it is crucial that your child learn as much as possible at a young age. This is the reason why current generation parents are sending their children to private schools. Private schools like The King’s Academy offer more variety of courses and curriculum activities that public schools can’t offer. Some of the curriculum activities available to elementary students include music, art, technology, foreign language and physical education. For public school students who wish to take up these curriculum activities, they will have to seek additional tutoring on their own.

Apart from giving your child more exposure to real world skills, studying in private schools allow those skills to be built up continuously as they advanced to higher grades. By the time they graduate from high school, they will have a solid foundation and a clear view of their future goals.

Better facilities are another reason why parents prefer private schools to public ones. In general, private schools are not administered by the government and this gives them a free hand when it comes to making changes. As long as it’s within the school’s budget, the administration can proceed to make upgrades, ensuring that their students get to use the latest equipments and facilities. For public schools, the government have to first give approval before any upgrades can proceed. The process of such approval can take up to months or even years.

Overall, one can easily see that private schools are better than public ones. While the tuition fees are definitely higher, the benefits of your child getting a better education are enough to justify the expenses.